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By S. J. Matas, R. F. Hehemann

The existence of two distinct forms of bainite—upper and lower bainite—in hypoeutectoid steels is confirmed by a systematic study of the structure of the product resulting from this mode of austenite decomposition. The transition between these two forms occurs at about 650° F regardless of the alloy content of the steel and their structural differences can be interpreted in terms of the kinetics of carbide precipitation from supersaturated ferrite. In the past few years, a renewed interest has been displayed in the kinetics and mechanism of the bainite reaction in steels. Several rather divergent models for the transformation mechanism have evolved from these studies,'-' however, it is difficult to evaluate these models critically on the basis of the existing experimental data. In particular, a more detailed knowledge of the structure of bainite should be helpful in providing a framework for the construction of an appropriate model. Metallographic studies7-l4 have led to a recognition of at least two distinct forms of bainite—frequently termed upper and lower bainite. Although the morphology of bainite changes with reaction tem- perature, there appears to be a relatively sharp transition between the two forms. This occurs in a narrow temperature range near 650° F. Transformation at temperatures below about 650° F results in the presence within the bainite of small plates of carbides oriented at an angle of 60 deg with respect to the direction of growth of the plate, while at higher temperatures carbides are oriented parallel to the growth direction. There is no generally accepted view regarding the significance of this structural transition. Some authors feel that carbides precipitate from austenite at all reaction temperatures1' while others claim, at least for low-temperature bainite, that carbides precipitate from supersaturated ferrite.14.15 It was recognized many years ago that the nature of the carbide in bainite depends on the reaction temperature. The carbide hase in upper bainite is unmistakenly cementite.16-19 The exact nature of the carbide in low-temperature bainite is less certain. Magnetic measurements of lower bainite reveal no cementite Curie point21'22 and dilatometric studiesz0 produce total expansions which are larger than those predicted on the basis of a ferrite-plus cementite structure. These effects have been attributed to the

Jan 1, 1962

ALTHOUGH the refining period of the heat is generally defined A as starting after the charge has been completely melted, it may more properly be considered as beginning with the first efforts to facilitate the shaping up of the slag and the making of corrective additions for the control of slag or metal composition. Such actions may be initiated during the latter half of the lime boil. The early part of the refining period may, then, in essence overlap the latter part of the melting period. The primary aims of the refining period are: (1) to reduce phosphorus and sulfur from the steel bath to levels safely below the maximum contents specified; (2) to eliminate carbon to a specified level as rapidly as possible and still allow time for proper conditioning of the slag and attainment of the necessary bath temperature; and (3) to have the heat ready for tapping or furnace deoxidation, with slag in the proper physical and chemical condition, and with carbon and oxygen contents and the temperature of the steel at the proper levels for the composition and grade of steel being produced. The particular conditions that fulfill these aims are distinctly different, depending upon whether the steel is to be finished according to fully killed semikilled, or rimming practice and also depending upon the carbon range specified. Regardless of the type of charging practice employed, the object of the refining period is to produce repeatedly the desired finishing and tapping conditions for the grade of steel being produced. The variations and proportions of raw materials used in the charge may cause some variations in the degree of control required during refining, but not in the method of control. The refining period can therefore be discussed from a viewpoint largely independent of charging and melting practice. SHAPING UP THE SLAG In the first helper's vocabulary, refining practice consists in

Jan 1, 1964

By W. L. Dennen, V. H. Wilson

THIS paper is a description of the opera¬tion and results of a Humphreys Spiral Silt Cleaning Plant at the Powderly Colliery of The Hudson Coal Co. during the first nine months of operation and follows a pre¬liminary description given at the Anthracite Institute in May, 1947, in a paper titled "Preparation of Anthracite Sift for Boiler Fuel in a Humphreys Spiral Test Plant" by H. H. Otto, V. H. Wilson and W. L. Dennen. This plant is considered a full size operating test plant and, like all new plants, numerous minor changes in the methods of operation have been made from time to time to secure the results desired. Views of the silt preparation plant and of the screening house are given in Fig 1 and 2. This plant consists of 48 spirals in 8 batteries of 6 spirals each, 36 of which were to be operated as primary spirals and the remaining 12 as secondary spirals. A brief description of the plant and its operation follows. The only material cleaned at the plant during 1947 was that carried in the underflow from the Thickener which handles the Breaker waste water. This underflow, amounting to approximately 2000 gpm of water and containing 12.6 pct of solids, is pumped .to vibrating screens where the plus 316-in. material is removed. (Fig 3). This oversize material drops into a pocket from which it is trucked to the run-of-mine

Jan 1, 1948

By Arthur Crowfoot

INTRODUCTION The principal object of this paper is to present data on the development of the revolving convex round table as a concentrator for the through 0.07-mm. slimes from the ores of the Butte district, although same brief notes on the earliest recorded use of this type of concentrating table in the ore-dressing plants of the Lake Superior region and of the Butte district are also presented. The revolving convex round table belongs to the class of concentrating tables known as film-sizing tables, these tables using the relative transporting power of a film, or thin sheet of water, as it flows over a quiet inclined surface, to separate the minerals of a sorted product.

Jan 8, 1914

By R. E. Cook

This paper presents results of a study to determine to what extent errors in estimated free gas saturation affect the results of static pressure calculations from build-up curves in two-phase systems. Use is made of the method of pressure build-up curve analysis developed by Miller, Dyes and Hutchinson1 , with modifications for two-phase flow advanced by Perrine2. Cornhined fluid compressibility of gas-oil mixtures is included, with special attention given to the discontinuity that occurs in fluid compressibility at the saturation pressure and its effect on static pressure calculations from build-up curves. The sensitivity of static pressure calculations to errors in gas saturation is considered over wide ranges of formation and fluid properties and reservoir pressure conditions. It is concluded from this study that for analyses of two-phase pressure build-up curves (I) the use of under-saturated crude compressibility data, even when producing GOR's are at or near solution values, will result in very significant negative errors in calculated static pressrrre, and (2) except for large values of buildup curve .slope and/or very low crude gravities, rather large errors in calculated gas saturation can he tolerated without .significant effect on calculated static pressures. The conc1usions arc qualified as referring only to the effects of gas saturation and excludc possible errors in the nuumerous other factors that enter into the ancllysis of pressure build-up curves. INTRODUCTION As part of the analysis of basic data for several major Eocene reservoirs in the Bolivar Coastal field (Western Venezuela), it was necessary to analyze a large number of pressure build-up curves for oil permeability and static reservoir pressure. From performance data it became apparent that gravity segregation is very active in these reservoirs. As a result of this performance it was recognized that the free gas saturation within the oil leg of the reservoirs would be small but would be subject to certain errors in calculation due to the inaccuracy of relative permeability data in the low gas saturation region. Since all of the various methods of build-up curve analysis were originally derived for sin- gle-phase, constant compressibility systems, and since the presence of a small but rather indeterminate gas saturation would greatly affect the reservoir fluid compressibility, a study was undertaken to investigate the effect of gas saturation on the results of two-phase pressure build-up analyses. TWO-PHASE BUILD-UP CURVE ANALYSIS The method of analysis used in this investigation is basically that originally developed by Miller, Dyes and Hutchinson1, with modifications for two-phase flow advanced by Perrine2. Miller, et al, showed that the original equation for single-phase permeability away from the well bore, held for two-phase flow except that the calculated permeability is the effective permeability to oil away from the wellbore. This finding was acknowledged by Per-rine, who also presented the equation for effective gas permeability* as Since Eqs. 1 and 2 contain no terms influenced by fluid compressibility, no distinct problem should develop in calculating permeability from two-phase build-up curves. In regard to the calculation of static reservoir pressure from build-up curves in single-phase systems, the modified Miller, et al, method as presented by Perrine is briefly as follows. 1. From build-up curve data, PVT data for the reservoir fluid and the well spacing and sand thickness, calculate the climensionless shut-in time corresponding to the highest value of actual shut-in time (t, hrs) on the straight-line portion of a semi-log build-up curve. Dimenrsionless shut-in time is related to actual shut-in time by the relation, t- 0.000264 kt 2. From a graph of dimension less shut-in time vs dimensionless pressure difference (Fig. 1 1 ) find the value of dimensionless pressure difference corresponding to the value of 7 calculated under (1) above. Dimen-

