US3873156A - Bedded underground salt deposit solution mining system - Google Patents

Bedded underground salt deposit solution mining system Download PDF

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US3873156A
US3873156A US445975A US44597574A US3873156A US 3873156 A US3873156 A US 3873156A US 445975 A US445975 A US 445975A US 44597574 A US44597574 A US 44597574A US 3873156 A US3873156 A US 3873156A
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bore holes
deposit
coalescing
nether
solution mining
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Charles H Jacoby
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Akzona Inc
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    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B41/00Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00
    • E21B41/0078Nozzles used in boreholes
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/16Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
    • E21B43/17Interconnecting two or more wells by fracturing or otherwise attacking the formation
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/29Obtaining a slurry of minerals, e.g. by using nozzles
    • E21B43/292Obtaining a slurry of minerals, e.g. by using nozzles using steerable or laterally extendable nozzles
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B7/00Special methods or apparatus for drilling
    • E21B7/04Directional drilling

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT An improved system for coalescing the nether ends of a group of spaced-apart bore holes intersecting a beded rock salt deposit, and for instituting and controlling progress of a solution thereon.
  • the invention is particularly useful in coalescing two or more bore holes extending into a bedded rock salt deposit whenever conventional hydraulic fracturing methods prove inadequate, such as by reason of the existence of faults or other anomalies existent intermediately of the bore holes.
  • the system employs a flexible solvent delivery tube slip-fitted downwardly through one of the bore holes into the salt deposit; it being arranged that the delivery or nozzle end of the tube floats and travels horizontally along a gravitymonitored interface between the input solvent and resultant brine mixture and a thereabove maintained solvation insulating pad of oil or some other suitable hydrocarbon gas or air or the like, which at this stage operates to prevent undesirable upward progression of the solution mining process.
  • the solvent delivering nozzle is at all times directionally controlled in an improved manner throughout the coalescing/- mining operations in conjunction with an improved advancing/retreating mining method.
  • one or more bore holes are typically provided to penetrate the overlying geological formations so as to reach the subterranean sought-for" or product mineral, and means are thereupon employed to'establish therein an open cavity or passageway whereby the mineral may be extracted by circulation therethrough of a suitable solvent such as water, acid, steam, or some other solvent liquid or gas such as is unsaturated with respect to the sought-for mineral.
  • a suitable solvent such as water, acid, steam, or some other solvent liquid or gas such as is unsaturated with respect to the sought-for mineral.
  • the present invention provides an improved method for rapidly coalescing the lower ends of two or more such bore holes when driven into a rock salt bed and when encountering such an anomalies, therebyestablishing solvent passageways therethrough which are oriented in generally horizontal direction between the bottoms of such bore holes, and for subsequently conducting an improved technique for solution mining the salt bed.
  • THE DRAWING F IG. 1 is afragmentary vertical geological section illustrating compositely successive stages of a coalescing operation in accordance with the present invention; designed specifically to overcome encounter with a fault system such as typically forestalls successful completion of a conventional hydraulic fracturing fluid passageway forming operation;
  • FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken as indicated by line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 but illustrating completion of a solution-flow passageway between the two bore holes such as may be established by my new process;
  • FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 3; illustratin g progressive stages of the subsequently employed solution mining technique in accordance with the invention;
  • FIG. 5 is a fragmentary illustration of one form of a directionally controllable solvent delivery nozzle such 5 as may be used in conjunction with the invention.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates another form of self-motivating sol vent delivering nozzle such as may be used in accordance with the invention.
  • a pair of bore holes 10, 12 may be driven to intersect a soluble deposit 14 of bedded salt or the like, and cased preferably to a level close to the bottoms thereof.
  • the drawing illustrates a geologic condition typically encountered when bore holes are driven into a bedded salt deposit with a view to interconnecting their bottom ends as by means of a hydraulic fracturing operation (such as illustrated and described in detail in my prior US. Pat. Nos. 3,064,957 and Re. 25,682).
  • the hydraulically fractured zone 15 which radiates from the bottom of bore hole 12 has encountered a geological fault 16; whereby the attempt to interconnect the bore holes 10-12 by means of a propped fracture has failed.
  • geological anomalies often occur for example throughout the greatAppalachian Salt Basin beds which underlie many of the Eastern States; and may appear in the form of open or closed faults; sharp foldings; crevices filled with insoluble debris; and/or the like.
  • the present invention provides an improved method for completing a solvent fluid flow passageway between bore holes such as are described hereinabove, and also provides an improved solution mining system as illustrated at FIGS. 3 and 4 herewith.
