MD Well Driller study plan

Map the four exam domains to their weightings and rank your personal weak spots before studying anything else

List every component of a drilled well (casing, screen, grout, annular seal, well cap, pitless adapter) and state the function of each in one sentence

Locate the Maryland well construction regulations governing casing depth, grout placement, and annular seal requirements and annotate each requirement with the article or section number

Define the difference between a domestic, public water supply, and monitoring well under Maryland law and note which rules attach to each

Explain how overburden and bedrock geology determine casing depth, screen selection, and open-hole versus screened completion

Compare rotary, air rotary, cable tool, and hollow-stem auger methods on hole stability, sample quality, and the formations each suits

Calculate annular volume for a given borehole and casing diameter to determine grout quantity for a set depth

Identify the causes of lost circulation, sand production, and formation collapse and describe the standard remedy for each

Trace the well permitting sequence in Maryland from application through final approval, naming the forms and the approving authority at each step

Describe the driller's notification and recordkeeping duties, including when the well completion report must be filed and what it must contain

Diagram a drilling rig's circulation system and label the pump, swivel, kelly or top drive, drill string, bit, and cuttings return path

List the safety hazards specific to each drilling method and the control for each

Design a complete well for a stated scenario: given yield target, depth to bedrock, and water quality, select casing, screen, gravel pack, and grout specifications

Justify each design choice by citing the governing Maryland requirement or accepted industry practice

Compute the minimum casing length and grout interval required for a well completed in fractured bedrock

Identify three common construction defects that show up on inspection and explain how each is detected

Distinguish well development methods (surging, jetting, air lifting, bailing, dispersants) by the formation and screen type each suits

Explain how to judge when development is complete using turbidity, sand content, and specific capacity trends

Calculate specific capacity from drawdown and pumping rate data and interpret what a low value indicates about the well

Outline a step-drawdown or constant-rate pumping test: duration, measurements, and the data recorded at each interval

Sequence the disinfection procedure for a new or repaired well: calculated chlorine dose, contact time, and the flushing step

State the Maryland and standard bacteriological sampling requirements, including who may collect the sample and how it is handled before analysis

List the required contents of a well completion report and cross-check your Week 4 design package against them

Describe the procedure for abandoning a well and the materials and sealing requirements Maryland imposes

Summarize the Maryland licensing framework: license categories, experience and examination requirements, renewal cycle, and continuing education obligations

List the grounds for disciplinary action and the consequences of drilling without a license or violating a construction standard

Explain the driller's duty to notify the property owner and the regulating authority at each stage of a well's life

Resolve five short regulatory scenarios by identifying the controlling rule and the correct action

Take one full-length timed practice exam under exam conditions and score it by domain

Review every missed question and write the underlying rule or principle it tested

Re-drill your two weakest domains using your own notes and the annotated diagrams from earlier weeks

Recite the key formulas (annular volume, specific capacity, chlorine dose) from memory and verify each against your reference sheet