Mining Engineering Commons^™

Practical Imaging Applications Of Wettability Contact Angles On Kuwaiti Tight Carbonate Reservoir With Different Rock Types, Saleh Al-Sayegh, Ralph E. Flori, Waleed Al-Bazzaz, Sohaib Kholosy, Hasan Al-Saedi, Abdulaziz Abbas, Ali Qubian

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study focuses on a tight carbonate reservoir which is located in Northern Kuwait and is classified as an unconventional reservoir. A practical imaging technique of wettability contact angle (θ°) presents "big data" as well as relative-permeability (Krw and Kro) measurements. Also, modeling, through rock image technology, the vast well-documented grain/pore boundary morphology available inside fresh rock fragments have achieved good results. Conventional laboratory relative-permeability experiments are expensive and time-consuming. This study introduces a novel method to measure/calculate relative permeability through fast, less expensive, non-destructive, and environmentally friendly techniques of imaging technology. One tight carbonate reservoir is selected, imaged, processed, …

Investigating Pore Body, Pore Throat, Nano-Pore Wettability Preference In Several Unconventional Kuwaiti Carbonate Reservoirs, Saleh Al-Sayegh, Ralph E. Flori, Hussain Alajaj, Waleed Hussien Al-Bazzaz

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study will investigate measuring the wettability contact angles of native unconventional tight carbonate as well as other unconventional pore system reservoir samples that hosts varied pore shapes and subsequent wettability contact angle distributions in both reservoir matrix and possible natural fractures. Also, the investigation will include validation of the grain/ pore-wall wettability regions and classify the natural wettability preference available inside pores of the rock and their overall wettability performance and recovery efficiency contributions. Further investigation will include modeling pore throat contact angle wettability, and to understand their new physics that will advance reservoir characterization and oil recovery improvement.

Kuwaiti Carbonate Reservoir Oil Recovery Prediction Through Static Wettability Contact Angle Using Machine Learning Modeling, Saleh Al-Sayegh, Ralph E. Flori, Waleed Hussien Al-Bazzaz, Hasan Al-Saedi, Mostafa Al-Kaouri, Ali Qubian

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The objective of this study is to predict EOR efficiencies through static wettability contact angle measurement by Machine Learning (ML) modeling. Unlike conventional methods of measuring static wettability contact angle, the unconventional digital static wettability contact angle is captured and measured, then (ML) modeled in order to forecast the recovery based on wettability distribution phenomenon. Due to success in big data collection from reservoir imaging samples, this study applies data science lifecycle logic and utilizes Machine Learning (ML) models that can predict the recovery through wettability contact angles and thus identify the treatment of oil recovery for a candidate reservoir. …

An Eye Tracking Based Framework For Safety Improvement Of Offshore Operations, Muhammad A. Raza, Raj Kiran, Saima Ghazal, Ziho Kang, Saeed Salehi, Edward Cokely, Jiwon Jeon

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Offshore drilling operations consist of complex and high-risk processes. Lack of situational awareness in drilling operations has become an important human factor issue that causes safety accidents. Prolonged work shifts and fatigue are some of the crucial issues that impact performance. Eye tracking technology can be used to distinguish the degree of awareness or alertness of participants that might be related to fatigue or onsite distractions. Oculomotor activity can be used to obtain visual cues that can quantify the drilling operators' situational awareness that might enable us to develop warning alarms to alert the driller. Such systems can help reduce …

Task-Specific Ionic Liquids For Selective Separation And Recovery Of Rare Earth Elements, Mostafa Khodakarami, Lana Alagha

Patents

The present disclosure is directed to novel functionalized ionic liquids (ILs) that are used, for example, for enhanced recovery and separation of rare earth elements from aqueous solutions. The liquids and processes disclosed herein lead to greater separation efficiency, increased stability of separation materials, increased selectivity, and a reduced amount of waste materials.

Molecular Mechanism Study On The Effect Of Nonionic Surfactants With Different Degrees Of Ethoxylation On The Wettability Of Anthracite, Xuanlai Chen, Guochao Yan, You Zhou, Guang Xu, Xuyang Bai, Jiajun Li

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A serious risk to the production safety of coal mines is coal dust. The wettability of coal may be successfully changed by adding surfactants to water. However, the creation of very effective dust suppressants is constrained by the lack of knowledge about the microscopic interaction mechanism between coal dust and surfactants. In this investigation, we explained macroscopic experimental phenomena from a molecular perspective. The lauryl polyoxyethylene ethers (C12 (EO)n, n = 7,15,23) were selected. The macromolecular model of anthracite with 55 different components was constructed. Surface tension experiments and hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) calculations showed that the ability of surface …

Molecular Mechanism Study On The Effect Of Nonionic Surfactants With Different Degrees Of Ethoxylation On The Wettability Of Anthracite, Xuanlai Chen, Guochao Yan, You Zhou, Guang Xu, Xuyang Bai, Jiajun Li

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A serious risk to the production safety of coal mines is coal dust. The wettability of coal may be successfully changed by adding surfactants to water. However, the creation of very effective dust suppressants is constrained by the lack of knowledge about the microscopic interaction mechanism between coal dust and surfactants. In this investigation, we explained macroscopic experimental phenomena from a molecular perspective. The lauryl polyoxyethylene ethers (C12 (EO)n, n = 7,15,23) were selected. The macromolecular model of anthracite with 55 different components was constructed. Surface tension experiments and hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) calculations showed that the ability of surface …

Molecular Mechanism Study On The Effect Of Nonionic Surfactants With Different Degrees Of Ethoxylation On The Wettability Of Anthracite, Xuanlai Chen, Guochao Yan, You Zhou, Guang Xu, Xuyang Bai, Jiajun Li

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A serious risk to the production safety of coal mines is coal dust. The wettability of coal may be successfully changed by adding surfactants to water. However, the creation of very effective dust suppressants is constrained by the lack of knowledge about the microscopic interaction mechanism between coal dust and surfactants. In this investigation, we explained macroscopic experimental phenomena from a molecular perspective. The lauryl polyoxyethylene ethers (C₁₂ (EO)_n, n = 7,15,23) were selected. The macromolecular model of anthracite with 55 different components was constructed. Surface tension experiments and hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) calculations showed that the …

Effect Of Quantitative Textural Specifications On Vickers Hardness Of Limestones, Sasan Ghorbani, Seyed Hadi Hoseinie, Ebrahim Ghasemi, Taghi Sherizadeh

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

It is well-known that the indentation hardness property is influenced by micro-fabric characteristics. The effect of textural characteristics on Vickers indentation hardness is attempted to be interpreted in this research. For this purpose, 12 fresh limestone samples from various quarries were tested to determine the Vickers hardness. Thereafter, quantitative textural parameters were identified and characterized using image processing techniques and micro-fabric analysis based on microphotographs of thin sections. Microphotographs of the thin sections were reviewed and digital boundaries of the grains were clarified and drawn. After preparation and filtering of the digitized thin sections, four basic properties of each grain, …

Analyzing The Effectiveness Of The Gurney Method For Small Scale Fragmentation Propulsion Using Exploding Bridgewire Detonators, Emily M. Johnson, Rachel L. Bauer, Catherine E. Johnson

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Explosives are common in military, mining, and construction applications where the explosive properties are understood, but mechanics of how the explosive's energy fragments and throws materials are less known. Considering the type of confining material around an explosive, creates variability in fragmentation behavior due to the individual material characteristics. The most common method for assessing fragmentation behavior is the Gurney method, which eliminates any consideration of fragmenting material properties. The Gurney method assumes that, on a large scale, the inconsistencies in material are irrelevant and only the mass of the confiner need be considered. However, it is known in many …

Evaluating Blast Wave Overpressure From Non-Spherical Charges Using Time Of Arrival From High-Speed Video, Kelly Williams, Catherine E. Johnson

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Scaled distance is used to predict blast wave overpressure surrounding the detonation of a known mass of explosive under the assumption that the charge geometry is spherical. Altering charge geometry from spherical overdrives regions of the blast wave resulting in areas of higher overpressures than predicted by scaled distance calculations. Empirical data can be used to scale the blast wave overpressure to cylindrical charges, but available overpressure data for more complex geometries is not available in published literature. In the present study the time of arrival of the blast wave was measured from high-speed video and the Rankine-Hugoniot relationship used …

Distinct Element Analysis Of Various Structural Element Responses For Coal Rib Support Simulation, A. Kirmaci, D. Guner, K. Karadeniz, Taghi Sherizadeh

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Understanding the bolt responses for the efficacy of bolt performance during coal rib support applications plays a key role in controlling the stability of underground coal mine openings. Conducting pull-out tests is imperative to gain a better understanding of these responses. Field conditions such as block volume and degree of cleating may significantly impact bolt performance. These field conditions can be efficiently implemented in numerical modeling approaches, and selecting a proper structural element type for these numerical studies is crucial. This study developed a pull-out test model and compared the performance of structural elements as support members in the coal …

Explosion Resistance Of Reinforced Concrete Refuge Alternative Wall Under Certain Abutment Loading, K. E. Karadeniz, D. Guner, Taghi Sherizadeh

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Build-in-place (BIP) refuge alternatives (RAs) are used to provide safe havens for miners unable to escape their working area after an accident like an explosion. These underground infrastructures are built over time in various locations and might expose to mining-induced stresses. The convergences related to these stress redistributions around the mine openings might change their structural integrity and, subsequently, the explosion resistivity. Studying the effect of increasing vertical load like abutment stress on such underground mine stopping for the explosion resistance is difficult because repetitive explosion experiments on these structures are perilous and challenging. This study uses two case studies …

Prediction And Optimization Of Tower Mill Grinding Power Consumption Based On Ga-Bp Neural Network, Ziyang Wang, Ying Hou, Ahmed Sobhy

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Grinding is commonly responsible for the liberation of valuable minerals from host rocks but can entail high costs in terms of energy and medium consumption, but a tower mill is a unique power-saving grinding machine over traditional mills. In a tower mill, many operating parameters affect the grinding performance, such as the amount of slurry with a known solid concentration, screw mixer speed, medium filling rate, material-ball ratio, and medium properties. Thus, 25 groups of grinding tests were conducted to establish the relationship between the grinding power consumption and operating parameters. The prediction model was established based on the backpropagation …

Effects Of Downwash When Measuring Gas Concentration With Uav-Mounted Gas Sensors, Jacob Lane Brinkman

Doctoral Dissertations

"This research concludes that the downwash region of a rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) does not produce pressure variations substantial enough to cause significant changes in density-based gas concentration measurements. US regulations evaluate gas concentration as a function of gas density, and accurate concentration measurements are critical for protecting health and safety, which means evaluation of actual downwash effects on measured gas concentration is essential.

During experimentation, the UAV was fixed to a stand in a sealed chamber filled with NOx (NO and NO₂) of constant concentration. The UAV rotors ran at hovering speeds, and gas concentrations were …

Recent Trends In Mineral Processing Based On Density And Particle Size–A Review, Ahmed Sobhy

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Most mineral beneficiation development in the world focus on size and density-based separation technologies. In recent years, ore size-based and density-based separation technologies have attracted more consideration to obtaining rough or final high-quality products. Due to the dissimilarity of physical properties like particle size and density, valuable and gangue minerals can be segregated via size-based and density-based separation technologies. Removing the impurities and recovering the target minerals are accomplished by size-based separation technologies alone or are usually followed by cleaning processes utilizing density-based separation abilities. The density variation among valuable and gangue minerals leads to dissimilarities in settling velocity in …

Comparison Of Fuzzy And Neural Network Computing Techniques For Performance Prediction Of An Industrial Copper Flotation Circuit, Ivana Jovanović, Fardis Nakhaei, Daniel Kržanović, Vesna Conić, Daniela Urošević

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents the development and validation of five different soft computing methods for flotation performance prediction: (1) two models based on fuzzy logic (Mamdani and Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy inference system) and (2) three models based on artificial neural networks. Copper content in the ore feed, collector dosage in the rougher and the scavenger flotation circuits, slurry pH in the rougher flotation circuit and frother consumption were selected as input parameters to estimate the copper grade and recovery of final concentrate, as well as the copper content in the final tailings of the flotation plant. The training and evaluation of the …

Shock Wave Formation From Head-On Collision Of Two Subsonic Vortex Rings, Rachel L. Bauer, Cody J. Thomas, Everett V.P. Baker, Emily M. Johnson, Kelly R. Williams, Martin J. Langenderfer, Catherine E. Johnson

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Vortex ring collisions have attracted intense interest in both water and air studies (Baird in Proc R Soc Lond Ser Math Phys Sci 409:59-65, 1987, Poudel et al. in Phys Fluids 33:096105, 2021, Lim and Nickels in Nature 357:225, 1992, New et al. in Exp Fluids 57:109, 2016, Suzuki et al. in Geophys Res Lett 34, 2007, Yan et al. in J Fluids Eng 140:054502, 2018, New et al. in J Fluid Mech 899, 2020, Cheng et al. in Phys Fluids 31:067107, 2019, Hernández and Reyes in 29:103604, 2017, Mishra et al. in Phys Rev Fluids, 2021, Zednikova et al. …

