Well Retrieval Tool Q&A Set #2

FAQS: Special tools to pull out stuff dropped into a well

Tools to Use to Retrieve Item

How do well grabbers work?

How does it work. 2023-06-24 by Owenga

Reply:

@Owenga,

Different well pipe grabbers work by different mechanical means to grab an object that has been dropped into a well.

The user chooses a grabber whose physical properties seem likely to allow it to get a grip on whatever it is that's being retrieved..

For example there are grabbers that are shaped specifically to drop onto the end of a pipe and pinch it so that it can be lifted.

Take a look through the different shapes and images in this article series and you'll see examples.

That is to say different shapes work by different grasping principles.

You might drop a pipe grabber that is intended to wedge into the center of a vertical pipe in a well or one that's intended to pinch and grab onto the exterior.

Can you sell me a tapered tap spear for water well fishing out a pipe?

i need a steel tapered tap spear for water well for fishing out pipe size 1'' and 1'' 1/4. 2023-08-11 by Everett Black

Reply:

@Everett Black,

To protect reader trust that our information is without bias or conflict of interest, InspectApedia does not sell anything: no products, no services. So we can't provide the well fishing tool that you asked about.

But at

WELL RETRIEVAL TOOLS
you will find suppliers of well retrieval tools as well as designs for making your own.

Please take a look at the page and post any further questions, requests, or suggestions that you might have.

Thanks.

How can we find or make an inexpensive well retrieval tool for use in Uganda?

I don't have comment to you because is my first time to see some of fishing tools and the quality are good but my humble request is how can a pump machine like me who can't afford to get or buy can manage to have it.

Secondly in upcountry like lira in Uganda can afford to those tools for the beneficiary of water user or community. Thanks. 2020-09-15 by Otengo malcon

Reply: Funding help for water supply in Uganda

Otengo

You're quite right that the first business in providing water from a deep well is to drill the well - that's not something that a person can do; it requires drilling equipment;

The Water Project may be able to help with funding

See https://thewaterproject.org/wells_for_uganda

Used an auger to pull out a pump I dropped into a deep well

Hello. I have recently pulled the pump that is in our deep well system and bought a replacement. I attempted to install the new pump and all was going well until I got to ab 200 ft down with pump and the pipe((its 440 ft to the bottom of the casing and top of the water is ab 200 ft)) and it happened so fast- I couldn't grab it or anything-- IT FELL!!!

Well- I spent days pondering on how in the world I could get it out and finally - I got a 250 ft auger and joined it with another auger. I winched it up and got the pipe and tied icecycle knot and tied it off.

The wire had fell with it so instead of pulling all of it back up and checking the pump- I just connected it to 220 v breaker to see if i could hear or feel the vibrations-- so I would know that it wasn't damaged or broken... longer story short.... it did vibrate the top of the pipe that I had knot tied to and so I connected 3 more (20 foot long ea) 1 in pipes.

And got it where I thought it was in water ab 240 ft and when I connected it to the 220 breaker this time--- there was no vibration or any noise so --- I had to hoist it back up---

finally got to the bottom and the water pump wasn't at the end of the pipe.... the wires had somehow been severed and I'm not sure how or why it happened but I need advise on tools that I could use or make to use to grab onto the piece of pipe and pump that is still sitting at the bottom of our deep well.

I've tried auger and I get a hold on it but b4 I make it out of the water with it it's getting stuck or either falls off the end of the auger... any suggestions r welcomed. I really need another opinion on this- 2019-01-30 by Andy

Reply: when the professionals drop a pump into the well ...

Andy,

What the other pro's do - and they've all dropped a pump at one time or another - is try a series of various grabber hooks such as those shown in the article above;

When that fails I'd try running a camera down into the well bottom to see the position of the pump and to help hook it back up.

I have seen that well pump retrieval jobs that have been videotaped for ad purposes conspicuously omit any photo of exactly what the company used to grab the fallen pump. It's perhaps protecting their turf, but not particularly generous. It's the old "don't ask me, hire me instead" that is sometimes fair but not always justified.

