Application of Hampton G. Corneil and Andrew D. Suttle, Jr

WORLEY, Chief Judge.

This appeal is from the rejection of all the claims, 1 through 20, of appellants’ application Serial No. 735,581, filed May 15, 1958, for “Nuclear Energy Utilization.”

The application relates to a method which includes detonating a nuclear device of the fission or fusion type in a cavern in a salt formation located below the earth’s surface, utilizing the energy released thereby to heat water in the *564cavern, and removing the resulting heated water or steam for utilization of the energy therein at the surface. The cavern is prepared by drilling a well into a geological…