Apparatus, method and system for single well solution-mining

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus is presented for solution-mining of subterranean materials such as trona, nahcolite, thermonatrite, pirssonite, natron, dawsonite, wegscheiderite, gaylussite, shortite, halite, and other salts, minerals, and so forth. The method comprises injecting a fluid into an elbow well, the fluid forming a subterranean mixture with the subterranean material in a single cavity, and collecting the subterranean mixture from the elbow well. The system comprises an injector for injecting a fluid into an elbow well, the fluid forming a subterranean mixture with the subterranean material in a single cavity, and a collector for collecting the subterranean mixture from the elbow well. The apparatus comprises a production casing, wherein the production casing has a production casing inner diameter of sufficient size to allow for production of a subterranean mixture of the fluid and the subterranean material between an outer surface of the injection tube and an inner surface of the production casing.

1 . A method for solution-mining a subterranean material in an elbow well having a single cavity, said method comprising: 
 injecting a fluid into said elbow well through only a single opening disposed at a terminal end of an injection tube, said fluid forming a subterranean mixture with said subterranean material in said single cavity; and    collecting said subterranean mixture from said elbow well.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subterranean material comprises trona.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising making said elbow well.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said making said elbow well comprises drilling an elbow well into a bed comprising said subterranean material.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises casing said elbow well.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said injecting a fluid further comprises injecting said fluid into an injection tube located in said elbow well.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said single cavity comprises said subterranean material mixture after said injecting said fluid.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subterranean mixture comprises a subterranean solution.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid comprises water.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid comprises a caustic mixture.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises heating said fluid.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said collecting said subterranean mixture further comprises collecting said subterranean mixture through a production tube located in said elbow well.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said collecting said subterranean mixture comprises pumping said subterranean mixture.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said pumping said subterranean mixture comprises lifting said subterranean mixture through a production tube.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said method further comprises delivering said subterranean mixture to a collection location.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said collection location comprises the earth's surface.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said method further comprises placing a pump in said elbow well.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method occurs at ambient well pressure.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises processing said subterranean mixture after said collecting said subterranean mixture.  
   
   
       20 . A system for solution-mining a subterranean material in an elbow well having a single cavity, said system comprising: 
 an injection means for injecting a fluid into said elbow well through only a single opening disposed at a terminal end of said injection means, said fluid forming a subterranean mixture with said subterranean material in said single cavity; and    a collection means for collecting said subterranean mixture from said elbow well.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said subterranean material comprises trona.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said system further comprises a means for casing said elbow well.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said means for injecting said fluid further comprises an injection tube located in said elbow well.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said subterranean mixture comprises a subterranean solution.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said fluid comprises water.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said fluid comprises a caustic mixture.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said means for collecting said subterranean mixture comprises a means for pumping said subterranean mixture.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said system further comprises a means for placing a pump in said elbow well.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said system further comprises a means for delivering said subterranean mixture to a collection location.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said collection location comprises the earth's surface.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said system operates at ambient well pressure.  
   
   
       32 . An apparatus for solution-mining a subterranean material in an elbow well having a single cavity, said apparatus comprising: 
 an injection tube, wherein said injection tube has an inner diameter of sufficient size to allow for injection of a fluid through only a single opening disposed at a terminal end of said injection tube; and    a production casing, wherein said production casing has a production casing inner diameter of sufficient size to allow for production of a subterranean mixture of said fluid and said subterranean material between an outer surface of said injection tube and an inner surface of said production casing.    
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising a production tube for collecting said subterranean mixture.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising a pump connected to said production tube.