Prediction Of Sulfur Removal From Iron Concentrate Using Column Flotation Froth Features: Comparison Of K-Means Clustering, Regression, Backpropagation Neural Network, And Convolutional Neural Network, Fardis Nakhaei, Samira Rahimi, Mohammadbagher Fathi

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Froth feature extraction plays a significant role in the monitoring and control of the flotation process. Image-based soft sensors have received a great deal of interest in the flotation process due to their low-cost and non-intrusive properties. This study proposes data-driven soft sensor models based on froth images to predict the key performance indicators of the flotation process. The ability of multiple linear regression (MLR), the backpropagation neural network (BPNN), the k-means clustering algorithm, and the convolutional neural network (CNN) to predict the amount of sulfur removal from iron ore concentrate in the column flotation process was examined. A total …

Mechanical Behavior Of Single-Flawed Cylindrical Specimens Subjected To Axial Loading: A Numerical Investigation, Mostafa Asadizadeh, Saeed Khosravi, Javad Karimi, Taghi Sherizadeh, Sanaz Vajedian, Mohammad Farouq Hossaini

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Discontinuities are inherent components of rock masses and can range from fissures to large faults. Single fissures, the so-called flaws, may affect the mechanical behavior of rock mass, crack initiation, and propagation. In this paper, numerical investigations have been conducted on central-flawed cylindrical specimens subjected to axial loading to investigate the effect of flaw angle (α), length (2a), and aperture (A) on their mechanical behavior and crack development. Particle Flow Code (PFC3D) was adopted to investigate the cracking process of the cylindrical specimens and maximum principal stresses at flaw tips. The numerical models are calibrated and verified using extensive experimental …

A Heuristic Approach To Predict The Tensile Strength Of A Non-Persistent Jointed Brazilian Disc Under Diametral Loading, Mostafa Asadizadeh, Nima Babanouri, Taghi Sherizadeh

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The mechanical response of rock bridges plays a key role in the stability of concrete and rock structures. In particular, the tensile failure of non-persistent discontinuities can result in their coalescence and the failure of rock or concrete engineering structures. The effect of non-persistent joint parameters on rock structures' failure under tensile mode has not been investigated by many researchers yet. Many non-persistent jointed Brazilian concrete discs are tested under diametral loading in this work, to study the influence of joint spacing, joint continuity factor, loading direction with regard to joint angle, and bridge angle on their tensile behavior. Heuristic …

Wettability Alteration Process At Pore-Scale During Engineered Waterflooding Using Computational Fluid Dynamics, Yongqiang Chen, Ping Chang, Guang Xu, Quan Xie

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Engineered waterflooding modifies chemistry of injected brine to efficiently and environmentally friendly enhance oil recovery. The common practice of engineered waterflooding includes low salinity waterflooding (LSW) and carbonated waterflooding. Among these oil recovery methods, wettability alteration has been perceived as a critical physicochemical process for additional oil recovery. While extensive work has been conducted to characterize the wettability alteration, the existing theory cannot explain the conflict oil recovery between secondary mode (injecting engineered water at the very beginning of flooding) and tertiary mode (injecting engineered water after conventional waterflooding), where secondary engineered waterflooding always gives a greater incremental oil recovery …

Two-Step Flotation And Reverse Flotation Circuits Of Iron Oxide And Its Process Minerology, Ying Hou, Song Lin, Guohui Fu, Zhuang Gai, Guang Yang, Ahmed Sobhy

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Mining operations usually provide ore of varying characteristics. Similarly, for Donganshan Sintering Plant, the charges in iron oxide ore especially prior flotation process were investigated by conducting mineral liberation analyzer “MLA”. This in-deep study of process mineralogy explored and analyzed the mechanism of difficulty to obtain high-efficient flotation process. The MLA analysis results showed also that the main useful minerals in this ore are magnetite/hematite, and the main gangue minerals is quartz, followed by chlorite and ankerite. In addition, two-step “direct then reverse” and one step “reverse” flotation experiments were carried out and produced iron oxide concentrates of 48.91% and …

Estimation Of Coal Density Using A 3d Imaging System: Rhovol, F. Nakhaei, Q. P. Campbell, M. Le Roux, S. Botlhoko

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The results of coal sink and float tests are plotted as washability curves. Analysis of these curves indicates the most effective method by which the coal can be cleaned. Sink and float experiments are sampling-dependent, destructive, and use toxic chemicals. The present research introduces an alternative method based on a 3D imaging system called RhoVol, in which the density of individual particles is determined from mass and volume measurements. A quantitative error analysis was conducted on coal sample density measurements obtained by RhoVol, and the main factors influencing the errors identified and investigated. The results show that the drawback of …

Replacing Combustion Engines With Hydrogen Fuel Cells To Power Mining Haul Trucks: Challenges And Opportunities, Ayorinde Akinrinlola

Masters Theses

"With the proven advantage of higher energy density in hydrogen fuel cells over batteries, there is potential to apply fuel cells to power mining haul trucks. This study aims to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of hydrogen fuel cell electric mine trucks as an alternative to current mine haul trucks. Specifically, the project: (1) developed an economic framework for evaluating the integration of renewable energy powered haul trucks into mining; and (2) applied vehicle drivetrain and energy simulation in Matlab/Simulink to elucidate the challenges and opportunities of incorporating hydrogen fuel cell technology into the current form factors of mine …

Performance Analyses Of Conventional Hot Mix Asphalt With Waste Additives, Muhammad Naveed, Muhammad Azeem Raza, Raza Mehmood

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The continuous increase in traffic volume demands performance enhancement of pavements. Common techniques for this performance improvement utilize modifications in the conventional hot mixture asphalt (HMA) through additives. Utilization of urban waste materials as additives for HMA provides opportunity for effective utilization and disposal of these unwanted materials. In this research, two waste materials, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and crumb rubber (CR), are tested as additives to HMA for performance enhancement, optimization, and cost effectiveness. Performance evaluations are made through comparing stiffness modulus. Stiffness moduli of conventional and waste-material-modified HMA mixtures are evaluated through creep testing. Further, the effect of asphalt …

Application Of Leeb Hardness Test In Prediction Of Dynamic Elastic Constants Of Sedimentary And Igneous Rocks, Sasan Ghorbani, Seyed Hadi Hoseinie, Ebrahim Ghasemi, Taghi Sherizadeh

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Leeb hardness test is a non-destructive and portable technique that can be used both in the laboratory and in-field applications. The main purpose of this study is to predict the dynamic elastic constants of the igneous and sedimentary rocks using Leeb dynamic hardness testing. For this purpose, three vital topics have been investigated and analyzed. First, the relationships between ultrasonic wave velocities and dynamic elastic constants with the Leeb hardness were investigated. Thereafter, by determining the rock quality index (IQ) using microscopic studies and by analyzing the quality index-porosity plot, the variation of the Leeb hardness values was studied. …

Relating Detonation Parameters To The Detonation Synthesis Of Silicon Carbide, Martin Langenderfer, Eric W. Bohannan, Jeremy Lee Watts, William Fahrenholtz, Catherine E. Johnson

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Detonation synthesis of silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles from carbon liberated by negatively oxygen balanced explosives was evaluated in a 23 factorial design to determine the effects of three categorical experimental factors: (1) cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine (RDX)/2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) ratio, (2) silicon (Si) additive concentration, and (3) Si particle size. These factors were evaluated at low and high levels as they relate to the detonation performance of the explosive and the solid Si-containing phases produced. Detonation velocity and Chapman-Jouguet (C-J) detonation pressure, which were measured using rate stick plate dent tests, were evaluated. Solid detonation product mass, silicon carbide product concentration, and residual silicon …

A New Rock Hardness Classification System Based On Portable Dynamic Testing, Sasan Ghorbani, Seyed Hadi Hoseinie, Ebrahim Ghasemi, Taghi Sherizadeh, Christina Wanhainen

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Hardness is one of the critical physical characteristics of minerals and rocks, which indicates the resistance of the rock to penetration, scratch, or permanent deformation. As a basic concept, rock hardness has a significant role in rock mechanics and geological engineering and is an appropriate diagnostic tool for the classification of minerals and rocks. The main purpose of this study is to guide rock engineers to measure the rock hardness faster, easier, and more accurately using Leeb's dynamic hardness test. Accordingly, this paper presents a new rock hardness classification system based on the Leeb dynamic and portable hardness testing method. …

Exploring The Deformation Mechanics Of Coal Ribs Using The Distinct Element Modeling Approach, Maurice Sunkpal, Taghi Sherizadeh

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Understanding coal rib geomechanics is essential for improving rib stability and eliminating fatality and injury trends due to rib failures. There are presently no standardized rib control practices available in most countries. In light of this observed dearth, this investigation aims to improve understanding of rib failure mechanisms using the distinct element modeling (DEM) technique. DEM is chosen because of its superior advantage to explicitly represent discontinuities and their constitutive behaviors, besides that of the intact rock matrix. To analyze the rib stability, a numerical monitoring protocol is implemented to monitor the deformation characteristics of the coal rock mass as …