Kickapoo Drilling Company Sanitarian Training
Kickapoo Drilling Company, based in Downs, Ill., hosted the first ever training session for Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) sanitarians on geothermal closed loop wells Sep. 16, 2014. The company volunteered its jobsite at Pleasant Plains High School to demonstrate closed loop well installation to more than 65 attendees. All photos by Kickapoo Drilling Company.
Session No. 1
Sanitarians gather at the first of two classes to learn the basics about geothermal drilling and loop installation, as well as what they will need to be aware of during permitting and inspecting starting Dec. 1, 2014.
Safety First
Sanitarians are taught to prioritize safety on the jobsite. They are told that wearing the proper PPE and paying attention to the equipment moving around the site is key.
Drilling Demonstration
About 30 sanitarians observe the installation of 60 geothermal 1-inch loops to a depth of 300 feet. The Kickapoo driller is capable of installing four loops a day on this site with a Versa Drill V-100 rig and Mud Puppy MP-170 Mud recycling system.
Closed Loop Prep
Loops are prepped beside the rig on loop reels, pressure tested and filled with water to weight them down before being dropped.
Preview of Finished Product
Sanitarians observe the half of the well field that is already installed.
Pipe Categorization
After pipe is installed, sanitarians can observe markings on the pipe to determine kind and depth.
Inspection Insight
Sanitarians gather around a loop that is completed to learn about what to look for in a proper inspection.
Going Over Grout
Jim Layten, owner of Kickapoo Drilling Company, and Dave Johnson, of the Illinois Department of Public Health show sanitarians how to measure the depth the grout has settled to ensure it is still adequately reaching where the manifold trench will be.
Mission Accomplished
Some sanitarians have never observed pressure grouting. After completing the training the sanitarians now understand the importance of observing the loop installation and grouting process during the installation.