Improving the Efficiency of Downhole Uranium Production Using Oxygen as an Oxidizer

Abstract

The features occurring during borehole uranium mining in deposits with low filtration characteristics, as well as the conditions and reasons for the reduction of geotechnological parameters of uranium mining by the well are considered in this study. Core material samples were taken from the productive horizon of the Chu-Sarysui province deposit and granulometric compositions were established. The contents of uranium, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, iron and carbonate minerals in the samples were determined by atomic emission spectroscopy. The X-ray phase analysis method established the features and quantitative and qualitative characteristics of ore-containing minerals. A special technique has been developed for conducting experiments in laboratory conditions using core samples, where the intensity of uranium leaching in tubes is determined. The results of laboratory studies are analyzed and discussed and graphs are constructed, to show the dependencies of change in: the filtration coefficients of Kf; the uranium content in solution; the extraction coefficient; and the specific consumption of sulfuric acid on the values of L:S (the ratio of liquid to solid) in the experiments. The effectiveness of using a mild acidity regime, with the addition of oxygen as an oxidizer, is determined and shown. The values of the uranium content in the productive solution, with the addition of oxygen as an oxidizer, reached 220 mg/L, which exceeds the design parameters. The results of uranium extraction from ore show a positive trend, reaching 68%, with L:S from 1.7 to 3.0, low acidity values and the addition of oxygen as an oxidizer. The specific consumption of sulfuric acid reaches the minimum values when using leaching solutions with reduced acidity of 26 kg/kg. The obtained results, on the flow rate of the solution in the tube, the extraction of uranium from ore and the specific consumption of sulfuric acid, indicate a decrease in sedimentation in a porous medium and increased filtration characteristics, with reduced acidity values in the leaching solution.