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By J. G. Richardson

The performance of laboratory water floods is compared with the flooding behavior calculated by the Buckley-Leverett techniques from steady-state relative permeability-saturation relations. Both the steady-state and unsteady-state experiments were conducted on the same sand-packed column. Relative permeabilities were calculated by the Welge technique from the unsteady-state waterflooding displacement experiments and compared with those measured by steady-state techniques. An evaluation of the various calculation procedures was made. It was demonstrated that steady-state relative permeabilities could be used to calczcJate waterflood performance. INTRODUCTION To calculate the waterflooding behavior of a given reservoir, relative permeability-saturation relations of the reservoir rock are required. These relative permeabilities are commonly measured on core samples by steady-state experiments such as the Penn State technique.' The relative permeabilities obtained in steady-state experiments are calculated from oil and gas flow rates and pressure drops measured under conditions of equilibrium distribution of oil and water in the pore spaces with slow approach to equilibrium. On the other hand, in water floods the water saturation at a given point changes rapidly with time as the flood front passes. Extensive research2 has shown that the steady-state relative permeabilities to oil and water are independent of the rate of flow and the fluid viscosities. Research has also demonstrated that the waterflooding performance of homogeneous sands uniformly contacted by water is independent of rate when capillary pressure gradients, which are important in short laboratory columns, are made negligible. However, there is little experimental data in the literature comparing relative permeabilities calculated from steady-state flow experiments with those calculated from flooding experiments. In this paper, the production data of two water floods and the relative permeabilities calculated from a series of steady-state experiments on an unconsolidated sand column are presented along with the comparisons calculated by the Buckley-Leverett and by the Welge techniques. The purpose of this study was to determine if steady-state relative permeabilities could be used to predict the waterflooding performance. This study also permitted an evaluation of the Buckley-Leverett and Welge calculation procedures and allowed an insight into the nature of microscopic displacement of oil by water. EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE The apparatus used in this investigation was a Lucite column 1 ft long and 11/2 in. in diameter. A drawing of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 1. Six pressure taps were evenly spaced along the top of the column to measure the oil pressures. Three pressure taps fitted with small porous disks were spaced along the side of the column to measure water pressure. Water was admitted to the inflow face of the sand through a porous disk while oil was admitted through a hole in the porous disk and distributed to the face of the sand by grooves machined in the porous disk. Retainer screens of 325-mesh stainless steel were cemented over the inlet and outlet ports and the pressure taps to prevent loss of sand. The column was packed with a clean dry sand all of which was finer than 200 mesh. Next, the sand was saturated with a solution of 150,000 ppm sodium chloride solution. The column was weighed dry and water-saturated to obtain data for the calculation of the pore volume. A 151-cp oil was then injected into

Jan 1, 1958

By A. W. Demmler

RECENTLY, Chaudron,&apos; Montariol,2 and their co-workers published the results of their studies on zone-refined aluminum. They found their material to be capable of recrystallization at —50°C, but gave no data as to the percentage reduction or time required. Their material was found to be practically non-work hardening at room temperature, but after 96 pct cold work at a low temperature and storage in liquid nitrogen it was found to recrystallize to coarse grains in less than 3 hr at 20°C. Recently, a study was made of the room temperature recrystallization characteristics of zone-melted aluminum. An ingot 14 in. in length, with a 3hx3 in. cross section, was made in an extremely high purity graphite boat under an atmosphere of dried commercial argon. It was made by first passing the molten zone along the ingot of 99.99+ pct A1 15 times. At this point, the most impure 3 in. (the end toward which the eutectic forming impurities migrated) were replaced with more of the original starting material, and 15 more traverses were made. Each traverse of the zone along the ingot required approximately 3 hr. Three ingots were prepared in this identical fashion and the chemical analyses were made spec-trographically on two of these ingots, rather than on the one used in this investigation. The analyses were made at 1 in. intervals along the ingot, in duplicate. Over the purest 5 in. of the ingot, which were most important in this investigation, there was found an average composition of <0.00004 pct Cu, <0.0003 pct Fe, <0.0001 pct Si, and <0.0001 pct Mg. In addition, the following elements were not detected spectrographically even in the more impure end of the bar: manganese, zinc, nickel, chromium, titanium, vanadium, lead, tin, boron, beryllium, bismuth, gallium, zirconium, cadmium, antimony, cobalt, and molybdenum. The original ingot was given several cold reductions, with intermediate anneals in order to refine the grains. Owing to the extreme length resulting and the ease of deforming the material plastically, it was cut into eight equal lengths and identified as shown in Fig. 1, with the highest numbered section at the purer end (that enriched with peritectic formers). Section 6 was used in the exploratory work and was found to be of exceptionally high purity, giving more rapid rates of room temperature re crystallization than any previous aluminum studied at the Alcoa Research Laboratories. This fact suggested that the entire midsection of the ingot might be of very high purity. Accordingly, section 4 was chosen for the next study. A portion of it was rolled to cold reductions of 10, 25, 40, 60, 75, and 90 pct at room temperature, and the re-crystallization of each specimen was followed by X-ray pinhole transmission photographs. The other portion received the same treatment, except that both the specimens and the rolls were maintained at 160°F in the process of rolling. The latter ortion was retarded in its recrystallization as compared to the former, probably due to the stress relief effect of the warm rolling. Both of these portions of the fourth section were found to recrystallize at a considerably slower rate than did the sixth section.

Jan 1, 1957

By M. F. Goudge, R. V. Tomkins

Sodium sulfate is an important chemical raw material that is being used in ever increasing quantities in modem industry. It comes on the market mainly in three forms: (1) Salt cake (Na2SO4), a relatively crude form of the anhydrous salt containing up to 3 pct impurities, and comprising about three-quarters of the North American production; (2) anhydrous sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), a refined form containing less than 0.3 pct impurities; (3) Glauber&apos;s salt, the decahydrate (Na2SO4.10H2O) containing 55.9 pct water of crystallization. Competing with salt cake from natural sources is byproduct salt cake from a number of industrial operations. For instance there is Mannheim cake resulting from the manufacture of hydrochloric acid by the reaction of salt (NaCl) and sulfuric acid in Mannheim furnaces; rayon cake, a high-quality product, resulting from the process of making rayon by the viscose process; chrome cake from the processing of sodium chromate to dichromate; phenol cake from the manufacture of phenol; also byproduct sodium sulfate resulting from the conversion of lithium sulfate to lithium carbonate; from the processing of sodium tetraborate to boric acid; from converting sodium formate to formic acid; and in the manufacture of cellophane. Sodium sulfate is also obtained as a byproduct in the manufacture of isosebasic acid. In addition strong competition has resulted from imports of byproduct salt cake from the chemical industries of a number of highly industrialized European countries. However in recent years due to technological changes the output of byproduct salt cake is rapidly diminishing and the natural deposits are becoming the most important source of sodium sulfate used in North America. For instance, the production of hydrochloric acid in Mannheim plants has become obsolete and thus the greatest single source of byproduct salt cake will disappear. Also viscose rayon is meeting strong competition from nylon and other synthetic fibers and production of byproduct salt cake from this source may do little more than remain at the present level. These factors together with increasing demand for sodium sulfate point to increased production from natural sources. In 1958, 36 pct of the total United States production was derived from natural sources and in addition 97,000 short tons was imported so that over 40 pct of the total consumption was supplied by natural sources whereas in 1953 the proportion was only 24 pct. The rapid growth in production is shown in Table 1. Principal Sodium Sulfate Minerals There are many minerals in which sodium sulfate is a constituent but those of commercial importance at the present time, and consisting wholly of sodium sulfate in either the hydrous or anhydrous states, are mirabilite and thenardite. Minerals of potential importance but consisting in part of compounds other than sodium sulfate are glauberite in which sodium sulfate is combined with calcium sulfate, and blödite in which sodium sulfate is combined with magnesium sulfate. Mirabilite (Na2SO4.10H2O) the decahydrate, consists of 24.8 pct SO3, 19.3 pct Na2O, and 55.9 pct H20. It is a colorless to opaque, soft, water-soluble mineral with a slightly bitter taste. It has a hardness of less than 2 and a specific gravity of 1.48. It forms long needle-

Jan 1, 1960

Elected Died 1895 *ABBOTT, AI ATTHUR 1908 1882 *ABBOTT, ARTHUR V 1906 1905 * ABE, MASAYOSHI 1909 1903 * ADAMS, CHARLES C. 1905 1906 * ADAMS, JOHN C. 1913 1905 * ADAMS, WILLAMS 1909 1903 * ADAMS, W. EDWARDS 1910 1884 *ADDY, MATTHEW 1896 1906 * AFFLECK, WILLIAM A. 1911 1889 * AKERS, WILLIAMS A. 1906 1905 * ALABASTER, RUPPERT C. 1911 1899 * ALBERGER, LOUIS R. 1911 1894 *ALLEN R B 1896 1905 * ALLEN, R. SCOTT 1906 1874 * AMIOT, H. 1892 1886 *AMSLER, CARL 1894 1898 ** ANDRSON, JOHN W 1905 1895 *ÅNGSTROM, CARL 1901 1887 * ARCHBALD, JAMES 1910 1900 * ARLETT, GEORGE H 1906 1895 *ARMSTRONG, JOHN F 1898 1882 *ARNOLDS, HUGO 1886 1875 *ASHBURNER, CHARLES A 1889 1872 *ASIIBURNER, WILLIAM 1887 1883 *ATKINS, C M , JR 1885

Jan 1, 1917

By L. K. Nemeth, H. T. Kennedy

The investigation presented in this paper was performd to develop a relationship between the dewpoint pressure of a hydrocarbon reservoir fluid and its composition, temperature and characteristics of the heptanes-plus fraction. This is part of an over-all program to develop correlations for the essential properties of reservoir fluids with the composition, temperature and pressure. In all, 579 dewpoint pressures, determined experimentally on 480 different condensate systems along with their compositions and temperatures, were obtained from the literature and from previously unpublished sources. Compositions were expressed in terms of mol fractions of methane through heptanes-plus, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, and the molecular weight and specific gravity of the heptanes-plus fraction. Distribution of the samples assured a good representation of most of the major oil-producing areas in the world. A multiple regression analysis program written for the IBhl 7094 digital computer was used to compare numerous equations and to calculate their coefficients. The final equation containing 11 coefficients resulted in an average absolute deviation of 7.4 percent for all the samples. Segregation of data on the basis of one or more variables did not materially improve the results. The correlation developed is useful in predicting the dewpoint pressure of condensate reservoir fluids from variables normally measured in the laboratory. INTRODUCTION In any discussion of the dewpoint of hydrocarbon mixtures, it should be noted that there are two kinds of dewpoints which must be distinguished. The first type, or normal dewpoint, usually occurs at low pressures as dry gas is compressed to the point where liquid first forms. The second type, sometimes called the retrograde dewpoint, occurs when a gas mixture containing heavy hydrocarbons in solution is depressured until a liquid is formed. The first type, as applied to condensate mixtures, would normally be below atmospheric pressure and would be of no interest in reservoir performance. The second type is of great significance in interpreting reservoir behavior and is the property referred to throughout this paper. Laboratory measurement of dewpoints is laborious, expensive and subject to many errors, and it is desirable to find a reasonably accurate method to predict dewpoint pressures from the composition and other readily available properties normally measured on the fluids. A possible method of calculating dewpoint pressures would be to employ a set of equilibrium ratios (K-values). 1 However, the K-values themselves depend on composition as well as temperature and pressure; presently their use adds nothing to the accuracy of predicting dewpoints. If future correlations provide a significantly better method of estimating K-values for heavy hydrocarbons, they may be of greater use. REVIEW OF LITERATURE In 1944, Olds, Sage and Lacey 2 studied the behavior of fluids from the Paloma field. Properties of seven mixtures were studied at temperatures ranging from 100 to 250 F and at pressures up to 5,000 psia. From the information obtained, the influence of composition and temperature upon the dewpoint was determined. It was found that removal of the intermediate molecular weight components from the mixture resulted in considerable increases in the dewpoint pressures. Results indicated that the effect of changes in temperature was relatively minor when compared with the effect of modifying the mixture by removing the intermediate components. Thus, removal of propane and butanes resulted in an increase in dewpoint pressure more than 10 times greater than a change in temperature from 100 to 250 F. The authors stated that althouah

By J. L. Zakin, G. K. Patterson, J. M. Rodriguez

Correlation has been obtained between drag-reducing characteristics for turbulent flow in a pipe and measurable properties of several polymer solutions. Several concentrations of high molecular weight polymethyl methacrylate in toluene, high molecular weight polyisobutylene in both toluene and cyclohexane, medium molecular weight polyisobutylene in cyclohexane and benzene and low molecular weight polystyrene in toluene were studied. Data obtained in these nonpolar solvents and literature data for more polar solvents were successfully correlated as the ratio of measured friction factor to purely viscous friction factor vs the modified Deborah number vrl/D0.2 where 71 is the first-mode relaxation time of the solution estimated by the Zimm theory. A shift factor which is a function of intrinsic viscosity 1/(4[?] - 1) allowed all the data obtained with nonpolar solvents to be correlated as a single function. For these systems, most of the data fit a single curve to within + 5 percent of the average friction factor ratio. The shift factor did not give a unique function of the data for the more polar systems. INTRODUCTION The phenomenon of drag reduction in polymer solutions was first studied by Toms1 in dilute solutions of polymethyl methacrylate in mono-chlorobenzene. The drag ratio for flow through circular tubes has been defined2 as the ratio of the pressure. drop of the solution to the pressure drop of the solvent at the same flow rate. The drag ratio is less than 1.0 for a drag-reducing fluid. Practical use of drag reduction is being made in fracturing operations in the petroleum industry.3 A more fundamental quantity is the friction factor ratio, defined as the ratio of the observed pressure drop to that predicted for a solution of the same viscosity characteristics and density at equal flow rates using the Dodge-Metzner friction factor equation4 Viscous solutions with drag ratios greater than 1.0 can have friction factor ratios less than 1.0. For practical applications, it is drag reduction which is of interest. However, for correlation the fundamental ratio is the friction factor ratio. In recent years, drag reduction has been studied extensively. Recent studies have shown that reasonable predictions of the incipience of drag reduction in polymer solutions can be made from the properties of the solutions and the flow Variables.5 However, it has not been possible to predict accurately the amount of drag reduction to be expected for a given polymer solution without any drag-reducing turbulent flow data on the same solution.6 For flow through circular tubes it is well established that there is a concentration effect and a diameter effect on drag reduction. Toms1 observed that drag reduction increases with an increase in the concentration of the solution up to an optimum concentration beyond which, due to the increased viscosity of the solutions, the drag ratio increased with an increase in concentration. Hershey 7 observed that for dilute Newtonian polymer solutions in nonpolar hydrocarbon solvents, a normal transition region may be obtained followed by a departure from the von Karman equation (on a friction factor-generalized Reynolds number chart). The point of departure is a function of diameter: the smaller tubes depart at the lower Reynolds numbers. Concentrated solutions may show no abrupt transition region, but merely an

By Paul B. Crawford, Bobby L. Landrum

Electrical model studies have been made of the effect of drainhole drilling on production capacity. Drain holes are those lateral holes which are sometimes drilled to assist in increasing the oil drainage into the main wellbore. The studies indicate that if the drainhole length i.r near 0.2 of the drainage radius, the increase in production capacity may be approximately 1.8, 2.08, trnd 2.33 for the case of one, two and four drain holes, respectively. If multiple drain holes are drilled, shorter holes are required to achieve a specific increase in production capacity than if one or two holes are drilled. To achieve increases in production capacities by factors near three it is shown that the drainhole lengths divided by the drainage radii must be approximately 0.64, 0.48, cnd 0.37 for the case of one, two and four drain holes, respectively. IN T RO DUCTION Kecent developments in drilling techniques have permitted the drilling of lateral or horizontal holes to increase the rate of production. The number of these drain holes may vary from 1 to 10, and they have been drilled laterally as much as 100 ft. Drainhole drilling at substantial depths is of recent origin but has been used in the Spraberry field of West Texas, the La Pas field in Western Venezuela, and certain fields in California. The diameter of the drain holes has been approximately 6 in. In drilling drain holes it is desired to know how much increase in production capacity may be expected, what additional benefit may be gained by drilling more than one drain hole, and what increase in production capacity may be brought about by lengthening the existing drain holes. In realization of the importance of lateral drilling, electrical model studies were made to provide quantitative estimates on the effect of drain holes on production capacity. ANALYSIS An electrical model was used in studying this problem. A wooden circular reservoir approximately 30 in. in diameter and 2 in. deep was filled with a dilute salt solution to a depth of 1 in. A copper band formed the periphery of the tank, and a copper wire was inserted in the center of the tank to represent the well. The drainage radius divided by the well radius was equal to 500. A diagram of this type model is shown in the inset of Fig. 1. An electrical potential was applied to the wire well and copper band at the periphery to determine the flow of current. Following this measurement copper wires of various length were soldered to the vertical wire well in such a manner as to simulate lateral wells drilled into the reservoir. Multiple lateral holes of various lengths were studied by varying the number and length of copper wires soldered to the vertical wire well. All multiple lateral wells were located symmetrically about the vertical well. The effect on production capacity by drilling an infinite number of lateral holes was studied by replacing the lateral hole with a copper disk. For each condition the flow of current was measured and compared with the flow of the vertical well only. The model which is thus described provides the steady state increases in production capacity which may be expected in some cases. The data conform to those which would be observed for a uniform homogeneous reservoir. The data may have primary application to those reservoirs producing above the bubble point. It is realized that few lateral holes are drilled in reservoirs of this type, but the data may be of some value in guiding future work or aiding to explain observed phenomena.

