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By Lewis A. Smith

Chromium is one of the new metals, but considerable research has been required to determine an approximate record of its production from 1827 until the present. Its use in the form of pure metal is not extensive; of the chromite mined, about one-half is required for making ferrochro-mium, about two-fifths goes directly into refractories and the remainder is absorbed chiefly by the chemical trades. The industries that demand chromite for such uses are mainly in countries that produce little chromite, while the important chromite-producing countries are not generally consumers. The international flow of chromite is therefore of interest, as well as the political and commercial control of resources of the metal. World Production The first mining of chromite is said to have occurred as early as 1820, at the Roros deposit in Norway, but the first well-established output came from the Reed mine, in Maryland, about 1827. Thereafter the United States led the world in chromite production until 1860, when Turkey took the lead. Russia in turn became the chief producer from 1897 to 1902, inclusive. From 1903 to 1909, New Caledonia held first place, but alternated with Southern Rhodesia from 1910 to 1917, inclusive. In 1918, 1919 and 1920-1921, the United States, India and New Caledonia led, respectively. In 1922 Southern Rhodesia assumed first place and has since continued to be the world's foremost producer by a large margin. Fig. 1 illustrates the production of the leading countries from 1890 to 1929, inclusive. Fig. 2 shows the world production of chromite from 1890 to 1929, inclusive, in long tons and Table 2 gives the production by countries for the same period. The total world production for the 103 years, 1827 to 1929, ipclusive, is estimated at about 7,100,000 long tons, distributed as shown in Table 1. World Trade in 1928 In reviewing the figures for the flow of chromite in 1928, it is evident that the six countries that produce most consume little chromite and

Jan 1, 1931

By Charles S. Barrett, L. H. Levenson

Since 1925, when the preferred orientations in compressed aluminum were first determined1,2 the orientations have been described as a fiber texture in which a face diagonal, [110], of the face-centered cubic lattice is parallel to the compression axis. Subsequent experiments have seemed to confirm this texture,3-5 and a number of theories (recently summarized in references 6 and 7) have been proposed to explain it and to relate it to the behavior of single crystals during compression.3,8-11 The experiments reported in this paper prove that the orientations are not adequately described as quoted above—i.e., as a [110] fiber texture—although this is a first approximation to the actual texture. They also show that the texture cannot be thought of as a stable orientati011 that is reached and maintained after a sufficient amount of deformation. The actual texture, when studied in detail at successive stages of compression, indicates that a hitherto unsuspected range of orientations is present, both in the polycrystalline metal as a whole and in various individual grains in its interior, and that a state of dynamic equilibrium exists within this range. The reasons for the failure of previous theories to predict the actual texture become obvious when the heterogeneous nature of the flow is considered. In addition to the deformation texture, the manner of its development, and its theory, this paper presents data on the following related subjects: the identity of strain markings in aluminum; the orientation changes in aluminum single crystals during compression and a comparison of these with the conditions in individual grains of a polycrystalliile specimen; the origin of asterism ill deformed single crystals, which heretofore has been regarded as a distortion localized at the surfaces or slip planes; and the relation of plastic strain in individual grains ill all aggregate to the strain of the whole.

Jan 1, 1940

By B. W. Vallat

The Newport mine, located at Ironwood, gogebic county, Mich., on the Gogebic iron-range, is owned and operated by the Newport Mining Co., for the mining of iron-ore. I. GEOLOGY. The general geology of the gogebic range has been determined and recorded at different times by well-known geologists,' and their work will be referred to briefly in connection with the local conditions in the mine. The strike of the formation across this property is about 15" north of east. The general dip is 68" to the north. At the base of the formation on the aouth lies the granite. Looking north, at right angles to the strike of the formation, we have the foot-wall of quartz-slates and quartzite about 400 ft. wide; the iron-formation about 800 ft. wide, and the hanging-mall of black slates. The iron-formation is composed of banded jasper and quartzite together with iron oxide and concentrations of iron-ore. In character the ore iu a soft red hematite, with occasional masses of hard blue "steel ore." The formation is crossed in many places by diorite dikes, which cut through at various angles, the larger or main dikes dipping into the foot-wall in a SE. direction at angles varying from 15" to 30°, while numerous small dikes occur which strike through the formation in a vertical plane and at approximately right angles to the main dikes. There are various theories concerning these dikes, especially as to the time of their origin with relation to the ore-deposition. The commonly-accepted theory is that the dikes were there first, but there are some who contend that they were formed

