WHAT IS A BOREHOLE AND HOW IS IT DONE

What is a borehole

A borehole is a vertical hole drilled into the earth's subsurface for the purpose of obtaining usable water for domestic and industrial purpose

What is borehole drilling for water exploitation 

Borehole drilling is the process of creating a vertical hole down into the ground or earth to access water from the subsurface. Borehole drilling process involves the use of specialized equipment to drill a hole into the earth's subsurface. The depth of a borehole i.e. how deep a borehole is can range from a few metres to a few hundreds of metres deep. 


Borehole drilling process 

1. Pre-Drilling/Preparation Phase 

  1. Siting and point selection: This means to Identify a suitable location for a borehole drilling through geophysical surveys and/or hydrological surveys. 

  1. Documents and permitting: Obtain the necessary documents, permits and approvals from local authorities and associations regulating drilling activities in that area or state before taking the drilling machine to the site. 

  1. Environmental impact assessment: Conduct an environmental impact assessment to ensure the drilling process won't harm the surrounding ecosystem nor mess up the environment or lead to environmental pollution. 

 

2.  Drilling Operations 

  1. Drilling rig/machine setup and mobilization: transporting drilling equipment and personnel to site 

  1. Drilling fluid circulation (mud, water, or air) 

  1. Drill bit selection: selecting the appropriate bit for drilling 

  1. Drilling down through various geological formations 

  1. Logging and monitoring drilling parameters such as depth, drilling rods penetration rate, pressure, etc. 

 

  1. Drilling methods: 

  1. Rotary drilling: Uses a rotating drill bit to cut down through rock formations. 

  1. Percussion drilling: Uses a hammering action to break through rock. 

  1. Down-the-hole hammer (DTH) drilling: this combines rotary and percussion drilling methods with support of air from a compressor to drill through rocks. (click here for more details on drilling methods)  

3.  Borehole Development Phase includes: 

  1. Borehole drilling: drilling of borehole to desired or recommended depth  

  1. Casing: Lowering of steel/plastic casing pipes into the borehole to stabilize the borehole wall and to prevent collapse. 

  1. Borehole screening: Installation of screened casing pipes (slotted pipes) to filter water and prevent sediment from entering into the borehole. 

  1. Gravel packing: this involves the process of filling the annular space between the screen and casing with gravel to improve water flow. 

  1. Cementing: Fill the annular space between the casing and borehole with cement to prevent water infiltration which may pollute the borehole in the future. 

  1. Development: Further development of the borehole through techniques such as pumping, surging, or acidization to increase well yield. 

  1. Demobilization of drilling equipment 

 

4. Borehole completion stage: 

       Borehole/borewell completion involves flushing of the borehole, casing with appropriate and good quality casings (screened and unscreened casings), cementing, and equipping with water pumping installation materials  

5. Testing and Completion Phase 

  1. Pumping test: Measures the borehole yield and water quality. 

  1. Water sampling: Collect water samples for laboratory analysis. 

  1. Well completion: Install a well head, casing, and other surface infrastructure. 

  1. Final testing: Verify the well's performance and water quality. 

6.  Post-Drilling Phase 

  1. Maintenance: Regularly inspect and maintain the borehole to ensure longevity. 

  1. Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of water levels, quality, and flow rates. 

Please note that the specific steps and methods may vary depending on local regulations, geology, and project requirements. 

click here for: The Benefits of Borehole Drilling ,why You Should Consider It

 

 

 

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