Show investigate PETROLEUM washington dec 11 the united states bureau of mines in following out its investigation vesti gation into petroleum has just issued bulletin no 19 on the physical and chemical properties of the petroleum of the san joaquin valley california by irving C allen alien and W A jacobs in detailing the investigations which are to be conducted by the bureau of mines the authors say in their introduction realizing the great importance and wide application of petroleum and its products for fuel lighting and lubrication and the absence of authentic and comprehensive information in the literature on the commercial value of american the united states geological survey has for a number of years been making analyses and other examinations of these oils and their products in 1907 the technologic branch of th the e survey began a study of certain economic mc problems having to do with the natural mineral oils the prime object of the investigations was to determine the economic value of the and natural gases in the united states with special reference to the supplies in the public lands and to ascertain how these resources could be utilized in the industries with the least waste and greatest efficiency this work which is now being conducted by the petroleum section odthe of the bureau of mines under authority of the act of may 16 1910 will include the collection at the wells and refineries of information as to the following details facilities for handling and storage at the wells facilities for transportation whether by pipe line rail or water distance to the nearest port or center of industry and time necessary for delivery facilities for storage at such point of delivery suitability of the crude oil for fuel or the treatment necessary to convert it most economically into the best fuel best processes of refining or of converting the crude oil into its many products the examination of these products the utilization of the products byproducts by and residues of the refineries the collection of adequate and reli reliable abla samples and the complete chemical and physical examination of these samples in the laboratory it is hoped that the information thus obtained will render possible the establishing of suitable specifications for ke certain lubricants and fuel oils in the near future a study will also be made of the problems involved in the most economical utilization of the heavy crude oils in the various types of internal combustion engines the gas producer problem because of its importance will also be investigated a as a producer capable of converting the heavy oil residues directly and completely into a combustible gas would be of paramount value to the oil industry the art of burning heavy oils under unde bollers boilers for steam raising has not been developed to its highest efficiency and a thorough study of this problem also is to be undertaken this bulletin is the second report so far published and deals primarily with the large oil fields of the san joaqun valley of california the work will be continued as rapidly as possible and will include all of the more important petroleum districts of the united states |