Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
The method for extracting metalliferous values from a laminar type impermeable metalliferous ore body comprising: A. penetrating the ore body to provide two or more spaced apart clear openings extending from the earth''s surface and terminating in portions of the ore body at different elevations; B. fluid-pressure fracturing the ore body from the bottom end of the opening terminating at the lowermost elevation upwardly to the bottom end of another of said openings in the laiminar direction of the ore body to provide a permeable zone underlying a higher portion of the ore body of substantial vertical thickness, thereby establishing a substantially closed fluid circulation system including said openings and said permeable zone; C. flowing a fluid type explosive under pressure less than the fracturing pressure into said circulation system so as to fill said permeable zone; D. detonating said explosive so as to permeablize the ore body thereabove; and E. then flowing a sought-for metalliferous solvent/reactant fluid through another of said openings downwardly and through said circulation system so as to percolate through the permeabilized portions of the ore body to produce a product fluid containing the sought-for metalliferous values from the opening terminating at the lowermost elevation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
199 words
The method for extracting metalliferous values from a laminar type impermeable metalliferous ore body comprising: A. penetrating the ore body to provide two or more spaced apart clear openings extending from the earth''s surface and terminating in portions of the ore body at different elevations; B. fluid-pressure fracturing the ore body from the bottom end of the opening terminating at the lowermost elevation upwardly to the bottom end of another of said openings in the laiminar direction of the ore body to provide a permeable zone underlying a higher portion of the ore body of substantial vertical thickness, thereby establishing a substantially closed fluid circulation system including said openings and said permeable zone; C. flowing a fluid type explosive under pressure less than the fracturing pressure into said circulation system so as to fill said permeable zone; D. detonating said explosive so as to permeablize the ore body thereabove; and E. then flowing a sought-for metalliferous solvent/reactant fluid through another of said openings downwardly and through said circulation system so as to percolate through the permeabilized portions of the ore body to produce a product fluid containing the sought-for metalliferous values from the opening terminating at the lowermost elevation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said openings into said ore body are provided by two or more horizontally spaced apart bore holes terminating at their bottom ends at different elevations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said base fracturing process is repeated as many times as may be necessary to coalesce the lower ends of at least two bore holes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base fracturing process is performed by means of a hydraulic fracturing technique.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said base fracturing process is conducted initially by means of a hydraulic fracturing technique, and is supplemented by an explosive fracturing technique.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid type explosive is flowed into said circulation system by means of a low pressure pump operating to deliver explosive through the opening hole terminating at the lowest level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein a suction pump is operably connected to another one of the openings to supplement flowage of fluid explosive into said system.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
200 words
The method for extracting metalliferous values from a laminar type impermeable metalliferous ore body comprising: A. penetrating the ore body to provide two or more spaced apart clear openings extending from the earth''s surface and terminating in lower portions of the ore body at different elevations; B. fluid-pressure fracturing the ore body from the bottom end of the opening terminating at the lowermost elevation upwardly to the bottom end of another of said openings in the laminar direction of the ore body to provide a permeable zone underlying a higher portion of the ore body of substantial vertical thickness, thereby establishing a substantially closed fluid circulation system including said openings and said permeable zone; C. flowing a fluid type explosive under pressure less than the fracturing pressure into said circulation system so as to fill said permeable zone; D. detonating said explosive so as to permeabilize the ore body thereabove; and E. then flowing a sought-for metalliferous solvent/reactant fluid through one of said openings, upwardly and through said circulation system so as to percolate through the permeabilized portions of the ore body to produce a product fluid containing the sought-for metalliferous values from an opening terminating at a higher elevation.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
200 words
The method for extracting metalliferous values from a laminar type impermeable metalliferous ore body comprising: A. penetrating the ore body to provide two or more spaced apart clear openings extending from the earth''s surface and terminating in lower portions of the ore body at different elevations; B. fluid-pressure fracturing the ore body from the bottom end of the opening terminating at the lowermost elevation upwardly to the bottom end of another of said openings in the laminar direction of the ore body to provide a permeable zone underlying a higher portion of the ore body of substantial vertical thickness, thereby establishing a substantially closed fluid circulation system including said openings and said permeable zone; C. flowing a fluid type explosive under pressure less than the fracturing pressure into said circulation system so as to fill said permeable zone; D. detonating said explosive so as to permeabilize the ore body thereabove; and E. then flowing a sought-for metalliferous solvent/reactant fluid through one of said openings, upwardly and through said circulation system so as to percolate through the permeabilized portions of the ore body to produce a product fluid containing the sought-for metalliferous values from an opening terminating at a higher elevation.