What are the types of Class III wells?
Class III wells are used to mine uranium, salt, copper, and sulfur. Uranium in-situ leaching (ISL) is the most common method by which uranium is extracted in the United States. A typical uranium mining operation requires injection, extraction, and monitoring wells. The process includes the following steps: Injection wells are drilled into the formation containing the uranium. • A solution known as a lixiviant is injected and allowed to remain in contact with the rocks long enough to dissolve the uranium ore. • When the lixiviant is almost saturated with uranium, the fluid is brought to the surface via a production well. • At the surface, uranium is separated from the lixiviant. • The lixiviant is then injected to extract more uranium. The majority of Class III wells in the United States are uranium ISL wells. Salt solution mining wells inject clean water to dissolve the salt and the resulting brine (salt water) is pumped to the surface where the salt is extracted. Two methods are used:
