Waste Barrier, Containment, Or Monitoring Patents (Class 405/129.45)
  • Publication number: 20030190194
    Abstract: An advanced containment system for containing buried waste and associated leachate. A trench is dug on either side of the zone of interest containing the buried waste so as to accommodate a micro tunnel boring machine. A series of small diameter tunnels are serially excavated underneath the buried waste. The tunnels are excavated by the micro tunnel boring machine at a consistent depth and are substantially parallel to each other. As tunneling progresses, steel casing sections are connected end to end in the excavated portion of the tunnel so that a steel tube is formed. Each casing section has complementary interlocking structure running its length that interlocks with complementary interlocking structure on the adjacent casing section. Thus, once the first tube is emplaced, placement of subsequent tubes is facilitated by the complementary interlocking structure on the adjacent, previously placed, casing sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin M. Kostelnik, Hideki Kawamura, John G. Richardson, Masaru Noda
  • Publication number: 20030152427
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Reva A. Nickelson, Stephanie Walsh, John G. Richardson, John R. Dick, Paul A. Sloan
  • Patent number: 6561733
    Abstract: A method for treating a landfill formation. The method includes the steps of preparing a water soluble resin solution, preparing a catalyst solution, and introducing separate streams of the resin and the catalyst into the landfill formation in a manner that avoids mixing air into the resin and catalyst streams and promotes mixing of the resin and catalyst streams to yield a substantially fluid impervious treatment substrate within desired locations in the landfill formations to inhibit effusion of gas and travel of liquids therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Polymaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Sayers, Carleton P. Edmunds
  • Patent number: 6491616
    Abstract: A method for the disposal of biosolids, the method comprising a) providing a supply of biosolids; creating a slurry of the biosolids suitable for injecting; selecting an injection formation below a ground surface, the injection formation comprising a natural gas formation in a gas accumulation zone; injecting the biosolids slurry into the injection formation at a pressure sufficient to create and maintain fractures within the selected injection formation; and allowing degradation of the injected biosolids slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignees: Terralog Technologies USA, Inc., Terralog Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Bruno, Maurice B. Dusseault, Roman Bilak
  • Publication number: 20020182012
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic barrier for particular use in sealing the perimeter of landfill sites, the barrier comprising a geosynthetic clay liner, preferably containing prehydrated sodium bentonite, which geosynthetic clay liner is supported in a substantially vertical orientation by a support frame comprising a pair of spaced apart support frame members between whose substantially parallel inner surfaces the geosynthetic clay liner is located and maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Ivan Rowe
  • Publication number: 20020182011
    Abstract: A systematic method for disposing of industrial waste and increasing production of hydrocarbons from the earth is provided. The method may be used for increasing production of natural gas, natural gas liquids or crude oil. Waste streams from emitters of industrial waste, such as chemical plants, refineries, power plants and other installations are collected and processed to produce streams adapted for use in different types of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Gas streams are processed and injected into depleted or partially depleted gas or oil reservoirs, displacing natural gas that is produced from production wells. Liquid streams are processed and injected into depleted oil reservoirs or gas reservoirs after gas injection. Material that cannot be injected into a hydrocarbon reservoir is injected into a salt dome cavern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Jerry M. Brown
  • Patent number: 6435770
    Abstract: A synthetic cover for bulk material piles and loads in transit may be formed from a slurry mixture of liquid and powder made from recycled gypsum wallboard. These constituents may be mixed and applied to cover a bulk material pile and/or waste pile, and/or to control erosion. The cover will harden to minimize water infiltration, wind blown dust, odor and affinity to birds, flies and other insects. The liquid may include water, landfill leachate and wastewater; the powder from heated recycled gypsum wallboard may include alpha-hemihydrate and shredded paper, beta-hemihydrate and shredded paper or anhydrate and shredded paper. When clean water is used, the cover is non-toxic, non-combustible and harmless to fish, birds, plants and animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Material Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Caijun Shi
  • Publication number: 20020111527
    Abstract: A method for the disposal of biosolids, the method comprising a) providing a supply of biosolids; creating a slurry of the biosolids suitable for injecting; selecting an injection formation below a ground surface, the injection formation comprising a natural gas formation in a gas accumulation zone; injecting the biosolids slurry into the injection formation at a pressure sufficient to create and maintain fractures within the selected injection formation; and allowing degradation of the injected biosolids slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Michael S. Bruno, Maurice B. Dusseault, Roman Bilak
  • Patent number: 6416252
    Abstract: Reactive barriers and methods for making reactive barriers in situ in soil for sequestering soil ontaminants including actinides and heavy metals. The barrier includes phosphate, and techniques are disclosed for forming specifically apatite barriers. The method includes injecting dilute reagents into soil in proximity to a contamination plume or source such as a waste drum to achieve complete or partial encapsulation of the waste. Controlled temperature and pH facilitates rapid formation of apatite, for example, where dilute aqueous calcium chloride and dilute aqueous sodium phosphate are the selected reagents. Mixing of reagents to form precipitate is mediated and enhanced through movement of reagents in soil as a result of phenomena including capillary action, movement of groundwater, soil washing and reagent injection pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: Robert C. Moore
