Developing the Well

Developing the Well

Development of reverse rotary constructed wells is usually handled with a turbine pump and engine drive. Pump capacity is usually that of the well plus 50%. In this way the well is pumped and back washed at a much higher capacity than required in order to assure the owner of obtaining contract capacity as a minimum.

Development continues until no sands are pumped and the water is free of turbidity. With reverse rotary constructed wells, developing time is generally less than wells drilled by other methods. After development is completed the usual test pumping is performed. Length of pumping varies with the demands of the specifications and with the capability of the formations in the area involved.

In some instances surge blocks are used in the initial development stages. In some other cases air is used to develop the screen zones. In any case, the idea is to remove the finer sands from the formation in order to have a clean supply of fresh, clear water.

The surge blocks, air and turbine backwashing loosen the finer sand grains and pull them into the well through the gravel pack material. The violent action sometimes cleans up the formation faster than straight pumping. This insures the well owner that he will have a well free of the bothersome sand condition which occurs when a well is not fully and completely developed prior to completion.

The reverse rotary method of drilling water wells is the finest to date for major size sand drilling. This method, introduced twenty years ago, has become highly competitive in the past ten years. The rigs are constantly being improved upon and therefore become more complicated.

Service and maintenance is practically non-stop as the rigs are run on a twenty-four hour basis as often as possible