By Jack MoneyBusiness writerjmoney@oklahoman.comNORMAN — Thermally activated smart shape memory polymers could help plug drilling-related problems with geothermal wells. Saeed Salehi, a professor of petroleum and geological engineering at the University of Oklahoma’s Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, is leading a team of researchers at OU and two other universities investigating the polymers’ potential. Specifically, the team members are working with shape memory polymers that make up something they have named smart lost circulation materials. The polymers, Salehi said, react to geothermal temperatures to expand into rock fractures near the bore of a well that is being drilled to tap that energy. Salehi stated they are “smart,” meaning they can be programmed to undergo chemical reactions to boost their effectiveness by expanding when they are exposed to high temperatures. “They are programmed to only react when temperatures reach a certain level,” he said. The polymers’ expansions both seal off and strengthen the bore, which results in fewer instances of lost circulation while drilling. Tamping down that issue speeds drilling of the well.Read more on NewsOK.com
University Of Oklahoma Collaborates With Other Scientists To Improve Geothermal Well Drilling Efficiencies
NewsOK.com RSS - business >> !The Oklahoman, Daily Oklahoman: Business
Sat, 08/24/2019 - 1:21pm
Welcome to Wopular
Wopular is an
online newspaper rack,
giving you a summary view of the top headlines from the top news sites.
Senh Duong (Founder)
Wopular,
MWB,
RottenTomatoes
MoviesWithButter : Our Sister Site
- "Expendables 4" Starts Shooting This Fall, Says Randy Couture at the Arnold Sports Festival more
- “Expendables 4” Gets Funding Interest from “Ip Man 3” Financier more
- "Ip Man 3" Distributor Suspected of Box Office Fraud, Parent Company Loses $200M in Market Cap more
- Yen Targets "Ip Man 4" for 2018 Release; Discusses Film with Director, Producer more
- "Ip Man 3" Shatters Expectations with $72M Opening [China Box Office] more