Field test of hydraulic borehole mining systems in shallow uranium sands. Final report Jun 77-Sep 78

Technical Report · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6076194

Archibald, W R

This report presents the results of a program demonstrating the technical and economic feasibility of hydraulic borehole mining of uraniferous sandstone. A high-pressure cutting jet and a slurry jet pump make up the borehole mining tool, which is lowered down a borehole into the uranium-bearing sandstone. Water from the cutting jet cuts into the sandstone formation generating a water-sand slurry which is pumped to the surface, thereby forming a cavity in the formation. When the cavity size reaches a point beyond the effective radius of the cutting jet, the mining tool is moved to an adjacent borehole and the process is started again.

• Research Organization: Flow Industries, Inc., Kent, WA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6076194
• Report Number(s): PB-81-128969
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050300* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Mining-- (-1987)
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ACTINIDES
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FIELD TESTS
HYDRAULIC MINING
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
JETS
METALS
MINING
MINING EQUIPMENT
ORES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PUMPS
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
TESTING
UNDERGROUND MINING
URANIUM
URANIUM ORES
WATER