Underground Sampling Tool for Aquifer Quality Assessment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current aquifer assessment methods for agriculture are inefficient and costly, relying on trial and error drilling to find suitable groundwater, which wastes time and resources, and lack effective tools for in situ analysis of water quality and flow rate.

Innovation Solution

The development of an underground sampling tool (HTMS) that provides real-time data on aquifer quality and flow rate, equipped with gauges for pressure, temperature, conductivity, pH, and ion content, allowing for in situ analysis and sampling, and a process for its deployment and operation to determine the suitability of groundwater for irrigation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If trial and error drilling method is used to find suitable groundwater, then groundwater layer can be found, but drilling costs and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaquifer suitability determinationVSAvoiddrilling time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by deploying an assessment tool into the drilled hole before completing the well construction. The tool measures pressure, temperature, conductivity, and other aquifer properties in advance, allowing operators to determine groundwater suitability before investing in expensive well casing and development. This prevents wasted drilling on unsuitable formations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary assessment tool that acts as a mediator between drilling and final well completion. This tool includes sensors and measurement devices that evaluate aquifer properties without requiring full well construction, providing critical information that guides subsequent drilling decisions and reduces unnecessary drilling activities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If trial and error drilling method is used to find suitable groundwater, then groundwater layer can be found, but drilling costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaquifer suitability determinationVSAvoiddrilling cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The assessment tool performs preliminary evaluation of aquifer suitability by measuring pressure, temperature, conductivity, and other parameters before well completion. This early assessment prevents wasted drilling costs on unsuitable formations and reduces the need for repeated drilling attempts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using measurement data from the assessment tool to guide drilling decisions. The tool provides real-time information on aquifer properties, allowing operators to adjust drilling strategies, avoid unsuitable formations, and optimize well placement, thereby reducing overall drilling costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive water quality analysis is performed after drilling, then accurate quality data is obtained, but time and cost are wasted if water is unsuitable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater quality assessmentVSAvoidassessment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary water quality assessment by measuring conductivity, pressure, temperature, and other parameters during the drilling process using the assessment tool. This early evaluation identifies unsuitable aquifers before costly well completion and extensive laboratory analysis, saving significant time and resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical sampling and laboratory analysis with in-situ electronic sensing and measurement. The assessment tool uses electrical conductivity sensors, pressure transducers, and temperature probes to evaluate water quality parameters directly in the aquifer, providing rapid results without requiring physical water samples or laboratory processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If well depth is increased to find suitable groundwater, then better water quality may be found, but drilling equipment cost and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater qualityVSAvoiddrilling equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The assessment tool provides preliminary evaluation of aquifer suitability at different depths during the drilling process. By measuring pressure, temperature, conductivity, and other parameters in real-time, the tool identifies suitable groundwater zones without requiring excessive drilling depth, thereby avoiding the need for increasingly complex and expensive drilling equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate, efficient assessment of aquifer properties, reducing drilling costs and time by providing critical information for decision-making on well casing and water quality, ensuring uncontaminated water is obtained for crop irrigation.

Implementation Method 1

a seal pad, which isolates the probed layer from the rest of the well and from the drilling fluid column

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

introducing a probe filter, which allows passage of the formation liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

equipped with gauges for pressure, temperature, conductivity, pH, and ion content

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure measurement:

Implementation Method 4

equipped with gauges for pressure, temperature, conductivity, pH, and ion content

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature measurement:

Implementation Method 5

equipped with gauges for pressure, temperature, conductivity, pH, and ion content

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConductivity measurement:

Implementation Method 6

a suction pump, which removes drilling fluid from the probed layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3455463B1Underground tool for the in-situ assessment of aquifer quality and flow rate
Publication Date: 2022.01.12 AQUARESOURCES SA
  • EP3455463B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3455463B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3455463B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An underground sampling tool (HTMS) for underground water analysis of both quality and flow rate, providing the information required to perform an underground drilling and obtain uncontaminated water for crop irrigation, said tool comprising: a housing for the electronic and electrical controls, a housing for the hydraulic means controlled by the electric and electronic portion of the tool, a test body consisting of a variety of hydraulic circuits for operating the various operating valves of the tool, wherein said test body further comprises: a rear shoe on an axial axis of the tool, wherein said rear shoe is driven by two telescoping pistons simultaneously that arise from the inside of the tool when driven by a signal of a surface equipment operably enabled for this purpose, and a front shoe, driven by several pistons which are housed below the front shoe, not shown in the figures, and driven by one or more electro-pneumatic devices acting jointly and generating a progressive forward or backward movement of the front shoe. Process for the collection and analysis of samples in a wellbore using said tool.