METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINING COPPER
First Claim
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; 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.
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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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of lining a well by a jointless pipe, the method comprising:
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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; 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. 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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification