DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF MULTIPORT SOCK SAMPLERS FOR GROUNDWATER

A new concept of multiport sock samplers for open boreholes (uncased o r screened) is developed and tested. The concept involves displacing t he water column and sealing the borehole with a long, low-pressure pac ker, which can be of modular construction. Samples are brought to the surface by low-flow sampling pumps which can be located inside or outs ide the packer and are connected to individual ports situated at the b orehole wall. Two different styles were designed, constructed and test ed. The first was a partly disposable single packer system, the Multil evel Packer System (MLPS). The second, the Birmingham Modular Sampler (EMS) was designed to be reusable in alternative configurations. The t wo devices were developed through laboratory and field tests. A number of technical problems were experienced; these have led to revised des igns, which are presented. The advantages and disadvantages of each sy stem, and the concept of the multiport sock sampler are discussed.