Title: Solution mining water soluble salts at high temperatures

Abstract: Subterranean formations of water soluble salt deposits are solution mined by introducing into the formation an aqueous solvent having a temperature substantially above the temperature of the deposit thereby heating the deposit and dissolving the soluble salts, and withdrawing from the deposit an aqueous solution enriched in the dissolved salts. An aqueous solvent having a temperature lower than the temperature of the first solvent is subsequently introduced into the deposit thereby recapturing heat given up to the deposit and dissolving the soluble salt utilizing greater solubility characteristics of the soluble salts owing to the increased deposit temperature, and withdrawing from the deposit a substantially increased amount of dissolved salt.

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Inventors: Cuevas, Ephraim A. (Corpus Christi, TX, US)

Application Number: 010563
Filing Date: 1979-02-09
Publication_date: 1980-11-11
Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc. (Pittsburgh, PA)
Primary Class(es): 299/4 299/5
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

2161800	Jun, 1939	Cross	299/4.
3050290	Aug, 1962	Caldwell et al.	299/4.
3148000	Sep, 1964	Dahns et al.	299/4.
3278234	Oct, 1966	Helvenston et al.	299/4.
3284137	Nov, 1966	Wolber	299/5.
3294167	Dec, 1966	Vogel	166/272.
3348883	Oct, 1967	Jacoby	299/4.
4074754	Feb, 1978	Christian	166/245.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Pate, III, William F.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Benjamin; Walter M.