DRC-2023-004017 - 0901a068811ec193

Department of
Environmental Quality
State of Utah
Kimberly D. Shelley
Executive Director
SPENCER J. COX
Governor
DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT
AND RADIATION CONTROL
DEIDRE HENDERSON
Lieutenant Governor
Douglas J. Hansen
Director
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
MEMORANDUM
Phil Goble fll6 '7 t;l,,
Dean Henderson j),,// f, ~ /z.. "J
April 28, 2023 / ~
Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control (DWMRC) Staff
Observations of the Drilling and Installation of Well MW-41 B at the EFRI White Mesa
Mill Facility near Blanding Utah.
On April 11 , 2023, DWMRC staff Dean Henderson and Chris Leahy (DWMRC staff) observed the
drilling for the bore for well MW-41B at the EFRI White Mesa Mill facility near Blanding Utah.
The drilling contractor was Recapture Drilling. Drill, crew: Scott Marian, Ryan Marian, and Tommy
Bright ( drilling crew). The geologists for EFRI was Travis Voam and Dawn Kolkman.
There was 9 feet of unconsolidated soil before encountering the bedrock sandstone of the Burro Canyon
Formation. The bore hole was cored from 9 feet to 40 feet with a 6.75" dia. drill bit. The core sample at
approximately 25 feet was approximately a 12-inch clay layer (see figure 1). This clay layer may have
contributed to the boring collapse for well MW-41 A. From 9 to 40 feet the bore hole was reamed out
with a 12" dia. tri cone drilling bit. An 8" dia. 40-foot long PCV casing pipe was installed into the bore
hole along with bentonite chips inserted between the outside of the pipe and boring. From 40 to 120 feet
the bor_e hole was cored with a 6. 75" dia. drill bit. After drilling to 119 feet drilling activities stopped for
the day and the DWMCR staff left the site and traveled back to Salt Lake City. ·
_On April 12, 2023, Travis Voam reported, via text message, drilling and well installation activities
continued. The Burro Canyon Formation Brushy Basin member of the Morison Formation contact was
encountered at approximately 120 feet. The bore hole was reamed out with a 7 7 /8" dia. tri cone drill bit
and well MW-41 B was completed. Well completion details: screen 120-115 feet, sand pack 120-113
feet and bentonite chips from 113 feet to the ground surface. The static water level from the boring for
well MW-41 A 15 feet to the north of this boring location was 107 .5 feet. Therefore, it appears that the
top of the well screen is 7-8 feet below the static water level.
DRC-20 195 North 1950 West• Salt Lake City, UT
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 144880 • Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4880
Telephone (80 I) 536-0200 • Fax (80 I) 536-0222 • T.D.D. (80 I) 536-4284
www.deq.1ital1.gov
Printed on I 00% recycled paper
DRC-2023-004017
Page 2
When the As-Built Report for well MW-41B is submitted to DWMRC it will compared to DWMRC
staff field notes.
-Approximately 25 feet
Figure 1. Core sample from 20 -26 feet. The core labeled as "1" is sandstone from the Burrow Canyon
Formation. At approximately 25 feet the core labeled as "2" is a clay layer approximately 12 inches
thick.