Sesqui Mining, LLC

American Shale Oil, LLC

Natec Incorporated

Natural Soda Aala, Inc.

Roger L Day

James August Herickhoff

Alan K Burnham

James R McConaghy

P Henrick Wallman

James R Mcconaghy

P Henrik Wallman

Edward C Rosar

Harry Gordon Harris

Paul Lerwick

R Glenn Vawter

Leonard H Switzer, Iii

James Mcconaghy

Henrick Wallman

Len Switzer

The invention discloses a method of solution mining trona by injecting an aqueous solvent into an underground cavity comprising trona to dissolve trona in the aqueous solution and removing the aqueous solution from the cavity at about the WTN triple point (the temperature at which solid phase wegscheiderite, trona, and nahcolite can co-exist in an aqueous solution). Alkaline values from the removed aqueous solution are recovered to produce a barren liquor. The method further includes either (i) treating the barren liquor to produce an aqueous solvent or (ii) treating injected aqueous solvent to reduce clogging at the trona dissolution surface caused by supersaturation of sodium bicarbonate, and precipitation of nahcolite and wegscheiderite as the aqueous solution in the cavity approaches saturation of both dissolved sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate.

Trona solution mining methods and compositions

A heating system for a subterranean mineral formation according to embodiments of the present invention includes a casing positioned in a bore in the subterranean mineral formation, the casing having an outer surface and an inner surface, a heating element positioned within the casing, a surface connection system having a first end coupled to the heating element within the casing and a second end at a top ground surface above the subterranean mineral formation, a heat transfer fluid contained within the casing, the heat transfer fluid configured to transfer heat between the heating element and the inner surface of the casing, wherein at least a portion of the heat transfer fluid is undergoing phase changes between liquid and gas in order to regulate a temperature of the casing. Fins may be included on the outside of the casing to enhance heat transfer.

System for providing uniform heating to subterranean formation for recovery of mineral deposits

Disclosed are methods for solution mining of evaporite minerals, such as trona, comprising drilling an access well and at least two lateral boreholes; injecting a fluid; circulating the fluid through the lateral boreholes with a controlled fluid flow; and collecting a pregnant solution. Also disclosed are methods of solution mining that include injecting an aqueous solution into an underground trona cavity at a temperature sufficient to maintain at least a portion of the solution in the cavity in the Wegscheiderite solid phase region; removing aqueous solution from the cavity; and recovering alkaline values from the removed aqueous solution. Also disclosed are methods of solution mining that include injecting an aqueous solution into an underground trona cavity; removing aqueous solution from the cavity, wherein the temperature of the removed aqueous solution is at about the TWA point temperature; and recovering alkaline values from the removed aqueous solution.

Methods for constructing underground borehole configurations and related solution mining methods

Heaters are presented to aid in the recovery of hydrocarbon from underground deposits. A heater is provided to a well that has been drilled through an oil-shale deposit. A fuel and an oxidizer are provided to the heater and flue gases are recovered. The heater has a counterflow design and provides a nearly uniform temperature along the heater length. The heater may be designed to operate at different temperatures and depths to pyrolyze or otherwise heat underground hydrocarbon deposits to form a product that is easily recovered and which is useful without substantial further processing. Various counterflow heaters are described including heaters having, down the heater length, distributed reaction zones, distributed catalytic oxidation of the fuel, and discrete or continuous heat generation. The heaters may also utilize inert gases from product recovery or from heater flue gases to control the heater temperature.

Heater and method for recovering hydrocarbons from underground deposits

A sub-surface hydrocarbon production system comprising an energy delivery well extending from the surface to a location proximate a bottom of the hydrocarbons to be produced. A production well extends from the surface to a location proximate the hydrocarbon and a convection passage extends between the energy delivery well and the production well thereby forming a convection loop. The energy delivery well and the production well intersect at a location proximate the hydrocarbon such that the convection loop is in the form of a triangle. Preferably, the convection passage extends upwardly from a point at which the convection passage intersects the production well. The system also includes a heater, such as an electric heater or down-hole burner, disposed in the energy delivery well.

Conduction convection reflux retorting process

A process for retorting and extracting sub-surface hydrocarbons. The process comprises drilling an energy delivery well extending from the surface to a location proximate a bottom of the hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons are heated from the bottom to form a retort, the retort extending along a portion of the energy delivery well. A vapor tube is extended to a location proximate the retort, the vapor tube having an entrance corresponding to the region of the retort along the energy delivery well that is nearest the surface exit.

In situ method and system for extraction of oil from shale

A system and process for extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean body of oil shale within an oil shale deposit located beneath an overburden. The system comprises an energy delivery subsystem to heat the body of oil shale and a hydrocarbon gathering subsystem for gathering hydrocarbons retorted from the body of oil shale. The energy delivery subsystem comprises at least one energy delivery well drilled from the surface of the earth through the overburden to a depth proximate a bottom of the body of oil shale, the energy delivery well extending generally downward from a surface location above a proximal end of the body of oil shale to be retorted and continuing proximate the bottom of the body of oil shale. The energy delivery well may extend into the body of oil shale at an angle.

Process of crystallization of sodium bicarbonate from solution mined Nahcolite pregnant liquor comprising the use of from about 2 to 100 parts per million of lecithin, introduced full strength, made miscible in water with a soap or detergent, saponified with NaOH at a pH of 10-12, or preferably as a mixture of lecithin in pregnant or barren liquor containing HCO /CO ions at a pH in the range of from about 8 to 12, preferaby 8-10. The lecithin functions as a crystal growth modifier, producing improved crystal yields, product size classification, improved crystal shape including reduction in dendritic, branched and twinned forms, very significant scale reduction, reduction in wet cake moisture, increase in product bulk density, reduction in both oversize and undersize fractions (the classification phenomenon) and less breakage during drying and handling. The aqueous lecithin premix is preferably added to a pregnant liquor tank, and may also be added in one or more crystallizers in the circuit in batch (timed aliquots) or continuously metered in proportion to throughput. The process may also be applied to crystallization of carbonates, bicarbonates, phosphates, nitrates, sulfates, hydroxides and borates of Na, Li, K, Ca and Mg from aqueous solutions including brines. For commercial scale bicarbonate production the presently preferred range is 2-30 ppm, and for product &minus;425 &mgr;m&plus;45 &mgr;m the range is about 5-15 ppm. Coarse product (&plus;425 &mgr;m) is preferably produced in the range of about 12-30 ppm.

Process for control of crystallization of inorganics from aqueous solutions

Nahcolite solution mining process comprising drilling at least one well into a Nahcolite bed, circulating hot barren aqueous liquor in a cavity in said Nahcolite bed for a time sufficient to produce a pregnant liquor having an increase in the concentration of NaHCO.sub.3 in the range of from about 3 to about 20% while maintaining Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 concentration in the range of about 0.25-4%, preferably less than 2.5%, withdrawing said pregnant liquor, cooling said pregnant liquor to preferentially precipitate NaHCO.sub.3 therefrom and to produce a barren liquor, recovering said NaHCO.sub.3, and reheating and re-injecting said barren liquor in said well. The cavity temperature is maintained below about 250.degree. F. and preferably below about 200.degree. F. The barren liquor is injected at a pressure of below about 150 psig. The pregnant liquor is extracted at a temperature in the range of from about 85.degree. F. to about 200.degree. F., and the cystallization occurs at a temperature of about 25.degree.-120.degree. F. The NaCl concentration is maintained at below about 6% and preferably below about 1.0%. Crystalline sodium bicarbonate of high purity (98+% NaHCO.sub. 3) is produced in the as-crystallized form, and simple washing increases the purity.

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Rifle, CO, United States of America

Roger L Day