Abstract: Methods for calibrating an emission rate measurement of a gas are provided. The methods involve discharging a reference gas that is the same or a different composition than a subject gas. If the same or similar, then a combined emission rate of the reference and subject gas is measured, as well as an emission rate of the subject gas only. A deviation, or an one or more adjusted parameter, of the combined and subject gas measurement from the reference gas discharge rate is used to calibrate the subject gas measurement. If the reference gas is different, the emission rates of the subject and reference gas are measured, and a deviation, or an one or more adjusted parameter, of the measured rate from the discharge rate of the reference gas is used in calibrating the subject gas measurement. The methods may also use a modified 2-D tracer measurement as a reference.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a fugitive emission flux measurement of airborne matter is provided. The method involves measuring the airborne matter along one or more than one measurement surface that spans the fugitive emission using two or more than two measurement beam paths where each of the two or more than two measurement beam paths are parallel to each other, or substantially parallel to each other, and determining a mass per unit length measurement for the measurement surface, determining a representative wind velocity at or near the one or more than one measurement surface, and calculating the fugitive emission flux of the airborne matter in mass per unit time using the mass per unit length determination and representative wind velocity.

Abstract: A method of mapping concentrations of airborne matter from an emission source of interest in an emission plume is provided. The method involves measuring airborne matter at one or more than one identified locations using an optical sensing instrument (OSI) operatively connected with one or more than one matter samplers and mounted on a vehicle. The one or more than one airborne matter samplers are passed through an airspace to be sampled, and one or more concentration measurements are obtained. Geographic positions and altitude values for each of the one or more identified locations are established, and a point concentration measurement for the airborne matter for each identified location determined. The concentration measurements are mapped relative to the geographic position and altitude values for each of the one or more identified locations to obtain an airborne matter concentration distribution map in one or more measurement surfaces through a cross-section or profile of the emission plume.

Abstract: A method of mapping concentrations of airborne matter from an emission source of interest in an emission plume is provided. The method involves measuring airborne matter at one or more than one identified locations using an optical sensing instrument (OSI) operatively connected with one or more than one matter samplers and mounted on a vehicle. The one or more than one airborne matter samplers are passed through an airspace to be sampled, and one or more concentration measurements are obtained. Geographic positions and altitude values for each of the one or more identified locations are established, and a point concentration measurement for the airborne matter for each identified location determined. The concentration measurements are mapped relative to the geographic position and altitude values for each of the one or more identified locations to obtain an airborne matter concentration distribution map in one or more measurement surfaces through a cross-section or profile of the emission plume.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a fugitive emission flux measurement of airborne matter is provided. The method involves measuring the airborne matter along one or more than one measurement surface that spans the fugitive emission using two or more than two measurement beam paths where each of the two or more than two measurement beam paths are parallel to each other, or substantially parallel to each other, and determining a mass per unit length measurement for the measurement surface, determining a representative wind velocity at or near the one or more than one measurement surface, and calculating the fugitive emission flux of the airborne matter in mass per unit time using the mass per unit length determination and representative wind velocity.

Abstract: A method of performing soil decontamination including mechanically mixing the soil with solid oxidant prior to any addition of water and until an exothermic reaction between the oxidant and contaminants within the soil occur, adding only necessary water to obtain an homogeneous mix between the soil and the oxidant, and mechanically mixing the soil with the oxidant and the water for a predetermined period of time to allow the oxidant to at least partially oxidize the contaminants.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a fugitive emission flux measurement of airborne matter is provided. The method involves measuring the airborne matter along one or more than one measurement plane that spans the fugitive emission using two or more than two measurement beam paths where each of the two or more than two measurement beam paths are parallel to each other, or substantially parallel to each other, and determining a mass per unit length measurement for the measurement plane, determining a representative wind velocity at or near the one or more than one measurement plane, and calculating the fugitive emission flux of the airborne matter in mass per unit time using the mass per unit length determination and representative wind velocity.

Abstract: A ground fracturing probe to form fractures in subsurface formations includes an elongate, hollow body with a conical penetrating tip at its distal end. A threaded tool joint is at the other end of the body to allow the probe to be coupled to the drill string of a drilling rig. A helical flight is on the exterior surface of the body and extends along a portion of the body length between the tool joint and the penetrating tip. The helical flight varies in diameter over its length to define a cutting zone adjacent the penetrating tip, an injection zone above the cutting zone and a sealing zone above the injection zone. The helical flight increases in diameter in the cutting zone from the tip to the injection zone but decreases abruptly in diameter at the injection zone. The diameter of the flight remains constant in the injection zone and increases in diameter at the interface between the injection zone and the sealing zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of constructing a free standing structure in a body of water, comprising the steps of attaching an impervious membrane to a floating formwork, filling the membrane with water thereby expanding it, partially filling the expanded membrane with non-hardenable particulate material which settles to form a body within the expanded membrane resting on the bed of the body of water, removing water from the particulate body so that the body of water exerting a confining pressure on the particulate body renders it coherent, and filling a remaining upper portion of the expanded membrane with a material which hardens.