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By R. V. Higgins

Many contributions to methods of forecasting the performance of waterfloods of a five-spot pattern have been made by investigators. In most of these forecasting methods, a previously selected sweep efficiency is used, and other simplifying assumptions are employed to obtain the objective. In this paper the calculated oil recoveries from several five-spot single- and multiple-layer stratified reservoirs were made with a minimum of assumptions, and because of the techniques used, no previously selected sweep efficiency was required. As a result, the accuracy of the forecast is increased. Permeability curves and continuously changing saturation gradients are used in every section of the pattern. By means of a potentiometric model, the flood pattern is divided into channels, the centers of which are the streamlines. The channels are divided into cells. As flood water enters, the permeability and saturation of each cell change with time. In this study the production from multiple-sand layers of different absolute permeability but with the same relative permeability-saturation relations are combined. The results are shown for a single- and 10-layer reservoir with a permeability variation of 0.60. The oil rate, water-oil ratio, and recovery are shown as functions of time for a 2- and 20-centipoise oil starting in primary phase and after fill-up.

Jan 1, 1962

By Welby Courtney

Because of the inherent safety problem associated with the deposition of airborne respirable dust onto the floor and other airway surfaces, the Bureau of Mines investigated the rate of reduction of airborne respirable dust in an airway due to deposition of the particles onto the surfaces of the airway. The effects of relative humidity and air velocity on the deposition rate were examined. It was found that the deposition rate was comparable in magnitude with the Stokes sedimentation rate and that it was independent of relative humidity. However, near the dust source the deposition rate depended significantly upon the air velocity, with such dependence decreasing with increasing distance from the dust source. In addition, the size distribution of the airborne particles was approximately constant along the first 300 ft of the airway, indicating that it was not merely the larger (heavier) particles that were being deposited. These results suggest that deposition, though comparable with the Stokes sedimentation rate in magnitude, does not follow a simple Stokes-type process, and that the process of deposition remains to be explained.

Jan 1, 1986

By Robert M. Becker

This investigation (in five parts) extends the theory of sample reliability from a sample consisting of a fixed number of items to a sample consisting of a fixed amount of items. Examples of a fixed amount of items per sample are samples consisting of a fixed weight or a fixed volume of unequal size particles. The extension of the theory is confirmed by experimental laboratory sampling using standard procedures. The probability distribution functions (the binomial, hypergeometric, multinomial, generalized hypergeometric, and those here called the compound binomial and compound multimomial functions) are developed from fundamentals. Their distributions are generalized to include some measured characteristic of the items. Infinite population moments are derived from moment-generating functions, and finite population moments are developed from corresponding infinite population moments using a newly defined mathematical operation. The first three experimental moments in laboratory sampling to given weights of particles are compared with the theoretical moments of their corresponding compound mult.inomial distributions. The agreement is striking. The study is divided into five parts. Part 1 deals with probability or random sampling to n items and with all sampling to n items per sample from some one probability distribution. This is the area of sampling covered by well-known theory. Accordingly, the procedures may be different but many of the results are well known.

