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US 8,137,030 B2Granted
Disposal of slurry in underground geologic formations
AssigneeEnerTech Environmental, Inc.
InventorRaymond J. Kearney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The current invention provides processes and apparatuses for introducing slurry into underground geological formations thereby disposing of the slurry, while also sequestering carbon dioxide and collecting methane from the slurry.
Claims21
A method comprising:
- (a) introducing a slurry into an underground geological formation under conditions such that the slurry produces methane;
- and
- (b) collecting the methane;
- wherein
- (c) the slurry introduced into the underground geological formation is obtained from sewage sludge that has been processed with sufficient heat at a temperature of between 150° C. to 315° C. and pressure of between 400 psi to 1200 psi in order to:
- (1) rupture biological cells contained in the sewage sludge, thereby freeing water trapped in the cells, reducing the viscosity of the sewage sludge such that the slurry has a viscosity between 30 cP and 2600 cP, and reducing the size of particles contained in the sewage sludge such that at least 95% of particles contained in the slurry are less than 300 micrometers in size;
- and
- (2) reduce the amount of water in the sewage sludge converted to steam during the processing.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- (a) introducing a slurry into an underground geological formation under conditions such that the slurry produces methane;
- and
- (b) collecting the methane;
- wherein
- (c) the slurry introduced into the underground geological formation is obtained from sewage sludge that has been processed at a temperature of between 150° C. to 315° C. and at a pressure sufficient to maintain water in the slurry in liquid phase in order to:
- (1) rupture biological cells contained in the sewage sludge, thereby freeing water trapped in the cells, reducing the viscosity of the sewage sludge such that the slurry has a viscosity between 30 cP and 2600 cP, and reducing the size of particles contained in the sewage sludge;
- and
- (2) reduce the amount of water in the sewage sludge converted to steam during the processing.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- (a) introducing a slurry into an underground geological formation under conditions such that the slurry produces methane;
- and
- (b) collecting the methane;
- wherein
- (c) the slurry introduced into the underground geological formation is obtained from sewage sludge that has been processed at a temperature of between 150° C. to 315° C. and at a pressure sufficient to maintain water in the slurry in liquid phase in order to:
- (1) rupture biological cells contained in the sewage sludge, thereby freeing water trapped in the cells, reducing the viscosity of the sewage sludge, and reducing the size of particles contained in the sewage sludge such that at least 95% of particles contained in the slurry are less than 300 micrometers in size;
- and
- (2) reduce the amount of water in the sewage sludge converted to steam during the processing.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.