Process for solution mining underground evaporite ore formations such as trona

Abstract

A process is described for solution mining isolated, mechanically mined-out areas of soluble evaporite ore to recover remaining ore reserves, wherein the mined-out areas are separated from an operational mine area by barrier pillars of the evaporite ore, by drilling at least one vertical well bore from the surface to a predefined distance above the evaporite ore body, converting the drilling of the vertical well bore to a substantially horizontal well bore at a predetermined distance below the ground level, continuing the drilling parallel to and within the evaporite ore body to form a well bore one end of which is connected to the mined-out area, developing a connection from the operating mine area to the other end of the well bore, drilling an injection well from the surface into the mined-out area, injecting an aqueous solvent into the injection well, passing the solvent into the mined-out area, removing solvent enriched in dissolved evaporite ore from the mined-out area, passing such enriched solvent from the mined-out area into the well bore connecting the mined-out area and the operational mine area, removing enriched solvent from the well bore end connected to the operational mine area and recovering the enriched solvent.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.