DE1917248A1 - Extraction of minerals and their compounds in situ using laser beams - Google Patents

Description

Woods Research A (US 721 700 ~ prio 16 ₀ 4 _o 1968 Development Corporation B-127 ^ - 6130) Oklahona City, Oklahoma Haeburg, April 2 , 1969

VeSto Ae,

Extraction of minerals and their compounds in situ using laser beams

The present invention relates to the recovery of minerals from the earth formations, and in particular the Cewinnung and simultaneous processing of hydrocarbons and other valuable minerals Jn SLTU _o

The shale oil depot in North America, which is one of the The largest oil reserves in the world are relatively close at the surface of the earth and toaber »a maximum depth in the On the order of a few thousand feet. The oil, in a form known as kerogen, becomes very solid in the a rock called limestone or morgel ”. This ul cannot be made with the usual drilling methods are obtained »because the limestone is little or not at all porous. Instead, the slate is mined first and crushed and then heated to high temperatures to evaporate the hydrocarbons, which then pass through Condensation can be obtained. Some thermal processes for extracting oil from heavy oil sands and other reservoirs Low viscosity oils have generally been disappointing for a variety of reasons. For example, it has been proposed to add some of the oil in situ burn to the amount necessary to evaporate the oil Generating heat, but it is difficult to keep burning continuously. It is also It has been proposed to deliver hot gases through injection holes

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«Nt ·· sit pumping, however« iod here dl · WKnae loss « der Brdoberflloh «and the turning asses or the

Application satellite and the formation outside the borehole la general su high. It also makes the non & alerwelse density of poncation occurring in this type of ul reserve extremely difficult «the required spatial coverage su received

With the present definition, a method and a device for the extraction of minerals from earth formations Suggested »at« »praise a laser beam is aimed at the formation in order to create a hole in the formation and the one enclosed in the formation Minerals evaporate and / or pyrolyze. At the The point of contact with the laser beam becomes an artificial one Maintain an atmosphere which can be either completely inert or practically non-reactive so that the Minerals in elementary fora or in the form of existing ones Compounds can be obtained * However, an artificial atmosphere that reacts selectively with the minerals can also be used are used «so that synthetic compounds are obtained will. The gas in this atmosphere serves as a carrier gas, which is collected and then separated again by fractional condensation of the fumes or other catfish "uv die To extract minerals or compounds of the same. The carrier gas can then be used again as long as it is running » The erfindungagemäsee device consists of a movable one Dome or dome, in which an artificial atmosphere Above the formation is maintained »a movable Oestell «with a group of door, condensation apparatus and storage provisions for the gev τηβη® mineral,

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In particular, the invention becomes old in processes like pyrolysis of hydrocarbons proposed in situ * for which « Mm «Inen laser beam on a containing hydrocarbons Erdformatlon aligns * to create a hole in the formation and at the same time pyrolyze the hydrocarbons eu, wherein ■ an artificial one at the poorest point of the Xrdformation Atmosphere stirred up veloha prevents combustion. The artificial atmosphere serves as a carrier gas and is familiar either inert or selective with the hydrocarbons react. The TrSgergss can either only use the original Cover the surface of the Foroatlon or into the opening Pressed into dar formation. The hydrocarbons are then either in their natural form or as synthetic compounds fractionated condensed or otherwise separated from the carrier gas

The same process can be used to obtain any other minerals which can be vaporized in situ using laser beams and then selectively separated from the gas using fractional condensation or other suitable processes.

The laser beam can be directed onto an exposed surface of the mineral-rich formation and then progressively shifted to achieve the highest spatial coverage, or the laser beam can also be used to create an opening through the layers lying above the mineral-rich formation before the mineral-rich formation itself penetrated with the laser beam _e

The apparatus of the present invention for performing the above Procedure falls over one or more lasers, soft so moves

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that they progressively owe the poraation, a closed space "to create the artificial AtaosphSre Above the formation on which the laser beam hit directed, a device circulating the sun Carrier gas through the closed tree, a device sum selectively extracting the vaporized minerals from de «carrier gas and a device to recycle the Carrier gas in the closed barely.

The invention is illustrated below with reference to the attached Drawing explains in more detail which one according to the invention Device for performing the method erfindungsgeraässen shows.

Oils in the drawing shown plant 10 is on the Surface 12 one containing the minerals to be extracted the Erdformatlon 14 set up. The formation 14 can be made from oily shale, sustained coal, metal ore or practically every other mineral-containing formation exist » which can be vaporized so that the mineral Element, compound or enriched ore from the Carrier gas can be condensed or separated in other ways »

The system 10 contains several lasers 16, which in one Frame 18 are held by corresponding devices, shown in the drawing as rollers 20 can be driven over the surface 12 of the formation 14 · The beams 19 of the lasers 16 are downward the surface 12 of the formation 14 directed. The laser beams 19 can be moved progressively over the surface 12

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so that they progressively evaporate the formation and form holes 02 with a significantly larger diameter than the diameter of the laser beam, for which purpose either the laser 16 is moved relatively to the sun frame 18 or the frame 18 is moved relatively to the surface of the formation »

The surface 12 of the formation 14 is above the area on which the laser beams are directed, from a hood or dome 24 Uberdeokt, so that in and over the Holes 22 maintain an artificial atmosphere If necessary, that of the artificial atmosphere can be achieved through suitable lines (not shown) Sighting the arrows 25 in the created Holes are directed «Das TrHgergae and the sympathetic ones Vapors then rise in the direction of the arrows 27 in the holes upwards. »The dome 24 can also go through. Suitable devices (not shown) can be moved over the surface 12 so that the punches are progressive Can be enlarged to provide good spatial coverage the formation see below, the steam flow out of the hole out. su facilitate and the penetration of the laser beam to promote.

The dome 24 can be made from any suitable material or from a flexible plastic sleeve which is held inside in the fora of a dome by an overpressure of the oas. When the bowl is high Temperatures are to be maintained, the lasers can be placed inside the dome so that the by heat emitted by the lasers heats the gas in the dome, whereby the dome can still be insulated accordingly. If only lower temperatures are required, you can

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the la * er outside the dome arranged murders «whereby A kunatstoffbeaobiohtetea fabric is used as the dome can become, which through a Qasüberdruok la Inside is inflated * The frame 18 and the Xuppsl 24 can xuaajBBen Be moved over the OherflBohe 12 »or it can also move the dome 24 step by step and that Frame 18 within the dome 24 continuously over the surface can be moved »

The dome 24 is connected via a line 28 to a das Container 26 containing carrier gas connected · The carrier » gas can be made from a completely inert gas such as helium « Nitrogen »argon» neon or krypton or a practical one non-reactive gas such as carbon dioxide. Ks however, may also vary depending on the mineral or mineral to be extracted the artificial connection to be established. how next is explained in more detail below «an active gas, such as ammonia, Broa »Iodine« Chlorine »Stlokozydul or Nitrogen Oxide is used will.

The carrier gas is supplied with the aid of a suitable device » which as a 32-bit line of the dome 24 connected suction pump 30 is shown »by the system circulates. The gas mixture withdrawn from the dome 24 is then passed through a conventional separator 34 the mineral products are separated from the gas stream and fed to a suitable storage container 36. The carrier gas is then passed through a line 38 in the carrier gas reservoir 26 surUok guided ·

The separator 34 can be of UblioL:> r design »as it is for the Separation of vaporous lead or compounds

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or aruppen - Toa-elements edoF connections of one TrKgergas commonly used let * Im an ^ emelmün is called Scheider 3 * a Selelitivkoitdeitsator used «with welciism For example, KolileiswasasFstoffd & flpfe in VerecMedeiisn Stages fractionated condensed Korden te & men so that at the same time the pyrolysis of natural carbonaceous substances formed various hydrocarbon fractions be separated from each other

To carry out the method according to the invention, the strands 19 from the lasers 16 are progressively moved over the formations containing the minerals to be extracted, so that a hole of increasing depth and size is created. The minerals to be extracted are evaporated together with part of the formation material. The hot vapors expand and flow upward through the hole or holes formed in the formation and combine with the carrier gas flowing through the dome 24. The TrSgergas with the hulls is then passed through the separator k ^, where the desired components of the vapors from the TrUgergas separated and the storage container are supplied to. The carrier gas is then returned through the system.

If the mineral to be extracted consists of natural hydrocarbons, which are for example Fon »of Kerogen, coal or petroleum stores can be present as a carrier gas either a completely inert gas such as nitrogen, argon, neon, krypton or Helium or a non-reactive gas such as carbon dioxide can be used, whereby the products are obtained by pyrolysis Preserve natural compounds produced by hydrocarbons

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will. As TrSgergas can, however, Q * are used ae which reagierenο with the hydrocarbon d struggling in the information obtained by the laser beams higher temperatures useful compounds So kunnen example, "as ammonia" is bromine, chlorine, "iodine, S ^ -S-okexydul and Stiok- • Substance oxide forms valuable compounds with the hydrocarbons at the high temperatures generated by the laser beam.

ρ Naoh another aspect of the method according to the invention are the hydrocarbon compounds which either Natural compounds obtained from the pyrolysis of the hydrocarbons or the reaction of the hydrocarbon vapor with an active carrier gas synthetic compounds exist, fractionally condensed, so that the desired compounds at least in semi-refined state can be obtained. In most cases this can be achieved by using the carrier « gas with the entrained vapors through a fractionation column or to another known petroche ~ mixing process worked up.

In a broader sense, the process according to the invention is also suitable for the extraction of metals or practically all of them other valuable minerals that evaporate and then through fractionated condensation or other separation processes in usable form from the carrier gas and other vapors can be separated.

In the embodiment shown, the shape according to the invention is the one according to the invention Device placed directly above the earth formation containing the minerals to be extracted, as it would be the case

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can »if the soles are mechanically different from that Oil shale ibgeräurat were “However, the system can also placed on overlapping soles, with the laser beam then penetrating the upper layers to penetrate into the mineral-containing formation · Unter fonaation are used in the present description also all Brdaohiohten understood «which of the laser beam eOsean are penetrated before the mineral-containing ones Sande or Brse reached.

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Claims (1)

. - ίο - Fit ent snipe 1. Process for the extraction of certain mineral constituents Parts from a formation, characterized in that a laser beam is directed onto the formation and then a hole is progressively formed and a part of the formation with the mineral components contained therein is evaporated, whereby one part of the earth formation on which the laser beam is applied aligns, maintains an artificial atmosphere * and then extracts the desired mineral components from this atmosphere. 2, method according to claim 1, characterized in that one Hydrocarbons are extracted as mineral components and, as an artificial atmosphere, a largely oxygen " maintained free atmosphere 3 · The method according to claim 2, characterized in that one a practically non-reactive bit to hydrocarbons. rendes oas used as an artificial atmosphere <» 4. The method according to claim Z, daduroh characterized in that nan uses an artificial atmosphere which contains at least one component which reacts at the temperature generated by the laser beam with the hydrocarbons su a synthetic compound, and the compound wins from the artificial atmosphere. 5. Process according to Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that an artificial atmosphere is used which prevents burns at higher temperatures. 909846/0613 6. The method according to claims 1 to 5 # characterized in that that nan the desired mineral or the ge ° Consolidated connection through condensation from the artificial Atmosphere wins. 7. Provision for obtaining certain mineral components from a Erdforoatlon according to a method according to claims 1 to 6, characterized by one or more lasers (16) to generate strongly focused beams of high energy, a frame (18) to arrange the lasers (16) In a position above the earth formation, from which the laser beams can penetrate the formation and the mineral components can evaporate _f a closed tree (24) to maintain an artificial atmosphere Above the part of the earth formation cut off by the laser beams and a separating device (34) sum separating the mineral components from the artificial atmosphere. 8 · Provision according to claim T »characterized in that the frame (18) with devices (80) for progressive Shifting the laser beams over the formation is provided. 9t device according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that that the closed space (24) consists of a hood "which over the place where the laser" rays touch the formation first, arranged lat. 10.Vorrichtung naoh claim 9, characterized in that the hood (24) from by Gesüberdruek within the same inflated flexible walls. 909846 / OS1 3 Device according to claims f bit 10, characterized in that the separating device (34) consists of a condenser sub-selective condensing and separating several mineral components from the artificial atmosphere and a device to divert the oasis from the artificial atmosphere through the condenser consists. 12.Vorrichtung according to claim 11, characterized daduroh, that they still have a device to return the oasis the artificial atmosphere from the condenser In the closed space (24) contains. hbssoh 909846/0013