Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for repairing an underground structure such as a pipe or manhole. The apparatus includes a liner assembly made of resin absorbent material. Some embodiments may further include a bladder assembly to help position the liner and press the liner against the walls of the underground structure. A sealing member is positioned in the underground structure. In some embodiments the sealing member is a separate member made from a compressible material, an absorbent material, or a hydrophilic or hydrophobic material. In other embodiments the sealing member is a portion of the liner assembly. The sealing member includes one or more channels adapted to receive a semi-liquid such as a hydrophilic or hydrophobic paste or grout. The semi-liquid is capable of swelling in response to being exposed to another liquid, such as water, and forms a seal between the liner assembly and the host pipe/manhole.

Abstract: Water is injected into a top of a liquefied gas tank (water injection step); residual stored liquid in the tank is vaporized by heats of water injected in the water injection step so that the vaporized gas discharges from the top of the tank (residual liquid vaporization/discharge step); even after all of the stored liquid is vaporized in the residual liquid vaporization/discharge step, the injection of the water into the tank is continued to melt ice solidified through cold heat appropriation of the stored liquid in the residual liquid vaporization/discharge step and return the temperature in the tank to normal temperature (hot-up step); and attained is water discharge from a bottom of the tank having the temperature in the tank returned to normal temperature in the hot-up step while inert gas is supplied into the tank (water discharge step).

Abstract: Methods and systems for establishing a double barrier around at least a portion of a subsurface treatment area in a hydrocarbon containing formation are disclosed. First barrier wells may be used to form a first barrier around a portion of the subsurface treatment area. Second barrier wells may be used to form a second barrier around the first barrier. A space may exist between the first barrier and the second barrier. The first barrier and second barrier may be inhibited from forming a single combined barrier by the injection, and in some cases circulation, of fluids such as saline water.

Abstract: A novel method and system for storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern is provided. Particularly, the storage process involves storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern without seepage or leakage of the stored hydrogen through the salt cavern walls, by creating a substantially impermeable permeation barrier along the salt cavern walls. The cavern pressure is monitored and controlled to ensure formation and maintenance of the substantially impermeable permeation barrier. Optional temperature treatments may also be incorporated as desired.

Abstract: A novel method and system for storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern is provided. Particularly, the storage process involves storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern without seepage or leakage of the stored hydrogen through the salt cavern walls, by creating a permeation barrier along the salt cavern walls. The cavern pressure is monitored and controlled to ensure formation and maintenance of the permeation barrier. Optional temperature treatments may also be incorporated as desired.

Abstract: A temperature control system for a building comprises a thermal collection system, a plurality of underground heat sinks, and a heat exchanger. The thermal collection system includes at least one fluid channel. The thermal collection system is configured to heat or cool fluid within the at least one fluid channel. A first and a second underground heat sink are configured to receive the fluid from the thermal collection system. The first underground heat sink absorbs heat from the fluid in order to heat the first underground heat sink. The second underground heat sink transfers heat to the fluid in order to cool the second underground heat sink. The heat exchanger is configured to receive fluid from the first or second underground heat sink in order to heat or cool the building.

Abstract: A coal formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. The portion may be allowed or forced to cool after mixture production is ended. Carbon dioxide may be stored within the portion.

Abstract: Encapsulating calcined radioactive waste in strong, corrosion-resistant spheres of dimensions such that heat from the radiation melts the ice at a rate which brings the spheres to the bottom of the permanent icefield in a relatively short time, with the resulting waste ultimately being no more hazardous than natural uranium ore.

Abstract: An irrigation system comprising a closed-loop piping system, a portion of which is a condensing section extending on or below ground surface, and at least another portion of which is a cool-collecting section buried under ground at a cool ground zone. The closed-loop piping holds a liquid which is propelled by a circulating system through the piping system. The liquid is chilled by heat exchanging at the cool ground zone and then flows to the condensing section where moisture from the vicinity is extracted by condensation over the condensing section. The moisture is readily available for consumption by agriculture growth.

Abstract: An irrigation system comprising an energized cooling system for cooling the fluid to a temperature below ground temperature, colosed-loop condensation piping buried under ground surface and an energized fluid circulating arrangement for circulating the fluid through the system, whereby propelling the cooled fluid through the piping extracts moisture from the ground by condensation over the piping, for consumption by agriculture growth in the vicinity of the piping.

Abstract: A new method for making large underground storage caverns in bedded or domal salt deposits for the storage of fluid materials in areas where solution mining water temperatures are low by a process which significantly reduces the amount of time required to make equivalent sized underground storage caverns and which is economically feasible and friendly to the environment. The process includes the warm water solution mining of the underground salt deposits in a manner which conserves the heat contained in the supernatant brine from the underground cavity and employs this heat as a significant source for warming the water employed in the solution mining operation.

Abstract: A method of making a nonporous, substantially liquid-impermeable cryogenic barrier within the Earth, and a nonporuous, substantially liquid-impermeable cryogenic barrier. A triple array of casings extends along respective sets of central axes from arrays of spaced apart locations on the surface of the Earth. A refrigerant is flowed through the two outer arrays of casings to form overlapping, continuous cold columnar regions extending along and about the respective central axes of the casings. The intermediate region between the two outer arrays of casings contains the central array of casings. A heat transtar agent is flowed through a selected subset of casings within the central array of casings to establish a relatively warm region between the continuous cold regions.

Abstract: A method for supplying gas to gas consumers, which method resides in forming a storage reservoir above a gas-saturated water-bearing horizon under development, filling the storage reservoir thus-formed with gas by periodically subjecting the horizon under development to extraneous effects, followed by delivering the gas to gas consumers. Extraneous effects can be exerted by generating elastic vibrations, providing a pressure difference, raising the temperature, applying electromagnetic field oscillations, or combining these factors. If the method of the invention is used in seismically active areas or in regions exposed to effects of elastic vibrations, its efficiency is considerably increased.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for reversibly establishing a closed, flow-impervious cryogenic barrier about a predetermined volume extending downward from a containment site on the surface of the Earth. An array of barrier boreholes extend downward from spaced apart locations on the periphery of the containment site. A flow of a refrigerant medium is established in the barrier boreholes whereby water in the portions of the Earth adjacent to the barrier boreholes freezes to establish ice columns extending radially about the boreholes. The lateral separations of the boreholes and the radii of the ice columns are selected so that adjacent ice columns overlap. The overlapping ice columns collectively establish a closed, flow-impervious barrier about the predetermined volume underlying the containment site. The system may detect and correct potential breaches due to thermal, geophysical, or chemical invasions.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for reversibly establishing a closed, flow-impervious cryogenic barrier about a predetermined volume extending downward from a containment site on the surface of the Earth. An array of barrier boreholes extend downward from spaced apart locations on the periphery of the containment site. A flow of a refrigent medium is established in the barrier boreholes whereby water in the portions of the Earth adjacent to the barrier boreholes freezes to established ice columns extending radially about the boreholes. The lateral separations of the boreholes and the radii of the ice columns are selected so that adjacent ice columns overlap. The overlapping ice columns collectively establish a closed, flow-impervious barrier about the predetermined volume underlying the containment site. The system may detect and correct potential breaches due to thermal, geophysical, or chemical invasions.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for reversibly establishing a closed, flow-impervious cryogenic barrier about a predetermined volume extending downward from a containment site on the surface of the Earth. An array of barrier boreholes extend downward from spaced apart locations on the periphery of the containment site. A flow of a refrigerant medium is established in the barrier boreholes whereby water in the portions of the Earth adjacent to the barrier boreholes freezes to establish ice columns extending radially about the boreholes. The lateral separations of the boreholes and the radii of the ice columns are selected so that adjacent ice columns overlap. The overlapping ice columns collectively establish a closed, flow-impervious barrier about the predetermined volume underlying the containment site. The system may detect and correct potential breaches due to thermal, geophysical, or chemical invasions.

Abstract: The walls of the cavity (10) are interconnected by rounded portions. The cavity (10) may be cylindrical in shape with hemispherical ends (11, 12). This shape reduces cracking in the walls during an initial cavity cooling process.

Abstract: To block the mouth of a well (1) opening out in the ceiling of an underground cavity (2), a part (4) in the shape of a keystone is used, which has a hole through the middle for the passage of pipes (31, 32), suitable cements are then poured in to make the whole system integral, and the well is filled.

Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbon oil having a pour point higher at least than the environmental temperature is loaded into a storage vessel in a state heated up to a temperature above its pour point and is cooled down to a temperature below the point to be stored in a solidified form in the vessel. In unloading the heavy hydrocarbon oil stored in the solidified form in the vessel, the upper portion of the oil in the vessel is heated up to a temperature above its pour point, and the successively fluidized oil portions are pumped out of the vessel.

Abstract: In an underground storage, containing hot or cold storage materials, a circulating gas or fluid is passed in a plurality of conducts in the walls, floor, and ceiling of the storage and near their surface towards the storage, and, if a container or containing vessel is constructed inside the walls of said underground storage, the gas or the fluid is conducted either in the mentioned outer wall as previously mentioned or between the wall of the container and the outer rock walls, particularly in the last mentioned case also in ducts or in galleries with guiding devices for the medium to insure a corresponding contact with surfaces involved, or, in some cases, in the interior of said container wall.