Filter packs, monitoring wells

Unconsolidated or weakly consolidated sediments sometimes collapse around the well screen before the filter pack can be installed. This phenomenon is called formation collapse . Formation collapse can occur as a result of the inherently unstable nature of certain sediments or the disruptive nature of the drilling process. Formation collapse is most common below the water table. Although steps can be taken to minimize the amount of collapse, it may not be entirely preventable. The groundwater monitoring plan may need to accept natural formation material as the filter pack for some or all of the screen section. Well development activities (see Section 2.1.6) can be designed to maximize the effectiveness of the formation collapse materials as a filter pack. 

Remediation commenced with the interception of the recoverable gasoline. One 4-in.-diameter vapor extraction well and three 2-in. vapor monitor wells were installed. Each well was constructed with 4 ft of well screen placed and filter packed across the unsaturated portion of the shale. The annulus of the wells was sealed to the surface with bentonite and cement grout according to local standards. The monitor wells were located in a triangular pattern around the vapor extraction well at distances of 5.3, 10.6, and 25.4 ft. 

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