Water Well Performance Workshop
Water wells are an important asset for those organizations involved in public water supply, groundwater monitoring and remediation, and aquifer storage and recovery. With constant growth making adequate well sites more and more difficult to obtain, well owners have to place more emphasis on the longevity of their existing and future assets.
This full-day workshop will benefit anyone involved in any way with water wells. Eight regional and national experts will join forces to provide much-needed information on critical topics.
Workshop Moderator: Marvin Glotfelty, R.G., Clear Creek Associates, Scottsdale, AZ
Date/Time: Wednesday, August 29, 2007, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PMLocation: Westin La Paloma, meeting room TBA
Cost: $200 per person, or $150 per person with 2-day symposium registration
Provided: Lunch, breaks, handouts, networking
Number of participants: Minimum 20, Maximum 70
Registration deadline: August 10. Workshop will be canceled (and refunds issued) if minimum number of registrants is not met by this date.
| Workshop Schedule (details provided below) | |
|---|---|
| 7:00-8:00 | Registration |
| 8:00-8:30 | Introductions, Martin Glotfelty |
| 8:30-9:00 | 1. Introduction to Water Well Performance, Stuart Smith |
| 9:00-10:00 | 2. Groundwater Asset Management, Phillip Brown |
| 10:00-10:15 | Break |
| 10:15-11:15 | 3. Economic Considerations, Blaine Reely |
| 11:15-11:45 | 4. Microbiological Impacts on Well Performance, Stuart Smith |
| 11:45-12:45 | Lunch (provided) and networking opportunity |
| 12:45-1:45 | 5. Well Rehabilitation Methods, Geoffrey Bates |
| 1:45-2:45 | 6. Procedures and Mechanics of Chemical Rehabilitation Methods, Kevin McGinnis |
| 2:45-3:00 | Break |
| 3:00-4:00 | 7. Water Well Flow Profiling, Ned Clayton and Noah Heller |
| 4:00-5:00 | 8. Free consulting |
| 5:00 | Adjourn to trade show event |
Workshop Introductions and Moderator
(Marvin F. Glotfelty, R.G., Principal Hydrogeologist and co-founder of the Clear Creek Associates)Introduction to Well Performance
(Stuart Smith, CGWP, Smith-Comeskey Ground Water Science, Upper Sandusky, OH)- Very brief review of formation, well construction and design issues that affect performance: knowing what to expect, optimization of well life in design and construction
- Well development and how it affects performance: What, why, and how to optimize results during new construction and redevelopment
- Testing well performance to benchmark and determine well hydraulic characteristics: what you need to do briefly
Groundwater Asset Management
(Phillip Brown, Golder Associates, Portland, OR) Asset management (AM) in the drinking water industry is a relatively new trend, though there is increasing recognition of the value in optimizing the investment in groundwater supply systems. Benefits of bringing an AM perspective to groundwater supply systems include improved planning and budgeting for the most cost-effective system improvements, and planning for operational changes to meet regulatory requirements. Another benefit is the reduction of the number of emergency shut-downs and overall system O&M costs through implementation of a scheduled maintenance and rehabilitation program. This presentation will address the following topics:- The regulatory background (GASB 34)
- Asset Management defined with focus on groundwater supply systems
- Description of some approaches for asset-tracking, condition assessment of groundwater supply wells, risk assessment approaches, prioritization, planning, and implementation
- Review the elements that contribute to the efficiency of a groundwater supply system
- Review well inspection and evaluation methods
- A summary of asset management benefits to groundwater supply systems
Economic Considerations
(Blaine Reely, PhD, Efficiency Analysts International, Tucson, AZ)Dr. Reely will offer a discussion of the principal elements affecting
economics to be considered when planning, designing and operating water
supply wells. His discussion will be based on hundreds of operating cost
audits he has conducted on groundwater based water supply systems throughout
the world. Specific elements that may be considered will include site
selection; drilling methods; well development & testing procedures; well
design; pump selection; well operational strategies; prime mover energy
sources; utility tariff selection; and others as may be pertinent.
Microbiological Impacts on Well Performance
(Stuart Smith, CGWP, Smith-Comeskey Ground Water Science, Upper Sandusky, OH)Microbiological influence on clogging and corrosion: Not theoretical
in the desert - the mechanisms of microbial well clogging and corrosion,
design and planning decisions to mitigate impacts.
Well Rehabilitation Methods
(Geoffrey Bates, P.G., General Pump Company, San Dimas, CA)Redevelopment is a "team effort project" and not a sales opportunity. Not everyone can be an expert or provide all the solutions - and be wary of those who are. Redevelopment is not "cookbook" and requires the implementing contractor, consultant, and owner to understand the limitations of each tool in relation to the downhole environment in which they are to be used.
Each year new products are introduced into the R & I market, chemical and mechanical methods, and proprietary and experimental tools. How do Contractors, Consultants and Owners weed through this maze of new products and gadgets, and what degree of risk does each bring and how should they be tested and measured.
Covered in this presentation will be basic mechanical tools and chemicals (old and new), and their applications. Examples of how key data are used to select the right tools and chemicals, and basic questions that a well Owner could ask to more effectively evaluate the redevelopment process proposed by a Contractor and Consultant. Throughout the presentation, a few newer tools and products will be introduced for your consideration and review.
Procedures and Mechanics of Chemical Rehabilitation Methods
(Kevin McGinnis, President, Cotey Chemicals, Lubbock, TX)This workshop will focus on practical, cost-effective solutions to water well cleaning and rehabilitation. Our discussion will include the most commonly used chemical methods for improving well performance, chemicals used in the industry, mechanical cleaning methods and most importantly, matching the correct solution to the problem.
Water Well Flow Profiling Pt. I: Water Well Flow Profiling in Open Boreholes (Pre-Completion) and Cased Wells Using Oilfield-Developed Geophysical Logging Techniques
(Ned Clayton, Senior Engineer, Schlumberger Water Services)An overview of geophysical logging approaches for determining water well flow profiles will be provided, including advanced technologies developed in the petroleum industry and now being applied in water wells. Innovative techniques for estimating the flow profile for the entire well section prior to well completion, enabling optimal well design, will be presented. These techniques are based on a robust high-resolution, continuous-in-depth evaluation of flow potential from advanced borehole geophysical logs, including magnetic resonance imaging. Traditional approaches for measuring downhole flow in completed wells, including spinner flowmeters and temperature logs, also will be covered. In addition, an innovative oxygen-activation velocity profiling technique, that can also measure vertical flow behind casing, will be introduced. Measurement principles, analysis and interpretation, and examples will be discussed for these different techniques.
Pt. II: Production Well Profiling Without Pump Removal: Technical Case Histories
(Noah Heller, President, BESST, Inc.)Noah Heller will provide an overview of methods to address problems faced by water well owners with depth-specific contamination, well construction uncertainties, difficult well casing access, and others. A system co developed by BESST, Inc. and the USGS is effective at depth-discrete sampling and flow velocity profiling in operating production wells without interruption of service. Data from the procedure can then be used for “down-hole” remediation. By manipulating well hydraulics, contamination levels at the well head can be reduced.
The workshop will conclude with an hour session of "free consulting" where participants will have the opportunity to pose questions about their own well-performance situations to the entire panel of presenters. Immediately following this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to attend the symposium ice breaker which will be held in the exhibit hall. Participants will be able to interact with vendors and contractors involved in all aspects of well performance and rehabilitation. Please see the web page as we develop more details regarding each presenter's session.