# US 5,884,714 A · Method and apparatus for fluid and soil sampling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,884,714 A - Document ID: US5884714A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/449,256 - Filed: 1995-05-24 - Granted: 1999-03-23 - Earliest claimed: 1993-09-21 - Assignees: SimulProbe Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Noah Heller; Jeffrey Barrow; Joe DeMartini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5884714A ## CPC - E21B 49/02: by mechanically taking samples of the soil - E21B 25/00: Apparatus for obtaining or removing undisturbed cores, e.g. core barrels or core extractors (core bits E21B10/02) - E21B 49/08: Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A sampling device includes a barrel having a downhole end, an exterior surface, an interior surface defining a hollow interior, and an open end at the downhole end of the hollow interior. A fluid entrance penetrates the exterior surface. A fluid path having an outlet port is fluidly coupled to the fluid entrance. The device is driven into a subsurface so that a soil sample is forced into the hollow interior. While the device is still in the subsurface a fluid sample is collected through the least one fluid entrance and fluid path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for collecting a soil sample and a fluid sample from a subsurface comprising the steps of: providing a sampling device including a barrel having a downhole end, an exterior surface, an interior surface defining a hollow interior, having a circular cross-section and an open end at the downhole end of the hollow interior, the sampling device further comprising a fluid entrance and a fluid path, the fluid entrance penetrating the exterior surface, and the fluid path being fluidly coupled to the fluid entrance; driving the downhole end of the sampling device into a subsurface so that a soil sample of the subsurface is forced through the open end and into the hollow interior; collecting a fluid sample from the subsurface through the fluid entrance and the fluid path after the driving step is initiated; and removing the sampling device from the subsurface to recover the soil sample after the collecting step is completed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method for collecting a soil sample and a fluid sample of claim 1 further comprising the step of: preventing a fluid flow through the fluid entrance at least until after the driving step has been initiated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method for collecting a soil sample and a fluid sample of claim 1 wherein: the fluid path is positioned between the interior and exterior surfaces. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method for collecting a soil sample and a fluid sample of claim 1 wherein: the preventing step is carried out by providing a drive shoe having an angular cutting edge defining the open end, the drive shoe being movably mounted to the barrel between a first position, in which the drive shoe covers the fluid entrance, and a second position, in which the drive shoe is spaced apart from the fluid entrance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method for collecting a soil sample and a fluid sample of claim 1 wherein: the driving step is carried out with a barrel comprising a drive shoe having an angular cutting edge defining the open end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method for collecting a soil sample and a fluid sample of claim 1 wherein: the collecting and driving steps are carried out a number of times. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method for collecting a soil sample and a fluid sample of claim 1 wherein: the collecting step is carried out by drawing the fluid into the fluid entrance using a vacuum pump. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method for collecting a soil sample and a fluid sample of claim 1 wherein: the collecting step is carried out by permitting the fluid to enter the fluid entrance under a potentiometric head of the fluid in the subsurface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method for collecting a soil sample and a fluid sample of claim 1 further comprising the step of: pulling the sampling device toward an uphole end before the collecting and removing steps. ### Claim 10 An environmental sampling device for collecting a fluid sample and a soil sample from a subsurface, comprising: a barrel including a downhole end, an exterior surface, an interior surface defining a hollow interior having a circular cross-section, and an open end at the downhole end of the hollow interior; a fluid entrance penetrating the exterior surface; a fluid path fluidly coupled to the fluid entrance; and an elastic band sized to fit around the barrel and positioned to cover the fluid entrance. ### Claim 11 An environmental sampling device for collecting a fluid sample and a soil sample from a subsurface, comprising: a barrel including a downhole end, and exterior surface, an interior surface defining a hollow interior having a circular cross-section, and an open end at the downhole end of the hollow interior; a fluid entrance penetrating the exterior surface; means for selectively covering the fluid entrance, the covering means being movable between a first position covering the fluid entrance and a second position spaced apart from the fluid entrance; and a fluid path fluidly coupled to the fluid entrance; the barrel having a drive shoe, the drive shoe being rigidly attached to the downhole end of the barrel and having an angular cutting edge defining the open end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The environmental sampling device of claim 11 wherein: the drive shoe defines a portion of the exterior surface of the barrel; and the fluid entrance penetrates the portion of the exterior surface at the drive shoe. ### Claim 13 An environmental sampling device for collecting a fluid sample and a soil sample from a subsurface, comprising: a barrel including a downhole end, and exterior surface, an interior surface defining a hollow interior having a circular cross-section, and an open end at the downhole end of the hollow interior; a fluid entrance penetrating the exterior surface; means for selectively covering the fluid entrance, the covering means being movable between a first position covering the fluid entrance and a second position spaced apart from the fluid entrance; a fluid path fluidly coupled to the fluid entrance; and a valve assembly rigidly attached to the barrel at an uphole end, the valve assembly including a displaced air line having an exhaust port and an entrance port, the entrance port being fluidly coupled to the hollow interior. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The environmental sampling device of claim 13 further comprising: a check valve positioned along the displaced air line between the entrance port and the exhaust port, the check valve permitting flow from the entrance port to the exhaust port. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The environmental sampling device of claim 14 further comprising: a gas bladder fluidly coupled to the exhaust port. ### Claim 16 An environmental sampling device for collecting a fluid sample and a soil sample from a subsurface, comprising: a barrel including a downhole end, and exterior surface, an interior surface defining a hollow interior having a circular cross-section, and an open end at the downhole end of the hollow interior; a fluid entrance penetrating the exterior surface; means for selectively covering the fluid entrance, the covering means being movable between a first position covering the fluid entrance and a second position spaced apart from the fluid entrance; a fluid path fluidly coupled to the fluid entrance; the barrel including a drive shoe, the drive shoe being positioned at a downhole end of the barrel and having an angular cutting edge defining the open end of the barrel, the drive shoe being movably mounted to the sample tube between a first position in which the drive shoe covers the fluid entrance, and a second position, in which the drive shoe is spaced apart from the fluid entrance. ### Claim 17 An environmental sampling device for collecting a fluid sample and a soil sample from a subsurface, comprising: a cylindrical sample tube comprising first and second sections connected together along longitudinal split lines, the sample tube having an exterior surface, an interior surface defining a hollow interior, and an open end at the downhole end of the hollow interior, the hollow interior including a circular cross-sectional shape having a diameter in a range of about one inch to six inches; a fluid entrance penetrating the interior surface; a fluid path fluidly coupled to the fluid entrance and positioned between the interior and exterior surfaces; and means for selectively preventing a fluid flow through the fluid entrance.