  • Patent number: 6409650
    Abstract: A method for the disposal of biosolids, such as municipal sewage waste, comprising injecting the biosolids into a subsurface injection formation. The method can include recovering methane generated from the degradation of the biosolids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignees: Terralog Technologies USA, Inc., Terralog Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Bruno, Maurice B. Dusseault, Roman Bilak
  • Patent number: 6398960
    Abstract: A method for remediating aquifers and groundwater contaminated, for example, by toxic halogenated organic compounds, certain inorganic compounds, and oxidized heavy metals and radionuclides, using the introduction of an innocuous oil, preferably an edible, food grade oil such as soybean oil, formulated into a microemulsion preferably by mixing with a natural food-grade emulsifier (such as lecithin) and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignees: Solutions Industrial & Environmental Services, Inc., Terra Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Borden, Michael D. Lee
  • Patent number: 6379543
    Abstract: Disclosed is a water treatment system (10) including: (a) a water permeable wall portion (12) defining a water treatment portion (18) of a waterway to be treated; and (b) a treating portion (20) retained in a desired position relative to the permeable wall portion (12) by retaining means (26) wherein water to be treated permeates through said wall portion (12), said retaining means (26) and said treating portion (20) for removing pollutants contained therein prior to discharge of water from the system (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Ecologic Holdings Pty Limited
    Inventor: Martin Bowman
  • Patent number: 6364572
    Abstract: The present invention includes a system of decomposing municipal solid waste (MSW) within a landfill by converting the landfill to aerobic degradation in the following manner: (1) injecting air via the landfill leachate collection system (2) injecting air via vertical air injection wells installed within the waste mass; (3) applying leachate to the waste mass using a pressurized drip irrigation system; (4) allowing landfill gases to vent; and (5) adjusting air injection and recirculated leachate to achieve a 40% to 60% moisture level and a temperature between 120° F. and 140° F. in steady state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark P Hudgins, Bernard J Bessette, John C March, Scott T. McComb
  • Patent number: 6357968
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for constructing a underground barrier wall structure using a jet grout injector subassembly comprising a pair of primary nozzles and a plurality of secondary nozzles, the secondary nozzles having a smaller diameter than the primary nozzles, for injecting grout in directions other than the primary direction, which creates a barrier wall panel having a substantially uniform wall thickess. This invention addresses the problem of the weak “bow-tie” shape that is formed during conventional jet injection when using only a pair of primary nozzles. The improvement is accomplished by using at least four secondary nozzles, of smaller diameter, located on both sides of the primary nozzles. These additional secondary nozzles spray grout or permeable reactive materials in other directions optimized to fill in the thin regions of the bow-tie shape. The result is a panel with increased strength and substantially uniform wall thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. Dwyer, Willis E. Stewart, Stephen F. Dwyer
  • Patent number: 6334737
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of controlling the landfill gas generation within the landfill in which leachate is recycled to be continuously injected into a deposit of wastes while extracting the landfill gas from a landfill gas extraction pipe inserted into the waste deposit, comprising steps of: (a) maintaining the recycling leachate at the temperature range of 35° C. to 38° C. and/or the pH of 6.5 to 7.5 until the amount of generated landfill gas reaches from the range of 5% to 20% of a capability of the landfill gas generation in the landfill; (b) maintaining the recycling leachate at the temperature range of 30° C. to 35° C. or the range of 60° C. to 65° C. and/or the pH of 6 to 7 until the amount of generated landfill gas reaches from the range of 75% to 90% of a capability of the landfill gas generation in the landfill; and (c) maintaining the recycling leachate at the temperature range of 35° C. to 38° C. or the range of 50° C. to 54° C. and/or the pH of 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Inventor: Keum Young Lee
  • Patent number: 6322489
    Abstract: A method of restoring wetlands is provided, by separating drill cuttings from drilling fluid, mixing the cuttings with a stabilization medium, and then filling a desired position in the marshland or wetlands with the reconstituted material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Timothy R. Richardson, Paul M. Hanson
  • Publication number: 20010033772
    Abstract: A method of treating soil contamination by forming one or more zones of oxidized material in the path of percolating groundwater is disclosed. The zone or barrier region is formed by delivering an oxidizing agent into the ground for reaction with an existing soil component. The oxidizing agent modifies the existing soil component creating the oxidized zone. Subsequently when soil contaminates migrate into the zone, the oxidized material is available to react with the contaminates and degrade them into benign products. The existing soil component can be an oxidizable mineral such as manganese, and the oxidizing agent can be ozone gas or hydrogen peroxide. Soil contaminates can be volatile organic compounds. Oxidized barriers can be used single or in combination with other barriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Tyler J. Gilmore, Robert G. Riley
  • Patent number: 6287248
    Abstract: A method for the disposal of biosolids, such as municipal sewage waste, comprising injecting the biosolids into a subsurface injection formation. The method can include recovering methane generated from the degradation of the biosolids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Terralog Technologies USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Bruno, Maurice B. Dusseault, Roman Bilak