Explosives, chemicals, and acids

Explosives, chemicals, and acids

Lest anyone think that only unconsolidated formations make it desirable to develop the well, it should be emphasized that all wells can benefit to an appreciable extent.

As pointed out earlier, rotary drilling methods tend to leave a skin of caked clay and drilling mud on the surface of the borehole.

No well will produce its maximum capacity without this being broken up and removed.

Polyphosphate dispersing agents added to water circulated to replace drilling fluids will give a good start on breaking these up.

The same materials work well where clay formations cause problems.

In hard rock, where the driller is at the mercy of faults and fractures, explosives are often used in attempts to develop greater capacities.

Here, it is important to take into consideration the water pressures which must be overcome before the force of the blast can have any effect on the fractures.

Acids often work well in limestone, which is dissolved by acid.

With fractures and crevices around the open borehole thus opened up, fine particles can be removed from openings more readily when water is pumped from the well.