Gerald L Kirkpatrick

US Patent:

20100303550, Dec 2, 2010

Filed:

May 26, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/471606

Inventors:

Phillip D. McKALIPS - Crozel VA, US
Gerald L. Kirkpatrick - Downingtown PA, US

Assignee:

ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, INC. - Charlottesville VA

International Classification:

B09C 1/02

US Classification:

4051297, 40512985

Abstract:

An existing landfill cell is retrofit with a lateral drainage pipe for draining leachate therefrom. The method involves installing an entry tube through a top surface of the landfill's cap, and sealing the entry tube with respect to surrounding material of the cap. Then, a drill string is introduced through the entry tube, and a drill bit on the drill string drills a hole through the solid waste along a path situated above the base of the landfill in an upwardly inclined direction from the entry opening. The leachate and drilling fluid are allowed to gravitate outwardly through the entry tube during the drilling operation. After installing a perforated drain pipe in the hole, a nozzle is passed through the drain pipe for emitting a high-pressure liquid jet generally radially outwardly through the drain pipe and into the surrounding solid waste to form a drainage layer of waste material around the drain pipe, allowing leachate to enter the drain pipe and gravitate from the landfill cell.