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INSTALLATION SUPPORT FOR FLUTe SYSTEMS
Installation support is always available from FLUTe.
Ancillary equipment is usually rented for FLUTe installations. In rare cases, none is required. Installation procedures are available upon request at installation procedures. Details of the site are requested for the proper installation procedure. FLUTe also provides as-built details, installation load calculations, sample volumes and procedures, at no cost, with the liners purchased.
The ease of installation varies with the system being installed and the site situation as follows:
Blank liners can be installed very easily for water tables down to 100 ft. or more (see basic method). If the hole has such low flow that the water must be pumped from beneath the liner, the pumping procedure is more complicated, but it is done by some of our customers. However, blank liners do not need to be installed to the bottom of the hole if the hole is very tight. The removal of the blank liner requires that the water be pumped from the liner as the liner is pulled from the hole, unless the water table is very shallow. The liner is usually pulled from the hole with a simple winch system which can be rented from FLUTe. Ancillary equip: wellhead roller, bubbler, and winch; depending upon the water table depth.
If the blank liner installation is to be done with a recording of the depth, speed and tension for assessment of the vertical conductivity profile, special data recording equipment is required. It can be rented, but is best operated by a trained individual.
Water FLUTe liners are nearly as easy to install as blank liners, but the fitting of the wellhead and tubing fittings to the top end, after the liner is installed, is best learned by watching the first installation. The same comments above about water table and pumping from beneath the blank liner apply. We install most Water FLUTe liners. Ancillary equipment: wellhead roller, winch, pump plate, bubbler.
For deep water tables (>150 ft), the hanging weight can be relatively large, and a linear capstan is often used. A linear capstan is only operated by a trained crew of two. Only one of our customers routinely operates their own linear capstan which was purchased from FLUTe. Linear capstans can be rented with the operators.
NAPL FLUTe liners installed through push rods are often done by the pushrod crew after one day of training by FLUTe. There is no labor charge for the training. There are several companies already trained to install NAPL FLUTe liners on the East and West Coast. Contact us at
for trained operators in your area. Ancillary equipment: FLUTe water injector
Installation of NAPL FLUTe liners into core holes by eversion is usually as simple as a blank liner installation. Ancillary equipment: wellhead roller, winch plate, pump plate, bubbler if deep water table (>20 ft).
Installation of NAPL FLUTe liners through sonic casing is most often done by a FLUTe engineer.
Vadose FLUTe liners are installed in a variety of ways. Many customers install their own after training by FLUTe in the procedure. Some drilling crews install Vadose FLUTe systems via casing with a sand fill procedure. Those customers which have purchased their own pressure canister for air driven installations usually do their own installations after one day of training. Contact us for the requirements for your situation at
LAHD FLUTe systems are all installed by FLUTe personnel using the equipment rented from FLUTe. No customer has yet installed his own. However, if the customer were to be installing many LAHD liners, we could train him. The installation requires a very large pressure canister and other ancillary equipment that are rented from FLUTe. Also, the drilling procedure must be done with special attention to the mud and cuttings viscosity.
Other kinds of installations can be done with FLUTe training. The ancillary equipment needed can be purchased or rented as preferred. The ancillary equipment is described with some prices under auxiliary equipment.
Customer furnished equipment
Almost all FLUTe liner installations require that the customer provide the water to fill the liner, a supply of compressed air (a small tank compressor), and electrical power. If necessary, FLUTe can provide these items as well. Depending upon the circumstances, the equipment may be more easily supplied by FLUTe. Occasionally, it is more practical for the customer to provide a water removal pump (like a Grundfos II) than to have FLUTe ship it to the site.
The FLUTe field engineer will determine what equipment is needed for the site conditions and it will be included it in the price quote.
Time for installations
Most FLUTe installations are done in one day. More often, they are done in several hours. Even the installations to 850 ft. at Pantex are done in one day. Removal of a liner may take somewhat longer than the installation depending upon how easily the water flows into the hole.
LAHD installations are done in one day after the pilot hole is drilled.
Labor cost
Most installations are done with one FLUTe field engineer. However, an additional laborer may be needed to assist the FLUTe engineer for deep holes or many port systems.
The linear capstan use requires two FLUTe people. The LAHD installation requires two FLUTe people.
Trained installers
Contractors or individuals interested in becoming trained FLUTe installers are welcome to apply (