Method and apparatus for selecting a sand pack mesh for a filter pack and a well casing slot size for a well

• US 6,317,694 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Farrar, Jeffrey A., Kram, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., Donald E.
• Application Number:
  US09/645,562
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 702/11, 702/12, 702/9, 702/7, 702/6, 731/521.9, 731/522.8
• US Class Current: 702/11
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/00 Reclamation of contaminated soil
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/082 Screens comprising porous materials, e.g. prepacked screens
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/00 Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/006 Measuring wall stresses in the borehole

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selecting a filter pack and a well casing slot size for a well which uses soil classification data derived from cone penetrometer test. A user of the method and apparatus utilizes a piezocone or other soil classification sensors to measure soil properties in an area of contaminated soil or non-contaminated soil and then determine the soil type at specific depths within the soil. A multisensor probe generates a laser induced fluorescence intensity plot of the area of soil contamination which is superimposed on a soil boring log identifying the soil type at specific depths within the soil. The soil type for the area of contaminated soil is identified from the load cell data. Contamination within the soil is identified using the laser induced fluorescence intensity plot.

Claims

1. A system for selecting a filter pack and a well casing slot size for a well comprising:

probe means for measuring soil parameters within a soil having contaminants residing therein and providing electrical signals representative of said soil parameters;

computing means for receiving said electrical signals, said computing means processing said electrical signals to provide a soil boring log identifying a soil type at each of a plurality of depths of penetration of said probe within said soil;

said computing means processing said electrical signals to provide a plot of an area of said soil wherein said contaminants reside within said soil;

said computing means overlaying said plot on said soil boring log to allow for an identification of the soil type containing the area of said soil having said contaminants residing therein; and

lookup table means for selecting said filter pack and said well casing slot size for said well when said soil type for the area of said soil having said contaminants is identified.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said probe means comprises a multisensor probe.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said computing means comprises a digital computer.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said plot is a laser induced fluorescence plot resulting from a laser induced fluorescence generated by said probe means.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said lookup table means includes a sand pack mesh for said filter pack having a range of from eight to one hundred with said sand pack mesh for said filter pack being selected when said soil type for the area of said soil having said contaminants is identified.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said lookup table means includes a slot number having a range of from five to eighty which represents said well screen slot size, said slot number being selected when said soil type for the area of said soil having said contaminants is identified.

7. A system for selecting a sand pack mesh for a filter pack and a well casing slot size for a well comprising:

a multisensor probe for measuring soil parameters within a soil having contaminants residing therein and providing electrical signals representative of said soil parameters;

a digital computer connected to said multisensor probe for receiving said electrical signals, said digital computer processing said electrical signals to provide a soil boring log identifying a soil type at each of a plurality of depths of penetration of said probe within said soil;

said digital computer processing said electrical signals to provide a plot of an area of said soil wherein said contaminants reside within said soil;

said digital computer overlaying said plot on said soil boring log to allow for an identification of the soil type containing the area of said soil having said contaminants residing therein;

a monitor connected to said digital computer for providing an image of said plot overlayed on said soil boring log;

a lookup table located in proximity to said monitor for selecting the sand pack mesh for said filter pack and the well casing slot size for said well when said image appears on said monitor and said soil type for the area of said soil having said contaminants is identified by viewing said monitor.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a printer connected to said digital computer for providing a print out of said plot overlayed on said soil boring log.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said sand pack mesh for said filter pack has a range of from eight to one hundred with said sand pack mesh for said filter pack being selected when said soil type for the area of said soil having said contaminants is identified.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein said plot is a laser induced fluorescence plot resulting from a laser induced fluorescence generated by said multisensor probe.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said lookup table means includes a slot number having a range of from five to eighty which represents said well screen slot size, said slot number being selected when said soil type for the area of said soil having said contaminants is identified.

12. A method for selecting a sand pack mesh for a filter pack and well casing slot size for a well comprising the steps of:

a. measuring soil parameters within a soil having contaminants residing therein;

b. providing electrical signals representative of said soil parameters;

c. processing said electrical signals to generate a soil boring log identifying a soil type at each of a plurality of depths of penetration of said probe within said soil and a plot of an area of said soil wherein said contaminants reside within said soil;

d. overlaying said plot on said soil boring log allowing for an identification of the soil type containing the area of said soil having said contaminants residing therein;

e. providing a visual image of said plot overlayed on said soil boring log;

f. selecting from a lookup table the sand pack mesh for said filter pack and the well casing slot size for said well by viewing said visual image to identify said soil type for the area of said soil having said contaminants contained therein.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of generating a laser induced fluorescence within said soil to allow for a measurement and a generation of the plot depicting the area of said soil having said contaminants contained therein.