Device and method for collecting borehole samples

Abstract

A device and method for collecting borehole samples includes a receptacle having an inlet adapted to engage with a casing positioned in a drill hole, and at least one outlet through which a borehole sample exits from the receptacle. The receptacle is adapted to fit around a drill rod used in drilling the drill hole with the inlet providing clearance for the drill rod and the receptacle adapted to capture cuttings and cutting fluid entering the receptacle through the inlet during a drilling operation.

1 . A device for collecting borehole samples, comprising: 
 a receptacle including an inlet adapted to engage with a casing positioned in a borehole, and at least one outlet through which a borehole sample exits from the receptacle; and    the receptacle adapted to fit around a drill rod used in drilling the borehole with the inlet providing clearance for the drill rod and the receptacle adapted to capture cuttings and cutting fluid entering the receptacle through the inlet during a drilling operation.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet of the receptacle is a section of pipe adapted to engage with the casing in a borehole, the section of pipe being attached to a housing of the receptacle and extending into the housing with the housing surrounding the section of pipe to capture the cuttings and cutting fluid coming from the casing during a drilling operation.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is defined by an outer housing, the inlet extending into the outer housing on one side of the outer housing and a drill rod clearance opening provided on the opposite side of the outer housing aligned with the inlet.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one outlet is formed through the outer housing at a level lower than a level where a borehole sample enters the outer housing from the inlet so the sample will flow out of the at least one outlet.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is formed with the inlet aligned with an opening through the opposite side of the receptacle, the inlet and the aligned opening adapted to receive a drill rod therethrough, and the at least one outlet providing fluid communication from a collection volume of the receptacle surrounding the drill rod to outside the receptacle.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the receptacle is formed with an outer periphery of the receptacle defined by a larger diameter pipe section;    a first disk joined across one end of the larger diameter pipe section forming a top of the receptacle and a second disk joined across the opposite end of the larger diameter pipe section forming a bottom of the receptacle;    a first smaller diameter pipe section joined to and penetrating through the top of the receptacle;    a second, smaller diameter pipe section joined to and penetrating through the bottom of the receptacle, the second, smaller diameter pipe section being substantially aligned with the first smaller diameter pipe section; and    the at least one outlet being formed by one or more smaller diameter pipe sections joined to the larger diameter pipe section.    
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein two of the at least one outlet are joined to the larger diameter pipe section on approximately diametrically opposed sides of the larger diameter pipe section and are axially offset relative to each other in the direction of an axis through the substantially aligned first and second smaller diameter pipe sections.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the first and second disks forming the top and bottom of the receptacle are substantially parallel to each other and form an acute angle with the axis through the substantially aligned first and second smaller diameter pipe sections.    
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the receptacle comprises an inner portion including the inlet and a passageway for a drill rod used in drilling a borehole; and    an outer portion surrounding the inner portion and forming a catch basin in which cuttings and cutting fluid entering the receptacle from the inlet during a drilling operation are collected before exiting the receptacle through the at least one outlet.    
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the inner portion is at least partially defined by a smaller diameter pipe section and the outer portion is at least partially defined by a larger diameter pipe section concentrically disposed around the smaller diameter pipe section.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , where the outer portion is further defined by an annular plate joined between the smaller diameter pipe section and the larger diameter pipe section.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the annular plate is joined to the smaller diameter pipe section and the larger diameter pipe section at an acute angle relative to the centerlines of the smaller diameter pipe section and larger diameter pipe section such that the cuttings and cutting fluid entering the receptacle from the inlet during a drilling operation will flow as a result of gravity toward a lower one of the at least one outlet which is provided through the larger diameter pipe section near the intersection of the annular plate and the larger diameter pipe section.  
   
   
       13 . A method of collecting borehole samples, comprising: 
 drilling a borehole into the earth for a first distance using a drilling or reaming tool bit on the end of a drill rod wherein a cutting fluid is passed down through the drill rod and bit such that cuttings generated during the drilling operation are flushed up out of the borehole around the outside of the drill rod;    removing the drill rod and bit from the borehole;    inserting a casing into the borehole with an exposed end of the casing extending to or above ground level;    attaching a borehole sample collector to the exposed end of the casing or an extension thereof;    the borehole sample collector comprising a receptacle that completely surrounds the exposed end of the casing or extension thereof such that substantially all cuttings and cutting fluid generated during the drilling operation pass from the casing into the receptacle; and    reinserting a drill rod and bit through an opening through the borehole sample collector and into the casing to continue drilling.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 a borehole sample from a desired depth is collected by emptying the borehole sample collector of substantially all contents when the drill bit is approximately at the desired depth;    continuing the drilling operation at the desired depth and collecting the resulting cuttings in the borehole sample collector.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the borehole is drilled into the earth at an angle relative to the ground surface of approximately 90°.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the borehole is drilled into the earth at an angle relative to the ground surface that is different than 90°.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the drilling comprises rotating the drill rod and drill bit and moving the drill rod and drill bit in an axial direction.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the drilling operation is performed by a longhole drilling apparatus.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein additional drill rods are connected to the drill rod to drill to a desired length of borehole, and a borehole sample is taken at the bottom of the borehole by collecting the cuttings and cutting fluid that enter the borehole sample collector during the drilling operation at the bottom of the borehole.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cuttings collected in the borehole sample collector are analyzed to determine at least one of type, location, or quantity of materials that exist in the ground at a potential mining site.