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By Thomas Jenning, C. M. Keithly

"INTRODUCTION This report is one of a series. 4. 5. 6/ concerned with presenting historical development, and operating data on secondary-recovery projects in various States to stimulate interest in sound secondary-recovery programs. Preceding reports in this series have dealt exclusively with descriptions of and results obtained by water flooding in three states, but no recent publication of comparable purpose describes gas-injection 7/ practices. The authors intend to present material relevant to the development and operation of gas-injection projects in Illinois, with particular emphasis on those producing from oil-bearing horizons that had been depleted to a point near the economic limit of operation by past oil-recovery methods.Most operators realize that the energy expended on the movement of fluids through gas-expansion- or gas-cap-type oil reservoirs to producing wells must be supplemented to attain maximum recovery of the oil present. Under favorable conditions, many operators choose to maintain oil-propulsive forces at or near their original magnitude by injecting extraneous fluids into a reservoir or recycling produced fluids early in the life of a field. More common, and less desirable, is the practice of replenishing these forces after primary producing methods become unprofitable. The lattes practice has been adopted in many stripper fields in Illinois and most of the oil-producing States during the last 40 years, but other old oil fields, and oil properties within those fields which were partly exploited by secondary--recovery methods, also may offer favorable opportunity for further development. To encourage and, aid operators in the development of gas-injection projects in the old oil fields of the United States, four projects have been described in detail in this report."

Nov 1, 1944

By B. W. Gandrud

[This report presents the data of one of a series of investigations of the washability of Alabama coals as indicated by float-and-sink tests mode by the Bureau of Fines at the Southern Experiment Station in cooperation with the University of Alabama and Alabama coal producers. The Klandyke mine, operated by the Blocton Mining Co., is about 1 mile eat of Vest Blocton, Bibb County, Ala., floor the southwestern, extremity of the Cahaba coal field. The Bureau of Mines already has published three reports that deal with the, washability of Cahaba coals - one a washability study of the Clark bed at Marvel4/ one on the tabling of fine coal from the Thompson and Woodstock beds5/, and the third a washability study of the Henry Ellen bed at Acmar6/.]

Jan 1, 1939

By William R. Barton

Sampling to determine development potential of beryllium deposits was conducted at 31 New England localities. A total of 54 additional areas where the geochemical environment appeared favorable were sampled to determine if economically interesting percentages of beryllia (BeO) might occur. Newry Hill-Plumbago Mountain, Maine, Iron Mountain, N.H., and Long Island, Maine, were investigated in some detail to determine the size and grade of deposits. The mineralized pegmatites at Newry Hill-Phunbago Mountain are extensive but very low grade; at Iron Mountain the ore bodies are very rich but of small volume; at Long Island beryl occurs with molybdenite, wolframite, and scheelite, but the tonnage of ore was not determined.

Jan 1, 1968

By Thomas Novak, Jeffrey L. Kohler, Joseph Sottile, Steve J. Gnapragasam

Modern underground coal mines can be very large, having a total connected load in excess of l5 000 hp. These mines generally have many miles of high-power conveyor belts and 15 or more miles of high-voltage power cables at distribution voltages of 12.47, 13.2, 13.8, or 14.4 kV. The shielded cables used in mine power distribution systems have a significant level of capacitance, on the order of 110 pF/ft. This level of capacitance, in an extensive power distribution system at today's voltage levels, can cause significant charging currents during a ground fault. This paper addresses the potential detrimental effects of capacitance charging currents during line-to-ground faults in mine power distribution systems. A representative mine power system is modeled, and simulations with faults at various locations are conducted to evaluate the effects of this capacitance on the level of fault current and relay selectivity. This paper also includes results of capacitance measurements made on mine power feeder cables used to validate the simulation model.

By E. A. Mevissen

With the ever increasing consumption of mineral commodities, the vital question is not whether sufficient mineral quantities will be available, but rather can the known existing low grade resources be mined economically. Conventional conveyor systems are being used in some open pit mines to decrease haulage costs. n an effort, to take this concept one stop further, this contract study examines the use of a high angle conveying system in an open pit mine. It identifies available high angle conveying equipment and examines the haulage and crushing costs associated with both a conventional truck and shovel mining operation and a high angle conveyor operation. These costs analyses were performed on a hypothetical copper, taconite and phosphate mine. Information was gathered from a series of high angle conveying equipment and open pit mining operations in the U.S. Volume I includes a detailed review of the state-of-the-art in high angle conveying concepts, the, hypothetical mine development, and the cost analyses. Volume II includes the appendices.

Jan 1, 1981

Norton Co., the world's largest producer of abrasives, is enlarging its proppant operation. Proppants are strong chemical particles used to wedge open rock formations in deep oil wells, thereby increasing the well flow rate, sometimes as much as tenfold. Norton" aluminum oxide-based proppant is rapidly displacing less durable materials. The company is building the world's largest proppant plant in Fort Smith, AR. ALUMINUM--See also REFRACTORIES The price of primary aluminum ingot was increased by several producers in July. Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., and Revere Copper & Brass Inc. increased the price of primary aluminum to 63.0 cents per pound, effective July I. Reynolds Metal s Co., Anaconda Aluminum Co., Howmet Aluminum Corp., and Marti n Marietta Aluminum Inc. increased the price of 99.5% primary aluminum ingot to 63.0 cents per pound, effective July 5, The Aluminum Company of America increased the price of aluminum ingot to 62.5 cents per pound, effective July 9. The range of prices at the end of the month was 58.5 to 63.0 cents per pound.

Jan 1, 1979

By H. H. Schrenk, W. P. Yant, F. A. Patty

"INTRODUCTION In accordance with the outline of investigation described in a previous report 5 of the Bureau of Mines dealing with the use of acrolein for detecting leakage of methyl chloride from unit--type refrigerating systems, the work has been extended to include an investigation of its use in a multiple system, This report gives the results of analysis of samples of the gas from representative units of a multiple system charged with methyl chloride containing approximately 0.9 per cent acrolein by volume, The results furnish a basis for estimating the Warning that would be given in event of leakage. The properties and warning intensity of acrolein have been described in a previous report. 5 ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThis investigation was made at the combined request-of Several Inc., Manufacturers of refrigerating, appliances, and the Roeasler Hasslacher Chemical Co., manufacturers of methyl chloride. Acknowledgment is given to R. M. Major, ,chief chemist of the former firm for arranging the experimental site and equipment; to Arthur O. Haseeneall, owner of the apartment building where the investigation was conducted, for his courtesy in permitting the investigation; and to R. R. Sayers, chief surgeon, Bureau of Mines, and surgeon., U. S. Public Health Service, for suggestions and advice."

Sep 1, 1930

By E. Kamon

This report summarizes completed research pertaining to the reaction of human subjects exposed to Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) stressors during escape conditions (viz., resistance breathing, C02 breathing, hot air breathing, and static positive facepiece positive pressure breathing) and the development of an automated breathing and metabolic simulator (ABMS). Volume I contains summarizes of the studies performed under this contract. Volume II is an appendix which contains more detailed descriptions of these studies.

Jan 1, 1984

By Travis Q. Lyday

During 1983, Ecuador's gross domestic product (GDP) decreased by a reported 3.3% in real terms, the second consecutive decline in the economy after more than a decade of growth generated mainly by petroleum export revenues. The slowdown was due, in part, to the effects of the world recession, lower foreign demand for oil, depressed world oil prices, and reduced demand and prices for Ecuador's traditional agricultural exports. Inflation accelerated to an estimated 55% annual rate. The sucre was devalued in March, for the second time in less than a 12-month period, by 27% after remaining unchanged during the previous decade. In addition, continuous adjustments were made every weekday, effectively devaluing the sucre another 30% by yearend. Ecuador's production of crude petroleum increased almost 12% in 1983 compared with that of 1982. Average daily production was 237,100 barrels per day (bbl/d), up from 211,300 bbl/d in 1982.

Jan 1, 1985

By Thomas O. Glover

The mining industry of Cameroon continued to be dominated by crude petroleum. Crude petroleum production has become the most important facet of Cameroon's economic development. Oil production was estimated to be 6.3 million tons in 1983 compared with 5.2 million tons in 1982 and 4.3 million tons in 1981. Over two-thirds of its export income was attributed to crude oil. The country's only refinery, dedicated in 1981, has a production capacity of 2 million tons. Cameroon has become self- sufficient in petroleum products since commissioning the refinery. The oil sector contributed approximately 13.5% to Cameroon's gross domestic product in 1982-83. Oil production was expected to rise from 125,000 barrels per day in 1983 to 156,000 barrels per day in 1985 when output peaks. Cameroon's ultimate recoverable reserves have been calculated at 100 million tons, or 750 million barrels of oil.

Jan 1, 1985

By E. L. Garton

[AnalY3e s of Qany crude t) i 1 s prod.uced in Loui sia.na are incl udeo" in re!Jor~ ~ th'l t have b en u~li shed by the BurOllU 0: i?{ine s. The first rc-port,j} givin..; analyseG of 6 Louisiana crude oils, '-vas pUblluhed in 1921'l.s,nd this was 1'0110\ cd a year later by P.ep rt of InvBstign.tions 21a6t~ givi~ 7 addi tional analyses. The G7even :,ost il'!lportant of these analyses were incol"]lorated in Bulle~in 91,.2, is~ued in 1928. In 1934, analyses of 26 cl ... ude oils j)roduced in southern Louisiana ",ere published ? .§! The present report I)renonts analysos of 72 ad(~itional samples of crude oil frorl 4-, fields in 23 "l)ari shefl in Loui f",io.r]

Jan 1, 1939

By J. M. Provost

1. Estimates have been made for eight coal beds in Marion County, but only the Pittsburgh is important from a production standpoint at this time. The Pittsburgh bed has the largest recoverable reserve, and the Sewickley is second in importance. 2. Known measured and indicated reserves thickness of 14 inches and on 1,800 short tons estimated at 3,141 million tons, as of January lion tons is in beds 28 inches and more thick in all beds, based on a minimum per acre-foot of coal in place, are 1, 1955. Of this total, 2,983 mil-Areas in each bed were omitted from the estimate because available data relative to the bed characteristics were too meager for making an estimate that conforms with the definitions of measured and indicated coal adopted for this study. Should future drilling or development prove reserves in these areas, such reserves should be added to the total estimated reserves.

Jan 1, 1956

By Donald W. Baggs

This report describes economic mining feasibility studies conducted by the Bureau of Mines to estimate mining costs in the Porcupine mining area of the Juneau Mining District, southeastern Alaska. Investigations were conducted on the economics of three mineral deposit types: 1) massive sulfide deposits containing zinc, copper, and silver, 2) vein gold, and 3)disseminated gold. Cost estimates were developed using the Bureau of mines Cost Estimating S,-stem. Discounted cash flow rates of return were calculated using the Bureau of Mines MINSIM (mining simulation) computer program. Three sets of metal prices were used in the study based on recent historical price information. Underground longhole stope mining of a massive sulfide deposit containing 25 pct zinc. 1 pct copper, and 63.6 g/mt silver was found to be economic at high metal prices at a quantity of 13,200,000 mt ore. Cut-and-fill mining of a 26,400,000 mt massive sulfide deposit was found to be economic at medium metal prices. Open pit mining of a similar deposit was found to he economic at medium metal prices and 26,400,000 mt ore, or at high metal prices and 6,600,000 mt ore. Underground mining of a vein gold deposit was found to be economic at a grade of 17.1 g/mt medium metal prices and 1,320,000 mt ore. Open pit mining of a disseminated gold deposit was found to be economic at a grade of 1.71 g/mt medium metal prices and a quantity of 39,600,000 mt ore.

Jan 1, 1986

By Normal Seidle

This report (rind related Appendices) provides a description of the functional design specifications and related rationale for development of a training system for dragline equipment operators. Phase I activities involved a delineation and detailed analysis of specific behavioral requirements for successful dragline operation. Following the field data collection effort, job/activity/task descriptions were formulated into training requirements which can be achieved by a trainee with training hardware having specific functional capabilities. The training system analysis integrated the training requirements and the trainer functional capabilities into recommendations which configure a total training system. The objective of the training system described in this report is to provide new operators of dragline equipment with the requisite skills and knowledge to assure cost-effective development and an adequate supply of our human resources.

Jan 1, 1975

By S. J. Schatzel, W. P. Diamond

High methane emissions originating from the active face areas and from the fractured formations overlying and underlying the mined coalbed can adversely affect both safety and productivity in underground coal mines. Since ventilation alone may not be sufficient to control the methane levels in the longwall mining environment, gob gas ventholes have become a standard supplementary methane control option in many mines. As mines progress into deeper and gassier coalbeds, or as longwall panel size increases, ventilation and gob gas ventholes together may not be sufficient to maintain methane levels within statutory limits. To decrease the risk associated with methane emissions under these circumstances, in-seam horizontal methane drainage is often used to reduce the gas content of the coalbed prior to mining. Horizontal methane drainage borehole completion designs, drilling strategies, and degasification lead times may need to be adjusted for site-specific conditions due to mine design, geology, and the gas content of the coalbed. This study investigates different horizontal methane drainage borehole patterns, borehole lengths, and degasification times prior to and during panel extraction to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing methane emissions using a "dynamic" 3D reservoir modeling of a 38 1-m wide longwall panel operating in the Pittsburgh coalbed. Results of this study showed that dual and tri-lateral boreholes are more effective in decreasing emissions and in shielding the entries compared to fewer shorter, cross-panel, horizontal boreholes parallel to the longwall face. Modeling results showed that after 12 months of pre-mining methane drainage, the average longwall face emission rates can be reduced by as much as 10.3 m3/min and 6.8 m3/min using tri- and dual-lateral boreholes, respectively. It was also shown that if pre-mining methane drainage time is short, it is important to continue methane drainage during the panel extraction to maximize reductions in longwall face emissions since additional face emission reductions achieved during this period can be comparable to pre-mining degasification.

These proceedings consist of papers presented at a Bureau of Mines Technology Transfer Seminar in September 1981 for the purpose of disseminating recent advances in mining technology in the area of premining research. The introduction and descriptive papers discuss techniques and instrumentation used in premining research for metal and nonmetal mining and shaft design and borehole control for premine planning.

Jan 1, 1982

By J. D. Dixon

This Bureau of Mines report describes a technique for determining the confining pressures that must be provided for stabilizing underground openings in incompetent rock. The technique is adapted for use with a nonlinear finite-element computer code, NONSAP, to obtain stabilization pressures for linear or nonlinear stress distributions in the rock media around the excavation. This analysis permits a point-wise calculation of active rock pressures that depend on the values of shear stress and strength along the excavation surface. The approach is applied to the solution of several sample problems. The results show that both the magnitude and the distribution of stabilizing confining pressures are significantly influenced by rock and joint strengths, joint orientation, and biaxial nature of the load field.

Jan 1, 1976

By Wilton Johnson

The Bureau of Mines study indicates that land utilized by the mining industry for mineral extraction and processing from 1930 through 1980 amounted to 5.7 million acres, or 0.25 percent of the land mass in the United States. Land reclaimed by the industry during the same period was 2.7 million acres, or 47 percent of the land utilized. Land use by the mining industry includes surface land used for excavation or mining, for waste from underground mining, and for wastes from milling or processing operations. Data on land use for disposal of overburden waste from surface coal mines and on areas affected by subsidence associated with underground mining are included for the period 1930-71 only. The 10 leading States in total land used for mining over the 51-year period were, in decreasing order, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, West Virginia, Florida, Indiana, California, Alabama, and Missouri. Seven mineral commodities accounting for 92 percent of land use are, in decreasing order, bituminous coal, sand and gravel, stone, phosphate rock, clay, copper, and iron ore, all predominately surface mined. Bituminous coal production was responsible for nearly half of the total area utilized. Reclamation of mined lands and waste disposal sites over the reporting period was largely on lands utilized in mining bituminous coal; 75 percent of the land used for bituminous coal production was reclaimed.

Jan 1, 1981

By Leonard Obert

Part I of this report3/ proposed a sonic method for determining pressure, in situ, on rock pillar, arches, and other structures. The method required (1) a laboratory determination of the variation of the velocity of sound with pressure in samples of rock taken from mine pillars to establish a velocity pressure relationship for the type of rock, and (2) a measurement of the velocity of sound in the mine pillars from which the laboratory samples were taken. The pressure on the pillars could be determined by correlating the velocity in the pillar with the velocity-pressure relationship established in the laboratory. The success of this method depends on the extent to which velocity of sound varies with pressure. Furthermore, Young's modulus of elasticity, E, can be calculated from longitudinal velocity, V, by the relationship, E = V2d ...(1) where d = density. Hence, the variation of the elastic modulus with pressure also can be determined. It pointed out that this method might be extended to assist in the prediction of rock bursts, inasmuch as the rock is subjected to extreme pressure in these instances.

Jan 1, 1940

By C. E. Wood

Because of the renewed importance of the strategic metal manganese the Bureau of Mines in conducting further research on pyrometallurgical methods of beneficiating manganiferous iron ores and low-grade manganese ores. Published data on the Pyrometallurgical of manganese ores have been reviewed by Joseph.5/ A method of treatment that has received less consideration than others is the matte smelting of manganese or the separation of manganese from the iron and the gangue in an ore b, formation of a matte, that consists principally of esulfide of manganese. A procedure of this type has been patented by Betts.6/ Lofquist7/ claims advantages for the production of a sulfide-oxide matte as a method of recovering manganese in alloys containing manganese and iron.

Jan 1, 1940