Method for sealing leaks in vessels

Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a method for sealing leaks in pipes, conduits, gaslines, closed containers, tanks and the like. The interior of such equipment is first purged with a nonreactive dry gas, such as nitrogen, to remove any moisture and/or oxygen which may be present. Then the sealing composition is introduced into the interior of the equipment in a suitable inert gas vehicle under pressure. The sealant composition in the gas vehicle will escape from any leaks present in the equipment into the outer ambient atmosphere or adjacent soil in the case of pipelines buried in soil. The sealant reacts with oxygen and/or moisture to form at the situs of the leak a solid reaction product. The sealant composition comprises (1) a volatile metal alkyl compound and (2) a volatile organosilane compound. The volatile metal alkyl compound has the formula M(R)2, wherein M is zinc or cadmium, or the formula X(R)3, wherein X is aluminum, gallium, indium, or thallium, and R is an alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. The organosilane compound has the formula R4 nSi(OR'')n, wherein R is an alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons atoms, R'' is an alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and n is an integer from 1 to 4. The proportions of the metal alkyl compound may range by volume from about 1 percent to about 99 percent, the remainder being the organosilane compound. An illustrative sealant composition is a mixture by volume of 80 percent tetraethoxysilane and 20 percent diethyl zinc which is introduced in a stream of nitrogen into a pipeline under pressure to seal existing leaks. The sealant compositions are supplied to the interior of the apparatus or vessel which may contain leaks in sufficient concentration and suitable pressure so that upon escape from the leaks a solid seal will form in sites.

Inventors

• 👤 Amos R Anderson

Bibliographic Details