• HOME
• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
• PATENT PUBLICATIONS
  PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT
• HYDRO-MINING PROJECT OVERVIEW
• DR. GEORGE SAVANICK'S CHAPTER 22.4
• CONTACT US

CONTACT INFORMATION

Gib Hice (President)
Expertise in technical detail, patent-pending application status, historical and future application of methods and apparatus evolution of Hydro-Mining:

Tele: (541) 582-3880

Cell: (541) 291-0529

Fax: (541) 582-3880

Email: audoc@q.com

Tom Hice,CPA
(Executive Vice-President)
Financial engineering expertise in fund raising, project development, mineral rights expansion, public marketing and equity building:

Tele: (541) 582-0803

Cell: (541) 621-2657

Fax: (541) 582-6052

Email: hicet@hicegold.com

Doug Devine (Vice President)
Expertise in advanced survey technology in satellite imagery, 3-D modeling, ultra-modern survey technology, and mapping development:

Tele: (541) 772-5777

Cell: (541) 944-1708

Email: DDevine@pacificsurvey.com

PATENT PUBLICATIONS

Gilbert Alan Hice and Thomas Joseph Hice have filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as well as patent applications that are pending.

Patents and applications are owned by Geodrilling Technologies, Inc. - an Oregon regular “C” Corporation.

GENERAL PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT and DEPLOYMENT AGENDA
(for Hydro-Mining Assemblage for Commercial Sonic Borehole Mining)

Overview:

We, HERC, will initially focus our concept into a relatively narrow scope of excavation and recovery development that allows for mining slurry through one borehole using inventive attachable components and methods, then we will work on more optimal designs as time-line allows. A fundamental working prototype will be established as soon as possible, likely providing suboptimal performance (while optimizing safety measures). To begin with we intend to quickly establish a relatively successful subsurface mining approach with an initial baseline of predictable performance. We will address as necessary any questions regarding siphon coupling eductors and components of the bottom-hole assembly in relatively deep jet-excavation, evaluating for baseline performance objectives including sump recovery and processing as well as surface slurry/water separation and water clarification/filtration. Since the heterogeneity of placer mining sites is so variable and the complexity of understanding mining specificity will also require longitudinal experience, the process of acquiring optimal performance will take time. Empirical testing of various designs will be done with performance comparisons being made at multiple sites with variants within variables being examined. The prime site (prototype Alpha Unit working site) will be the first commercial site and will also be used to improve efficiency relative to the beta test site performance baselines and for further assessment and on-site adjustments to system/methods to match the challenges of the prime site and others to follow.

The Following General assessment QUESTIONS will be addressed:

Question #1:

What are the difficulties associated with designing, manufacturing and combining effective attachable Hydro-Mining apparatus components (i.e. jetting eductor coupling, frustum transition rod, jetting sub-coupling and jetting shoe rock bit) to be used with a sonic core drill rig’s system to form a new mining rod string system attached to water pump volume and pressure?

Question #2:

What are the performance and safety parameters assessed with (i.e. effective production and movement of both water in air and slurry subsurface at beta testing site) assembly and working of proposed designs of rod string attached eductor coupling, transition rod, jetting sub-coupling, bit jet using a high-pressure/high-volume pump using inactive sonic core drilling rig in a shallow mining procedure (excavation and extraction)?

Question #3:

What is the general assessment of the efficacy (i.e. improved effective production and movement of pulsed water in air and slurry compared to findings from Question #2) when combining proposed assembly of effective design of eductor coupling, transition rod, jetting sub-coupling, bit jet and sump trap using high-pressure/high-volume pump energy combined with an active sonic core drilling rig in a shallow (e.g. 20-30 foot and also deeper) mining procedure (excavation and extraction)?

Question #4:

What is the assessment of improved efficiencies associated with design variations to increase efficacy (i.e. effective production and movement of slurry) of combining proposed designs of eductor coupling, transition rod, jetting sub-coupling, bit jet and sump trap using a high-pressure/high-volume pump and an active sonic core drilling rig in both shallow and deep jet-mining events?

Stage 1

Goals:

Establish working parameters for developing attachable mining apparatus to sonic rig and make initial contacts for ancillary equipment.

