Abstract: A direct push probe assembly that contains NMR components for collecting NMR measurements from soil as the probe assembly is pushed into the soil or retracted from the soil. The probe assembly includes an upper metal housing, a lower metal end piece, and a window section positioned between the upper metal housing and the lower metal end piece. The window section is made of non-conductive, non-magnetic materials for allowing NMR measurements from NMR components located within the probe assembly. The window section is cylindrical with multiple layers, including a layer of hard material capable of transmitting high compressive forces, such as a ceramic material, and a layer of reinforced composite plastic material capable of transmitting high tensile forces. The window section is secured to the upper and lower metal sections of the probe assembly using an adhesive to withstand static and dynamic driving forces transmitted through the probe during use.

Abstract: A soil imaging probe has a housing with an interior cavity and an outer surface exposed for sliding contact with soil. A window is mounted in the outer surface for providing optical communication between the soil and the interior cavity. An optical module is positioned within the interior cavity. The optical module includes at least one light source and a camera mounted in a block. An indexing surface is defined in the interior cavity to maintain the optical module at a predetermined fixed distance from the window to keep the camera focused on the soil outside the window. An elastomeric fill material fills the interior cavity and substantially surrounds the optical module to reduce energy transference from the housing of the probe to the optical module. An image processing method is also provided to identify pixels in an image captured by the camera that show potential hydrocarbon contamination.

Abstract: A soil imaging probe has a housing with an interior cavity and an outer surface exposed for sliding contact with soil. A window is mounted in the outer surface for providing optical communication between the soil and the interior cavity. An optical module is positioned within the interior cavity. The optical module includes at least one light source and a camera mounted in a block. An indexing surface is defined in the interior cavity to maintain the optical module at a predetermined fixed distance from the window to keep the camera focused on the soil outside the window. An elastomeric fill material fills the interior cavity and substantially surrounds the optical module to reduce energy transference from the housing of the probe to the optical module. An image processing method is also provided to identify pixels in an image captured by the camera that show potential hydrocarbon contamination.