What Makes The Multifunction Bedrock-Aquifer Transportable Testing Tool (BAT3) Unique?
The patented design of the Multifunction Bedrock-Aquifer Transportable Testing Tool (BAT3) allows USGS scientists and others to conduct multiple types of hydraulic tests and collect water samples for geochemical analyses from hydraulically isolated intervals in boreholes. Extensive reconfiguration of downhole equipment is not needed. The BAT3 is designed to monitor fluid pressures at different locations in the borehole, to assess the operational integrity of tests, and to conduct real-time data analysis and visualization. The BAT3 was developed as a part of USGS research on processes that control the fluid movement and migration of contaminants in fractured-bedrock aquifers. The BAT3 was designed to be
Versatile
The BAT3 can
- Conduct multiple types of hydraulic tests–fluid injection, fluid withdrawal (pumping), and pressurized and open-hole slug tests
- Collect water samples for geochemical analyses
- Inject and recover a tracer solution for in-situ tracer testing
- Measure the hydraulic head in three intervals of the borehole–in the test interval between the packers, and above and below the test interval—to evaluate the operation and integrity of in-situ tests
- Measure a wide range of fluid injection and pumping rates–10-4 to 10 gallons per minute–allowing estimates of transmissivity as low as 10-10 square meters per second
- Modify the length of the test interval (the distance between the packers) to accommodate different borehole conditions or fracture density
- Inflate packers individually–none, one, or both packers–allowing testing over different intervals of a borehole without reconfiguring the tool
Transportable
The BAT3 is designed to
- Ship in 5 padded boxes that can be sent via common overnight carriers
- Assemble rapidly with pre-wired downhole pump and fluid pressure transducers
- Adjust test interval length (between packers) without adjusting the wiring for the downhole pump and transducers
- Install and/or replace fluid pressure transducers rapidly—fluid pressure transducers are not wired through the packers
Informative
The BAT3 is configured with
- Real-time data acquisition and visualization software that allows for the instantaneous visual evaluation of the test operations, such as flow rates, fluid pressures, and packer pressures
- Real-time interpretive software that allows for onsite evaluation of hydraulic tests so that estimates of the hydraulic properties of fractures can be made as tests are being conducted
- Modeling software to predict hydraulic responses in advance of conducting hydraulic tests
- Software to perform field calibrations for fluid pressure transducers and flow meters
Data collected with the BAT3 allows scientists to assess the hydraulic and geochemical properties of fractured-bedrock aquifers for projects ranging from contaminated site characterizations to water-supply assessments.
More Information
Reference
- Shapiro, A.M., 2004, Borehole Testing System: Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Patent and Trademark Office, United States Patent 6,761,062.
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