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By R. V. Higgins, A. J. Leighton

A computer program has been devised to calculate the reservoir performance of water floods of complicated well - spacing patterns . The method and program have been tested by calculating the waterflood performance of fivespot patterns using oils of different viscosities and the performance calculations agreed closely with laboratory results . The program on a high - speed digital computer will process the performance prediction in about 1 minute , which is very rapid for a prediction using so much fluid mechanics and nonlinear geometry . The program has been presented in such a way that one may use it as given and save the time required to write and " debug " one of his own . gram processes a complex reservoir analysis , many of the complicated steps are explained in detail , both for the fluid mechanics and the directions for the computer . The subtle features that originally delayed the application of the program to unusual combinations of permeability and viscosity relationships are incorporated and explained

Jan 1, 1963

By N. S. Dalal, X. Shi

It has been known for more than a decade that vanadium (V) stimulates the oxidation of NADH by plasma membranes (1) but the underlying mechanism is still not fully understood. This effect has been attributed to a membrane-associated NADH-dependent vanadium (V) oxidoreductase (1). Subsequent studies suggest that vanadium ( V) can accept an electron from fiavoprotein dehydrogenase that oxidizes NADH (2). The phenomenon ofNAD(P)H oxidation coupled to vanadium(V) reduction has also been demonstrated in other biological systems (3-6). A recent electron spin resonance (ESR) study from our laboratory reported on the accumulation of vanadium (IV) duringthe reduction ofvanadate (vanadium(V)) by the ftavoenzymes glutathione reductase (GSSG-R),4 lipoyl dehydrogenase, and ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase in the presence of NAD(P)H (7). It was concluded therein (7) that these ftavoenzymes function as NAD(P)H-dependent vanadium(V) reductases. More recently, however, Liochev and Fridovich (8) have argued that the ESR data (7) do not demonstrate that the investigated fiavoenzymes act as vanadate reductases. They suggest an alternative mechanism in which the fiavoenzyme simply serves as a generator ofsuperoxide (02) radical, which acts as a propagator of the radical chain reaction leading to NAD(P)H oxidation (9, 10), as summarized below:

Nov 1, 1995

By Ellis S. Hertzog

The material published in this report is part of a special study of some of the chemical and physical properties of Alabama coals. The complete study included friability and grindability determinations, high and low temperature assay distillation tests, and ash fusion-temperature determinations. Proximate and ultimate analyses and. calorific values of the coal samples also were obtained. This paper is concerned only with grindabilities, although proximate analyses have been included to give a better picture of the problem as a whole. The growing interest in grindabilities of coals is a result of the increase in use of pulverized fuel in REscent years. The tenative ball-mill grindability method D409-35T4/was used in making all the determinations. The method of sampling and the technic of the testing procedure is described in Considerable detail in this report because the procedure was established quite recently. The ball-Mill grindability index is a measure of the ease with which coal may be ground, which may be an important factor in estimating pulverizing costs. Up to the present time few data on the grindability of Alabama coals have been published. The data in this paper show that the Warrior and Cahaba fields exhibit a wide range of grindability in their coals. The mines tested are well distributed throughout the productive areas of these fields, and it is possible to make rough estimates of the grindabilities of coals not listed in this report from the data given for mines situated in the same vicinity. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This study was conducted at the Southern Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the University of Alabama. The Alabama liming Institute was of great assistance in furthering the investigation, and the work was undertaken largely as a result of its request that the Bureau of Mines should make certain studies of Alabama coals. Grateful acknowledgments

Jan 1, 1938

By J. W. Paul

[A study of mining methods and underground practices as they influence injury from falls of roof or coal reveals data as to the location in the mine where such injuries occur with the greatest frequency and as to some of the methods and practices which are in use for the prevention of injury. This paper, which presents statistics bearing on the frequency and place of occurrence of accidents and, discusses regulations and practices which have resulted in a low frequency rate from falls of roof and coal in a few representative mines takes its information from mine-accident reports and from the results of studies conducted in a group of 80 mines in the bituminous coal fields of western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. The statistics from this group of mines cover periods of one to four years but average 2 years and 7 months. During this time these mines produced over 110,400,000 tons of coal, equivalent to one-fifth of the annual production of all bituminous mines in the United States. The coal beds of the mines in the group studied are mostly flat, with local pitches of moderate degree. A number of mining plans are in use, each of which follows a general system of multiple entries, cross entries, and rooms. Room and pillar in panels either advancing, retreating, or half advance and half retreat and the block systems are employed. The methods of pillar extraction are by splitting, slabbing, pocket-and-stump, and open end. It is hoped that in presenting some of the details of the methods and practices at particular mines of this group which have commendable records in the prevention of injury some good may accrue to many other bituminous mines which 'nave similar natural conditions.]

Jan 1, 1933

By Constantine C. Popoff

"INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARYDuring 1946 several high-grade limestone deposits in western Washington were examined by the Bureau of Mines. This report presents the data obtained from investigation of the Sauk Mountain deposits in east-central Skagit County, Washington.The investigation consisted of transit and topcgraphic surveys and sampling. The areas selected for sampling were first cleaned by blasting; channel samples up to 40 pounds were cut where practical. Chip samples averaging 30 pounds were taken where channel samples could not be cut. A total of 21 samples in the Sauk Mountain area were taken and. analysed. The locations of the samples are shown in figures 2 and 4, and the analyses are listed in tables 1 and 2. This investigation is a part of a long-range program of general investigation of mineral resources for future industrial development of the Pacific Northwest. The Sauk Mountain deposits were investigated for the purpose of disclosing now sources of high-purity limestone, which could be mined and shipped at low cost to Seattle and other industrial cities in the Pacific Northwest."

Oct 1, 1948

By C. A. Komar

The Bureau of Mines has undertaken an investigation to determine possible applications of acoustic energy at sonic and ultrasonic frequencies to improve ultimate recovery from oil reservoirs. A literature search was conducted to provide background information for initiating laboratory research. The purpose of the literature search was to review the uses that have been made of acoustic energy in the petroleum industry and to select procedures and techniques that could be applied to the solution of petroleum production problems. The characteristics (68)3 of ultrasonic energy make it potentially useful to a variety of industrial and experimental applications. Pulse techniques (99) are common in the testing of materials where inspection is accomplished by propagating an ultrasonic pulse through the material. Viscosity measurements (45) are made by interpreting changes in the absorption of sound as it is propagated through a flowing liquid. Cavitation phenomena (93) produced by high-intensity ultrasound in liquids have been used extensively in industrial cleaning, machining, impact grinding, and aluminum soldering operations.

Jan 1, 1963

By E. M. Tignor

As a part of the program of promoting the conservation and efficient utilization of petroleum, studies are being made by engineers of the Bureau of Mines on secondary oil-recovery projects throughout the United States. In furthering that aim, engineering data concerning the reservoirs, methods of stimulating the production of oil, and other pertinent facts are collected, studied, and subsequently published so that others may profit by the experience gained. This report presents the results of a study made by engineers of the Franklin, Pa., office of the Bureau of Mines of secondary oil-recovery operations in the Boggs field, Spencer district, Roane County, W. Va., whore natural gas is injected into the reservoir to stimulate the production of oil from a so-called stripper field. The Boggs field, like most others in the Appalachian region, is one in which the major part of the natural energy that caused oil to flow through the reservoir to the producing wells during the primary stage of oil production has been dissipated. For all practical purposes, most of the oil produced in the Appalachian region at the present time can be considered to be from stripper fields. Consequently, secondary recovery methods are being used extensively in the oil-producing areas of New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky for recovering some of the oil that was not produced by primary production methods.

Jan 1, 1949

By Manuel Gomez

This report presents experimental work conducted on a number of coals found within the boundaries of the Missouri River Basin, which were, to an extent, a selection of coals typical of that region. In the min, the laboratory work falls into three general classifications: (1) Laboratory distillation assay of coal to establish yields on carbonization; (2) chemical analyses of the coal samples before drying or carbonization; and (3) chemical analyses of the products of carbonization. It will be seen in the following discussion that these data derived from the small-scale laboratory apparatus are useful in predicting yields from pilot plants or industrial units. Coal is produced in about 48 general areas or mining fields in the Western States, of which approximately 18 fall within the limits of the Missouri Basin.3/ Beginning with the Northern Colorado field, through the Central and Western Wyoming fields, the coal is principally bituminous and subbituminous rank. The western Montana coals are also of these ranks. Progressing northeast from central Wyoming the coal decreases in rank, as shown by the subbituminous C coals of the Gillette field in northern Wyoming and the lignites of eastern Montana and North Dakota.

Jan 1, 1953

By Raja V. Ramani, Robert L. Frantz

"The House/Senate Joint Conference Committee has instructed the Bureau of Mines to have the Advisory Committee on Mining and Mineral Resources Research review on an annual and simultaneous basis each generic mineral technology research center (GMTC). In order to accomplish that review promptly and uniformly, committee members have revised and approved an in-depth questionnaire. That document formed the basis of their review. The information provided by that questionnaire was an important factor in their recommendations concerning the future direction of the program; a presentation was made at the last National Plan Update.The comprehensive nature of the questionnaire and the scope of the information contained therein make it an excellent retrospective of the Center. Having a clear vision of where the Center has been and knowing where it is now will help guide it into the future. It is felt that such a detailed view of the Center's facilities and research program will be of value to Center personnel and Advisory Committee members.Each aspect of the questionnaire has been examined, answered in detail, and documented throughly. With the completed questionnaire as a guide, this volume examines the research program, Center personnel presently active on GMTC projects, number of graduate degrees granted with GMTC support, GMTC publications, degree of individual interaction, technology transfer, the reference center, GMTC equipment and facilities, and any envisioned plans for future research. It is hoped that this volume will serve as a review of the years 1984-1988, the first four years of the Center's operation."

Aug 31, 1989

By Harold L. Rhodes

The Bureau of Mines has developed a method for determining the H2S content in natural gas samples. A gas chromatograph with a flame photometric detector was used to analyze samples with H2S concentrations ranging from 5,000 ppm to a minimum detectable limit of 0.01 ppm. A mass spectrometer was used to analyze samples containing H2S in amounts greater than 5,000 ppm. Methods are presented for preparing containers for H2S samples and for preparing standards using partial pressure and weighed standard methods, Sample collection techniques are discussed, as are analytical results which illustrate the loss of H2S while in the sample container and provide a basis for evaluating containers used for sampling and standard preparation.

Jan 1, 1979

By H. W. Wainwright

1. A schematic diagram and a description of the apparatus are presented. 2. Five runs were made using gas having a hydrogen-carbon monoxide ratio of about 2:1 and sulfur concentrations ranging from nil to 1.53 grains per 100 std. c.f. 3. At constant space velocity of synthesis gas the product of the sulfur concentration and days of operation, with conversion of H2 + CO above 97 percent, was constant. With a gas containing 0.04 grain of sulfur ac carbonyl sulfide per 100 std, cu. ft ,, the conversion of H2 + CO remained over 97 percent for 40 days. During that time the heating value of the product gas (on a C02-free basis) remained relatively constant at 940 B .t .u. per c.f., based on dry gas measured at 600 F. and 30 inches Hg.

Jan 1, 1954

Objective To develop safety training tools for mine safety and health professionals that fill gaps in currently available materials. Background Over the past 4 years, NIOSH has developed and released a series of training videos targeted at underground mine safety. These videos were developed in close cooperation with the mining industry and safety training professionals and were intended to provide realistic, interesting, effective training to both new hires and experienced miners. The videos cover the mining cycle, starting with the breaking of the rock (Handling Explosives in Modern Mines), making certain the work area is safe after a blast (Rock Falls— Preventing Rock Fall Injuries in Underground Mines), installation of ground supports and recognition of failed supports (Miner Mike Saves the Day), and hauling both ore and materials in the mine (Hazards in Motion). A separate video (Hidden Scars) captures the story of a fatal rock burst through an interview with a miner who nearly died and who lost his partner in the accident. These videos have been extremely popular in the mining industry and are being used across the nation as well as in 18 other countries. Two of them, Rock Falls and Miner Mike Saves the Day, have won Alice Hamilton awards, NIOSH’s highest recognition for Excellence in Occupational Safety and Health, in the Educational Materials category. Approach A recently completed independent evaluation of the SRL mining videos identified five themes that mine safety trainers consider necessary for successful training materials: high quality, credibility, accurate content, effectiveness, and an engaging nature. All of the NIOSH videos were rated very high for each theme. Using these measures of effectiveness, a more difficult challenge has been undertaken. Much has been written in the mining industry about the coming turnover in employment. The average age of miners in the United States is approaching 50, and many of the “experts” will be leaving the industry as they reach retirement age. The mining industry, like many industries involving skilled labor, relies heavily on a master-apprentice relationship between new hires and older miners. New hands learn from experienced miners. Their learning falls into three primary categories—they learn what’s important to know, they learn how to do things correctly and safely, and they learn the culture.

Mar 1, 2002

By Almon F. Robertson

"INTRODUCTION At various times, North Carolina has supplied small quantities of brown-iron ore to the furnace o the South. Between 1917 and 1920, the quantity reported to the Federal Geological Survey was 126,000 tons. Most of this came from Cherokee County. 3/In furtherance of the program initiated by the Bureau of Mines to develop additional reserve of iron ore during the emergency, the Cherokee County deposits were examined by an engineer 4/ of the Bureau of Mines, and work was recommended on,12 properties.The project was begun in April 1944 and continued intermittently until April 1945, when work was stopped. During this period, eight properties were explored, and an additional property was mapped.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSIn its program of exploration of mineral deposits, the Bureau of Mines 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."

Nov 1, 1946

By L. C. IlsLey

[The last previous Bureau of Mines publication relative to details of permissible methane detectors (Bulletin 331, published in 1930) describes detectors of four different types, namely flame, combustion, catalytic, and a combination Wheatstone-bridge axed catalytic type in which catalytic action at the surface of a platinum filament when in methane causes a change in the temperature and resistance of the filament, thus unbalancing the bridge circuit and giving a reading proportional to the methane concentration. Three detectors of the latter type have been approved since 1933. A brief description of each follows: U. C. C. Detector Approved No. 902, covering the U. C. C. indicating detector, as described in Bulletin 331, was entered January 27, 1330, to cover important chances in design that permit checking; the calibration of the detector at any time, whether in gas or fresh air. Essential features of the detector are shown in figure 1.]

Jan 1, 1937

By C. W. Smith

The U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted research to determine the effect of ground water control on the dewatering of phosphatic clay wastes. Two storage impoundments were constructed. One impoundment was surrounded on three sides with a series of well points (shallow vertical wells) to lower the ambient water table and the second impoundment served as a control. Ground water was pumped from the area surrounding the test impoundment for a period of 490 days. A constant pumping rate of 60 gal/min resulted in a water table drawdown of 13 ft, approximating the bottom of the impoundment. At the end of the test period percent solids in the test impoundment was 35 pct, while in the control impoundment percent solids was only 26.8 pct. Percent solids of greater than 30 pct is required for capping and final reclamation using fertile overburden.

Jan 1, 1989

By H. P. Greenwald

About mid-December 1936, the safety director of a large coal corporation visited the authors at the Bureau's Experimental coal mine to discuss a rock-dust barrier he had invented primarily for use in trackless entries of coal mines. The rock dust in this device was carried in its original paper containers and means were provided for ripping these open so that the dust might be scattered in the path of an explosion. The inventor termed the device a "bag barrier", and this term has been adopted in the present paper for convenience. At that time the device was in an early stage of development, and the inventor felt that the barrier should be tested to determine whether it had enough promise of being successful to justify further development. The matter was taken under consideration and finally three tests were made during the week of February 15, 1937. It was concluded that while the device did stop an explosion in two of the three tests, it was much loss effective than ordinary rock dusting, and that too few data were obtained to permit direct comparison with tests of other barriers. Apparently, the conditions under which the device could, be successful 'Were somewhat limited, out the limits could not be defined without additional tests.

Jan 1, 1938

By A. Landsberg

Chlorination of sulfide minerals and several prepared metal sulfides was studied. The resulting data were analyzed with respect to kinetics of the reactions and application to nonpolluting methods of winning metals from sulfide ores. Sulfides of iron, copper-iron, nickel, lead, zinc, silver, bismuth, arsenic, rhenium, molybdenum, and tungsten were investigated at temperatures up to 600° C. Copper-iron, lead, and zinc sulfides showed at least some product-controlled (parabolic) kinetics at the lower temperatures within the temperature ranges studied, but only nickel and silver sulfides had chlorination rates controlled by parabolic reaction kinetics in the commercially important temperature range of 450° to 600° C.

Jan 1, 1975

By F. B. Petermann

Two-stage electric smelting tests, using small submerged arc furnaces, were made on high-iron manganiferous materials from the Pioche District, Nev., and the Cuyuna Range, Minn. The object was to reduce sufficient iron in the first stage to give a slag with a favorable Mn to Fe ratio for smelting to ferromanganese in the second stage. The nodulized flotation concentrate from the Pioche District contained 29.2 percent Mn and had a Mn to Fe ratio of 2.3:l. When smelted with coke and silica or alumina as flux, more than 90 percent of the manganese was recovered in slags with Mn to Fe ratios of 10: :24:1. The Pioche slag was smelted to ferromanganese using coke and lime- stone or dolomite as flux. The ferromanganese was high in silicon but other- wise met specifications. Recovery of manganese to ferromanganese in this step was 73 to 78 percent. Overall recovery of manganese was about 70 percent. The sintered flotation concentrate from the Cuyuna Range material contained 12.9 percent Mn and had a Mn to Fe ratio of 0.3:1. When smelted with limestone as flux, about 83 percent of the manganese was recovered in a slag with a Mn to Fe ratio of about 6:1. The Cuyuna slag was smelted to ferromanganese with coke and limestone for flux. Recovery in this step was 61 percent of the manganese in a high silicon ferromanganese. Overall recovery of manganese was about 50 percent.

