Ut-battelle, Inc.

Westmoreland Advanced Materials, Inc.

James Gordon Hemrick

Yarom Polsky

Michael J Lance

James R Keiser

Kenneth A McGowan

Robert M Cullen

Amul Gupta

Roberta A Meisner

Catherine H Mattus

Roberta A Peascoe-Meisner

Camden R Hubbard

J Peter Gorog

A system and method measures subterranean stress. The system and method includes a cement mixture that is mixed with water to set as a solid and a stress measuring-medium having piezospectroscopic properties that directly reveals stress in situ within the cement mixture in response to a photo stimulation. The stress measuring-medium combines with the cement mixture as a dry blend before being combined with water.

Cement having stress-indicating properties

A system and method measuring subterranean stress. The system and method includes a non-destructive sheath enveloping a tubular structure positioned in direct contact with a lateral subterranean rock formation for sensing expansive changes in the subterranean rock formation. A fiber optic is directly embedded in the non-destructive sheath positioned adjacent to the exterior surface of the tubular structure. The fiber optic transmits light and thereafter receives light in proportion to the expansive changes in the subterranean rock formation. A spectrometer connected to the fiber optic remote from the non-destructive sheath. The spectrometer measures hydrostatic stress in the subterranean rock formation without estimating acoustoelastic effects or occluding the tubular structure.

Stress sensor for cement or fluid applications

A method for improving the insulating character/and or penetration resistance of a liner in contact with at least one of an alkali and/or alkaline environments is provided. The method comprises lining a surface that is subject to wear by an alkali environment and/or an alkaline environment with a refractory composition comprising a refractory aggregate consisting essentially of a calcium hexa aluminate clinker having the formula CA, wherein C is equal to calcium oxide, wherein A is equal to aluminum oxide, and wherein the hexa aluminate clinker has from zero to less than about fifty weight percent CA, and wherein greater than 98 weight percent of the calcium hexa aluminate clinker having a particle size ranging from &#x2212;20 microns to +3 millimeters, for forming a liner of the surface. This method improves the insulating character/and or penetration resistance of the liner.

Methods of use of calcium hexa aluminate refractory linings and/or chemical barriers in high alkali or alkaline environments

A method includes containing a high-temperature alkali salt containing environment using a refractory containment liner containing MgAlOspinel. A method, includes forming a refractory brick containing MgAlOspinel having an exterior chill zone defined by substantially columnar crystallization and an interior zone defined by substantially equiaxed crystallization; and removing at least a portion of the exterior chill zone from the refractory brick containing MgAlOspinel by scalping the refractory brick containing MgAlOspinel to define at least one outer surface having an area of substantially equiaxed crystallization. A product of manufacture includes a refractory brick containing MgAlOspinel including an interior zone defined by substantially equiaxed crystallization; and at least one outer surface having an area of substantially equiaxed crystallization.

MgAl2O4 spinel refractory as containment liner for high-temperature alkali salt containing environments

Growing community of inventors

Oak Ridge, TN, United States of America

James Gordon Hemrick