The use of cement

The use of cement and the cementing of steel well casings in well bores dates back to the early twentieth century. Oil well drilling contractors needed a method to permanently separate water from oil producing zones. They found that grouting was the answer and that it was more permanent than packers which were then so commonly used.

However, it was only a matter of a few years before water well contractors became aware of its desirability for the completion of water wells. For years its use was confined to large and deep wells.

The cementing equipment used then, and still used, for placing cement grout was heavy and expensive to operate. This fact made the well operators drilling home and farm wells reluctant to use it for their work, in spite of the fact that the proper use of cement could solve many problems.

Much has been published, catalogs are available, and cementing service companies stand ready to serve the needs of the contractor to do the bigger jobs, but the residential well driller who is confronted with cementing jobs is often at a loss to know just how to proceed.

He knows how to pump water, and the kind of pump to handle drilling mud, but cement is something different. He may think that cementing a surface pipe or liner in place means a shut down period to allow the grout to set before drilling out. This spells loss of revenue.

Cementing services are not available at his regular supply house, nor is he able to buy a cementing rig that is in the size range for his needs.

This chapter is not written to deal with the larger wells, but rather to offer some suggestions that may help a driller specializing in smaller wells to do a better job.