Unit of competency details

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Plan and prepare for single aquifer production bores

1.1. Access, interpret and apply compliance documentation  relevant to the work activity

1.2. Discuss scope of work with client and give technical advice, cost structure, workmanship warranty, quantity and quality of materials, construction standards and methods to be used and gain general agreement on drilling plan

1.3. Obtain, confirm and apply work instructions  for the allocated task

1.4. Obtain or sight any licences or permits  required under the relevant state/territory legislation or regulation

1.5. Identify, manage and report all potential hazards 

1.6. Resolve coordination requirements  with others at the site prior to commencing and during work activities

1.7. Communicate regular up to date information on progress, and/or problems encountered to client and/or other relevant parties

1.8. Provide detailed strata logs, pump and development test results conducted during bore development and water and strata samples to the appropriate authorities

1.9. Complete all requirements for bore completion reports, decommissioning or abandonment and send to regulatory authorities within the time specified on bore licence

2. Design production bores for single aquifer systems

2.1. Determine most appropriate construction methods from the reading and interpretation of all available documented information 

2.2. Design the bore to ensure the exclusion of unsuitable surface waters

2.3. Select a bore site that will prevent contamination and minimise interference with other bores and adhere to occupational health and safety requirements

2.4. Determine a drilling fluid program to suit the expected down hole conditions

2.5. Select likely water entry mechanisms from the formation to the bore such as open hole, slotted casing, screens or gravel packs

2.6. Calculate appropriate artificial gravel pack design parameters and recommended annular thickness requirements

2.7. Plot and interpret formation sieve analysis results onto graphs

2.8. Undertake calculations to determine appropriate screen/slot design parameters (i.e. diameter, length, aperture size)

2.9. Select appropriate bore/surface casing type, size, strength and wall thickness for the anticipated ground water quality and pressure conditions and any construction requirements

2.10. Ensure all necessary materials anticipated for the job are available and on site prior to commencement of construction phase

3. Construct production bores in single aquifer systems

3.1. Use approved procedures  to select, slot, assemble, and insert casing and screens suitable for the formations in which they are deployed

3.2. Use equipment  for assembly and slotting safely and in accordance with approved procedures

3.3. Select, mix and place grout or otherwise seal surface casing to whatever depths necessary and with a minimum grout sheath thickness of 20mm to protect bore from surface or shallow subsurface waters that may be contaminated or polluted

3.4. Construct bore in accordance with any applicable regulations, minimum construction requirements and organisational procedures

3.5. Use and maintain drilling fluids and additives within the manufacturer's recommendations and that are non-toxic and capable of being completely removed from the bore upon completion

3.6. Maintain, test and record fluid properties such as viscosity, mid weight, filtration and sand content so that the potential capacity, efficiency and quality of the bore is not affected

3.7. Maintain plumbness and alignment of the hole within the required limitations and perform plumbness tests if required

3.8. Collect, store, record, label and transport formation and water samples for mechanical and/or chemical analysis in accordance with licensing or regulatory requirements

3.9. Maintain all records accurately and legibly

3.10. Accurately calculate hole, annular fill, gravel pack and mud pit volumes in cubic metres or litres

3.11. Select appropriate gravel pack or stabilising gravel fill materials

3.12. Place artificial or stabilising gravel fill if required in a manner that will ensure uniform distribution in the annular space without bridging, voids or segregation

3.13. Comply with relevant workplace occupational health and safety requirements for both the drilling equipment and construction materials

3.14. Maintain tool string inventories

3.15. Identify and protect headworks of the bore

3.16. Construct headworks to seal and cap the bore from surface water pollutants, environmental concerns (e.g. flooding), damage and vandalism

3.17. Incorporate methods for measuring static and pumping water levels in headworks and for adequate sealing when not in use

3.18. Remove drilled fluids from the bore to allow subsequent development

3.19. Dispose of/neutralise wastewater or hazardous materials from site and complete restoration of the bore site and camp facilities

3.20. Maintain tool strings and inventories

4. Develop bore

4.1. Use bore development techniques  with care to prevent collapsing of casing or screens

4.2. Use development techniques to improve hydraulic transmissivity around the bore

4.3. Undertake development until a continuous, clean supply of water is obtained, in accordance with acceptable and practical limits set by site, contractual or regulatory requirements

4.4. Measure/calculate and record standing and drawdown water levels

4.5. Perform pump and development tests to estimate the sand content and sustainable yield of the bore

5. Disinfect/decontaminate bore and drilling equipment

5.1. Clean and disinfect/decontaminate drilling equipment and tools before working on new sites to comply with relevant standards or regulatory requirements

5.2. Disinfect bores and installed equipment constructed for potable supplies using chlorine or proprietary chemical solution or steam cleaning as appropriate

5.3. Handle hazardous chemicals in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations/instructions and apply appropriate engineering controls and/or personal protective equipment

5.4. Remove and dispose of/neutralise any disinfecting agents from the bore upon completion

6. Carry out bore maintenance and rehabilitation

6.1. Undertake a process of diagnosis to determine likely cause of bore deterioration

6.2. Devise a program of rehabilitation to ensure that the bore is restored to a reasonable condition

6.3. Wear appropriate/recommended personal protective equipment and employ engineering controls when handling hazardous cleaning chemicals and follow manufacturer's recommendations suggested in materials safety data sheets (MSDS)

7. Decommission test/bore holes

7.1. Determine suitable decommissioning procedures and select appropriate materials

7.2. Carry out the decommissioning (abandonment) of test holes or bore holes in single aquifer systems

7.3. Verify position/location of hole for future reference

7.4. Dispose of drill and other fluids safely

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

Specific skills are required to achieve the performance criteria of this unit, particularly for its application in the various circumstances in which this unit may be used. This includes the ability to carry out the following as required to construct single aquifer production bores:

• apply legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures
• interpret and apply occupational health and safety requirements and procedures
• interpret site requirements and procedures
• interpret work requirements
• interpret geological and survey data
• apply aquifer sand sieve analysis tests
• calculate the specific capacity of a bore
• calculate grout component quantities for small grouting jobs (e.g. plugs)
• calculate hole and annular volumes

Required knowledge 

Specific knowledge is required to achieve the performance criteria of this unit, particularly for its application in the various circumstances in which this unit may be used. This includes knowledge of the following as required to construct single aquifer production bores:

• equipment characteristics, technical capabilities and limitations
• legal requirements under the relevant state/territory Water Act
• basic geological formations, i.e. basic knowledge of both soil and rock classifications and various formations which permit groundwater movement and factors affecting groundwater quality for aquifer systems, including drillability and stability
• potential safety hazards and sources of contamination when siting a bore
• the necessity of having a signed agreement/contract with the client
• requirements for water sampling for laboratory testing
• tests for alignment and plumbness of bores
• appropriate casing materials for various applications
• applications for wire-wound screens
• casing requirements, slotting techniques, slot location and orientation
• interpretation of sieve analysis results
• applications for natural pack, stabilising fill and artificial pack completion techniques
• objectives of bore development
• test pumping procedures
• appropriate disinfecting chemicals and procedures
• appropriate headworks design for Class 1 bore applications
• characteristics of 'good samples' required for water well construction
• ways in which sampling errors can occur
• types of drilling fluids, their selection, use, testing and conditioning
• problem solving techniques
• grout placement methods and procedures
• numerical knowledge to calculate:

• volume (e.g. mud pits, drums, tanks or bore holes of given dimensions, annulus)
• up hole velocity
• cement/water/additives quantities
• screen design parameters
• flow rates (e.g. L/sec, GPM)
• conversion from imperial to metric and vice versa
• conducting a sieve analysis

• relevant occupational health and safety requirements including principles of duty of care
• appropriate fishing operations for the type(s) of drilling being undertaken
• use of materials safety data sheets (MSDS)

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to worksite operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:

• knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions for constructing single aquifer production bores
• implementation of requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient completion of single aquifer production bore construction
• working with others to undertake and complete the construction of single aquifer production bores that meets all of the required outcomes
• consistent timely completion of single aquifer production bore construction that safely, effectively and efficiently meets the required outcomes

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

• This unit must be assessed in the context of the work environment. Where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated environment provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
• Assessment of this competency requires typical resources normally used in a resources and infrastructure sector environment. Selection and use of resources for particular worksites may differ due to the site circumstances.
• The assessment environment should not disadvantage the participant. For example, language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required on the job.
• Customisation of assessment and delivery environment to sensitively accommodate cultural diversity.
• Aboriginal people and other people from a non English speaking background may have second language issues.
• Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities. Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

Method of assessment 

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency. The assessment strategy for this unit must verify required knowledge and skill and practical application using more than one of the following assessment methods:

• written and/or oral assessment of the candidate's required knowledge
• observed, documented and/or first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:

• implementation of appropriate requirement, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient achievement of required outcomes
• consistent achievement of required outcomes

• first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:

• working with others to undertake and complete the construction of single aquifer production bores

Guidance information for assessment 

Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Relevant compliance documentation  may include:

• legislative, organisational and site requirements and procedures
• manufacturer's guidelines and specifications
• Australian standards
• code of practice
• Employment and Workplace Relations legislation
• Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation

Work instructions  may come from briefings, handovers, plans and work orders and may be written or verbal, formal or informal and may include:

• nature and scope of tasks
• specifications
• quality of finished works
• achieved targets
• operational conditions
• obtaining of required permits
• site layout
• out of bounds areas
• worksite inspection requirements
• lighting conditions
• plant of equipment defects
• coordination requirements or issues
• contamination control requirements
• environmental control requirements
• barricade and signage requirements

Licenses or permits  may include:

• water well licence (Class 1)
• licence for particular drilling method:

• cable tool
• auger
• rotary air
• rotary mud
• bore construction permit
• bore development/works approval

Hazards  may include:

• working in proximity to drilling rig

Coordination requirements  may include:

• other equipment operators
• maintenance personnel
• supervisors
• site personnel
• clients and/or landowners

Documented information  may include:

• results of test hole
• hydrogeological data and reports
• geological data
• old bore hole logs
• results from sieve analysis tests
• geophysical logging results
• geophysical logs
• physical samples
• results of mechanical testing of soils
• water test analyses
• interpretation of soft/hard zones
• losses of drilling fluid
• bore log and in hole test results/measurements
• records of nearby bores
• geological maps

Procedures  for assembling and inserting casing may include:

• solvent cement (PVC)
• stainless steel screws (PVC)
• welding (steel)
• threaded (PVC, FRP, ABS)
• locking strip or wire rope

Equipment  may include:

• hand tools
• power driven (electric, hydraulic or air) hand tools
• casing cutters, bevellers
• welders
• threaded pipe lifting sockets
• solvents

Bore development techniques  may include:

• mechanical surging
• bailing
• chemical methods
• jetting
• air lift surging and/or pumping
• over pumping