Solution mining water soluble salts at high temperatures

Subterranean formations of water soluble salt deposits are solution mined by introducing into the formation an aqueous solvent having a temperature substantially above the temperature of the deposit thereby heating the deposit and dissolving the soluble salts, and withdrawing from the deposit an aqueous solution enriched in the dissolved salts. An aqueous solvent having a temperature lower than the temperature of the first solvent is subsequently introduced into the deposit thereby recapturing heat given up to the deposit and dissolving the soluble salt utilizing greater solubility characteristics of the soluble salts owing to the increased deposit temperature, and withdrawing from the deposit a substantially increased amount of dissolved salt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to solution mining of subterranean formations of 
water soluble salt deposits utilizing a solvent at high temperatures 
thereby heating the formation and recapturing heat given up thereto. It 
more particularly relates to solution mining of subterranean formations of 
soluble salt deposits which have increasing solubilities and increasing 
rates of dissolution with increasing temperatures, e.g., potassium 
chloride. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Subterranean deposits of water soluble salts have been solution mined by 
introducing an aqueous solvent through one or more boreholes communicating 
with the deposit and withdrawing a solution enriched in the dissolved 
salt. A cavity is created thereby and begins to grow as larger surface 
areas of the deposit are exposed to the solvent which in turn dissolves 
more soluble salt until the cavity becomes so large that the soluble salt 
can no longer be extracted at commercially attractive rates or surface 
subsidence becomes a risk. Salts such as sylvinite, trona, and halite have 
been extracted from subterranean deposits employing this technique. 
It is often advantageous to extract these soluble salts using aqueous 
solvents hotter than the deposit to effect relatively rapid extraction 
rates as well as to provide a solvent having a greater capacity than a 
cooler solvent. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,161,800 to Cross teaches 
solution mining of potassium compounds by circulating through underground 
potash beds super heated water or brine unsaturated with respect to the 
potassium compounds at temperatures of about 200.degree. C. or above. 
While this method uses high temperature solvents which have the benefit of 
causing the potassium compounds to be extracted relatively rapidly, there 
is no provision in the method to recover the heat transferred to the 
underground potash beds. Thus, since potash beds are relatively highly 
heat conducting, a sizable expense is incurred in heat loss thereto. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,290 to Caldwell teaches a method of circulating a 
solvent through an underground trona formation which is thereby heated to 
between 50.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C. by heating the solvent 
before each cycle. A portion of the circulating solvent is bled from the 
system for purposes of extracting sodium values therefrom. This method 
minimizes the amount of heat necessarily supplied to heat up the solution 
in the passage or cavity and to heat the surrounding trona formation, but 
again, no provision is made to recover heat loss to the formation by 
transient conduction. Therefore, the cost for the substantial and rapid 
heat input required to bring the solution and surrounding cavity to the 
desired dissolving temperature is never recaptured. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,278,234 to Helvenston teaches a method of solution mining 
potassium chloride by feeding solvent between 50.degree. C. and 
100.degree. C. into a subterranean potassium chloride and sodium chloride 
bearing deposit without losing heat by maintaining withdrawn enriched 
solution within 15.degree. C. of the matural deposit temperature. However, 
this method does not have the advantage of increased potassium chloride 
dissolution at temperatures substantially higher than the natural 
formation temperature. Consequently, there is a compromise in the amount 
of potassium chloride mined per unit volume of solvent used. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,348,883 to Jacoby teaches the concomitant solution mining 
and refining of soluble minerals, such as sodium chloride ore containing 
sulfates as an impurity, by utilizing a high temperature geological 
environment to satisfy the heat source requirement to selectively exclude 
the sulfates during mining. This method does not involve introducing heat 
into the soluble mineral deposits beneath the earth's surface, hence any 
inefficiency in heat utilization does not result in a sizable loss in 
energy costs. However, the geological environment of most subterranean 
soluble salt deposits is not conducive to this method. Thus, the 
application of this method is limited. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,754 to Christian teaches a method of producing 
geothermal energy and/or minerals from subterranean reservoirs at about 
600.degree. F. and containing up to 250,000 ppm salt content by injecting 
into the reservoir a low salinity water at ambient surface temperature. 
The injected water is allowed to become heated after which water is 
withdrawn from the reservoir containing heat energy and minerals. Here 
again, the application of this method is limited as is the Jacoby method 
described above. 
It is therefore a desideratum that subterranean soluble salt deposits be 
recovered using a high temperature solvent whereby heat lost to the 
subterranean deposit can be somehow recaptured. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It has been discovered that an aqueous solvent between about 40.degree. C. 
and 135.degree. C. or higher can be utilized to solution mine subterranean 
formations rich in water soluble salt deposits without losing 
irretrievable heat to the formation. In accordance with this discovery, an 
aqueous solvent having a temperature substantially higher than the 
temperature of the formation is introduced into the formation imparting 
heat thereto causing the soluble salt to be rapidly extracted by the hot 
solvent. A highly enriched solution is withdrawn from the formation owing 
to the solvent having an increasing dissolving rate and/or capacity with 
increasing temperatures. Before heat imparted to the formation is too 
greatly dissipated, a solvent having a temperature lower than the first 
solvent is subsequently or simultaneously introduced into the formation, 
which supplies heat, thereby aiding the lower temperature solvent to 
further extract the salt. A solution is then withdrawn from the deposite 
commensurate with its increased temperature. 
The benefits of this invention are numerous. First, the invention is not 
limited to recovering salts having a solubility that increases with 
increasing temperatures. For virtually all salts, a solvent having a 
higher temperature has a greater dissolving rate. Thus, a hot solvent can 
be circulated through a subterranean formation rich in salt deposits at a 
faster rate than a cooler solvent extracting the same amount of salt. 
Second, where there is a mixture of salts, one of which having a greater 
solubility at higher temperatures than the solubility of other principal 
salts in the mixture, the hot solvent can selectively mine the salt with 
the greater solubility. For example, hot solvent extracts sodium chloride 
from a subterranean formation of sodium chloride and sulfate deposits at 
the exclusion of sulfates, thereby yielding an essentially pure sodium 
chloride solution. The subsequently fed cooler solvents extracts sodium 
chloride to the exclusion of sulfates to a lesser extent, but heat that 
could be potentially lost to the formation is recovered by the cooler 
solvent. 
The benefits of the invention are best utilized in the recovery of 
potassium chloride from salt deposits of potassium chloride/sodium 
chloride mixtures. The invention is utilized (1) in mining selectively 
some potassium chloride to the exclusion of some sodium chloride, when the 
solvent is a solution saturated with respect to sodium chloride, (2) in 
mining at faster flow rates, and (3) in mining deposits having relatively 
lower potassium chloride content. Heat of the solvent which is not 
imparted to the formation but contained in the withdrawn solution enhances 
above surface refinery processes. A solution having a relatively higher 
overall potassium chloride content is realized utilizing the hotter 
solvent, while heat loss is reduced when subsequently utilizing the cooler 
solvent. 
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the formation is 
maintained to within 15.degree. C. of its natural (undisturbed) 
temperature by supplying only enough heat by the hotter solvent for 
subsequent mining with the cooler solvent. Thus, the temperature of the 
formation would appear undisturbed within 15.degree. C.

DETAILED DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
According to the present invention a subterranean formation of water 
soluble salt deposits is mined with a solvent having a temperature higher 
than that of the formation and heat imparted thereby to the formation is 
regained by subsequently mining with a solvent having a temperature lower 
than that of the first solvent. Both solvents are withdrawn from the 
deposit enriched in dissolved soluble salt. While the method of the 
present invention is applicable generically to (1) soluble salt mixtures 
conducive to mining more selectively at increasing temperatures because at 
least one salt in the mixture has an increasing solubility, e.g., 
potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, trona, and the like, and/or (2) 
soluble salts having increasing dissolving rates at increasing 
temperatures, e.g., sodium chloride, potassium chloride and most other 
salts, the present invention will be described with reference to solution 
mining potassium chloride from salt deposits containing potassium 
chloride, sodium chloride, and minor amounts of water soluble and 
insoluble impurities. 
