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By J. B. Cheatham, J. G. Yarbrough

Although adequate removal of cuttings from beneath a drill bit is important for efficient drilling operations, very little basic data are available relative to the fundamentals of chip removal by hydraulic jets. A discussion is presented in this paper of an experimental investigation of the jetting action of hydraulic jets in removing loose particles from the bottom of a cylindrical hole. Conditions for which the jet is no longer capable of removing chips from the bottom of the hole are determined. This situation represents equilibrium between the chip removal force and chip Bolddown forces such as gravity and pressure. In most of the tests loose particles were jetted with water or a water-glycerine mixture to determine the dependence of chip removal on hole size, jet size, height of jet off bottom of hole, flow rate, particle density and fluid viscosity. ,A test with a pressurized mud system indicated that relatively low pressures can completely overcome the removal action of a hydraulic jet. Although the system studied herein is not directly applicable to a rotary drill bit, the work with such simplified systems can provide a better understanding of the chip removal action of jets, and with logical extensions it may provide a reasonable basis for the best use of fluid jets in drilling. INTRODUCTION The primary deterrent to maximum drilling rates is the inability of the drilling system to remove rock cuttings efficiently enough to prevent interference with the drilling action.1-2 The objective of chip removal studies is to permit predicting and controlling removal forces under downhole drilling conditions. Conditions at the bottom of a hole during rotary drilling are exceedingly complex and are not likely to be described in a quantitative way by investigations in terms of the total drilling action until a better understanding is developed of the simplified components of the problem.3 The present study is concerned with the elementary condition of removal of chips by a single central jet. Even this relatively simple model provides mathematical difficulties because of the turbulent nature of the flow from the jet and because of the shape of the bottom of the hole beneath the jet. Theoretical and experimental studies have been made of turbulent jets impinging normally on an infinite body and deductions based on analytical solutions to simplified problems can give some insight into the problem of cutting removal by a jet. However, because of the present lack of understanding of the behavior of the interaction between the fluid jet and the chips being removed, an experimental approach was chosen for the present study. Methods have been developed for maximizing hydraulic horsepower, impact force and jet velocity; but whether maximizing these parameters maximizes chip removal with present drilling bits has not been demonstrated. Simplifying the problem of chip removal may make it possible to develop some understanding of the manner in which the jet velocity is dissipated. Better understanding of a simple case should materially assist in extending analysis to more complicated cases. Thus, we are not concerned in the present study with the rock fracturing process itself but only with the removal of the debris from the bottom of the hole. A problem which is quite similar to the chip removal problem is the suspension of solids in stirred vessels. This problem has been studied by the chemical industry and correlations have been obtained by dimensional analysis which permit the design of mixing vats7 An approach similar to that used in the mixing vat problem is used in the analysis of the jetting data in the present paper. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The test equipment arrangement shown sche-matically in Fig. 1 allows the jetting action to remove particles until an equilibrium height is attained for each combination of hole size, jet size and flow rate.*** Equilibrium conditions require that the removal force is unable to remove additional particles. This balance between holddown and removal forces implies a relationship between the two forces which is constant for the particular system. When the holddown forces are constant,

