METHOD OF GEOCHEMICAL INSPECTION OF PENETRABILITY OF WATER- PROTECTION COVERING ON DEPOSITS OF POTASSIUM SALTS Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: inspection of conditions of development and running of deposits of potassium salts by detection of penetrable sections in water-protection covering and by prediction of possible destruction of this covering right up to advent of emergency and catastrophic situations. SUBSTANCE: observation holes are drilled, water samples are taken from these holes and gases dissolved in water are extracted. For increase of authenticity of data on penetrability of water-protection covering observation holes are drilled to depth of first water-bearing horizon, water samples are taken many times from each hole and in time sequence, content of methane and hydrogen in taken gas samples is determined as well as isotopic relation argon-40/argon-36. If value of isotopic relation exceeds 296 there is made conclusion on break of integrity of water-protection layer. With increase of concentration of methane and hydrogen of more than 0.2 volume per cent one makes conclusion on onset of dissolution of salt formations. EFFECT: enhanced authenticity of method. 2 dwg