A Drillable Straddle Packer for Lost Circulation Control in Geothermal Drilling

Abstract

Lost circulation is a persistent problem in geothermal drilling and often accounts for a significant fraction of the cost of drilling a typical geothermal well. The U. S. Department of Energy sponsors work at Sandia National Laboratories to develop technology for reducing lost circulation costs. This paper describes a downhole tool that has been developed at Sandia for improving the effectiveness and reducing the cost of cementing operations used to treat lost circulation zones. This tool, known as the drillable straddle packer, is a low-cost, disposable assembly used for isolating a loss zone and directing the flow of cement into the zone. This paper describes the tool concept, hardware design, deployment procedure, laboratory testing, and technical issues addressed during the development process.