WorldWide Drilling Resource

37 SEPTEMBER 2015 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® The Iowa Saga Part 3 Though very reluctant, but since the cost of a dry hole would at least cover his expenses, at my insistence the drilling contractor finally agreed to drill on Jim’s selected site. It was agreed that if no satisfactory water source was discovered on the site, we would then go back to drill on the farmer’s land. I stayed home the day the drilling was to commence to secretly apply some of the knowledge Jim had given me on what to look for during the drilling process. Most of the existing wells in the area are between 170 and 200 feet in depth, with the wells further to the south of my property approaching over 300 feet in depth. The drill crew made the assumption that if we were going to hit water in this area, it would be around 180 feet. Drilling commenced, and soon we were at a depth of 150 feet, and I could tell the crew was starting to become uneasy especially with a few false positives thrown at us. At 160 feet, I started to notice a change in the color of the clay being spit out of the drilling hole. Instead of the normal red- dish brown, this clay was whiter in color. The contractor said it was a good sign, but he still wasn’t in the type of formation he was looking for, so drilling continued. At approximately 162 feet he said, “We’re in water!” He then decided to drill a bit deeper to determine the thickness of the water-bearing formation. He stopped drilling at 168 feet and said, “We’re in a good formation, but we won’t know what it’ll yield until we put a pump in and test it.” Over the next four weeks, we tested the well by placing a demand on it almost contin- uously. After determining the well would produce and maintain at least 5 gallons per minute, we trenched a water line over to my storage cis- tern. As I am now approaching the one-year mark, I honestly think Jim has finally solved our water problems. Due to all of the history and thoroughly understanding how my previ- ous two wells responded, this well has never faltered. During the operation of the previous two failed wells, water was very inconsistent even after immediately being placed in-service. During the operation of my previous two wells, I remember numerous occasions where the cistern float would be low enough to kick the pump on and though starting out strong, even- tually the flow would end up in a trickle. I can honestly say, with this new well, I have yet to find the cistern not full. We can do laundry, take showers, wash dishes, confidently fill the horse tank, and do other watering. Of course, old habits are slow to die, and I still find myself going out to check the water level in the cis- tern, only to find the pump “off” and the cistern completely full! I’m not one to necessari ly bel ieve in divine intervention, but in this case I truly believe someone or something had a hand in our paths crossing. For this, I am truly thank- ful. Jim sti l l keeps in contact with me and reassures me not to worry, and for that I am grateful. Rod McKnight Logan, Iowa Jim Jim Kuebelbeck may be contacted via e-mail to michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com Through the Back Door! by Jim Kuebelbeck