	US 11,746,639 B2
	Trona solution mining methods and compositions
Roger L. Day, Rifle, CO (US); and James A. Herickhoff, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Assigned to SESQUI MINING, LLC., Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed by Sesqui Mining, LLC., Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed on Aug. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/399,806.
Application 17/399,806 is a continuation of application No. 16/453,400, filed on Jun. 26, 2019, granted, now 11,193,362.
Application 16/453,400 is a continuation of application No. 16/248,180, filed on Jan. 15, 2019, granted, now 10,422,210, issued on Sep. 24, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/667,240, filed on May 4, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0372257 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E21B 43/00 (2006.01); E21B 43/28 (2006.01); E21B 43/34 (2006.01); C22B 3/20 (2006.01); C22B 26/10 (2006.01)

CPC E21B 43/28 (2013.01) [C22B 3/20 (2013.01); C22B 26/10 (2013.01); E21B 43/34 (2013.01)]

30 Claims

1. A method of solution mining trona, comprising:

a. injecting an aqueous solvent into an underground cavity comprising trona to produce an aqueous solution that dissolves the trona at a trona dissolution surface, wherein the aqueous solution controls and/or eliminates any reduction of sodium bicarbonate saturation and/or precipitation of nahcolite and/or precipitation of wegscheiderite at the trona dissolution surface during trona dissolution in the cavity;

b. removing the aqueous solution from the cavity, wherein the removed aqueous solution is at about a temperature of 25° C. to 135° C.; and

c. recovering alkaline values from the removed aqueous solution.