阅读说明：本技术 用于在反应性地面中或在高温条件下进行***时使用的受抑制乳剂 (Inhibited emulsions for use in blasting in reactive ground or under high temperature conditions ) 是由 C·L·尼尔森 L·戈登 D·汉沙克 J·B·海兰德 于 2019-02-19 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供了递送受抑制乳剂的方法。该方法可以包括将乳剂与单独抑制剂溶液混合以形成受抑制乳剂。提供了包含水、抑制剂和结晶点调节剂的抑制剂溶液。还提供了用于递送受抑制乳剂的系统。(The present invention provides methods of delivering inhibited emulsions. The method may include mixing the emulsion with a separate inhibitor solution to form an inhibited emulsion. An inhibitor solution comprising water, an inhibitor and a crystallization point modifier is provided. Systems for delivering the inhibited emulsion are also provided.)

1. A method of delivering a suppressed emulsion to a blast hole, the method comprising:

supplying an emulsion comprising a discontinuous oxidant phase and a continuous fuel phase;

supplying a separate inhibitor solution comprising water, an inhibitor and a crystallization point modifier;

mixing the emulsion with the inhibitor solution to form an inhibited emulsion; and

delivering the inhibited emulsion to a blast hole.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the emulsion is supplied on a mobile processing unit, wherein the separate suppressant solution is supplied on the mobile processing unit, wherein the emulsion is mixed with the suppressant solution on the mobile processing unit to form the suppressed emulsion, and wherein the suppressed emulsion is transferred from the mobile processing unit to a blast hole.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein supplying the separate inhibitor solution comprises mixing water, the inhibitor, and the crystallization point modifier on the mobile treatment unit.

4. The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein supplying the separate inhibitor solution comprises introducing the inhibitor solution into a reservoir disposed on the mobile processing unit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the emulsion is supplied in a factory, wherein the separate suppressant solution is supplied in the factory, wherein the emulsion is mixed with the suppressant solution in the factory to form the suppressed emulsion, and wherein the suppressed emulsion is delivered from a mobile processing unit to a blast hole.

6. The method of any one of claims 1-5, wherein supplying the emulsion comprises supplying an emulsion base.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising introducing a sensitizer to the emulsion matrix to form an emulsion explosive.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensitizer is introduced into the emulsion matrix to form the emulsion explosive prior to introducing the emulsion explosive into a delivery conduit.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensitizer is introduced into the emulsion matrix to form the emulsion explosive proximal to the outlet of the delivery conduit.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein supplying the emulsion comprises supplying an emulsion explosive.

11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising introducing the inhibited emulsion into a delivery catheter, wherein the emulsion is mixed with the inhibitor solution to form the inhibited emulsion prior to introducing the inhibited emulsion into the delivery catheter.

12. The method of claims 1-5, further comprising introducing the emulsion and the inhibitor into a delivery catheter, wherein the emulsion is mixed with the inhibitor solution to form the inhibited emulsion proximal to an outlet of the delivery catheter.

13. The method of any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising determining a concentration, a flow rate, or both, of the inhibitor solution to achieve a desired inhibition of the inhibited emulsion on a reactive ground.

14. The method of any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising varying the concentration, flow rate, or both of the inhibitor solution to achieve a desired inhibition of the inhibited emulsion on a reactive ground.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising spraying an annulus of the inhibitor solution to lubricate the transfer of the emulsion along a delivery catheter.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising injecting the inhibitor solution into a centerline of the flow of the emulsion within a delivery catheter.

17. The method of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the inhibitor is selected from at least one of urea, an amine, an alkaline solution, sodium nitrate, hydrotalcite, and zinc oxide.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the alkaline solution comprises a soda grey water solution.

19. The method of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the crystallization point modifier is selected from at least one of calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate, and calcium chloride.

20. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein delivering the inhibited emulsion to the blast hole comprises inserting a delivery conduit into the blast hole, and delivering the inhibited emulsion into the blast hole via the delivery conduit.

21. The method of any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the weight percentage (wt%) of the inhibitor in the inhibited emulsion is from about 1 wt% to about 10 wt%, from about 1.5 wt% to about 7.5 wt%, from about 2 wt% to about 5 wt%, or about 3 wt%.

22. The method of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the wt% of the crystallization point modifier in the inhibited emulsion is from about 0.1 wt% to about 8 wt%, from about 0.5 wt% to about 6 wt%, from about 1 wt% to about 5 wt%, or from about 2 wt% to about 4 wt%.

23. The method of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the weight% of the water in the inhibited emulsion is from about 0.5 weight% to about 10 weight%, from about 1 weight% to about 9 weight%, from about 2 weight% to about 7 weight%, or from about 3 weight% to about 5 weight%.

24. The method of any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the inhibitor solution further comprises ethylene glycol.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the weight% of the ethylene glycol in the inhibited emulsion is from about 0.1 weight% to about 1 weight%, from about 0.2 weight% to about 0.8 weight%, from about 0.3 weight% to about 0.7 weight%, or from about 0.4 weight% to about 0.6 weight%.

26. The method of any one of claims 1 to 25, further comprising determining whether the blast hole is disposed in a reactive ground, a high temperature ground, or both.

27. A method of blasting in a reactive ground, a high temperature ground, or both, the method comprising:

supplying an emulsion comprising a discontinuous oxidant phase and a continuous fuel phase;

supplying an inhibitor;

mixing the inhibitor with the emulsion at a determined concentration, flow rate, or both to form an inhibited emulsion having sufficient inhibitor so as to achieve a desired inhibition of the inhibited emulsion on a particular reactive surface, a high temperature surface, or both; and

delivering the inhibited emulsion to blast holes in the specific reactive surface, the high temperature surface, or both.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the emulsion is supplied on a mobile processing unit, wherein the suppressant is supplied on the mobile processing unit, wherein the suppressant is mixed with the emulsion on the mobile processing unit to form the suppressed emulsion, and wherein the suppressed emulsion is transferred from the mobile processing unit to a blast hole.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the emulsion is supplied in a factory, wherein the inhibitor is supplied in the factory, wherein the inhibitor is mixed with the emulsion in the factory to form the inhibited emulsion, and wherein the inhibited emulsion is delivered from a mobile processing unit to a blast hole.

30. The method of any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein the inhibitor is a component of an inhibitor solution further comprising water and a crystallization point modifier.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the inhibitor solution further comprises ethylene glycol.

32. The method of any one of claims 27 to 31, further comprising determining the concentration, the flow rate, or both of the inhibitor solution to achieve a desired inhibition of the inhibited emulsion on a specific reactive floor, a high temperature floor, or both.

33. The method of any of claims 27 to 32, further comprising determining whether the surface is a reactive surface, a high temperature surface, or both.

34. An inhibitor solution comprising:

water;

an inhibitor; and

a crystallization point modifier.

35. The inhibitor solution according to claim 34, wherein the inhibitor is selected from at least one of urea, amines, alkaline solutions, sodium nitrate, hydrotalcite, and zinc oxide.

36. The inhibitor solution of claim 35, wherein the alkaline solution comprises a soda grey water solution.

37. The inhibitor solution of any one of claims 34 to 36, wherein the weight percentage (wt%) of the inhibitor in the inhibitor solution is from about 10 wt% to about 50 wt%, from about 20 wt% to about 50 wt%, from about 30 wt% to about 50 wt%, or from about 40 wt% to about 50 wt%.

38. The inhibitor solution according to any one of claims 34 to 37, wherein the crystallization point modifier is selected from at least one of calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate and calcium chloride.

39. The inhibitor solution of any one of claims 34 to 38, wherein the wt% of the crystallization point modifier in the inhibitor solution is from about 5 wt% to about 35 wt%, from about 10 wt% to about 30 wt%, from about 12 wt% to about 25 wt%, or from about 14 wt% to about 20 wt%.

40. The inhibitor solution of any one of claims 34 to 39, wherein the weight% of the water in the inhibitor solution is from about 15 weight% to about 50 weight%, from about 20 weight% to about 45 weight%, from about 25 weight% to about 42 weight%, or from about 30 weight% to about 40 weight%.

41. The inhibitor solution according to any one of claims 34 to 40, further comprising ethylene glycol.

42. The inhibitor solution of claim 41, wherein the weight% of the ethylene glycol in the inhibitor solution is from about 1 weight% to about 10 weight%, from about 2 weight% to about 8 weight%, from about 4 weight% to about 6 weight%, or about 5 weight%.

43. An explosive delivery system comprising:

an emulsion reservoir configured to store an emulsion comprising a discontinuous oxidant phase and a continuous fuel phase;

an inhibitor solution reservoir configured to store a separate inhibitor solution comprising water, an inhibitor, and a crystallization point modifier;

a suppressant solution injector operatively connected to the emulsion reservoir and the suppressant solution reservoir, the suppressant solution injector configured to introduce the suppressant solution into the emulsion;

a delivery conduit operably connected to the suppressant solution sprayer, wherein the delivery conduit is configured to convey the emulsion and the suppressant solution, and wherein the delivery conduit is configured for insertion into a blast hole; and

a mixer disposed proximal to the outlet of the delivery catheter, wherein the mixer is configured to mix the emulsion and the inhibitor solution to form an inhibited emulsion.

44. The explosive delivery system of claim 43, wherein the suppressant solution injector comprises a lubricant injector configured to inject an annulus of the suppressant solution to lubricate the transfer of the emulsion along the delivery conduit.

45. The explosive delivery system of claim 43, wherein the suppressant solution injector is configured to inject the suppressant solution into a centerline of the flow of the emulsion within the delivery conduit.

46. The explosive delivery system of any of claims 43 to 45, further comprising a heater operatively connected to the suppressant solution reservoir.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to explosives. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods for delivering inhibited emulsions and systems related thereto. In some embodiments, these methods involve methods of using the inhibited emulsion to perform blasting in reactive ground and/or under high temperature conditions.

Drawings

The embodiments disclosed herein will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are primarily intended to depict the broad embodiments, which will be described with additional specificity and detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram of one embodiment of a system for delivering explosives.

Fig. 2 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method of delivering a suppressed emulsion to a blast hole.

Figure 3 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of blasting in a reactive ground.

Detailed Description

Explosive compositions and related methods for use in reactive ground and/or under high temperature conditions are disclosed herein. Explosives are commonly used in the mining, quarrying, and excavation industries to break rock and ore. Typically, a hole (referred to as a "blast hole") is drilled into a surface, such as the ground. The explosive composition may then be placed in the blast hole. The explosive composition may then be detonated.

In some embodiments, the explosive composition is an emulsion or a blend comprising an emulsion. In some embodiments, the emulsion comprises a fuel oil as a continuous phase and an oxidizing agent as a discontinuous phase. For example, in some embodiments, the emulsion comprises droplets of an aqueous oxidant solution (i.e., a water-in-oil emulsion) dispersed in a continuous phase of the fuel oil.

As used herein, "emulsion" encompasses both an unsensitized emulsion base and an emulsion that has been sensitized to an emulsion explosive. For example, an unsensitized emulsion base can be transported as a class UN 5.1 oxidant. Emulsion explosives contain a sufficient amount of sensitizer to enable the emulsion to be detonated by a standard detonator. The emulsion may be sensitized at the site of the blast or even in the blast hole. In some embodiments, the sensitizer is a chemical gas evolving agent. In some embodiments, the sensitizer comprises hollow microspheres or other solid gas entraining agents. In some embodiments, the sensitizer is a gas bubble that has been mechanically introduced into the emulsion. The introduction of air bubbles into the emulsion may reduce the density of the emulsion delivered to the blast hole.

A potential hazard associated with explosive compositions (such as emulsion explosives) is premature detonation. Typically, the explosive material is left in the blast hole for a period of time (i.e., a "rest time") until it is ignited. In other words, the rest time of the explosive material is the time between loading the material into the blast hole and intentionally igniting the explosive material. Premature detonation (i.e., detonation within an expected sleep time) creates a significant risk.

One potential cause of premature detonation is the placement of the explosive composition in the reactive ground. A "reactive ground" is a ground that undergoes a spontaneous exothermic reaction when it comes into contact with nitrates (such as ammonium nitrate). The reaction typically involves chemical oxidation of the sulfide (e.g., iron sulfide or copper sulfide) by the nitrate and the release of heat. In other words, when the explosive composition is placed in the reactive ground, the sulfides within the reactive ground may react with the nitrates in the explosive composition. The reaction of nitrate with sulfide-containing ground can lead to an autocatalytic process which, after a certain induction time, leads to a runaway exothermic decomposition. In some cases, the resulting temperature increase (i.e., the resulting exotherm) can lead to premature detonation. One example of a reactive floor is a floor that includes pyrite.

A second potential cause of premature detonation is elevated ground temperature. The elevated ground temperature may reduce (or supply) the activation energy required to trigger detonation of the explosive. As used herein, the term "high temperature ground" refers to a ground that is at a temperature of 55 ℃ or greater.

In addition, the ground to be blasted may be both a high temperature ground and a reactive ground.

Several strategies can be employed to prevent heat release and premature detonation. For example, as discussed in further detail below, the explosive composition may include additives that function as inhibitors, such as urea, amines, alkaline solutions (e.g., soda ash water solution), sodium nitrate, hydrotalcites, and zinc oxide.

The inhibitor may reduce thermal degradation of the emulsion explosive when the emulsion explosive is in contact with a reactive ground surface and/or a ground surface at an elevated temperature. For example, the inhibitor may reduce the rate of reaction between the nitrate of the discontinuous oxidizer phase and the sulfide in the reactive ground when the emulsion explosive is in contact with the sulfide-containing ground. It is to be understood that the inhibited emulsions disclosed herein may not completely prevent the exotherm and resulting premature detonation; however, the inhibited emulsions disclosed herein can delay or minimize the exotherm and thereby increase the safety of the explosive and increase the safe rest time of the explosive.

Also disclosed are methods of using the explosive compositions described herein. For example, the emulsion explosives described herein may be used to perform blasting in a reactive ground and/or a ground at an elevated temperature. For example, one method of blasting in a reactive ground includes the step of placing an emulsion explosive in the reactive ground. For example, an emulsion explosive may be loaded into a blast hole drilled into the reactive ground.

The reactive ground may include any mineral that typically reacts with one or more nitrates to produce an exothermic reaction. For example, in some embodiments, the reactive ground comprises one or more sulfides. More specifically, some reactive floors contain iron sulfides, such as pyrite. The surface may be identified as a reactive surface by performing isothermal reactive surface tests of australian explosive industry and safety groups ltd (see australian explosive industry and safety groups ltd, implementation rules: elevated temperature and reactive surface, 3 months 2017).

Any method disclosed herein comprises one or more steps or actions for performing the method. The method steps and/or actions may be interchanged with one another. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions is required for proper operation of the embodiment, the order and/or use of specific steps and/or actions may be modified. Moreover, subroutines or only a portion of the methods described herein may be separate methods within the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, some methods may include only a portion of the steps described in the more detailed methods.

Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment" or "the embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the phrases referred to, or variations thereof, as described throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.

The phrases "operatively connected to," "connected to," and "coupled to" refer to any form of interaction between two or more entities, including mechanical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, fluidic, and thermal interactions. Likewise, "fluidically connected" refers to any form of fluidic interaction between two or more entities. Two entities may interact with each other even though they are not in direct contact with each other. For example, two entities may interact with each other through an intermediate entity.

The term "proximal" is used herein to mean "near" or "at" the disclosed subject. For example, "proximal to" the outlet of the delivery catheter means near or at the outlet of the delivery catheter.

As the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in a combination of less than all features of any single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. The present disclosure includes all permutations of the independent claims and their dependent claims.

Recitation in the claims of the term "first" with respect to a feature or element does not necessarily imply the presence of a second or additional such feature or element. It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the disclosure.

The methods provided herein may allow or permit explosive manufacturers to make a single emulsion for both reactive and non-reactive surface applications. If the emulsion is to be used for reactive floor applications, the user may add an inhibitor solution (i.e., a solution comprising water, inhibitor, and crystallization point modifier) to the emulsion base after the emulsion base is manufactured. For example, a user may add an inhibitor solution to the emulsion during delivery to the blast hole. Thus, the rest time in the reactive ground for an emulsion explosive prepared as disclosed herein may be longer than that for an emulsion explosive lacking the inhibitor and the crystallization point modifier.

As described above, the blast holes may be provided in a reactive ground, and the emulsion may be an emulsion configured or used for a non-reactive ground. A benefit of the methods provided herein is that the emulsion can be tailored to the level of reactivity of the reactive grounds to be blasted, as a wide variety of reactive grounds generally tend to be present. For example, the method may include determining a surface characteristic along a length or depth of the blast hole. In some embodiments, detailed information about the blast hole, including geological profiles, may be determined. In certain embodiments, a geological profile may be generated based on one or more types of geological data. Non-limiting examples of geological data include mineralogy (elemental and/or mineral) and temperature. Geological data may be determined directly or indirectly from sources such as: seismic data (such as received from one or more geophones or other seismic sensors), drilling data, drilling cuttings, core samples, sensors (e.g., temperature sensors or chemical sensors coupled to a drill bit), or combinations thereof. For example, the drill cuttings and/or core samples may be analyzed using x-ray or gamma ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, and other spectroscopic and/or microscopic techniques. The geological data may include information based on increments, such as information per foot. One skilled in the art can use knowledge of geological profiles or ground characteristics to select a suppressed emulsion tailored to the characteristics of the ground containing the blast hole to achieve the best performance of the explosive.

Systems for delivering explosives and methods related thereto are disclosed herein. It should be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described below and illustrated in the figures herein could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as described below and illustrated in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.

FIG. 1 shows a method flow diagram of one embodiment of an explosive delivery system 100. The explosive delivery system 100 of fig. 1 includes various components and materials, as described in further detail below. Additionally, any combination of the individual components may include an assembly or subassembly for use in conjunction with the explosive delivery system.

In the embodiment of fig. 1, the explosive delivery system 100 comprises a first reservoir 10 configured to store a first gas generant 11, a second reservoir 20 configured to store a second gas generant 21, and a third reservoir 30 configured to store an emulsion matrix 31. The explosive delivery system 100 further comprises a homogenizer 40 configured to mix the emulsion matrix 31 and the first gas generant 11 into a homogenized product 41. In some other embodiments, the explosive delivery system 100 may not include a homogenizer 40. In other words, the explosive delivery system 100 may lack a homogenizer.

In some embodiments, the first gas evolving agent 11 comprises a pH controlling agent. The pH control agent may comprise an acid. Examples of acids include, but are not limited to, organic acids such as citric acid, acetic acid, and tartaric acid. Any pH control agent known in the art and compatible with the second gassing agent 21 and the gassing promoter (if present) can be used. The pH control agent may be dissolved in an aqueous solution.

In some embodiments, first reservoir 10 is further configured to store a gassing promoter mixed with first gassing agent 11. The homogenizer 40 may be configured to mix the emulsion base 31 with a mixture of the gas evolving promoter and the first gas evolving agent 11 into a homogenized product 41. Examples of gassing promoters include, but are not limited to, thiourea, urea, thiocyanate, iodide, cyanate, acetate, sulfonic acid and salts thereof, and combinations thereof. Any gassing promoter known in the art and compatible with the first and second gassing agents 11, 21 can be used. The pH control agent and gassing promoter may be dissolved in an aqueous solution.

In some embodiments, the second gas evolving agent 21 comprises a chemical gas evolving agent configured to be in the emulsion matrix 31 and to react with the gas evolving promoter (if present). Examples of chemical gassing agents include, but are not limited to, peroxides (such as hydrogen peroxide), inorganic nitrites (such as sodium nitrite), nitrosamines (such as N, N' -dinitrosopentamethylenetetramine), alkali metal borohydrides (such as sodium borohydride), and bases (such as carbonates, including sodium carbonate). Any chemical gassing agent known in the art and compatible with emulsion base 31 and gassing promoter (if present) can be used. The chemical gassing agent may be dissolved in an aqueous solution.

In some embodiments, emulsion base 31 includes a continuous fuel phase and a discontinuous oxidizer phase. Any emulsion base known in the art may be used, such as by way of non-limiting example,

1000G(DYNO)。

examples of fuel phases include, but are not limited to: liquid fuels such as fuel oil, diesel, distillate, furnace oil, kerosene, gasoline, and naphtha; waxes such as microcrystalline waxes, paraffin waxes, and macrocarpal waxes; oils (such as paraffin, benzene, toluene, and xylene oils), bituminous materials, polymer oils (such as low molecular weight polymers of olefins), animal oils (such as fish oils), and other mineral, hydrocarbon, or fatty oils; and mixtures thereof. Any fuel phase known in the art and compatible with the oxidizer phase and emulsifier (if present) may be used.

The emulsion base may provide at least about 95%, at least about 96%, or at least about 97% of the oxygen content of the sensitized product.

Examples of oxidant phases include, but are not limited to, oxygen releasing salts. Examples of oxygen-releasing salts include, but are not limited to, alkali and alkaline earth metal nitrates, chlorates, perchlorates, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chlorate, ammonium perchlorate, and mixtures thereof, such as ammonium nitrate in combination with sodium or calcium nitrate. Any oxidizer phase known in the art and compatible with the fuel phase and emulsifier (if present) may be used. The oxidant phase may be dissolved in an aqueous solution, thereby creating an emulsion base known in the art as a "water-in-oil" emulsion. The oxidant phase may not dissolve in the aqueous solution, thereby creating an emulsion base known in the art as a "melt-in-oil" emulsion.

In some embodiments, emulsion base 31 further comprises an emulsifier. Examples of emulsifiers include, but are not limited to, emulsifiers based on the reaction product of poly [ alk (en) yl ] succinic anhydride and an alkyl amine, including polyisobutylene succinic anhydride (PiBSA) derivatives of alkanolamines. Additional examples of emulsifiers include, but are not limited to: alcohol alkoxylates, phenol alkoxylates, poly (oxyalkylene) glycols, poly (oxyalkylene) fatty acid esters, amine alkoxylates, fatty acid esters of sorbitol and glycerol, fatty acid salts, sorbitan esters, poly (oxyalkylene) sorbitan esters, fatty amine alkoxylates, poly (oxyalkylene) glycol esters, fatty acid amines, fatty acid amide alkoxylates, fatty amines, quaternary amines, alkyl oxazolines, alkenyl oxazolines, imidazolines, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl aryl sulfonates, alkyl phosphates, alkenyl phosphates, phosphate esters, lecithin, poly (oxyalkylene) glycols and poly (12-hydroxystearic acid), 2-alkyl and 2-alkenyl-4, 4' -bis (hydroxymethyl) oxazolines, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, 2-oleyl-4, copolymers of 4' bis (hydroxymethyl) oxazoline and mixtures thereof. Any emulsifier known in the art and compatible with the fuel phase and oxidizer may be used.

The explosive delivery system 100 further comprises a first pump 12 configured to pump a first gassing agent 11. The inlet of the first pump 12 is fluidly connected to the first reservoir 10. The outlet of the first pump 12 is fluidly connected to a first flow meter 14 configured to measure a flow 15 of the first gas generant 11. The first flow meter 14 is fluidly connected to the homogenizer 40. The stream 15 of the first gas generant 11 may be introduced into the stream 35 of the emulsion base 31 upstream of the homogenizer 40 (including before or after the third pump 32, or before or after the third flow meter 34). Stream 15 may be introduced along the centerline of stream 35. Fig. 1 shows the flow of a stream 15 of a first gassing agent 11 from a first reservoir 10, through a first pump 12 and a first flow meter 14, and into a homogenizer 40.

The explosive delivery system 100 further comprises a second pump 22 configured to pump a second gassing agent 21. An inlet of the second pump 22 is operatively connected to the second reservoir 20. The outlet of the second pump 22 is fluidly connected to a second flow meter 24 configured to measure the flow of a stream 25 of the second gas generant 21. The second flow meter 24 is fluidly connected to a valve 26. The valve 26 is configured to control the flow 25 of the second gassing agent 21. The valve 26 is fluidly connected to a delivery catheter (not shown) proximal to the outlet of the delivery catheter and proximal to the inlet of the mixer 60. Valve 26 may comprise a control valve. Examples of control valves include, but are not limited to, angle seat valves, globe valves, butterfly valves, and diaphragm valves. Any valve known in the art and compatible with controlling the flow of the second gassing agent 21 can be used. Fig. 1 shows the flow of a stream 25 of the second gassing agent 21 from the second reservoir 20, through the second pump 22, the second flow meter 24 and the valve 26 and into the stream 47.

The explosive delivery system 100 further comprises a third pump 32 configured to pump the emulsion matrix 31. An inlet of the third pump 32 is fluidly connected to the third reservoir 30. An outlet of the third pump 32 is fluidly connected to a third flow meter 34 configured to measure a flow 35 of the emulsion matrix 31. The third flow meter 34 is fluidly connected to the homogenizer 40. Fig. 1 shows the flow of a stream 35 of emulsion base 31 from a third reservoir 30, through a third pump 32 and a third flow meter 34, and into a homogenizer 40.

In some embodiments, the explosive delivery system 100 is configured to deliver the second gas generant 21 at a mass flow rate of less than about 5%, less than about 4%, less than about 2%, or less than about 1% of the mass flow rate of the emulsion matrix 31.

The homogenizer 40 may be configured to homogenize the emulsion matrix 31 in forming the homogenized product 41. As used herein, "homogenizing" or "homogenizing" refers to reducing the size of droplets of an oxidizer phase in a fuel phase of an emulsion base, such as emulsion base 31. The homogenized emulsion base 31 increases the viscosity of the homogenized product 41 compared to the emulsion base 31. The homogenizer 40 may also be configured to mix the stream 35 of the emulsion matrix 31 and the stream 15 of the first gas generant 11 into a homogenized product 41. A stream 45 of homogenized product 41 exits homogenizer 40. The pressure from streams 35 and 15 can supply the pressure used to flow stream 45.

