US20020007951A1 - Well flow controller - Google Patents
Well flow controller Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20020007951A1 US20020007951A1 US09/883,068 US88306801A US2002007951A1 US 20020007951 A1 US20020007951 A1 US 20020007951A1 US 88306801 A US88306801 A US 88306801A US 2002007951 A1 US2002007951 A1 US 2002007951A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- well
- groundwater
- riser pipe
- pvc
- water
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000003673 groundwater Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 31
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 19
- 238000005070 sampling Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000010926 purge Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000012512 characterization method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004590 computer program Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
- E21B34/06—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B49/00—Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
- E21B49/08—Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells
- E21B49/084—Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells with means for conveying samples through pipe to surface
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a well.
- Wells are used in the environmental and water supply industries, among other things, to 1) collect samples of groundwater for chemical analysis, and 2) provide data used in estimating aquifer parameters such as hydraulic conductivity (K), which is a measure of the ability of the aquifer matrix to transmit water.
- K hydraulic conductivity
- a typical well is comprised of a slotted section of pipe (the “well screen”) located at the bottom of the well, and sections of solid “riser” pipe which thread onto the well screen and each other to bring the well to the ground surface.
- the slots in the well screen are narrow enough (on the order of hundredths of an inch) to keep out the soil particles but allow in groundwater. If the well screen is located beneath the water table, groundwater entering the well screen will flow up the riser pipe until it reaches equilibrium.
- the present invention provides a mechanism for controlling the flow of groundwater into a well.
- the present invention is a PVC unit, which threads onto the well between the well screen and the riser pipe, that can be manually closed to prevent groundwater from entering the riser pipe; or manually opened to allow groundwater into the riser pipe.
- the primary advantages of the invention are realized in two fields of hydrogeology: 1) groundwater sampling; and 2) aquifer characterization.
- groundwater sampling stems from the ability to control the flow of groundwater into a well.
- Conventional wells allows groundwater into the riser pipe to the level of equilibrium. Equilibrium is a function of the head (or pressure) at the well screen. Water will flow from areas of high head to areas of low head. Groundwater beneath the water table is typically under greater head than groundwater at or near the water table. Therefore, groundwater entering a well screen located beneath the water table will flow up the riser pipe until the head within the riser pipe equals the head at the well screen. At this point equilibrium is achieved.
- standing water in a riser pipe may be there for weeks, months or longer, and it is not considered representative of the groundwater outside of the well screen.
- Purging removes the standing water, which may be chemically different from the groundwater.
- the purged water must be treated to remove the contaminant(s) before it can be discharged. This treatment usually takes place off-site and can be costly.
- the present invention essentially eliminates the necessity of purging since it controls the flow of groundwater into the well.
- the present invention can be opened at the time of sampling, and then closed when a sufficient volume of groundwater has entered the well. This incoming water is representative of the groundwater outside the well screen. Once the sample has been collected, the remaining water in the riser pipe (a fraction of the typical standing water) can be purged and the riser pipe can be left empty until the next sampling event.
- the advantage of the present invention in the area of aquifer matrix characterization stems from the ability to allow groundwater to “instantaneously” flow into the riser pipe.
- K can be estimated.
- K is an important parameter in both contaminant hydrogeology and water supply. It is an indication of the transmissivity of the aquifer matrix material, which is essential for engineering groundwater extraction wells.
- the present invention eliminates the necessity of large-diameter wells and expensive pumps to lower the water surface in the well. Once the invention is installed, the well screen can be opened and the rate at which the head reaches equilibrium can be used to estimate K.
- FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the typical components of a well including the well screen and the riser pipe.
- the well screen depicted is five feet in length and it is located fifty feet beneath the water table. A forty five foot standing water column exists above the well screen.
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a well equipped with the present invention.
- the PVC lid is in the closed position.
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a well equipped with the present invention.
- the PVC lid is in the opened position.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the present invention with the PVC lid in the closed position.
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the present invention with the PVC lid in the opened position.
- FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional front view of the present invention with the PVC lid in the closed position.
- FIG. 7 is cross-sectional front view of the present invention with the PVC lid in the opened position.
- the present invention provides a mechanism for controlling the flow of groundwater into a well.
- Groundwater enters the well through the well screen 1 .
- the well screen is typically located at depth and is attached to riser pipes 2 which are threaded 3 onto the well screen to bring the well to the ground surface.
- the present invention incorporates a PVC chamber 4 , a PVC lid 5 , a gasket 6 , a fulcrum 7 , a lever 8 , a wire to open the PVC lid 9 , and a wire to close the PVC lid 10 .
- the chamber is threaded on both ends 11 to accept the threads of standard well screens and riser pipes.
- the gasket and the wire for closing the PVC lid are secured to the top of the PVC lid (in the closed position).
- the wires for opening and closing the PVC lid extend up the riser pipe to the ground surface where they can be manually operated.).
- the wire for closing the PVC is used to pull the PVC lid upward into the closed position, which compresses the gasket against the gasket seat 12 .
- the wire is then secured at the top of the well to keep the seal.
- the tension on 10 The chamber is threaded on both ends 11 to accept the threads of standard well screens and riser pipes.
- the gasket and the wire for closing the PVC lid are secured to the top of the PVC lid (in the closed position).
- the wires for opening and closing the PVC lid extend up the riser pipe to the ground surface where they can be manually operated.).
- the wire for closing the PVC is used to pull the PVC lid upward into the closed position, which compresses the gasket against the gasket seat 12 .
- the wire is then secured at the top of the well to keep the seal.
- the tension on the wire combined with the head pressure against the bottom of the PVC lid sufficiently compresses the gasket to create a water-tight seal.
- To open the PVC lid and allow groundwater into the riser the tension on the wire for closing the PVC lid is released, and tension is applied to the wire for opening the PVC lid. This causes the lever to pivot around the fulcrum, which opens the PVC lid.
- the lever is open in the middle 13 to reduce the upward pressure exerted on it by the in flowing groundwater.
Abstract
The present invention provides a mechanism for controlling the flow of groundwater into a well. The mechanism is attached between the well screen and the riser pipe, and can be manually opened or closed at the ground surface. When the mechanism is closed, groundwater cannot enter the riser pipe. When the mechanism is opened, groundwater can flow into the riser pipe.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of the file date of the earlier-filed provisional application, No. 60/211,947, filed on Jun. 16, 2000.
- None.
- None.
- The present invention relates to a well. Wells are used in the environmental and water supply industries, among other things, to 1) collect samples of groundwater for chemical analysis, and 2) provide data used in estimating aquifer parameters such as hydraulic conductivity (K), which is a measure of the ability of the aquifer matrix to transmit water. A typical well is comprised of a slotted section of pipe (the “well screen”) located at the bottom of the well, and sections of solid “riser” pipe which thread onto the well screen and each other to bring the well to the ground surface. The slots in the well screen are narrow enough (on the order of hundredths of an inch) to keep out the soil particles but allow in groundwater. If the well screen is located beneath the water table, groundwater entering the well screen will flow up the riser pipe until it reaches equilibrium. The present invention provides a mechanism for controlling the flow of groundwater into a well.
- The present invention is a PVC unit, which threads onto the well between the well screen and the riser pipe, that can be manually closed to prevent groundwater from entering the riser pipe; or manually opened to allow groundwater into the riser pipe. The primary advantages of the invention are realized in two fields of hydrogeology: 1) groundwater sampling; and 2) aquifer characterization.
- The advantage in the area of groundwater sampling stems from the ability to control the flow of groundwater into a well. Conventional wells allows groundwater into the riser pipe to the level of equilibrium. Equilibrium is a function of the head (or pressure) at the well screen. Water will flow from areas of high head to areas of low head. Groundwater beneath the water table is typically under greater head than groundwater at or near the water table. Therefore, groundwater entering a well screen located beneath the water table will flow up the riser pipe until the head within the riser pipe equals the head at the well screen. At this point equilibrium is achieved.
- Between groundwater sampling events, standing water in a riser pipe may be there for weeks, months or longer, and it is not considered representative of the groundwater outside of the well screen. At the time of sampling, up to six volumes of this standing water must first be removed in a procedure referred to as “purging” the well. Purging removes the standing water, which may be chemically different from the groundwater. In many cases the purged water must be treated to remove the contaminant(s) before it can be discharged. This treatment usually takes place off-site and can be costly. The present invention essentially eliminates the necessity of purging since it controls the flow of groundwater into the well. The present invention can be opened at the time of sampling, and then closed when a sufficient volume of groundwater has entered the well. This incoming water is representative of the groundwater outside the well screen. Once the sample has been collected, the remaining water in the riser pipe (a fraction of the typical standing water) can be purged and the riser pipe can be left empty until the next sampling event.
- The advantage of the present invention in the area of aquifer matrix characterization stems from the ability to allow groundwater to “instantaneously” flow into the riser pipe. By determining the rate of the in flowing water, K can be estimated. K is an important parameter in both contaminant hydrogeology and water supply. It is an indication of the transmissivity of the aquifer matrix material, which is essential for engineering groundwater extraction wells. The present invention eliminates the necessity of large-diameter wells and expensive pumps to lower the water surface in the well. Once the invention is installed, the well screen can be opened and the rate at which the head reaches equilibrium can be used to estimate K.
- FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the typical components of a well including the well screen and the riser pipe. The well screen depicted is five feet in length and it is located fifty feet beneath the water table. A forty five foot standing water column exists above the well screen.
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a well equipped with the present invention. The PVC lid is in the closed position.
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a well equipped with the present invention. The PVC lid is in the opened position.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the present invention with the PVC lid in the closed position.
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the present invention with the PVC lid in the opened position.
- FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional front view of the present invention with the PVC lid in the closed position.
- FIG. 7 is cross-sectional front view of the present invention with the PVC lid in the opened position.
- The present invention provides a mechanism for controlling the flow of groundwater into a well. Groundwater enters the well through the well screen1. The well screen is typically located at depth and is attached to
riser pipes 2 which are threaded 3 onto the well screen to bring the well to the ground surface. The present invention incorporates aPVC chamber 4, aPVC lid 5, a gasket 6, a fulcrum 7, alever 8, a wire to open the PVC lid 9, and a wire to close thePVC lid 10. The chamber is threaded on bothends 11 to accept the threads of standard well screens and riser pipes. - The gasket and the wire for closing the PVC lid are secured to the top of the PVC lid (in the closed position). The wires for opening and closing the PVC lid extend up the riser pipe to the ground surface where they can be manually operated.). The wire for closing the PVC is used to pull the PVC lid upward into the closed position, which compresses the gasket against the
gasket seat 12. The wire is then secured at the top of the well to keep the seal. The tension on 10. The chamber is threaded on bothends 11 to accept the threads of standard well screens and riser pipes. - The gasket and the wire for closing the PVC lid are secured to the top of the PVC lid (in the closed position). The wires for opening and closing the PVC lid extend up the riser pipe to the ground surface where they can be manually operated.). The wire for closing the PVC is used to pull the PVC lid upward into the closed position, which compresses the gasket against the
gasket seat 12. The wire is then secured at the top of the well to keep the seal. The tension on the wire combined with the head pressure against the bottom of the PVC lid sufficiently compresses the gasket to create a water-tight seal. To open the PVC lid and allow groundwater into the riser, the tension on the wire for closing the PVC lid is released, and tension is applied to the wire for opening the PVC lid. This causes the lever to pivot around the fulcrum, which opens the PVC lid. The lever is open in the middle 13 to reduce the upward pressure exerted on it by the in flowing groundwater.
Claims (1)
1. A mechanism to control the flow of groundwater into a well, so that when the mechanism is closed groundwater is prevented from entering the well, and when the mechanism is opened groundwater can enter the well.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/883,068 US20020007951A1 (en) | 2000-06-16 | 2001-06-15 | Well flow controller |
US10/083,015 US6758273B2 (en) | 2000-06-16 | 2002-02-26 | Low-flow groundwater sampling system |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US21194700P | 2000-06-16 | 2000-06-16 | |
US09/883,068 US20020007951A1 (en) | 2000-06-16 | 2001-06-15 | Well flow controller |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/083,015 Continuation-In-Part US6758273B2 (en) | 2000-06-16 | 2002-02-26 | Low-flow groundwater sampling system |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20020007951A1 true US20020007951A1 (en) | 2002-01-24 |
Family
ID=46204165
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/883,068 Abandoned US20020007951A1 (en) | 2000-06-16 | 2001-06-15 | Well flow controller |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20020007951A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6938461B1 (en) * | 2001-01-19 | 2005-09-06 | Larry K. Johnson | Constant-head soil permeameter for determining the hydraulic conductivity of earthen materials at a wide range of depths |
US20080279960A1 (en) * | 2006-01-13 | 2008-11-13 | Burton Scott A | Silver-Containing Antimicrobial Articles and Methods of Manufacture |
-
2001
- 2001-06-15 US US09/883,068 patent/US20020007951A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6938461B1 (en) * | 2001-01-19 | 2005-09-06 | Larry K. Johnson | Constant-head soil permeameter for determining the hydraulic conductivity of earthen materials at a wide range of depths |
US20080279960A1 (en) * | 2006-01-13 | 2008-11-13 | Burton Scott A | Silver-Containing Antimicrobial Articles and Methods of Manufacture |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |