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By A. N. Fried

One of the important problems confronting oil producers in appraising the possibilities of secondary recovery in many California fields is the effect of viscosity on oil recovery by water flooding. In January 1954 there were 554 fields and/or pools, in the State, that produced 1 million barrels daily, and 138 of these pools produced approximately 267 thousand barrels daily of heavy crude oil having gravities below 200 API. Many of these fields are nearing the end of their primary economic life and still have high residual-oil saturations, a favorable factor in water flooding. The crux of the problem is whether or not enough oil can be recovered from these fields by water flooding to make the operation economically successful. Some experiments on the relationship between viscosity and oil recovery have been made by other investigators, but in most instances the viscosity of the oils used in the experiments was lower than the viscosity of the oils found in many of the heavy-oil fields in California. A study was undertaken, therefore, to determine the relationship between oil viscosity and recovery over a wider range of viscosities and to compare the experimental results with those predicted by theoretical calculations.

Jan 1, 1955

By Rudolf Kudlich

"The realization that fuel costs, high as compared with those enjoyed prior to the war, are apparently permanent, has caused steam power plant operators to apply their best efforts towards improving the fuel economy of their plants.Though they have given much attention to the reduction in combustion losses by improving methods of firing and improved equipment, and to diminishing the heat losses by more care in maintaining clean heating surfaces and tight and adequate baffling, they have almost universally neglected the waste that occurs from discarding unconsumed combustible with the boiler refuse.This loss varies between extremely wide limits, depending on the quality of the coal, the type of plant and the firing practice in general, the higher the ash content of the coal the greater will be the amount of combustible appearing in the refuse, and the losses will be greater as the boilers are driven at higher ratings. The refuse from stoker fired boilers is apt to have a lower aver-eve percentage of combustible than that from hand fired boilers if operated at the same rating, but stoker fired boilers are usually pushed to higher ratings and the combustible in the refuse will run higher.In actual operating practice the amount of unconsumed combustible in the boiler refuse may range from a few percent to as high as forty or fifty percent. In an informal statement one well known combustion engineer estimates that the average amount of combustible in the refuse from a large stoker fired central station boiler plant is about 15 or 20%. Assuming that the coal burned contains 12% of ash, and allowing for flue dust losses, approximately two percent of the coal will be lost through this channel. The operating engineer of one large modern central power plant reports that when burning coal of about the same ash content, the average amount of combustible in the refuse was in the neighborhood of 33%, en tailing a loss of approximately 4% of the heating value of the fuel fired. Where the coal used daily runs up into hundreds of tons, an appreciable economy could be effected by recovering this percentage."

Sep 1, 1924

By E. J. Lintner

This paper is one of a series being prepared by the United States Bureau of Mines describing gypsum mining and crushing methods and costs at various operations throughout the United States. These papers are designed to disseminate technical information regarding methods used. The cost tabulations represent local operating expenditures only and not total production costs. It is recognized that publication of total production costs may in many instances cause embarrassment to individual operators as well as to the industry as a whole. On the other hand, operating costs are essential to a technical discussion and study of the methods employed. The attention of the reader is called specifically to this differentiation so that there may be no misunderstanding of the scope of the cost tabulation. This paper deals specifically with the mining and crushing methods employed by Victor Plaster, Inc., Victor, Ontario County, N. Y. The maximum annual production capacity of this company is 150,000 tons of crushed gypsum. The methods and practices employed arc typical of those followed in the gypsum mines in western New York State. The shaft is, perhaps, the deepest and the thickness of the gypsum mined is above the average for the section.

Jan 1, 1937

By Wilbert J. Huff

The work of the Explosives Division, Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1939, is described in the following pages. This paper is the fourth of a series of annual reports covering the activities of the division since July 1, 1936. The studies outlined in this and preceding reports of the series have been conducted under the direction of the author and the respective unit leaders to whom specific credit is indicated.

Jan 1, 1940

By VAN. H. MANNING

During the nine years that have elapsed since the Bureau of Mines was established in 1910, the work of the bureau has included many investigations that have proved of high value to the Nation. Eleven mining experiment stations established by act of Congress have greatly increased the bureau's usefulness; being situated in the mining fields, these stations are closely in touch with industrial needs, and the results of their research and educational work are more directly available to those engaged in the mining, metallurgical, and mineral industries. In the United States mining is second in importance to agriculture only. The Federal Government annually appropriates large sums in the interest of agriculture, whereas the appropriations for mining are relatively small. But the nation-wide popularity of Government assistance to agriculture should not overshadow the need of Federal assistance to the mineral industry. With scientific management farms can be made to produce indefinitely without any depletion of the potential resources of the soil, but the mineral wealth of a country is a fixed quantity, and every year's production brings nearer its ulti- mate exhaustion. As the deposits of the richer or more readily available ores, espe- cially those in the West, have been depleted, development of methods for mining and treating the leaner or more inaccessible ores has lagged, so that meeting the increasing demands for certain metals is becoming more and more difficult. In some branches of mining the small inde- pendent operator is greatly handicapped. He has to rely on custom mills and smelters for the profit or loss of his product, and because of relatively inefficient methods of milling or smelting he may receive no return for much of the ore he mines. Even though the small operator thinks he knows of improved methods of obtaining the metals from the ores, he can not afford to install the necessary machinery or to carry on experiments that may or may not prove successful. In view of the increasing need of metals and the impossibility of renewing the ore supplies, efforts should be directed toward developing the most economical and efficient methods in mining and metal- lurgy. The great mining companies carry on independent research work, some of them on a large scale; but as such work is usually undertaken for gainful purposes, these companies do not feel under any obligation to give the results of their investigations to the world. Clearly the solution of the difficulty is to place in the mining districts trained mining and metallurgical engineers who will investigate and solve the problems for the benefit of the whole industry. It is with this purpose in view that experiment stations of the Bureau of Mines have been established to investigate economy, efficiency, and safety in mining, and to make public the results of the investigations. The Federal Government can be of most help in developing the mineral resources of the country when its forces are brought in direct contact with these resources. Mining is as old as civilization, but only within a generation has this country busied itself with any other problem of mining than the amount of mineral products that could be put upon the market. Little concern was felt if much of the metal in an ore was wasted, if the miner lived in unsanitary surround- ings and died of preventable disease, or if accidents occurred fre- quently and from causes that could easily be controlled. Now we realize that the waste of any resource is inexcusable. The mineral wealth of the country can be mined but once. The task before the Nation is to recover as much metal as possible from the ore in the ground, and to do this in the most economical way without waste of human life. This task is of such magnitude as to warrant aid from the Government through experiment stations. In its efforts to make the work of these stations of most benefit to the mineral industry the Bureau of Mines seeks the cooperation of State authorities, of mine operators, of miners' organizations, and of every person interested. These experiment stations also serve an educational purpose. Gen- erally speaking, mining is not a preferred occupation. The miner should have reason to take greater interest in his work; he should feel that the experiments the Government is making affect him vitally by enabling him to increase his production and by making his work safer. The mine operator should realize that the Government stands ready to aid him, and he should know that he can bring his own problems to a Government organization that is trained and equipped to solve them. The surest method of accomplishing these results is to carry the work of the Bureau of Mines into the mining regions through the establishment of experiment stations easily accessible both to the mine operator and to the miner. Many miners in this country do not read English, but they can understand motion pictures of mining methods; they can learn how lives can be saved in case of accident; and they can appreciate the larger results gained by modern methods and equipment. In every

Jan 1, 1919

By Mark P. Meyer

During 1991 through 1993, the U.S. Bureau of Mines (Bureau) -Alaska Field Operations Center (AFOC) in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) -Arctic District Office and the State of Alaska, Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (ADGGS), conducted exploration, geological, geochemical, geophysical, mineral resource, and mineral potential investigations in the 6.7 million hectare Colville Mining District (CMD) study area. This mining district study area, located in northern Alaska, includes the Colville River drainage basin as well as 0.35 million hectares of the southern part of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA). This investigation was conducted as part of the Bureau's continuing Mineral Land Assessment (MLA) mining district program. The Bureau's MLA mining district program is designed to provide reliable and comprehensive mineral resource information that supports mineral resource policy and land use decisions made by Congress and Federal land management agencies.

Jan 1, 2011

By E. D. Gardner

This paper is one of a series on milling methods being published by the United States Bureau of Mines. Atlanta is in Elmore County, Idaho, about 80 miles from the railroad at Mountain Home, Idaho. The concentrator is at an elevation of, 6,000 feet and located in a timbered, well-watered region of relatively heavy snowfall. The snow, however, does not seriously affect local operations. The track road to Mountain Home, which passes over a mountain range, is closed each winter from about November 1 to June 15. During this period concentrates are stored and bullion is shipped by airplane. Power is generated by a Diesel engine and by an auxiliary hydroelectric plant. Gold is the principal metal produced; the or also contains an able quantity of silver.

Jan 1, 1935

By Dean H. Ambrose

This Bureau of Mines publication summarizes the status of mine electrical equipment reliability research. Failure rate data were estimated from theoretical, laboratory, and field studies. Tables are presented listing reliability characteristics of molded-case circuit breakers, undervoltage relays, ground check monitors, cables, motors, and control circuitry. Application of failure rate data is shown in tables listing maintenance scheduling intervals of components and components that are most sensitive to the probability of hazardous voltages on power distribution systems in the mines. Complete, accurate, and appropriate failure rates on mine equipment are of the utmost importance for reliability evaluations.

Jan 1, 1985

By G. E. McElroy

[The purpose of this paper is to present type: of charts adapted to aid in the graphic solution of fan-performance problems of selection and operation, and to urge the adoption of similar charts by the National Association of Fan Manufactures as standard forms for presenting fan-performance data. As matters now stand, it is difficult for the average engineer to solve such problems because a large number of variables are involved, and performance data are not presented in a manner that permits their direct application to many problems encountered in practice. The performance of any centrifugal machine is determined not only by the machine itself but also by the fluid-flow system on which it operates. Actual performance of centrifugal fans is therefore a matter of the type, size, and speed of fan, on the one hand, anti of the relation of pressure to quantity of flow, as determined by the physical condition of the airway s: stem, on the other.]

Jan 1, 1936

By L. G. Trudell, J. W. Smith, K. E. Stanfield

Oil- yield data are presented for 40 sets of core samples and 83 sets of drill cuttings collected in 1952-62 from drilling operations in the Uinta basin of eastern Utah . This accumulated information on the location , extent , and richness of oil shales of the Green River formation is used to appraise the deposits as a source of oil and related products . Core samples used in the study were obtained specifically for evaluating oil shale , and they were satisfactory for this purpose , except they did not completely penetrate the formation . The drill- cutting samples were inferior to the core samples and yielded more erratic results . Consequently, oil yields based on cuttings should be regarded as indicative , rather than definite , until substantiated by other means . In general , the oil- yield data indicate Green River oil shale in Uinta basin is not as thick or as uniform as that in the Piceance Creek basin of western Colorado . However , it is an important potential source of oil . Estimates that beds 15 feet or more thick that average 25 gallons of oil per ton represent at least 120 billion barrels of oil in place are supported by the recent oil- yield data .

Jan 1, 1964

By Robert S. Sanford

"INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARYThis paper is one of a series recently undertaken by the Mining Branch, Bureau of Mines, College Park, Md., to describe current practice in hauling ore and waste by truck at various mines.Heavy-duty ore trucks are replacing railroads at many large open-cut mines and even at a few underground mines. Recently a few mines have been equipped with trucks for transporting ore to a central point, from which conveyor belts move the ore out of the mine. This paper deals only with truck haulage methods and costs.The requirements for efficient low-cost truck haulage are good trucks designed for heavy loads, adequate truck maintenance, smooth roads, and well-trained truck drivers.A correct balance must be maintained between the primary crusher capacity, the number of shovels loading ore, and the number of trucks hauling ore.The cost of tires is important. Tire companies are manufacturing better tires. Mining companies are prolonging the life of tires by building better roads and maintaining correct tire pressure.The trend is toward heavier equipment. In 1949 it cost $0.0925 a long ton to haul ore and waste with a 15-ton truck and $0.0743 a long ton with a 22-ton truck.When trucks are properly maintained, hauling costs do not increase with the age of the trucks. During 1948 it cost $0.1118 per long ton to haul with the four oldest 15-ton trucks and $0.1130 per long ton to haul with the four newest 15-ton trucks, two of which were purchased in 1945 and two in 1947.The weighted ayerage cost of hauling a long ton of ore to the crusher and waste to the dump has been reduced from $0.1159 in 1948 to $0.087 in 1949."

Oct 1, 1950

By S. H. Ash

Probably one of the most significant departures in tunneling practice is the introduction of Diesel locomotives far haulage (Diesel trucks have been used for some time). The fallacy of the belief that they do not generate carbon monoxide or toxic gases and can be used indiscriminately has been proved by the authors through observation for several years of atmospheric conditions surrounding the use of Diesel engines in tunnels. Diesel locomotives haves been introduced in tunnel haulage for reasons other than safety or health. Except to the extent that they replace trolleys, with their danger of causing electrocutions, modern Diesel locomotives do not increase safety Or remove any ordinary hazards to safety or health. In fact, they create such hazards, the extent of which is limited entirely by the carbon monoxide-content level set, method of ventilation, adequacy of the measures.

Jan 1, 1942

By J. W. Paul

This paper deals with the second phase of an extensive research on coal-mine ventilation factors. A comprehensive report of the entire work is in course of preparation, but abstracts of the various chapters are being prepared in order to make the results public as rapidly as possible. Part 1 dealt with the resistance of unobstructed entries and was issued as Serial 2621 of the Bureau of Mines, in July 1924. Description of tests. After the resistance of an unobstructed entry to flow of air had been determined by tests in the Experiment mine, mine cars were; run into the test section in various arrangements and the increase in resistance was determined. The cars used were of the wooden type with loose end gate, and would hold about one ton of coal, level full. They were 7 feet long. 4 feet 2 inches wide above the wheels, 3 feet high, and had a cross-sectional area of approximately 10 square feet. The average area of the entry was about 57 square feet, the ratio of unobstructed to total area being about 17.6 per cent. The track gage was 42 inches and the wheel-base 20 inches.

Jan 1, 1924

By Robert J. Brennan, Edward R. Navrocky, John W. Buch

In an effort to establish a highly productive mechanized mining system for anthracite beds pitching between 10 ° and 20 ° , for which conventional mobile equipment is not adaptable , the Bureau carried out an experiment in longwall mining using an Anderton- type drum cutter loader and friction - type yielding steel roof supports . The roof- support system proved to be inadequate for breaking the overhanging roof at the break line supports , with the result that the roof broke over the solid coal . The accompanying subsidence destroyed the continuity of the roof in the work area , and the project was discontinued .

Jan 1, 1964

By William A. Beck

This paper is one of a series, describing current practice in diamond drilling for production at various mines throughout the United States. It describes the drilling and blasting methods, used at the Tennessee Copper Co., which started using deep-hole drilling for blasting in 1927, employing inde- pendent, rotation percussion drills with sectional drill steel. Since 1942 the company has employed diamond drills for deep-hole drilling. This method has now passed the experimental stage and promises to become permanent. The elimination of rock dust and safer working conditions for the drill crews are listed as the main advantages. The higher initial cost of equip- ment is the principal disadvantage.

May 1, 1948

By E. R. Maize

[In %-port of Invcstiptionn 7452 ,g dcniing with roof ~wet,ent in the Cmcibla r~ine, rof&apos;erence .,as m.da to the f~ct tiwt timker decny war, bsing studied at tho tine of writing. Thic napor, written a3er completion of that ~tudy, describ~s t1l.e ~mrl&apos;: and sunlharizea the fiats obtained. Ifhen tlle stu* oi roof novement bras be,- at Cxcible tw igeas \%.ere a6-r;incsd. on decay of tiriber Q: scne of :he olficialr;: (I.) 9:la.t timber decay v:as unustmlly rapid in ,tho Ciuoiblc mins, ,m?. ((2) that timber coated with rock ri..~st deixiyad morrl mpirlly thnn those %hat vsrc not so coated. Thsx ::ore no records by which tkeso &apos;iaeas could &apos;L;e tertcc?, ard it cnpsarefi vise to make a limite6 in- vo3tiption, p~.rticu!.ai.ly of +.he effect of roc!< dusting on decny, as rock ductirg is nn importnnt mer-ns of ~rc-,rcnt?;~g cad-dust eql-osions. ]

