Patents by Inventor Michael Bestgen

Michael Bestgen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Solution mining using subterranean drilling techniques
    Patent number: 10280726
    Abstract: A method of solution mining a subterranean mineral ore deposit such as trona ore in which a borehole is drilled from a subterranean mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation to connect a mineral ore bed to be solution mined, using subterranean drilling apparatus located proximate to the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation. The mineral ore bed is isolated from the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation by passage of the drilled borehole through an impermeable layer adjacent to the mineral ore bed to be solution mined. The mineral ore bed is then solution-mined using a mining solvent introduced into the mineral ore bed to solubilize the mineral and form a mining solution, and the resulting mining solution is withdrawn from the mineral ore bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: GENESIS ALKALI WYOMING, LP
    Inventor: Michael Bestgen
  • SOLUTION MINING USING SUBTERRANEAN DRILLING TECHNIQUES
    Publication number: 20190063202
    Abstract: A method of solution mining a subterranean mineral ore deposit such as trona ore in which a borehole is drilled from a subterranean mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation to connect a mineral ore bed to be solution mined, using subterranean drilling apparatus located proximate to the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation. The mineral ore bed is isolated from the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation by passage of the drilled borehole through an impermeable layer adjacent to the mineral ore bed to be solution mined. The mineral ore bed is then solution-mined using a mining solvent introduced into the mineral ore bed to solubilize the mineral and form a mining solution, and the resulting mining solution is withdrawn from the mineral ore bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Genesis Alkali Wyoming, LP
    Inventor: Michael Bestgen
  • SOLUTION MINING USING SUBTERRANEAN DRILLING TECHNIQUES
    Publication number: 20180038213
    Abstract: A method of solution mining a subterranean mineral ore deposit such as trona ore in which a borehole is drilled from a subterranean mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation to connect a mineral ore bed to be solution mined, using subterranean drilling apparatus located proximate to the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation. The mineral ore bed is isolated from the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation by passage of the drilled borehole through an impermeable layer adjacent to the mineral ore bed to be solution mined. The mineral ore bed is then solution-mined using a mining solvent introduced into the mineral ore bed to solubilize the mineral and form a mining solution, and the resulting mining solution is withdrawn from the mineral ore bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: Tronox Alkali Wyoming Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Bestgen
  • Solution mining using subterranean drilling techniques
    Patent number: 9803458
    Abstract: A method of solution mining a subterranean mineral ore deposit such as trona ore in which a borehole is drilled from a subterranean mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation to connect a mineral ore bed to be solution mined, using subterranean drilling apparatus located proximate to the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation. The mineral ore bed is isolated from the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation by passage of the drilled borehole through an impermeable layer adjacent to the mineral ore bed to be solution mined. The mineral ore bed is then solution-mined using a mining solvent introduced into the mineral ore bed to solubilize the mineral and form a mining solution, and the resulting mining solution is withdrawn from the mineral ore bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Tronox Alkali Wyoming Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Bestgen
  • Solution Mining Using Subterranean Drilling Techniques
    Publication number: 20140265520
    Abstract: A method of solution mining a subterranean mineral ore deposit such as trona ore in which a borehole is drilled from a subterranean mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation to connect a mineral ore bed to be solution mined, using subterranean drilling apparatus located proximate to the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation. The mineral ore bed is isolated from the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation by passage of the drilled borehole through an impermeable layer adjacent to the mineral ore bed to be solution mined. The mineral ore bed is then solution-mined using a mining solvent introduced into the mineral ore bed to solubilize the mineral and form a mining solution, and the resulting mining solution is withdrawn from the mineral ore bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FMC WYOMING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael Bestgen