Hydrajetting Tool for Soil and Rock Grouting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional grouting methods fail to provide adequate support for unstable soil and rock formations, as they are limited by the size of the drill bit or auger, requiring extensive drilling and resulting in costly and time-consuming processes to stabilize infrastructure foundations.
Innovation Solution
The use of a hydrajetting tool that injects curable cement slurries into unstable soil and rock formations through high-velocity jetting nozzles, allowing for the formation of larger cement pillars that can permeate and stabilize a wider area, reducing the need for multiple sub-surface cavities and enhancing the reach and stability of the grouting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional grouting methods using drill bits or augers are used, then the grouting process can be performed with simple equipment, but the size of cement pillars is limited and extensive drilling is required, resulting in increased time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a hydrajetting tool that employs high-pressure water jets to fracture rock and soil formations, creating cavities for cement injection. This hydraulic method replaces conventional mechanical drilling, enabling larger cement pillars to be formed without requiring extensive drilling operations, thus improving grouting efficiency while maintaining equipment simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and pressure parameters of water to create a high-velocity jet that can fracture hard formations. By adjusting water pressure and flow rate parameters, the system achieves effective rock fracture and cavity formation, allowing larger cement pillars to be created with fewer drilling operations
2Reliability
If multiple sub-surface cavities are created to stabilize unstable soil and rock, then adequate support can be provided, but the process becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrajetting tool divides the unstable formation into multiple segments or zones by creating a series of interconnected cavities. Each cavity is stabilized with cement, and the segmented approach allows systematic treatment of large areas, providing reliable foundation stability while reducing overall operation time compared to treating the entire area as one large cavity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from vertical drilling to a more dimensional approach by creating cavities that extend in multiple directions and interconnected pathways. This multi-dimensional cavity network allows cement to distribute more effectively through unstable formations, achieving comprehensive stabilization with fewer operational steps
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional grouting methods are used, then the process can be performed with standard drilling equipment, but the reach and coverage area of cement pillars are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrajetting system uses high-pressure hydraulic jets to create larger cavities and fracture patterns that allow cement slurry to spread over wider areas. The hydraulic energy enables the formation of extensive cavity networks that can be filled with cement, significantly increasing the coverage area of stabilized zones while maintaining compatibility with standard grouting equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a nested structure where smaller cavities are formed within larger fracture zones, and cement pillars are positioned within these nested cavities. This nested arrangement maximizes the use of available space, allowing cement to reach and stabilize larger volumes of unstable material while maintaining structural integrity
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
This approach enables the formation of stable soil and rock formations with increased load-bearing capacity, reducing the time and cost of grouting operations while providing greater stability and reach beneath infrastructure, even after infrastructure is in place.
Implementation Method 1
A method is disclosed for using a hydrajetting tool to form a stable sub-soil-surface formation
Implementation Method 2
A cement slurry is injected through at least one of the jetting nozzles and into the at least one sub-soil-surface cavity. The cement slurry is permeated into at least a portion of the plurality of channels in the unstable soil
Data Source
AI summary
Methods including providing a hydrajetting tool comprising a housing having a top end and a bottom end and having a plurality of jetting nozzles disposed thereon, the top end of the housing fluidly coupled to a tool string; providing at least one sub-soil-surface cavity adjacent to or in unstable soil, the unstable soil having a plurality of channels therein; introducing the hydrajetting tool into the at least one sub-soil-surface cavity; injecting a cement slurry through at least one of the jetting nozzles and into the sub-soil-surface cavity; permeating the cement slurry into the plurality of channels in the unstable soil; filling the at least one sub-soil-surface cavity with the cement slurry; and curing the cement slurry, thereby forming a stable soil and a cement pillar in the at least one sub-soil-surface cavity.