Insertion tube methods and apparatus

A method of placing a probe, instrumented with a lysimeter, into contaminated media without drilling, the method comprising:

• providing a probe, instrumented with a lysimeter, which is to be driven into media, the instrumented probe having a tip portion and a drive portion;
• providing a plurality of stainless steel probe casings which may be selectively coupled to form an insertion tube as the instrumented probe is progressively driven deeper into the media, the probe casings respectively having an outside diameter less than 5⅝ inches, and having a male end and a female end, the male end having a threaded portion including generally square threads, the male end having a non-threaded extension portion coaxial with the threaded portion, and the male end further having a bearing surface, the female end having a female threaded portion having corresponding female threads, the female end having a non-threaded extension portion coaxial with the female threaded portion, and the female end having a bearing surface;
• coupling a first probe casing to the drive portion of the instrumented probe;
• driving at least a portion of the instrumented probe and the coupled first probe casing into the media;
• and
• after the driving at least a portion of the instrumented probe and the coupled first probe casing into the media, selectively coupling additional probe casings, using the male and female threaded ends, to form an insertion tube as the instrumented probe is driven progressively deeper into the media;
• wherein the bearing surfaces, and not the threads, absorb compression loads during installation;
• wherein the male and female extension portions absorb bending forces;
• wherein a joint between a male end of one probe casing and a female end of another probe casing is stronger than areas of probe casings away from the joint;
• wherein less than four turns are required to fully engage a female end of one probe casing with the male end of another probe casing;
• and
• whereby contaminated media is not brought to the surface because no drilling takes place.

A method of placing a probe, instrumented with a tensiometer, into a contaminated media, the method comprising:

• providing a probe, instrumented with a tensiometer, which is to be driven into a media, the instrumented probe having a tip portion and a drive portion;
• providing a plurality of stainless steel probe casings which may be selectively coupled to form an insertion tube as the instrumented probe is progressively driven deeper into the media, the probe casings respectively having an outside diameter of about two and one-half inches, and having a male end and a female end, the male end having a threaded portion including generally square threads, and the male end further having a bearing surface, the female end having a female threaded portion having corresponding female threads, and the female end having a bearing surface;
• coupling a first probe casing to the drive portion of the instrumented probe;
• driving at least a portion of the instrumented probe and the coupled first probe casing into the media;
• and
• after the driving at least a portion of the instrumented probe and the coupled first probe casing into the media, selectively coupling additional probe casings, by coupling a male threaded end to a female threaded end, to form an insertion tube as the instrumented probe is driven progressively deeper into the media, wherein the bearing surfaces, and not the threads, absorb compression loads while the probe is driving into the media, and whereby contaminated media is not brought to the surface because no drilling is required.

A method of placing a lysimeter into a media without drilling, the method comprising:

• providing a probe, instrumented with a lysimeter, which is to be driven into a media, the instrumented probe having a tip portion and a drive portion;
• providing a plurality of probe casings, respective probe casing having male and female threaded ends, the male threaded end of a first probe casing being configured to selectively couple with the female threaded end of a second probe casing at a casing joint to form an insertion tube;
• providing at least one seal at the casing joint where the male threaded end of the first probe casing and the female threaded end of the second probe casing are to be selectively coupled and providing bearing surfaces in the male threaded end of the first probe casing and female threaded end of the second probe casing configured to isolate the seal from insertion and joint locking loads, the male threaded end including a thread in the general shape of a box thread and having an outer cylindrical surface, and an inner cylindrical surface, the female threaded end having a complementary female thread, the female threaded end having a tip, wherein the male threaded end of the first probe casing has a threaded portion having an exterior diameter and has a non-threaded portion with an exterior diameter greater than the diameter of the threaded portion, wherein when the male threaded end of the first probe casing is fully engaged with the female threaded end of the second probe casing, a gap exists between the non-threaded portion of the male threaded end and the tip of the female threaded end;
• turning the first and second probe casings relative to each other not more than four turns to selectively couple the male threaded end of the first probe casing with the female threaded end of the second probe casing to form the insertion tube;
• and
• installing the probe using at least one of direct push and sonic drilling.

