METHOD FOR TREATING SOIL

Abstract

A method for treating soil is provided. The method comprises supplying a tube; making a borehole having a borehole depth in the soil; positioning the tube in the borehole at a first predetermined depth less than the borehole depth; introducing at least one first blocking element into the borehole at a second predetermined depth between the first predetermined depth and the borehole depth, the at least one first blocking element being configured to block the borehole in order to define an injection zone; and injecting an injection fluid into the injection zone while removing cuttings located between the tube and the lateral wall of the borehole.

Claims

1-21. (canceled)

22. A method for treating soil, comprising: supplying a tube having a distal end; making a borehole in the soil, the borehole having a bottom, a lateral wall, a borehole depth and extending in a boring direction; positioning the tube in the borehole at a first predetermined depth less than the borehole depth; introducing at least one first blocking element into the borehole at a second predetermined depth comprised between the first predetermined depth and the borehole depth, so that the at least one first blocking element extends between the distal end of the tube and the bottom of the borehole, said at least one first blocking element being configured to block the borehole in order to define an injection zone located between said at least one first blocking element, the bottom of the borehole, and the lateral wall of the borehole; and injecting an injection fluid into the injection zone while removing cuttings located between the tube and the lateral wall of the borehole.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein removing the cuttings comprises cleaning an outer surface of the tube.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein cleaning the outer surface of the tube comprises rotating said tube around the boring direction.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the distal end of the tube bears a cutting member, and wherein making the borehole in the soil comprises moving the tube in the soil in the boring direction until the borehole depth.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein the diameter of the tube is substantially equal to the diameter of the borehole.

27. The method according to claim 22, comprising: providing a torque sensor; measuring, using the torque sensor, a resisting torque applied to the tube; and detecting a possible presence of cuttings in contact with the tube based on the measured resisting torque.

28. The method according to claim 22, wherein said at least one first blocking element has a retracted position in which the at least one first blocking element can be moved in the borehole, and a deployed position in which the at least one first blocking element cooperates with the lateral wall of the borehole to block the borehole in order to define said injection zone.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein said at least one first blocking element is inflatable.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein introducing said at least one first blocking element into the borehole comprises introducing said first blocking element, in the retracted position, into the tube and moving said first blocking element along the tube until the second predetermined depth.

31. The method according to claim 22, wherein injecting the injection fluid comprises injecting the fluid using an injection device comprising an injection channel extending inside the tube and leading into the injection zone.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the injection channel passes through said at least one first blocking element.

33. The method according to claim 22, comprising introducing a second blocking element into the borehole at a third predetermined depth comprised between the second predetermined depth and the borehole depth, so that the second blocking element is located between said at least one first blocking element and the bottom of the borehole, said second blocking element being configured to block the borehole so that the injection zone extends between the at least one first blocking element, the second blocking element, and the lateral wall of the borehole.

34. The method according to claim 33, comprising introducing the first and second blocking elements into the borehole at the same time.

35. The method according to claim 22, wherein the injection fluid is selected among a waterproofing product and a hardenable mud configured to consolidate the soil.

36. The method according to claim 22, wherein removing the cuttings comprises cleaning of the outer surface of the tube, and wherein cleaning the outer surface of the tube comprises injecting a washing fluid around the tube.

37. The method according to claim 36, comprising: providing a torque sensor; measuring, using the torque sensor, a resisting torque applied to the tube; detecting a possible presence of cuttings in contact with the tube based on the measured resisting torque; and injecting the washing fluid if a presence of cuttings in contact with the tube is detected.

38. The method according to claim 36, wherein the washing fluid is injected by the distal end of the tube.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein injecting the washing fluid comprises injecting the washing fluid using an injection head configured to inject the washing fluid into the tube, the injection head comprising a fixed part and a pivoting part, the pivoting part being configured to cooperate with the tube.

40. A device for treating soil in which a borehole is made, the borehole having a bottom, a lateral wall, a borehole depth and extending in a boring direction, the device comprising: a tube having a distal end, said tube being configured to be positioned in the borehole at a first predetermined depth less than the borehole depth; at least one first blocking element configured to be introduced into the borehole at a second predetermined depth comprised between the first predetermined depth and the borehole depth, said at least one first blocking element being configured to block the borehole in order to define an injection zone located between said at least one first blocking element, the bottom of the borehole and the lateral wall of the borehole; an injection device configured to inject an injection fluid into the borehole; and a device for removing cuttings configured to remove the cuttings located between the tube and the lateral wall of the borehole during the injection of the injection fluid into the borehole.

41. The device according to claim 40, wherein the device for removing the cuttings comprises a movement device configured to set the tube in rotation around the boring direction.

42. The treatment device according to claim 40, wherein the device for removing the cuttings comprises an injection head for injecting a washing fluid around the tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0078] The invention will be better understood upon reading the description that follows of embodiments of the invention given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0079] FIG. 1 illustrates a first step of a method of treating soil in conformity with the invention;

[0080] FIG. 2 illustrates a second step of the method of treating soil in conformity with the invention;

[0081] FIG. 3 illustrates a third step of the method of treating soil in conformity with the invention;

[0082] FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth step of the method of treating soil in conformity with the invention;

[0083] FIG. 5 illustrates a fifth step of the method of treating soil in conformity with the invention;

[0084] FIG. 6 illustrates a sixth step of the method of treating soil in conformity with the invention;

[0085] FIG. 7 illustrates a seventh step of the method of treating soil in conformity with the invention;

[0086] FIG. 8 illustrates an eighth step of the method of treating soil in conformity with the invention;

[0087] FIG. 9 illustrates a ninth step of the method of treating soil in conformity with the invention;

[0088] FIG. 10 illustrates a variant of the ninth step of the method of treating soil of FIG. 9;

[0089] FIG. 11 illustrates the treated soil following the step illustrated in FIG. 10;

[0090] FIG. 12 illustrates an injection head of a treatment device according to the invention; and

[0091] FIG. 13 illustrates a section view of the injection head of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0092] The invention applies to a method for treating soil. This method allows modifying the physical properties of a soil portion to be treated by injection of an injection fluid.

[0093] A first embodiment of the method, for treating a first portion Z1 of soil S and a second portion Z2 of said soil in conformity with the present invention, will be described by means of FIGS. 1 to 9. In this example, the soil S comprises in particular a first unstable part S1 and a second unstable part S2 extending above the first unstable part S1.

[0094] In conformity with the method according to the invention, a hollow and cylindrical tube 10 is suppled, having a proximal end 10a and a distal end 10b, opposite to the distal end 10a. In this example, the distal end 10b corresponds to the lower end of the tube and the proximal end 10a corresponds to the upper end of the tube 10. The tube 10 comprises at its distal end 10b a plurality of cutting teeth 12 forming a cutting member for cutting the soil S.

[0095] Without limitation, a boring machine 14 is also supplied, equipped with a mast 16 and with a movement device 18. In this non-limiting example, the movement device 18 is mounted sliding along the mast 16. The tube 10 cooperates with the movement device 18 so that said movement device 18 is configured to drive said tube 10 in rotation.

[0096] The speed of rotation of the tube 10 can advantageously be controlled and adjusted. Moreover, the movement device 18 also comprises a torque sensor 19, allowing measuring a resistant torque applied to the tube 10, opposing its rotation.

[0097] In this non-limiting example, the method comprises a first step of accomplishing boring by means of the tube 10. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the movement device 18 is translated downward along the mast 16, so as to move the tube 10 downward substantially vertically. In parallel, the movement device 18 drives the tube 10 in rotation, in order to cut the soil by means of cutting teeth 12, in order to accomplish said borehole F. As a variant, it could be contemplated to vibrate the tube 10 in order to cut the soil S. The tube therefore constitutes a boring tube.

[0098] Without departing from the scope of the invention, the borehole F could be accomplished by means of a boring tool independent of the tube.

[0099] The borehole F is accomplished so as to pass at least partially through the soil portions Z1, Z2 to be treated. As can be observed in FIG. 2, the borehole comprises a bottom Fa and a lateral wall Fb. In addition, said borehole F extends in a boring direction Y and until a borehole depth Pf.

[0100] In this example the borehole also passes through the first and second unstable soil parts S1, S2.

[0101] When the tube 10 has reached the desired borehole depth Pf illustrated in FIG. 1, a second step is carried out in which the movement device 18 is translated upward along the mast 16. The tube 10, cooperating with the movement device 18, is therefore also moved upward and rises along the borehole F. The tube is then positioned in the borehole at a first predetermined depth P1. More precisely, the tube is positioned so that its distal end 10b extends to said first predetermined depth P1.

[0102] Said predetermined depth P1 is less than the borehole depth Pf and less than the depth at which the first soil Z1 to be treated extends. Also, the tube extends above the soil portion to be treated and facing the first and second unstable soil parts S1, S2, likely to collapse. The tube 10 extends into the borehole F in the boring direction Y.

[0103] The tube then allows holding the lateral wall Fb of the borehole at a height equal to the first predetermined depth P1, and therefore in particular at the level of the first and second unstable soil parts S1, S2, in order to prevent said lateral wall Fb from collapsing. In addition, it is noted that the diameter of the tube 10 is very slightly less than the diameter of the borehole F so that it substantially molds itself to the lateral wall Fb of the borehole F. One advantage is to prevent even more effectively the collapse of the lateral wall of the borehole toward the interior of said borehole F.

[0104] The tube 10 is equipped at its proximal end 10a with an injection head 20. One example of an injection head 20 is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. It is preferably mounted removably at the proximal end 10a of the tube.

[0105] The injection head 20 comprises a fixed part 22 integral with the movement device 18 by means of a rod 23. The injection head 20 also comprises a pivoting part 24 configured to pivot with respect to the fixed part 22. Moreover, the injection head 20 comprises a hole 26 passing through the fixed 22 and pivoting 24 parts and therefore passing through the injection head, from top to bottom along an axis. Said axis is congruent with the boring direction Y when the tube 10 extends into said borehole. The fixed 22 and pivoting 24 parts have a substantially cylindrical shape. The pivoting part 24 cooperates with the proximal end 10a of the tube 10 so that it pivots in the boring direction Y when the tube is driven in rotation. In addition, the pivoting head comprises an opening 25 passing through the fixed 22 and pivoting 24 parts radially. The opening 25 leads into the through hole 26. Said opening 25 is configured to be connected to a supply source of washing fluid. The injection head also comprises pivoting seals 27 located between the pivoting part 24 and the fixed part 22.

[0106] A first blocking element 30 is then introduced into the borehole, as can be seen in FIG. 3. In this non-limiting example, the first blocking element 30 is inflatable and has a retracted position in which it is deflated, and a deployed position in which it is inflated. In addition, it is mounted on an injection channel 32, so that said injection channel 32 passes through the first blocking element 30. In addition, the first blocking element 30 is linked to an inflation member located outside the borehole, via an inflation duct. For reasons of legibility, said inflation member and said duct are not shown.

[0107] The first blocking element 30 is initially placed in the retracted position, around the injection channel 32. Said injection channel and said first blocking element in the retracted position are then introduced jointly into the tube 10, via the hole 24 passing through the injection head 20, and translated toward the bottom Fa of the borehole F. They are moved until the first blocking element 30 leaves the tube by its distal end 10b. The first blocking element is brought to a second predetermined depth P2, comprised between the first predetermined depth P1 and the borehole depth Pf. The first blocking element 30 then extends between the tube 10 and the bottom Fa of the borehole. The inflation duct and the injection channel 32 extend in the tube 10 and in the hole 26 passing through the injection head 20 and leading out of said injection head by its upper end.

[0108] Air is then injected into the first blocking element 30 via the duct, by means of the inflation member. The first blocking element is then inflated and placed in the deployed position illustrated in FIG. 4. It can therefore be deployed from outside the borehole.

[0109] In the deployed position, the first blocking element 30 molds itself to the lateral wall Fb of the borehole F so that it forms a plug between the parts of the borehole located above and below said first blocking element 30. The first blocking element then defines an injection zone 34 located between said first blocking element 30, the bottom Fa of the borehole F and the lateral wall Fb of the borehole. The injection zone 34 is located facing the first soil portion to be treated Z1.

[0110] The injection channel 32 is preferably connected to an injection fluid supply source. As can be noted in FIG. 4, the injection channel 32 passes through the injection head 20 and also extends inside the tube 10. It comprises a proximal end 32a protruding from the proximal end 10a of the tube and from the upper end of the injection head 20. The proximal end 32a of the injection channel 32 is linked to the injection fluid supply source. The injection channel 32 also comprises a distal end 32b then extending into the injection zone 34, below the first blocking element 30. The distal end of the injection channel 32 is equipped with an injection nozzle 36 configured to project an injection fluid. The injection channel 32 and the injection nozzle 36 are part of an injection device.

[0111] The injection of the injection fluid, illustrated in FIG. 5, is then carried out. The injection fluid can consist of a waterproofing product if it is necessary to waterproof the soil or of a hardenable mud if consolidation of the soil is required. It can also consist of a grout.

[0112] The injection fluid is introduced into the injection channel 32 at the proximal end 32a of said injection channel, and propagates in said injection channel from its proximal end until its distal end 32b. It is then injected into the injection zone 34 by means of the injection nozzle 36 which allows projecting it substantially radially toward the lateral wall Fb of the borehole F. The injected injection fluid is shown by the arrows drawn with solid lines. The injection fluid then infiltrated into the soil S and propagates into the first soil portion Z1 to be treated. The treatment of the soil is thereby accomplished.

[0113] The first blocking element 30 allows avoiding direct projection of the injection fluid toward the tube 10. As can be noted in FIG. 5, the injection fluid is, however, likely to bypass the first blocking element and accumulate between said first blocking element 30 and the tube 10 or even infiltrate between the tube 10 and the lateral wall Fb of the borehole. In particular, the injection fluid, possibly mixed with soil particles, forms cuttings which risk infiltrating between the lateral wall of the borehole and an outer surface 11 of the tube. This is not desirable, in that these cuttings risk perturbing the movement of the tube 10 or even to block the tube in the borehole.

[0114] In conformity with the invention, a step of removing the cuttings located between the tube 10 and the lateral wall Fb of the borehole is carried out, simultaneously with the injection of the injection fluid into the injection zone 34, so as to remove the cuttings in contact with said tube. More precisely, a step of cleaning the outer surface 11 of the tube is carried out. Advantageously, only the part of the tube which is in the soil is cleaned.

[0115] In this non-limiting example, in parallel with the injection of the injection fluid, the resisting torque applied to the tube is measured by means of the torque sensor 19. When this resisting torque is greater than a predetermined threshold, the presence of cuttings, and in particular of injection fluid in contact with the tube 10 is deduced from it, and the cleaning of the tube and the removal of the cuttings is then triggered.

[0116] Without departing from the scope of the invention, the step of removing the cuttings could be triggered starting with the beginning of the injection of the injection fluid into the injection zone 34.

[0117] In order to clean the tube 10 and to remove the cuttings, the tube 10 is rotated around an axis of rotation substantially congruent with the longitudinal direction Y of the borehole F by means of the movement device 18. Due to this rotation, the injection fluid in contact with the tube does not risk drying and solidifying. The risk that the tube remains caught in the soil is therefore strongly reduced. In addition, the rotation movement of the tube 10 has as its consequence moving the cuttings located between said tube and the lateral wall Fb of the borehole toward the proximal end 10a of the tube.

[0118] The rotation of the tube therefore allows effectively cleaning its outer surface 11 and rapidly removing cuttings.

[0119] Without departing from the scope of the invention, the outer surface 11 of the tube could comprise at least one screw conveyor allowing routing the cuttings toward the proximal end 10a of the tube and therefore toward the outside of the tube, to facilitate their removal.

[0120] In parallel, to clean the outer surface 11 of the tube and remove the cuttings, a step of injecting a washing fluid around the tube 10 is also carried out. The washing fluid can comprise an aqueous solution and cleaning agents. To accomplish this, the washing fluid is introduced into the tube at its proximal end 10a, via the opening provided in the fixed 22 and pivoting 24 parts of the injection head 20. The injection head 20 therefore allows injecting the washing fluid into the tube 10. The tube is then used as a duct, so that the washing fluid flows between the injection channel 32 and the tube 10. The washing fluid is brought to the distal end 10b of the tube, where it is injected into the borehole F. Insofar as the tube 10 pivots, the pivoting part 24 of the injection head 20 is also driven in rotation.

[0121] The washing fluid then progressively fills the upper part of the borehole located above the first blocking element and infiltrates between the outer surface 11 of the tube 10 and the lateral wall Fb of the borehole. The cuttings, comprising the injection fluid, present in this upper part of the borehole, then mix with the washing fluid so that the washing fluid drives the cuttings toward the upper end of the borehole and pushes them out of the borehole. This step allows removing the cuttings and cleaning more effectively the outer surface 11 of the tube 10.

[0122] In FIG. 5, the path of the washing fluid during its injection is shown by arrows drawn in dotted lines.

[0123] The coupled action of the washing fluid and the rotation of the tube allow more effectively separating the cuttings in contact with the tube. The rotation of the tube jointly with the injection of the washing fluid therefore allows very effective cleaning of the outer surface 11 of the tube 10, substantially reducing the risks of blockage of the tube 10 in the borehole F. The injection head 20 and the movement device 18 form a device for cleaning the tube 10 and therefore a device for removing the cuttings located between the tube 10 and the lateral wall Fb of the borehole F.

[0124] In FIG. 6, it is observed that the injection fluid has propagated in the first soil portion Z1 from the injection zone, so that this first soil portion Z1 has been treated. The dimensions of the first soil portion Z1 treated depend in particular on the injection time and on the quantity of injection fluid injected.

[0125] FIGS. 7 to 10 illustrate the treatment of the second soil portion Z2, distinct from the first treated soil portion Z1. The second soil portion Z2 to be treated extends between the first unstable soil part S1 and the second unstable soil part S2.

[0126] Firstly, the tube 10 is moved toward the top of the borehole F and positioned at a first secondary predetermined depth P1′ less than the first predetermined depth P1. The tube 10 is then located facing the second unstable soil part S2 and allows holding the lateral wall Fb of the borehole F at this second unstable soil part S2.

[0127] As illustrated by the passage from FIG. 7 to FIG. 8, the first blocking element 30 is deflated and placed in the retracted position. It is then moved toward the top of the borehole F until a second secondary predetermined depth P2′ less than the second predetermined depth P2.

[0128] As before, the first blocking element 30 is inflated so as to be placed in the deployed position in which it molds itself to the lateral wall Fb of the borehole. The first blocking element then defines a secondary injection zone 34′ located between the first blocking element 30, the bottom Fa of the borehole F and the lateral wall Fb of the borehole. The secondary injection zone 34′ is located in particular facing the second soil portion Z2 to be treated, as can be seen in FIG. 9.

[0129] The injection channel 32 and the injection nozzle 36 are also moved upward in the borehole, facing the second soil portion Z2 to be treated. As before, the injection fluid is injected into the secondary injection zone 34′ so as to treat the second soil portion Z2. In parallel, the tube is cleaned and the cuttings located between the tube 10 and the lateral wall Fb of the borehole F are removed. To this end, the tube 10 is rotated by means of the movement device 18 and a washing fluid is injected into the borehole F and around the tube 10 by means of the injection head 20. There to, the circulation of the washing fluid allows avoiding having the cuttings, comprising the injection fluid, blocking the tube in the borehole.

[0130] As can be noted in FIG. 9, the injection fluid has infiltrated into the soil S so that the first soil portion Z1 and the second soil portion Z2 are treated.

[0131] According to a non-limiting variant, and as illustrated in FIG. 10, it would also have been possible to introduce a second blocking element 31 into the borehole at a third predetermined depth P3 comprised between the second secondary predetermined depth P2′ and the borehole depth Pf. The second blocking element 31 is then located between the first blocking element 30 and the bottom of the borehole Fa.

[0132] The second blocking element 31 is similar to the first blocking element 30 and can also be placed in a deployed position. Consequently, it allows reducing the secondary injection zone 34′, so that said secondary injection zone 34′ extends henceforth between the first blocking element 30, the second blocking element 31 and the lateral wall Fb of the borehole. One advantage is to not project the injection fluid toward the bottom Fa of the borehole and therefore localizing the injection more precisely.

[0133] Without departing from the scope of the invention, the second blocking element 31 can have been introduced at the same time as the first blocking element 30, or afterward.

[0134] As illustrated in FIG. 11, it is then possible to extract the tube 10 from the borehole, while still moving the guiding member 18 along the mast. The first blocking element 30 is also extracted after having placed it in the retracted position.

[0135] The treatment of the first and second soil portions Z1, Z2 has therefore been accomplished by moving upward, in two successive injection steps, toward the top of the borehole F.