  • the bore hole 10 is thereupon fltted with a casing 20; the lower end of the casing 20 being provided with a smoothly curved laterally directed outlet cuff as is illustrated at 22.
  • a solvent delivery tube of flexible nature as illustrated at 25 is then slide-fitted downwardly through the casing 20 so as to project at the lower end thereof through the exit cuff 22 in the desired horizontal direction.
  • a solvent fluid is then pumped through the tube 25 to jet therefrom in a horizontal direction against the opposing salt face, whereby the jetted fluid dissolves the salt away while returning it to the earth surface recovery facility in the form of brine, through the annulus surrounding the tube 25.
  • one or more floats such as are shown at 26-28 are fixed upon the nozzle end 30 of the tube 25 in spaced-apart relation thereon in such manner as to cause the nozzle end of the tube to float horizontally at or near the top of the solvent-brine mixture within the cavity.
  • the jet nozzle is prevented from dipping or rearing upwardly so as to direct the solvating process on a downwardly or upwardly on an inclined path, such as would miss connection with the fractured zone 15.
  • a solvation insulatng pad or blanket of oil or air or gas or the like may be introduced and maintained to float on top of the desired level of the solvent/brine solution throughout the operation.
  • the oil (or the like) may be simply added in proper proportion to the solvating liquid as the latter is furnished through the bore hole 10.
  • the floats 26-28 are fabricated so that the tube-float combination is of slightly greater specific gravity than the material comprising the pad, while being of lower specific gravity than that of the solvent/brine mixture at the bottom of the cavity.
  • the floats may be made of any suitable solids such as wood, foamed plastic, glass or the like; and/or may be of inflatable form, such as may be preferred.
  • jet nozzle 30 When operating within a geologic deposit of the type where the sought-for soluble mineral rests upon an underlying insoluble rock sill along a substantially flat and clean parting plane, and jet nozzle 30 may be provided with a self-motivating traction device such as is illustrated at FIG. 6 of the drawing herewith.
  • the casing of the jet nozzle is slotted to accommodate pinwheels 34 which are pivotally mounted as by means of fins 36 on the nozzle casing so as to extend into the slots 32.
  • the pinwheels are driven hydrodynamically whereby whenever their outside portions engage the cavity floor surface they tend to drag the nozzle forwardly in the direction of the jet discharge.
  • any other suitable mechanism for forwardly propelling the nozzle end of the tube 25 may be employed, such as for example a remotely controlled motor unit.
  • the progress of the nozzle 30 may be guided from above ground by simply twisting the upper end of the tube 25 where it exists above ground from the bore hole casing.
  • the nozzle may be constructed to include an automatically or remotely controlled guidance device such as my include alternatively operable jet-exit side ports 38 as shown in FIG. or an electronically operated guidance mechanism such as may cause the nozzle to seek or home-in" on a target device placed in the bottom end of the'bore hole 12.
  • the mechanism would be under remote control by the process operator and/or monitored automatically; as for example by a bore hole surveying type device or the like, such as is indicated at 40 (FIG. 5).
  • FIG. 4 illustrates how the soluble mineral deposit is preferably mined subsequent to coalescing the bottom ends ofthe bore holes -l2 as explained hereinabove.
  • Operation of the float 28 atthe nozzle end of the solvent delivery tube is altered so as to overcome the prior tendency to maintain the nozzle in horizontally directed attitude and to permit it to point upwardly; thereby causing the solvent jet discharge to sweep the salt bed 14 in an upwardly directed path.
  • This may be readily managed either by inflating the float 28 to a larger volume or by substituting a more buoyant float for the one originally mounted on the nozzle end of the tube; the tube 25 being temporarily withdrawn back up the bore hole 10 to enable such an exchange to be made.
  • the delivery tube may be slowly retracted (by pulling upon its outer end) so as to cause the upturned nozzle to drive the solvent fluid against the overlying salt bed in accordance with a progressively retreating solution mining operation such as is diagrammatically illustrated at FIG. 4.

Abstract

An improved system for coalescing the nether ends of a group of spaced-apart bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit, and for instituting and controlling progress of a solution-mining operation thereon. The invention is particularly useful in coalescing two or more bore holes extending into a bedded rock salt deposit whenever conventional hydraulic fracturing methods prove inadequate, such as by reason of the existence of faults or other anomalies existent intermediately of the bore holes. The system employs a flexible solvent delivery tube slip-fitted downwardly through one of the bore holes into the salt deposit; it being arranged that the delivery or nozzle end of the tube floats and travels horizontally along a gravitymonitored interface between the input solvent and resultant brine mixture and a thereabove maintained solvation insulating pad of oil or some other suitable hydrocarbon gas or air or the like, which at this stage operates to prevent undesirable upward progression of the solution mining process. The solvent delivering nozzle is at all times directionally controlled in an improved manner throughout the coalescing/mining operations in conjunction with an improved advancing/retreating mining method.

