Aerated Fluids Drilling Services

for
Geothermal Wells

Denver, CO USA - Erbil, Iraq - Jakarta, Indonesia - Taupo, New Zealand

 ADA Geothermal Clients
2005-Present

ThermaSource
Bottle Rock Energy

PLN
 Some Important Terms

 TVD : True Vertical Depth

 Mud Weight:
 The density of the drilling fluid (or “mud”)
 Expressed in lbs/gallon (ppg) or specific gravity (s.g.)

 Density of water = 1 s.g. = 8.3 ppg

 Formation “Pore” Pressure

 The pressure in the fluid/gas present in the pores/
fractures present in the rock
 Expressed in psi, bar, or as a mud weight (ppg, s.g.)
TVD
Back to Basics

9 10 11 12 13 14

8.3 ppg

Pressure
TVD
Formation Pore Pressure “Windows”

9 10 11 12 13 14
8.3 ppg

Pressure
TVD
Water Gradient & Temperature

Cold Water Gradient

Hot Water Gradient Gradient for Water at

Boiling Point at
Depth (Pressure)

Pressure
TVD
Water Gradient & Temperature

Water Gradient

Aerated Water Gradient

Pressure
 Water Gradient & Temperature
0

Effective Water Level

1000
TVD

Cold Water Gradient (sg 1.0)

Pressure Differential
2000
Light Mud Gradient (sg 1.1)

Aerated Water Gradient (sg <1)

3000

Pressure
 Water Gradient & Temperature
0

Effective Water Level

Vapour
1000 Dominated
Zone
TVD

Cold Water Gradient (sg 1.0)

Pressure Differential
2000
Light Mud Gradient (sg 1.1)

Liquid Phase
Below
Steam Cap Aerated Water Gradient (sg <1)
3000

Pressure
 Partial mud losses – what is going on?
450 gpm
 Large amounts of fluid lost
700 gpm
through fractures
 For example (12-1/4” hole):
 700 gpm injected
30 gpm
 250 gpm lost to formation
50 gpm
 450 gpm returns

70 gpm
 450 gpm is not sufficient to
clean the well!
100 gpm
Total Losses with Fluid

 Losses concentrated over

a short section of the well
 Cuttings enter fractures
 The best fractures are
filled up first!
 Drilled cuttings are not
cleaned from the bit
 Cuttings are continuously
re-drilled – lower ROP
(Partial) Losses with Aerated Fluid

 Aeration results in a
“smearing” of the fluid
across a longer length of
the wellbore
 Cleaner wellbore
 Less problems
 Returns are
possible, depends on:
 Depth of water table
 Permeability
 Cleaner Wellbores → Reduced Fracture Plugging
→ Higher Production

 Reductions in Formation Damage

 (Fewer) Cuttings material in fractures
 Enhanced Well productivity
 Olkaria 3–5 MWe/well drilled with mud
8 – 12 MWe/well drilled with aerated water
 Mokai 5 – 10 MWe/well drilled with mud
8 – 20 MWe/well drilled with aerated water
 Rotokawa 5 – 10 MWe/well drilled with mud
10 – 30 MWe/well drilled with aerated water
 Putauaki 5–8 MWe/well drilled with mud
12 – 20 MWe/well drilled with aeratd water
 Ohaaki 2–6 MWe/well drilled with mud
8 – 15 MWe/well drilled with aerated water
 Reduced thermal recovery period
Air/Foam Drilling Layout
Sullair 1150 XH Compressors
 Each capable of 1150
scfm @ 350 psi
 Silenced < 75 dBa at 7 m.
 Powered by 500
HP, Caterpillar C-15
 Reduced fuel consumption
& emissions
 Most units < 2 years.
Gardner-Denver WB-12 Booster
 Single stage: 3700 scfm
to 800 psi
 Two stage: 2700 scfm to
2500 psi (continuous)
 Powered by 608 HP
Caterpillar C-16
 Reduced fuel
consumption &
emissions.
 Most units < 2 years.
 Geothermal BOP & Flowline
Steam
Setup
1

Rotating
Head

2
Separator

Annular
Preventer

Isolation Throttle Shakers

3 Valve Valve

Banjo 3000 mwp

spool
X/O
spool
Blooie
Line
Sump
Box

4
5 6 7 8 9

Pipe Rams

Blind Rams

Master
Valve
Geothermal Separator
Contact Energy Ltd
New Zealand

 2002: abandoned drilling

program due to stuck
pipe, lost BHA
 2003: first aerated
geothermal well in NZ
 2005: 10 month contract
awarded to ADA
 “Excellent drilling results”
resulted in continuous
extensions (6+years)
 Contact Energy

 Drilled 64 wells in 7 years

 39 days per well (incl. rig moves)
 Average well cost: US$ 3.5million
 Best drilling performance
 Contact Energy (aerated fluid): 10-11 wells/year
 Other NZ Operator (mud only): 5 wells/year
 Contact Energy
Well Budget Actual % improvement
(MW) (MW)
WRK-243 4.5 12 166%
WRK-244 4.5 8 78%
WRK-245 4.5 10 122%
TH-6 5 20 300%
TH-11 5 11 120%
TH-12 5 13 160%
BR-51 5 6 20%
BR-52 5 4 -20%
BR-53 5 8 60%
BR-54 5 6 20%

Source: Contact Energy investor presentation, March 27, 2007

Wayang Windu
Hellisheidi & Reykjanes
 Some Success Stories

 Iceland: increased ROP 3x Vs. performance

drilling with mud motors
 Pertamina: reduced the average time to drill a
well from 120+ to about 35 days/well
 Chevron Indonesia: drilled a well in 9 days

 Aerated drilling has become accepted practice,

part of the toolbox
 Aerated Experience at EDC

 Faster drilling times: we figure 20 days less per well

 Drilling 250-300m per day in some cases
 No drillstring left in hole on aerated fluid drilled wells
since 2009
 Examples:
 420-DA deepening: drilled 16 days ahead of budget
 517-DA deepening: drilled 12 days ahead of budget
 519-D: drilled in 36 days
 309-DA & 520-D aerated drilled reservoir only with foam
and polymer, no mud chemicals
 EDC - Recommendations

 Wiper trips should be done only when dictated

by hole conditions
 Mud logging and data acquisition is a must

 Fast connection times vital

 Sump management + add’l disposal area

 Communications on site (intercom & radios)

 Performance improvement only possible with

data
 1,000

1,100

 KMJ-81 ROP Analysis

1,200
 Ave ROP with mud: 2.2 m/hr y = 2.125x + 1063. y = 2.296x + 1020.

Ave ROP with air: 6.2 m/hr

Depth (m)

1,300
 2.8 x faster with air

1,400

1,500
y = 5.447x + 607.7

1,600

Fluid only, bit run #1

Fluid only, bit run #2

1,700 y = 6.982x + 181.1
Aerated only, bit run #2

Aerated only, bit run #3

1,800
0 24 48 72 96 120 144 168 192 216 240 264
Drilling Hours
 ADA Geothermal Clients
2005-Present

ThermaSource
Bottle Rock Energy

PLN