In-ground storage facility with footing sections and method of installing the same

Claim 1

AN IN-GROUND STORAGE FACILITY FOR LIQUIDS HAVING A BOILING POINT BELOW THE FREEZING TEMPERATURE OF GROUND WATER COMPRISING MEANS FOR PREFREEZING AN ANNULUS OF LIQUID-LADEN SOIL ADJACENT TO THE UPPER PERIMETER OF A LARGE, OPEN EXCAVATION IN THE GROUND, (A) A HORIZONTAL FOOTING SURFACE FORMED IN THE GROUND ADJACENT TO THE UPPER PERIMETER OF SAID EXCAVATION, (B) A PLASTIC LAYER OF LOW-TEMPERATURE GREASE AND A LOOSE FILLER MATERIAL LAID IN SAID FOOTING SURFACE, (C) A SERIES OF MASSIVE PREFORMED, SOLID FOOTING SECTIONS LAID END-TO-END ON SAID PLASTIC LAYER WITH THEIR UPPER SURFACES IN HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT, (D) A CLOSED WALL RESTING ON SAID FOOTING SECTIONS AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY TO ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, AND (E) A VAPOR-TIGHT ROOF OVER SAID EXCAVATION AND JOINED BY LIQUID-AND-VAPOR-TIGHT SEALING MEANS TO THE WALL OF SAID EXCAVATION.