Process and apparatus for obtaining samples of liquid and gas from soil

A sampling apparatus comprising:

• a tubular shaft defining an interior cylindrical chamber, said chamber further defining a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter, said first diameter less than said second diameter;
• an exterior wall of said shaft defining an aperture and in communication with a portion of said chamber associated with said first inner diameter;
• a filter, carried along an exterior of said shaft and in communication with said shaft aperture;
• a first seal positioned in proximity to a lower terminus of said shaft and within said first inner diameter of said shaft;
• a second seal positioned above said first seal and above said aperture and within said first inner diameter of said shaft, said first and said second seal thereby forming a first receptacle within said shaft for receiving filtered fluids from an exterior of said shaft;
• a third seal integral to and carried above said second seal, said third seal defining a diameter greater than said second seal, said second and third seal collectively defining a first bore traversing said second and third seal and a second bore traversing said second and third seal;
• a first check valve in communication with said first bore;
• a second check valve in communication with said second bore;
• a fourth seal carried above said third seal, said third and fourth seal forming a second receptacle between a first end and a second end of a tubular sleeve, said sleeve residing within said second inner diameter portion of said shaft;
• a hollow arm carrying each said first, second, third, and fourth seal, said arm providing a fluid-tight passage through each said seal;
• a withdrawal tube traversing said fourth ring and having a first end opposite said first check valve and a second free end directed away from said fourth seal;
• a second tubing in communication with a bore defined between an inner and an outer surface of said fourth seal, a first end of said second tubing in communication with said bore and a second end of said tubing carried away from said fourth seal.

A collection apparatus comprising:

• an outer housing, said housing defining a first receptacle, said first receptacle in fluid communication with a second receptacle carried within said housing, said first and said second receptacle further defining a common opening, said opening defining a valve;
• a filter, carried by said housing, and in communication with said first receptacle by an aperture defined by said housing;
• a first tube in communication with said second receptacle;
• a second tube in communication with said second receptacle;
• an expander ring carried by an exterior of said housing and in proximity to said filter;
• wherein, when said collection apparatus is inserted into a soil, said expander ring creates a void adjacent said filter in which fluids accumulate, said fluids further migrating through said filter and entering said first receptacle, passing through said common opening and said valve and entering said second receptacle, said fluids being withdrawn through said first tubing to a surface of said soil.

A process of collecting a subsurface fluid sample comprising:

• pushing a collection apparatus to a desired depth;
• creating a head space adjacent a filter region of said apparatus;
• establishing a gradient flow of fluid from an exterior of said apparatus to an interior of said apparatus, said gradient flow passing through said filter region;
• passing said sample into a first receptacle;
• transferring said sample through a first check valve into a second sealed receptacle;
• applying a positive pressure to said second receptacle, said positive pressure forcing said sample through a collection line for retrieving said sample at said desired depth, said collection line in communication with an above-ground surface.

A collection apparatus comprising:

• a first lower receptacle;
• an upper receptacle having an outer wall, said upper receptacle in selective communication with said lower receptacle through at least one valve;
• a filter carried by an exterior of said lower receptacle, said filter in communication with said lower receptacle through an aperture defined by a surface of said receptacle;
• an expander ring carried by an outer housing of said apparatus and positioned in proximity to said filter;
• a collection means for collecting a fluid sample from said upper receptacle;
• and
• a cylindrical tube carried within said housing and defining said outer wall of said upper receptacle.