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By R. Laird Auchmuty

The A. I. M. E. Subcommittee on Bituminous Mining has been trying for several years to secure the information that was collected by the Marquette Cement Manufacturing &. on the subsidence of its property caused by mining coal beneath it. The Marquette company was willing to have these data used, but it was impossible to obtain them because the records had been filed away. About two years ago these records became available and the engineering data presented herewith were compiled from them by R. L. Auchmuty, assisted by L. E. Young, who was connected with the collection of the information. On account of the cost, it is impossible to reproduce all of the data here, although the original information is on file with the records of the Committee on Ground Movement and Subsidence. The accompanying charts show representative and average data and give only the engineering information with enough description to tell how it was obtained. It is hoped that all of those connected with the original case will participate in the discussion that this will bring forth. Howard N. Eavenson, Chairman, Subcommittee on Bituminous Coal Mining. PRobably the most complete records of subsidence due to coal mining in the United States are those compiled by the Marquette Cement Manufacturing Co. at LaSalle, 111. These records, covering a period of more than three years, were compiled and used as evidence during the suit of the Marquette Cement Manufacturing Co. vs. the Oglesby Coal Co. at Oglesby, LaSalle County, Ill., in which the cement company successfully endeavored to stop the coal company from mining under its property. Fig. 1 shows a typical section of the geological formation. The cement company was mining the LaSalle limestone which lies about 125 ft. under the surface. The limestone is 30 to 35 ft. thick and underlain by about 15 ft. of shale. The cement company was mining about 20 ft. of the limestone, and in some places 10 to 12 ft. of the underlying shale, by the room and pillar method. The mining of the limestone always preceded the mining of the shale. The coal company was mining by longwall advance methods the NO. 2 seam of coal 42 in. thick underlying the limestone bed by 435 to 470 ft. The coal mine, a very old one, had largely mined out its original property

Jan 1, 1931

By H. H. Uhlig

In our study of the mechanism of and the prevention of corrosion in stainless steels, it was considered of fundamental importance to obtain knowledge of the surface structure of such alloys. If corrosion resistance is due to a self-healing oxide layer, which like a paint film protects the underlying metal, it would be obviously relevant were the effort made to make the film less permeable and more adherent; for example, the surface might be expected to respond to an anodizing process, which is found successful in increasing the film thickness and corrosion resistance of aluminum. However, if passivity and corrosion resistance of stainless steels are due to another cause, the attack of the problem would follow another path. One of the most effective techniques for studying passivity and corrosion tendency is the measurement of the electrochemical potential. Not only can one determine by potential measurements whether a metal is active or passive, but also one can determine the degree of passivity and rate of transformation of passivity with time. Chemical media that build up or destroy passivity when in contact with the steel can also be classified by potential measurements. Something can be learned, too, of the effect of alloy additions such as molybdenum to 18-8, known to decrease corrosion of the alloy in chloride solutions. A study of alloys in previous investigations has sometimes included data on the electrochemical potentials. Tammann and Sotterl measured the electrochenlical potentials of alloys of iron-molybdenum and iron-chromium and reperted the critical concentration of molybdenum or chromium at which passivity initiates. Strauss2 made similar measurements for the iron-chromium system. The electrochemical potential3 has also been used to indicate carbide precipitated 18-8. In 18-8, heat-treated to precipitate carbide, active metal exists at the region of the grain boundaries, contrasted with passive metal within the grains, the active metal accounting for a resultant active potential. Several

Jan 1, 1940

By R. W. D. Clarke, J. C. Folinsbee

INTRODUCTION This paper deals with a procedure for planning the mining of an orebody for which cross-sections, plans, grade of ore, and a geological estimate of the ore reserve have been prepared. The procedure begins with the preliminary selection of a mining method or methods on which an engineering evaluation will be carried out. The engineering evaluation is described in three parts: Conceptual Studies Engineering Studies Detailed Design An overall planning model is presented, plus an expanded model for the Engineering Study Throughout the discussion of the planning procedure, reference is made to three bulk mining methods, including block caving, sublevel caving, and longhole sublevel stoping, including a summary of the main characteristics of each of these mining methods. The planning model is designed for a longhole sublevel stoping method, but with modification, will apply to other methods. PRELIMINARY SELECTION OF A MINING METHOD To experienced mining engineers, identification of the nominal mining method for a given orebody normally involves a large measure of judgement. The geological data is reviewed to determine the configuration of the orebody, including size, shape, dip, grade, and metal distribution. Geotechnical data is considered, including the competence of the ore and host rock, faults, fracture patterns, groundwater, and the potential for in situ stresses. Geographical data, including the natural and societal conditions, are evaluated for their effect upon the mining method, and finally, economic data, basically defined as the value of the ore in the ground, but more specifically, including grade of mineable ore, distribution of ore grade throughout the orebody, and metallurgical recovery, will have a bearing on the nominal method selected. Preliminary evaluation of these factors will result in the elimination of the obviously inappropriate mining methods, leaving some method or methods for further, more detailed study. Since ore does not occur in simple geometric shapes, the method selected for more detailed study will require some variation to the standard. A few key factors will bear heavily on the selection and provide a basis for the most realistic choice. Geological Data The configuration of an orebody defined by the horizontal and vertical dimensions, the dip and strike, and the possibility of repetitive occurrences will have the major influence on the selection of the mining method. For bulk mining methods, the dip of the orebody should be steep, or the orebody must be thick so that gravity can be utilized to deliver fragmented ore to a central gathering area. Geotechnical Data The geotechnical data will be studied in greater detail when the nominal mining method has been selected and the engineering evaluation is undertaken. However, some basic initial information must be available. The structural strength of the ore and host rock, including the effect on it of faulting, fracturing, and insitu stresses, must be known. Data from exploration drilling and examination of drill core will assist in the preliminary assessment of these factors. Highly fractured ground may suggest a caving method of mining for certain orebody configurations, whereas highly competent or strong ore might indicate that for a similar configuration, longhole sublevel stoping will more likely succeed. Data obtained on groundwater from exploration drilling will be considered to determine if it can be controlled, or if it will represent a long term major expense or a hazard for which no control is possible.

Jan 1, 1981

By Eric R. Morgan, J. C. Shyne

STRAIN aging is the name given to time-dependent changes which occur in the properties of cold-worked metals and alloys during storage. These changes are best observed through a study of mechanical properties, as illustrated in Fig. I for low-carbon steel. The effects of strain aging are usually regarded as being detrimental, particularly in deep-drawing steels. For example, an increase in yield strength and loss in ductility lead to buckling and tearing during drawing. At the same time the return of the yield point results in the formation of Luders bands or stretcher strains during the pressing operation. As a result of these effects many attempts have been made to eliminate strain aging from low-carbon steel. The problem still remains, however, because all known methods of preventing strain aging result in a more costly steel. The present work is an assessment of the situation in terms of theoretical, practical, and economic factors and suggests a new solution to the problem. Previous Work According to the Cottrell theory,' strain aging in a-iron may be regarded as the migration of interstitial atoms to free dislocations and the anchoring of dislocations by the resulting atmospheres. It may be concluded that the important factors which will govern the degree of strain aging are the diffusivity, the effective amount of interstitial element in solution, and the time of aging. The diffusivities and effective amounts of carbon and nitrogen in solution in low-carbon rimming steel are such that significant aging occurs in a few hours' storage at room temperature. Strain aging in deep-drawing steels cannot be controlled by controlling the time of aging because in commercial practice this is determined by economic factors concerned with inventories and may be several weeks. The diffusivity of nitrogen is twice that of carbon at room temperature but the diffusivities can be controlled by controlling the storage temperature. The retardation produced by only a 25 °C drop in temperature is significant but the cold storage of large steel inventories is an impractical solution to Table I. Analysis of Base Materials Alloy Pet C Yet 0 Pet N Vac 0.0037 0.052 0.0003 H 0.0044 0.013 0.0008 C 0.06 0.0014 0.0001 the problem. By far the most simple and effective ways to control strain aging are through control of the amount of carbon and nitrogen in solution. This may be effected through alloying, controlled precipitation, or by eliminating the carbon and nitrogen. Consider first the control of the amount of carbon in solution. The simplest approach would be alloy -ing in which strong carbide-forming elements are added. Examples of this approach are the additions of titanium' and niobium9 0 steel. These elements also combine with nitrogen and oxygen and when added in sufficient quantity result in a completely killed and non-aging steel. They are, however, impractical additions because they result in a costly steel. Carbon and nitrogen are often removed from iron on a laboratory scale by annealing in wet hydrogen, but because of cost this process has never been adopted on a commercial scale. In practice the amount of carbon in solution is controlled by the rate of cooling from the annealing temperature (710°C or 1310°F). In commercial box

Jan 1, 1958

By Andrew B. Crichton

The oft repeated statements of the United States Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines that the coal reserves in the United States are sufficient for 3000 yr have given us all a sense of security hard to disturb. If we discount that statement 66 pct, which to the uninformed seems drastic, we would still have 1000 yr supply, and why should mortal man worry about the difference between 1000 and 3000 yr supply of coal. That is exactly the attitude which many who should be better informed have taken toward the problem. A recent brochure "How Strong is America," by the New York Herald Tribune, states there is "no end to coal * * The truth is staggering * * U. S. has enough coal to last 4000 years." What the statement actually means is that the calculator got as high as 4000 yr and decided it was pointless to go on. The President's ERP Committee on Natural Resources and others in high places continue to assure the country of our superabundance of coal. In the past few days the "Wall Street Journal" carried an item from Director Boyd of the Bureau of Mines saying that within a hundred years we would need to triple our annual coal production of 600,000,000 tons, making it 1,800,000,000 tons annually, and at that rate we had coal reserves sufficient for 1000 yr. In my humble opinion, we cannot now or ever produce 1,800,000,000 tons annually, because we do not have the reserves in the producing districts to do it. Past reckoning in geology may be, as in the Psalms, a thousand years are as yesterday, but the future must be considered more realistically, and " a thousand years" is really a "heck" of a long time. In most developed areas, mining engineers can count the coal reserves in terms of a hundred years or less, and in some important areas now producing large annual tonnages in much under fifty years. They think when they hear of thousands of years coal reserves, reference is made to distant fields and "the fields are always green far away." The estimates of our coal reserves upon which we are relying were made in 1907 under the direction of Marius R. Campbell, Director of the United States Geological Survey. It is apparent this work was not well done. It was necessarily based on rather meager data because of the little development and prospecting as of that date. There were mistakes in the correlation of seams, and they assumed the continuity of thick seams throughout large coal bearing areas where coal often did not exist. The overstatement of coal bearing areas in the Campbell figures are common. The 1907 survey includes all coals over 14 in. in thickness to a depth of 3000 it. The total coal reserves according to Campbell were 3157.2 billion tons. The production and mining losses that year would amount to 570 million tons and

Jan 1, 1949

By W. E. Showalter

This paper discusses some of the results of combstion-drive tests which were made in a test cell using a sand bed 10 in. in diameter x 10-ft long. The test method is illustrated and described. The relationship between the API gravity of the in situ oil and the amount of air required for combustion drive is discussed in detail. Other things constant, the air requirement for combustion drive increases as the APl gravity of the in situ oil decreases. If the test results apply to actual reservoirs, the lowest-priced oils may cost the most to recover by this method. Information is shown which indicates that the effect of pressure on the amount of hydrocarbon burned is not large. A method of predicting air requirements from the API gravity of the in situ oil is presented. INTRODUCTION Combustion drive is the term used to identify the process of interstitial or in situ burning as an oil recovery method. Part of the in situ oil is burned to generate the energy needed to produce the remainder of the oil. Combustion drive as an oil recovery mechanism remains an economic uncertainty in spite of all the work that has been done by the industry in both laboratory and field?-6 This paper will show some of the results of tests which were made in a test cell for the purpose of studying the nature of the combustion-drive process. It will present data which indicate that the API gravity of the in situ oil is a significant indicator of the amount of air required to drive a burning front through oil sand. Air requirement varies inversely as the API gravity of the in situ oil. EXPERIMENTAL The tests were performed in a cell which utilized a cylindrical sand section 10 in. in diameter x 10-ft long. The thin-walled metal pipe which held the sand was wound with twenty external electrical resistance heaters which, by means of an automatic controller, maintained adjacent sections of the wall of the pipe at temperatures equal to the temperatures of the contained sand. Each heater covered 6 linear in. of the pipe. By this means lateral heat loss from the sand section was minimized, thereby causing the sand section to simulate more closely a horizontal increment of a combustion-drive reservoir. Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the test assembly. Thermocouples to measure the temperature in the sand were located every 6 in. along the length of the sand section. The pipe containing the sand was enclosed in a cell designed for an operating pressure of 500 psig. The inlet air pressure was controlled at the inlet, and the gas flow rate was controlled and measured at the outlet of the cell. The oil sand used for the tests was prepared by mixing first water and then oil with the noncon-solidated sand using a closed mixer similar to a cement mixer. Table 1 shows a screen analysis of the sand. Ninety percent of the sand was 100 mesh or finer. This sand was a mixture of 80 per cent No. 120 Nevada White Sand and 20 per cent Tennessee Hi-Fusion Moulding Sand No. 3. The Nevada sand was a clean silica sand. The Tennessee sand con-

By B. S. Lement

No appreciable stabilization of the austenite-martensite reaction occurs in a 15 pct Cr-0.7 pct C steel unless some martensite is initially present. Stabilization is induced by interrupting the subcool below M,; however, disappearance of the stabilization effect as manifest by burst formation of martensite may occur on continued holding at the final subzero reaction temperature. The higher the temperature of intermediate cycling after the initial subcool, the more permanent is the stabilization effect at the final reaction temperature. Appreciable conditioning of retained austenite occurs on reheating to about 500°C. These phenomena are explainable on the basis of the reaction-path theory. A RECENT investigation' carried out by the authors has shown that isothermal transformation of austenite to martensite definitely takes place in a 15 pct Cr-0.7 pct C steel and that appreciable amounts of martensite can form in this fashion. Investigations2-" arried out on other steels and iron alloys make it seem probable that isothermal formation of martensite is a phenomenon of fairly general occurrence. The reaction-path theory of Cohen, Machlin, and Paranjpe5,7 explains isothermal transformation on the basis of thermal activation of strain embryos which generate martensite plates with a velocity approaching that of sound. On the other hand, the nucleation and growth theory of Fisher, Hollo-mon, and Turnbull8 egards isothermal transformation as due to growth of athermally formed martensite nuclei. The experimental evidence obtained thus far favors the reaction-path theory in that the martensite reaction seems to be nu-cleation-controlled rather than growth-controlled. Stabilization is another phenomenon of importance with respect to the austenite-martensite reaction. According to the reaction-path theory, stabilization is a result of relaxation of strain embryos. It is postulated that strain embryos are present at the austenitizing temperature in the form of dislocations or lattice imperfections in the austenite which vary in the extent to which the lattice is displaced along the strain reaction path leading to martensite. On quenching from the austenitizing temperature, athermal martensite starts to form as soon as the M. is reached, because the activation energy of the transformation which decreases with decreasing temperature is lowered to below the level of the highest energy strain embryos. Martensite plates are generated during the cooling below M, from embryos possessing energies above the activation energy corresponding to the temperature at which the cooling is stopped. The distribution of lower energy embryos is changed because of the elastic and plastic strains produced in the remaining austenite as a result of the transformation. This effectively increases the number of strain embryos at all levels of energy below the activation energy and tends to stimulate further martensite formation either iso-thermally or on subsequent cooling. However, if the temperature at which the cooling is stopped is high enough for relaxation of strain embryos to occur, some degree of stabilization against further transformation may be induced. Whether stabilization will be observed on subsequent cooling will depend on the extent of decrease of activation energy with temperature. If the activation energy decreases sharply with temperature, it is possible that transformation will appear to continue with decrease in temperature in spite of the loss of embryos by relaxation. However, with a more gradual decrease in activation energy, stabilization will be manifest by no further transformation on cooling over a measurable temperature range until the

Jan 1, 1954

By B. M. Harra, F. G. McCutcheon, O&apos

Until about 1930, the universal practice of horizontal-retort zinc smelters in the United States, as far as the writers are aware, was to operate the retort furnaces on a 24-hr cycle; that is, the retorts were charged in the early morning of one day, and in the early morning of the following day the residues were cleaned out, the retorts recharged, and a new cycle started. During the business depression of the early thirties, zinc production fell off to the extent that zinc smelters had idle retort capacity. Rather than continue to run some of the retort furnaces on a 24-hr cycle and shut down the remainder, a few companies decided to try out a longer cycle. Although the output of zinc per retort per day is lower, the longer cycle permits a larger charge per retort and improved zinc recovery. Advantages of the longer cycle were soon evident, and the practice spread rapidly. Various lengths of cycle were used, typical examples being 28-hr, 32-hr, 36-hr, and 48-hr. The 48-hr cycle fits in best with the standard routine of smelter practice that was built up on the basis of the 24-hr cycle; that is, the retort furnace "maneuver" always comes at the same time of day, and can be performed in the cool hours of the early morning. Under some conditions, particularly in some of the older plants, where the retorts are smaller than in newer plants, a 48-hr cycle is longer than necessary, and some intermediate length of cycle may theoretically be most economical. Use of an intermediate cycle, however, means that the maneuver comes at different times on consecutive days, and that sometimes it comes during the hottest part of the day. The work on the retort furnaces is extremely hot and arduous at best, and it is much worse, of course, if it is done during the heat of a summer day. When labor was plentiful and tractable, many plants were able to operate on cycles of intermediate length, but the workmen did not like the working hours. Under present labor conditions, it is hardly practicable to operate with a cycle of intermediate length, so the choice has narrowed down to the alternatives of 24-hr or 48-hr cycles. In any discussion of economics, too comprehensive generalization is not warranted, because local conditions affecting economics vary greatly. The best economic practice at one plant at any given time may be uneconomical at another plant, or even at the same plant at another time. To determine the length of cycle that is the better practice at a given plant at a given time requires a weighing of the advantages and disadvantages of each cycle, taking into consideration all the local conditions. some of the factors that must be considered in making the comparison are discussed briefly in the following paragraphs.

Jan 1, 1949

By John C. Calhoun, Frank T. Bethel

Glass beads have been surface treated with Dri-film to render them oil wet by n-octane to varying degrees, and capillary desaturation curves have been determined by the restored state method. The desaturation curves show a regularity of increasing displacement pressures as the oil wetness increases. This has been used to compute apparent contact angles between n-octane and water on glass. The family of desaturation curves also shows a regular crossover, such that the residual wetting liquid saturation values are in reverse order to the displacement pressures. A semi-logarithmic variation is shown between the apparent contact angle and the residual saturation. The desaturation data are interpreted to mean that the wetting liquid ceases to be a continuous phase within individual pores before the capillary pressure can be raised sufficiently to force out the wetting phase completely. The saturation of wetting liquid at which this break in liquid continuity occurs is higher as the oil wetness decreases. INTRODUCTION The petroleum industry has for some time been using measurements of capillary pressures on porous media for research correlations and engineering calculations. It has been generally recognized that the capillary desaturation curve reflects the character and arrangement of the pores within the media and the distribution of fluids within the pores. Methods have been proposed for computing pore size distributions, tortuosity factors. and relative permeabilities from capillary desaturation data.' There is little doubt that the interactions between porous rocks and their contained fluids resulting from surface forces play a dominant role in determining the magnitude and direction of capillary pressure measurements. There have been attempts to introduce as variables two quantities — inter-facial tension and contact angle — generally used to char- acterize surface forces, but in spile of the wide interest in these quantities as important variables, few definite conclusions have been drawn concerning their qualitative or quantitative significance. INTERFACIAL TENSION The interfacial tension appears in a capillary pressure function given by Leverett for correlating capillary desaturation type curves. Use of the interfacial tension in this function seems to be justified by other experiments reported. Apparently, interfacial tensions have little bearing on wetting phase residual by desaturation. CONTACT ANGLE The contact angle was utilized as a variable by Bartell and co-workers"." in tests on displacement pressures, later recognized as the initial point of capillary desaturation. Although Leverett did not include contact angle in his original formulation of the capillary pressure function, later workers suggested its addition. Few reports are available to show variation of residual liquid with contact angle as a result of capillary desaturation.' The problems attendant to measuring contact angle within a porous medium are great. As a consequence of the lack of a concrete approach to a measurement. the workers in this area of research have adopted the general expression of "wettability" to indicate the relative position of two liquids saturating a porous body. It has been shown that gross measurements on porous systems, including capillary desatura-tions, are sensitive to wettability. Attempts at giving a scale to wettability in terms of contact angle through capillary desaturation curves have been made and these apparently are steps in the right direction. In these attempts presence of many other variables precludes attainment of exactness. Also, as a result of other variables, it has been impossible to correlate changes in apparent contact angle with changes in other physical measurements of the systems in question. The present work is an attempt to eliminate as many variables as possible in measuring capillary desaturations resulting from changes in contact angle within a porous medium.

Jan 1, 1953

By Clarence Balke

SMALL buttons of fused tantalum have been produced by are fusion in a vacuum, by drawing an arc between sticks of pressed tantalum and a tantalum-faced water-cooled copper block. However, ingots of appreci-able size can be produced only by the heat-treatment of bars pressed from powder. The following outline covering the production of finished bars of tantalum by the methods of powder metallurgy is also used for the production of columbium, taking into account the difference in the melting points of these two metals. PRESSING THE POWDER With possibly a few exceptions, a pressing operation is one of the essential steps in the practice of powder metallurgy. In fact, the author's experience with a number of high-melting-point metals and with numer-ous types of hard carbide compositions has led him to believe that this operation is often one of the most important in the- entire process, and frequently one of the most difficult to carry out in a satisfactory manner. Defects clue to improper pressing can readily lead to a defective finished product. It is the author's opinion that rarely is a bar or other article pressed from metal powder in such a way that all parts of the piece are uniformly pressed. The nearest approach to uniformity of pressing is possibly attained when the powder is contained in a flexible receptacle, such as rubber, and is pressed under a liquid by hydrostatic pressure. However, this method is not generally applicable. Hydraulic pressing in steel dies where one or two punches are forced into the die must usually be resorted to. As the pressure in such a die is built up, the powder begins to cling to the walls of the die with a tenacity dependent upon the nature of the powder, and this results in a bridging action, so that the layers of powder adjacent to the moving punch are pressed more heavily than those further removed in the mass. Frequently, as the pressure is carried higher, there may be a mass slippage of the powder upon itself, with the result that slip cracks are formed within the pressed

