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Well No. 25

Methodist Church at Y'Apy

Replacement Well

 Sponsor - The Memorial United Methodist Church

Fernandina Beach, Florida

Back in 2004, we drilled a well in the Guarani Indian reservation at a village called Y'Apy (Well 10 - Y'Apy).  This has been one of our most used wells, providing many families with their only source of clean water and a much needed place to wash their clothes.  When we drilled the well, we encountered a hard rock strata at 42.6 meters (140 ft.).  In fact, the rock was so hard that it took almost 2 hours to drill the last 10 feet.  We decided to terminate the well at this depth, mainly to keep from ruining one of our few rock bits.  Well depths of 40 to 45 meters had provided very successful wells in several other nearby locations, so we were confident that this well would also be successful.  However, we were wrong.  The well turned out to provide a very low flow rate (880 liters per hour which diminished over time) and over the past 4 years we have burned out 4 pumps.  In addition to the cost of repairing the pumps ($100 to $200) each time the pump failed the community was without water for up to several weeks.

After serious consideration and prayer, we decided to drill a replacement well.  We now have better drilling equipment (with hydraulic power), drill collars which provide more cutting pressure on the bit, and a new type of rock bit.  With this improved capability we were able to drill 59 meters (194 feet).  At this level we encountered very hard rock that would not yield to anything we could drill with.  However, we encountered some clean sandstone between 50 and 59 meters and were able to get a much better flow rate than from the replacement well.

This well seemed to want to give us problems from the outset, however.  We had hoped to get it drilled before several work teams came, but we had equipment troubles - first a failed thrust bearing and then ruptured hydraulic hoses - we had to suspend drilling twice.  We started on May 20th and finally set the pump on July 10th.  Persistence pays off.  The Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 6:9 "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" - AMEN!

We always have lots of curious onlookers - and lots of kids.  This time we even had a pig that insisted on taking advantage of the wet drill cuttings and drilling mud - as they say he was "as happy as a pig in the mud".  Once we reached full depth we pulled the drill rods and set the casing.  This is always a difficult task, especially when we are hanging 194 feet of thick wall 4 inch diameter PVC in the hole - if you stood it up it would be almost as high as a 20 story building!  If it were to fall to the bottom of the hole we would have to re-drill.

The well tested to have a much better flow rate than the original - 1,500 liters per hour with 25 meters of drawdown - leaving 16 meters of water above the pump.  This should keep the pump running fine without the earlier problems.

As always, there are plenty of folks waiting to get the water.  As soon as the water cleared up during the cleaning out process several girls showed up with their buckets and jugs - getting that cold, clear water! A real blessing from God.

 Technical Details

Sponsor:    The Memorial United Methodist Church, Fernandina Beach, Florida

Drilling date: May 20 - July 10, 2008

Location:   Latitude -  S 24°29.499'     Longitude - W 56° 06.889' - Approx 5 km from the town of Yrybucua

Elevation:     209 meters above sea level

Total cost:    $3,852

Drill depth:   59  meters (194 ft.)

Soil types encountered:   Sand and clay, with soft to hard sandstone at depth

Static groundwater level:     14.6  meters below ground surface

Dynamic groundwater level:      40 meters

Installed well depth:  59 meters

Length of screened section:   24 meters

Length of gravel packed section:  26  meters

Length and type of sealed section:  Approx. 1 meter of bentonite pellets

Pump description:    1 hp mono-phase electric submersible

Depth to base of pump:   56 meters

Flow rate:    1,500  liters/hour

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