Freeport Minerals Company

Rene L Latiolais

R L Williams

John L Gabriel

Walter W Hranitzky

Robert L Bouis

Novel method and apparatus for utilizing, in the mining of subterranean sulphur by the Frasch process, the heat of water that has accumulated underground above at least a part of said subterranean sulphur from previous mining operations comprising subterraneanly recycling said accumulated underground water downwardly to contact and heat additional solid subterranean sulphur. In one embodiment further heat is added to the accumulated underground water. For example, pressurized, superheated drive water generated above ground is subterraneanly commingled with said accumulated underground water in a jet pump or ejector to further heat it and to recycle it subterraneanly.

Method and apparatus for utilizing accumulated underground water in the

A method is disclosed for sealing a sulfur well wherein the well is made to discharge only sulfur and air instead of mixtures of sulfur, water and air. The method is used in conjunction with the Frasch mining technique when starting a new well for the first time and when an active well has 'blown'. The method consists of shutting off the sulfur line and air line, 'boosting' the well by sending down hot 'superheated water' through the water line to raise the level of the sulfur pool by melting additional sulfur, slowly applying a pressurized gas to the top of the sulfur line and holding at an elevated pressure for a period of time and then slowly releasing the pressurized gas. The air line is then opened and pressurized, and a mixture of sulfur and air, devoid of water, exits through the sulfur line.

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New Orleans, LA, United States of America

Rene L Latiolais