THE CONTINUED EXPLOITATION OF GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES IN THE UNITED STATES IS LIMITED BY THE AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE SEVERAL SEALS, BOTH STATIC AND DYNAMIC, UTILIZED IN SEVERAL COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM.

THE CONTINUED EXPLOITATION OF GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES IN THE UNITED STATES IS LIMITED BY THE AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE SEVERAL SEALS, BOTH STATIC AND DYNAMIC, UTILIZED IN SEVERAL COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM. THE PERTINENT COMPONENTS INCLUDE DOWNHOLE PUMPS, DRILL BITS, LOGGERS AND PACKERS. THE SEALS ARE CURRENTLY MADE OF ELASTOMERS AND POLYMERS WHICH ARE DEGRADED BY THE AGRESSIVE GEOTHERMAL ENVIRONMENT OF BRINE COMPOSITION AND TEMPERATURES, ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHER TEMPERATURE RESOURCES. THE PROPOSAL PROGRAM WILL STUDY THE APPLICATION OF SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY SEALS (NI-TI ALLOYS) TO PROVIDE A QUANTUM IMPROVEMENT IN THE OPERATING CAPABILITY OF GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS. THE WORK WILL BE BASED UPON THE FEASIBILITY PROGRAM ALREADY COMPLETED AT ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL, OF WHICH THE PROGRAM MANAGER WILL NOW BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM PROPOSED HEREIN.