wellscoping

Wellscoping is an emerging term used in project management and resource planning to describe the explicit process of defining the boundaries, objectives, deliverables, constraints, and stakeholders for a well-related project. The goal is to prevent scope creep, ensure compliance with regulatory and environmental requirements, and guide efficient resource use.

A typical wellscoping exercise identifies the type of well (municipal groundwater, irrigation, geothermal, or oil and gas), geographic area, technology, capacity targets, water quality criteria, permitting needs, and risk factors. The output is a scope statement that clarifies what is included and excluded, lists assumptions, sets acceptance criteria, and outlines a high-level schedule and budget. It often integrates stakeholder analysis and regulatory review, with plans for monitoring and post-project evaluation.

In practice, wellscoping is applied in water resource management, energy and extraction programs, and large infrastructure projects where wells are central components. It informs drilling programs, pump and treatment designs, environmental impact assessments, and long-term stewardship planning.

As a relatively new term, wellscoping is not yet standardized across industries. Critics argue that without rigorous governance it can degenerate into cosmetic planning, while proponents emphasize its benefits for transparency and accountability in public or multi-stakeholder ventures.

See also: scope, project scope, scoping, scope management, stakeholder analysis, environmental impact assessment.