Standardized Operating Procedures and Precautions for Well Drilling

Standardized Operating Procedures and Precautions for Well Drilling

Well drilling is a rigorous engineering activity. Following standardized operating procedures and paying attention to key safety precautions are crucial for ensuring well quality, construction efficiency, and personnel safety. Standardization is not rigidity, but rather the transformation of years of practical experience into repeatable and controllable operational steps. Its purpose is to eliminate arbitrariness and achieve controllable management throughout the entire process from start to finish.

A complete standardized procedure typically begins with construction preparation and site survey. Before equipment arrives on site, the well location must be accurately measured and marked according to the design drawings or pre-planned scheme. Simultaneously, the site must be leveled and cleared to ensure the drilling rig has a stable and solid foundation, and mud pits, material storage areas, and safety passages must be planned. At this stage, all equipment, tools, and materials must be checked for completeness and good condition, and clear safety warning signs must be set up. Adequate preparation is a prerequisite for the smooth progress of all subsequent work.

The core drilling and hole formation stages are the key to the process. When starting drilling, a light pressure and slow rotation method should be used. Once the drill bit has smoothly entered the formation, the parameters should be gradually adjusted to normal. During drilling, operators must continuously monitor drilling rig pressure, rotation speed, mud return, and cuttings samples to determine formation changes and record a "formation columnar section." After each drill pipe is drilled, a standardized connection procedure must be performed to ensure unobstructed mud circulation within the borehole; this is crucial to prevent borehole collapse and drill string jamming. All operations at this stage must be performed smoothly, avoiding sudden lifting or lowering. In case of abnormalities (such as stuck drill bit or water leakage), the contingency plan must be followed; blind operation is strictly prohibited.

Once the borehole reaches the predetermined depth, the process transitions to casing installation, gravel filling, and well completion. First, a thorough "mud flushing" is necessary until clear water returns to the borehole, ensuring borehole stability and unobstructed aquifer flow. Then, the prefabricated well casing (filter pipe and solid pipe) is accurately and vertically lowered into the borehole. Next, the annular space between the well casing and the borehole wall is evenly filled with screened gravel (filter material), which serves to filter water and retain sand. Afterwards, powerful well flushing is required using equipment such as pistons and air compressors to remove fine particles from the filter media and aquifer until the water output stabilizes and the water is clear and free of sand. This stage demands meticulous operation to ensure the well casing is centered and the filter media is properly filled.

Safety and quality precautions throughout the entire process are the soul of the standardized procedure. Regarding personnel safety, all operators must wear appropriate protective equipment. Adjusting or cleaning moving parts is strictly prohibited while the drilling rig is running, and no one is allowed to stand below the drilling tools when they are being raised or lowered. For equipment safety, critical components such as wire ropes, braking systems, and connectors must be inspected daily. Regarding quality control, the final acceptance standards for well depth, well inclination, water output, and water quality must be strictly adhered to, and complete construction records must be maintained. Furthermore, after construction, the site must be cleaned up, and waste mud must be properly disposed of to protect the environment. Only by deeply integrating standardized procedures with a strict safety and quality awareness can a high-quality, durable, and safe well be delivered.