Measurand’s SAAV can be installed in casings with internal diameters (IDs) from 47 mm to 100 mm. For non-standard sized casings, the SAAV compression clamp must be used to finish the installation. To install SAAV with the compression clamp, the following steps should be followed.

NOTE: For installations in standard sized casings with outer diameters (ODs) 70 mm or 85 mm, the SAAV Casing Cap should be used to finish the installation. Detailed instructions for installing SAAV with the Casing Cap can be found in Installing SAAV Into Existing Inclinometer Casing.

Figure 1: Compression Clamp Kit

NOTE: Measurand highly recommends that users perform a complete diagnostics test on their ShapeArray prior to installation to ensure the instrument is working properly. The .TXT report file generated should be included with the installation log for record keeping purposes. A complete diagnostic report from the time of installation could be required to advance warranty claims should an issue occur in the future. 

The following table outlines the tools and equipment required to install an SAAV with the Compression Clamp installation kit.

* Starred items are included in the Compression Clamp installation kit

NOTE - Measurand ShapeArrays are shipped on wooden reels with wooden facets stapled to the outside. A pry bar, hammer, and pliers will be required to remove the facets from the reel prior to following the steps below.

The following video provides an overview of the installation process. More detailed information about each step of the installation process is provided below the video.

Step 1 - Insert SAAV into the Borehole

Place a set of reel stands approximately 1 m to 1.5 m away from the borehole. Place a 2" steel pole through the middle of the reel and use it to lift the reel onto the stands. Ensure that the reel is oriented such that the SAAV will be unreeled into the borehole from the top of the reel. Cut the zip ties holding the SAAV's eye bolt end to the reel with a box cutter or wire cutters. Unreel the SAAV and insert it into the borehole. Ensure that segments from the reel enter the casing vertically and avoid touching the sides at the top of the casing. Do not detach the springbox assembly from the reel at this point.

Figure 2: Pace the reel 1 m to 1.5 m (3' to 5') from the borehole and unreel the SAAV from the top of the reel into the borehole

NOTE: For casings with a small ID, such as 47 mm ID casing, the SAAV must be inserted such that the Springbox attachment and the Extension Tube that will be connected to it are square to the casing’s circumference, avoiding any inclinometer grooves in the casing.

Figure 3: For casings with small IDs, ensure the springbox and fiberglass extension tube are square to the casing's circumference

Step 2 – Attach Extension Tubes to the Springbox Assembly

With the springbox assembly still attached to the SAAV reel, detach the Extension Tubes from the reel by cutting their zip ties with a box cutter or wire cutters. Attach an Extension Tube to the Springbox assembly using the supplied 1 1/4” Long 3/8”- 24 Hex Bolt and 3/8”-24 Nylon-Insert Locknut. 

WARNING: Ensure that the Extension Tube is attached to the Springbox assembly such that the X-mark on the tubing aligns with the X-mark on the Springbox.

Figure 4: Use the supplied hardware to attach the Extension Tube (green) to the Springbox assembly (grey)

If more than one Extension Tube is required, use the included coupler and hardware to attach them, as shown in the figure below. The SAAV Cleat accessory can be used to support the ShapeArray in the casing while extension tubes are added.

Figure 5: Attaching additional extensions - (A) Extension Tubes (grey), (B) Coupler (green), (C) hardware for connecting tubes, and (D) Assembled Extension Tubes

Once your extension tubes have been attached, the zip ties holding the springbox assembly and cabling can be cut to detach them from the SAAV reel. Insertion into the borehole can then be completed.

NOTE: As extension rods are added to the instrument, the cabling should be secured along their length using tape to prevent loose cabling in the casing from interfering with the settling process.

Step 3 - Settle the SAAV into the Inclinometer Casing

Once the SAAV is resting on the bottom of the borehole, actions need to be taken to ensure it is properly settled in place. If the instrument is not properly settled in place prior to compressing it, then undesirable displacements will be reported by the instrument as it settles into place naturally. Settlement of the instrument within the casing is not reflective of movement of the casing or the surrounding environment.

To facilitate settling the instrument into place, the SAAV Installation Verification tool included in our SAARecorder software must be used. This tool will display a point graph where each point represents the tilt of a segment relative to the medial axis of the instrument's installed shape. More information on using this tool is available in the Verifying your SAAV Installation guide. Once you have your computer connected to the ShapeArray with the SAARecorder application, open the SAAV Installation Verification tool from the Diagnostics menu and take the following actions that are sometimes referred to as "pumping".

WARNING: If you are installing a ShapeArray in Low Power Mode for use with certain low power data loggers, then you will need to be using an SAAFPU interface with at least revision R.4B or an SAA232 interface with revision R.2B. Older interfaces are NOT supported. While the SAAV Installation Verification diagnostic is open, the instrument will temporarily be placed in regular power mode. When the SAAV Installation Verification window is closed, the instrument will automatically be returned to Low Power mode. Do NOT disconnect the ShapeArray from the computer without closing the window or the instrument could be left in regular power mode.

Once the SAAV is resting on the bottom of the borehole and you are connected to it with SAARecorder, enter the casing's inner diameter into the Casing Inner Diameter textbox. Lift the ShapeArray until it is hanging in the casing with one segment touching the bottom. When the last segment is resting on the bottom of the casing, most of the angles reported by the SAAV Installation Verification tool will be 0° except the last few segments. If there are bends in the borehole, the angle will increase to 1° or 2°. You should see a graph similar to what is shown in the figure below in the SAAV Installation Verification tool when the instrument has been lifted sufficiently.

Figure 6: An example of the point graph with the SAAV in the lifted position while pumping

Once you have lifted the SAAV enough to have only the last segment resting on the bottom of the casing, drop the ShapeArray such that it falls straight into the casing. Care should be taken to avoid impacts on the side of the casing. The array will drop into the hole with some friction from the joints resisting the movement. Manually apply some downward pressure to the SAAV (approximately 5 lbs) in order to compress it within the conduit and wait for the dot graph to settle and finish updating. Press the Capture Compression button. 

When first clicked, the Capture Compression button will prompt you to select a folder and filename into which compression data for the installation will be saved. 

Figure 7: Click Capture Compression button and select a location and filename for the compression data

Compression data will be saved to a plaintext, comma-delimited text file with a .DAT extension with the following naming scheme by default.

compressData_[serial_number]_[YYYY]_[MM]_[DD]_[HH]_[MM]_[SS].dat

Subsequent clicks on the Capture Compression button will append new readings to the selected file and will update a table of readings.

Figure 8. An example of the point graph with the SAAV in the dropped and compressed position while pumping

The SAAV should be lifted, dropped, and compressed repeatedly in this manner until three sequential readings of Compression listed in the table change by less than 1 mm. This should take approximately 10 to 15 lift and drops (pumps). When three sequential compression readings with less than 1 mm of change are recorded, a Green Light indicator will appear.

When the Green Light indicator appears, click on the Create Report and Close button. This will generate a PDF report of the compression results with all of the values captured in the table in the window, as well as as a graph of those results.

WARNING: The SAAV Installation Verification tool has changed several times since the release of the SAAV. If your version of the software presents a different interface, then Measurand recommends updating to the latest release of the software. These older versions of the utility may still be used; however, the only value of interest for verifying the installation is the Compression value. The SAAV should be pumped and compressed until three consecutive readings of Compression change by less than 1 mm.

Once this is done, you will be ready to measure the azimuth offset for the X-mark.

Step 4 - Measure Azimuth Offset with the X-Mark Protractor

The SAA X-Mark Protractor consists of two pieces: a square protractor with directional arrows and a clear plastic disk with an X-Line marked on it. Place the square protractor around the Extension Tube at the top of the ShapeArray. Rotate the square protractor until the arrows are pointed to one of the following:

• The expected direction of movement  
• Other job site datum

Place the clear disk marker with the X-Line around the Extension Tube and on top of the square protractor so that the X-Line is aligned with X-Mark on the Extension Tube. The X-line, the X-Mark on the Springbox Assembly, and the X-mark on the Extension Tube should now all be aligned. Make note of the angle at the X-Line. This will be used in Measurand software when specifying the azimuth offset angle of the ShapeArray.

Figure 9: Align square protractor with desired direction (left) and then align clear plastic disk with X-mark to get azimuth offset (right)

Step 5 - Disassemble the Compression Clamp Assembly

Using the included ratchet and 7/16" Deep Socket, remove the 3” long Bronze Compression Bolt 1/4-20 that holding the Compression Clamp and the Extension Tube Anchor together.

Figure 10: Compression Clamp Assembly before (left) and after disassembly (right)

Step 6 – Mark and Drill Holes in Casing

Place the Compression Clamp on top of the casing with the metal side on the outside of the casing.

NOTE: Ensure the Compression Clamp is oriented along the outside circumference of the casing. You must avoid any inclinometer grooves in the casing. Place the Compression Clamp such that it is centered between any inclinometer grooves.

Figure 11: Mark the casing by placing the compression clamp over it and marking through the hole

Mark the casing through the hole in the Compression Clamp with a thin marker or a screw. Remove the Compression Clamp and drill a hole in the casing where it was marked with a 6.5 mm (1/4") drill bit.

WARNING: Be very careful not to drop the Compression Clamp into the casing!

Step 7 – Attach the Compression Clamp to the Casing

Place the Compression Clamp onto the casing with the metal side on the inside of the casing. Using the included rachet, 7/16" Deep Socket, and 1/2” Long 1/4”-20 Bronze Hex Bolt, secure the Compression Clamp into place. Depending on the thickness of the casing, the screw may be too long. In this case, the 0.734” washers included in the kit should be used to ensure the screw does not protrude beyond the Compression Clamp body.

Figure 12: Attach compression clamp to the casing with supplied hardware

Step 8 - Cut the Fiberglass Extension Tube and Apply Final Compression

Set the Extension Tube Anchor on its short edge on top of the Compression Clamp. While applying a light amount of force on the Extension Tube (approximately 5 kg), mark a line along the anchor on the tube.

WARNING: Be very careful not to drop the Extension Tube Anchor into the casing!

Figure 13: Mark the Extension Tube by laying the anchor on the Compression Clamp along its short side

If any ShapeArray cable has been taped to the extension rod near the marked line, ensure that the tape is removed and the ShapeArray cable is well away from the marked line. With a hack saw or key hole saw, cut the fibreglass Extension Tube along the marked line. Insert the Extension Tube Anchor into the top of the Extension Tube.

NOTE: When cutting fibreglass, be sure to use the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including goggles and dust mask. Please refer to the SAAV Manual for a full description of PPE.

Compress the Extension Tube until you can screw the Extension Tube Anchor to the Compression Clamp with the included ratchet, 7/16" Deep Socket, and 3” long Bronze Compression Bolt 1/4-20. 

WARNING: Do not use power tools to secure the bolt. This can damage the threads and/or the plate. Use the supplied ratchet and deep socket to secure the Extension Tube Anchor to the Compression Clamp.

Figure 14: Apply final compression by screwing the extension tube anchor into the compression clamp

NOTE: For casing with a small ID, such as 47 mm ID casing, the Extension Tube Anchor will need to be modified. The washer will need to be removed, leaving only the bolt, spacer, and lock nut, before inserting it into the Extension Tube and applying final compression.

Figure 15: For casings with smaller IDs, the Extension Tube Anchor's washer (A) will need to be removed