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By Walter Rose

Experimentation which measures differences in pressure across the interfaces of immiscible fluids in the interstitial spaces of porous media may be termed "capillary pressure experimentation". In the literature of petroleum technology since 1941 there have appeared twelve papers popularizing capillary pressure concepts and developing applications of these concepts for the solution of problems of practical reservoir engineering importance, such as the determination of connate water, fluid distribution. in transition zones, reservoir rock textural properties, and oil recovery from petroleum reservoirs. Although a review of the literature would be justified at this time in order to reconcile the conflicting viewpoints which are contained in the cited papers, the object of this note will be of more limited scope. It is believed that the recent paper of Muskat alls sufficient attention to many of the uncertainties which arise upon examination of the published literature. such that until satisfactory counter-proposals can be made it will serve our purpose only to mention some other like uncertainties. This will emphasize further the need confronting petroleum technologists to re. consider and reformulate the application possibilities of capillary pressure experimentation. In particular, I sug- gest that we examine the thesis that capillary pressure experimentation as above defined can lead to measurements reflecting the recovery of oil from petroleum reservoirs, as was proposed first" by Amyx and Yuster and was first reduced to practice by the experimentation of Welge . In fact. I shall deal exclusively with the Welge papers since it is the principle one on this subject which has appeared to date. I shall attempt to show that the possibility of describing oil recovery features in terms of capillary pressure phenomena has not been established entirely. The Welge paper was a pioneering effort to evaluate this recovery application possibility. P. P. Reichertz' comments on the Welge paper state that non-wetting phase discontinuities are developed occasionally in the Welge experiment, and restate Muskat's argument that discontinuous fluid elements (partially saturating the interstices of porous media which are elsewhere saturated with some other immiscible phase or phases) are not subject to the requirements of hydrostatic equilibrium. It is the purpose of my comment to show that it is unnecessary to make Reichertz' postulation regarding non-wetting phase discontinuities (however valid) when it is desired to criticize Welge's theoretical treatment of his problem. It can be shown that Welge's method of measuring values for ''capillary pressure" is invalid in many instances of application, such that his reported curves of capillary pressure Versus fluid saturation often have no physical meaning, even throughout the interval of fluid saturation where it might be otherwise suspected that no phase discontinuities occur. By considering established principles of capillary pressure experimentation it can be shown that the pressure difference experimentally observed between wetting and non-wetting fluid phases which are contained in external reservoirs will reflect on the capillary pressure difference at the interfaces of contact between these phases only when the following conditions are satisfied: (a) There shall be a balance between the opposing forces of gravity and capillarity, as obtains under conditions of hydrostatic equilibrium when the positions of the interfaces of contact become fixed in pore spaces of certain geometry (b) The wetting and non-wetting fluids within the interstitial spaces shall everywhere be continuous with the external wetting phase reservoir and the external non-wetting phase reservoir, respectively. It will become apparent immediately that in any instance when a greater pressure is recorded in the external wetting phase reservoir than in the external non-wetting phase reservoir, one may establish either that static equilibrium has not been attained or that discontinuities in one or more of the fluids have been developed. This is because the pressure otherwiee is always gereatest in the non-wetting phase at each static interstitial interface of contact with the wetting phase. such that the externally measured pressure in the non-wetting phase likewise must be greatest if the above conditions are to be satisfied.

Jan 1, 1949

By F. W. Jessen

The Mechanism of solution of salt and mixed halites of sodium and potassium is reviewed. The variation in the rate of salt removal under both laminar and turbulent flow conditions is discussed. Many changes are possible in the development of solution cavities whether used for production of salts or for storage of hydrocarbons. The parameters influencing the type and shape of cavity formed with single well or multiple well systems are examined and information presented regarding field application of techniques developed and the means of controlling overall configuration of solution cavities.

Jan 1, 1972

By Charles M. Behre

Under the caption "fault," geologists intend to include all mass movements of solid rocks over adjacent rock masses. When these are studied long after their origin, however, circumstances make it possible to recognize as "fault" only formations showing clear evidence of actual movement of one side with respect to the other. Necessarily the chief evidence consists of the offset of a vein, bed, or other key structure. Planes of movement parallel to the bedding, or nearly so, are recognized with difficulty or are overlooked and hence many important faults are wholly unrecorded. Indeed, among standard American references on structural geology, one alone emphasizes the importance of bedding-plane movements and that one only briefly1. For some time the writer, cognizant of this difficulty, has paid special attention to such movements, both as observed in the field and as recorded in the literature. It is believed that enough data are now at hand to justify a short discussion. Its purposes are fivefold. It is desired first to briefly classify and describe at least the more common kinds of bedding-plane faults, and second, to examine the causes and manner of their formation, at least in instances where the subject has not yet been well covered by other investigators. Third, certain by-products of bedding-plane movements are of such conspicuous importance to the economic geologist and mining engineer as to merit mention. Fourth, concrete illustrations should be placed before the reader in order to lend reality and to furnish a basis of comparison with his experience; such illustrations will necessarily be scattered through the text of this paper. They are only in part from the writer's own field observations. The fifth and prime objective of this paper is to direct attention to the great importance of movements on the bedding planes, in the hope that the recognition of such movements and their significance may simplify mining problems.

Jan 1, 1937

Executive JOHN M LOVEJOY, Chairman ERLE V DAVELER G B WATERHOUBE WILBER JUDSON WILLIAM WRAITH J V W REYNDERS, Consultant Finance HENRY KRUMB, Chairman PAUL D MERICA R M ROOSEVELT H G MOULTON, Consultant Admissions RALPH M ROOSEVELT, Chairman GEORGE D BARRON, Vice-chairman JOHN L CHRISTIE PHILIP KRAFT W A SINSHEIMER

Jan 1, 1937

By K. P. Gupta, P. A. Beck, N. S. Rajan

By determining the a phase boundaries in the following ternary systems: V-Fe-Si (at 1175oC), V-Co-Si (at 1175°C), V-Ni-Si (at 1175oC), Cr-Mn-Si (at 1000°C), Cr-Co-Si (at 1175°C), Cr-Ni-Si (at 1175°C), V-Fe-A1 (at 1175°C) and Cr-Co-A1 (at 1175°C), it was found that Si exerts a stabilizing effect on these a phases, while A1 tends to destabilize them. Si atoms in solid solution occupy sites D in the a structure, The co/ao ratio increases with increasing Si-, Mn- or Fe-content. The volume of the unit cell decreases with increasing Si-content. THE stabilization of certain metal silicides (the Nowotny phases) by the addition of relatively small

Jan 1, 1961

By William C. Grady

Microscopic pyrites are present in all West Virginia coals. Sizes of these pyrites range from 0.1 µ 500 µ (1/2 mm) , and four types are noted: massive, patches, framboids, and isolated crystals. The relative and absolute abundances of the four types vary from seam to seam, and these distributions have a marked effect on the ease with which a seam may be cleaned of pyritic sulfur.

Jan 1, 1978

By N. J. Grant, Hans Brunner

ThE materials used in this investigation were furnished by the Aluminum Co. of America and consisted of high-purity alurhinum (99.995 pct) and two aluminum-magnesium alloys containing approximately 2 and 5 pct Mg. The compositions of these alloys are listed in Table I. The materials were received as hot rolled 3/8-in. diam rods and were made from the same heats as the materials which were previously used in this laboratory.'j3 The rods were cold swaged to 1/4-in. diam by 1 in. long, and then had two parallel flats machined over the gage length 0.085 in. apart. The test bars were annealed for 10 min at 700° F, and strained 1 pct in tension at room temperature. They were electropolished (80 pct acetic acid; 20 pct perchloric acid, 70 pct concentration) at a temperature of 60°F at approximately 20 v. A grid, transverse or square, spaced 0.2 mm apart, was impressed by rolling a fine threaded screw (128 threads per in.) across the flat surfaces. The depth of the grooves was less than 5 p. For final annealing and grain size control the specimens were enclosed in aluminum foil and sealed in Vycor tubes. Annealing conditions varied from 1 hr at 700° F to 5 days at 1050° F, depending on the alloy content, to give for most of the specimens a final grain size of about 1 mm. This treatment was followed by electropol-ishing as described above. For the test series presented in Figs. 4 and 5 round specimens were used instead of flat ones, and fine machining marks served as marker lines instead of the impressed grid lines. Electropolishing was omitted. The major advantage is that the spacing of the machining marks is only about 1 u as compared to the 200 u of the impressed grid lines, permitting higher precision in strain measurements. Unfortunately the strain annealing necessary for grain size control also resulted in some preferred orientation of the grains. The preferred orientation of three arbitrary specimens was measured by X-ray diffraction methods and the averaged results are shown in Fig. 1. The possible effects of the preferred orientation on the test results will be discussed later. The testing temperatures were 410°, 515", 725", and 940° F, with one exception in the case of the 5.1 pct Mg alloy. Since the solubility limit of this alloy is 520°F, a test temperature of 545°F was cho-se sen instead of 515°F. The selection of the test temperature was based on two considerations: 1) at 900°F and above, extensive grain boundary migration made it more difficult to measure grain boundary sliding; 2) at 400°F and below, there was so little grain boundary sliding that it was again difficult to make precise measurements. The stress was chosen to give a creep rate of approximately 2.7 pct per hr in connection with Figs. 2

Jan 1, 1961

By Cadwallader Evans

THE American Institute of Mining Engineers was organized in the anthracite region of Pennsylvania by men who were primarily interested in anthracite. Its first meeting, at Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in the Northern Anthracite field, on May 16, 1871, resulted from a call sent out by three outstanding men of the anthracite .industry: Eckley B. Coxe, R. P. Rothwell, and Martin Coryell. The best known of these was Eckley B. Coxe, who was the manager of large hold¬ings operated by him and his family,. and who is remembered as the inventor of a special grate for burning very fine anthracite, known as the Coxe traveling grate, which is still very widely used. R. P. Rothwell was a well-known consulting engineer of the region, as was Martin Coryell, who was associated with another well-known anthracite family, the Pardees. There is no record of the discussions that resulted in this initial meeting, but it is safe to assume that the formation of the Institute was largely influenced, through appreciation by the founders, of the necessity for a free exchange of information covering the whole of the mining industry. One of the rules adopted at the first meeting was:

Jan 1, 1947

By Renato G. Bautista, Theodore D. Tiemann

A kinetic study of the hydrogen reduction of taconite from the Wisconsin Gogebic range was made over the temperature range from 500° to 1000°C on eleven size fractions from 4 to 150 mesh. Two stages of reduction were observed, a rapid initial reaction followed by a slower reaction presumably taking place at an internal receding FexO-Fe interface. Calculated mean activation energies for the two reactions were 7800 and 14,600 cal per mole respectively. In recent years there has been an increased interest in the direct reduction of iron oxide ores to metallic iron by means of gaseous reducing agents such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide.1,2 These investigations have been motivated by the desire to develop a process that will by-pass the blast furnace in the production of steel. The majority of these processes have been developed to produce metallic iron by direct reduction from high-grade iron oxide ores.3"5 Very little work has been done on the low-grade siliceous iron oxide ores.6"8 The work reported here is directed principally towards the fundamental aspect of the reduction reactions of siliceous iron oxide ores, since the practical aspects of the gaseous reductant process were discussed previously. The ore used in the investigation was obtained originally from the United States Bureau of Mines10 trench sample of the Yale member of the Wisconsin Gogebic range iron formation. The Yale taconite has an average analysis of 28.2 pct Fe and approximately 50 pct SiO2. Chemically, these nonmagnetic taconites contain on the average about 53 pct silica and 30 pct Fe. An average analysis calculated fron the USBM10 figures for a composite of the five members (Norrie, Plymouth, Pence, Pabst, and ale) of the iron formation is given in Table I. Mineralogically, based on previous X-ray diffraction and other studies, the principal minerals are hematite (Fe2O3), geothite (Fe2O3.H2O), and quartz (SiO2). Minor amounts of iron containing silicates, siderite (FeCO3) and magnetite (FeO. Fe2O3) are present.10,11 The iron minerals and the quartz are finely disseminated requiring extremely fine grinding for liberation. For the experimental work, the ore sample was screened into a number of size fractions, the analyses and densities of which are given in Table II. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The reduction experiments were carried out in a 24 in. by 2 in. ID nichrome-wound vertical-tube furnace mounted on a stand. A 1 1/2 in. OD zirconium-oxide combustion tube was used inside the furnace to contain the atmosphere. To the top of this combustion tube was joined a pyrex ground-glass joint to which was attached a glass bulb with a small (1.0 mm) opening at the center, and with two outlets controlled with a stopcock on each side. A pyrex-glass joint with connections to three stopcock joints for introducing hydrogen, nitrogen, and mixtures of hydrogen and nitrogen gas was joined to the tapered bottom of the combustion tube. The sized ore fractions were contained in a 1 in. diameter by 1 1/2 in. 150-mesh nickel screen basket. The basket was suspended in the furnace from a balance by means of a supporting nickel wire which hung freely inside the combustion tube. The furnace temperature was controlled by a Leeds and Northrup Speedomax Type G controller, connected to a chromel-alumel thermocouple placed

Jan 1, 1962

By William G. Kranz

Discussion of the paper of WILLIAM G. KRANZ, presented at the San Francisco meeting, September, 1915, and printed in Bulletin. No. 101, May, 1915, pp. 927 to 930. M. PETINOT, Niagara Falls, N. Y. (communication to the Secretary*). -I have read this paper with considerable interest and agree perfectly with Mr. Kranz that steel for castings made in an electric furnace is not necessarily, because of that fact, all good steel, and also that the qualities which he mentions, such as absence of segregation, elimination of `sulphur, great tenacity, etc., can be obtained in an electric furnace if operated under proper metallurgical conditions. An unusually low content of sulphur in steel for castings is not, of course, an absolute necessity and the range of this element usually obtained in steel made in basic open-hearth furnaces is sufficiently low to meet all physical requirements. The main factor in making steel for castings, regardless of the process, is the complete deoxidation of the bath to prevent the formation of

Jan 12, 1915

By H. Reiss

The zone-melting process in which redistribution of solute in a solid bar is effected by the passage of a molten zone is considered mathematically. Simple approximate techniques are developed for computing the manner in which redistribution occurs as molten zones continue to pass. The introduction of the "zone-melting flux" provides valuable insight into the nature of the phenomenon, as well as a central mathematical theme in terms of which the process can be discussed. Curves are presented for typical and general cases. AN extremely efficient purification technique was described recently by Pfann.1 Known as zone refining, it consisted of the slow passage of a series of molten zones, produced by external heaters, through a long solid ingot of the substance to be purified. Equations were given for the maximum separation attainable, and a numerical computation method was described for obtaining the concentration in the ingot after a given number of zone passes. The present paper offers an interpretation of the physical nature of zone melting in terms of a transport process in which formal diffusive and convec-tive flows occur. This interpretation, in addition to providing insight into the physical nature of the process, also provides a basis for its mathematical treatment. From this basis, useful equations are developed for the solute concentration in the ingot as a function of the number of zone passes. These are applicable particularly where large numbers of passes are necessary and where numerical computational methods might be laborious. All considerations will deal with the limiting form of the process, described by Pfann,' in which: 1—Diffusion in the solid is considered negligible. 2—Mixing in the liquid is supposed, complete. 3—The distribution coefficient, k, measuring the ratio (at equilibrium) of solute concentration in the solid to that in the liquid is supposed, independent of composition. In general, this paper will be concerned with a bar of uniform (actually unit) cross section, ex- tending in the x-direction from x = 0 to x = L, where L may be infinite. Zone melting is a transport process, and as such must admit of interpretation in terms of a flux of transported quantity. However, the progress of operation is not measured in units of time but in terms of the number of completed zone passes. Consequently, the zone-melting flux will be a rate, per unit pass, rather than per unit time. The description of this flux and the examination of its properties is given below. Zone-Melting Flux Fig. 1 represents an intermediate stage of the nth pass. Concentration C is plotted against distance, x. The molten zone with its back at the point x and front at x + I moves in the direction indicated by the arrow. As it moves, it leaves behind the nth

Jan 1, 1955

By Guy W. Jordan, David P. Hale

High-iRon cements have a number of advantages over cements carrying little or no iron. The presence of iron in Portland cement aids in the manufacture of the cement and also imparts certain advantageous physical properties to the finished product. In manufacture, the presence of iron lowers the fuel consumption, increases the ease of proper"burning, and lessens the destructive action of the charge on the kiln refractories. In the finished cement the presence of iron reduces the expansion and contraction, adds strength, adds increased resistance to"freezing and thawing, and increases the resistance of the cement to sea "or sulphate waters. [" During the past few years the construction of numerous dams through- "out the Southeast by the Tennessee Valley Authority has stimulated the "production of high-iron cements. At present a great number of specifica- "tions call for an iron cement, and the industry is supplying this demand "with a Portland cement carrying approximately 5 per cent iron oxide. "Several manufacturers are now making practically all of their cement "of this type and a number of others manufacture it as a special cement "over short periods to meet demands from the Tennessee Valley Authority "and other buyers. " The recent increase in the use of iron in Portland cement has created "a market for iron products that previously was nonexistent. The chief "sources of supply for the cement manufacturers at present are iron sand, "iron sinter and slag, and ocher. The Copperhill mining district, Ten- "nessee, supplies both iron sinter and slag for use in cement. The Carters- "ville district supplies iron sand, ocher, and some iron resulting from the "magnetic separation of iron from barite. The advantages of these "products vary according to the chemical properties of the raw materials "and the methods of handling used by the different manufacturers. Where "the iron is to be handled by conveying belts and in hopper cars, the iron"sand and sinter and slag are preferable. Where the silica content must "be raised, the iron sand is doubly advantageous because it supplies both

Jan 1, 1942

By David P. Hale, Guy W. Jordan

High-iRon cements have a number of advantages over cements carrying little or no iron. The presence of iron in Portland cement aids in the manufacture of the cement and also imparts certain advantageous physical properties to the finished product. In manufacture, the presence of iron lowers the fuel consumption, increases the ease of proper"burning, and lessens the destructive action of the charge on the kiln refractories. In the finished cement the presence of iron reduces the expansion and contraction, adds strength, adds increased resistance to"freezing and thawing, and increases the resistance of the cement to sea "or sulphate waters. [" During the past few years the construction of numerous dams through- "out the Southeast by the Tennessee Valley Authority has stimulated the "production of high-iron cements. At present a great number of specifica- "tions call for an iron cement, and the industry is supplying this demand "with a Portland cement carrying approximately 5 per cent iron oxide. "Several manufacturers are now making practically all of their cement "of this type and a number of others manufacture it as a special cement "over short periods to meet demands from the Tennessee Valley Authority "and other buyers. " The recent increase in the use of iron in Portland cement has created "a market for iron products that previously was nonexistent. The chief "sources of supply for the cement manufacturers at present are iron sand, "iron sinter and slag, and ocher. The Copperhill mining district, Ten- "nessee, supplies both iron sinter and slag for use in cement. The Carters- "ville district supplies iron sand, ocher, and some iron resulting from the "magnetic separation of iron from barite. The advantages of these "products vary according to the chemical properties of the raw materials "and the methods of handling used by the different manufacturers. Where "the iron is to be handled by conveying belts and in hopper cars, the iron"sand and sinter and slag are preferable. Where the silica content must "be raised, the iron sand is doubly advantageous because it supplies both

Jan 1, 1942

By Yasushi Ishikawa

The fact that the degree of granulation and the state of granulated particles of sinter raw mixtures are the influential factors in ensuring coke combustibility and permeability during sintering has been clarified. Based on this knowledge, Nippon Steel developed the divided coke-addition process and the technology to utilize binder, and applied them on a commercial scale. Productivity and sinter quality are thereby greatly improved with a significant reduction in fuel consumption.

Jan 1, 1977

By Alexander Squire

One of the principal factors that have contributed to the hesitancy of design engineers to use metal-powder parts is the difficulty experienced in the determination of the mechanical properties of compacted components. Because standard test methods cannot usually be applied in the inspection of such parts, and because adequate special test methods have not been developed, it has been considered desirable to investigate the methods that are applicable. These may then be included in specifications for metal-powder materials and components in order that the design engineer may be assured that the subject parts possess the desired mechanical properties for satisfactory performance. It is known that direct relationships exist between usually nonmeasurable properties as tensile strength and elongation and shear strength and the angle through which compacts may be plastically deformed before fracturing. These correlations are valuable in the inspection of specific parts, but it is necessary to set up standards before they may be satisfactorily employed. Apart from the use of correlations, the number and character of the inspection methods that are applicable to almost all powder parts is limited to three—chemical analysis, density, and hardness. The last of these may or may not be a pertinent characteristic, since the indentation hardness of many powdeied-metal materials is so low as to have little significance. It is, however, occasionally desirable to use hardness measurements as an indication of the uniformity of the structure of pieces of a given type. Chemical analysis reveals very little about the physical properties of metal-powder compacts, since the unpressed powder is usually of a composition almost identical with that of the finished pieces. Density determinations are simple to perform and have the advantage of being nondestructive in character. If the dimensions of a machine part are known (and usually they are), the average density may be determined by weighing a given number of pieces and dividing by the calculated volume of the parts. More accurate measurements may be made by the water-displacement method. It is recognized that mechanical properties of metal-powder materials are related to their density, but usually these relations are determined for only one type of powder, processed under a given set of conditions. Comparisons of the pioperties of compacts formed from different types of powders are made on the basis of compacting pressures instead of density, and for this reason the results obtained by using powders of different types appear widely variant.

