INNOVATION Mar-Apr 2020

F E A T U R E

groundwater flow from CRW so that it could be plugged. This relief well would need to be capable of high flows and drilled five metres or less from the CRW—a risky prospect, because ground stability near the CRW was uncertain. Site investigations revealed that there were three aquifers underlying the CRW: a shallow upper aquifer, and two deep artesian aquifers that were separated by aquitards of unknown integrity. So, to withstand the expected high aquifer pressures, RW3 was designed and constructed using three telescoping casings cemented into the aquitards, plus a 10-inch diameter telescoping screen installed within the deepest artesian aquifer. This well design allowed for the two outer casings to be securely cemented into the aquitards to prevent groundwater from seeping up along the outside of the well and breaking out at surface. In 2013, Foundex Explorations drilled RW3. After RW3 was tested and confirmed to be sealed into the aquitards, a plan was developed to draw down pressure in the artesian aquifers

Canadian Intellectual Property lawyers who can do it all.

Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala LLP patentable.com

PROTECTING INNOVATION

2 6 M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 2 0

I N N O V A T I O N