Preventing rotting of wooden piles by microorganisms - by injecting natural gas into ground in vicinity of the piles

摘要

Wooden piles, partly or completely above the ground water level, are preserved from rotting by microorganisms by injecting into the adjacent ground organic material, such as natural gas, oxidisable by the microorganisms. Fire hazard is reduced by mixing the natural gas with inert diluent, e.g. N2. Injecting 75 l./hr. of a mixt. of 1 pt. methane and 5 pts. N2 produces an effect over a volume of about 2 m. radius from the point of injection.