GeoInsight HydraSleeve Standard Operating Procedure - User Manual

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Standard Operating Procedure:

Sampling Groundwater with a HydraSleeve

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

This guide should be used in addition to field manuals and instructions appropriate to the
chosen sampling device (i.e., HydraSleeve, SpeedBag or Super/Skinny Sleeve and W3
HybridSleeve).

Find the appropriate field manual and instructions on the HydraSleeve website at http://
www.hydrasleeve.com.

For more information about the HydraSleeve, or if you have questions, contact:
GeoInsight, P.O. Box 1266, Mesilla Park, NM 88047
800-996-2225, info@hydrasleeve.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1

Applications of the HydraSleeve .......................................................................................................... 1

Description of the HydraSleeve ........................................................................................................... 3

Selecting the HydraSleeve Size to Meet Site-Specific Sampling Objectives................................... 4

HydraSleeve Deployment ..................................................................................................................... 5

Information Required Before Deploying a HydraSleeve ............................................................. 5

HydraSleeve Placement ............................................................................................................... 6

Procedures for Sampling with the HydraSleeve .................................................................................. 8

Measurement of Field Indicator Parameters .................................................................................. 11

Alternate Deployment Strategies ............................................................................................... 11

Post-Sampling Activities ..................................................................................................................... 14

References ..................................................................................................................................... 15

Standard Operating Procedure: Sampling Groundwater with the HydraSleeve (patents: 6,481,300; 6,837,120)

Introduction

The HydraSleeve is classified as a no-purge (passive) grab sampling device, meaning that it is
used to collect groundwater samples directly from the screened interval of a well without having
to purge the well prior to sample collection. When it is used as described in this Standard
Operating Procedure (SOP), the HydraSleeve causes no drawdown in the well (until the sample
is withdrawn from the water column) and only minimal disturbance of the water column,
because it has a very thin cross section and it displaces very little water (<100 ml) during
deployment in the well. The HydraSleeve collects a sample from within the screen only. It
excludes water from any other part of the water column in the well through the use of a self-
sealing check valve at the top of the sampler. It is a single-use (disposable) sampler that is not
intended for reuse, so there are no decontamination requirements for the sampler itself.

The use of no-purge sampling as a means of collecting representative groundwater samples
depends on the natural movement of groundwater (under ambient hydraulic head) from the
formation adjacent to the well screen through the screen.  Robin and Gillham (1987)
demonstrated the existence of a dynamic equilibrium between the water in a formation and the
water in a well screen installed in that formation, which results in formation-quality water
being available in the well screen for sampling at all times.  No-purge sampling devices like
the HydraSleeve collect this formation-quality water as the sample, under undisturbed (non-
pumping) natural flow conditions.  Samples collected in this manner generally provide more
conservative (i.e., higher concentration) values than samples collected using well-volume
purging, and values equivalent to samples collected using low-flow purging and sampling
(Parsons, 2005).

Applications of the HydraSleeve

The HydraSleeve can be used to collect representative samples of groundwater for all analytes
(volatile organic compounds [VOCs], semi-volatile organic compounds [SVOCs], common
metals, trace metals, major cations and anions, dissolved gases, total dissolved solids,
radionuclides, pesticides, PCBs, explosive compounds, and all other analytical parameters).
Designs are available to collect samples from wells from 1” inside diameter and larger. The
HydraSleeve can collect samples from wells of any yield, but it is especially well-suited to
collecting samples from low-yield wells, where other sampling methods can’t be used reliably
because their use results in dewatering of the well screen and alteration of sample chemistry
(McAlary and Barker, 1987).

The HydraSleeve can collect samples from wells of any depth, and it can be used for single-
event sampling or long-term groundwater monitoring programs. Because of its thin cross
section and flexible construction, it can be used in narrow, constricted or damaged wells where
rigid sampling devices may not fit. Using multiple HydraSleeves deployed in series along a
single suspension line or tether, it is also possible to conduct in-well vertical profiling in wells
in which contaminant concentrations are thought to be stratified.

Standard Operating Procedure: Sampling Groundwater with the HydraSleeve (patents: 6,481,300; 6,837,120)

As with all groundwater sampling devices, HydraSleeves should not be used to collect
groundwater samples from wells in which separate (non-aqueous) phase hydrocarbons (i.e.,
gasoline, diesel fuel or jet fuel) are present because of the possibility of incorporating some of
the separate-phase hydrocarbon into the sample.

Standard Operating Procedure: Sampling Groundwater with the HydraSleeve (patents: 6,481,300; 6,837,120)

Description of the HydraSleeve

The basic HydraSleeve (Figure 1) consists of the following components*:

•

A suspension line or tether (A.), attached to the spring clip or
directly to the top of the sleeve to deploy the device into and
recover the device from the well. Tethers with depth
indicators marked in 1-foot intervals are available from the
manufacturer.

•

A long, flexible, 4-mil thick lay-flat polyethylene sample
sleeve (C.) sealed at the bottom (this is the sample chamber),
which comes in different sizes, as discussed below with a
self-sealing reed-type flexible polyethylene check valve built
into the top of the sleeve (B.) to prevent water from entering
or exiting the sampler except during sample acquisition.

•

A reusable stainless-steel weight with clip (D.), which is
attached to the bottom of the sleeve to carry it down the well
to its intended depth in the water column. Bottom weights
available from the manufacturer are 0.75” OD and are
available in a variety of sizes. An optional top weight may be
attached to the top of the HydraSleeve to carry it to depth and
to compress it at the bottom of the well (not shown in
Figure 1);

•

A discharge tube that is used to puncture the HydraSleeve
after it is recovered from the well so the sample can be
decanted into sample bottles (not shown).

•

Just above the self-sealing check valve at the top of the
sleeve are two holes which provide attachment points for the
spring clip and/or suspension line or tether. At the bottom of
the sample sleeve are two holes which provide attachment
points for the weight clip and weight.

Other configurations such as top weighted assemblies, Super/SkinnySleeves, Speedbags, and W3

Hybrids are available.

Note:

The sample sleeve and the discharge tube are designed for one-time use and are

disposable. The spring clip, weight and weight clip may be reused after thorough cleaning.
Suspension cord is generally disposed after one use although, if it is dedicated to the well, it
may be reused at the discretion of the sampling personnel.

Standard Operating Procedure: Sampling Groundwater with the HydraSleeve (patents: 6,481,300; 6,837,120)

Selecting the HydraSleeve Size to Meet Site-Specific Sampling Objectives

It is important to understand that each HydraSleeve is able to collect a finite volume of sample
because, after the HydraSleeve is deployed, you only get one chance to collect an undisturbed
sample. Thus, the volume of sample required to meet your site-specific sampling and analytical
requirements will dictate the size of HydraSleeve you need to meet these requirements.

Table 1. Dimensions and Volumes of HydraSleeve Models

Diameter

Volume

Length

Lay-Flat Width

Filled Dia.

2-Inch HydraSleeves

Standard 600 mls HydraSleeve

Standard 1-liter HydraSleeve

Super/SkinnySleeve 1-liter

Super/SkinnySleeve 1.5-liter

Super/SkinnySleeve 2-liter

~600mls

30”

2.5”

1.4”

~1 Liter

38”

3”

1.9”

~1 Liter

38”

2.5"

1.5”*

~1.5 Liters

52”

2.5”

1.5”*

2 Liters

66"

2.5"

1.5"*

4-Inch HydraSleeves

Standard 2.5 liter

~2 Liters

38”

4”

2.7”

* o

utside diameter on the Heavy Duty Universal Super/SkinnySleeves is 1.5" however

when using with schedule 40 hardware the O.D. of the assembly will be 1.9"

It's also recommended that you size the diameter of the HydraSleeve according to the
diameter of the well (i.e. use 2-inch HydraSleeves in 2-inch wells). Using smaller sleeves in
larger diameter wells (i.e. 2-inch HydraSleeves in 4-inch wells) will result in a longer fill
rate and will require special retrieval instructions (explained later).

The volume of sample collected by the HydraSleeve varies with the diameter and length of the

HydraSleeve. Dimensions and volumes of available HydraSleeve models are detailed in Table 1.

HydraSleeves can be custom-fabricated by GeoInsight in varying diameters and lengths to
meet specific volume requirements. HydraSleeves can also be deployed in series (i.e., multiple
HydraSleeves attached to one tether) to collect additional sample to meet specific volume
requirements, as described below.

If you have questions regarding the availability of sufficient volume of sample to satisfy laboratory
requirements for analysis, it is recommended that you contact the laboratory to discuss the minimum
volumes needed for each suite of analytes. Laboratories often require only 10% to 25% of the volume
they specify to complete analysis for specific suites of analytes, so they can often work with much
smaller sample volumes that can easily be supplied using a HydraSleeve.

Standard Operating Procedure: Sampling Groundwater with the HydraSleeve (patents: 6,481,300; 6,837,120)

HydraSleeve Deployment

Information Required Before Deploying a HydraSleeve

Before installing a HydraSleeve in any well, you will need to know the following:

•

The inside diameter of the well

•

The length of the well screen

•

The water level in the well

•

The position of the well screen in the well

•

The total depth of the well

The inside diameter of the well is used to determine the appropriate HydraSleeve diameter for
use in the well. The other information is used to determine the proper placement of the
HydraSleeve in the well to collect a representative sample from the screen (see HydraSleeve
Placement, below), and to determine the appropriate length of tether to attach to the HydraSleeve
to deploy it at the appropriate position in the well.

Most of this information (with the exception of the water level) should be available from the well
log; if not, it will have to be collected by some other means.  The inside diameter of the well can
be measured at the top of the well casing, and the total depth of the well can be measured by
sounding the bottom of the well with a weighted tape.  The position and length of the well screen
may have to be determined using a down-hole camera if a well log is not available.  The water
level in the well can be measured using any commonly available water-level gauge.

Standard Operating Procedure: Sampling Groundwater with the HydraSleeve (patents: 6,481,300; 6,837,120)

HydraSleeve Placement

The HydraSleeve is designed to collect a sample directly from the well screen. It fills by pulling it up
through the screen a distance equivalent to the length of the sampler when correctly sized to the well
diameter. This upward motion causes the top check valve to open, which allows the device to fill. To
optimize sample recovery, it is recommended that the HydraSleeve be placed in the well so that the bottom
weight rests on the bottom of the well and the top of the HydraSleeve is as close to the bottom of the well
screen as possible. This should allow the sampler to fill before the top of the device reaches the top of the
screen as it is pulled up through the water column, and ensure that only water from the screen is collected
as the sample. In short-screen wells, or wells with a short water column, it may be necessary to use a top-
weight on the HydraSleeve to compress it in the bottom of the well so that, when it is recovered, it has room
to fill before it reaches the top of the screen.

Example

2” ID PVC well, 50’ total depth, 10’ screen at the bottom of the well, with water level above
the screen (the entire screen contains water).

Correct Placement (figure 2):

Using a

standard HydraSleeve for a 2” well
(2.

” flat width/1.5” filled OD x 30”

long, 600 ml volume), deploy  the
sampler so the weight (a 5 oz., 2.5”
long weight with a 2” long clip) rests at
the bottom of the well.   The top of the
sleeve is thus set at ~34” above the
bottom  of  the  well.  When  the  sampler
is recovered, it will be pulled upward
approximately 30” before it is filled;
therefore, it is full (and the top check
valve closes) at approximately 64” (5.3
feet) above the bottom of the well,
which is well before the sampler
reaches the top of the screen.   In this
example, only  water from the screen  is
collected as a sample.

Figure 2. Correct Placement of HydraSleeve

Standard Operating Procedure: Sampling Groundwater with the HydraSleeve (patents: 6,481,300; 6,837,120)

This example illustrates one of many types of HydraSleeve placements. More complex
placements are discussed in a later section.

NOTE: Using smaller diameter HydraSleeves (2-inch) in larger diameter wells (4-inch) causes a

slower fill rate. Special retrieval methods are necessary if this is your set up (shown later in this

document).

Incorrect Placement (figure 3):

If the well

screen in this example was only 5’ long, and the
HydraSleeve was placed as above, it would not
fill before the top of the device reached the top
of the well screen, so the sample would include
water from above the screen, which may not
have the same chemistry.

The solution?

Deploy the HydraSleeve

with a top weight, so that it is collapsed
to within 6”of the bottom of the well.
When  the  HydraSleeve  is  recovered,  it
will fill within 36” (3 feet) from the
bottom of the well, or 2-feet before the
sampler reaches the top of  the screen, so
it collects only water from the screen as
the  sample.

Figure 3. Incorrect placement of HydraSleeve.

Standard Operating Procedure: Sampling Groundwater with the HydraSleeve (patents: 6,481,300; 6,837,120)

Procedures for Sampling with the HydraSleeve

Collecting a groundwater sample with a HydraSleeve is usually a simple one-person operation.

Assembling the Basic HydraSleeve*

1. Remove the HydraSleeve from its packaging, unfold it, and hold it by its top.

2. Crimp the top of the HydraSleeve by folding the hard polyethylene reinforcing strips at

the holes.

3. Attach the spring clip to the holes to ensure that the top will remain open until the

sampler is retrieved.

4. Attach the tether to the spring clip by tying a knot in the tether.

Fold the flaps with the two holes at the bottom of the HydraSleeve together to align
the holes and slide the weight clip through the holes.

6. Attach a weight to the bottom of the weight clip to ensure that the HydraSleeve will

descend to the bottom of the well.

*See Super/SkinnySleeve assembly manual and HydraSleeve Field Manual for other assembly
instructions.

Note: Alternatively, if spring clips are not being utilized, attach the tether to one

(NOT both) of the holes at the top of the Hydrasleeve by tying a knot in the tether.

Note:

Always wear sterile gloves when handling and discharging the HydraSleeve.

Note:

Before deploying the HydraSleeve in the well, collect the depth-to-water

measurement that you will use to determine the preferred position of the HydraSleeve in
the well. This measurement may also be used with measurements from other wells to
create a groundwater contour map. If necessary, also measure the depth to the bottom of
the well to verify actual well depth to confirm your decision on placement of the
HydraSleeve in the water column.

Measure the correct amount of tether needed to suspend the HydraSleeve in the well so that
the weight will rest on the bottom of the well (or at your preferred position in the well).
Make sure to account for the need to leave a few feet of tether at the top of the well to
allow recovery of the sleeve.

Standard Operating Procedure: Sampling Groundwater with the HydraSleeve (patents: 6,481,300; 6,837,120)

II. Deploying the HydraSleeve

1. Using the tether, carefully lower the HydraSleeve to the bottom of the well, or to your

preferred depth in the water column

During installation, hydrostatic pressure in the water column will keep the self-sealing
check valve at the top of the HydraSleeve closed, and ensure that it retains its flat, empty
profile for an indefinite period prior to recovery.

2. Secure the tether at the top of the well by placing the well cap on the top of the well

casing and over the tether.

III. Equilibrating the Well

The equilibration time is the time it takes for conditions in the water column (primarily flow
dynamics and contaminant distribution) to restabilize after vertical mixing occurs (caused by
installation of a sampling device in the well).

•

Situation: The HydraSleeve is deployed for the first time or for only one time in a well

The basic HydraSleeve is very thin in cross section and displaces very little water
(<100 ml) during deployment so, unlike most other sampling devices, it does not
disturb the water column to the point at which long equilibration times are
necessary to ensure recovery of a representative sample.

In some cases, like when useing the SpeedBags, the HydraSleeve can be
recovered immediately (with no equilibration time) or within a few hours. In
regulatory jurisdictions that impose specific requirements for equilibration times
prior to recovery of no-purge sampling devices, these requirements should be
followed.

NOTE: If using top weights additional equilibration time is needed to allow the top
weight time to compress the HydraSleeve into the bottom of the well.

•

Situation: The HydraSleeve is being deployed for recovery during a future sampling
event.

In periodic (i.e., quarterly, semi-annual, or annual) sampling programs, the sampler

for the current sampling event can be recovered and a new sampler (for the next

sampling event) deployed immediately thereafter, so the new sampler remains in

the well until the next sampling event.

Note:

Alternatively, you can tie the tether to a hook on the bottom of the well cap (you will

need to leave a few inches of slack in the line to avoid pulling the sampler up as the cap is
removed at the next sampling event).

Note:

Make sure that it is not pulled upward at any time during its descent. If the

HydraSleeve is pulled upward at a rate greater than 0.5’/second at any time prior to recovery,
the top check valve will open and water will enter the HydraSleeve prematurely.

Standard Operating Procedure: Sampling Groundwater with the HydraSleeve (patents: 6,481,300; 6,837,120)

Thus, a long equilibration time is ensured and, at the next sampling event, the
sampler  can  be  recovered  immediately.  This  means  that  separate
mobilizations,  to  deploy  and  then  to  recover  the  sampler,  are  not  required.
HydraSleeves  can  be  left  in  a  well  for  an indefinite  period  of  time  without
concern.

IV. HydraSleeve Recovery and Sample Collection

1. Hold on to the tether while removing the well cap.

2. Secure the tether at the top of the well while maintaining tension on the

tether (but without pulling the tether upwards)

3. Measure the water level in the well.

4. Use one of the following 3 retrieval methods. In all 3 scenarios, when the

HydraSleeve is full, the top check valve will close. You should begin to feel the
weight of the HydraSleeve on the tether and it will begin to displace water. The
closed check valve prevents loss of sample and entry of water from zones above
the well screen as the HydraSleeve is recovered.

5. Continue pulling the tether upward until the HydraSleeve is at the top of the well.

6. Discard the small volume of water trapped in the Hydrasleeve above the check

valve by pinching it off at the top under the stiffeners (above the check valve).

c. SpeedBags require check valve activation and oscillation during recovery:

When retrieving the SpeedBag, pull up hard 1-2 feet to open the check valve;
let the assembly drop back down to the starting point; REPEAT THIS
PROCESS 4 TIMES; and then quickly recover the SpeedBag through the
well sceen to the surface.

b. There are times it is recommended that the HydraSleeve be
oscillated in the screen zone to ensure it is full before leaving the screen
area. Pull up 1-3 feet, let the sleeve assembly drop back down and
repeat 3-5 times before pulling the sleeve to the surface. The collection
zone will be the oscillation zone.

When in doubt use this retrieval

method.

a. In one smooth motion, pull the tether up 30”-60" (the length of the

sampler ) at a rate of about 1foot per second (or faster). The motion will

open the top check valve and allow the HydraSleeve to fill (it should fill in

about 1:1 ratio or the length of the HydraSleeve if the sleeve is sized to fit

the well). This is analogous to coring the water column in the well from

the bottom up.

Standard Operating Procedure: Sampling Groundwater with the HydraSleeve (patents: 6,481,300; 6,837,120)

Sample Discharge

Remove the discharge tube from its sleeve.

Hold the HydraSleeve at the check valve

Puncture the HydraSleeve at least 3-4 inches below the reinforcement strips with the
pointed end of the discharge tube. NOTE: For some contaminants (VOC's/sinkers) the
best location for discharge is the middle to bottom of the sampler. This would be
representative of the deeper portion of the well screen.

Discharge water from the HydraSleeve into your sample containers. Control the

discharge from the HydraSleeve by either raising the bottom of the sleeve, by

squeezing it like a tube of toothpaste, or both.

Continue filling sample containers until all are full.

Measurement of Field Indicator Parameters

Field indicator parameter measurement is generally done during well purging and sampling to
confirm when parameters are stable and sampling can begin. Because no-purge sampling does
not require purging, field indicator parameter measurement is not necessary for the purpose of
confirming when purging is complete.

If field indicator parameter measurement is required to meet a specific non-purging regulatory
requirement, it can be done by taking measurements from water within a HydraSleeve that is not
used for collecting a sample to submit for laboratory analysis (i.e., a second HydraSleeve
installed in conjunction with the primary sample collection HydraSleeve [see Multiple Sampler
Deployment below]).

Alternate Deployment Strategies

Deployment in Wells with Limited Water Columns

For wells in which only a limited water column

needs

to be sampled, the HydraSleeve can be

deployed with an optional top weight in addition to a bottom weight. The top weight will

collapse the HydraSleeve to a very short (approximately 6” to 24”) length, depending on the

length and volume of the sampler. This allows the HydraSleeve to fill in a water column only 3’

to 10’ in height

(again) depending on the sampler size. Note the SuperSleeves accomplish the

same thing but provide greater sample volume at a lower per sample cost

Be sure you have discarded the water sitting above the check valve

–

see step #6 above.

NOTE: Sample collection should be done immediately after the HydraSleeve has been
brought to the surface to preserve sample integrity.

Standard Operating Procedure: Sampling Groundwater with the HydraSleeve (patents: 6,481,300; 6,837,120)

Multiple Sampler Deployment

Multiple sampler deployment in a single well screen can accomplish two purposes:

1. It can collect additional sample volume to satisfy site or laboratory-specific sample

volume requirements.

2. It can be used to collect samples from multiple intervals in the screen to allow

identification of possible contaminant stratification.

Figure 5. Multiple HydraSleeve deployment

Figure

Spring Clip

Cable Tie

Spring Clip

Cable Tie

Spring Clip

Bottom Weight

Standard Operating Procedure: Sampling Groundwater with the HydraSleeve (patents: 6,481,300; 6,837,120)

If there is a need for only 2 samplers, they can be installed as follows. The first sampler can be attached to

the tether as described above, a second attached to the bottom of the first using your desired length of tether

between the two and the weight attached to the bottom of the second sampler (figure 6). This method can

only be used with 2 samplers; 3 or more HydraSleeves in tandem need to be attached as described above.

Figure

. Alternative method for deploying multiple HydraSleeves.

In either case, when attaching multiple HydraSleeves in series, more weight will be required to
hold the samplers in place in the well than would be required with a single sampler. Recovery of
multiple samplers and collection of samples is done in the same manner as for single sampler
deployments.

Srping Clip

Tether

Spring Clip

Bottom Weight

Standard Operating Procedure: Sampling Groundwater with the HydraSleeve (patents: 6,481,300; 6,837,120)

Post-Sampling Activities

The recovered HydraSleeve and the sample discharge tubing should be disposed as per the solid
waste management plan for the site. To prepare for the next sampling event, a new HydraSleeve
can be deployed in the well (as described previously) and left in the well until the next sampling
event, at which time it can be recovered.

The weight and weight clip can be reused on this sampler after they have been thoroughly
cleaned as per the site equipment decontamination plan. The tether may be dedicated to the well
and reused or discarded at the discretion of sampling personnel.

Standard Operating Procedure: Sampling Groundwater with the HydraSleeve (patents: 6,481,300; 6,837,120)

References

McAlary, T. A. and J. F. Barker, 1987, Volatilization Losses of Organics During groundwater
Sampling From Low-Permeability Materials, groundwater Monitoring Review, Vol. 7, No. 4,
pp. 63-68

Parsons, 2005, Results Report for the Demonstration of No-Purge groundwater Sampling
Devices at Former McClellan Air Force Base, California; Contract F44650-99-D-0005,
Delivery Order DKO1, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Omaha District), U.S. Air Force Center
for Environmental Excellence, and U.S. Air Force Real Property Agency

Robin, M. J. L. and R. W. Gillham, 1987, Field Evaluation of Well Purging Procedures,
groundwater Monitoring Review, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 85-93

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