The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Nov. 14, 1978

Filed:

Dec. 23, 1977
Applicant:
Inventors:

Ray V Huff, Thatcher, AZ (US);

Donald H Davidson, Bedford, MA (US);

Assignee:

Kennecott Copper Corporation, New York, NY (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
E21B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
299-4 ; 166 57 ; 166302 ; 166D / ;
Abstract

A circulation tubing string is disposed about the lixiviant return tubing string in the production hole of an in situ minefield. The circulation string extends from the surface to a point near a packer which defines the top of the leaching interval. A fluid coupler provides a fluid flow path between the annular cross-section regions between the production hole casing and the circulation string, and between the circulation string and the lixiviant return string. A flow of cooling fluid is maintained from the surface through the circuital path defined by the annular cross-section regions and the fluid coupler, particularly including the exterior surface of the production tubing string. The fluid is maintained at a temperature and flow rate so that the pregnant leach liquor flows in the production tubing string between the leaching interval and the surface is characterized by a predetermined temperature drop.


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