Abstract: A method for in situ solution mining of a mineral from an underground evaporite stratum using a set of wells in fluid communication with at least one mineral cavity with some wells operated in solvent injection mode and other wells operated in brine production mode and optionally with some inactive wells, comprising switching the operation mode of one or more wells. The evaporite mineral preferably comprises trona. The at least one cavity may be formed by directionally drilled uncased boreholes or by lithological displacement of the evaporite stratum at a weak interface with an underlying insoluble stratum by application of a lifting hydraulic pressure to create an interfacial gap. The extracted brine can be processed to make valuable products such as soda ash and/or any derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A method for in situ solution mining of a mineral from an underground evaporite stratum using a set of wells in fluid communication with at least one mineral cavity with some wells operated in solvent injection mode and other wells operated in brine production mode and optionally with some inactive wells, comprising switching the operation mode of one or more wells. The evaporite mineral preferably comprises trona. The at least one cavity may be formed by directionally drilled uncased boreholes or by lithological displacement of the evaporite stratum at a weak interface with an underlying insoluble stratum by application of a lifting hydraulic pressure to create an interfacial gap. The extracted brine can be processed to make valuable products such as soda ash and/or any derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A method for in situ solution mining of a mineral from an underground evaporite stratum using a set of wells in fluid communication with at least one mineral cavity with some wells operated in solvent injection mode and other wells operated in brine production mode and optionally with some inactive wells, comprising switching the operation mode of one or more wells. The evaporite mineral preferably comprises trona. The at least one cavity may be formed by directionally drilled uncased boreholes or by lithological displacement of the evaporite stratum at a weak interface with an underlying insoluble stratum by application of a lifting hydraulic pressure to create an interfacial gap. The extracted brine can be processed to make valuable products such as soda ash and/or any derivatives thereof.

Abstract: Batch initiation and/or exploitation phases of in situ solution mining of a mineral from an underground evaporite mineral stratum. The initiation phase may comprise a lifting step which employs a lithological displacement (lifting) of this stratum from an underlying non-evaporite stratum with application at the strata interface of a lifting hydraulic pressure greater than overburden pressure by a solvent suitable to dissolve the mineral; a soaking step for dissolution of mineral upon contact with stationary solvent, and a brine extraction step. The method may further comprise one or more exploitation phases carried out after the initiation phase. The exploitation phase may comprise a partial filing or filling step with the same solvent or different solvent than during lifting, another soaking step, and another brine extraction step. The lifting, cavity partial filing/filling, and brine extraction steps are being discontinuous. The evaporite mineral stratum preferably comprises trona.

Abstract: Methods for sealing undesirable transverse fractures enlarged and/or created during lithological displacement of an underground water-soluble evaporite stratum by hydraulic pressure greater than overburden pressure at an evaporite/non-evaporite strata interface, comprising injecting and maintaining a sealing agent into these undesirable fractures to form a solidified matter in situ and ultimately seal them, while forming a main free surface at the interface suitable for initiating solution mining of the evaporite stratum. The solidified matter may be crystallized, precipitated, compacted, agglomerated, cross-linked, coagulated, water-swollen, and/or cemented matter, or may include a wall-building matter with the mineral on fracture faces. The sealing agent may comprise at least one component of the mineral and/or the non-evaporite. The evaporite stratum is preferably a trona stratum overlying an oil shale stratum.

Abstract: A method for in situ solution mining of a mineral from an underground evaporite stratum using a set of wells in fluid communication with at least one mineral cavity with some wells operated in solvent injection mode and other wells operated in brine production mode and optionally with some inactive wells, comprising switching the operation mode of one or more wells. The evaporite mineral preferably comprises trona. The at least one cavity is preferably formed by lithological displacement of the evaporite stratum at a weak interface with an underlying insoluble stratum by application of a lifting hydraulic pressure. The extracted brine can be processed to make valuable products such as soda ash and/or any derivatives thereof, rock salt, or potash. This method can provide more uniform dissolution of mineral in the cavity, can minimize flow channeling, can minimize sodium bicarbonate blinding for solution mining of incongruent trona ore, and/or may avoid uneven deposit of insolubles.

