Method and System for Solution Mining

A crystallizer for use in solution mining a mineral from the earth by circulating a fluid through a deposit of the mineral in the earth for dissolving the mineral;

• forming crystals of the mineral on the surface of the earth by cooling the circulating fluid in the crystallizer;
• and recovering the mineral from the circulating fluid with a separation plant, wherein a well extends from the surface of the earth to the mineral deposit, the crystallizer comprising:
• an inner pipe having a first open end and an opposing second open end and a length between the first and second open ends;
• and
• an outer pipe surrounding the inner pipe for essentially the length of the inner pipe,
• wherein the inner pipe has an outer surface and the outer pipe has an inner surface,
• wherein an annular space is defined between the inner surface of the outer pipe and the outer surface of the inner pipe,
• wherein the outer pipe is sealed with the inner pipe proximate to the first open end of the inner pipe and proximate to the second open end of the inner pipe, thereby enclosing the annular space,
• wherein the outer pipe has a first port proximate to the first open end of the inner pipe,
• wherein the outer pipe has a second port proximate to the second open end of the inner pipe,
• wherein the inner pipe has an inside wall surface that defines an inner fluid flow path between the first open end and the second open end of the inner pipe,
• wherein an annular fluid flow path is provided from the first port of the outer pipe through the annular space to the second port of the outer pipe,
• wherein each of the first open end of the inner pipe and the first port of the outer pipe is in fluid communication with the mineral deposit;
• and
• wherein each of the second open end of the inner pipe and the second port of the outer pipe is in fluid communication with the separation plant.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an inner pipe having an inlet end and an opposing outlet end and a length between the inlet and outlet ends;
• and
• an outer pipe surrounding the inner pipe for essentially the length of the inner pipe,
• wherein the inner pipe has an outer surface and the outer pipe has an inner surface,
• wherein an annular space is defined between the inner surface of the outer pipe and the outer surface of the inner pipe,
• wherein the outer pipe is sealed with the inner pipe proximate to the inlet end of the inner pipe and proximate to the outlet end of the inner pipe, thereby enclosing the annular space,
• wherein the outer pipe has an outlet port proximate to the inlet end of the inner pipe,
• wherein the outer pipe has an inlet port proximate to the outlet end of the inner pipe,
• wherein the inner pipe has an inside wall surface that defines an inner fluid flow path between the inlet end and the outlet end of the inner pipe,
• wherein an annular fluid flow path is provided from inlet port of the outer pipe through the annular space to the outlet port of the outer pipe, and
• wherein the length of the inner pipe spans a distance of about a mile.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an inner pipe having an inlet end and an opposing outlet end and a length between the inlet and outlet ends;
• and
• an outer pipe surrounding the inner pipe for essentially the length of the inner pipe,
• wherein the inner pipe has an outer surface and the outer pipe has an inner surface,
• wherein an annular space is defined between the inner surface of the outer pipe and the outer surface of the inner pipe,
• wherein the outer pipe is sealed with the inner pipe proximate to the inlet end of the inner pipe and proximate to the outlet end of the inner pipe, thereby enclosing the annular space,
• wherein the outer pipe has an outlet port proximate to the inlet end of the inner pipe,
• wherein the outer pipe has an inlet port proximate to the outlet end of the inner pipe,
• wherein the inner pipe has an inside wall surface that defines an inner fluid flow path between the inlet end and the outlet end of the inner pipe,
• wherein an annular fluid flow path is provided from inlet port of the outer pipe through the annular space to the outlet port of the outer pipe,
• wherein the length of the inner pipe can be adapted to extend a long distance such as between a well head for a solution mine and a separation plant for recovering a mineral extracted from the solution mine;
• and
• wherein at least one surface of the inner or outer pipe is coated or lined with a substance for minimizing precipitation of a mineral on the coated or lined surface.

A process for solution mining, comprising the steps of:

• providing an injection conduit into an underground, in situ mineral source, wherein the injection conduit is adapted to convey an injection fluid into the mineral source for dissolving the mineral and forming a concentrated production brine;
• providing a production conduit into the mineral source adapted to convey the concentrated production brine to the surface of the earth;
• injecting the injection fluid into the injection conduit;
• conveying the concentrated production brine through a crystallizer to a separation plant, wherein crystallization in the crystallizer is effected by cooling the concentrated production brine, wherein the crystallizer consists essentially of a heat exchange system;
• extracting the mineral from the concentrated production brine thereby forming a dilute brine stream and a mineral stream;
• conveying the dilute brine stream through the heat exchange system to the injection conduit, wherein the injection fluid comprises the dilute brine stream;
• and
• cooling the concentrated production brine with the dilute brine stream in the heat exchange system.