Relief well

Further information: Blowout (well drilling)

A relief well may be a well drilled to intersect an oil or gas well that has experienced a blowout. Specialized liquid, such as heavy (dense) drilling mud followed by cement, can then be pumped down the relief well in order to stop the flow from the reservoir in the damaged well. A different type of relief well is used adjacent to earthen levees to relieve the pressure on the lake or river side of the levee and thus to prevent the collapse of the levee. The greater flow of water in the water source, typically during a flood, creates a pressure gradient such that more water infiltrates the soil of the levee. Water may then flow through the soil towards the dry side of the levee, resulting in sand boil, liquefaction of the soil and ultimately destry the levee. Relief wells act like valves to relieve the water pressure and allow excess water to be diverted safely, for example, to a canal. See Sand boil. Relief wells can prevent sand boils from occurring by relieving the water pressure as described above.

The first use of a relief well was in Texas in the mid-1930s when one was drilled to pump water into an oil well that had cratered and caught on fire.

References and External links

• "How a relief well works | Gulf of Mexico response | BP". Retrieved 2010-05-16.
• "IEEE Spectrum: How to Drill A Relief Well". Retrieved 2010-08-05.