Method for controlling water influx into underground cavities
AssigneeMobil Oil Corporation
InventorJu-Nam Chew
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method for minimizing the entry of water into a mined cavity or underground formation which has thereabove a semi-permeable layer of a shaly material or rock directly below a source layer of water-saturated sand. By means of a borehole, a fluid such as air or oil is injected into a semi-permeable layer to displace water from it. The injected fluid acts as a barrier to reduce the downward leakage of water into the cavity.
Claims11
A method for minimizing the intrusion of water into a mined cavity in a subterranean formation which is overlain by a semi-permeable layer of shaly sand or other similar material above which layer is the water-bearing source layer comprising:
- (a) inserting a means for placing a fluid just below the semi-permeable layer;
- and
- (b) placing the fluid, with a density less than that of water, just below the semi-permeable layer which fluid via physical means only displaces water in the semi-permeable layer and is trapped below said layer thereby creating by physical means only a barrier to the entry of water into the mined cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.