Methods and system for subsurface stabilization using jet grouting

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999

OSTI ID:872642

Loomis, Guy G ^[1]; Weidner, Jerry R ^[2]; Farnsworth, Richard K ^[1]; Gardner, Bradley M ^[1]; Jessmore, James J ^[1]

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1. Idaho Falls, ID
2. Iona, ID

Methods and systems are provided for stabilizing a subsurface area such as a buried waste pit for either long term storage, or interim storage and retrieval. A plurality of holes are drilled into the subsurface area with a high pressure drilling system provided with a drill stem having jet grouting nozzles. A grouting material is injected at high pressure through the jet grouting nozzles into a formed hole while the drill stem is withdrawn from the hole at a predetermined rate of rotation and translation. A grout-filled column is thereby formed with minimal grout returns, which when overlapped with other adjacent grout-filled columns encapsulates and binds the entire waste pit area to form a subsurface agglomeration or monolith of grout, soil, and waste. The formed monolith stabilizes the buried waste site against subsidence while simultaneously providing a barrier against contaminate migration. The stabilized monolith can be left permanently in place or can be retrieved if desired by using appropriate excavation equipment. The jet grouting technique can also be utilized in a pretreatment approach prior to in situ vitrification of a buried waste site. The waste encapsulation methods and systems are applicable to buried waste materials such as mixed waste, hazardous waste, or radioactive waste.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-94ID13223
• Assignee: Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company (Idaho Falls, ID)
• Patent Number(s): US 5980446
• OSTI ID: 872642
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

methods
subsurface
stabilization
jet
grouting
systems
provided
stabilizing
buried
waste
pit
term
storage
interim
retrieval
plurality
holes
drilled
pressure
drilling
drill
nozzles
material
injected
formed
withdrawn
predetermined
rate
rotation
translation
grout-filled
column
minimal
grout
returns
overlapped
adjacent
columns
encapsulates
binds
entire
form
agglomeration
monolith
soil
stabilizes
site
subsidence
simultaneously
providing
barrier
contaminate
migration
stabilized
left
permanently
retrieved
desired
appropriate
excavation
equipment
technique
utilized
pretreatment
approach
prior
situ
vitrification
encapsulation
applicable
materials
mixed
hazardous
radioactive
term storage
situ vitrification
simultaneously providing
mixed waste
buried waste
hazardous waste
waste material
waste materials
radioactive waste
predetermined rate
waste site
interim storage
encapsulation method
/588/405/