Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100071908 | DOWNHOLE BACKUP SYSTEM AND METHOD - A downhole backup system including, a tubular positionable within a downhole structure such that an annular space exists between the tubular and the downhole structure, and a plurality of wedges that are radially movably positioned within the annular space, each of two opposing ends of the plurality of wedges are configured to completely cover the annular space at all possible radial positions of the plurality of wedges. | 03-25-2010 |
20110036561 | Retractable Downhole Backup Assembly for Circumferential Seal Support - Wedge shaped elements form a ring structure that can increase in diameter for a grip using relative axial motion of adjacent segments. The adjacent seal is further separated from access to the edges of the adjacent segments that move relatively by ring segments attached to the wide dimension of the segments that face the seal. The ring segments move out with the wedge elements to which they are attached so that in the set position of the seal there is an enhanced barrier against the surrounding tubular with the ring segments. The ring segments further block access of the seal under compressive loading to the interface locations between the wedge shaped elements so that their relative axial movement does not trap a portion of the seal and initiate cracks in the seal that can lead to leakage past the seal. | 02-17-2011 |
20120037355 | Retractable Petal Collet Backup for a Subterranean Seal - A high expansion plug has multiple sealing elements and an extrusion barrier system that uses overlapping petals in a stack of rings. When setting the plug, the petals are elastically moved toward a surrounding tubular wall in an elastic deformation between a housing that surrounds the mandrel and a tapered ring on the mandrel. That sandwich controls the amount of deformation and allows a potential energy force to be stored in the petals that allows them to return toward their initial position when the set of the plug is released and the seals are allowed to relax and extend axially as they shrink radially. The plug can then be removed without milling. Expansions in the order of 25% of the initial seal dimension are contemplated. | 02-16-2012 |
20120043073 | Twin Latch Wireline Retrieval Tool - The retrieving tool engages an equalizing sleeve on a jar down movement while the packer or bridge plug release sleeve is held fixed with a locking dog. The initial jarring down allows the tool to engage the equalizing sleeve and pull it up subsequent to the initial engagement by jarring down. Pulling or jarring up then opens the equalizing ports while still holding the release sleeve locked using a trapped collet. A subsequent jarring down allows engagement of a second sleeve so that a subsequent pulling or jarring up moves the second sleeve away from the collet that had otherwise held the set position of the packer or bridge plug. A pull or jar force up brings up the now released packer or bridge plug. | 02-23-2012 |
20120292014 | Packer Supported on Bonded Connection to a Surrounding Tubular - A packer or bridge plug has slips that bind to the surrounding tubular with an adhesive bond. The tubular wall is not penetrated but a roughening of the target location in the tubular can help the bond material to adhere to support the packer or bridge plug. A removable cover can overlay the surface to be bonded to the tubular and the cover can come off in a variety of techniques before the members to be bonded are radially extended. An acrylic adhesive can be the bonding agent. The packer or bridge plug can be made of mostly or entirely non-metallic materials to facilitate mill out. | 11-22-2012 |
20130146277 | Multi-component Anti-extrusion Barrier for a Compression Set Subterranean Barrier - A backup ring assembly is disposed between opposed cones. The assembly rides up a wedge ring to contact a surrounding tubular when the opposed cones are pressed axially together to also compress the sealing element. The backup ring assembly has nested split rings that are slant cut for the split. The split for the nested rings can be circumferentially aligned or offset. Another ring is stacked axially adjacent the nested rings and has a slant cut for a split that is preferably rotated from the slant cuts of the nested rings. The interface of the nested rings can be along a line that is parallel to the mandrel axis or askew to the mandrel axis. The preferred material is a non-metallic composite material. | 06-13-2013 |
20130153236 | Subterranean Tool Actuation Using a Controlled Electrolytic Material Trigger - A reactant fluid is retained in an isolated state from another reactant using a barrier made of a controlled electrolytic material (CEM). The isolated reactant degrades the CEM barrier in a predetermined time to let another reactant that is preferably well fluid pass through a housing port to reach the formerly isolated reactant. The mixing of the reactants creates pressure that is transmitted to a subterranean tool to set the tool. | 06-20-2013 |
20130306330 | Slip-Deployed Anti-Extrusion Backup Ring - Arrangements and packer devices having anti-extrusion backup rings that are expanded radially outwardly by a setting mechanism that lies proximate the elastomeric packer element that is being protected against extrusion. The setting mechanism can be a slip assembly that has a radially expandable slip element. | 11-21-2013 |
20130306331 | PACKING ELEMENT BACKUP SYSTEM - Downhole tool packing element systems comprise a sealing element having a support system. The support system can include one or more of a first spacer ring, a second spacer ring, a third spacer ring, a mesh ring, and one or more petal rings. One or more of these components can be disposed at one or both of the upper end and/or lower end of the sealing element. When compressed, the sealing element is moved radially outward to engage an inner wall surface of a wellbore due to compressive forces of the one or more spacer ring(s), mesh ring, and/or petal ring(s). In certain embodiments, the lower end of one or more of the mesh ring(s) and/or petal ring(s) rotate outwardly toward the casing and, in certain embodiments, engage the casing to facilitate creation of the seal. | 11-21-2013 |
20150129240 | Completion Systems Including an Expansion Joint and a Wet Connect - A production string for use in a wellbore is disclosed that in a non-limiting embodiment includes a lower section that includes a first tubular having a first connection device at a top end thereof, and an upper section that includes a second tubular that sealingly slides against the first tubular, a second connection device associated with the second tubular configured to engage with the first connection device, and an expansion joint above the second tubular. | 05-14-2015 |
20150144353 | DOWNHOLE SYSTEM HAVING CHEMICAL INJECTION VALVE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF CHEMICAL INJECTION - A downhole system having a chemical injection valve assembly configured to inject at least one chemical from a chemical injection line into a downhole tubing. The chemical injection valve assembly includes a passive access control mechanism configured to reveal a first port to the tubing in a first condition and block the first port in a second condition. The passive access control mechanism including a movable piston, wherein in the first condition the piston is exposed to a first pressure source on a first side of the piston. To a second pressure source on a second side of the piston and the first pressure source from within the tubing and the second pressure source from outside of the chemical injection line and the tubing. Also included is a method of chemical injection in a downhole system. | 05-28-2015 |
20150267507 | Systems and Methods for Downhole Electrical Switching - Systems and methods for alternately coupling equipment at the surface of a well to different ones of a set of downhole tools installed in the well. In one embodiment, a system includes surface equipment positioned at the surface of a well and a plurality of downhole tools that are installed downhole in the well. A switcher is positioned in the well between the surface equipment and the downhole tools. An upper line is electrically connected between the surface equipment and the switcher, and a set of lower lines are electrically connected between the switcher and a corresponding set of of downhole tools. The switcher alternately couples different ones of the lower electrical lines electrically to the upper electrical line. At any time, the upper electrical line is electrically coupled to only one of the lower electrical lines. | 09-24-2015 |
20150354317 | Wellbore Strings Containing Annular Flow Valves - In one aspect, an apparatus for use in a wellbore is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment contains a flow control device for use in a wellbore that includes a bore that provides a first flow path, a second flow path via an annulus around the first flow path, a closing device that closes the second flow path when the closing device is mechanically moved in a first direction and an opening device that opens the second flow path when a fluid under pressure is supplied to the annulus when the valve is closed. | 12-10-2015 |
20160076332 | DISINTEGRABLE INVERTED SEAL - An inverted seal includes a disintegrable body; one or more inside dimension seals disposed in the body. A method for deploying a conventional seal after an inverted seal in a borehole. | 03-17-2016 |
20160090833 | DOWNHOLE HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method of installing multi-trip completions in a borehole. The method includes interfacing a health monitoring system with a first section of the multi-trip completions, the health monitoring system configured to engage with at least one of a first control line and first equipment of the first section. Running the health monitoring system and the first section downhole to a selected position within the borehole; storing information about a health of the at least one of the first control line and first equipment of the first section within the health monitoring system. Removing the health monitoring system from the borehole while leaving the first section within the borehole; accessing the information from the health monitoring system; and, determining, based on the information, whether or not to run a second section having a second control line into the borehole. The second control line configured to connect with the first control line. | 03-31-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080243763 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND PROGRAM TO PROVIDE DATA TO ANOTHER PROGRAM - System, method and program product for providing data to a program for processing. An electronic spreadsheet is formed. One or more cells in the spreadsheet are mapped to the program. Based on the mapping, one or more data entries in the one or more cells, respectively are automatically forwarded to the program for processing. The data entries can be forwarded in data objects. Alternately, a list of data objects available for export are published. The data objects include respective data entries from respective cells in an electronic spreadsheet. In response to the program requesting one or more of the data objects, the one or more data objects are forwarded to the program for processing. | 10-02-2008 |
