Day 1

Optimizing Monitoring Well and Screen Placement

• Establishing Objectives, Data Needs and Uses
• Assembling and Evaluating Existing Information
• Developing an Initial Conceptual Site Model
• Conducting a Detailed 3-Dimensional Site Characterization Program
• Developing a Refined Conceptual Model
• Selecting Optimum Well or Multi-Level Monitoring System Locations

Environmental Drilling Technology for Monitoring Well Installation

• Differences Between Environmental Drilling and Other Drilling
• Factors to Consider in Selecting a Drilling Method
• Descriptions of Common Environmental Drilling Methods
  • Casing Advancement Methods
  • Fluid Circulation Methods
  • Auger Methods
  • Direct-Push Methods

Day 2

Ground-Water Monitoring Well Design and Construction - Part 1

• ASTM Standard D5092 on Monitoring Well Design and Construction
• Objectives and Purposes of Monitoring Wells
• Potential Sources of Chemical Interference
• Selection of Well Casing and Screen Materials

Ground-Water Monitoring Well Design and Construction - Part 2

• Factors Influencing Selection of Well Diameter
• Types and Designs of Well Screens
• Importance of Selecting an Appropriate Well-Screen Length
• Multi-Level Monitoring Systems - Design and Construction

Ground-Water Monitoring Well Design and Construction - Part 3

• Selecting the Proper Filter Pack Grain Size and Well-Screen Slot Size

Field Session #1

• Station 1 - Site Characterization, Soil Sampling and Well Installation with Direct-Push Technology
  • Introduction to Direct-Push Rigs and Tooling
  • Soil Sampling with a Direct-Push Rig
  • Ground-Water Sampling with a Direct-Push Rig
  • Installation of a Single Short-Screened Pre-Packed Well
• Station 2 - Site Characterization, Soil Sampling and Ground-Water Monitoring Well Installation Using a Sonic (or Hollow-stem Auger) Drilling Rig
  • Objectives of the Field Session
  • Introduction to Sonic (or Hollow-Stem Auger) Rigs and Tooling
  • Continuous Soil Sampling
  • Installation of a Ground-Water Monitoring Well
  • Comparison of Sonic Drilling and Direct-Push Technologies for Well Installation
• Station 3 - Demonstration of a Multi-Level Monitoring & Sampling System
  • Objectives of Multi-Level Monitoring Programs
  • Overview of the Components of Multi-Level Monitoring Systems
  • Installation Considerations
  • Sample Collection Methods
  • Applications of Multi-Level Monitoring Systems

Day 3

Ground-Water Monitoring Well Design and Construction - Part 4

• Selection and Installation of Annular Seal Materials
• Surface Protection Measures

Ground-Water Monitoring Well Design and Construction - Part 5

• Alternative Well Completions
• Direct-Push Well Installation

Monitoring Well Development Methods

• ASTM Standard D5521 on Development of Monitoring Wells
• Objectives and Purposes of Well Development
• Applications, Advantages and Limitations of Development Methods
• When and How Long to Develop Monitoring Wells

Planning and Executing a Successful Ground-Water Sampling Event

• Components of a Ground-Water Sampling Event
• Sampling Event Planning and Preparation
• The Ground-Water Sampling & Analysis Plan (SAP)
• Objectives and Purposes of the SAP
• Components of a SAP & Design Options
• Making the SAP User-Friendly
• Addressing the Analysis Portion of the SAP
• Understanding PPM vs. PPB vs. PPT
• Standard Operating Procedures to Include in the SAP
• Timing of Ground-Water Sampling Events
• Office Preparation for Sampling

Field Equipment Decontamination

• Objectives of Field Equipment Decontamination
• Available Decontamination Methods, Including ASTM Method D5088
• Problems Associated with Chemical Decontamination
• Verifying the Effectiveness of Decontamination Methods

Field Quality Assurance/Quality Control Programs

• The Difference Between Quality Assurance and Quality Control
• The Importance of Field QA/QC
• Typical Components of Field QA/QC Programs
• The Role of QC Samples in Ground-Water Sampling Programs
• Types of QC Samples to Collect, and How and Why to Collect Them Properly

Day 4

Water-Level and Product Thickness Measurement

• Uses of Water-Level and Product Thickness Data
• Accuracy and Precision in Water-Level Measurement
• Sources of Error in Water Level and Product Thickness Measurement
• Techniques and Equipment Available for Water-Level Measurement
• Options for Determining Product Thickness in Monitoring Wells

The Science Behind Ground-Water Sampling

• Objectives and Purposes of Ground-Water Sampling
  • Definition of "Representative" Sample
• Factors Affecting the Representative Nature of Ground-Water Samples
  • Sampling Point Placement, Design, Installation, Development and Maintenance
  • Formation and Well Hydraulics
  • Chemistry of the Water Column Above and Within the Well Screen
  • Well Purging and Sampling Methods and Associated Issues

Selection and Operation of Ground-Water Purging and Sampling Devices

• Purging and Sampling Device Selection Criteria
• Impacts of Sampling Devices on Sample Chemistry
• Dedicated vs. Designated vs. Portable Sampling Equipment
• Overview of Available Sampling Devices, Their Operational Characteristics and Limitations

Conventional Purging and Sampling Methodologies

• Objectives of Purging
• Comparison of Traditional Strategies for Purging High-Yield Wells
• Problems with Traditional Purging Methods
• Placement of the Purging Device within the Water Column
• Approaches to Purging Low-Yield Wells

Low-Flow Purging and Sampling and No-Purge Sampling

• Low-Flow Purging and Sampling
  • Fundamental Concepts
  • Requirements for Equipment and Flow Rates
  • Well Hydraulics During Low-Flow Purging and Sampling
  • Procedures Used for Low-Flow Purging and Sampling
  • Dedicated vs. Portable Sampling Equipment
  • Advantages and Limitations
• No-Purge Sampling
  • Fundamental Concepts
  • Equipment Used for No-Purge Sampling
  • Procedures Used for No-Purge Sampling
  • Advantages and Limitations of No-Purge Sampling

Field Parameter Measurement

• Parameters Traditionally Measured and Why They May Not Be Meaningful
• More Meaningful Parameters to Measure During Purging
• Significance and Use of Turbidity as a Field Parameter
• Instrumentation Options for Field Parameter Measurement
• Common Errors in Field Parameter Measurement
• Calibration of Field Parameter Analysis Instrumentation

Day 5

Ground-Water Sample Filtration & Preservation

• Objectives and Purposes of Sample Filtration
• Naturally Occurring vs. Artifactual Particulate in Wells
• Overview of Filtration Methods including ASTM Standard Method D-6564
• Which Parameters Could Be Filtered and Those that Should Not Be Filtered
• Filter Preconditioning - Objectives and Procedures
• Field Preservation of Ground-Water Samples
• Objectives and Purposes of Sample Preservation
• Physical vs. Chemical Sample Preservation Techniques

Field Session #2: Ground-Water Sampling Methods

• Station 1: Conventional Sampling Practices & No-Purge Sampling
  • Overview of Health & Safety & Housekeeping Practices
  • Water Level Measurement
  • Conventional Well-Volume Purging & Sampling
  • Sample Collection & Handling
  • Sample Filtration & Preservation
  • Preparation of Samples for Shipping
  • No-Purge Sampling Using the Passive Diffusion Bag Sampler (PDBS)
• Station 2: Low-Flow Purging & Sampling and No-Purge Sampling
  • Equipment Setup for Low-Flow Purging
  • Determining Drawdown at Various Flow Rates
  • Determining Stabilization of Water Chemistry
  • Collecting Water Samples for VOC Analysis
  • No-Purge Sampling Using the HydraSleeve

Sample Handling and Shipment

• Preparation of Samples for Shipment to the Lab
• Sample Shipment Options and Considerations
• Compliance with DOT and IATA Shipping Regulations

Sampling Event Documentation

• Written vs. Electronic vs. Audio-Visual Recording of Field Activities
• Do's and Don'ts When Documenting Field Observations & Measurements
• How to Make Sure Your Field Records are Admissible in Court
• Sample Security & Chain of Custody