Jan 1, 1912

By N. H. Harrison, J. K. Rodgers, S. Regier

This paper presents comparisons of data obtained from a laboratory reservoir study and from a calculated behavior prediction with the actual production history of a condensate reservoir. A small non-commercial discovery was depleted under closely controlled conditions and the well fluids were sampled at frequent intervals. Data on the reservoir and production variables were accumulated on a fixed schedule. A laboratory reservoir study war made using the initial well fluid samples as charging stock. The production procedures and operating conditions were held constant throughout the study wherever possible and in general paralleled the field work. The well fluid compositions and the cumulative recoveries ar a function of the reservoir pressure were also calculated using conventional flash vaporization procedures and equilibrium constants. Comparisons based on the composition of the well fluid show good agreement, the laboratory study agreeing within experimental accuracy with the field work and the calculated data comparing equally well. The gas-oil ratios are also in good agreement, but with somewhat greater deviations at the higher pressures. In the overall picture, it is believed that a model st,~tiy can predict within experimental accuracy the production history of a condensate reservoir. Better equilibrium constants for the heavier hydrocarbons are needed in order to attain improved composition accuracy by calculation. INTRODUCTION In Aug., 1955, a gas condensate well was completed in San Juan County, Utah, that was initially thought capable of good commercial production. These conclusions were derived principally from core data and electric logs, which indicated good permeability, porosity and gas content. However, after the usual series of potential tests it was found that the reservoir pressure had declined some 22 per cent, and it was obvious that the zone tapped was but a small pocket or trap. It became apparent that, with a controlled depletion of a small reservoir, a unique opportunity was available to compare laboratory and calculated studies with an actual field depletion and to further the present knowledge of condensate reservoirs. FIELD WORK The Coalbed Canyon Well No. 1 was conventionally completed in the Paradox limestone formation to a total depth of 5,912 ft. The producing zone from 5,762 to 5,806 ft was perforated with four jet shots per ft. The wellhead and field equipment were also conventional, the major items consisting of a two-pass indirect fired line heater, a high- and a low-pressure separator with the necessary controls and accessories, gas meters, back-pressure regulators, flare stacks and condensate stock tanks. The initial testing of this well con-sisted of a series of flow potential and pressure build-up tests during which some 30 MMcf of gas was produced. The reservoir pressure declined from an estimated 2,300 to 1,782 psig during this period, from which it was concluded that the reservoir was very small. In order to approach steady-state conditions in the reservoir and so provide optimum conditions for making comparisons, the field depletion was programmed to approach, if possible, constant production conditions. Bi-hourly readings were taken of the tubing pressure, the pressure and temperature of the separators, oil and gas rates, and other pertinent operating data. The gas rate, as indicated by the orifice meter, was held constant by the adjustment of the choke in the line heater. The temperature of the first stage separator was held constant by adjustment of the line heater jacket temperature. Practical considerations of production made the maintenance oi a constant gas rate impossible. The test started with a gas rate of 4 MMcf/D and a separator pressure of 250 psig. This rate was maintained until the choke was fully opened. The gas rate then declined with the falling tubing pressure and production was continued until the rate was about 2

INTRODUCTION The geology of porphyry copper deposits in the southern Cordilleran orogen is the subject of this chapter. The area considered extends northwest from southern Mexico to the Columbia volcanic plateau, the Cascade volcanic province, and the Idaho batholith. Transversely it is a belt some 800 km (500 miles) in width bounded on the west by the Sierra Nevada range. Included within this area are many large segments considered unfavorable for hosting porphyry copper deposits, which are mentioned in the text. The region and its porphyry copper deposits have probably been more intensely studied and reported in the literature than any other area in the world. This summary considers regional geologic controls that governed formation of porphyry copper deposits within this province. Geologic factors that influenced the mineralogy and metallogeny of the deposits are also examined. Discussions with H. R. Cornwall have greatly helped in writing this section. GEOLOGIC SETTING The geologic setting has been summarized by Anderson (1966), Burchfiel and Davis (1972), Rogers, et al. (1974), and Lowell (1974). No porphyry copper deposits in this area are known to be pre-Triassic, so Mesozoic and Tertiary events will be stressed. Figs. 40 and 41 show basic data believed most pertinent to the topic of porphyry copper deposits. Pre-Middle Jurassic: Figs. 40 and 41 contain the principal structural and crustal ele¬ments found in the Cordilleran orogen after Anderson (1966), Schmitt (1966), Coney (1972), Rogers, et al. (1974), and Lowell (1974, 1976), together with location of some of the more important porphyry copper deposits. The western limit of the Precambrian craton is shown in Fig. 40 (Rogers, et al., 1974). East of that limit the crustal environment through which the porphyry copper plutons ascended includes the Precambrian basement as well as varying thicknesses of Paleozoic shelf and platform accumulations. The northwestern and western portion of the southern Cordilleran orogen west of the Rogers, et al. (1974) limit of Precambrian basement has what Churkin (1974) calls a thin continental crust. Brooks (1976) and Churkin (1974) describe oceanic volcanic

Jan 1, 1978

By Alden Greninger

TWINNED metal crystals are usually designated as either deformation twins or annealing twins. If twins are to be classified according to the treatment the metal has undergone just prior to the obser vation of the twins, there are two other possible groups: (1) solidification twins,? when observed in the as-solidified or as-cast condition, and (2) transformation twins, ? when observed in a metal which has been cooled from above an allotropic transformation temperature. McKeehan has demonstrated that ferrite does, occasionally at least, contain twinned structures2. The twins, which he studied by optical methods, were obtained during the preparation of iron single crystals by very slow cooling through A3. He proved that the twin relation was actually that which previous investigators had predicted; namely, twinning along three planes of the form {112}. Since McKeehan's discovery, little or no attention has-been given to this transformation twinning of alpha iron, or to the possibility that it might occur at all speeds of cooling from above A3 instead of merely during the prepara-tion of single crystals. McKeehan's twins were evidently regarded as interesting only in proving that a body-centered cubic metal could form twinned structures-at least under certain conditions. It is generally believed that iron seldom if ever forms annealing twins. Certainly the straight-line banding which is so abundant in annealed face-centered cubic metals is characteristically absent in iron annealed below A3. However, O'Neill3. has studied "twin-like" crystals in annealed alpha iron and concludes that the specimen he studied actually

Jan 1, 1936

By D. Beregekoff

In the routine examination of a wide variety of metal specimens it is sometimes necessary to have special methods of polishing in order to retain and reveal certain details in each specimen. Among such special cases is the retention of graphite in malleable and gray cast irons, the preservation of all types of nonmetallic inclusions in both hard and soft steels, obtaining a scratch-free surface with soft metals, and avoiding the usual relief effects with very hard specimens such as tool metals con-taining various carbide and nitride phases. It is the purpose of this paper to give an account of some of these special polishing methods in use at the Union Carbide and Carbon Research Laboratories. The polishing procedures outlined have been found to give uniform results. It is obvious that only general rules and the most important working details can be given here. Following these rules, the polisher can obtain satisfactory results if he possesses the necessary patience and has a sincere desire to give as nearly perfect a finish as possible to his work.

Jan 1, 1939

By J. P. Matoney, E. J. Sandy, D. A. Dahlstorm

INTRODUCTION Before an understandable discussion concerning coal-dewatering processes can be initiated, it is necessary to define some terms of usage. The many different meanings and interpretations of terms preclude development of standard definitions so that the terms which are defined in this chapter should be regarded mainly as working terms intended to facilitate communication. A coal slurry ' might be defined as a watery suspension carrying particles of fine coal and other assorted material ranging upward in size from the finest clay particles. Some particles may be in the colloidal sue range and exhibit characteristics of suspended colloids. The dilution of the system generally is such that it is in a condition of independent particle subsidence. In some coal mining areas a slurry is regarded as a suspension of fine coal and other materials having a dilution that cannot be economically dewatered by filtration. A coal slime may be regarded as a slurry containing particles of such size range that 50 per cent or more (by weight) will pass a 200-mesh sieve. Slime suspensions generally are difficult to handle without special treatment in conventional sedimentation equipment. A coal sludge is defined as a slurry that has been partly dewatered by sedimentation usually to a thick or viscous consistency where further dewatering can be most readily facilitated by filtration. Culm and silt are terms characteristic of coal-preparation practice which should be defined. In anthracite terminology, culm is the generally coarse residue or waste accumulation of coal, bone and rock from preparation plants most of which are no longer functional. Culm has a wide range of sizes, some rather coarse, and except to differentiate it from silt, the term is of limited interest in this discussion. In anthracite terminology, silt is the accumulation of waste fine coal, bone and slate settled out from preparation plant water in excavated basins. Silt is generally made up of particles ranging in size from 3/32-in. round-opening screen to the very finest sues. Silt is also referred to at times as sludge, fines, slush, and mud and is the partly dewatered derivative of what has been previously defined as slurry. In the terminology of the bituminous coal producing areas, the word culm commonly corresponds to slurry or slime, depending upon the size distribution of the suspended solids. Editor's Note: Because of the numerous and varied contributions of the associate authors of this chapter, the text does not differentiate between sections authored by each individual as is the case in most chapters of this book.

