Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical heater for use in down-hole operations together with methods for operating such in oil/gas wells. The chemical heater comprises a heater body (1) housing a chemical reaction heat source material (2). The heater body (1) has a leading end that, in use, is deployed down-hole first. The heater is provided with ignition means (3), located in a heating zone proximal to the leading end of the heater body, for triggering a chemical reaction in the chemical reaction heat source material located in the heating zone (4, 4a). The heater is further provided with an actuator (5,6) housed within the heater body (1) and configured to urge the chemical reaction heat source material (2) towards the heating zone so as to generate a focused heating pattern.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a rainfall sensing two-component high-polymer grouting device and a manufacturing method therefor, and belongs to the technical field of soil protection. The present invention includes an iron box and a water bucket. The water bucket is slidably fitted in the iron box. An inner bottom of the iron box is provided with a pair of lever upturning apparatuses symmetrically distributed about an axis center of the iron box. A lower surface of the iron box is provided with a curing agent ejector and a resin ejector. An end of two lever upturning apparatuses is slidably connected to a low surface of the water bucket. The switches of the curing agent ejector and the resin ejector are respectively connected to the other end of a lever upturning apparatus. A peripheral surface of the water bucket is provided with a permeable hole, and a permeable head is installed on the permeable hole.

Abstract: A bath electrical heating device for deactivation designed to provide heating of bath deactivation and the deactivating solution in it before deactivation of reactor facility equipment and ensuring the removal of excess heat in the process of deactivation. The invention improves reliability, reduces the material consumption of the device and simplifies the structure installation and repair. The device performs at least from three heat insulation blocks in the form of coaxial metal screens, installed with an air gap from the heater. The heater with current leads is made in hermetic perform, each heat insulation blocks supplemented with an air-gap coaxial metal protective casing. The air gap of which in the upper part is covered with a cap with a visor whose diameter exceeds the external diameter of the protective casing, wherein solid cover of the upper protective casing install a sealed coupling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating contaminated soil. A method for treating contaminated soil according to the present invention comprises: a flushing step of inserting a spraying rod including a nozzle into soil to spray a flushing liquid or an oxidizing liquid thereto; a first collection step of collecting floating material from the soil after the flushing step; a first phase separation step of separating the floating material collected in the first collection step into a liquid phase material and a solid phase material; a heating step of inserting a heating member into the solid fraction separated in the phase separation step to heat the solid fraction; a second collection step of collecting steam generated by the heating step; and a pyrolysis step of separating a gas phase material from the floating material from the floating material separated in the second collection step and performing heat treatment.

Abstract: A system for forming a piling structure includes a hollow casing, a control assembly positioned proximately to the hollow casing, and a pivoting support device connected to the control assembly. A pivoting electrode is connected to the pivoting support device and configured to extend into the hollow casing. A second electrode is connected to the control assembly and extends into the hollow casing within the range of motion of the pivoting electrode. An electric power source is connected to the pivoting electrode and the second electrode, wherein charge on the electrodes produces a current arc between the pivoting electrode and the second electrode. A lift mechanism is positioned proximately to the hollow casing to control the electrodes position within the hollow casing.

Abstract: Wells are sealed by means of thermite reaction charges inserted into the wells. The reaction charge can be diluted by addition of metal oxides, silica, or the like control reaction pressure, peak temperature, reaction rate, and expansion characteristics of the resulting thermite plug. The use of dilution of the thermite reactants can take the form of a thermite charge with specific layers, including relatively high and low reaction temperature layers. The ignition source can be oriented to achieve directional control on the product expansion including radial or axial expansion. The charge can be loaded with a large mass to compress the resulting thermite plug into the borehole wall and reduce its porosity during the reaction process. A further variation involves continuous feed of the thermite reactants to the reaction zone. Various combinations and permutations of the above inventive concepts are described.

Abstract: An articulating conduit linkage system for maintaining a fluid connection between a fluid source and displaceable conduit that has been buried in a subsiding permeable body. A fluid source can supply a working fluid through a source outlet. A displaceable conduit can receive the working fluid through a conduit inlet, and be buried at a depth within a subsiding permeable body that is contained within a permeability control infrastructure. A plurality of articulating conduit segments can include, an outer conduit segment coupled to the source outlet, an inner conduit segment coupled to the conduit inlet, and at least one middle conduit segment coupled to the outer and inner segments. In the event of a subsidence, the plurality of articulating conduit segments are configured so the outer and inner conduit segments extend the conduit linkage system while maintaining a working fluid connection between the source outlet and the conduit inlet.

Abstract: Materials and methods of synthesizing mixed-layered bismuth oxy-iodine materials, which can be synthesized in the presence of aqueous radioactive iodine species found in caustic solutions (e.g. NaOH or KOH). This technology provides a one-step process for both iodine sequestration and storage from nuclear fuel cycles. It results in materials that will be durable for repository conditions much like those found in Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and estimated for Yucca Mountain (YMP). By controlled reactant concentrations, optimized compositions of these mixed-layered bismuth oxy-iodine inorganic materials are produced that have both a high iodine weight percentage and a low solubility in groundwater environments.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A mined hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. Hydrocarbon products can be collected from intermediate locations within the permeable body. Advantageously, an intermediate fluid collection system can be used to draw a hydrocarbon product from the permeable body at preselected locations. Such intermediate collection can provide hydrocarbon product fractions which can reduce or eliminate the need for full-scale distillation of a hydrocarbon product having a full range of products such as that typically found in crude oil.

