US 12,031,421 B2 · Modular solution mining system and methods

Abstract

A modular solution mining method may include the steps of: providing an injection wellbore, the injection wellbore including a horizontal injection portion, in which the horizontal injection portion includes a toe end and heel end; providing a production wellbore, in which the production wellbore includes a horizontal production portion that is proximate to the toe end; injecting a solvent into the horizontal injection portion; generating a turbulent solvent flow proximate to the toe end to generate a mineral solution and an initial cavern proximate to the horizontal production portion; and motivating the mineral solution from the initial cavern, into the horizontal production portion, and to a surface location. Optionally, the method may include the step of repositioning the turbulent solvent flow to be closer to heel ends to generate mineral solution and subsequent caverns further from horizontal production wellbore.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A modular solution mining method for use with a mineral deposit, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an injection wellbore, the injection wellbore including a horizontal injection portion, wherein the horizontal injection portion comprises a toe end and a heel end;
providing a production wellbore, wherein the production wellbore includes a horizontal production portion that is proximate to the toe end;
injecting a solvent into the horizontal injection portion;
generating a first turbulent solvent flow proximate to the toe end to generate a mineral solution and an initial first cavern proximate to the horizontal production portion;
motivating the mineral solution from the initial first cavern, into the horizontal production portion, and to a surface location;
placing a bridge plug into the horizontal injection portion between the toe end and the heel end;
and
generating a second turbulent solvent flow, the second turbulent solvent flow being generated closer to the heel end than the first turbulent solvent flow and the second turbulent solvent flow generating a subsequent second cavern located in between the heel end and first cavern.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Modular solution mining system and methods

Life of this patent

Modular solution mining system and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17