25 APRIL 2021 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Environmental Monitoring by Thomas Kwader, Ph.D., P.G. Owner, Qwater Well Developer and WorldWide Drilling Resource® Hydrogeologist Listen to What Your Borehole is Telling You Since we cannot see underground, we must rely on information obtained from the rig, and cuttings brought to the surface during drilling of the borehole. One of the oldest and still popular methods of drilling wells is the mud rotary method. The mud rotary method relies on mud being circulated through the drill string to the bit and the mud returning to the surface with the cuttings, which are removed by the circulating mud. Information regarding the permeability of the formation is obtained by monitoring the flow of the mud returning from the borehole. Ideally, mud should be mixed as thin as possible to maintain circulation in the borehole. Thick mud can be nearly impossible to break down and remove from the borehole wall. If the mud is too thin, the borehole wall can collapse and possibly lock the drill string in place. Permeable zones will “drink” the mud, indicating a good flow into the zone, which should also provide abundant water from that same zone. Once drilling has penetrated a sufficient length of permeable formation, a well screen may be set to hold the section of the borehole open to allow water to flow into the well. For water to flow into the well, the drilling mud must be removed to allow sufficient flow through the well screen. If the mud is too thick, the process of removing it can be very difficult due to the strength of the gel coating the surface of the borehole. Surging water in and out of the well using a snugly fitting surge block can help develop the well. Surging forces water in and out of the screen, which should be occasionally pumped out and removed with a bailer. If the mud cake is difficult to remove, chemicals may be added to help break down the mud cake. Examples of mud disbursement chemicals include Baroid Industrial Drilling Product’s AQUA-CLEAR® PFD polymer dispersant and CETCO®’s BMR™ (Bentonite Mud Remover) to name a few of the products available. Continue the surging process until the mud cake breaks down and the borehole begins producing water. Much information comes during the drilling of the borehole; however, the information is often subtle and very soft-spoken. Tom Tom Kwader may be contacted via e-mail to michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com ENV Congratulati ons to : Curt is E. Lipham Sonora Chemical & Supply Anson, TX Winner for March! Time for a Little Fun! March Puzzle Solution: MUD MIX RATIO SLURRY POLYMER ADDITIVE DENSITY VISCOSITY Replace one letter in each word in Column A to form an editorial focus word across from it in Column B. Put the replaced letter in Column C to form a word reading from top to bottom. Win a prize! Send completed puzzle to: WWDRPO Box 660 Bonifay, FL 32425 fax: 850-547-0329 or e-mail: michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com B _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ A STEP HALLOW CONSTRICT ANGER PROTECT C __ __ __ __ __ A guy spotted a sign outside of a house that read “Talking Dog for Sale.” Intrigued, he walked up to the dog on the porch and asked, “So what have you done with your life?” “I’ve led a very full life,” the dog said. “I lived in the Alps rescuing avalanche victims. Then, I served my country in Iraq. Now, I spend my days reading to the residents of a retirement home.” The guy was flabbergasted. He went to the dog’s owner and asked, “Why on earth would you want to get rid of an incredible dog like that?” The owner said, “Because he’s a liar! He never did any of that!”
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