Thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout and HDD or trough product line methods of application

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11136266-B2
Application number	US-202016935665-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2020
Priority date	Sep 6, 2016
Publication date	Oct 5, 2021
Grant date	Oct 5, 2021

Abstract

The disclosure relates to embodiments of a thixotropic, non-cementitious, thermal grout and applications or methods of use of the grout related to horizontal directional drilling, trenchless technology, trenching, and installation of pipe, conduits, ducts, utility lines, and other product lines which may, e.g., be in trenches, underground, or under obstacles, such as a body of water or roadways.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout for horizontal directional drilling (HDD) applications for use with a product line, comprising:
a volume of sand;
a volume of water;
a volume of bentonite viscosifier;
a volume of at least one bentonite extender;
a volume of lubricant; and
a volume of soda ash.

2. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout according to claim 1 , wherein:
said volume of sand is a frac sand at about 1629 lb/yd 3 ;
said volume of water is at about 982 lb/yd 3 ;
said volume of bentonite viscosifier is at about 43.5 lb/yd 3 ;
said volume of at least one bentonite extender is at about 10.3 lb/yd 3 ;
said volume of lubricant is at about 4.0 lb/yd 3 ; and
said volume of soda ash is at about 7.6 lb/yd 3 .

3. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 1 , wherein the thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout has a thermal resistivity value of about less than or equal to 75° C.-cm/W.

4. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 3 , wherein said thermal resistivity value ranges from 65° C.-cm/W to 75° C.-cm/W.

5. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 1 , wherein the thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout has a pH value of at least about 11.

6. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 1 , wherein the thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout has a pH value in the range of about 11-12.

7. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 1 , further comprising a second bentonite extender.

8. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 7 , wherein said second bentonite extender further comprises a mixed metal oxide.

9. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 1 , wherein said volume of sand is a flaked frac sand.

10. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 1 , wherein said volume of sand is a frac sand, #100 frac sand.

11. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 1 , wherein said volume of bentonite viscosifier comprises a 220-bbl yield Wyoming bentonite blended with extender.

12. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 1 , wherein said volume of the at least one bentonite extender comprises a mixed metal oxide.

13. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 1 , wherein said volume of lubricant is a rod lubricant.

14. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 1 , wherein the thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout has a density value within the range of about 97 to 99 pounds per cubic foot and a specific gravity value of about 1.6.

15. A thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout for trenching applications for use with a product line, comprising:
a volume of sand;
a volume of water;
a volume of bentonite viscosifier;
a volume of at least one bentonite extender;
a volume of lubricant; and
a volume of soda ash.

16. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout according to claim 15 , wherein:
said volume of sand is a frac sand at about 1629 lb/yd 3 ;
said volume of water is at about 982 lb/yd 3 ;
said volume of bentonite viscosifier is at about 43.5 lb/yd 3 ;
said volume of at least one bentonite extender is at about 10.3 lb/yd 3 ;
said volume of lubricant is at about 4.0 lb/yd 3 ; and
said volume of soda ash is at about 7.6 lb/yd 3 .

17. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 15 , wherein the thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout has a thermal resistivity value of about less than or equal to 75° C.-cm/W.

18. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 17 , wherein said thermal resistivity value ranges from 65° C.-cm/W to 75° C.-cm/W.

19. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 15 , wherein the thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout has a pH value of at least about 11.

20. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 15 , wherein the thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout has a pH value in the range of about 11-12.

21. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 15 , further comprising a second bentonite extender.

22. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 21 , wherein said second bentonite extender further comprises a mixed metal oxide.

23. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 15 , wherein said volume of sand is a flaked frac sand.

24. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 15 , wherein said volume of sand is a frac sand, #100 frac sand.

25. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 15 , wherein said volume of bentonite viscosifier comprises a 220-bbl yield Wyoming bentonite blended with extender.

26. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 15 , wherein said volume of the at least one bentonite extender comprises a mixed metal oxide.

27. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 15 , wherein said volume of lubricant is a root lubricant.

28. The thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout of claim 15 , wherein the thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout has a density value within the range of about 97 to 99 pounds per cubic foot and a specific gravity value of about 1.6.

29. A method of installing a first product line in a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) or a trenching application, comprising the steps of:
filling void defined by a second product line or a trough with a thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout to a greater than about 80% fill rate; and
installing said first product line through said thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout,
wherein said thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout comprises a volume of a frac sand at about 1629 lb/yd 3 ; a volume of water at about 982 lb/yd 3 ; a volume of bentonite viscosifier at about 43.5 lb/yd 3 ; a volume of at least one bentonite extender at about 10.3 lb/yd 3 ; a volume of lubricant at about 4.0 lb/yd 3 ; and a volume of soda ash at about 7.6 lb/yd 3 .

30. A method of installing a first product line in a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) or a trenching application, comprising the steps of;
filling a void defined by a second product line or a trough with a thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout to a greater than about 80% fill rate;
installing said first product line through said thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout,
agitating said thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout to un-gel said thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout; and
pulling the said first product line out through said thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout.

31. A method of installing a first product line in a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) or a trenching application, comprising the steps of:
filling a void defined by a second product line pr a trough with a thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout to a greater than about 80% fill rate;
installing said first product line through said thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout; and
surrounding said first product line with said thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout and inhibiting corrosion of metal, said thixotropic non-cementitious thermal grout having a pH value in the range of about 11-12.

32. A method of installing a first product line in a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) or a trenching application, comprising th

Assignees

• Quanta Associates Lp

Inventors

• Halderman Ronald G
• Guerra Pablo Esteban

Classifications

• C04B30/00 Primary

  Compositions for artificial stone, not containing binders · CPC title

• C04B2111/1037

  Cement free compositions, e.g. hydraulically hardening mixtures based on waste materials, not containing cement as such · CPC title

• C04B2201/30

  for heat transfer properties such as thermal insulation values, e.g. R-values · CPC title

• H02G1/081

  using pulling means at cable ends, e.g. pulling eyes or anchors · CPC title

• C04B2111/0012

  Thixotropic mixtures · CPC title