US4366988A — Sonic apparatus and method for slurry well bore m…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 120 words

A system for mining mineral material from a bed of such material located in a well bore comprising means installed in said well bore for feeding liquid to said bed, elastic column means adapted to boring hard mineral material installed in said well bore, means for vibratorily driving said column means at a sonic frequency to develop sonic elastic wave energy therein, said sonic elastic wave energy being transferred from said column means to the liquid and mineral material in the side walls of said well bore in said bed so as to cause the mineral material to comminute from said bed and mix with the liquid to form a slurry, and means for bringing the slurry to the surface.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 120 words

A system for mining mineral material from a bed of such material located in a well bore comprising means installed in said well bore for feeding liquid to said bed, elastic column means adapted to boring hard mineral material installed in said well bore, means for vibratorily driving said column means at a sonic frequency to develop sonic elastic wave energy therein, said sonic elastic wave energy being transferred from said column means to the liquid and mineral material in the side walls of said well bore in said bed so as to cause the mineral material to comminute from said bed and mix with the liquid to form a slurry, and means for bringing the slurry to the surface.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 54 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the column means comprises conduit means, the means for bringing the slurry to the surface including check valve means installed in said conduit means, the sonic energy engendering pumping action of the valve means whereby the slurry is pumped up the conduit means out of the well bore.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the means for feeding liquid to said bed comprises jet nozzle means for forming liquid jets which impinge against the mineral bed and engender the comminution thereof.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 3 and further including means for rotating said jet nozzle means to comminute a fully circle of the well bore.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 3 wherein the liquid feeding means additionally comprises conduit means installed in said well bore.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 5 wherein the conduit means is vibrationally isolated from and free from the column means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 6 wherein the column means comprises second conduit means in external concentricity with said first mentioned conduit means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 7 wherein the means for bringing the slurry to the surface comprises fluid impelling means spaced along said second conduit means for sonically pumping the slurry out of the well bore.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 6 wherein the second conduit means is in internal concentricity with the first conduit means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the sonic frequency at which the column means is driven is one which causes resonant standing wave vibration of said column means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the means for bringing the slurry to the surface comprises a second well bore proximate to said first mentioned bore, a tubing string in said second well bore, and sonic pump means installed in said tubing string.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 105 words

A method for mining mineral material from a bed of such material comprising the steps of sonically driving a drive member into the ground to form a well bore running down to said bed of material, feeding water into said well bore to said bed of material, placing a conduit adapted to boring hard mineral material within said well bore, said conduit running down to said bed of material, and sonically driving said conduit so as to generate vibratory energy therein, said energy comminuting the bed material and being transferred to the water causing said material to mix with the water to form a slurry.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 105 words

A method for mining mineral material from a bed of such material comprising the steps of sonically driving a drive member into the ground to form a well bore running down to said bed of material, feeding water into said well bore to said bed of material, placing a conduit adapted to boring hard mineral material within said well bore, said conduit running down to said bed of material, and sonically driving said conduit so as to generate vibratory energy therein, said energy comminuting the bed material and being transferred to the water causing said material to mix with the water to form a slurry.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 12 wherein the conduit has check valve means installed therein and further wherein the sonic energy causes pumping action of the valves so as to pump the slurry up the conduit and out of the well bore.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 12 wherein water is fed into said well bore by impelling a liquid jet against the well bore walls to effect the comminution thereof.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 14 and additionally including the step of slowly rotating the jet so as to comminute a full circumference of the well bore wall.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 12 wherein the drive member is a casing.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 12 wherein the conduit is driven at a frequency such as to set up resonant standing wave vibration thereof.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 140 words

A system for mining mineral material from a bed of such material located in a well bore comprising means installed in said well bore for feeding liquid to said bed, conduit means installed in said well bore, means for vibratorily driving said conduit means at a sonic frequency cutting bar means pivotally suspended from the bottom portion of said conduit means, sonic energy being transferred from said conduit means to said bar means, the bar means abutting against the well bore walls in the region of the mineral bed, sonic energy being transferred to the liquid and mineral material in the side walls of said well bore in said bed so as to cause the mineral material to comminute from said bed and mix with the liquid to form a slurry, and means for bringing the slurry to the surface.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 140 words

A system for mining mineral material from a bed of such material located in a well bore comprising means installed in said well bore for feeding liquid to said bed, conduit means installed in said well bore, means for vibratorily driving said conduit means at a sonic frequency cutting bar means pivotally suspended from the bottom portion of said conduit means, sonic energy being transferred from said conduit means to said bar means, the bar means abutting against the well bore walls in the region of the mineral bed, sonic energy being transferred to the liquid and mineral material in the side walls of said well bore in said bed so as to cause the mineral material to comminute from said bed and mix with the liquid to form a slurry, and means for bringing the slurry to the surface.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 18 wherein the means for bringing the slurry to the surface comprises sonic pump means for pumping the slurry out of the well bore.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 138 words

A system for mining mineral material from a bed of such material located in a well bore comprising means installed in said well bore for feeding liquid to said bed, conduit means installed in said well bore, means for vibratorily driving said conduit means at a sonic frequency, a shaft member having a passageway formed therein fixedly attached to the bottom end of said conduit means, said shaft member having a piston on the bottom end thereof, a cylinder in which said piston is slidably supported, a pair of cutter arms, and means for pivotally connecting the cutter arms to said cylinder, liquid in the well bore being forced downwardly through the passageway and driving said piston downwardly, thereby effecting relative upward motion of said cylinder and driving said cutter arms against the walls of the well bore.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 138 words

A system for mining mineral material from a bed of such material located in a well bore comprising means installed in said well bore for feeding liquid to said bed, conduit means installed in said well bore, means for vibratorily driving said conduit means at a sonic frequency, a shaft member having a passageway formed therein fixedly attached to the bottom end of said conduit means, said shaft member having a piston on the bottom end thereof, a cylinder in which said piston is slidably supported, a pair of cutter arms, and means for pivotally connecting the cutter arms to said cylinder, liquid in the well bore being forced downwardly through the passageway and driving said piston downwardly, thereby effecting relative upward motion of said cylinder and driving said cutter arms against the walls of the well bore.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 156 words

A system for mining mineral material from a bed of such material located in a well bore comprising means installed in said well bore for feeding liquid to said bed, conduit means comprising a drill pipe installed in said well bore, means for vibratorily driving said drill pipe at a sonic frequency comprising eccentric weight means fixedly mounted on said drill pipe and means for rotatably driving said drill pipe such that said pipe orbitally rotates around the bore hole wall, vibrational energy being generated in the conduit means by virtue of said eccentric weight means so as to vibrate said conduit against said wall, sonic energy being transferred to the liquid and mineral material in the side walls of said well bore in said bed so as to cause the mineral material to comminute from said bed and mix with the liquid to form a slurry, and means for bringing the slurry to the surface.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 156 words

A system for mining mineral material from a bed of such material located in a well bore comprising means installed in said well bore for feeding liquid to said bed, conduit means comprising a drill pipe installed in said well bore, means for vibratorily driving said drill pipe at a sonic frequency comprising eccentric weight means fixedly mounted on said drill pipe and means for rotatably driving said drill pipe such that said pipe orbitally rotates around the bore hole wall, vibrational energy being generated in the conduit means by virtue of said eccentric weight means so as to vibrate said conduit against said wall, sonic energy being transferred to the liquid and mineral material in the side walls of said well bore in said bed so as to cause the mineral material to comminute from said bed and mix with the liquid to form a slurry, and means for bringing the slurry to the surface.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 21 wherein the means for bringing the slurry to the surface comprises sonic pump means for pumping slurry out of the well bore.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 21 wherein said eccentric weight means comprises a plurality of weight members mounted within said pipe in spaced positions therealong.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 46 words

The system of claim 23 and further including rod means rotatably supported within said conduit means, the weight members being attached to the rod means, and means for rotatably driving the rod means independently of the conduit means to generate sonic energy in the conduit means.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 24 and further including a side wall cutter means mounted on the drill pipe for facilitating cutting action against the side walls of the well bore.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 21 wherein said eccentric weight means comprises a plurality of weight members mounted along the external wall of said pipe in spaced relationship to each other.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 21 wherein said pipe is rotated at a speed such as to set up resonant standing wave vibration thereof.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 21 and further including a universal coupler for coupling said drill pipe to said driving means to facilitate the orbital motion of the pipe around the bore hole wall.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 40 words

The system of claim 21 wherein said eccentric weight means comprises rod means positioned eccentrically within said drill pipe, the position of the rod weight being adjustable by changing the circumferential position of the rod means within the conduit means.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 142 words

