Flexible liner system for borehole instrumentation and sampling
OwnerCarl E. Kellerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible liner system provides for instrumentation and sampling within a cavity. An elongated flexible liner effectively contacts wall portions of the cavity when inflated within the cavity and has a top and a bottom and has perforations open to the cavity wall portions at selected locations along the liner. At least one sleeve is sealed to the flexible liner and extends from the top portion of the liner to a perforation at one of the selected locations along the liner to define a sealed interior open to a cavity wall portion. A well casing may be place within the sleeve for fluid sampling or for emplacing instrumentation adjacent the perforations in the flexible liner.
Claims10
A flexible liner system for instrumentation and sampling within a cavity, comprising:
- an elongated flexible liner effective for contacting wall portions of the cavity when inflated within the cavity, having a top and a bottom and having perforations open to the cavity wall portions at selected locations along the liner;
- and
- at least one sleeve sealed to the flexible liner and extending from the top portion of the liner to a perforation at one of the selected locations along the liner to define a sealed interior open to a cavity wall portion.
A method for installing instrumentation and sampling devices in a cavity, comprising the steps of:
- furnishing a flexible liner having a top portion and a bottom portion and having perforations at selected locations along the liner, and having sleeve members sealed to the flexible liner at each of the perforations to define a sealed interior extending from the adjacent perforation to the top portion of the liner;
- placing the flexible liner within the cavity and pressurizing the flexible liner into contact with wall portions of the cavity;
- pressurizing the sealed interior of selected sleeve members to equilibrate with pressure in the flexible liner;
- and
- inserting a well casing within each pressurized sleeve member to emplace instrumentation or a sampling device adjacent a corresponding perforation;
- and
- depressurizing the selected sleeve members to capture the well casing therewithin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.