Soil Gas Sampling

Soil gas sampling draws vapour from the ground through a probe, at hydrocarbon spills, tank and pipe leaks, landfills and hazardous waste sites, and for vapour intrusion and soil vapour extraction work. AMS gas vapor probe kits drive a stainless steel probe with a slide hammer or a rotary hammer, and dedicated vapor tips with fluoropolymer tubing make repeat monitoring points; the kit with Retract-A-Tip adds a survey tool for discrete samples. For quick shallow screening in soft soil there is the manual Original gas vapor probe, and Solinst drive-point piezometers install to about 7 m for shallow groundwater and soil vapour.

For soil samples for VOC analysis, see the En Core® and Combo Core™ samplers in core samplers.

Soil gas sampling FAQ

Survey point or permanent monitoring point?

For a quick survey, the Retract-A-Tip or the Original gas vapor probe collects a discrete sample and comes back out. For repeat monitoring, a dedicated vapor tip stays at depth with its tubing to the surface, so the same point can be sampled round after round.

How do I drive a gas vapor probe?

With a slide hammer in most soils, or with an electric rotary hammer in harder ground. The AMS kits include four 3 ft gas vapor probe extensions and a heavy-duty tile probe base, all on 5/8" threads.

What tubing is used?

Dedicated tips and the Retract-A-Tip take 3/16" ID x 1/4" OD tubing: fluoropolymer on the dedicated tips, and fluoropolymer, nylon or polyethylene on the Retract-A-Tip. Choose the tubing for your target compounds and your lab's method.

Can a drive-point piezometer sample soil vapour?

Yes. The Solinst Model 615 installs with a slide hammer or a direct-push rig in loose sand, silt or soft clay, typically to about 7 m (25 ft), and its compression-fitting configuration is the one used for soil vapour. See our drive-point piezometer guide.