The United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of the Interior

General Electric Company

Don A Vroblesky

William Thomas Hyde, Jr

A baffle apparatus and method for use in a well to mitigate convective in-well flow. The baffle apparatus includes a baffle member attached to a rod. The baffle member prevents vertical flow of water in the well after the baffle apparatus is deployed in the well. At least one centralizer is attached to the rod to maintain correct orientation of the baffle member within the well. The baffle member and the at least one centralizer allow well water to pass during deployment and recovery of the baffle apparatus.

In-well baffle apparatus and method

A method and device for sampling pore water, including an elongated tubular outer body having a grid framework forming multiple perforations throughout the entire outer body. The grid framework surrounding the perforations has raised and beveled sides. An elongated, perforated tubular inner body is contained within the outer body. The inner body has a diameter less than a diameter of the outer body, which forms a cavity between the inner body and the outer body. The cavity is filled with an inert granular filler material. A first outer cap and a second outer cap cover respective ends of the outer body. A coupling is placed in fluid communication with the inner body and protrudes through the first outer cap. A tube is attached to the coupling protruding through the first outer cap to transfer a water sample to a sample collection site.

Pore water sampler for long-term monitoring of ground water

An improved method and apparatus for monitoring the concentration of contaminants, including volatile organic compounds, in groundwater is provided comprising a semipermeable membrane defining an inner chamber therein. The membrane is permeable to contaminants but impermeable to a reference fluid, which is preferably distilled water. The method of sampling comprises placing the semipermeable membrane, which contains the reference fluid, in contact with contaminated groundwater, thereby allowing contaminants to diffuse through the semipermeable membrane and into the inner chamber. Sufficient time is allowed for the contaminant concentrations in the groundwater and in the reference fluid to reach equilibrium. The semipermeable membrane is then removed from contact with the groundwater, and a sample withdrawn from the inner chamber for analysis, preferably through a port communicating with the inner chamber.

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Columbia, SC, United States of America

Don A Vroblesky