A downhole access tool for accessing a lateral branch of a wellbore includes a tool body, a sliding sleeve, and a deflector device including a deflector plate and a deflector actuator operatively coupled to the deflector plate. A central conduit extends axially through the downhole access tool. The sliding sleeve is slidable relative to the tool body in an axial direction between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the sliding sleeve restricts access through the opening. In the open position, the sliding sleeve permits access through the opening. The deflector actuator transitions the deflector plate between a deflection position and a passthrough position. In the deflection position, the deflector plate deflects tooling radially outward towards the opening. In the passthrough position, the deflector plate allows access axially through the central conduit.

A process for recovering copper from heap leach residues containing residual copper, includes identifying a production zone within the heap leach residues for secondary leaching, drilling wells into the heap at locations suitable for delivering leach solution into the production zone, injecting the leach solution including ferric ions through the wells and aerating the production zone to facilitate oxidative reactions within the production zone, and collecting effluent from the heap for copper recovery therefrom.

A process for recovering copper from heap leach residues containing residual copper, includes identifying a production zone within the heap leach residues for secondary leaching, drilling wells into the heap at locations suitable for delivering leach solution into the production zone, injecting the leach solution including ferric ions through the wells and aerating the production zone to facilitate oxidative reactions within the production zone, and collecting effluent from the heap for copper recovery therefrom.

Various embodiments provide a leaching solution monitoring module comprising a first leaching solution distribution system interface, a flow meter in fluid communication with the first leaching solution distribution system interface, the flow meter in fluid communication a 3-way pressure regulator, and a second leaching solution distribution system interface in fluid communication with the 3-way pressure regulator.

A method for building an underground storehouse by dissolving limestone with carbon dioxide, the method comprising the following steps: a.) drilling two wells extending from the ground surface (1) to a limestone layer (2), building a channel (5) allowing the two wells to communicate, and installing casing pipes (3, 4) respectively in the two wells; b.) introducing CO.sub.2 gas having at least 1 MPa of pressure into a CO.sub.2 absorbing solution having the same pressure to form a CO.sub.2 solution, flowing the CO.sub.2 solution into underground via the casing pipe (3) to react with the limestone to form a calcium bicarbonate solution, forming a cavern in the meanwhile, and discharging the calcium bicarbonate solution via the other casing pipe (4); c.) decompressing the discharged calcium bicarbonate solution to decompose the calcium bicarbonate contained in the solution into CO.sub.2, water and calcium carbonate, and recycling the separated CO.sub.2 absorption solution and the CO.sub.2; repeating steps b.) and c.) until a cavern meeting design requirements is formed, and discharging the solution from the cavern to form the underground storehouse (6). Also disclosed is a device for building an underground storehouse by dissolving limestone with carbon dioxide, the device comprising a CO.sub.2 storage tank (7), an absorption tower (8), a crystallizer (11), a pressure relief valve (9), a gas-liquid separator (10), a vacuum pump (13), a buffer (14) and booster pumps (12, 15, 16).

A method for building an underground storehouse by dissolving limestone with carbon dioxide, the method comprising the following steps: a.) drilling two wells extending from the ground surface (1) to a limestone layer (2), building a channel (5) allowing the two wells to communicate, and installing casing pipes (3, 4) respectively in the two wells; b.) introducing CO.sub.2 gas having at least 1 MPa of pressure into a CO.sub.2 absorbing solution having the same pressure to form a CO.sub.2 solution, flowing the CO.sub.2 solution into underground via the casing pipe (3) to react with the limestone to form a calcium bicarbonate solution, forming a cavern in the meanwhile, and discharging the calcium bicarbonate solution via the other casing pipe (4); c.) decompressing the discharged calcium bicarbonate solution to decompose the calcium bicarbonate contained in the solution into CO.sub.2, water and calcium carbonate, and recycling the separated CO.sub.2 absorption solution and the CO.sub.2; repeating steps b.) and c.) until a cavern meeting design requirements is formed, and discharging the solution from the cavern to form the underground storehouse (6). Also disclosed is a device for building an underground storehouse by dissolving limestone with carbon dioxide, the device comprising a CO.sub.2 storage tank (7), an absorption tower (8), a crystallizer (11), a pressure relief valve (9), a gas-liquid separator (10), a vacuum pump (13), a buffer (14) and booster pumps (12, 15, 16).

The present invention finds its field of application among the advanced oil recovery methods, which must occur simultaneously and integrated with the capture, utilization, and storage of CO2 through a cavern built in offshore saline rock. More particularly the invention refers to offshore oil wells where there is an evaporitic rock layer next to it and, suitable for constructing a cavern in the saline rock, for its use as a CO2 and brine control volume in the water-gas alternating injection process in the reservoir.

The present invention finds its field of application among the advanced oil recovery methods, which must occur simultaneously and integrated with the capture, utilization, and storage of CO2 through a cavern built in offshore saline rock. More particularly the invention refers to offshore oil wells where there is an evaporitic rock layer next to it and, suitable for constructing a cavern in the saline rock, for its use as a CO2 and brine control volume in the water-gas alternating injection process in the reservoir.

An acid tunneling system for forming lateral tunnels from a central wellbore. The acid tunneling system includes an acid tunneling tool having an acid injection nozzle which can be steered and oriented in response to downhole parameters that are detected and sent to surface in real time.

An acid tunneling system for forming lateral tunnels from a central wellbore. The acid tunneling system includes an acid tunneling tool having an acid injection nozzle which can be steered and oriented in response to downhole parameters that are detected and sent to surface in real time.