Method for formation of subsurface barriers using viscous colloids
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsJohn A. Apps, Peter Persoff, George Moridis, Karsten Pruess
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Abstract
A method for formation of subsurface barriers using viscous liquids where a viscous liquid solidifies at a controlled rate after injection into soil and forms impermeable isolation of the material enclosed within the subsurface barriers. The viscous liquid is selected from the group consisting of polybutenes, polysilotanes, colloidal silica and modified colloidal silica of which solidification is controlled by gelling, cooling or cross-linking. Solidification timing is controlled by dilution, addition of brines, coating with alumina, stabilization with various agents and by temperature.
Claims19
A method for formation of subsurface barriers comprising steps:
- (a) emplacing into a subsurface a grout comprising a viscous colloid selected from the group consisting of a colloidal silica, modified colloidal silica, polysiloxane and polybutene;
- and
- (b) solidifying said colloid in place.
A method for formation of subsurface barriers comprising steps:
- (a) emplacing into a subsurface a grout comprising a viscous colloid selected from the group consisting of a colloidal silica, modified colloidal silica, polysiloxane and polybutene;
- (b) solidifying said colloid in place by gelling, cross-linking or cooling;
- and
- (c) controlling a timing of said solidification of step (b) by dilution of said viscous colloid, by addition of a brine, by coating with alumina, by stabilization and by changing the temperature of the viscous colloid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.