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By T. Toda, R. Maddin

A study has been made of the microstructure and mechanical properties of splat-cooled aluminum-base gold alloys with gold concentration from 0.25 to 5.0 wt pct. These alloys have been quenched from the liquid state by a torsion-catapult technique, which has made it possible to pepare specimens suitable for mechanical property measwements. From the electron micrographs it has been shown that the solid solubility of gold in aluminum can be extended to 2.5 wt pct (0.35 at. pct) by splat-cooling, while the maximum equilibrium solubility is known to be less than 0.3 wt pct (0.04 at. pct). The very fine grain size (several tenths of a micron), the extended solid solubility, and the fine dispersion of a second phase (AuAl2) contribute concurrently to a substantial strengthening effect. In Al-5 wt pct Au splat-cooled specimens of less than 50 thickness, the yield strength is 17 kg per sq mm or 6 times as large as the strength of bulk specimens. For the Al-1.0 to 2.5 wt pct Au solid solution obtained by splat-cooling, the yield strength reaches 7.5 kg per sq mm after an aging treatment (for 10 hr at 200°C), while it is 3.7 kg per sq mm for the corresponding bulk specimens. A great deal of research has been done in recent years on the structure and the properties of metals and alloys rapidly quenched from the liquid state.' The term "splat-cool" has been used with the meaning of a rapid quenching from the liquid state., The splat-cooling techniques have produced large numbers of new structures, which are expressed in terms of metastable phases,3 concentrated solid solutions,4 amorphous phases,5'6 new phases,7 and so forth. Nearly all previous studies have concentrated on the physical properties; i.e., crystallography, structure, electrical resistivity, magnetism, and so forth, of the splat-cooled metals and alloys. The mechanical strength of splat-cooled metals and alloys has hardly been investigated except for some recent work by MOSS' on A1-V alloys. The principle common to all experimental techniques developed to obtain very rapid quenching rates is based on the heat transfer by conduction. Liquid must be in good thermal contact with a substrate of high heat conductivity. Both of the published devices known as the "gun" and the "piston and anvil" techniques suffer from certain shortcomings. For example, the specimen obtained by the gun technique is very small and flaky, and hence inadequate for mechanical properties measurements. On the other hand if the material is forced to yield a continuous speci- men by the piston and anvil technique, it is probable that some plastic deformation occurs during the quench. A novel method for rapid quenching of a liquid metal or alloy, the "torsion-catapult", has been devised by Roberge and Herman9 at the University of Pennsylvania. In the apparatus the melt is thrown out of a curved furnace by a catapult and impinges on a copper substrate. The apparatus has the advantage of producing a continuous foil which is relatively large in size and of a quality suitable for the measurements of mechanical properties. The quenching rate is estimated to be of the order of l05 to l06 ºC per sec, (comparable to rates achieved by the piston and anvil technique). In selecting an alloy to be studied we were made aware of the fact that gold was believed to be "insoluble" in in and consequently age hardening in the A1-Au system appeared to be interesting. Quite recently Heirnendahl13-15 revealed that the solid solubility, as determined by transmission electron microscopy, was 0.3 wt pct Au at 640°C and 0.25 wt pct Au at 600°C, decreasing with decreasing temperature. In an A1-0.2 pct Au alloy after quenching from a solution treating temperature of 600°C the yield stress was 2 kg per sq mm, and it increased up to 6 kg per sq mm after aging for 1 to 10 hr at 200°C. The precipitation occurred in the form of platelike particles mainly on (100) matrix planes. The intermediate phase n', the equilibrium phase n (AuAl2), and lattice relationships between both precipitates and the matrix were also investigated by electron microscopy. One of the purposes of the present research is to determine whether or not the solid solubility in this system, in which gold has a very small solubility in

Jan 1, 1970

By T. O. Anderson, E. J. Stahl

Tests to increase knowledge concerning the process of hydraulic fracturing have been performed on three wells in the Allegheny field in western New York. The fracture orientation and its physical appearance at the well-bore was determined by impression packers run at appropriate times throughout the program. Fract~tre azi171uth and its dimensions thus determined were compared to the rock properties and treatment conditions. Logs to provide data concerning rock properties and to improve identification of vertical fractures were run before each step of the fracture treatment. Pressure osc~illu~iot~s were studied after each phase of tile treatments surface pressures during treatment. These measurements show that subsurface pressures exhibit many of the same characteristics as surface pressures during treatment of a well; however, transient pressures are dampened and deelayed in time at the bottom of the well when COmpared with surface pressures. Data obtained from this study provides a means to help locale and determine orientation of vertical fractures made in the open wellbore. Although these rests were performed in only one area, much of the information gained may be applied to fracturing programs in orher areas. INTRODUCTION In this study, various tests were made to provide data to better understand formation fracturing in situ. The reservoir studied is the Richburg oil sand which is a part of a series of predominantly grey sandstones and shales with occasional brown sandstone layers, known as the Caneadea unit of the Canadaway group of Upper Devonian age. Average physical characteristics of 12 cored wells in this area are 13-ft thick gross sand formation, 12-ft thick net sand. 1.7 md permeability, 11 percent porosity, 44 percent oil saturation (before secondary recovery) and 16 percent water saturation (before secondary recovery). This particular area of the Allegheny oil field was originally drilled prior to 1890. The first waterflood secondary recovery attempt was made in 1929. The present sustained waterflood development began in 1951 and is being carried out on a 4.5 to 5-acre spacing. Objectives of these tests were to (I) study fracture azimuth and dimension in relation to rock properties and treating conditions, (2) improve fracture identification techniques, (3) compare surface and subsurface pressure during all phases of treatment and (4) compare the periods of the fluid column oscillations occurring after each phase of treatment. Although the areas of investigation listed appear divergent in purpose, the program was designed primarily to increase knowledge of down-hole conditions leading to rock failure and extension of the fracture thus created. TEST PROCEDURES Wells upon which tests were conducted are designated as Wells 1 through 3. Well 2 was located 440 ft north of Well 1, and Well 3 was located approximately 880 ft west of Well 1. Wells 1 and 2 were completed with cable tools, while the producing interval of Well 3 was rotary cored using fresh water as the drilling fluid to obtain oriented cores. Tests were divided into separate phases on each well as the fracturing program progressed and consisted of measurements performed prior to treatment, during and after the formation breakdown operation. during fracture treatment and after treatment. To verify location and azimuth of the fracture created, and to obtain an impression of wellbore irregularities, a packer was used (Fig. 1). This packer was lowered on tubing into the wellbore opposite the interval under study and inflated in stages to allow the impression material to conform to the wall of the wellbore. A magnetic compass was attached to the tool for orientation reference. Impressions made prior to treatment showed no existing fractures in the wells under study. Impressions made after both formation breakdown and treatment pro-

By Richard F. Miller

The investigations of large-grained specimens carried out by Polanyi and Schmid,l Sykes,2 Goucher,3 Yamaguchi,4 Gough, Cox, and Sopwith,5 Carpenter and Elam,6 Aston,7 and others have shown qualitatively that grain boundaries restrain the deformation of adjacent crystals. But whether or not the influence of the grain boundary is confined to the glide planes intersected by the boundary has not been demonstrated in any of these investigations, nor has there been carried out any quantitative analysis of the influence of a boundary on the deformation of a crystal. Indeed, the specimens employed in the previous work contained so many complicating factors that it would have been difficult to observe any variation of the extent of the influence of the grain boundaries in relation to their sizc. The specimens were small, the grain boundaries irregular and at no particular angle to the specimen axis or the

Jan 1, 1934

By C. H. Frick

Before presenting the main topic, as indicated by the title, this paper will give some of the high-spot history of the anthracite industry. Introduction The earliest recorded use of anthracite was in the year 1762, when a company of Connecticut pioneers discovered anthracite near the present city of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. In the early days of the industry, the coal was used only in large pieces, the smaller pieces being discarded to waste piles. As the output of the industry increased during the nineteenth century, uses were developed for somewhat smaller sizes down to and including pea coal. Early in the twentieth century, sizes smaller than pea, such as No. I and No. 2 buckwheat, were developed and used. Accumulations of piles from current mining operations were still increasing; that is, the smaller sizes were still being discarded. It was not until after World War I that preparation of the so-called steam sizes began commercially. This was largely No. 3 buckwheat, which is screened through a 3/16-in. round-hole screen and over a 3/32-in. or a 1/16-in. round-hole screen. Use of Smaller Sizes The earliest recorded experience in burning the small sizes of anthracite for steam production, other than in a previous small experiment, was in the year 1913, when a size known as "boiler fuel" was introduced—a mixture of rice and barley (No. 2 and No. 3 buckwheat). At that time, there was still no method known for burning the still smaller sizes. At the present time, various sizes down to and including No. 5 buckwheat are being prepared (Table I) from current mining and bank-reclaiming operations. The sizes of No. 4 and No. 5 buckwheat and smaller are generally being used for steam production in large boilers. The Pennsylvania Power and Light Co., following World War I, used 680,000 tons of anthracite per year, burned largely on stokers for production of steam, whereas for the year 1943 it used 1,940,000 tons of stoker sizes and 400,000 tons of smaller sizes for grinding and burning in pulverized form. This company has taken a very large part in the research and development of ways and means of burning these smaller sizes of anthracite, including the grinding of the very small sizes. This paper is particularly concerned with the latter feature.

Jan 1, 1949

By R. E. Grace

WHEN an Fe-C alloy, partially reacted to pearl-ite, is quenched rapidly enough to suddenly stop the growth process, it may be expected that any carbon concentration gradients will freeze in situ in the newly formed martensite. A short tempering treatment should precipitate finely dispersed iron carbide particles in approximately the same distribution in which carbon existed during the growth process. Examination with the electron microscope of areas of tempered martensite adjacent to the pearlite-martensite interface should reveal the existence of preferred areas of precipitation. Fig. 1 is an example of an electron micrograph used in this study. Small sections of a commercial steel (0.9 pct C, 1.6 pct Mn, 0.25 pct Si) were austenitized at 945°C in air for 45 min, furnace-cooled to 697°C, iso-thermally reacted to pearlite for 30 min, and quenched into iced brine. Two samples were tempered 5 and 20 min, respectively, in air at 498°C and were subsequently quenched in water. The samples were mechanically polished and etched in 1 pct picral. Collodion replicas were made by the conventional technique; these were shadowed with chromium at about 650' from the horizontal, and electron micrographs were taken at a linear magnification of 14,200X. Prints were made at a magnification of 44,100X. Lineal analysis of the prints was made as a function of the interlamellar spacing and volume percent of iron carbide. Straight lines were drawn into tempered martensite between adjacent lamellae at a distance S/4 or S/6 apart, where S is defined as the interlamellar spacing measured at the pearlite-martensite interface. The volume percent of iron carbide was measured along each of these traces with a "gage length" of S/10. The results of analyses of two samples are shown in Table I. The area included between the S/2 and S distance from the interface could be considered homogeneous within the sensitivity of the measuring technique. This value was used as a proportionality factor to evaluate an arbitrary carbon content of homogeneous austenite, and also as a parameter by which error in measurements could be evaluated. Results of the lineal analysis are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 4 shows the statistical nature of the interlamellar spacing for all lamellae measured in this

Jan 1, 1954

By Raymond Edmundson

BARITE probably was first mined in the United States in 1845, when a small deposit was operated in Prince William County, Virginia1. The next state to produce barite was Missouri, and according to Weigel2, mining began about 1860. Virginia was the leading producer during the early period of barite mining, but by 1893, Missouri was producing almost an equal amount3. From this date, Virginia, although not the leading producer, furnished large quantities of crude barite until oper-ations gradually declined about 1907. Since 1910, there has been only one producer in Virginia. It is not known when barite was discovered in each of the Virginia areas (Fig. 1), but it is reliably reported that mining on a commercial scale began in Campbell-Pittsylvania counties about 1874; Smyth County in 1877; and in the Russell-Tazewell area about 1890. Barite is widely distributed in Virginia, occurring in nineteen counties. The localities that contain material of some economic value have been grouped into six areas (Fig. 1), each designated by the county or counties in which the barite is found. As many of the smaller areas show a similarity in geologic occurrence, they will be considered in this paper as two major groups; namely, Appalachian Valley and Piedmont Province. The first group, which includes the barite deposits of Russell, Tazewell, Smyth, Botetourt and Roanoke counties, lies northwest of the Blue Ridge and its foothills and southeast of the Appalachian plateaus. The other group includes deposits from the Blue Ridge on the west to the western margin of the Coastal Plain, in Campbell, Pittsylvania, Bedford, Grayson, and Fauquier counties.

Jan 1, 1936

By K. E. Brown, F. W. Jessen

It is deemed feasible to store atomic reactor fuel wastes in salt dome cavities when the differential pressure acting on the cavity does not exceed 3,000 psi and the temperature is less than 400°F. Tests at pressure increments of 1,000 psi were conducted on a 2-in, cylindrical cavity contained in a 6-in. long X 6-in. diameter salt core. The cavity exhibited stability under pressures up to 3,000 psi and temperatures to 300°F. At temperature ranges of 100 to 400°F and with pressures of 5,000 psi and above continuous deformation of the cavity resulted. Initial movement of the salt was observed at all pressares. This was evidenced by vertical deformation and cavity size reduction. INTRODUCTION The development of storage techniques for safe disposal of atomic reactor fuel wastes is a goal of the Atomic Energy Commission. Salt domes have been used successfully for storage of liquefied petroleum gases and hence should prove to be suitable for liquid waste products of atomic reactors. The purpose of the following work is to evaluate the practicability of utilizing salt dome cavities for such wastes and to de-termine particularly the effect of pressure and temperature on a salt cavity. This work represents a part of a comprehensive study covering the over-all problem of storing re- actor fuel wastes in salt domes and/ or salt beds. The problem of accurately determining the stresses which exist in rocks in the earth's crust is indeed a complex one. Theoretical studies have differed widely in many of the basic assumptions about the physical properties of the rock itself. Some solutions of problems in underground stress analysis assume that rock is elastic, homogeneous and isotropic in character; others assume that rock possesses plastic, viscous, elasticovis-cous properties, or a combination thereof. Experimental evidence has shown that salt possesses plastic, viscous and elasticoviscous properties.' Recent work has shown that salt becomes more plastic with temperature.' APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE For experimental study a cylindrical cavity was chosen for analysis since it provided maximum volume per unit of depth with constant diameter. This particular cavity shape, allowing for irregularities, can be easily leached out of salt domes in field operations. For the purpose of approaching underground storage conditions as nearly as possible, the following factors were considered: (1) control of pressure and temperatures, (2) measurements of temperature gradients throughout salt mass, and (3) measurement of structural stability of salt cavities. In order to obtain triaxial pressure on the salt cavity without resorting to the application of fluid pressure directly on the salt mass, a system was designed whereby the same effect could be produced through axial loading only. By cutting a core to close dimensions to fit a steel test cylinder and applying axial pressure, a lateral pressure was obtained. This equipment is shown in Figs 1 and 2. A steel cylinder was made from

By B. H. Caudle, A. B. Dyes

In a recent publication' it was shown that wells with a free surface in a homogeneous gravity-drainage reservoir have a hyperbolic decline with index n '. This paper reports efforts to extend this theory to practical field cases. As a first step in making the extension, a large number of lease production curves from gravity-drainage fields in the stripper stage were fitted with the general hyperbolic decline equation, q/q, = 1/(1 + y) y and n in each case being determined by statistical methods. It was found that this equation is reliable for decline curve extrapolation for periods up to at least 25 years. The resrilts obtained were disturbing in the sense that values for the index, n, were often smaller than one, which fact leads to the prediction that a well would produce all infinite amount of oil in infinite time. A theoretical investigation based on the results of the previous paper provides a suitable explanation for these low values of n. It suggests that these are obtained if production occurs from two or more layers of diflerent permeabilitv and thicktress or two lnyers having different skin effects. It is predicted that as the more permeable layers are exhausted, the index of decline, n, will rise from a value smaller than 2, to n = 2. A practical method is given for fitting the general hyperbolic decline Eq. 6 to production decline data. When this method is used, the index of decline observed in gravity-drainage reservoirs in the stripper stage when wing only data over early years 01 decline usually agrees quite closely with that determined using data over 25 years or more. This indicates that the hyperbolic decline equation is reliable for predicting behavior of such reservoirs. A method is also suggested for taking into account any changes in the value of the index INTRODUCTION As a result of both experimental work with models and theoretical deductions, it was recently concluded' that wells having a free surface in a homogeneous reservoir producing by pure gravity drainage should have a hyperbolic decline with n = 2. The present report details efforts to extend this work on ideal homogeneous reservoirs to actual field cases. It should be remembered that both the previous work and the present extension are based on the assumption that the reservoir is at very low pressure, and hence, nearly all the potential available for driving fluid to the well is the gravity head. Attempts to apply conclusions of this study to reservoirs which have considerable pressures supplementing the gravity drive may lead to difficulty. WELLS WITH NO FREE SURFACE In a dipping gravity-drainage reservoir such as that shown in Fig. 1, some of the down-dip wells have no free surface. The previous study' showed that the up-dip wells, which have a free surface, should follow Eq. 1. The following approximate analysis, of a type which was justified experimentally for up-dip wells in the work just mentioned, leads to results for the down-dip wells.

By V. J. Berry, J. D. Pendergrass

Well pressure transient tests provide a means for directly obtaining information about formation pressure and reservoir flow capacity. Such tests have also been proposed for determining presence and location of faults or other reservoir closures and for measuring oil in place. For mathematical convenience, most theoretical studies have considered the reservoirs to be homogeneous. Definitive information is not yet available to show whether the actual presence of nonuniformities will make pressure transient behavior different from that of a uniform reservoir. The conclusions reached from actual transient tests are questionable, therefore, insofar as they rely on the original assumption of homogeneity. One type of nonuniformity commonly assumed to exist is that of stratification. In most reservoirs the strata are thought to be in vertical communication. Equations for the transient flow of a single-phase, compressible fluid in a one-well, bounded, circular reservoir have been solved for several situations involving crossflow between multiple strata of various thicknesses and permeabilities. The results show that except for the very early flow period, which usually is too short to be analyzed, the transient performance observed at the well is substantially identical with that of a homogeneous reservoir having the same dimensions and having the same steady-state flow capacity. Thus, stratification does not adversely affect interpretation of well transient tests. This conclusion holds for all commonly encountered combinations of reservoir thickness and external radius. Deviations are observed for unusually thick reservoirs whose outer radii are relatively small. The results of these studies also show that the presence and the amount of stratification cannot be simply diagnosed from reservoir pressure transient data when there is crossflow between strata. INTRODUCTION The last decade has brought wide acceptance of the transient well pressure test for determining reservoir parameters. Following the original work of Hurst and van Everdingen,1 the mathematical theory was thoroughly explored. Numerous authors have suggested how to determine static reservoir pressure, permeability-thickness product, original oil in place and reservoir limits for different reservoir geometry. The same mathematical techniques have been used to predict the transient performance of a reservoir over a long period of time. Most of the theoretical work has been for homogeneous, isotropic systems. Some results have also been presented for a homogeneous, anisotropic reservoir.2 Petroleum reservoirs are not homogeneous. The deposition process seems to favor creation of a stratified formation. This concept is sufficiently well accepted so that the most natural extension of the transient flow theory beyond the homogeneous case is to a stratified formation. Results for a stratified reservoir with no vertical communication between layers can be obtained from the results for a homogeneous reservoir. Lefkovitz, et a1,3 have given a thorough treatment of the two-layer case. Two recent papers4,5 have treated the case of a two-layered reservoir with vertical communication or crossflow, between layers. Russell and Prats4 find that, after a relatively short time, the two-layered reservoir with crossflow exhibits a simple exponential pressure decline. From this time forward, the behavior is not distinguishable from the behavior of a homogeneous reservoir having the same steady-state flow capacity. The results of Katz and Tek 5 are equivalent. Russell and Prats4 also speculate that a multi-layered reservoir with crossflow will behave as a homogeneous system after long enough production time "... providing the contrast in kh between layers is not too great". They also suggest that, at intermediate times, "... the relative positions of the layers with respect to each other will have a great influence on the production behavior and on the time at which the previously mentioned large-time approximation might be valid". Katz and Tek5 remark upon the mathematical difficulty of treating a reservoir having many layers or strata. If relative position of the layers is also

By F. W. Steadman, Charles S. Barrett

Deformation bands of surprising regularity are found in large-grained poly-crystalline copper after cold-rolling (Fig. I). Individual bands frequently are large enough to permit a determination of their orientation by means of etch pits and an optical goniometer. Measurements have been made on 21 areas in seven different grains, and these, combined with X-ray studies of nine single crystals that had been cold-rolled after mounting in a polycrystal-line block, have contributed to a better understanding of the preferred orientations in rolled copper just as similar studies have for rolled iron1 and brass.2,3 Particular attention was given to determining orientations that are stable during rolling and to the manner of fragmentation and rotation of unstable grains. The possible role of twinning was also carefully investigated. The texture of polycrystalline copper after cold-rolling is well established by the pole figures that have been plotted by Schmid and Staffelbach,4 Iweronowa and Schdanow,6 and Brick and Williamson,8 all of which are in substantial agreement. There has been some divergence in the list of individual "ideal" orientations that have been used to describe the texture by these observers and others," although the orientation (110) [II2]—that is, (110) parallel to the rolling plane and [TIP] parallel to the rolling direction—is generally recognized as the most prominent orientation and (112) [III] one of the lesser orientations. Other orientations have been given by some observers as (236) [535], (100) [00I], and (110) [00I]. The texture of copper has also been described as (I35) [533].6,7 The sum of these orientations provides a reasonable approximation to the complete pole figure, but it does not follow that these specific orientations are necessarily of fundamental significance, for the choice of indices is arbitrary, within limits. Furthermore, a detailed investigation of the ideal orientations in cold-rolled iron discloses continuous ranges of equally favored positions rather than definite positions of high stability,' and similarly Brick's observations in a single crystal of a brass2 suggest that all orientations in the range between (110) [II3] and (110) [II7] are about equally stable. Materials and Methods The material used was vacuum-cast electrolytic copper kindly supplied by L. L. Wyman, of the General Electric Co.* Slicec 1/2 in. thick and 21/2 in. square, cut from the ingot, were rolled with 50 per cent reduction per pass to final thicknesses between 0.02 and 0.04 in., and etched to develop cube-face etch pits suitable for goniometric work.8 The etch was light on some strips and deep in others.