Jan 1, 1938

By J. S. Crump, C. R. Hocott, A. E. Hoffman

Planning of the efficient operation of a gas-condensate reservoir requires a knowledge not only of the gross phase behavior of the system but also of the equilibrium distribution of the various components between the gas and condensate phases. This equilibrium distribution can be calculated with appropriate equilibrium constants. In this paper are presented equilibrium constants determined experimentally for the oil and gas phases initially present in the same reservoir and for the gas and condensate phases of the gas cap material at a series of pressures below the original reservoir pressure. Also presented is a method for the correlation of the experimentally determined equilibrium constants. The utility of the correlation is demonstrated further by an example of its use in adjusting the equilibrium data to permit their application to another gas-condensate system of similar composition. INTRODUCTION Planning of the efficient operation of a gas-condensate reservoir requires a thorouugh knowledge not only of the gross phase behavior of the particular hydrocarbon system but also of the equilibrium distribution of the various components between the gas and condensate phases. At the initial conditions of reservoir temperature and pressure, the original hydrocarbon materials in a gas-condensate reservoir or in the gas-cap of an associated reservoir exist in a single, homogeneous vapor phase. However, some condensation of hydrocarbons to a liquid phase usually occurs in the reservoir as pressure declines incident to production. Because of this condensation. the produced gas changes composition continuously. The composition of the produced gas, as well as that of the condensed liquid, can be calculated from the composition of the original reservoir material through the application of appropriate equilibrium constants or "K"-values provided these values are known. Equilibrium constants have been used for many years in problems of surface separation of gas and oil and natural gasoline recovery. However, no satisfactory equilibrium data at reservoir conditions have been available for the higher boiling hydrocarbons which acquire abnormal volatility at high pressure and are therefore present in the gas phase in condensate reservoirs. Early work in this field indicated that the behavior of the higher boiling hydrocarbons largely determines the behavior of gas-condensate systems at high pressure.' Consequently, a portable test unit was designed to permit determination of the distribution of the heavier hydrocarbons between the gas and liquid phases of a gas-condensate system. This paper describes the test equipment and presents the results of an investigation of the reservoir fluids from an associated oil and gas reservoir in the Frio formation in Southwest Texas. Also presented is a method for correlation of the experimentally determined equilibrium constants, together with an example of the use of the method in adjusting these data for application to another gas-condensate system of similar composition. FIELD TESTING AND SAMPLING In order to determine the compositions of the reservoir fluids, field samples were secured from two different wells, one completed in the oil zone, and one completed in the gas cap. The oil well was completed through perforations in 51/2-in. casing at a depth of 6,822-6,828 ft subsea. Pressure and temperature traverses made in the well indicated the pressure and temperature to be 3,831 psig and 201 °F, respectively, at a depth of 6.828 ft subsea. Subsurface samples were taken from this well after a four-hour shut-in period.

Jan 1, 1953

By M. C. Leverett

Knowledge of the theory underlying the behavior of mixtures of fluids in reservoir rocks is essential to the proper solution of certain types of problems in petroleum production, but is as yet incompletely developed. The object of this paper is to show the application of well established thermody-namic and physical principles to these problems, and thus to assist in the development of the basic theory. For convenience the problems to be considered here may be divided into two groups: 1. Static problems, involving only the static balance between capillary forces and those due to the difference in densities of the fluids; i.e., gravitational forces. 2. Dynamic problems, involving analysis of the motion oi mixtures of immiscible fluids in porous media under the influence of forces due to gravity, capillarity, and an impressed external pressure differential. Capillary Equilbrium in Sands Under this heading the static type of problem will be discussed and the results of experimental investigations on the capillary properties of unconsolidated sands will be presented. Although the discussion of this section is, in a sense, prefatory to the treatment of problems of mixture flow, the concepts developed here have considerable intrinsic importance apart from their ap-plication to flow problems. For, it is reason-able to postulate that the reservoir fluids are, owing to their long existence in undis- turbed mutual contact prior to exploitation, in substantial equilibrium. It follows that their distribution in the reservoir at the time of tapping should be entirely predictable from the theory of capillary equi librium, provided certain experimentally measurable properties of the reservoir rock are known. Knowledge of the distribution of the several fluids in the reservoir is, ol course, helpful in the estimation of reserves and in other problems. It is to be emphasized that throughout the discussion of capillary statics it is assumed that the fluids are in equilibrium from the capillary standpoint. Thus, water, where it is referred to as being in a reservoir, will be understood to be interstitial water, present at the time of drilling the reservoir, commonly termed "connate" water. The theory developed here is perfectly general for any porous solid, whether a carefully prepared unconsolidated sand or a natural sandstone from an oil reservoir. At present, however, only problems involving clean, unconsolidated sands can be made to yield numerical solutions, since only such sands have been adequately investigated experimentally. Experimental evaluation of the pertinent properties 01 natural reservoir rocks will permit the extension of the numerical treatment to problems involving these materials. We shall now consider in some detail the static equilibrium of fluid mixtures in porous solids: that is, the manner in which the reservoir fluids are distributed vertically whell the Forces due to capillarity are just balanccd by those due to gravitation.

Jan 1, 1941

By W. A. Ver Wiebe

The year 1940 was singularly unmarked by sensational developments in Kansas. Routine operations were carried on in a systematic, orderly fashion and the efforts of oil producers were concentrated on extending known fields. In Kansas an arbitrary yardstick for wildcats has been set up. A well drilled mile or more from a known pool or well is now considered a wildcat. A "rank wildcat" is one that is drilled at least 2 miles from any known producer. During 1940, rank wildcats resulted in the completion of 116 test wells, among which 16 were successful in finding new oil pools and the remaining I00 were dry holes. The ratio of successful wells to dry holes, therefore, was approximately I:6. During the year, 1890 wells were completed in eastern and western Kansas. This figure is somewhat lower than that given in several trade journals, because it does not include wells that were deepened or wells that were recompleted in a different geological horizon. About three fourths of these (1423) were completed as commercial oil wells (I220 in western and 203 in eastern Kansas). The commercial gas wells completed number 58 of which 10 are in eastern Kansas and 48 in western Kansas. Of the remzining completions 147 are dry holes in eastern and 262 are dry holes in western Kansas. Based on daily potential capacity, the new discoveries of the year account for a cumulative initial production of 46,000 bbl. in eastern and 2,128,000 bbl. in western Kansas. The state of Kansas attained a new peak in production, with the total of 66,245,000 bbl. for the year 1940, the number of contributing wells being 20,779. Thus the increase over 1939, when about 58 million barrels was produced, is considerable. The previous peak occurred in 1937, when 70,761,000 bbl. was marketed. In another still earlier peak, in 1917, slightly more than 45,000,000 bbl. was produced and sold. The production of gas probably reached a new peak also during 1940, with its total of 85 1/2 billion cubic feet. Between the peak of the year 1908, when over 80 billion cubic feet was produced, and that of 1940, the production dropped to a low point of 16 billion cubic feet in the year 1921. The number of test wells drilled was larger than in 1939; that is, 1890 compared with 1458. The first peak was reached in 1904, when 2782 wells were drilled. The number dropped off rapidly, to 368 three years later, but rose to the second and highest peak in 1918, when 4671 test wells were completed. In the period between 1904 and 1912 more gas wells were completed than oil wells. Between the high peak of completions in 1918 and somewhat lower peak of 1937, the low point was reached during 1931, with the completion of only 470 test wells. In the number of new pools discovered, Kansas again ranks high among the states. The exact number depends somewhat upon the interpretation of a "new" area— whether it should be called a new pool or a long extension of an old pool. Unfortunately, the matter of securing the right kind of production allowable also enters into this question. Often the decision regarding a new pool cannot be made until other wells

Jan 1, 1941

By Gregoire Gutzeit

The development reported in this paper was begun by the author a number of years ago, while he was a lecturer on complex chemistry and metallurgy at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, and in charge of that institution's research laboratory. Completion of the development and reduction to practice did not occur until last year at the Westport mill, laboratories and testing plant of the Dorr Company, where this method is now in general use for identifying and localizing the mineral constituents of both metallic and nonmetallic ores. It has proved to be a practical tool of the metallurgical staff at the Westport mill, devising unusual milling flowsheets for complex and refractory ore bodies. In a number of instances the findings have been successfully used as fundamental factors in the design and specification of complete metallurgical plants. Seven examples of the use of this method in solving practical milling problems are included in this paper. General Outline The microscopic study of an ore, at first only of scientific interest, has proved extremely useful both in practical geology and in ore dressing. The binocular magnifying lenses for rough observation of the products of an ore-dressing plant have been in use for a long time; but only within the last few years has a systematic microscopical examination of ore samples become a normal tool of any research laboratory dealing with ore-dressing problems. Such an investigation avoids considerable loss of time as well as empirical trials and useless experimentation. It will generally indicate the correct grinding and often will suggest the proper method of treatment. . The petrographic determination of transparent minerals in thin sections, or even in grains, has been perfected, and very accurate methods have been devised to meet any requirement, such as Feodorof's rotating stage on the petrographic microscope. Almost all transparent minerals can be positively identified by their optical properties; i.e., isotropism, anisotropism, color, pleochroism, refractory index, cleavage, crystal form, birefringence, and others. The identification of opaque minerals is a much more difficult problem and can be done only by using polished specimens. Unfortunately, most of the valuable metallic ores, and even some of the nonmetallic ones, are not transparent; therefore it has been necessary to develop a special technique for the determination of these minerals. Some optical properties—for instance, isotropism, anisotropism, color, cleavage, reflecting power-—are often adequate in roughly classifying the mineral. Only "reflecting power" is a measurable value, provided special photometric equipment (ocular photometer or Orcel's photoelectric cell) is available. The other optical properties mentioned are more or less relative,

Jan 1, 1943

By E. S. Mardock, Robert E. Bush

The object of this paper is to report recent developments in the quantitative interpretation of radioactivity logs. The use of reference lines is described in the application of the new zero radioactivity reference line for the determination of neutron derived porosities is discussed. Illustrated examples are shown of logs from the reef limestone of the North Snyder Field and from the Lansing-Kansas City limestone of central Kansas. A method of using an interrelation factor calculated from the neutron and gamma ray curves, called the neutron Productivity number, for the estimation of productivity from sandstone formations is discussed. When used in a relative manner the neutron productivity number has aided in Predicting whether a given zone will produce gas or liquid or whether it is too shaly to produce. Examples of logs from wells in the Freites District, Venezuela, and in East Texas are shown to illustrate the application of the neutron productivitv number. INTRODUCTION The petroleum industry was introduced to some of the preliminary results of investigations into the quantitative interpretation of radioactivity logs in October, 1949." It was stated at that time that the methods presented were entirely relative because they involved the use of reference points obtained from the radioactivity log, i.e., shale reference lines, dense zone reference lines, or a combination of both shale and dense zone reference lines. These relative methods offered many advantages to the industry in interpreting radioactivity logs in terms of porosity with particular application to limestone and dolomite reservoirs. However, these relative methods did not offer the wide range of applicability desired because the esta1)lishment of reliable reference points from shale in some areas were difficult. It was recognized that a more reliable mean; of establishing reference lines was vitally needed. Such a method is now available through the introduction of an instrumeutal zero device. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the application of this new zero reference to the quantitative interpretation of radioactivity logs. Previously all applications of quantitative interpretations of radioactivity logs have been made in limestone reservoirs with little or no emphasis placed on sandstone reservoirs. A brief resumé of investigations into the quantitative interpretation of radioactivity logs in sandstone reservoirs is presented here. This discussion deals primarily with the interrelation of the gamma ray and neutron curves and the response of the latter to the density of the fluids filling the pore space in relatively homogeneous sandstones of uniform porosity. The authors believe that the methods presented herein are only applicable locally to specific fields and reservoirs, and that they probably do not offer a wide range of applicability. However, tile authors believe that the wider use of the new instrumental zero references in sand areas will reveal more information about the specific response of the gamma ray and neutron curves to changes in lithology and saturation. Two applications of quantitative interpretation using the new instrumental zero references are presented. Examples are given which show the comparison of logs and porosity in the limestones and dolomites of West Texas and Kansas. Logs of wells in 'Venezuela and East Texas are compared with the drill stem test data, production data, etc.. to illurtrate the interrelation of the gamma ray and neutron curve: and the rise of methods involving these interrelations to determine certain saturation variables. THE QUANTITATIVE APPLICATION OF RADIOACTIVITY LOGS TO LIMESTONE AND DOLOMITE RESERVOIRS Tile theoretical basis for the gamma ray and neutron curves has been discussed elsewhere.9 he method of recording the logs and apparatus involved has also been thoroughly covered and will not be discussed here.'."".'" It has been shown that the neutron curve responds exponentially to liquid filled porosity over the 1 1/2 to 35 per cent

Jan 1, 1951

By P. H. Delano, Will H. Coghill, G. D. Coe

Data concerning the actual net energy required for pulverizing coal are lacking from the literature on coal pulverization. Power data given in the literature concern gross power and frequently include the power expended on the air blast or product-conveyor system, as well as power lost through friction in the pulverizer itself. Consequently, such data supply no information regarding the net energy consumed in pulverizing or the relative grinding resistance of various coals. In the study of coal pulverizing much work has been done on what is known as " grindability-index numbers," but grind-ability tests have seldom considered the energy input (that is, the "cause" part of the system "cause and effect"). There are many records of the effect, but even these have questionable value because the "grindability" tests did not make a pull'erized product by a method comparabLe with- commercial pulverizers. In many of the tests, only a selected part of the coal was ground, and the remainder continued to be an unknown factor. Furthermore, none of the grindability tests provide the balanced circulating load common to all modern commercial pulverizing. In order to obtain better understanding of the fundamental principles of coal pulvcrizing, the Bureau of Mines is investigating the "cause" phase; that is, the net energy input or net power excluding friction between the moving parts of the machine. As a first step in the investigation,it was necessary to design and construct a laboratory machine in which no friction-loss corrections are involved, which could grind and finish a minus-¾-inch feed, which could be emptied rapidly and completely, which could operate with a continuous feed and finish in an air separator; and, most essential of all, which would be equipped with a measuring device for recording only that portion of the total power consumed in actual pulverizing, hereafter referred to as "net energy input" or "net horsepower-hours." The channel-roller pulverizer hereinafter described is believed to meet these requirements. History oF the Machine The, work started when Ralph W. smith, engineer, St. Genevieve Lime Co., St. Cenevieve, Mo., was appointed one of the consultants of the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, in cooperation with the University of Alabama, to develop a machine for testing the abrasiveness of coal. Smith had already developed a machine for testing the abrasive-ness of dentifrices,1 and it was thought the same principles might be applied to coal, Smith's machine had a revolving disk with an annular channel in which the sample was placed. Riding in the channel was a small block or runner of selected soft metal held

Jan 1, 1942

By W. A. Ver Wiebe

Spurred on by the very high demands for new crude supplies resulting from World War 11, the oil men of Kansas strained every effort in 1943 to find as many new pools as possible. In all, 1761 test wells were drilled, ,of which 895 were successful in finding new oil supplies and 32 in finding new gas supplies. The total number of wildcat wells drilled in Kansas was 577, including the so-called "extension wildcats," which are located less than 2 miles from production. As a result of the very determined effort to find new oil reserves, 49 of the wildcat test wells found new oil pools in western Kansas and 7 found new oil pools in eastern Kansas. There were 289 rank wildcat tests, and among these 28 were successful ventures. They are responsible for 26 of the new oil pools recorded for the year and 2 of the new gas pools recorded. The ratio of dry holes to producing wells among such rank wildcats is thus approximately 10 to I (289 dry and 28 good). This compares with a ratio of II: I in 1942 and 6:1 in 1941; the same in 1940 and 5:Iin 1939. With nearly all wells flowing to their maximum economic capacity, the total production for Kansas during 1943 reached a new high; that is, 107,700,000 bbl., compared with 97,000,000 during the previous year. Similarly, the amount of gas sold during 1943 made a new high point on the production curve. The total amount was 122 billion cubic feet, compared with about 98 1/2 billion cubic feet for the year previous. As usual, the large Hugoton field of south- western Kansas accounted for approximately half of the total gas production. Highlights of the Year Despite the fact that 56 new pools were found in Kansas during 1943, it must be admitted that the future reserves of the state have not been increased greatly. Most of the new pools seem to be of minor value, although it is admittedly impossible to gauge the future production of any pool in Kansas with any exactitude. Judging by the later performance of some of the pools found in 1942 and in 1941, less than five of the new pools are likely to make any great contribution to the state's future oil reserves. Taking up the counties of Kansas in alphabetical order, the following statements summarize the highlights of the year. In Graham County, the Morel pool was extended to the southeast and this pool now promises to become one of the important pools of western Kansas. Several of the older wells have already contributed more than I000,000 bbl. of oil, and such a figure is considered very satisfactory in Kansas. In McPherson County, important new reserves were found by persistent drilling in township 17 S., R. I. W., the most northeastern township of the county. Many new wells in older pools and discovery wells in new pools make this region look promising. The Lindsborg pool, which had a sensational revival during 1942, was also extended in a number of directions and has now become a rather large producing area with a fairly high future potential capacity.

