AWWA ACE54518

The major purpose for using a horizontal well is to increase reservoir contact and thereby enhance the productivity of the well. As technology has advanced, drilling techniques for installing horizontal wells that were previously restricted to the petroleum industry have found their way to the water industry. Since the mid-1980s, horizontal directional drilling techniques have been used to install horizontal wells for environmental remediation of groundwater contamination. Previous studies on the performance and behavior of horizontal wells have generally been restricted to theoretical analyses or small scale subsurface remediation projects. This paper presents the methodology used to select the design parameters and predict the yield for a 1,220 foot long, 12-inch diameter full scale test horizontal well. Performance and operating data from a 13 day pumping test are also presented. Includes 6 references, table, figures.