Other

Colorado State University Research Foundation

Richard L Johnson

Thomas C Sale

John A Cherry

Richard C Rogers

Carl J Johnson

Saeed Kiaalhosseini

James F Pankow

A system and method for collecting a core sample. The system includes an outer cylindrical tube, a drive head, a drive shoe, a cooling chamber housed inside the outer cylindrical tube, insulation, a core sample liner, an inlet tube, and outlet tube. The drive shoe further comprises a first, second, and third step, the first step configured to receive the insulation, the second step configured to receive the cooling chamber, the third step configured to receive the core sample liner, wherein the first step has a diameter larger than the second step and the second step has a diameter larger than the third step. The method includes drilling a hole in the ground with a drilling tool, enclosing a core sample by a core sample liner, freezing the core sample via a cooling liquid, retrieving the drilling tool at a surface of the ground, and removing the core sample encased in the core sample liner from the cooling chamber.

Cryogenic core collection

The disclosed sampler comprises a reservoir formed as a stainless steel tube of narrow diameter. Two copper tubes are attached to the reservoir, one each end, and the copper tubes may be crimped so as to seal the sample within the reservoir. The sample (of water) is allowed into the reservoir through a check-valve which is opened and closed by controlling the pressure--from the surface --inside the sampler. The disclosed sampler is sealed into the borehole by means of an inflatable collar, which is also under the control of a surface-manipulated pressure. Samples transported and stored in the sampler are presented for analysis complete with contained gases and uncontaminated.

Borehole sampling

A generally rectangular open topped vessel with vertical walls around the periphery of a floor consisting of two integrally formed levels, the lower level being at one end providing a footwell and having a drain therein. Near the end of one side wall, in the area where the footwell is located, is a door opening. This door opening has a ferromagnetic faced door stop around the edge. A door is hingedly attached to the edge of the opening such that it swings horizontally inward towards the nearest adjacent end wall. The door has a flange along its two vertical edges and along its bottom horizontal edge. Mounted concentrically on the flange are two magnetic gaskets such that when the door is closed the gakets force a water tight seal with the ferromagnetic plate on the door stop. A second drain is located in the surface of the bottom door stop such that when the door is closed water in the vessel cannot reach the drain due to the sealing of the outer gasket. With the door open water will go down this drain before it reaches the door opening.

Bathtub with footwell and entrance door

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Richard L Johnson