Slim Holes At Salt Wells Area (Combs, Et Al., 1999)

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

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Exploration Activity: Slim Holes At Salt Wells Area (Combs, Et Al., 1999)

Exploration Activity Details
Location	Salt Wells Area
Exploration Technique	Slim Holes
Activity Date	1980 - 1980
Usefulness	useful
DOE-funding	Unknown

Exploration Basis

The blind Salt Wells geothermal system was first identified when Anadarko Petroleum Corporation drilled slim hole and geothermal exploration wells at the site in 1980. Two reports detail the results of this drilling activity. This report details the well completion practices applied to the initial slim hole discovery well.

Notes

In 1980, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation drilled a slim hole discovery well near Simpson Pass. The hole was initially rotary-drilled to 161.5 m for shallow temperature-gradient measurements and was completed with 6-5/8”casing and 2” line pipe. Later, the line pipe was withdrawn and an inflatable packer on 4-1/2” tubing was set at approximately 122 m. One-inch line pipe was run down hole to 32 m and was used as an air-lift, establishing a stable flow rate of 3.1 L/s through the packer (2” ID) and tubing. Maximum temperature log readings taken after the flow were 132.8°C. A confirmation well was drilled to greater following completion and flow testing of the slim hole discovery well (see Exploratory Well At Salt Wells Area (Edmiston & Benoit, 1984) for well details).

References

• Jim Combs, John T. Finger, Colin Goranson, Charles E. Hockox Jr., Ronald D. Jacobsen, Gene Polik (1999) Slimhole Handbook- Procedures And Recommendations For Slimhole Drilling And Testing In Geothermal Exploration