US 6,982,015 B2
Reduced energy blasting agent and method
Kerry S. Atkinson, Lehi, Utah (US); and John B. Halander, Murray, Utah (US)
Assigned to Dyno Nobel Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah (US)
Filed on May 25, 2001, as Appl. No. 9/864,339.
Prior Publication US 2003/0029346 A1, Feb. 13, 2003
Int. Cl. D03D 23/00 (2006.01); C06B 45/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 149—109.6 7 Claims
 
1. A method of reducing the energy of an emulsion blasting agent as it is being loaded into a borehole comprising the steps of:
a) selecting an emulsion blasting agent comprising an aqueous inorganic oxidizer salt solution forming in droplet form a discontinuous phase and an organic liquid fuel forming a continuous phase;
b) conveying the emulsion blasting agent;
c) adding an energy-reducing agent to the emulsion blasting agent as it is being conveyed wherein the energy reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of water and aqueous solutions;
d) mixing the energy-reducing agent uniformly and homogeneously into the emulsion blasting agent to form a second discontinuous phase in an amount of from about 5% to about 22.5% by weight of the emulsion blasting agent;
e) adding gassing agents to the emulsion blasting agent to reduce its density and increase its sensitivity; and
f) loading the conveyed emulsion blasting agent into a borehole.