Monitor Well Decommissioning at 5 Wing Goose Bay

Well decomissioning project

Client: Department of National Defence / Defence Construction Canada
Location: Happy Valley–Goose Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador
Industry: Military

Project Overview

Defence Construction Canada engaged SCG Remediation Services to execute a multi-year monitor‑well decommissioning program across 5 Wing Goose Bay and nearby community properties. The aim was to eliminate legacy wells that could allow surface‑water infiltration or vertical contaminant migration, and to remove physical hazards – key steps in safeguarding local aquifers and supporting ongoing environmental remediation of the former air base.

Key Challenges

  • Well variability: Diameters from 1 in. to 10 in.; metal and PVC construction; some under artesian pressure.
  • Site logistics: Wells spanned active and non‑active airfield zones (A, B, C) with strict security protocols.
  • Legacy infrastructure: Several wells were buried in 4 ft vaults or tied to obsolete product‑recovery systems.
  • Locational uncertainty: Many wells on private land were missing, destroyed, or inaccessible.

Technical Execution

SCG provided trained well technicians and professional geoscientists for all three phases (2022–2023):

  1. Field Decommissioning – Employed site‑specific sealing methods based on casing type and groundwater depth.
  2. Comprehensive Documentation – Logged each well, produced decommissioning records, and submitted final reports to DCC.
  3. Survey‑Assisted Searches – In Phase 3, partnered with a licensed surveyor to pinpoint wells previously unlocated on private properties.
  4. Adaptive Problem‑Solving – Developed on‑the‑spot solutions for wells under pressure, inside vaults, or damaged beyond access.

Results

Phase 1–2 (May–Oct 2022)
• Wells targeted: ≈ 220
• Wells decommissioned: 85 %
• Program length: 6 months

Phase 3 (Jun–Oct 2023)
• Wells targeted: ≈ 60
• Wells decommissioned: 89 %
• Program length: 5 months

– 90 % of “missing” private‑property wells were found and sealed after survey support.
– Remaining wells were either confirmed destroyed, permanently inaccessible, or already absent.

Conclusion

SCG Remediation Services successfully decommissioned the majority of legacy monitoring wells at 5 Wing Goose Bay, limiting pathways for contaminant migration and protecting local groundwater. The project showcases SCG’s capability to deliver large‑scale well‑abandonment programs under complex military site constraints – providing e