Abstract: For use in drawing samples of e.g water from a well. The sampling pipe is formed as an extrusion in polyethylene. The profile includes three equi-spaced channels. The profile, being triangulated, is rigid and resistant to buckling, which allows the sampling pipe to be coiled for transport to the site. Sample-tubes, pumps, etc, can be inserted into the channels. The channels can be plugged for isolation of sampling ports at different depths.

Abstract: For collecting data from a water well, down-hole sensors are housed in modules. The modules are arranged to be screwed together in-line to form a vertical string. Mechanically, the modules are secured to each other only by the screw connection. Data is transmitted to the surface on a 2-wire cable, there being no other electrical connection between the modules and the surface. The modules are connected in multi-drop configuration to the 2-wire cable. Data is transmitted using time-division multiplexing.

Abstract: The use of extruded plastic continuous-multi-channel (CMC) tubing for conveying water samples from different depths up out of boreholes is enhanced by the compressed-grommet sealing system as described. The rubber grommet is placed inside one of the many conduits of the tubing, and squeezed lengthwise, whereby the grommet expands laterally and seals and plugs the conduit. When forming a port in the conduit, an aperture is cut in the wall of the conduit, and plug-assemblies having the grommets are placed above and below the port. Ledges on the plug-assemblies engage the ends of the aperture, and operate in conjunction with spacer bars in the aperture to prevent the plug-assemblies being moved along the conduit by pressure in the conduit. Some of the conduits in the CMC tubing are left unplugged, for admitting probes, sensors, etc.

Abstract: The borehole packer is for sealing the annular space around a pipe in a borehole. The packer is pre-manufactured, in-factory. To give the packer the rigidity it needs for handling and transport, the packer is built around an inner sleeve of rigid (metal) mesh. Alternatively, the packer may be built around a cardboard tube, which is discarded as the packer is assembled onto the pipe. When the packing material is bentonite, the bentonite may be compression-moulded into annular-rings, and the packer is built up from the rings.

Abstract: For collecting data from a water well, down-hole sensors are housed in modules. The modules are arranged to be screwed together in-line to form a vertical string. Mechanically, the modules are secured to each other only by the screw connection. Data is transmitted to the surface on a 2-wire cable, there being no other electrical connection between the modules and the surface. The modules are connected In multi-drop configuration to the 2-wire cable. Data is transmitted using time-division multiplexing.

Abstract: For collecting data from a water well, down-hole sensors are housed in modules. The modules are arranged to be screwed together in-line to form a vertical string. Mechanically, the modules are secured to each other only by the screw connection. Data is transmitted to the surface on a 2-wire cable, there being no other electrical connection between the modules and the surface. The modules are connected in multi-drop configuration to the 2-wire cable. Data is transmitted using time-division multiplexing.

Abstract: The packer includes the usual outer bladder, which is inflated against the sides of the borehole, to seal around a work-pipe. But the packer also includes an inner bladder. The packer is mechanically secured to the work-pipe by the grip of the inner bladder around the work-pipe. The inner bladder is sucked outwards by a vacuum pump, to enable the packer to be moved along the work-pipe. The same port through which vacuum was admitted to the inner bladder can then be used to admit pressurized fluid to the outer bladder.

Abstract: For collecting data from a water well, down-hole sensors are housed in modules. The modules are arranged to be screwed together in-line to form a vertical string. Mechanically, the modules are secured to each other only by the screw connection. Data is transmitted to the surface on a 2-wire cable, there being no other electrical connection between the modules and the surface. The modules are connected in multi-drop configuration to the 2-wire cable. Data is transmitted using time-division multiplexing.

Abstract: Bentonite, and other water-sensitive materials in granulate form, are introduced into boreholes. The material is borne into the borehole through a conduit, in which a flow of air (or nitrogen) not only transports the material but also keeps water that may be present in the borehole from entering the conduit. The materials are contained, above ground, in hoppers arranged to feed in parallel into the conduit. Material from a selected hopper enters via a respective valve into the conduit. The hoppers are pressurized to ensure the moving gases in the conduit do not enter the fall pipe. Having turned the air on, the technician lowers the conduit to the bottom of the borehole; then he opens the valve to admit the selected filler material; then he withdraws the conduit gradually and progressively up the borehole, depositing the material. The conduit is of flexible material, and can be held in the hand, to assist in sensing the flow of material.

Abstract: For extracting samples of groundwater from a borehole. A down-hole fixture has a check-valve positioned at the foot of the borehole. A sampler is lowered down into the borehole. Pushing down on the sampler causes a stem on the sampler to unseat the check-valve, communicating groundwater with the sampler. A plastic tube running from the sampler to the surface transmits the push from the surface, required to operate the down-hole valve.

Abstract: The system is used for connecting sections of plastic tubing which form a sampling pipe for a well, in which a nose of one tube engages a sleeve on the neighboring tube. The system is an improvement to the tangential-key type of tube jointing system, where a flexible key passes through a key-hole in the sleeve, and around the circumference of the key-groove. The now system includes a rectangular key in place of the usual round key. Also shown is an O-ring seal, which resides in a seal-groove cut in the nose, outboard of the key-groove.

Abstract: The probe (20) includes a conductivity sensor (38) and an optical sensor (39) for detecting the depth of a layer of oil, gasoline, etc floating on the surface of water in a well. A battery (60) is included in the probe, and a resistor (R1) is provided in series with the conductivity sensor. When the probe is in oil, both sensors are OFF, and no voltage is detectable at the surface; when the probe is in air, the optical sensor is ON and the conductivity sensor is OFF, so that a maximum voltage is detectable at the surface; and when the probe is in water, the optical sensor is OFF and the conductivity sensor (with its resistor) is ON, so that an intermediate voltage, as set by the value of the resistor, is detectable at the surface.

Abstract: One electrode of the probe is its tubular outer sleeve (3), and the other is its central rod (4). The insulators (9,16) separating the two are attached rigidly to the central rod, whereby the outer sleeve may slide off the probe for cleaning and servicing purposes. The outer sleeve is held in place simply by friction from the O-ring seals (12,30). When the sleeve is removed, the central rod, insulators, etc., remain as a structurally complete sub-assembly. Electrical contact with the outer sleeve is made through an expandable canted coil spring (20), mounted on an insulator. The central rod is formed with a massive center section (7), for weighting the probe. The probe is supported on a graduated tape (36), in which are embedded the electrical leads (38) to the probe. The leads are securely attached and sealed in place by means of heat-shrinkable material (50), which is wrapped around the leads, heat-shrunk, and compressed into a pocket (27).

Abstract: The sampler includes a cylinder, plugged at the lower end, the plug having a first one-way check valve to permit the sample to flow upwards into the chamber. A piston is slidable in the bore, and includes a second one-way check valve, which permits the sample to flow upwards through the piston. In use, the sampler is pressurized from above, in order to hold both valves closed, and lowered to the correct depth; the pressure is released, and the sample flushes through the chamber of the sampler. The sampler is then re-pressurized, and drawn to the surface, with the sample remaining totally contained and maintained at depth-pressure. The sample may be transferred out of the chamber for analysis, by pressurizing the piston, without the sample losing its depth-pressure status.

Abstract: In use, the probe (1) is dropped into a ground-hole (3), for the purpose of detecting the depth of the steel casing (16) of the hole. The probe comprises a long, slim, tubular housing (2) made of stainless steel. Attached inside the housing is a springy stalk (10) made of PVC. The stalk is deflectable laterally, and carries a magnet (11) at its free end. The magnet responds to the steel, and causes the stalk to deflect while in the presence of the steel. The housing, and a stainless steel sleeve (12) around the magnet, comprise a pair of electrical contacts, which break apart and send a signal to the surface when the magnetic influence disappears. The probe is suspended on a cable (4) which is calibrated to indicate the depth of the probe when the signal is received.