Abstract: A proppant material and its use for lithological displacement of an underground evaporite mineral stratum from a non-evaporite stratum, particularly of a trona stratum from a shale stratum. A lifting hydraulic pressure greater than the overburden pressure is applied at a weak strata interface, resulting in separating the strata and forming an interface gap with a mineral free-surface. The proppant is placed inside such gap as the gap is being formed or thereafter. The proppant may comprise tailings and/or particles containing an alkali compound, such as sodium hydroxide, trona, or soda ash particles. The proppant may comprise slow-water dissolving coated particles, particularly a slow-dissolving polymeric coating over a water-soluble alkali core. After propping the interface gap, the mineral from the formed mineral free-surface is dissolved by a production solvent, thereby enlarging the gap and forming a mineral cavity. The proppant preferably dissolves or degrades in the production solvent.

Abstract: A lithological displacement of an underground evaporite mineral stratum from an underlying non-evaporite stratum comprising the application of a lifting hydraulic pressure of a fluid at a weak interface between the strata, resulting in lifting the overburden above the interface, separating the evaporite stratum from the underlying non-evaporite stratum and thus forming a mineral free-surface. The lifting hydraulic pressure is greater than the overburden pressure. The formed mineral free-surface is accessible for dissolution by a solvent. The fluid used for lifting may comprise a solvent suitable to dissolve the mineral. The evaporite mineral stratum preferably comprises trona, nahcolite, wegscheiderite, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Batch initiation and/or exploitation phases of in situ solution mining of a mineral from an underground evaporite mineral stratum. The initiation phase may comprise a lifting step which employs a lithological displacement (lifting) of this stratum from an underlying non-evaporite stratum with application at the strata interface of a lifting hydraulic pressure greater than overburden pressure by a solvent suitable to dissolve the mineral; a soaking step for dissolution of mineral upon contact with stationary solvent, and a brine extraction step. The method may further comprise one or more exploitation phases carried out after the initiation phase. The exploitation phase may comprise a partial filing or filling step with the same solvent or different solvent than during lifting, another soaking step, and another brine extraction step. The lifting, cavity partial filing/filling, and brine extraction steps are being discontinuous. The evaporite mineral stratum preferably comprises trona.

Abstract: A method for in situ solution mining of a mineral from an underground evaporite stratum using a set of wells in fluid communication with at least one mineral cavity with some wells operated in solvent injection mode and other wells operated in brine production mode and optionally with some inactive wells, comprising switching the operation mode of one or more wells. The evaporite mineral preferably comprises trona. The at least one cavity may be formed by directionally drilled uncased boreholes or by lithological displacement of the evaporite stratum at a weak interface with an underlying insoluble stratum by application of a lifting hydraulic pressure to create an interfacial gap. The extracted brine can be processed to make valuable products such as soda ash and/or any derivatives thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to stabilized supports stable at temperatures above 800° C., and method of preparing such supports, which includes adding a rare earth metal to an aluminum-containing precursor prior to calcining. The present invention can be more specifically seen as a support, process and catalyst wherein the stabilized alumina catalyst support comprises a rare earth aluminate with a molar ratio of aluminum to rare earth metal greater than 5:1 and, optionally, an aluminum oxide. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of catalysts comprising rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, or combinations thereof, loaded onto said stabilized supports for the synthesis gas production via partial oxidation of light hydrocarbons, and further relates to gas-to-liquids conversion processes.

Abstract: A stabilized catalyst support having improved hydrothermal stability, catalyst made therefrom, and method for producing hydrocarbons from synthesis gas using said catalyst. The stabilized support is made by a method comprising treating a crystalline hydrous alumina precursor in contact with at least one structural stabilizer or compound thereof. The crystalline hydrous alumina precursor preferably includes an average crystallite size selected from an optimum range delimited by desired hydrothermal resistance and desired porosity. The crystalline hydrous alumina precursor preferably includes an alumina hydroxide, such as crystalline boehmite, crystalline bayerite, or a plurality thereof differing in average crystallite sizes by at least about 1 nm. The crystalline hydrous alumina precursor may be shaped before or after contact with the structural stabilizer or compound thereof. The treating includes calcining at 450° C. or more.

Abstract: A stabilized catalyst support having improved hydrothermal stability, catalyst made therefrom, and method for producing hydrocarbons from synthesis gas using said catalyst. The stabilized support is made by a method comprising treating a crystalline hydrous alumina precursor in contact with at least one structural stabilizer or compound thereof. The crystalline hydrous alumina precursor preferably includes an average crystallite size selected from an optimum range delimited by desired hydrothermal resistance and desired porosity. The crystalline hydrous alumina precursor preferably includes an alumina hydroxide, such as crystalline boehmite, crystalline bayerite, or a plurality thereof differing in average crystallite sizes by at least about 1 nm. The crystalline hydrous alumina precursor may be shaped before or after contact with the structural stabilizer or compound thereof. The treating includes calcining at 450° C. or more.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for separating liquid products and catalyst particles from a slurry used in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor system. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are characterized by a separation system that uses a sedimentation chamber, which contains at least one inclined channel that enhances the settling of particles within the slurry. The enhanced settling separates the slurry into a catalyst-rich bottom stream and a catalyst-lean overhead stream. The catalyst-rich bottom product stream is preferably recycled to the reactor, while the catalyst-lean overhead stream can be further processed by a secondary separation system to produce valuable synthetic fuels. The inclined channel may be provided by a structure selected from the group consisting of tube, pipe, conduit, sheets, trays, walls, plates, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A catalyst and method for producing hydrocarbons using a catalyst support having an improved hydrothermal stability, such as under Fischer-Tropsch synthesis conditions. The stabilized support is made by a method comprising treating a boehmite material in contact with at least one structural stabilizer. Contacting the boehmite with at least one structural stabilizer can include forming a mixture comprising the boehmite material and at the least one structural stabilizer. The mixture can be a sol or a slurry. The treating preferably includes drying or spray drying the mixture, and calcining in an oxidizing atmosphere to obtain the stabilized support. Preferred structural stabilizers can include an element, such as cobalt, magnesium, zirconium, boron, aluminum, barium, silicon, lanthanum, oxides thereof, or combinations thereof; or can include precipitated oxides, such as a co-precipitated silica-alumina.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement in the preparation of liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas/methane, oxygen and/or steam. In particular, the present invention relates to processes for the production of synthesis gas, reducing the oxygen concentration from the synthesis gas, and the production of liquid hydrocarbons using the oxygen reduced synthesis gas as a feedstock. More particularly, the present invention described herein identifies catalyst compositions, apparatus and methods of using such catalysts and apparatus for preparing liquid hydrocarbons via oxygen reduced synthesis gas all in accordance with the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing the maximum water concentration in multi-phase reactors operating at Fischer-Tropsch conditions. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of reducing the maximum concentration of water in a multi-phase reactor containing an expanded slurry bed and a water-rich slurry region for Fisher-Tropsch synthesis includes changing the flow structure of a predetermined region in the reactor. The flow structure may be changed by introducing a mixing enhancing fluid into the predetermined region, installing baffles into the predetermined region, or by other methods known in the art. Preferably the predetermined region is located between ½ H and H and between ½ R and R, where H is the height of the expanded slurry bed and R is the radius of the reactor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing the maximum water concentration in multi-phase reactors operating at Fischer-Tropsch conditions. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of reducing the maximum concentration of water in a multi-phase reactor containing an expanded slurry bed and a water-rich slurry region for Fisher-Tropsch synthesis includes changing the flow structure of a predetermined region in the reactor. The flow structure may be changed by introducing a mixing enhancing fluid into the predetermined region, installing baffles into the predetermined region, or by other methods known in the art. Preferably the predetermined region is located between ½ H and H and between ½ R and R, where H is the height of the expanded slurry bed and R is the radius of the reactor.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement in the preparation of liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas/methane, oxygen and/or steam. In particular, the present invention relates to processes for the production of synthesis gas, reducing the oxygen concentration from the synthesis gas, and the production of liquid hydrocarbons using the oxygen reduced synthesis gas as a feedstock. More particularly, the present invention described herein identifies catalyst compositions, apparatus and methods of using such catalysts and apparatus for preparing liquid hydrocarbons via oxygen reduced synthesis gas all in accordance with the present invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for separating liquid products and catalyst particles from a slurry used in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor system. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are characterized by a separation system that uses a sedimentation chamber, which contains at least one inclined channel that enhances the settling of particles within the slurry. The enhanced settling separates the slurry into a catalyst-rich bottom stream and a catalyst-lean overhead stream. The catalyst-rich bottom product stream is preferably recycled to the reactor, while the catalyst-lean overhead stream can be further processed by a secondary separation system to produce valuable synthetic fuels. The inclined channel may be provided by a structure selected from the group consisting of tube, pipe, conduit, sheets, trays, walls, plates, and combinations thereof.