Jan 1, 1968

By O. B. Bucklen, J. P. Matoney, P. G. Meikle, R. L. Terry

INTRODUCTION The trend in the coal industry for many years has been to make every- thing "bigger and faster." This also holds true for loading and storage facilities. Where once a 1 million st per yr (910,000 mt/yr) mine was rare, 3-5 million st per yr (2,730,000-4,550,000 mt/yr) mines are not uncommon today in the bituminous industry. This great increase in production, made possible through mechanization, requires greatly improved loading facilities just to get the coal away from the mine. Also, there is a trend to- ward combining production from more than one mine and cleaning it in a single preparation plant. In addition to increased loading capacity, this frequently necessitates raw-coal storage and blending facilities. The development of the unit train with its attendant economics has contributed more than any other factor to the widespread construction of storage and high-speed loading facilities. In the export market, the construction of ever larger coal colliers has added to the need for faster and larger loading facilities. In this climate of rapidly changing technology, any written ac-

Jan 1, 1979

By B. H. Sage, W. N. Lacey

An apparatus is described for the measurement of the pressure-volume-temperature relations of pure substances, simple mixtures and complex mixtures with an over-all absolute uncertainty, which is usually not more than 0.2 per cent. The equipment is suitable for studies in the gaseous, two-phase, and liquid regions. The behavior of such systems may be investigated at pressures as high as 10,000 lb. per sq. in. for temperatures between 70 and 600 F. The methods of measurement and the construction of the apparatus are described in some detail. The measurement of the volumetric behavior of multicomponent systems requires the simultaneous measurement of the pressure, volume, temperature and weight of each component of the system. In the present apparatus a sample having constant weight is investigated at a number of independently controlled pressures and temperatures, therefore it is necessary only to establish the weight of each component added before a given set of measurements. This method is in distinction to that in which the total volume remains constant and the pressure is varied by addition or removal of material, the system having variable weight. An objective in the design of the apparatus to be described was to develop equipment that would yield results involving no uncertainties larger than 0.25 per cent throughout the range of pressures from 150 to 10,000 Ib. per sq. in. at temperatures between 70" and 600" F. Although this over-all absolute uncertainty of measurement may not appear to be small, it necessitated care in the plans for control and measurement of each of the fundamental variables. In general, any uncertainty greater than 0.05 per cent in the pressure, volume, absolute temperature or weight of each component was considered undesirable; therefore the attempt was made to obtain a precision of measurement in each case such that the absolute uncertainty would be only half this amount except in certain regions near the ends of the experimental range of the variable under consideration.

Jan 1, 1940

By W. N. Lacey, B. H. Sage

An apparatus is described for the measurement of the pressure-volume-temperature relations of pure substances, simple mixtures and complex mixtures with an over-all absolute uncertainty, which is usually not more than 0.2 per cent. The equipment is suitable for studies in the gaseous, two-phase, and liquid regions. The behavior of such systems may be investigated at pressures as high as 10,000 lb. per sq. in. for temperatures between 70 and 600 F. The methods of measurement and the construction of the apparatus are described in some detail. The measurement of the volumetric behavior of multicomponent systems requires the simultaneous measurement of the pressure, volume, temperature and weight of each component of the system. In the present apparatus a sample having constant weight is investigated at a number of independently controlled pressures and temperatures, therefore it is necessary only to establish the weight of each component added before a given set of measurements. This method is in distinction to that in which the total volume remains constant and the pressure is varied by addition or removal of material, the system having variable weight. An objective in the design of the apparatus to be described was to develop equipment that would yield results involving no uncertainties larger than 0.25 per cent throughout the range of pressures from 150 to 10,000 Ib. per sq. in. at temperatures between 70" and 600" F. Although this over-all absolute uncertainty of measurement may not appear to be small, it necessitated care in the plans for control and measurement of each of the fundamental variables. In general, any uncertainty greater than 0.05 per cent in the pressure, volume, absolute temperature or weight of each component was considered undesirable; therefore the attempt was made to obtain a precision of measurement in each case such that the absolute uncertainty would be only half this amount except in certain regions near the ends of the experimental range of the variable under consideration.

Jan 1, 1940

By Edgar Shepard

THE interest of the Federal Government in improvement of water-ways dates from 1820, when Congress appropriated $5000 for making a survey of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and assigned this work to the Corps of Engineers of the Army. Since that time the Government has gradually assumed increasing jurisdiction in the matter of improvement and control of inland waterways until, by the River and Harbor Act of Jan. 21, 1927, Congress assigned to the Secretary of War and to the Chief of Engineers the duty of making surveys, in accordance with House Document No. 308, 69th Congress, to formulate plans for the most effective improvement of the navigable streams of the United States and their tributaries, for navigation, development of water power, control of floods, and the needs of irrigation. Virtually all the preliminary investi-gations and surveys required by this act have been completed. The reports made to Congress have been published and often are referred to as "308 Reports." The map shown in Fig. 1 is merely a skeleton distribution of the projects covered by these reports, but it serves to indicate the magnitude of the proposed undertaking. In many instances, a single character on the map stands for a major development involving several dams and reservoirs or many miles of canals or levees. The devastating floods of 1936, and the need for worthy public works to take up the slack in employment, gave further impetus to this program and in 1936 led to the enactment of a bill authorizing a large number of these projects.

Jan 1, 1940

By Frederick Clapp

INTRODUCTION - SCOPE OF DISCUSSION There has hitherto been no systematic effort to make public the available information on petroleum in South America and the object of this paper, therefore, is to broadly discuss the subject as it pertains to South America as a whole, endeavoring to collect in readable form what is known regarding individual fields. This article is not intended to exhaustively discuss individual fields, or to solve the many complicated problems regarding petroleum and natural. gas in the various republics, since those necessitate years of study and work by petroleum geologists, engineers, financiers, and drillers. Neither. can the reader expect absolute accuracy in all statements, since this is impossible at the present time. The writer has, of course, attempted to be correct in all cases, but in a review involving so many countries and extending over so many, phases of the subject, it is to be expected that some errors will have crept in.

Jan 10, 1917

By J. Mackintosh Bell

The history of the South Lorrain mining camp is given and comparisons are made between the local topography and general geology and that of the Cobalt camp. The character of the silver-bearing veins and their analogy to those of Cobalt are given and the theory regarding the cause of the deep seated oxidation in South Lorrain, particularly at the Keeley Mine, is outlined. The oreshoots are described, also the conditions governing their occurrence and position. The mining and metallurgical practice are briefly considered. IN THE numerous districts subsidiary to Cobalt, and carrying mineral deposits similar in character to that world-famous mining camp, the most interesting recent developments have occurred in South Lorrain. The district, the center of which lies about 16 miles southeast of Cobalt, was the scene of a rush in 1907 but, in spite of the success of the Wettlauffer mine, the locality soon lost its popularity, largely on account of the unsavory early history of the Keeley mine. In recent years, following the successful development of this property by the London operators, who acquired it from the liquidator of the original company, and the later conspicuous progress made on the properties of the Mining Corporation contiguous to the Keeley on the north, the district has again come into prominence and, at present, is doing much toward maintaining the gradually declining production of Cobalt itself. Apart from the Mining Corporation of Canada and the Keeley Silver Mines Limited, the principal concerns now operating in South Lorrain are the Lorrain Consolidated, the Trout Lake Mines (operated by English interests associated with the Mining Corporation) and the Canadian Lorrain Silver Mines (operated by the Huronian Belt Co., of London). A number of minor prospects are also active. The Wettlaufer and Currie, on both of which considerable work was done some years ago, are now closed.

Jan 1, 1924

By Arthur Crowfoot

Page IntRodUction ................... The Round Table in Lake Superior Practice .........420 Early Use of Revolving Round Table in Butte District...... Use oF the Round Table at GREat Falls foR Sand-Slime Feed ., . The Round Table for Fine Slime........,.... Construction of Slime Plant at Great Falls..... '..... 424 Tests on Wood, Linoleum, and Cement Decks.........426 Central Feed Apron Removed ....'......... Re-treatment of Round-Table Tailing........... Determination of Conditions for Round-Table Treatment of Slimcs ... 430 Variation in Slope of Round-Table Deck........ ,... The Steel-Frame Cement-Deck Round Table ........ Tests on Cement and Canvas Dock Surfaces ..: ..... Conoidal Deck Round Tables............. Results with Sand-Slime Feed on Conoidal Deck....... Conclusions from Preliminary Tests on Conoidal and Conical Decks ... 446 Discussion of Results of Four-Day Test on Conical and Conoidal Decks . 452 Discussion of Results of Eight-Day Test.......... Qualitative Sampling of Concentrates Across Conical Deck.... Summary of Slime-Plant Practice............ Suggested Flow Sheet for Slime Classification and Treatment.... Conclusion...................467 Introduction The principal object of this paper is 60 presest, data on the development of the revolving convex round table as a concentrator for the through 0.07-mm. slimes from the ores of the Butte district, although some brief notes on the earliest recorded use of this type of concentrating table in the ore-dressing plants of the Lake Superior region and of the Butte district are also presented. The revolving convex round table belongs to the class of concentrating tables known as film-sizing. tables, these tables using the relative transporting power of a film, or thin sheet of water, as it flows over a quiet inclined surface, to separate the minerals of a sorted product. The grains of heavy mineral move down the slope of the table deck slowly, or, in some cases, not at all, after the initial force of the feed entry VOL. XLIX.—27

Jan 1, 1915

By M. L. Requa

This paper is abstracted from the report of the Appraisement Committee of the Independent Oil Producers' Agency, of which the writer was Chairman. The other members of the committee were M. V. McQuigg and R. S. Haseltine. To Thomas Cox, engineer in charge of the investigation, and to his efficient staff of assistants, is due the credit for the detail work necessary in carrying out the plan of the Committee. It treats only of the valuation of the lands, wells, and piping, without going into details of equipment and other features. It was recognized, early in the operation, that the value of oil lands was the value of oil ,to be extracted and marketed, less the costs attendant thereon. Referring this back to the costs in cents per barrel, it became obvious that surface improvements, absolutely necessary in the production of oil, from wells then drilled, had no separate and independent value aside from the value of the land, but that any excess equipment, not necessary for the production of oil from present wells, such as drilling tools, well casing, etc., should be given a present condition value. In valuing the properties of the Independent Oil Producers' Agency, the Committee has considered the following facts: 1. That from each property there will ultimately be produced a certain total quantity of oil. 2. That in the production of that oil a certain total quantity of money will be expended. 3. That a certain total amount of money will be received from the oil. 4. That the total net receipts will be the total gross receipts less the cost of development and production. 5. That the present value of the net receipts must be such an amount that when invested by a purchaser it will be returned with 8 per cent, interest additional during the life of the property. The initial procedure consisted in making a general reconnaissance of the entire district in which the property was located and determining the lithological and structural conditions underlying the area. The data obtained from each individual tract comprised the logs of all the wells

Jan 1, 1918

By C. E. Hottman, R. K. Johnson

Fluid pressure within the pore space of shales can be determined by using data obtained from both acoustic and resistivity logs. The method involves establishing relationships between the common logarithm of shale transit time or shale resistivity and depth for hydrostatic-pres-sure formations. On a plot of transit time vs depth, a linear relationship is generally observed, whereas on a plot of resistivity vs depth, a nonlinear trend exists. Divergence of observed transit time or resistivity values from those obtained from established normal compaction trends rinder hydrostatic pressure conditions is a measure of the pore fluid pressure in the shale and, thus, in adjacent isolated permeable formations. This relationship has been empirically established with actual pressure measurements in adjacent permeable formations. The use of these data and this method permits the interpretation of fluid pres.rure from acoustic and resistivity measurements with an accuracy of approximately 0.04 psilft, or about 400 psi at 10,000 ft. The standard deviation for the resistivity method is 0.022 psi/ft, and for the acoustic method 0.020 psi/ft. Knowledge of the first occurrence of overpressures, and of the precise pressure-depth relationship in a geologic province, enab1es improvements in drilling techniques, casing progroms, completion methods and reservoir evalzmtions. INTRODUCTION CENKRAL STATEMENT Operators engaged in the search for and production of hydrocarbon reserves in Tertiary basins are more and more frequently confronted with complications associated with over pressured (abnormally high fluid pressure) formations. This is particularly true in the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast area. The problems associated with these formations are of direct concern to the combined activities of all phases of operations, i.e., geophysical, drilling, geological and petroleum engineering.' - Knowledge of the pressure distribution of a given area of operations would greatly reduce the magnitude of many of these complexities and in some cases would completely eliminate specific problems. his pape; presents techniques developed for estimating formation pressures from interpretations of acoustic and electric log data. Specifically: the acoustical and electrical properties of shales, reflected by conventional acoustic and electrical surveys, can be used to infer certain reservoir properties, such as formation pressure, at any level in a well. It has been possible to develop these techniques because of a firm understanding of the basic principles that govern and apply to such overpressured provinces. NORMAL PRESSUKES Normal pressures refer to formation pressures which are approximately equal to the hydrostatic head of a column of water of equal depth. If the formations were opened to the atmosphere, a column of water from the ground surface to the subsurface formation depth would balance the formation pressure. On the Gulf Coast, the shallow, predominantly sand formations contain fluids which are under hydrostatic pressure. These formations are said to be normally pressured or to have a normal pressure gradient.* Experience has shown that the normal pressure gradient on the Gulf Coast is approximately 0.465 psi/ft of depth. OVERPRESSURES Formations with pressures higher than hydrostatic are encountered at varying depths in many areas. These formations are referred to as being abnormally pressured, abnormally high pressured, or overpressured. Formation pressures up to twice the hydrostatic pressure have been observed. These formations require extreme care and much expense to drill and to exploit. COMPACTION-FLUID PRESSURE RELATIONS THEORY The generation of overpressured formations in Tertiary sections of the Gulf Coast and several other Tertiary sedimentary basins is, in general terms, considered to be primarily the result of compaction phenomena.' This portion of the paper presents a brief review of the theory which associates compaction and fluid pressure relations, and should thus provide the necessary background for an understanding of the techniques presented. See Hubbert and Rubey' for a more comprehensive treatment of this subject. The theory of the consolidation of a water-saturated clay' has been well established by workers in soil mechanics. The concept is explained by a model with perforated metal plates separated by metal springs and water and enclosed in a cylindrical tube. Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of such a model (see Ref. 5, Fig. 27, page 74). The springs simulate communication between clay particles, and the plates simulate the clay particles. Mano-

Jan 1, 1966

By L. B. Gittinger

Sulfur is a nonmetallic element widely distributed in nature. It constitutes 0.06% of the earth's crust but only a very small portion occurs in sufficiently concentrated amounts to justify mining. Sulfur occurs in practically all animal and plant life. It constitutes approximately 0.09% of the elements in the oceans; it has been found in meteorites. Sulfur was known and used by man before recorded history. The American Chemical Society approved spelling for the element is sulfur. The English spelling sulphur is used commercially in the United States. In ancient times, sulfur was called brimstone, literally "burning stone." Today the term brimstone is used interchangeably with the term elemental sulfur. Sulfur is found naturally in the elemental form in subsurface deposits associated with gypsum and anhydrite in salt domes and sedimentary formations in evaporite basins and in solfatara-type deposits associated with volcanoes and mineral springs. Sulfur occurs also in molecular combination in ferrous sulfides (pyrites and pyrrhotite) and nonferrous sulfides (copper, lead, zinc, and nickel), and in mineral sulfates (gypsum and anhydrite); as hydrogen sulfide contaminant in natural gas; as organic compounds in crude oil and tar sands; and as pyrite and organic compounds in coal and oil shales. Sulfur resources are abundant and exist throughout the world but the extent to which they can be classified as reserves is greatly circumscribed by prevailing prices and technology. Estimates of world sulfur reserves are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. A compilation of reserves by area and source of sulfur published in 1970 and presented here as [Table 1] totaled 2.47 billion tons (Lewis, 1970). The effect of the decline in prices which has occurred since the earlier estimate is dramatically illustrated by the 1972 estimate of the U.S. Dept. of the Interior which shows world sulfur reserves of only 1.2 billion tons (Anon., 1972d). Sulfur is produced commercially from one or more sources in nearly 70 countries of the world. World production of sulfur in all forms totaled 41.6 million tons in 1971. (Sulfur statistics given in this chapter are long tons.) Native deposits, sulfides and oil and gas contributed, respectively, 31, 41, and 25% of world production (Table 2). Of the sulfur produced from native deposits, salt domes accounted for 54% and evaporite basin deposits, 44%. Volcanic deposits are of little significance except for local consumption. The past two decades have seen important shifts in the world's sulfur sources. In 1950, native deposits and sulfides each supplied about one-half of the world's production. During the 1950s, sulfur recovered from oil and natural gas grew rapidly, representing about 10% of the total by 1960. Since then, the petroleum industry has continued to increase its relative importance as a source of sulfur, representing more than 30% at 1972 year-end. Sulfur is generally classified as elemental or nonelemental for statistical purposes. Elemental sulfur is sulfur produced in the pure, uncombined form. It includes production from native deposits, as well as that recovered in the elemental form from oil and natural gas or other sulfur-bearing materials. When produced from other than native deposits, it is generally referred to as recovered elemental sulfur. Nonelemental sulfur is that which is utilized commercially in molecular combination with other elements, such as sulfides or sulfates. Elemental sulfur is being produced from salt dome deposits in the Gulf Coast region of the United States and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico, and from evaporite basin deposits in west Texas, Poland, Sicily,

