Hydraulic and earth engineering – Fluid control – treatment – or containment – Fluid storage in earthen cavity
Patent
1983-04-07
1984-10-02
Taylor, Dennis L.
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Fluid control, treatment, or containment
Fluid storage in earthen cavity
405 53, 405132, B65G 500
Patent
active
044745060
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for constructing in rock storage locations for liquid products comprising a first cavity and a plurality of second cavities.
The prime object of the present invention is to provide a storage location which can be constructed or formed in a much shorter time than can previously known storage locations of the kind in question.
Background of the Invention
It is previously known to store liquid products such as petroleum products in subsurface cavities blasted in rock formations. One such known construction comprises one or more cavities in the form of a horizontal tunnel or tunnels, so called loafs, formed in a rock formation by blasting. The blasting of such cavities takes considerable time, and presents a hazard to personnel working in the vicinity of the blasting sight, besides being relatively costly. The introduction of the goods to be stored into a storage location and their removal therefrom requires the provision of complicated pipe installations.
Disclosure of the Present Invention
Thus, the method according to the invention is particularly useful in enabling a large quantity of rock to be removed per unit of time in the construction of large storage locations. It is to be expected that in the future there will be a need for storage locations having a volumetric capacity of 10.sup.6 cubic meters or more. In the method according to the invention previously known rock-chamber blasting principles and mining principles and knowledge gathered from previous rock-blasting and mining operations are combined to provide a method which will fulfill those requirements placed on the construction of large storage locations with respect to time saving, cost and working environment. In storage locations constructed by the method according to the invention the ceiling or roof area of the storage location will be much smaller than the roof or ceiling area of known storage locations, and only a minor part of the volume of the location need be strengthened, which depends on the fact that no one need stay in the cavity or chamber when it has been blasted. Further, when practicing the method according to the invention the major part of the shot-rock can be removed without the assistance of vehicles which generate troublesome exhaust gases, thereby providing a better working environment. The form or construction of the storage location according to the invention will also be optimal with respect to the heaviest oil grades. The goods to be stored can be introduced into the storage location and removed therefrom through relatively simple pipe installations. These characteristic features enables the method according to the invention to be carried out in a much shorter time and at much lower costs than previously known storage locations of the kind in question.
Thus the invention relates to a method for constructing a liquid-product storage location in rock formations, said location comprising a first cavity, and a plurality of second cavities located outside the first cavity. In accordance with the invention, the method of constructing such a storage location is characterized by first forming a tunnel which slopes from the surface of the ground down to a given point in the rock, and blasting from said given point a second, sloping tunnel which meanders in the ultimate storage location in a plurality of turns down to the level at which the bottom of the first cavity will ultimately be situated; by blasting at a plurality of levels from the meandering tunnel horizontal, primary tunnels; by blasting from said primary tunnels at all said levels a plurality of horizontal, secondary tunnels which extend towards the site of the ultimate first cavity; by blasting said first cavity and by bringing it by means of a separate tunnel to extend up to the level of the ground, whereby said first cavity extends substantially along the level of the lowermost parts of the ultimate second cavities; by optinally constructing in the first cavity and said separate tunne
REFERENCES:
patent: 26481 (1859-12-01), Doyere
patent: 2788637 (1957-04-01), Benz
patent: 2871668 (1959-02-01), Reed
patent: 2928248 (1960-03-01), Hubbell
patent: 3068654 (1962-12-01), Warren
patent: 4045963 (1977-09-01), Hansson et al.
Energy Facilities Going Underground; pp. 54-57, Civil Engineering-ASCE, Dec. 1978.
Boliden Aktiebolag
Taylor Dennis L.
LandOfFree
Method for constructing in rock storage locations for liquid pro does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for constructing in rock storage locations for liquid pro, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for constructing in rock storage locations for liquid pro will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-524895