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CA2703276A1 - Method for improving ore extraction - Google Patents

Method for improving ore extraction Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2703276A1
CA2703276A1 CA 2703276 CA2703276A CA2703276A1 CA 2703276 A1 CA2703276 A1 CA 2703276A1 CA 2703276 CA2703276 CA 2703276 CA 2703276 A CA2703276 A CA 2703276A CA 2703276 A1 CA2703276 A1 CA 2703276A1
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
ore
caverns
cavern
set forth
extraction
Prior art date
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Granted
Application number
CA 2703276
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French (fr)
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CA2703276C (en
Inventor
Robin Phinney
Siu Ma
Michael Robinson
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Karnalyte Resources Inc
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Karnalyte Resources Inc
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Publication date
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Priority to CA2703276A priority Critical patent/CA2703276C/en
Publication of CA2703276A1 publication Critical patent/CA2703276A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
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Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/28Dissolving minerals other than hydrocarbons, e.g. by an alkaline or acid leaching agent
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21CMINING OR QUARRYING
    • E21C45/00Methods of hydraulic mining; Hydraulic monitors

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)

Abstract

There is disclosed a method of augmenting ore extraction from a solution mine having caverns comprising: providing at least a pair of opposed caverns containing ore to be extracted; extracting ore from one cavern of the caverns; recovering ore to exhaust the one cavern; depositing tailings from an ore exhausted cavern into the ore exhausted cavern and extracting ore from other said cavern of said caverns.

Description

METHOD FOR IMPROVING ORE EXTRACTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is directed to a method for enhancing ore extraction and more particularly, the present invention is directed to a method and a system for augmenting or extraction in a solution mine environment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is well documented, solution mining has been known for many years. One of the early examples of this technology is found in United States Patent No.
4,753,485, issued to Goodheart, issued June 28, 1988. The patent disclosed a method for improving the recovery of minerals from a subsurface formation. The patent teaches the use of an outer loop borehole formed from a vertical shaft with the provision of a leaching fluid which is injected into the outer loop to leach away minerals that are approximate the loop.

Further, in United States Patent No. 3,366,419, issued January 30, 1968 to Pasternak et al teaches solution mining method making use of a suitable solvent and particular method of well formation and further by alternating cycles of selective and non-selective disillusion of the solvent.

Day, in United States Patent No. 3,355,212, issued November 28, 1967, teaches a method for solution mining of carnallite. In the methodology, it is indicated that the solution mining is achieved by making use of an aqueous solution of magnesium chloride and potassium chloride in the concentrations corresponding to particular phase diagram relationships where the carnallite is dissolved without decomposition of the ore.

Higgins, in United States Patent No. 4,418,960, issued December 6, 1983, teaches methodology for multiple bed solution mining of an inclined structure. In the method the patentee teaches the covering of pot ash and congeners minerals from multiple beds of relatively thin inclined strata at substantial depth. A single bore hold is provided for dissolution of each ore strata overlain by an insoluble and an impermeable strata with the order beginning from the deepest ore strata. Water is employed as an injectant down the bore hole at a predetermined rate and flows from the drill hole. Once charged, the heavy brine then flows down the bottom of the cavity to an outflow pipe communicating with the cavity.

In United States Patent No. 6,022,080, issued February 8, 2000, to Gruschow et al, there is disclosed a process and system for the solution mining of the evapourites and preparation of saline solutions. In the process and system the disclosure solvent is heated by a solar pond. The heated solvent is then introduced into a cavern to be solution mined to produce a production brine which is then heated. The brine is then removed from the cavern and cooled along with water evaporation. The result is solid crystallization and separation producing a solid product and a cold mother liquor.

Pickren, in United States Patent No. 6,582,025, issued June 24, 2003 teaches a sulphur storage method. The reference teaches that solution mined salt enclosed cavities are solution mined and the stored sulphur is withdrawn using pressurized hot water through first space created within the bore hole and pressurized air through a second space. This causes the sulphur within the cavity to melt and to rise to the surface of the earth through a centric space within the bore hole.

Given the activity in the solution mining field at various developments that were patented, none of the techniques facilitated maximum recovery of the ore from within a cavern. This has been primarily due to the face that the stability of the cavern had to be maintained with a pillar etc. in order to prevent subsidence. The result of this is that much of the extractable ore must be left within the formation in order to comply with various regulations and avoid subsidence.

The present invention has resulted in methodology and a system where ore extraction can be augmented and maximized without running a foul of subsidence concerns and also any environmental concerns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a method of improved ore extraction from an ore body.
A further object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a method of augmenting ore extraction from a solution mined having caverns, comprising:
providing at least a pair of opposed caverns containing ore to be extracted;
extracting ore from one cavern of said caverns;

recovering ore to exhaust the one cavern;

depositing tailings from an ore exhausted cavern into the ore exhausted cavern;
and extracting ore from the other cavern.

Advantageously, by establishing a paired cavern system, the depleted or exhausted cavern can then function to restore the tailings which, in the case of the pot ash solution mining example would be sodium chloride tailings.

A further object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a solution mine system for augmenting ore recovery from an ore body, comprising:
a plurality of caverns radially arranged;

a central vertical well for collection of solved ore from the caverns; and an injection well in fluid communication with each said cavern and the central vertical well, the caverns being extractable in opposed pairs, whereby an extracted cavern of a pair stores tailings produced from extraction of an ore therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the invention, reference can now be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments:

In Figure 1, shown is a conventional cavern and solution mining arrangement with one cavern shown;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
and Figure 3 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
Similar numerals used in the drawings denote similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

I refer now to Figure 1, numeral 10 globally denotes the overall general configuration of a solution mining employing caverns. In the Figure, the cavern 12 is obviously disposed within the seam 14 of ore. The cavern 12 communicates with a vertical well 16 which extends from cavern 12 to the surface 18. It is obvious that other processing equipment will be connected to the top of the vertical well 16 and thus would be positioned at the top of the surface 18. None of this is shown in the drawing as it is well understood by those skilled.

Cavern 12 also communicates with the horizontal injection well, globally denoted by number 20. The well obviously extends from the surface 18 at 22 through to the cavern 12 as illustrated. As is generally known the injection well 20 is drilled substantially along the seam 14. The length is primarily dictated by the homogeneity of the seam.

Referring now to Figure 2, shown is a plan view of one embodiment of the patterned solution of mining layout. As is indicated in Figure 2, opposed cavern pairs, for example pair AB and pair CD etc., are in opposition to one another and opposed to the central well 16. The distance from the central well 16 to a respective cavern is approximately 3 km. This "pin wheel" design allows for approximately 70% of the deposit for extraction which is twice as effective as the state of the art technology today which vividly has an extraction efficiency of about 35%. This is primarily due to the need to leave a pillar(s) (not shown) which have to be left in the ground upon extraction of the ore to prevent subsidence. With the pinwheel design as shown in Figure 2, the extraction efficiency can be increased since the pillar can be removed. By incorporating the pinwheel design, as shown in Figure 2, once the cavern A is completely depleted of ore, then the tailings from the extraction of ore can be reinserted into the cavern A. This prevents the need for leaving pillars or other structural members for preventing subsidence and, at the same time, efficiently handle storage of the non-toxic tailings.
Turning to Figure 3, shown is an alternate embodiment of the pinwheel design where the arrangement is substantially polygonal. In this embodiment the satellite caverns 12 are positions in substantially a square formation with the vertical well exposed approximately centrally of the satellite caverns 12. By incorporating the methodology herein, the extraction of ore from a body in solution mining can be significantly enhanced owing to the fact that the subsidence problem is elevated by making use of the tailings which would otherwise be disposed of.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described above, it is not limited thereto and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications form part of the present invention insofar as they do not depart from the spirit, nature and scope of the claimed and described invention.

Claims (8)

1. A method of augmenting ore extraction from a solution mine having caverns, comprising:

providing at least a pair of opposed caverns containing ore to be extracted;
extracting ore from one cavern of said caverns;

recovering ore to exhaust said one cavern;
depositing tailings from an ore exhausted cavern into said ore exhausted cavern; and extracting ore from other said cavern of said caverns.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said caverns are arranged in a radially spaced apart pattern.
3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said caverns are commonly connected to a vertically oriented well.
4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein each said cavern is connected by an injection well to said vertical well.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of pairs of caverns.
6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said caverns are arranged in a circular pattern.
7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said caverns are arranged in a polygonal pattern.
8. A solution mine system for augmenting ore recovery from an ore body, comprising:
a plurality of caverns radially arranged;

a central vertical well for collection of solved ore from said caverns; and an injection well in fluid communication with each said cavern and said central vertical well , said caverns being extractable in opposed pairs, whereby an extracted cavern of a pair stores tailings produced from extraction of said ore.
CA2703276A 2010-05-05 2010-05-05 Method for improving ore extraction Active CA2703276C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2703276A CA2703276C (en) 2010-05-05 2010-05-05 Method for improving ore extraction

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2703276A CA2703276C (en) 2010-05-05 2010-05-05 Method for improving ore extraction

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2703276A1 true CA2703276A1 (en) 2011-11-05
CA2703276C CA2703276C (en) 2015-11-17

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102392129A (en) * 2011-11-17 2012-03-28 五矿(北京)稀土研究院有限公司 Method and system of in-situ ore leaching and leachate discharge of ion adsorption type ore

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102392129A (en) * 2011-11-17 2012-03-28 五矿(北京)稀土研究院有限公司 Method and system of in-situ ore leaching and leachate discharge of ion adsorption type ore
CN102392129B (en) * 2011-11-17 2014-01-08 五矿(北京)稀土研究院有限公司 Method and system of in-situ ore leaching and leachate discharge of ion adsorption type ore

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2703276C (en) 2015-11-17

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