Description

[ Mar. 25, 1975 -mining operation [57] ABSTRACT An improved system for coalescing the nether ends of a group of spaced-apart bore holes intersecting a beded rock salt deposit, and for instituting and controlling progress of a solution thereon. The invention is particularly useful in coalescing two or more bore holes extending into a bedded rock salt deposit whenever conventional hydraulic fracturing methods prove inadequate, such as by reason of the existence of faults or other anomalies existent intermediately of the bore holes. The system employs a flexible solvent delivery tube slip-fitted downwardly through one of the bore holes into the salt deposit; it being arranged that the delivery or nozzle end of the tube floats and travels horizontally along a gravitymonitored interface between the input solvent and resultant brine mixture and a thereabove maintained solvation insulating pad of oil or some other suitable hydrocarbon gas or air or the like, which at this stage operates to prevent undesirable upward progression of the solution mining process. The solvent delivering nozzle is at all times directionally controlled in an improved manner throughout the coalescing/- mining operations in conjunction with an improved advancing/retreating mining method.
19 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 299/4 299/4 299/4 Dahms et E2lb 43/28 299/4, 5, l7; l66/27l; 175/61, 231
SOLUTION MINING SYSTEM Inventor: Charles H. Jacoby, Dalton, Pa.
Assignee: Akzona Incorporated, Asheville,
Filed: Feb. 26, 1974 Appl. No.: 445,975
Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 324,005, Jan.
abandoned.
U.S. 299/4, 166/271, l75/6l, 175/231, 175/422, 299/17 Field of Search References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,822,158 2/1958 9/1958 Hanson....,....... 10/1967 Dahms et 3,402,965 9/1968 Unlted States Patent Jacoby BEDDED UNDERGROUND SALT DEPOSIT Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bean & Bean INSOLU BLE ROCK PATENTED 9,873,156
HYDRAULIC FRACTURED AREA I5.
1 BEDDED UNDERGROUND SALT DEPOSIT SOLUTION MINING SYSTEM This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 324,005, filed Jan. 15, 1973, and now abandoned.
BACKGROUND AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In solution mining operations, one or more bore holes are typically provided to penetrate the overlying geological formations so as to reach the subterranean sought-for" or product mineral, and means are thereupon employed to'establish therein an open cavity or passageway whereby the mineral may be extracted by circulation therethrough of a suitable solvent such as water, acid, steam, or some other solvent liquid or gas such as is unsaturated with respect to the sought-for mineral.
. It is known that the efficiency of a solution mining cavity system is improved as the dimensions of the fluid travel path within the cavity increase. Such flow patterns are typically enhanced when initiatng a solution mining operation by establishing as soon as possible a cavity of substantial horizontal (as well as vertical) extent between the point of solvent injection and the point of effluent withdrawal; because such cavities inherently tend to automatically increase vertically. In a cavity which is in communication with a single duplexcased bore hole the operation is of course at first limited to the vertical distance between the injection and withdrawal ports of the bore hole casing system; and therefore it is preferred to employ a plurality of bore holes and conventional hydraulic fracturing operations with a view to establishing solution conveying cavities therebetween. For example, reference is made to my prior US. Pat. Nos. 3,064,957 and US. Pat. No. Re. 25,682.
However, in many cases it is found to be impossible to satisfactorily coalesce the bottoms of two or more bore holes by such hydraulic fracturing methods be cause ofthe intervention of geological anomalies therebetween. The present invention provides an improved method for rapidly coalescing the lower ends of two or more such bore holes when driven into a rock salt bed and when encountering such an anomalies, therebyestablishing solvent passageways therethrough which are oriented in generally horizontal direction between the bottoms of such bore holes, and for subsequently conducting an improved technique for solution mining the salt bed.
THE DRAWING F IG. 1 is afragmentary vertical geological section illustrating compositely successive stages of a coalescing operation in accordance with the present invention; designed specifically to overcome encounter with a fault system such as typically forestalls successful completion of a conventional hydraulic fracturing fluid passageway forming operation;
FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken as indicated by line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 but illustrating completion of a solution-flow passageway between the two bore holes such as may be established by my new process;
FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 3; illustratin g progressive stages of the subsequently employed solution mining technique in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary illustration of one form of a directionally controllable solvent delivery nozzle such 5 as may be used in conjunction with the invention; and
FIG. 6 illustrates another form of self-motivating sol vent delivering nozzle such as may be used in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION By way of example and referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing herewith, a pair of bore holes 10, 12 may be driven to intersect a soluble deposit 14 of bedded salt or the like, and cased preferably to a level close to the bottoms thereof. The drawing illustrates a geologic condition typically encountered when bore holes are driven into a bedded salt deposit with a view to interconnecting their bottom ends as by means of a hydraulic fracturing operation (such as illustrated and described in detail in my prior US. Pat. Nos. 3,064,957 and Re. 25,682).
In the illustration herewith the hydraulically fractured zone 15 which radiates from the bottom of bore hole 12 has encountered a geological fault 16; whereby the attempt to interconnect the bore holes 10-12 by means of a propped fracture has failed. Such geological anomalies often occur for example throughout the greatAppalachian Salt Basin beds which underlie many of the Eastern States; and may appear in the form of open or closed faults; sharp foldings; crevices filled with insoluble debris; and/or the like. The present invention provides an improved method for completing a solvent fluid flow passageway between bore holes such as are described hereinabove, and also provides an improved solution mining system as illustrated at FIGS. 3 and 4 herewith.
In accordance with this invention, assuming that an attempt to hydraulically fracture the lower portion of the salt bed 14 to provide a propped" passageway from bore hole 12 to bore hole 10 has met with a fault zone such as is shown at 16, the bore hole 10 is thereupon fltted with a casing 20; the lower end of the casing 20 being provided with a smoothly curved laterally directed outlet cuff as is illustrated at 22. A solvent delivery tube of flexible nature as illustrated at 25 is then slide-fitted downwardly through the casing 20 so as to project at the lower end thereof through the exit cuff 22 in the desired horizontal direction. A solvent fluid is then pumped through the tube 25 to jet therefrom in a horizontal direction against the opposing salt face, whereby the jetted fluid dissolves the salt away while returning it to the earth surface recovery facility in the form of brine, through the annulus surrounding the tube 25.
In order to direct the solvent jet action so as to progress horizontally from the bore hole 10 toward the bore hole 12 until such time as the solvated cavity eroded through the fault zone 16 and connects with the previously hydraulically fractured passageway 15, one or more floats such as are shown at 26-28 are fixed upon the nozzle end 30 of the tube 25 in spaced-apart relation thereon in such manner as to cause the nozzle end of the tube to float horizontally at or near the top of the solvent-brine mixture within the cavity. Thus, the jet nozzle is prevented from dipping or rearing upwardly so as to direct the solvating process on a downwardly or upwardly on an inclined path, such as would miss connection with the fractured zone 15.
As a further assist at this stage in preventing any undesirable upward erosion of the salt body above the level of the intended channel to be eroded toward the fault zone, a solvation insulatng pad" or blanket of oil or air or gas or the like may be introduced and maintained to float on top of the desired level of the solvent/brine solution throughout the operation. For this purpose the oil (or the like) may be simply added in proper proportion to the solvating liquid as the latter is furnished through the bore hole 10. The floats 26-28 are fabricated so that the tube-float combination is of slightly greater specific gravity than the material comprising the pad, while being of lower specific gravity than that of the solvent/brine mixture at the bottom of the cavity. For example, the floats may be made of any suitable solids such as wood, foamed plastic, glass or the like; and/or may be of inflatable form, such as may be preferred.
When operating within a geologic deposit of the type where the sought-for soluble mineral rests upon an underlying insoluble rock sill along a substantially flat and clean parting plane, and jet nozzle 30 may be provided with a self-motivating traction device such as is illustrated at FIG. 6 of the drawing herewith. As shown herein at 32 the casing of the jet nozzle is slotted to accommodate pinwheels 34 which are pivotally mounted as by means of fins 36 on the nozzle casing so as to extend into the slots 32. Thus, as the solvent fluid jets through the nozzle device, the pinwheels are driven hydrodynamically whereby whenever their outside portions engage the cavity floor surface they tend to drag the nozzle forwardly in the direction of the jet discharge. It is to be understood however that any other suitable mechanism for forwardly propelling the nozzle end of the tube 25 may be employed, such as for example a remotely controlled motor unit.
To provide suitable directional control of the nozzle progress within the horizontal plane parameters established by the aforesaid devices; it is contemplated that a variety of means may be employed for such purpose. For example, the progress of the nozzle 30 may be guided from above ground by simply twisting the upper end of the tube 25 where it exists above ground from the bore hole casing. Or, the nozzle may be constructed to include an automatically or remotely controlled guidance device such as my include alternatively operable jet-exit side ports 38 as shown in FIG. or an electronically operated guidance mechanism such as may cause the nozzle to seek or home-in" on a target device placed in the bottom end of the'bore hole 12. In any case the mechanism would be under remote control by the process operator and/or monitored automatically; as for example by a bore hole surveying type device or the like, such as is indicated at 40 (FIG. 5).
FIG. 4 illustrates how the soluble mineral deposit is preferably mined subsequent to coalescing the bottom ends ofthe bore holes -l2 as explained hereinabove. Operation of the float 28 atthe nozzle end of the solvent delivery tube is altered so as to overcome the prior tendency to maintain the nozzle in horizontally directed attitude and to permit it to point upwardly; thereby causing the solvent jet discharge to sweep the salt bed 14 in an upwardly directed path. This may be readily managed either by inflating the float 28 to a larger volume or by substituting a more buoyant float for the one originally mounted on the nozzle end of the tube; the tube 25 being temporarily withdrawn back up the bore hole 10 to enable such an exchange to be made. Then, as the'upturned nozzle operates to direct the solvent fluid to mine the salt bed up to the desired ceiling level the delivery tube may be slowly retracted (by pulling upon its outer end) so as to cause the upturned nozzle to drive the solvent fluid against the overlying salt bed in accordance with a progressively retreating solution mining operation such as is diagrammatically illustrated at FIG. 4.
I claim:
1. The method for solution-coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit which includes a geologic anomaly preventive of effectively coalescing said bore holes by means of a hydraulic fracturing technique, and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit, said method comprising:
driving two or more bore holes in spaced apart relation into the lower level of said deposit at opposite sides of said anomaly,
hydraulically fracturing said deposit from one of said bore holes as far as feasible towards one other of said bore holes, thereby providing a first horizontally extending passageway for fluid flow,
then solution-mining a second horizontally extending passageway from the nether end of the other of said bore holes through said salt bed and through said anomaly into communication with said first passageway, thereby providing a solution mining cavity,
and then solution mining said deposit intermediately of said bore holes by passing a solvent fluid through said cavity from one of said bore holes and withdrawing brine out of the other of said bore holes whereby said cavity enlarges and said deposit is mined.
2. The method for coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said solution mining operation is conducted by means of solvent liquid delivered through a flexible hose slidefitted into and advanced through one of said bore holes and having guide means thereon to cause the nozzle end thereof to point substantially horizontally towards the nether end of the other of said bore holes.
3. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said solution mining operation is conducted under a solvent-insulating pad of fluid at the ceiling of the solution mining cavity.
4. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said nozzle end of said hose carries a motivating device powered under remote control and operating to advance the nozzle end of said hose toward said other bore hole.
5. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 2, wherein the solution mining operation upon said deposit is initially conducted proximate to said other bore hole and is then caused to retreat progressively throughout the deposit intermediately of said bore holes by progressive retraction of said hose.
6. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 3, wherein said guide means comprises a float device carried adjacent the nozzle end of said hose, said float device being operable to cause the nozzle end of said hose to float at substantially the elevation of the interface between the brine and the solution insulating pad fluid occupying the solution cavity.
7. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 4, wherein said motive device comprises a traction wheel system powered by flow of fluid through said nozzle.
8. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said guide means comprises multi-radially directed reaction jet ports exiting through the wall of said nozzle, said ports being selectively controllable from remotely of the operation.
9. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 3, wherein said solvent insulating pad comprises a fluid of lower specific gravity than brine and which is introduced into the solution mining cavity as an additive to the solvent fluid.
10. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of float devices spaced apart longitudinally on said hose so as to stabilize a substantial length thereof in horizontal attitude.
11. The method of solution-coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit which includes a geologic anomaly preventive of effectively coalescing said bore holes by means of a hydraulic fracturing technique, said method comprising:
driving two or more bore holes in spaced apart relation into said deposit at opposite sides of said anomaly;
hydraulic fracturing said deposit from one of said bore holes as far as feasible towards another of said bore holes, thereby providing a first extending passageway for fluid flow; and
solution mining a second extending passageway from said another of said bore holes through said salt bed and through said anomaly into communication with said first passageway.
12. The method for coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes of claim 11 wherein said solution mining is conducted by means of solvent liquid delivered through a flexible hose advanced through said another bore hole, said flexible hose being fitted with a nozzle having means for guiding the nozzle end substantially towards said first passageway.
13. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes as set forth in claim 12 wherein said guide means include reaction jet ports exiting throught the wall of said nozzle, said jet ports being selectively operable.
14. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes as set forth in claim 12 including inserting a target device in said first passageway and wherein said guide means include an electronically operated guidance mechanism to home-in on said target device.
15. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes as set forth in claim 12, wherein said guide means include a directional and inclination surveying device.
16. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes as set forth in claim 11, including forming a solvation insulating pad at the ceiling of said second passageway.
17. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes as set forth in claim 16 wherein said solvation insulating pad comprises a fluid of lower specific gravity than brine, including the step of introducing said pad fluid into said second passageway as an additive to the solvent fluid for said solution mining.
18. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes as set forth in claim 16 including floating the nozzle substantially at the interface between said solvation insulating pad and the brine/sol vent mixture formed in the lower part of said second passageway.
19. The method of solution mining a bedded rock salt deposit between two or more bore holes comprising the steps of coalescing the nether ends of said bore holes by the method of claim 11 and thereafter solution mining said deposit beginning in the region of said first passageway and retreating progressively toward said second passageway and said another bore hole.

Claims (19)

1. The method for solution-coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit which includes a geologic anomaly preventive of effectively coalescing said bore holes by means of a hydraulic fracturing technique, and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit, said method comprising: driving two or more bore holes in spaced apart relation into the lower level of said deposit at opposite sides of said anomaly, hydraulically fracturing said deposit from one of said bore holes as far as feasible towards one other of said bore holes, thereby providing a first horizontally extending passageway for fluid flow, then solution-mining a second horizontally extending passageway from the nether end of the other of said bore holes through said salt bed and through said anomaly into communication with said first passageway, thereby providing a solution mining cavity, and then solution mining said deposit intermediately of said bore holes by passing a solvent fluid through said cavity from one of said bore holes and withdrawing brine out of the other of said bore holes whereby said cavity enlarges and said deposit is mined.
2. The method for coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said solution mining operation is conducted by means of solvent liquid delivered through a flexible hose slide-fitted into and advanced through one of said bore holes and having guide means thereon to cause the nozzle end thereof to point substantially horizontally towards the nether end of the other of said bore holes.
3. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said solution mining operation is conducted under a solvent-insulating pad of fluid at the ceiling of the solution mining cavity.
4. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said nozzle end of said hose carries a motivating device powered under remote control and operating to advance the nozzle end of said hose toward said other bore hole.
5. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 2, wherein the solution mining operation upon said deposit is initially conducted proximate to said other bore hole and is then caused to retreat progressively throughout the deposit intermediately of said bore holes by progressive retraction of said hose.
6. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 3, wherein said guide means comprises a float device carried adjacent the nozzle end of said hose, said float device being operable to cause the nozzle end of said hose to float at substantially the elevation of the interface between the brine and the solution insulating pad fluid occupying the solution cavity.
7. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt Deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 4, wherein said motive device comprises a traction wheel system powered by flow of fluid through said nozzle.
8. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said guide means comprises multi-radially directed reaction jet ports exiting through the wall of said nozzle, said ports being selectively controllable from remotely of the operation.
9. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 3, wherein said solvent insulating pad comprises a fluid of lower specific gravity than brine and which is introduced into the solution mining cavity as an additive to the solvent fluid.
10. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit and for conducting a solution mining operation throughout said deposit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of float devices spaced apart longitudinally on said hose so as to stabilize a substantial length thereof in horizontal attitude.
11. The method of solution-coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes intersecting a bedded rock salt deposit which includes a geologic anomaly preventive of effectively coalescing said bore holes by means of a hydraulic fracturing technique, said method comprising: driving two or more bore holes in spaced apart relation into said deposit at opposite sides of said anomaly; hydraulic fracturing said deposit from one of said bore holes as far as feasible towards another of said bore holes, thereby providing a first extending passageway for fluid flow; and solution mining a second extending passageway from said another of said bore holes through said salt bed and through said anomaly into communication with said first passageway.
12. The method for coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes of claim 11 wherein said solution mining is conducted by means of solvent liquid delivered through a flexible hose advanced through said another bore hole, said flexible hose being fitted with a nozzle having means for guiding the nozzle end substantially towards said first passageway.
13. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes as set forth in claim 12 wherein said guide means include reaction jet ports exiting throught the wall of said nozzle, said jet ports being selectively operable.
14. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes as set forth in claim 12 including inserting a target device in said first passageway and wherein said guide means include an electronically operated guidance mechanism to home-in on said target device.
15. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes as set forth in claim 12, wherein said guide means include a directional and inclination surveying device.
16. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes as set forth in claim 11, including forming a solvation insulating pad at the ceiling of said second passageway.
17. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes as set forth in claim 16 wherein said solvation insulating pad comprises a fluid of lower specific gravity than brine, including the step of introducing said pad fluid into said second passageway as an additive to the solvent fluid for said solution mining.
18. The method of coalescing the nether ends of two or more bore holes as set forth in claim 16 including floating the nozzle substantially at the interface between said solvation insulating pad and the brine/solvent mixture formed in the lower part of said second passageway.
19. The method of solution mining a bedded rock salt deposit between two or more bore holes comprising the steps of coalescing the nether ends of said bore holes by the method of claim 11 and thereafter solution mining said deposit beginning in the region of said first passageway and retreating progressively toward said second passageway and said another bore hole.
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US4226475A (en) * 1978-04-19 1980-10-07 Frosch Robert A Underground mineral extraction
US4431069A (en) * 1980-07-17 1984-02-14 Dickinson Iii Ben W O Method and apparatus for forming and using a bore hole
US4476945A (en) * 1983-02-10 1984-10-16 Atlantic Richfield Company Drainhold drilling
US4523644A (en) * 1978-08-14 1985-06-18 Dismukes Newton B Thermal oil recovery method
US4527639A (en) * 1982-07-26 1985-07-09 Bechtel National Corp. Hydraulic piston-effect method and apparatus for forming a bore hole
WO1986004537A1 (en) * 1985-02-12 1986-08-14 The British Petroleum Company P.L.C. Manipulative device
US4624326A (en) * 1984-03-16 1986-11-25 Loegel Jr Charles Process and apparatus for cutting rock
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CN102251759A (en) * 2010-05-20 2011-11-23 中国海洋石油总公司 Method for mining and machining water-soluble potassium salt mine
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US4226475A (en) * 1978-04-19 1980-10-07 Frosch Robert A Underground mineral extraction
US4221433A (en) * 1978-07-20 1980-09-09 Occidental Minerals Corporation Retrogressively in-situ ore body chemical mining system and method
US4523644A (en) * 1978-08-14 1985-06-18 Dismukes Newton B Thermal oil recovery method
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US4501337A (en) * 1980-07-17 1985-02-26 Bechtel National Corp. Apparatus for forming and using a bore hole
US4527639A (en) * 1982-07-26 1985-07-09 Bechtel National Corp. Hydraulic piston-effect method and apparatus for forming a bore hole
US4476945A (en) * 1983-02-10 1984-10-16 Atlantic Richfield Company Drainhold drilling
US4624326A (en) * 1984-03-16 1986-11-25 Loegel Jr Charles Process and apparatus for cutting rock
US4826087A (en) * 1985-02-12 1989-05-02 David Chinery Manipulative device
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EP0194039A1 (en) * 1985-02-12 1986-09-10 The British Petroleum Company p.l.c. Manipulative device
US4679637A (en) * 1985-05-14 1987-07-14 Cherrington Martin D Apparatus and method for forming an enlarged underground arcuate bore and installing a conduit therein
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US4763734A (en) * 1985-12-23 1988-08-16 Ben W. O. Dickinson Earth drilling method and apparatus using multiple hydraulic forces
US4790384A (en) * 1987-04-24 1988-12-13 Penetrators, Inc. Hydraulic well penetration apparatus and method
US4928757A (en) * 1987-04-24 1990-05-29 Penetrators, Inc. Hydraulic well penetration apparatus
US5101918A (en) * 1989-10-06 1992-04-07 Smet Marc J High pressure pipe and device for making a hole in the ground, provided with such high pressure pipe
US5107943A (en) * 1990-10-15 1992-04-28 Penetrators, Inc. Method and apparatus for gravel packing of wells
US5109932A (en) * 1990-12-10 1992-05-05 Industrial Engineering, Inc. Impact borer, connector for embedding lines, anchoring cables, and sinking wells
US5161626A (en) * 1990-12-10 1992-11-10 Industrial Engineering, Inc. Method for embedding lines, anchoring cables, and sinking wells
US5246273A (en) * 1991-05-13 1993-09-21 Rosar Edward C Method and apparatus for solution mining
US5713423A (en) * 1992-07-24 1998-02-03 The Charles Machine Works, Inc. Drill pipe
US5327970A (en) * 1993-02-19 1994-07-12 Penetrator's, Inc. Method for gravel packing of wells
US5853056A (en) * 1993-10-01 1998-12-29 Landers; Carl W. Method of and apparatus for horizontal well drilling
US5413184A (en) * 1993-10-01 1995-05-09 Landers; Carl Method of and apparatus for horizontal well drilling
US5431482A (en) * 1993-10-13 1995-07-11 Sandia Corporation Horizontal natural gas storage caverns and methods for producing same
NL9301921A (en) * 1993-11-05 1995-06-01 Nacap Nederland Bv Method and system for the exploration and extraction of raw materials, minerals or the like in soft soil.