A method of placing tensiometer into a media without drilling, the method comprising:

• providing a probe, instrumented with a tensiometer, which is to be driven into a media, the instrumented probe having a tip portion and a drive portion;
• providing a plurality of probe casings, respective probe casings having male and female threaded ends, the male threaded end of a probe casing including a male thread having the general shape of a box thread and having an outer cylindrical surface, an inner cylindrical surface, and parallel edges between the outer cylindrical surface, the female threaded end of a probe casing having a complementary female thread, and the male thread end of one of the probe casings being configured to selectively couple with the female threaded end of another of the probe casings at a casing joint to form an insertion tube;
• providing at least one seal at the casing joint where the male threaded end of the first probe casing and the female threaded end of the second probe casing are to be selectively coupled and providing bearing surfaces in the male threaded end of the first probe casing and female threaded end of the second probe casing configured to isolate the seal from insertion and joint locking loads;
• turning the first and second probe casings relative to each other to selectively couple the male threaded end of the first probe casing with the female threaded end of the second probe casing to form the insertion tube;
• and
• installing the probe using at least one of direct push and sonic drilling.

A method of placing a lysimeter into a contaminated media without bringing the contamination to the surface, the method comprising:

• providing a probe, instrumented with a lysimeter, which is to be driven into a media, the instrumented probe having a tip portion and a drive portion;
• providing a plurality of hollow stainless steel probe casings, respective probe casing having male and female threaded ends and an inner cavity, the male threaded end of a probe casing including a male thread having the general shape of a box thread and having an outer cylindrical surface, an inner cylindrical surface, and parallel edges between the outer cylindrical surface, the female threaded end of a probe casing having a complementary female thread, the male threaded end of one of the probe casings being configured to selectively couple with the female threaded end of another of the probe casings at a casing joint to form an insertion tube;
• providing double o-seals at the casing joint where the male threaded end of the first probe casing and the female threaded end of the second probe casing are to be selectively coupled;
• passing a conduit from the lysimeter completely through at least one of the probe casings, via the inner cavity;
• turning the first and second probe casings relative to each other to selectively couple the male threaded end of the first probe casing with the female threaded end of the second probe casing to form the insertion tube, the turning including turning about two and a half turns to fully engage the casing joint with the double o-seals;
• installing the probe using at least one of direct push and sonic drilling;
• and
• pressure testing the probe casings while the probe casings are in the media.

A method of placing a tensiometer into a contaminated media without bringing the contamination to the surface, the method comprising:

• providing a probe, instrumented with a tensiometer, which is to be driven into a media, the instrumented probe having a tip portion and a drive portion;
• providing a plurality of hollow stainless steel probe casings, respective probe casing having male and female threaded ends and an inner cavity, the male threaded end of a probe casing including a male thread having the general shape of a box thread and having an outer cylindrical surface, an inner cylindrical surface, and parallel edges between the outer cylindrical surface, the female threaded end of a probe casing having a complementary female thread, the male threaded end of one of the probe casings being configured to selectively couple with the female threaded end of another of the probe casings at a casing joint to form an insertion tube;
• providing double o-seals at the casing joint where the male threaded end of the first probe casing and the female threaded end of the second probe casing are to be selectively coupled;
• passing a conduit from the lysimeter completely through at least one of the probe casings, via the inner cavity;
• turning the first and second probe casings relative to each other to selectively couple the male threaded end of the first probe casing with the female threaded end of the second probe casing to form the insertion tube, the turning including turning about two and a half turns to fully engage the casing joint with the double o-seals;
• installing the probe using at least one of direct push and sonic drilling;
• and
• pressure testing the probe casings while the probe casings are in the media.