MI Well Driller study plan

Map every Michigan well construction rule (casing depth, casing material, annular space, well cap, pitless adapter, minimum setbacks) into a one-page checklist keyed to the regulation domain

Label a blank well cross-section diagram with each casing string, screen or open-hole interval, grout zone, and surface seal, and state the purpose of each component aloud

Compare single-casing, telescoped, and conductor-cased designs by listing two site conditions that force each choice

Compute required casing length for three sample wells given overburden depth, bedrock depth, and required seat depth into rock

Sequence the construction steps from hole advancement through grout placement, cap installation, and development, and justify why grouting precedes development

Distinguish neat cement, bentonite, and cement-bentonite grouts by when each is appropriate and which conditions rule each out

Calculate grout volume for a given borehole diameter, casing outer diameter, and sealed interval, including a percent excess allowance

Explain positive-placement (tremie) grouting from the bottom up and identify three field errors that create voids or bridging

Read a topographic map and a geologic map of Michigan together to propose a well location and defend it against setback and drainage concerns

Classify glacial deposits (outwash, till, lacustrine clay, bedrock) and predict their effect on yield, sand production, and casing decisions

Identify contamination pathways (failed grout, unsealed annular space, poor surface drainage, nearby sources) and prescribe the sealing fix for each

Describe how aquifer confinement and static water level influence both grout design and screen or open-hole selection

Compare development methods (surging, jetting, bailing, air lifting, overpumping) by mechanism, suitable formation, and risk of damage

Size a pump for a given yield, total dynamic head, and drawdown, and explain how pump setting depth relates to static and pumping levels

List jobsite hazards for drilling operations (rotating equipment, high-pressure air, electrical, confined spaces, rigging) and the control for each

Draft a pre-task safety brief covering utility locating, rig setup and stabilization, and spoil handling

Explain proper sampling procedure: purge volume, stabilization parameters, container and preservation requirements, holding times, and chain of custody

Interpret a lab report by matching each result to the likely source (arsenic and geology, nitrate and land use, coliform and well integrity, iron and manganese and aesthetic issues)

Distinguish sampling errors from real water quality problems and state the resampling step for each

Describe disinfection after construction or repair and how it interacts with development and with sampling timing

List the conditions that trigger well abandonment and the required notification and recordkeeping steps

Sequence plugging procedure: remove obstructions, disinfect, place plugging material by the approved method, seal the upper portion, restore the site, and file the record

Select plugging material and method for flowing wells, artesian conditions, wells with casing to be removed, and wells penetrating multiple aquifers

Cross-check the abandonment rules against construction rules to catch provisions that differ between active and abandoned wells

Recite the setback distances, casing requirements, and permit and reporting obligations from memory, then verify each against source material

Trace the regulatory path for a new well from permit application through final inspection and record submission

Identify the three regulation points you miss most often in practice and build a personal correction card for each

Revisit the week 1 siting exercise and revise it to satisfy every regulatory requirement

Take two full-length timed practice exams and log every missed item by domain

Re-study only the two lowest-scoring domains using your own notes and the correction cards

Explain aloud, without notes, the full life cycle of a well from siting through abandonment

Confirm exam-day logistics: identification, approved calculators, timing, and question strategy