Utilizing hydraulic barriers to reduce leakage of hot water and enhance sculpture production at Mishraq mine northern Iraq

Abstract EN

Sculpture is produced at Mishra mine by hydrodynamic method (modified Frisch method) of injecting super – heated water 165ºC through a special well in to the sculpture horizons to melt the sculpture underground.

A seepage of super–heated water at 132˚ C to the Tigris River has been noticed, which cause drop in deposit pressure as well as polluting the river water.

A drop of sculpture productivity has also been noticed in some regions of the mine despite of their content of high sculpture percentage, and injection of huge quantities of hot water.

Hydraulic barriers were located according to the transmissibility and temperature distribution maps.

The barriers consist of wells especially designed for injection of cold water down to the sculpture horizons.

The barriers were shown to be very effective in increasing the ground water pressure and decreasing the hot water seepage to the river, and dropped the general hot water factor (m3 water / 1ton sculpture), from 20.0 to 12.0; besides, the productivity of sculpture increased from 1.5 ton / hr.

to 5 ton / hr.