Jan 1, 1942

By Charles S. Barrett, F. W. Steadman

Deformation bands of surprising regularity are found in large-grained poly-crystalline copper after cold-rolling (Fig. I). Individual bands frequently are large enough to permit a determination of their orientation by means of etch pits and an optical goniometer. Measurements have been made on 21 areas in seven different grains, and these, combined with X-ray studies of nine single crystals that had been cold-rolled after mounting in a polycrystal-line block, have contributed to a better understanding of the preferred orientations in rolled copper just as similar studies have for rolled iron1 and brass.2,3 Particular attention was given to determining orientations that are stable during rolling and to the manner of fragmentation and rotation of unstable grains. The possible role of twinning was also carefully investigated. The texture of polycrystalline copper after cold-rolling is well established by the pole figures that have been plotted by Schmid and Staffelbach,4 Iweronowa and Schdanow,6 and Brick and Williamson,8 all of which are in substantial agreement. There has been some divergence in the list of individual "ideal" orientations that have been used to describe the texture by these observers and others," although the orientation (110) [II2]—that is, (110) parallel to the rolling plane and [TIP] parallel to the rolling direction—is generally recognized as the most prominent orientation and (112) [III] one of the lesser orientations. Other orientations have been given by some observers as (236) [535], (100) [00I], and (110) [00I]. The texture of copper has also been described as (I35) [533].6,7 The sum of these orientations provides a reasonable approximation to the complete pole figure, but it does not follow that these specific orientations are necessarily of fundamental significance, for the choice of indices is arbitrary, within limits. Furthermore, a detailed investigation of the ideal orientations in cold-rolled iron discloses continuous ranges of equally favored positions rather than definite positions of high stability,' and similarly Brick's observations in a single crystal of a brass2 suggest that all orientations in the range between (110) [II3] and (110) [II7] are about equally stable. Materials and Methods The material used was vacuum-cast electrolytic copper kindly supplied by L. L. Wyman, of the General Electric Co.* Slicec 1/2 in. thick and 21/2 in. square, cut from the ingot, were rolled with 50 per cent reduction per pass to final thicknesses between 0.02 and 0.04 in., and etched to develop cube-face etch pits suitable for goniometric work.8 The etch was light on some strips and deep in others.

Jan 1, 1942

By Herbert D. Drechsler

Mining Finance-is the interrelated aspects of "determining the total amount of funds to employ in a mining firm; allocating these funds efficiently to various assets; and, obtaining the best mix of financing in relation to the overall valuation of the firm". The first section is an overview of the financing problem through examination and discussion of the Balance Sheet and Income Statement. The next section is a discussion of the nature of the criteria developed in feasibility study. The third section describes type of capital funds, and the final section describes case studies of mining finance.

Jan 1, 1978

By R. S. Handy

Does hand-sorting of mill feed pay? The fact that the practice is so general would seem to indicate that there must be good reasons for following it; yet, to my mind, the advantage in many cases is doubtful enough to invite a thorough discussion of the subject, in an effort to determine under what conditions hand-sorting does pay. A typical sorting plant in the Cœur d'Alene district handles about 800 tons of mine-run ore per day. The material is run over a grizzly with about 4-in. opening; the oversize is crushed to about 4-in. size and joins the undersize, and the whole product is washed and screened on trommels with about 11/2-in. openings. The oversize from these trommels is spread on a belt and the waste and first-class ore are sorted out by hand, the residue being further crushed, and passes, together with the trommel undersize, into the mill feed bins. About 50 tons of shipping ore and 150 tons of waste are sorted out per day, leaving about 600 tons of mill feed. To sort out this material requires 20 ore sorters and five bosses and repairmen. The normal cost of hand-sorting is about 16 c. per ton of run-of-mine ore, or 65 c. per ton of material sorted out. I believe that straight crushing and milling of the run-of-mine ore, in this case, is not only cheaper, but is metallurgi-cally more economical and efficient than hand-sorting followed by milling of the residue. At one of the Bunker Hill rock-houses, 1250 tons of run-of-mine ore are reduced to pass 30-mm., or about 11/4-in., opening in six hours, requiring five men. The equipment and the power consumed are not greatly different from that required in a sorting plant of the same capacity, and the normal cost of thus preparing the feed for milling is under 3 c. per ton of mine product. The relative cheapness of this method as against hand-sorting is thus clearly established, the saving being about 13 c. per ton. If there is any virtue in, hand-sorting, then, it must lie in the metallurgical results achieved. Possibly the favor that hand-sorting has found is due to a misconception as to what happens to the clean shipping ore if it is sent to the mill. If a mill makes, say, an 80 per cent. recovery on its feed, the hand-sorting advocate may assume that if the hand-sorted product be sent to the mill, 20 per cent. of the metals contained in it will be lost. This, I believe,

Jan 1, 1920

By Blake M. Loring

RECENTLY the S-curves for 30 to 40 alloy steels have been published.1,2 These steels show individual characteristics, which make each additional S-curve of great interest. There are important differences in the mechanism of the transformation process, the type of transformation product, and the influence of alloying elements. Steels of the same general alloy composition may possess such variable characteristics with regard to the length of time of isothermal transformation that an S-curve for each heat of steel may be desirable. In the present work the isothermal transformation of a steel having the following composition and grain size was studied: 0.20 percent carbon; 0.21 manganese; 0.026 phosphorus; 0.017 sulphur; 0.056 silicon; 1.45 chromium; 3.25 nickel; austenite grain size, 7. The progress of the isothermal transformation was followed by several different methods, including hardness measurements, dilatometer observations, and examinations of the microstructure. It was not expected that these methods would be in precise agreement.3 Accordingly, the changes in microstructure and hardness were given additional weight in determining the initial stage of transformation and the dilatometer measurements were relied on in estimating the completion of the process. The beginning of transformation was indicated by I per cent of transformation products and the end of transformation by about 99 per cent. The reproducibility of the various methods in the ranges of highest sensitivity was checked by several observations at each time and temperature. The steel used in this investigation was annealed for 24 hr. at 925°C. Macroetching revealed no serious segregation. The specimens for the metallographic and hardness investigations were 1 1/4 by 1/2 by 1/8 in. Wires attached to the samples were used for handling, instead of tongs, to avoid chilling. The specimens were heated at 845°C. for 1/2 hr. and quenched into constant-temperature salt baths held at various temperatures from 205° to 650°C. The time required to transfer the specimens was found to be about x 1 1/2 sec., and nearly 5 sec. more was required for them to come to the temperature of the bath. After various lengths of time in the constant-temperature baths the specimens were quenched in water at 21°C. The specimens were cut in half for the metallographic examination, to provide a surface free from decarburization. To determine the beginning and end of the transformation the percentage of transformation determined metallographically and by hardness was plotted against time. A planimeter was used in the metallographic determination. The hardness and metallographic determinations made at room temperature were confirmed reasonably well by dilatometer measurements taken during the process of transformation at the various temperatures. Two dilatometers were used to

