Search Documents

By L. K. Weaver

The purposes of this Bureau of Mines report are to review the history of the domestic offshore hydrocarbon production; to project offshore oil and lease condensate production from 1971 through 1985; and to show the impact of offshore development on the onshore segment of the petroleum industry. Since 1954, offshore production has provided an increasingly larger portion of the domestic oil production. Domestic offshore oil and lease condensate production has increased from about 2.0 pct of the U.S. total in 1954 to 16.7 pct in 1970. Likewise, marketed gas production has increased from 1.0 pct of the U.S. total in 1954 to 15.0 pct in 1970. The past performance of exploration, leasing, development, and production of the offshore petroleum industry was used to make projections of offshore oil production. A comparison between onshore and offshore operations was also made. Assuming a tentative Department of the Interior offshore leasing schedule is completed by 1980, the authors estimate that by 1985, about 30 pct of domestic crude oil and lease condensate production from the lower 48 States will come from offshore areas. Currently, leasing of Federal offshore areas has been delayed due to environmental considerations. The rate at which off-shore hydrocarbons will enter the energy market will depend, to a large extent, on how soon environmental considerations are resolved. Assuming that offshore leasing will resume in the near future, U.S. offshore production of crude oil and lease condensate should be about 934 million barrels in 1985.

Jan 1, 1973

By Wilbur I. Duvall

Twelve millisecond delayed blasts in four limestone quarries in Iowa were instrumented with arrays of vertical velocity gages to determine if the direction of propagation through the rock or the method of initiation of the blast had any effect upon the level of vibration. Two gage arrays approximately 90° apart were used to test the effect of direction of propagation. The vibrations from blasts initiated by three methods were recorded. Vibration records from these tests were analyzed for peak particle velocity as a function of distance from the blast. The data are shown to fit a power Law equation. Direction of propagation is shown to affect the value of the exponent n. The effect of charge size per delay interval on the level of vibration is removed from the data by scaling the travel distance by the square root of the charge weight per delay period. The method of initiating the blasts is shown to have a strong effect upon the level of vibration and the spread in the data from one shot to another.

Jan 1, 1963

By A. Gene Collins

Potassium, lithium, strontium, barium, and manganese are present in many oilfield brines, None of them except barium is determined routinely in brine analyses. Therefore, sensitive and accurate flame-spectrophotometric methods were developed. Potassium, lithium, and strontium were determined by a standard-addition technique in ethyl alcohol solutions. Barium and manganese were determined in ethyl alcohol and normal propyl solutions, respectively, after interfering substances were removed.

Jan 1, 1962

1. ACKERMAN, C. L. The Binary System Manganese-Zinc. Ztschr. Metall., vol. 19, 1927, p. 200. 2. ADKENASY, P., AND KLONOWSKY, S. Über die Manganatschmelze. Ztschr. Elektrochem., vol. 16, 1910, p. 107. 3. AKTIEBOLAGET FERROLEGERINGAR (assignees). Method for the Manufacture of Manganese Alloys Poor in Carbon or Silicon or Else Manganese. British Patent 163262, Apr. 28, 1921; U. S. Patent 1480267, Jan. 8, 1924. 4. Method of Producing Manganese or Manganese Alloys Poor in Carbon or Silicon. British Patent 174923, Jan. 25, 1922.

Jan 1, 1934

By Andrew Cecala

The Bureau of Mines performed tests to compare the effectiveness of steam and of water sprays to reduce respirable dust levels at mineral processing plants. By applying 0.22 wt pct water vapor as steam to product material, a 64-pct respirable dust reduction was recorded. By applying the same amount of moisture with water sprays, only a 25-pct dust reduction was recorded. By increasing the moisture content up to0.5 pct using water sprays, the dust reduction was increased to 55 pet, which was still less than the dust reduction achieved by adding less than half that amount of water in the form of steam.

Jan 1, 1985

By Donald W. Ross

"INTRODUCTION Sponge iron has been made commercially since 1912 at a Swedish ceramic plant; and the product, known as Swedish disk—type sagger sponge iron, has an excellent reputation as a superior furnace feed wherever high—grade steels are made. The general procedure for making brickyard sponge iron was described frequently in Swedish technical journals prior to 1932 and at that time consisted in filling clay refractory containers, called saggers, with a super-concentrate of Gellivare magnetite plus the necessary amount of solid reducing agent and desulfurizer and then firing in a Hoffmann ring furnace, as used in the ceramic industry.The early Swedish publications describe two types of brickyard sponge iron: (1) An inferior high-sulfur product obtained by mixing the ore and reducing agent, and (2) a high-grade low-sulfur product in the form of coherent disks 7 to 9 inches in diameter and 1 to 1-1/2 inches thick made by the saggers with alternate layers of solid-fuel reducr and of uniaxed ore."

Sep 1, 1945

By Frank B. Fulkerson

Mining began in Pend Oreille and Stevens Counties about 1885, Lead and zinc have been the principal products, and the area has supplied nearly all the output of these metals in the State. Fend Oreille County's output of lead and zinc from 1902 to 1956 was 110,700 and 229,600 tons, respectively. The Stevens County total was 54,100 tons of lead and 87,600 tons of zinc. Copper ore was produced mainly from the United Copper mine, Chewelah district, from 1912 to 1920; the principal gold mine was the First Thought, Orient district, which was active from 1904 to 1942. Approximately 225 mines and prospects produced; most of the ventures were on a small scale. The total value of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc produced from 1902 to 1956 was $75.2 million in Pend Oreille County and $39.4 million in Stevens County. INTRODUCTION In compiling the figures for this report, use was made of Bureau of Mines permanent records of nine production, the annual tabulations of producing mines, and the Minerals Yearbook. Requests to publish individual data, obtained from the annual production canvass, were made to the latest recorded operators of all mines in the area. Response to this request was good; therefore, it was possible to make the tables nearly complete. In a few instances the producer requested that the production data remain confidential, and in others it was not possible to reach the mine operator at his last known address. The district and county tables combine statistics for all mines, including those mines whose output could not be published separately.

Jan 1, 1958

By Paul C. Hyndman

No minerals have been produced from the McGraw Creek RARE II area. During the 1982 U.S. Bureau of Mines study, there were no active mines in the area. Limestone occurrences (fig. 1, no. 2), four copper prospects (fig. 1, no. 1, 4, 5, 6), and a prospect with no significant mineral values (fig. 1, no. 3) were examined. A moderate potential for high-calcium limestone resources was estimated between ocurrences within the study area near McGraw and Spring Creeks (fig. 1, no. 2). There is low potential for copper resources at the Argenta Prospect (fig. 1., no. 1) in the study area, and the McDougall Prospect adjacent to the area.

Jan 1, 1983

By F. G. Miller

[Petroleum technoloF;istz and 1 rot-re s s ive OT e:?ztors. con stantl;, are striving to increase the percentage of oil that y to recovered from reservoir rocks throe::;:: wells. The exhaustive studies that have been made of the function of natural r:; as in t h-_ T r odI action of oil, for cx<n.mTnle, have aidedd of.erators greatly in incroasin,&apos; the q-:Arrntity of oil recovered from reservoirs. i.rtural gas dissolv3d in ar--d otinerwwisa &apos;1s&apos;.,ocintjd under rre3suro with oil in roscrvoir roci.s, howover, i:; not the only source of energy available for moving oil through sa&apos;:&apos;l to wells. l becoming "reservoir-energy conscious&apos;t engineers hr-vo -d o^.rued t}:-Lt in many petroleum reservoirs the edgewater flanking t -,e oil accum.-,lation conetitutos a potential source of onergy capable, tL-ou;_h rro? gr control, oil&apos; increasing oil-recovery efficiencies materially. i o ]enter is ti-.-,, on-cronchinunt of water into the oil- and gas--fillod ?art of the reservoir considered as an evil to be combatted by devious mot&apos;:r:ci :i,.t r,ttL er a natural conseque::c4, incident to the withdrawal of oil nna gas from the wells, that nay be T.usod advantrt eou ;ly in lonr`t}toning tr e r&apos;lowin g lift of wells a.nd, i norcas in:; the economic recovery of oil and Little is known about the by which water off: oratos in driving nil throe:gh reservoir roc:-.:,, nd i:. a scorcity of rubli:;Lad informs-¬t .on nn rates of :)Ov.:m.,:- t of : r.tcr ..at v:1:11 res,-_lt in ^r i-nu oil recoveries. Bureau of :fines engine_:? ; - reciate. the r,aucity of scientific knowledge or. the &apos;test methods of a,r.lying the natural water arive to in¬crease oil-recovery efficiencies ant ,i.;?l __-itir?,~ ting irties that will, they hope, Contribute to t.1&apos;.e T ros?Jr.t. small _ %nd of information now av tilable on tt:e cubjoct. This r».crt a oyno-.::is or brief comrilnt.ion of r,ublished data and thought accuinulnt.~d so far, to la)or;~.tory ox-:erimnntrr¬tiorn and, further rosoarch on the z_rrinciplos unri;rlyir..g the natr.rr+1 eater drive no it nffocts oil recovery. :Lie writer:: Lore that t.i.c cx-nositiorn of a?rzilable inforr-at ion i rcs?r.toi in the rernrt r .-II .i ,.1rtt cor_jt_-i:ctive tho.-_.I_t and efforts loadir,-z to -:ard more con.r .ote extraction n;&apos; o tl from reservoirs.]

