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Our
Expertise . . . |
Solution
Mining Projects (select list)
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(AmerAlia, Inc.), Rock School Sodium Lease,
Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, USA
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American Soda, L.L.P., Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, USA
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Copper Eagle Gas Storage and Gas Commission, Phoenix,
Arizona, USA
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Denison Resources (USA) Corporation, Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, USA
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Eti Soda Inc., Ankara, Turkey
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Intrepid Mining LLC, Cane Creek Mine, Moab,
Utah, USA
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Intrepid Mining LLC, New Mexico Operations,
Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA
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NaTec Mines, Ltd., Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, USA
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Natural Soda, Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, USA
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Potash One, Inc. (formerly ISX Resources, Inc.), Sasketchewan, Canada
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Rio Tinto, Kazan Solution Mining Project,
Ankara, Turkey
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Rio Tinto, Rio Colorado Solution Mining
Project, Argentina
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Southern Electric International (SEI),
Hennepin Point Subsidence, Wyandotte, Michigan, USA
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Vulcan Chemicals Company, Sedgwick County, Kansas, USA
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White River Nahcolite Mineral Limited
Liability, Inc., Piceance Creek Basin,
Colorado, USA
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Wold Trona Company, Inc., Green River,
Wyoming, USA
(AmerAlia, Inc.), Rock School Sodium Lease,
Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, USA
In the spring of 1996, AmerAlia, Inc. contracted AAI to manage a
drilling and characterization program to assess the feasibility of solution
mining nahcolite at the Rock School Sodium Lease including selection of subcontractors, data collection, and reporting. Objectives of the drill project were to collect site-specific data
and core samples for evaluation of resource and solution minability. AAI
personnel managed the site preparation, drilling contractor, other
subcontractors, and reclamation work, and was responsible for all data
collection. Field duties included geological interpretation, rock structure
logging, geophysical correlations, stratigraphic picks, core photography,
and hydrological tests for flow and quality. AAI conducted laboratory
material properties testing on selected core samples. Upon completion of the
drilling project, a core hole summary report was prepared followed by a
stability evaluation of the proposed solution mine.
American Soda, L.L.P., Solution Mining of
Nahcolite, Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, USA
AAI has been actively involved with the American Soda Project since
1997. Major projects include:
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Stability assessment of pilot test cavern for permit application
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Design of subsurface solution mining plan
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Design of solution well completion
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Support in permit application to BLM, EPA, and affected counties
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Core drilling (7 core holes), core logging, assay and resource/reserve
evaluation for bankable document
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Field support during drilling of 26 production wells
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Well field layout
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Design of pads and roads
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Pilot test plan development
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Groundwater monitoring plan
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Subsurface monitoring plan
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Subsidence assessment and monitoring plan
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Review of well field performance
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Development of heat and mass balance model for prediction of well
performance
American Soda, L.L.P. operates a solution mine at the Yankee Gulch lease and
processes the nahcolite to produce both soda ash and sodium bicarbonate.
Agapito Associates, Inc. has been involved in characterization of the lease,
design of well field layout, planning and interpretation of test mining, and
support for permitting the project. Six deep core holes were drilled;
lithologic and structural logging of core, and laboratory testing of core at
elevated temperatures completed; stability of proposed caverns/leach zones
analyzed; and production well completion designs and well pad permits
prepared. The project completed an Environmental Impact Statement with start
of construction of the commercial well field and plant slated for later in
1999.
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Copper Eagle Gas Storage and Gas Commission,
Permitting Support for EPA Class I & II Underground Injection Wells,
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
AAI represented Copper Eagle Gas Storage (CEGS) in their pursuit of
EPA underground injection control (UIC) permits. The proposed gas
storage project involved solution mining salt to provide caverns for natural
gas storage. The brine generated by solution mining the salt was
proposed to be injected deep into a structural basin. CEGS was seeking
a UIC Class I permit for injecting brine associated with solution mining the
salt, and an EPA Class III UIC permit for the solution mining activities.
AAI represented CEGS to the EPA, the Arizona Department of Environmental
Quality (ADEQ), and the Arizona Oil and Gas Commission. The project is
currently on hold, reflecting the recent downturn in the natural gas market.
Denison Resources (USA) Corporation,
Solution Mining of Nahcolite, Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, USA
A solution mining process planned by Denison Resources was studied
by AAI to evaluate the local and regional stability of closely spaced
solution cavities. The geotechnical data consisted of rock mechanics tests
on drilled core, hydrology testing, and geophysical logging. Computer models
were used to analyze the stability of pillars between cavities and the
integrity of the roof below the dissolution surface.
Eti Soda Inc., Solution Mining of Trona,
Ankara, Turkey
Eti Soda, Inc. is developing the Beypazari trona deposits in
Turkey. AAI has been involved since 1999 in various projects.
Initially AAI reviewed plans for underground mining the southern portion of
the deposit. This involved review of geologic, geotechnical and
geo-hydrology to assess reserves; mine productivity; ventilation; and
capital and operation costs. More recently, AAI has reviewed the plans
for solution mining and monitored progress during Phase II drilling of the
commercial well field. AAI currently serves as advisor to upper
management for the well field development.
Intrepid Mining LLC, Cane Creek Mine,
Moab, Utah, USA
Intrepid purchased the Moab, Utah, potash solution mining operation
formerly owned by TG Potash. Solution mining of existing room-and-pillar
workings was initiated in 1970. AAI participated in the technical evaluation
of resource recovery utilizing long, horizontal solution caverns.
Engineering contributions include estimation of cavern heat loss, evaluation
of hydraulic fracture gradients surrounding deep caverns, assessment of
cavern stability and permitting support. AAI was commissioned to assess the
remaining resource available for solution mining from the flooded workings
and from solution mining from a lower bed. Geologically-constrained
horizontal directional drilling of deep wells was supervised on-site by AAI
geological personnel.
Intrepid Mining LLC,
New Mexico Operations, Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA
AAI is assisting Intrepid in developing a mine plan and permits for
solution mining of depleted conventionally mined potash deposits in New
Mexico. Tasks include conceptual planning, mine plan development, permit
applications to the BLM and State agencies, costing and project management.
NaTec Mines, Ltd.,
Solution Mining of Nahcolite, Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, USA
NaTec/White River Nahcolite (WRN) was the first solution mine
developed to recover soluble minerals from thin horizontal beds using long
horizontal wells. AAI personnel provided field and technical support in a
pilot drilling program to characterize rock structure and hydrologic data,
and have since supported WRN with assistance in drilling production wells
and in resolving issues. Rock structural data were generated from drill core
for use in stability assessment of dissolution cavities and roof strata. AAI
also performed analysis of the stability of the dissolution cavities.
Criteria for minimizing surface subsidence were used to define the
requirement for stability of the dissolution cavity roof. Permit support
included technical support for application to permit high extraction per
well while maintaining minability of overlying oil shale, without damage to
the USDW.
Natural Soda, Solution Mining of Nahcolite,
Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, USA
Natural Soda took over operations at White River Nahcolite in 2003. AAI has
continued to support the operations in permitting, ground control, cavern
development, and subsidence monitoring.
To
monitor potential caving above the solution mine caverns, AAI has installed TDR cables and monitored the response as solution mining has progressed.
Potash One Inc. (formerly ISX Resources, Inc.), Subsurface Mineral Permit, Sasketchewan, Canada
AAI completed a NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report concerning the potash
resources contained in the Subsurface Mineral Permit KP 289 in the Findlater
area in southern Saskatchewan Canada. The permit area is immediately north
of the Mosaic Belle Plaine potash solution mining operation and contains
similar quality potash beds as that successfully solution mined by Mosaic
and its predecessors for over 30 years. ISX proposes a confirmation drilling
and testing program to confirm the potash resource to support a
2-million-tons-per-year potash operation. AAI was selected to complete the
study with Mike Hardy, President, as a designated Qualified Person because
of his experience in potash solution mining, solution mining of similar
minerals, and independence from the project. The permit area covers
approximately 97,000 acres and is intersected by six core holes.
Historically two pilot tests were conducted on the property in the 1960s at
the same time that Mosaic was developing the technology for solution mining
the deep potash beds in southern Saskatchewan. The property has been
surveyed using 2D seismic and is estimated to contain recoverable K2O of
over 10,000 tonnes per acre using demonstrated solution mining methods.
Rio Tinto, Kazan Solution Mining Project, Ankara, Turkey
The Kazan trona deposit was discovered by Rio Tinto Exploration in
the mid-90s. AAI has been involved as consultants from core handling and
logging, resource/reserve estimates, order of magnitude estimates for
room-and-pillar mining, solution mining, and subsidence assessment. In support of feasibility
assessment, laboratory testing of core at elevated temperatures were
completed under the direction of AAI, cavity growth modeling and heat and
mass balancing modeling completed. AAI has completed pilot test plans, and
capital and operating cost estimates for the solution mine plan.
AAI was responsible for introducing Rio Tinto to the potential for solution
mining these trona deposits using long horizontal wells and injection of
high-temperature, pressurized water.
Rio Tinto, Rio
Colorado Solution Mining Project, Argentina
AAI has completed studies leading to pre-feasibility level mine
plans for solution mining the Potasio Rio Colorado potash deposits in
Mendoza Provence, Argentina. These deposits have long been known and were
drilled in the late 1980s, early 1990s, and again in 2005. A pilot test was
conducted in the early 1990s and again after Rio Tinto acquired the property
in 2004. AAI has supported Rio Tinto’s evaluation of the property assisting
in development and evaluation of the pilot test, completing
thermo-mechanical tests on core, evaluating cavern and pillar dimensions,
and designing the well-field layout. In addition, AAI has completed
assessments of potential subsidence to support permitting efforts and
participated in management evaluations of the property serving as the
in-house expert on solution mining. Recently, AAI was asked to certify the
resource and reserve estimates as a Competent Person per the requirements of
the JORQ code.
Southern Electric International (SEI),
Hennepin Point Subsidence, Wyandotte, Michigan, USA
AAI was retained by SEI to
assess the subsidence potential of the Central
Avenue Property in Wyandotte, Michigan. AAI conducted an on-site inspection
looking for any physical evidence of significant subsidence. In addition,
AAI researched and reviewed literature and records relating to salt solution
mining subsidence and data specific to the property.
Vulcan Chemicals Company, Solution
Mining of Halite, Sedgwick County, Kansas, USA
The stability and subsidence potential of solution-mined cavity
clusters in a well-developed field in the Hutchinson salt were evaluated by
AAI to provide a basis for modification of existing state permit
requirements. The mining method employed a cluster of four solution cavities
overlying oil shale, without damage to the USDW. Initially, a central
production well and the four surrounding injection wells were connected at
depth via hydraulic fracturing. In this cluster, sonic surveys revealed
irregular cavity growth beneath several of the injection wells. The roof and
wall stability of the cavity clusters were evaluated using rock strength
data, sonic surveys, and computer modeling.
White River Nahcolite Mineral Limited
Liability, Inc., Solution Mining of Nahcolite, Piceance Creek Basin,
Colorado, USA
AAI personnel have provided technical support during the
development of this pioneer solution mining project, formerly NaTec Mines,
Ltd., using cavity development
from long horizontal boreholes. Specifically, AAI provided field and
technical support in a pilot drilling program to characterize rock structure
and hydrologic data. Rock structural data generated from drill core
and laboratory tests were used in the stability assessment of dissolution
cavities and overlying roof strata. Alternative configurations of long
prismatic cavities and single-hole circular cavities were evaluated to
assess overall resource recovery.
Inter-cavern pillars were designed
to preserve overlying water-bearing strata and to minimize any adverse
impacts on future mining of overlying oil shale resources. As
production progressed, the shape of the cavity was monitored using in-cavity
sonic surveys and was compared to the predicted cavity shape. Methods
of monitoring and predicting cavity shape in these long cavities were
evaluated.
Wold Trona Company, Inc.,
Green River, Wyoming, USA
Wold Trona Company controls leases in the Green River Wyoming area
and has commissioned AAI to assess the feasibility of solution mining trona
for the production of soda ash. These studies have included an assessment of
the trona resource, development of a mine plan and estimates of capital and
operating costs for the solution mining aspects of the project.
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AGAPITO
ASSOCIATES, INC.