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Considerations on Drilling & Plugging Flowing Artesian Wells

Considerations on Drilling & Plugging Flowing Artesian Wells. Percentage of Flowing Wells Drilled in Michigan (1997). 100. 80. 60. 40. 20. 0. Flowing. Nonflowing. 3.17. 96.83. Percent.

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Considerations on Drilling & Plugging Flowing Artesian Wells

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  1. Considerations on Drilling & Plugging Flowing Artesian Wells

  2. Percentage of Flowing Wells Drilled in Michigan (1997) 100 80 60 40 20 0 Flowing Nonflowing 3.17 96.83 Percent Figure 5

  3. “Flowing wells (along with springs and geysers) symbolize the presence and mystery of subsurface water, and as such they have always evoked considerable public interest”. (From Groundwater, Freeze and Cherry, 1979)

  4. Arenac County - 1900

  5. ARTESIAN WELL • A WELL WITH ARTESIAN PRESSURE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE WATER TO FLOW ABOVE THE GROUND SURFACE

  6. ARTESIAN WELL • A WELL THAT PENETRATES A CONFINED AQUIFER. • WATER LEVEL RISES ABOVE THE TOP OF THE CONFINED AQUIFER.

  7. GEOLOGICALLY-CONTROLLED FLOWING WELL Artesian well Recharge area for artesian aquifer Water table well Piezometric level Flowing artesian well Ground surface Water table Stream Water table aquifer Upper confining bed Artesian aquifer Lower confining bed Consolidated rock Upper Confining layer Lower Confining Layer

  8. Surface water Water table Potential line Flow line TOPOGRAPHICALLY – CONTROLLED FLOWING WELL Unconfined aquifer condition

  9. Unconfined Aquifer Recharge Area Natural Discharge Area (Stream, Lake)

  10. OFTEN LOCATED NEAR GROUND WATER DISCHARGE ZONES… AT LOWER ELEVATIONS NEAR STREAMS OR LAKES.

  11. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DEFINES AN “ARTESIAN” WELL? • A well having a static water level at the top of the aquifer. • A well having a static water level above the top of the aquifer. • A well constructed by a well driller of Artesian nationality. • A well having a static water level above the top of the casing.

  12. Well Construction Code R 325.1621(3)(c): “A well shall be constructed, equipped, and operated to prevent unnecessary discharges from flowing wells.” R 325.1638(1): “A well shall be grouted to protect the aquifer, prevent erosion, and confine the flow within the casing.”

  13. SPOOL HOLD-DOWN ASSEMBLY* WELL CAP ELECTRICAL CONDUIT (WIRING NOT SHOWN) FLOW CONTROL USING FLOWING WELL PITLESS UNIT (SPOOL TYPE) SURFACE HOLD-DOWN PIPE CABLE SEALS SPOOL WITH O-RING SEALS WATER SERVICE LINE WATER CONFINED IN CASING FLOW STOPPED BELOW FROST LINE * SEE MANUFACTURERS’ SPECIFICATIONS FOR RATED PRESSURE (PSI) FOR HOLD-DOWN ASSEMBLY.

  14. You CAN NOT allow a well to flow without a deviation from the local health department.

  15. KEEP THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN THE LOOP!! USE YOUR WATER WELL AND PUMP RECORD TO EXPLAIN FLOWING WELL CONSTRUCTION ISSUES

  16. “BENEFICIAL USE” Maintain pond levels for: IRRIGATION FISH REARING WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT RECREATION OTHER COMMERICIAL USE FIRE PROTECTION

  17. Wasting Michigan’s Groundwater Resources

  18. “BENEFICIAL USE” Supply water for: HEATING COOLING INDUSTRIAL PROCESS POWER GENERATION

  19. DEVIATION – RULE 113 FLOWING WELL DISCHARGES FLOW CONTROL NOT PRACTICAL OR FLOW CONTROL WILL CAUSE SAND OR TURBIDITY IN WATER OR DISCHARGE IS FOR BENEFICIAL USE

  20. R 325.1638(2): FLOW CONTROL METHODS VALVED PIPE CONNECTION WATERTIGHT PUMP CONNECTION PITLESS ADAPTER OTHER APPROVED METHODS RECEIVING TANK PACKER

  21. FLOW DISCHARGE PIPING AT WELL HEAD (Discharge permitted with written deviation from local health department official) SEALED ELECTRICAL CONDUIT WATERTIGHT WELL CAP GATE VALVE (HANDLE REMOVED) SCREENED OUTLET (IF PUMPING RATE HIGHER THAN WELL FLOW RATE) AIR - GAP 2 X DIAMETER OF VALVE OUTLET PITLESS ADAPTER WATER SERVICE LINE DRAIN TO DITCH, LAKE, RIVER, POND, OR SURFACE DRAIN PIPE SIZE MINIMUM OF TWICE DIAMETER OF WELL DISCHARGE PIPE

  22. FLOW CONTROL USING ELEVATED FLOW TANK (Discharge permitted with written deviation from local health department official) FLOW RATE CONTROL VALVE DISCHARGE LINE TO BUILDING NONPRESSURIZED STORAGE TANK PRESSURE TANK (DIAPHRAGM OR BLADDER TYPE) JET OR CENTRIFUGAL PUMP UNION PRESSURE SWITCH PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE FROM WELL GATE VALVE AIR GAP (PREVENTS CROSS-CONNECTION) FLOW DRAIN LINE AIR GAP MUST BE AT LEAST TWICE THE DIAMETER OF THE FLOW TANK DISCHARGE LINE DRAIN PIPE MUST BE AT LEAST TWICE THE DIAMETER OF THE TANK DISCHARGE PIPE

  23. FLOWING WELL PROBLEMS -NONBENEFICIAL DISCHARGE- • WASTES RESOURCE • REDUCES ARTESIAN HEAD • OVERLOADS STORM SEWERS & DITCHES • CREATES ARTIFICIAL STREAM FLOW AND “WETLANDS” • ALTERS NATURAL GROUNDWATER FLOW

  24. FLOWING WELL PROBLEMS -LOSS OF CONFINING LAYER- • FLOW BREAKOUT AROUND CASING • REDUCTION OF ARTESIAN HEAD • ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE OF UNCONFINED AQUIFER • EROSION & PROPERTY DAMAGE • DAMAGE TO RECEIVING WATERS

  25. UNAPPROVED ANNULAR FLOW DISCHARGE PIPING WATERTIGHT WELL CAP SURFACE LAKE OR STREAM GRAVEL POCKET PITLESS ADAPTER DRAIN PIPE WATER LINE TO HOME FLOW FROM UNSEALED ANNULUS DIVERTED INTO DRAIN (SHOULD HAVE BEEN GROUTED TO STOP FLOW) UNSEALED ANNULUS CONFINING LAYER NOT SEALED (CORRECTION NEEDED TO SEAL ANNULUS)

  26. FLOWING WELL PROBLEMS -DISCHARGE PIPING HAZARDS- • BURIED UNPROTECTED SUCTION LINES • SUBMERGED INLETS OR OTHER CROSS-CONNECTIONS CAN RESULT IN DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATION

  27. WATERTIGHT WELL CAP NONPRESSURIZED BURIED LINE (POSSIBLE SUCTION LINE) SURFACE CHECK VALVE (DOES NOT PROVIDE POSITIVE PROTECTION AGAINST BACKSIPHONAGE) UNAPPROVED PITLESS ADAPTER CONNECTION (GASKETS OF CLAMP-ON PITLESS ADAPTERS MUST BE PRESSURIZED BY PUMP) WATER SERVICE LINE UNAPPROVED BURIED FLOW DISCHARGE PIPING WITH CHECK VALVE

  28. 10 GPM FLOW DISCHARGE WASTES: 14,400 GALLONS PER DAY 5.25 MILLION GALLONS PER YEAR!

  29. Fire-Service Test – Arcadia, Manistee County FLOWING WELL PROBLEMS OCCUR WHEN: 5 STREAMS FROM A SINGLE FLOWING WELL (FROM LEVERETT, ET AL. - FLOWING WELLS AND MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIES IN THE MIDDLE AND NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN, U..S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, 1907)

  30. RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN DRILLING IN KNOWN FLOWING WELL AREAS: • Plan ahead – In case something goes wrong! • Schedule aquifer penetration appropriately. AVOID LATE NIGHT WELL COMPLETION

  31. IN KNOWN FLOWING WELL AREAS: CEMENT CASING INTO CONFINING LAYER BEFORE PENETRATING ARTESIAN AQUIFER CONFINING LAYER ARTESIAN AQUIFER

  32. USE STATEWIDE GROUNDWATER DATABASE (WELLOGIC & SCANNED LOGS) • AND • WELL PERMITS TO: • IDENTIFY FLOWING WELL AREAS • NOTIFY PROPERTY OWNERS CONTRACTORS • SUGGEST WELL CONSTRUCTION METHODS • PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS. Without the Internet, you are at a disadvantage!

  33. FLOWING WELL PROBLEMS OCCUR WHEN: CONTRACTORS DRILL IN UNFAMILIAR AREAS CONTRACTORS ARE NOT PREPARED TO DEAL WITH HIGH VOLUME FLOW OR HIGH ARTESIAN HEAD (Poor choice of drilling method)

  34. UPWARD LEAKAGE AROUND UNGROUTED CASING STATIC WATER LEVEL UNCONFINED AQUIFER CONFINING LAYER CONFINED AQUIFER UPWARD LEAKAGE

  35. LEAKAGE FROM UNGROUTED ANNULUS WATER ON SURFACE BRIDGED SOIL AROUND UPPER CASING UNCONFINED AQUIFER CONFINING LAYER WATER FLOWING UPWARD IN UNGROUTED ANNULUS AROUND CASING CONFINED (ARTESIAN)AQUIFER FLOW FOLLOWS PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE

  36. Alcona County Flowing Well – Case Study Recommendation: Carefully document steps taken HELPS PROCESSING OF INSURANCE CLAIM PICTURES HELP

  37. Factors to Consider • KILL OR SAVE WELL • FLOW RATE & PRESSURE • LOCATION OF BREAKOUT • SOURCE OF FLOW • DEGREE OF EROSION • WATER DISPOSAL • WATER REQUIREMENTS

  38. EVALUATE SITE SAFETY TURBID DISCHARGE = UNSAFE (BOREHOLE EROSION OCCURRING) CLEAR DISCHARGE = SAFE

  39. Cloudy Flow Breakout Outside Casing

  40. WATER SAMPLING MAY BE USED TO DETERMINE SOURCE OF FLOW WATER INSIDE CASING WATER OUTSIDE CASING • PARTIAL CHEMICAL INDICATORS: • HARDNESS • IRON • CONDUCTIVITY

  41. Cloudy Flow Breakout Near Structure’s Foundation

  42. CORRECTING FLOW BREAKOUTS • DRIVE LARGER PIPE AROUND CASING • JET TREMIE PIPE(S) INTO ANNULUS AND PUMP CEMENT GROUT • PUMP CEMENT GROUT DOWN CASING

  43. BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR FLOW BREAKOUTS WHEN DRIVING OUTER CASING… USE PIPE MINIMUM 2 IN. LARGER THAN BOREHOLE OR WASHOUT DRIVE PIPE INTO CONFINING LAYER

  44. ESTIMATE VOLUME OF MATERIAL ERODED FROM BOREHOLE USE TO DETERMINE VOLUME OF PLUGGING MATERIAL NEEDED

  45. BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR FLOW BREAKOUTS ESTIMATE THE ANNULAR FLOW RATE… PUMP PLUGGING MATERIAL AT HIGHER RATE THAN FLOW RATE

  46. HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE Pressure at bottom of borehole due to weight of fluid column. FORMULA HP (PSI) = SLURRY WEIGHT (LBS./GAL) X .052 X DEPTH

  47. BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR FLOW BREAKOUTS USE PLUGGING MATERIAL WITH ENOUGH WEIGHT TO OVERCOME HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE OF FLOW

  48. BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR FLOW BREAKOUTS PLUGGING MATERIAL HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE FROM FLOW

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