Abstract: A method of preventing egress of a vapor from an encapsulated volume can include forming a substantially impermeable vapor barrier along an inner surface of the encapsulated volume. The encapsulated volume includes a permeable body of comminuted hydro carbonaceous material. Further, the vapor barrier can include an insulating layer capable of maintaining a temperature gradient of at least 400° F. across the insulating layer. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to liberate hydrocarbons therefrom and the hydrocarbons can be collected from the permeable body. The vapor barrier layer can be a single or multiple layer construction, depending on the specific materials chosen.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. During heating and removal of hydrocarbons and subsequent thereto a positive pressure can be maintained within the encapsulated volume by means of a non-oxidizing gas to expedite flushing of hydrocarbonaceous material, inhibit unwanted entry of oxygen into the encapsulated volume and remove recoverable hydrocarbons following the heating process.

Abstract: A constructed permeability control infrastructure can include a permeability control impoundment, which defines a substantially encapsulated volume. The infrastructure can also include a comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material within the encapsulated volume. The comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The infrastructure can further include at least one convection driving conduit oriented in a lower portion of the permeable body to generate bulk convective flow patterns throughout the permeable body. An associated method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure, which defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material.

Abstract: Materials and methods of making low-sintering-temperature glass waste forms that sequester radioactive iodine in a strong and durable structure. First, the iodine is captured by an adsorbant, which forms an iodine-loaded material, e.g., AgI, AgI-zeolite, AgI-mordenite, Ag-silica aerogel, ZnI2, CuI, or Bi5O7I. Next, particles of the iodine-loaded material are mixed with powdered frits of low-sintering-temperature glasses (comprising various oxides of Si, B, Bi, Pb, and Zn), and then sintered at a relatively low temperature, ranging from 425° C. to 550° C. The sintering converts the mixed powders into a solid block of a glassy waste form, having low iodine leaching rates. The vitrified glassy waste form can contain as much as 60 wt % AgI. A preferred glass, having a sintering temperature of 500° C. (below the silver iodide sublimation temperature of 500° C.) was identified that contains oxides of boron, bismuth, and zinc, while containing essentially no lead or silicon.

Abstract: A constructed permeability control infrastructure can include a permeability control impoundment defining a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted water-containing hydrocarbonaceous material can form a permeable body within the encapsulated volume. The impoundment includes a water vapor outlet for removing water vapor from the encapsulated volume. A heating device is also embedded within the permeable body to provide convective heating thereof. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to initially remove water therefrom as a water vapor. The water vapor can be removed from the infrastructure via the outlet which can be controlled or shut off when the permeable body is sufficiently dewatered. The dewatered permeable body can then be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. During heating the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. During heating the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure. Removed hydrocarbons can be collected for further processing, use in the process, and/or use as recovered.

Abstract: Processes and methods relating to treating contaminants and collecting desired substances from a zone of interest using subterranean collection and containment barriers. Tubular casings having interlock structures are used to create subterranean barriers for containing and treating buried waste and its effluents. The subterranean barrier includes an effluent collection system. Treatment solutions provided to the zone of interest pass therethrough and are collected by the barrier and treated or recovered, allowing on-site remediation. Barrier components may be used to in the treatment by collecting or removing contaminants or other materials from the zone of interest.

Abstract: A method for in-situ dense non-aqueous phase liquids treatment in which a subsurface source area comprising at least one rapid release contaminant is located and free water removed therefrom. The subsurface source area is then heated to a temperature suitable for extracting the at least one rapid release contaminant from the subsurface source area. The at least one rapid release contaminant is extracted from the subsurface source area, resulting in solidification of the dense non-aqueous phase liquids remaining in the subsurface source area.

Abstract: An electrode assembly comprising concentric tubular electrodes is provided for high temperature processing of materials. The electrode assembly is connected with a power supply that includes switching means for alternatively operating the electrode assembly in a transferred mode of operation, in a non-transferred mode of operation, or according to a controlled sequence of non-transferred and transferred modes of operation. The power supply system includes variable inductors, such as leakage-coupled reactors, for controlling the electrical power supplied to the electrodes for producing a DC arc. The electrode assembly can be incorporated into an arc furnace for processing waste material in the furnace. The electrode assembly is also suitable for use in the practice of in-situ vitrification and remediation of contaminated soil.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plasma process and appropriate equipment well adapted for eliminating toxic or hazardous organic compounds, such as petroleum, oils, pesticides, herbicides and various hydrocarbons, orginitated from petrochemical spills or inappropriate discard/handling, from different materials, such assail, sludges; the process and appropriate equipment can also be used to remove the hydrocarbons contained in the sludge formed at the bottom of petroleum storage tanks. The plasma process, with the appropriate equipment, object of the invention, has the following advantages as compared to the other processes used to treat similar materials: removal of the contaminants to less than 0.1% in weight of the soil or sludge; continuous operation; possibility of recovering the contaminants when desired; high energy efficiency of the process; and insignificant amount of gases to be treated.

Abstract: An electrode assembly comprising concentric tubular electrodes is provided for high temperature processing of materials. The electrode assembly is connected with a power supply that includes switching means for alternatively operating the electrode assembly in a transferred mode of operation, in a non-transferred mode of operation, or according to a controlled sequence of non-transferred and transferred modes of operation. The power supply system includes variable inductors, such as leakage-coupled reactors, for controlling the electrical power supplied to the electrodes for producing a DC arc. The electrode assembly can be incorporated into an arc furnace for processing waste material in the furnace. The electrode assembly is also suitable for use in the practice of in-situ vitrification and remediation of contaminated soil.