Horizontal Filter Well System And Method Of Operating Same

Abstract

A method of operating a horizontal filter well. Water is transported into a well from at least one roughly horizontally arranged train and distributed further from there. Pressurized water is forced through the horizontal filter train in the reverse flow direction, as a means to free the horizontal filter train of blockages. The pressurized water exits through the inlet orifices of the horizontal filter train and passes into the aquifer. A vertical well provided in the vicinity of the horizontal filter train suctions off the water exiting from the horizontal filter train, along with impurities removed from the horizontal filter train.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . A method for operating a horizontal filter well having at least one horizontal filter train buried in substrate for collecting water that flows through said substrate, said water flowing in a normal flow direction from said substrate through inlets in said horizontal filter train into a well shaft, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) pumping pressurized water in a reverse flow direction through said horizontal filter train, said pressurized water being expelled through said inlets into said substrate;   b) providing a vertical well near to said horizontal filter train;   c) suctioning water and impurities that have been expelled from said horizontal filter train into said vertical well; and   d) pumping said expelled water and impurities out of said vertical well.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the steps of
 e) filtering said expelled water; and   f) pressurizing and pumping said filtered water into said horizontal filter train.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of:
 g) pumping said expelled water from said vertical well into a reservoir for subsequent water treatment.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of:
 h) adding a cleaning agent to said pressurized water.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said reservoir is a tank truck. 
   
   
       19 . The method of claim  1  further comprising the steps of:
 i) installing two or more horizontal filter trains underground, any two adjacent horizontal filter trains forming a filter-train angle;   j) installing a high-pressure injection train horizontally underground at an angle that bisects said filter-train angle;   k) injecting material under high-pressure into said substrate via said high-pressure injection train, so as to break up underground sediment and create new flow spaces for groundwater.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  comprising the steps of:
 l) installing a vertical well near to one of said two horizontal filter trains and to said high-pressure injection train.   
   
   
       21 . The method of claim  1  further comprising the step of:
 m) cleaning said horizontal filter train with a cleaning lance.   
   
   
       22 . A well system having a vertical well shaft extending below ground, said system comprising:
 a horizontal filter train having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal end is within said well shaft and said distal end extends extending horizontally beyond said well shaft into substrate;   a vertical well installed outside said well shaft and near to said distal end of said horizontal filter train.   
   
   
       23 . The well system of  claim 22 , wherein said vertical well is sunken radially beyond said distal end of said horizontal filter train. 
   
   
       24 . The well system of  claim 22 , wherein said proximal end of said horizontal filter train is fitted with a flange connector, and wherein a reversing adapter is connectible to said flange connector. 
   
   
       25 . The well system of  24 , wherein said reversing adapter is connected to a pressurized water line. 
   
   
       26 . The well system of  claim 24 , wherein said reversing adapter has a closable opening that is positioned directly opposite said horizontal filter train and is adapted to accommodate insertion of a cleaning lance. 
   
   
       27 . The well system of  claim 24  further comprising a cleaning agent container and a conduit for pumping a cleaning agent into said reversing adapter. 
   
   
       28 . The well system of  claim 22  further comprising a recycling circuit for recycling reverse-flow water that is pumped into said reversing adapter and out said distal end of said horizontal filter train, wherein expelled water that is expelled from said distal end of said horizontal filter train and that contains impurities is pumped up through said vertical well, subjected to a water-purification treatment, and then pumped back through said reversing adapter into said horizontal filter train. 
   
   
       29 . The well system of  claim 28 , said recycling circuit comprising water-treatment apparatus and a pump system for pumping said expelled water through said water-treatment system. 
   
   
       30 . The well system of  claim 29 , wherein said water-treatment apparatus includes a centrifuge. 
   
   
       31 . The well system of  claim 29 , wherein said water-treatment apparatus includes a temporary storage tank that carries said expelled water to an off-site water-treatment facility. 
   
   
       32 . The well system of  claim 29 , wherein said pump system includes a first pump for pumping said expelled water from said vertical well and a second pump for pumping said expelled water through said water-treatment system. 
   
   
       33 . The well system of  claim 22 , further comprising a high-pressure injection train that is installed in a horizontal alignment near to said horizontal filter train and a high-pressure water line that forces water through said high-pressure train and into said substrate, to loosen earth material and break up sedimentation. 
   
   
       34 . A well system having a vertical well shaft extending below ground into a substrate, said system comprising:
 a plurality of horizontal filter trains arranged in said substrate, each horizontal filter train of said plurality having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal end is within said well shaft and said distal end extends horizontally and radially beyond said well shaft into said substrate;   a plurality of reverse-flow single-train flange adapters, each reverse-flow single-train adapter being connected to a single horizontal filter train of said plurality of horizontal filter trains;   a plurality of high-pressure injection trains, said second plurality corresponding in number to said first plurality, with a proximal end of each one high-pressure injection train of said high-pressure injection trains being within said well shaft and a proximal end extending horizontally and radially beyond said well shaft;   a plurality of vertical wells that are placed in close proximity to said distal end of at least one of said high-pressure injection trains and to said distal end of at least one of said high-pressure injection trains; and   a water circulation system for pumping water through said horizontal filter trains from said proximal end toward said distal end and through said high-pressure injection trains from said proximal end toward said distal end;   wherein said high-pressure injection trains and said horizontal filter trains are placed in an alternating horizontal-filter-train-and-high-pressure-injection-train arrangement.   
   
   
       35 . The well system of  claim 34 , wherein said water circulation system includes a first pump for pumping water expelled from said horizontal filter trains and high-pressure injection trains up through said vertical well. 
   
   
       36 . The well system of  claim 35 , further comprising a water-treatment system for cleaning said expelled water of impurities so that it is re-usable for pumping through said horizontal filter trains and high-pressure injection trains. 
   
   
       37 . The well system of  claim 36 , wherein said water-treatment system is a centrifuge. 
   
   
       38 . The well system of  claim 34  further comprising a cleaning agent reservoir, wherein said reverse-flow single-train flange adapters have inlets that are connected to said cleaning agent reservoir via a cleaning-agent line, and wherein a cleaning agent is injected into said reverse-flow single-train flange adapter, to be pushed through said horizontal filter train that is connected to said reverse-flow single-train flange adapter.