Griffin Fluid Management was named a Well Drilling Project of the Year Finalist for their exceptional work on the Kansas City Flood Risk Management Relief Well Project — one of the largest relief well drilling efforts in the region. Spanning three levee segments along the Kansas River, the project required advanced drilling techniques, rigorous quality control, and real-time problem-solving to deliver a vital flood-protection infrastructure system for Kansas City, Kansas.
Griffin Fluid Management designed and installed 119 custom-built relief wells across the Armourdale, Argentine, and CID levee units, each tailored to site-specific geotechnical conditions identified through detailed borings. Wells ranging from 60 to 100 feet deep were constructed using reverse-rotary drilling methods with a 24-inch borehole diameter, with 12-inch stainless steel well casings and wire-wrap screens connected using spline lock connections — eliminating the need for field welding on large-diameter pipe. To meet the demands of the project, Griffin custom-built a reverse-rotary drill rig based on a modified Gus Pech bucket-auger, equipped with specially designed tooling and a custom bit. Crews worked with precision to complete each well to a safe stopping point within a single working day. A comprehensive QA/QC programme was implemented by licensed well drillers, registered professional engineers, and geologists, ensuring every well met the stringent standards of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Development was carried out using surge block and airlift methods, with final verification through multi-hour pump testing and downhole camera inspection — delivering a flood-protection system built to perform for generations.
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