By G. Ostberg

OXYGEN has frequently been considered responsible for phenomena in the metallurgy of cast iron which are not sufficiently explained by the presence of other elements. Oxygen and oxides have been regarded as critical factors, particularly for the solidification process, and specifically in the formation of graphite. However, the evidence for an influence of oxygen has mostly only been indirect or qualitative. Furthermore, quantitative data on the oxygen content of cast iron presented in the literature have often been less conclusive as being apparently determined with insufficient regard for the difficulties associated with the sampling and analysis. These problems, experimental and theoretical, have been studied in this investigation. An attempt is made to bring the views on the soluble amount of oxygen in cast iron on a level with the present understanding of the thermodynamics of these types of alloys. Although there are no experimental data on the complete multicomponent cast-iron alloys some conclusions have been drawn from investigations on simpler systems. The order of magnitude of the solubility of oxygen in cast iron is considered in the first part of the paper. The second part deals with the oxygen content actually present under practical conditions. First the possible sources of errors in sampling and analyzing methods are examined. Finally some observations on the oxygen and oxide content of malleable iron during the production process are made. THERMODYNAMICS OF OXYGEN SOLUBILITY When cast iron is saturated with oxygen the saturation phase is essentially carbon monoxide or silicon dioxide depending upon the composition of the iron, the temperature, and the rates of formation of the oxides.* The latter occurs accordiw to the O + C = CO, Kc0 - a COa J 20 + Si = SiO2, Activities are used here instead of weight pct concentrations, since activities are believed to show more sensitively the effects of the interaction of all the alloying elements. Calculations involving activities are, however, seriously hampered by lack of experimental data on the interactions between the components encountered in the multi component cast-iron system Fe-O-C-Si-Mn-P-S- and so on. In order to make an estimate of the oxygen solubility reason-

Jan 1, 1959

By H. C. Jennison

Two distinct types of defects occur at times in copper wire as a result of the use of dies of improper design or undesirable wire-drawing practice. The conditions under which these defects may be produced, as well as precautions to be taken in order to prevent them, have been known to The American Brass Co. for many years. The quality of the copper wire bars and rods has too often and unjustly been held responsible for these particular defects and it is to correct any such belief that this paper is presented. An extremely high quality of electrolytic copper has been supplied to the trade by all refineries for the last 20 years at least. The purity of the copper would average well above 99.900 per cent. The casting of the wire bars has been handled in a generally satisfactory manner. The bars have been cast sound, with a flat to slightly crowning set and have been free from sloppy edges, cold sets, etc. In other words, the wire bars have met A. S. T. M. specifications and have been generally satisfactory. For the most part, they have been everything that could be desired from a quality standpoint yet most of the wire mills in this country and in Europe have at times held the quality of the copper responsible for the two types of defects described in this paper. As a matter of fact, these defects are produced entirely in the wire mills. The author has visited many of the large wire mills in the United States and in Europe to investigate these defects. In some cases the trouble has been so serious that the wire mill has ceased operations. At times the wire mills are reluctant to believe that they are responsible for the defective product. The effect of die design, wire-drawing practice, etc., upon the quality of copper wire has received little study on the part of wire mills, particularly those that have commenced operations in the last few years. Two Types of Defects One type of defect is generally known in this country as "check marks;" in Europe it is termed "crowfeet" (Fig. 1). This defect occurs in the surface of the copper wire, in the form of V's, which are always

Jan 1, 1930

By Herbert Haas

1. INTRODUCTION COPPER matte is now converted into blister copper at a cost of only $5 per ton of copper, or, based on a 40 per cent. matte, $2 per ton of matte, which is the record of at least one large smelting Works; and it seems hardly likely that a further reduction, large enough to warrant, a change in existing practice, could be made in bessemerizing costs. But the new type of converter here described and the new practice proposed are intended, not so much for the treatment of mattes, as for the extension of, the process to the direct reduction in the copper-converter of pyrite ores

Jan 6, 1914

By Charles E. Lundin, Albert S. Yamamoto

The phase eqrtilibria of the binavy system, Nb-Al, weye established by metallographic, X-ray diffraction, hardness, and thermal-analysis techniques. Three intermediate phases were identijied, Nb3.41, Nb2Al, and NbAl,. The N6,Al and NbAl phases have extensiue ranges of solubility. The maximum solubility of aluminum in niobiuitz is 23.0 i0.5 at. pct (8.0 wt pct) A1 clt 1960" i 10°C. The maximumt solinbility oj niobiunz in alunzinutz is less than 0.3 i0.1 at. pct (1.0 tut pct) fib. The A'h,Al and Nbgl interinediate phases forr peritectically at 1960° 1UcC and 1870" i 1U9C, respectively, zuhereas the NbAl, phase fornts congvuently fio11t the melt at 1605" 10°C. A eutectic reaction oc- The intent of an over-all research program was to develop niobium-aluminide-base coatings for refractory metals since these coatings exhibit useful high- curs at 57.8 i 0.5 at. pct (28.5 wt pet) A1 and 1500" 10°C between NbAl and NbAl3. The aluminum-rich region of the system has a peritectic reaction where liquid reacts with NbAL, to form aluminum solid solution. Structural and lattice -pavarneter data /or the intermediate phases were determined by X-ray diffraction analyses. An unusual transfov?nation having charactevistics of nucleation-growth and martensitic nleclanisils occurs on cooling the niobium solid solution in the region from 18 at. pct (6 wt pct) Al to 23 at. pct (8 wt pct) Al. The transfornzed product on rapid quenchirzg is an acicular NhAl. temperature resistance to oxidation. As a prerequisite, the phase equilibria of the system, Nb-A1, were necessary. A literature survey revealed that the phase-equilibria data reported by various investigators were rather incomplete and conflicting. Therefore a complete determination of the system was undertaken by the authors from 0 to 100 pct of solute addition.' In 1959 Savitskiyz presented a tentative diagram which

Jan 1, 1967

By N. J. Grant, H. Brunner

This paber is concerned with the determination of equations relating elongation to the amount of shear taking place both along grain boundaries and in slip planes of poly crystalline aggregates during creep. Certain discrepancies with previously used equations are pointed out. Grain boundaries were observed to become serrated during creep, but it is shown that this does not necessarily prevent further grain boundary sliding. Direct obser-vations of subgrain boundary ingration lead to the conclusion that this migration facilitates sliding along serrated grain boundaries. It is bointed out that the state of stress at triple boints is still unknown. MOST of the mechanisms of deformation contributing to elongation are shear processes, such as slip, kinking, grain boundary sliding, and twinning. For quantitative investigations of individual deformation mechanism it is necessary to know the equation which permits the calculation of speci-tnen elongation from measured amounts of shear. This calculated elongation must then be compared with the observed total elongation. The authors' special interest concerned grain boundary sliding during creep. Although this subject has already been investigated quantitatively by McLean,' Rachinger,' and Fazan, Sherby, and Dorn, calculations indicated that none of the equations used thus far to relate shear with elongation were sufficiently well founded. A basic study of this relationship was thus made and the results of this study (which do not entirely agree with those previously used) are presented. Most of the ideas set forth apply not only to grain boundary sliding but to other mechanisms of shear as well. THE SPEAR-ELONGATION RELATIONSHIP Basic Models—The relationship between shear and elongation is trivial in the simplest case of shear, which is shown in Fig. l(a). The vector A; designates the displacement across the shear interface, and Au, and Aut are its components parallel and normal to the tensile direction, respectively. It is evident that the specimen elongation due to shear is equal to the longitudinal component of the shear vector, and it should be noted that the normal component does not contribute to the elongation of the specimen (there are, of course, two normal components in a three-dimensional model). The model shown in Fig. l(b) may be applied to mechanical twinning and to subgrain boundary tnigration. In this case the width (h) of an already existing shear band increases by the migration of an interface, but the shear angle y (angle of mis-orientation in the case of a subgrain boundary) remains constant. The geometrical relationships indicated in Fig. l(b) permit this case to be reduced to the one shown in Fig. l(a). For the resulting elongation A6 we find: where AV/V = fraction of the volume of the specimen swept by migrating interfaces , and 1 = length of specimen. Thus, assuming for example that the angle of mis-orientation is 1 deg, and that P = 45 deg, we find that the specimen elongates 0.87 pct of its length if the entire volume of the specimen is swept once by such a subgrain boundary. An example of deformation by migration of subgrain boundaries is shown in Fig. 2. The specimen shown was repolished after 9.8 pct creep strain and the test then continued for another \ pct. Since the shear vector has, in general, a component normal to the surface, subgrain boundary migration results in the formation of an inclined band delineating the region swept by the subgrain boundary. These inclined bands become clearly visible when observed with oblique illumina-

Jan 1, 1960

By J. M. Hassler

Nowhere can there be found a more misleading statement than the old one that "Iron can be manufactured cheaper in the South." During the past decade ironmakers and users of iron have heard varied and sundry stories of the wonderful resources of the Birmingham district, including abundant ore and coal fields, cheap labor, a wonderful climate and similar industrial Utopian statements. Birmingham represents the major portion of the iron business in the South, and as Birmingham fares so goes the iron business of the South. The intent of this paper is to shed some light on the actual conditions surrounding ironmaking in the South, especially in the Birmingham, or North Alabama, district. By a presentation of facts it is desired to point out that the "cheap iron" of the industrial South is a thing of the past, primarily because of increased labor cost and because labor is radically different in performance to what it was years ago. Also, because most of the raw materials needed in ironmaking that would be classed better than inferior are gone. Important Factors The several important factors that have been responsible for this change are : 1. Shrinkage of the iron business in the South. 2. Increased labor cost. 3. The development of the South, with an industrial trend, without a substantial increase of its own iron-consuming market. 4. Increased freight rates, which has narrowed the market that might be reached from this district. 5. Depletion of the better grades of raw materials, both ore and coal. Shrinkage of Iron Business in South.—Table 1 was prepared in early 1936 and revised in 1937, of blast-furnace units in the North Alabama district, considering the year 1936 compared with a maximum number of furnace units of previous years, the peak point being very near the year

