From 867870cf345068d10f24b79b41ffe605bf0780d9 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Alex_Pi Date: Sat, 22 Jun 2024 20:41:32 -0600 Subject: [PATCH] Added intro, updated acronyms and supporting infor --- In_Situ_Policy.tex | 29 +++++----------- Sections/Appendix/Math.tex | 2 +- Sections/Data.tex | 11 ++++++ Sections/Extended_Production.tex | 2 +- Sections/Inroduction.tex | 2 -- Sections/Introduction.tex | 16 ++++++++- Supporting/Acro.tex | 59 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Supporting/Uranium.bib | 30 ++++++++-------- 8 files changed, 111 insertions(+), 40 deletions(-) create mode 100644 Sections/Data.tex delete mode 100644 Sections/Inroduction.tex create mode 100644 Supporting/Acro.tex diff --git a/In_Situ_Policy.tex b/In_Situ_Policy.tex index 04e3fff..8a14282 100755 --- a/In_Situ_Policy.tex +++ b/In_Situ_Policy.tex @@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ \usepackage{setspace} %allows me to vary spacing as I go along \usepackage{caption} \usepackage{subcaption} +\usepackage[printonlyused]{acronym} \usepackage{threeparttable} \usepackage{tikz} @@ -84,14 +85,7 @@ \large\textbf{The Impact of the Groundwater Restoration Framework in In-Situ Uranium Recovery in Wyoming}\footnote{\scriptsize We are grateful for financial support from the Center for Energy Regulation and Policy Analysis of the University Of Wyoming For helpful comments of related work we thank -Dave Aadland, University of Wyoming -Kara Brighton Fornstrom, Center for Energy Regulation and Policy Analysis -Jason Hansen, Idaho National Labs -Maria Jenks, University of Wyoming -Christopher Lohse, Idaho National Labs -Glen Murrel, Idaho National Labs -Oscar Paulson,Ur. Energy Inc. -Donna Wichers, Uranium Energy Corp. +Dave Aadland, Kara Brighton Fornstrom, Jason Hansen, Maria Jenks, Christopher Lohse, Glen Murrel, Oscar Paulson, and Donna Wichers. }} @@ -121,21 +115,14 @@ PhD candidate of Economics, University of Wyoming \vspace{2mm} \begin{center} \begin{minipage}{0.8\textwidth} -\input{Sections/Abstract.tex} - -\end{minipage} - - -\end{center} - -\vspace{6mm} - - -\end{abstract} + \input{Sections/Abstract.tex} + \end{minipage} + \end{center} + \vspace{6mm} + \end{abstract} \end{singlespacing} - \hspace{5mm} \textbf{Keywords:} uranium, groundwater, environmental economics, mining\\ \hspace{5mm} \textbf{JEL Codes:} Q58 Q38 Q51 Q32 \\ @@ -149,7 +136,9 @@ PhD candidate of Economics, University of Wyoming \doublespacing +\input{Supporting/Acro.tex} \input{Sections/Introduction.tex} +\input{Sections/Data.tex} \input{Sections/Extended_Production.tex} diff --git a/Sections/Appendix/Math.tex b/Sections/Appendix/Math.tex index e851cce..8c5d362 100644 --- a/Sections/Appendix/Math.tex +++ b/Sections/Appendix/Math.tex @@ -1,6 +1,6 @@ \section{Derivation of \cref{EQINFWELL}} \begin{equation*} - \pi_{w}=\int_{t=0}^{T}\left[ \left(P_{ur}\cdot q_{i}\cdot e^{-Dt}-C_{op}\right)e^{-rt}\right] \,dt-C_{Drill}-C_{Res}\c dote^{-rT} \ + \pi_{w}=\int_{t=0}^{T}\left[ \left(P_{ur}\cdot q_{i}\cdot e^{-Dt}-C_{op}\right)e^{-rt}\right] \,dt-C_{Drill}-C_{Res}\cdot e^{-rT} \ \end{equation*} \begin{equation*} diff --git a/Sections/Data.tex b/Sections/Data.tex new file mode 100644 index 0000000..731ffba --- /dev/null +++ b/Sections/Data.tex @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +\section{Data} +The technical feasibility reports of uranium mines in Wyoming are reviewed to create a data set of mine operation plans. The type of data reported varies, based on the jurisdiction of the companies headquarters, and the phase in development of the cite. Projects under the purview of the \ac{NRC}. In total the technical reports of 15 Wyoming in situ operations were reviewed. Of these only five provide sufficient cost estimates for analysis \footnote{Seven projects are in the preliminary evaluation phase, or are otherwise not required to provided economic estimates by the State of Wyoming. Three projects are in the development stage and provide geologic data, as well as exploration costs, but not operating plans. The remaining five projects provide enough data to establish a net present cost estimate of groundwater Restoration.}. These projects have some spatial diversity coming from five different counties and at least to major different uranium plays. + + +The \ac{CNSC} requires mines to provide technical reports before beginning operation. These reports include a schedule of mine operation, with project drilling, restoration, and labor costs in each year, along with forecasted revenues from uranium recovery. While not all Wyoming mines are required to report this information, four operating projects in the State are fully or partially owned by a Canadian mining company such as Cameco. The operations with these fillings include the Gas Hills Project in Fremont County, the Lost Creek Project in Sweetwater county, the Shirley basin project in Carbon County, and the Moores Ranch Project in Campbell and Johnson counties \citep{moores2021,westernwaterconsultantsinc2024,westernwaterconsultantsinc2024a,malensek2022}. + +The \ac{NPV} of each category of cost and revenue is discounted with a baseline assumption of 10\% private return. A cash flow model for each mine is created, that allows \ac{NPV} to be calculated variables of uranium price, restoration costs, internal return rate, operating costs, and up front costs. This is used to create sensitivity analysis of profits. + +The final report comes from a \ac{NRC} surety bond filling for the Strata Ross Project in Crook County \citep{strataenergyinc.2010,strataenergyinc.2010a}. Wyoming is a agreement State with the \ac{NRC} which shifts the approval process of mine operations from the \ac{NRC} to the \ac{WDEQ} \citep{nrc2018}\footnote{Agreement states must apply restoration and operating standards at least as stringent as the \ac{NRC} and \ac{EPA} rules. The benefit for companies is reduced overhead costs. A comparison of filling costs finds that completing the reports necessary to begin a in situ operation costs \$3.2 million less when filled through the \ac{WDEQ} instead of with the \ac{NRC} \citep{castellon2023,nuclearregulatorycommission2023j}.}. The Strata Ross Project, began production while the \ac{NRC} sill managed the technical report approval process and required restoration cost estimates over time to be provided in the report. This final report is only used to estimate the average Restoration cost of Wyoming projects. + + diff --git a/Sections/Extended_Production.tex b/Sections/Extended_Production.tex index 47ba1b6..08fe450 100644 --- a/Sections/Extended_Production.tex +++ b/Sections/Extended_Production.tex @@ -12,4 +12,4 @@ \label{EQINFWELL} T^{\star}=\frac{\ln(P_{ur})+\ln(q_{i})-\ln(C_{op}-r C_{Res})}{D} \end{equation} - +This result is calibrated Wyoming mine operation plans. The added well operation time induced by the restoration requirements is \(\frac{ln(C_{op})-ln(C_{op}-r C_{Res})}{D}\). We use the Strata Ross project as a bassline, in situ operation, due to the high data granularity. diff --git a/Sections/Inroduction.tex b/Sections/Inroduction.tex deleted file mode 100644 index 2a35f1f..0000000 --- a/Sections/Inroduction.tex +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2 +0,0 @@ -\section{Introduction} -Stand in text \cite{hardin1968} diff --git a/Sections/Introduction.tex b/Sections/Introduction.tex index 48625df..4c93736 100644 --- a/Sections/Introduction.tex +++ b/Sections/Introduction.tex @@ -1,2 +1,16 @@ \section{Introduction} -Stand in text \citep{hardin1968} +Uranium mines generate uranium oxide that is necessary to support the 390 operating nuclear reactors, supplying 10\% of the worlds energy \citep{worldnuclearassociation2024}. Uranium not stored as inventories is shipped to a conversion facility to prepare for enrichment. Uranium recovery facilities establish contracts with nuclear power plants to purchase set quantities of uranium in future years \citep{camecocorporation2024}. + +Most U.S. uranium mines are classified as underground mines, surface mines \footnote{Either open cut or open pit}, or as in situ recovery facilities. The first step to establish a conventional uranium mine is to identify target orebodies. Then a shaft is generally sunk in the vicinity of the deposit and workings are excavated to remove the uranium ore \citep{nuclearregulatorycommission2020}. Blasted ore is brought to the surface and sent to a mill, where it is crushed or ground and processed into uranium concentrate. + +In comparison in situ (in place) mines create minimal ground disturbance, do not produce tailings, and avoid expose of miners to elevated radon levels linked to lung concern \citep{national_academy_of_sciences_health_1999}. In situ mining recovers uranium from groundwater aquifers. A lixiviant\footnote{A lixiviant is any liquid chemical mixture designed to dissolve a ore concentrate \citep{wang2007}} designed to dissociate uranium from the rock is injected into the target formation. For Wyoming in situ mines the lixiviant is a mixture of native groundwater with typical additives such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, and sodium bicarbonate \citep{gregory2015,kehoe2023}, but international mines primarily use acidic lixiviants such as sulfuric acid \citep{worldnuclearassociation2024}. The acid or base dissociates the uranium from a sandstone roll front where a historic oxidation reaction deposited the ore \citep{wilson2015}. + +The lixiviant within a wellfield is pumped from the recovery wells to a plant that contains an ion exchange process. Vessels inside the plant contain ion exchange resin beads that attract uranium ions in the groundwater. Groundwater from the uranium wellfields is passed through the ion exchange beads, which bind the uranium. Once the groundwater leaves the ion exchange vessels, it is refortified with oxygen and carbon dioxide and reinjected into the mining aquifer within the wellfields. The pressure of the injection wells keep the solution within a closed loop in the aquifer. The resin beads, when fully loaded with the uranium, are transferred out of the ion exchange vessel and then stripped of the uranium in a process called elution. Clean resin beads are then transferred back to the ion exchange vessels for re-use. + +This process is repeated, cycling the groundwater between injection and recovery wells until uranium recovery rates becomes subeconomic, and the well grouping is retired. A single recovery facility serves a system of wells. As some wells are retired, others may be added further along the roll front, until all economically recoverable uranium is extracted, and the operation is ended. + +A common well system for in situ mines is referred to as a five spot. A five spot pattern exists when four injection wells are drilled in a rectangle, with a single recovery well in the center. These wells are shallow typically less than 100 ft deep. A piping system, often constructed with PVC pipes, brings the extracted water to processing facility and then back to the injection wells. This piping network is removed after operation are closed, and wells are capped. + +There are multiple environmental advantages of this method of uranium recovery. The chemical injected into the groundwater, are commonly used in household without direct health risk, in Wyoming the most commons lixicant is sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Rather than removing large volumes of earth only minor holes are created that are capped after completion. + +Wyoming produced uranium entirely with conventional mining methods, until the early 1990s when in situ techniques were adopted \citep{energyinformationadministration2023a}. diff --git a/Supporting/Acro.tex b/Supporting/Acro.tex new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c3142c --- /dev/null +++ b/Supporting/Acro.tex @@ -0,0 +1,59 @@ +\begin{acronym} + \acro{NRC}{United States Nuclear Regulatory Agency} + \acro{CNSC}{Canadian Nuclear Saftey Commission} + \acro{WDEQ}{Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality} + + + \acro{EPA}{United States Environmental Projection Agency} + \acro{AF}{acre-foot} + \acro{API}{application programming interface} + \acro{ATE}{average treatment effect} + \acro{ATT}{average treatment effect on the treated} + \acro{ARP}{Annual Replacement Plan} + \acro{FSA}{Farm Service Agency} + \acro{PES}{payment for environmental services} + \acro{BTU}{British thermal unit} + \acro{WTI}{West Texas Intermediate} + \acro{HH}{Henry Hub} + \acro{CRP}{Conservation Reserve Payments} + \acro{CREP}{Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program} + \acro{GASP}{Groundwater Appropriators of the South Platte River Basin, Inc} + \acro{GBM}{Generalized Boosted Model} + \acro{IPTW}{inverse probability of treatment weighting} + \acro{NPV}{net present value} + \acro{CPI}{consumer price index} + \acro{CSV}{Comma Separated Value file format} + \acro{CDSS}{Colorado Department of Support Services} + \acro{RGWCD}{Rio Grande Water Conservation District} + \acro{CSM}{Colorado School of Mines} + \acro{EC}{error correction} + \acro{USDA}{United States Department of Agriculture} + \acro{DID}[DiD]{difference-in-differences} + \acro{BTC}{Bitcoin} + \acro{BBL}{barrel of crude oil} \acro{ARDL}{autoregressive distributed lag model} + \acro{ADF}{augmented Dickey-Fuller} + \acro{NARDL}{nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model} + \acro{IRF}{impulse response function} + \acro{SVAR}{structural vector autoregression} + \acro{VAR}{vector autoregression} + \acro{AIC}{Akaike information criterion} + \acro{ASIC}{application-specific integrated circuit} + \acro{PPI}{Producer Price Index} + \acro{PSS}{Pesaran, Shin and Smith} + \acro{ACF}{autocorrelation function} + \acro{PACF}{partial autocorrelation function} + \acro{JB}{Jarque-Bera} + \acro{LM}[LM]{Lagrange multiplier} + \acro{ARCH}[ARCH]{autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity} + \acro{GOR}{gas to oil ratio} + \acro{POW}[PoW]{proof of work} + \acro{MMCF}{1,000,000 cubic feet of gas} + \acro{MCF}{1,000 cubic feet of gas} + \acro{TVD}{true vertical depth} + \acro{MD}{measured depth} + \acro{MTD}{measured total depth} + \acro{SLV}{San Luis Valley} + \acro{SBD1}[Subdistrict One]{Subdistrict One of the Rio Grande Conservation District} + \acro{SBD2}[Subdistrict Two]{Subdistrict Two of the Rio Grande Conservation District} +\end{acronym} + diff --git a/Supporting/Uranium.bib b/Supporting/Uranium.bib index 2e5fd0d..d97c808 100644 --- a/Supporting/Uranium.bib +++ b/Supporting/Uranium.bib @@ -13229,6 +13229,7 @@ @misc{nuclearregulatorycommission2020, title = {Uranium {{Recovery}} ({{Extraction}}) {{Methods}}}, author = {{Nuclear Regulatory Commission}}, + shortauthor = {NRC}, year = {2020}, month = dec, journal = {NRC Web}, @@ -17828,6 +17829,7 @@ INIS Reference Number: 27014297} @misc{worldnuclearassociation2024, title = {Plans {{For New Reactors Worldwide}}}, author = {{World Nuclear Association}}, + shortauthor = {{WNA}}, year = {2024}, month = apr, urldate = {2024-05-03}, @@ -18975,18 +18977,16 @@ INIS Reference Number: 27014297} langid = {american}, file = {/home/alex/Zotero/storage/JYRDVD9F/converting-grain-units.html} } -' @Manual{twang2023, - title = {twang: Toolkit for Weighting and Analysis of Nonequivalent Groups}, - author = {Matthew Cefalu and Greg Ridgeway and Dan McCaffrey and Andrew Morral and Beth Ann Griffin and Lane Burgette}, - year = {2023}, - note = {R package version 2.6}, - url = {https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=twang}, - }' -' @Manual{R2024, - title = {R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing}, - author = {{R Core Team}}, - organization = {R Foundation for Statistical Computing}, - address = {Vienna, Austria}, - year = {2024}, - url = {https://www.R-project.org/}, - }' +@book{national_academy_of_sciences_health_1999, + location = {Washington, D.C., {UNITED} {STATES}}, + title = {Health Effects of Exposure to Radon: Beir {VI}}, + isbn = {978-0-309-52374-5}, + url = {http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uwy/detail.action?docID=3375739}, + shorttitle = {Health Effects of Exposure to Radon}, + publisher = {National Academies Press}, + author = {{National Academy of Sciences}}, + urldate = {2024-06-19}, + date = {1999}, + keywords = {Health risk assessment., Indoor air pollution-Health aspects., Radiation carcinogenesis., Radon-Health aspects., Radon-Physiological effect., Radon-Toxicology.}, +} +