Jan 1, 1956

By Avnulf Muan, P. V. Riboud

The effect of Cr2O3 on melting relations of iron oxide at oxygen pressures slightly above those prevailing in contact with metallic iron has been determined. Liquidus and solidus temperatures of wüstite are raised by the addition of Cr2O3, from 1385°C for pure iron oxide to 1420°C at the peri-ledie point where wüstite, iron chromite, liquid, and gas coexist in equilibrium under the atmospheric conditions used in the present investigation (CO2/H2 = 1). It has been shown in a previous investigation1 that the liquidus and solidus temperatures of iron oxide are drastically increased by the addition of Cr2O3 under the relatively oxidizing conditions prevailing in air. This is to be expected in view of the easy substitution of cr3+ for Fe3+ in crystalline oxide structures which are stable at high oxygen pressures, as demonstrated for instance by the completeness of the solid solution series Fe2O3-Cr2O3 at high temperatures (>1000°C). The stable phase of iron oxide at oxygen pressures approximating those prevailing when metallic iron is present is wüstite. This phase, although commonly represented by the simplified formula FeO for sake of convenience, in reality has a defect structure in which a part of the iron ions are present as Fe3+. It is to be expected that at least a limited amount of cr3 ions will substitute for Fe in this structure when Cr2O3 is added to wüstite. Depending on the ease of this substitution in comparison with that of cr3 substitution for Fe in iron oxide-Cr2O3 liquids under the same atmos- pheric conditions, the liquidus and solidus temperatures of wüstite may increase or decrease upon addition of Cr2O3. The methods of establishing these melting relations and the results obtained are presented in the following. I) EXPERIMENTAL METHOD 1) General Procedure. The quenching technique was used in this study. Oxide mixtures were heated at chosen constant temperatures in an atmosphere consisting of equal parts of CO2 and H2 until equilibrium was established among gas and condensed phases. The samples were then quenched in mercury to room temperature, and the phases present were determined by microscopic and X-ray investigation. 2) Preparation of the Mixtures. Starting mixtures were prepared by weighing and thoroughly mixing Fe2O3 and Cr2O3, or wüstite and Cr2O3. The Fe2O3 and Cr2O3 used were "Baker Analyzed" reagent grades, whereas wüstite of composition was synthesized by reducing Fe203 at 1325°C in an atmosphere consisting of equal parts of CG andHz. In order to avoid contact with crucibles, the equilibration runs were made with small pellets suspended from thin (-0.004-in.) platinum wires. Mixtures made from FOs and Cr203 were readily pelletized at a pressure of 500 atm in a 9.5-mm die, whereas mixtures made from wüstite and Cr203 when treated identically were too weak for handling. In order to obtain a stronger product, these pellets were sintered by heating for 2 min at -1200°C in the same atmosphere as was subsequently used for the equilibration runs (CG/H2 = 1:1). During the sintering, these pellets were wrapped in thin (0.0004-in.) platinum foil, which was stripped off before the equilibration runs. In order to reduce the time needed for equilibrium to be attained, preliminary equilibration of relatively large pellets of each mixture was carried out at -1200°C for 4 to 12 hr. Smaller pellets

Jan 1, 1964

By M. T. Simnad, C. E. Birchenall, M. H. Davis

The transport mechanisms previously proposed in wustite and hematite have been confirmed by movement of inert markers during the growth of these phases. By similar measurements the mechanism for magnetite has been determined. The rates of growth of multilayer scales on iron, magnetite and hematite on wustite, and hematite on magnetite have been measured. All rates are found to be diffusion controlled under the conditions of the experiments. MANY studies have been made of the rate of oxidation of iron in both the low temperature, film-forming region and the high temperature scaling range. The interpretation of the results has been greatly complicated by the formation of multi-layered scales containing the various phases of iron oxides. In most cases no attempt has been made to determine the composition of the scale and its dependence on time of oxidation in a quantitative manner. However, several recent studies&apos;" have taken this variable into account. It is generally agreed that the growth of thick scales on iron follows a parabolic rate law for the increase of total thickness. In the thin film region agreement has been claimed with parabolic equations of various forms and with logarithmic equations. The discussion here will be concerned only with the formation of scales of considerable thickness, greater than several microns, although some of the conclusions may be applicable to thin films. A brief survey will be given of the solid phases of the iron-oxygen system, the stability of wiistite in bulk and in thin films, the relative densities of iron in the metal and oxides, and the kinetics of forma- tion of oxide scales on iron. New experimental results will be introduced at several points during the discussion, and an attempt will be made to formulate a mechanistic picture consistent with these observations. The experimental techniques are described in an appendix. Iron-Oxygen System Fig. la shows the iron-oxygen phase diagram. Wüstite ("FeO"): The lowest of the oxides has a NaCl type cubic lattice formed by close-packing of the relatively large oxide ions with the smaller iron ions arranged in the interstices. The ionic radius for 0&apos; is about 1.3 A, while Fe++ has a radius of about 0.8A and Fe"&apos; about 0.7A. Its range of existence on the phase diagram is very wide for an ionic material of this type and does not seem to include the stoi-chiometric composition FeO. These deviations appear to be well established as vacancies on iron lattice sites by the comparison of lattice parameters and densities for a series of compositions by Jette and Foote.4 The limits of the field are disputed, but the work which seems most reliable" indicates vacancies in from 5 pct to more than 12 pct of the iron sites. In order for the crystal to be electrically neutral, there must be electron holes which correspond to the formation of trivalent iron ions equal to twice the number of vacancies. Magnetite ("Fe³O4"): Considerable disagreement also exists in the literature about the stable range of the Fe³O4 field. Some diagrams show the Fe³O4 composition to be lower in oxygen than the formula indicates, but Schenck6 gives a diagram from the

Jan 1, 1952

By W. R. Webb, M. O. Peterson

WHEN men drive haulage equipment ranging up to 22 tons in an open pit operation, they must live with the realization that their safety is dependent upon the machines they drive and how well they operate them. The hazards inherent in their jobs must be recognized, met, and defeated. It comprises a never ending struggle toward perfection-an almost un- obtainable goal. The Jones & Laughlin Benson Mines, at Adirondack State Park in New York, created a safety program which resulted in only one three day lost time accident from April 1948 to April 1952. At the very start of the program, management of the open-pit operation recognized the hazards existing at Benson. The program was designed to meet each danger. With a knowledge of the problem faced, the process of minimizing each facet was planned along lines of maintenance of equipment and training of personnel. Its success is evident. In the ever-present struggle, care and maintenance of machines and application of experience to new equipment design are mainstays. Truck Haulage Benson produced 2.9 million tons of crude iron ore and 1.6 million tons of waste in 1951. To do the job, truck mileage reached 500,000 miles. The tremendous mileage emphasized to safety planners, the fact that the more work done, the greater the possibility of risk in haulage operations. Instrumenting the aim of the safest equipment possible is a methodical servicing program. Like other segments of the drive, the servicing program is based on greater production with fewer accidents. Every truck is serviced at least once per eight-hr shift. Examination includes inspecting and tightening wheel studs, checking tires, steering apparatus, lights, brakes, wipers, heaters, fire extinguishers, and refueling. A running history of the equipment&apos;s operating life is kept in the form of service and maintenance records. Machine operators are constantly on the alert for malfunctioning of units. At the first sign of trouble the truck is returned to the garage for exchange. No truck functioning incorrectly is kept on the line, regardless of its shift check schedule. The program resulted in a reduction of the number of costly overhauls and cut down the number of haulage accidents. Miscellaneous Mobile Equipment Auxiliary units, operating within the pit, have presented definite safety problems. The highest accident rate in the pit occurred on trucks carrying water and bits to the churn mills. The weight and awkwardness of bits and drill stems, combined with remote delivery points were direct causes of numerous accidents. Here, the problem has been one of equipment handling, rather than haulage. All air compressors for secondary drilling are truck mounted, facilitating mobility. In addition to making it easier to move the equipment, truck mounting has eliminated many of the hazards connected with relocating machinery. By making air compressors independent of other units, drilling operations have been speeded up considerably. Unseen rocks in the path of moving vehicles are a constant source of tire damage. At Benson the problem has been met by supplying each loading crew with a bulldozer for cleanup operations. The pitman directs the dozer operation, and when truck drivers back into loading areas, he serves as an extra set of eyes. Modern Truck Garage Provides Drive-Through Service Simplicity is the essence of any preventative maintenance program. At Benson, a modern garage, with a drive-through service bay simplifies servicing. Shift inspection of the 22-ton haulage units is accomplished with minimum delay and maximum thoroughness. Major repair work and periodic overhauls are done in the repair section of the truck garage. Crane facilities for handling heavy assemblies ease the job and add to the safety factor. Other mobile machinery,

