Apparatus and method for obtaining subterranean samples
AssigneeConoco Inc.
InventorsDavid L. Richter, Michael C. Kasl, David Overman, Joel F. Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for obtaining a subterranean material sample. The inventive sampling apparatus comprises an elongate housing having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, a tip member movable through the passageway, and a locking means for releasably preventing the tip member from moving from a first portion of the passageway to a second portion of the passageway. The inventive sampling method comprises the step of inserting the inventive sampling apparatus into the ground. The present invention also provides a device for retaining material in a housing, said device comprising a plurality of resilient petal members.
Claims27
An apparatus for obtaining a subterranean material sample, comprising:
- an elongate housing having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, said housing having a first end and a second end and said passageway having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being closer than said second portion to said first end;
- a tip member positionable in the second portion of said passageway such that said tip member protrudes from the second end of said housing, said tip member being movable in said passageway from said second portion to said first portion;
- and at least one locking key for releasably preventing said tip member from moving from said second portion of said passageway to said first portion of said passageway;
- said locking key securing a tip locking member positionable inside said passageway and having a first end and a second end, said second end of said tip locking member being positionable on a first end of said tip member and said first end of said tip locking member having a recess therein for receiving said key when said locking means is unlocked;
- and
- an O-ring seal positionable between said second end of said tip locking member and said first end of said tip member.
A method of obtaining a subterranean material sample, utilizing a sampling apparatus, comprising an elongate housing having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, said housing having a first end and a second end and said passageway having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being closer than said second portion to said first end;
- and a tip member positionable in the second portion of said passageway such that said tip member protrudes from the second end of said housing, said tip member being movable in said passageway from said second portion to said first portion;
- and locking means for releasably preventing said tip member from moving from said second portion of said passageway to said first portion of said passageway said locking means being capable of being unlocked when said sampling apparatus is inserted into the ground by moving said housing in a direction opposite to the direction in which said sampling apparatus is inserted in the ground and said locking means has at least one locking key, a tip locking member positioned inside said passageway having a first end and a second end, said second end of said tip locking member being positioned on a first end of said tip member, said first end of said tip locking member having a recess therein for receiving said key when said locking means is unlocked, and said recess defining a rim on said first end of said tip locking member said key being positioned on said rim when said locking means is locked, comprising the steps of:
- inserting said sampling apparatus into the ground;
- and
- unlocking said locking means to permit said tip member to move from said second portion of said passageway to said first portion of said passageway by moving said housing in said direction opposite to the direction in which said sampling apparatus in inserted into the ground
- partially filling said passageway with sample material
- further inserting said sampling apparatus into the ground in order to insure at least partial filling of said passageway with sample material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.