Method and system for mining hydrocarbon-containing materials
US6554368B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 29, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21F15/00
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.