20080301807 | System and Method for Controlling On-Demand Security - An on-demand security service ensures isolation of the service provider's customers where the customers share resources at the system, subsystem, and storage level. The security service is provided in a pre-production phase and in a post production phase. The pre-production phase takes place prior to boarding the customer. In the pre-production phase the resources to be protected are defined in a security guide, and using the security guide, physical segregation at the facility, network, and technical and delivery support levels is planned and then implemented. In the post production phase, on going activities are proactive and reactive. Proactive activities include maintaining physical segregation by reviewing and updating the security guide, and testing physical segregation by performing security audits and penetration tests. Observations and finding of the audits and penetration tests are resolved. Reactive activities include identifying isolation failures, coordinating appropriate actions, and resolving the isolation failure. The service may be embodied in a system and in a computer implemented process comprising a security guide file (SGF), a security guide application (SGA), a security implementation application (SIA), a security validation application (SVA), and an event coordination application (ECA). | 12-04-2008 |
20090171741 | BSM Problem Analysis Programmable Apparatus - A system (apparatus), computer implemented method, and program product for analyzing a problem in a distributed processing business system used to provide a service comprises identifying the problem; preparing for an audit; performing the audit; reviewing the audit; developing an action plan; developing an execution plan; deploying a solution in accordance with the execution plan; monitoring the deployed solution; and recording lessons learned. Alternatively, the system (apparatus), computer implemented method, and program product may be applied to evaluate the capacity of a distributed processing business system to provide a prospective service. In this alternative embodiment, the system (apparatus), computer implemented method, and program product comprises identifying the problem; preparing for an audit; performing the audit; reviewing the audit; preparing a rating table; populating the rating table with results from the audit; calculating a service rating based upon the results entered in the rating table; and presenting the service rating to management. | 07-02-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120304822 | Gasification or Liquefaction of Coal Using a Metal Reactant Alloy Composition - This invention relates to a method and apparatus for gasifying or liquifying coal. In particular, the method comprises reacting a coal with a molten aluminum or aluminum alloy bath. The apparatus includes a reaction vessel for carrying out the reaction, as well as other equipment necessary for capturing and removing the reaction products. Further, the process can be used to cogenerate electricity using the excess heat generated by the process. | 12-06-2012 |
20130034480 | Off Gas Treatment Using a Metal Reactant Alloy Composition - This invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating a flue gas stream containing oxygen containing greenhouse gases. In particular, the method comprises reacting a flue gas steam with a molten aluminum or aluminum alloy bath, creating alumina and elemental carbon, elemental sulfur, and molecular nitrogen. The apparatus includes a reaction vessel for carrying out the reaction, as well as other equipment necessary for capturing and removing the reaction products. Further, the process can be used to cogenerate electricity using the excess heat generated by the process. | 02-07-2013 |
20160102374 | GASIFICATION OR LIQUEFACTION OF COAL USING A METAL REACTANT ALLOY COMPOSITION - This invention relates to a method and apparatus for gasifying or liquifying coal. In particular, the method comprises reacting a coal with a molten aluminum or aluminum alloy bath. The apparatus includes a reaction vessel for carrying out the reaction, as well as other equipment necessary for capturing and removing the reaction products. Further, the process can be used to cogenerate electricity using the excess heat generated by the process. | 04-14-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090181047 | Anti-inflammatory hydrolysate of C. versicolor - Methods and compositions for reducing and/or inhibiting inflammation by topical application of dermatocosmetic compositions comprising effective amounts of extracts of | 07-16-2009 |
20100310598 | Extract of R. Miehei - Topical compositions comprising extracts of | 12-09-2010 |
20110129491 | Anti-Inflammatory Hydrolysate of C. versicolor - Methods and compositions for reducing and/or inhibiting inflammation by topical application of dermatocosmetic compositions comprising effective amounts of extracts of | 06-02-2011 |
20120121642 | Anti-Inflammatory Hydrolysate of C. versicolor - Methods and compositions for reducing and/or inhibiting inflammation by topical application of dermatocosmetic compositions comprising effective amounts of extracts of | 05-17-2012 |
20120142599 | EXTRACT OF R. MIEHEI - Topical compositions comprising extracts of | 06-07-2012 |
