OVERCOMING LOST CIRCULATION PROBLEMS IN GEOTHERMAL DRILLING.

CURRENTLY GEOTHERMAL DRILLING METHODS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE DUE TO MASSIVE ROCK FRACTURES CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF CIRCULATION, THE HARD NATURE OF THE ROCKS AND HIGH TEMPERATURES. THIS PROPOSAL PRESENTS A METHOD TO ATTACK THESE PROBLEMS UTILIZING STATE OF THE ART DRILLING AND PRODUCTION TOOLS. THESE TOOLS ARE DESIGNED TO ALLOW EMPLACEMENT OF CASING WHILE DRILLING USING A CONCENTRIC DUAL DRILLING STRING TECHNIQUE. THIS TECHNIQUE ALSO INCORPORATES THE USE OF A RETRIEVABLE DRAG BIT WITH THE GENERAL ELECTRIC TYPE SYNTHETIC DIAMONDS FOR LONGER LIFE AND FASTER PENETRATION. LOST CIRCULATION ZONES WILL BE DRILLED WITH THEIR OWN FLUID. CONSTANT CIRCULATION OF THE HOLE CAN BE MAINTAINED FOR COOLING PURPOSES. THE CASING CAN BE CEMENTED IN A NORMAL INNER STRING MANNER AND CIRCULATION MAINTAINED INSIDE THE CASING WHILE THE CEMENT IS SETTING UP. THE ENTIRE TECHNIQUE WILL ALLOW CHEAPER, DEEPER, AND SAFER GEOTHERMAL WELLS.