Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Reformability evaluation of blasting-enhanced permeability in in situ leaching mining of low-permeability sandstone-type uranium deposits

  • Wei Wang (Key Laboratory of Roads and Railway Engineering Safety Control (Shijiazhuang Tiedao University), Ministry of Education) ;
  • Xuanyu Liang (Key Laboratory of Roads and Railway Engineering Safety Control (Shijiazhuang Tiedao University), Ministry of Education) ;
  • Qinghe Niu (Key Laboratory of Roads and Railway Engineering Safety Control (Shijiazhuang Tiedao University), Ministry of Education) ;
  • Qizhi Wang (Innovation Center of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Technology for Geotechnical and Structural Systems of Hebei Province (Preparation)) ;
  • Jinyi Zhuo (Key Laboratory of Roads and Railway Engineering Safety Control (Shijiazhuang Tiedao University), Ministry of Education) ;
  • Xuebin Su (Department of In Situ Leaching Technology, Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy) ;
  • Genmao Zhou (Department of In Situ Leaching Technology, Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy) ;
  • Lixin Zhao (Department of In Situ Leaching Technology, Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy) ;
  • Wei Yuan (Key Laboratory of Roads and Railway Engineering Safety Control (Shijiazhuang Tiedao University), Ministry of Education) ;
  • Jiangfang Chang (Key Laboratory of Roads and Railway Engineering Safety Control (Shijiazhuang Tiedao University), Ministry of Education) ;
  • Yongxiang Zheng (Key Laboratory of Roads and Railway Engineering Safety Control (Shijiazhuang Tiedao University), Ministry of Education) ;
  • Jienan Pan (School of Resources & Environment, Henan Polytechnic University) ;
  • Zhenzhi Wang (School of Resources & Environment, Henan Polytechnic University) ;
  • Zhongmin Ji (School of Resources & Environment, Henan Polytechnic University)
  • Received : 2022.05.17
  • Accepted : 2023.03.27
  • Published : 2023.08.25
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Abstract

It is essential to evaluate the blasting-enhanced permeability (BEP) feasibility of a low-permeability sandstone-type uranium deposit. In this work, the mineral composition, reservoir physical properties and rock mechanical properties of samples from sandstone-type uranium deposits were first measured. Then, the reformability evaluation method was established by the analytic hierarchy process-entropy weight method (AHP-EWM) and the fuzzy mathematics method. Finally, evaluation results were verified by the split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) experiment and permeability test. Results show that medium sandstone, argillaceous sandstone and siltstone exhibit excellent reformability, followed by coarse sandstone and fine sandstone, while the reformability of sandy mudstone is poor and is not able to accept BEP reservoir stimulation. The permeability improvement and the distribution of damage fractures before and after the SHPB experiment confirm the correctness of evaluation results. This research provides a reformability evaluation method for the BEP of the low-permeability sandstone-type uranium deposit, which contributes to the selection of the appropriate regional and stratigraphic horizon of the BEP and the enhanced ISL of the low-permeability sandstone-type uranium deposit.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51979170, U1967208, 11902208, U2244228), the Hebei Natural Science Foundation (E2021210128, E2021210077, E2020208071), the Science and Technology Project of Hebei Education Department (QN2021129, BJK2022010), the S&T Program of Hebei (22374102D, 216Z5403G), the Opening Foundation of Key Laboratory of Roads and Railway Engineering Safety Control (Shijiazhuang Tiedao University), Ministry of Education (STDTKF202102), the Autonomous Subject of School of Civil Engineering of Shijiazhuang Tiedao University (TMXN2204), the Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province (222300420366) and the Graduate Innovation Funding Project of Shijiazhuang Tiedao University (YC2022002).

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