The rehabilitation of wells suffering from lost capacity due to chemical and biological fouling has relied on chemical and mechanical means to bring the well back to some level of acceptable performance. The delivery of mechanical energy whether it is swabbing, surging, brushing or jetting is necessary to remove chemical and biological buildup and aid in chemical reactions. While these methods have been generally successful, their success has been limited by the amount of mechanical energy capable of being applied to the plugged area.

Recently new technologies utilizing high pressure gas impulses have been adapted to the water well industry which allows for the delivery of high energy percussive waves to the area to be treated. Unlike past percussive energy devices utilizing explosive charges, the high pressure gas impulses can be adjusted from 200 psi to as much as 3,500 psi, are repeatable, and can be concentrated in specific zones.

The method has proven successful in removing chemical scale, biological buildup, displacing chemicals into the formation, and in settling the gravel pack and removing drilling mud and fines during new well development. It also has been successful in stopping sand and cloudy water production in open-hole completions.

Tests conducted in a test well field have found significant energy pulses as much as 30 feet into the formation creating a &quote;dilation&quote; wave front loosening intergranular packing and fracturing any cementation which has taken place.

The diameter of the down-hole tool and volume of the pressure chamber can be sized to the specific well, and since it is run on a high pressure hose, it is quick to deploy and multiple passes can be made through badly plugged areas.