Screened hollow stem auger for use in well drilling and testing process

Abstract

A vertically oriented screened hollow stem auger element for use in the simultaneous drilling and testing of wells so as to detect and monitor the existence of hazardous and toxic waste at subsurface levels. The screened hollow stem auger comprises an elongate cylindrical hollow body member having a longitudinal axial bore therethrough. The screened hollow stem auger is adapted at its opposite ends for selective lockable end to end engagement with solid wall hollow stem auger elements and other drilling components for use in the simultaneous drilling and testing of wells. The cylindrical wall of the hollow stem auger element is provided with a central screened portion in open communication with the bore thereof which permits the selective intake of ground fluids into the interior of the screened hollow stem auger element for selective conveyance through the interconnected solid wall hollow stem auger elements to the surface level for testing purposes. A continuous auger flight element is provided on the external surface of the screened hollow stem auger element so as to extend longitudinally therealong across the central screened portion thereof. The lower end portion of the screened hollow stem auger is adapted for selective attachment of drilling bits and pressure grouting valves thereto. The upper end portion of the screened hollow stem auger element is adapted for selective end to end engagement of vertically oriented solid wall hollow stem auger elements thereto as the drilling of a well progresses. Each of the solid wall hollow stem auger elements have a continuous bore therethrough and are also provided with a continuous auger flight element along the external surface thereof. Means are provided for insertion through the continuous bore formed through the interconnected solid wall hollow stem auger elements from the upper ground surface level to the lowermost screened hollow stem auger so as to selectively draw water, contaminated water or other fluid samples from the earth at the drilling level of the screened auger through the screened portion thereof and return them to the upper ground surface level in order to test for the existence of hazardous and toxic waste at various subsurface levels.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.