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Lost Circulation Materials in Geothermal Drilling: Thermal Degradation, Viscosity, Compression, and Flow Loop Tests

Published by Sandia National Laboratories | Department of Energy | Catalog Last Checked: March 23, 2026 at 09:41 PM | Dataset Last Updated: September 15, 2025 at 05:26 PM
This dataset provides a set of experimental data on the performance of lost circulation materials (LCMs) used in geothermal drilling operations. It includes results from four distinct tests: thermal degradation, viscosity measurements, compression tests, and high-temperature flow loop experiments. The materials tested, such as cedar fiber, cotton seed hulls, magma fiber, microcellulose, and sawdust, were analyzed under a range of conditions to assess their effectiveness in mitigating fluid losses in geothermal wells. Data on thermal degradation explores mass loss, water loss, and gas release for each material when subjected to temperatures between 90C and 250C. Viscosity measurements capture the behavior of LCM mixtures under different temperatures, while compression tests investigate the structural integrity of both undegraded and thermally degraded materials. The high-temperature flow loop experiments simulate geothermal well conditions, analyzing how different materials and mixtures affect fluid flow and sealing performance in a fractured reservoir environment. In addition to the experimental data, the dataset includes photos documenting the materials, schematics of test setups, and several published manuscripts that provide detailed insights into the experimental methods and findings.

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Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel public
bureauCode 
                                            [
  "019:20"
]
contactPoint 
                                            {
  "fn": "William Kibikas",
  "@type": "vcard:Contact",
  "hasEmail": "mailto:wmkibik@sandia.gov"
}
dataQuality 
                                            true
description This dataset provides a set of experimental data on the performance of lost circulation materials (LCMs) used in geothermal drilling operations. It includes results from four distinct tests: thermal degradation, viscosity measurements, compression tests, and high-temperature flow loop experiments. The materials tested, such as cedar fiber, cotton seed hulls, magma fiber, microcellulose, and sawdust, were analyzed under a range of conditions to assess their effectiveness in mitigating fluid losses in geothermal wells. Data on thermal degradation explores mass loss, water loss, and gas release for each material when subjected to temperatures between 90C and 250C. Viscosity measurements capture the behavior of LCM mixtures under different temperatures, while compression tests investigate the structural integrity of both undegraded and thermally degraded materials. The high-temperature flow loop experiments simulate geothermal well conditions, analyzing how different materials and mixtures affect fluid flow and sealing performance in a fractured reservoir environment. In addition to the experimental data, the dataset includes photos documenting the materials, schematics of test setups, and several published manuscripts that provide detailed insights into the experimental methods and findings.
distribution 
                                            [
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Manuscript - Time Dependent Thermal Degradation",
    "format": "103038",
    "accessURL": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2024.103038",
    "mediaType": "application/octet-stream",
    "description": "This manuscript studies the thermal degradation of eight lost circulation materials at temperatures from 90C to 250C, measuring mass loss, gas release, and changes in sealing ability and fluid rheology."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Manuscript - Evaluation of LCM Sealing",
    "format": "HTML",
    "accessURL": "https://doi.org/10.3390/en17112703",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "This manuscript investigates the effectiveness of various lost circulation materials (LCMs) in sealing fractures and gravel packs under geothermal conditions. It compares the performance of single and mixed-material plugs, showing that mixtures are generally more effective at clogging fluid flow pathways."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Data - Thermal Degradation Tests.xlsx",
    "format": "xlsx",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1660/DegradationTest_Information.xlsx",
    "mediaType": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet",
    "description": "Excel file contains mass loss information from thermal degradation of different lost circulation materials. Each material is under a different tab (ex. Cedar Fiber) that contains all the test data for that material. The relevant final mass loss values/changes in mass are under the RED marked columns."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Data - Compression Tests.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1660/LCM%20Compression%20Tests.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Full data set for compression of lost circulation materials. Two folders are contained inside. "Processed Data" contains all the data files. File names indicate: CTest-LCM type or types-temperature sample degraded at-duration of heating-date of compression test. The second folder "Photos" contains folders of the pre-compression test samples. For each temperature of degradation (20, 120, 200, and 250 C), the photos for each material are catalogued. Photos are divided into pre-degradation (ex. Pre-200 C), post-degradation (ex. Post-200 C), and post drying (ex. post 90 C). Detailed explanations of data can be found in the attached publication "Manuscript - Time Dependent Thermal Degradation"."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Data - Flow Loop Tests.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1660/LCM%20Flow%20Loop%20Tests%20%281%29.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "All flow loop tests of lost circulation materials and combinations of materials at 200 C. "Processed Data" folder contains excel data files, names indicate: Flow Loop Test-LCM mixture-date. Acronyms are referred to in paper for different LCM - MC = microcellulose; SD = sawdust; CF = cedar fiber; MF = magma fiber; CSH = cotton seed hulls. "Photos" contains images from tests, including the pre-test LCM mixtures, the pre- and post-test gravel packs, and the cut gravel samples post-testing. The schematic folder has a guideline for understanding the test setup.  Specific information on tests and data analysis can be found in the attached publications: "Manuscript - Simulating Lost Circulation Treatment" and "Manuscript - Evaluation of LCM Sealing"."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Data - Viscosity Tests.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1660/LCM%20Viscosity%20Tests.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "List of all viscosity tests conducted with all lost circulation materials. Data are separated into xanthan gum mixtures and bentonite mixtures. Room temperature and thermal degradation tests are in separate folders. Detailed explanations of data can be found in the attached publication "Manuscript - Time Dependent Thermal Degradation"."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Pictures - Thermal Degradation.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1660/Thermal%20Degradation%20Pictures.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Photos of different degraded lost circulation materials. Each type is contained in a separate folder. The photo titles indicate: LCM type-heating temperature-duration of heating-Cup or sample image. "
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Manuscript - Thermal Degradation and Mixture Properties",
    "format": "HTML",
    "accessURL": "https://pangea.stanford.edu/ERE/db/IGAstandard/record_detail.php?id=35612",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "This manuscript explores how various LCMs degrade thermally at temperatures between 20C and 250C and how this degradation affects material properties like viscosity and sealing effectiveness in geothermal wells."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Manuscript - Simulating Lost Circulation Treatment",
    "format": "HTML",
    "accessURL": "https://pangea.stanford.edu/ERE/db/IGAstandard/record_detail.php?id=36373",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "This manuscript describes high-pressure, high-temperature flow loop tests simulating lost circulation in geothermal reservoirs. It evaluates the effectiveness of different LCMs and mixtures in modifying flow and clogging a fractured gravel pack."
  }
]
DOI 10.15121/2473672
identifier https://data.openei.org/submissions/7729
issued 2022-02-01T07:00:00Z
keyword 
                                            [
  "LCM",
  "compression test",
  "degradation",
  "degradation pattern",
  "drilliing fluid",
  "drilling",
  "energy",
  "flow loop test",
  "flow test",
  "fluid",
  "geothermal",
  "geothermal drilling",
  "high temperature",
  "lost circulation management",
  "lost circulation materials",
  "mass loss measurements",
  "processed data",
  "raw data",
  "rheology",
  "sealing",
  "thermal degradation",
  "viscosity measurements"
]
landingPage https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/1660
license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
modified 2025-09-15T17:26:34Z
programCode 
                                            [
  "019:006"
]
projectLead Alexandra Prisjatschew
projectNumber FY19 AOP 2.1.3.1
projectTitle Improved Lost Circulation Management for Geothermal Drilling
publisher 
                                            {
  "name": "Sandia National Laboratories",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
spatial 
                                            "{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[-167.7267,13.518],[-53.8316,13.518],[-53.8316,75.0714],[-167.7267,75.0714],[-167.7267,13.518]]]}"
title Lost Circulation Materials in Geothermal Drilling: Thermal Degradation, Viscosity, Compression, and Flow Loop Tests

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