Process of breaking and rendering permeable a subterranean rock mass

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:863656

Lekas, Mitchell A.

The process of the present invention involves the following steps: producing, as by hydrofracing, a substantially horizontal fracture in the subterranean rock mass to be processed; emplacing an explosive charge in the mass in spaced juxtaposed position to the fracture; enlarging the fracture to create a void space thereat, an initial lifting of the overburden, and to provide a free face juxtaposed to and arranged to cooperate with the emplaced explosive charge; and exploding the charge against the free face for fragmenting the rock and to distribute the space, thus providing fractured, pervious, rubble-ized rock in an enclosed subterranean chamber. Firing of the charge provides a further lifting of the overburden, an enlargement of the chamber and a larger void space to distribute throughout the rubble-ized rock within the chamber. In some forms of the invention an explosive charge is used to produce a transitory enlargement of the fracture, and the juxtaposed emplaced charge is fired during the critical period of enlargement of the fracture.

• Research Organization: Geokinetics Inc., Concord, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FC20-78LC10787
• Assignee: Geokinetics Inc. (Concord, CA)
• Patent Number(s): 4,223,734
• Application Number: 05/959070
• OSTI ID: 863656
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 1978 Nov 09
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

process
breaking
rendering
permeable
subterranean
rock
mass
involves
following
steps
producing
hydrofracing
substantially
horizontal
fracture
processed
emplacing
explosive
charge
spaced
juxtaposed
position
enlarging
create
void
space
thereat
initial
lifting
overburden
provide
free
arranged
cooperate
emplaced
exploding
fragmenting
distribute
providing
fractured
pervious
rubble-ized
enclosed
chamber
firing
provides
enlargement
larger
throughout
forms
produce
transitory
fired
critical
period
substantially horizontal
explosive charge
void space
following steps
rock mass
subterranean rock
/166/102/299/