Free Exam C/D: Air Rotary Drilling Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Exam C/D: Air Rotary Drilling practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A driller is about to drive the company's drill rig truck, which is operated as a commercial motor vehicle, from the yard to a new well site. Under the federal motor carrier safety regulations, what must the driver do with the last driver vehicle inspection report before driving?

   1. A. Review the report and sign it to acknowledge the review and the repair certification
   2. B. Keep the report in the cab and hand it to the carrier at the end of the day's work
   3. C. Prepare a new written report on the vehicle before starting the trip to the site
   4. D. Mail the report to the state agency within fifteen days after the trip is finished

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Under 49 CFR 396.13, "Before driving a motor vehicle, the driver shall" both "Review the last driver vehicle inspection report" and "Sign the report to acknowledge that the driver has reviewed it and that there is a certification that the required repairs have been performed." The written report itself is prepared at the completion of each day's work (396.11), and the 15-day certification and return applies to roadside inspection reports handled by the carrier, so neither replaces the pre-trip review and signature.

   Reference: 49 CFR Part 396 — Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance (eCFR) — 49 CFR 396.13(b)-(c), Driver inspection

2. 2A driller is advancing an air rotary borehole with a roller-cone bit for a well that will be sampled for water quality, and is concerned that the compressed air itself could carry contaminants into the formation. According to EPA guidance, what should be done with the compressor air?

   1. A. Add a lubricating oil injector to the air line to protect the bit and drill pipe
   2. B. Add a foaming surfactant to the air so cuttings leave the hole more quickly
   3. C. Install filters on the compressor discharge to remove hydrocarbon contaminants
   4. D. Raise the compressor discharge pressure to keep formation water out of the hole

   Answer: C

   Explanation: EPA's monitoring well handbook states: "Air discharged from a compressor commonly contains hydrocarbon-related contaminants. For this reason, it is necessary to install filters on the discharge of the compressor." Injecting oil is needed only for down-the-hole hammers, foam is not chemically inert, and higher pressure does nothing to clean the air.

   Reference: Handbook of Suggested Practices for the Design and Installation of Ground-Water Monitoring Wells (EPA/600/4-89/034) — Chapter 4, Drilling Methods, Direct Rotary, p. 41

3. 3A landowner asks why the crew will spend another day working the new well after the screen, filter pack and grout are already in place. According to USGS guidance, what does well development accomplish?

   1. A. It restores the aquifer at the screen toward its original condition and removes fines and drilling fluid
   2. B. It seals the annulus above the screen so surface water cannot travel down along the well casing
   3. C. It disinfects the casing and screen so that coliform bacteria from drilling tools are destroyed
   4. D. It measures the yield and drawdown of the finished well so that the permanent pump can be sized

   Answer: A

   Explanation: USGS states: "Well development helps restore the aquifer at the screened or open section of the well to its original condition." It explains that this is achieved "by removing loose material introduced during drilling, loosening or redistributing native materials compacted by the installation process" and by clearing fine-grained material from around the screen. Sealing, disinfection and capacity testing are separate steps.

   Reference: Guidelines and Standard Procedures for Studies of Ground-Water Quality: Selection and Installation of Wells (USGS WRIR 96-4233) — Installation of Wells, Well Development, p. 71

4. 4A landowner wants an unused 180-foot drilled well with steel casing decommissioned under the NRCS Well Decommissioning practice standard. Who must perform the work?

   1. A. The landowner, if the state allows it
   2. B. A licensed water well driller
   3. C. A licensed pump installer
   4. D. A registered engineer or geologist

   Answer: B

   Explanation: NRCS Standard 351 states: "A water well must be decommissioned by a licensed water well driller." Only where state and local rules allow may hand-dug wells less than 60 feet deep and without steel or plastic casing be decommissioned by the landowner, an engineer, geologist or licensed pump installer, which does not fit a 180-foot cased drilled well.

   Reference: Conservation Practice Standard: Well Decommissioning (Code 351), NRCS — Page 1 of the standard, Criteria, Roles and responsibilities

5. 5A crew is shutting the rig down for a winter night and freezing temperatures are forecast. According to NGWA's drilling safety guideline, what should be done with the rig's air and water lines and pumps?

   1. A. Leave them full so the water inside insulates the fittings
   2. B. Run the compressor slowly all night to keep air moving
   3. C. Drain them while not in use, and winterize the rig if appropriate
   4. D. Cover them with plastic sheeting and leave them pressurized

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Under Temporary Shut Down, the guideline states: "All air and water lines and pumps should be drained when not in use if freezing weather is expected." It adds that, if appropriate, the rig should be winterized at the end of each day.

