US4664809A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Groundwater pollution abatement
Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
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Filing: 1985-09-09
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Granted: 1987-05-12
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Expires: 2005-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A method for pollution abatement in groundwaters comprises drilling a series of wells in the path of an advancing front of contaminants in an aquifer, and using the wells to introduce into the aquifer an adsorbent for the particular contaminants present.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald M. Fenton
- 👤 LeRoy W. Holm
- 👤 Dennis L. Saunders
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:46
CPC Classifications
B; B09; B09C; B09C1/00; B09C1/002; C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/28; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/34; E21B43/38; B09C2101/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for pollution abatement in groundwaters, comprising the steps of: (a) drilling a series of wells into an aquifer, ahead of an advancing front of water which contains one or more contaminants, the wells being disposed along a line approximately parallel to the advancing front; and (b) introducing, through the wells and into the aquifer, a particulate adsorbent material which can adsorb at least one contaminant.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for pollution abatement in groundwaters, comprising the steps of: (a) drilling a series of wells into an aquifer, ahead of an advancing front of water which contains one or more contaminants, the wells being disposed along a line approximately parallel to the advancing front; and (b) introducing, through the wells and into the aquifer, a particulate adsorbent material which can adsorb at least one contaminant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein the adsorbent material comprises activated carbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein the adsorbent material comprises treated clay.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein the adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of treated clays, inorganic oxides, silicates, aluminosilicates, carbonaceous materials, organic polymers, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method defined in claim 4, wherein a mixture of adsorbent materials is employed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein the adsorbent material is introduced as a dispersion in an aqueous medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined in claim 6, wherein the dispersion contains at least one phase separation-inhibiting substance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method defined in claim 7, wherein the phase separation-inhibiting substance comprises a surfactant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method defined in claim 7, wherein the phase separation-inhibiting substance comprises a polymeric material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein the adsorbent material is introduced using pressures sufficient to fracture the aquifer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein the adsorbent material contains particles having sizes suitable for substantially plugging pores and interstitial spaces in the aquifer.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for pollution abatement in groundwaters, comprising the steps of: (a) drilling a series of wells into an aquifer, ahead of an advancing front of water which contains one or more contaminants, the wells being disposed along a line approximately parallel to the advancing front; (b) preparing a dispersion comprising an aqueous medium and an adsorbent material selected from the group consisting of treated clays, inorganic oxides, silicates, aluminosilicates, carbonaceous materials, organic polymers, and mixtures thereof; and (c) introducing the dispersion into the aquifer, through the wells.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for pollution abatement in groundwaters, comprising the steps of: (a) drilling a series of wells into an aquifer, ahead of an advancing front of water which contains one or more contaminants, the wells being disposed along a line approximately parallel to the advancing front; (b) preparing a dispersion comprising an aqueous medium and an adsorbent material selected from the group consisting of treated clays, inorganic oxides, silicates, aluminosilicates, carbonaceous materials, organic polymers, and mixtures thereof; and (c) introducing the dispersion into the aquifer, through the wells.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method defined in claim 12, wherein the adsorbent material comprises activated carbon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined in claim 12, wherein the dispersion contains at least one phase separation-inhibiting substance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method defined in claim 14, wherein the phase separation-inhibiting substance comprises a surfactant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method defined in claim 14, wherein the phase separation-inhibiting substance comprises a polymeric material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 12, wherein the adsorbent material is introduced using pressures sufficient to fracture the aquifer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined in claim 12, wherein the adsorbent material contains particles having sizes suitable for substantially plugging pores and interstitial spaces in the aquifer.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for pollution abatement in groundwaters, comprising the steps of: (a) drilling a series of wells into an aquifer, ahead of an advancing front of water which contains one or more contaminants, the wells being disposed along a line approximately parallel to the advancing front; (b) preparing a dispersion comprising an aqueous medium, a carbonaceous adsorbent material, and a phase separation-inhibiting substance; and (c) introducing the dispersion into the aquifer, through the wells.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for pollution abatement in groundwaters, comprising the steps of: (a) drilling a series of wells into an aquifer, ahead of an advancing front of water which contains one or more contaminants, the wells being disposed along a line approximately parallel to the advancing front; (b) preparing a dispersion comprising an aqueous medium, a carbonaceous adsorbent material, and a phase separation-inhibiting substance; and (c) introducing the dispersion into the aquifer, through the wells.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-05-11 | 1990-11-10 | 1991-05-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-11 | 1994-11-10 | 1995-05-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-11 | 1998-11-10 | 1999-05-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |