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Phone:
(250) 746-5268
Fax:
(250) 746-8404
Toll Free:
1-(800) 746-7444
Drillwell
Enterprises Ltd
4994 Polkey Road
Duncan, BC
V9L 6W3
Canada
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Hydro-Fracturing
Hydro-Fracturing and Low Yield Water Wells
We at Drillwell are often asked "What is hydro-fracturing?" and
"Can it help me?"
Hydro-fracturing is a technology that was first developed in
the oil and gas industry. The theory behind the technology is
that by injecting high pressure water into rock formations, the
existing cracks, and fissures in the bedrock can be opened and
flushed out, thereby allowing fluids to travel more freely through
the ground. As well, some claim that new fractures can actually
be created in solid rock.
 Here
is how it's done. We lower a packer into the well. ( The packer
is a 4 ft. long gland made of rubber and steel.) When the packer
is in place at it's first setting, we inflate it with water to
approx.1,000 psi. to prevent it from moving in the hole, and to
seal the pressure below it. We then pump water through the packer
using our triplex piston pump, which pumps 65gpm at pressures
up to 2,000 psi.
Rarely does the formation maintain pressures as great as even
1500 psi., before it ' fracs', and the pressure escapes into the
formation. We continue pumping until the pressure stabilizes (
usually 5 to 10 min.) and then we release the packer, and lower
it in the hole for the next setting. A full ' frac.' usually consists
of three settings in the well, and the pumping of about 1,500
gallons of water.
We have been doing hydro-fractures for about 12 years, and have
got the largest volume/pressure system in the province. Consequently
we have been called on to perform this service in Duncan, Shawnigan, Mill Bay, Cobble Hill, Lake Cowichan, Sahtlam, Victoria, Sooke, Sidney, Saanich, Salt Spring, Thetis Island, Chemainus, Crofton, Cedar, Nanaimo, Parksville, Coombs, Merville, Courtenay, Comox, Uclulet, Quadra Island, Sointula, Port McNeill, Port Hardy, Qualicum, Campbell River, Gold River, Port Renfrew, Port Alberni, Powell River, Highlands, Sun Shine Coast, Sunshine Coast, Logan Lake, Merritt, Cache Creek, Kamloops, and Jordan River.
Our most dramatic successes have been in turning wells which
were basically dry, into wells capable of producing 5 to 10 gallons
per minute. More typically though we see wells go from 1 gpm.
or less, to 2 or 3 gpm.
Will hydro-fracturing work for your well? The short answer to
that question is... maybe. It depends on the rock type, the depth
of the well, and the occurrence of good water bearing formations
in a given area. To get more information on hydro-fracturing,
or any other aspect of groundwater and wells please contact
us.
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