WO1995012747A1 (en) * 1993-11-05 1995-05-11 Nacap Nederland B.V. Method and system for exploring for and extraction of raw materials, minerals or the like in soft ground
US5411104A (en) * 1994-02-16 1995-05-02 Conoco Inc. Coalbed methane drilling
US6470978B2 (en) * 1995-12-08 2002-10-29 University Of Queensland Fluid drilling system with drill string and retro jets
US6866106B2 (en) 1995-12-08 2005-03-15 University Of Queensland Fluid drilling system with flexible drill string and retro jets
US5957539A (en) * 1996-07-19 1999-09-28 Gaz De France (G.D.F.) Service National Process for excavating a cavity in a thin salt layer
FR2751374A1 (en) * 1996-07-19 1998-01-23 Gaz De France PROCESS FOR CREATING A CAVITY IN A LOW THICK SALT MINE
EP0819834A1 (en) * 1996-07-19 1998-01-21 Gaz De France (Service National) Method for making a cavity in a thin-walled salt mine
US20050067166A1 (en) * 1997-06-06 2005-03-31 University Of Queensland, Commonwealth Erectable arm assembly for use in boreholes
US7370710B2 (en) 1997-06-06 2008-05-13 University Of Queensland Erectable arm assembly for use in boreholes
WO1999066168A1 (en) 1998-06-17 1999-12-23 Carl Landers Method of and apparatus for horizontal well drilling
US6189629B1 (en) 1998-08-28 2001-02-20 Mcleod Roderick D. Lateral jet drilling system
US6257353B1 (en) 1999-02-23 2001-07-10 Lti Joint Venture Horizontal drilling method and apparatus
US6283230B1 (en) 1999-03-01 2001-09-04 Jasper N. Peters Method and apparatus for lateral well drilling utilizing a rotating nozzle
WO2000058599A1 (en) 1999-03-31 2000-10-05 Landers Carl W Method of and apparatus for horizontal well drilling
US20050103528A1 (en) * 2000-02-16 2005-05-19 Mazorow Henry B. Horizontal directional drilling in wells
US6578636B2 (en) 2000-02-16 2003-06-17 Performance Research & Drilling, Llc Horizontal directional drilling in wells
US6964303B2 (en) 2000-02-16 2005-11-15 Performance Research & Drilling, Llc Horizontal directional drilling in wells
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US6588517B2 (en) 2000-08-21 2003-07-08 Dhdt, Inc. Boring apparatus
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US6550553B2 (en) 2000-08-21 2003-04-22 Dhdt, Inc. Boring apparatus
US6412578B1 (en) 2000-08-21 2002-07-02 Dhdt, Inc. Boring apparatus
US6971457B2 (en) 2000-08-21 2005-12-06 Batesville Services, Inc. Moldable fabric
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US20050034901A1 (en) * 2001-11-14 2005-02-17 Meyer Timothy Gregory Hamilton Fluid drilling head
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US7195082B2 (en) 2002-10-18 2007-03-27 Scott Christopher Adam Drill head steering
WO2010012771A3 (en) * 2008-08-01 2010-04-08 Solvay Chemicals, Inc. Traveling undercut solution mining systems and methods
US20110127825A1 (en) * 2008-08-01 2011-06-02 Solvay Chemicals, Inc. Traveling undercut solution mining systems and methods
US8678513B2 (en) 2008-08-01 2014-03-25 Solvay Chemicals, Inc. Traveling undercut solution mining systems and methods
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US9234416B2 (en) 2008-08-01 2016-01-12 Solvay Chemicals, Inc. Traveling undercut solution mining systems and methods
US9581006B2 (en) 2008-08-01 2017-02-28 Solvay Chemicals, Inc. Traveling undercut solution mining systems and methods
CN102251759A (en) * 2010-05-20 2011-11-23 中国海洋石油总公司 Method for mining and machining water-soluble potassium salt mine
CN105863599A (en) * 2016-04-27 2016-08-17 重庆大学 Old well utilization method adopting single-cavity old well as brine-extraction horizontally-butted well
CN112127844A (en) * 2020-08-24 2020-12-25 山成栋 Air-driven bittern collecting system

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