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Open-File Report 2010–1098
Guidelines and Standard Procedures for Studies of Ground-Water Quality: Selection and Installation of Wells, and Supporting Documentation
Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4233
By Wayne W. Lapham, Franceska D. Wilde, and Michael T. Koterba
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as a 2.1 MB pdf file: WRIR 96-4233
Abstract
This is the first of a two-part report to document guidelines and standard procedures of the U.S. Geological Survey for the acquisition of data in ground-water-quality studies. This report provides guidelines and procedures for the selection and installation of wells for water-quality studies/*, and the required or recommended supporting documentation of these activities. Topics include (1) documentation needed for well files, field folders, and electronic files; (2) criteria and information needed for the selection of water-supply and observation wells, including site inventory and data collection during field reconnaissance; and (3) criteria and preparation for installation of monitoring wells, including the effects of equipment and materials on the chemistry of ground-water samples, a summary of drilling and coring methods, and information concerning well completion, development, and disposition.
CONTENTS
Abstract
Introduction
Purpose and scope
Acknowledgments
Supporting documentation
Well file and field folder
Electronic files
Selection of wells
Well-selection criteria
Location, design, and construction of wells
Pump type and access points
Well capacity
Site inventory
Description of well location and site features
Determination of well elevation
Measurement of water levels
Well-maintenance checks and well-integrity tests
Installation of wells
Well-installation criteria
Well design
Screened, open-hole, and multilevel designs
Well casing and well screens
Casing and screen materials
Design of well screen
Length of well screen
Diameter of casing and screen
Decontamination of equipment and materials
Considerations when collecting
hydraulic, geophysical, and geologic data
Hydraulic data
Borehole-geophysical surveys
Geologic materials
Cores
Drill cuttings
Well construction
Preconstruction preparations
Method-selection considerations
Site characteristics
Drilling fluids
Lubricants
Description of well-construction methods
Auger drilling
Rotary drilling using water or water-based fluid
Air-rotary drilling and casing-driver systems
Cable-tool drilling
Jet-wash and jet-percussion drilling
Direct-push systems and vibration drilling
Well completion
Filter packs
Primary filter pack
Secondary filter pack
Well seals
Annular seal
Surface seal
Characteristics of bentonite and cement as well seals
Protective casing
Well development
Selected methods
Bailing
Mechanical surging
Pumping or overpumping, with backwashing
Indirect eduction
Backwashing
Jetting and surging with water or air
Field screening during development
Well disposition
Examples of forms cited in this report
Selected references
Published reports
Internal documents
Index
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PDF file of the report:
WRI 96-4233
For additional information write to:
U.S. Geological Survey
Office of Water Quality
Mail Stop 412
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, Virginia 20192
Copies of this report may be purchased from:
U.S, Geological Survey
Branch of Information Services
Box 25286
Denver Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225-0286
888-ASK-USGS
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey