This unit describes a participant’s skills and knowledge required to construct geothermal wells in Drilling.

This unit is appropriate for those working in supervisory or technical specialist roles.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory and certification requirements that apply to this unit can vary between states, territories, and industry sectors. Relevant information must be sourced prior to application of the unit.

Evidence is required to be collected that demonstrates a candidate’s competency in this unit. Evidence must be relevant to the roles within this sector’s work operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria of this unit and include evidence that the candidate:

locates and applies relevant legislation, documentation, policies and procedures

works effectively with others to plan, prepare and conduct the construction of geothermal wells including:

communicating clear and timely instructions to those involved

preparing for and conducting briefings, toolbox and site meetings

maintaining clear and legible written records and the reports

demonstrates completion of the construction of geothermal wells that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:

determining most appropriate construction methods from the reading and interpretation of all available documented information and local geographic/geological knowledge

selecting appropriate bore/surface casing for the anticipated ground conditions and construction techniques

completing grouting operations to seal intermediate and/or production casing strings or to seal selected zones

maintaining plumbness and alignment of the hole within the required limitations

using development techniques to prevent collapsing of casing or blow outs

carrying out the decommissioning (abandonment) of test holes or wells in geothermal systems

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge in, when constructing geothermal wells through:

work, health and safety

environmental issues

operating drill rig

housekeeping

the equipment characteristics, technical capabilities and limitations

the basic geological formations, i.e. basic knowledge of both soil and rock classifications and various formations which permit groundwater movement and factors affecting groundwater quality for aquifer systems, including drillability and stability

potential safety hazards and sources of contamination when siting a well

the necessity of having a signed agreement/contract with the client

applying Blow Out Prevention procedures and techniques

appropriate casing materials for various applications

managing hole preparation for cementing (grouting) operations

effects of various cement (grout) additives

using pressure cementing methods

casing collapse characteristics

applying appropriate headworks design for geothermal well applications

types of drilling fluids

using grout placement methods and procedures

applying a range of numerical calculations including:

volume (e.g. mud pits, drums, tanks or wells of given dimensions)

up hole velocity

cement/water/additives quantities

flow rates (e.g. L/sec, GPM)

conversion from imperial to metric and vice versa

required mud weight to control formation fluid pressures

appropriate fishing operations for the type(s) of drilling being undertaken

using of materials safety data sheets (MSDS)

being prepared for fire/accident/emergency

An assessor of this unit must satisfy the requirements of the NVR/AQTF or their successors; and Industry regulations for certification and licensing; and,

this unit must be assessed in the context of this sector’s work environment; and,

this unit must be assessed in compliance with relevant legislation/regulation and using policies, procedures, processes and operational manuals directly related to the industry sector for which it is being assessed; and,

assessment may be conducted in conjunction with the assessment of other Units of Competency; and,

assessment must confirm consistent performance can be applied in a range of relevant workplace circumstances; and,

assessors must demonstrate the performance evidence, and knowledge evidence as outlined in this Unit of Competency, and through the minimum years of current* work experience specified below in an Industry sector relevant to the outcomes of the unit; or,

where the assessor does not meet experience requirements a co-assessment or partnership arrangement must exist between the qualified assessor and an Industry subject matter expert. The Industry subject matter expert should hold the unit being assessed (or an equivalent unit) and/or demonstrate equivalence of skills and knowledge at the unit level. An Industry technical expert must also demonstrate skills and knowledge from the minimum years of current work experience specified below in the Industry sector, including time spent in roles related to the unit being assessed; and,

assessor and Industry subject matter expert requirements differ depending on the Australian Qualifications Framework Level (AQF) of the qualification being assessed and/or Industry Sector as follows:

*Assessors can demonstrate current work experience through employment within Industry in a role relevant to the outcomes of the Unit; or, for external assessors this can be demonstrated through exposure to Industry by conducting frequent site assessments across various locations.

**Where a unit is being delivered outside of a Qualification the first numeric character in the Unit code should be considered to indicate the AQF level

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit. Further information is available in the Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package Companion Volume.

Drilling