Water Supply Well Abandonment — Sherrills Ford, NC

Project Overview

IET permanently abandoned a 306-foot deep water supply well (6-inch diameter) at 6367 Hwy 150 E, Sherrills Ford, North Carolina for Hart & Hickman, PC (H&H Job No. GSD-053). The well had a casing depth of 62 feet and a water level at 64 feet.

A notable site challenge was that the water supply well was located back in heavy brush, requiring a skid steer for access and site preparation before the drill rig could be positioned. IET mobilized appropriate support equipment to overcome this access challenge without delay.

The abandonment was completed per North Carolina well abandonment regulations with full grouting from bottom to surface. PM Ann Marie Lindley managed the project for IET.

Scope of Work

• 306-foot water supply well permanently abandoned (grouted)
• 6-inch diameter well, casing depth 62 ft, water level 64 ft
• Skid steer deployed for brush clearing and rig access
• Well abandonment per NC regulatory requirements ($11/ft)
• Mobilization/demobilization including fuel surcharge
• H&H Job No. GSD-053 | PM: Ann Marie Lindley

Project Details

Technical Approach & Methodology

Water supply well abandonment is a regulated procedure that permanently seals an unused or decommissioned well to eliminate it as a potential conduit for groundwater contamination, safety hazard, or liability. Proper abandonment requires removing any internal piping or pumps, cleaning the well bore, and filling the entire well column from bottom to surface with an approved grouting material — typically bentonite chips, cement-bentonite grout, or a combination of both — to prevent surface water infiltration and cross-contamination between aquifer zones.

For this project at 6367 Hwy 150 E in Sherrills Ford, NC, IET permanently abandoned a 306-foot deep, 6-inch diameter water supply well with a casing depth of 62 feet and a static water level at 64 feet. The abandonment was performed per North Carolina well abandonment regulations (15A NCAC 02C .0107), which specify grouting materials, placement methods, and documentation requirements for permanent well closure.

A notable site challenge was the well's location in heavy brush, requiring a skid steer for access clearing and site preparation before the drill rig could be positioned. IET mobilized the support equipment needed to overcome this access challenge without delay, demonstrating the logistical flexibility that distinguishes a full-service drilling contractor from limited-scope well service providers. The project was managed by PM Ann Marie Lindley for client Hart & Hickman, PC (H&H Job No. GSD-053).

Regulatory Framework & Site Context

Well abandonment in North Carolina is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) under the Well Construction Standards (15A NCAC 02C .0100). These rules require that abandoned wells be properly grouted to prevent groundwater contamination, with specific procedures for different well types (water supply, monitoring, injection, and recovery wells). The $11/foot abandonment rate on this project reflects the per-foot grouting and labor cost for a 306-foot well column.

Sherrills Ford is located in Catawba County, North Carolina, within the Piedmont physiographic province. The local geology consists of Precambrian and Paleozoic-age metamorphic and ignic rocks (gneiss, schist, and granite) overlain by residual soil (saprolite) formed by in-place weathering. The 306-foot well depth and 62-foot casing depth are consistent with Piedmont water supply wells, where fracture-controlled groundwater flow in the underlying bedrock requires deeper well construction than in sedimentary aquifer settings. Proper abandonment of such wells is critical to prevent surface contamination from entering the bedrock fracture network through abandoned boreholes.