Abstract: A manifold for a borehole miner, wherein the manifold is rigidly secured to a first and a second pipe of a pipe bundle; movably connected to at least one other pipe; and provided with a collimating nozzle unit associated with a deflector plate unit, such that a pressurized abrasive jet spray can be directed against the walls of a bore hole, and the back splash from the jet spray will be prevented from adversely affecting the pipes in the pipe bundle by the deflector plate unit.

Abstract: A rotatable end deflector for an abrasive water jet drill is provided. The end deflector includes two wear resistant plates which direct portions of the water jet in opposite forward directions. Preferably, the abrasive water jet drill includes a source of high pressure water and a high pressure water outlet from which a stream of water is expelled. A venturi device is provided adjacent the water outlet for creating a vacuum. A feed device feeds an abrasive particular material to the venturi device so that the abrasive material is entrained in the stream of water. Thereafter, the stream of water is collimated in a rotating tube which produces a rotating cylindrical water jet which is then deflected before it impinges on the rock to drill the rock. The abrasive material is preferably sand and the tube including the deflector is easily replaceable.

Abstract: An end deflector for an abrasive water jet slot cutter is provided. The end deflector includes two wear resistant plates which direct portions of the water jet upwardly and downwardly. Preferably, the abrasive water jet slot cutter includes a source of high pressure water and a high pressure water outlet from which a stream of water is expelled. A venturi device is provided adjacent the water outlet for creating a vacuum. A feed device feeds an abrasive particular material to the venturi device so that the abrasive material is entrained in the stream of water. Thereafter, the stream of water is collimated in a tube which produces a cylindrical water jet which is then deflected before it impinges on the rock to mine the rock. The abrasive material is preferably sand and the tube including the deflector is easily replaceable.

Abstract: Instrumentation that can be lowered into an underground cavity to measure the dimensions of the cavity and also, as an added option, the ability to take photographs of the area of interest. The basic structure making up the preferred embodiment has a mounting frame with a television camera, a light beam assembly having two separate aligned light sources, and a mechanism to raise/lower the frame and also to tilt the light beam assembly. Above the ground is an appropriate readout unit which relates the angle of tilt for one of the light beam sources to a value of an electrical signal. To determine the distance from the aligned light source to the cavity surface, the light beams are superimposed upon one another to form a spot on the surface whose distance from the sources is to be measured. This spot is observed on the television camera and the signal magnitude (voltage) corresponding to the angle of tilt of the light source noted.

Abstract: An improved method of solution well mining is provided which, among other advantages, enhances the injectivity of the wells and eliminates the need for underreaming and the use of well screens. In solution well mining, a leaching solution is pumped into an injection well so as to flow through a mineralized zone to a plurality of production wells, the solution which contains the mineral to be recovered being pumped out of the production wells. The invention provides for using a high pressure water jet to perforate the cemented casings of the well so as to, inter alia, enhance injectivity and provide sand control. The perforations are arranged in a preselected nonuniform pattern in the production well, with the density being the greatest at the bottom of the zone, so as to promote uniform flow of the solution.