Jan 1, 1941

By Oscar Johnson

The industry has been canvassed for information on methods of handling grinding steel at milling plants, an important subject overlooked in most descriptive articles on milling plant arrangements. The data collected are offered in this paper as a guide to designers and planners who have loading and storage problems to solve. WITH capacities of milling plants expanding from a few hundred tons per day to many thousand, replenishment of grinding media is an important phase of mill operation. Information on this aspect of milling procedure, solicited from several mining companies, is summarized here. At International Nickel's Copper Cliff concentrator the normally strenuous job of changing rods is considerably simplified by the use of the Garrow rod charging machine, Fig. 1. The overhead crane, Fig. 2, brings a bundle of rods, weighing four to a ton, to the loading platform of the machine, positioned in front of the mill. The rods roll one by one down the slight incline of the platform onto a conveyor which sends them into the mill. A modified version of the Garrow machine, Fig. 3, is used at the Federal mill of St. Joseph Lead Co. An overhead crane places the portable steel structure in position in front of the discharge end of any one of the five 9x12-ft rod mills. It then raises a bundle of about twenty 3-in. rods to the discharge platform of the charging machine. The rods are 11 ft 7 in. long and weigh about 278 lb. By tripping a lever the operator allows one rod at a time to roll onto the inclined rollers. A slight push by the operator sends the rod smoothly into the mill. The Union Miniére du Haut Katanga rod charging machine, Fig. 4, is mounted on a pair of wheels at the forward end with swiveling castors at the back for steering it to position for use or storage. Wheels are equipped with locking brakes to maintain the machine in position while it delivers rods to the mill. The device is made in two parts. The first consists of the base, which carries the supporting wheels, grooved rollers, and drive. The other part serves as the rod deck, which can carry up to six 3-in. x 12-ft rods. A short boom built integral with the base reaches through the mill trunnion and delivers the rods into the mill barrel. Three grooved guide rollers ,are provided to receive the rods from the sloping charging deck. One rod at a time is fed to the rollers and thus delivered into the mill. Two of the rollers are driven by 11/2-hp motor through a V-belt drive. The third roller is driven off the first by a single V belt in a groove below the rod groove and on the same center line. Rods are delivered to the charger by an overhead crane in bundles of three to six as needed. The power is supplied by cables plugged into power outlets, suitably located near the rod mill discharge end. The Oliver Iron Mining Co. uses a rod charger, Fig. 5, suspended from a monorail by cables. It is constructed .of structural steel and has two decks, each capable of carrying five rods of 4-in. maximum diameter. The rods ride in grooved free-turning rollers. Legs extending down from the mill end of the mechanism act as supports when the unit is ex-

Jan 1, 1955

By D. McLean

For many pu@oses uniform strength is desired over a long temperature range, coupled to a band of softness at the hot end for easy shaping. Various types of material fulfill such a requirement to different degrees, depending on the regularity of their atomic structure. In long-chain polymers and vitreous glasses the irregular structure leads to a steep temperature dependence of deformation resistance and the temperature band between the hard and brittle condition and the soft condition is only about 100 C. In crystals and especially metals the atomically regular structure leads to a much smaller sensitivity over a wide temperature band, thus approaching the ideal behavim. The reason for this insensitivity is that the regular crystalline structure deforms by the movement of dislocations and the elastic interactions of dislocations in- PLASTICS, GLASSES, AND CRYSTALS The ease or otherwise of deformation varies with temperature much more in some substances than in others. This is an important matter when service over a wide temperature range is needed, especially volve energies of several hundred electron volts compared with which the energy of thermal agitation is insignificant. However, temperature affects a metal's defmmation resistance through its influence on the annealing, m coarsening, of the three-dimensional dislocation network. This coarsening is a phenomenon very similar to grain growth and ideas about grain growth can be applied to it. Taking into account also the temperature dependence of the glide resistance from alloying additions, a reasonable account can be given of the overall effect of temperature on deformation strength and of stress and grain size on deformation rake. Special structures me described. some arising from these ideas and as yet untried, which may benefit metals and polymers but not ni-treous glasses. when in addition a degree of softness suitable for shaping is required at some stage. It would be nice if one could write on this subject in as much detail about plastics, glasses, and so forth, as about metals, but there has been far more study of this matter in metals than in other substances, which is one reason why most of this paper concerns metals. However, in Fig. 1 there are shown the deformation strengths of several nonmetallic substances as a function of temperature. In many tests the attempt at deformation caused breakage and the graph lines are then drawn dashed. Long-chain plastics, a glass, and a crystalline substance are included in Fig. 1. The notable feature of all of them is the sensitivity of the