Accordingly, an aqueous solvent unsaturated with respect to potassium 
chloride and having a temperature higher than that of the deposit is fed 
into the deposit thereby creating a cavity. The solvent is fed between 
about 5.degree. C. and 50.degree. C. above the natural formation 
temperature which, for example, range from about 35.degree. C. to 
85.degree. C. for depths of about 600 to 2500 meters. The solvent 
temperature is determined so that it supplies enough heat which is to be 
consumed by three (3) factors. First, it supplies the heat of dissolution 
of the potassium chloride, including the potassium chloride required to 
increase the saturation of the solution in the cavity. Second, it supplies 
heat to raise and maintain the temperature of the solution in the cavity. 
Third, it supplies heat which is absorbed by the formation, mostly through 
the walls of the cavity and to a lesser extent through the roof and to an 
even lesser extent, through the floor. Accordingly, the temperature of the 
solvent is preferably high enough to satisfy the aforesaid heat 
requirements but not so high that its associated vapor pressure otherwise 
would make its use prohibitive. 
The rate at which the solvent is circulated through the cavity depends upon 
the potassium chloride content of the ore in the cavity while the duration 
it is circulated before heat is recaptured depends upon the heat 
conductivity of the formation and the manner in which heat imparted to the 
formation is recaptured. Generally, if the potassium chloride content is 
low, the solvent should be circulated through the deposit slowly; if the 
potassium chloride content is high, the solvent should be circulated more 
rapidly so that the resulting solution is withdrawn from the cavity 
enriched in potassium chloride. Since the heat conductivity of the 
formation varies owing to relative salt compositions, density and moisture 
content thereof, generally (with other factors equal) a high heat 
conducting formation should be fed fast for a relatively short length of 
time; a lower heat conducting formation should be fed slowly for a longer 
length of time. Other criteria to be considered include the aqueous 
solvent composition, the formation salt composition, the desired cavity 
shape, and the method of heat recapture. 
The circulation duration is chosen so that heat is imparted to the 
formation thereby heating the formation substantially above its natural 
temperature. The essence of the present invention resides in heating the 
formation which in turn heats a subsequently fed solvent whereby greater 
solubility characteristics of both solvents for their respective 
temperature are gained. Thus, it is preferred that the formation is 
supplied enough heat for the subsequently fed cooler solvent to satisfy 
the heat of dissolution of potassium chloride and to maintain the 
temperature of the solution in the cavity such that the net formation 
temperature is maintained within 15.degree. C. of its natural 
(undisturbed) temperature. Of course, the formation may be heated to a 
lesser extent, whereby lesser solubility characteristics of the solvents 
are realized and whereby the temperature of the subsequently fed solvent 
must be higher. Nonetheless, there is an advantage in the present 
invention so long as the value of additional potassium chloride recovered, 
owing to the higher solvent temperature utilized, exceeds the value of 
heat irretrievably lost to the formation. Hence, the formation may be 
heated as low as about 2.degree. C. with no upper limit but preferably 
between 2.degree. C. and about 15.degree. C. above its natural 
temperature. 
A lower temperature solvent is fed into the heated formation thereby using 
the heat of the formation to satisfy at least a portion of the 
aforedescribed requirements thereby dissolving a substantially increased 
amount of potassium chloride over that which would be dissolved if the 
formation had not been heated. The solution in the cavity is continually 
cooled by the lower temperature solvent which continually recaptures heat 
from the formation. However, the formation should only be cooled until the 
net formation temperature is within 15.degree. C. of its natural 
temperature. Hence, the temperature of the solvent, the rate at which it 
is fed into the cavity, and its salt composition should be such that too 
much heat is not consumed from the formation. 
The time which is allowed to elapse during feeding the heating solvent and 
before the lower temperature solvent is fed into the cavity is critical to 
the amount of heat recaptured. Since the heat flows from a hot cavity and 
flows from a hot conduit communicating therewith, it may be irretrievably 
dispersed into the formation. It is therefore necessary that heat is 
recaptured before that time occurs. Of course, this depends upon the many 
aforesaid heat conductivity factors, but generally the time between cavity 
initiation or development with a heating solvent and heat recapture by the 
lower temperature solvent is about 3 to 24 months for a formation 
containing sylvinite and a minor amount of impurities. Whether the longer 
or shorter time is used can depend on the method of heat recapture 
utilized. 
In one method of heat recapture, the lower temperature solvent is fed into 
a same bore hole and a same cavity developed by the heating solvent. This 
method has the advantage of recapturing heat given up to the formation in 
all directions. Hence, heat lost to the formation around the conduit, to 
the walls, roof, and floor of the cavity can be readily recaptured. Since 
heat flows at different rates through the conduit or walls than the floor 
or roof, both of the latter of which are somewhat insulated as herein 
described, it is preferred that the lower temperature solvent is fed into 
the cavity at a time to recapture the most heat through the conduit and 
the walls of the cavity through both mediums of which most heat is 
transferred. 
Hence, heating solvent and cooling solvent can be alternately fed into the 
cavity thereby extracting potassium chloride therefrom until the cavity is 
large enough to be inactivated. After the cavity is heated by the heating 
solvent last fed, then the lower temperature solvent, a solution saturated 
with sodium chloride, is fed into the cavity to selectively mine potassium 
chloride at a slow rate; i.e., allow the lower temperature solvent to 
stand about 3-13 months, after which it is withdrawn having recaptured 
heat of the formation and having been enriched in potassium chloride. 
In an alternate method of recapturing heat by introducing the lower 
temperature solvent into the same cavity developed by the heating solvent, 
the cavity is developed using methods of U.S. Pat. No. 3,148,000. 
Accordingly, the cavity is rubble mined using the heating solvent and the 
cavity is enlarged using the lower temperature solvent thereby providing a 
space for further rubble mining. In this method it is preferred that high 
potassium chloride content ore is rubble mined and lower potassium 
chloride content ore mined to provide space for further rubble mining. 
This alternate method is particularly preferred since very high potassium 
chloride yield is possible without losing heat in the process. 
In a second method of recapturing heat from the formation, a second cavity 
or series of cavities (heat sink cavities) are developed laterally 
adjacent the cavity fed by the heating solvent (heat source cavity). The 
heat sink cavity should be close enough to the heat source cavity to be in 
heat exchange relationship therewith and preferably the heat sink cavity 
have potassium chloride-rich strata in continuity with the heat source 
cavity. Since potassium chloride-rich deposits have a relatively high 
conductivity, heat easily flows laterally toward the heat sink cavity 
rather than flowing toward secondary competing heat sinks such as sand, 
silt, shale, and limestone, all of which may be overburden to the salt 
deposits to be mined. In some circumstances aquifers which are usually 
overburden and in almost all circumstances high sodium chloride content 
ore which is usually overburden and overburden to the deposits and which 
is economically impractical to mine can both be primary competing heat 
sinks, however. But, heat loss to these heat sinks, either through the 
floor, roof or wall of the heat source cavity, is obviated by creating a 
greater driving force to the heat sink cavity by maintaining a larger 
temperature drop thereto, if practical; however, when the heat sink cavity 
is very close to an aquifier, e.g., especially when the cavity is in open 
communication with the aquifier through which water is moving, this may 
not be possible. 
Since heat recaptured by this second method is obviously primarily in the 
lateral direction, it is more expedient to have a cavity pattern such as 
several heat sink cavities around each heat source cavity and several heat 
source cavities around each heat sink cavity. Also, the heat source cavity 
will typically be insulated on its roof and floor to limit heat loss 
therethrough. Other cavity patterns may be apparent. 
The lower temperature solvent is fed into the formation to develop the heat 
sink cavity at a time when the location where the cavity is to be 
developed is sufficiently heated. This may be anytime between 3 and 24 
months after the initiation of the heat source cavity. The location of the 
heat sink cavity may also depend upon whether the cavities are to be 
connected. Connection of cavities is aided by the present invention since 
heat sink cavities have a tendency to "seek" heat source cavities. Hence, 
in cases where fracturing is impractical, the invention can substantially 
reduce the time required to connect cavities. Accordingly, the distance 
between heat sink and heat source cavities to be connected is generally 
about 20 to 100 meters; distance between cavities not to be connected, 
about 100 to 1000 meters. Shorter or longer distances may also be 
possible. 
In this second method of heat recapture, the heat source and heat sink 
cavities can be mined simultaneously for long periods of time when the 
heat sink cavity is developed shortly after initiation of the heat source 
cavity. This gives rise to an added advantage of heat recapture by the 
second method which facilitates the determination and control of the rate 
of heat flow from the heat source cavity. By monitoring the temperature, 
composition and flow rates of solvents and solutions fed into and 
withdrawn from the cavities, adjustments designed to correct undesirable 
conditions can be made. For example, when the temperature of the solution 
withdrawn from the heat sink cavity become so low that precipitation of 
potassium chloride may plug withdrawal conduits, the temperature of the 
solvent fed to the heat source cavity may be raised. Alternately, the 
temperature of the solvent fed to the heat sink cavity can be raised, or 
the composition of the solvent or rate of solvent fed to the heat sink 
cavity can be adjusted. In cases where large quantities of heat given up 
to the formation is not recaptured by one method or by one heat sink 
cavity, another method may be used or additional heat sink cavities may be 
strategically located to recapture heat. Many other alternate methods 
become apparent whereby greater latitude in control and expedient use of 
heat are provided when using the second method of heat recapture. 
Reference is now made to FIG. 1 which diagramically illustrates the mining 
of potassium chloride from its subterranean deposits 30 in accordance with 
one embodiment of the present invention. A bore hole is drilled to a 
mineable potassium chloride-lean strata 32 and lined with casing 1. 
Typically, the mineable strata will have a salt composition occuring in 
the following range: 
______________________________________ 
Composition Percent by Weight 
______________________________________ 
Potassium Chloride 10 to 40 
Water Insoluble Clay 
About 1 to 5 
Sulfates Less than about 5 
Water Soluble Calcium and 
Magnesium Salts Such as 
Magnesium Chloride, Calcium 
Chloride About 2 
Sodium Chloride Remainder 
______________________________________ 
This mineable strata is typically between about 600 meters and 3000 meters 
deep and deeper such as deposits which are located in the Northern United 
States and Canada. The well is drilled through the potassium chloride rich 
strata, i.e., strata greater than 10 percent potassium chloride by weight, 
to a depth where the temperature is 60.degree. C. and the potassium 
chloride content is less than about 10 percent by weight, preferably where 
the potassium chloride content is near 0 percent and located immediately 
below the potassium chloride rich strata. Water or an aqueous solution at 
about 60.degree. C. and unsaturated with respect to sodium chloride is fed 
into the deposit through a tube 2 and withdrawn from the deposit through 
tube 3, both of which are disposed in the cased well bore 1, thereby 
creating a cavity 8 in the deposit. 
A second cased bore hole 11 is drilled to the same mineable potassium 
chloride-lean strata 32 to a depth in communication with the strata of the 
first cavity and about 50 meters away. Water or an aqueous solution at 
about 60.degree. C. and unsaturated with respect to sodium chloride is fed 
through tube 13 and into the salt deposit and withdrawn through tube 12, 
thereby creating cavity 18. Both, cavity 8 and 18 are grown upwardly by 
raising roofs 7 and 17, respectively, and grown laterally by feeding into 
the cavities an insulating inert fluid 6 and 16, respectively, according 
to the methods known in the art. Preferably, fluids 6 and 16 are also heat 
insulating. Inert insoluble solid materials 9 and 19 settle to the bottom 
of cavities 8 and 18, respectively. If materials 9 and 19 are not heat 
insulating then inert solid materials having a density greater than the 
solution and which are heat insulating are fed into the cavities 8 and 18. 
At this point cavity 8 is heated by feeding thereinto solvent at 80.degree. 
C. into tube 2 disposed in casing 1. Since the strata is low in potassium 
chloride content, the solvent is not substantially cooled because separate 
tubes are used for injecting and withdrawing and it dissolves essentially 
only sodium chloride. Hence, little heat is lost from solvent injected to 
solution withdrawn from the cavity. Consequently, cavity 18 is heated by 
heat given up to the formation between cavity 8 and cavity 18. Cavity 18, 
which is then continually fed 50.degree. C. solvent, begins to grow toward 
cavity 8 and consequently connects therewith because sodium chloride, 
although not having a solubility which substantially increases with 
temperature, has a rate of dissolution which increases with increasing 
temperatures. Thus, the rate of growth toward cavity 8 is faster than its 
rate of growth in other directions. Alternately, connection is not 
attempted until the roofs of the cavities are raised into the potassium 
chloride rich strata whereby the increased solubility of potassium 
chloride is utilized for an even more rapid cavity connection. In either 
event, cavities 8 and 18 are grown laterally with insulating blanket 6 and 
16 and insulating material 9 and 19 in place until the two cavities 
connect as shown in FIG. 2. 
Reference is now made to FIG. 2 where tubings 2, 3, 12 and 13 are removed 
from casing 1 and 11, respectively, and hot solvent is fed into casing 1 
and solution withdrawn from casing 11. Here roof raises are made into 
potassium chloride rich strata 31 and can be done utilizing a solvent with 
high temperature greater than that used in the illustration of FIG. 1 
because the withdrawal casing 11 is better insulated from the feed casing 
1. Hence, there is no loss of heat to withdrawn solution which is much 
cooler than the feed solution, especially when potassium chloride is being 
extracted from the deposit. 
To effect a roof raise, a solvent at 105.degree. C. and saturated with 
respect to sodium chloride and unsaturated with respect to potassium 
chloride can be fed into the top of cavity 8 with insulating fluid blanket 
6 removed. Thus, the roof 7 of cavity 8 is raised into potassium chloride 
rich strata 31 rapidly since the solvent fed is less dense than the 
solution in the cavity. If the solvent is fed into the bottom of the 
cavity, the roof raise would be less rapid and the cavity shape would be 
slightly different, i.e., less of the "morning glory" shape familiar to 
those skilled in the art. However, use of morning glory shapes can be 
intentionally made and aid in cavity connections by the process of the 
present invention described above. 
During the last increment of each roof raise, a cooler solvent at 
60.degree. C. and unsaturated with respect to sodium chloride and 
potassium chloride is fed into the cavity to recapture heat given up to 
the formation above the cavity. The heat and solvent insulating fluid 
blanket is then replaced in the cavity so that lateral cavity growth can 
be resumed. 
A second cavity is developed such as in the manner the first cavity is 
developed and located in lateral communication with the strata of the 
first cavity, so that after full development of both cavities the walls 
thereof would be 100 meters apart. The solvent developing the second 
cavity is fed through casing 21 and solution is withdrawn through casing 
22. An insulating fluid blanket 27 is fed into cavity 28. 
A cooler solvent at 60.degree. C. and unsaturated with respect to sodium 
chloride and potassium chloride is fed into cavity 28 as hot solvent at 
105.degree. C. is fed into cavity 8 for lateral growth. Heat is 
transferred, thereby, from cavity 8 to cavity 28 to supply heat for 
dissolution of potassium chloride and to heat the solution in cavity 28. 
During the raising of roof 27 of cavity 28, solvent at 105.degree. C. is 
used after removing insulating fluid blanket 26, as is used in raising 
roof 7 of cavity 8. Also, the cooler solvent at 60.degree. C. is used for 
the last increment of roof raise to recapture heat given up to the 
formation above cavity 28. After each roof raise, the insulating fluid 
blanket 26 is replaced in cavity 28 to resume cavity growth laterally. 
Cavities 28 and 8 may be alternated as heat source and heat sink cavities. 
Also, casings 1 and 21 may be alternated with casings 11 and 22 as feed 
and withdrawal conduits, respectively. 
Reference is now made to FIG. 3 which illustrates a well cluster pattern of 
a minefield. Here cold cavities, i.e., cavities fed by cooler solvent, are 
surrounded by hot cavities, e.g., cavities fed by hotter solvents. Thus, 
heat is supplied and heat is recaptured from around each cold cavity 
except all cavities on the perimeter of the cluster pattern are cold to 
prevent heat from escaping from the clustern pattern area. Hot and cold 
cavities may be alternated but it is preferred that the solvents last 
introduced into the perimeter cavities are cold solvents. 
The overall control of the cluster system can be easily effected by 
monitoring all withdrawal streams and adjusting the temperature, 
composition, and flow rates of feeding streams. The cluster is controlled 
so that the net inventory of heat is such that the final temperature is 
within 15.degree. C. of the natural formation temperature while benefit is 
made from using hot solvents. 
It should be understood that while the present invention has been described 
with reference to specific details and certain embodiments thereof, it is 
not intended that such details be regarded as limitations upon the scope 
of the invention except insofar as they are included in the accompanying 
Claims.