Abstract: The technology relates to systems and methods for creating openings in ground material in order to install ground loops for geothermal heating and cooling applications. As an example, a system for creating an opening in ground material may include a first drill head configured as a pipe pulling drill head and a second drill head configured for attachment with a boring tool. When attached to an end of a pipe, the first drill head is configured to pull the pipe into the opening in ground material. The second drill head may include a drilling portion and an opening opposite of the drilling portion, the opening including a first chamber that tapers towards a second chamber. The first drill head also includes a drilling end configured for a locking fit within the second chamber.

Abstract: A core sampler including an inner wall, an outer wall, a plurality of membranes disposed between the inner wall and outer wall, the plurality of membranes attached to the inner wall and outer wall at one or more attachment points, and a rotating knob attached to the inner wall or outer wall, the rotating knob configured to rotate the inner wall relative to the outer wall when the rotating knob is attached to the inner wall and to rotate the outer wall relative to the inner wall when the rotating knob is attached to the outer wall, wherein the membranes reside between the inner wall and the outer wall when the core sampler is fully open, and wherein the membranes come together and fully close the core sampler when the rotating knob is rotated 180 degrees or more.

Abstract: A sidewall coring apparatus for obtaining a plurality of formation cores from a sidewall of a wellbore includes a core catching tube configured to be sealed downhole and to store the plurality of formation cores therein. The core catching tubes includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve concentric with the inner sleeve. The inner and outer sleeves include corresponding slots configured to align in response to relative movement of the inner and outer sleeves, and when aligned the slots of the inner and outer sleeves allow evacuation of fluid from the core catching tube as each of the plurality of formation cores is inserted into the core catching tube.

Abstract: A mechanism for catching and holding a core within an inner tube in a drill string includes a slidable core catcher and a full closure core catcher. The slidable core catcher is disposed within the inner tube and is coupled to an inner tube ring concentrically mounted on the outside of the inner tube. The inner tube ring and the slidable core catcher are connected to each other by means of a shear pin slidable within a slot defined in the inner tube. An outer tube ring is connected to the outer tube concentrically disposed about the inner tube. When the outer tube ring contacts the inner tube ring as the inner tube is lifted, the inner tube ring is moved downwardly with respect to the inner tube, thereby pulling the core catcher with it. As the core catcher moves downwardly it is compressed by an inside conical surface provided near the end of the inner tube. This serves to effectuate operation of the slideable core catcher.

Abstract: Core barrel apparatus for obtaining and retrieving sealed core samples of subterranean formations are disclosed. The core barrel comprises a sample chamber for receiving a core sample as it is formed at the bottom of a bore hole and an expansion chamber for receiving sample fluids. The expansion chamber comprises a cylinder having a movable sealing member therein adapted to movably seal the expansion chamber. The volume of the expansion chamber is determined by the position of the sealing member in the cylinder, movement of the sealing member changing the volume of the expansion chamber. The sample chamber and expansion chamber are selectively connected to one another by means of a seal therebetween. The expansion chamber is sealed closed by the sealing member at one end and said seal at the other end while the sample is being cut and received within the sample chamber. Thereafter, the lower portion of the sample chamber is sealed by a flap-valve and the expansion chamber is opened to the sample chamber.

Abstract: Basket type core retainer apparatus that includes a core receiving tube having an axially inner end, an annular drill bit or tubular extension connected to the inner end of the core receiving tube and a core retainer cooperatively mounted by the tube and the bit or tubular extension to permit passage of core into the tube and retain a core or a soil sample in the tube. The core retainer includes a mounting ring that mounts a pair of spring finger assemblies to extend axially outwardly thereof. The finger assemblies are each formed from a single sheet of material, the fingers of the assemblies in a closed (core retaining) position having each finger of one assembly in partial overlapping relationship to an adjacent finger of the other assembly and in partial underlapping relationship to an adjacent finger of said other assembly. The fingers are movable to permit passage of a core or a soil sample into the receiving tube.