| Hydrogeology & Hydrology Program | |
| Southern Maryland Project | contact: David Drummond, Project chief (drummond@mgs.md.gov) |
[Drilling | Sediment Sampling | Geophysical Log | Well Construction | Pumping Test]
Six observation wells are to be installed in St. Mary's, Charles and Calvert counties. These wells will allow us to gather information on the groundwater behavior in the Patapsco aquifer, which assists us in modelling future pumping scenarios.
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Drillers adding a rod on the drill rig. |
The borehole for each well is drilled using direct rotary
drilling. In this method of drilling, a tri-cone drill bit is rotated
in order to dig through the sediment. The loose sediment (called the
'cuttings') is then carried to the surface by drilling fluid, which
is pumped down the inside of the drilling pipe and forced back to the
surface along the borehole wall. In order to drill deeper, an additional
piece of drill pipe (called a 'rod') is attached after every 20 feet
drilled.
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| Mud pits are temporarily excavated to assist with drill fluid circulation during drilling. As the drilling fluid exits the borehole, it flows into the first mud pit where the cuttings settle out of the fluid. The drilling fluid then passes through a shallow channel into a second pit. The drilling fluid is reused by pumping it into the borehole from the second pit. |
Photo of mud pit. |
updated 5/24/01
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