Closed cryogenic barrier for containment of hazardous material migration in the earth
Patent 4860544 Issued on August 29, 1989. Estimated Expiration Date: 
December 8, 2008. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
December 8, 2008. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesInventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 07/281493 filed on 12/08/1988US Classes:62/45.1, STORAGE OF SOLIDIFIED OR LIQUIFIED GAS (E.G., CRYOGEN)165/45, GEOGRAPHICAL405/130, TEMPERATURE MODIFICATION OR CONTROL OF EARTHEN FORMATION405/270, Impermeabilization405/56, Including cooling or heating of material surrounding cavity62/260Geographic, e.g., subterranean featureExaminersPrimary: Capossela, Ronald C.Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassE02D 31/00 (20060101)AbstractA 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.Other References
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