Patent ID: 6178808
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of testing geological materials for hydraulic conductivity comprising the steps of:(a) enclosing a sample geologic material in a cell having fluid impermeable walls, the cell including a first and second opposed orifice separated by the sample geologic material;(b) saturating the sample geologic material with a test fluid;(c) placing a constant pressure difference across the first and second orifices while matching fluid flow of the test fluid passing into the first orifice and out of the second orifice to provide a constant volume of test fluid within the sample geological material, wherein the placing step comprises providing a vertically oriented tube having a constant height and filled with a material of greater specific gravity than the test fluid, the vertical tube being joined at its upper end with a horizontal tube partially filled with the material of greater specific gravity, the free ends of which are attached one each to the first and second orifices, and wherein the weight of the material of greater specific gravity material in the vertical column provides the constant pressure difference; and(d) measuring the rate of fluid flow through one of the first and second orifices to deduce hydraulic conductivity through the geological material.