A TECHNICAL REPORT

On

DRILL BOREHOLE

HELD AT

GRA ALONG NAJEEM YASIN HOUSE OFFA

WRITTEN BY
1. Adeleke Samuel oluwasanya CE/ND/F21/2047
2. Alamu mayowa ibukunoluwa CE/ND/F21/2106
3. AbdulRasheed Rasheed Olawale CE/ND/F21/2082
4. Akinwande praise Ayomide CE/ND/F21/2056
5. Olorundare rasaq babatunde CE/ND/F21/2155
6. Abdulganiyu olamilekan Babatunde CE/ND/F21/2152
7. Akintayo idris Pelumi CE/ND/F21/2176
8. Atolagbe David oluwadamiare CE/ND/F21/2130

SUBMITTED TO

THE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SCHOOL

OF ENGINEERING, FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC OFFA,
KWARA STATE.

MARCH 2023
 CERTIFICATION PAGE

I hereby certify that this report was prepared and compiled by SOLIU ABDULAFEEZ
ALAYOKU with the matriculation number Adeleke Samuel Oluwasanya CE/ND/F21/2047
,Alamu mayowa ibukunoluwa with CE/ND/F21/2106 with AbdulRasheed Rasheed Olawale
with CE/ND/F21/2082 Akinwande praise Ayomide with CE/ND/F21/2056 Olorundare rasaq
babatunde with CE/ND/F21/2155, Abdulganiyu olamilekan Babatunde with
E/ND/F21/2152, Akintayo idris Pelumi with CE/ND/F21/2176, Atolagbe David oluwadamiare
CE/ND/F21/2130 from the department of civil engineering , Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara
State

ENGR MRS KOMOLAFE Signature and Date

(SUPERVISOR)

MR. BANKOLE TEMIDAYO Signature and Date

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
 DEDICATION

I dedicate this report to God Almighty for His Unlimited Grace, Consistent Love, Immeasurable
Faithfulness, and for sparing my life throughout the period

Secondly, I dedicate it to all our parents for their undiminished support and unquantifiable
assistance throughout the whole exercise and beyond.
1.1 WATER EXPLORATION

The exploration for water requires several important steps in order to get adequate and
portable water for consumption and other domestic significant. Therefore, before any
borehole construction is done, a geophysical survey should be carried out on the site to know
the most suitable point and depth where the borehole should be drilled in order to have
maximum groundwater potential. Hence, a geophysical survey tells whether a proposed
borehole site should be approved or abandoned

1.2 GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY

Geophysical techniques are non-invasive technologies that measure the variations in the
physical characteristics of the surface and subsurface geology either NATURAL
ORARTIFICIAL generated within the earth crust. Such variation result from differences in
physical characteristic such as density, elasticity, magnetism, and electric resistivity

1.3 METHODOLOGY

In an attempt to identify a suitable site for the drilling and construction of a productive
borehole, a geophysical survey is usually carried out.

There are various methods used in conducting Geophysical survey. These include: Electrical
Resistivity method, Magnetic/Electromagnetic method, Seismic Method and other
geophysical survey method that can be applied in groundwater investigation, in special
situations include gravity method, induced polarization (IP), Self Potential (SP),
2.2 BOREHOLE DRILLING CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPEMENT

During my period of the attachment, a number of boreholes were drilled while few were
rehabilitated. Most of the boreholes whose drilling I experienced are in our excursion

2.2.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE EQUIPMENT USED

The following equipment are used as attachment equipment during drilling:

 Halco v866 drilling rig capable of drilling to 200 m depth.

 An Atlas Copco Compressor
 A portable Mud Pump
 A water tanker
 Drilling bit
 A service truck.

2.3 BOREHOLE DESIGN

Borehole design is the process of specifying the physical materials and dimension of bore
hole with the main objectives of securing the highest sustainable yield. In borehole design, it
is helpful to consider the borehole structure as consisting of two main elements.

 Case portion of the borehole.

 Intake portion of the borehole.

The case portion of the borehole also known as the blind portion, is the part of the borehole
that seals surface water and undesirable groundwater as well as provide structural support
against caving material. The intake portion of the bore hole or the screen portion are
perforated casings which allow maximum amount of water to enter the well and prevent
movement of sand into hole as wells stabilize the side of the borehole

2.3 PROCESSES INVOLVED IN DRILLING

 Mobilization of Equipment and Personnel to Site

 This involves conveying the drilling rig and every other equipment to be used for
drilling to site together with all the man power involved.
 Positioning and Pluming the Drilling Rig.
This involves setting the rig at the exact spot where the geophysical survey had
recommended and also ensuring the rig is plumed so as to ensure that the hole is
straight and vertical.
 Construction of the Mud Pit (in the case of Rotary Mud Drilling) This involves
the digging of two pits; one in which cutting materials settle (Storage pit) and the
other from which water is pumped and re-pumped to the hole through the drilling
rig(Suction pit)
Drilling to the required depth.

2.3.1 DRILLING METHOD

A large variety of methods and equipment are available for excavating holes in the earth. The
technique used in a particular situation in the field depends on a number of factors including
availability of equipment and majorly, the mode of occurrence of ground water in the area.
The method of drilling which was employed during my period of attachment was the rotary
method of drilling method. The rotary drilling method is one of the fastest methods of drilling
wells and is particularly adapted in the drilling of large size holes. The drilling process
involves boring a hole by using rotating bit to which a downward force is applied. I was
exposed to two types of rotary drilling during the period of my attachment, these are;

Rotary-mud drilling and

Rotary-air drilling

In rotary-mud drilling, the first activity usually carried out is digging of the storage and
suction pit which are together referred to as the mud pit. Afterwards, drilling is commenced
using drilling fluids. Cuttings of rocks are achieved by rotary bits of various types. The power
is delivered to the rotary bits by a rotary halo-steel tube or drilling pipe attached to the
drilling

rig. Pre-mixed mud is forced down the drill pipe and out of the bits. The cuttings are removed
by continuous circulation of the drill fluid (mud) as the bits penetrate the formation. The role
of the mud is to minimize fluid loss into the aquifers and to cool the drilling bits during the
drilling process; it also carries the rock cuttings upward and then deposits them in the mud
pit. The storage and suction pits are dug in such a way that the fluid from the former
overflows into the latter from where it is then pumped back through the drill pipe and the
circle is repeated(See Plate 2.6). The heavy cuttings settle in the storage pit while the tiny
ones flow into the suction pit. This kind of drilling takes place where the overburden is thick,
to do away with the mud before proceeding to air-drilling. The drilling mud consists of
Suspension of Water, Betonies, Extender, Polypulus,(Carboxylmethylcellulose) (CMC).

2.4 WELL COMPLETION

2.4.1 FLUSHING

This is the process of flushing out after completion of borehole. Flushing is done to remove
dirty water which has been contaminated during drilling. When using the compressor to
flush, after inserting permanent casing and gravel parking, you can either slot in your flush
horse or you send the drill pipe again and the compressor supply compress air bringing out
the water in the hole.

2.4.2 CASING

This entails the lowering and connection of PVC pipes both screens and blinds into the
borehole in accordance with the borehole design. The blinds are usually cylindrical materials
with both ends open and prevent dirty particles in the ground from in-filtrating the hole. The
screens are also cylindrical materials but perforated. They are often placed in the hole where
the aquifer is so that ground water can filter through it to the hole. The borehole is flushed
again before gravel packing/sand packing. This is done to make the hole clean.

2.4.3 GRAVEL/SAND PACKING

This involves placing of coarse sand or fine gravel chippings in- between the wall and the
casing of the borehole. The boreholes are gravel packed to provide a zone of high
permeability.

Stabilize the aquifer.

Minimize sand pumping.

Hold the blinds and screen firmly to the ground

2.4.5 GROUTING
It is important to note that the gravels should not be placed to within 3-6 to the surface as this
space is for grouting. Grouting involves the mixing of cement, gravels, sand and water to fill
the space after gravel packing. This was done to avoid the percolation of surface water that
may pollute or contaminate the borehole.

2.5 BOREHOLE DEVELOPMENT

This is the final stage in the construction and completion of a borehole. It involves the
removal of finer materials in the aquifer. This process also increases permeability and
porosity of the aquifer in the immediate area of the borehole. In mud-drilled holes, the aquifer
formation is invaded by the mud around the periphery of the hole and a mud cake is formed
on the walls of the hole. Development is needed to remove this mud and violently agitate the
gravel packing materials behind the screened section to remove fines and form a stable
permeable filter.

The following are borehole development methods

 Pump installation
For pump installation a list of items are required; Pipe centralizer, Rise main pipe,
Pump rods and Nylon ropes etc. Basically we have two types of pump installations;
 Manual hand pumps installation. and,
 Motorized pump installation.
The following are borehole development methods;
 Pump installation
For pump installation a list of items are required; Pipe centralizer, Rise main pipe,
Pump rods and Nylon ropes etc. Basically we have two types of pump installations;
 Manual hand pumps installation. and,
 Motorized pump installation.
 Flushing
This is one of the final stages of the borehole development. It involves the flushing of
the hole with a submersible pump to get the hole cleaned there by making the water
clear. This is normally done if the hole is not clean after back washing.
 Capping and grouting:
This involves covering the borehole with a fabricated material, to prevent dirt
particles from entering the borehole and also to prevent little children around the hole
from falling into the hole. This material often covers the casing which protrudes from
the borehole

2.6 Hydrological Cycle