METHOD OF RECOVERY OF TAR SANDS MATERIAL

摘要

METHOD OF RECOVERY OF TAR SANDS MATERIAL A method of recovery of tar sands material from a subterranean layer of such material underlying an overburden comprises sinking a pair of spaced apart mining strings from respective surface rigs down through the overburden and into the layer, and projecting from each string into the material of the layer a jet of water to soften and erode it whereby to form a cavity and generate a slurry of the material and the water. The water projected from the strings is 80 directed and the spacing of the strings is such that the cavities formed by the respective strings are caused to open into each other. The slurry is forced up the strings to the surface for recovery of the material therefrom. The fact that the cavities open into each other enables the slurry forced up one string to be largely the result of water projected from an adjacent string thus minimising the need for a reversal of flow with consequent loss of kinetic energy. The arrangement is also conducive to the use of an entire array of strings.