US Patents No. 6,481,300; No. 6,837,120; others pending

Field Manual© Copyright 2006, GeoInsightIntroduction
The HydraSleeve groundwater sampler can be used to collect a representative sample for mostphysical and chemical parameters without purging the well. It collects a whole water sample
from a user-defined interval (typically within the well screen), without mixing fluid from otherintervals. One or more HydraSleeves are placed within the screened interval of the monitoring
well, and a period of time is allocated for the well to re-equilibrate. Hours to months later,the sealed HydraSleeve can be activated for sample collection. When activated, HydraSleevecollects a sample with no drawdown and minimal agitation or displacement of the watercolumn. Once the sampler is full, the one-way reed valve collapses, preventing mixing ofextraneous, non-representative fluid during recovery.

Assembly
Assembling the HydraSleeve is simple, and can be done by one person in the field, taking only
a minute or two.
RemoveHydraSleevefrom package andgrasp top to “pop”
open.

14

2

5

Fold the twoholes at bottomof HydraSleevetogether and attachweightSqueeze side fins
together at top
to bend reinforcing
strips outward.

Sampler is readyto insert into thewell.

3

Attach line tohole at top ofHydraSleeve.

2Placing the HydraSleeve(s)To collect a representative groundwater sample without purging, the well must be allowed
time to re-equilibrate after placement of the sampler. When any device is lowered into a well,some mixing of the water column occurs. The diameter of the device and its shape greatly
affect the degree of mixing. The flat cross-section of the empty HydraSleeve minimizes the disturbance to the water column as the sampler is lowered into position, reducing the time needed for the well to return to equilibrium.
There are three basic methods for holding a HydraSleeve in position as the well equilibrates.
TOP DOWN DEPLOYMENT (Figure 1)
Measure the correct amount of suspension
line needed to "hang" the top of theHydraSleeve(s) at the desired sampling
depth (in most cases, this will be at the bottom of the sampling zone). The upper endof the tether can be connected to the wellcap to suspend the HydraSleeve at the correct depth until activated for sampling.

Figure 1

Top of well screen

Suspend HydraSleeveat correct depth from
top of well by accurately measuring thetether length.

Note: For deep settings, it may be difficult
to accurately measure long segments of suspension line in the field. Factory prepared,
custom suspension line and attachment
points can be provided.

BOTTOM DEPLOYMENT (Figure 2)
Sound the well to determine the exact
depth. Lower the weighted HydraSleeve
into the well and let it touch the bottom.
Very slowly (less than 1/2 foot per second)raise the sampler to the point where thecheck valve is at the depth the sample is tobe collected. Attach the suspension line to
the top of the well to suspend it at thisdepth. (It is often easier to measure a few
feet from the bottom of the well up to thesample point, than it is to measure manyfeet from the top of the well down.)

Figure 2

Top of well screen∆

Sample depth
1. (Left) Lower HydraSleeve
to bottom of well and:∆2. (Right) Slowly (< 1/2 fps) pull
up to desired sample depth.
Suspend HydraSleeve while wellequilibrates. Collect sample.
Alternately,
3. Let HydraSleeve rest on thebottom until well equilibrates,
then slowly pull into position
and begin sampling.

∆Alternately, the sampler can be left on thebottom until the well re-equilibrates. For
sampling, it can be very slowly pulled(< 1/2 fps) to sampling depth, then activated(see “Sample Collection,” p. 6) to collect thesample, and retrieved to the surface.

3

BOTTOM ANCHOR (Figure 3)

Figure 3

Determine the exact depth of the well.
Calculate the distance from the bottom of
the well to the desired sampling depth.
Attach an appropriate length anchor line
between the weight and the bottom of thesampler and lower the assembly until theweight rests on the bottom of the well,allowing the top of the sampler to float at
the correct sampling depth.

Top of well screen

Anchor line

4Multiple Interval Deployment
There are two basic methods for placing multiple HydraSleeves in a well to collect samples
from different levels simultaneously.

ATTACHED TO A SINGLE TETHER (Figure 4)

Figure 4

To use 3 or more samplers simultaneously,
we recommend attaching them all to atether for support to prevent the sampling
string from pulling apart. The weight is
attached to a single length of suspension
line and allowed to rest on the bottom of
the well. The top and bottom of eachHydraSleeve are attached to the tether atthe desired sample intervals. Cable tie orstainless steel clips (supplied) work well for
attaching the HydraSleeves to the line.
Simply push one end of the clip between
strands of the rope at the desired pointbefore attaching the clip to theHydraSleeve.

Top of well screen

Separate HydraSleevesto the desired spacing
by measuring along
the tether whenattaching samplers.

ATTACHED END TO END (Figure 5)
Figure 5

To place 2 or 3 stacked HydraSleeves forvertical profiling, use one of the methods
described above to locate the bottomsampler. Attach the bottom of the top
sampler to the top of the following
HydraSleeve(s) with a carefully measured
length of suspension cable. Connect theweight to the bottom sampler. Note: ifmany HydraSleeves are attached to a tether,more weight may be required than with asingle sampler.

Top of well screen

Separate HydraSleevesto the desired spacing
by measuring tether
between samplers.

5Sample Collection
The HydraSleeve must move upward at a rate of one foot per second or faster (about thespeed a bailer is usually pulled upward) for water to pass through the check valve into thesample sleeve. The total upward distance the check valve must travel to fill the sample sleeve
is about 1 to 2 times the length of the sampler. For example, a 24-inch HydraSleeve needs a
total upward movement of 24 to no more than 48 inches to fill. The upward motion can beaccomplished using one long continuous pull, several short strokes, or any combination thatmoves the check valve the required distance in the open position. A special technique is used
for sampling low-yield wells.

CONTINUOUS PULL (Figure 6)

Figure 6

Pull the HydraSleeve continuously upwardfrom its starting point at a constant 1 to 2
feet per second until full. This method usually provides the least turbid samples and isanalogous to coring the water column fromthe bottom up.

Sampler full

Pull the HydraSleeve
continuously upwardfrom its starting point
at a constant 1-2 fps.
The sleeve will fillwhen pulled up
approx. 1 to 2 times
its length.

Note: When using this method, the screeninterval should be long enough so the sampler
fills before exiting the top of the screen.

Top of well screen

Sample interval

SHORT STROKES (Figure 7)
Figure 7

Pull the sampler upward at about 1 to 2
feet per second for the length of the sampler and let it drop back to the starting
point. Repeat the cycle 3 to 5 times.

Top point of cycle

Pull the HydraSleeveup the length of thesampler at 1-2 fps andallow to drop back tothe starting point.
Repeat cycle 3 to 5
times to fill sleeve.

This method provides a shorter samplinginterval than the continuous pull method(above), and usually reduces the turbidity
levels of the sample below that of numerous rapid, short cycles (below). The sample
comes from between the top of the cycle
and the bottom of the sampler at its lowest
point.

Bottom point of cycle

6Top of well screen

Sample interval

RAPID, SHORT CYCLES (Figure 8)
Figure 8
Cycle the HydraSleeve up and down using
rapid, short strokes (6-inch cycle at a minimum of 1 cycle per second) 5 to 8 times.
This method provides the shortest samplinginterval. Dye studies have shown that whenusing this method the sample flows into thecheck valve from along the length of thesampler and immediately above the checkvalve. The sample interval is from the bottom the sampler at its lowest point in thecycle to the top of the check valve at thepeak of the cycle.

Top of well screen
Rapidly cycle sampler
up and down approx.
6 inches.

Top point of cycle

Sample interval

Bottom point of cycle

SAMPLING LOW-YIELD WELLS (Figure 9)
Figure 9
HydraSleeve provides the best available
technology for sampling low yield wells.
When pulled upward after the well re-equilibrates, the HydraSleeve will collect a watercore from the top of the sampler to about its
own length above that point. The sample iscollected with no drawdown in the well andminimal sample agitation. An optional top
weight can be attached to compress thesampler in the bottom of the well if needed
for an extremely short water column. Witha top weight, the check valve is pushed
down to within a foot of the bottom of thewell.

Sampler full

Pull the HydraSleeve
continuously upwardfrom the starting point
at a constant speed

Top weight7

Top of well screen

Sample intervalSample Discharge
The best way to remove a sample from the HydraSleeve with the least amount of aeration andagitation is with the short plastic discharge tube (included).
First, squeeze the full sampler just below
the top to expel water resting above
the flexible check valve. (Photo 1, top left)
Then, push the pointed discharge tube
through the outer polyethylene sleeve about
3-4 inches below the white reinforcing strips.
(Photo 2, middle left)
1

2

Discharge the sample into the desired container. (Photo 3, bottom left)
Raising and lowering the bottom of thesampler or pinching the sample sleeve justbelow the discharge tube will control theflow of the sample. The sample sleeve canalso be squeezed, forcing fluid up throughthe discharge tube, similar to squeezing atube of toothpaste. With a little practice,and using a flat surface to set the sample
containers on, HydraSleeve sampling
becomes a one-person operation.

31680 Hickory Loop, Suite B • Las Cruces, NM 88005
Phone: 1.800.996.2225 • 1.505.523.5799 • Fax: 1.505.523.0789
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