[The Well] Making air
Ezeagu, Adrian
What are the implication of introducing air into the formation during well development, through the use of airlifting techniques. How does this affect subsequent development of the well. Has anybody had any problems with air production during well development even though you may have more that adequate column of water above the pump intake.
Adrian Ezeagu, RG
Cell: (517) 214 -5732
Fax: (602)-231-0131
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Gary Burchard
It is definitely possible to inject air into the formation if the drilling contractor isn’t careful. In the ounce of prevention category, a good driller will design their air-lift pump to evacuate water from the well and not blow air into the formation. I always find it helpful, and educational for me, to sit down with the driller and discuss how they determined the amount of submergence, psi, and air flow rate necessary for the particular situation. The Roscoe Moss book Handbook of Ground Water Development has a nice appendix on this topic.
Once the deed has been done, then everything becomes more difficult because the entrapped air can seriously reduce the permeability of the formation. And it will likely stay that way for a long time until the air either works its way out or dissolves into the water. It’s hard to adequately develop a well if we can’t move enough volume of water to carry out the fines that need removing. Whether there could be enough air to cause cavitation, I’m sorry, I don’t have enough knowledge to say.
I hope this hasn’t happened to you; it’s a scary question to read. Good luck!
Gary C. Burchard, R.G.
Hydrogeologist
Metropolitan Domestic Water Improvement District
P.O. Box 36870
Tucson, AZ 85740
Phone: (520) 575-8100
Fax: (520) 575-8454
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Adrian
Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 8:07 AM
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Subject: [The Well] Making air
What are the implication of introducing air into the formation during well development, through the use of airlifting techniques. How does this affect subsequent development of the well. Has anybody had any problems with air production during well development even though you may have more that adequate column of water above the pump intake.
Adrian Ezeagu, RG
Cell: (517) 214 -5732
Fax: (602)-231-0131
This e-mail together with any attachments is confidential and may be the subject of legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, please reply to this e-mail and delete this message. Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. accepts no responsibility for changes made to this e-mail or any attachments after transmission from Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.
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Ezeagu, Adrian
Thanks Gary. I will look up the Handbook.
Adrian Ezeagu, RG
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