Explosive compositions for use in high temperature, reactive ground, or both, are disclosed. The explosive compositions can include an emulsion with a continuous organic fuel phase and a discontinuous oxidizer phase. The oxidizer phase can include one or more Group I or Group II nitrates.

The present invention provides for the use of at least one oil soluble polymer comprising linear polymethylene sequences with an average of 10 to 40 consecutive methylene groups to improve the water resistance of an explosive composition comprising particulate ammonium nitrate and a fuel oil, said linear polymethylene sequences with in average 10 to 40 consecutive methylene groups may be either in the main chain or in the side chains of the oil soluble polymer.

Explosive compositions for use in high temperature, reactive ground, or both, are disclosed. The explosive compositions can include an emulsion with a continuous organic fuel phase and a discontinuous oxidizer phase. The oxidizer phase can include one or more Group I or Group II nitrates.

The present invention provides for the use of at least one oil soluble polymer comprising linear polymethylene sequences with an average of 10 to 40 consecutive methylene groups to improve the water resistance of an explosive composition comprising particulate ammonium nitrate and a fuel oil, said linear polymethylene sequences with in average 10 to 40 consecutive methylene groups may be either in the main chain or in the side chains of the oil soluble polymer.

The present invention is directed to an explosive composition comprised of heavy ANFO and expanded polymeric beads that have a density that is less than the density of the heavy ANFO. The expanded polymeric beads have a size that is determined or based on the size of ammonium nitrate prills used in the heavy ANFO portion of the composition. In one embodiment, the expanded polymeric beads that are utilized in the composition are at least 70% of the lower limit of the mesh size of the predominant ammonium nitrate prill mesh size. In another embodiment, the expanded polymeric beads are at least 70% of a size that is related to the average mesh size of the ammonium nitrate prills.

An explosive composition comprising a liquid energetic material and sensitizing voids, wherein the sensitizing voids are present in the liquid energetic material with a non-random distribution, wherein the liquid energetic material comprises (a) regions in which the sensitizing voids are sufficiently concentrated to render those regions detonable and (b) regions in which the sensitizing voids are not so concentrated and wherein the explosive composition does not contain ammonium nitrate prill.

A resulting extended bulk explosive and the process for preparing and blending oil shale particulate with bulk explosives is provided, whereby the extending bulk explosive reduces its detonation velocity. The process includes the proper preparation of oil shale granulates to gain different cost effects and performance levels with predetermined blending percentages. The oil shale granulates may be crushed, screened, dried and prepared for blending in accordance to the disclosure of the present invention.

The present invention provides a method of stabilizing a nitrate-based explosive through the use of a NOx scavenger. The present invention further provides a blasting agent including ammonium nitrate and a NOx scavenger. The present invention further provides for a method of blasting adapted for use in reactive and/or elevated temperature ground.

The present invention is directed to an explosive composition comprised of heavy ANFO and expanded polymeric beads that have a density that is less than the density of the heavy ANFO. The expanded polymeric beads have a size that is determined or based on the size of ammonium nitrate prills used in the heavy ANFO portion of the composition. In one embodiment, the expanded polymeric beads that are utilized in the composition are at least 70% of the lower limit of the mesh size of the predominant ammonium nitrate prill mesh size. In another embodiment, the expanded polymeric beads are at least 70% of a size that is related to the average mesh size of the ammonium nitrate prills.

The present invention provides a Fischer-Tropsch gasoil fraction having: (a) an initial boiling point of at least 220 C.; (b) a final boiling point of at most 360 C.; (c) a kinematic viscosity at 25 C. according to ASTM D445 of from 3.8 to 4.4 cSt; and (d) of a flash point according to ASTM D93 of at least 100 C. In another aspect the present invention provides a composition and the use of a Fischer-Tropsch gasoil fraction according to the invention.