Does anyone know of a fishing tool that can be used to retrieve a well pump jet and foot valve from inside a 4 inch steel casing. The plastic pipes broke off at the well cap and allowed the jet and foot valve to drop down the well which is 235 feet deep.
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bump
Is it a plastic foot valve and jet? Is the casing steel? If the casing's plastic and the foot valve's got some iron in it, a rare-earth magnet might work- or not, depending on how long the broken off piece of plastic pipe still attached to these parts is. If the casing's steel, you'll need a centring collar of plastic pipe to keep the magnet away from the casing as you lower it down. If the foot valve and jet are all plastic, talk to a fisherman...best of luck!
I'm just the bump. jake had the post.
cheers.
I know such tools exist, but I have no idea where to rent or buy one. A Google search for "well fishing tool" displayed 16 hits. I didn't see any that looked like a source.
I suspect you're going to have to call a well service company. In my local yellow pages, the relevant heading is "Well Drilling & Service."
From your description ( 4"" casing) this is a regular type SUB pump with a built-in foot valve. It is NOT a Jet pump.
The weight of this pump and pipe could be in the 50 lb or more range. so when you go fishing for it make sure you use the proper tackle.
Since there has to be a power cable attached to this pump can you not (turn power off first) pull it up with this cable?
And before installing it again, make sure you attach a sturdy nylon SAFETY LINE to the pump so if it has to be removed again you can simply pull everthing up .
Good luck -- Been there, done that.
For a foot valve ($10) and jet ($50), it is not worth your trouble to try to fish it out - I believe I may be one of the cheapest people on this board, so if it would not be worth my trouble....... <G> If there is any plasic pipe left on it at all, a barb harpoon may work on the first try, but then I doubt you have a barped harpoon of the right size handy?
Lost a bailer at only 60 feet down once and spent 2 DAYS getting it out, and this was with a tower and winch already set up.
Friend lost a drill string at 120 feet once ($$$ there) wedged into the casing and eneded up jacking the casing out of the ground with a number of 100 Ton jacks.
There are some well drilling web sites (cant recall the addresses, you will have to search) where people discuss special tools they make, barbed contraptions, magnets, grapples, chinese fingers, etc. -- the imagination and the value lost (e.g $60 valve and jet vs $400 pump) determine the level of effort. Bigtime pros use small cameras to find and hook onto lost items.
David Thomas has a lot of exposure with well drilling for monitor wells, he may see this and add some info for you.