US3841705A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stimulation of production well for in situ metal mining
Assignee: Kennecott Utah Copper LLC
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Filing: 1973-09-27
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1993-09-27
Abstract
Abstract Metal values are economically leached in situ by rubblizing a portion of an ore body, injecting a lixiviant for the metal values through one or more injection wells in the ore body located adjacent to but outside the rubblized portion of the ore body, and collecting the lixiviant containing the dissolved metal values from one or more production wells located in a rubblized zone of the ore body.
Inventors
- 👤 L Girard
- 👤 R Hard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:03
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/28; E21B43/283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR RECOVERING METAL VALUES BY INSITU LEACHING AN ORE BODY LOCATED BELOW THE WATER TABLE WHICH COMPRISES: A. FORMING A RUBBLIZED ZONE IN AN ORE BODY WHEREBY THE RUBBLIZED ZONE CONTAINS FRACTURED METAL BEARING ORE PARTICLES; B. INJECTING A LEACH SOLUTION THROUGH ONE OR MORE INJECTION WELLS LOCATED IN THE ORE BODY ADJACENT TO BUT OUTSIDE THE RUBBLIZED ZONE, THE LEACH SOLUTION SOLUBILIZING METAL VALUES IN THE ORE BODY AND IN THE RUBBLIZED ZONE; AND C. RECOVERING A METAL CONTAINING LEACH SOLUTION THROUGH ONE OR MORE PRODUCTION WELLS LOCATED IN THE RUBBLIZED ZONE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR RECOVERING METAL VALUES BY INSITU LEACHING AN ORE BODY LOCATED BELOW THE WATER TABLE WHICH COMPRISES: A. FORMING A RUBBLIZED ZONE IN AN ORE BODY WHEREBY THE RUBBLIZED ZONE CONTAINS FRACTURED METAL BEARING ORE PARTICLES; B. INJECTING A LEACH SOLUTION THROUGH ONE OR MORE INJECTION WELLS LOCATED IN THE ORE BODY ADJACENT TO BUT OUTSIDE THE RUBBLIZED ZONE, THE LEACH SOLUTION SOLUBILIZING METAL VALUES IN THE ORE BODY AND IN THE RUBBLIZED ZONE; AND C. RECOVERING A METAL CONTAINING LEACH SOLUTION THROUGH ONE OR MORE PRODUCTION WELLS LOCATED IN THE RUBBLIZED ZONE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the rubblized zone is produced by detonating one or more strategically placed explosives in the ore body, said explosive selected from nuclear and chemical explosives.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the one or more injection wells are located between at least about 50 feet and up to about 700 feet from the one or more production wells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the ore body contains a copper bearing ore.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 4 wherein the leach solution is injected through the one or more injection wells at a pressure less than the formation fracture pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the leach solution contains a dispersion of an oxygen bearing gas.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
90 words
The method of leaching a metal bearing ore in place which comprises: a. injecting a leach solution at a pressure below the formation fracturing pressure through at least one injection well located in a non-rubblized zone of a metal bearing ore body located below the water table; b. allowing the leach solution to remain in the ore body to solubilize metallic ions present in the ore body, and c. recovering metallic ion containing leach solution from at least one production well located in a rubblized zone in the ore body.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
90 words
The method of leaching a metal bearing ore in place which comprises: a. injecting a leach solution at a pressure below the formation fracturing pressure through at least one injection well located in a non-rubblized zone of a metal bearing ore body located below the water table; b. allowing the leach solution to remain in the ore body to solubilize metallic ions present in the ore body, and c. recovering metallic ion containing leach solution from at least one production well located in a rubblized zone in the ore body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the ore body contains copper bearing ore.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the leach solution is aqueous sulfuric acid containing an oxygen bearing gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 9 wherein at least one injection well is located between about 50 feet and about 700 feet from at least one production well.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |