Well Screens and Development Techniques
You may also wish to see:
- Technical Guidance for Well Construction and Ground Water Protection
- Detailed text and illustrations of well construction methods for a
variety of end uses and geologic settings.
- (Download PDF File 1.4 megs)
A well screen is a filtering device that allows ground water from unconsolidated and semiconsolidated
aquifers to enter the well while at the same time keeping the majority of sand and gravel out of the well
and out of the pump. A screen also supports the aquifer material and prevents the borehole from
collapsing. A well developed in a porous but consolidated aquifer such as a sandstone or limestone does
not need a screen.
Types of Screens
Screens used by drillers in Ohio include continuous slot screens, slotted PVC screens, and slotted or perforated pipe screens.
Continuous slot screens are often the best choice for use in unconsolidated sand and gravel aquifers.
They are constructed by winding and attaching a triangular strand of wire or PVC around a set of
vertical rods. The triangular design is used with the flat face towards the aquifer and the triangular
face towards the pump. This design allows small particles to pass completely through the screen without
becoming wedged in and clogging the screen. Well screens are classified by the width of the opening in
inches. For example, a number 10 slot screen has openings .010 inches wide.
Slotted PVC screens are constructed by machine cutting slots into PVC pipe. Advantages of using
slotted PVC screens are ease of installation, corrosion resistance, and relatively lower cost. The
biggest disadvantage is they often have less than half the open area of a continuous slot screen and
therefore are not as efficient.
Slotted or perforated pipe screens are constructed by cutting or drilling slots or holes in the bottom
joint of steel casing. Although this method is often used by drillers in Ohio, it is also very
inefficient. Problems associated with perforated pipe occur due to the low percentage of open screen
area with the openings rarely being small enough to hold back fine sand. While perforated pipe is
initially the least expensive option, it will, over time reduce the life of both your pump and well.
Selecting the Proper Slot Size
Once the need for a screen has been established, it is necessary to select the proper slot size. This
slot size is determined by examining and analyzing the cuttings recovered from the borehole. A slot size
is then selected which allows water to freely enter the well while holding back the majority of the
aquifer material. If the slot size is too large, sand will pass through the screen along with the water,
go through the pump and enter the distribution lines. This not only is a nuisance, it will also cause
excessive wear on the pump, thus shortening the life of the pump. If the slot size is too small, water
will not freely enter the well which can erroneously give the impression that the well is running dry.
This condition also makes the pump work harder, shortening it's effective lifetime.
Filter Packs
Filter packs are well sorted gravels or coarse sands placed into the borehole surrounding the screened
interval. This "packed" zone separates the screen from the natural aquifer material and increases the
effective borehole diameter. The filter pack should extend several feet above the top of the screen to
allow for settling during development. The screen slot size is selected to retain approximately 90% of
the filter pack material after development. The use of a filter pack generally allows the use of a
larger slot size which translates into a more efficient and longer lasting well.
Setting Well Screens
Setting the screen in the well can differ depending on the type of drilling rig performing the task.
The most common way of setting well screens that can be done by both cable tool and rotary drillers is
the pull-back method. This method involves driving or lowering the casing through the aquifer and to the
bottom of the hole. The screen is fully lowered inside the casing and then the casing is pulled back to
expose the screen to the aquifer. A riser pipe is often attached to the top of the screen to prevent the
screen from slipping out of the casing by pulling the casing back too far. Rotary drillers can also set
the casing and the screen as a single unit. The screen is welded or threaded to the casing and the
casing is slowly lowered into the hole with casing centralizers attached every 20 to 40 feet to keep the
casing and screen centered in the borehole. The metal composition of the casing and screen should be the
same to prevent galvanic corrosion.
Developing Well Screens
Wells are developed to repair any damage done to the aquifer while drilling and to remove clay, silt,
and sand from the immediate vicinity of the borehole. The three most common methods used are
overpumping, surging, and jetting.
Overpumping consists of pumping the well at a higher rate than the normal everyday pumping rate. While
this procedure is sometimes effective in producing a sand free well, often only the uppermost section of
the screened interval is developed leaving the majority of the screen undeveloped and underutilized.
Surging involves the mechanical action of a plunger within the casing to force water into the casing
and then back through the screen and into the aquifer. Because of the possibility of pushing the fine
materials back into the formation, surging should start slowly, and the fine materials should be removed
often. Since flow goes both ways through the screen, the well development is more efficient than with
simply overpumping a well.
Development through jetting involves the use of a special jetting tool with two to four equally spaced
openings or nozzles. A high pressure pump or compressor forces water or air down the pipe, out the
nozzles, through the screen and into the formation. The nozzles start at the base of the screen and are
slowly worked to the top of the screen and then back down again until each foot of screen has been
worked several times. Although time consuming, this development technique is often superior to
overpumping or mechanical surging.
Wells that are properly screened and developed are more efficient, last longer, have fewer problems,
and are easier to clean out than wells without screens. Screened wells will cost a little more but the
extra expense is worth it over the life of the well.
For additional information please contact:
- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Water
- Water Resources Section
- 2045 Morse Rd., Bldg. B
- Columbus, Ohio 43229-6693
- Phone (614) 265-6740
- Fax (614) 265-6767
- E-mail water@dnr.state.oh.us