Jan 1, 1938

By R. L. Marek

"The number of persons fatally injured in the petroleum industry in California in 1930 was 50, a decrease of 20.6 per cent from 1929, when 63 men accidentally lost their lives. The decrease in the number of fatalities for 1930 has caused the first downward trend in the fatality curve of the California petroleum industry since 1927 and is coincident with a period of little active development in new fields, the shutting in of many wells, and reduced activity in the older fields of the State. That a direct relationship exists between the number of accidental deaths and the rapidity of new field development is particularly emphasized by the fact that in 1929, a year of intensive field development in California, 48 men were killed in the drilling and producing division, whereas in 1930, a year of less development work, only 25 men were killed in this division,The figures for the average number of drilling and producing wells in 1930 decreased appreciably from comparable figures for 1929 and a greater percentage of producing wells were shut—in in 1930 than in 1929."

Dec 1, 1931

By Walter W. Fisher

A study of copper cementation on iron was initiated to determine the effect that deposited copper has upon subsequent cementation. A microscopic investigation of cementation on an iron surface showed that cupric ion precipitates predominately on a growing copper deposit attached to the iron surface. A kinetic study of the cementation process in a revolving drum showed that the cementation rate is enhanced by the copper deposit attached to the iron surface and by the discrete copper particles of a cement copper slurry. The kinetic study also indicated that the character of the deposit is affected by the major anion in the solution. The cementation process is visualized to occur as a series of electrochemical cells in which cupric ion precipitates on copper dendrites attached to the iron surface.

Jan 1, 1973

By R. L. Soderberg

Large open stopes mined by vertical crater retreat or sublevel s are sometimes backfilled with uncemented sand to support the stope walls and alleviate rock bursts. The failure of bulkheads in two different mines prompted a research project at the Bureau of Mines to prevent a recurrence of these failures. A series of laboratory tests with drains and sand filters was conducted to measure the bulk-head pressures when adequate drainage was maintained. Results showed that bulkhead pressure was reduced to near zero while drains were in operation, as compared to full hydrostatic pressure when drains were blocked or drainage was restricted. A relatively simple, free-draining bulkhead was shown to be adequate.

Jan 1, 1985

By Larry A. Haas

Carbonyl sulfide (COS) was decomposed to sulfur and CO in a silent electrical discharge. A threshold of about 4 kv at 60 Hz was required to dissociate the gas in a laboratory ozonizer at 790 torr with electrode gaps between 1 and 5.5 mm. Above the threshold value, the reaction rate increased with increasing voltage with helium or nitrogen diluent. With the latter diluent, higher voltages had to be applied to obtain the same yield in the 4-to 12-kv range. The COS decomposition rate increased with COS concentration, but a saturation value was reached at about 10 pct COS. The reaction rate decreased at low linear gas velocities as obtained at lower gas flows, larger electrode gaps, or larger reactor volumes. Increasing gas temperature also decreased the decomposition rate. The presence of solid adsorbents such as quartz wool, bauxite, or charcoal had no significant effect on the reaction rate. The addition of S02 did not affect the COS decomposition rate, but small amounts of water decreased the reaction rate. Over 50 pct of the COS was decomposed at room temperature and atmospheric pressure in a l7-kv ozonizer using a gas containing 0.9 pct COS in helium flowing at a rate of 0.3 liter/min. The average current was less than 5 ma. This method has possible application in eliminating the toxic air pollutant, COS, which is generated in petroleum refineries and in processes involving reactions between sulfurous and carbonaceous materials. Carbon monoxide that is formed can be further oxidized to CO2 after the collection of elemental sulfur.

Jan 1, 1972

By J. Sottile, J. L. Kohler

Component failures in the electrical control circuits of mining machines account for a large percentage of the total downtime of the machine. Once a failure has occurred it is always a tedious and usually a time-consuming task to locate the failed component. Moreover, the pressure to quickly locate the cause of a delay can lead to compromises in safety. Thus an onboard diagnostic system, essential for an automated machine, would be a very useful addition to existing machines. This report details U.S. Bureau of Mines development of a generic procedure for synthesizing diagnostic systems for electrical-control-circuit failures in mining machinery. A continuous mining machine is used as the testbed to illustrate the application of the developed methodology. Substantive differences among mining machine control circuits made it impossible to achieve a generic diagnostic system, but a generic approach for the synthesis of the diagnostic system was possible. As the research progressed, it became apparent that an algorithmic approach was better than an expert- system-based implementation. A prototype system was constructed and used to evaluate the diagnostic system. Prototype implementation issues are also examined.

Jan 1, 1993

By William M. Schafer

Forage plots were established on agricultural lands contaminated by acid mining waste. The acid produced through oxidation of pyrite and other sulfides caused elevated solubility and plant availability of copper, zinc, and arsenic which killed vegetation and polluted surface and groundwater. Soil amendments including agricultural lime (CaCO3), hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2), phosphorus, and organic matter were used to reduce the toxicity of metals. Several acid-tolerant grasses were used to vegetate the amended soils. Various soil extraction techniques were used to see which best correlated with vegetation performance. The extractions corresponded to three "forms" of metals in soil including soluble (water-saturation extract); plant-available/weakly adsorbed (DTPA extract); and total (HNO3/H202 extract). Of the extractants tested the DTPA levels appeared to correlate best with metal levels in plant tissue. The DTPA soil extractant serves as a useful tool in predicting potential phytotoxicity of mine waste materials.

Jan 1, 1989

By P. G. Pigott

The lack of technical information regarding the physical characteristics of kaolins and bauxitic kaolins, rejected during the mining of bauxite near Eufaula, Ala., has retarded their commercial utilization. This investigation was undertaken to determine their behavior when used in refractories. Ores were evaluated as refractory raw materials by compounding dry-press mixtures and specialties following procedures common to the industry. Products now on the market were used for comparison in laboratory evaluation.

Jan 1, 1959

By James E. Aplin

Previous studies have shown that fracturing of roof strata precedes ultimate failure, and that the fracture development causes an accompanying increase in the apparent resistivity of the strata. Using this principal, a microprocessor controlled resistivity roof fall warning system (RRFWS) was developed that automatically sequences through and records up to 32 electrodes that may serve as either voltage or current electrodes. This capability permits increased coverage with a minimal number of required electrodes. The data is stored in a nonvolatile memory and on an optional printout, making the system nonsusceptible to loss of mine-power. To further save battery power, the system&apos;s electronics shut down between readings, except for a carbon molybdenum steel real-time clock. At a preprogramed interval, the RRFWS reactivates and repeats the sequence. If the absolute change or the rate of change of resistivity exceeds a predetermined limit the system is capable of sounding an alarm. In addition to the monitor, a stainless steel mod led split-set electrode was also developed that permits long-term corrosion-free contact.

Jan 1, 1983

By M. G. Wallis

This report presents the results of a study to develop a detailed mining method design based on longwall mining with sublevel caving. The method is applicable to low-dipping coal seams 20 or more feet thick such as are found in the western United States. The report covers (1) the development and description of the mining method, (2) evaluation of the engineering feasibility of the design, (3) estimates of productivity and recovery, and (4) an engineering cost analysis and economic feasibility evaluation of the mining method design.

Jan 1, 1977

By Scott A. Stebbins

This Bureau of Mines publication presents a method for estimating capital and operating costs associated with the exploration, mining, and processing of placer deposits. To ensure representative cost estimates, operational parameters for placering equipment and basic principles of placer mining techniques are detailed.

Jan 1, 1987

By Mark R. Pettitt

The development of fire hazard criteria for noise control products in underground coal mines are presented. Qualifying requisites of the criteria include maintaining miners&apos; safety, allowing for maximum use of noise control products, and economic feasibility. The burning process is analyzed for its relationship to fire hazard criteria developed by NASA and the FAA, and the mine environment is analyzed in conjunction with the end-use applications of noise control products. Also, the interim fire hazard specification developed by MSHA is appraised as it applies to end-use applications of noise control products. From these analyses and a literature survey, fire hazard criteria are developed. They include an initial screening procedure that evaluates the level of flammability testing required. Fire tests that may be indicated are the Vertical Flame Test, the Ignition Temperature Test, and the 25-Foot Tunnel Test.

Jan 1, 1983