The homogenizer 40 may reduce the size of the oxidizer phase droplets by introducing shear stress on the emulsion matrix 31 and the first gas generant 11. The homogenizer 40 may include a valve configured to introduce a shear stress on the emulsion matrix 31 and the first gas generant 11. The homogenizer 40 may also include mixing elements such as, by way of non-limiting example, static mixers and/or dynamic mixers (such as a screw conveyor) for mixing the stream 15 of the first gas generant 11 with the stream 35 of the emulsion matrix 31.

When forming the homogenized product 41, it may be beneficial to homogenize the emulsion matrix 31 for the sensitized product 61. For example, the reduced oxidizer phase droplet size and increased viscosity of the sensitized product 61 may mitigate bubble coalescence of bubbles generated by the introduction of the second gas generant 21 compared to an unhomogenized sensitized product. Likewise, the effect of hydrostatic head pressure in the homogenized sensitized product 61 on the density of the bubbles is reduced compared to the non-homogenized sensitized product. Thus, the migration of bubbles is less in the homogenized sensitized product 61 compared to the non-homogenized sensitized product. Thus, the loading density of the homogenized sensitized product 61 at a particular depth of the blast hole is closer to the transport density of the homogenized sensitized product 61 at that depth than for the non-homogenized sensitized product instead of being transported. The increased viscosity of the homogenized sensitized product 61 also tends to reduce migration of the product into cracks and voids in the surrounding material of the blast hole compared to the non-homogenized sensitized product.

In some embodiments, the homogenizer 40 does not substantially homogenize the emulsion matrix 31. In such embodiments, homogenizer 40 includes elements configured primarily to mix streams 35 and 15, but does not include elements configured primarily to reduce the size of the oxidant phase droplets in emulsion matrix 31. In such embodiments, the sensitization product 61 will be an unhomogenized sensitization product. As used herein, "primarily configured" refers to a primary function that an element is configured to perform. For example, any mixing element of homogenizer 40 may have some effect on the oxidizer phase droplet size, but the primary function of the mixing element may be to mix streams 15 and 35.

The explosive delivery system 100 further comprises a fourth reservoir 50 configured to store a lubricant 51 and/or an inhibitor solution 53 (discussed in further detail below), and a lubricant injector 52 configured to lubricate the conveyance of the homogenized product 41 through the interior of the delivery conduit. Fourth reservoir 50 is fluidly connected to lubricant injector 52. The lubricant injector 52 may be configured as an annulus that injects the lubricant 51 and/or inhibitor solution 53 around the flow 45 of the homogenized product 41 and lubricates the flow of the homogenized product 41 inside the delivery conduit. The lubricant 51 may contain water. The inhibitor solution 53 may comprise water, an inhibitor and a crystallization point modifier. The homogenizer 40 is fluidly connected to a lubricant injector 52. The lubricant injector 52 is operatively connected to the delivery conduit. Stream 45 of homogenized product 41 enters lubricant injector 52. A flow 55 of lubricant 51 and/or inhibitor solution 53 exits fourth reservoir 50 and is directed into flow 45 by lubricant injector 52. The stream 55 may be injected as an annulus substantially radially around the stream 45. Flow 47 exits lubricant injector 52 and includes flow 45 substantially radially surrounded by flow 55. A flow 55 of lubricant 51 and/or inhibitor solution 53 may lubricate the flow of the flow 45 through the delivery conduit.

In some embodiments, the annulus of lubricant 51 and/or inhibitor solution 53 around the flow 45 of homogenized product 41 may constitute from about 1 weight percent (wt%) to about 14 wt% of the total product (lubricant 51 and/or inhibitor solution 53 plus homogenized product 41 and any sensitizer) in the blast hole. In some other embodiments, the annulus of lubricant 51 and/or inhibitor solution 53 around the stream 45 of homogenized product 41 may constitute from about 2 wt% to about 12 wt%, from about 6 wt% to about 10 wt%, or about 8 wt% of the total product in the blast hole.

The explosive delivery system 100 also includes a delivery conduit. The delivery conduit is operatively connected to the lubricant injector. The delivery conduit is configured to convey stream 47 to mixer 60. The delivery catheter is configured for insertion into a blast hole.

The explosive delivery system 100 also includes a mixer 60 located proximal to the outlet of the delivery conduit. The mixer 60 is configured to mix the homogenized product 41 and the lubricant 51 and/or inhibitor solution 53 in the stream 47 with the second gas generant 21 in the stream 25 to form the sensitized product 61 in the stream 65. The mixer may comprise a static mixer. Examples of static mixers include, but are not limited to, helical static mixers. Any static mixer known in the art and compatible with mixing the second gas generant 21, the homogenized product 41, and the lubricant 51 and/or inhibitor solution 53 may be used.

In some embodiments, the stream 15 of the first gas generant 11 is not introduced into the stream 35 upstream of the homogenizer 40. Instead, the stream 15 of the first gas generant 11 may be introduced into the stream 45 of the homogenized product 41 after the homogenizer 40 or into the stream 47 after the lubricant injector 52. The stream 15 may be ejected along the centerline of stream 45 or stream 47. In these embodiments, the first gas generant 11 of stream 15 can be mixed with the homogenized product 41 and the second gas generant 25 at mixer 60.

The explosive delivery system 100 further comprises a control system 70 configured to vary the flow rate of stream 25 relative to the flow rate of stream 47. Control system 70 may be configured to vary the flow rate of stream 25 while continuously forming and delivering sensitization product 61 to the blast hole. Control system 70 may be configured to vary the flow rate of stream 25 while also varying the flow rates of streams 15, 35, and 55 to vary the flow rate of stream 47.

Control system 70 may be configured to automatically vary the flow rate of stream 25 as the blast hole is filled with sensitization product 61, depending on the desired sensitization product density of sensitization product 61 at a particular depth of the blast hole. The control system 70 may be configured to determine a desired sensitized product density based on a desired explosive energy profile within the blasthole. The control system 70 may be configured to adjust the flow rate of the stream 15 of the first gas generant 11 based on the temperature of the emulsion matrix 31 and the desired reaction rate of the second gas generant 21 in the homogenized product 41. The temperature of emulsion matrix 31 may be measured in third reservoir 30. The control system 70 can be configured to vary the flow rate of the stream 25 to maintain a desired sensitized product density based at least in part on changes in the flow rate of the stream 35 to the homogenizer 40.

The control system 70 includes a computer (not shown) including a processor (not shown) operatively connected to a memory device (not shown). The memory device stores a program for accomplishing the desired functions of the control system 70, and the processor implements the program. The control system 70 communicates with the first pump 12 via a communication system 71. The control system 70 communicates with the second pump 22 via a communication system 72. The control system 70 communicates with the third pump 32 via a communication system 73. The control system 70 communicates with the first flow meter 14 via a communication system 74. The control system 70 communicates with the second flow meter 24 via a communication system 75. The control system 70 communicates with the third flow meter 34 via a communication system 76. The control system 70 communicates with the valve 26 via a communication system 77. Control system 70 communicates with lubricant injector 52 via a communication system 78. The communication systems 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78 may include one or more wired and/or wireless communication systems.

In some embodiments, the explosive delivery system 100 is configured to deliver a blend of the sensitization product 61 with a solid oxidizer and an additional liquid fuel. In such embodiments, the delivery conduit may not be inserted into the blast hole, but instead the sensitization product 61 may be blended with a solid oxidizer and an additional liquid fuel. The resulting blend may be poured into a blast hole, such as from the discharge of an auger chute located above the blast orifice.

For example, the explosive delivery system 100 can include a fifth reservoir configured to store a solid oxidizer. The explosive delivery system 100 may also include a sixth reservoir configured to store additional liquid fuel separate from the liquid fuel that is part of the emulsion matrix 31. The hopper may operatively connect the fifth reservoir to a mixing element, such as a screw conveyor. The mixing element may be fluidly connected to the sixth reservoir. The mixing element may also be fluidly connected to an outlet of a delivery conduit configured to form the sensitized product 61. The mixing element may be configured to blend the sensitization product 61 with the solid oxidizer of the fifth reservoir and the liquid fuel of the sixth reservoir. A chute may be connected to the discharge of the mixing element and configured to deliver the blended sensitized product 61 to the blast hole. For example, the sensitized product 61 may be mixed with ammonium nitrate and fuel oil # 2 in a screw conveyor to form a "heavy ANFO" blend.

The explosive delivery system 100 may include additional reservoirs for storing solid sensitizers and/or energy augmenting agents. These additional components may be mixed with the solid oxidant of the fifth reservoir or may be mixed directly with the homogenised product 41 or the sensitisation product 61. In some embodiments, a solid oxidizer, solid sensitizer, and/or energy booster may be blended with the sensitized product 61 without adding any liquid fuel from the sixth reservoir.

Examples of solid sensitizers include, but are not limited to, glass or hydrocarbon microballoons, cellulose extenders, expanded mineral extenders, and the like. Examples of the energy increasing agent include, but are not limited to, metal powders such as aluminum powder. Examples of solid oxidants include, but are not limited to, oxygen-releasing salts formed as porous spheres (also referred to in the art as "pellets"). Examples of oxygen-releasing salts are those disclosed above with respect to the oxidant phase of emulsion base 31. Pellets of oxygen-releasing salts can be used as solid oxidizers. Any solid oxidizer known in the art and compatible with liquid fuels may be used. Examples of liquid fuels are those disclosed above with respect to the fuel phase of emulsion base 31. Any liquid fuel known in the art and compatible with solid oxidants can be used.

It should be understood that the explosive delivery system 100 may also include additional components compatible with delivering an explosive.

It should be understood that the explosive delivery system 100 can be modified to exclude components. For example, the explosive delivery system 100 can exclude the homogenizer 40. For example, the explosive delivery system 100 can be modified to exclude components that are not required to flow the streams 15, 25, 35. For example, one or more of the first pump 12, the second pump 22, the third pump 32, the first flow meter 14, the second flow meter 24, and the third flow meter 34 may be absent. For example, instead of the presence of the first pump 12, the explosive delivery system 100 may rely on the head pressure in the first reservoir 10 to provide sufficient pressure for the flow of the stream 15 of the first gassing agent 11. In another example, there may not be a control system 70, but rather there may be manual controls for controlling the flow of the flows 15, 25, 35, 45.

It should be further understood that fig. 1 is a method flow diagram and does not indicate the physical location of any of the components. For example, the third pump 32 may be located internally within the third reservoir 30.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of delivering a suppressed emulsion to a blast hole. In some embodiments, the method may include supplying an emulsion comprising a discontinuous oxidant phase and a continuous fuel phase on a mobile treatment unit. The method may include supplying a separate inhibitor solution on the mobile processing unit that includes water, an inhibitor, and a crystallization point modifier. The method may also include mixing the emulsion with an inhibitor solution on the mobile processing unit to form an inhibited emulsion. In addition, the method may include delivering the inhibited emulsion to the blast hole.

In certain embodiments, the method may comprise: supplying an emulsion comprising a discontinuous oxidant phase and a continuous fuel phase; and supplying a separate inhibitor solution comprising water, an inhibitor and a crystallization point modifier. The method may include mixing an emulsion with an inhibitor solution to form an inhibited emulsion, and delivering the inhibited emulsion to the blast hole. Further, the method may include determining whether the blast hole is disposed in a reactive ground, a high temperature ground, or both.

As discussed above, the emulsion and the separate inhibitor solution may be supplied on a mobile processing unit. The emulsion may be mixed with an inhibitor solution on a mobile processing unit to form an inhibited emulsion. In addition, the inhibited emulsion may be delivered from the mobile processing unit to the blast hole. Supplying the individual inhibitor solutions may include mixing water, the inhibitor, and the crystallization point modifier on the mobile processing unit. Supplying the separate inhibitor solution may include introducing the inhibitor solution into a reservoir disposed on the mobile processing unit.

In certain embodiments, the emulsion and the separate inhibitor solution may be supplied in a factory or manufacturing plant. The emulsion may be mixed with the inhibitor solution in the factory to form an inhibited emulsion. The suppressed emulsion may then be supplied on a mobile processing unit. In addition, the suppressed emulsion may then be transferred from the mobile processing unit to the blast hole.

Examples of inhibitors include, but are not limited to, urea, amines, alkaline solutions (e.g., soda grey water solution), sodium nitrate, hydrotalcite, and zinc oxide. Any inhibitor known in the art and compatible with the emulsion may be used. In some embodiments, the wt% of the inhibitor in the inhibited emulsion may be from about 1 wt% to about 10 wt%, from about 1.5 wt% to about 7.5 wt%, from about 2 wt% to about 5 wt%, or about 3 wt%.

As used herein, "crystallization point modifier" refers to an agent that, when in a mixture or solution, is configured to reduce the crystallization point of the mixture or solution. For example, the mixture may have a crystallization point of 18 ℃, however, when a crystallization point modifier is added to the mixture, the crystallization point of the mixture may be reduced to 3 ℃. In some embodiments, the mixture or solution may include an inhibitor (e.g., urea), and the crystallization point modifier may reduce the crystallization point of the inhibitor in the mixture or solution such that the mixture or solution does not block or inhibit the flow of one or more streams (e.g., in a conduit on a mobile processing unit). Examples of crystallization point modifiers include, but are not limited to, calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate, and calcium chloride. Any crystallization point modifier known in the art and compatible with the emulsion may be used. In certain embodiments, the wt% of the crystallization point modifier in the inhibited emulsion may be from about 0.1 wt% to about 8 wt%, from about 0.5 wt% to about 6 wt%, from about 1 wt% to about 5 wt%, or from about 2 wt% to about 4 wt%.

The inhibitor solution may also comprise ethylene glycol. In various embodiments, the weight% of ethylene glycol in the inhibited emulsion may be from about 0.1 weight% to about 1 weight%, from about 0.2 weight% to about 0.8 weight%, from about 0.3 weight% to about 0.7 weight%, or from about 0.4 weight% to about 0.6 weight%. As mentioned above, the inhibitor solution may also comprise water. In some embodiments, the wt% of water in the inhibited emulsion may be from about 0.5 wt% to about 10 wt%, from about 1 wt% to about 9 wt%, from about 2 wt% to about 7 wt%, or from about 3 wt% to about 5 wt%. Other suitable weight percentages of inhibitor, crystallization point modifier, water, and/or glycol in the inhibited emulsion may also be within the scope of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, water, inhibitor, and crystallization point modifier may be mixed to form an inhibitor solution, and the inhibitor solution is then introduced into a reservoir on the mobile treatment unit (e.g., such as the fourth reservoir 50 of fig. 1). In other words, the premixed inhibitor solution may be introduced into a reservoir on the mobile treatment unit. In some other embodiments, the water, inhibitor, and crystallization point modifier may be mixed in a reservoir disposed on the mobile treatment unit to form the inhibitor solution.

In certain embodiments, an emulsion comprising an inhibitor (e.g., urea) may be supplied. The method may include mixing the emulsion with the inhibitor with a solution of the inhibitor such that the concentration of the inhibitor in the emulsion is increased. In certain embodiments, supplying the emulsion can include supplying an emulsion base. In other words, the emulsion may not be sensitized. The method may further comprise introducing a sensitizer (e.g., a chemical gassing agent, hollow microspheres or other solid entrapment agent, gas bubbles, etc.) into the emulsion matrix to form the emulsion explosive. A sensitizer may be introduced into the emulsion matrix to form the emulsion explosive prior to introducing the emulsion explosive into the delivery conduit. The mobile processing unit may comprise a delivery catheter. For example, the delivery catheter may be a component of a mobile processing unit. In other embodiments, a sensitizer may be introduced into the emulsion matrix to form an emulsion explosive proximal to the outlet of the delivery catheter. For example, the sensitizer may be introduced into the emulsion matrix (such as the exemplary explosive delivery system 100 described above) at or near a nozzle coupled to the distal end of the delivery catheter. In various embodiments, supplying the emulsion may include supplying an emulsion explosive.

In some embodiments, an emulsion (i.e., an emulsion base or emulsion explosive) may be mixed with an inhibitor solution to form a suppressed emulsion prior to introducing the suppressed emulsion into the delivery catheter. For example, the emulsion and inhibitor solution may be mixed at a location prior to the inlet of the delivery catheter. In some other embodiments, the emulsion and the inhibitor may be introduced into a delivery catheter, and the emulsion may then be mixed with the inhibitor solution to form an inhibited emulsion. The emulsion and the inhibitor may be mixed in the delivery catheter, for example at a location proximal to the outlet of the delivery catheter.

In certain embodiments, the emulsion may be mixed with an inhibitor solution to form a suppressed emulsion prior to introducing the suppressed emulsion into the homogenizer. For example, the emulsion and inhibitor solution may be mixed at a location prior to the inlet of the homogenizer. In certain other embodiments, the emulsion and the inhibitor may be introduced into a homogenizer to form a homogenized product.

The method of delivering the inhibited emulsion to the blast hole can further include determining a concentration, a flow rate, or both, of the inhibitor solution to achieve a desired inhibition of the inhibited emulsion on the reactive ground. In some embodiments, the reactivity of the first portion of the reactive ground may be higher than the reactivity of the second portion of the reactive ground. Thus, it can be determined that a higher concentration and/or flow rate of the inhibitor solution should be used for the first portion of the reactive floor than for the second portion of the reactive floor to inhibit or limit the likelihood of premature detonation of the inhibited emulsion in the reactive floor. The method of delivering the inhibited emulsion to the blast hole can further include varying the concentration, flow rate, or both of the inhibitor solution to achieve a desired inhibition of the inhibited emulsion on the reactive ground. For example, where the reactivity of the first portion of the reactive ground is higher than the reactivity of the second portion of the reactive ground, the concentration and/or flow rate of the inhibitor solution may be changed (e.g., increased) for the first portion of the reactive ground as compared to the second portion of the reactive ground.

In certain embodiments, an annulus of inhibitor solution may be injected or introduced into the delivery catheter to lubricate the transport of the emulsion along at least a portion of the delivery catheter. In various embodiments, the inhibitor solution may be sprayed or introduced to the centerline of the stream of emulsion (e.g., within at least a portion of the delivery catheter).

Delivering the inhibited emulsion to the blast hole can include inserting a delivery conduit into the blast hole and/or delivering the inhibited emulsion to the blast hole via the delivery conduit.

Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a method of conducting a blast in a reactive ground. In certain embodiments, the method may include supplying an emulsion comprising a discontinuous oxidant phase and a continuous fuel phase on a mobile treatment unit. The method may include supplying the inhibitor on the mobile processing unit. The method may further include mixing the inhibitor solution with the emulsion at a determined concentration, flow rate, or both on the mobile processing unit to form an inhibited emulsion with sufficient inhibitor to achieve a desired inhibition of the inhibited emulsion to a particular reactive floor. Further, the method may include delivering the inhibited emulsion to a blast hole in the specific reactive surface.

In various embodiments, a method of blasting in a reactive ground, a high temperature ground, or both, may include supplying an emulsion comprising a discontinuous oxidizer phase and a continuous fuel phase, and supplying an inhibitor. The method may further include mixing the inhibitor with the emulsion at a determined concentration, flow rate, or both to form an inhibited emulsion with sufficient inhibitor to achieve a desired inhibition of the inhibited emulsion on a particular reactive surface, a high temperature surface, or both. The method may include delivering the inhibited emulsion to blast holes in a particular reactive surface, a high temperature surface, or both. Further, the method may include determining whether the surface is a reactive surface, a high temperature surface, or both.

As discussed above, the emulsion and inhibitor may be supplied on a mobile processing unit. The inhibitor may be mixed with the emulsion on the mobile processing unit to form an inhibited emulsion. In addition, the inhibited emulsion may be delivered from the mobile processing unit to the blast hole.

In some embodiments, the emulsion and inhibitor may be supplied in a factory. The inhibitor may be mixed with the emulsion in the factory to form an inhibited emulsion. The suppressed emulsion may be supplied on a mobile processing unit. In addition, the suppressed emulsion may then be transferred from the mobile processing unit to the blast hole.

The inhibitor may be a component or ingredient of the inhibitor solution. As mentioned above, the inhibitor solution may comprise, in addition to the inhibitor, water and a crystallization point modifier. In addition, the inhibitor solution may also contain ethylene glycol.

In various embodiments, a method of blasting in a reactive ground may include determining the concentration, flow rate, or both of an inhibitor solution to achieve a desired inhibition of a particular reactive ground by an inhibited emulsion. The method of blasting in a reactive ground may further comprise varying the concentration, flow rate, or both of the inhibitor solution to achieve a desired inhibition of the particular reactive ground by the inhibited emulsion.

In some embodiments, there may be multiple blast holes. Each blast hole may have a different level of ground reactivity. In certain embodiments, a first portion of the blast holes (e.g., a first group of one or more blast holes) may have a first level of ground reactivity and a second portion of the blast holes (e.g., a second group of one or more blast holes) may have a second level of ground reactivity. There may also be a third portion, a fourth portion, etc. of the blast hole. In other words, the plurality of blastholes can form a pattern in which each blasthole or each portion of a blasthole has a particular or unique level of ground reactivity. A method of conducting a blast in a reactive ground may include determining a concentration, a flow rate, or both of an inhibitor solution to achieve a desired inhibition of a particular reactive ground by an inhibited emulsion in each blast hole or in each of one or more portions of a blast hole. The method of conducting a blast in a reactive ground may further comprise varying the concentration, flow rate, or both of the inhibitor solution to achieve a desired inhibition of the particular reactive ground by the inhibited emulsion in each blast hole or in each of one or more portions of the blast hole.

Some methods of blasting in a reactive ground involve the step of allowing the inhibited emulsion to rest for at least one day, at least two days, at least two weeks, at least one month, at least two months, or at least three months. For example, a suppressed emulsion can be dormant in a reactive ground for a certain period of time without causing a runaway exothermic reaction that significantly changes the temperature of the emulsion explosive. Avoiding such runaway exothermic reactions can prevent or reduce the risk of premature detonation.

After the inhibited emulsion has been placed in the reactive ground, the inhibited emulsion can be detonated at a desired time. For example, in some embodiments, the inhibited emulsion can be detonated after the inhibited emulsion has been allowed to sleep for a period of time greater than three hours, five hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, two days, one week, two weeks, at least one month, at least two months, or at least three months.

Another aspect of the disclosure relates to an inhibitor solution. In some embodiments, the inhibitor solution may comprise water, an inhibitor, and a crystallization point modifier. The inhibitor solution may also contain ethylene glycol.

The weight% of inhibitor in the inhibitor solution may be from about 10 weight% to about 50 weight%, from about 20 weight% to about 50 weight%, from about 30 weight% to about 50 weight%, or from about 40 weight% to about 50 weight%. The wt% of the crystallization point modifier in the inhibitor solution can be from about 5 wt% to about 35 wt%, from about 10 wt% to about 30 wt%, from about 12 wt% to about 25 wt%, or from about 14 wt% to about 20 wt%. The wt% of water in the inhibitor solution may be from about 15 wt% to about 50 wt%, from about 20 wt% to about 45 wt%, from about 25 wt% to about 42 wt%, or from about 30 wt% to about 40 wt%. The weight% of the ethylene glycol in the inhibitor solution may be from about 1 weight% to about 10 weight%, from about 2 weight% to about 8 weight%, from about 4 weight% to about 6 weight%, or about 5 weight%. Other suitable weight percentages of inhibitor, crystallization point modifier, water, and/or ethylene glycol in the inhibitor solution may also be within the scope of the present disclosure.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to an explosive delivery system (similar to explosive delivery system 100 of fig. 1). The explosive delivery system can include an emulsion reservoir (such as third reservoir 30 of fig. 1) configured to store an emulsion comprising a discontinuous oxidizer phase and a continuous fuel phase (such as emulsion matrix 31 of fig. 1). The explosive delivery system can also include an inhibitor solution reservoir (such as the fourth reservoir 50 of fig. 1) configured to store a separate inhibitor solution (such as the inhibitor solution 53 of fig. 1) comprising water, the inhibitor, and the crystallization point modifier. The heater may be operatively connected to the inhibitor solution reservoir. The heater may be configured to maintain the temperature of the inhibitor solution such that the temperature of the inhibitor solution does not fall below the crystallization point of the inhibitor solution. For example, in cold weather conditions, the heater may help maintain the inhibitor solution at a temperature above the crystallization point of the inhibitor solution.

In some embodiments, the explosive delivery system may further comprise a suppressant solution injector operably connected to the emulsion reservoir and the suppressant solution reservoir. The inhibitor solution injector may be configured to introduce the inhibitor solution into the emulsion. In addition, the delivery conduit may be operatively connected to the inhibitor solution injector. In certain embodiments, the delivery catheter may be configured to deliver the emulsion and the inhibitor solution. The delivery catheter may also be configured for insertion into a blast hole.

The explosive delivery system can include a mixer (such as mixer 60 of fig. 1) disposed proximal to the outlet of the delivery conduit. In various embodiments, the mixer may be configured to mix the emulsion and the inhibitor solution to form the inhibited emulsion.

The suppressant solution injector may be a lubricant injector (such as lubricant injector 52 of fig. 1) configured to inject an annulus of suppressant solution to lubricate the transport of the emulsion matrix along the delivery conduit. In other embodiments, the inhibitor solution injector may be configured to inject the inhibitor solution to a centerline of the flow of the emulsion matrix within the delivery catheter.

Fig. 2 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method of delivering a suppressed emulsion to a blast hole. In this embodiment, the method comprises: step 201, supplying emulsion; step 202, supplying a separate inhibitor solution; and step 203, mixing the emulsion and the inhibitor solution alone into the inhibited emulsion. The method further includes, step 204, inserting a delivery catheter into the blast hole, and step 205, delivering the inhibited emulsion to the blast hole.

Figure 3 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of conducting a blast in a reactive ground. In this embodiment, the method comprises: step 301 of supplying an emulsion comprising a discontinuous oxidant phase and a continuous fuel phase on a mobile processing unit; step 302, supplying inhibitor on the mobile processing unit; and a step 303 of mixing the inhibitor at the determined concentration, flow rate, or both, with the emulsion on the mobile processing unit to form an inhibited emulsion having sufficient inhibitor to achieve a desired inhibition of the inhibited emulsion to a particular reactive floor. The method also includes step 304 of delivering the inhibited emulsion to a blast hole in a particular reactive surface.