US 12,291,953 B1
Dual-packer injection leaching system and method
David Gilbert, Denver, CO (US); and Grant Bonin, North Vancouver (CA)
Filed by David Gilbert, Denver, CO (US); and Grant Bonin, North Vancouver (CA)
Filed on Feb. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/185,356.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/981,336, filed on Feb. 25, 2020.
Int. Cl. E21B 43/28 (2006.01); C22B 3/04 (2006.01); E21B 19/04 (2006.01); E21B 19/22 (2006.01); E21B 33/124 (2006.01); E21B 43/30 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/28 (2013.01) [C22B 3/04 (2013.01); E21B 19/22 (2013.01); E21B 33/1243 (2013.01); E21B 19/04 (2013.01); E21B 43/305 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dual packer injection leaching system, comprising:
a dual packer assembly configured to be disposed inside a well casing within a borehole in a leach pile, the dual packer assembly comprising a first upper packer, a first lower packer, and a first dispersion screen disposed between the first upper packer and the first lower packer, and a second upper packer, a second lower packer, and a second dispersion screen disposed between the second upper packer and the second lower packer;
a crane hook configured to support the dual packer assembly during installation of the dual packer assembly inside the well casing;
a mobile deployment system configured to be disposed adjacent the borehole, the mobile deployment system comprising:
a wire rope coiled around a wire rope reel drum, the wire rope further coupled to the dual packer assembly, and
a hose reel drum comprising a pneumatic line and an injection line, the pneumatic line coupled to the first upper packer and the first lower packer and the second upper packer and the second lower packer and configured to inflate the first upper packer and the first lower packer and the second upper packer and the second lower packer, and the injection line configured to provide leachate solution through the first dispersion screen and the second dispersion screen; and
a support structure coupled to a chain hoist, the chain hoist coupled to the dual packer assembly and configured to support the dual packer assembly and provide for a release of the crane hook from the dual packer assembly;
wherein the dual packer assembly is configured to deliver the leachate solution through the first dispersion screen to a first interval of the borehole bounded by the first upper packer and the first lower packer and through the second dispersion screen to a second interval of the borehole, the second interval lower than the first interval within the borehole and bounded by the second upper packer and the second lower packer.