Creating a Virtual Water Well Before Drilling Can Save Tens of Thousands of Dollars

Advanced Technology Can Pinpoint Water Well Locations and Yields

For thousands of years drilling water wells has been like gambling your money in a casino. Will you get lucky and find water? Or will you lose your investment and get a “dry hole” or low flow well? Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common even in today’s high-tech world.

However, now there is a solution. A combination of 21st century technology including advanced software algorithms and patented instrumentation can create a “virtual well” prior to spending tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for a water well. The virtual well is constructed from multiple data sources that result in the following:

• The precise location of the well by GPS coordinates
• Depth to water – both shallow and deep
• Thickness of the water-bearing layers
• Determination of whether the water is saline/not saline
• Estimated flow rate in gallons per minute or liters per second

With this virtual well data, the customer will know the results before spending large sums of money to drill the well. Today’s well drilling costs are substantial and rising. Even test wells can cost many thousands of dollars with the locations determined by little more than guesswork.

DWINDLING WATER SUPPLIES DEMAND ACCURACY

Even in today’s advanced technology world the use of dowsing and “water witching” is used in a surprising number of cases to try and locate groundwater. The US Geological Survey says this approach is not much better than guessing.

As many regions face drought and dwindling water supplies, it is important to employ the most effective tools to address the problem. Recent developments in software and hardware have given a company like AquaterreX the ability to locate virtual wells with near-100% accuracy.

In addition, there are deeper sources of water that can be accessed to solve the problem. A freshwater ocean exists right beneath our feet. Indeed, the US National Groundwater Association estimates there is 6,000 years of freshwater supply in the upper two kilometers of the earth’s crust (6,561 feet). However, AquaterreX has developed the ability to locate and economically bring to the surface these previously untapped water resources without having to drill deep wells.

In many regions, water for farms, ranches, municipalities or industries is a foundational aspect of success. No smart businessperson would build a business on a water-dependent property without knowing there is sufficient supply.

Virtual Wells Based on Proven Science

A two-phased approach to creating a virtual well helps ensure success.

The first phase is a multicomponent geospatial assessment of the property and the region. This is a method of analyzing large amounts of data, including geology, hydrogeology, satellite imagery, digital elevation models, historical well data, and other information to understand the prospects for groundwater. Advanced computer algorithms are used to evaluate the information which is then reviewed by expert hydrogeologists. The result is a study of the area to determine the most promising “areas of interest” where the data coincides to indicate sources of water.

The second phase is an on-site survey of the areas of interest. Patented instrumentation is used to send signals underground which can map the structures in both two and three dimensional images. These devices can recognize the signature of water to locate the depth, thickness of the water layers and other important information such as the porosity of the underground layers and the hydraulic conductivity (movement of water) below.

After additional computer analysis and hydrogeologist interpretation, “virtual wells” are produced for the property which can be used to move forward with production of actual water wells. The cost savings can be enormous when compared to drilling test wells in locations that have little, if any, scientific support for groundwater.

“Know Before You Go”

Water wells are important assets that are designed to last for decades. Therefore, it is important to “Know Before You Go” drilling a well. With a powerful combination of technology and experience AquaterreX can take the guesswork out of locating groundwater.

Over 1500 wells have been completed using this technology. As certain regions of the world contend with drought and dwindling supplies, it is more important than ever to employ this kind of solution.