Measuring and testing – Borehole or drilling – Fluid flow measuring or fluid analysis
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-27
2002-06-25
Williams, Hezron (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Borehole or drilling
Fluid flow measuring or fluid analysis
C073S152280, C073S152550, C166S250030, C166S264000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06408691
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device used to sample and monitor subsurface ground water. More particularly it relates to a device for taking samples from ground water adjacent to a drilled well and communicating those samples to the surface for analyzation. The procedures involved in subsurface ground water monitoring wells and the equipment require subsurface water samples to be used to perform the required precise tasks of chemical testing of those samples. The four primary procedures are bailing or purging water from the well, collecting ground water samples for testing, measuring the depth of the water, and performing hydraulic conductivity tests. An additional test would be a discrete sampling of the water at specific depth zones within the underground water table. These are all common tests required often in areas where there is a potential chance of the contamination of the natural aquifer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This device as herein disclosed features a new and unique Pneumatic Bailer device and process that will replace the expensive equipment and time-consuming procedures in the tasks involved with ground water monitoring wells. Ground water passing through the screen cuts in the well casings is presently raised by using an expensive stainless steel submersible electric pump lowered into the well casing on a suspension cable along with a power cable and discharge/sampling hose. The so described procedures are accomplished and the pump is returned to the surface where it must be decontaminated before being used again. This decontamination process entails washing the inside and outside of all the equipment used with a solution of TSP (Tri-Sodium Phosphate) and then rinsing twice with deionized or distilled water to produce an accurate sampling thereafter. Often a generator is required to supply power for the submersible pump when used in remote locations. With this equipment, access to the inlet of the well casing is always required and the successful operation of equipment on wells that have been drilled on an angle to get beneath an existing obstacle is sometimes hampered.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,075,585 of L. A. Carlton ET AL describes an invention related to fluid samples, and more particularly to apparatus for taking samples of fluids at remote locations such as in a deep well in the earth. This invention relates to a device to be lowered down into wells to take a small sample in a controlled environment, and therein transport it to the surface. This invention has no means to pump water or any other fluid to the surface as in the so disclosed Bailer Unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,296,971 of A. L. Nielson discloses a mounting means for a sub floor pump. This device as disclosed teaches of a sub-floor, or basement pump to elevate water from the premises, not for lifting a fluid from a monitoring well which may be just below the surface or go as deep as 250 feet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The outstanding convenience and economy of the device herein disclosed is made evident in the description of the well sampling and testing device or Pneumatic Bailer Unit used to perform the tasks required in well monitoring, without the time consuming decontamination process. The sophisticated, expensive equipment requires a great deal of time to decontaminate prior to being used for testing at another well monitoring site. These and other additional benefits will be elaborated upon further in this disclosure.
The preferred embodiment of the simplest version of this invention is where a hermetically sealed bailer unit is placed remotely below the surface in a bore-hole surrounded by a sand filter casing with a discharge or sampling pipe along with a pneumatic line going to the surface monitoring stations. The material that the Bailer Unit and the parts therein are constructed of, is most commonly PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) similar to that used on well casing stock, although in some cases the unit can be constructed of other rust resistant material like stainless steel and maintain the same disclosed configuration. A pipe translates through a sealed orifice in the wall surface at the top of the Bailer Unit, down through the unit to the lower distal end thereupon attached to a one-way valve opening in a close proximity to the bottom of the Bailer Unit and allowing the discharge of the water to the surface monitoring station. The pneumatic pressure/vacuum line enters the Bailer in the upper side wall of the unit. All penetrations and connections into the Bailer Unit maintain the hermetic sealing required by, but not limited to, the process of plastic welding or gluing. The surface monitoring station consists of a concrete vault with connectors to the discharge and pneumatic lines and a lockable cover plate. These sites may be placed in areas where the opening at the top of the conventional well casings would be inaccessible, as in directly below fuel storage tanks, and below buildings or roadbeds. Even with the remote placement of these units, they can be decontaminated if required, by injecting a soap solution of TSP through the pneumatic line into the Bailer chamber and rinsing with distilled or de ionized water. After this procedure, the liquid can be blown out with air through the same pneumatic line, ejecting through the discharge/sampling pipe to the surface monitoring station.
An alternate embodiment has the same Bailer Unit cooperatively attached at the lower most, or the distal end of the well casing by a coupler unit. A single tubular member translates from within the well casing through the coupler and into the Bailer retaining the hermetic ceiling of the unit. This tube is then attached to a one-way valve in close proximity to the top of the Bailer Unit, restricting any back flow from the Bailer into the well casing. The pressure/vacuum line penetrates the upper side wall of the Bailer chamber as in the initial embodiment. A second tubular member will penetrate the side wall of the Bailer in close proximity to the bottom of the Bailer Unit, with a second one-way valve. The second valve restrains any flow back into the Bailer from the discharge or sampling pipe going to the surface. An additional pneumatic pressure line attaches through the coupler unit into the well casing reservoir. This additional pneumatic line is used to make water pressure readings and to stir any sediment collected in this area. The two separate pneumatic lines for gas or compressed air are attached near the union of the well casing coupler, and the Bailer through the walls of the well casing and Bailer respectively, connecting to the surface monitoring station by means of a pipe or tubing, described as pneumatic lines. This assembly remains permanently affixed to the bottom of the well casing assuring that no external contamination other than what might be in the ground water will be in the Bailer Unit.
With the application of compressed air or gas pressure through the line into the Bailer Unit, the water therein is forced out and up the discharge/sampling pipe to the surface. With a vacuum replacing the compressed air or gas, and the water pressure in the well casing, the water is drawn rapidly down into the Bailer Unit. Then with the re application of the air or gas pressure the Bailer chamber can be purged of the water and sediment collected within to the surface monitoring station. This process may be repeated several times to assure a fresh sample.
An additional alternate embodiment of the invention will have the Bailer Unit attached to the bottom of the well casing, with a separate reservoir cooperatively attached below. The lower reservoir will have the same screen configuration of the well casing material allowing water to enter freely. A pipe communicating between the two cavities with the first one-way valve being in the lower reservoir chamber, allowing water to move up only into the Bailer chamber, and the second one-way valve located in the Bailer allowing the water to be forced out to the surface monitoring station through the discharge/sampling pipe. A pressure line will ente
Wiggins David J.
Williams Hezron
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