Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material – Processes – Breaking down by direct contact with fluid
Patent
1977-04-04
1978-01-10
Purser, Ernest R.
Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material
Processes
Breaking down by direct contact with fluid
175 67, F21C 4500
Patent
active
040676170
ABSTRACT:
Subterranean slurry mining with one or more mining nozzles which, during mining, directs a high pressure jet of liquid into a granular ore matrix to reduce the ore to a slurry which is thereafter pumped to the surface by an eductor pump including a high pressure eductor nozzle. The drilling and mining apparatus includes several different types of hydraulic control systems which operates at or below system pressure and allows the apparatus to be changed between the mining and a drilling mode. During drilling, the liquid is directed through an open foot valve and drill bit into the well cavity being drilled to wash the cuttings to the surface at which time the mining and eductor nozzles are closed. During mining the control systems close the foot valve and control the opening of the mining nozzle (or nozzles) and eductor nozzle.
When the control system includes one or more control conduits that extend to the surface, the system may be used to modulate the eductor nozzle, and depending upon the control system being used to selectively open or close the mining nozzle, thereby controlling the pressure or draw-down in the cavity. Self-activating control systems are disclosed and are responsive to differences between system pressure and cavity pressure when the foot valve is closed to modulate the eductor nozzle. Other self-activating control systems may be used to selectively open and close a pair of mining nozzles without modulating the eductor nozzle, or with provision for modulating the eductor nozzle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3155177 (1964-11-01), Fly
patent: 3730592 (1973-05-01), Wenneborg et al.
patent: 3747696 (1973-07-01), Wenneborg et al.
FMC Corporation
Ianno Frank
Moore A. J.
Purser Ernest R.
Tripp C. E.
LandOfFree
Subterranean drilling and slurry mining does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Subterranean drilling and slurry mining, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Subterranean drilling and slurry mining will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2268883