Jan 1, 1947

By Alexander Squire

One of the principal factors that have contributed to the hesitancy of design engineers to use metal-powder parts is the difficulty experienced in the determination of the mechanical properties of compacted components. Because standard test methods cannot usually be applied in the inspection of such parts, and because adequate special test methods have not been developed, it has been considered desirable to investigate the methods that are applicable. These may then be included in specifications for metal-powder materials and components in order that the design engineer may be assured that the subject parts possess the desired mechanical properties for satisfactory performance. It is known that direct relationships exist between usually nonmeasurable properties as tensile strength and elongation and shear strength and the angle through which compacts may be plastically deformed before fracturing. These correlations are valuable in the inspection of specific parts, but it is necessary to set up standards before they may be satisfactorily employed. Apart from the use of correlations, the number and character of the inspection methods that are applicable to almost all powder parts is limited to three—chemical analysis, density, and hardness. The last of these may or may not be a pertinent characteristic, since the indentation hardness of many powdeied-metal materials is so low as to have little significance. It is, however, occasionally desirable to use hardness measurements as an indication of the uniformity of the structure of pieces of a given type. Chemical analysis reveals very little about the physical properties of metal-powder compacts, since the unpressed powder is usually of a composition almost identical with that of the finished pieces. Density determinations are simple to perform and have the advantage of being nondestructive in character. If the dimensions of a machine part are known (and usually they are), the average density may be determined by weighing a given number of pieces and dividing by the calculated volume of the parts. More accurate measurements may be made by the water-displacement method. It is recognized that mechanical properties of metal-powder materials are related to their density, but usually these relations are determined for only one type of powder, processed under a given set of conditions. Comparisons of the pioperties of compacts formed from different types of powders are made on the basis of compacting pressures instead of density, and for this reason the results obtained by using powders of different types appear widely variant.

Jan 1, 1947

By L. D. Jaffe

IT is now well established that quenched and tempered titanium alloys have much better ductility when the quenching is from a two phase a-B structure, rather than from an all B structure. The corresponding microstructural differences, however, have not been shown in previous publications. Accordingly, specimens were cut from a % in. rod of commercial RC-130A, containing 7.9 pct Mn and 0.12 pct C, which had been previously hot rolled, heated 1 hr at 1100°F, and air cooled. (The same heat has been studied by others." 7 Samples about 1/4 in. cube were heated in helium 1/2 hr at 1450' or 1700°F, quenched in brine, tempered in helium 1 hr at various temperatures up to 1250°F, and quenched in brine. They were then sectioned and metallo-graphically examined, using an etchant of HF-HNO, in glycerine. As quenched from 1700°F, the microstructure observed was clear /3. (Probably also present was U, as the hardness was 400 Vhn, but w is not yet reliably revealed by any metallographic technique.) When the /3 quenched alloy was tempered at a high temperature, a precipitated as a grain boundary film

