Conventional Approaches to Addressing Problems Encountered During Well Drilling (e.g., no water, hard rock layers)

Conventional Approaches to Addressing Problems Encountered During Well Drilling (e.g., no water, hard rock layers)

Encountering difficulties during well drilling is common. The key is to remain calm and work with the construction team to analyze and address the problems using a clear and logical approach. Whether it's failing to find water or encountering hard rock layers, there are conventional solutions.

I. The Most Worrying Problem: No Water or Insufficient Water

When no water is found at the predetermined depth, or the water yield is very low, the following steps can be taken to gradually resolve the issue:

First, calmly assess whether the depth is sufficient:

Analyze surrounding references: Understand the typical depth of water wells in the surrounding area. If the average depth is 100 meters, and you stop at 80 meters, the depth may be insufficient.

Observe rock cuttings samples: Ask the driller to carefully examine the rock cuttings. If it consistently consists of dry, dense clay or intact rock layers, it indicates that the aquifer may not yet have been reached. If moist sand, gravel, or fractured weathered rock appears, even if there is not much water initially, it indicates proximity to an aquifer.

Solution: Discuss with the construction team and, within the limits of the budget and drilling rig capabilities, appropriately deepen the borehole. Often, the water is just a little deeper.

Second, check if the well is "in the wrong location":

Geological structures are complex, and aquifers are not necessarily uniform everywhere. Your well location might be in a "blind spot" of the aquifer.

Solution: This is the most frustrating situation. If deepening the well is still ineffective, you need to frankly assess the situation with the construction team. Possible solutions include: a) drilling another well in a different location on your property; b) accepting the current well as a water storage well and installing a high-powered water pump for "slow and continuous pumping" (i.e., pumping at a low flow rate for a long time to gradually accumulate water). This requires sharing the additional costs according to the contract.

Finally, confirm that the technical aspects are properly implemented:

Even if an aquifer is reached, if the filter layer outside the well casing is improperly filled (e.g., backfilled with mud and sand), or if the well is not thoroughly cleaned, it can prevent water from flowing smoothly into the well.

Solution: Request longer and more thorough well cleaning, using high-pressure air or water to repeatedly flush the well wall and clear the aquifer channels. II. The Most Common Construction Challenge: Encountering Hard Rock Layers

The drill bit struggles to penetrate, leading to slow progress or even complete stoppage. This tests both equipment and patience.

Step One: Identify the Rock Type and Assess its Value:

Is it soft sandstone or hard granite? Determine this by examining the rock cuttings. Some sandstones and shales may contain water.

Approach: If the rock layer is not thick (e.g., a few meters) and potentially contains water, persevere in drilling through it; there might be a better water-bearing layer below. If it's a thick, extremely hard rock layer without water (e.g., solid granite), proceed with caution.

Step Two: Change "Weapons" and Adjust Tactics:

Replace the drill bit: This is essential. Immediately switch to an alloy drill bit, roller cone bit, or a specialized core drill bit. Using a regular drill bit on hard rock is a waste of time and equipment.

Adjust drilling parameters: Use a "slow rotation speed, high pressure" approach, patiently grinding through the rock. Ensure mud circulation to cool the drill bit and remove rock cuttings.

Consider special techniques: For particularly hard boulders or thin layers, special methods such as small-charge blasting may sometimes be used, but this requires a highly professional team.

Step Three: Make Economic and Feasibility Decisions:

If the hard rock layer is too thick, the cost of drilling through it (time, drill bit wear) may far exceed the budget, or even exceed the drilling rig's capabilities.

Approach:  Work with the contractor to calculate the costs. If the cost is too high, a realistic option is to abandon this well and drill a new hole at a slightly different location, avoiding this "hard obstacle." This is more economical than indefinitely wasting time at the same spot.

General Principles for Dealing with Challenges

Regardless of the challenge encountered, remember:

Maintain communication and make joint decisions: You and the contractor are a team working to solve the problem. Stay informed, analyze options, and decide on the next steps together.

Clarify responsibilities and risks: In the contract before construction, it's best to clearly define how risks and costs will be shared in case of special geological conditions (such as thick hard rock or cavities).

Prepare alternative plans: Well drilling has uncertainties; it's best to have a B plan (such as accepting a deeper well or choosing a different well location) both psychologically and financially. In summary, when facing drilling difficulties, the scientific approach is: First, accurately determine the nature of the problem (insufficient depth, incorrect location, or technical issues); then, specifically change methods or tools accordingly (such as deepening the well, changing drill bits, or thoroughly cleaning the well); and finally, make an economically feasible decision based on reality (whether to continue investing to penetrate further or abandon the project and start over). This process requires both technical expertise and your rational judgment as the owner.