Bore cleanout after pulling pump?

[Bert]

Hello well experts. I am in the process of replacing the well pump myself. It should come up today. I have a 427' well with a 3hp pump on 1-1/4" galvanized pipe. The well was dug in 1984 and has a 6" bore. Once the pump is out, should I be doing anything else before I put the new pump in? Should I be cleaning out the bore, and if so, how? From the 140 to 180' level it looks like there was clay muck stuck to the pipe, and after that the pipe was clean. The bore is mostly basalt with a couple layers of clay. The well had been producing good water at a good rate. Thank you for your advice.

 

[Valveman]

I am impressed that you are able to pull a 3HP set at 427' on 1 1/4" galvanized pipe. So, you might also be equipped to clean the well. You can use a suction bailer or acidize, scrub, and jet the casing clean. My favorite is to run a 2" pipe to the bottom and connect a 1200 CFM compressor. This will use the crud in the bottom of the well to sand blast the upper part of the well clean on its way to the surface. But if the well was making clean water, sometimes the best thing to do is nothing at all. All of this usually takes some large equipment and tools, but I wish you luck.

 

[Bert]

I am impressed that you are able to pull a 3HP set at 427' on 1 1/4" galvanized pipe. So, you might also be equipped to clean the well. You can use a suction bailer or acidize, scrub, and jet the casing clean. My favorite is to run a 2" pipe to the bottom and connect a 1200 CFM compressor. This will use the crud in the bottom of the well to sand blast the upper part of the well clean on its way to the surface. But if the well was making clean water, sometimes the best thing to do is nothing at all. All of this usually takes some large equipment and tools, but I wish you luck.

Thank you for confirming cleaning the bore is not a priority. The pump did come out today. There was a hole in the pipe about 5 feet above the pump. For your entertainment I have posted some pictures of our setup for removing the pump.

 

[Valveman]

Respect!! That is not easy even with a hoist truck and tools.