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~ 1 ;-~ ~ \v.. i <br />• 3.1.2 Project Activities for 2000 <br />WRN produced +~ tons of sodium bicarbonate in year 2000. The plant was <br />maintained on a constant production schedule throughout the year. Planned shut downs <br />were held every three to four months to make repairs and improvements to the plant. <br />Contractors were brought in to increase the efficiencies of the plant boilers in order to <br />increase the output temperature of the barren liquor to the mine. Emphasis was placed on <br />increasing efficiency throughout the plant. An inlet screen was installed in recovery well <br />3A-SV for cavity 3A. Plugging problems occurred initially across the inlet screen, <br />decreasing the brine flow to the plant. Following several months of service the flow <br />increased to the capacity of the submersible pumps. An inlet screen with bit was also <br />installed on the 4A recovery well (4A-4V), however plugging problems continued <br />throughout the year. Brine flow from this recovery well was less than design rate of the <br />submersible pump installed. Well 4A-4V was operated intermittently throughout the year to <br />meet plant needs. <br />Production well 4A-6V was completed and utilized for injection to cavities 3A and 4A in <br />June of 2000. Unlike recent production wells, 4A-6V was drilled vertically. Using a new <br />horizontal technology, contact was made with cavities 3A and 4A. The horizontal drilling <br />involves orientating the direction of the laterals and then drilling laterally using a small <br />hydraulic nozzle and high-pressure hose. Within days following the start of the injection, <br />brine quality improvement was observed at the recovery well for cavity 4A. <br /> <br />4 <br />