Jan 1, 1965

By J. Murray Riddell

The method of treating hazards wherein value is decreased, is cited by R. D. Parks. Quite properly, the theory of probabilities is made use of when multiple hazards are under consideration. E. F. Fitzhugh, Jr. $ deals with the enhancement phase graphically and uses percentage of expectancy as derived by a study of conditions and the selection of a chance factor. It is believed that both of the authors referred to fully recognize the part which human judgment plays, and as coupled with experience, training, and the application of the theory of probabilities; in that respect the composer of this paper is in accord. Within the past year, the task of arriving at a mathematical method for handling the enhancement phase, and, additionally, coupling the negative and positive phases, was explored. In citing the hazard, or negative phase, reference is made to the text by Parks. Types of Items far Consideration On the hazard, or negative, side some of the common items to be considered are: 1. Subsidence and resulting damage. 2. Flo wage of water above that anticipated. 3. Geological. (a) Decline in quality of probable ore, and/or (b) Decline in quantity of probable ore. 4. Depressed economic conditions. 5. Litigation. Similarly, on the enhancement, or positive, side common items to be considered are: 1. Flo wage of water below that estimated. 2. Geological. (a) Increase in quality of probable ore, and/or (b) Increase in quantity of probable ore. 3. Elevated economic conditions. 4. Litigation. 5. Technological advance in the art. Tn all of the above items no consideration is given to placing a value on, or giving consideration to, possibilities. For example, referring to Table 1, the estimated normal present value (Vp) of a property, exclusive of risk consideration, is taken as $100,000. If subsidence affects the usefulness of the shaft, the present value of the property will decrease to $60,000, and it is judged that there is a 1 in 4 chance that the shaft will be impaired;, consequent.ly, if subsidence took place, the present value would be reduced ($100,000-$60,000) $40,000, but since the chance is 1 in 4, the allowable reduction would be only one-fourth of $40,000, or $10,000, or a discount of 10 pct (hazard factor) of the original value; the related safety factor is taken as unity minus 0.10, or 0.90. Thus, the original Vp, $100,000, multiplied by the safety factor ($100,000 X 0.90) gives $90,000, which is the adjusted present value of the property in this single instance. Additionally, there is a water hazard, which, if encountered, will reduce the present value to $85,000. The chance is 1 in 3. Following through with the same reasoning as shown above, the derived safety factor will be 0.95. To arrive at a single multiplying factor which will express the combined risks, the two safety factors are multiplied together, 0.90 X 0.95 = 0.855. That factor when multiplied by the origirial Vp will give the adjusted, and

Jan 1, 1950

By Wallace Ralston

DuRing the year of 1937, the East Texas district produced 211,194,467 hbl. of oil and marketed more than 22,329 million cu. ft. of gas; 3377 oil and gas wells were completed. During this same period 106 exploratory wells were drilled, discovering three new oil fields and one gas-distillate field. Fields East Texas Field.—The East Texas field again led the district as to production and number of wells completed. During the year, 2420 oil wells were completed, making a total of 24,382 producing wells, which produced 171,336,854 bbl. of oil, for a total of 1,156,352,834 bbl. since the beginning. During the year the average bottom-hole pressure dropped 49 lb., making the average bottom-hole pressure 1119 lb. Approximately 3500 wells are making salt water, 20 per cent of them making over 80 per cent of the water. During the month of December, the daily average production of salt water was 119,000 barrels. Talco Field, Titus and Franklin Counties.—The Talco field produced 9,780,948 bbl. of oil during the year, from 637 wells. During the year 472 wells were completed. All of the wells are pumping and 241 are making salt water. This field has followed a normal development and did not exceed the estimated number of acres reported last year. Rodessa Field, Cuss and Marion Counties.—The Rodessa field was extended about 13 miles southwest into Marion County, which added approximately 4000 acres to the field. During the year 260 wells were completed, making a total of 416 producing wells, which produced 12,646,-970 bbl. of oil. The author was unable to obtain figures for the amount of gas produced. The field has two gasoline plants, which had a daily average of 16,558,000 cu. ft. of gas during December, averaging 0.83 gal. per M cu. ft. As of Jan. 1, 31 wells were making salt water. The bottom-hole pressure varies greatly, depending upon the pay from which the well is producing. The average bottom-hole pressure from the Young

Jan 1, 1938

By R. E. Grace, H. W. Schadler

DARKEN1 has established the theoretical relation between the self-diffusion coefficients and the Boltzmann-MatanO Or interdiffusion coefficient: D is the Boltzmann-Matano or interdiffusion coef-

Jan 1, 1960

By Eugene S. Perry

The oil and gas industries in Montana continued through the year of 1937 with but little change. No new fields were discovered, and production of old fields did not vary greatly. No outstanding wildcat wells were drilled. Perhaps most notable were extensions in the western part of the Kevin-Sunburst field. Acid treatment of wells in the Kevin and Pondera fields continued with gratifying results.

Jan 1, 1938

By Alphonse Hennin

It is well known that under certain conditions ammonia is found in the gas produced by the distillation of coal. Until recently it was held, and many still believe, that this ammonia exists in the coal, and is a natural product of the destructive distillation, varying in percentage, like the other products, according to the nature of the coal, but not formed synthetically beyond that limit. This opinion is in contradiction with well-established facts concerning the formation of ammonia from the elements of the coal. If any ammonia exists as such in the coal, the quantity is insignificant. The purpose of this paper is to explain the theory of the formation of ammonia during distillation, and call the attention of the members of the Institute to its application in connection with the production of heating-gas for metallurgical purposes, etc. For many years little or no importance was attached to the presence of ammonia in coal-gas. It was deemed by the gas-manufacturers an undesirable product of the process, as one of the impurities to be removed; and no attempt was made for its recovery. Not until its practical extraction and utilization was found possible, did scientists commence to investigate the question. Little was known about the nitrogen of the coal, and still less about the reactions leading to its transformation into ammonia. A. W. Hofmann, I believe, was the first to establish a relation between the percentage of nitrogen in the coal and the proportion of ammonia in the coal-gas. As early as 1863 he pointed out that, in dry distillation, such as is practiced in the manufacture of illuminating-gas, only one-third of the total nitrogen in the coal is liberated, two-thirds remaining in the coke. It is no longer possible to doubt that the ammonia is a synthetical product, resulting, under certain conditions, from the combination of the,elements of the coal. Chemistry teaches that ammonia is formed in many cases when

Jan 1, 1893

By AIME AIME

AT A meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute held in London on May 6, Dr. J. E. Stead was formally inducted into the chair by Dr. Eugene Schneider, the retiring president. After presenting the Bessemer gold medal to Harry Brearley, of Sheffield, England, for his distinguished services to the British steel industry, Doctor Stead delivered his presidential address, a masterly review of iron and steel making progress during the past 50 years, emphasizing economy in production, and pointing out suggestions for future improvement. A considerable portion of the address was devoted to blast-furnace operation.

Jan 1, 1920

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 F. M. Doyle-Garner, A. J. Monhemius

Hydrolytic stripping is the process whereby metal ions in a loaded solvent extractant are hydrolyzed by water, typically at 130°C to 200°C (265°F to 392°F). Equilibrium hydrolytic stripping tests were done on Versatic 10 solutions containing various metals, singly and in mixtures. Single solutions of Fe, Ni, Cu, Mg, and Mn precipitated [a]Fe2O3 Ni(OH)2 Cu2O + CuO, Mg(OH)2 and [?]Mn203 respectively, during hydrolytic stripping. Several mixtures containing iron precipitated magnetic spinel ferrites, MFe204. No other combinations formed mixed oxides. It is proposed that the mechanisms for hydrolysis and precipitation of iron in loaded Versatic solutions are similar to those for iron hydrolysis in aqueous solutions. Magnetic interactions between mixed carboxylate complexes are thought to be responsible for the homogenous nucleation of magnetic mixed oxides in preference to single oxides.

Jan 1, 1986

By William M. Shakespeare

Thin sheet copper in wide widths and long lengths is being made electrolytically on a commercial scale at the Raritan Copper Works, Perth Amboy, N. J. This achievement is the result of three years of intensive development preceded by almost ten years of intermittent research. While the idea of producing sheet copper by the electrolytic process is old, the literature on the subject is limited. It is evident, however, that the idea has been attractive to many investigators for years, if the issued patents in the field may be taken as an indication. These patents may be divided into three groups. In one group metal is deposited on some form of endless cathode, of which a revolving cylinder or drum is the most common. The cathode moves slowly and at such a rate that metal of the desired thickness is deposited during one pass through the electrolyte. The deposited metal is stripped off the cathode at a point above the solution level and, after washing and drying, is wound up immediately. In the next group of patents a band of thin metal is increased in thickness by being guided through an electrolytic tank in opposition to suitable anodes. The third group covers means of producing sheets of definite dimensions where flat plates or revolving cylinders are used as cathodes. With such cathodes, sheets of definite dimensions are built up to the desired thickness and then stripped off. The process as worked out at the Raritan Copper Works combines the methods of the first two groups. In the first stage a sheet weighing 1 oz. to the square foot is produced on a revolving cylinder. This sheet is increased to any desired thickness in the second stage. In the first stage (Fig. 1) a lead-covered copper drum is mounted horizontally on a lead-lined concrete tank so that it. is partly immersed in the electrolyte. The cylindrical surface of the drum immersed in the electrolyte is opposed by lead anodes spaced about 36 in. from it. The electrolyte, made up of appropriate quantities of copper and sulfuric acid, flows into and out of the tank continuously. The ebullition of gas at the surface of the anodes induces a vigorous circulation of electrolyte between the anodes and the drum surface, which is augmented by means of compressed air introduced through a pipe between the ends of the anodes under the center of the drum, not indicated on the diagram. This

Jan 1, 1934

By R. Bainbridge

THE Consolidated Mining and Smelting CO. of Canada Ltd. has operated a lead smelter at Trail, B. C., for many years. In order to take advantage of metallurgical advances, as well as to improve materials handling methods, this company, commonly known as "Cominco," commenced planning a program of smelter revision and modernization some years ago. The first stage of this program involved the design and construction of a new blast furnace gas cleaning system. The selection of equipment, the design of facilities, and preliminary operating details of this system will be dealt with in this paper. The essential problem was to clean and collect 100 tons of dust daily from 153,000 cfm* (12,225 lb per min) of lead blast furnace gas which varied in temperature from 350º to 1100°F. Because it was desired to collect the dust dry, either a Cottrell or a baghouse cleaning plant was to be selected. Comin-co's many years of experience with both systems provided a background for choosing the most satisfactory installation. All information pertinent to the two methods of dust recovery was carefully investigated, and it was decided to replace the existing equipment with a baghouse. Very briefly, the reasons for this decision were as follows: 1—A baghouse installation would be practical because the SO2 content of the gas was low and corrosion would not be a problem if the baghouse operating temperatures were held sufficiently above the dew point. 2—Variations in the physical characteristics of fume and dust, which are inherent in this blast furnace operation, should not substantially affect the operating efficiency of a baghouse. 3—For the same capital cost, metal losses (stack and water losses) would be appreciably less in a baghouse. 4—A baghouse would be easier to operate, and would not require the use of highly skilled labor. 5—Operating and maintenance costs of a bag-house would be lower. 6—The only available space for reconstruction was relatively small, and not suited to a Cottrell installation. Once the baghouse system was decided upon, detailed design of the installation was begun. Baghouse Design Gas Cooling: Before the required capacity of the baghouse could be determined, the method of cooling the gas to the temperature necessary for bag-house operation had to be chosen. The problem confronting the design engineers was how best to cool 153,000 cfm of gas from a temperature ranging from 350°F to brief peaks of 1100°F, down to 210°F, the maximum safe baghouse inlet temperature. A survey of existing blast furnace gas temperatures in the outlet flue showed that the normal range was as given in Table I. The obvious choices of cooling method were: 1— cool completely by the addition of tempering air; 2—utilize a heat exchanger; 3—cool by radiation; and 4—cool with water spray in conjunction with the admission of tempering air. The advantages and disadvantages of the various cooling methods were: Air Addition: To cool completely by the admission of tempering air involved tremendous volumes, Fig. 1. For example, to cool 1 lb of blast furnace gas at 450°F requires 1.84 lb of air at 80°F or 1.60 lb at 60°F. As it is necessary to design for peak conditions, it can readily be seen that volumes of tempering air in the order of 1,500,000 cfm would have to be handled. Using the normal design figure of 2.5 cu ft per sq ft of bag area, a baghouse installation comprising some 600,000 sq ft of filter cloth would be necessary. Such design requirements would be prohibitive, not only from a standpoint of capital expenditure, but also because of space limitations. Heat Exchanger: The utilization of a heat exchanger was given serious consideration. A horizontal tube unit using air as the medium to cool the required volume of blast furnace gas from 400" to 250°F was investigated. Cooling above 400°F would be done by water spray, and below 250°F by admission of tempering air. The estimated capital cost of such a unit was found to be prohibitive. From an operating standpoint, there was considerable doubt as to whether the soot blowing equipment provided would effectively keep the dust from building up on the tube surface. The performance of heat exchangers operating on dusty gas in other company operations had not been too favorable. Radiation Cooling: Although somewhat cumbersome, gas cooling by radiation from 'trombone' tubes or other similar equipment (cyclones) is employed in many metallurgical operations. Such an installation was also considered. However, calculations showed that an installation much larger than the space available would be required to handle the gas volume involved. For example, to cool 153,000 cfm of blast furnace gas from, say, 600' to 250°F (i.e., remove in the order of 58,500,000 Btu per hr with heat transfer rates varying from 1.1 Btu per sq ft per hr per OF for the higher temperature ranges to 0.88 Btu per sq ft per hr per OF for the lower ranges) would need a cooling area of some 175,000 sq ft.

Jan 1, 1953

By R. Crnojevich, J. L. Blanco, C. Nikolic, W. G. Sherwood

This paper describes the process used for cobalt purification and recovery at the AMAX Nickel Refining Co. plant In Port Nickel, Louisiana In the first stage, cobaltic precipitate produced in the Outokumpu electrolytic nickel cobalt separation process is dissolved using methanol and sulfuric acid liquor produced in this step is converted to an ammoniacal complex, and sufficient ammonium sulfate is added to facilitate cobalt oxidation to cobaltic pentammine Nickel is then selectively precipitated as nickel-ammonium sulfate double salt at pH 2 5 Final purification of the pentammine liquor is effected by pH adjustment with ammonia and removal of divalent nickel by ion exchange Purified liquor is then advanced to hydrogen reduction to produce cobalt metal Although similar to other cobalt refining processes used in the nickel industry, the Port Nickel process is unique because of a single point chemistry adjustment for a number of unit operations that occur in succession.

Jan 1, 1981

By G. S. Hume

The production of petroleum in Canada is relatively small in proportion to the amount of oil consumed. Production figures are given in Tables 1 and 2, which show that the production in Alberta for 1934 was more than for the whole of Canada in 1933. The production of natural gas for Canada is shown in Table 3, In Turner Valley, the largest producing gas and oil field in Alberta, seven naphtha wells from the Paleozoic limestone and one crude oil well from Lower Cretaceous strata were completed during the year. Six-

Jan 1, 1935

By J. C. De Haven, Harry Seltz

INTERMETALLIC compounds are formed in many binary metal systems. Some compounds are stable to their melting points, and others decompose at lower transition temperatures. Even those of the first class are dissociated in the liquid state, as indicated by the continuous form of their solubility curves at their melting points'. While the lattice structures of some of these compounds' have been determined, their thermodynamic properties have not been investigated. In this paper is described the determination of the free energy and heat of formation of the compound CdSb, which is of the first class mentioned above, melting congruently at 455° C. This compound shows a rhombic structure, and the lengths of the edges of the elementary cell containing four molecules are: a = 6.52,b=8.60,c=4.16Å2 There are three possible methods of determining the free energy of formation of a compound of this type. The first method, applying the third law of thermodynamics, requires the measurement of its heat capacity preferably to liquid hydrogen temperatures, and a calorimetric determination of its heat of formation. The second method involves the study of the equilibrium of the compound in some gas reaction, such as: CdSb + CO2 = CdO + CO + Sb. From the known free energies of formation of, CdO, CO2 and CO the free energy of formation of CdSb could be calculated. The third method measures the electromotive force of a galvanic cell in which the cell

