retrieving a submersible pump from a borehole 1

[jamj]

My guys where installing a pump into a borehole but in the process one of the discharge pipes gave in. The pump collapsed inside the borehore together with seven pipes (size 11/2").The problem we have now is to retrieve the pump and the pipes. The borehore is about 30m deep the inlet pipe to the borehole is 250mm.
Available equipment: Mobile Crane, Chains, Hooks

 

[CESSNA1]

JAMJ:
Other than digging down 30m you may wnat to drop a miniature video camera and light down the hole to see what is going on and where and how you can attach to the pump/component. Then use the video camera to guide a line and hook? down the hole to attach to something.

GOOOD LUCK
regards
Dave

 

[btrueblood]

There are inflatable test plugs out there that (when inflated inside pipe) can support very high loads. If you can drop the plug into the pipe, then inflate from surface using an air line...

I'd also talk to a local well driller (e.g. water wells), and see if they have some recovery devices you could use.

 

[bimr]

I will second btrublood's post. Well drillers have specialized tools that are useful when encountering problems like this in the field.

 

[hydrae]

jamj
Some well drillers are reluctant to lower their multi thousand dollar camera in a hole with other objects in it. But there are now off the shelf cameras sold at fisherman outlets that are less than $500 usd.
Hydrae

 

[dicksewerrat]

We used a water well driller to retrieve some equipment dropped about 275 feet down a 16 inch well took one day.