WoldWide Drilling Resource

Extracting Clean Irrigation Water from Hydraulic Fracturing Wastewater Adapted from Information by Michigan State University Michigan State University (MSU) will share nearly $3 million with Oregon State University and the University of Nevada Reno to develop a fresh- water recovery system to extract clean irrigation water from hydraulic fracturing wastewater. The reclaimed water could help irrigate crops and livestock, especially in dry western states. Because of the amount of fracking wastewater produced, finding a way to reuse this water is important. MSU’s goal is to use low-grade solar or industrial waste heat to develop a new process of extracting clean water from the wastewater. Researchers hope to create a system which is modular, portable, scalable, and easily deployable in the field. Andre Benard, associate professor of mechanical engineering, will serve as MSU’s lead investigator. He’ll work with MSU Foundation Professor James Klausner, chair and professor of mechanical engineering. “MSU’s focus will be designing the novel multiphase heat exchangers needed for the process,” Benard said. “We’re working on a system that will efficiently sep- arate, condense, and reclaim purified water from wastewater . . .” Klausner mentioned there is a strong focus on delivering a low-cost wastewater treatment solution, fabricated with low- cost materials, adding that the new system would have a positive environmental impact. The collaboration is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy. DOE Invests in Advancing Geothermal Drilling Technology Adapted from Information by the U.S. Department of Energy The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is planning to fund projects researching innovative geothermal drilling technologies. With plans to invest up to $7 mi l l ion into research and development (R&D), DOE’s Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) plans to focus on one of the key issues in unlocking geothermal potential, the cost of drilling operations, which can account for up to 50% of geothermal exploration and development expenses. More specifically, they will concentrate on two of the most significant barriers: state of stress and lost cir- culation events (LCEs). Understanding the state of stress will lead to being able to select better sites for drilling. The subsurface state of stress dictates the fracture networks providing the permeability necessary for a geothermal reservoir. Without prior knowledge of the subsurface stress, wells could be drilled in locations that aren’t the best for access- ing existing geothermal resources. GTO is funding research for the development of technologies which can characterize, monitor, and predict the state of stress. LCEs occur when fluids pumped from the rig through downhole drilling equip- ment are lost and end up flowing into geological formations instead of returning to the surface to complete a circulation path. LCEs cost the gas and oil industry more than $1 billion per year in rig time, materials, and other financial resources. In fact, according to one study, lost circulation added roughly $185,000 to the cost of an average geothermal well. Since most geothermal drilling operations are in areas with highly fractured and altered material, lost circulation is more common in geo- thermal drilling than in other applications. Severe LCEs can prevent the drilling fluids from being able to clean the hole, leading to cuttings building up on the bottom-hole assembly causing the drill string to become permanently stuck. Many geothermal wells have been abandoned prior to reaching their target depth due to LCEs. The GTO plans to invest in research for developing technologies to anticipate and mitigate LCEs in geothermal drilling. With more than 3.8 gigawatts of geothermal power online, the United States is a world leader in installed geothermal capacity. Developing technology to tackle state of stress and LCEs will reduce geothermal exploration and drilling costs, which will hope- fully lead to the widespread development of geothermal resources across the country. 29 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JULY 2019 302-684-3197 FAX: 302-384-0643 142 Broadkill Rd. • Milton, DE 19968 www.atlantic-screen.com email: atlantic@ce.net Manufacturers of Slotted & Perforated Pipe ranging from ½” to 24” diameter Atlantic Screen & Mfg., Inc. • Well Rehab. Products • Manholes • Bentonite • Filter Sock • Inline Chemical Mixers • Sampling Bailers • Clear PVC Pipe • Locking Caps GEO G&O