Lixiviant recirculator for in situ mining
US4079998A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 28, 1976 |
| Grant date | Mar 21, 1978 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 28, 1996 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/28
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A downhole recirculator for injecting two-phase lixiviant from a tubing string into a leaching interval of an in situ mine field injection hole, and for circulating the injected lixiviant within the leaching interval. The recirculator includes a core device which is adapted to be readily inserted or removed from its operating position in a fixture defining the upper limit of the leaching interval. The core device includes an induction valve arrangement whereby a primary flow of two-phase lixiviant supplied from the minefield surface by way of the tubing string induces a secondary flow of lixiviant from regions of the injection hole near the top of the leaching interval. The primary flow two-phase lixiviant is combined with the secondary flow lixiviant and injected to a region near the bottom of the leaching interval to establish a circulatory motion of lixiviant within the leaching interval.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.