Method of installing deep anode cathodic protection system including one-piece coiled vent pipe

Abstract

A method of deploying a deep anode in a cathodic protection system including an anode assembly, a one-piece vent pipe assembly and a reel is disclosed. The anode assembly includes elongated anode. The vent pipe assembly includes a tube having a distal end and an apertured portion having an array of holes in it. A fabric sleeve extends about the apertured portion. The tube, the sleeve and the anode assembly are coiled up on a reel and uncoiled therefrom for extension into the bore hole. The holes in the tube enable gases to vent from the bore hole through the tube. The tube has a predetermined nominal internal diameter sufficient to enable a viscous settable material to be pumped into the tube to seal its interior when it is no longer desired to vent gases.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of installing an anode assembly and a one-piece vent pipe assembly into a deep bore hole in the earth, said anode assembly comprising an elongated anode and a pair of cables connected to respective end portions of said anode, said vent pipe assembly comprising a tube and a fabric sleeve, said tube being formed of a plastic material and having a distal end and an apertured portion located adjacent said distal end, said tube including an array of holes in said apertured portion of said tube, said tube having a predetermined nominal internal diameter sufficient to enable a viscous settable material to be pumped into said tube to seal the interior thereof, said fabric sleeve extending about said apertured portion of said tube, said method comprising
 a) coiling said tube, said fabric sleeve and said anode assembly on a reel;   b) connecting a weight to said distal end of said tube;   c) introducing said distal end of said tube with said weight into said bore hole, whereupon said tube, said fabric sleeve and said anode assembly are uncoiled from said reel and extend into said bore hole with said apertured portion of said tube located in a bottom portion of said bore hole, with said elongated anode assembly extending along said aperture portion of said tube and with said cables extending upward through said bore hole; and   d) coupling said cables to a cathodic protection system to cause said anode assembly to operate, with said holes in said tube being arranged to enable gases produced by said operation of said anode assembly to gain ingress from the bore hole through said fabric sleeve into said interior of said tube to be vented from said tube.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 e) attaching a rope to said weight and applying tension on said rope as said tube, said fabric sleeve and said anode assembly are uncoiled from said reel into said bore hole. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 e) drilling into the earth to form said bore hole; and 
 f) mixing coke breeze and water into a slurry and pumping said slurry via another pipe into said bore hole, whereupon said slurry surrounds said anode assembly, said apertured portion of said tube and said fabric sleeve. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  additionally comprising:
 e) drilling into the earth to form said bore hole; and 
 f) mixing coke breeze and water into a slurry and pumping said slurry via another pipe into said bore hole, whereupon said slurry surrounds said anode assembly, said apertured portion of said tube and said fabric sleeve. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said bore hole extends through plural aquifers in the ground, said aquifers being at different levels. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  additionally comprising:
 e) pumping a viscous settable material into said tube to seal the interior thereof when said tube is no longer desired to vent the gases from said tube, whereupon any water from aquifers at various levels in the ground contiguous with the bore hole will not be able to flow into said tube to mix together. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said settable material comprises concrete. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said bore hole extends through plural aquifers in the ground, said aquifers being at different levels. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  additionally comprising:
 e) pumping a viscous settable material into said tube to seal the interior thereof when said tube is no longer desired to vent the gases from said tube, whereupon any water from aquifers at various levels in the ground contiguous with the bore hole will not be able to flow into said tube to mix together 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said settable material comprises concrete. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said tube has a nominal internal diameter of 2.0 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said holes are of approximately 0.375 inch nominal internal diameter. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said holes are of approximately 0.375 inch nominal internal diameter. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said tube has a nominal internal diameter of 2.0 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said holes are of approximately 0.375 inch nominal internal diameter. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said holes are of approximately 0.375 inch nominal internal diameter. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said tube has a nominal internal diameter of 2.0 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said holes are of approximately 0.375 inch nominal internal diameter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said holes are of approximately 0.375 inch nominal internal diameter.