Stock Wells
The following is a link to videos taken with a down hole camera, courtesy of Goodwell, Inc. http://goodwellinc.com/services.html
Taking over existing wells in a production field can be a very cost effective way to get stock water. It can seem very appealing to take over every well in the field. This can be the best option for some landowners. It can also be a good time to think about a large scale stock water system. Numerous individual wells can be viable stock water option for some people, but in many cases a well and storage tank system attached to a pipeline can be a more reliable and cheaper system. Pumping one or two wells for an allotted time every day to a storage tank means less wear and longer life for you pump. There are also fewer maintenance or repair costs for one or two wells than for several. Most of these wells are deeper wells than most people have the equipment available to service. Just the cost to mobilize a rig to come out and work on your well can be expensive, before you even consider the parts or actual repair costs.
The process to convert a CBM well to a stock well is as follows:
1. Energy company will pull their down hole equipment and cement the well to approximately 100ft above the coal seam.
2. Energy company will often provide a log of the well.
3. Landowner obtains a new well permit for the site. This must be done for every well the landowner would like to take over. These permits are issued and are must have a completion report filed with the State Engineers Office within 12 months or they are void. Extensions may be granted for the completion report depending on the situation.
4. Landowner hires a well company to convert the well.
a. The company may suggest a neutron log, which is more accurate a way to detect the water bearing zones than what may be provided by the energy company that is abandoning the well.
b. The company will read the log and decide where to perforate the casing to cause water to come into the casing. The process to this point can cost in the neighborhood of $5,000-$6,000.
c. The perforations are often successful, especially with a good log in an area the well company is familiar with. If a well company is not familiar with the groundwater formations in your area, or if your log is bad, and sometimes for no reason at all, the perforation may not be successful and may need to be done again in a different zone.
5. Once the well is perforated and producing water the well company will set up the down hole equipment, such as your pump. The cost here, depending on your water requirements, depth, etc. can be up to an additional $10,000.
6. The land owner can expect costs ranging from $5,000-$15,000 when all is said and done depending on the depth, accuracy of the log used, type of pump needed and a number of other factors.
The best way to get a good idea about potential cost and process is to contact a well company in your area. Several companies in the area have done work with these types of conversions and are very knowledgeable about the process and costs.
The process to convert a CBM well to a stock well is as follows:
1. Energy company will pull their down hole equipment and cement the well to approximately 100ft above the coal seam.
2. Energy company will often provide a log of the well.
3. Landowner obtains a new well permit for the site. This must be done for every well the landowner would like to take over. These permits are issued and are must have a completion report filed with the State Engineers Office within 12 months or they are void. Extensions may be granted for the completion report depending on the situation.
4. Landowner hires a well company to convert the well.
a. The company may suggest a neutron log, which is more accurate a way to detect the water bearing zones than what may be provided by the energy company that is abandoning the well.
b. The company will read the log and decide where to perforate the casing to cause water to come into the casing. The process to this point can cost in the neighborhood of $5,000-$6,000.
c. The perforations are often successful, especially with a good log in an area the well company is familiar with. If a well company is not familiar with the groundwater formations in your area, or if your log is bad, and sometimes for no reason at all, the perforation may not be successful and may need to be done again in a different zone.
5. Once the well is perforated and producing water the well company will set up the down hole equipment, such as your pump. The cost here, depending on your water requirements, depth, etc. can be up to an additional $10,000.
6. The land owner can expect costs ranging from $5,000-$15,000 when all is said and done depending on the depth, accuracy of the log used, type of pump needed and a number of other factors.
The best way to get a good idea about potential cost and process is to contact a well company in your area. Several companies in the area have done work with these types of conversions and are very knowledgeable about the process and costs.
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