Nested Well System for Targeted Contaminant Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for environmental contaminant testing and remediation are costly, time-consuming, and often ineffective, especially in areas with limited access or high contamination levels.
Innovation Solution
A novel well system with attached sealant lines that allows for efficient sampling and remediation by segregating multiple wells within an outer conduit, enabling targeted injection and extraction of contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional testing methods are used, then environmental testing can be performed, but the cost increases and structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing multiple inner conduits (sampling conduits, sealant conduits, grout conduits) within a single outer conduit. This nested configuration allows multiple testing and remediation functions to be performed through one borehole, eliminating the need for separate excavations for each function and thereby reducing overall cost while maintaining comprehensive testing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer conduit system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: sampling conduits for contaminant detection, sealant conduits for creating seals, and grout conduits for stabilizing the borehole. This multi-functional design consolidates what would traditionally require separate operational systems into one integrated structure, reducing cost without compromising any individual function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate well systems are used, then comprehensive sampling and remediation is achieved, but device complexity and installation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places sampling conduits, sealant conduits, and grout conduits as inner conduits within the outer conduit, creating a nested multi-conduit system. This configuration achieves comprehensive sampling and remediation capabilities while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be installed through a single borehole, thereby reducing installation time and complexity compared to multiple separate well systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functional conduits (sampling, sealant, grout) into a single integrated outer conduit assembly. This consolidation achieves the versatility of multiple separate systems while reducing the overall device complexity and simplifying the installation process, as all functions are delivered through one unified structure rather than multiple independent components.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If extensive excavation is performed, then contaminant removal is achieved, but disruption to subsurface structures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the contaminant removal function from traditional excavation methods and implements it through the well system itself. The sampling conduits enable targeted identification and extraction of contaminants through pumping and injection operations, eliminating the need for extensive physical excavation and thereby minimizing disruption to surrounding subsurface structures while achieving effective contaminant removal.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method for collecting sample fluids from an underground source which includes sample wells terminating in a corrugated conduit and sieve. The sampling regions for each sample well is separated by a grout or expanding seal barrier. Negative pressure is optionally applied to extract fluids from the underground matrix for sampling. The device can also be used for remediating an environmental contaminant from soil or aquifers. Upon identification of at least one environmental contaminant, a remediation composition is injected into the soil or aquifer using the sampling wells of the device. The remediation fluids can be directed to specific locations by selectively utilizing one or more sampling wells to inject the remediation fluid.