Jan 1, 1937

By Ulf S. Landergren

Diffusion coefficients and marker movements have been determined in brass using welded couples. Three different concentration ranges were employed at 750°C, while a fourth concentration range was measured at 500°, 600°, 700°, and 800°C. Marker displacements toward and porosity development in the high zinc side of the couple were observed in all cases. The results were interpreted as favoring a vacancy diffusion mechanism. IN the large amount of diffusion literature which has accumulated during the past half century, very few experimental data have been presented on body-centered-cubic metallic phases. The impressive combination of experimental and theoretical studies which has given the vacancy mechanism a fairly secure position as the preferred mechanism for most face-centered-cubic metals has no counterpart for body-centered-cubic phases, although the theoretical picture seems to be in a better state than the experimental work. The attempts to select diffusion mechanisms by the theoretical calculation of the activation energy for the various conceivable unit diffusion processes and the energy of formation of the type of lattice defect required have been based on models of two kinds. The first kind utilizes potential functions fitted for certain properties of pure crystalline copper; the second kind is fitted for sodium. The latter is an example of an open metal in which the metallic ion is small compared with interatomic distance,&apos; while the former is characteristic of the larger class of metals in which the ions have diameters about as large as the interatomic distance. brass should resemble copper in this fundamental property. It should be evident that results on the mechanism of diffusion obtained for one of these classes need not necessarily apply to the other. Huntington and Seitz, using a model of the copper type, showed that the activation energies to be expected for interstitial migration or a two-atom direct interchange were much higher than that for vacancy diffusion. Zener pointed out that a four-atom ring rotation would involve an activation energy considerably lower than the two unlikely mechanisms although still higher than the vacancy mechanism in the face-centered-cubic structure. Furthermore, he argued, the four-atom rotation would be relatively easier in a body-centered-cubic lattice and might be competitive with the vacancy mechanism. Paneth showed that a body-centered-cubic crystal-like sodium could form interstitial defects of special type, called a crowdion, by crowding an extra atom into < 111 > directions where the defects would affect a line of about eight atoms. The defect was constrained to move along the defining line. Unlike the face-centered-cubic case, therefore, the theoretical calculations for the body-centered-cubic mechanism do not provide a very clear-cut answer, and the absence of adequate experimental studies is the more serious. This investigation was undertaken for the purpose of obtaining useful information on diffusion in body-centered-cubic phases. brass was chosen for several reasons: 1—the phase field is sufficiently wide at high temperatures to permit the use of diffusion couples with adequate concentration ranges for satisfactory chemical analysis, 2-—thermodynamic activity data are available for the calculation of mobilities from diffusion coefficients, 3—the phase is as close to the theoretical model of the copper -type on which the calculations have been done as any body-centered-cubic metallic phase is likely to be. Measurements of the movements (if found) of inert markers during the diffusion process would indicate that a vacancy or Or mechanism played a major role in diffusion in brass. If no marker movement should be found, a ring mechanism would be indicated but not assured. Experimental Procedure The alloys used in these experiments, listed in Table I with analyses, were supplied by the Naval Research Laboratory. They were from ingots of 3x3 in. cross-section, heated to 760°C, reduced under a

Jan 1, 1957

By Geoffrey Gilbert

The material that forms the basis of this paper was collected in the spring of 1922, during a ten-day visit to Ducktown by the writer in the company of Prof. L. C. Graton. The time available for the work was far too short to allow anything like a thorough study of the deposits, and structural and stratigraphic questions, though they have an important bearing on the origin of the primary ores, were necessarily left untouched. Attention was focussed on the zone of oxidation and enrichment; and by devoting most of our time to the upper levels, open pits, and old workings, and examining the deeper levels only thoroughly enough to obtain a fair idea of the nature of the primary sulfide ore, we were able to make a reasonably complete survey of the various orebodies. With this field work for a background, the writer later made a study, in the Harvard laboratories, of the specimens obtained during the visit. As some of the facts brought to light by this study appear to be new, it seems worth while to set forth the outstanding features and a proposed explanation of them. Much of the Ducktown material that is obviously of greatest significance, as regards oxidation and enrichment, is soft and crumbly. Notwithstanding the desirability of gaining from such material all possible information as to its mineral composition and textural relationships, but little has heretofore been learned regarding it; but, by suitable preparation of this material in connection with the present study, it has been possible to examine it under the microscope without any disturbance of its texture and about as satisfactorily as if it were hard, fresh ore. The information thus gained has contributed measurably to the results set forth in this paper.

Jan 1, 1924

By Joe B. Alford

Founding of the Institute The advance of population and civilization in the U. S. moved through the woodlands of the East, and reached the edge of the great central plains about the middle of the nineteenth century. There the advance paused for almost a generation - ahead were vast reaches of prairie country, uncharted, forbidding, and populated by hostile tribes of the native Indians. The turmoil of the Civil War, and the readjustments following it, further delayed the advance. By about 1870, the Nation was becoming stabilized again, the conflict with the Indians was closing, and the pressure of growth was forcing population to resume its westward movement. In addition to geography, the Nation had another frontier: the development of its immense natural resources. Conditions of the time brought into sharp focus the need for coal, iron, steel, gold, silver, and other minerals. The application of engineering and science was necessary for the production of these minerals and their manufacture into products to meet the needs of a growing nation. The requirements of the time were eloquently expressed in a paper by AIME member Edmund C. Pechin in 1872 : We find, the world over, the most intense activity everywhere displayed in enterprises requiring prodigious quantities of iron. Railways of colossal magnitude are projected. . . . The growing scarcity of timber is compelling the use of iron in buildings; bridges of wonderful size and strength; huge ocean steamships; barges and boats for lake and river traffic; churches; cars, and thousands of minor articles of every shape and size. . . . The time has come when scientific research is to assume its true position - the day of "sheer force and blind stupidity," whose only protection is a high tariff, has gone forever . . . the physicist, the geologist and mineralogist; the chemist, the engineer, are as essential to success as the [blast] furnace itself. . . . There is no merely practical man, no matter how varied may have been his experience, or how long his practice, that will not benefit from the results of scientific investigation. That there is a growing sense of the importance of having thoroughly prepared scientific men in every department of business is evidenced by the institutions [of learning] that are springing up in different quarters, provided with

Jan 1, 1971

By C. C. Mattax, J. E. Bobek, M. O. Denekas

ABSTRACT investigations in recent years have shown that rock wettability can exert a profound influence on the displacement of oil by water from oil producing reservoirs. Core analyses frequently show oil recoveries from preferentially water-wet rock to be significantly greater than those from preferentially oil-wet rock. Thus, an accurate prediction of water-drive or waterflood oil recovery is dependent on the evaluation of reservoir rock wettability. Laboratory and field studies have been undertaken to examine and develop methods which may be used to measure rock wettahililiy, to investigate factors which may alter the wettability of reservoir rock, and to determine the wettability of specific reservoirs. It has been found that measurement of the rate and volume of spontaneous imbibition of the wet-ting phase by a rock is a reliable and reproducible test for semi-quantitarive determination of preferential rock wettability. Laboratory tests have shown that the wettability of reservoir rock may depend on both the crude oil composition and the rock type. Field and laboratory tests have indicated that coring flulids and core handling techniques can cause significant changes in the wettability of rock surfaces. However, a few fluids, brine in particular, appear not to affect core wettability and may be used when coring to determine reservoir wettability. Core handling and packing procedures have been developed which preserve core wettability during storage and laboratory testing. The wetfability characteristics of six reservoirs have been evaluated by wettabilify tests performed in the field on fresh cores cut with brine or special water-base muds. The tests indicated that all six reservoirs are water wet; however, the de-gree differed from one reservoir to another. INTRODUCTION Although surface properties of reservoir rock and interfacial characteristics of rock, crude oil, and water systems have been discussed for many years, the full significance of these properties to the production of oil is still in the process of evaluation. It is known, however, that one surface characteristic—preferential wettability of the reservoir rock—-is of paramount importance when the reservoir is being produced by water-flood or water-drive mechanisms. The importance of rock wettability has been pointed out by several authors&apos;.&apos;,%* who have found that pref- erentially water-wet cores flood more efficiently than oil-wet cores; that is, more oil is recovered from water-wet cores in the early flooding stages than from oil-wet cores. Other authors&apos;," indicate that waterflood oil recovery from cores of intermediate wettability may be greater than that from either strongly water-wet or strongly oil-wet cores. These recent investigations emphasize that the true wettability of a reservoir must be known before the performance of waterflood or water-drive reservoirs can be accurately evaluated. When reservoir wettability is to be determined by core analysis, precautions must be taken to maintain the original wettability which can be altered readily during coring5 nd testing.&apos; In the coring operation the core may be partially or completely penetrated by the drilling fluid which, if it contains surface active materials, may drastically change the wettability of the core. Also, improper core handling during stcrage and testing may change its wettability because of evaporation of fluids or exposure to oxygen or surface active contaminants. One purpose of this paper is to discuss methods for obtaining, preserving, and testing cores without altering their original wettability. In addition, the results of wettability tests on fresh and preserved cores from six reservoirs are presented where special precautions were taken to obtain samples without altering their wettability during the coring operation.

