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Types and Usages of Drilling Fluids Utilized to Install Monitoring Wells Associated with Metals and Radionuclide Ground Water Studies
Author(s) -
Ericson Wayne A.,
Brinkman James E.,
Darr Paul S.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
groundwater monitoring and remediation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1745-6592
pISSN - 1069-3629
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6592.1985.tb00916.x
Subject(s) - tailings , drilling fluid , uranium , drilling , groundwater , aquifer , radionuclide , water well , contamination , geology , petroleum engineering , environmental science , gypsum , mining engineering , waste management , geotechnical engineering , engineering , metallurgy , materials science , ecology , paleontology , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
Evaluation for metal and radionuclide contamination associated with selected inactive uranium mill tailings repositories required the installation of monitoring wells in both shallow unconfined and deep artesian aquifer systems. To prevent ionic exchange between the dissolved cationic metals and the cations in bentonitic drilling fluids, organic‐based fluids were used during the drilling and installation of monitoring wells. Experience gained at three western U.S. sites involving inactive uranium mill tailings indicates organic drilling fluids can be used to advance drill holes in soil materials ranging from saturated silts and fine sands to unsaturated gravels. However, it has been determined that certain types of these organic fluids can clog very narrow screen slots and remain present in well discharge, even after several hours of well cleaning. Certain types of organic drilling fluids appear to be preferable for these types of water chemistry studies.