Jan 1, 1969

By J. B. Clark

The oil industry has long recognized the need for increasing well productivity. To meet this need, a process is being developed whereby the producing formation permeability is increased by hydraulically fracturing the formation. The "Hydrafrac" process, as it is now being used, consists of two steps: (1) injecting a viscous liquid containing a granular material, such as sand for a propping agent, under high hydraulic pressure to fracture the formation; (2) causing the viscous liquid to change from a high to a low viscosity so that it may be readily displaced from the formation. To date the process has been used in 32 jobs on 23 wells in 7 fields, resulting in a sustained increase in production in 11 wells. INTRODUCTION Need For Process Although explosives, acidizing, and other methods have long been used, there still exists a need for artificial means of improving the productive ability of oil and gas wells, particularly for wells which produce from formations which do not react readily with acids. This paper discusses the development of a hydraulic fracturing process, "Hydrafrac", which shows distinct promise of increasing production rates from wells producing from any type of formation. The method is also considered applicable to gas and water injection wells, wells used for solution mining of salts and, with some modification, to water wells and sulphur wells. Requirements of Process In considering such a possible process, it appeared that certain requirements must be met. Some of these are as follows: A. The hydraulic fluid selected must be sufficiently viscous that it can be injected into the well at pressure high enough to cause fracturing. B. The hydraulic fluid should carry in suspension a propping agent, such as sand, so that once a fracture is formed, it will be prevented from closing off and the fracture created will remain to serve as a flow channel for oil and gas. C. The fluid should be an oily one rather than a water-base fluid, because the latter would be harmful to many formations. D. After the fracture is made, it is essential that the fracturing fluid be thin enough to flow hack out of the well and not stay in place and plug the crack which it has formed. E. Sufficient pump capacity must be available to inject the fluid faster than it will leak away into the porous rock formation. F. In many instances, formation packers must be used to confine the fracture to the desired level, and to obtain the advantages of multiple fracturing. Development of Process As a necessary step in the development of this process, it was deemed advisable to determine if the Hydrafrac fluids were actually fracturing the formation or whether these special fluids were merely leaking away into the surrounding formation. To determine this, a shallow well, 15 feet deep, was drilled into a hard sandstone. Casing was set, the plug drilled, and the well deepened in the conventional manner. A fracturing fluid dyed a bright red was used to break down the formation. Sand mixed with distinctively colored solids was injected into the well with the fracturing fluid to prop open any fracture made in the formation. A simulated gel breaker solution dyed a bright blue was then pumped into the well to determine if the gel breaker would follow the first solution. The results are shown in Figure 1. It was noted that a fracture was formed about the well bore, that the propping agent was transported back into the break, and that the breaker solution did actually follow the fracturing gel out into the fracture. While it is realized that this shallow well test is probably not exactly equivalent to a deep test, the results were interpreted as being a definite indication of what happens down the hole during a Hydrafrac job. Of interest in this connection is an investigation reported by S. T. Yuster and J. C. Calhoun, Jr.' This study, re~orted after the Hydrafrac work was under way, presents some excellent field data supporting the theory of fracturing a formation with hydraulic pressure. METHOD Steps of Hydrafrcu: Process Figure 2 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of a well treated by one version of the process. The first step, formation breakdown, is done with a viscous fluid, usually consisting of an oil such as crude oil or gasoline, to which has been added a bodying agent. Due to availability and price, war-surplus Napalm has been used in the majority of experiments to date. Napalm is the soap which was used in the war to make "jellied gasoline". The next step consists of breaking down the viscosity of the gel by injecting a gel-breaker solution and then after several hours, putting the well back on production. Figure 3 shows diagram-matically, a typical field hookup. The oil or gasoline is unloaded into the 10 bbl. tank shown on the left rear of the truck. This base fluid is picked up by the mixing pump and pumped through the jet mixer, where the granular soap is added. Next it goes into a small mixing tub, from which the high-pressure pump takes suction. The solution is then pumped into the well. The breaker solution is then taken from an extra tank and is displaced into the well immediately following the gel. When required, additional trucks may

Jan 1, 1949

By J. B. Clark

The oil industry has long recognized the need for increasing well productivity. To meet this need, a process is being developed whereby the producing formation permeability is increased by hydraulically fracturing the formation. The "Hydrafrac" process, as it is now being used, consists of two steps: (1) injecting a viscous liquid containing a granular material, such as sand for a propping agent, under high hydraulic pressure to fracture the formation; (2) causing the viscous liquid to change from a high to a low viscosity so that it may be readily displaced from the formation. To date the process has been used in 32 jobs on 23 wells in 7 fields, resulting in a sustained increase in production in 11 wells. INTRODUCTION Need For Process Although explosives, acidizing, and other methods have long been used, there still exists a need for artificial means of improving the productive ability of oil and gas wells, particularly for wells which produce from formations which do not react readily with acids. This paper discusses the development of a hydraulic fracturing process, "Hydrafrac", which shows distinct promise of increasing production rates from wells producing from any type of formation. The method is also considered applicable to gas and water injection wells, wells used for solution mining of salts and, with some modification, to water wells and sulphur wells. Requirements of Process In considering such a possible process, it appeared that certain requirements must be met. Some of these are as follows: A. The hydraulic fluid selected must be sufficiently viscous that it can be injected into the well at pressure high enough to cause fracturing. B. The hydraulic fluid should carry in suspension a propping agent, such as sand, so that once a fracture is formed, it will be prevented from closing off and the fracture created will remain to serve as a flow channel for oil and gas. C. The fluid should be an oily one rather than a water-base fluid, because the latter would be harmful to many formations. D. After the fracture is made, it is essential that the fracturing fluid be thin enough to flow hack out of the well and not stay in place and plug the crack which it has formed. E. Sufficient pump capacity must be available to inject the fluid faster than it will leak away into the porous rock formation. F. In many instances, formation packers must be used to confine the fracture to the desired level, and to obtain the advantages of multiple fracturing. Development of Process As a necessary step in the development of this process, it was deemed advisable to determine if the Hydrafrac fluids were actually fracturing the formation or whether these special fluids were merely leaking away into the surrounding formation. To determine this, a shallow well, 15 feet deep, was drilled into a hard sandstone. Casing was set, the plug drilled, and the well deepened in the conventional manner. A fracturing fluid dyed a bright red was used to break down the formation. Sand mixed with distinctively colored solids was injected into the well with the fracturing fluid to prop open any fracture made in the formation. A simulated gel breaker solution dyed a bright blue was then pumped into the well to determine if the gel breaker would follow the first solution. The results are shown in Figure 1. It was noted that a fracture was formed about the well bore, that the propping agent was transported back into the break, and that the breaker solution did actually follow the fracturing gel out into the fracture. While it is realized that this shallow well test is probably not exactly equivalent to a deep test, the results were interpreted as being a definite indication of what happens down the hole during a Hydrafrac job. Of interest in this connection is an investigation reported by S. T. Yuster and J. C. Calhoun, Jr.' This study, re~orted after the Hydrafrac work was under way, presents some excellent field data supporting the theory of fracturing a formation with hydraulic pressure. METHOD Steps of Hydrafrcu: Process Figure 2 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of a well treated by one version of the process. The first step, formation breakdown, is done with a viscous fluid, usually consisting of an oil such as crude oil or gasoline, to which has been added a bodying agent. Due to availability and price, war-surplus Napalm has been used in the majority of experiments to date. Napalm is the soap which was used in the war to make "jellied gasoline". The next step consists of breaking down the viscosity of the gel by injecting a gel-breaker solution and then after several hours, putting the well back on production. Figure 3 shows diagram-matically, a typical field hookup. The oil or gasoline is unloaded into the 10 bbl. tank shown on the left rear of the truck. This base fluid is picked up by the mixing pump and pumped through the jet mixer, where the granular soap is added. Next it goes into a small mixing tub, from which the high-pressure pump takes suction. The solution is then pumped into the well. The breaker solution is then taken from an extra tank and is displaced into the well immediately following the gel. When required, additional trucks may

Jan 1, 1949

By M. G. F. Söhnlein

In the earlier clays, these ores were treated by chloridizing-roasting followed by amalgamation, with satisfactory results, according to the information now available. Material from old tailing dumps from ore treated by this process, which are found at several places in the vicinity of Oruro, seldom contains more than 5 to 6 oz. of silver per ton. As ore with less than 100 oz. per ton was not treated, the extraction of silver must have been good. Reports of the operating companies published about 1890 asserted that over 90 per cent. of the silver was recovered, but in these calculations, as a rule, no allowance was made for silver lost during roasting and the figure referred only to the extraction of silvcr by amalgamation from the roasted ore.

Jan 1, 1921

By C. R. Barrett, N. N. Singh Deo

The high-temperature steady-state creep behavior of a series of dilute copper-silicon alloys was studied to determine the effect of stacking fault energy on the creep-rate. The steady-state creep rate is, when taken at equivalent diffusivities decreases with decreasing stacking fault energy. The stress and temperature dependencies of is suggest that creep is a difusion controlled dislocation climb process. Electron microscopy studies of the creep substructure revealed: 1) the subgrain size is not a function of the stacking fault energy in these alloys, 2) the dislocation density not attributed to the subgrain walls seems to be higher during primary creep and decreases to a lower steady value during steady-state creep, and 3) the dislocation density during steady-state creep decreases with decreasing stacking fault energy. In the past few years numerous investigators have studied the influence of stacking fault energy on high-temperature creep strength. Most of these investigators have confined their attentions to studying the relationship between steady-state creep rate, is, and stacking fault energy, ?, when samples are tested under conditions of comparable stress and temperature. For the case of fcc metals, it was initially shown by Barrett and Sherbyl and since confirmed by many others2"4 that is decreases with decreasing ?, often following an empirical relation of the form i ?m where m is a constant about equal to 3. The application of theory to explain this observation has not been entirely successful. One of the main difficulties has been the almost complete lack of structural information (dislocation density, subgrain size, and so forth) for samples with different stacking fault energies, tested under high-temperature creep conditions. weertman5 has attempted to explain the stacking fault energy dependence of is on the basis of a dislocation climb mechanism. Assuming that both the rate of dislocation core diffusion and the ease of athermal jog formation decreases as ? decreases Weertman has argued that the rate of dislocation climb and hence the creep rate should also decrease as ? decreases. One questionable aspect of Weertman's analysis is the assumption that core diffusion down extended dislocations is slower than core diffusion down unextended dislocations. The only experimental work done in this area, by Birnbaum et al.6 on nickel and Ni-60 Co, has shown the core diffusivity to increase with decreasing ?. Theories of steady-state creep based on the diffusive motion of jogged screw dislocations often seem unable to predict even the qualitative nature of the es- relationship. Assuming that Weertman is correct in his assumption that the dislocation jog density decreases with decreasing ? then the jogged screw theories predict an increasing dislocation velocity with lower ?. It is usually assumed that the increase in dislocation velocity implies a corresponding increase in creep rate. However, two other factors must be considered before such a statement can be made. That is, we must know how both the mobile dislocation density and the effective stress (the difference between applied stress and internal stress) vary with ?. Significant changes in either one of these factors could outweigh any change in dislocation velocity accompanying a change in ?. And with the slower rates of recovery expected in low stacking fault energy materials it seems likely to expect both mobile dislocation density and effective stress to be dependent on ?. Sherby and Burke7 have suggested that stacking fault energy influences the creep rate in an indirect way. These authors cite evidence that the steady-state subgrain size generated during high-temperature creep is a function of ? decreasing with decreasing ?. Assuming the creep rate to be proportional to the area swept out by each expanding dislocation loop and that subgrain boundaries are good barriers to dislocations, then the creep rate should be proportional to subgrain area, hence increasing as ? increases. A critical evaluation of any of the above theories requires more quantitative information concerning the dislocation substructure generated during high-temperature creep. Accordingly this investigation was undertaken with an aim of studying the influence of stacking fault energy on tbe steady-state creep characteristics of a series of dilute copper-silicon alloys. Special emphasis was placed on studying the strain dependence of both the dislocation configuration and density. MATERIALS AND PROCEDURE Dilute copper-silicon alloys of the compositions shown in Table I were tested in tension at constant stress. The relative stacking fault energy of these alloys has been determined and is shown in Table 11. An Andrade-Chalmers lever arm was used to maintain constant stress and testing was carried out in a water

Jan 1, 1970