By J. L. Huitt, S. R. Darin

The use of a partial monolayer of propping agent to obtain a high flow capacity for a hydraulically induced fracture is discussed. From the results of laboratory work it was shown that a modified form of the Kozeny-Carman relation could be used to describe the flow in the partial monolayer propped fracture. With equations presented in the paper, the density pattern of the propping agent (number of particles per unit of fracture surface) that results in the maximum flow capacity for the fracture can be determined. The maxitnum flow capacity obtained with a partial monolayer is often an order of magnitude greater than the flow capacity obtained in greater width fractures containing multilayers of the propping agent. INTRODUCTION One of the predominant factors controlling the success of a hydraulic fracturing operation is the propping of the fracture. The trend in hydraulic fracturing recently has been an increase in the ratio of propping agent-to-fluid. The primary purpose of this increased ratio is to sustain a propped fracture of greater width. It was shown in a recent study&apos; that for some formations low concentrations of propping agent would result in "closing" or "healing" of the fracture. In some cases, in an effort to insure sufficient propping agent concentration, the fracturing operation is designed to obtain a pack of the propping agent in the fracture. The placing of a pack of propping agent in the fracture provides a fracture of maximum width; however, the width alone does not control the flow capacity of the fracture. The flow capacity is dependent on the permeability of the fracture, as well as the fracture width. Thus, increasing the permeability to obtain larger flow capacities is as important as obtaining a greater width fracture. By increasing the concentration and particle diameter of the propping agent, fractures of sufficient flow capacities are obtainable for effective well stimulation in a number of formations. However, in some of the recovery techniques, the fracture capacity obtained by commonly used practices in fracturing is inadequate. One such recovery technique is gravity drainage via a horizontal fracture placed near the base of the productive zone. For this recovery technique, the fracture capacity desired is usually one to two orders of magnitude greater than the fracture capacity normally obtained in fractures propped with the size of sand commonly used (20-40 mesh). By the use of particles of larger diameter, the permeability of a pack2 is increased; however, even a multilayer pack results in a fracture flow capacity lower than that desired for some formations. For example, a fracture of 1/4-in. width, packed with 8-12 mesh sand of about 2,000 darcies permeability, would result in a fracture flow capacity (permeability X fracture width) of only 40,000 md-ft. If the fracture flow capacity needed is an order of magnitude greater than that cited in the example, an approach different from the formation of a pack in the fracture is needed. One approach is a partial monolayer of large-diameter propping agent. In working with this type of fracture system, it was found that the flow problems were unique to the system; therefore, the study discussed in this paper was made. THEORY AND RELATED STUDIES Previous studies, although related to that described in this paper, have not pertained directly to the flow in a fracture propped with a partial monolayer of propping agent. However, studies such as flow between parallel plates,&apos; flow in packed columns,&apos; fracture flow capacity&apos; and flow in simulated fractures reduce the scope of this flow problem considerably. A fracture propped with a partial monolayer of dropping agent may be considered to be between two extremes — between an open fracture and a bed of particles packed In a conduit of fracture geometry. Thus, it seems appropriate to review the extreme cases.

By R. W. Winson

Asbestos is the generic name given to a group of fibrous mineral silicates found in nature. They are all incombustible and can be separated by mechanical means into fibers of various lengths and cross sections, but each differs in chemical composition from the others. The commercial grades of asbestos consist of a spectrum of lengths and sizes and are not definitive as are most organic fibers. It is generally recognized that there are two main groups of asbestos. The first only contains the fibrous serpentine called chrysotile and comprises about 94% of the world production of asbestos. The second group contains five minerals in the amphibole series+rocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite. The latter two have no commercial importance. Properties Physical The structures of asbestos fibers have been studied intensively over a number of years. X-ray diffraction patterns have been used as a means of identification and classification. Low angle X-ray scattering techniques have shown that chrysotile fibers are "hexagonally close packed" and parallel to each other, having cross-sectional diameters varying from 18014 to 300A units, while the amphibole fibers are many times larger in cross section. Electron micrographs of the more common types of as- bestos are shown in [Figs. 1-4]. [Fig. 1] illustrates the softness and flexibility of chrysotile which make it suitable for textile-type products. For a number of years there was considerable controversy over the exact nature of chrysotile fiber, but the photographic evidence in [Figs. 5-7] clearly show that it is tubular in structure. The curvature is the result of the mismatch in the dimensions of the silica [Si,O,l and brucite [Mg(OH),] layers which are on the inside and outside, respectively, of a double sheet. This curvature had been predicted by Pauling (1930) years ago based on the molecular dimensions of the two component structures.

