CA Well Driller study plan

Map the California Water Code and Well Standards framework by writing a one-page outline of which authority (DWR bulletins, local ordinance, RWQCB) governs each drilling activity you perform

Define and correctly use 25 core drilling terms (annular seal, surface seal, gravel pack, blank casing, perforated interval, blowout, artesian flow, etc.) in your own words

Sketch a typical well construction cross-section from memory, labeling casing, seal, filter pack, and screen depths

List the permit and notification steps a C-57 contractor must complete before, during, and after drilling a new well in your county

Compare rotary, cable-tool, air-percussion, and mud-rotary methods by listing the formation conditions and hole-stability problems each suits

Explain how drilling fluid properties (weight, viscosity, sand content) affect hole cleaning and borehole integrity

Identify common drilling problems (lost circulation, stuck tools, caving, deviation) and write the standard mitigation for each

Describe the correct procedure for setting and verifying plumbness and alignment of a borehole

Specify casing material, wall thickness, diameter, and joint type for three different scenarios (domestic, irrigation, monitoring) and justify each choice

Detail the required depth and method for the annular seal and surface seal, including the minimum thickness and the materials allowed

Explain the purpose of the filter pack and screen slot sizing relative to formation gradation, and compute a slot size from a sample sieve analysis

Describe how to place grout or bentonite from the bottom up and how to verify seal integrity

Sequence the steps of well development (surge, bail, jet, air-lift) and state which development method fits which screen and formation type

Explain how development restores formation permeability and how to judge when development is complete

Describe the purpose and procedure of a pump test, including drawdown measurement, stabilization criteria, and specific capacity calculation

Distinguish between disinfection for a new well and for a repaired well, and state the chlorine concentration and contact time required

Interpret a pump test data set by plotting drawdown versus time and identifying stabilization and specific capacity

Explain the disinfection process from start to finish, including how to handle chlorine contact water and how to verify residual

List the conditions that require well destruction rather than continued use, and the notification steps to the enforcing agency

Describe abandonment methods for different casing types (perforated, steel, PVC) and the sealing materials used in each

Identify the reporting requirements triggered by well destruction and where records are filed

Outline the sequence of well destruction from pre-work inspection through final seal verification and site restoration

Explain the requirements for destroying a well that penetrates multiple aquifers and the risk of cross-contamination if seals fail

Summarize the reporting obligations for new well construction, modification, and destruction, including who signs and who receives each report

Describe the licensing framework for C-57 contractors: scope of work, supervision requirements, and the consequences of unlicensed contracting

Explain the enforcement roles of the county, DWR, and the RWQCB and how each can affect a drilling project

Describe the permit process, including what information a permit application must contain and the inspection points

Identify the legal and practical consequences of noncompliance, including stop-work orders, permit revocation, and liability

Review your weakest domain from earlier weeks and re-teach it by writing a short summary of the key rules

Take a timed 60-question practice set across all five domains and score it by domain

Review every missed question and write a one-line rule or fact for each

Rehearse the calculations most likely to appear: specific capacity, seal volume, chlorine dose, and screen slot sizing

Build a one-page quick-reference sheet of the highest-yield standards, depths, and reporting deadlines