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Wells and pumps

Hydrofracturing to bring a low-yield well back

Open up bedrock fractures to boost the yield of a low-producing drilled well.

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A bedrock well delivers water through cracks in the rock. If the cracks that the borehole intersects are few, small, or have clogged over the years, the well may deliver only a trickle. Hydrofracturing, sometimes called hydrofracking or hydrofracing, uses controlled water pressure to widen existing fractures and open new ones, so more water can flow into the hole.

The process begins with removing the pump and piping. Inflatable packers are lowered to seal off a section of the well, and water is pumped under high pressure into the isolated zone until the rock cracks, which shows up as a sudden drop in pressure. The packers are moved and the process repeated. Afterward we flow-test the well to see what changed.

It is a restorative option, usually less costly than drilling a new well, though it is not a guarantee. We tell you what we expect before starting.

Inside the well

What is down the hole

Cross-section of a drilled well and pump systemSoilBedrockWell capSteel casing, seated in bedrockWater levelSubmersible pumpPitless adapter and buried linePressure tank and switch
Cross-section of a drilled well and pump system

A candidate well

  • A drilled well that runs dry during normal household use
  • A new well with a low yield after drilling
  • A well that has lost output gradually over the years
  • A property where a replacement well is difficult or costly
  • A well that recovers very slowly between uses
UV light, filter and pressure tank installation
Tidy install with pressure tank, filter tank and brine tank

How it works

What happens, step by step.

  1. STEP 1

    Evaluate the well

    Records, flow test and, if useful, a camera look.

  2. STEP 2

    Prepare

    Pump and piping pulled, packers set at selected depths.

  3. STEP 3

    Fracture

    Pressurized zones, repeated at depths worth trying.

  4. STEP 4

    Test and finish

    Flow test, clean-up and pump reinstalled.

Larger jobs may need larger equipment

Some wells call for higher pressures than our rig delivers. When that is the case, we will talk about bringing in a regional specialist before anything is committed.

Questions

Common questions about hydrofracturing.

Do not see yours? Call (800) 696-9355 and ask.

Serving towns including Alfred, Alton, Arundel, Ossipee, Berwick and more.

Will it contaminate my water?
The process uses water from the well and does not introduce chemicals. We flush the well after treatment.
How much will the flow improve?
That depends on the rock. We set expectations from the flow test and the well record.
Is it better than drilling deeper?
Sometimes. Each well is different, and we weigh both options with you.

Hydrofracturing by town

Related services

Towns we serve

Not sure what is in your water?

Start with a test. We will explain the results in plain language and only recommend what the numbers support.

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