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By John J. Baz-Dresch

Catalyzed diesel particulate filters (CDPF's) reduce the concentration of diesel particulate matter (DPM) and may reduce the emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) in diesel exhaust. Asamera Minerals' Cannon Mine first installed CDPF's in 1987, and currently has 12 diesel-powered vehicles equipped with CDPF's. The Cannon Mine and the U.S. Bureau of Mines collaborated to evaluate the durability and performance of a CDPF. One of the CDPF's used at the mine was periodically evaluated in the USBM's diesel emissions laboratory after 839, 1,584, and 2,881 h of in-mine service. The objectives of this report are to present results from the USBM's evaluation of this CDPF, to describe the Cannon Mine's experience and cost analysis of using CDPF's, and to make recommendations for the future use of CDPF's. CDPF's improve air quality at the Cannon Mine, but they frequently become plugged and are subject to excessive mechanical shocks and stress, shortening their useful life. Mine records indicate that CDPF's account for 0.8 to 4.9 pct of the vehicles' operating cost at the lVine. CDPF life to date has ranged from 1,671 h to more than 5,992 h. Laboratory tests of the CDPF determined that DPM removal efficiency decreased and regeneration temperature increased over time.

Jan 1, 2010

By Albert L. Brautigam, Michael R. Yenchek, Jeffrey Shawn Peterson, James C. Cawley

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health investigated how the starting of induction motors may cause nuisance tripping of short-circuit protection on coal mine power systems. This research had a dual purpose: 1) to identify how motor-start waveforms differ from those for short circuits and 2) to devise a method to provide short-circuit protection without intentional time delays to account for motor starts. This technology will help ensure that surface temperatures of energized electrical apparatus will not exceed gas or dust ignition thresholds when short circuits occur.

By David C. Uhrin

Two improved methods have been developed to transfer microfilmed mine maps to suitable base maps showing surface features. The methods provide for (1) positioning and orienting maps; (2) merging adjacent maps; and (3) plotting maps at a common scale. One method produces an overlay mosaic of mine maps using an Integrated camera-processor. This photographic method shows the details of mine workings and is most useful for specific limited-area projects. In the second method, outlines of mine maps are digitized, manipulated, and plotted as overlays using a computer. This computer method can plot mine outlines and spatially index large numbers of microfilmed maps. Microfilmed mine maps used in this Bureau of Mines study are on file in the Mine Map Repository of the Eastern Field Operations Center. The base maps are U.S. Geological Survey 7.5-minute topographic maps. The demonstration area is located in the New Kensington East and West quadrangles, Pennsylvania.

Jan 1, 1977

By William R. Barton

Anthracite has been mined from the Narragansett Basin of Rode Island and Massachusetts sporadically, and with limited success, for more than 170 years. Beginning in 1974, interest in the coal of the Basin was renewed because of increasing prices and supply uncertainties involving petroleum products. During 1974-77 the Bureau of Mines analyzed 28 samples of Basin coals and conducted washing tests on 20 of them. Results, reported herein, indicate that the coals are low-sulfur, moderate- to high-ash anthracites and semianthracites, suitable for physical preparation to a product generally containing less than 10 percent ash. Additional exploration, sampling and testing will be required to permit appraisal of the potential value of the Narragansett Basin coal resources.

Jan 1, 1977

By S. K. Mathur

This report identifies all the possible activities, variables and factors that contribute to the surface subsidence process over room and pillar workings. These factors are responsible for mine instability and collapse that ultimately transforms into surface subsidence. Such a failure mechanism is initiated by the failure of the mine floor bed and or the failure of the pillars or the failure of the roof after second mining, which eventually brings down the roof. The individual responses of the pillar, floor and roof rocks to the mining induced stresses and the complex interaction between these components can't be attributable to any single factor. Also, no attempt has been made to quantify the significance of each of these factors and relate to the ground subsidence due to the lack of field data. The discussion here is centered primarily on the first mining though second mining is mentioned very briefly,

Jan 1, 1982

By K-H. Frohne

This report presents a study of the Cooper sand of the Fork Run pool of Warren and McKean Counties, Pa., and a prediction of the secondary oil recovery by gasflooding the reservoir. A computer program employing a modification of the Craig, Geffen, and Morse secondary recovery calculation was used to make the gas flood performance forecast and is presented in the appendix. The Cooper sand reservoir in the Fork Run pool lies at a depth of about 1,900 feet and covers an area 1/2 mile wide by 2-1/4 miles long. Original oil in place is estimated to have been 8,266,000 STB. The primary recovery mechanism is solution gas drive, and ultimate primary recovery may reach 20 percent over a well life of 90 years. Two computer predictions were made for gas flooding the Cooper reservoir. The first was for a 25-acre pilot five-spot utilizing existing wells, but project economics were poor since only 25 percent of injection gas is utilized for pilot oil recovery. Recovery was 71,000 STB, or 22 percent of oil in place at flood initiation, but required 25,700 scf gas injected per STB of oil recovered. In the second prediction, pilot area performance was projected for the entire Fork Run pool, and economics became good. Recovery was 1,753,000 STB from 25 five-spots after the injection of only 6,400 scf per STB of oil recovered.

Jan 1, 1969

By W. P. Diamond

The direct method test was developed for general mine safety applications by the U.S. Bureau of Mines in the early 1970's to measure the gas content of coal samples obtained from the relatively shallow depths of eastern U.S. coal mines. Over time, applications for gas content data evolved which required increasingly accurate desorption values. It became evident that some of the inherent weaknesses in the original direct method test could best be addressed by abandoning the water displacement based desorbed gas volume measurements. The ideal gas law based modified direct method (MDM) and associated desorbed gas volume measurement apparatus was developed to provide the most accurate desorption values possible for rock samples obtained from any gas-bearing strata. The MDM has a number of significant advantages, including: (1) increased accuracy, especially for low gas content samples, (2) a test apparatus with an integral sampling port to facilitate the collection of uncontaminated gas samples, (3) an inherent head space effect correction in the periodic MDM desorbed gas volume calculations, (4) measurement of positive and negative desorbed gas volumes, (5) elimination of differential gas solubility effects as a source of error inherent in the water displacement methods, and (6) a compact and rugged test apparatus that along with the elimination of the ?glassware? required for the water displacement methods, facilitates its use in the field.

Jan 1, 2008

By Frank E. Cash

The work of the United States Bureau of, Mines is concerned primarily with the prevention of accidents in the mining, petroleum, and allied industries. This report analyzes the fatal accidents in the coal mines of Tennessee and gives the pertinent factors in tabular and descriptive form, with interpretations and suggestions to operators, workers, and the State Division of Mines for the future prevention or reduction of accidents in coal mines. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This study was made possible through the cooperation of A. W. Evans, chief mine inspector of Tennessee, and his secretary, Miss Hiliary Penny, who made available the department records and assisted in the segregation and assembly of the data.

Jan 1, 1935

By Seth T. Reese

REPORTS received from operating companies by the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, indicated marked progress in the reduction of injuries to employees in the coking industry in 1951 as compared with 1950. The fatality rate (0.14) per million man-hours of exposure declined 33 percent and was the second best performance since statistics on the industry were first collected in 1916. The nonfatal-injury rate (10.94), the best since 1940, declined 8 percent and was bettered only in 8 of the past 36 years. The nonfatal rate is based on all injuries resulting in loss of time for more than the remainder of the day on which the injury occurred. The exposure to hazard, as represented by the number of man-hours of work time during the year, was 7 percent higher than in 1950 and, except for the year 1943, was the highest since 1920. The fatality rate for men employed at beehive-coke ovens decreased 16 percent and the nonfatal-injury rate 23 percent, while the man-hours of work time or exposure increased slightly over 16 percent. The fatality and nonfatal-injury rates at byproduct ovens declined 33 and 2 ½ percent, respectively, while the number of man-hours worked increased 6 percent.

Jan 1, 1954

By Harvey L. Pastan

The purpose of the investigation and analysis described in this report is to assess the data flow requirements that are required for remote supervisory control of a continuous mining system. Since these control concepts as applied to continuous underground mining are still in a formative stage at the present time during the first half of 1975, assumptions had to be made based upon engineering judgment as to what embodiment of mining machinery and control methodology seemed most feasible for achieving such a system. Based upon these assumptions and estimates of the control system's accuracy and response requirements, it was then possible to estimate the communication requirements for the assumed system configuration. 2. Approach The team members responsible for this study visited numerous coal mines to observe room and pillar mining operations in both high and low coal. The objective was to observe the methods of operating a variety of continuous mining machinery and haulage equipment with a view toward defining the problems to be overcome in the application of automation to the coal extraction process. Descriptive information concerning the mining equipment was obtained through contacts with the manufacturers. Conferences with Bureau of Mines personnel, equipment manufacturers and developers, and mine operators were held to explore the current thinking and developments being pursued toward automation and increasing both production and productivity.

Jan 1, 1975

By Robert A. Harrow

This report documents the results of the development and installation of an illumination system for an underground coal mine Shortwall Mining Section. Also presented are the techniques used for the above ground test and evaluation of the lighting system prior to installation underground which resulted in the issuance of a Statement of Test and Evaluation (STE) from the Mine Safety and Health Administration, Technical Support, Beckley, West Virginia.

Jan 1, 1979

By Milne J. Schmid

A program has been conducted to determine the feasibility of providing a borehole liner for Kelly Bar drilled boreholes in Southern Florida. The concept was to drill the borehole with the Kelly Bar and with it still in the borehole insert a tube which would remain in the unstable ground after withdrawl of the bar. The tube then will provide an unobstructed borehole for the charging of explosives upon completion of the drilling the shot pattern.

Jan 1, 1977

By Chas. F. Jackson

The mining literature is replete with descriptions of methods and costs of operation at producing mines. To day the mine manager can find published information bearing upon almost any problem with which he may be faced. From this literature he can familiarize himself with methods employed by otter operators for coping with problems similar to his own, under more or less parallel conditions. Transaction of mining societies, publications of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, technical journals, and handbooks all afford valuable information dealing with operating methods and costs, Very little has been published, however, regarding methods and costs of equipping and developing new properties and bringing them to tae productive stage. There may be some question in the minds of many as to the value of papers on this subject, due to the great variety of conditions encountered. No two prospects are alike. Obviously, it is impossible to forecast what expenditure will be required to develop a mine from a raw prospect or even to predict whether the prospect can be developed into a productive mine.

Jan 1, 1933

By M. Troyer

A coal shuttle car equipped with a pulsed laser optical ranging system to provide guidance for an automatic steering system was tested in production coal mining. Test results are presented for the two mines where testing took place, and some operator's reactions are included. Automatic steering control keeps the car cantered in an entry, and automatic turns are made at intersections as signaled by the operator. All other controls-tram, conveyor, brake, etc, remain manual and require operator control. Complete override of steering while in the automatic mode is retained by the operator, who may grab the steering wheel at any time and turn in opposition to the automatic signal by applying about 10 foot-pounds of torque.

Jan 1, 1976

By Wallace W. Key

This report concerns types, quantities, specifications, and uses of non-metallic minerals as a basis for improving their supply, conservation, and utilization. Supply-demand details concerning mineral fillers, roofing granules, and roofing rock used in asphalt are incorporated in this report, along with highlights on production and sales of roofing, floor tile, and other related asphalt products of California. Comparable data for the United States are included. Although large quantities of commercially prepared mineral fillers are used in asphalt for paving and related applications in other States, addition of commercial fillers for these uses rarely is required in California because of the natural fines available. On the other hand, California manufacturers of asphalt products other than paving utilize about 300,000 tons of asbestos, diatomite, limestone, mica, soapstone, slate, and other nonmetallic minerals as filler, mainly for roofing and flooring. Also, about 500,000 tons of roofing granules is produced in California, most of which goes into roofing manufacture in California. In addition, a significantly large and growing tonnage of relatively coarse mineral aggregates are used on low-angle, built-up, asphalt roofs to produce an attractive surface and offer protection against the elements. Nearly all minerals used in asphalt products manufactured in California come from local sources, except asbestos and mica--and there are indications that local deposits of these commodities could be utilized in some use categories.

Jan 1, 1966

By W. R. Crane

Recent papers on support of roof and top rock in mines representing present practice in so far as it hits been described by engineers in all of the principal mining countries, cover a relatively aide range of topics. The papers abstracted herein include such subjects as the testing of materials of support, failure and movement of rock above workings, effect of excessive pressures on rock masses, axed the application in mines of timber, metal, concrete, packing, and filling support. It is not within the scope of this paper to present a logical and orderly discussion of the elements of support and their application to conditions influenced by the material worked or the method of mining. Only the essential facts of a paper appear in the abstracts, the idea being to give a fairly clear picture of the behavior of various types of support under brows conditions and to put into concise form important information concerning present practice, modifications of practice, and the trend toward new practice. With such valuable facts from others experience made readily available, it Is hoped that the engineer with particular and often trying problems may obtain suggestions that will be immediately helpful.

Jan 1, 1932

By Robert L. Frantz

The performances of the three bituminous coal demonstration methane re¬covery boreholes, located in Greene County, Pennsylvania, are reviewed. Development of these vertical holes was largely underwritten by project funds. Reference is also made to an anthracite coal methane project in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. This involved one vertical hole and was underwritten by a utility company. In addition, an exploratory drilling in the southern anthracite, which provided the project group with coal cores for methane gas analysis, is also cited. The technical and economical data that were gathered from the various methane projects are analyzed. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of methane recovery by vertical boreholes are assessed.

Jan 1, 1978

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 James Gibbs

In order to provide an initial approach to the deposits of oil shale, nahcolite, and dawsonite in the central area of the Piceance Creek Basin in northwestern Colorado, the U.S.B.M. and associated contractor personnel drilled and cased a 96-inch ID shaft to a depth of 2,371 feet. The shaft was constructed using "big hole" drilling techniques and succeeded in giving access to previously inaccessible deposits of the above minerals. This report documents the construction from its beginning in January 1977 to its completion in January 1978. Procedures used and problems encountered are discussed in derail.

Jan 1, 1978

By F. G. Miller, H. C. Miller

Petroleum technologists and progressive operators constantly are striving to increase the percentage of oil that may to recovered from reservoir rocks through wells. The exhaustive studies that have been made of the function of natural as in the production of oil, for example, have aided operators greatly in increasing the quantity of oil recovered from reservoirs. Natural gas dissolved in and otherwise associated under pressure with oil in reservoir rocks, however, is not the only source of energy available for moving oil through sands to wells. In becoming "reservoir—energy conscious" engineers have learned that in many petroleum reservoirs the edgewater flanking the oil accumulation constitutes a potential source of energy capable, through proper control, of increasing oil—recovery efficiencies materially. No longer is the encroachment of water into the oil— and gas—filled tart of the reservoir considered as an evil to be combatted by devious methods but rather a natural consequence, incident to the withdrawal of nil and as from the wells, that may be used advantageously in lengthening the flowing life of wells and increasing the economic recovery of oil and gas.

Mar 1, 1938