Patent ID: 7178391
Filing Date: 2007-02-20
Classification: E21B,F16L

Abstract:
1. A method of placing a lysimeter into a media without drilling, the method comprising: providing a probe, instrumented with a lysimeter, which is to be driven into a media, the instrumented probe having a tip portion and a drive portion; providing a plurality of probe casings, respective probe casing having male and female threaded ends, the male threaded end of a first probe casing being configured to selectively couple with the female threaded end of a second probe casing at a casing joint to form an insertion tube; providing at least one seal at the casing joint where the male threaded end of the first probe casing and the female threaded end of the second probe casing are to be selectively coupled and providing bearing surfaces in the male threaded end of the first probe casing and female threaded end of the second probe casing configured to isolate the seal from insertion compression loads and joint locking loads, the male threaded end including a thread in the general shape of a box thread and having an outer cylindrical surface, and an inner cylindrical surface, the female threaded end having a complementary female thread, the female threaded end having a tip, wherein the male threaded end of the first probe casing has a threaded portion having an exterior diameter and has a non-threaded portion with an exterior diameter greater than the diameter of the threaded portion, wherein when the male threaded end of the first probe casing is fully engaged with the female threaded end of the second probe casing, a gap exists between the non-threaded portion of the male threaded end and the tip of the female threaded end; turning the first and second probe casings relative to each other not more than four turns to selectively couple the male threaded end of the first probe casing with the female threaded end of the second probe casing to form the insertion tube; and installing the probe using at least one of direct push and sonic drilling.