Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuously removing soluble minor constituents from brines containing soluble major and minor constituents by use of a Helminthoid evaporator.

Abstract: An in-situ reactor with hydrologic cells is provided to facilitate recovery of metals such as gold from rocks, or purification of salts such as potassium or magnesium chloride formed by evaporation of brines, by injecting into a source aquifer a fluid, which flows through and reacts with the solids or host rock within the in-situ reactor and then flows into a sink aquifer, from it is drained or pumped out via an exhaust borehole into a plant or a facility for further chemical treatment.

Abstract: Artificial aquifers for hydrologic cells are used to recover hydrocarbons from carbonaceous formations. Artificial aquifers of a hydrologic cell for primary or enhanced oil recovery are constructed through the use of a conventional hydrofrac technique to make a pair of vertical extensional fractures across two parallel horizontal boreholes. Hydrocarbons move under a pressure gradient from a source aquifer to a sink aquifer. In another arrangement, artificial aquifers for exploitation of tar sands and gas hydrates are constructed through the removal of hydrocarbons which plug the pore space of the host rock. Hydrocarbons are induced to move vertically across a very large cross-sectional area from a source aquifer to a sink aquifer.

Abstract: An in-situ reactor with hydrologic cells is provided to facilitate recovery of metals such as gold from rocks, or purification of salts such as potium or magnesium chloride formed by evaporation of brines, by injecting into a source aquifer a fluid, which flows through and reacts with the solids or host rock within the in-situ reactor and then flows into a sink aquifer, from it is drained or pumped out via an exhaust borehole into a plant or a facility for further chemical treatment.

Abstract: Fluid and/or heat are induced to flow from one natural or artificial undeound aquifer, which extends vertically, at an incline or horizontally, across a host-rock formation to a well. Alternatively, fluid and/or heat are induced to flow from a well across the host-rock formation to a natural or artificial aquifer. The aquifer and well constitute the polarities of a hydrologic cell, like the electrodes of a battery or electric cell. An aquifer can be formed by fracturing the host formation and by injecting proppants into the fracture. Fluid and/or heat is injected into the source of the hydrologic cell and is induced to flow across the hydrocarbon bearing host formation within the cell such that the displacement of the injected fluid or heat causes the hydrocarbon to flow into the sink of the hydrologic cell. Aquifer(s) or well(s) can serve as either the source or the sink of the hydrologic cell. At least one aquifer serves as one of the polarities of the hydrological cell.

Abstract: A system for recovery of hydrocarbons or thermal energy from host-rock fotions bearing coal, oil-shale, tar-sands or oil by use of a hydrologic cell which conveys a reacting fluid under pressure to a source-aquifer, thereafter extracting thermal energy or hydrocarbons from said host-rock, moving said hydrocarbons or thermal energy to said sink-aquifer and then removing the hydrocarbons or thermal energy to the surface for ultimate use.

Abstract: An "in-situ reactor" is provided to facilitate recovery of metals and salts such as potassium, lithium, gold from salt-bearing natural waters, sediments, and rocks by passing a fluid containing such metals and salts through a reactive chemical bed placed at the bottom of a reactor, the metal and salt bearing fluid flowing through the reactive chemical bed to react with the active components to produce a fluid from which the metals and salts can be more easily extracted.