The high-pressure water well in Gia Lai, shooting water up to dozens of meters, may have encountered the depth distribution of a gas pocket.
On August 21, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Gia Lai reported that it had received the results of a survey on a self-flowing water well, which shoots water up to dozens of meters in Ia Kly commune, Chu Prong district, from the National Center for Water Resources Planning and Investigation (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment).
Specifically, after water began to shoot up several meters from the drilled well at the farm of Mr. Dam Xuan Hoa (Ia Kly commune, Chu Prong district), the National Center for Water Resources Planning and Investigation collected information, conducted professional assessments, and analyzed water samples.
The well at Mr. Dam Xuan Hoa’s house is shooting water up to dozens of meters.
Results indicated that in April 2023, Mr. Dam Xuan Hoa drilled two wells (one to a depth of 130 meters and another to 170 meters) about 40 meters apart, but both were dry. In this area, there are approximately 10 wells drilled to depths of 100 to 150 meters, which also yielded no water.
On July 30, from the 170-meter well, he drilled further to a depth of 186 meters when the drilling equipment, weighing about 2.1 tons (still in the hole), was lifted by pressure. Mr. Hoa stopped drilling and pulled the equipment out of the hole. At this point, a mixture of gas and water shot more than 10 meters above the ground, and initially, the water had a kerosene-like smell.
Upon inspection, the National Center for Water Resources Planning and Investigation determined that the amount of water and gas mixture shooting from the well had a flow rate of about 0.2 – 0.3 liters per second. Analysis of water samples showed that the water quality was quite good, with most parameters falling within acceptable limits.
Based on the survey results and collected information, the team of officials concluded that the phenomenon of self-flowing water-gas mixture at the well had been occurring for quite some time (2 days) after a series of earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.0 in Kon Tum, and there was very little likelihood of any connection between the two events.
The gas shooting to the surface may be due to the drilling process reaching the depth distribution of a gas pocket. The origin and characteristics of the gas have not yet been precisely identified and require detailed study through in-depth research. The water in the gas-water mixture may either originate from the gas field or be water within the well in the upper portion of the gas field.
The water has been concluded to have good quality, with parameters within permissible limits.
The quality of the water and gas has not recorded any sensory indicators (color, odor, taste) of harmful components to public health. The water quality is good, with parameters falling within the allowable limits according to national standards for groundwater quality.
It can be concluded that the water in the well likely originates from rainwater, through direct infiltration from the surface through permeable soil layers, and is unlikely to be buried water (associated) in deep underground structures or other endogenous sources.
However, to reach an accurate conclusion, further detailed experiments and investigations are necessary.
