Electric discharges for petroleum production

Many manifestations of the potency of electricity in industrial production processes have been had and the end is not yet. A threshold type of experiment with numerous industrial possibilities was recently described before the American Electrochemical Society by Drs. Lind and Glockler. Previous experiments of Dr. Lind with radon emanations acting on ethane or other hydrocarbon gases showed that ionization resulted, one part of which brought about condensation and the formation of an oil. He then conceived the possibility of applying silent electrical discharges to the gases in the hope that similar results would occur. In the experiments made electric fields were used instead of radioactive materials, and the results were very indicative of the occurrence of similar reactions. It is a far cry from these experiments to their commercial application, but a threshold experiment of this type will be carried much further under economic urge. — Elec. World.