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Title: Borehole sealing method and apparatus

Abstract

A method and apparatus is described for sealing boreholes in the earth. The borehole is blocked at the sealing level, and a sealing apparatus capable of melting rock and earth is positioned in the borehole just above seal level. The apparatus is heated to rock-melting temperature and powdered rock or other sealing material is transported down the borehole to the apparatus where it is melted, pooling on the mechanical block and allowed to cool and solidify, sealing the hole. Any length of the borehole can be sealed by slowly raising the apparatus in the borehole while continuously supplying powdered rock to the apparatus to be melted and added to the top of the column of molten and cooling rock, forming a continuous borehole seal. The sealing apparatus consists of a heater capable of melting rock, including means for supplying power to the heater, means for transporting powdered rock down the borehole to the heater, means for cooling the apparatus and means for positioning the apparatus in the borehole.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Richland, WA
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
862833
Patent Number(s):
US 4024916
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States Energy (Washington, DC)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC06-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
borehole; sealing; method; apparatus; described; boreholes; earth; blocked; level; capable; melting; rock; positioned; seal; heated; rock-melting; temperature; powdered; material; transported; melted; pooling; mechanical; block; allowed; cool; solidify; length; sealed; slowly; raising; continuously; supplying; added; top; column; molten; cooling; forming; continuous; consists; heater; including; means; power; transporting; positioning; sealing apparatus; supplying power; including means; apparatus consists; sealing material; melting temperature; apparatus capable; sealing method; /166/

Citation Formats

Hartley, James N, and Jansen, Jr., George. Borehole sealing method and apparatus. United States: N. p., 1977. Web.
Hartley, James N, & Jansen, Jr., George. Borehole sealing method and apparatus. United States.
Hartley, James N, and Jansen, Jr., George. 1977. "Borehole sealing method and apparatus". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/862833.
@article{osti_862833,
title = {Borehole sealing method and apparatus},
author = {Hartley, James N and Jansen, Jr., George},
abstractNote = {A method and apparatus is described for sealing boreholes in the earth. The borehole is blocked at the sealing level, and a sealing apparatus capable of melting rock and earth is positioned in the borehole just above seal level. The apparatus is heated to rock-melting temperature and powdered rock or other sealing material is transported down the borehole to the apparatus where it is melted, pooling on the mechanical block and allowed to cool and solidify, sealing the hole. Any length of the borehole can be sealed by slowly raising the apparatus in the borehole while continuously supplying powdered rock to the apparatus to be melted and added to the top of the column of molten and cooling rock, forming a continuous borehole seal. The sealing apparatus consists of a heater capable of melting rock, including means for supplying power to the heater, means for transporting powdered rock down the borehole to the heater, means for cooling the apparatus and means for positioning the apparatus in the borehole.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/862833}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1977},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1977}
}