An Interactive 5-Day Training Course
Geothermal Drilling Engineering
Drilling Hot Geothermal Wells
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Duration
5 Days
Price
$ 4,000
Starting From
27 Sep 2027
Geothermal Drilling Engineering
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Geothermal Drilling Engineering - DC-GTD-PEA27
| Code | Date | Time | Duration | Location | Currency | Early Bird Fee Per Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC-GTD-PEA27 | 27 Sep - 01 Oct 2027 | 10 AM CST | 4 Hours / Day |
Online |
USD |
4000 |
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Geothermal Drilling Engineering
This course covers geothermal drilling engineering. Participants study geothermal resources and well types, high temperature effects on equipment and fluids, well design and casing programmes, cementing at high temperature, drilling hard and fractured formations, lost circulation, directional drilling, well testing and completion, and the cost structure of geothermal wells.
Description
Geothermal wells are drilled for heat rather than hydrocarbons, into hard, fractured, often volcanic rock at temperatures that can exceed anything seen in oil and gas drilling. The engineering problems are high temperature, severe lost circulation, hard abrasive formations, large hole sizes and thermal loads on casing that persist for the life of the well.
This course covers that engineering. It starts with geothermal resource types, well types and the development objectives that shape well design, then covers high temperature effects on equipment, elastomers, electronics and drilling fluids. It covers well design and casing programmes, including large diameter completions and thermal load analysis, and cementing at high temperature with silica stabilisation and lightweight systems for loss zones. It then covers drilling practice in hard and fractured formations, bit selection and performance, lost circulation management including aerated drilling, directional drilling at high temperature, well testing and completion, and the cost structure that drives geothermal project economics.
Temperature drives every difference. Elastomers, measurement tools, mud motors and logging equipment all have temperature limits that geothermal wells exceed, so the toolkit is narrower than in oil and gas. Drilling fluids degrade, cement retrogresses in strength without silica, and casing sees thermal expansion loads large enough to require specific design attention.
Lost circulation is the normal condition rather than an exception. Geothermal reservoirs are productive because they are fractured, and the same fractures take drilling fluid. Many geothermal wells are drilled with total losses using water and aerated fluids, accepting the losses rather than attempting to cure them, which changes hole cleaning and well control practice entirely.
The economics are different too. A geothermal well produces heat, and its value depends on flow rate and temperature rather than on hydrocarbon price. Large diameter completions are used because flow rate matters more than anything, and well cost is a large fraction of project capital, which makes drilling performance central to geothermal project viability.
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
- Describe geothermal resource types and the wells used to develop them.
- Assess high temperature effects on equipment, elastomers and electronics.
- Design drilling fluids for high temperature geothermal wells.
- Design casing programmes and analyse thermal loads.
- Design cement systems for high temperature and loss zones.
- Apply drilling practice for hard, abrasive and fractured formations.
- Select bits and assess performance in geothermal formations.
- Manage severe and total lost circulation, including aerated drilling.
- Apply directional drilling at high temperature.
- Plan well testing and completion, and assess geothermal well cost and economics.
The course is instructor-led. Geothermal drilling is covered through well designs, drilling programmes and field data from geothermal projects, with participants designing wells and solving the temperature and loss problems these wells present. Comparison with oil and gas practice is drawn throughout. Participants are encouraged to bring their own projects for discussion.
Organisations sending participants to this training will:
- Build geothermal drilling capability from an oil and gas base.
- Design wells that survive geothermal temperature and thermal cycling.
- Manage severe losses without stopping the well.
- Reduce geothermal well cost and improve drilling performance.
- Support entry into geothermal projects and energy transition work.
Participants will:
- Understand how geothermal drilling differs from oil and gas drilling.
- Be able to design casing and cement for high temperature wells.
- Be able to manage drilling in hard, fractured, lossy formations.
- Understand equipment temperature limits and their consequences.
- Be able to assess geothermal well cost and performance.
- Drilling engineers moving into geothermal projects
- Well engineers and planners
- Drilling fluids and cementing engineers
- Rig site supervisors
- Project engineers on geothermal developments
- Technical staff supporting energy transition projects
Module 1: Geothermal Resources and Wells
- Resource types: hydrothermal, enhanced and shallow systems
- Production and injection wells
- Development objectives and well requirements
- Comparison with oil and gas wells
- Project structure and economics
Module 2: High Temperature Effects
- Equipment temperature limits
- Elastomers and seals
- Electronics and measurement tools
- Motors and downhole equipment
- Personnel and surface equipment considerations
Module 3: Drilling Fluids at High Temperature
- Water and aerated fluid systems
- High temperature mud systems
- Fluid degradation and stability
- Cooling requirements
- Fluid selection by section
Module 4: Well Design and Casing
- Large diameter well design
- Casing programmes for geothermal wells
- Thermal expansion and casing loads
- Material selection and corrosion
- Wellhead design for thermal cycling
Module 5: Cementing
- Strength retrogression and silica stabilisation
- Lightweight systems for loss zones
- Cementing with losses
- Thermal cycling resistance
- Evaluation of cement in geothermal wells
Module 6: Drilling Hard and Fractured Formations
- Volcanic and crystalline rock drilling
- Bit selection and performance
- Parameters and rate of penetration expectations
- Vibration and bit damage
- Hole stability in fractured rock
Module 7: Lost Circulation
- Total losses as normal practice
- Aerated and air drilling
- Blind drilling and hole cleaning without returns
- When to cure and when to accept losses
- Cement and lost circulation treatments
Module 8: Directional Drilling at High Temperature
- Tool temperature limits
- Steering options in hot wells
- Survey methods
- Directional planning for geothermal wells
- Cooling and tool management
Module 9: Testing, Completion and Economics
- Well testing and flow measurement
- Completion types for geothermal wells
- Stimulation of geothermal wells
- Well cost structure
- Drilling performance and project economics
Upon successful completion of this training course, delegates will be awarded an official Certificate of Completion issued by the Petroleum Engineers Association (PEA), an ISO 9001:2015 certified training organization. The certificate carries 10 Credits and formally records the total learning hours completed.
Each certificate is signed by the Course Facilitator and the CEO of the Petroleum Engineers Association, and serves as verifiable proof of professional training that delegates can present to employers and professional bodies worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
All course bookings made through PEA are strictly non-refundable. By registering for a course, you acknowledge and accept that all fees are payable in full and are not subject to refund under any circumstances, including changes in personal or professional commitments or partial attendance.
PEA reserves the right to make reasonable adjustments to course content, trainers, or schedules where necessary, without entitling delegates to a refund. Comprehensive details of each course — including objectives, target audience, and content — are clearly outlined before enrolment, and it is the responsibility of the delegate to ensure the course's suitability prior to booking.
For any inquiries related to cancellations or bookings, please contact our support team, who will be happy to assist you.
