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Publication Number
US-12320091-B1
Publication Date
2025-06-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
A water barrier inhibits flow of water through water permeable subsoil. The water barrier includes a mixture of bacteria such as Sporosarcina pasteurii that when combined with water and salt reacts with CO2 to build limestone. The water barrier is created by providing a mixture that can fill voids in a water permeable subsoil and introducing the mixture into the water permeable subsoil to fill voids. The mixture is introduced by creating a passage through the water permeable subsoil layer and pumping the mixture into the passage.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a subterranean water barrier to prevent bottom-up flooding through water-permeable subsoil. The barrier is formed by creating a non-porous and water-impermeable barrier material in the subsoil using microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP), which produces limestone or calcium carbonate from calcium source components reacting in the presence of carbon dioxide (CO2). The disclosed sealing mixture includes bacteria, water, and a calcium source capable of forming a solid material to fill voids in the water permeable subsoil.
The method introduces the sealing mixture into the water permeable subsoil by creating a passage in the subsoil and delivering the mixture under pressure. The delivery spreads outward from the passage beyond an injection point to fill subsoil voids with the precipitated solid material. Pressurized CO2 is also described as supplemental pressure with the sealing mixture.
The disclosure further describes optional subsoil evaluation and verification techniques such as sonar, seismic devices, pulse vibration, and core drilling to select and verify sealing and penetration. It also describes optional acid pretreatment to enlarge or modify subsoil voids prior to mixture introduction, and the use of materials such as bentonite, polymers, and hydrogel to adjust viscosity and fill larger voids.
Claims Coverage
The provided material includes one independent claim defining a method of creating a water barrier with two main inventive features.
Barrier-forming mixture with bacteria, water, and calcium source to form solid material in voids
Providing a mixture that includes bacteria, water, and a calcium source capable of forming a solid material to fill voids in a water permeable subsoil.
Pressurized delivery through a created passage to fill voids
Introducing the mixture into the water permeable subsoil to fill voids, wherein the introduction includes creating a passage in the subsoil and delivering the mixture under pressure.
The independent claim scope centers on using an MICP-capable mixture and placing it in water-permeable subsoil via a created passage with delivery under pressure to fill voids.
Stated Advantages
Prevents bottom-up flooding through water-permeable subsoil.
Documented Applications
Subterranean water barrier formation.
Barrier configurations such as caps, dikes, berms, levee, and potential offshore wave-break configurations.
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