Patent ID: 8021461
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method for extracting a component from a heap of material, the method comprising: after the heap has been subjected to component extraction by heap leaching for some period of time, surveying the heap, the surveying comprising collecting data concerning properties within the heap and analyzing the data to identify portions of the heap deficient in extraction of the component in that the extraction of the component in the identified portions of the heap is low in comparison to average extraction of the component from the heap, the collecting data comprising a geophysical survey and the analyzing comprising analyzing data from the geophysical survey; and subjecting the heap to selective remedial treatment, the selective remedial treatment comprising: based on the surveying, selecting for remedial treatment an identified portion of the heap determined from the surveying to be deficient in extraction of the component in that the extraction of the component in the identified portion is low in comparison to average extraction of the component from the heap; excavating a well into the identified portion of the heap; and through the well, remedially treating the identified portion of the heap to improve the extraction of the component from the identified portion of the heap, the remedially treating comprising: