Abstract: A screen point groundwater sampling system includes a drive head positioned between the upper end of a cylindrical housing and a lower end of a probe rod. A latching tool is provided to secure a mechanical pump to the drive head upon insertion of the latching tool into the inner bore of the drive head. The latching tool creates a water-tight seal between the drive head and the inlet of the mechanical pump to prevent contamination of the groundwater sample from water leaking into the probe rod string above the drive head. A frangible structure on the latching tool allows the mechanical pump to be removed from the drive head upon applying sufficient vertical force in an upward direction to shear the frangible structure. The latching tool can also be used to attach a sample tubing to the drive head for use with a pump located at the ground surface.

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.

Abstract: A snap-lock bushing is provided for use with prepacked screens for monitoring wells. The bushing has an inner bore for sliding over a tubular well casing member and a raised lip protruding from the inner bore for engaging corresponding grooves at each end of the well casing member. The raised lip includes a plurality of lip segments with gaps or slots formed between the lip segments, which allow the raised lip to flex outward during assembly. A prepacked screen is assembled using a snap-lock bushing at each end of the well casing member. A mesh screen is placed in a concentric relationship around the well casing member with the ends of the mesh screen secured over the outer cylindrical surfaces of the bushings. A filter pack of granular material is placed in the concentric space between the well casing member and the screen member during assembly.

Abstract: A system for logging soil properties in a borehole includes a borehole creating device and a logging tool deployed through an inner bore of the borehole creating device. The logging tool has a sensor component mounted on a sensor carrier, a packer for forcing the sensor carrier laterally into a wall of the borehole immediately below the lower end of the borehole creating device, and a locking structure for attaching the logging tool to the borehole creating device. The locking structure can be a plurality of spring locks that engage a corresponding groove in the borehole creating device. The locking structure couples the logging tool and the borehole creating device together with the sensor carrier protruding from a lower end of the borehole creating device. The logging tool is used to measure soil properties as the borehole creating device and the logging tool are raised together in the bore hole.

Abstract: A snap-lock bushing is provided for use with prepacked screens for monitoring wells. The bushing has an inner bore for sliding over a tubular well casing member and a raised lip protruding from the inner bore for engaging corresponding grooves at each end of the well casing member. The raised lip includes a plurality of lip segments with gaps or slots formed between the lip segments, which allow the raised lip to flex outward during assembly. A prepacked screen is assembled using a snap-lock bushing at each end of the well casing member. A mesh screen is placed in a concentric relationship around the well casing member with the ends of the mesh screen secured over the outer cylindrical surfaces of the bushings. A filter pack of granular material is placed in the concentric space between the well casing member and the screen member during assembly.

Abstract: A soil sampling system is provided that allows headspace screening of soil samples at spaced intervals along a soil sample liner without disturbing the soil samples to be collected and shipped to a laboratory for further testing. The soil sample liner includes a plurality of cylindrical liner sections positioned end-to-end in a linear array, with each liner section having a sidewall and open ends. A shrink-wrap material covers the liner sections and holds the liner sections together as an assembled unit. Some of the liner sections have access openings formed in a sidewall thereof for providing access to the soil samples contained therein. The liner sections having access openings are interspersed between other liner sections that do not have access openings. The access openings are used by piercing the shrink-wrap material covering the access opening, and inserting a probe tip through the access opening into a headspace to measure contamination.

Abstract: A soil sample containment device is provided which allows soil samples to be contained within individual sections of a soil sampler liner. The device includes first and second end caps for covering and sealing the respective ends of the soil sampler liner section. Each end cap has a structure for coupling with the opposite end cap for securing the end caps together. The coupling structure for each end cap includes a hook arm and an eye arm. The hook arm of the first end cap can be coupled with the eye arm of the second end cap to secure the end caps together over the ends of the liner section. A flexible sealing material is provided within each end cap for providing a compression seal between the end caps and the liner section. The liner sections can be formed of different lengths and different materials to accommodate different soil tests.

Abstract: A mechanical bladder pump is provided for collecting fluid samples from a well. The pump includes an outer tubular member having a longitudinal bore, and an inner tubular member arranged within the bore of the outer tubular member. The inner and outer tubular members are connected at their lower ends to a compressible bladder, and are arranged for oscillating movement relative to each other to expand and compress the bladder. The lower end of the bladder is open to an inlet passage, and the upper end of the bladder is open to an outlet passage. First and second check valves are provided to control the flow of fluid through the bladder during operation of the pump. A return spring is used to store energy during a tension stroke of the inner tubular member and to release energy during a compression stroke thereof. The pump provides highly representative samples of groundwater.

Abstract: A soil sampler liner with areas of reduced wall thickness is defined by a continuous wall that has a reduced area extending along at least a portion of the length of the liner. The liner is inserted into the inner bore of a sampler probe, and a soil sample is taken by vertically inserting the probe and liner into the ground. The wall of the liner has at least two distinct areas of varying thickness; a reduced wall area and wall areas adjacent to the reduced wall area. The walls are sufficiently strong to withstand the forces applied to the liner when taking relatively large-diameter soil samples. The thickness of the wall at the reduced wall area is less than the thickness of the wall at the adjacent areas to permit a user to easily and safely cut through the wall at the reduced wall area and remove a large-diameter soil sample from the liner. The liner is also radially compressible into a flattened shape for compact and economical packaging and shipment of liners in relatively large quantities.

Abstract: A mechanical bladder pump is provided for collecting fluid samples from a well. The pump includes an outer tubular member having a longitudinal bore, and an inner tubular member arranged within the bore of the outer tubular member. The inner and outer tubular members are connected at their lower ends to a compressible bladder, and are arranged for oscillating movement relative to each other to expand and compress the bladder. The lower end of the bladder is open to an inlet passage, and the upper end of the bladder is open to an outlet passage. First and second check valves are provided to control the flow of fluid through the bladder during operation of the pump. A return spring is used to store energy during a tension stroke of the inner tubular member and to release energy during a compression stroke thereof. The pump provides highly representative samples of groundwater.

Abstract: A soil sample containment device is provided which allows soil samples to be contained within individual sections of a soil sampler liner. The device includes first and second end caps for covering and sealing the respective ends of the soil sampler liner section. Each end cap has a structure for coupling with the opposite end cap for securing the end caps together. The coupling structure for each end cap includes a hook arm and an eye arm. The hook arm of the first end cap can be coupled with the eye arm of the second end cap to secure the end caps together over the ends of the liner section. A flexible sealing material is provided within each end cap for providing a compression seal between the end caps and the liner section. The liner sections can be formed of different lengths and different materials to accommodate different soil tests.

Abstract: A soil sampler liner with areas of reduced wall thickness is defined by a continuous wall that has a reduced area extending along at least a portion of the length of the liner. The liner is inserted into the inner bore of a sampler probe, and a soil sample is taken by vertically inserting the probe and liner into the ground. The wall of the liner has at least two distinct areas of varying thickness; a reduced wall area and wall areas adjacent to the reduced wall area. The walls are sufficiently strong to withstand the forces applied to the liner when taking relatively large-diameter soil samples. The thickness of the wall at the reduced wall area is less than the thickness of the wall at the adjacent areas to permit a user to easily and safely cut through the wall at the reduced wall area and remove a large-diameter soil sample from the liner. The liner is also radially compressible into a flattened shape for compact and economical packaging and shipment of liners in relatively large quantities.

Abstract: A permeable membrane sensor probe has a housing with a gas permeable membrane. The membrane has an outer surface and an inner surface. The membrane outer surface is disposed adjacent an outer soil engaging surface of the housing. The membrane is adapted to allow the gas phase of at least one particular chemical compound found in the soil to permeate through the membrane from the membrane outer surface to the membrane inner surface while substantially preventing the transfer of liquids and solids found in the soil through the membrane. A gas detecting arrangement is disposed adjacent the membrane inner surface and inside of the housing. This detection system detects the presence of a particular compound at different soil levels.

Abstract: A ground water sampling device includes an elongated cylindrical integral hollow housing with an inner surface defining an inner bore. The housing has an opening on its lower end and the upper end of the housing is adapted to be attached to a probe rod string. The bore has a primary diameter section and a reduced diameter section. The reduced diameter section is formed adjacent the lower end of the housing. The inner surface of the housing has a shoulder positioned at a location where the primary diameter section transitions to the reduced diameter section. An elongated hollow screen is telescopically received within the housing and is capable of being placed in a stowed position completely within the housing during driving of the device into the ground and in a deployed position where it extends out of the lower end of the housing to collect ground water.

Abstract: A ground water sampling device includes an elongated cylindrical integral hollow housing with an inner surface defining an inner bore. The housing has an opening on its lower end and the upper end of the housing is adapted to be attached to a probe rod string. The bore has a primary diameter section and a reduced diameter section. The reduced diameter section is formed adjacent the lower end of the housing. The inner surface of the housing has a shoulder positioned at a location where the primary diameter section transitions to the reduced diameter section. An elongated hollow screen is telescopically received within the housing and is capable of being placed in a stowed position completely within the housing during driving of the device into the ground and in a deployed position where it extends out of the lower end of the housing to collect ground water.

Abstract: A soil probe includes an annular cutting shoe for directing soil into the probe. The cutting shoe has a connecting flange with the groove formed on its outer surface. A sample tube is removably attached at its lower end to the cutting shoe and is adopted to be removably attached at its upper end to the end of a probe rod string. The retainer has an inner surface with a lip formed thereon for engaging the groove of the connecting flange. The lip is securely maintained in the groove by the positioning of the retainer between the inner surface of the sample tube and the outer surface of the connecting flange. A liner is positioned inside of the sample tube for receiving a soil sample. The liner and the retainer are connected together so that the retainer limits buckling of the liner during sampling due to the engagement of soil being sampled with the interior surface of the liner.

Abstract: A ground water sampling device has an elongated cylindrical hollow housing positioned at a desired depth below the ground surface. The housing has an opening formed at its lower end and an inner surface with an annular groove disposed adjacent the opening. The device has an elongated screen capable of being telescopically received in the housing and capable of being deployed through the opening of the housing. The screen has an annular slot formed on its outer surface adjacent its upper end. A resilient locking collar is compressed inwardly and received in the slot of the screen when the screen is received in the housing prior to its deployment. The collar expands outwardly into the groove of the housing when the slot of screen is longitudinally aligned with the groove during deployment of the screen. The collar in its expanded position is disposed in both the slot and the groove so that the screen is locked in its deployed position.

Abstract: A device for obtaining soil samples beneath the surface of the ground. A sample tube is provided with a removable piston tip blocking the forward opening of the sample tube. Rearward movement of the piston tip is blocked by a removable piston stop. The sample tube is driven into the soil with the piston tip blocking its forward end. Tubular probe extension may be successively added to the rear of the device to allow driving of the sample tube to the desired depth. At the desired depth, the piston stop is removed to unblock the piston tip. The piston stop may be removed by a series of threadedly connected extension rods threadedly connected via a drivehead to the piston stop. The piston stop is threadedly connected to the sample tube with left-handed threads to ensure all other connections remain tight during removal. The sample tube is then driven forward, causing the soil sample to enter the tube and the tip to slide within the tube. The tube is then withdrawn from the soil to recover the sample.