Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material – Tunnel recovery of fluid material
Patent
1990-01-29
1991-06-18
Britts, Ramon S.
Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material
Tunnel recovery of fluid material
166256, 166259, 299 18, E21B 4110, C10B 5306
Patent
active
050244876
ABSTRACT:
Complexes of underground batch retorts, designed to duplicate surface retort prototypes proven successful in use, which may extend for miles on branch drifts intersecting central main drifts above and below the retorts, the main drifts emerging at surface. The batch retorts are very large, deep, planned mine cavities, with relatively small upper and lower openings, remaining after shale oil ore has been extracted by vertical crater retreat stoping and free-fall controlled at the bottom opening. Resort openings are sealed after they have served their purposes, which enables the symmetrical progression of the upper and lower branch drifts along which the retorts are mined. The drifts provide access to blasting sites, conveyors for removing fragmented ore to be crushed and screened, and conveyors for returning processed ore to the retorts. Loading is accomplished through a retracting device which deposits processed ore with minimal free-fall, to avoid creating fines in the loading process. Sealing of the retorts converts them into conventional batch retorts, infinitely more efficient in product recovery than in situ retorts and providing a cleaner product. One-time use of retorts, using protracted retorting periods, enables control of temperature by controlling the amount of air-flow through the retorts. Spent shale remains in the sealed retorts following pyrolysis, eliminating the need for disposal and supporting the walls of the retort. Ore processing and recovery operations can be situated at surface, or can be advantageously housed underground, at sizeable savings in plant and transportation costs.
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Oksuz Martha
Woestemeyer Henry J.
Bagnell David J.
Britts Ramon S.
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