James W Castle

US Patent:

7156579, Jan 2, 2007

Filed:

Sep 2, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/219344

Inventors:

James W. Castle - Clemson SC, US
David A. Bruce - Clemson SC, US
Ronald W. Falta - Seneca SC, US
Lawrence C. Murdoch - Clemson SC, US

Assignee:

Clemson University - Anderson SC

International Classification:

B65G 5/00

US Classification:

405 58, 405 57, 405 55, 405 53

Abstract:

Disclosed is a process for manufacturing underground caverns suitable in one embodiment for storage of large volumes of gaseous or liquid materials. The method is an acid dissolution process that can be utilized to form caverns in carbonate rock formations. The caverns can be used to store large quantities of materials near transportation facilities or destination markets. The caverns can be used for storage of materials including fossil fuels, such as natural gas, refined products formed from fossil fuels, or waste materials, such as hazardous waste materials. The caverns can also be utilized for applications involving human access such as recreation or research. The method can also be utilized to form calcium chloride as a by-product of the cavern formation process.

US Patent:

20020144541, Oct 10, 2002

Filed:

Apr 7, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/827701

Inventors:

Fred Molz - Seneca SC, US
Lawrence Murdoch - Clemson SC, US
Cynthia Dinwiddie - Central SC, US
James Castle - Clemson SC, US

International Classification:

G01N015/08

US Classification:

073/038000

Abstract:

The distal end of a basic tube element including a stopper device with an expandable plug is positioned in a pre-drilled hole in a rock face. Rotating a force control wheel threaded on the tube element exerts force on a sleeve that in turn causes the plug component of the stopper means to expand and seal the distal end of the tube in the hole. Gas under known pressure is introduced through the tube element. A thin capillary tube positioned in the tube element connects the distal end of the tube element to means to detect and display pressure changes and data that allow the permeability of the rock to be determined.