Jan 1, 1935

By R. A. Wagstaff

Many changes in equipment have had to be made to handle the flotation products at the blast furnace, and these changes have meant an expenditure of considerable money, which has not been compensated by an increase in smelting tonnage. To date, very few new lead mines have been developed, so that the help derived by the innovation of flotation has been directed to old producing properties, where the ratio of concentration is greater now than when gravity concentration was in effect. In some smelting plants there has been an abandonment of complete units due to the introduction of flotation. Flotation Products Difficult to Handle The physical characteristics of the flotation product do not make for economic handling for lead blast-furnace work, either mechanically or metallurgically. The millman or miner do not know what trials and tribulations they have passed on to the smelterman. To the smelterman it is "the everchanging flotation," for little does he know what new reagent will be perfected tomorrow that may completely change the grade and physical characteristics of the product. Even the mining companies who have complete units of mining, milling and smelting have had a hard time to reconcile themselves to the fact that the unit cost per ton of ore smelted must go up with the increase of flotation product on the blast-furnace charge. The "smelterman's burden," for that is what flotation has been for the last few years, has not caused the smelter operator to lag or fall down, but has spurred him on with new zeal. The physical properties of the flotation products are as follows: (1) High moisture content; (2) mucky nature of product; (3) fineness of product, and (4) high metal content. New Mechanical Devices for Handling Furnace Product These characteristics have caused the use of many new mechanical devices in smelting practice, for example: New transportation equipment, such as solid-bottom cars, is required; unloading equipment and sampling

Jan 1, 1928

By Warren B. Weeks

The development of the relatively deeper fields discovered during 1937 helped build the 1938 production to 18,456,760 bbl., an increase of 6,295,910 bbl., or 51.6 per cent over 1937, and the largest production for south Arkansas since 1930. Schuler and Rodessa accounted for the increased production as well as for over half of the wells drilled in the state. There were 243 holes drilled during 1938, of which 200 were completed as oil or gas wells. Of the 29 wildcat wells completed, 25 were dry, 3 found oil in the Smack-over limestone, while 1 made a small oil well in the Nacatoch sand. This was less than half the number of wildcats drilled the previous year, but nearly twice as many field wells were drilled. The old depth record of 7973 ft. was exceeded twice during the year, with the present record of 8332 feet. Trend of Prospecting The porous "Reynolds" oolite of the Smackover limestone1 has been the object of most of the wildcat prospecting during the past two years. Seismograph work, which brought 22 crews into this area during 1938, was largely pointed toward a study of the structure of this limestone formation. Thirteen dry wildcats have been drilled to this formation and five pools have been opened in it since it was first found to be productive at Snow Hill in the spring of 1936. With the failure of "updip" prospects to produce, activity moved southward and basinward. Success in five instances in Columbia and south Union Counties has spurred activity in this area. Much of the acreage is under lease and half a dozen deep limestone tests are assured for the current year. Fig. 1 shows the location of the principal oil fields in south Arkansas, as well as one or two minor producing areas. The fields are numbered in the order of their discovery. It is shown that most of the recent discoveries are from the deeper formations. Dry wildcats that penetrated

Jan 1, 1939

By Warren B. Weeks

The development of the relatively deeper fields discovered during 1937 helped build the 1938 production to 18,456,760 bbl., an increase of 6,295,910 bbl., or 51.6 per cent over 1937, and the largest production for south Arkansas since 1930. Schuler and Rodessa accounted for the increased production as well as for over half of the wells drilled in the state. There were 243 holes drilled during 1938, of which 200 were completed as oil or gas wells. Of the 29 wildcat wells completed, 25 were dry, 3 found oil in the Smack-over limestone, while 1 made a small oil well in the Nacatoch sand. This was less than half the number of wildcats drilled the previous year, but nearly twice as many field wells were drilled. The old depth record of 7973 ft. was exceeded twice during the year, with the present record of 8332 feet. Trend of Prospecting The porous "Reynolds" oolite of the Smackover limestone1 has been the object of most of the wildcat prospecting during the past two years. Seismograph work, which brought 22 crews into this area during 1938, was largely pointed toward a study of the structure of this limestone formation. Thirteen dry wildcats have been drilled to this formation and five pools have been opened in it since it was first found to be productive at Snow Hill in the spring of 1936. With the failure of "updip" prospects to produce, activity moved southward and basinward. Success in five instances in Columbia and south Union Counties has spurred activity in this area. Much of the acreage is under lease and half a dozen deep limestone tests are assured for the current year. Fig. 1 shows the location of the principal oil fields in south Arkansas, as well as one or two minor producing areas. The fields are numbered in the order of their discovery. It is shown that most of the recent discoveries are from the deeper formations. Dry wildcats that penetrated

Jan 1, 1939

By Arthur B. Emmons

HAVING been in the management of a company which has been exploring with a diamond drill during the past year in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, with a view to finding workable anthracite coal of a better quality than has been hitherto found, I have collected a certain amount of material which seems to have some scientific interest (though in this respect it is unfortunately incomplete), as well as a possible value to any one who may be tempted to follow ant a similar line of investigation. The following are the analyses of the coal from the Portsmouth

Jan 1, 1885

By G. E. Karantzavelos

Anew flotation process to recover alunite from low-grade alunite ores is described. The process begins with run-of-mine ore, reduced to less than 5 mm (0.2 in.), being preconditioned with the reagents before grinding and alunite flotation. From the preconditioning step, ore particles, impregnated with reagents, form pellets that subsequently disintegrate into the pulp during grinding. The second step is basically a standard alunite flotation step. Pilot plant test results show that an alunite concentrate assaying at least 85% alunite and less than 5% silica can be produced. Laboratory and pilot plant results were in excellent agreement, indicating that the new process is a viable means of alunite beneficiation. Plant results, using the new process, were superior to results from conventional alunite flotation procedure.

Jan 1, 1986

By William E. Hubbard

The production of the Texas Panhandle1 up to Jan. 1, 1932, was slightly under 179,000,000 bbl., 90 per cent of which came from Hutchin-son and Gray counties. About 21,500,000 bbl. were produced during 1931. This was about 35 per cent less than the 1930 production and the smallest annual production since the first boom started seven years ago. The present daily production is slightly under 55,000 bbl., which is the production permitted under statewide curtailment. The assumed potential for the purpose of curtailment is 108,708 bbl. and the actual capacity of the wells is probably in the neighborhood of 75,000 barrels. The total initial production of the oil wells completed in 1931 was 40,714 bbl. from 117 wells or 347 bbl. per well as compared to a 511-bbl. average from the 304 oil wells drilled during the preceding year. Gray County led with 71 completions and a total initial production of 29,209 barrels. Completions Two hundred wells were completed in the Panhandle in 1931, as against 526 in 1930. Of the year's completions, 117 were oil wells, 77 produced gas, and but six were dry holes. Of the 3197 wells drilled in the Panhandle to date, 2944 have produced oil, gas, or both, making the ratio of dry holes to producers about 1:11.7. Ignoring the 64 dry holes drilled in nonproductive counties the ratio becomes 190:2944 or 1:15.5, which is somewhat more favorable than that obtained at the end of 1930. Of the oil wells completed 374 have been plugged. Although it is but five years since the peak of drilling operations more than one-fifth of the oil wells in Hutchinson County have been plugged. The percentage of total wells plugged to total completed oil wells, by counties,

Jan 1, 1932