Abstract: A method and apparatus for completing an in situ leach well to prevent production of sand and to insure minimum permeability damage to the ore bearing zone during casing and cementing operations. A hole for the casing is drilled to and terminated at a point (e.g. onefoot) just above the ore zone. If a pilot hole has been drilled to locate the ore zone, it is reamed to provide the hole for the casing with the cuttings from the reaming operations dropping into lower portion of the pilot hole which extends through the ore zone, thereby protecting the ore zone from permeability damage normally cause by contact with cement. The hole is then cased and cemented. Next, a hole is drilled from the lower end of the casing into the ore zone and an interval thereof is underreamed. A perforated liner is lowered on a drill stem which has a stinger pipe thereon which extends through the lower end of the liner.