Specific capacity by pump test, one month after treatment. From Flow Industries' documented treatment archive.
The problem
Not every rehabilitation candidate is an old well. This well was new — and produced far below expectations. The likely cause: drilling residue and formation fines held in the gravel pack and near-wellbore zone that conventional development had not removed. Initial pump test: specific capacity 7.9 gpm/ft at 1,000 GPM.
The treatment
The crew ran an AirShock AIG-3.7" with a 10" receiver into the screen interval on the hose reel, alongside a 2" airline for simultaneous airlift (935 CFM compressor). A dispersant pre-flush was pumped ahead of the mechanical work.
The impulse program was deliberately stepped:
| Stage | Pressure | Passes | Observed return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,400 psi | 3 + 2 with airlift | Muds, very fine sand |
| 2 | 2,200–2,300 psi | 3 + 2 with airlift | More mud, very fine sand |
| 3 | 2,000–2,200 psi | 3 + 3 with airlift | Some mud, more fine sand |
| 4 | 1,800–2,000 psi | 4 + 4 with airlift | Fine sand, diminishing |
Nitrogen consumption for the complete job: one 40,000 CF tube trailer. After the final pass, the well was airlifted for two hours to remove dislodged material.
Note the direction of the pressure steps — starting high and stepping down as the formation cleaned up, with the operator adjusting from the surface between passes. This is the configuration work that determines results: pressure, pass count, and airlift coordination matched to what the well returns.
The result
Pump test one month after treatment, same orifice, same rate:
Specific capacity: 7.9 → 22.0 gpm/ft — a 175% increase. The well went from underperformer to a fully productive asset — without redrilling.
Well and treatment record
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Location | Louisiana, USA |
| Customer | A rural water association |
| Well depth | 1,410 ft |
| Casing | 400 ft of 16", 890 ft of 12", 100 ft of 8" carbon steel |
| Screen | 100 ft of 8" stainless steel wire-wrap, 0.020" slots |
| AIG model | AIG-3.7" with 10" receiver |
| Gas | Nitrogen — one 40,000 CF tube trailer |
| Specific capacity — before | 7.9 gpm/ft |
| Specific capacity — after | 22.0 gpm/ft |
| Change in specific capacity | +175% |
Why it matters
High-pressure impulse is not only a rehabilitation tool. Applied during development, the pressure waves and surging action remove drilling residue from the gravel pack and formation face that jetting and conventional surging leave behind — the difference between a well that meets design and one that quietly never does.
Results depend on well construction, geology, and correct system configuration. Every recommendation starts with a review of the well's construction and test data.
Have a new well that isn't meeting design capacity?
Send us the completion report and pump test data — we'll tell you honestly whether impulse development fits.