Hydrogeologic Repository and Colombia Water Well Installation, September 2018

Abstract

US Naval Forces Southern Command U.S. 4th Fleet focused on subject matter expert exchanges in water well construction efforts in Colombia, South America. U.S. Forces Southern Command U.S. 4th Fleet coordinated with 22 Naval Construction Regiment (22NCR) and the U.S. Embassy to access the technical expertise on water well site selection, design, and installation efforts. Technical expertise was provided by Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (EXWC), 22NCR, and the Seabees. NAVFAC EXWC provided hydrogeologic and engineering technical field support to the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion One-Thirty-Three (NMCB 133) water well team for the Southern Partnership Station 2018 Water Well Project. NAVFAC EXWC and NMCB 133 successfully installed an 800-foot-deep water well in Riohacha, Colombia. This process utilized a 6-5/8-inch outer diameter and stainless steel threading casing, including 200 feet of wire wrap screen (0.020-inch) set within two-water production bearing zones. The team targeted, water screened through separate water bearing zones below ground surface to provide clean water to an indigenous Wayuu tribal village in a sub-arid region near Riohacha, Colombia. The area has experienced multiple consecutive years of drought, and the local community needed better access to clean drinking water. The Team intended the well to improve the well-being of those affected by the drought and alleviate problems caused by the scarcity of water. Well development efforts included using airlifting and dual swab methods during the initial phase, followed by a second airlift phase with an Aqua Clear PFD solution application, followed by the surging and purging of the well. The team calculates the preliminary water well yield that ranged up to 98 gallons per minute, producing good (“sweet”) water production capacity with minimal drawdown. Following the completion of the well, geologists and drillers remained onsite to complete the final pump installation, well testing, and the installation of utility infrastructure for water distribution. The Colombian Ministry of Water informed the U.S. Navy that this effort has turned out to be the only fresh water well in the entire drought stricken region. The well is currently producing up to 60 gpm, filling up tanker trucks with the capability of holding up to 2,000 gallons of water, and successfully hauling fresh drinking water daily to over 20 local villages.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90372 © 2020 AAPG Pacific Section Convention, 2020 Vision: Producing the Future, Mandalay Beach, Oxnard, CA, April 4-8, 2020 (Cancelled)