The project is proposed to consist of six injection wells, five extraction wells, and three monitoring/extraction wells to facilitate the injection and extraction of process brines to and from the former workings. The design of these wells includes triple casing/cementing and the use of specific construction materials to function in a saline environment.

Six injection wells would be located to allow the injection of conditioned brine up to the maximum flood level of the former potash mine workings. Conditioned injectate would be composed of Rustler groundwater and NaCl. A flow rate of up to a maximum 2,000 gpm would be divided between the six injection wells and sequenced to facilitate strategic filling of the mine units.

Over time, the leach lakes would dissolve potash remaining in the former workings. The pregnant brine would then be recovered through the five extraction wells positioned at the lower portions of the former workings. Extraction wells would also be used to monitor fill elevations for flood control and to collect brine for quality monitoring. Each well will be equipped with instrumentation to allow flow rates and pressures to be monitored, and the static brine level (elevation of the flood pool) to be monitored, recorded, and connected to an automated alarm/shutdown system. This monitoring and control system will provide automated safeguards to maintain the flood pool elevations at or below the maximum levels.

The HB mine has a current estimated productive capacity of 180,000 tons annually. The productive capacity may vary between approximately 160,000 and 200,000 tons of potash, primarily due to evaporation rates. Potash produced from our HB mine is shipped to the North facility for compaction.