Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material – Processes – Breaking down by direct contact with fluid
Patent
1977-09-15
1979-01-16
Purser, Ernest R.
Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material
Processes
Breaking down by direct contact with fluid
175215, 285137A, E21B 4328
Patent
active
041346190
ABSTRACT:
Method and apparatus for mining an underground ore stratum with a drilling and mining tool which first drills a hole into the strata as it is assembled section by section until a desired depth is reached. The tool includes an outer conduit that is screwed together and at least two stab fitted inner conduits that are rotatable relative to the outer conduit for providing at least three conduit systems for conducting processing fluids into and out of the ore strata; and means for independently controlling, from the surface, the rate of flow in each conduit. During mining, one conduit system directs the flow of a mining liquid downwardly and into the ore stratum through a mining nozzle to create a slurry of ore and liquid, a second conduit system directs a slurry lifting fluid downwardly into and through a slurry lifting means, while a third conduit system conducts the slurry to the surface. During drilling, flow switching means communicating with one of the conduit systems is provided to direct a fluid through a drill bit into the hole being formed to wash the cuttings to the surface. During both drilling and mining the portion of the tool extending into the hole is rotated. In the first illustrated embodiment the slurry is lifted by an eductor pump, while an air lift is provided for additional embodiments.
REFERENCES:
patent: RE29021 (1976-11-01), Archibald et al.
patent: 3153290 (1964-10-01), Saito
patent: 3730592 (1971-06-01), Wenneborg et al.
patent: 4067596 (1978-01-01), Kellner et al.
FMC Corporation
Ianno Frank
Moore A. J.
Purser Ernest R.
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