Union Oil Company of California

Daniel P Hoyer

William C Allen

David E Stikkers

John L Featherstone

Morton M Wong

Olin D Whitescarver

William M Rickard

M Kenneth Chan

Jonathan T Kwan

Darrell L Gallup

Gregory A Gritters

D Stephen Pye

Matthew L Kelley

Matthew J Kelley

Conduits having cement-containing liners for the inner and outer surfaces of metal pipes include a fibrous material, such as glass fibers, to prevent cracking and/or inhibit crack propagation.

Glass fiber reinforced cement liners for pipelines and casings

A multi-piece, pipe joint seal has a slidable interface between seal pieces. The slidable interface allows for slippage between pieces during pipe joint assembly and disassembly, minimizing rotational and other stresses on the seal pieces and pipe sealing surfaces which may damage or endanger the deformable seal. The slidable interface seal is especially useful for joining brittle-lined pipe sections handling harsh fluids.

Dual gasket lined pipe connector

A process is provided for using siliceous sludge (filter cake), obtained by precipitation of silica from silica-rich geothermal brine, to make a concrete material (geocrete). The process includes combining the sludge with a cementitious material, such as Portland cement and/or flyash and activating the cementitious material with an activating media. When water is used as the activating media, the sludge is preferably dewatered and the residual water content is determined, the entrapped brine adding to the water content of the mixture. The dry weight ratio of sludge to cementing material may be greater than about 3:1 and ratios as high as about 12:1 can be used to produce high strength geocrete.

Process for using sludge from geothermal brine to make concrete and

A method is provided for producing electric power from hot, pressurized geothermal brine containing dissolved toxic elements without significant precipitation of toxic solids. When sludge produced by the process is washed, non-toxic solids are produced which can be disposed of or utilized in an environmentally acceptable manner. The method includes removing geothermal brine from an underground aquifer, separating non-condensable gases therefrom, and handling the non-condensable gases separately from the processing of the non-condensable gas-free brine to prevent reactions therebetween. An air-free flashed brine handling system is established to prevent contact of air with the flashed brine, and all brine contacted with air is injected into the geothermal brine aquifer through a separate, corrosion-protected injection well. Steam derived from the brine is used to produce electric power, the steam being condensed in the process. The steam condensate is air-cooled, and is used in the steam condensation process. Air-contacted steam condensate is deaerated before being combined with the brine, some of the deaerated condensate being used for scrubbing the steam obtained from the brine. The isolation of non-aerated brine and deaerated condensate from aerated brine, the removal of non-condensable gases from the brine, and the washing of the sludge produced from the brine results in a non-toxic sludge in accordance with government-accepted standards.

Method for the production of usable steam and non-toxic solids from

A method is provided for producing power from geothermal brine comprising dissolved toxic elements without significant precipitation of toxic solids. When sludge produced by the process is washed, non-toxic solids are produced which can be disposed or utilized in an environmentally acceptable manner. The method includes removing geothermal brine, separating non-condensable gases therefrom, and handling the non-condensable gases separate from the processing of the non-condensable gas-free brine to prevent reaction therebetween. An air-free flashed brine handling system is established to prevent contact of air with the flashed brine, and all brine contacted with air including condensate from steam turbines producing electrical power is injected into the aquifer from which the geothermal brine was extracted through the use of separate injection wells. Total isolation of non-aerated brine and aerated brine, removal of non-condensable gases, and washing of sludge produced results in a non-toxic sludge in accordance with governmentally accepted standards.

Method for the production of useable steam and non-toxic solids from

A process is provided for using silicious sludge (filter cake), obtained by precipitation of silica from silica-rich geothermal brine, to make a concrete material (geocrete). The process includes combining the sludge with a cementing material, such as portland cement and/or flyash and activating the cementing material with an activating media. When portland cement is used as the cementing material, the activating media is water. In such case, the sludge is preferably dewatered and the residual water content is determined, the entrapped brine adding to the water content of the mixture. Preferably, the dry weight ratio of sludge to cementing material is about 2:1 to about 3:1; although, ratios as high as 9:1 can be used when high strength of the geocrete is not required. The preferred amount of water used is about 40 weight percent, including water content of the sludge, which may typically be between about 10 and about 30 weight percent. The sludge may contain hazardous or toxic materials which precipitate from the brine with the silica and which are present in the entrapped brine; therefore, the sludge may be water washed before use to flush out residual brine and some contaminants contained in the sludge or may be otherwise treated. Chlorides present in the brine, which may undesirably accelerate setting time, are also removed by the water wash. Slurry mixability of the geocrete is enhanced by the addition of coarse aggregate to the mix, the preferred amount of aggregate added being less than about 50 weight percent of the dry mixture. A cement having a 60 day cure compression strength of at least about 3000 psig is thereby provided. A corresponding composition of concrete is provided.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Rosa, CA, United States of America

Daniel P Hoyer