Jan 1, 1963

By R. O. Dannenberg

The Bureau of Mines investigations described in this report were undertaken to devise a process to economically recover precious metals and copper from low-grade, complex electronic scrap generated in large quantities by military and civilian electronic operations. Leaching with various media is applicable to certain selected items of electronic scrap but cannot be practically applied to complex mixtures of scrap. A process comprising incineration, caustic leaching to remove aluminum, smelting with a siliceous slag, and electrolysis recovered 99.9-percent-pure copper metal and anode slimes assaying more than 7,000 ounces per ton of combined precious metals. Silver, gold, and copper recoveries were 93, 95, and 87 percent, respectively. Cost analysis indicated that an alternative process using direct smelting of the scrap to make assayable products for sale to a custom smelter would provide better overall financial returns.

Jan 1, 1972

Objective To reduce dust generated from soiled floors within enclosed operator cabs. Background Enclosed operator cabs are widely used on mobile excavation equipment in the mining and construction industries. They protect the operator from bad weather, noise, and airborne dusts. The inside cab environment usually must be kept at very low dust concentrations because of quartz dust generated from the excavation of silica-bearing rock. For cabs to be effective in controlling airborne respirable dust, they must have an efficient air filtration system, while providing a positive pressurization of the cab interior. Ideally, the recirculated and exterior makeup air filtration should provide at least 99% capture efficiency for dust particles as small as 0.3-µmaerodynamic diameters. Many of these enclosed cabs use heating units mounted or directed along the floor (see figure 1), which can cause dust entrainment problems. Prior studies by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of enclosed cabs have shown that these floor heaters can generate notable amounts of dust within the cab enclosure (see Technology News 486). Multiple-shift dust levels measured inside a drill cab increased on average from0.04 mg/m3 during the summer months to 0.68 mg/m3 during the winter months. Additional dust level measurements, made with optical particle counters during a nondrilling time period, verified that dust levels inside the cab increased from 0.03 to 0.26 mg/m3when the floor heater/fan was turned on. Dust levels within the cab also became greater than the ambient air dust levels outside of the cab when the floor heater was turned on during the nondrilling time period. This shows that the floor heater was a notable dust source problem. Cab floors are commonly soiled from operators tracking dirt inside the cab upon entering from the mine or construction site. Interior cab dust levels can be increased by (1) airflow disturbance of the soiled floor or (2) operator disturbance of the soiled floor. Approach During prior NIOSH surveys of surface coal mine drills, several drills with very low cab dust levels (#0.1 mg/m3) were observed to have floor sweeping compound spread out over the cab floor during the working shift. This initial observation led to a more controlled A-B study of the effect of the sweeping compound on the interior cab dust levels. This study involved dust sampling with and without sweeping compound inside the cabs of a bulldozer and two drills. Sweeping compounds commonly use sawdust or cellulose as the main bulk material, with oil or wax added for dust adhesion purposes. Sand is sometimes added to increase bulk density. Sweeping compounds with sand are commonly used to sweep up concrete floors. Those without sand (usually referred to as "gritless") are used to sweep up smooth finished floors. Most of the oils and waxes used for the adhesive ingredient are petroleum-base and can have an irritating odor. People sensitized to petroleum distillates could have allergic reactions to these sweeping compounds. A few companies offer non petroleum-base sweeping compounds, using either a natural oil or chemical additive for dust adhesion. During this study, it was decided that only the gritless sweeping compound (without sand) would be used, eliminating the addition of another potential silica source inside the cab. Since the sweeping compound would be applied on the enclosed cab floor for the duration of the shift, it was decided to use a canola oil-base sweeping compound to eliminate irritating odor from the petroleum-base sweeping compounds. The natural canola oil-base sweeping compound had a slight woody scent. The three pieces of equipment used in this study had notably different cab layouts. The bulldozer had a small cab with vents discharging air-conditioned or heated air from adjustable louvers at operator waist level and floor level. The bulldozer also had a cloth fabric seat and a carpeted floor. Drill A had a large cab with the heat directed from adjustable louvers at operator knee level and the air-conditioned air directed from cabin ceiling louvers. This drill had a vinyl fabric seat and a steel plate floor. Drill B had a small cabin with the heat directed across the floor (see figure 1) and the air-conditioned air directed down from the ceiling. It had a vinyl fabric seat and a worn rubber mat on a steel floor.

May 1, 2001