# US 2019/0169830 A1 · Trenchlessly installed subteranean collector drain for surface and subsurface water > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0169830 A1 - Document ID: US20190169830A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/832,486 - Filed: 2017-12-05 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-05 - Assignees: Trenchless Groundwater Movers, LLC - Applicants: Trenchless Groundwater Movers, LLC - Inventors: John Jurgens; Larry Kiest; Bruce Tobey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169830A1 ## CPC - E03F 3/06: Methods of, or installations for, laying sewer pipes (making pipes in situ F16L1/038 {; laying conduits in association with the digging of a trench E02F5/10; laying pipes in general F16L1/00}) - E02B 11/00: Drainage of soil, e.g. for agricultural purposes {(draining sports grounds E01C13/083; for consolidating foundation soil, e.g. sand drain piles E02D3/10)} - E21B 7/046: {horizontal drilling (drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003)} - E21B 7/20: Driving or forcing casings or pipes into boreholes, e.g. sinking; Simultaneously drilling and casing boreholes - E03F: SEWERS; CESSPOOLS - E02B: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A collector system installed utilizing trenchless or minimally invasive methods and devices configured to intercept and direct surface and/or subsurface fluids to a designated reception location to control groundwater elevations is disclosed. In one aspect, a target collection and drainage area is identified and a gravity drainage pipe is accessed or trenchlessly installed at the target collection and drainage area. The gravity drainage pipe can be accessed at one or more drawdown points. An end of the collection pipe can be connected to the drain pipe. By venting an end of the collection pipe to the surface, surface and subsurface water is hydrostatically drawn into the collection pipe from the target collection and drainage area. The surface and subsurface water can be passively drained from the collection pipe into the distribution pipe and onto the designated reception location providing a green process that eliminates power dependency. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for installing a collection and drainage pipe system configured to direct surface and/or subsurface fluids to a designated reception location, comprising: identifying a target collection area and drainage area; trenchlessly installing a drain pipe at the target collection area and extending to a drainage area; using minimally invasive methods to access the drain pipe at one or more drawdown points; taking a drain pipe; connecting an end of a collection pipe to the drain pipe; for drawing subsurface and/or surface fluid into the drain pipe from the target collection area to control the elevation of localized water table. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: the collection pipe is perforated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 further comprising: the perforated collection pipe includes a filter media. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 further comprising: the filter media includes at least one gasket or seal located near one end of the filter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the filter media is located on the interior wall of the perforated collection pipe. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the filter media is self-supporting to resist buckling from hydrostatic head pressures. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: A mechanism inserted within the perforated collection pipe; the mechanism capable of isolating perforations in the pipe to control the elevation of localized water table. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: perforating in-situ a portion of the collector system using robotic tools; robotically inserting a filter media inside the pipe at the perforated locations ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: configuring the collection pipe for capturing fluid at a desired hydrostatic level at the target collection and drainage area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: The drain pipe to include a traceable wire capable of identifying the exact location of the drain pipe for the purpose of forming one or more drawdown points and attaching one or more collection pipes to the drain pipe at the target collection area. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: One end of the trenchlessly installed drain pipe begins at the surface and the opposite end discharges into a drainage area at an elevation below surface. ### Claim 12 A drawdown trenchless collector apparatus for directing surface and/or subsurface fluids from a target collection and drainage area to a designated reception location, comprising: a collection pipe having first and second terminal ends spaced apart by an outer cylindrical wall; one or more fluid drawdown points in the outer cylindrical wall configured at a level for passively drawing surface and/or subsurface fluid at a desired hydrostatic level into the collection pipe; and the first terminal end of the collection pipe adapted to attach to a drain pipe for transferring fluid through a gravity drain pipe. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the one or more fluid drawdown points comprise a plurality of perforations in the outer cylindrical wall of the collection pipe. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising: a saddle at the first terminal end for interconnecting the collection pipe with the drain pipe. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the collection pipe is installed generally vertically to the drain pipe in a drawdown point at the target collection and drainage area. ### Claim 16 A trenchless collector system configured to direct surface and/or subsurface fluids from a target collection and drainage area to a designated reception location, comprising: a drainage pipe installed at a target collection and drainage area by trenchless operation; one or more drawdown points generally vertically from ground surface to the drainage pipe; a collection pipe installed within the one or more drawdown points for passing surface and/or subsurface fluid into the collection pipe; and one end of the collection pipe connected to the drainage pipe and an opposite end open to the surface for passively drawing surface and/or subsurface fluid into the collection pipe from the target collection and drainage area. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 further comprising: a plurality of perforations in an outer cylindrical wall of the collection pipe for drawing by hydrostatic pressure or negative pressure surface and/or subsurface liquid into the collection pipe through the plurality of perforations. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein the plurality of perforations are configured in the collection pipe for capturing fluid at a desired hydrostatic level at the target collection and drainage area. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 further comprising: a traceable wire capable of being located associated with the trenchlessly installed drainage pipe to locate the one or more drawdown points at the target collection and drainage area. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein surface and/or subsurface fluids are directed to the designated reception location by passively moving fluid from the target collection and drainage area through the collection pipe into the drainage pipe. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein the collector system includes a drain pipe located at a depth equal to or greater than the sewer that performs as an underdrainage pipe in order to reduce or prevent extraneous water from infiltrating into an existing sewer pipe. ### Claim 22 A method for retrofitting a gravity drain pipe for passively draining surface and subsurface fluid from a collection and drainage area, comprising: providing a collection pipe; identifying drawdown points associated with a buried gravity drainage pipe; using minimally invasive methods for accessing the buried gravity drainage pipe at a target collection and drainage area for surface and/or subsurface fluid; attaching an end of the collection pipe to the buried gravity drainage pipe; orienting the collection pipe with an end open to atmosphere; and moving fluid from the target collection and drainage area into the buried gravity drainage pipe through the collection pipe. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 further comprising: configuring the collection pipe for capturing fluid at a desired hydrostatic level at the target collection and drainage area. ### Claim 24 A method for retrofitting a gravity drain pipe for passively draining surface and subsurface fluid from a collection and drainage area, comprising: identifying drawdown points associated with a buried gravity drainage pipe; robotically perforating the pipe walls at a target collection and drainage area for surface and/or subsurface fluid; inserting a filter media inside the pipe at the perforated locations; and moving fluid from the target collection and drainage area into the buried gravity drainage pipe through the collection pipe. ### Claim 25 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 further comprising: The filter includes gaskets or seals at each opposite ends.