Dec 1, 1964

By Frederick W. Horton

The lack of comparable and accurate statistics of coal-mine accidents in the United States as a whole led the Bureau of Mines in 1911 to undertake the collection of such data. The importance of such statistics as a basis for remedial legislation can not be overestimated, moreover they serve to indicate the results of the efforts made by the Federal Government, State mining departments, and mine operators throughout the country to lessen the hazard of coal mining. The mining departments of the leading foreign coal-producing countries have long taken cognizance of the importance of such statistics. In Great Britain, official statistics of coal-mine accidents have been collected and published since 1851, in France since 1853, in Austria since 1875, in Germany since 1852, and in Belgium since 1831. The United States not only leads these countries in the production of coal but the output of its coal mines is greater than those of Great Britain, France, Belgium, Austria, India, Japan, and New South Wales combined. Accordingly, it is proper that there should be some official record of the accidents in this, the greatest mining industry not only in the United States but in the world. It is especially appropriate that this work should have been undertaken by the Bureau of Mines, as, through its investigations of mine accidents in the field, it is constantly in close touch with coalmining conditions throughout the country. Its engineers are not only able to obtain first-hand information as to a great many accidents, but, through their special training and experience, are able to appreciate the significance of the figures reported by the coal-mine operators, thus aiding an intelligent and uniform classification 01 the accidents for the country as a whole. Further, the State mining dnpartments and State mine inspectors of every State in the country having a system of coal-mine inspection are cooperating with the bureau by sending it monthly reports of accidents in the coal mines of their respective States. The receipt of such reports places the bureau in a most advantageous position to publish promptly statistics of these accidents. Although a few years ago accurate statistics of c~al-mine accidents in the United States as a whole were entirely lacking this bureau was able to pubjiish the 1912 statistics within three n:onths after the close of the year and long before corresponding statistics had been issued by the mining departments of the leading foreign coal-producing countries. The cooperative agreement with the State coal-mine inspectors has not only made possible the prompt publication of the statistics, but it has also enabled the bureau to classify the fatalities by months and according to cause, showing the months in which the greatest and the least number of men were killed and from what causessomething that has never before been accomplished for this country.

Jan 1, 1913

By Lewis C. Karrick

In studying the destructive distillation or pyrolysis of oil shales, the primary consideration is to determine the effects of heat on the organic components of the shale. The impracticability of separating these organic components, collectively known as "kerogen", from the mineral matter with which they are associated renders the problem extremely complex. The behavior of the kerogan in the shale while undergoing the heating process is probably different from that of the same kerogen if it could be isolated and treated under similar temperature conditions, and in fact the results of actual distillations have shown that the physical properties of the mineral matter in the shale may be the cause of much variation in the products of retorting. It must be remembered that the inorganic .material of the shale is a heterogeneous mixture of minerals solidified into a very close-grained compact mass. This mineral mass has a thermal conductivity different from that of the kerogen, thus complicating the problem of even distribution of heat. Furthermore, the temperatures of dehydration of gypsum end some; hydrous silicates are included within the temperature range of the shale distillation, These minerals are frequently present in the shales; and the evolution of water vapors from them will affect the partial pressures of the hydrocarbon vapors evolved from the kerogen, probably tending toward, the improvement of the quality of the oil distillates. Carbonates and sulphides which are also frequently present begin to decompose within this range of temperature, and the gases produced from them may alter the chemical constitution of the oils produced from the kerogen.

Jan 1, 1922

By E. J. Kloos

The Bureau of Mines evaluated all previously approved gas masks to determine their ability to provide respiratory protection against each of the following six selected amines: ethylenediamine, diethylamine, n-butylamine, ethylamine, methylamine, and hydrazine. Minimum requirements were a 24-minute service life at a flow rate of 64 liters per minute (32 liters per minute for hydrazine) and an amine concentration of 1.0 volume-percent (0.5 volume- percent for hydrazine). The three masks meeting these requirements were the LG4, Willson Products Division, The Electric Storage Battery Co.; the GMD-SS, Mine Safety Appliances Co.; and the 084-PHOV-R, Acme Protection Equipment Co.

Jan 1, 1966

By Launa G. Mallett, Jr. Brnich

Overview: The first step to emergency preparedness and maintaining a safe workplace is defining and analyzing hazards. Although all hazards should be addressed, resource limitations usually do not allow this to happen at one time. Risk assessment can be used to establish priorities so that the most dangerous situations are addressed first and those least likely to occur and least likely to cause major problems can be considered later. Purpose: This training package was developed to assist instructors as they (1) determine how to use risk assessment to improve safety preparedness and (2) present risk assessment concepts and tools to trainees. The concepts and tools presented here can be applied to any mine hazard.

Jul 1, 2003

By W. Beckering

In characterizing tars obtained by the low-temperature carbonization of North Dakota lignite, infrared spectra have been an invaluable aid in both qualitative and quantitative examination. Quite, early in the tar-research program of the Federal Bureau of Mines it became evident that the small number of published spectra available for hydroxy-aromatics would be inadequate for comparative purposes when dealing with the wide range of compounds present in coal tar; therefore, compiling a catalog of spectra was begun as a continuing part of the tar program. Because these spectra should be valuable to other investigators in this and related fields, they are being presented in these reports. This supplement to the original publications presents the spectra (figs, I to 32), representing 32 compounds, largely phenolic materials. The major problem of this project has been the availability of materials for examination. Most of the compounds included in this supplement were synthesized at the Bureau of Mines Lignite Research Laboratory. Some were obtained from commercial sources, whereas the compound 2'-hydroxy-l-phenylnaphthalene was synthesized at the Bureau of Mines laboratory in Bruceton, Pa. The spectrum of 2-ethyl-4-methylphenol, figure 32, is a correction of the spectrum presented as figure 26 in the original reports

Jan 1, 1961

By James R. Boyle

The value of Alabama's nonfuel mineral production in 1981 was $312.7 million, a decrease of $15.7 million from that of 1980. Output of most non fuel minerals declined; cement, crushed stone, lime, clays, and sand and gravel were the major commodities produced in the State. Alabama led the Nation in the production of crushed marble; was second in bauxite; third in native asphalt, kaolin, and oyster shell; fourth in bentonite, dimension marble, and fire clay; fifth in masonry cement; and sixth in common clay, ferroalloys, and lime.

Jan 1, 1983

By J. V. Batty

The Bureau of Mines devised techniques involving the use of beta-and gamma-ray-emitting radioisotopes and successfully adapted these techniques to the density of mineralized flotation froths) the rate of flow of finely ground ore pulps) and the residence time of pulps in processing circuits. Specifically, the water and mineral loads of flotation froths were continuously measured by determining the proportion of a constant-strength beam of beta rays that was absorbed by the froth column. Continuous measurement of the rate of flow of an ore pulp was accomplished by measuring the changing width of a free-falling stream of the pulp with a collimated beam of beta rays. The residence time of solids in conditioning and resin-in-pulp circuits was accurately measured by following the progress through these circuits of a portion of the pulp that had been tagged with the gamma-emitting Ag110 radioisotope.

Jan 1, 1966

By Frederick C. Trutt

A guide to the utilization and development of extensions and modifications to the APL Mine-electrical-system Load-flow Program is presented. These modifications include the development of algorithms to minimize computational operations within the iterative-solution techniques, as well as minimization of the number of required iterations. Extensions to the load-flow program include the development of algorithms for the calculation of balanced faults, simplified specification of fault parameters, optional inclusion of pre-fault currents, and an alternate-solution technique.

Jan 1, 1978

By T. G. Mayhew, A. A. Bergeron, R. J. Mahany

This report describes an operational communications system which provides remote intra-terrestrial wireless transmission of environmental information. Design and modification specifications of requisite equipment are included along with a detailed description of system operation

Jan 9, 1976

By E. W. GOODWIN, V. F. Parry, J. B. Goodman, L. D. Schmidt, J. D. Davis, A. C. Fieldner, W. S. Landers, J. L. ELDER

The Heliopore process is essentially an arrangement that uses the waste heat in the exhaust gas of an internal - combustion engine to carbonize coal (noncaking ) or lignite . The gases distilled from the coal furnish fuel for the internal - combustion engine , which drives an electric generator . Thus the main products of the plant are electricity and char . A flow diagram illustrating the principles of operation of the Heliopore process is given in figure 1. The primary equipment consists of a carbonizing retort , gas cooling and scrubbing equipment, a gas storage holder, and an engine to burn the gaseous carbonization products . Coal is charged into the top of the retort while the hot gases from the engine travel upward through special ducts in the retort countercurrent to the coal flow . The hot gases never come into direct contact with the coal . Char is discharged at the bottom of the retort and hot gases at the top . The gaseous products resulting from carbonization of the coal are drawn off by an exhauster through the condensing and scrubbing equipment to take out tar and liquor , then to a gas holder , and finally are burned in a gas engine . The gas engine drives an electric generator and the engine exhaust gases are returned to the retort to carbonize coal . The entire process was intended to be continuous and self - sustaining, and to use coal as the only fuel . The plant may be said to be a large - scale pilot plant in that , although it is of full commercial size , its main purpose is to provide data for the design of others of its type . The installation tested had a daily throughput of about 4 tons of coal . Figures 2 , 3 , and 4 picture some details of the plant and equipment used in the experimental testing . Further details of the equipment and engineering drawings of the castings are shown in figures 8 to 22 in the Appendix .

Dec 1, 1943

By Richard F. Hewlett

Computing average grade and tonnage either for an entire ore deposit or for individual blocks of ore is a continuing problem in mining. As part of a research program, investigating application of statistical techniques to mine sampling, Bureau of Mines engineers at the Denver Mining Research Center have made extensive use of an electronic digital computer for developing mine sampling theory, simulation of ore deposits, and analysis of mine sample and assay data. This report is one of a series describing use of the digital computer for rapid solution of computing problems in the mining industry.3 4 Development of a computer program to compute ore reserves by the commonly used triangular method was necessary so that results could be made available for analysis within hours.

Jan 1, 1963

By James A. West

The Quapaw pool is one of the smaller pools in an extensive area of Bartlesville-sand production in the eastern part of Osage County, Okla. (fig. 1). Most of the fields in this area were discovered from 1906 to 1916 and were developed and operated similarly. The Quapaw pool is representative of the area, and much of the developed in studying this pool is applicable to the other reservoirs. This petroleum-engineering study of the Quapaw pool was conducted to provide reservoir data that may aid in more widespread application of the intensive secondary-recovery production methods that have been employed with excellent results in the Bartlesville-sand fields of nearby Washington, Nowata, and Rogers Counties. This study is particularly appropriate because of the intense interest in Osage County fields as areas suitable for water flooding. Water flooding was introduced first into Oklahoma during 1931 in Rogers County, and activity was concentrated in the shallow Bartlesville-sand fields of and Nowata Counties for many years. Although water-flooding projects are now operating throughout the State, the intense activity of the Nowata-Rogers Counties area spread to adjoining counties only during the past few years. Since 1948 the rate of oil production in Washington County (between Nowata and Osage Counties) has increased by 260 percent as a result of water flooding. Currently, leases in eastern Osage County are sought eagerly by water-flood operators, and during the past 2 years the Osage Indian Agency has issued nine permits for water-flooding projects in eastern Osage County. Water-flooding operations are in progress on several projects. Although large oil reserves in eastern Osage County should, be recoverable by water flooding, development and operation of projects will be more expensive than projects in the shallower producing areas to the east. In addition, the Osage County reservoirs appear to be more complex and somewhat more difficult to water-flood successfully. It is hoped that this study will contribute to better understanding of the Quapaw reservoir and, in a general way, to the many similar reservoirs in eastern Osage County.

Jan 1, 1952

By L. L. Oden

The Bureau of Mines is conducting research to develop methanation catalysts for converting synthesis gas derived from coal to synthetic natural gas. This report describes a method to prepare supported Raney nickel coatings by dipping screen-covered nickel sheet in molten aluminum-nickel alloy. Coatings were formed at 1,050° C that were comparable in thickness, composition, microstructure, and catalytic properties to flame-sprayed commercially pre-pared Raney nickel. A molten salt comprising cryolite-8 wt-pct LiF was employed over the molten metal bath to clean and preheat the substrates, to protect the metal bath from oxidation, and to heattreat the coated specimens. Immediately following heat treatment, specimens were quenched to 700° C in a molten salt bath containing CaC12-34.5 wt-pct NaCl, which also functioned to remove the insoluble occluded fluoride salt.

Jan 1, 1976

By Raymond W. Hiteshue

To aid in designing a continuous system for evaluating processes for converting coal to high-Btu gas] the Bureau of Mines determined the amenability of various coals and a char to hydrogasification at 800° C and 6,000 psig using a molybdenum catalyst. A lignite from Rockdale, Tex., an hvCb coal from Rock Springs, Wyo., a char from the low-temperature carbonization of the latter, an hvAb coal from Pittsburgh, Pa., and an anthracite from Luzerne County, Pa., were selected. Highest yields of gaseous hydrocarbons, 94 pet, based on maf feed, were produced from char, and lowest yields, 67 pct, were obtained from lignite. Hydrocarbon gases contained 82 to 92 pct methane, 8 to 15 pct ethane; and 1 to 3 pct propane.

Jan 1, 1962

By F. G. Horino

The Bureau of Mines conducted compressive strength tests on model pillars of selected rock types with each pillar containing a critically oriented plane of weakness. The objective of these tests was to determine if a significant increase in the strength of the model pillar could be obtained by either (1) installing tensioned rock bolts through the pillar and normal to the plane of weakness, or (2) wrapping tensioned steel wire ropes around the pillar at uniformly spaced intervals along the pillar. Equations based on Coulomb's failure criterion are developed to predict uniaxial compressive strength of model pillars that are either rock-bolted or wire-roped. Laboratory compressive strength tests on unbolted and bolted model pillars of sandstone, marble, Indiana limestone, and oil shale containing a plane of weakness oriented at 45° showed that the bolted pillars are stronger than the unbolted pillars by 84, 31, 52, and 28 pct, respectively. Laboratory compres-sive strength tests on nonroped and roped model pillars of Texas limestone, sandstone, and granite containing planes of weakness showed that the roped pillars were stronger than the nonroped pillars by factors ranging from 1.01 to 2.41, depending upon the angle of the plane of weakness and the rock type. Rocks with a low Young's modulus benefited most by the wire-roping technique.

Jan 1, 1971

By Robert W. Geehan

"INTRODUCTION The Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the Federal Geological Survey, explored the Crowell fluorite mine by core drilling in 1945. Claims investigated are in sec. 14, T. 12 S. R. 47 E., M. D. B. & M., in southern rye County, Nev., about 5 miles east of 'Beatty.The twelve holes drilled by the Bureau totaled 3,661 feet. During 1945 the mine operator drove extensive exploration drifts, in part to verify results of the Bureau's work. The drilling program was designed to test for extensions of ore bodies known in the mine.The Crowell mine has shipped Ore to steel plants on the west coast for the past 20 years. During the war this market called for all the fluorite the mine could produce, but previously there were periods when it was difficult to sell ore or concentrates.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSIn its program of exploration of mineral deposits, the Bureau of Nines has as its primary objective the more effective utilization of our mineral resources to the end that they make the greatest possible contribution to national security and economy. It is the policy of the Bureau to publish the facts developed by each exploratory project as soon as practicable after its conclusion. The Mining Branch, Lowell B. Moon, chief, conducts preliminary examinations, performs the actual exploratory work, and prepares the final report. The Metallurgical Branch, R. G. Knickerbocker, chief, analyzes samples and performs beneficiation tests. Both these branches are under the supervision of Dr. R. S. Dean, assistant director.Special acknowledgment is due to Glenn Allen, district engineer;A. C. Johnson, chief, Reno Division, Mining Branch; S. R Zimmerley, chief, Salt Lake City Division, Metallurgical Branch; W. R. Thurston of the Federal Geological Survey for advice on geological problems; and J. Irving Crowell, Jr., operator of the property, for his cooperation."

Nov 1, 1946

Norton Co., a manufacturer of abrasive products and diamond drilling and coring bits for oil and gas exploration, is building a $19.1 million addition, scheduled for completion in late 1980, to the Huntsville, AL. The plant makes alumina-zirconia abrasive grains used in grinding wheels and coated abrasives. ALUMINUM Martin Marietta Aluminum Inc. announced plans to expand production capacity of its 112,000-ton-per-year primary aluminum smelter at Goldendale, WA to 177,000 tons per year. The $125 million expansion was scheduled to come onstream in 1981. The Aluminum Company of America announced plans to restart a fourth potline during October at its 185,000-ton-per-year Point Comfort, TX primary aluminum smelter.

Jan 1, 1979