Stuck Pipe Prediction in Geothermal Wells

I’m pleased to announce that I presented a paper at the 2023 SPE ATCE conference, focusing on the analysis and prevention of stuck pipe events in geothermal wells. The paper examines four stuck pipe incidents that occurred during the construction of six geothermal wells in the Utah FORGE field, which led to significant non-productive time (NPT). Using the publicly available Utah FORGE dataset, we applied a hybrid approach that combines physics-based simulations with machine learning techniques to identify the causes and predictability of these incidents. Our analysis showed that these events were mainly due to wellbore geometry issues and suboptimal drilling practices.

The key takeaway from the paper is the development of effective anomaly detection techniques capable of identifying early signs of stuck pipe incidents before they happen. By integrating these techniques with industry best practices, our guidelines offer a proactive approach to managing stuck pipe risks. This research not only aims to lower the costs associated with geothermal well construction but also introduces a real-time data analysis system that can be applied to various drilling applications.

For more information, please visit: SPE-214783-MS