Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for treating wells

US4958683A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
5References
10Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 11, 1989
Grant dateSep 25, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 11, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S166/902
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A method for reducing organic contaminants in a well initially breaks down complex organic compounds by radiation with gamma radiation. The remaining materials are subjected to oxygen radicals in the water, the oxygen radicals reacting with the materials to assist in the degradation. A carrier is formed with a plurality of containers fixed together by struts, and each container has a quantity of radioactive material to provide the radiation. Air, oxygen and or peroxide may be fed to the well to provide enough oxygen to produce the oxygen radicals, or the water may be cavitated to free the oxygen in the water. The apparatus & method may also be adapted with proper shielding for use in surface applications, such as surface water intakes (biofouling by Asiatic clams), general ground water and haz-waste treatment.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.