Isobaric groundwater well

A system for measuring a parameter in a groundwater well from above ground surface, substantially free from effects of changes in atmospheric pressure, the system comprising:

• a hollow elongated casing having an open end, and a closed end, and being configured to be placed closed end first into a well having a water level, with the closed end below the water level and the open end above the water level, the casing having a wall extending between the open end and the closed end, the wall including perforations between the open end and the closed end for entry of water from the well into the casing;
• a pressure transducer in the casing, the pressure transducer having a reference pressure port;
• an electrical cable coupled to the pressure transducer and configured to transmit pressure readings, the electrical cable extending from the pressure transducer to above the ground surface via the open end;
• a tube coupled to the reference pressure port of the pressure transducer, the tube being vented above the water level in the casing;
• and
• a sealing member sealing the open end while permitting the electrical cable to pass through the open end, wherein the sealing member comprises an inflatable packer.

A system for measuring a parameter in a groundwater well from above ground surface, substantially free from effects of changes in atmospheric pressure, the system comprising:

• a hollow elongated casing having an open end, and a closed end, and being configured to be placed closed end first into a well having a water level, with the closed end below the water level and the open end above the water level, the casing having a wall extending between the open end and the closed end, the wall including perforations between the open end and the closed end for entry of water from the well into the casing, the casing being threaded proximate the open end, and wherein the sealing member comprises a threaded cap sealing the open end of the casing;
• a pressure transducer in the casing, the pressure transducer having a reference pressure port;
• an electrical cable coupled to the pressure transducer and configured to transmit pressure readings, the electrical cable extending from the pressure transducer to above the ground surface via the open end;
• a tube coupled to the reference pressure port of the pressure transducer, the tube being vented above the water level in the casing;
• and
• a sealing member sealing the open end while permitting the electrical cable to pass through the open end.

A system for measuring a parameter in a groundwater well from above ground surface, substantially free from effects of changes in atmospheric pressure, the system comprising:

• a hollow elongated casing having an open end, and a closed end, and being configured to be placed closed end first into a well having a water level, with the closed end below the water level and the open end above the water level, the casing having a wall extending between the open end and the closed end, the wall including perforations between the open end and the closed end for entry of water from the well into the casing;
• a pressure transducer in the casing, the pressure transducer having a reference pressure port;
• an electrical cable coupled to the pressure transducer and configured to transmit pressure readings, the electrical cable extending from the pressure transducer to above the ground surface via the open end;
• a tube coupled to the reference pressure port of the pressure transducer, the tube being vented above the water level in the casing;
• and
• a sealing member sealing the open end while permitting the electrical cable to pass through the open end, the sealing member comprising a threaded piece.

A method of measuring a parameter in a groundwater well from above ground surface, substantially free from effects of changes in atmospheric pressure, the method comprising:

• providing a hollow elongated casing having an open end and a closed end, and a wall extending between the open end and the closed end, the wall being screened between the open end and the closed end for entry of liquid from the well into the casing, wherein providing the casing comprises providing a casing that is threaded proximate the open end;
• placing the casing closed end first into a well having a water level, with the closed end below the water level and the open end above the water level;
• providing a pressure transducer, the pressure transducer having a reference pressure port;
• coupling an electrical cable to the pressure transducer for transmission of electrical signals representing readings from the transducer;
• coupling a tube coupled to the reference pressure port of the pressure transducer;
• placing the pressure transducer in the casing, with the electrical cable extending from the pressure transducer to above ground surface via the open end, and with the tube being vented between the open end and closed end, and above the water level;
• and
• sealing the open end while permitting the electrical cable to pass through the open end, wherein sealing the open end comprises passing the cable through a threaded cap, and threading the cap with the threaded casing to seal the open end of the casing.

A method of measuring a parameter in a groundwater well from above ground surface, substantially free from effects of changes in atmospheric pressure, the method comprising:

• providing a hollow elongated casing having an open end and a closed end, and a wall extending between the open end and the closed end, the wall being screened between the open end and the closed end for entry of liquid from the well into the casing;
• placing the casing closed end first into a well having a water level, with the closed end below the water level and the open end above the water level;
• providing a pressure transducer, the pressure transducer having a reference pressure port;
• coupling an electrical cable to the pressure transducer for transmission of electrical signals representing readings from the transducer;
• coupling a tube coupled to the reference pressure port of the pressure transducer;
• placing the pressure transducer in the casing, with the electrical cable extending from the pressure transducer to above the ground surface via the open end, and with the tube being vented between the open end and closed end, and above the water level;
• and
• sealing the open end while permitting the electrical cable to pass through the open end, wherein sealing the open end comprises employing a threaded piece, and passing the cable through the threaded piece.

A method of measuring a parameter in a groundwater well from above ground surface, substantially free from effects of changes in atmospheric pressure, the method comprising:

• providing a hollow elongated casing having an open end and a closed end, and a wall extending between the open end and the closed end, the wall being screened between the open end and the closed end for entry of liquid from the well into the casing;
• placing the casing closed end first into a well having a water level, with the closed end below the water level and the open end above the water level;
• providing a pressure transducer, the pressure transducer having a reference pressure port;
• coupling an electrical cable to the pressure transducer for transmission of electrical signals representing readings from the transducer;
• coupling a tube coupled to the reference pressure port of the pressure transducer;
• placing the pressure transducer in the casing, with the electrical cable extending from the pressure transducer to above the ground surface via the open end, and with the tube being vented between the open end and closed end, and above the water level;
• and
• sealing the open end while permitting the electrical cable to pass through the open end, wherein sealing the open end comprises inflating an inflatable packer in the casing.

A method of measuring a parameter in a groundwater well from above ground surface, substantially free from effects of changes in atmospheric pressure, the method comprising:

• providing a hollow elongated casing having an open end and a closed end, and a wall extending between the open end and the closed end, the wall being screened between the open end and the closed end for entry of liquid from the well into the casing;
• placing the casing closed end first into a well having a water level, with the closed end below the water level and the open end above the water level;
• providing a pressure transducer, the pressure transducer having a reference pressure port;
• coupling an electrical cable to the pressure transducer for transmission of electrical signals representing readings from the transducer;
• coupling a tube coupled to the reference pressure port of the pressure transducer;
• placing the pressure transducer in the casing, with the electrical cable extending from the pressure transducer to above the ground surface via the open end, and with the tube being vented between the open end and closed end, and above the water level;
• and
• sealing the open end while permitting the electrical cable to pass through the open end, wherein sealing the open end comprises placing a seal on the open end, and compressing the seal with a weighted piece.

A method of measuring a parameter in a groundwater well from above ground surface, substantially free from effects of changes in atmospheric pressure, the method comprising:

• providing a hollow elongated casing having an open end and a closed end, and a wall extending between the open end and the closed end, the wall being screened between the open end and the closed end for entry of liquid from the well into the casing, wherein providing the casing comprises providing a casing that is threaded proximate the open end;
• placing the casing closed end first into a well having a water level, with the closed end below the water level and the open end above the water level;
• providing a pressure transducer, the pressure transducer having a reference pressure port;
• coupling an electrical cable to the pressure transducer for transmission of electrical signals representing readings from the transducer;
• coupling a tube coupled to the reference pressure port of the pressure transducer;
• placing the pressure transducer in the casing, with the electrical cable extending from the pressure transducer to above ground surface via the open end, and with the tube being vented between the open end and closed end, and above the water level;
• and
• sealing the open end while permitting the electrical cable to pass through the open end, wherein sealing the open end comprises threading the cap with the threaded casing to seal the open end of the casing.

A method of measuring a parameter in a groundwater well from above ground surface, substantially free from effects of changes in atmospheric pressure, the method comprising:

• providing a hollow elongated casing having an open end and a closed end, and a wall extending between the open end and the closed end, the wall being screened between the open end and the closed end for entry of liquid from the well into the casing;
• placing the casing closed end first into a well having a water level, with the closed end below the water level and the open end above the water level;
• providing a pressure transducer the pressure transducer having a reference pressure port;
• coupling an electrical cable to the pressure transducer for transmission of electrical signals representing readings from the transducer;
• coupling a tube coupled to the reference pressure port of the pressure transducer;
• placing the pressure transducer in the casing, with the electrical cable extending from the pressure transducer to above the ground surface via the open end, and with the tube being vented between the open end and closed end, and above the water level;
• and
• sealing the open end while permitting the electrical cable to pass through the open end, wherein sealing the open end comprises employing a threaded piece.

A method of measuring a parameter in a groundwater well from above ground surface, substantially free from effects of changes in atmospheric pressure, the method comprising:

• providing a hollow elongated casing having an open end and a closed end, and a wall extending between the open end and the closed end, the wall being screened between the open end and the closed end for entry of liquid from the well into the casing;
• placing the casing closed end first into a well having a water level, with the closed end below the water level and the open end above the water level, and wherein geologic material surrounds the casing and includes geologic material above the water level, and wherein the tube is vented outside the casing into the geologic material above the water level;
• providing a pressure transducer, the pressure transducer having a reference pressure port;
• coupling an electrical cable to the pressure transducer for transmission of electrical signals representing readings from the transducer;
• coupling a tube coupled to the reference pressure port of the pressure transducer;
• placing the pressure transducer in the casing, with the electrical cable extending from the pressure transducer to above the ground surface via the open end, and with the tube being vented between the open end and closed end, and above the water level;
• and sealing the open end while permitting the electrical cable to pass through the open end.

A system of measuring a parameter in a well, the system comprising:

• a casing having first and second opposite ends, and a length between the ends and being configured to be placed lengthwise into a well second end first;
• a transducer supported by the casing, and wherein the transducer comprises a pressure transducer having a reference port which is vented in the well;
• and
• a sealing member sealing the first end, and wherein geologic material surrounds the casing, and wherein the well has a water table and the casing extends partially below the water table, and wherein the reference port is vented to the geologic material above the water table.

A method of measuring a parameter in a well, the method comprising:

• providing a casing having first and second opposite ends, and a length between the ends, the casing supporting a transducer having a reference port;
• placing the casing lengthwise into the well, second end first, with the reference port vented in the well;
• and
• sealing the first end.

A system for measuring a parameter in a groundwater well from above ground surface, substantially free from effects of changes in atmospheric pressure, the system comprising:

• a hollow elongated casing having an open end, and a closed end, and being configured to be placed closed end first into a well having a water level, with the closed end below the water level and the open end above the water level, the casing having a wall extending between the open end and the closed end, the wall including perforations between the open end and the closed end for entry of water from the well into the casing, the casing being threaded proximate the open end, and the sealing member including a threaded cap configured to seal the open end of the casing;
• a pressure transducer in the casing, the pressure transducer having a reference pressure port;
• an electrical cable coupled to the pressure transducer and configured to transmit pressure readings, the electrical cable extending from the pressure transducer to above the ground surface via the open end;
• a tube coupled to the reference pressure port of the pressure transducer, the tube being vented above the water level in the casing;
• and
• a sealing member sealing the open end while permitting the electrical cable to pass through the open end.

A system for measuring the natural level of a water table below the ground surface at a specific location and measuring the natural subterranean air pressure near the water table at the same specific location, the water table having a naturally occurring maximum level and a naturally occurring minimum level, and wherein both the maximum and minimum levels occur within a specific time period during which the natural level of the water table is measured, the measured level of the water table and the subterranean air pressure being free from the effects of any artificially created pressure conditions or naturally occurring variations in local above-ground atmospheric pressure conditions, the system comprising:

• a hollow elongated casing which defines a cavity, the casing having a sealable open end and a closed end, the casing having a wall which defines the cavity, the wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the wall extending between the sealable open end and the closed end, and which defines a plurality of the wall passages allowing for the migration of both air and water through the wall, and wherein the casing is placed into the ground with the closed end below the naturally occurring minimum level of the water table and with the sealable open end above the naturally occurring maximum level of the water table and whereby the passages are positioned such that the passages closest to the sealable open end are slightly above the naturally occurring maximum level of the water table and the passages closest to the closed end are below the naturally occurring minimum level of the water table, and wherein the exterior surface of the wall below the ground surface is sealed from exposure to above-ground atmospheric pressure;
• at least one pressure transducer inside the casing, the pressure transducer having a reference pressure port;
• an electrical cable coupled to each pressure transducer and configured to transmit pressure readings from the pressure transducer, the electrical cable extending from the pressure transducer to above the ground surface by way of the sealable open end;
• a tube coupled to each reference pressure port, each tube being vented either above the naturally occurring maximum level of the water table inside the casing, to the local above-ground atmospheric pressure, or to a known reference pressure;
• and
• a removable sealing member sealingly engaging the sealable open end and which further permits the electrical cable to sealingly pass through the removable sealing member.

A method of measuring the natural level of a water table below the ground surface at a specific location and measuring the natural subterranean air pressure in the geologic material near the surface of the water table at a specific location, the water table having a naturally occurring maximum level and a naturally occurring minimum level and wherein both the maximum and minimum levels occur within a specific time period during which the natural level of the water table is measured, the measured level of the water table and the subterranean air pressure being free from the effects of any artificially created pressure conditions or naturally occurring variations in local above-ground atmospheric pressure conditions, the method comprising:

• defining an elongated vertical subterranean cavity whereby the lower end of the cavity is below the naturally occurring minimum level of the water table and the upper end of the cavity is above the naturally occurring maximum level of the water table, and wherein the cavity is sealed to prevent the influence of the above-ground atmospheric pressure, and wherein water accumulates in the cavity from the water table and reaches a level within the cavity that substantially equals the natural level of the water table, and wherein air in the cavity above the water level in the cavity reaches a pressure equal to the natural subterranean air pressure in the geologic material near the surface of the water table;
• and
• sensing the pressure of the air in the cavity with respect to a known pressure and sensing the level of the water in the cavity with respect to a known position on the ground surface.