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By W. R. Hamilton

THE knowledge of the existence of petroleum in Southern California dates back to the days of the missions. The presence of asphaltum and semisolid bitumen was reported at Santa Barbara in 1792, but no serious attempt was made to develop oil until Professor Silliman's optimistic report in 1865 started California's first oil boom. Wells were drilled in many counties of the State, but the equipment was unsuitable and the drilling difficult and no production was obtained except in Ventura County. Even there the production was of little importance commercially, and not until the early '80s did it become sufficient to again attract attention. In 1888 the production for the State had reached a total of about 700,000 bbl. per year, practically all light oil produced in Ventura County, Pico Canyon, Los Angeles County and in the Puente Hills. The production of petroleum attained the dignity of an industry in 1895 when the Los Angeles City and Coalinga fields were discovered. The subsequent development has been remarkable, and in 20 years the production has increased from 1,000,000 to 100,000,000 bbl. per year. The refining industry has kept pace with the production of oil. The Pacific Coast Oil Co., the predecessor of the Standard Oil Co. of California, was the virtual pioneer refining company of the State, having built a refinery at Alameda about 1880. When purchased by the Standard, about 1902, it was dismantled and the refinery at Point Richmond was built. The Richmond refinery is now one of the largest in the world, having a capacity in excess of 60,000 bbl. per day. A small refinery was built by the Union Oil Co. at Santa Paula in the early days of the industry and later many asphalt refineries were in operation in Southern California. The Pacific Coast Oil Co. was then, as has been its successor, the Standard Oil Co. of California, the principal refiner and marketer of light products, the most valuable of which was kerosene.

Jan 6, 1916

By Oliver B. Hopkins

Peru produced approximately 17,466,620 bbl., of oil during 1937, or slightly less than the record high of 17,593,700 bbl. established during 1936. As in 1936, the entire output of the country was derived from the La Brea-Parinas, Lobitos-Restin and Zorritos fields in the northwestern part of the country. Outside of the proven areas, drilling was 'continued by the Peruvian Government in the northern province of Tumbes on the reserved zone at Zorritos. Drilling was carried out on three locations, two of which are understood to have been abandoned during the year. In southern Peru, further attention was given by Government engineers to the Pusi and Saman districts and plans are being worked out for the commencement of drilling operations in the near future in the vicinity of Pirin. Activities in the montaiia region in eastern Peru were continued by the Compafiia Petrolera El Ganso Azul. This company acquired the interest of the Selden Breck Co., and holds some 90,000 acres along the Pachitea River a few miles above its confluence with the Ucayali. During the year, the preparation of a landing place, the cutting of a 12-km. (71/2-mile) road from the river to the drill site, and the construction of a camp were undertaken. Equipment for drilling on this company's concessions has already arrived in South America. La Brea-Parinas Estate.—Production of crude oil on the La Brea-Parinas Estate of the International Petroleum Company Limited amounted to 14,722,754 bbl. during 1937, a decrease of 403,736 bbl. from the all-time high reached during 1936. The total production from 1890 to Dec. 31,1937, was 178,390,767 bbl. During 1937, a total of 141,653 ft. was drilled, 129,516 ft. in new wells and 12,137 in deepening existing wells. In all, 57 wells were completed, 47 of which produced oil, 2 were gas wells and 8 dry. holes. Twenty-nine wells were cleaned out or deepened during the year. The average depth of new wells completed during 1937 was 2367 ft. compared with 1984 ft. for the new wells completed during 1936. There was an increased use of rotary tools during the year and this method is now used to a greater extent than the cable-tool method, which formerly predominated. Of the 57 wells completed during the year, 31 were

Jan 1, 1938

By A. E. Bellis

THE CHAIRMAN (ALBERT SAUVEUR, Cambridge, Mass.).-Any information likely to throw light on the constitution and proper treatment of high-speed steel in order to obtain maximum results, should surely he welcomed. All users of high-speed steel, I believe, will agree with the authors that, in order to obtain satisfactory results, it is not sufficient to heat all brands of high-speed steel to one and the same temperature; apparently very slight differences of chemical composition seem to call for marked differences in temperature. I think that all of us agree that a properly treated piece of high-speed steel should have a fine austenitic or polyhedral structure and that an appreciable quantity of free carbide may be present in the case of very high tungsten steels. What we seem to lack is a satisfactory method, quick and reliable, of ascertaining when the proper structure has been obtained. I think Mr. Bellis' paper is a step in the right direction. To the untrained eye, however, it is not an easy matter to select from some of his photomicrographs the one representing the best structure; for instance, in the case of steel A, we wonder why temperatures of 2,250 and 2,300 do not yield the same results, seeing that both structures are apparently alike, and the same might apply to some of the other samples. I have no doubt, however, that the experienced observer is capable of detecting structural differences that are not made plain here and by which he is able to select the proper quenching temperature. COLIN G. FINK, East Orange, N. J.-On page 68 the authors say that the use of a barium chloride bath to eliminate this difficulty has the disadvantage that the surface of the tool becomes decarbonized." I would like to ask whether they actually found that the surface was decarbonized, or whether they base this conclusion on softening alone? A. E. BELLIS, Springfield, Mass.-No, we have never demonstrated that it was a decarbonization, it is just the softening of the steel. The addition of ferrocyanide to the ferrochloride bath has been suggested. I think that is not altogether satisfactory, because the ferrocyanide bath changes composition very rapidly at these high temperatures, and it would be just a question of luck whether or not it had too much or too little ferrocyanide in the bath giving equilibrium with the carbon content.

Jan 4, 1917

By H. Case Willcox

AERIAL photographic surveying and mapping is not new or unknown to geologists. However, it has been utilized but little before, principally because it is only within the last few months that practical means of adapting this method to the requirements of petroleum companies have been discovered. No American aerial survey company has taken up aerial surveying and mapping as an engineering service to be offered to petroleum companies and their geologists for use in undeveloped and jungle-covered petroleum areas. This method of surveying and mapping, however, is used by the War Department, the U. S. Reclamation Service, and Geological Survey, and the corresponding Departments of the Canadian Government. ADVANTAGES OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEYING AND MAPPING The advantages of aerial photographic surveying and mapping to petroleum companies and their geologists are many. One of the most valuable is presented in the very first phase, or the exploration period. It is assumed that, when convinced that petroleum possibilities are present, a petroleum company has secured a concession of 8000 sq. mi. of unexplored area in Eastern Venezuela. The company may either have the entire area surveyed and mapped by the aerial photographic method, or send its chief field geologist up in an airplane so that he, from-an aerial reconnaissance, may reject certain portions that, for geological reasons, the company would not be interested in. He will then point out the regions that are to be surveyed and mapped. After the air-work is completed, the results are brought down, developed, and printed; then the resulting "contact prints" are given to the field geologist. They may be roughly assembled to give a general idea of the property in its entirety, or they are in shape to be examined in adjoining pairs under the stereo-scope. With this instrument, the geologist is enabled to make a minute examination of surface indications. The work of assembling and constructing a complete general or detailed map, according to the scales desired by the petroleum company and for the later office use, is continued by the aerial photographic company.

Jan 3, 1925

E. S. BARDWELL,* Great Falls, Mont. (written discussion ?).-There are several points in. connection with the manufacture of ferromanganese in the electric furnace which it seems to me. might prove of interest in this connection. Recent observation of a, number of electric furnaces varying considerably in size and transformer capacity, and all working under the same conditions, shows the small furnaces to be much more efficient in operation than the large furnaces. The furnaces examined were all of the same type. The crucibles consisted of tanks varying in size from 71-z by 15 ft. by 4 ft. deep, to 12 by 20 ft. by 9 ft. deep, with linings formed of carbon electrode butts. The smaller furnaces had transformer capacity rated at 1500 k.v.a.; the largest furnace had a transformer rated at 3000 k.v.a. All of the furnaces were operated on three-phase, 60-cycle current, the three electrodes being in a straight line. The voltages varied from 65 volts in the smaller to 100 volts in the larger furnaces. The charges consisted of manganese ore, coal, iron turnings, and limestone in proper proportions. The small furnaces, operating at low voltage, were making good recoveries. The slag loss was low and the volatilization loss almost nil. The larger furnaces, operating at higher voltages, showed increased loss of manganese in the slag and greatly increased volatilization loss when working on the same charges as the smaller furnaces, or on charges similarly calculated. The exact reasons for this state of affairs are difficult to state; a number of factors probably contribute to the results obtained in the large furnaces. First as to the effect of the higher voltage on manganese content of the slags. Increasing the voltage of the furnaces apparently tends to promote irregular working. The current takes the path of least resistance; this means superheating in certain areas in the crucible and insufficiently high temperatures in adjoining areas. The partially reduced manganese in the cooler areas passes into the slag and escapes further reduction.

Jan 11, 1918

By Dean F. Winchester, C. D. Johnson

The so-called Rocky Mountain region is here made to include Colorado, Idaho, Montana, northern New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, an area of great distances and relatively sparse population. Conditions of distance, transportation and markets have had their retarding influence on devolopment and production but the increase in facilities and markets in recent years has provided additional incentive for more thorough search for new productive areas and the more complete development of the known fields. The low prices of crude during the past year have offset, to a certain extent, the desire for increased production and much of the effort has been directed therefore to outlining new areas rather than to attempts to increase production from known fields and thereby add to the already sufficient supply above ground. During the year just closed the Rocky Mountain region has seen consistent efforts to outline new areas and these efforts have been reasonably successful. In this area a very large part of the land is government property, and by cooperation between the government, the private owner and the company it has been possible to carry on development in a scientific manner, providing for the maximum recovery of valuable products at least cost and at times when prices were best. Due to the fact that in the Rocky Mountain region costs of exploration and development are relatively high because of natural circumstances, it has been the policy of operators to drill test wells only on structures where they controlled a large proportion of the land. Even community lease programs have been effected in certain areas, thus obviating the necessity of offset drilling and the attendant uneconomical and even wasteful production. Oil production in the Rocky Mountain states has shown a slight increase during the year, the average daily production for November being 78,124 bbl. as against an average in January of 76,681 bbl. The total production during the first 11 months of the year, according to the U. S. Burcau of Mines, was as follows:

Jan 1, 1929

By E. G. Deane

A METHOD of top slicing has been devised at the Miami Copper Co.'s mine at Miami, Ariz., which differs radically in some ways from the customary methods of top slicing. The area of that section of the orebody in which top slicing is used is about 800 ft. square. The ore, while for the most part soft, is, nevertheless, considerably harder than the capping. The latter is siliceous, seldom containing any clay or other binding material, and breaks into fine particles so that it runs like sand if given the opportunity. Because of these facts, and because the ore is above the average grade of the mine ore, it has been mined by top slicing. Haulage levels are opened up 150 ft. apart, vertically, with two sublevels between at 50-ft. intervals, to facilitate the building of ore chutes. These sublevels are used during slicing for distributing air in the ventilation system. On the haulage level the drifts are spaced on 50-ft. centers, and raises along these drifts are also spaced on 50-ft. centers, except the incline raises as hereafter noted. The raises are cribbed where necessary. Where the wear will be excessive, ¼ -in. iron plates are spiked to the top of every third set of cribbing, for its protection. When top slicing was first used, an attempt was made to carry a slicing face from fifty to several hundred feet long. Timber and other, supplies were brought in through long drifts from an auxiliary shaft. Great difficulty was experienced in keeping these drifts open, the side pressure breaking the posts and the top weight breaking, both caps and posts. Furthermore, the men could not work efficiently while these drifts were .being repaired. The slicing faces advanced irregularly, due to varying conditions, and in many ways the results were not all that could be desired. It was then decided to divide the slicing area into blocks 200 ft. square and this wins later changed to 250 ft. square.

Jan 9, 1916

By G. W. Tracy

The material balance equation has been used for many years by engineers to determine reservoir performance. The use of this equation in general has been twofold: first, to determine the oil-in-place in a reservoir; and second, to predict the future performance. The Schilthuis form of the material balance equation, or one equivalent to it, has been used by many of the engineers. The use of the Schilthuis form in predicting future performance has proved to be laborious in that one generally must make several estimates at each step of the trial and error calculation before arriving at a check of the oil-in-place. A method is presented for expediting the calculations. The Schilthuis form of the material balance has been rearranged into a more useable form. In using the material balance to predict the future performance of a reservoir, it has become common practice to estimate the incremental oil production for each step of the calculation which corresponds to a given pressure reduction. Instead of estimating the incremental oil production, the method outlined in this paper better lends itself to estimating the instantaneous gas-oil ratio. A check of oil-in-place is more easily accomplished by estimating gas-oil ratio since it is less sensitive to small inaccuracies. This method incorporates the same self-checking feature inherent in the Schilthius form. DEVELOPMENT OF SIMPLIFlED EQUATION In the development of the simplified equation, the Schilthuis form of the material balance equation will he used. Substituting in Equation 1 for and rearranging terms In Equation 2, the cumulative oil production (n) is multiplied by a factor which is uniquely a function of pressure. Also, the cumulative gas production (G) and net water influx are also multiplied by factors which are a function of pressure alone. These factors are called and are defined as follows: Using these factors, Equation 2 becomes The equation in this form is easier to manipulate mathematically than any of the previous forms which, have been used. Sources of data for the pressure factors are a bottom-hole fluid analysis and the ratio of initial gas cap volume to oil volume in the reservoir. AID IN DETERMlNING THE ORIGINAL OIL-IN-PLACE Each of the curves and +, have a similar shape. Each is infinite at the bubble point pressure. As lhe pressure is reduced below the bubble point, the

Jan 1, 1956

By R. W. Raymond

PROF. HENRY Louis, of Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, a distinguished member of this Institute and other technical societies, has recently sent to the Institution of Mining Engineers, and to the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, in Great Britain, a communication, the substance of which is as follows Prof. Louis calls attention to the absence of any recognized English term for the definite description of a frequent phenomenon-namely, the oblique position of an ore-body in the plane in which it. lies. In this connection, Prof. Louis says that in America the term " pitch " has been occasionally applied to this relation, and proposes that, in the literature of ore-deposits, it shall be hereafter restricted to this particular meaning, the angle of the pitch, like that of the dip, being always measured from the horizontal, and the dip being always taken at right angles to the strike, while the pitch is taken on the plane of the dip, in the direction of the strike. Thus, for example, in a vein or bed striking N-S., and dipping, say, 45° E., there might be an ore-body, the axis of which pitched northward, at an angle of 45° below the horizontal line, as measured on the plane of the inclosing vein or bed. If the term " pitch " had this universally recognized meaning, the situation could be simply and perfectly expressed by its use, in connection with the general data of strike and clip. As Prof. Louis says ?This suggestion has a certain practical value, and is not merely academic. Every mining engineer of practical experience in such types of ore-deposit will have met with cases, in which a vertical shaft has been sunk with the object of cutting the deposit, but has missed it, because the dip alone has been taken into account, while the pitch has been overlooked." He adds the acute observation that such an oversight is much likelier to occur with regard to a condition not definitely desig-

Mar 1, 1908

By William P. Mason

FoR reasons unnecessary to enter into here, I was called upon to contradict the statement that " closed metallic vessels, partly filled with water and heated, do not become shattered by violent explosion, but simply rupture by over-pressure;" and the following experimental results were obtained in support of my position : A piece of drawn brass tubing (telescope-tubing) 1 1/2 inches in diameter and 15 inches long was closed at both ends by screwing on heavy caps of bronze. Before closing the second end the vessel was half filled with river water, the cap was then screwed on, and the closed vessel was supported upon two iron anvils, and heated in the interval between the supports by a large Bunsen lamp. The resulting explosion (which was doe to over-pressure only and not to any more occult cause) was exceedingly violent. No small damage was done to the room in which the experiment was undertaken; and the noise was like that of a cannon. Those of the pieces which could be recovered are shown in Fig. 1. Upon examining the wreck, it was noticed that one of the heavy bronze end-caps had preserved its circular section and still contained that portion of the barrel of the tube which had been screwed into it, while the other end-cap contained no portion of the tube, and was moreover sprung into a shape more or less elliptical, as if from excessive lateral strain. It was also observed that the large pieces of the shattered boiler predominated towards the end which had been closed by the un-sprung end-cap. The reasonable explanation, in view of the facts, was, that over-pressure had caused the boiler to yield through the screw-threads at A B, Fig. 2, and the righthand end-cap had blown off, thus leaving the boiler half filled with water, greatly super-heated for the new (atmospheric) pressure to which it was suddenly reduced; that this water had consequently sprung instantly into steam with dynamite effect, shattering the tube and springing the remaining end-cap. The large pieces would be expected at the open end of the boiler, as at that point the "tamping "would have been that of the atmosphere only. This explanation assumes a rupture to have been caused by gradually increased pres-

