Description of Techniques to Drill, Complete, and Develop Wells and to Test and Sample Aquifers at a Surface Coal Mine in Northwestern Colorado

摘要

The report describes techniques for obtaining hydrologic information at a surface coal mine in northwestern Colorado. Confined bedrock aquifers and unconfined reclaimed spoil aquifers were studied. Reclaimed spoil, as described in the report, is material excavated from the mine pit that has been replaced, regarded, covered with topsoil, and revegetated. Well-drilling, well-completion, and well-development techniques are described. To the extent possible, different techniques for testing aquifer hydraulic properties and for obtaining water-quality samples from aquifers are compared. The report includes work done as part of a study to evaluate the hydrology and geochemistry of a surface coal mine in northwestern Colorado.