When you lower a well cam you can see if there is a rope or pipe that's likely to be able to be grabbed by one of the retrieval tools we illustrate; you basically have to match the tool to the space available, to what's in the well, and to the position of the fallen materials.

An augur that you tried works just when you can send it into an opening like the end of a pipe. Some grappling hooks can snag a rope or wire or larger ones even the pump upper end itself.

Aside from the dropped well pump or pipe tools shown in our article above, I've read that some well pump retrieval projects had success by trying a piton or crevice clamp (mountaineering equipment) or even a simple small grappling hook that snagged a dropped well rope.

Keep in mind that your retrieval cable or pipes have to be strong enough to lift ALL of the weight involved: pump, pipes, wire + some strength to pull and wiggle through snags.

Question: cost of pipe grappling tools

How much does one of the grappler pipe holders cost to buy out right? (June 16, 2016) Tina

Reply:

Fair question, Tina but prices are all over the place depending on the particular pipe grabber tool and its application, from $10. to $1000 or more. The "Fetch" pipe spear described in the article above retails for about $500. U.S.

Question: camera to inspect a well for fallen debris?

(Jan 21, 2016) Anonymous said:
Do you know if they make a small camera that you can insert into the well to see if there is any debris in the well?

I recently just pulled the well pump and had a small fracture of the pvc pipe. I would like to know if they make they make a camera that can look down into the well to check for debris, or is there any other way of checking this well?

The well pump was 50 ft down, so i don't know how deep it actually is.

Reply: yes

There are well cameras used by some companies to inspect the well bore for damage, such as the GeoVISION TM Borehole Well Camera System and there are other DHV (downhole video) camera systems widely sold or perhaps rented for that purpose.

Look for "Downhole Video" camera systems or "well bore inspection systems" or "well bore camera" to see more examples.

(Jan 25, 2016) Anonymous said:
just bought a 100 endoscope that is USB for $80... I have to fish a black pipe out that's 60' down.

Plumber tried to retrieve the galvanized pipe with the pump attached

Hi, we have a 400' deep well. The plumber tried to retrieve the galvanized pipe with the pump attached which apparently quit running. He was able to retrieve 2 sections and then the rest did drop back into the well and the pipe is sitting approx. 40' down in the well.

They tried to lower some weights and another small pipe with which we were able to get past the old pipe.

But it would not budge to let the new pump and line go past it. They tried and tried with zero results.
When they originally came to extract the pipe they came with a bobcat, and then hooked a large chain to the bobcat boom and the other end around the galvanized 400' pipe and a pump attached.

I told him that it would not work that the chain would slip. They did get 2 sections of pipe. On the next try, guess what happened?

The f'n chain slipped on the pipe and all dropped down into the well and it is sitting now at approx. 40' down.

And now they are trying to talk us into a new well and to pay half the cost. Are you kidding? What a friggin' Valentine's Day and we have no idea where when and how this is getting fixed, and this has been going on since Feb. 08, 2017. Somebody having an idea to help? 2017-02-14 by Reiner

Reply:

I think there is still a fair chance that using the proper retrieval tool or Grabber one could snag the chain and the pipes that are still in the well.

You'll notice in WELL RETRIEVAL TOOLS that there is quite a variety of grabbing devices depending on what needs to be grabbed. I would try that before considering a new well.

Other reader follow up:

@Reiner,
If the pipe section that was dropped still has threaded end or coupling on it use proper fitting being a coupling to screw on end of pipe in well attach coupling to 2" pvc pipe and lower pvc pipe and try an screw onto existing pipe.

If coupling is already on old pipe in well use a nipple on the end of pvc and screw it into coupling only 40' down should have a good chance.

Ive done this method at 100' down casing lost last 2 - 20' galvanized sections plus pump. I was able to attach on a coupling to pvc pipe and lower it down and turn it threading it onto the galvanized pipe and the gently pulling straight up as not to snap pvc pipe off. On 2017-03-31 by marty

Dropped a 24 inches wrench on the borehole

I dropped a 24 inches wrench on the borehole, now it is sitting on the top of my hammer at 120 meters deep.

The Wrench is jamming the hammer when I try to pull it back, I tried fishing it with a hook but it is nearly impossible to find its way into the hole of the tool at this depth. I cant use a magnet or anything too thick because it wouldn't go down the hole with all the rods in the middle. Any suggestions? 2018-08-17 by Lucas

Reply:

Damn I hate when I do that!

What about a magnet covered by a plastic slip pipe connected to a pair of lines, one to the covering slip pipe (just long enough to cover the magnet) and one to the magnet. Drop the pair together to get down to the wrench, then at the wrench pull up the slip pipe enough to try grabbing the magnet.

IF that doesn't work you might still retrieve the wrench with a small grapple hook.

Last resort: try to push the dropped wrench past any obstruction (what exactly is your "hammer"?) to let it fall to the well bottom. As long as that's below the pump bottom it'll do little or no harm.

Follow up:

Thanks mate

I liked the magnet idea, but I will make all my way down with pvc pipes then throw the magnet with a line into it. I think that just the covering slip hanging from a line would still stick on the rods and doesnt find its way down. I will let you know how it goes.

I tried to hook it, but at this depth it is just a very unlikely luck shot. The hook on the bottom doesnt respond to my movements on the line at the top, only if I give it a yank. I wasnt even close.

The hammer is the tool I used to drill the well (Image).

The gap between the hammer and the well is less than half inch the wrench cant pass through it and I can only pull the hammer out after I take the wrench out.

There is a chance that if I keep pulling the hammer up the wrench will dig its way into the well's wall and then I would be able to bring the hammer up leaving the wrench there.

But the rock down there is too hard, it would take ages.

 

What is the best way to get old pipes out of a well?

What is the best way to get old pipes out of a well? 2018-06-29 by Cindy Herron

Reply:

Try grabbers till you get one that works, use a tripod and winch or hoist, pull the pipes, cut off and remove sections as you lift the pipe until it's all out. Take care not to drop the remains back into the well.

Conventional pipe grabbing tools

We purchased some mountain property just recently, with a ground water well that was drilled approx. 20 years ago.

We are looking to remove the old pump and replace it with one that is more suited for our needs, but we aren't sure, exactly, what tools might best be used to do this.

We are looking at approx 250 feet of steel pipe that we will be re moving, along with the pump. We will be replacing the steel pipe with poly piping, which is easy enough.

We are using a winch and pulley system to bring the steel piping out, 20 feet at a time, as that is the length of pipes used for each section. We need some kind of pipe clamp that will hold the remaining connected footage of pipe, from falling to the bottom of the 250 foot well, while we remove each 20 foot section from the top and place it on the ground just outside our well house. Any suggestions?

My husband is very capable of doing the job himself, but financially we are strapped, and therefore looking at the cheapest tools to do what we need to get it done our first go around. Any suggestions or help is very, very much appreciated! 2018-06-02 5 by Tara

Reply:

Tara

Aside from the pipe grabbing tools in the article above, there are some conventional pipe grabbing tools including pipe wrenches and tools made by vice grip that might be suitable.

The problem is the weight that the tool has to be able to hold as well as the construction of the rig against which the tool is going to prop itself to hold the pipe from being dropped back down in the well.

It would be worth checking with local well drillers to see if someone's willing to help you out.

used to page top or bottom contact like to send us your email and I'll send you some photos of other tools I have in my toolbox. I'm traveling so I may not be able to get those online right away, I can send you images by email.

this to me by vice grip uses a chain that can pinch around the pipe very tightly. For safety you probably need to use three of these.

Grabbers for retrieving a pump dropped in the well

Hello. I have recently pulled the pump that is in our deep well system and bought a replacement. I attempted to install the new pump and all was going well until I got to ab 200 ft down with pump and the pipe((its 440 ft to the bottom of the casing and top of the water is ab 200 ft)) and it happened so fast- I couldn't grab it or anything-

- IT FELL! Well- I spent days pondering on how in the world I could get it out and finally -

I got a 250 ft auger and joined it with another auger. I winched it up and got the pipe and tied icecycle knot and tied it off. The wire had fell with it so instead of pulling all of it back up and checking the pump- I just connected it to 220 v breaker to see if i could hear or feel the vibrations--

so I would know that it wasn't damaged or broken... longer story short.... it did vibrate the top of the pipe that I had knot tied to and so I connected 3 more (20 foot long ea) 1 in pipes. And got it where I thought it was in water ab 240 ft and when I connected it to the 220 breaker this time---

there was no vibration or any noise so --- I had to hoist it back up--- finally got to the bottom and the water pump wasn't at the end of the pipe....

the wires had somehow been severed and I'm not sure how or why it happened but I need advise on tools that I could use or make to use to grab onto the piece of pipe and pump that is still sitting at the bottom of our deep well.

I've tried auger and I get a hold on it but b4 I make it out of the water with it it's getting stuck or either falls off the end of the auger...

any suggestions r welcomed. I really need another opinion on this- 2019-01-30 by Andy

Reply:

Andy,

What the other pro's do - and they've all dropped a pump at one time or another - is try a series of various grabber hooks such as those shown in the article above;

When that fails I'd try running a camera down into the well bottom to see the position of the pump and to help hook it back up.

I have seen that well pump retrieval jobs that have been videotaped for ad purposes conspicuously omit any photo of exactly what the company used to grab the fallen pump. It's perhaps protecting their turf, but not particularly generous.

It's the old "don't ask me, hire me instead" that is sometimes fair but not always justified.

When you lower a well cam you can see if there is a rope or pipe that's likely to be able to be grabbed by one of the retrieval tools we illustrate; you basically have to match the tool to the space available, to what's in the well, and to the position of the fallen materials.

An augur that you tried works just when you can send it into an opening like the end of a pipe. Some grappling hooks can snag a rope or wire or larger ones even the pump upper end itself.

Aside from the dropped well pump or pipe tools shown in our article above, I've read that some well pump retrieval projects had success by trying a piton or crevice clamp (mountaineering equipment) or even a simple small grappling hook that snagged a dropped well rope.

Keep in mind that your retrieval cable or pipes have to be strong enough to lift ALL of the weight involved: pump, pipes, wire + some strength to pull and wiggle through snags.

Question: image of a single or double bite metal loop well pipe retriever

(Mar 8, 2015) TOBYRAM said:
Can you post a link of a picture or website that sales this "single or double bite metal loop well pipe retriever"? - I really need one.

Reply:

I'm not sure just what you're asking for, Toby, but the image below is a well casing tool lift tool whose image sounds like your description. This tool is provided by Hole Products and is cited, along with supplier source information

at WELL RETRIEVAL TOOLS

Question: how do I retrieve a dropped steel pipe from a well?

(Apr 25, 2015) Jim Fath said:
how do i retrieve a dropped steel pipe from a well

Reply:

Store bought or home made single or double bite metal loop well pipe retriever: some well pipes can be successfully retrieved by fabricating a flexible pair of metal rings with squared or sharp edges connected and hinged to a rod that is in turn connected to the bottom of a working pipe long enough to reach down to the top of your well pipe in the well.

When the pair of metal rings slip over the exposed upper end of the well pipe, push the assembly a few feet further down over the pipe.

If you've got your design right (test it above ground first) when you pull up on the assembly the rings will hinge to an angle that will "bite" onto the vertical pipe in the well and allow you to pull the assembly back out.

Dynamite down the well?

Forgive all the poor spelling...my texting sucks;
I was excited about getting your help and posted without editing!

Thanks for your "Godsend" imformation.
Just pulled my old galvenized pipe and pump out, (65 ft) with home made 12 ft triangle and chain pully host ...no problem.
However...while replacing it with new pump and vinal pipe I dropped a 2x2 wedge into the well .
I dumbly tried pulling it all out too fast,
and at 45 ft. It jammed between the casing and rubber buffer (a foot above the pump) .

I've chistled away most of the top half of the buffer with a sharpened 2 inch galvenized pipe connections. I also have an infrared mini cam (from Amazon) apoxied to 1/2 pvc pipe...the wire running through pipe;
So i can monitor whats happening.

There is only around a 15 foot pool of water below the pipe's ending. I dont mind if I have to cut the pipe at the pump (and wedge)...allowing it to fall away into my well. This is Central Fla. and so is a collection of pools in porous coral rock.
However...there is probably not enough depth to allow the entire 65 foot (to the top of well) to drop down.

How may I cut (grind) either the wedge and/or pipe with pump to pull it out, or let it drop?

Someone suggested nuking it with a flare!
I believe that would posdsbly just melt lots of pladtsc into the pump and further fuse it in!

Id also consider some kind of small explosion. Perhaps a juryrigged shotgun charge in a pipe and set off electronically to cut it away; or with the charge only to create a concussion?

Thanks so much...any suggestions appreciated;
This is not a joke! 2017-10-25 by Michael Hoban

Reply:

Michael

Although my friend Paul Galow, who grew up in a poor, rural coal mining area in Pennsylvania 80 years ago, says on the farm he and his dad often used dynamite to restore water flow to their well, I do NOT recommend using an explosion in your well bore.

The risks include a total collapse of the well as well as being killed or injured by shrapnel flying out of the bore.

The oil drilling industry has more experience than anybody else in grinding away hard or steel materials that have been dropped into a well, sometimes at great depth.

Take a look at the assortment of well retrieval tools at WELL PIPE RETRIEVAL TOOLS

You don't mention your well bore diameter, nor its construction materials, but in any casing larger than 2" we might to be able to use a solid pipe to tap the wedge loose, permitting it to fall to the well bottom. Or perhaps I don't understand exactly how it's jammed - use the page top or bottom CONTACT link to send me photos if you can.

By "rubber buffer" I think you're describing a rubber plug with a central hole that is used to keep the well pipe centered in the well bore.
Other references call this a well pipe guide or guide seal.

The guides with which I'm familiar are inside of a metal or plastic well casing and might be pulled up out of the well by centering a retriever through the center hole of the guide (normally the guide would come out with the well pipe).

If we can loosen the wedge and let it fall, it can be left on the well bottom, or a grabber can be used to extract it.

Or you may need to continue chiseling until you've removed the whole rubber buffer.

In that case, as I don't like the prospect of clogging piping or pumps with rubber fragments, you may need to pump out the debris from the well bottom.

We might take a look at some of the existing solutions for freeing up stuck well pipes and stuck well components, besides the tools I list at the well retrieval tool InspectApedia.com article I cited above.

For readers using a submersible well pump, take a look at Fernco's Water Well Debris Traps - "Debris Traps eliminate the common problem of loose dirt and stones invading the pump suction area in water wells."

• "Freeing pipe stuck in a borehole." U.S. Patent 3,104,707, issued September 24, 1963.

Follow up:

PS...I keep trying to pull it out with my chain (originally used to pull the old galvenized pipe) however it's only kinking and streaching.my new vinal pipe;
Im afraid it'll break before.it moves!

The casing is 4 inches, (i believe) not home to check? The old galvenized...as new vinal pipe is 2 in.

The "buffer" is a thick rubber triangular shaped on both ends (about a foot long) sleeve (with slots on the triangleed part) that the pipe runs through. Its purpose is to buffer the rattling nose that would be made when the pump goes on...against the casing. Its probably not meant for vinal pipe but id gotten it as part og a package on Amazon so i.put it on to be extra conservative!!! It is above the pump...

so any rubber hopefull chipped away will sit on top of the pump and be pull out with the pump;
or dropped into the well with the pump if i accidently sever the pipe.

At this point (nearly a year bumbing neighbirs water) " Frankly, I don't give a damn"!

All I want (need) is to get the small green wood (or id be rotten by now) wedge unstuck from the "buffer"...by chopping it or the buffer aeay;

Then I can simply pull it all back up.

So...what's the most apropos...most workable way;
Im too poor to hire a pro but am ok at juryrigging;

As I made my own *($15.00 Amazon parts)
down under camera, that plugs into a desktop screen. And Im chipping with a modified garden tool cut and sharpened into a harpoon...weilded to tv antenna pipe.

Again...any new ideas to improve what Im doing appreciated.

Reply:

Darn, let's think about this.

I understand the reluctance to hire someone, though an old-timer well driller from nearby often has experience with jiggling and rigging stuff out of a well.

The buffer you describe not only prevents noise, it keeps the well pipe from whipping around in the well so badly that it breaks.

I would keep chipping at the wedge itself - if you can split it apart it'll soften and may come out.

How to lift a fallan 4.6mm borewell bit

as i am bore well contractor . how to lift a fallan 4.6mm borewell bit by using electro magnet or any other option. 2016-09-03 by Anonymous

Reply: Magnetic tools for retrieving things from a well

Anon: about Magnetic Retrieval Tools for fishing stuff out of a well bore:

Hole Products sells well fishing tools including magnetic retrieval tools.

We illustrate their magnets in the article WELL RETRIEVAL TOOLS.

Their well fishing tool or retrieval magnets include one that can lift 400 lbs. The company has offices around the U.S. - their website will find one closest to you: www.holeproducts.com/contact

Or call their Global Sales Office at 888.465.1569

Harbor Freight sells a magnet with a 250 lb lifting capacity as do well suppliers.

I'm doubtful that a conventional magnet will work well if the bit is at all jammed as it may keep sticking to the well casing wall; one might work in a plastic well bore where there's no steel casing to foul up the magnet as you try to drop it in the well. But I'd look through the retrieval tools listed above.

If an Alnico magnet with sufficient lifting strength doesn't work, a tool that slips over the exterior of a round shaft (such as a pipe section) may work also to grab the bit.
flag like

Fetch pipe retrieval tool

The Fetch by DAPALCO is the perfect tool for fetching broken pipes or pumps from wells and other cavities with limited access, saving both time and costly alternatives. 2016-08-24 by Fetch

Reply:

Thanks Dapalco, we've added an image and more detailed description of your Fetch pipe retrieval tool in WELL RETRIEVAL TOOLS. We also welcome content critique, suggestions, questions.

Retrieving a dropped pumping machine inside a borehole

retrieving a dropped pumping machine inside a borehole 2019-01-01 by Taofeeq Popoola

Reply:

Tapfeeq

See

WELL RETRIEVAL TOOLS

Take a look through those tools as one of them will probably work for you. Sometimes if you can't find the tool locally it can be fabricated.

Grinding or chopping up stuff stuck in a well

I purchased a parcel of land it had a deep well pump stuck couldn't get it out they drilled in same casing with out removing pump never heard of leaving one in and drilling threw it crushing poulverising it

what ill health effects can it have? have u ever heard of this? Been trying to drain it their are silver partials plastic coming out If any can't fathom this is safe for consumption would appreciate any input u can give me. 2018-09-08 by Gail

Reply:

Gail,

Grinding or chopping up stuff stuck in a well is a common, if advanced technique for clearing a blockage.

Watch out: The question that occurs to me is whether or not the drilled crushed pump motor might have contained PCBs, other lubricants, or something else harmful to the water supply.

You might want to check with your local water test company for advice about what tests to perform on the water to put your mind at ease.

Question: cable broke when re-installing a new deep well pump

Sept 30, 2014) Jackie said:
Tried reinsterting a deep well pump when the cable broke. We can see the water pipe at just 15 ft down the 6" in diameter. Can someone help us figure out the best way to pull it back up?

Reply:

Several well retrieval tools include cable grabbers, or ask your local well driller for help as that may be faster than trying to make your own tool.

See WELL RETRIEVAL TOOLS