1 56 



NOETLING: PETROLEUM IN BURMA. 



Flashing Point and Boiling Point. — The following are the de- 

 terminations of the flashing point of the crude petroleum which have 



been made : — 



1 Kodoung well No. 1 from feet depth . 6o°F. (Holland) 



2 ,, 1, ,, 16 „ 727 „ „ . 68°F. „ 



3 „ „ » *9 „ 359 » .1 • 73°F. » 



4 Beme „ „ 5<H » 100 „ „ . I32°F. „ 



Mr. Holland states that owing to the difficulty in determining 

 the flashing point of an oil which gives off inflammable vapour at a 

 temperature much below that of the laboratory the flashing point of 

 oils which flash below 73°F. was not determined except in two 

 instances. 1 



Professor Engler has ascertained the boiling point of several 

 samples of crude petroleum with the following results— 



1 Yenangyat well No. 15 from feet depth boils at . 267°F. 



2 ,, mixed sample ,, • 248 — 257°F. 



3 Kodoung well No. 26 from feet depth boils, „ . 275 — 284 F. 



4 Twingon „ No. 62 „ „ „ „ „ . 267 — 275'F. 



5 Minbu (natural spring) „ „ „ „ . 57 2 ° F - 



Consistency and Melting point. — As regards the consistency, 

 the Burma petroleum has been quite rightly termed a viscous oil. 

 This quality is most probably due to its large percentage of paraffine 

 wax. According to Messrs. Warren and Storer it represents a greasy 

 matter, which Christison compares with lard, Warren de la Rue and 

 Hugo Miiller with goose fat, at the temperature of 25°C. (=6j°F.). I 

 can fully confirm these statements ; during the winter months when 

 the temperature of the air at Yenangyoung sinks to about 54°F. the 

 petroleum which collects in earthen pots or small pools congeals 

 and forms a greasy matter of the consistency of lard or goose fat. 

 But when with the rising sun the temperature rises, it becomes 

 liquid and flows readily enough at about 86°F. 



This quality is a serious impediment to its being conducted by 

 pipes over long distances, and if found in Europe or under a lower 

 average temperature than that of Yenangyoung, transporting by pipe- 

 lines would be out of the question. During the winter months the 



1 Rec. Geol. Surv. Ind,, XXIV, p. 254 (1891). 

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