Objectives:

1. Collaborate with TerraSonic, sign working agreements for developing sonic mining rig, establish time-lines, goals and objectives for developing apparatus including purchase of 1-2 sonic drill rigs.
2. Contact seismic engineering group, sign working seismic mapping agreement to establish both pre-mining and while mining (RAMPS).
3. Advertise for hydraulic engineer or other (per TerraSonic referral and direction) to act as chief operations officer (COO) with experience in sonic research, mining and/or multilayered development of project along with establishing chain of command.
4. Advertise for sonic driller and two USMC officers or noncom officers (retired or honorably discharged with engineering experience) to act as initial company crew leaders.
5. Prepare beta testing site in Oregon to establish a working mining model and feasibility study using the Hydro-Mining process with a rate of production between 10 and 20 yards per hour in deposit site with ~25% cobbled, 50% sand/loam, 25% boulders placer.
6. Establish company contacts and/or obtain use by rental/purchase of downhole camera (e.g. Spectrum 90), handheld XRF spectrometer, digital density meters (e.g. radiation-based gauge), seismic mapping instrumentation, etc.
7. Establish feasible designs and industry contacts for initial mini-processor and mining processor for sample analysis and deposit extraction recovery as well as for a main slurry processor, with grinder, hydro cyclone, centrifugal classifier, etc.

Stage 2

Goals:

To establish a working mining feasibility study and exploratory prototypes using the Hydro-Mining process with a rate of production between 10 and 20 yards/hour in a ~25% cobbled, 50% sand/loam, 25% boulders placer.

Objectives:

1. prepare a working excavation beta test site at 15 to 30 feet deep using an approximate 9.0”borehole diameter with casing emplaced (having a 9.25”O.D / 8.4”I.D.) which accommodates a sonic rod/rod string (having 4.25”O.D. / 3.75”I.D.) to be inserted to target deposit depth to jet excavate and facilitate annulus passage of 0.5” particulate material in slurry without bridging having an approximate mean 2.1” annular space for slurry passage upward.
2. Design, manufacture, assembly and testing will be coordinated with TerraSonic so that attachable components will comply with and complement existing sonic core drilling apparatus parameters of performance, including additional pumping components. Variations in quantity of components will be examined.
3. The bottom hole assembly will first be tested for efficacious generation of continuous jetting using a water pump both with and without attachment to an inactive sonic drill, in air on cinder blocks and in shallow ground (to establish effective pump energy system). Obtain pump, e.g. Goulds or other with industry established flow and pressure rates. Evaluate various pressures, flow rates, mining power parameters and others, including:
   1. convergent nozzle size and shape variations, with several vane permutations incorporated into sub-coupling with diametrically opposed nozzles at 90 degrees to rod axis maintaining external rod diameter to evaluate jet forms and flow rates;
   2. incorporate use of the transition rod as a guide vane internal frustum shape, various lengths to determine laminar flow facilitation;
   3. shoe rock bit and nozzle with shape and size variations aligned with rod axis, incorporating vane structures to examine for flow rates and sump contents impact dynamics.
4. Then with an active sonic unit in air using cinder block to determine efficacious nozzle design for baseline erosion/fracturing capability of pulsed jet performance parameters (second energy generating system evaluated to produce pulsed jetting). A shallow subsurface test will be made to further establish efficacy of pulsed jets, examining for rates of slurry production verses depth, variable flow rates and ground variation.
5. Preliminary sump trap depth will also have preliminary assessment.
6. We will evaluate coupling eductors to establish general efficacy of using jetting components within rod string juxtaposed to casing to design variation to increasing efficiency of whole unit and integrate with a processing unit. Transparent plastic tubes for casing components may be used for visual assessment and modification until a facilitated upward flush of slurry is generated relative to both the differential hydraulic lift and eduction.
7. Cavity size and floor angle for effective evacuation and sump effect will be assessed.
8. An effective Beta Unit can be deployed to prime site for evaluation once #7 is complete, mini-processor assembled and crew trained.
9. We will establish crew training for the Alpha Unit and develop the processing plant asap for deployment to prime site.

Stage 3

Goal:

Commercial Hydro-Mining

Objectives:

1. Deploy Alpha Unit and crew to prime site (alpha test site) identified and confirmed as a measured resource by Beta Unit. Confirm profit parameters needed to finance franchise.
2. Continue Beta Unit deployment to analyze multiple Beta test sites for Alpha locations.
3. Negotiate Alpha locations with crew and IPO for Alpha franchise contracts and conversions from Beta test drills to Alpha mining rigs.
4. Franchise Hydro-Mining begins production.