US4900196A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Confinement in porous material by driving out water and substituting sealant
Assignee: IIT Research Institute
•
Filing: 1987-11-20
•
Granted: 1990-02-13
•
Expires: 2007-11-20
Abstract
Abstract To provide confinement in a porous medium in the earth, a limited region of the porous medium is heated to drive substantially all of the free water from open spaces of the medium in the region. After heating, liquid material is introduced into the open spaces in the medium, which liquid material will set into a substantially solid structure. The liquid material is then set in the open spaces to form a substantially solid structure in the medium in the region.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack E. Bridges
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:58
CPC Classifications
B; B09; B09B; B09B1/00; B09C; B09C1/00; B09C1/08; E; E02; E02D; E02D31/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for providing confinement of material in a porous medium in the earth comprising electrically heating a limited region of the porous medium by applying electric power between electrodes disposed in the earth to heat said region to temperature above that at which there is a substantial decrease in the conductivity of the material between the electrodes and below 300° C. to drive substantially all of the free water from open spaces of said medium in said region, thereafter introducing into said open spaces in said medium hydrocarbonaceous material in a liquid state which will set into a substantially impermeable, substantially solid structure, and setting said liquid material in said open spaces to form a substantially impermeable, substantially solid structure in said medium in said region.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for providing confinement of material in a porous medium in the earth comprising electrically heating a limited region of the porous medium by applying electric power between electrodes disposed in the earth to heat said region to temperature above that at which there is a substantial decrease in the conductivity of the material between the electrodes and below 300° C. to drive substantially all of the free water from open spaces of said medium in said region, thereafter introducing into said open spaces in said medium hydrocarbonaceous material in a liquid state which will set into a substantially impermeable, substantially solid structure, and setting said liquid material in said open spaces to form a substantially impermeable, substantially solid structure in said medium in said region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said introducing and setting of said liquid material provide a substantially impermeable barrier in said region.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
36 words
A method according to either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said heating is continued above the boiling point of water to drive a substantial amount of free water from closed pores of said medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said liquid material has a contact angle in respect to said medium after said heating as to wet said medium to draw said liquid material into pores of said medium by capillary attraction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said liquid material is normally solid at ambient temperature, is liquid at the temperature of said heated medium, is melted prior to its introduction into said spaces, and is set by cooling said medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said liquid material is normally solid at ambient temperature, is liquid at the temperature of said heated medium, is melted prior to its introduction into said spaces, and is set by cooling said medium.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
33 words
A method according to either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said heating is continued above the boiling point of water to drive a substantial amount of bound water from said medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said liquid material has a contact angle in respect to said medium after said heating as to wet said medium to draw said liquid material into pores of said medium by capillary attraction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said liquid material is normally solid at ambient temperature, is liquid at the temperature of said heated medium, is melted prior to its introduction into said spaces, and is set by cooling said medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said liquid material is normally solid at ambient temperature, is liquid at the temperature of said heated medium, is melted prior to its introduction into said spaces, and is set by cooling said medium.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
45 words
A method according to either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said liquid material has a contact angle in respect to said medium after said heating as to wet said medium to draw said liquid material into pores of said medium by capillary attraction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said liquid material is normally solid at ambient temperature, is liquid at the temperature of said heated medium, is melted prior to its introduction into said pores, and is set by cooling said medium.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
46 words
A method according to either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said liquid material is normally solid at ambient temperature, is liquid at the temperature of said heated medium, is melted prior to its introduction into said spaces, and is set by cooling said medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein said liquid material is asphalt or low-density polyethylene.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
19 words
A method according to either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said liquid material is a thermosetting resin.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
31 words
A method according to either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said liquid material is a resin and said setting is performed by curing with a slowly acting curing agent.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
73 words
A method according to either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said heating is effected by bounding a volume of the earth including at least a portion of said region with two rows of electrodes, disposing a central row of electrodes between said two rows, and applying electric power between said central row of electrodes and said two rows of electrodes, and said liquid is introduced down electrodes of said central row.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
27 words
A method according to either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said heating is effected by applying electric power between said electrodes in a single row.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
51 words
A method according to either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said heating is effected by applying electric power between two rows of electrodes to vaporize water in the region between the rows while dissipating heat outwardly from near said electrodes to cooler regions of the earth outside said rows.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said impermeable barrier surrounds and contains a contained volume.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein said impermeable barrier extends from the surface of the earth to a substantially impermeable zone in the earth.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said impermeable barrier extends from the surface of the earth around and under a contained volume.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said liquid medium upon setting is substantially leachproof and is introduced and set to encapsulate noxious material.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
42 words
A method according to either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said liquid material is injected into said medium under superatmosphere pressure, said pressure in pounds per square inch being less than 3 times the height of the overburden in feet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US30738A
Cited
US464771A
Cited
US528367A
Cited
US695583A
Cited
US2099328A
Cited
US2235695A
Cited
US2333287A
Cited
US3251975A
Cited
US3262274A
Cited
US3379013A
Cited
US3688507A
Cited
US3608318A
Cited
US3690106A
Cited
US3656306A
Cited
US3800544A
Cited
US4073152A
Cited
US4309129A
Cited
US4244664A
Cited
US4311340A
Cited
US4326820A
Cited
SU837997A1
Cited
USRE30738E
Cited
US4375930A
Cited
US4358221A
Cited
US4376598B1
Cited
US4376598A
Cited
US4465401A
Cited
US4430256A
Cited
US4449856A
Cited
US4496268A
Cited
US4545435A
Cited
US4634187A
Cited
US4670634A
Cited
US4646277A
Cited
US4687372A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-12 | 1993-08-14 | 1994-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-12 | 1997-08-14 | 1998-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-12 | 2001-08-14 | 2002-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |