Case Study: Underbalanced or Mud Drilling Fluids at Tres Virgenes Geothermal Field
- Key words
- Drilling; Tres Virgenes, underbalanced, mud, air/water, drilling fluids, water based, directional well, costs
- Location
- Las Tres Virgenes, Mexico
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 2006
- Session
- Drilling; underbalanced; Drilling fluids; air/water; drillin
- Language
- English
Abstract
Several direction wells have been drilled at the Tres Virgenes geothermal field using mud and underbalanced fluids (aerated water) in the feed zones both for production and injection wells. Large mud volumes during drilling have produced damage in the formation decreasing its permeability. On the other hand, aerated water fluids produced wear in the production casings in some wells. CFE conducted several analyses to select the drilling fluid for future wells. The results indicate that the penetration rate using underbalanced fluid was 56 % higher or at least similar than drlling with mud. The estimated cost should have be reduced at least 20 to 34 % as compared with mud. This document presents the technical and economical analysis using both fluids.
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