摘要:
A method for solution mining nahcolite, capable of extracting nahcolite from geological formations lean in nahcolite comprising injecting high pressure water (which may include recycled aqueous solution of bicarb and sodium carbonate) at a temperature of at least 250° F. into the formation, dissolving nahcolite in the hot water to form a production solution and recovering the production solution. The invention also includes the processing of the production solution to provide sodium carbonate and, optionally, sodium bicarbonate, comprising: decomposing the sodium bicarbonate portion of the hot aqueous production solution to form a hot aqueous solution of sodium carbonate; evaporating water from the hot aqueous solution comprising sodium carbonate to form a concentrated solution of sodium carbonate; producing sodium carbonate monohydrate from the concentrated solution of sodium carbonate by crystallization; and dewatering and calcining the sodium carbonate monohydrate to produce anhydrous sodium carbonate.
摘要:
A method for solution mining nahcolite, capable of extracting nahcolite from geological formations lean in nahcolite comprising injecting high pressure water (which may include recycled aqueous solution of bicarb and sodium carbonate) at a temperature of at least 250° F. into the formation, dissolving nahcolite in the hot water to form a production solution and recovering the production solution. The invention also includes the processing of the production solution to provide sodium carbonate and, optionally, sodium bicarbonate, comprising: decomposing the sodium bicarbonate portion of the hot aqueous production solution to form a hot aqueous solution of sodium carbonate; evaporating water from the hot aqueous solution comprising sodium carbonate to form a concentrated solution of sodium carbonate; producing sodium carbonate monohydrate from the concentrated solution of sodium carbonate by crystallization; and dewatering and calcining the sodium carbonate monohydrate to produce anhydrous sodium carbonate.
摘要:
A method for solution mining nahcolite, capable of extracting nahcolite from geological formations lean in nahcolite comprising injecting high pressure water (which may include recycled aqueous solution of bicarb and sodium carbonate) at a temperature of at least 250° F. into the formation, dissolving nahcolite in the hot water to form a production solution and recovering the production solution. The invention also includes the processing of the production solution to provide sodium carbonate and, optionally, sodium bicarbonate, comprising: decomposing the sodium bicarbonate portion of the hot aqueous production solution to form a hot aqueous solution of sodium carbonate; evaporating water from the hot aqueous solution comprising sodium carbonate to form a concentrated solution of sodium carbonate; producing sodium carbonate monohydrate from the concentrated solution of sodium carbonate by crystallization; and dewatering and calcining the sodium carbonate monohydrate to produce anhydrous sodium carbonate.
摘要:
A method for solution mining nahcolite, capable of extracting nahcolite from geological formations lean in nahcolite comprising injecting high pressure water (which may include recycled aqueous solution of bicarb and sodium carbonate) at a temperature of at least 250° F. into the formation, dissolving nahcolite in the hot water to form a production solution and recovering the production solution. The invention also includes the processing of the production solution to provide sodium carbonate and, optionally, sodium bicarbonate, comprising: decomposing the sodium bicarbonate portion of the hot aqueous production solution to form a hot aqueous solution of sodium carbonate; evaporating water from the hot aqueous solution comprising sodium carbonate to form a concentrated solution of sodium carbonate; producing sodium carbonate monohydrate from the concentrated solution of sodium carbonate by crystallization; and dewatering and calcining the sodium carbonate monohydrate to produce anhydrous sodium carbonate.
摘要:
A method for selective solution mining mineral recovery may include heating a wellfield injection brine to a temperature from about 100° C. to about 250° C.; injecting the heated wellfield injection brine into an underground wellfield to dissolve soluble minerals therein, creating a hot brine solution; removing the hot brine solution from the underground wellfield; and recovering the soluble minerals from the hot brine solution by cooling the hot brine solution to a temperature of from about −10° C. to about 5° C. and causing the soluble minerals to precipitate recovered minerals in a solid form.
摘要:
A method for controlling downhole fluid flow in multi-lateral solution mining may include forming a solution mining production well with a plurality of horizontal laterals drilled from a surface to connect and intersect with a horizontal or vertical injection well; and installing a downhole flow control device at the intersection of the horizontal injection well and each of the horizontal laterals. The downhole flow control device may be capable of being adjusted to distribute injection flow as desired through the horizontal laterals. The downhole flow control device may be a sliding sleeve capable of ranging from fully open to full closed to control flow from the injection well into multiple locations within the mineralized zone.
摘要:
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a method and method for recovery of solution mined minerals. The method may include creating superheated steam using a steam boiler; passing the superheated steam through a turbine/generator to generate electricity; reheating the steam exiting the turbine/generator to saturation with a steam reheater; using the saturated steam with an absorption chiller to create chilled water; and recovering minerals using the chilled water in a cooling crystallizer system. In embodiments, the method and system may be used to recover minerals, such as potash (KCl), washing soda (Na2CO3.10H2O); nahcolite (NaHCO3); and glauber salt (NaSO4.10H2O). The method may utilize the trigeneration of steam, electrical, and chilled water utilities, which may be used for a recovery process.
摘要:
Elemental sulfur in substantially pure form is recovered from an underground sulfur formation which has been previously been mined by the Frasch process by injection of hot water into the underground formation to melt at least a portion of the sulfur, removing the resulting mixture of sulfur and hot water to the surface, separating the mixture of sulfur and hot water, recovering the sulfur as molten sulfur, and recycling the water to the underground formation. In alternatives, the water may be treated with additives to prevent corrosion, and scale and to reduce hardness and enhance separation of sulfur and water. The process is practiced using a conventional Frasch sulfur well in combination with a bleed water well and/or injection well. Also provided is a method and apparatus for separating molten sulfur from a mixture of molten sulfur and water.