Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Water wells

Types of water wells

Drilled wells / Bored wells Driven wells Dug wells
Deep wells > 15m Shallow wells < 15 m

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Four important stages

Well Design Well Construction Well Completion Well Development

Well Design
Well Depth Well Diameter Well Type Sallow/Deep, Bore/Large dia Advantages of Shallow or Large dia wells g Advantages of Deep or Bore wells Well Material Screen type and material

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Well design Factors to be considered

Based on.. Well depth Type of well Casing material, size and wall thickness Hydrogeology, GWL fluctuation Aquifer parameters Monitoring and preventive maintenance provisions.

Well Construction
Shallow wells
D g ells Dug wells Driven wells Bored wells Jetted wells

Deep wells
Cable tool Air rotary Rotary Reverse rotary

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Dug wells
Historical type of wells, oldest Larger diameter (1 -20 m) g ( ) Curbing material - usually concrete pipes with loose joints. Pipes with slots Water enters well through loose casing joints Older dug wells were g hand-dug handLow well yield, but casing stores 100s of gallons. Highly vulnerable to contamination

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Large Diameter Low Yield Wells

Installed in low yield areas (Fracture rock regions, Salem) Casing material is provided at the top if required Upper part of casing is grouted

Driven wells
Well point driven into ground with driver, tripod with weight or sledge hammer Installed in unconsolidated formations only 1.251.25-2 inches diameter Suitable near lakes and high water table areas Less than 10m deep and have a limited yield (less than 30-40 lpm) 30- lpm) Usually hand pumps are drilled by this method

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Bored wells
Constructed with earth augers Look similar to an oversized drill bit bit. Typically less than 30m deep. Rotary action with down pressure with augers. Utilizes a spiral tool to convey drilled borehole material to the surface. Auger drilling doesnt normally require the use of circulatory fluids.

Jetted wells
High velocity stream of water used to cut th earth the th Small dia hole of 3 to 10 cm possible Depth 15 m For small yield in unconsolidated formations Rapid and portable equipment Used for exploratory drilling

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Deep wells

Drilled wells - Drilling method

Cable tool method Rotary method
Air Rotary Method Rotary-percussion Method Reverse-circulation Rotary Method

Different rotary versions: Air rotary: compressed air is the drilling fluid Direct rotary: fluid down stem, up the borehole Reverse rotary: fluid down borehole, up drill stem

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Cable tool drilling method

Constructed by lifting and dropping a heavy drill bit in the bore hole. The resulting loose material mixed with water is removed using a bailer or sand pump. Also called percussion drilling, reaches depths up to 300 m. Well diameters can range f from 10-45 cm. 10The drilling rate - slower than for a rotary rig But large diameter well is possible

Rotary drilling method

Rotary drilled wells are constructed using a drill bit on the end of a rotating drillstem. Drilling fluid or air is circulated down through the drillstem in the hole and back to the surface to remove cuttings. Rotary drilling rigs operate quickly and can reach depths of over 300 m (1000 ft.), with casing diameters of 10-45 10cm (4-18 in.). (4-

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

AirAir-rotary and mud-rotary methods mudReverseReverse-circulation Rotary Method RotaryRotary-percussion Method

Horizontal Drill Rigs

Mud rotary drilling Reverse rotary

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Well completion
After a well has been drilled, it must be completed. completed This can involve. involve Placement of casing cementing of casing Placement of well screens Gravel packing

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Protective Outer Cap Surface Protection

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Annular Seal Well Casing Bore Hole Water Table Filter Pack

Well Screen

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Well casings
Well casing serves as a lining to maintain an open hole from ground surface to the aquifer Seals out surface water and any undesirable groundwater Provides structural support against caving materials Casing be at least one nominal size larger than the outside diameter of the pump The more space the easier it will be to service and repair the pump in the future Common materials used for casing: steel and plastic PVC pipe is widely employed as casing for shallow, smallsmalldiameter observation wells di t b ti ll Plastic casing - popular because of its resistance to corrosion Steel casing is the strongest but is susceptible to corrosion All casing must be new and uncontaminated

Open hole well completion.

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Gravel envelope well.

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Gravel Pack
Gravel pack (envelope): coarse particles placed between the aquifer material and the well screen Material should be rounded, silica gravel The main objective to filter packing is to have a material more permeable than the native formation in the area immediately y surrounding the well screen Filter pack not only prevents fine sands from entering the well screen, it also stabilizes the borehole.
ni ve rs ity

Gravel pack
The benefits of filter packing are: keep fine sand from entering the well increase permeability around the screen allow larger openings in the screen greater porosity

which in turn will help to achieve

Reduced drawdown Higher i ld Hi h yield Reduced entrance velocity Faster development Longer well life Reduced sand pumping

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Primary filter pack

Secondary Filter Pack Primary Filter Pack

Sand or gravel - packed in the annular space around and just above the well screen a o nd j st abo e ell sc een Grain size is designed to permit only the finest grains and sediments to enter the well screen during well development Should consist of as chemically inert material as possible, like quartz. Material f k M t i l of known chemistry such as glass h i t h l beads, can also be used. Should extend from the bottom of the well screen to about 1 or 2 m above the top of the well screen as we need to consider filter pack settling.

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Secondary Filter Pack

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Primary Filter Pack

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Secondary Filter Pack

Secondary Filter Pack Primary Filter Pack

Finer grained material than the primary filter pack

Placed in the annular space between the primary filter pack and the annular seal above The purpose is to prevent material used for t e annular seal o the a u a sea from infiltrating a d c ogg g t at g and clogging the filter pack and affecting water chemistry. Consist of inert material, similar to that of the primary filter pack. A length of secondary filter pack of about 30 to 60 cm is recommended

How Are Filter Packs Installed?

Filter Packs are installed by: Gravity placement (free fall) in only very shallow wells Placement by Tremie Pipe introduced through a partially flexible pipe or tube by gravity the most recommended method Reverse circulation water and sand mixture are poured into the annulus. The water passes through th screen filt and into the well where it is th h the filter d i t th ll h i pumped out Backwashing Sand is allowed to free fall down the annulus while water is poured into the well casing, through the well screen and back up the annulus

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Well Screens
Well screen is a filtering device Serves as the intake portion of wells Used in constructed/unconsolidated or semiconsolidated aquifers. Prevents sediment form entering the well Serves structurally to support the unconsolidated aquifer material

Basic Well Screen Types

Slotted Casing C ti Continuous- l t wireContinuous-slot wire-wound i d Louvered (shutter-type) (shutterBridgeBridge-Slot Prepacked

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Screen types
HomeHome-made: torch cuts; mill/sawed slots (not good) Manufactured: shutter/louver type, continuous slot (V- h (V-shaped or round wire) d d i )

Length: depends on aquifer formations

Lower 1/3 of unconfined aquifer depth 80-90% of confined aquifer thickness 80-

Slot width: size to exclude 90% of gravel pack or aquifer material (if the well is gravel packed) Diameter: depends on well size; also entrance velocity considerations Type of material: PVC, GI, Alloy >> strength, corrosion, incrustation factors

Screen Sizes and Materials

8-inch G i S Galvanized Steel

6-inch Bronze

4-inch Stainless Steel

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Well screen material and size

Stainless Steel Galvanized Steel

Large Screen Opening

Small Screen Opening

Water Flow Direction

Triangular X-section

Round X-section

Slotted limited open area

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Continuous-Slot Wire-Wound More Open Area

Louvered (shutter-type) Open Area limited

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Bridge-Slot

Prepacked

Very good for fine grained formations

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Well Screen Slot Size

Well screen slot size and filter pack grain size are normally determined at the same time i Filter pack grain size must be larger than that of the surrounding natural formation
This allows for higher hydraulic conductivity through the well while minimizing the entrance of fine grained materials into the well Water will have low suspended sediment and turbidity

Screen slot size must be smaller than the grain size diameter of the filter pack to prevent it to infiltrate in to the well
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Screen Size from Grain Size

Trade off between maximum yield (large slot size) and sand-free water (small slot size) sand) ( ) Rule of thumb: slot size = 40% point on grain size distribution (60% passes, 40% retained) Use smaller slot size in corrosive waters

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

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Grouting and Sealing

Grout is impermeable cement or clay placed in annular space between borehole and casing To prevent well contamination, maintain separation of aquifers and preserve artesian aquifers
The annular seal - a layer of expandable material such as bentonite pellets, between a layer of fine sand and a layer of grout which is pressurized in place

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Well Development
Well development removes the fine-grained material to fineimprove the hydraulic efficiency of the well. This is achieved by the removal of a large fraction of the fine materials from both the filter pack and aquifer material adjacent to the borehole So that they no longer clog the pump or well screen. Different methods of well development The well development procedure should be slow and is site specific.

Why developing?
Reduce head loss by increasing permeability Increase well efficiency Reduce drawdown and cost of extracting groundwater Restore aq ifer follo ing damage d e aquifer, following due to drilling Restore/Rehabilitate well due to gradual clogging and biofouling. biofouling.

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Ultimate goals
1.

Make the pores as big as possible so water is free to flow. Results:

1. 2.

lower more flow costs of operation (reduced drawdown = less energy to lift the water = reduced hydro bill) Improved water quality Minimize abrasion on equipment (extend life of pumping and piping equipment)

2.

Removes fines
1. 2. 2

3.

Creates zone of Autofiltration

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Continuous slot wire-wound well screen in an unconsolidated formation

Well development
To increase the life of the well To artificially create a high permeable zone y g p Pumping Surging with surge block Surging with air Jetting Chemicals Rock fracturing (well improvement) Explosives (well improvement) Horizontal wells (well improvement)

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Pumping Surging - Forcefully moving water into and out of the well screen using. g Surge Block - a flat seal that closely fits the casing interior and is operated like a plunger beneath the water level Surging with Air - Compressed air is into the well, as it reaches the top of the casing, the air supply is shut off allowing the aerated off, water column to fall Jetting high velocity stream of water.

Over pumping
Pump the well at a higher rate than expected for its future use Must use a pump that will not be damaged by sand in water only results in inflow across screen - can produce sand bridging preferential development can occur - removal of fines from only the high permeability zones and/or upper section of well screen

Drawdown during operation Drawdown during development

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Increased gradient

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Chemicals Hydrochloric acid, Polyphosphates, Dry ice Rock fracturing hydraulic fracturing g y g Inflatable packers are used to isolate the section filled with water water pressure is increased to fracture the rock Explosives Horizontal wells.

Testing of wells for its yield

Discharge drawdown relationship Specific capacity of wells (Flow Rate divided by Drawdown at Static water level) Performance of well generally decrease with time
Flow Rate from Well (m3/hr) 900 900 880 850 Pumping Water Level (PWL) (m) 80 73 85 89 Static Water Level (SWL) (m) 30 22 31 30 Specific Capacity Flow Rate Drawdown divided by (PWL-SWL) Drawdown Comparison (m3/hr/m) to New Well (m) 50 18 51 17.6 98 % 54 16.2 90 % 59 14.4 80 %

Year 1 2 4 6

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Causes
Physical Screen Blockage accumulation of sand, silt and other materials inside the well screen Biological Screen Blockage soil bacteria Chemical Screen Blockage deposition of minerals in the form of scales or incrustation

Care and Maintenance of Wells

Bailing g Removed using mechanical tools, such as wire brushes, disk swabs or surge blocks, combined with airlift pumping Chemical Treatment acids Re development Chlorination - will help kill the iron bacteria

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Horizontal wells
Horizontal pipes Collector wells Infiltration galleries

Horizontal wells
Horizontal pipes
drilled along the hill slopes water flows due to gravity also used for slope stabilisation

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Hydrogeology

Dept. of Geology, Anna University

Horizontal wells
Infiltration galleries
Used when the aquifer is thin (islands, permafrost, low T etc.,.) Horizontal conduits are constructed Small openings are provided Water drains into this conduit Collects into a well

Horizontal wells
Collector wells
to tap large quantity of water in regions near surface water body Vertical lined large dia well Horizontal wells drilled near the bottom More horizontal wells towards surface water bodies

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