Patents by Inventor Steven G. Axen

Steven G. Axen 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).

  • Publication number: 20100226837
    Abstract: A process for producing metal compounds directly from underground mineral deposits including the steps of forming a borehole at a site into a mineral deposit containing metal compounds, inserting a slurry-forming device having a nozzle into the borehole adapted to direct pressurized water through the nozzle into the mineral deposit, supplying pressured water through the nozzle into the mineral deposit forming a mineral slurry containing metal compounds, extracting the mineral slurry containing metal compounds through the borehole, leaching the mineral slurry to convert the metal compounds to a soluble form in a leach solution, and removing metals and metal compounds by treating the leach solution with an extraction treatment adapted to remove the metal products. Steps of leaching the mineral slurry and removing metal products are performed at a location remote from the borehole site. Alternatively, the step of removing metal products from mineral slurry may be accomplished by pyrometallurgical processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: COOPERATIVE MINERAL RESOURCES, LLC
    Inventors: Steven C. CARLTON, Steven G. AXEN, Kevin P. KRONBECK
  • Patent number: 5169503
    Abstract: Metal values are solubilized from ore by a lixiviant having a pH from 5 to 8, comprising an aqueous solution of a chloride salt and a hypochlorite salt. Cyanuric acid may be added to retard decomposition of the lixiviant. In one alternative embodiment, any remaining hypochlorite ions are then eliminated by adding hydrogen peroxide or a reducing agent to the pregnant lixiviant. Metal values are recovered by reduction using carbon, electrowinning, or other conventional techniques. In an alternative embodiment for extraction of gold or silver, the steps are combined by using finely ground ore containing sulfides or carbonaceous material to both reduce any remaining hypochlorite ions and precipitate the metal values from the lixiviant. The lixiviant can then be regenerated either by electrolysis or addition of hypochlorite salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Inventors: David R. Baughman, Ray V. Huff, Steven G. Axen
  • Patent number: 5030036
    Abstract: A method of isolating a contaminated geological formation or aquifer is disclosed in which the formation is encapsulated by impermeable barriers. A grid of wells is drilled into the formation. A horizontal barrier is formed below the contaminated formation by creating an overlapping pattern of horizontally-oriented fractures filled with polymer radiating from each of these wells. A horizontal barrier may also be formed above the top surface of the contaminated formation if necessary. A ring of boundary wells may also be drilled surrounding the contaminated formation. The strata around each boundary well are fractured, and a polymer is then injected to form a vertical barrier around the periphery of the contaminated formation. In addition, water may be injected under pressure into guard wells between the contaminated formation and the vertical and/or horizontal barriers to further reduce any migration of pollutants into neighboring formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: ISL Ventures, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray V. Huff, Steven G. Axen, David R. Baughman
  • Patent number: 4634187
    Abstract: A method of in-situ leaching is disclosed in which the ore body is incapsulated by impermeable barriers. A grid of injection and production wells are drilled into the ore body. Horizontal barriers are formed at the top and bottom of the ore body by creating an overlapping pattern of horizontally-oriented fractures filled with polymer, above and below the ore body, radiating from each of the injection and production wells. A ring of boundary wells may also be drilled surrounding the ore body. The strata around each boundary well is fractured and a polymer is then injected to form a vertical barrier around the periphery of the ore body. The lixiviant is then introduced to extract the desired mineral values. In addition, water may be injected under pressure into guard wells between the ore body and the vertical and/or horizontal barrier wells to further reduce any migration of lixiviant into neighboring formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: ISL Ventures, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray V. Huff, Steven G. Axen, Baughman, David R.
  • Patent number: 4386806
    Abstract: A permeable region adjacent a well bore used in an acidic in situ leaching system can be repaired by introducing a non-acidic liquid for displacing acidic leach liquid from the permeable region, introducing into the well bore a basic composition including a polymeric material that gels under acidic conditions, and applying sufficient pressure to the well bore to displace at least a portion of the basic composition and polymeric material from the well bore into the permeable region adjacent the well bore. Liquid flow in the well bore is then discontinued for a sufficient time for acid remaining in the subterranean formation adjacent the well bore to contact such polymeric material and cause gelation of the polymeric material in the permeable region. The introduction of acidic leach liquid can then continue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Assignee: Occidental Minerals Corporation
    Inventors: Steven G. Axen, Ray V. Huff, Jerry R. Bergeson