Hot hole charge system and related methods

Abstract

An apparatus, method and insulation medium for inserting and insulating a charge medium within a borehole includes a charge tube comprised of an elongate tube having a length and diameter sufficient for containing a desired quantity of a charge medium. A charge medium in a pumpable form is provided for substantially filling the charge tube. An insulation medium in a pumpable form is provided for substantially encapsulating the charge tube and substantially filling an annular space between the charge tube and the borehole for insulating the charge tube from a downhole environment in which the charge tube is to be inserted. The apparatus, methods and insulating medium can also be used for the improvement and repair of underground liners and installations and for improved treatment of mining and hazardous waste.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for repairing a damaged area in an underground liner for sequestering a potentially hazardous material, comprising:
 drilling at least one borehole underneath an underground liner to a point in fluid communication with a damaged area of the liner;   dispensing a pumpable insulation medium in the at least one borehole to flow therethrough to substantially fill the damaged area, the pumpable insulation medium comprising a clay, a liquefying component, an adsorption component, and a neutralizing component.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein drilling at least one borehole underneath an underground liner to a point in fluid communication with a damaged area of the liner comprises using a steerable drilling rig to a drill a borehole to a point near the damaged area of the liner. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein drilling at least one borehole underneath an underground liner to a point in fluid communication with a damaged area of the liner comprises boring multiple boreholes underneath the underground liner to separate points in fluid communication with the damage area of the liner. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising drilling at least a first top borehole above the underground liner to a point in fluid communication with a damaged area of the liner; and
 dispensing a pumpable insulation medium in the at least a first top borehole to flow therethrough to substantially fill the damaged area of the liner for insulating an interior of the liner an outside area.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein dispensing a pumpable insulation medium in the at least a first top borehole to flow therethrough to substantially fill the damaged area of the liner is conducted as pumpable insulation medium is dispensed in the at least one borehole to flow therethrough to substantially fill the damaged area of the liner for insulating an interior of the liner. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pumpable insulation medium comprises clay in a weight percent of between about 10 and 60 percent, a liquefying component in a weight percent of between about 10 percent and 80 percent, an adsorption component in a weight percent of between about 5 percent and 15 percent, and a neutralizing component in a weight percent of between about 2 percent and 40 percent. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising dispensing the insulation medium in a pumpable form that is comprised of a density control component in a weight percent of between about 1 percent and 20 percent. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising dispensing the insulation medium in a pumpable form that is comprised of a buffering component in a weight percent of between about 1 percent and 5 percent. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising dispensing the insulation medium in a pumpable form that is comprised of a thickening component in a weight percent of between about 1 percent and 5 percent. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising dispensing the insulation medium in a pumpable form that is comprised of a chemical inhibitor in a weight percent of between about 1 percent and 2 percent. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising explosively forming voids in a material disposed above the liner to create different flow paths for leachate passing through the material. 
     
     
         12 . A method for isolating and treating an underground area, comprising:
 drilling at least one borehole to a point adjacent an underground area to be isolated;   dispensing a pumpable insulation medium in the at least one borehole to flow therethrough to form a barrier to impede movement of fluids from underground area to be isolated, the pumpable insulation medium comprising a clay, a liquefying component, an adsorption component, and a neutralizing component.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein drilling at least one borehole to a point adjacent an underground area to be isolated comprises using a steerable drilling rig to a drill a borehole. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein drilling at least one borehole to a point adjacent an underground area to be isolated comprises boring multiple boreholes to separate points adjacent the underground area to be isolated in fluid communication with one another. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pumpable insulation medium comprises clay in a weight percent of between about 10 and 60 percent, a liquefying component in a weight percent of between about 10 percent and 80 percent, an adsorption component in a weight percent of between about 5 percent and 15 percent, and a neutralizing component in a weight percent of between about 2 percent and 40 percent. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising dispensing the insulation medium in a pumpable form that is comprised of a density control component in a weight percent of between about 1 percent and 20 percent. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising dispensing the insulation medium in a pumpable form that is comprised of a buffering component in a weight percent of between about 1 percent and 5 percent. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising dispensing the insulation medium in a pumpable form that is comprised of a thickening component is in a weight percent of between about 1 percent and 5 percent. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising dispensing the insulation medium in a pumpable form that is comprised of a chemical inhibitor in a weight percent of between about 1 percent and 2 percent. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising filling the borehole with the insulation medium to close access to the underground area to be isolated therethrough. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising drilling at least one treatment borehole into the isolated underground area through the formed barrier. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising applying treatment chemicals to the isolated underground area by dispensing through the at least one treatment borehole. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising controlling combustion in the isolated underground area by controlling the availability of air in the isolated underground area by controlling airflow through the at least one treatment borehole. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein controlling the availability of air in the isolated underground area by controlling airflow through the at least one treatment borehole comprises opening and closing individual treatment boreholes from a plurality of treatment boreholes.