US2976690A - Forming subterranean cavities by solution mining - Google Patents

Forming subterranean cavities by solution mining Download PDF

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Publication number
US2976690A
US2976690A US811634A US81163459A US2976690A US 2976690 A US2976690 A US 2976690A US 811634 A US811634 A US 811634A US 81163459 A US81163459 A US 81163459A US 2976690 A US2976690 A US 2976690A
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United States
Prior art keywords
cavity
brine
cavities
salt
forming
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Expired - Lifetime
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US811634A
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English (en)
Inventor
Raymond C Allred
D Arcy A Shock
John D Sudbury
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ConocoPhillips Co
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Continental Oil Co
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Publication date
Priority to NL251207D priority Critical patent/NL251207A/xx
Application filed by Continental Oil Co filed Critical Continental Oil Co
Priority to US811634A priority patent/US2976690A/en
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Publication of US2976690A publication Critical patent/US2976690A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/28—Dissolving minerals other than hydrocarbons, e.g. by an alkaline or acid leaching agent
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
    • G21F9/00—Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
    • G21F9/04—Treating liquids
    • G21F9/20—Disposal of liquid waste
    • G21F9/24—Disposal of liquid waste by storage in the ground; by storage under water, e.g. in ocean

Definitions

  • This invention relates to methods of forming subterranean cavities in salt beds and particularly concerns techniques of solution mining for achieving such purposes.
  • Solution mining techniques have heretofore been used to form a cavity in underground salt beds, but generally the cavity which is formed is quite large and of uncontrolled proportions.
  • the diameter of the cavity is much larger than the height of the cavity.
  • Such cavity cannot be used as a place for the disposal of radioactive Waste from reactor operations because these Wastes evolve heat when stored in large diameter quantities.
  • a preferred cavity would be one which was of limited diameter and of relatively unlimited length. For example, a cavity of 10 feet in diameter and 100 feet or more in length would be suitable for the disposal of radioactive waste.
  • the ordinary solution mining of underground salt beds does not produce such a cavity.
  • An object of this invention is to provide a method for forming cavities of controlled proportions in underground salt beds. Another object is to provide methods for the underground solution mining of salt beds whereby cavities of controlled diameter and height are produced. A further object is to provide methods for forming connected superposed cavities of controlled proportions in underground salt beds.
  • 'Ihe method of this invention may be practiced by providing inlet and outlet conduits to the underground salt bed and then carrying out the particular techniques by which the controlled proportion cavity or cavities are formed. This is done by introducing water into the salt bed via the inlet conduit. The Water dissolves salt and a brine is formed. The brine is removed from the forming cavity via the outlet conduit. This brine is then repeatedly recirculated via the inlet conduit into the cavity which is being formed. The total amount of water which is introduced for the purpose of forming the cavity is an amount sutiicient to form a cavity of predetermined or desired diameter.
  • Figure l illustrates in schematic form how the method of this invention may be carried out in forming a series of connected superposed cavities within an underground salt formation.
  • cavities 1 and 2 have been Patented Mar. 28, '1961 formed in the salt formation.
  • Cavity 3 illustrates how the individual cavity (such as cavitiesl and 2) of the series are formed, and numeral 4 indicates Where cavity 4 in the series will be formed as the next step.
  • a saturated brine solution is present in connected cavities 1 and 2.
  • the inlet and outlet conduits (whose terminal underground ends were originally located in lower positions in forming cavities 1 and 2), are located as shown in Figure l.
  • Fresh water is introduced down valved inlet conduit 11 through outlet or nozzle ports 12 located at the bottom of the inlet conduit.
  • a plurality of outlet ports 12 are located around the circumference of the tubular inlet conduit 11 near the bottom thereof. The bottom of tubular inlet conduit 11 is sealed except for outlet ports 12.
  • the brine continues to be recirculated until it has become saturated with respect to salt.
  • water will dissolve approximately 35 pounds per pound of water.
  • the inlet and outlet conduits are then raised above the level of the saturated brine in the cavity and the process steps involved informing another cavity above cavity 3 are repeated.
  • the distance by which the inlet and outlet cavities are raised may be from one-half to one cavity diameter.
  • the channel(s) which is formed in the salt bed when the inlet and outlet conduits are raised forms a connecting passageway between the individual superposed cavities.
  • a plurality of superposed and connected cavities may be formed to the desired height.
  • Proper selection of the amount of water used in forming the individual cavity Will goven the diameter thereof. It is thus apparent that a cavity, i.e., a series of connected superposed cavities, of tailored proportions can be made.
  • a scaled-down test of the method described in connection with Figure l was made and a series of connected superposed cavities of the type and proportions shown in Figure 1 was formed.
  • the nozzle ports through which the Water and recirculated brine are injected can4 be rotated in substantially a horizontal direction so as to minimize roughness in the cavity side Wall, if desired. This can be effected by use of a rotating nozzle at the bottom of the inlet conduit or by rotating the inlet conduit itself. Better control of the cavity proportions can also be achieved by gradually raising, during the formation of an individual cavity within the series, the inlet and outlet conduits at a gradual and constant rate. The neck-like constrictions between each of the individual superposed cavities can be eliminated by raising the level of the inlet nozzle ports to approximately the level of the saturated brine in the lower cavity.
  • Figure 1 shows the use of concentric inlet and outlet conduits, it is not essential that they be concentric and they can in fact be displaced horizontally from each other. When they are not concentric, the individual superposed cavities formed .will be connected by two channels rather than one.
  • end positions can be reversed without departing from the invention.
  • a method of cavity formation in subterranean salt beds which comprises: l) providing inlet and outlet conduits to the salt bed; (2) forming a cavity by the steps of: introducing Water via said inlet conduit into the salt bed and dissolving salt therefrom to form brine and the beginning of a cavity, removing brine from the forming cavity via said outlet conduit and repeatedly recirculating brine via the inlet conduit to the forming cavity, the total amount of water used being suiiicient to form a cavity of the desired diameter, continuing said recirculation until all of the water has been introduced and the recirculated brine has become saturated with respect to salt, thereafter discontinuing said recirculation and permitting saturated brine to remain in the cavity which has been formed; (3) elevating within the salt bed said inlet and outlet conduits to points above the level of the saturated brine in the formed cavity and forming at least one other cavity above the previously formed cavity by the steps set forth in (2) herein; and (4) removing saturated brine from the cavities formed whereby a plurality of connected superposed sub
  • the method of cavity formation in subterranean salt beds which comprises: l) providing concentric inlet and outlet conduits to the salt bed; (2) forming a cavity by the steps of: introducing water in a substantially horizontal direction into salt bed via the inlet conduit and dissolving salt from the bed to form brine and begin formation of a cavity, removing brine from the forming cavity at a point above that at which the water is introduced and passing brine out from said cavity via the outlet conduit, recirculating said brine together with water via the inlet ⁇ conduit to the forming cavity until the recirculated bri-ne becomes saturated with respect to salt, the total amount of water used being suicient to form a cavity of the desired diameter, thereafter discontinuing said recirculation and permitting saturated brine to remain in the cavity which has been formed; (3) elevating the concentric inlet and outlet conduits to points above the level of the saturated brine in the cavity and forming at least one other cavity above the previously formed cavity by the steps set forth in (2) herein; and (4) removing saturated

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Oceanography (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
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US811634A 1959-05-07 1959-05-07 Forming subterranean cavities by solution mining Expired - Lifetime US2976690A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL251207D NL251207A (en, 2012) 1959-05-07
US811634A US2976690A (en) 1959-05-07 1959-05-07 Forming subterranean cavities by solution mining

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Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3236053A (en) * 1959-10-09 1966-02-22 Gaines H Billue Underground storage and disposal of radioactive products
US3277654A (en) * 1963-04-15 1966-10-11 Phillips Petroleum Co Underground storage caverns and method of making the same and of storing fluids therein
US3402966A (en) * 1967-06-09 1968-09-24 Kalium Chemicals Ltd Forming solution mining surface at interface above cavern
US4007964A (en) * 1975-09-23 1977-02-15 Ppg Industries Canada Ltd. Preferential solution mining process
US4488834A (en) * 1982-11-17 1984-12-18 Empak, Inc. Method for using salt deposits for storage
DE19831234A1 (de) * 1998-07-11 2000-01-13 Kavernen Bau Betriebs Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Aussolung geneigter Lagerstätten
US20050150822A1 (en) * 2004-01-03 2005-07-14 Timo Niitti Device for shear-thinning of solids containing material

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2618475A (en) * 1949-02-24 1952-11-18 Diamond Alkali Co Method of mining soluble salts
US2787455A (en) * 1955-03-29 1957-04-02 Gulf Oil Corp Method for developing cavities in salt or other soluble rock

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2618475A (en) * 1949-02-24 1952-11-18 Diamond Alkali Co Method of mining soluble salts
US2787455A (en) * 1955-03-29 1957-04-02 Gulf Oil Corp Method for developing cavities in salt or other soluble rock

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3236053A (en) * 1959-10-09 1966-02-22 Gaines H Billue Underground storage and disposal of radioactive products
US3277654A (en) * 1963-04-15 1966-10-11 Phillips Petroleum Co Underground storage caverns and method of making the same and of storing fluids therein
US3402966A (en) * 1967-06-09 1968-09-24 Kalium Chemicals Ltd Forming solution mining surface at interface above cavern
US4007964A (en) * 1975-09-23 1977-02-15 Ppg Industries Canada Ltd. Preferential solution mining process
US4488834A (en) * 1982-11-17 1984-12-18 Empak, Inc. Method for using salt deposits for storage
DE19831234A1 (de) * 1998-07-11 2000-01-13 Kavernen Bau Betriebs Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Aussolung geneigter Lagerstätten
DE19831234C2 (de) * 1998-07-11 2002-05-16 Kavernen Bau Und Betr S Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Aussolung geneigter Lagerstätten
US20050150822A1 (en) * 2004-01-03 2005-07-14 Timo Niitti Device for shear-thinning of solids containing material
US7179374B2 (en) * 2004-03-03 2007-02-20 Outokumpu Technology Oy Device for shear-thinning of solids containing material

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NL251207A (en, 2012)

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