Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material – Processes – Breaking down by direct contact with fluid
Patent
1977-04-06
1978-03-07
Purser, Ernest R.
Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material
Processes
Breaking down by direct contact with fluid
175 67, E21C 4500
Patent
active
040776719
ABSTRACT:
Method for subterranean slurry drilling and mining of granular ore, such as phosphates, with a combined drilling and mining apparatus. The apparatus for performing the method includes a tool string having a drilling head and mining head that are selectively interchangeable on its upper end for drilling into one or more ore strata to be mined and thereafter to remove ore from the strata as a slurry. The drill string includes a plurality of inner and outer pipe sections connected to a mining nozzle section, to an eductor pump section, and to a drill bit at its lower end. A drilling/mining liquid is directed through the tool string during both the drilling and mining modes of operation. During drilling, liquid is directed through a foot valve into the rotating bit to wash cuttings to the surface externally of the tool. During mining, the tool string is rotated, the foot valve is closed, and a mining nozzle is opened thereby causing liquid jetting from the mining nozzle to reduce the ore to a slurry. The slurry is pumped to the surface by liquid passing upwardly through the eductor pump and through the inner conduit. Without removing the apparatus from the hole, a hydraulic control system is actuated by hydraulic pressure equal to or less than system pressure for shifting the mining nozzle, the eductor nozzle, and the drill bit foot valve between a drilling mode and a mining mode thus enabling several different ore bearing strata to be mined.
In a modified form of the apparatus for performing the method of invention a plurality of vertically spaced mining nozzles are provided and each nozzle is aligned with a different ore strata. A hydraulic control system is provided for controlling the hydraulic components between their drilling and mining modes, and for opening and closing the mining nozzles independently of each other. The control system is responsive to pressure equal to or less than the system pressure.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3155177 (1964-11-01), Fly
patent: 3316985 (1967-05-01), 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.
LandOfFree
Subterranean drilling and slurry mining method 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 method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Subterranean drilling and slurry mining method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2018059