What is a Drilled Well?

A drilled well consists of a hole bored (a borehole) into the ground, with the upper part or the entire depth of the well being lined with casing. Drilling is most typically conducted with a portable drilling machine brought to the site to construct the borehole. Various methods are used to advance the borehole to the necessary depth, and to remove formation material loosened and suspended by the drilling bit and fluid circulation or bailing system.

The casing prevents the collapse of the borehole walls and (with other well components such as a drive shoe or grout seal) prevents surface or subsurface contaminants from entering the water supply. The casing also provides a housing for a pumping mechanism and for the pipe that moves water from the pump to the surface.

The quality of materials used in well construction is an important factor. Casing must meet certain standards and specifications, since substandard pipe does not have sufficient strength to withstand driving and formation collapse pressure without potential damage to the joints. Such damage may allow shallow or surface water to enter the well. Casing may be one of various classes of steel or thermoplastic, typically PVC.

Some casing is driven into the ground (cable tool drilling or casing advancement with rotary methods). This casing (always steel) must also have a drive shoe attached to the bottom to prevent damage during driving and to make a good seal with the formation. PVC casing is joined and lowered into a borehole larger than the casing. In most applications, a grout seal of cement or bentonite may also be recommended to prevent contamination.

Below the casing, the lower portion of the borehole is the intake through which water enters the well. The intake may be an open hole in solid bedrock or it may be screened and gravel-packed, depending upon the geologic conditions.

Once the well is completed, it is bailed or pumped to develop the well and determine the yield. Most areas need further work (known as “development”) after drilling to remove fine material remaining from the drilling process so that water can more readily enter the well. Possible development methods include compressed air (blowing), bailing, jetting, surging, or pumping. The quantity of water (yield test) is usually measured during development, prior to a pumping test. The minimum test time is one hour.

After proper disinfection, the well is capped to provide sanitary protection until it is hooked into the customer’s system. Well caps require an air vent. The purpose of the vent is to equalize the air pressure between the inside of the casing and the atmosphere, and to release unpleasant or explosive lighter-than-air gases. If such gases are present and the well is enclosed in a building or confined space, the air vent should always be extended to the outside atmosphere. The vent pipe must be shielded and screened to prevent the entry of foreign material such as insects into the well.

If drilling produces poor quality water, the water can be sealed off. One method is to install additional casing or liner inside the original casing and grout it into place. If the water quality remains unsatisfactory, or if construction defects cannot be remedied, the well must be abandoned and completely sealed to prevent cross-contamination between sites.