GROUND WATER EXPLORATION

EXPLORATION GOALS
UNDERSTAND THE HYDROGEOLOGIC SYSTEM

MAXIMIZE QUANTIY OF WATER AVAILABLE

MINIMIZE DISTANCE OF SUPPLY TO DEMAND

MINIMIZE PUMPING HEAD AND COSTS FOR DESIRED
QUANITY
Conceptual Model
A descriptive representation of a groundwater system that
incorporates an interpretation of the geological &
hydrological conditions.
DATA REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL
TOPOGRAPHY
SPRINGS, STREAMS, AND OTHER WATER BODIES
SOILS
CROPS
EVAPORATION
PRECIPITATION
OTHER
NATURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF GROUNDWATER
GEOLOGY
GEOMETRY OF AQUIFERS
HYDRAULICS OF THE AQUIFERS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE AQUIFERS
WATER CHEMISTRY
BASELINE DATA
WATER TYPES
SOURCES OF WATER
WATER LEVELS
RECHARGE AND DISCHARGE CHARACTERISTICS
GROUNDWATER EXPLORATION
REQUIREMENTS

PLACEMENT OF BOREHOLES

EXPLORATION DRILLING

PRODUCTION TEST WELL
Steps of exploration
Desk study the existing available information
is assembled to provide an early opportunity to
get a feel for the groundwater system and
start the conceptual modelling process.
Initial reconnaissance it is important to get
to know the study area at rst hand so that
you can plan your eldwork programme.

Monitoring programme denes the variation in groundwater
levels, groundwater chemistry, rainfall, spring and stream ows
etc both across
the area and seasonally.
Data management a systematic way of noting data in the eld
and examining it as it is collected to determine its reliability and if it
represents the groundwater in your study area.
Exploration may include drilling boreholes, pumping tests and
geophysical investigations.
Water balance quanties the volumes of water that are passing
through the groundwater system. Computer simulations may be
used in this process to help dene recharge and ows through the
aquifer.
Completion of the conceptual model and providing a quantied
description of the groundwater system.

PLAN
DEFINE DEMAND AND QUALITY OF WATER DESIRED

LOCATE TYPES OF AQUIFERS IN THE AREA

SCREEN AQUIFER TARGETS WITH RECONNAISSANCE

CARRY OUT AN EXPLORATORY PROGRAM

PERFORM DETAILED HYDROGEOLOGIC TESTING
BOREHOLE PLACEMENT
GEOLOGIC MAPPING

REMOTE SENSING

SURFACE GEOPHYSICS
Remote sensing
Remote sensing
LIDAR
Remote sensing
Geophysics
Located the Aquifer----Now
What???
Drilling ?????
Well Design
Well Design
Thickness of aquifer
Length of screen
Slot size of screen
Blind pipe length
Pump
Annular Space
Bail plug
Seals



WELL DESIGN DEPENDS ON:
THE DRILLING METHOD

THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MATERIAL

THE ESTIMATED YIELD OF THE WELL

THE DEPTH OF THE TARGET AQUIFER
FACTORS IN WELL DESIGN
Drilling method
Drilling fluid - recommended that organic polymers be used
Well diameter - mainly based on pump size
Well depth - the well should fully penetrate the aquifer
Screen - usually required for unconslidated sediment
Gravel pack - used to filter out fines
Construction - based on drilling equipment
Development - the washing of fines and drilling fluids out of the well.
Sand Pack
Sand Pack
Well Screen
Well Construction when using a Cable Tool
Well Construction when using a rotary rig
Rotary Drilled Well in Limestone
Unconsolidated Aquifers
Consolidated Aquifers
DRILLING PROGRAM

SELECTION OF PROPER DRILLING METHOD

COLLECTION OF HYDROGEOLOGIC DATA DURING DRILLING

PERFORMANCE OF HYDROLOGIC TESTS

DEVELOPMENT OF A CONCEPTUAL GROUNDWATER MODEL
DATA COLLECTION DURING DRILLING
STATIC GROUNDWATER LEVELS

GEOLOGIC DATA (rock type, fracture density, etc.)

