NGWA Augering and Monitoring Well Practice Exam

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• The following method(s) is/are not commonly acceptable for well development.
• What is the method for removing sand that has entered the hollow-stem auger after you have drilled below the water table?
• Which statement distinguishes a monitoring well from an observation well?
• A travel blank accompanying groundwater samples for VOC analysis is used to do what?
• Which information should be included in the driller's log for monitoring well construction?
• Which component provides a sanitary seal at the surface and helps prevent surface water infiltration around a monitoring well?
• What does “well development” entail and why is it performed?
• What does a travel blank contain?
• What primary item dictates the type of drilling equipment to be used on a site?
• What is the role of a clean, labeled bottle for VOC sampling?
• Which item is not typically included on an as-built drawing?
• Which of the following is true about tremie piping?
• Which of the following is not a standard industry term in the monitoring field?
• What is the purpose of taking groundwater samples while advancing the hole?
• When selecting a screen for a monitoring well, which factor is NOT typically considered?
• What is the typical clearance between the outer diameter and inner diameter of a hollow-stem auger?
• Doubling the inside diameter of a well will increase its cross sectional area by...
• What is the purpose of a wellhead protection zone?
• What is the function of the filter pack around the well screen?
• Observations made during performance of contract work at a drilling site, such as unusual soil odor or color (of samples), are essentially the property of which party and who has the responsibility to take action as necessary to protect the public?
• Proper screen selection for a groundwater monitoring well should include...
• When developing a monitoring well, what factor(s) will determine the well development method to be used?
• What material are auger teeth typically made of?
• Different types of knock-out plugs are used when reaming holes. Which type is not generally used?
• Which factor do hollow-stem augers help minimize that conventional drilling can contaminate?
• Hollow-stem auger drill rigs have many components which make up the drill rig. Which item is not generally part of the package?
• In order to establish project expectations, the drilling contractor should which of the following actions?
• Which statement best describes the purpose of a travel blank in VOC sampling?
• The drilling method used to construct a monitoring well should...
• Bentonite pellets will not swell to their maximum size under which condition?
• Why is chain-of-custody essential for groundwater samples?
• Which statement about flush mount well covers is true?
• Glacial drift is defined as?
• Which statement best describes a property of the sand pack around the screen?
• Which statement about the standard penetration test (SPT) is NOT true?
• The hollow-stem auger cutter head should be what size in relation to the hollow-stem augers to drill and convey cuttings effectively...
• Why is proper disposal of grout and wash water important?
• What is the typical separation distance from a building foundation recommended for a monitoring well?
• Which statement best explains why depth to sand pack is documented on the as-built drawing?
• In a low pH environment, which material used for monitoring wells would deteriorate the quickest?
• During removal of augers from a borehole, the auger fork prevents which problem?
• If decontamination procedures are not followed, which piece(s) of drill equipment is (are) most likely to contaminate a well?
• In the installation sequence for a shallow monitoring well, which step is typically last?
• How should a wellhead be labeled for field operations?
• Tremie pipe or line is a device, usually a small diameter pipe or hose, that performs the following functions...
• The hollow-stem auger cutter head should be the same size as the hollow-stem augers to drill and convey cuttings effectively.
• Which item is not part of Level D PPE?
• In environmental monitoring, wells are installed downgradient of a landfill to determine what?
• The most important function of the drilling fluids in rotary drilling is
• How can cross-contamination be minimized when sampling multiple wells on the same site?
• During installation in unconsolidated soils, what is the purpose of using temporary casing?
• What best describes a groundwater screen?
• For a typical 2-inch monitoring well, what material is best for the filter pack?
• Hollow-stem augers are commonly used to install wells because...
• The generally accepted difference between the flight outer diameter and inner diameter of a hollow-stem auger is how many inches?
• Which drilling method would be described as the most efficient for bedrock monitoring wells?
• What is a primary reason for selecting a particular drilling method when constructing a monitoring well?
• Which statement best describes the purpose of the surface seal?
• What primarily dictates the type of drilling equipment used on a site?
• A piezometer is an instrument placed in groundwater used to measure pressure (head). What is the correct parameter it measures?
• Of the methods listed, which is the best method of obtaining soil samples during the drilling of a monitoring well?
• When drilling monitoring wells in urban areas, which considerations should be taken into account?
• After a filter pack and bentonite seal have been placed, how far can a well screen section be moved vertically?
• Which statement best describes the relationship between cement grout contamination and pH in the filter pack?
• When bentonite is used in drilling the borehole for constructing a monitoring well, which method is best for removing the bentonite from the screen area?
• Safety of operation for hollow-stem auger rigs is compromised when drilling operations occur within what distance of an electrical line?
• What is the main purpose for developing monitoring wells?
• A disadvantage of using cable tool drilling for monitoring wells is what?
• How should drill cuttings and spoils be managed near groundwater wells?
• The purpose of performing sieve analysis of sands and gravels in monitoring well construction is to determine what?
• What type of material is typically used on monitor wells for a seal above the filter packs?
• The hollow-stem auger system is commonly used for monitoring well installations to accomplish what purpose?
• Why is cross-contamination a concern during groundwater sampling?
• What is the primary purpose of sealing above the filter pack in a monitor well?
• In a monitoring well installation, where is the filter pack placed relative to the screen?
• In personal protection levels A through D, what does Level A indicate?
• What is the purpose of backfill with granular material around the screen?
• How should a drill rig be positioned to reduce the risk of collapse and ensure stability?
• What information should be included on a well labeling record to facilitate field operations?
• What is the purpose of maintaining an annular grout around the outside of the casing?
• How should a field log capture the depth of the screen and the depth of the top of the sand pack?
• Typically, how many casing volumes are purged before sampling a groundwater well?
• What is the purpose of purging groundwater wells before sampling?
• What is a key environmental consideration in grout and wash water disposal?
• Which action best ensures the backfill around the screen functions as intended?
• Contamination from the cement grout leaking into the filter pack may be indicated by which measurement?
• What information is typically recorded in a well construction log?
• How is the depth to water estimated in a monitoring well?
• What is the primary purpose of a groundwater monitoring well in environmental investigations?
• What is the difference between bentonite grout and neat cement grout in well sealing?
• Which statement best describes the purpose of decontaminating sampling equipment between wells?
• In well construction, what is meant by 'surface seal'?
• What are typical field parameters measured during sampling in the field?
• The drilling method used to construct a monitoring well should do what?
• Which standard method is NOT used for decontaminating equipment and materials?
• Which factor influences the effectiveness of well development in a monitoring well?
• Which document defines the scope, parameters, and sampling frequency for a site?
• The auger fork device slips through the flights of the auger column and what?
• What is the purpose of grout in the well construction as described?
• Which item is not part of the driller's log for monitoring well construction?
• In drilling operations at a hazardous waste site, the exclusion zone is defined as what?
• Which statement best describes the relationship between well construction and the development method?
• What should be included in the final report for a monitoring well installation?
• Under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, which documents are required for a commercial motor vehicle with a combined weight of 10,001 pounds or more?
• Which document defines PPE requirements for workers in the exclusion zone at hazardous waste sites?
• During drilling of an environmental investigation boring, which item is usually not recorded on either the driller's log or geologist's log?
• Level D PPE typically includes which items?
• In urban drilling planning, which of the following is essential to address?
• The double-cased monitoring well is designed to prevent migration of contamination between aquifers.
• What is the typical sequence for installing a shallow monitoring well using augering?
• The purpose for a double-cased monitoring well would be...
• How is a typical sand pack installed around the screen in auger-installed wells?
• Which term describes the product of hydraulic conductivity and aquifer thickness, indicating the ease of groundwater flow?
• What is the significance of a cone of depression in groundwater monitoring?
• When the drill cuttings exceed the volume of the borehole while hollow-stem auger drilling, you have usually...
• Which statement best describes proper decontamination practice?
• Air in the discharge line of a recovery well system could be caused by which of the following?
• Which characteristic may be observed to determine proper development of a groundwater monitoring well?
• Why is it important to prevent surface water from entering the borehole during drilling?
• Monitoring wells are commonly installed downgradient of a landfill to determine groundwater contamination.
• Which drilling method is most commonly used to install shallow groundwater monitoring wells in unconsolidated soils?
• Which item is NOT a component of a monitoring well rig?
• Daily inspection of drilling equipment should include which item?
• When recording depths for screen bottom, screen top, and sand pack, from what reference should measurements be taken?
• Which items are recorded during monitor well development?
• An advantage of using hollow-stem augers is what?
• What is the role of a piezometer in hydrogeologic studies?
• Which type of water is typically used in travel blanks for VOC analysis?
• Which action is most directly tied to preventing cross-contamination during drilling operations?
• An auger head uses...
• What does electrical conductivity (EC) measure in groundwater testing?
• Why might a casing vent filter be used during groundwater sampling?
• In backfilling the annulus, which of the following is NOT a primary purpose?
• Which drilling method is described as the most efficient for constructing a bedrock monitoring well?
• What is a key element included in the final report to show regulatory compliance?
• When selecting a screen for a groundwater monitor well, which factor is essential?
• In well construction, the annulus is the space between which components?
• A poorly developed monitoring well can lead to which of the following?
• What is the purpose of logging well construction data row-by-row?
• Which of the following materials is commonly used to create a vertical seal around a monitor well to prevent vertical movement of fluids?
• QA/QC activities in field practice are applied to which activities?
• What document defines what is to be accomplished on a project?
• Which combination of features is used to prevent cross-contamination and vertical migration in a monitored well?
• The completion of a log is essential for...
• Why is it important to confirm there is no cross-connection between the well and surface water during installation?
• What is the most common use of a piezometer?
• The hollow-stem auger system for monitoring well installations should include an auger head that can be machined to accept a plate to facilitate installation below the groundwater level.
• Why should installation date and depth be included on the labeling?
• Which safety precautions are essential during auger drilling?
• What instrument is commonly used to measure water depth in a monitoring well?
• Which document is commonly used to define the scope, objectives, and tasks of a project?
• Which document would you consult to determine the required sampling frequency for a site?
• Which of the following is not a consideration when selecting a screen for a monitoring well?
• What protective equipment should personnel begin operations with to protect against suspected dust, mist, fumes, and vapors?
• What is a typical method for ensuring clean sampling contact with groundwater?
• Which of the following factors can alter the quality of a groundwater sample taken from a monitoring well?
• What is the proper method to remove sand from a hollow-stem auger after drilling in sand-rich conditions?
• In selecting a fluid for a well, what criterion should guide the choice?
• What is the purpose of grout in well construction?
• Which information is not typically a recorded item during monitor well development?
• What is the reason for using dedicated sampling equipment for each well?
• Which field parameters are commonly used to decide when purging a groundwater well is complete?
• During drilling, which of the following is a typical item recorded on site logs?
• What information should be included on an as-built drawing for a monitoring well?
• Which of the following practices does not align with proper monitoring-well installation practices described in the material?
• Why is a sand or fine gravel pack placed around the well screen?
• Which of the following is usually added to cement grout to reduce shrinkage?
• How should the bottom of the screen be positioned relative to the water-bearing interval?
• How should a well be protected from surface entry after installation?
• Which information is typically recorded on a driller's log during drilling?
• What is the purpose of specifying a sampling plan with QA/QC checks?
• Prior to leaving a hazardous waste site, decontamination is done in order to?
• Which sampling method is commonly used to obtain soil samples during monitoring-well drilling?
• How does aquifer transmissivity influence well design?
• A flush mount well cover should have ...
• Which drilling method is preferred when minimizing fluid management is a priority in a contaminated limestone formation?
• Which item is not typically recorded in a well construction log?
• During installation, backfill around the screen with sand serves what purpose?
• How should drillers handle potentially contaminated drilling fluids?
• Which drilling method is best to minimize fluid management in a highly toxic contaminated limestone formation?
• Which of the following is not used in mud management?
• Which of the following is not an impermeable material?
• A piezometer is placed in groundwater to measure hydraulic head. What is hydraulic head a measure of?
• For a monitoring well, which factor is most important to minimize when choosing a drilling method?
• In groundwater monitoring, what does the term hydraulic head combine?
• What is the role of temporary casing during auger drilling?
• Electrical conductivity in groundwater sampling is mainly an indicator of what?
• QA/QC stands for in field practice?
• Which of the following is not a factor that can alter groundwater sample quality?
• What is the minimum size hollow-stem auger, casing, or borehole used for installation of a typical 2-inch well?
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) are commonly tested in groundwater samples. What does VOC stand for?
• Best backfill material for the annulus after the filter pack and seal?