Jan 1, 1944

By Frederick N. Rhines

Because of the nature of the environments in which metals are handled, it is natural that gases should be suspected of intruding into metallurgical operations, there to produce effects both beneficial and detrimental. The problem of tracing and controlling such effects is often made difficult by the complexity of the conditions surrounding their occurrellce, even though the fundamental mechanisms invalved may be simple and of familiar type. Many gas-metal reactions are known to be implemented by Processes of diffusion. These form a homogeneous group of phenomena which become more readily understandable when viewed together, in that the knowledge gained from one serves to interpiet the next. It is the purpose of the present Paper to present, by means of examples drawn from practice, a brief survey of the ways in which gas-metal diffusion serves and obstructs the Purposes of the metal-fabricating industries. The selection of the cases described was made by consulting more than thirty-six practicing experts whose combined experience provided an extensive coverage of the field and who were in a position to supply examples of occurrences of present day interest. The response was generous and it is regrettable that space permits the description of only a limited number of typical examples with ' but brief mention of parallel cases. The Nature of Gas-metal Diffusion The term ugas-metal diffusion," although commonly used, is ambiguous in so far as it implies that a definite group of " substances may be identified as gases and may be expected to behave in a manner distinct from other substances in association with metals. "Gases" such as oxygen and hydrogen when diffusing through a liquid or solid metal are properly components of the liquid or solid solution; they behave as alloying elements and are not to be distinguished in their diffusion characteristics from other elements, except that each has an individual rate of diffusion. On the other hand, a number of metals in certain.temperature ranges are volatile to the extent that they may appear in the form of vapor in metallurgical operations. For the sake of greater definiteness, therefore, it will be convenient to regard as "gas-metal diffusion" any process in which the result depends upon one or more of the diffusing elements appearing, at some stage, in the gaseous state, or as a compound gas. NO element, gaseous or otherwise, can diffuse through a liquid or solid metal unless it is at least slightly soluble in that metal. The elements of low atomic number

Jan 1, 1944

By C. E. Lesher

Coal has been fighting a rear-guard action since the last World War. The battle against competitive fuels has been largely guerilla warfare with more sniping within the ranks than of organized opposition. Oil and natural gas are the fuels that over these twenty odd years have driven coal backward and out of many profitable markets. Now, somewhat timidly, the coal industry is trying a new weapon; namely, Research, or let us more properly say, Organized Research. Engineers have been designing this weapon for many years, supported by those interested in coal, including some coal producers. A part of this pioneer work has been Fundamental Research, the Ph.D. kind that is over the heads of most of us. Another part has been aimed at immediate objectives and realizable profits, the practical, man-in-the-street sort. That is Industrial Research. Enough has been accomplished to make a fair exhibit, but whether this new weapon will have sufficient fire power to rout the opposition, whether the industry will really go into production and use it, the next few years will tell. Need foR Coal Research To utter "Research" is to use the modern magic word; to conjure up the miraculous—rubber from weeds; radar; magnesium from sea water; yes, even gasoline from coal. Research is a very general term. It means something different to every man. What is the coal industry seeking with its research; or what should it seek? And, specifically, how is it going about the job; and is it taking the best way? There are many who say that Coal has been asleep at the switch, while Oil and Gas have been taking the energy business. In an organized way this is true. Large-scale, privatelyfinanced research is just started in the Pennsylvania anthracite industry, and it is still a dream for bituminous coal. What has been done so far collectively is purely defensive; as, for instance, to improve mechanical devices for burning coal so as to be able to recover markets for house-heating fuel long since abandoned to oil and gas. To appreciate just how seriously bituminous coal has slipped back in the national economy in the past 2 5 years, one has only to recall that, in the last war the Navy required for its operations all the high-grade, low-volatile coal that could be produced, and that anthracite was withdrawn from the middle and northwest markets to keep the eastern seaboard warm. All coal was "rationed" by zones, if not to individuals. Now the Navy, the Armed forces and the Merchant Marine are propelled by oil and gasoline. Gasoline and heating oil are rationed to individuals. Production of all coal in this country in 1918 reached the historic figure of 678,200,-000 tons, and in 1943, after 25 years, it is expected to reach a special wartime total of 660,000,000 tons. Meanwhile, production of crude oil this year may exceed 1 ,500,000,000 bbl., and like that of natural gas, reach four times the amount produced in 1918.

Jan 1, 1944

By A. A. Smith, J. S. Smart

THe elements silver, cadmium, tin, antimony and tellurium either are found as impurities in commercial coppers or are intentionally added to produce coppers for special uses. When present in small quantities, each of these metals exerts a significant effect on the properties of copper, but despite considerable experience and investigation much remains to be learned about their specific behavior. The presence of extraneous elements, particularly oxygen, complicates the study of individual additions of impurities in the range o to 0.05 per cent, and the use of high-purity copper has been found extremely helpful in circumventing these difficulties. It has also been found that individual behavior can be satisfactorilv determined from measurements of two commercially important properties, conductivity and softening temperature, according to methods that have been described previously.1,2 Data of this type, obtained in the course of a general investigation of the effects of impurities on the properties of both oxygen-bearing 2nd oxygen-free copper are presented herewith. All samples except those containing cadmium were prepared as 3/8-in. continuously cast oxygen-free rod from pure copper and weighed amounts of a similarly synthesized master alloy. Composition was checked by chemical methods, which in every case verified the calculated analyses. Test wires were cold-drawn one B, and S. number per pass on a string-up machine using four 30-min. 600°C. anneals at 0.3125, 0.257, 0.204 and 0.162 in. and a final cold reduction of 75 per cent to 0.081 in. Some oxygen-bearing samples were produced directly from the 3/8-in. oxygen-free rods by diffusion from a surface scale at 850°C. and drawn to size as listed above, but most of the alloys were remelted in pure graphite and cast through air into a I-in. round mold. The slugs were then hot-rolled to 5/16 in., drawn to 0.162 in., annealed as listed above, and drawn to 0.081 inch. Conductivity wires were annealed for I hr. at 100°C. intervals between 300' and 800°F., using a hydrogen atmosphere for oxygen-free samples and purified nitrogen for the oxygen-bearing type. All samples were quenched from the annealing temperature in 10 per cent H²S04 and conductivity was measured on a Hoopes bridge that had been checked against a Kelvin bridge. The softening temperatures represent the half-hard stage of the annealing curve as determined by a standard procedure.' Effect of Silver Numerous excellent studies of the argentiferous coppers are found in the literature, and these have been adequately

Jan 1, 1943