Fluid pressurization apparatus and technique

A method of fluid pressurizing a portion of the wall of a hole in the ground, comprising installing lengthwise in the hole in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof, an elongated rod having a hollow bore therethrough which is open ended at the proximal and distal ends thereof, inserting a plurality of inflatable closure members into the bore of the rod in tandem array through the proximal end opening thereof, and then inserting the relatively forward of said members into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod and positioning the same in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole so as to leave a gap between one of said members and the bottom of the hole, inflating the respective closure members to form first and second fluid seals across the bore of the rod and that portion of the hole in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, respectively, forming a third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore in spaced relationship to the first fluid seal therein, forming a fluid connection between the portion of the bore in the space between the first and third fluid seals and a portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole, filling the interconnected portions of the bore and the hole with a fluid charge, applying pressure to the charge by means external thereof while exposing the wall of the hole in the gap to the fluid thereof, and monitoring conditions in the charge at a point in that portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole.

A method of fluid pressurizing a portion of the wall of a hole in the ground, comprising installing lengthwise in the hole in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof, an elongated rod having a hollow bore therethrough which is open ended at the proximal and distal ends thereof, inserting a plurality of inflatable closure members into the bore of the rod in tandem array through the proximal end opening thereof, and then inserting the relatively forward of said members into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod and positioning the same in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole so as to leave a gap between one of said members and the bottom of the hole, inflating the respective closure members to form first and second fluid seals across the bore of the rod and that portion of the hole in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, respectively, forming a third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore in spaced relationship to the first fluid seal therein, forming a fluid connection between the portion of the bore in the space between the first and third fluid seals and a portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole, filling the interconnected portions of the hole and the hole with a fluid charge, applying pressure to the charge by means external thereof while exposing the wall of the hole in the gap to the fluid thereof, and monitoring conditions in the charge by sampling the same at a point in that portion of the hole in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole, and transferring the sample to a point at the surface of the ground.

A method of fluid pressurizing a portion of the wall of a hole in the ground, comprising installing lengthwise in the hole in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof, an elongated rod having a hollow bore therethrough which is open ended at the proximal and distal ends thereof, inserting a plurality of inflatable closure members into the bore of the rod in tandem array through the proximal end opening thereof, and then inserting the relatively forward of said members into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod and positioning the same in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole so as to leave a gap between one of said members and the bottom of the hole, inflating the respective closure members to form first and second fluid seals across the bore of the rod and that portion of the hole in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, respectively, forming a third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore in spaced relationship to the first fluid seal therein, forming a fluid connection between the portion of the bore in the space between the first and third fluid seals and a portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole, filling the interconnected portions of the bore and the hole with a fluid charge, and applying pressure to the charge by means external thereof while exposing the wall of the hole in the gap to the fluid thereof, the distal end opening of the rod being defined by an annular bit and the rod being installed in the hole by excavating the same with the rod in a drilling operation.

A method of fluid pressurizing a portion of the wall of a hole in the ground, comprising installing lengthwise in the hole in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof, an elongated rod having a hollow bore therethrough which is open ended at the proximal and distal ends thereof, inserting a plurality of inflatable closure members into the bore of the rod in tandem array through the proximal end opening thereof, and then inserting the relatively forward of said members into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod and positioning the same in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole so as to leave a gap between one of said members and the bottom of the hole, inflating the respective closure members to form first and second fluid seals across the bore of the rod and that portion of the hole in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, respectively, forming a third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore in spaced relationship to the first fluid seal therein, forming a fluid connection between the portion of the bore in the space between the first and third fluid seals and a portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole, filling the interconnected portions of the bore and the hole with a fluid charge, and applying pressure to the charge by means external thereof while exposing the wall of the hole in the gap to the fluid thereof, the hole being relatively downwardly inclined to the surface of the ground and the inflatable closure members being inserted into the bore of the rod by lowering a tandem array of the same into the bore on a wireline device.

A method of fluid pressurizing a portion of the wall of a hole in the ground, comprising installing lengthwise in the hole in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof, an elongated rod having a hollow bore therethrough which is open ended at the proximal and distal ends thereof, inserting a plurality of inflatable closure members into the bore of the rod in tandem array through the proximal end opening thereof, and then inserting the relatively forward of said members into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod and positioning the same in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole so as to leave a gap between one of said members and the bottom of the hole, inflating the respective closure members to form first and second fluid seals across the bore of the rod and that portion of the hole in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, respectively, forming a third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore in spaced relationship to the first fluid seal therein, forming a fluid connection between the portion of the bore in the space between the first and third fluid seals and a portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole, filling the interconnected portions of the bore and the hole with a fluid charge, and applying pressure to the charge by means external thereof while exposing the wall of the hole in the gap to the fluid thereof, the array of inflatable closure members including three such members, the relatively forward two of which are inserted into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod and positioned and inflated in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole so as to form the second fluid seal and a fourth fluid seal spaced apart therefrom so as to isolate a fraction of the space.

Apparatus for fluid pressurizing a portion of the wall of a hole in the ground having an elongated rod installed lengthwise therein in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof, said rod having a hollow bore therethrough which is open ended at the proximal and distal ends thereof, comprising means defining a plurality of inflatable closure members which are tandemly insertable in the bore of the rod through the proximal end opening thereof and the relatively forward of which is or are then insertable into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod for positioning in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole at a point adapted to leave a gap between one of said members and the bottom of the hole, means for inflating the respective members to form first and second fluid seals across the bore of the rod and that portion of the hole in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, respectively, means for forming a third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore in spaced relationship to the first fluid seal therein, means operative to form a fluid connection between the portion of the bore in the space between the first and third fluid seals and a portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole, means for filling the interconnected portions of the bore and the hole with a fluid charge, means external of the charge for applying pressure to the same while the wall of the hole in the gap is exposed to the fluid of the charge, and means for monitoring conditions in the charge to determine the character of the ground surrounding the aforesaid portion of the hole in the gap.

Apparatus for fluid pressurizing a portion of the wall of a hole in the ground having an elongated rod installed lengthwise therein in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof, said rod having a hollow bore therethrough which is open ended at the proximal and distal ends thereof, comprising means defining a plurality of inflatable closure members which are tandemly insertable in the bore of the rod through the proximal end opening thereof and the relatively forward of which is or are then insertable into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod for positioning in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole at a point adapted to leave a gap between one of said members and the bottom of the hole, means for inflating the respective members to form first and second fluid seals across the bore of the rod and that portion of the hole in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, respectively, means for forming a third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore in spaced relationship to the first fluid seal therein, means operative to form a fluid connection between the portion of the bore in the space between the first and third fluid seals and a portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole, means for filling the interconnected portions of the bore and the hole with a fluid charge, and means external of the charge for applying pressure to the same while the wall of the hole in the gap is exposed to the fluid of the charge, the distal end opening of the rod being defined by an annular bit.

Apparatus for fluid pressurizing a portion of the wall of a hole in the ground having an elongated rod installed lengthwise therein in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof, said rod having a hollow bore therethrough which is open ended at the proximal and distal ends thereof, comprising means defining a plurality of inflatable closure members which are tandemly insertable in the bore of the rod through the proximal end opening thereof and the relatively forward of which is or are then insertable into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod for positioning in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole at a point adapted to leave a gap between one of said members and the bottom of the hole, means for inflating the respective members to form first and second fluid seals across the bore of the rod and that portion of the hole in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, respectively, means for forming a third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore in spaced relationship to the first fluid seal therein, means operative to form a fluid connection between the portion of the bore in the space between the first and third fluid seals and a portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole, means for filling the interconnected portions of the bore and the hole with a fluid charge, and means external of the charge for applying pressure to the same while the wall of the hole in the gap is exposed to the fluid of the charge, the inflatable closure members being assembled in a tandemly spaced array of the same and suspended on a wireline device for lowering into the bore of the rod when the hole is relatively downwardly inclined to the surface of the ground, and the means for forming the third fluid seal including a closure device on the wireline device which is engagable with the proximal end portion of the rod to form the third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore therein.

Apparatus for fluid pressurizing a portion of the wall of a hole in the ground having an elongated rod installed lengthwise therein in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof, said rod having a hollow bore therethrough which is open ended at the proximal and distal ends thereof, comprising means defining a plurality of inflatable closure members which are tandemly insertable in the bore of the rod through the proximal end opening thereof and the relatively forward of which is or are then insertable into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod for positioning in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole at a point adapted to leave a gap between one of said members and the bottom of the hole, means for inflating the respective members to form first and second fluid seals across the bore of the rod and that portion of the hole in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, respectively, means for forming a third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore in spaced relationship to the first fluid seal therein, means operative to form a fluid connection between the portion of the bore in the space between the first and third fluid seals and a portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole, means for filling the interconnected portion of the bore and the hole with a fluid charge, and means external of the charge for applying pressure to the same while the wall of the hole in the gap is exposed to the fluid of the charge, there being three inflatable closure members, the relatively forward two of which are interconnected in tandem array and insertable into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod for positioning in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, and the two relatively forward members being adapted to form the second fluid seal and a fourth fluid seal which is spaced apart from the same so as to isolate a fraction of the space.

Apparatus for fluid pressurizing a portion of the wall of a hole in the ground, comprising an elongated rod adapted to be installed lengthwise in the hole in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof and having a hollow bore therethrough which is open ended at the proximal and distal ends thereof, means defining a plurality of inflatable closure members which are tandemly insertable into the bore of the rod through the proximal end opening thereof and the relatively forward of which is or are adapted to be inserted then into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod for positioning in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole at a point adapted to leave a gap between one of said members and the bottom of the hole, means for inflating the respective closure members to form first and second fluid seals across the bore of the rod and that portion of the hole in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, respectively, means for forming a third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore in spaced relationship to the first fluid seal therein, means operative to form a fluid connection between the portion of the bore in the space between the first and third fluid seals and a portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole, means for filling the interconnected portions of the bore and the hole with a fluid charge, means external of the charge for applying pressure to the same while the wall of the hole in the gap is exposed to the fluid of the charge, and means for monitoring conditions in the charge to determine the character of the ground surrounding the aforesaid portion of the hole in the gap.

Apparatus for fluid pressurizing a portion of the wall of a hole in the ground, comprising an elongated rod adapted to be installed lengthwise in the hole in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof and having a hollow bore therethrough which is open ended at the proximal and distal ends thereof, means defining a plurality of inflatable closure members which are tandemly insertable into the bore of the rod through the proximal end opening thereof and the relatively forward of which is or are adapted to be inserted then into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod for positioning in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole at a point adapted to leave a gap between one of said members and the bottom of the hole, means for inflating the respective closure members to form first and second fluid seals across the bore of the rod and that portion of the hole in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, respectively, means for forming a third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore in spaced relationship to the first fluid seal therein, means operative to form a fluid connection between the portion of the bore in the space between the first and third fluid seals and a portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and a bottom of the hole, means for filling the interconnected portions of the bore and the hole with a fluid charge, and means external of the charge for applying pressure to the same while the wall of the hole in the gap is exposed to the fluid of the charge, the distal end opening of the rod being defined by an annular bit so that the rod can be installed in the hole by excavating the same with the rod in a drilling operation.

Apparatus for fluid pressurizing a portion of the wall of a hole in the ground, comprising an elongated rod adapted to be installed lengthwise in the hole in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof and having a hollow bore therethrough which is open ended at the proximal and distal ends thereof, means defining a plurality of inflatable closure members which are tandemly insertable into the bore of the rod through the proximal end opening thereof and the relatively forward of which is or are adapted to be inserted then into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod for positioning in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole at a point adapted to leave a gap between one of said members and the bottom of the hole, means for inflating the respective closure members to form first and second fluid seals across the bore of the rod and that portion of the hole in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, respectively, means for forming a third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore in spaced relationship to the first fluid seal therein, means operative to form a fluid connection between the portion of the bore in the space between the first and third fluid seals and a portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole, means for filling the interconnected portions of the bore and the hole with a fluid charge, means external of the charge for applying pressure to the same while the wall of the hole in the gap is exposed to the fluid of the charge, and means for interconnecting, inserting and positioning the array of closure members in the bore and the hole, respectively, including a wireline device by which the array can be lowered into a hole relatively downwardly inclined to the surface of the ground.

A method of fluid pressurizing a portion of the wall of a hole in the ground, comprising installing lengthwise in the hole in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof, an elongated rod having a hollow bore therethrough which is open ended at the proximal and distal ends thereof, inserting into the bore of the rod through the proximal end opening thereof, a plurality of inflatable closure members in tandem array on an elongated support extending from a point outside the bore of the rod adjacent the proximal end opening thereof, and then inserting the relatively forward of said members into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod and positioning the same in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole so as to leave a gap between one of said members and the bottom of the hole, inflating the respective closure members to form first and second fluid seals across the bore of the rod and that portion of the hole in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, respectively, forming a third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore in spaced relationship to the first fluid seal therein, forming a fluid connection between the portion of the bore in the space between the first and third fluid seals and a portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole, charging fluid into the aforesaid portion of the bore at a point external of the support and filling the interconnected portions of the bore and the hole with the charge, and applying pressure to the charge by means external thereof while exposing the wall of the hole in the gap to the fluid thereof.

Apparatus for fluid pressurizing a portion of the wall of a hole in the ground having an elongated rod installed lengthwise therein in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof, said rod having a hollow bore therethrough which is open ended at the proximal and distal ends thereof, comprising means defining a plurality of inflatable closure members on a support adapted so that the members are tandemly insertable in the bore of the rod through the proximal end opening thereof and supportable in the bore from a point outside the same adjacent said proximal end opening, and the relatively forward of which members is or are then insertable into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod for positioning in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole at a point adapted to leave a gap between one of said members and the bottom of the hole, means for inflating the respective members to form first and second fluid seals across the bore of the rod and that portion of the hole in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, respectively, means for forming a third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore in spaced relationship to the first fluid seal therein, means operative to form a fluid connection between the portion of the bore in the space between the first and third fluid seals and a portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole, means for charging fluid into the aforesaid portion of the bore at a point external of the support and filling the interconnected portions of the bore and the hole with the charge, and means external of the charge for applying pressure to the same while the wall of the hole in the gap is exposed to the fluid of the charge.

Apparatus for fluid pressurizing a portion of the wall of a hole in the ground, comprising an elongated rod adapted to be installed lengthwise in the hole in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof and having a hollow bore therethrough which is open ended at the proximal and distal ends thereof, means defining a plurality of inflatable closure members on a support adapted so that the members are tandemly insertable in the bore of the rod through the proximal end opening thereof and supportable in the bore from a point outside the same adjacent to said proximal end opening, and the relatively forward of which members is or are then insertable into the hole through the distal end opening of the rod for positioning in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole at a point adapted to leave a gap between one of said members and the bottom of the hole, means for inflating the respective members to form first and second fluid seals across the bore of the rod and that portion of the hole in the space between the rod and the bottom of the hole, respectively, means for forming a third fluid seal across the proximal end portion of the bore in spaced relationship to the first fluid seal therein, means operative to form a fluid connection between the portion of the bore in the space between the first and third fluid seals and a portion of the hole lying in the gap between the second fluid seal and the bottom of the hole, means for charging fluid into the aforesaid portion of the bore at a point external of the support and filling the interconnected portions of the bore and the hole with the charge, and means external of the charge for applying pressure to the same while the wall of the hole in the gap is exposed to the fluid of the charge.