Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-03-01
Represents About 8 Fer Cent Of
Total Gasoline PRODUCE
ton of Country.
IS VALUED At s26,S40,OOO
Report of the United States Bureau Of
Mines Tells of Many Other lnves-
LEGATIONS Made During
Last Year.

tiilSSt Ill ~ SOatoS
to aid the mineral industries to re-
establish themselves IN q safe basis
to meet the renewed foreign competi-
| ton and the changed conditions of sup
ply and demand of the postwar period,
point the way to the possible saving of
vast sums through the application Of
improved methods in the production OF
various mineral materials, according
to H. Foster Balm, director, in his an
nual report, just made to the secretary
of the interior.
An Investigation Of losses of crude
oil through evaporation in storage and
in transportation, conducted during the
year by the bureau, disclosed losses of
startling magnitude. 1t was found that
in the few days in which crude oil is
stored on the lease before being taken
by the pipe line, the aggregate loss per
year from evaporation amounts to
about 100, 10000 gallons Of gasoline in
the mid-continent field alone. This has
a value, at % cents a gallon, Of $685.
$4,000, and represents about 8 per cent
Of the total gasoline produced in the
United States from all fields and all
sources. The bureau found that a large
percentage Of this loss could be pre-
vented by the use of efficient equip
ment.
The bureau of mines las pointed out
the considerable losses which have re-
suited from the failure Of many refn-
cries to recover gasoline from con-
densed> still vapors. The significance
of this investigation is shown by the
fact that one refinery In the mid-con-
tinent field is now recovering from still
vapors approximately 400 barrels of
gasoline daily which, before the install
lation of this equipment, was either,
lost or burned as fuel under the boilers
and stills. The value Of fractionating
towers at petroleum refineries, by
means of which some companies have
increased the yield Of gasoline from
crude oil by as much as 8 per cent, or
16k per cent of the total, is now gem
orally recognized.
Low-Pressure Waste.
Large quantities Of gas are now be-
ing wasted in the Osage Nation in
Oklahoma because Of low-pressure con-
ditions, and the bureau of mines is in
vestigating the feasibility Of utilizing,
this waste gas by the use Of low-preszz
sure burners for oilsield boilers. The
demand Of the export market for
sweet" gasoline led to the develop
ment of q process for treating gasoline
to emove the Objectionable sulphur
compounds, by which treatment some
grades of American gasoline heretofore
Objectionable were made suitable for
export.
Under the arrangement by which SUI
pervision of the drilling and production
Of oil and gas on the public lands is
vested in the bureau of mines, the bu-
reau has supervision of about 100 pro-
ducing oil properties, which are pro-
ducing ut the rate of about 100000
barrels Of oil per annum Even at the
present reduced price of Oil, the gov
eminent royalty from this should total
perhaps $2,000,0O0 per annum. a spe-
cial process, devised at the San Fran
cisco station Of the bureau, for crack
ing heavy oils and tars promises the
recovery of large yields of gasoline and
other lighter products, hitherto regard
ed as u~nrecoveruble. Investigations
made by the bureau in Colorado and
Utah Indicate that the oil-shale de-
posts of the Rocky mountain states
contain a potential fuel supply of al
most unequaled Importance.
The experimental helium plant at Pc
trolia, Texas, conducted under the au-
thority of the army and navy helium
board, was id operation during the year
at various times, and helium was pro-
duced for short periods. A study of
the practicability of storing this rare
and nonintlammable gus in mine work
ings was made at the bureaus expert
mental coal mine ut Bruceton, Pa. At
the cryogenic or lOw-temperature lab
oratory in Washington, d. c., liquid air
in quantity is now being produced. The
primary object of this laboratory is to
investigate gases and liquids at low
temperatures, with special reference to
the separation of helium from natural
gas. Field investigations of possible
supplies Of helium in natural gas were
completed during the year, every
known gas field in the United States
having been tested. Results were mark
eddy successful, as they have shown
that this country contains the largest
| supply Of helium-bearing natural gas
in the world:
Scrap Losses investigated.
An investigation of scrap losses in
aluminium alloy foundry practice
| showed that the annual losses In the
United States amount to S1,200,000,
and that universal adoption of meth
DDS recommended by the bureau Of
mines would probably result in q say
-..,4 cenO nm nor oDn,,,p Malt