Methods for constructing underground borehole configurations and related solution mining methods

摘要

Disclosed are methods for solution mining of evaporite minerals, such as trona, comprising drilling an access well and at least two lateral boreholes; injecting a fluid; circulating the fluid through the lateral boreholes with a controlled fluid flow; and collecting a pregnant solution. Also disclosed are methods of solution mining that include injecting an aqueous solution into an underground trona cavity at a temperature sufficient to maintain at least a portion of the solution in the cavity in the Wegscheiderite solid phase region; removing aqueous solution from the cavity; and recovering alkaline values from the removed aqueous solution. Also disclosed are methods of solution mining that include injecting an aqueous solution into an underground trona cavity; removing aqueous solution from the cavity, wherein the temperature of the removed aqueous solution is at about the TWA point temperature; and recovering alkaline values from the removed aqueous solution.

主权项

1. A method for solution mining of an evaporite mineral, comprising:
a) drilling at least one access well accessing an evaporate mineral formation; b) drilling at least two lateral boreholes, wherein the at least two lateral boreholes are communicating with each other and wherein at least one of the lateral boreholes is connected to the at least one access well; c) injecting a fluid into the at least one access well; d) circulating the fluid through the at least one access well and the at least two lateral boreholes; e) managing the fluid flow in the lateral boreholes, wherein controlled measurable fluid flow is maintained through the lateral boreholes by the use of components or methods selected from the group consisting of inlet fluid pressure, packers, plugs, casing, cement, perforations, specific gravity gradients, artificial leach barriers, natural intrabed barriers, natural interbed barriers, flow reversal, adjustable tubing controlled injection, adjustable tubing controlled recovery points and combinations thereof; and f) collecting a pregnant solution containing a dissolved evaporite mineral.