Jan 1, 1975

By E. J. Horwood

The varying physical character and large extent of the Broken Hill lode necesarily involve the employment of a variety of underground methods. The lode had its origin in an extensive fault plane traversing metamorphosed schists conformably, as a rule, with their beds of stratification. The underground waters carrying minerals in solution deposited their contents in the original cavities formed by the faulting action, and in the enlargements of these cavities due to dynamic forces brought to bear on the rocks, more especially on the hanging-wall side of the fault. This deposition was supplemented by metasomatic replacement of a portion of the original rock contents by the argentiferous sulphides of lead and zinc which form the staple products of the district. Although the orebody is practically continuous throughout the mines, its width varies greatly, ranging from a few feet to about 350 ft. The widest portions occur in conjunction with huge folds in the inclosing country rock, almost exclusively on the hanging-wall side. The ore in these folds pitches to the south in the southern half of the field, and to the north in the northern half; there are, however, undulations in these ore channels evidently due to compression of the rocks in the direction of the channels. In the earlier days, before the orebodies had been opened up, vertical cross-sections across these bulges in the hanging wall gave the lode the appearance of the "saddle formation," so well exemplified at Bendigo in Victoria; but subsequent development of the ore channels has long since proved that the formations in the two districts are entirely different. The depth reached by the zone of complete oxidation of the sulphides varies from about 259 to 550 ft, from the original outcrop, while partial oxidation extends in places below the 1,000-ft. level. The result of oxidizing influences has been the production of ore of every grade of cohesive-ness, from that of dry sand to that of hard compact rock. The methods of mining followed in this field, and even in individual mines, are varied in accordance with the character of the ore. The general practice of the field is to sink vertical shafts, generally on the foot-

Jan 1, 1916

Gentlemen of the American Institute of Mining Engineers.—As you well know an application is about to be made to Congress, by the American Society of Civil Engineers, for the appointment of a cornmission composed of persons skilled in the production and use of iron, steel, and other structural materials, whose duty it shall be to test the strength, elasticity, and other quatities of such materials ; not simply the substances used as such, but the members of large structures composed of such materials, of the forms and sizes in which they are actually used. As I understand, the papers that will be read here to-night will have for their object to show the necessity for such tests, and therefore the necessity for the commission asked for. As the representative of the Society of Civil Engineers, I have to thank you, gentlemen of the Mining Engineers, for the great zeal with which yon have taken up this subject, and seconded the efforts of the Civil Engineers; or, perhaps I ought rather to say, initiated the efforts to get a suitable commission appointed to obtain most vitally important information which it is admitted on all hands we do not now possess. In drawing up the memorial to Congress, in connection with some of the ablest and best informed of our Society, and in all the discossions on the subject, I have been struck with the emphasis with which the confession is made, that so little is known of the strength of the larger-sized members constantly used in building structures of the magnitude which the present requirements of the country now demand. I presume the remarks made to-night will bring this out very prominently. This is no disgrace, for with the means here-

Jan 1, 1882

By J. A. Harrison

The physical composition of coal and the distribution of its physical constituents will partially determine the efficiency of the process chosen for coal preparation. Distribution and concentration of coal macerals will, to a degree, be controlled by preparation processes. A number of preparation processes have been evaluated to determine this interrelation. These evaluations will help provide information needed for the production of coal that meets definite petrographic composition specifications. etrographic composition and degree of coalifica-tion of coal can determine the choice of cleaning processes and equipment used in coal preparation. The purpose of this paper is to present data on studies of the preparation processes of breakage, sizing, cleaning, and blending and to show the effect coal&apos;s petrographic composition has on these processes. Herrin (No. 6) and Danville (No. 7) Coals from Illinois were used in these tests. Nomenclature used herein is that approved in the Glossary of the International Committee for Coal Petrology,&apos; based primarily on the Stopes-Heerlen system of classification2 and used in coal petrography laboratories throughout the world. BREAKAGE TESTS Breakage tests of Illinois coals related to petrographic composition have been conducted at various times at the Illinois State Geological Survey. These tests have been classified under two headings -impact tests and compression tests. Impact tests, as the name implies, consisted of breaking the coal by a sharp, sudden force. Impact tests were further divided into fall tests and block tests. Compression tests consisted of applying a constant pressure on a piece of coal until the coal fractured.

Jan 1, 1963