Puna Geothermal Venture, Hawaii—2005 Drilling Program

Three wells were drilled at Puna Geothermal Venture, Hawaii in 2005 – a production well redrill, a new production well, and a new injection well. Several innovative procedures were used to deal with difficulties and successfully complete the wells. A casing patch was used to repair parted casing. Foam cement was used for the intermediate casing and foam cement was reverse circulated for the production casing. Mud motors were used for most of the drilling to increase rate of penetration. Micronized cellulose lost circulation material (LCM) was used to protect moderate permeability zones in the injection well and a hydrostatic bailer was used to swab cuttings and mud back out of the zones.

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