US3677342A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of increasing size of underground nuclear chimney
Assignee: Pan American Petroleum Corp
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Filing: 1969-12-29
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1989-12-29
Abstract
Abstract An underground cavity formed deep in the earth by detonation of a nuclear device is extended vertically by drilling a borehole from the earth''s surface to a depth D which is above the expected top of the cavity chimney by a distance equal to or greater than d, where d is the thickness of a slab of rock of the diameter of the chimney that will be self-supporting. A horizontal propped fracture is created at depth D, and liquid explosive is placed in the fracture and detonated. The shock force of the explosion causes the slab of thickness d to be rubbleized and driven down into the chimney. This process can be repeated for successive slabs of thickness d. Alternatively, vertical boreholes can be drilled outside of an adjacent the wall of the cavity, vertical fractures created with their planes parallel to the wall of the borehole, the fractures loaded with liquid explosive and detonated, causing a slab of the wall to be driven into the chimney and rubbleized.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Silverman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:17
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; E21B43/263; E21B43/2635
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of forming and increasing the volume of an underground cavity formed by the detonation underground of a selected nuclear device which comprises: a. establishing an underground placement cavity for a nuclear device including a borehole drilled from the surface to the position of said placement cavity, b. creating at least one fracture in the rock surrounding the expected position of the cavity, said at least one fracture being a first vertical fracture which is substantially parallel to the cylindrical wall of said cavity and space radially outward from said wall by distance L where L is a thickness of rock slab adapted to be rubbleized by the detonation of the charge of liquid explosive contained within said fracture, c. placing a nuclear device in said placement cavity, plugging said borehole and detonating said device, d. placing liquid explosive, whereby the slab of rock between said fracture and said cavity surface will be blown into said cavity and rubbleized.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of forming and increasing the volume of an underground cavity formed by the detonation underground of a selected nuclear device which comprises: a. establishing an underground placement cavity for a nuclear device including a borehole drilled from the surface to the position of said placement cavity, b. creating at least one fracture in the rock surrounding the expected position of the cavity, said at least one fracture being a first vertical fracture which is substantially parallel to the cylindrical wall of said cavity and space radially outward from said wall by distance L where L is a thickness of rock slab adapted to be rubbleized by the detonation of the charge of liquid explosive contained within said fracture, c. placing a nuclear device in said placement cavity, plugging said borehole and detonating said device, d. placing liquid explosive, whereby the slab of rock between said fracture and said cavity surface will be blown into said cavity and rubbleized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 1 which includes a plurality of such vertical fractures.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of forming and increasing the volume of an underground cavity formed by the detonation underground of a selected nuclear device, which comprises: a. establishing an underground placement cavity for a nuclear device including a borehole drilled from the surface to the position of said placement cavity, b. creating a first horizontal fracture spaced above the expected position of the top of the chimney by a distance greater than d, where d is the minimum thickness of a slab of rock of the formation in which the nuclear cavity is formed that will be self-supporting over the diameter of the chimney, c. creating a second horizontal fracture spaced above said first horizontal fracture by a distance greater than d, d. placing a nuclear device in said placement cavity, plugging said borehole and detonating said device, e. placing liquid explosive in said first and second fractures and detonating same, the detonation of said explosive in said second fracture occurring at a time less than one second after the detonation of the explosion in said first fracture.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of forming and increasing the volume of an underground cavity formed by the detonation underground of a selected nuclear device, which comprises: a. establishing an underground placement cavity for a nuclear device including a borehole drilled from the surface to the position of said placement cavity, b. creating a first horizontal fracture spaced above the expected position of the top of the chimney by a distance greater than d, where d is the minimum thickness of a slab of rock of the formation in which the nuclear cavity is formed that will be self-supporting over the diameter of the chimney, c. creating a second horizontal fracture spaced above said first horizontal fracture by a distance greater than d, d. placing a nuclear device in said placement cavity, plugging said borehole and detonating said device, e. placing liquid explosive in said first and second fractures and detonating same, the detonation of said explosive in said second fracture occurring at a time less than one second after the detonation of the explosion in said first fracture.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of forming and increasing the volume of an underground cavity formed by the detonation underground of a selected nuclear device which comprises: a. establishing an underground placement cavity for a nuclear device including a borehole drilled from the surface to the position of said placement cavity, b. creating at least one fracture in the rocks surrounding the expected position of the cavity, said at least one fracture spaced from and substantially parallel to the expected position of the outer surface of the cavity, c. placing a nuclear device in said placement cavity, d. placing liquid explosive in said at least one fracture, e. placing a detonator in said liquid explosive, said detonator of a character to be actuated by a shock wave, f. detonating said nuclear device, the shock waves from such nuclear device actuating the detonator in said liquid explosive whereby said liquid explosive is detonated and blows the slab of rock between such fracture and said cavity surface into such cavity.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of forming and increasing the volume of an underground cavity formed by the detonation underground of a selected nuclear device which comprises: a. establishing an underground placement cavity for a nuclear device including a borehole drilled from the surface to the position of said placement cavity, b. creating at least one fracture in the rocks surrounding the expected position of the cavity, said at least one fracture spaced from and substantially parallel to the expected position of the outer surface of the cavity, c. placing a nuclear device in said placement cavity, d. placing liquid explosive in said at least one fracture, e. placing a detonator in said liquid explosive, said detonator of a character to be actuated by a shock wave, f. detonating said nuclear device, the shock waves from such nuclear device actuating the detonator in said liquid explosive whereby said liquid explosive is detonated and blows the slab of rock between such fracture and said cavity surface into such cavity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |