Polymer geo-injection for underground pipeline protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11209116-B1
Application number	US-202016904366-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 17, 2020
Priority date	Jun 17, 2020
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

A polymer geo-injection apparatus for protecting an underground structure is provided. The apparatus includes: a mechanized vehicle for moving on the ground in order to transport the apparatus while the apparatus forms a subsurface polymer layer that protects the underground structure; a polymer supply tank coupled to the mechanized vehicle and configured to supply solid polymer during the forming of the polymer layer; a polymer melting unit coupled to the mechanized vehicle and configured to receive and melt the supplied solid polymer and to supply the molten polymer during the forming of the polymer layer; and a subsurface ripper coupled to the mechanized vehicle and configured to move through the ground in response to the movement of the mechanized vehicle while receiving and injecting the supplied molten polymer into the ground above the underground structure in order to form the polymer layer and protect the underground structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A polymer geo-injection apparatus for protecting an underground structure, comprising:
a mechanized vehicle for moving on the ground in order to transport the apparatus while the apparatus forms a subsurface polymer layer that protects the underground structure;
a polymer supply tank coupled to the mechanized vehicle and configured to supply solid polymer during the forming of the polymer layer;
a polymer melting unit coupled to the mechanized vehicle and configured to receive and melt the supplied solid polymer and to supply the molten polymer during the forming of the polymer layer; and
a subsurface ripper coupled to the mechanized vehicle and configured to move through the ground in response to the movement of the mechanized vehicle while receiving and injecting the supplied molten polymer into the ground above the underground structure in order to form the polymer layer and protect the underground structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a spool of perforated polymer sheathing coupled to the mechanized vehicle and configured to supply the perforated polymer sheathing to the subsurface ripper during the forming of the polymer layer,
wherein the subsurface ripper is further configured to receive and eject the supplied polymer sheathing into the ground while injecting the molten polymer, the ejected polymer sheathing serving as a barrier between the ground and the injected molten polymer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an air compressor and a compressed air tank coupled to the mechanized vehicle and configured to compress air, store the compressed air, and supply the stored compressed air to the subsurface ripper during the forming of the polymer layer,
wherein the subsurface ripper is further configured to receive and inject the supplied compressed air into the ground in order to form cavities in which to inject the supplied molten polymer during the forming of the polymer layer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic inspection device coupled to the mechanized vehicle or the subsurface ripper and configured to inspect at least one of a shape and a thickness of the polymer layer during the forming of the polymer layer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the subsurface ripper comprises:
a ripper arm coupled to the mechanized vehicle and configured to serve as a vertical conduit for the supplied molten polymer from above ground to a formation depth below ground of the polymer layer; and
a ripper blade coupled to the ripper arm at the formation depth and configured to serve as a horizontal conduit for injecting the supplied molten polymer into the ground in order to form the polymer layer.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the ripper blade is available or configurable in multiple widths or thicknesses in order to inject the supplied molten polymer into the ground to form the polymer layer having a desired width or thickness.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the subsurface ripper is further configured to form the polymer layer in separated slabs having a desired length and separation.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the solid polymer comprises high-density polyethylene (HDPE) beads.

9. A method of polymer geo-injection for protecting an underground structure, the method comprising:
transporting a polymer geo-injection apparatus by moving a mechanized vehicle of the apparatus on the ground; and
forming, by the apparatus, a subsurface polymer layer that protects the underground structure while the mechanized vehicle transports the apparatus, wherein forming the polymer layer comprises:
supplying solid polymer from a polymer supply tank coupled to the mechanized vehicle;
receiving and melting the supplied solid polymer and supplying the molten polymer using a polymer melting unit coupled to the mechanized vehicle; and
moving a subsurface ripper through the ground in response to the movement of the mechanized vehicle while receiving and injecting the supplied molten polymer into the ground above the underground structure to protect the underground structure,
wherein the subsurface ripper is coupled to the mechanized vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein forming the polymer layer further comprises:
supplying perforated polymer sheathing to the subsurface ripper from a spool of perforated polymer sheathing coupled to the mechanized vehicle; and
receiving and ejecting, by the subsurface ripper, the supplied polymer sheathing into the ground while injecting the molten polymer, the ejected polymer sheathing serving as a barrier between the ground and the injected molten polymer.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein forming the polymer layer further comprises:
compressing air, storing the compressed air, and supplying the stored compressed air to the subsurface ripper using an air compressor and a compressed air tank coupled to the mechanized vehicle; and
receiving and injecting, by the subsurface ripper, the supplied compressed air into the ground in order to form cavities in which to inject the supplied molten polymer.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein forming the polymer layer further comprises inspecting at least one of a shape and a thickness of the polymer layer using an electronic inspection device coupled to the mechanized vehicle or the subsurface ripper.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein forming the polymer layer further comprises:
using a ripper arm of the subsurface ripper as a vertical conduit for the supplied molten polymer from above ground to a formation depth below ground of the polymer layer; and
using a ripper blade of the subsurface ripper coupled to the ripper arm at the formation depth as a horizontal conduit for injecting the supplied molten polymer into the ground.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the ripper blade is available or configurable in multiple widths or thicknesses in order to inject the supplied molten polymer into the ground to form the polymer layer having a desired width or thickness.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein forming the polymer layer further comprises forming, by the subsurface ripper, the polymer layer in separated slabs having a desired length and separation.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the solid polymer comprises high-density polyethylene (HDPE) beads.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co
• Overpipe SAS

Inventors

• Hussain Iqbal
• Joubeaux Yannick
• Villette Thibault
• Alrafaei Waheed

Classifications

• B29C63/024

  the sheet or web-like material being supported by a moving carriage · CPC title

• F16L58/1009 Primary

  the coating being placed inside the pipe · CPC title

• F16L1/123

  Devices for the protection of pipes under water · CPC title

• F16L57/00

  Protection of pipes or objects of similar shape against external or internal damage or wear ({protection under water F16L1/123;} supporting of pipes inside other pipes or sleeves F16L7/00; used in connection with end fittings of hoses F16L35/00; protection of pipes or pipe fittings against corrosion or incrustation F16L58/00; protection thereof during transport B65D59/00) · CPC title

• E02F5/10

  with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables (laying pipes per se F16L1/00, making pipes in situ F16L1/038; laying electric cables per se H02G1/06; {drainage device- laying apparatus E02B11/02}) · CPC title