Ronald D Drake

US Patent:

6554368, Apr 29, 2003

Filed:

Mar 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/797886

Inventors:

Ronald D. Drake - Lake Arrowhead CA
Michael Helmut Kobler - San Francisco CA
John David Watson - Evergreen CO

Assignee:

Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc. - Evergreen CO

International Classification:

E21B 4124

US Classification:

299 8, 299 19, 299 18, 299 56, 299 13, 405146

Abstract:

The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.

US Patent:

6869147, Mar 22, 2005

Filed:

Jul 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/625916

Inventors:

Ronald D. Drake - Lake Arrowhead CA, US
Michael Helmut Kobler - San Francisco CA, US
John David Watson - Evergreen CO, US

Assignee:

Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc. - Evergreen CO

International Classification:

E21R041/24
E21D011/00

US Classification:

299 8, 299 18, 299 19, 299 56, 299 13, 405146

Abstract:

The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.

US Patent:

6929330, Aug 16, 2005

Filed:

Oct 16, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/272852

Inventors:

Ronald D. Drake - Lake Arrowhead CA, US
Michael Helmut Kobler - San Francisco CA, US
John David Watson - Evergreen CO, US

Assignee:

Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc. - Evergreen CO

International Classification:

E21C035/18

US Classification:

299 8, 299 55, 299 64, 299 18

Abstract:

The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.