A system for mining mineral material from a bed of such material located in a well bore comprising means installed in said well bore for feeding liquid to said bed comprising first jet nozzle means for forming liquid jets which impinge against the mineral bed and engender the comminution thereof and a supply of pressurized air and second jet nozzle means for feeding the air upwardly against the slurry to effect pumping action, conduit means installed in said well bore, means for vibratorily driving said conduit means at a sonic frequency, sonic energy being transferred to the liquid and mineral material in the side walls of said well bore in said bed so as to cause the mineral material to comminute from said bed and mix with the liquid to form a slurry, and means for bringing the slurry to the surface.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 142 words

A system for mining mineral material from a bed of such material located in a well bore comprising means installed in said well bore for feeding liquid to said bed comprising first jet nozzle means for forming liquid jets which impinge against the mineral bed and engender the comminution thereof and a supply of pressurized air and second jet nozzle means for feeding the air upwardly against the slurry to effect pumping action, conduit means installed in said well bore, means for vibratorily driving said conduit means at a sonic frequency, sonic energy being transferred to the liquid and mineral material in the side walls of said well bore in said bed so as to cause the mineral material to comminute from said bed and mix with the liquid to form a slurry, and means for bringing the slurry to the surface.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 94 words

A method for mining mineral material from a bed of such material comprising the steps of sonically driving a drill pipe into the ground to form a well bore running down to said bed of material, feeding water into said well bore to said bed of material, placing a conduit within said well bore, said conduit running down to said bed of material, and sonically driving said conduit so as to generate vibratory energy therein, whereby said energy comminutes the bed material causing said material to mix with the water to form a slurry.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 94 words

A method for mining mineral material from a bed of such material comprising the steps of sonically driving a drill pipe into the ground to form a well bore running down to said bed of material, feeding water into said well bore to said bed of material, placing a conduit within said well bore, said conduit running down to said bed of material, and sonically driving said conduit so as to generate vibratory energy therein, whereby said energy comminutes the bed material causing said material to mix with the water to form a slurry.

Claim 39

Independent Claim 141 words

A method for mining mineral material from a bed of such material comprising the steps of sonically driving a drive member into the ground to form a well bore running down to said bed of material, feeding water into said well bore to said bed of material, placing a conduit having check valve means installed therein within said well bore, said conduit running down to said bed of material, sonically driving said conduit so as to generate vibratory energy therein, and feeding pressurized air upwardly against the slurry, whereby said energy comminutes the bed material causing said material to mix with the water to form a slurry and simultaneously causing pumping action of the check valve means so as to pump the slurry up the conduit and out of the well bore, the upwardly fed pressurized air augmenting the pumping action.

Claim 40

Independent Claim 141 words

A method for mining mineral material from a bed of such material comprising the steps of sonically driving a drive member into the ground to form a well bore running down to said bed of material, feeding water into said well bore to said bed of material, placing a conduit having check valve means installed therein within said well bore, said conduit running down to said bed of material, sonically driving said conduit so as to generate vibratory energy therein, and feeding pressurized air upwardly against the slurry, whereby said energy comminutes the bed material causing said material to mix with the water to form a slurry and simultaneously causing pumping action of the check valve means so as to pump the slurry up the conduit and out of the well bore, the upwardly fed pressurized air augmenting the pumping action.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 32 and additionally including adding a foaming agent to the pressurized air to convert the slurry to a froth which can more easily be lifted out of the bore hole.

Claim 42

Independent Claim 112 words

A method for mining mineral material from a bed of such material comprising the steps of sonically driving a drive member into the ground to form a well bore running down to said bed of material, feeding water into said well bore to said bed of material, placing a conduit within said well bore, said conduit running down to said bed of material, sonically driving said conduit so as to generate vibratory energy therein, and rotating and rolling said vibrating conduit around the side wall of said well bore with an oribtal motion, whereby said energy comminutes the bed material causing said materail to mix with the water to form a slurry.

Claim 43

Independent Claim 112 words

A method for mining mineral material from a bed of such material comprising the steps of sonically driving a drive member into the ground to form a well bore running down to said bed of material, feeding water into said well bore to said bed of material, placing a conduit within said well bore, said conduit running down to said bed of material, sonically driving said conduit so as to generate vibratory energy therein, and rotating and rolling said vibrating conduit around the side wall of said well bore with an oribtal motion, whereby said energy comminutes the bed material causing said materail to mix with the water to form a slurry.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-01-03	1986-07-05	1987-01-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-01-03	1990-07-05	1991-01-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-01-03	1994-07-05	1995-01-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Sonic apparatus and method for slurry well bore mining and production

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