Repair of polymeric flow casing strings in in-situ leach boreholes in permafrost rock mass

In-situ leach of metals in Russia is carried out in severe natural and climatic conditions similar to the conditions of the Extreme North, at the possible temperature differences of 20 °С per day. Such circumstances increase the probability of mechanical damages in flow strings made of polymeric materials, which results in instable operation of boreholes with the preset functional specifications. The main mechanical damages are the disruption of threaded couplings and failure of the components of flow strings. As a result, process solutions flow to the hole clearance in injection holes and behind-the-casing fluids flow to the flow string, which deteriorates the process solutions in pumping-out holes. In connection with this, the methods of sealing restoration in polymeric casing strings are developed for the injection and pumping-out holes. The relevant sealers, their formulations and usage procedures are described. The physical and mechanical properties of sealing materials for the unsafe sites of the flow strings and the tools to bring the sealers to a target point in the hole are listed. From the implemented research, it is concluded on the efficiency of the proposed methods of repair-and-renewal operations.

Ivanov A. G., Gladyshev A. V., Arsentiev Yu. A., Nazarov A. P., Ivanov D. A. Repair of polymeric flow casing strings in in-situ leach boreholes in permafrost rock mass. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2024;(2):51-62. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2024_2_0_51.

A.G. Ivanov¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Chief Specialist, e-mail: ivanov.A.G@mail.ru,
A.V. Gladyshev¹, General Director, e-mail: Gladуshev.A.V@vnipipt.ru,
Yu.A. Arsentiev², Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor, e-mail: arsentev1956@yandex.ru,
A.P. Nazarov², Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor, e-mail: al.naz@mail.ru,
D.A. Ivanov, Drilling Engineer, Weatherford Company, Moscow, Russia,
¹ JSC «Leading Design and Survey and Research Institute of Industrial Technology», 115409, Moscow, Russia,
² Sergo Ordzhonikidzе Russian State Geological Prospecting University (MGRI-RSGPU), 117997, Moscow, Russia.

Yu.A. Arsentiev, e-mail: arsentev1956@yandex.ru.

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