Uranium Mining by In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Technologynma.org/pdf/uranium/060409_in_situ.pdfUranium...

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Uranium Mining by In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Technology A summary review prepared by Bill Boberg Ur-Energy Inc. Littleton, Colorado

Transcript of Uranium Mining by In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Technologynma.org/pdf/uranium/060409_in_situ.pdfUranium...

Page 1: Uranium Mining by In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Technologynma.org/pdf/uranium/060409_in_situ.pdfUranium In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Mining Low capital costs ($20 to $35 million) Environmentally

Uranium Miningby In-Situ Recovery (ISR)

Technology

A summary reviewprepared byBill Boberg

Ur-Energy Inc.Littleton, Colorado

Page 2: Uranium Mining by In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Technologynma.org/pdf/uranium/060409_in_situ.pdfUranium In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Mining Low capital costs ($20 to $35 million) Environmentally

Uranium In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Mining

Low capital costs ($20 to $35 million)Environmentally friendly (common solute is

ground water enriched with oxygen and, ifneeded, carbon dioxide or bicarbonate of soda)

Process essentially reverses the natural processby which the deposits were originally formed

Works very good on solution front deposits inporous & permeable sandstones (Wyoming, Texas,Kazakhstan, Australia, etc.)

Ideally 14 – 24 months mining, 24+ monthsground water restoration and surfacereclamation

Production cost range - $18 to $25 per pound

Prepared by Bill Boberg, Ur-Energy, Inc. 2006

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ISR Mine Production Schematic

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Basic ISR Process - Satellite

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ISR Wellfield Layout

Wellfield cross sectionIn following slide

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ISR Mining – Injection and Production Wells

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Drilling to Install WellfieldView at Christensen Ranch ISR Mine (Cogema/AREVA)

Powder River Basin, Wyoming

Photo by Tom Nicholson

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ISR Wellfield Smith Ranch Mine (PRI/Cameco)Powder River Basin, Wyoming

Photo by Bill Boberg – July 2005

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ISR Mining – A Plumbers World

A production welland insulating cover

Header House, controllingboth injection as well asproduction from many wellsin wellfield

Photos by Bill Boberg, Taken at PRI/CamecoSmith Ranch ISL Mine, Powder River BasinWyoming – July 2005

Page 10: Uranium Mining by In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Technologynma.org/pdf/uranium/060409_in_situ.pdfUranium In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Mining Low capital costs ($20 to $35 million) Environmentally

Basic ISR Plant Processing

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From the ISR Wellfield to the Plant

From the production well theproduced fluid goes through resintanks where the uranium isstripped from the fluid and is thenreturned to the wellfield

The resin is then transported to themill where it is stripped and theuranium is taken into solutionPhotos by Bill Boberg, Taken at PRI/CamecoSmith Ranch ISL Mine, Powder River BasinWyoming – July 2005

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From Solution to Yellowcake

After stripping from the resin, theuranium is taken through severalsteps in solution before beingprecipitated and dried

The final step in the mill is topackage the dry yellowcakein drums

Photos by Bill Boberg, Taken at PRI/CamecoSmith Ranch ISL Mine, Powder River BasinWyoming – July 2005

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Yellowcake – The Product

Yellowcakeuranium oxide (U3O8)800+ pounds per drumUS$80,000 per drum @ $100/lb

Filled drums of yellowcake awaitingshipment at Smith Ranch

Photos by Bill Boberg, Taken at PRI/CamecoSmith Ranch ISL Mine, Powder River BasinWyoming – July 2005

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ISR MiningGround Water Restoration