Patents by Inventor Thomas Joseph Seal

Thomas Joseph Seal 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: 20230349023
    Abstract: In embodiments, pressurized fluid containing reagents of formulated mixtures of solids, liquids and gasses are delivered into a cased well then into the heap or pile to open or stimulate new horizontal and vertical fluid pathways, channels, plus drains from the open bottom of the well to the bottom of the heap or pile for fluid collection. This delivery method may also drain any fluids that are retained and pooled in the heap or pile. The removal of pooled fluids will increase the inter-particle cohesion and friction in the heap or pile, thus adding geotechnical stability and resistance to movement of the heap or pile. The cased wells may also add shear strength to the collective to retard movement of the heap or pile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Seal
  • Patent number: 11613793
    Abstract: In embodiments, pressurized fluid containing reagents of formulated mixtures of solids, liquids and gasses are delivered into a cased well then into the heap or pile to open or stimulate new horizontal and vertical fluid pathways, channels, plus drains from the open bottom of the well to the bottom of the heap or pile for fluid collection. This delivery method may also drain any fluids that are retained and pooled in the heap or pile. The removal of pooled fluids will increase the inter-particle cohesion and friction in the heap or pile, thus adding geotechnical stability and resistance to movement of the heap or pile. The cased wells may also add shear strength to the collective to retard movement of the heap or pile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Differential Engineering Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Seal
  • Publication number: 20190032169
    Abstract: In embodiments, pressurized fluid containing reagents of formulated mixtures of solids, liquids and gasses are delivered into a cased well then into the heap or pile to open or stimulate new horizontal and vertical fluid pathways, channels, plus drains from the open bottom of the well to the bottom of the heap or pile for fluid collection. This delivery method may also drain any fluids that are retained and pooled in the heap or pile. The removal of pooled fluids will increase the inter-particle cohesion and friction in the heap or pile, thus adding geotechnical stability and resistance to movement of the heap or pile. The cased wells may also add shear strength to the collective to retard movement of the heap or pile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph SEAL
  • Patent number: 10155255
    Abstract: A method for storing hazardous materials within a pile by installing a drill casing a perforated casing section into a well installed in the pile, inserting a pipe or hose having an opening into the drill casing, aligning the opening of the pipe or hose with at least one perforated casing section, sealing the drill casing to isolate air or fluid flowing into or out of the drill casing so that the air or fluid only flows into or out of the drill casing through the at least one perforated casing section, pulling or pushing air or fluid through the pipe or hose at a pressure sufficient to open void spaces within the pile, and injecting hazardous materials through the pipe or hose at pressure sufficient to cause the hazardous materials to fill the void spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: DIFFERENTIAL ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Seal
  • Patent number: 9752207
    Abstract: In embodiments, an aqueous solution containing lixiviants and/or other chemicals and/or reagents may be delivered into the well through one or more conduits or pipes. The chemicals in the aqueous solution may further be mixed together and/or with other ingredients. The solution may thereafter be screened and delivered by being pumped to pressures required for delivery of the solution from a perforated well, deep into a heap leach pad to leach, re-leach, and/or rinse extracted components of interest, such as metals for recovery. The delivery method may open or stimulate new fluid pathways or channels by lifting and mobilizing materials in the heap, thereby creating new channels, and allowing fluid to travel substantially horizontally through the heap to interface with inventory metal for recovery. The system may include a mobile platform assembled near or at the vicinity of the injection well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: DIFFERENTIAL ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Seal
  • Publication number: 20170072440
    Abstract: A method for storing hazardous materials within a pile by installing a drill casing a perforated casing section into a well installed in the pile, inserting a pipe or hose having an opening into the drill casing, aligning the opening of the pipe or hose with at least one perforated casing section, sealing the drill casing to isolate air or fluid flowing into or out of the drill casing so that the air or fluid only flows into or out of the drill casing through the at least one perforated casing section, pulling or pushing air or fluid through the pipe or hose at a pressure sufficient to open void spaces within the pile, and injecting hazardous materials through the pipe or hose at pressure sufficient to cause the hazardous materials to fill the void spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph SEAL
  • Patent number: 9513055
    Abstract: A system for changing the properties of materials in a pile including a power section, an air movement, and a downwell section installed into a well of the pile that includes a drill casing having one or more perforated casing sections, a pipe/hose having a perforated section aligned with the one or more perforated casing sections, and an isolation mechanism configured to seal the drill casing above and below the perforated section so as to isolate the flow of air through the perforated section. The system dries an impacted zone when air is pumped into the downwell section through the perforated section of the pipe/hose into the pile. The system removes moistures from the pile when air is pulled from the pile into the downwell section through the perforated section of the pipe/hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: DIFFERENTIAL ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Seal
  • Publication number: 20150275327
    Abstract: In embodiments, an aqueous solution containing lixiviants and/or other chemicals and/or reagents may be delivered into the well through one or more conduits or pipes. The chemicals in the aqueous solution may further be mixed together and/or with other ingredients. The solution may thereafter be screened and delivered by being pumped to pressures required for delivery of the solution from a perforated well, deep into a heap leach pad to leach, re-leach, and/or rinse extracted components of interest, such as metals for recovery. The delivery method may open or stimulate new fluid pathways or channels by lifting and mobilizing materials in the heap, thereby creating new channels, and allowing fluid to travel substantially horizontally through the heap to interface with inventory metal for recovery. The system may include a mobile platform assembled near or at the vicinity of the injection well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Seal
  • Patent number: 9050545
    Abstract: In embodiments, an aqueous solution containing lixiviants and/or other chemicals and/or reagents may be delivered into the well through one or more conduits or pipes. The chemicals in the aqueous solution may further be mixed together and/or with other ingredients. The solution may thereafter be screened and delivered by being pumped to pressures required for delivery of the solution from a perforated well, deep into a heap leach pad to leach, re-leach, and/or rinse extracted components of interest, such as metals for recovery. The delivery method may open or stimulate new fluid pathways or channels by lifting and mobilizing materials in the heap, thereby creating new channels, and allowing fluid to travel substantially horizontally through the heap to interface with inventory metal for recovery. The system may include a mobile platform assembled near or at the vicinity of the injection well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: DIFFERENTIAL ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Seal
  • Patent number: 8021461
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for improving component extraction from heap leach operations. Following heap leaching for some time, portions of the heap deficient in component extraction are identified, and treatment wells are drilled and remedial treatments are selectively performed on the identified portions of the heap. The remedial treatment can include hydraulically fracturing the identified portions of the heap followed by selective treatment with leach solution of the area impacted by the fracturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Newmont USA Limited
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Seal