Jan 1, 1893

By Roy Neal

THERE are two main sources of the water that floods productive oil or gas sands. The water may rise from the lower depths of the producing stratum, or it may come from beds above or below the oil-bearing formation. Usually the recovery of oil is decreased by water entering the oil sands, and most oil-field waters, especially those of deep wells, tend to foster the formation of an emulsion, which is expensive to treat. This paper deals with a method of distinguishing between waters that encroach upon oil-bearing, beds from sources in the same stratum and waters .that reach the oil sands from horizons above. In order to remedy effectually water difficulties in oil and gas wells, it is absolutely necessary to determine the source of the invading water. Sometimes evidence such as the structural relations between the strata penetrated by neighboring wells and those found in the well under investigation is not adequate; also, data from drill logs and well records, from mechanical tests made on the wells by plugs, testers, drilling tools, etc., and from tests by chemical indicators such as eosin and Venetian red, may he unsatisfactory, for such data may fail to locate the source of the infiltrating waters. As a resort in such cases, the application of chemical analyses, that is, the comparison of an analysis of the water in, question with that of typical waters from the various water horizons in that particular district, has in certain instances proved of value. This method has been used to advantage in the Westside Coalinga field of California, where the source of water may be fairly definitely determined from its composition. The chief conclusions concerning the chemistry of the oil-field waters in California by G. S. Rogers1 are: "Oil-field water is not necessarily salty, as is generally believed, and may not be even slightly salty to the taste. The degree of concentration of chloride in such water is governed primarily by local conditions and is not affected by the position

Jan 1, 1919

By R. W. Raymond

Prof. Henry Lours, of Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, a distinguished member of this Institute and other technical societies, has recently sent to the Institution of Mining Engineers, and to the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, in Great Britain, a communication, the substance of which is as follows : Professor Louis calls attention to the absence of any recognized English term for the definite description of a frequent phenomenon—namely,the oblique position of an ore-body in the plane in which it lies. In this connection, Professor Louis says that in America the term " pitch " has been occasionally applied to this relation, and proposes that, in the literature of ore-deposits, it shall be hereafter restricted to this particular meaning, the angle of the pitch, like that of the dip, being always measured from the horizontal, and the dip being always taken at right angles to the strike, while the pitch is taken on the plane of the dip, in the direction of the strike. Thus, for example, in a vein or bed striking N-S., and dipping, say, 45' E., there might be an ore-body, the axis of which pitched northward, at an angle of 45O below the horizontal line, as measured on the plane of the inclosing vein or bed. If' the term " pitch " had this universally recognized meaning, the situation could be simply and perfectly expressed by its use, in connection with the general data of strike and dip. As Professor Louis says: "This suggestion has a certain practical value, and is not merely academic. Every mining engineer of practical experience in such types of ore-deposit will have met with cases, in which a vertical shaft has been sunk with the object of cutting the deposit, but has missed it, because the dip alone has been taken into account, while the pitch has been overlooked." He adds the acute observation that such an oversight is much likelier to occur with regard to a condition not definitely desig-

Jan 1, 1909

By F. F. Claussen

The method of making silver ingots in use at this Mint being radically different from that employed at any other Mint of the United States or, so far as known to me, any Mint in the world, there may be some interest in a description of the apparatus used and a brief history of its distinguishing feature, viz., the rotary ingotmould, which, though not a recent improvement, is comparatively unknown. The furnaces used for silver-ingot-melting are four in number and have a capacity of some seventy thousand standard ounces of silver per day of eight hours. This output is increased, when the exigencies of the service demand it, to one hundred thousand ounces. They are built of fire-brick and elevated 21/2 feet from the floor of the melting-room, in order to have space to place iron boxes and to work, in case a crucible breaks in the furnace and its contents run into the ash-pit. The furnaces are circular in horizontal section, 2 $ feet in diameter and 29 feet high inside in the clear, and rest on castiron plates, with top-plates of the same, and sides encased in boileriron. The furnace-covers are also of cast-iron, dome-shaped, and are handled by means of a small crane and lever. The furnaces stand in sets of two, and one crane and one ingot-machine serves two furnaces. The crucibles used are made specially for this purpose of a mixture of black-lead and fire-clay; the size known as No. 200 will contain and safely melt, without danger of slopping over, from 8600 to nearly 10,000 ounces of standard silver; and this is the usual weight of the ingot-melt at this Mint, as against 1800 ounces at the Carson City mint and 2600 to 3000 ounces at Philadelphia and San Francisco. Each crucible will endure, on the average, ten melts. The crucible stands in the center of the furnace, on the bottom of an old one, cut down to a height of about three inches. The fuel used is coke. Experience has shown that, notwithstanding the higher first cost, Connellsville coke is cheaper than Alabama coke and much more suitable to the work. A small triangular black-

Jan 1, 1888

By S. J. McCarroll

J. Bruce Clemmer, J. B. Rosenbaum, and C. H. Schack (U.S. Bureau of Mines, Salt Lake City)—We have watched with considerable interest Three Kids development of Manganese Inc. and have been impressed by the ingenuity with which management and staff have solved their many obstinate handling problems. Mr. McCarroll has been lenient in describing the difficulties faced by the company in developing a process for beneficiating Three Kids ore. The operation, equivalent in size to a 20,000-ton sulphide ore plant, is treating a unique ore by a flotation process pioneered by Manganese Inc. Perhaps the magnitude of the conditioning and flotation problems peculiar to Three Kids ore can be better appraised when it is pointed out that two-thirds to three-fourths of the ore is floated in the rougher step and that the four stages of cleaning which follow are equivalent to floating the whole plant feed two to three times. Our experience in both laboratory and pilot plant flotation of Three Kids and other manganese ores leads us to agree with Mr. McCarroll that suitable conditioning is a prime requisite for successful oil-emulsion flotation. The difficulties of proper conditioning were demonstrated in pilot plant processing of Artillery Peak manganese ore at our Boulder City, Nev., experiment station. Over three months of experiments and extensive plant revision were required before satisfactory conditioning was obtained in the 25-ton-per-day plant. Such factors as time, type and intensity of mixing, aeration, surface to volume relationship, and power input are still being studied by the Bureau of Mines in hopes of learning how best to condition manganese pulps for oil-emulsion flotation. Other factors affecting flotation of manganese with oil emulsion also deserve attention. A few of these are the influence of stability and proportion of ingredients in the collector emulsion, the feasibility of grinding

Jan 1, 1955

By Walter Crafts

Tests carried out at the Union Carbide and Carbon Research Laboratories, Inc., on the effects of grain-refining deoxidizers are in substantial agreement with the data presented by Mr. Comstock. Notable is the observation that, although boron and aluminum increased hardenability, the steel was of poor quality in comparison with the other boron-treated steels to which at least two grain refiners were added. The effect of zirconium in improving the ductility of the chromium-nickel steel is in agreement with our experience that zirconium is specifically beneficial to chromium steels. In order to amplify Mr. Comstock's results and to indicate some of the basic principles of special deoxidation, the primary observations of our study have been summarized. The effect of boron in increasing hardenability was described by R. Walther, U. S. Patent No. 1519388, Dec. 16, 1924, but effective amounts in incompletely deoxidized steel are sufficient to harm hot workability and room-temperature ductility. Work at the Union Carbide and Carbon Research Laboratories, Inc., has shown that in order to obtain deep hardening without using such large amounts of boron as to result in impairment of ductility, the steel must be thoroughly deoxidized. This may be accomplished by a high silicon content or a grain-refining addition of strong deoxidizers. The degree of grain refinement and hardenability are inclined to be erratic when only one grain-refining element is used, although aluminum, zirconium, titanium, and vanadium have been used singly and resulted in increased. although somewhat erratic, hardenability. The ductility likewise was inclined to be inconsisterlt when only one grain-refining deoxidizer was added. By combinations of grain-refining elements, it was found possible to combine the specific virtues and counteract some of the defects of each clement. In addition, the complex deoxidizers gave more consistent grain refinement and hardenability. When used in combinations, each element adds its own specific influence as well as modifying the character of the other elements. The function of aluminum is primarily to give consistent results and to minimize abnormalities resulting from too

Jan 1, 1943

By Walter Crafts

Tests carried out at the Union Carbide and Carbon Research Laboratories, Inc., on the effects of grain-refining deoxidizers are in substantial agreement with the data presented by Mr. Comstock. Notable is the observation that, although boron and aluminum increased hardenability, the steel was of poor quality in comparison with the other boron-treated steels to which at least two grain refiners were added. The effect of zirconium in improving the ductility of the chromium-nickel steel is in agreement with our experience that zirconium is specifically beneficial to chromium steels. In order to amplify Mr. Comstock's results and to indicate some of the basic principles of special deoxidation, the primary observations of our study have been summarized. The effect of boron in increasing hardenability was described by R. Walther, U. S. Patent No. 1519388, Dec. 16, 1924, but effective amounts in incompletely deoxidized steel are sufficient to harm hot workability and room-temperature ductility. Work at the Union Carbide and Carbon Research Laboratories, Inc., has shown that in order to obtain deep hardening without using such large amounts of boron as to result in impairment of ductility, the steel must be thoroughly deoxidized. This may be accomplished by a high silicon content or a grain-refining addition of strong deoxidizers. The degree of grain refinement and hardenability are inclined to be erratic when only one grain-refining element is used, although aluminum, zirconium, titanium, and vanadium have been used singly and resulted in increased. although somewhat erratic, hardenability. The ductility likewise was inclined to be inconsisterlt when only one grain-refining deoxidizer was added. By combinations of grain-refining elements, it was found possible to combine the specific virtues and counteract some of the defects of each clement. In addition, the complex deoxidizers gave more consistent grain refinement and hardenability. When used in combinations, each element adds its own specific influence as well as modifying the character of the other elements. The function of aluminum is primarily to give consistent results and to minimize abnormalities resulting from too

Jan 1, 1943

By J. Wes Blakely

In the mid-1950s the importation of foreign oil began to encroach on traditional coal markets such as railroad steam engine fuel, home heating, electrical generating plants, and others. Many of the smaller coal companies with substantial coal reserves subsequently found that they could no longer continue to mine economically and merged in various ways with larger established coal mining concerns. As the seats of top management and authority were removed from the mines to large metro centers such as New York, Pittsburgh, and Chicago, the more personal relationship between mine workers and management that had existed prior to these mergers began to be eroded and replaced by "remote control" mine management. The disappearance of this face-to-face contact of upper management with mine employees tended to create barriers blocking simple effective communications between coal mine management and labor. In examining the human relations aspects of the coal mining industry, many elements, some concerned with work and others not, have depicted the industry as almost devoid of good applied human relations and communications practices, and, in truth, little has been done to alleviate this situation. In past years many coal producing companies, with the exception of one of the largest, failed to adequately define the term "communications ' as it applied to their companies, whether internally or externally. Internally many still place heavy reliance on written communications such as company-wide newspapers to do the job of communicating with their employees which they feel ought to be done. One company puts an inordinate belief in its company "newspaper" as the primary instrument to stimulate its work force into increasing productivity. Primarily aimed at the workers, who greatly outnumber the salaried administrative people, this publication mainly documents the fortunes of individual mine workers who are felt to have achieved something with their lives, e.g., a mine worker who had managed to put four children through universities, the

Jan 1, 1981

By T. C. Craig

During the year, there were 570 oil wells completed for a total daily initial production of 365,352 bbl. The daily oil potential of the field, effective Jan. 1, 1935, as established by the Texas Railroad Commission, was 306,102 bbl. with a daily allowable of 58,800 bbl., whereas, on Dec. 31, 1935, the potential was 587,376 bbl. with a daily allowable of 57,800 bbl. Because of the limited market demand, the allowable decreased although the potential increased. In August, the five-day test for determining the potential production of a well was replaced by a 24-hr. test. The reason for this change was that some of the oil-pur-chasing companies contended that too much oil in excess of the limited market demand was produced during the five-day tests. Dry Gas.—During July, the Texas Railroad Commission supervised the first complete and accurate field-wide test of open flows that has been made in this area. The total open flow as determined at that time was 16,426,085,000 cu. ft, There were 79 gas wells drilled in '935, with a combined open flow of 2,408,000,000 cu. ft. and 50 depleted oil wells were plugged back for gas with a total open flow of 529,800,000 cu. ft. The total new gas production for the year was, therefore, 2,937,800,000 cu. ft. The 17 natural-gas pipe lines drawing on the Panhandle supply of fuel gas withdrew a daily average of 420,497,507 cu. ft., or a total of 153,481,-590,000 cu. ft. for the year. The 44th Texas Legislature passed a statute known as House Bill No. 266, which was designed to prohibit waste and protect correlative rights by compelling the ratable production of gas. The part of the law relative to withdrawal of sweet gas became effective Aug. 1, 1935, and the part referring to withdrawal of sour gas became effective Oct. 1, 1935. Three of the major pipe line companies attacked the validity of the ratable production feature of the new law and a preliminary injunction was granted by the Federal District Court. The final hearing on the incrits of the case is scheduled for the early part of January. Natural Gasoline.—Forty of the 42 natural-gasoline extraction plants in the Panhandle operated throughout the year. One plant discontinued

Jan 1, 1936

By T. C. Craig

During the year, there were 570 oil wells completed for a total daily initial production of 365,352 bbl. The daily oil potential of the field, effective Jan. 1, 1935, as established by the Texas Railroad Commission, was 306,102 bbl. with a daily allowable of 58,800 bbl., whereas, on Dec. 31, 1935, the potential was 587,376 bbl. with a daily allowable of 57,800 bbl. Because of the limited market demand, the allowable decreased although the potential increased. In August, the five-day test for determining the potential production of a well was replaced by a 24-hr. test. The reason for this change was that some of the oil-pur-chasing companies contended that too much oil in excess of the limited market demand was produced during the five-day tests. Dry Gas.—During July, the Texas Railroad Commission supervised the first complete and accurate field-wide test of open flows that has been made in this area. The total open flow as determined at that time was 16,426,085,000 cu. ft, There were 79 gas wells drilled in '935, with a combined open flow of 2,408,000,000 cu. ft. and 50 depleted oil wells were plugged back for gas with a total open flow of 529,800,000 cu. ft. The total new gas production for the year was, therefore, 2,937,800,000 cu. ft. The 17 natural-gas pipe lines drawing on the Panhandle supply of fuel gas withdrew a daily average of 420,497,507 cu. ft., or a total of 153,481,-590,000 cu. ft. for the year. The 44th Texas Legislature passed a statute known as House Bill No. 266, which was designed to prohibit waste and protect correlative rights by compelling the ratable production of gas. The part of the law relative to withdrawal of sweet gas became effective Aug. 1, 1935, and the part referring to withdrawal of sour gas became effective Oct. 1, 1935. Three of the major pipe line companies attacked the validity of the ratable production feature of the new law and a preliminary injunction was granted by the Federal District Court. The final hearing on the incrits of the case is scheduled for the early part of January. Natural Gasoline.—Forty of the 42 natural-gasoline extraction plants in the Panhandle operated throughout the year. One plant discontinued

Jan 1, 1936

By T. C. Shelton, W. M. Huang

One of the problems arising from the use of modern machines and systems in coal mining is increased emission of explosive gases into the mine passageways. Interest in degasification of coal seams has grown. The authors summarize the results of coal permeability tests done at Virginia Polytechnic Inst. on one of the fundamental aspects of the problem. There are undoubtedly many factors that affect the emission of gas from coal but the permeability of coal to gas flow would seem to be fundamental. However, there is very little information on coal permeability to gas flow available in the U.S. at the present time, despite the fact that such knowledge would appear to be significant in any degasification effort. Studies made recently in the mining engineering laboratories at Virginia Polytechnic Inst. have determined values of permeability on 1-in. cubes of selected coals. COAL PERMEABILITY The permeability values given in this paper are based on adaptations of Darcy's law formulated by Henry Darcy in I856 from experiments with fluid flow in porous media.' Using air as the gaseous fluid, they were obtained by employing similar methods as are used to dete1:mine the permeability of petroleum and gas reservoir rock specimens. Permeability is. a measure of the ease with which fluids flow through a porous substance, and it is governed by the connected pores within a porous medium. If a few large-sized pores, fractures or channels are present within the medium, the medium can have great permcnability without significant porosity. It is reasonable to assume, therefore, that the permeability of coal, due to its structure, is based on fractures connecting the pore space left as the result of some degree of devolatilization or other changes of the substance from which coal was formed. The results of this irvestigation tend to validate this assumption in that the values obtained indicate a close relationship between the rank and permeability of coal. COALS TESTED AND PROCEDURE The coals whose permeability values were determined in this investigation are given in Table I.

Jan 1, 1962