PENETRATION RATE

WATER QUALITY

GROUNDWATER RECOVERY DATA
DRILLING METHODS
CABLE TOOL
MUD ROTARY
AIR ROTARY
REVERSE CIRCULATION
DIAMOND CORE
GEOPROBE
AUGER

CABLE TOOL
MUD/AIR ROTARY
Rotary drilling relies on continuous circular motion of the bit to break rock at the
bottom of the hole. Rotary drilling is a nearly continuous process,
because cuttings are removed as drilling fluids circulate through the
bit and up the wellbore to the surface.
Roller Bits
Roller bits have three or more cones ("rollers" or "cutters") made with hardened
steel teeth or tungsten carbide inserts of varied shape, length and spacing.
They are designed so that each tooth applies pressure at a different point on the
bottom of the hole as the cones rotate.
The teeth of adjacent cones intermesh so that self-cleaning occurs.
The cutting surfaces of all roller bits are flushed by jets of drilling fluid directed
from the inside (centre) of the bit.
Roller bits exert a crushing and chipping action, making it possible to cut hard
rock formations
If possible, use roller bits for reaming the 10 cm pilot hole open to 15 cm because
they produce minimal amounts of clay smearing etc on borehole walls.
Drag Bits
Drag bits have short blades, each forged to a cutting edge and faced with
tungsten carbide tips.
Short nozzles direct jets of drilling fluid down the faces of the blades to
clean and cool them
Drag bits have a shearing action and cut rapidly in sands, clays and some
soft rock formations. However, it does not work well in coarse gravel or
hard-rock formations.
Drag bits should be used to drill pilot holes because they produce
cuttings which are easiest to log.
Drilling Fluid (mud) is used too
Lift soil/rock cuttings from the bottom of the borehole and carry them to a
settling pit;
Allow cuttings to drop out in the mud pit so that they are not re-circulated
(influenced by mud thickness, flow rate in the settling pits and shape/size of the
pits);
Prevent cuttings from rapidly settling while another length of drill pipe is being
added (if cuttings drop too fast, they can build-up on top of the bit and seize it in
the hole);
Create a film of small particles on the borehole wall to prevent caving and to
ensure that the upward-flowing stream of drilling fluid does not erode the
adjacent formation;
Seal the borehole wall to reduce fluid loss (minimizing volumes of drilling fluid is
especially important in dry areas where water must be carried from far away);
Cool and clean the drill bit; and
Lubricate the bit, bearings, mud pump and drill pipe .

REVERSE CIRCULATION
DIAMOND CORE
GEOPROBE
Hollow Stem Auger
Drilling Equipment:

DRILL RIG
TORQUE
(foot-pounds)
BORING
DEPTH
WELL DEPTH
2 4 6 8
CME 95 30,000 250 + 250 250 140 120
CME 850 15,100 140' 140' 100' 40' -
MARL M10 21,000 210 200 200 100 100
Marl M5T 5,000 150 100" 100
- -
MOBILE B-61 20,000 200 180 160 80 80
MOBILE B-53 6,000 140 120 100 40 -
Hollow Stem Auger
WELL COMPLETION
WELL EFFICIENCY
REASONS FOR POOR WELL EFFICIENCY
POOR CHOICE OF WELL SCREEN
POOR DISTRIBUTION OF SCREEN
OPENINGS
INSUFFICIENT LENGHTH OF WELL SCREEN
POORLY SIZE GRAVEL PACK

PUMPING TESTS
How easily water flows through the ground
into a well.
Pumping in a controlled way
Predetermined rates
Measuring the resulting effects on water
levels in both the pumping well and
observation well

Types of Pumping tests
Proving tests
Step tests
Impact tests
Aquifer tests
Tests on single boreholes



PLANNING
Length of test
Pumping rate
Discharge
Water levels
Observation wells
Other observations
Pre-test monitoring
Safety

Pumps
Surface suction
Submersible
Airlift pumping
On site measurements
Pumping rate
Water level measurements
Comments
PRODUCTION TEST WELL WITH OBSERVATION WELLS
STEP TESTS
(VARIABLE RATE)
USED TO EVALUATE
Degree of development
Well efficiency
Well changes over time
MEHODOLOGY
Well pumped at variable rates (steps)
Specific capacity at various rates determined and plotted vs flow
Aquifer and well loss calculated
B = aquifer loss (turbulent flow) (y axis intercept)
C = well loss (slope of the specific capacity vs flow line)
Efficiency = BQ/(BQ + CQ
2
) x 100


WELL EFFICIENCY EVALUATED