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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 02, 2017
Filed:
Oct. 24, 2013
Solvay SA, Brussels, BE;
Jean-Paul Detournay, Brussels, BE;
Ronald O. Hughes, Green River, WY (US);
Herve Cuche, Waterloo, BE;
Matteo Paperini, Green River, WY (US);
Joseph A. Vendetti, Green River, WY (US);
Larry C. Refsdal, Green River, WY (US);
David M. Hansen, Green River, WY (US);
Todd Brichacek, Green River, WY (US);
Justin T. Patterson, Mountain View, WY (US);
John Kolesar, Green River, WY (US);
Ryan Schmidt, Green River, WY (US);
Beatrice C. Ortego, Katy, TX (US);
Solvay SA, Brussels, BE;
Abstract
Batch initiation and/or exploitation phases of in situ solution mining of a mineral from an underground evaporite mineral stratum. The initiation phase may comprise a lifting step which employs a lithological displacement (lifting) of this stratum from an underlying non-evaporite stratum with application at the strata interface of a lifting hydraulic pressure greater than overburden pressure by a solvent suitable to dissolve the mineral; a soaking step for dissolution of mineral upon contact with stationary solvent, and a brine extraction step. The method may further comprise one or more exploitation phases carried out after the initiation phase. The exploitation phase may comprise a partial filing or filling step with the same solvent or different solvent than during lifting, another soaking step, and another brine extraction step. The lifting, cavity partial filing/filling, and brine extraction steps are being discontinuous. The evaporite mineral stratum preferably comprises trona.