Foam delivery system

Abstract

A foam delivery system comprises two delivery tubes providing a mixing chamber with a two-part polymeric foam. The mixing chamber mixes the two-part polymeric foam below a ground surface. A delivery manifold with delivery arms discharges the two-part polymer resin from the foam delivery system. A method of distributing a foam delivery systems comprises lowering a foam delivery system below a ground surface and discharging a polymer resin into the ground surface from a mixing chamber located below the ground surface. The mixing chamber discharges the polymer resin while the mixing chamber is lifted towards the ground surface, providing an expanding base of polymer resin. In that the chemicals are mixed at depth, that is, at the depth of the desired injection points, the possibility of premature setting and plugging of the delivery system is negated. An injector, comprising the mixing chamber and the delivery manifold, mixes the two-part chemical system at depth and then simultaneously distributes the mixed chemicals to up to six injection points at any desired depth.

1 . A method of delivering an expanding polymer resin having a first component and a second component comprising the steps of:
 placing an injector at a first sub-surface location, the injector comprising a mixing chamber;   mixing the first component and the second component of the expanding polymer resin in the mixing chamber to create a mixed polymer resin;   discharging the mixed polymer resin from the injector at the first sub-surface location creating a first foam discharge;   moving the injector to a different sub-surface location;   mixing the first component and the second component of the expanding polymer resin in the mixing chamber when the injector is at the different sub-surface location to create the mixed polymer resin; and   discharging the mixed polymer resin from the injector at the different sub-surface location creating a second foam discharge, the second foam discharge expanding into contact with the first foam discharge.   
   
   
       2 . The method of delivering an expanding polymer resin of  claim 1  in which the injector discharges the mixed polymer resin continuously as the injector is moved to the different sub-surface location. 
   
   
       3 . The method of delivering an expanding polymer resin of  claim 2  in which the different sub-surface location is vertically higher than the first sub-surface location. 
   
   
       4 . The method of delivering an expanding polymer resin of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of drilling a borehole into the ground before the step of placing the injector attached to a mixing chamber at a sub-surface location and in which the first sub-surface location and the different sub-surface location lie within the borehole. 
   
   
       5 . The method of delivering an expanding polymer resin of  claim 1  in which the expanding polymer resin is polyurethane. 
   
   
       6 . A foam delivery system for delivering an expanding polymer resin comprising below a ground surface:
 a first delivery tube having a surface end and a mixing end and a second delivery tube having a surface end and a mixing end;   a mixing chamber attached to the respective mixing ends of each of the first and second delivery tubes; and   at least a first delivery arm and a second delivery arm connecting to the mixing chamber, the first delivery arm and the second delivery arm providing a pathway for discharging the expanding polymeric resin from the mixing chamber.   
   
   
       7 . The foam delivery system of  claim 6  in which each of the first and second injectors define a discharge direction for discharging the polymeric resin from the mixing chamber, and in which the discharge direction of the first injector is not aligned with the discharge direction of the second injector. 
   
   
       8 . The foam delivery system of  claim 6  in which a bleed valve is attached to the first delivery tube and the second delivery tube above the mixing chamber. 
   
   
       9 . The foam delivery system of  claim 6  further comprising a drill stem encasing all of the first delivery tube, the second delivery tube, the mixing chamber, the first injector and the second injector. 
   
   
       10 . The foam delivery system of  claim 9  in which the drill stem is a screw pile. 
   
   
       11 . A method of delivering a polymer resin below ground surface comprising the steps of:
 creating a bore below the ground surface, the bore being accessible from the ground surface;   lowering a mixing chamber into the bore, the mixing chamber being a component of a foam delivery system;   discharging a polymer resin from the mixing chamber of the foam delivery system into the bore;   lifting the mixing chamber within the bore; and   further discharging polymer resin from the mixing chamber of the foam delivery system after lifting the mixing chamber within the bore.   
   
   
       12 . The method of delivering a polymer resin below ground surface of  claim 11  in which the polymer resin is discharged continuously from the foam delivery system as the foam delivery system is lifted within the bore. 
   
   
       13 . The method of delivering a polymer resin below ground surface of  claim 11  in which the polymer resin is discharged in discrete steps from the foam delivery system as the foam delivery system is lifted within the bore. 
   
   
       14 . The method of delivering a polymer resin below ground surface of  claim 11  in which the step of creating a bore below surface and being accessible from the ground surface is performed by the foam delivery system. 
   
   
       15 . The method of delivering a polymer resin below ground surface of  claim 11  further comprising the step of releasing excess air from the foam delivery system prior to the step of discharging a polymer resin from the foam delivery system.