Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Panter | Members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4’s water well team attach...... read more read more
By David Wardlow
LTJG, CEC, USN
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif.— In preparation for the upcoming deployment to Pacific Command, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 sent a 19-member Water Well Drilling Team to Fort Hunter Liggett in order to develop the skills necessary to carry out the construction of a premier humanitarian and civic assistance project: a working water well.
Over the course of a month the team received training on the components of a water well and water well development. The first two weeks consisted of classroom instruction in Port Hueneme before the team traveled north to Fort Hunter Liggett in order to drill a well. For most of the Water Well Team, drilling the well at Fort Hunter Liggett was their first opportunity to gain hands-on experience in drilling and rigging. Tower Leader, First Class Equipment Operator Ruben Ramirez, related that the training evolution was a great learning experience and that the Fort Hunter Liggett practicum provided necessary, hands-on real world experience.
While sustaining 24-hour operations, the team tirelessly drilled 600 feet below the Earth’s surface using an International Standards Organization-Transportable Well Drill (ITWD) and attachable drill bit. A specially calibrated mud cycling through the ITWD and into the ground enabled the team to drill through tough sediment without clogging or damaging the bit.
“Ninety-percent of drilling is troubleshooting,” said Chief Equipment Operator Michael Hamlin, the assistant officer-in-charge of the team. “Once the ITWD is staged and operating, the main goal becomes making sure that there are no down-hole problems.”
At the conclusion of the exercise, the well was efficiently established: successfully pumping 45 gallons of water per minute.
“The exercise provided the team with an excellent opportunity to execute what they learned in class,” said Equipment Operator 1st Class James Schwertfeger, who was the class instructor from Naval Construction Group 1 for the class.
The practical application of classroom learning is essential preparation for the upcoming deployment. The Water Well Team Field Training Exercise is a key ingredient in the NMCB 4’s recipe for success in its humanitarian efforts.
| Date Taken: | 03.19.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.08.2014 20:14 |
| Story ID: | 125035 |
| Location: | FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 291 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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