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<br />2.1.1.4 Development Sequence and Schedule <br />In general, the well field development sequence is based on the concept of two-pass <br />mining. On the first pass, every other weIl location in the 300-foot well spacing grid <br />will be developed to its maximum size, resulting in a well spacing of 600 feet. The only <br />exception to this might occur during the initial start up phase where adl'acent wells are <br />not developed to maximum size concurrently. This concept will allow the full <br />development of numerous cavities at 600-foot spacing over a 2- to 3-yeaz period after <br />startup and will provide additional information on the maximum extent of each cavity. <br />It is intended that on the second pass, wells will be developed midway between those <br />developed during the first pass. <br />The maximum effective cavity size will determine the spacing of the second pass <br />development. If a cavity size equivalent to a diameter of 200 feet is not achieved, <br />consideration will be given to reducing the spacing between wells in areas to be <br />developed in the future. Alternatively, if it is determined that the optimum cavity size <br />is greater than 200 feet then no second pass development will occur where the wells <br />have been laid out on 300-foot spacing. <br />Logistical concerns for the well field in the 0-5 yeaz mining panel, including the <br />location of roads, drill pads, piping, and other issues, commit the well spacing to either <br />600 feet or 300 feet. Well spacing in future mining panels will be laid out based on the <br />optimum cavity size determined from the experience gained during the first fe:v years <br />of mining production. <br />Initial well development to support the staztup of the facility will necessarily be <br />somewhat different than the two-pass approach. At startup, there will not be a <br />sufficient number of mature cavities to feed the processing plants. In order to provide <br />an adequate solution stream to the processing plants from immature cavities, a greater <br />number of cavities will be required. A range of 26 to 34 wells, mostly in early stages of <br />development, will be used to get the processing plants through the start-up anti initial <br />operating period. The first 26 solution mining wells, which are denoted in Figure 2-2, <br />will be constructed during the construction phase and developed somewhat prior to <br />commencement of commercial operations. An additional 8 wells (Figure 2-2A) may be <br />required to supplement production during initial start-up. As these cavities begin to <br />expand and the production of nahcolite increases, some of the wells will be produced at <br />a reduced rate to effectively manage the growth process. This procedure will maintain <br />a spacing of 600 feet for active, mature wells. Later, as the wells are retired, the <br />reduced rate production wells will be brought up to normal mining rate. The cavities <br />will be managed to ensure that maximum cavity diameter for two adjacent wells will <br />not be reached concurrently. <br />During normal operations, the project anticipates developing about 15 wells per year. <br />Each mining pass may take 1 to 3 yeazs to complete. Road and piping networks will be <br />developed in concert with the two-pass development schedule. The main access roads <br />American Soda,LLP. - 2-5 <br />Commerdal Mine Plan <br />Revision 2J August 2001 <br /> <br />