Explosive Cavity Merging for Underground Fluid Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for extracting fluid media from underground deposits are economically unviable for deposits consisting of multiple small, disconnected cavities, as separate development of each cavity becomes too expensive.
Innovation Solution
Drilling vertical bores and inserting pipes with explosive sections, where explosives are detonated to create horizontal pressure waves that connect mini-cavities, altering geological structures and allowing fluid media to be extracted efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If separate development of each small cavity is pursued, then complete extraction of fluid media from each cavity is achieved, but extraction cost increases and economic viability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate mini-cavities into a single larger cavity by detonating explosives at strategically selected locations. The explosions create shock waves that fracture the rock matrix separating the mini-cavities, allowing them to coalesce into one continuous cavity that can be economically developed as a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by detonating explosives before the actual fluid extraction process begins. This pre-treatment step creates the necessary geological conditions (merged cavity with adequate permeability) that enable subsequent conventional extraction methods to be economically viable.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional extraction methods are used on small scattered cavities, then complete fluid media recovery is achieved, but development cost becomes prohibitively high
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple small mini-cavities are combined into one larger cavity through controlled explosions, reducing the total number of separate development projects needed. This merging reduces infrastructure costs, operational complexity, and overall development expenditure while maintaining complete fluid media recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the underground structure by using explosive shock waves to alter rock permeability and connectivity. This transforms the geological configuration from scattered isolated cavities to a connected larger cavity system, making conventional extraction economically feasible.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple vertical boreholes are drilled to access separate mini-cavities, then complete coverage of all cavities is achieved, but drilling and development complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging mini-cavities into a single larger cavity, the patent reduces the number of separate borehole systems needed. Instead of drilling and managing multiple independent borehole networks for each mini-cavity, a single borehole system can access the entire merged cavity, significantly simplifying the overall system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively connects previously separate mini-cavities, forming a larger cavity that can be economically developed and extracted using conventional methods, increasing the yield of fluid media.
Implementation Method 1
Detonating the respective explosive in each of the pipes introduces a horizontal and directed pressure wave into the soil layer through at least one opening in the casing of the pipe section
Implementation Method 2
lowering an explosive into the pipe of the respective borehole to a depth corresponding to the depth of the at least one opening in the at least one section of the pipe inserted into the vertical borehole or shaft, and detonating the respective explosive
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for delivering or for preparing the delivery of fluid media from an underground reservoir allowing fluid media that are present in reservoirs (mini cavities), which so far have not been profitable, to be delivered by converting in situ the reservoir to a profitable underground reservoir. The method for delivering or for preparing the delivery of fluid media from underground reservoirs according to claim 1 comprises the following steps: introducing at least two substantially vertical boreholes or shafts into the surface of the earth; introducing at least one pipe (6), which consists of at least one section, into each vertical borehole or shaft, the lower region of the exterior (7) of the at least one section (6a) of the pipe having at least one opening (8), the openings of the sections of the at least two pipes being aligned with one selected point (9) each between two pipes, said point being located between the at least two substantially vertical boreholes; lowering an explosive (10a) into the pipe (6) down to a desired depth; and detonating the explosive (10a).