Method and apparatus for mining copper

• US 10,571,052 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2018
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mohammad R. Ehsani
• Original Assignee: Mohammad R. Ehsani
• Inventors: Ehsani, Mohammad R
• Primary Examiner(s): Harcourt, Brad
• Application Number:
  US15/961,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20190323633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/582 comprising reinforcements, e.g. wires, threads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/60 using internal forming surfaces, e.g. mandrels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/845 especially adapted for winding and joining
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/34 using tubular layers or sheathings
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/481 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/205 the structure being shaped to form a three-dimensional configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/32 on a rotating mould, former or core
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/323 on the inner surface of a rotating mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 23/001 Pipes; Pipe joints pleated hoses B29D23/18
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2307/04 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/22 Tubes or pipes, i.e. rigid bent tubes not for use as pipe couplings B29L2023/004
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/22 Rods or pipes with helical structure
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 9/165 of metal

Abstract

Mining methods and systems are disclosed for In-Situ Leaching (ISL) of the mineral ores. ISL extraction is conducted by injecting a suitable leach solution into the ore zone below the water table; oxidizing, complexing and mobilizing the minerals; recovering the pregnant (loaded) solutions through production wells (extraction wells or recovery wells); and, finally, pumping the minerals bearing solution to the surface for further processing. In these methods strips of fabrics saturated with resin are helically or non-helically wrapped around desired shape vertical mandrels, located over the wells, and the partially cured pipes are lowered into the wells to line the wells. These onsite manufactured pipes/linings are used to pump chemical solutions into the ores and subsequently to recover the pregnant (loaded) solutions.

Claims

1. A method of lining a well by a jointless pipe, the method comprising:

hanging a mandrel substantially vertically from a platform over the well;

wrapping, helically or non-helically, a sheet of reinforced material around the mandrel, wherein the wrapped sheet of material forms a pipe segment around the mandrel;

lowering at least a part of the pipe segment into the well such that a part of the pipe segment remains on the mandrel, wherein resin used during the wrapping is at least partially cured before the pipe segment is lowered into the well; and

repeat the wrapping and the lowering steps as many times as necessary to line a desired length of the well, wherein the pipe segments are all attached to each other and form the jointless pipe.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mandrel is slightly tapered down from top of the mandrel towards bottom of the mandrel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each pipe segment is comprised of more than one layer of wrapping.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein wrappings are performed manually or mechanically.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a number of the wrapped layers is progressively increased from top of the pipe to bottom of the pipe.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a weight of the hung pipe is supported from bottom of the pipe by a cable extended to outside of the well.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein wrappings are performed mechanically and are preprogrammed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the reinforced sheet material is Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a number of layers of wrappings is different at different locations along a length of the pipe to achieve different desired strengths at each desired location.

10. A method of lining an In-Situ Leaching (ISL) well by a one-piece pipe for mining minerals, the method comprising:

Manufacturing the one-piece pipe, onsite, by continuously wrapping, helically or non-helically, a resin impregnated sheet of reinforced material around a mandrel and lowering a part of the wound sheet into the well as the winding progresses wherein the resin used during the wrapping is at least partially cured on the mandrel before the pipe is lowered from the mandrel into the well.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the helical windings are overlappingly wound and the non-helical wrapped sheets either overlap each other along a length of the pipe or are butt-joined and are attached together by a third sheet that overlaps both of the butt-joined sheets.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the pipe is comprised of more than one layer of wrapping and wherein the layers include one or more layers of a spacer sheet, Coremat®

, honeycomb, or 3D fabric.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein wrappings are performed manually or mechanically.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein a number of the wrapped layers of the pipe is progressively increased from top of each well to bottom of the well.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein a weight of the hung pipe is supported from bottom of the pipe by a cable extended to outside of the well.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein wrappings are performed mechanically and are preprogrammed.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the reinforced material is Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP).

18. The method of claim 10, wherein a number of layers of wrappings is different at different locations along a length of the well lining to achieve different desired strengths at each desired location.