In situ construction of containment vault under a radioactive or hazardous waste site
OwnerErnest E. Carter, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for constructing, verifying, and maintaining underground vaults that isolate and contain radioactive burial sites. The method employs a buoyant lift technique to isolate a block of soil containing the contaminates from the surrounding soil. An impermeable synthetic liner is embedded in the vault to enhance the integrity of the system. The integrity of the vault is monitored by a system of sensors placed both inside and outside of the sealed vault. The method eliminates the need to excavate or drill in the contaminated areas.
Claims70
A method for constructing a subterranean containment structure in situ around a site to be contained, comprising the steps of:
- (a) directionally drilling a plurality of holes under the site to be contained;
- (b) placing a pipe and at least one tensile member into each of said plurality of holes;
- (c) connecting at least one tensile member from each adjacent hole so that connected tensile members may be drawn in a continuous loop through the subterranean regions disposed between adjacent holes;
- (d) drawing a cutting tool through the entire length of the connected tensile members;
- (e) cutting a path through the subterranean regions disposed between adjacent holes with the cutting tool;
- and
- (f) placing a material in said path so as to form said subterranean containment structure.
A method for constructing a subterranean structure in situ along a subterranean pathway, having at least one section, comprising the steps of:
- (a) directionally drilling at least one hole along at least a portion of an edge said section;
- (b) installing at least two elongated members side by side into said at least one hole;
- and
- (c) cutting the subterranean pathway using at least one of said elongated members as a cutting means.
A method for constructing a subterranean basement structure in situ, comprising the steps of:
- (a) digging a trench along at least a portion of the perimeter of said basement structure to the desired depth of the bottom perimeter of the structure;
- (b) installing at least one elongated cutting member into said trench;
- (c) at least partially filling the trench with a fluid which can solidify to form a wall of the subterranean basement structure;
- and
- (d) cutting a subterranean pathway substantially at the elevation of the bottom of the trench by manipulating the at least one elongated member through the subterranean pathway so as to form a floor of the subterranean basement structure.
A method for constructing an impermeable subterranean basement structure in situ under a site, comprising the steps of:
- (a) digging a trench along at least a portion of the perimeter of said site;
- (b) at least partially filling said trench with a fluid which will solidify to form an impermeable material;
- (c) placing a cutting means into the trench which cuts a subterranean pathway underneath the site;
- and
- (d) filling the subterranean pathway with an impermeable grout material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.