   Reference: Environmental Remediation Drilling Safety Guideline (NGWA) — Section 3.8.1, Temporary Shut Down, p. 42

6. 6Before driving a drill rig truck that is a commercial motor vehicle to a job site, the driver must be satisfied that a specific list of parts and accessories is in good working order. Which of the following items appears on that federal list?

   1. A. Engine cooling system
   2. B. Exhaust system
   3. C. Wheels and rims
   4. D. Fuel tank and lines

   Answer: C

   Explanation: 49 CFR 392.7(a) states: "No commercial motor vehicle shall be driven unless the driver is satisfied that the following parts and accessories are in good working order" and the list includes "Wheels and rims." Along with service brakes, parking brake, steering, lighting, tires, horn, wipers, mirrors, coupling devices and emergency equipment, it is one of the enumerated items; the cooling system, exhaust system and fuel tank are not on this closed list.

   Reference: 49 CFR 392.7 — Equipment, inspection and use (eCFR) — 49 CFR 392.7(a)

7. 7A driller switches from a tricone bit to a down-the-hole (DTH) air hammer to penetrate hard granite. According to USGS guidance on air-rotary methods, what must be introduced continuously while the hammer is operating?

   1. A. Rock-drill oil injected into the air stream
   2. B. Clean water injected into the air stream
   3. C. Foam surfactant mixed into the air stream
   4. D. Bentonite slurry pumped into the drill pipe

   Answer: A

   Explanation: USGS Table 18 notes: "The DTH hammer must be continuously lubricated with oil injected into the air stream." The text adds that DTH hammers "require a rock-cutting oiltype lubricant that must be continuously introduced in the air stream to prevent seizure of the hammer bit." Water and foam are added to help lift cuttings, not to lubricate the hammer.

   Reference: Guidelines and Standard Procedures for Studies of Ground-Water Quality: Selection and Installation of Wells (USGS WRIR 96-4233) — Installation of Wells, Air-rotary drilling and casing-driver systems, Table 18, Comment 3, p. 57

8. 8A helper wants to start developing a new screened well with hard, fast surge strokes to save time. According to the general development practices listed by USGS, how should development begin?

   1. A. At full intensity, then eased off once the discharge starts to clear
   2. B. At full intensity for a fixed period, then stopped regardless of results
   3. C. Gently, with agitation increased slowly as flow through the intake is established
   4. D. Gently, at one constant low intensity that is held until the job is complete

   Answer: C

   Explanation: USGS lists practices that apply in most situations: "Well development is initiated gently." and "The degree of agitation is increased slowly as flow is established through the intake portions of the well." Starting hard risks bridging or damaging the screen, while never increasing agitation may leave fines in place.

   Reference: Guidelines and Standard Procedures for Studies of Ground-Water Quality: Selection and Installation of Wells (USGS WRIR 96-4233) — Installation of Wells, Well Development, Selected Methods, p. 72

9. 9A driller finishes sealing an abandoned irrigation well under the NRCS Well Decommissioning standard. Who is responsible for submitting the well closure report to the applicable government entities?

   1. A. The landowner who requested the work
   2. B. The local NRCS field office staff
   3. C. The state well-licensing board
   4. D. The person who decommissioned the well

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The standard states: "The person decommissioning the well is responsible for submitting the well closure report to all applicable government entities."

   Reference: Conservation Practice Standard: Well Decommissioning (Code 351), NRCS — Page 1 of the standard, Criteria, Roles and responsibilities

10. 10At a remote, access-controlled site, the crew leaves for the night with a clearance hole still open. According to NGWA's drilling safety guideline, what is the minimum required for that hole?

    1. A. Mark it with hazard cones, fencing or similar to identify the hazard
    2. B. Fill it completely with cuttings before leaving each evening
    3. C. Nothing, since remote sites see no visitors or animals overnight
    4. D. Cover it with a sheet of plastic weighted with loose soil

    Answer: A

    Explanation: The guideline requires unattended boreholes to be covered or protected, and adds: "For remote, idled, or access controlled sites, clearance holes can be left open, however, use hazard cones, fencing or other methods to identify the hazard."

    Reference: Environmental Remediation Drilling Safety Guideline (NGWA) — Section 3.8.1, Temporary Shut Down, p. 42