Casingless down-hole for sealing an ablation volume and obtaining a sample for analysis
- Ames, IA
A casing-less down hole sampling system for acquiring a subsurface sample for analysis using an inductively coupled plasma system is disclosed. The system includes a probe which is pushed into the formation to be analyzed using a hydraulic ram system. The probe includes a detachable tip member which has a soil point mad a barb, with the soil point aiding the penetration of the earth, and the barb causing the tip member to disengage from the probe and remain in the formation when the probe is pulled up. The probe is forced into the formation to be tested, and then pulled up slightly, to disengage the tip member and expose a column of the subsurface formation to be tested. An instrumentation tube mounted in the probe is then extended outward from the probe to longitudinally extend into the exposed column. A balloon seal mounted on the end of the instrumentation tube allows the bottom of the column to be sealed. A source of laser radiation is emitted from the instrumentation tube to ablate a sample from the exposed column. The instrumentation tube can be rotated in the probe to sweep the laser source across the surface of the exposed column. An aerosol transport system carries the ablated sample from the probe to the surface for testing in an inductively coupled plasma system. By testing at various levels in the down-hole as the probe is extracted from the soil, a profile of the subsurface formation may be obtained.
- Research Organization:
- Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA; Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-82
- Assignee:
- Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc. (Ames, IA)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5561516
- Application Number:
- 08/283,079
- OSTI ID:
- 870625
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
down-hole
sealing
ablation
volume
obtaining
sample
analysis
casing-less
sampling
acquiring
subsurface
inductively
coupled
plasma
disclosed
probe
pushed
formation
analyzed
hydraulic
detachable
tip
soil
barb
aiding
penetration
earth
causing
disengage
remain
pulled
forced
tested
slightly
expose
column
instrumentation
tube
mounted
extended
outward
longitudinally
extend
exposed
balloon
seal
allows
bottom
sealed
source
laser
radiation
emitted
ablate
rotated
sweep
surface
aerosol
transport
carries
ablated
testing
various
levels
extracted
profile
obtained
inductively coupled
instrumentation tube
laser radiation
laser source
coupled plasma
seal mounted
various levels
tube mounted
surface form
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