One of the scariest terms an environmental driller may face is IDW (investigation derived waste): the solid and liquid material generated by the drilling activity. The containment, testing, transportation and disposal of IDW can be a significant part of a project cost. Typically, drillers do not have to worry about the cost for the ultimate disposal of the waste. However, for bidding purposes and for the client’s disposal cost, we need to accurately determine the amount of waste generated during our drilling operations.
Let’s start with a simple example: a small, hollow stem auger drilling project at a service station. The work consists of the installation of three monitor wells, constructed of 4-inch, schedule 40 PVC to a depth of 25 feet. All waste from the project will be stored in 55 gallon drums. Now, let’s determine the number of drums needed for the work.