Jan 1, 1975

By S. P. Kinney, A. J. Boynton

THIS paper is not the result of recent research with regard to any particular feature of iron metallurgy, blast-furnace practice or mechanical engineering. It is rather a series of notes with regard to contemporaneous progress in blast-furnace construction and operation, together with some suggestions as to changes and improvements that seem to be desirable. On April 1, 1930, a committee of the Chicago District Blast Furnace and Coke Association presented to that association a rather ambitious study of blast-furnace equipment, together with recommendations for the design of construction of a complete blast-furnace unit for the production of 1000 tons of pig iron per day. This report represented the result of months of study by members of the committee, all of whom were actively engaged in operation or design of blast-furnace plants. It is natural, therefore, that comments on the present state of the art should take this 1000-tons furnace, as recommended by the Association, as a basis for comparison with corresponding features of construction or design. See Table 1. In looking through this report at the present time, the significant difference is in the nature of the gas-washing equipment that today would be specified. In other respects, the installation would remain generally very much as it was outlined in 1930. The change in furnace dimensions would be very slight and of no especial significance, except with respect to changes in stock-line diameter, of which more will be said hereafter. The high-efficiency stove as developed by various designers is thoroughly described within this report, and few changes have taken place since. Blowing equipment shows refinement and reflects the improvement in steam engineering. Hoisting and charging equipment and ladles for the conveyance of iron and slag remain, in general, as they were in 1930. In accordance with a general tendency

Jan 1, 1935

By J. A. Scott, F. R. Hensel

The paper deals with the investigation of two types of coreless induction furnaces, one of 60 cycles, the other of 5000 cycles. Nickel was used as test material and the absorption of oxygen by molten nickel was chosen for determining the influence of the frequency on the metallurgical characteristics of the furnaces. Dr. Herty's aluminum method, slightly modified, was found suitable for determining the nickel oxide content in nickel. Also an electrolytic method for determining alumina in nickel was worked out. The solubility-temperature relations for nickel oxide in molten nickel were determined approximately. It was found that the solubility of nickel oxide increases with the temperature. Comparative tests on the rate of oxygen absorption made in a 60 and a 5000-cycle furnace showed that the absorption of nickel oxide in nickel is an increasing function of turbulence, time and temperature. The rate of oxygen pickup in the 60-cycle furnace is about three times as great as in the 5000-cycle furnace. In the 60-cycle furnace the maximum oxygen content of the melt comes close to the saturation limit. Melting under an oxygen-free atmosphere prevents oxidation in both types of furnaces. DISCUSSION (Iloward Scott presiding) H. Scott, East Pittsburgh, Pa.—When Professor Desch was in Pittsburgh recently he mentioned that the induction furnace has practically replaced the crucible furnace in Sheffield except for the carbon tool steels. Dr. Hensel is to be congratulated on the development of analytical methods for determining inclusions and for getting two different methods to agree. F. R. Hesnsel—Recently the purification of molten metals with hydrogen or other suitable gases has become an important issue and a number of patents have been taken out covering gaseous treatments of molten metals. In this connection I wish to call

Jan 1, 1933