20130001464 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STEAM DISINFECTION OF A POWDER - The present invention provides a system for the sterilization of natural products without negatively effecting the properties of the system having a sterilization chamber; a sample area within the sterilization chamber to hold one or more steam permeable containers; a heater source connected to the sterilization chamber for heating the sterilization chamber to a predetermined temperature; a heater control unit connected to the heater source for controlling the predetermined temperature; a pressure source connected to the sterilization chamber for pressurizing the sterilization chamber to a predetermined pressure; a pressure control unit connected to the pressure source for controlling the predetermined pressure; a steam aperture for supplying steam to the sterilization chamber; a steam control unit connected to the temperature and duration of the steam; and an interface connected to the heater control unit, pressure control unit, and steam control unit. | 01-03-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140012707 | SERVICE DESIGN AND ORDER FULFILLMENT SYSTEM WITH FULFILLMENT SOLUTION BLUEPRINT - A system that provides a fulfillment solution blueprint is provided. The system defines order layers for the fulfillment solution blueprint. The system further defines provider functions for the fulfillment solution blueprint. The system further assigns each provider function to an order layer. The system further defines interface contracts for the fulfillment solution blueprint. The system further assigns each interface contract to a provider function. | 01-09-2014 |
20140012708 | SERVICE DESIGN AND ORDER FULFILLMENT SYSTEM - A system that designs a fulfillment solution and fulfills an order using the fulfillment solution is provided. The system defines a technical catalog that includes items including metadata used by a fulfillment solution. The system further defines a fulfillment solution blueprint that includes multiple order layers that define multiple layers of the fulfillment solution, multiple provider functions structured according to a dynamic pattern-driven model, and multiple interface contracts defining multiple interactions between multiple provider functions. The system further designs the fulfillment solution to use at least one item of the technical catalog to fulfill an order. The system further designs the fulfillment solution based on the fulfillment solution blueprint. The system further generates the fulfillment solution based on the fulfillment solution blueprint using at least one item of the technical catalog. | 01-09-2014 |
20140012709 | SERVICE DESIGN AND ORDER FULFILLMENT SYSTEM WITH TECHNICAL CATALOG - A system that provides a technical catalog is provided. The system defines items including metadata used by a fulfillment solution to drive service order fulfillment, where each item is used by the fulfillment solution to fulfill an order. The system further stores the items within the technical catalog, where the technical catalog includes a data store that stores metadata, and where the technical catalog defines a structure of the items. The metadata defines the key entities and behavioral elements used to specialize service order fulfillment capabilities such as service order orchestration, service order design and assign, etc. The system further designs the fulfillment solution to use an item to fulfill an order. The system further generates the fulfillment solution using the item. | 01-09-2014 |
20140012712 | SERVICE DESIGN AND ORDER FULFILLMENT SYSTEM WITH ACTION - A system that provides a fulfillment action (or “action”) is provided. The system defines an action specification including a pattern of a structured request to perform work on a subject. The system further defines data for the action specification, where the data includes an action code template that references action codes, and a parameter list template that references parameters. The system further defines the subject for the action specification, where the subject includes a subject template that references entity specifications. The system further defines a target for the action specification, where the target includes a target template that references resource specifications. The system further generates an instance of the action based on the action specification, where the pattern of the structured request to perform work is transformed into process logic configured to perform the work on the subject. | 01-09-2014 |
20140012713 | SERVICE DESIGN AND ORDER FULFILLMENT SYSTEM WITH SERVICE ORDER DESIGN AND ASSIGN PROVIDER FUNCTION - A system that creates a service instance is provided. The system receives a service order including an entity, where the entity includes metadata that defines a capability that is provided, and where the entity includes child entities. The system further designs a configuration for the entity, where the configuration includes the entity, the child entities, and relationships between the entity and the child entities. The system further creates, for each child entity, a design context, where each child entity is a subject for the design context. The system further designs, for each child context, an instance of the child entity using the design context. | 01-09-2014 |
20140012856 | SERVICE DESIGN AND ORDER FULFILLMENT SYSTEM WITH DYNAMIC PATTERN-DRIVEN FULFILLMENT - A system that provides a provider function is provided. The system defines a structured set of metadata for the provider function. The system further defines a transformation sequence including customizable process logic for the provider function, where the customizable process logic is structured within stages. The system further dynamically generates a runtime process flow for the provider function based on the metadata and the transformation sequence. | 01-09-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120096714 | Method of Applying Abrasion Resistant Materials to Rotors - A process for applying a plurality of coats of abrasion resistant material to a substrate such as a rotor for an air-craft. The abrasion resistant material is composed of a first and a second material. The coats gradually transition from an abrasion resistant composition having a larger percentage part per volume of the first material to a larger percentage part per volume of the second material as additional coats are applied. | 04-26-2012 |
20130091918 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A STRUCTURE - The system and method of the present application can include machining complex part features in a flat metal sheet, and subsequently forming the machined flat metal sheet to have the desired shape and contours. Prior to the step of machining the complex part features, the method can include calculating a scaled location of the complex part features so that the subsequent forming step acts to translate and deform the complex part features into a desired location. | 04-18-2013 |
20130094919 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A STRUCTURE WITH A HIGH PERFORMANCE METAL ALLOY - The method of the present application includes machining complex part features in a flat metal sheet, and subsequently forming the machined flat metal sheet to have the desired shape and contours. Prior to the step of machining the complex part features, the method includes calculating a scaled location of the complex part features so that the subsequent forming step acts to translate and deform the complex part features into a desired location. The present application further includes a method for machining high performance metal alloy, such as titanium. Further, the present application includes a heated mandrel for applying heat to a high performance metal alloy, such as titanium, during stretch forming. | 04-18-2013 |
20130154162 | System and Method of Optimizing a Composite System - The present application relates to a method and system for optimizing a composite system by electrically monitoring the reactive and physiological behavior of the resin binder in a composite system, so as to develop the desired properties of the resin during the cure process. A method of manufacturing a composite part can include assembling a composite preform with a resinous material and an open circuit. Further, the method can include subjecting the composite preform to a curing cycle so that a resin in the resinous material melts and closes the open circuit. Further, the method can include electrically monitoring a current through the resin during the curing cycle. Further, the method can include selectively controlling a manufacturing variable in response to the step of electrically monitoring the current through the resin. | 06-20-2013 |
20130221580 | System and Method of Manufacturing a Composite Structure in a Closed Cavity Mold - The present application relates to a method and system that can be utilized to manufacturing composite structures in a closed cavity mold. The tool system includes a closed cavity tool with spring members that when in compression apply pressure to a preform located within the closed cavity mold. During a curing cycle, the spring members provide substantially constant pressure to the preform, thereby preventing voids and porosity in the cured composite structure. Further, the substantially constant pressure, provided by the spring members, acts to more effectively conform the preform to the geometry defined by a void in the closed cavity mold during the curing cycle. | 08-29-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20150052158 | INCREMENTALLY RETRIEVING DATA FOR OBJECTS TO PROVIDE A DESIRED LEVEL OF DETAIL - A computer-implemented method is provided, for retrieving data and metadata according to a data harvesting criteria into an indexed repository, comprising providing a user interface allowing a user to define data harvesting criteria for adjusting a subset of data and metadata on an indexed repository. Responsive to a user utilizing the user interface by defining the data harvesting criteria, the subset of data and metadata on the indexed repository is adjusted according to the data harvesting criteria. | 02-19-2015 |
20150052162 | UTILIZATION OF A CONCEPT TO OBTAIN DATA OF SPECIFIC INTEREST TO A USER FROM ONE OR MORE DATA STORAGE LOCATIONS - A computer-implemented method of obtaining data of interest from a larger set of data that has been indexed is provided, the method comprising defining, via a user interface of a computing device, a set of attributes associated with a concept. Each attribute associated with the concept is mapped to attributes associated with indexed data, and data of interest relevant to the concept is retrieved based upon the mapping of attributes associated with the concept to attributes associated with the indexed data. | 02-19-2015 |
20150095340 | Information Sets for Data Management - According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system selects member objects from among data objects stored in one or more data sources by evaluating criteria against information about the data objects in an index, wherein the information about the data objects in the index is derived from the data sources. The system creates a set of data objects comprising a collection of references to the selected member objects, and associates the set with a set-identifier. The system receives a request to apply an action to a subset of the data objects stored in the one or more data sources, wherein the request specifies the subset by including the set-identifier, and applies the action to the set of data objects associated with the set-identifier within the request. Embodiments of the present invention further include methods and computer program-products for managing data in substantially the same manners described above. | 04-02-2015 |
20150278286 | UTILIZATION OF A CONCEPT TO OBTAIN DATA OF SPECIFIC INTEREST TO A USER FROM ONE OR MORE DATA STORAGE LOCATIONS - A computer-implemented method of obtaining data of interest from a larger set of data that has been indexed is provided, the method comprising defining, via a user interface of a computing device, a set of attributes associated with a concept. Each attribute associated with the concept is mapped to attributes associated with indexed data, and data of interest relevant to the concept is retrieved based upon the mapping of attributes associated with the concept to attributes associated with the indexed data. | 10-01-2015 |
20150278340 | INCREMENTALLY RETRIEVING DATA FOR OBJECTS TO PROVIDE A DESIRED LEVEL OF DETAIL - A computer-implemented method is provided, for retrieving data and metadata according to a data harvesting criteria into an indexed repository, comprising providing a user interface allowing a user to define data harvesting criteria for adjusting a subset of data and metadata on an indexed repository. Responsive to a user utilizing the user interface by defining the data harvesting criteria, the subset of data and metadata on the indexed repository is adjusted according to the data harvesting criteria. | 10-01-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090010714 | LNG RECEIVING TERMINAL THAT PRIMARILY USES COMPENSATED SALT CAVERN STORAGE AND METHOD OF USE - In the past, “compensated” salt caverns have operated with a compensating liquid, such as brine to displace a stored liquid, such as crude oil, when the stored liquid is needed on the surface. Virtually all of the stored liquid in a compensated salt cavern can be expelled from the salt cavern when it is filled with the compensating liquid. In the past, “uncompensated” salt caverns have been used to store gases, such as natural gas. Uncompensated caverns operate without any compensating liquid; instead they rely on pressure. Some of the stored gas (cushion gas) must always be left in an uncompensated salt cavern. This invention breaks with convention and uses a compensating liquid in a salt cavern to store gases which is a technique believed to be previously unknown. “Cushion gas” is not required because the compensating liquid displaces virtually all of the gas in the salt cavern. | 01-08-2009 |
20090309408 | Method and system for solution mining - A relatively warm mineral deposit is solution mined by injecting fluid through a well drilled into the deposit and dissolving the mineral to form a production brine. Warm production brine is cooled at the surface using a heat exchanger as a crystallizer to precipitate the mineral in the exchanger and form a slurry. Crystals of the mineral in the slurry are recovered in a separation plant leaving a relatively cool, dilute or depleted brine, which is conveyed through the heat exchanger for cooling the production brine and then injected into the mineral deposit to dissolve more mineral thereby providing a continuous process. A pipe-in-pipe heat exchanger is preferably used and in a manner so that the heat exchanger also serves as a primary means for conveying the production fluid and/or slurry from the well to the separation plant. This method extracts and recovers the desired mineral(s), recovers much of the heat in the production brine, accelerates the solution mining process since the injection fluid has been warmed, reduces salting in the production string, is relatively inexpensive to install and maintain, and does not require a source of energy for cooling the production brine such as electricity for a refrigeration system. | 12-17-2009 |
20110080035 | Method and System for Solution Mining - A relatively warm mineral deposit is solution mined by injecting fluid through a well drilled into the deposit and dissolving the mineral to form a production brine. Warm production brine is cooled at the surface using a heat exchanger as a crystallizer to precipitate the mineral in the exchanger and form a slurry. Crystals of the mineral in the slurry are recovered in a separation plant leaving a relatively cool, dilute or depleted brine, which is conveyed through the heat exchanger for cooling the production brine and then injected into the mineral deposit to dissolve more mineral thereby providing a continuous process. A pipe-in-pipe heat exchanger is preferably used and in a manner so that the heat exchanger also serves as a primary means for conveying the production fluid and/or slurry from the well to the separation plant. This method extracts and recovers the desired mineral(s), recovers much of the heat in the production brine, accelerates the solution mining process since the injection fluid has been warmed, reduces salting in the production string, is relatively inexpensive to install and maintain, and does not require a source of energy for cooling the production brine such as electricity for a refrigeration system. | 04-07-2011 |
20140326354 | Method and System for Solution Mining - A relatively warm mineral deposit is solution mined by injecting fluid through a well drilled into the deposit and dissolving the mineral to form a production brine. Warm production brine is cooled at the surface using a heat exchanger as a crystallizer to precipitate the mineral in the exchanger and form a slurry. Crystals of the mineral in the slurry are recovered in a separation plant leaving a relatively cool, dilute or depleted brine, which is conveyed through the heat exchanger for cooling the production brine and then injected into the mineral deposit to dissolve more mineral thereby providing a continuous process. A pipe-in-pipe heat exchanger is preferably used and in a manner so that the heat exchanger also serves as a primary means for conveying the production fluid and/or slurry from the well to the separation plant. This method extracts and recovers the desired mineral(s), recovers much of the heat in the production brine, accelerates the solution mining process since the injection fluid has been warmed, reduces salting in the production string, is relatively inexpensive to install and maintain, and does not require a source of energy for cooling the production brine such as electricity for a refrigeration system. | 11-06-2014 |