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US3675430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Arctic construction and drilling
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
•
Filing: 1970-02-05
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1990-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A method for constructing a working base in a permafrost area wherein the working base is located in bodies of water meeting certain requirements. A method for constructing a working base in a body of water and the working base itself.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman E Haimila
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:02
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D17/00; E02D17/18; E21; E21B; E21B7/00; E21B7/008; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S166/00; Y10S166/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
In a method for constructing a working base in a permafrost area, the improvement comprising locating a body of water which lies over permafrost and in which a portion of the water remains continually unfrozen; and emplacing said working base in said body of water inwardly of the shoreline of said body of water, over said permafrost, and in said portion of water which remains continually unfrozen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
In a method for constructing a working base in a permafrost area, the improvement comprising locating a body of water which lies over permafrost and in which a portion of the water remains continually unfrozen; and emplacing said working base in said body of water inwardly of the shoreline of said body of water, over said permafrost, and in said portion of water which remains continually unfrozen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said body of water is a lake, river, or ocean areas adjacent the shoreline, the lower portion of which contains a substantial amount of water which remains in the liquid state through all seasons of the year, and said working base is provided on and/or under the normal surface of the body of water, said working base being one which floats in water, is supported by the bottom of said body of water, is supported by ice on the upper portion of said body of water, and combinations thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said working base is one of (a) a pad supported on the bottom of said body of water in said portion of water which remains continually liquid and extending above the normal surface of said body of water and (b) a floating base which floats on said body of water when unfrozen and is surrounded by ice when an upper portion of said body of water is frozen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said working base is employed for drilling and/or producing at least one well.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein at least one well is directionally drilled from said working base under the ground adjacent said body of water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the depth of the body of water at its deepest part is at least about 1 foot in areas of discontinuous permafrost and at least about three feet in areas of continuous permafrost.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the depth of the continually unfrozen water at its deepest part is at least about 6 inches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the shortest horizontal dimension of the portion of continually unfrozen water is at least two-thirds the depth of the permafrost under the land adjacent said body of water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the shortest horizontal dimension of the portion of continually unfrozen water is at least twice the depth of the permafrost under the land adjacent said body of water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said working base is employed for supporting buildings.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for constructing a working base in a body of water in which a portion of the water remains continually unfrozen and which is surrounded by permafrost but which has no permafrost thereunder, the improvement comprising locating the desired working base in said body of water and in said portion of water which remains continually unfrozen, forming a dam of material around the outer periphery of the desired working base, thereby outlining the outer edge of the working base and leaving the interior of the outline formed by the dam substantially unaffected, removing material from the bottom of the body of water around the outside perimeter of the outline dam to form a trench around the outside perimeter of the working base, and placing the removed bottom material iN said interior of the outline formed by the dam to build the interior to a desired height whereby said trench provides a larger thermal blanket of continually unfrozen water around said working base to prevent freezing of earth under said working base.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for constructing a working base in a body of water in which a portion of the water remains continually unfrozen and which is surrounded by permafrost but which has no permafrost thereunder, the improvement comprising locating the desired working base in said body of water and in said portion of water which remains continually unfrozen, forming a dam of material around the outer periphery of the desired working base, thereby outlining the outer edge of the working base and leaving the interior of the outline formed by the dam substantially unaffected, removing material from the bottom of the body of water around the outside perimeter of the outline dam to form a trench around the outside perimeter of the working base, and placing the removed bottom material iN said interior of the outline formed by the dam to build the interior to a desired height whereby said trench provides a larger thermal blanket of continually unfrozen water around said working base to prevent freezing of earth under said working base.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said bottom material is employed to form at least part of the dam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein material from outside the body of water is used to form at least part of the dam and/or at least part of the fill for the interior of the outline formed by the outline dam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein a roadway is constructed from shore to the working base by forming a single dam of material therebetween or by forming spaced apart dams of material and filling in the portion between the spaced apart dams to the desired height for the roadway.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the fill for the portion between the spaced apart dams is at least in part taken from along the outer edge of said dams to thereby form a trench in the bottom of the body of water along the outer edges of said roadway.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said outline dam extends from the bottom of the body of water to above the surface of the body of water.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
119 words
A working base in a body of water in which a portion of the water remains continually unfrozen and which is surrounded by permafrost, but which has no permafrost thereunder, the improvement comprising the outer periphery of said base being an outline dam, the interior of the outline formed by said outline dam being at least in part material fro the bottom of the body of water, and a trench around at least part of the outer periphery of said outline dam, said working base being in said water and surrounded by said permafrost whereby said trench provides a larger thermal blanket of continually unfrozen water around said working base to prevent freezing of earth under said working base.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
119 words
A working base in a body of water in which a portion of the water remains continually unfrozen and which is surrounded by permafrost, but which has no permafrost thereunder, the improvement comprising the outer periphery of said base being an outline dam, the interior of the outline formed by said outline dam being at least in part material fro the bottom of the body of water, and a trench around at least part of the outer periphery of said outline dam, said working base being in said water and surrounded by said permafrost whereby said trench provides a larger thermal blanket of continually unfrozen water around said working base to prevent freezing of earth under said working base.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein at least one of the outline dam or the interior of the outline formed by the outline dam extend above the surface of the body of water.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein material from outside the body of water is used to form at least a part of said outline dam and/or at least a part of the interior of the outline formed by the outline dam, the remainder being substantially bottom material from said body of water.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said working base additionally has a roadway extending from said working base to shore.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said roadway comprises one of a single dam of material or a pair of spaced apart dams of material and fill material in the portion between the spaced apart dams, the fill material being to the desired height of the roadway.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the fill for the portion between the spaced apart dams is at least in part taken from along the outer edge of said dams to thereby form a trench in the bottom of the body of water along the outer edges of said roadway.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the point of closest approach of said base to the continually unfrozen shoreline of said water body is a distance from said shoreline of at least about twice the smallest horizontal dimension of said base.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |