US3894770A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wellbore oxidation of lixiviants
Assignee: Kennecott Utah Copper LLC
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Filing: 1974-06-12
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Granted: 1975-07-15
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Expires: 1994-06-12
Abstract
Abstract Recovery of metal values such as copper values from a wellbore is combined with the pregnant liquor treatment to achieve as part of the recovery operation the pregnant liquor processing; during a gas-lift operation of the pregnant liquor ferrous ions in the pregnant liquor are being oxidized and a suitable lixiviant is obtained for reintroduction in the wellbore; as an embodiment of the invention sulfur dioxide augmented oxygen containing gas is used for treating the pregnant liquor to aid the oxidation and generate sulfuric acid being used up during the copper value recovery.
Inventors
- 👤 Ray Vincent Huff
- 👤 Paul Anthony Huska
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:51
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/28; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S423/00; Y10S423/09; Y10S423/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
IN A PROCESS FOR IN-SITU MINING OF MINERALS CONTAINING METAL VALUES SUCH AS COPPER VALUES WHEREBY A LIXIVIANT IS INTRODUCED INTO AT LEAST ONE WELLBORE AND A PREGNANT LIQUOR REMOVED THEREFROM, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: INTRODUCING IN A WELLBORE A GAS-LIFT COMPRISING FROM 4 TO 11 SCF OF AIR PER GALLON OF PREGNANT LIQUOR LIFTED PER 1000 FT., MAINTAINING IN SAID GAS-LIFT DURING SAID LIFT OXYGEN, LIFTING THE PREGNANT LIQUO 5 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS WHEREBY THE RATE OF OXIDATION OF FERROUS AT A RATE SUCH THAT THE RESIDENCE TIME IN THE WELLBORE IS ABOUT IONS IN SAID PREGNANT LIQUOR IS SUCH THAT NEARLY 100% CONVERSION CAN BE ASSURED IN A WELLBORE OF AT LEAST 500 FT., SEPARATING 0.5 TO 2.0 MICRONS. THE PREGNANT LIQUOR AND OXYGEN FOR OXIDIZING THE PREGNANT LIQUOR, RECOVERING SAID METAL VALUES IN SAID PREGNANT LIQUOR, AND REINTRODUCING A BARREN LIQUOR IN SAID WELLBORE. R
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
IN A PROCESS FOR IN-SITU MINING OF MINERALS CONTAINING METAL VALUES SUCH AS COPPER VALUES WHEREBY A LIXIVIANT IS INTRODUCED INTO AT LEAST ONE WELLBORE AND A PREGNANT LIQUOR REMOVED THEREFROM, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: INTRODUCING IN A WELLBORE A GAS-LIFT COMPRISING FROM 4 TO 11 SCF OF AIR PER GALLON OF PREGNANT LIQUOR LIFTED PER 1000 FT., MAINTAINING IN SAID GAS-LIFT DURING SAID LIFT OXYGEN, LIFTING THE PREGNANT LIQUO 5 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS WHEREBY THE RATE OF OXIDATION OF FERROUS AT A RATE SUCH THAT THE RESIDENCE TIME IN THE WELLBORE IS ABOUT IONS IN SAID PREGNANT LIQUOR IS SUCH THAT NEARLY 100% CONVERSION CAN BE ASSURED IN A WELLBORE OF AT LEAST 500 FT., SEPARATING 0.5 TO 2.0 MICRONS. THE PREGNANT LIQUOR AND OXYGEN FOR OXIDIZING THE PREGNANT LIQUOR, RECOVERING SAID METAL VALUES IN SAID PREGNANT LIQUOR, AND REINTRODUCING A BARREN LIQUOR IN SAID WELLBORE. R
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process as defined in claim 1 and wherein oxygen is maintained in said gas-lift from air as a source thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process as defined in claim 1, wherein the pregnant liquor is being lifted with an oxygen containing gas including sulfur dioxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein the pregnant liquor is being lifted with an oxygen containing gas including sulfur dioxide, said sulfur dioxide being added in an amount sufficient to also generate acid in such pregnant liquor during said gas-lift.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process as defined in claim 4 and wherein sulfur dioxide is introduced as a liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process as defined in claim 1, wherein the pregnant liquor is being lifted by introducing air as gas of a bubble diameter from 100 mm to 1 mm with 0.5% SO2 by volume to 12% SO2 by volume respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process as defined in claim 5 wherein the pregnant liquor is being lifted from a depth of at least 500 ft. from 5 minutes to 2 hours.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process as defined in claim 5, wherein the amount of sulfur dioxide is 0.5-12% based on the total amount of oxygen introduced, and after ferrous ions have been oxidized to ferric ions, the amount, by volume of introduced sulfur dioxide is doubled.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein during the gas-lift ferrous sulfate is oxidized by air augmented with 0.5 to 12% by sulfur dioxide in which ferrous sulfate is in a solution having a pH of 0 to 4, the total iron concentration of which is 10 g/l, by weight, and the temperature of said solution ranges from 30* to 130*C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process as defined in claim 8 and wherein during the gas-lift ferrous sulfate is oxidized.
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) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |