Patents by Inventor Ronald O. HUGHES

Ronald O. HUGHES 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).

  • Patent number: 10508528
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Solvay SA
    Inventors: Ronald O. Hughes, Matteo Paperini, Herve Cuche, Joseph A. Vendetti, Larry C. Refsdal, Jean-Paul Detournay, David M. Hansen, Todd Brichacek, Justin T. Patterson, John Kolesar, Ryan Schmidt, Beatrice C. Ortego
  • Publication number: 20180156020
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Ronald O. HUGHES, Matteo PAPERINI, Herve CUCHE, Joseph A. VENDETTI, Larry C. REFSDAL, Jean-Paul DETOURNAY, David M. HANSEN, Todd BRICHACEK, Justin T. PATTERSON, John KOLESAR, Ryan SCHMIDT, Beatrice C. ORTEGO
  • Patent number: 9879516
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Solvay SA
    Inventors: Ronald O. Hughes, Matteo Paperini, Herve Cuche, Joseph A. Vendetti, Larry C. Refsdal, Jean-Paul Detournay, David M. Hansen, Todd Brichacek, Justin T. Patterson, John Kolesar, Ryan Schmidt, Beatrice C. Ortego
  • Publication number: 20170167239
    Abstract: In-situ solution mining method of an ore bed, particularly containing trona, which comprises exposing to a solvent an ore region inside a borehole drilled in the ore, and dissolving a desired solute within the exposed region to provide a liquor and create a voided ‘undercut’, such undercutting making the ore susceptible to gravitational loading and crushing. Unexposed ore falls into the undercut by gravity without breaking the ore roof resulting in exposure of fresh ore to the solvent and in preventing solvent exposure to contaminating material near the roof. The desired solute is eventually dissolved away in the entire bed from its floor up to its roof. Solvent injection may be delivered through a conduit positioned inside the borehole, and may be moved by retracting or perforating the conduit. The method may employ an advancing undercut initiated up-dip and traveling down-dip, or a retreating undercut initiated down-dip and traveling up-dip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Ronald O. HUGHES, Jean-Paul DETOURNAY, Alain VANDENDOREN, Larry C. REFSDAL, Joseph A. VENDETTI, Michael C. MONTOYA
  • Patent number: 9677398
    Abstract: Utilization of mine methane produced by mining a non-combustible ore, such as trona, as an energy source for heat, steam, and/or power generation. Such utilization is beneficial for a surface appliance which is close to surface outlet(s) of mine methane recovery system(s). A method for reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated during mining of a non-combustible ore uses the combustion of co-produced mine methane. The mine methane is recovered in a mine ventilation air exhaust with very low methane content, and may be additionally recovered in a drainage gas, such as gob gas, with much higher methane content. The surface appliance may be selected from the group consisting of calciner, dryer, boiler, kiln, furnace, engine, turbine, power generation unit, co-generation unit, and any combinations thereof. Benefits may include reduction in energy purchases, reduction in greenhouse emissions, and/or gain through sale of carbon credits to the carbon market by registering carbon reductions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Solvay Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald O. Hughes, Bryan M. Mortimer, David M. Hansen
  • Patent number: 9638017
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Solvay SA
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Detournay, Ronald O. Hughes, Herve Cuche, Matteo Paperini, Joseph A. Vendetti, Larry C. Refsdal, David M. Hansen, Todd Brichacek, Justin T. Patterson, John Kolesar, Ryan Schmidt, Beatrice C. Ortego
  • Patent number: 9581006
    Abstract: In-situ solution mining method of an ore bed, particularly containing trona, which comprises exposing to a solvent an ore region inside a borehole drilled in the ore, and dissolving a desired solute within the exposed region to provide a liquor and create a voided ‘undercut’, such undercutting making the ore susceptible to gravitational loading and crushing. Unexposed ore falls into the undercut by gravity without breaking the ore roof resulting in exposure of fresh ore to the solvent and in preventing solvent exposure to contaminating material near the roof. The desired solute is eventually dissolved away in the entire bed from its floor up to its roof. Solvent injection may be delivered through a conduit positioned inside the borehole, and may be moved by retracting or perforating the conduit. The method may employ an advancing undercut initiated up-dip and traveling down-dip, or a retreating undercut initiated down-dip and traveling up-dip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Solvay Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald O. Hughes, Jean-Paul Detournay, Alain Vandendoren, Larry C. Refsdal, Joseph A. Vendetti, Michael C. Montoya
  • Publication number: 20160356140
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Ronald O. HUGHES, Matteo PAPERINI, Herve CUCHE, Joseph A. VENDETTI, Larry REFSDAL, Jean-Paul DETOURNAY, David HANSEN, Todd BRICHACEK, Justin T. PATTERSON, John KOLESAR, Ryan SCHMIDT, Beatrice C. ORTEGO
  • Publication number: 20160355728
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph A. VENDETTI, Ronald O. HUGHES, Hervé CUCHE, Beatrice C. ORTEGO
  • Publication number: 20160356157
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Ronald O. HUGHES, Matteo PAPERINI, Herve CUCHE, Joseph A. VENDETTI, Larry C. REFSDAL, Jean-Paul DETOURNAY, David M. HANSEN, Todd BRICHACEK, Justin T. PATTERSON, John KOLESAR, Ryan SCHMIDT, Beatrice C. ORTEGO
  • Publication number: 20160356118
    Abstract: A method for in situ solution mining of trona in which an aqueous solvent dissolves trona and forms a brine, which comprises: applying a hydraulic pressure greater than the overburden pressure at an interface between trona roof and overburden to lithologically displace the overburden from the trona roof and form a gap; flowing a liquid settable and/or sealing composition into such interface gap and allowing such composition to solidify inside such gap to form a water-impermeable and optionally gas-impermeable barrier inside. This technique should limit contamination from the overburden; should seal or plug fractures transversing the trona roof; should prevent water infiltration from overburden; and/or should minimize gas migration into the overburden from the cavity. The lithological displacement whereby the interface gap is formed may be carried out at the same time as the composition is flowed inside the gap being formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Ryan SCHMIDT, Matteo PAPERINI, Ronald O. HUGHES, Herve CUCHE
  • Publication number: 20160356139
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Jean-Paul DETOURNAY, Ronald O. HUGHES, Herve CUCHE, Matteo PAPERINI, Joseph A. VENDETTI, Larry C. REFSDAL, David M. HANSEN, Todd BRICHACEK, Justin T. PATTERSON, John KOLESAR, Ryan SCHMIDT, Beatrice C. ORTEGO
  • Publication number: 20160356138
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Ronald O. HUGHES, Bradley D. CHEESE, Matteo PAPERINI, Beatrice C. ORTEGO
  • Publication number: 20160115774
    Abstract: In-situ solution mining method of an ore bed, particularly containing trona, which comprises exposing to a solvent an ore region inside a borehole drilled in the ore, and dissolving a desired solute within the exposed region to provide a liquor and create a voided ‘undercut’, such undercutting making the ore susceptible to gravitational loading and crushing. Unexposed ore falls into the undercut by gravity without breaking the ore roof resulting in exposure of fresh ore to the solvent and in preventing solvent exposure to contaminating material near the roof. The desired solute is eventually dissolved away in the entire bed from its floor up to its roof. Solvent injection may be delivered through a conduit positioned inside the borehole, and may be moved by retracting or perforating the conduit. The method may employ an advancing undercut initiated up-dip and traveling down-dip, or a retreating undercut initiated down-dip and traveling up-dip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Ronald O. HUGHES, Jean-Paul DETOURNAY, Alain VANDENDOREN, Larry C. REFSDAL, Joseph A. VENDETTI, Michael C. MONTOYA
  • Patent number: 9234416
    Abstract: In-situ solution mining method of an ore bed, particularly containing trona, which comprises exposing to a solvent an ore region inside a borehole drilled in the ore, and dissolving a desired solute within the exposed region to provide a liquor and create a voided ‘undercut’, such undercutting making the ore susceptible to gravitational loading and crushing. Unexposed ore falls into the undercut by gravity without breaking the ore roof resulting in exposure of fresh ore to the solvent and in preventing solvent exposure to contaminating material near the roof. The desired solute is eventually dissolved away in the entire bed from its floor up to its roof. Solvent injection may be delivered through a conduit positioned inside the borehole, and may be moved by retracting or perforating the conduit. The method may employ an advancing undercut initiated up-dip and traveling down-dip, or a retreating undercut initiated down-dip and traveling up-dip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: SOLVAY CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald O. Hughes, Jean-Paul Detournay, Alain Vandendoren, Larry C. Refsdal, Joseph A. Vendetti, Michael C. Montoya
  • Publication number: 20150260025
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald O. HUGHES, Matteo PAPERINI, Herve CUCHE, Joseph A. VENDETTI, Larry C. REFSDAL, Jean-Paul DETOURNAY, David M. HANSEN, Todd BRICHACEK, Justin T. PATTERSON, John KOLESAR, Ryan SCHMIDT, Beatrice C. ORTEGO
  • Publication number: 20140225415
    Abstract: In-situ solution mining method of an ore bed, particularly containing trona, which comprises exposing to a solvent an ore region inside a borehole drilled in the ore, and dissolving a desired solute within the exposed region to provide a liquor and create a voided ‘undercut’, such undercutting making the ore susceptible to gravitational loading and crushing. Unexposed ore falls into the undercut by gravity without breaking the ore roof resulting in exposure of fresh ore to the solvent and in preventing solvent exposure to contaminating material near the roof. The desired solute is eventually dissolved away in the entire bed from its floor up to its roof. Solvent injection may be delivered through a conduit positioned inside the borehole, and may be moved by retracting or perforating the conduit. The method may employ an advancing undercut initiated up-dip and traveling down-dip, or a retreating undercut initiated down-dip and traveling up-dip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: SOLVAY CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald O. HUGHES, Jean-Paul DETOURNAY, Alain VANDENDOREN, Larry C. REFSDAL, Joseph A. VENDETTI, Michael C. MONTOYA
  • Patent number: 8771622
    Abstract: A method for removing impurities from a waste solid to provide at least a portion of a suitable crystallizer feed to a process for making crystalline sodium carbonate, bicarbonate, and/or other derivatives. The method comprises: contacting the waste solid with a leach solution to dissolve at least one impurity and dissolving the resulting leached residue. Leaching may include heap percolation. The leach solution may comprise a crystallizer purge liquor, a process waste effluent, a mine water, or mixtures thereof. The method may further comprise adding a magnesium compound to the resulting leached residue during or after its dissolution to remove another impurity. The waste solid preferably comprises a pond solid containing such impurities. The pond solid may be recovered from a pond receiving crystallizer purge liquor(s) and/or other process waste effluent(s). The pond solid may contain sodium carbonate, any hydrate thereof, sodium bicarbonate, and/or sodium sesquicarbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Solvay Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald O. Hughes, Jessica A. Mote, Alain Vandendoren, James D. Phillip, David W. Smith
  • Patent number: 8740310
    Abstract: A method for co-extracting non-combustible ore (e.g., trona) and methane from an underground formation comprising at least one methane-bearing layer and a non-combustible ore bed having a rock roof, comprising: providing a well having a downhole end positioned above the ore bed roof; mining an ore region from an initial cavity and removing the mined ore, thereby creating a subsequent cavity; advancing the mining step to another ore region from the subsequent cavity; allowing the roof of the initial cavity to cave so as to create a gob; repeating the mining, advancing and caving steps, the caving being effective in generating fluid communication between the gob and the well downhole end and in fracturing the methane-bearing layer so as to release methane into the gob; and recovering a gob gas comprising released methane through the well to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Solvay Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Refsdal, Ronald O. Hughes, Bryan M. Mortimer, Richard A. Hodgson, Joseph A. Vendetti
  • Patent number: 8678513
    Abstract: In-situ solution mining method of an ore bed, particularly containing trona, which comprises exposing to a solvent an ore region inside a borehole drilled in the ore, and dissolving a desired solute within the exposed region to provide a liquor and create a voided ‘undercut’, such undercutting making the ore susceptible to gravitational loading and crushing. Unexposed ore falls into the undercut by gravity without breaking the ore roof resulting in exposure of fresh ore to the solvent and in preventing solvent exposure to contaminating material near the roof. The desired solute is eventually dissolved away in the entire bed from its floor up to its roof. Solvent injection may be delivered through a conduit positioned inside the borehole, and may be moved by retracting or perforating the conduit. The method may employ an advancing undercut initiated up-dip and traveling down-dip, or a retreating undercut initiated down-dip and traveling up-dip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Solvay Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald O. Hughes, Jean-Paul Detournay, Alain Vandendoren, Larry C. Refsdal, Joseph A. Vendetti, Michael C. Montoya