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 and system for stopping the flow of petroleum from a location along a pipe extending from an underground petroleum deposit, when the location is at, below, or above the surface of the earth. Initially, the location is identified of at least one underground segment of the pipe between the deposit and said location along the pipe. Then, a fluid flow path is established from at least one point on the surface of the earth displaced from the identified point along the pipe to the underground region adjacent to at least one of the underground segments. A flow of a coolant is established in or along the fluid flow path and that flow is controlled whereby sufficient heat is extracted from the underground segment, in effect lowering the temperature of the flowing oil, so that the flow rate of petroleum flowing through the segment is reduced substantially to zero. The blockage may be removed by heating frozen oil in the segment so that flow of oil may be re-established in the well pipe.

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.