Jan 1, 1957

By T. L. Loucks, E. T. Guerrero

Pressure drop characteristics in a system composed of two adjacent concentric regions of different permeability were studied. The differential equations for continuity of mass flow in the two regions were solved using the Laplace transformation and the necessary boundary conditions to give the pressure distribution in the composite reservoir, the resulting equation for pressure drop at the inner boundary was evaluated for a variety of composite reservoirs and compared with the results for a uniform reservoir. From this study it was found that under certain conditions the permeability in both zones, as well as the size of the inner zone, can be determined from the pressure drop curve. INTRODUCTION The theory for the pressure distribution and pressure build-up behavior of a well producing a single, slightly compressible fluid from infinite and finite homogeneous reservoirs was presented by Hornerl and Miller, Dyes and Hutchinson.2 Extensions on this original work to provide improved and extended interpretations and better agreement between theory and observed results have been made by Matthews, et a1,3 van Everdingen,4 Gladfelter, et al5 Stegemeierand Matthews,6 Hurst and Guerrero,7 and Perrine.8 More recently Lefkovits, et al,9 studied pressure build-up behavior in bounded reservoirs composed of stratified layers. Houpeurtl0 has suggested various approaches to the general problem of variable permeability and porosity but presented no analytic solutions for particular permeability variations. Albert, Jaisson and Marionll studied the finite composite reservoir and presented numerical solutions to the unsteady-state case and an analytical solution valid only for large times. They also studied the so-called pseudo-steady state for several examples of radial permeability variations. Very similar examples have been treated in the unsteady state with application to pressure build-up by Loucks in an unpublished manuscript. More recently Hurst12 has presented the complete point-sink solution (valid for all times) for the infinite composite reservoir. He applied these solutions to interference between oil fields along with an even more elegant application of his explicit solution to the material-balance equation including water influx. Mortada 13 approaches the same application by avoiding the point-source limitation but gives the solution for the aquifer region which is valid only for large times. Hopkinson, Natanson and Temple14 have treated both the finite and infinite composite reservoir obtaining the pressure distribution for the inner zone valid for large times. This paper presents a theoretical study of the pressure distribution in an infinite composite reservoir composed of two adjacent concentric regions of different permeability. The object was to determine the manner in which pressure drop at the inner boundary of a composite reservoir depends upon time, the permeability of each zone and the size of the inner zone. Expressions for the pressure distribution in both zones are developed which take into account the radius of the sink and are valid for small times as well as large times. It was felt that an understanding of the pressure drop behavior in various composite reservoirs would be of assistance in the interpretation of some pressure build-up curves which do not behave according to the theory derived for uniform systems. Often the region surrounding the wellbore is either more permeable or less permeable than the reservoir because of the various drilling and completion practices. The effects of reduced permeability due to drilling-fluid invasion and of increased permeability due to fracturing or acidizing need to be more carefully defined. Therefore, an equation for the pressure drop in a composite reservoir was developed, and the effects of both the permeability in each zone and the size of the inner zone were studied. STATEMENT AND SOLUTION OF PROBLEM BOUNDARY CONDITIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS The physical system studied was a composite

By Charles White Merrill, James W. Pennington

No metallurgical process developed in the 20th century compares with froth flotation in its effect on the mineral industry. Processes like gravity - concentration, amalgamation, and pyrometallurgical reduction are of ancient origin; others like cyanidation and electrolytic reduction were well established by 1900. Such metallurgical processes as heavy-media separation, ion-exchange, and solvent extraction belong to this century, but their influence is small compared with froth flotation. Data collected by the U. S. Bureau of Mines* in a canvass of 202 froth flotation plants reveal that, in 1960, 198- million tons of material was treated to recover 20-million tons of concentrates which contained approximately $1 billion in recoverable products. SIGNIFICANCE OF FLOTATION Froth flotation as described in this chapter refers to a wet process for separating properly ground mineral particles into two or more products. It involves the separation of mineral particles from each other in a liquid pulp by means of air bubbles. Finely crushed ore is agitated in water with the addition of air or other gases. Various chemicals and oils are added to cause the selected mineral particles to attach themselves to the air or gas bubbles. These bubbles, carrying the mineral particles, rise to the surface where they are removed in a froth, while the other particles remain suspended in the pulp. The earliest flotation divided the raw material into two products: a bulk concentrate that was removed as a froth and a tailing that remained in the flotation machine. The froth usually contained the valuable constituents. The successful application of such a process depended on the recovery of a single concentrate from which one or more valuable constituents could be recovered by a chemical or smelting process. With the advance of the art, however, the principle of selective flotation, by which two or more relatively pure products could be recovered from complex raw materials, was evolved. Other chapters in this volume describe the developments during the last 50

Jan 1, 1962

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOCAL SECTION Executive Committee THEODORE B. COMSTOCK, Chairman SEELEY W. MUDD, Vice-Chairman FREDERICK J. H. MERRILL, Secretary-Treasurer, 300 Germain Building, Los Angeles, Cal. C. COLCOCK JONES FRANK ROBBINS The February meeting of the Southern California Local Section-was held at the headquarters in the Chamber of Mines and Oil of. Los Angeles on Feb. 17, C. Colcock Jones presiding. Fourteen members were present. The subject announced was Ore Sampling. W. M. Watts opened the discussion by a general outline of the important points to be covered, in sampling a mine and the methods to be used in the various stages of the work. All the members present successively contributed details from their personal experience. The March meeting of the Section was held at its headquarters on Mar. 15. Twelve members were present, with Dr. Theodore B. Comstock in the Chair. The subject announced was Secondary Enrichment and all present took part in the discussion, Frank Robbins contributing a short paper on some observations in Central America. The next meeting will be held on Apr. 14, at which time the subject of Mine Accounting will be discussed. F. J., H. MERRILL, Secretary.

Jan 5, 1914