Course Description
In-situ recovery (ISR) is the dominant method of uranium production worldwide and the exclusive production route of Kazatomprom, the world's largest uranium producer. Rather than excavating ore, ISR dissolves uranium underground and pumps it to surface — making it a hydrometallurgical and hydrogeological discipline rather than a conventional mining one.
This course develops a comprehensive understanding of uranium ISR from orebody to pregnant solution. Participants learn the geology of sandstone-hosted roll-front deposits, wellfield design and drilling, leaching chemistry, solution flow control and monitoring, and the operational management of an ISR wellfield. The course is built around the deposit types and operating practice of Central Asia, where the majority of world uranium is produced.
What you will achieve
By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the principles of in-situ recovery and where it applies
- Describe sandstone-hosted roll-front uranium deposits
- Understand the hydrogeology governing ISR
- Apply wellfield design principles and well patterns
- Understand drilling, well completion and integrity
- Explain acid and alkaline leaching chemistry
- Control and monitor solution flow and excursions
- Manage ISR wellfield operations and performance
How the course is delivered
The course combines ISR theory with practical wellfield design and operational exercises, using deposit and operating examples from major ISR uranium provinces. Participants work through wellfield layout, leaching chemistry and monitoring scenarios.
The programme reflects the hydrogeological and hydrometallurgical nature of ISR, which differs fundamentally from conventional mining, and is aligned with the roll-front deposits typical of Central Asia.
Designed for
This training course is ideal for:
- Mining and process engineers in uranium operations
- Geologists and hydrogeologists
- Wellfield and production supervisors
- Technical professionals entering uranium mining
- Anyone working in ISR uranium production
Daily programme
- Principles of in-situ recovery
- Where ISR applies and where it does not
- Sandstone-hosted roll-front uranium deposits
- Uranium mineralogy and ore controls
- Aquifer characterisation
- Permeability, porosity and flow
- Groundwater modelling for ISR
- Confinement and containment
- Wellfield layout and well patterns
- Injection and production wells
- Drilling and well completion
- Well integrity and testing
- Acid leaching chemistry
- Alkaline leaching chemistry
- Lixiviant selection and control
- Uranium dissolution and solution chemistry
- Solution flow control
- Monitoring wells and excursion control
- Wellfield performance and recovery
- Operational management and workshop
Certification & accreditation
BII Certificate of Completion
BII Certificate of Completion Upon successful completion, participants receive a BII Development Institute Certificate of Completion with a unique reference code that is independently verifiable. Our certificates are recognised internationally and reflect successful completion of your chosen programme.
