Plugging a well is not simply a matter of filling it until it is full. The work must address the actual well structure, follow the appropriate technical method, and comply with applicable legal requirements to reduce risks to groundwater resources.
With experience in environmental services and water resources, Nanoen provides consulting, documentation, and field services for plugging unused wells. Nanoen supports businesses throughout the process, from assessing the existing well condition and reviewing legal requirements to preparing the plugging plan, carrying out the work, and completing the final report.
Nanoen serves locations throughout present-day Can Tho City, covering the former Can Tho City, Hau Giang Province, and Soc Trang Province. The company also supports businesses in other provinces across the Mekong Delta.
When Does a Business Need to Plug a Well?
A business should review and prepare an appropriate solution when a well falls into any of the following categories:
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The well is damaged and can no longer be used for extraction.
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The well is no longer used in production activities.
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The business has switched to a centralized water supply.
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There is no plan to continue using the well.
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The well belongs to a groundwater work whose permit has expired or is undergoing permit surrender or amendment procedures.
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The regulatory authority requires the well to be addressed or plugged.
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Information about the well structure, depth, or casing condition is no longer available.
Not every inactive well should be handled in the same way. If a well belongs to a licensed groundwater work, is no longer being used but is planned for future use, and has been accepted by the competent authority, the well owner may be required to seal and monitor the well instead of plugging it immediately.
The legal documentation and intended future use should therefore be reviewed before selecting an appropriate solution.
Why Must a Well Be Surveyed Before a Quotation Is Prepared?
The cost of well plugging depends directly on the actual condition of each well. Preparing a quotation based only on the number of wells may result in underestimated material quantities, unsuitable equipment selection, or additional costs during implementation.
Nanoen prioritizes assessing the following factors:
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Well type: drilled well, dug well, exploratory well, or another type of well.
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Well depth and diameter.
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Well structure and casing condition.
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The feasibility of withdrawing or removing the casing.
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Whether the well is clear or obstructed.
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The presence of debris, foreign objects, or signs of well-wall collapse.
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Site access for machinery and equipment.
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Available documentation, drawings, and relevant permits.
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Safety requirements at the work area.
The survey results provide the basis for determining the technical method, required material quantities, equipment, and scope of documentation.
What Does Nanoen’s Well Plugging Service Include?
1. Receiving and Reviewing Information
Nanoen consults with the business to identify the type of well, its previous use, current operating condition, legal documentation, and present requirements.
The business should provide any available documents, such as the groundwater extraction permit, well construction drawings, as-built records, drilling records, or relevant decisions.
2. Surveying the Existing Well Condition
Nanoen technical team checks the well location, site conditions, depth, diameter, degree of obstruction, foreign objects, and casing condition to the extent that these factors can be assessed on site.
If the original documentation is incomplete, the plugging plan must be developed using the actual survey findings together with any records still retained by the business.
3. Developing the Plugging Plan and Preparing Documentation
Based on the survey results, Nanoen assists with:
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Determining the applicable legal requirements.
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Preparing a plugging plan suited to the well’s actual condition.
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Identifying the required materials, equipment, and implementation method.
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Preparing the prescribed notification form and supporting documents.
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Coordinating with the business during submission to the competent authority.
The current technical requirements are provided in QCVN 83:2024/BTNMT. Businesses can find further information in the article: Technical Procedures for Plugging Unused Wells under QCVN 83:2024/BTNMT.
4. Carrying Out the Well Plugging Work
Nanoen prepares the materials, personnel, and equipment required for the approved plugging plan.
During implementation, the plugging materials must be placed at the specified locations and depths. The work should minimize voids and blockages inside the well, while the casing must be handled according to its actual condition.
The work is documented through photographs, site records, and material quantity information for use in the completion report.
5. Completing the Report and Handing Over the Documentation
After the field work is completed, Nanoen assists the business in compiling:
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The implementation date and location.
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The well condition before plugging.
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The technical method applied.
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The types and quantities of materials used.
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Photographs of the work.
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The completion report using the applicable form.
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Handover documents and internal records.
What Information Should the Business Provide?
To help Nanoen conduct a preliminary assessment, the business can prepare the following information:
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Address of the well requiring plugging.
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Number of wells.
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Type of well.
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Estimated depth and diameter.
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Current operating condition.
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Casing information.
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Photographs of the well area.
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Available permits, drawings, or related documents.
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Expected implementation schedule.
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Safety requirements or internal regulations at the facility.
If the well depth or structure cannot yet be determined, Nanoen will discuss an appropriate survey approach before preparing the cost estimate.
Well Plugging Services in Can Tho and the Mekong Delta
Nanoen provides consulting and well plugging services throughout present-day Can Tho City, including locations within the former Can Tho City, Hau Giang Province, and Soc Trang Province.
Nanoen also supports businesses in other parts of the Mekong Delta, depending on the project location, number of wells, and actual implementation conditions.
Conducting a local site survey allows Nanoen to assess site access, material transportation distances, the feasibility of moving equipment to the well location, and any coordination requirements involving the competent authorities.
Why Should a Well Not Be Filled with Soil, Sand, or Waste Materials?
Pouring materials into the well from the surface does not mean that the well has been properly plugged.
If the material becomes trapped near the top, the lower part of the well may remain empty. The well can then continue to act as a pathway for water and contaminants to travel from the ground surface into aquifers or allow cross-flow between different aquifers.
The plugging plan must be based on the well depth, diameter, structure, casing condition, and site conditions. This is also why Nanoen does not apply the same method to every well.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Is the Cost of Well Plugging Calculated?
The cost depends on the well depth, diameter, structure, casing condition, type of plugging material, site conditions, required documentation, and project location. Nanoen needs information about the existing well condition before preparing a cost estimate.
Can a Well Be Plugged If Its Original Drawings Are No Longer Available?
A survey can be conducted, and a plugging plan can be developed based on the actual well condition and any remaining records. However, the scope of the survey and the implementation method must be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Is a Business Required to Prepare a Well Plugging Plan?
For wells owned by organizations covered by the applicable regulations, the well owner must submit a notification together with a plugging plan using the prescribed form. The specific requirements should be reviewed based on the well type and its legal documentation.
Does Nanoen Provide Services in the Former Hau Giang and Soc Trang Areas?
Yes. Following the administrative reorganization, the former Hau Giang and Soc Trang areas are now part of Can Tho City. Nanoen accepts survey requests in these areas and in other locations across the Mekong Delta.
Is a Completion Report Required After the Plugging Work?
Yes. The well owner is responsible for submitting a completion report using the applicable form and within the prescribed time limit. Further information is available in the article: Regulations on Plugging Unused Wells in 2026.
Contact Nanoen for Well Plugging Services
If your business has a damaged or unused well, or needs to review its well-plugging obligations, please send Nanoen the available information about the well condition and supporting documents.
Contact Nanoen via hotline 0941.777.519 – 0907.803.678 – 0907.686.717 for advice on a plugging solution suited to the actual well condition and current legal requirements.
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