Underground Borehole Configurations for Solution Mining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for solution mining of trona and other evaporite minerals are inefficient and costly, with conventional underground mining dominating due to challenges in connecting boreholes and achieving effective fluid flow, leading to high production costs and environmental impacts.
Innovation Solution
The method involves drilling access wells and lateral boreholes that communicate with each other, allowing for controlled fluid injection and circulation, with the option of multiple access wells and lateral boreholes to optimize fluid flow and mineral recovery, using solvents like carbonic acid and heated solutions to enhance mineral dissolution and separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional underground mining methods are used, then mineral recovery is achieved, but production costs are high and environmental impacts are severe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical underground mining systems with a chemical solution mining system. Instead of using excavators, conveyors, and hoists to physically extract and transport trona ore, the invention uses aqueous solutions to chemically dissolve the trona in situ, allowing minerals to be extracted through dissolution and pumped to surface, thereby eliminating the mechanical mining infrastructure and its associated environmental disturbances
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic systems to inject aqueous solutions through drilled boreholes into the trona formation and to pump the resulting mineral-laden solutions to the surface. This hydraulic approach replaces mechanical excavation and transport systems, enabling mineral recovery through fluid circulation rather than physical removal of rock and ore
2Object-affected harmful factors
If solution mining with vertical boreholes is attempted, then environmental impact is reduced, but borehole connection and fluid flow control are problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical borehole configurations to horizontal borehole configurations. By drilling horizontally into the trona formation, the system achieves better connection between boreholes through the mineral bed, improves fluid flow distribution across the mining zone, and facilitates more effective solution circulation patterns compared to vertical drilling approaches
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic flow control mechanisms including adjustable flow rates, multiple injection points, and variable circulation patterns. The system can dynamically adjust solution injection rates and distribution among multiple boreholes to optimize dissolution efficiency and maintain controlled fluid flow throughout the mining operation
3Volume of moving object
If hydraulic fracturing is used to connect boreholes, then borehole communication is achieved, but connection reliability is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary borehole drilling and preparation before attempting connection. Horizontal boreholes are drilled with precise positioning and alignment in advance, and the borehole pathways are prepared to facilitate reliable connection through the trona formation, reducing the need for aggressive hydraulic fracturing and improving connection success rates
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach improves the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of solution mining by achieving highly concentrated mineral solutions, reducing environmental impact, and enabling more effective recovery of desired minerals while minimizing undesired ones, thus lowering production costs.
Implementation Method 1
introduction of water heated to about 130° C. and recovery of a solution from the underground formation at 90° C.
Implementation Method 2
introduction of water heated to about 130° C.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods for solution mining of evaporite minerals, such as trona, comprising drilling an access well and at least two lateral boreholes; injecting a fluid; circulating the fluid through the lateral boreholes with a controlled fluid flow; and collecting a pregnant solution. Also disclosed are methods of solution mining that include injecting an aqueous solution into an underground trona cavity at a temperature sufficient to maintain at least a portion of the solution in the cavity in the Wegscheiderite solid phase region; removing aqueous solution from the cavity; and recovering alkaline values from the removed aqueous solution. Also disclosed are methods of solution mining that include injecting an aqueous solution into an underground trona cavity; removing aqueous solution from the cavity, wherein the temperature of the removed aqueous solution is at about the TWA point temperature; and recovering alkaline values from the removed aqueous solution.