Effective thermal conductivity of Mexican geothermal cementing systems in the temperature range from 28 degrees C to 200 degrees C

The effective thermal conductivity of six Mexican cementing systems used in geothermal well completion were experimentally determined in the temperatu re range from 28 degreesC to 200 degreesC. Measurements were carried using the classical line-source method. The experimental system was calibrated by measuring the thermal conductivity of standard fused quartz samples. An ex perimental procedure for preparation of the cement specimen samples was als o developed. Results show that thermal conductivity depends on the particul ar cement system and tends to increase with temperature for most cement sys tems. Experimental uncertainties of thermal conductivity were less than 4%. From this experimental work, new empirical equations for correlating therm al conductivity with temperature for geothermal cementing samples were obta ined. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.