Process of breaking and rendering permeable a subterranean rock mass
US4223734A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 9, 1978 |
| Grant date | Sep 23, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/263
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The process of the present invention involves the following steps: PA1 producing, as by hydrofracing, a substantially horizontal fracture in the subterranean rock mass to be processed; PA1 emplacing an explosive charge in the mass in spaced juxtaposed position to the fracture; PA1 enlarging the fracture to create a void space thereat, an initial lifting of the overburden, and to provide a free face juxtaposed to and arranged to cooperate with the emplaced explosive charge; and PA1 exploding the charge against the free face for fragmenting the rock and to distribute the space, thus providing fractured, pervious, rubble-ized rock in an enclosed subterranean chamber. Firing of the charge provides a further lifting of the overburden, an enlargement of the chamber and a larger void space to distribute throughout the rubble-ized rock within the chamber. In some forms of the invention an explosive charge is used to produce a transitory enlargement of the fracture, and the juxtaposed emplaced charge is fired during the critical period of enlargement of the fracture.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.