Jan 1, 1941

By C. L. Brown

Among the more recent developments for breaking coal in mines is the Airdox system, in which high-pressure compressed air is conducted to the points of application by means of heavy-duty steel and copper tubing. Stray electric currents can be detected on y of the compressed-air lines, and evidence of such currents is rev led, by arcs and sparks when contact is made between the tubing and mine track or other equipment forming a current path with the track. Explosive gas is liberated in many coal mines; therefore, from the standpoint of safety, it is desirable to eliminate all possible sources of gas ignition, including stray electric currents. The purpose of this report is to reveal the source, magnitude, and possible methods of controlling stray currents in compressed-air lines that are used in connection with Airdox systems. Stray electric currents have been studied in most coal-mining localities in the United. States where Airdox equipment is used. The information given in this report is based on the find of these studies.

Jan 1, 1949

By R. L. Marek

The number of persons fatally injured in the California petroleum industry in 1931 was 30, a decrease of 20 fatalities or 40 per cent from the number killed in 1930. As a result of the decrease in the number of fatalities for 1931, the fatality curve of tie California petroleum industry reached its lowest point in nine years. Although reductions in personnel--which permitted the retention of a select and experienced class of workmen, decreased active field-development work, and curtailed production--undoubtedly have had a marked effect on reducing the number of fatalities in 1931, the decrease also has resulted from continued accident-prevention efforts. Statistics show that a direct relationship exists between development activity and the number of men accidentally killed in the drilling and producing division of the California petroleum industry. For example, when the average number of drilling wells in 1930 was 29 per cent less than in 1929, the number of men accidentally killed at drilling wells dropped 48 per cent; and when the average number of drilling wells in 1931 decreased 52 per cent from 1930, the number of fatalities at drilling wells decreased 58 per cent. The relationship between field-development work and fatality frequency is significant because each year at least 50 per cent of all the fatalities in the California petroleum industry occur in the drilling and producing division. This relationship should serve to guide the accident-prevention efforts of the industry, especially in the drilling and producing division, toward checking an increase in fatal accidents when development activity again takes an upward trend.

Jan 1, 1932

By K. A. Johnson

Marshall and Bird have published the results of a cooperative investigation by the Bureau of Mines in which they developed a procedure for measuring the agglutinating value of coal.4 As stated in their paper, the procedure outlined was suggested by the early worn of Richters5 and Campredon,6 whose procedures were hurriedly modified to meet the need of an investigation then in progress. Since the publicatien of that paper, further work has been done in an attempt to show how the variables involved affect the concordance of the results, in order that such results may be obtained in different laboratories. Briefly, Marshall and Bird&apos;s method for determining the agglutinating value of coal consists in carbonizing an intimate mixture of 10 parts by weight of sand and 1 part by weight of coal in a porcelain crucible at a uniform temperature of 950° C. in a, vertical, cylindrical, electrically-heated furnace. After carbonization, the resultant buttons are crushed in a testing machine and the breaking strengths recorded in grams. The agglutinating value reported is the average breaking strength of 10 buttons. The coal for the test is prepared by crushing to pass a 100-mesh screen. The sand used as a diluent is sized between 40 and 50 mesh sieves with openings of 0.381 icon and 0.279 millimeters, respectively.

Jan 1, 1930

By T. A. Sullivan

The work described in this report was undertaken to evaluate and develop techniques for determining the oxygen content of titanium and titanium alloys. Early investigations of volatilization techniques involving halogenation were unsuccessful. Later efforts were concentrated on evaluating vacuum fusion and inert-gas fusion techniques. Two vacuum fusion methods and an inert-gas fusion method were found to be satisfactory in the 0.02 to 1.00 pct., oxygen range. These methods are described in detail. The coefficient of variation by any of the three methods is approximately 5 pct, While the main portion of this paper is devoted to the vacuum and inert-gas fusion methods, a resume of other suggested methods for analyzing titanium for oxygen also is given. INTRODUCTION The Federal Bureau of Nines has conducted research on titanium metal since 1938. This research included development of the Kroll process for the production of titanium (2)4, various sodium reduction processes for making titanium metal and lower valent titanium chloride-sodium chloride mixtures (17), and a fused salt electrolytic process for Me production of high-purity titanium metal and the recovery of titanium by electrorefining from off-grade materials (20).

Jan 1, 1961