Jan 1, 1952

By S. Arthur Krom

(Wilkes-Barre meeting, June, 1911.) RECENT experiments indicate that the usual type of concentrating-table is not only poorly adapted to produce the desired results, but also is based upon an incorrect principle, namely, the use of riffles to perform the work of stratifying the various minerals. We have heard a good deal about riffles for concentrating-tables; exhaustive experiments have been made to discover the proper form of riffle, or to prove the superiority this or that form; disputes and patent-litigation have arisen over the matter of riffles, and thus many have been led to believe that the riffle is the saving-device upon which the process of concentration depends. In the present paper it is proposed to show that the riffle is greatly overrated as to the part it performs in the concentration of minerals, and that, in the near future, it may possibly be eliminated entirely from that process. The experiments in question have shown that the troublesome riffle can be considered of secondary importance at the most, and should be so classed in the construction of a concentrating-table built upon the right lines. The action of any form of riffle on a concentrating-table is such as to upset and retard the process of settling and stratifying the various minerals on the table-deck. From the deck of a riffled table no concentrates can be delivered until the deck is "bedded," that is, until a sufficient amount of metallic values have been fed to the table to spread over a large portion of the deck, forming a substratum of the heavier minerals. This substratum must be maintained by the feed within quite narrow limits, and directly proportional to the rate of discharge from the table, in order that the bed shall not be lost. On the other hand, the riffles having a very lim-

Jul 1, 1911

By L. H. Sjodahl, J. B. Conway

of each particle on grain boundary movement is proportional to the area it occupies on the grain boundary and this increases with the square of the particle radius. In contrast to the impression gained by Tiwari the effectiveness of a particle, as a grain boundary obstacle, increases rapidly as the particle size increases. The counterbalancing factor in a dispersion of constant volume (e.g., those considered by Zener) is of course the rapidly diminishing number of particles, a situation which does not exist in thoria dispersed materials where the volume fraction of thoria remains constant. Although it has been assumed that the Zener approach is valid for the sake of the above argument, it is open to the following objections: 1) It assumes that the effect of many small particles along a grain boundary is cumulative and does not take into account the possibility of each small particle being overcome separately. In this case the boundary will not be able to move forward until the largest particle on the boundary has been overcome. This means that the rate controlling factor will be the rate at which a few relatively large particles are overcome with the remaining small particles playing a negligible role. 2) When the dispersion consists of very small particles the interparticle spacing is usually small compared to the grain size and most particles are located away from grain boundaries where they can play no part. The most efficient dispersion, from a purely geometrical viewpoint, is one where the particle spacing is equal to the grain size so that all the particles are on grain boundaries. Tiwari&apos;s second point that voids cannot prevent re-crystallization seems to be unfounded as several workes20-23 have shown that voids alone can retard grain boundary movement and recrystallization. To further convince Tiwari, Fig. 17 shows a void in deformed TD Nichrome holding back a recrystallization interface. Tiwari&apos;s explanation for the effect of voids on recrystallization, i.e., they reduce local strain energy and hence lower the driving force for recrystallization may be valid in itself but is irrelevant to the present case where even complete recrystallization after ONE of the more recently proposed expressions for describing stress-strain behavior is that due to Voce.1,2 This equation is usually written: s =s8 ?(s8?so)e??/?c [l] where s is the true stress, ? is true strain, cC is a constant called the characteristic strain, s8 is the asymptotic stress approached at high strain values, and so is the threshold stress at which the plastic deformation begins. While this expression has not been universally accepted as yet it does contain certain features which are consistent with experimental stress-strain behavior. In a more recent publication Hsu, Davies, and Royles3 employed the concept of generalized strain proposed by seth4 and identified a method for linearizing the stress-strain plot. In this approach the generalized strain was given by: where 7 is the generalized strain, 1 is the instantaneous length, 1, the datum length, and n is a constant called the "coefficient of strain measure". A value of n was said to exist which would yield the linearity: s —s+ S[.-(tf] [3] In recent studies of both these approaches, it has been found that while the Voce equation and the gen-

Jan 1, 1970

By Richard R. Bains

"When l hear - I normally remember 10 percent When I hear and see - I can remember 15 to 25 percent When I hear, see, and do - I usually remember up to 50 percent" While this is not a truism in relation to each and every individual; on the average, this is the case. If we use this as a premise in training operator and maintenance personnel, then it must be obvious that we can&apos;t rely on a mere presentation, even one which includes the needed classroom participation and/or hands on work, to do a thorough job and to make this personnel totally proficient - 100 percent proficient. We have to have some other device some other means to make this a continuing process, a process wherein the people can grow in knowledge while performing their normal duties. We have to feel that the words "normal duties" are the key to the whole program. If you would ask a crusher operator what his duty is, he might say "To run this crusher so that we produce 250 tons per hour of a minus 13mm (minus 1/2 ") product." A maintenance man could say "To fix the unit when there is a problem." Both of these answers are legitimate but, they are only a part of the total picture. In order for each of these individuals to do the best job, he must know not just the specifics about the machine he works with or on - he must know the interrelation of all the machinery in the crushing circuit - how the efficiency of each machine affects the others - why a minor problem on one piece of equipment can generate a major problem for another unit which follows it or precedes it. In short, you cannot separate machine operation and maintenance from the application of the equipment in the crushing circuit - and obtaining this knowledge must be a part of the normal duty of crushing plant personnel. As an example a crusher - any crusher - is designed to crush oversize material. It is not designed to accept feed which is already at or less than the required product size. If sized material goes to the crusher, increase wear results by using the crusher as a chute or the crushing chamber can be clogged up with the fines. This latter point is particularly true with cone crushers, especially in the third (Short Head) stage of crushing. When a Gyradisc is used (fourth stage crushing) it is even more critical that the product be removed before the material goes to the crusher. The crusher cannot control this - the screen ahead of the crusher does. The screen must be of adequate size and be functioning properly to allow the crusher to work at optimum. Screening is both an art and a science. Since there are so many variables which affect the output of the screen, it is always best to have a screen which is larger than the sizing calculations dictate. The screens are the most important elements in the circuit. Without screens, specification materials cannot be made and the size of the screen will ultimately aid or hinder your ability to get the most production possible out of the plant. There is a formula available from all screen manufacturers which is designed to calculate the proper screen size. It takes into consideration the

Jan 1, 1982

By Charles Catlett

AN examination of the census reports&apos; for 1880, which contain a large number of complete analyses of typical American iron-ores, indicates that the existence of barium sulphate in intimate association with iron-ore is rather unusual. Of 94 analyses reported there, but four show any barium sulphate, and the maximum content amounts to 3.04 per cent. The note of the occurrence of considerable quantities of barite in connection with certain iron-ores found in the Pinar del Rio Province of Cuba may be of interest. These deposits are found near the little village of Francisco, about 25 miles west of the city of Pinar del Rio on the Western Railroad of Havana. The principal ridges are anticlines, and consist of very thick deposits of sandy shales and slates containing a large number of little veins of white quartz which, by the gradual disintegration of the mass of the material, is left covering the surface. This quartz occasionally shows sulphide, but is generally barren of any such indication. At times lenticular masses of a more or less pure limestone were observed in these slates. The shales, which are of light color, are occasionally talcose. The formation would tentatively be classed as the Lower Cambrian, and the heavy ridges of comparatively horizontal limestone found in the anticlinal valleys as the Upper Cambrian. Along the crest of these slaty ridges deposits of iron-ore are found which are apparently in place, and were probably formed by replacement of masses of limestone similar to those noted elsewhere. The ready disintegration of the slates, and the

Jul 1, 1907

By P. G. Nahin, A. Grenall, R. S. Crog, W. C. Merrill

A progress report of an experimental investigation into the role of clay in reservoir performance is presented. The Paper gives some of the reasons for considering clay as a significant component and outlines the objectives of a broad field of stud) which it is intended to pursue. Descriptions of the analytical methods used are given; these include X-ray diffraction. elec tron miscroscopy, thin section petrography, infrared spec-troscopy, and cation exchange analysis. A suite of the more important clay minerals has been assembled and characterized l~y these methods for use as standards in core analysis. From the data obtained it appears that although no one method of analysis is diagnostic for all of the clay minerals the infrared technique shows considerable promise in this direction. For the present, one or more supplementary methods should be used to confirm the clay mineral identifications. The methods of analysis are applied to field cores taken from repesentative and widely differing strata especially as regards their susceptibility to damage by fresh water. well.; completed in the stevens and Gatchell zones in San Joaquin valley are I,articularly clear-cut examples of this behavior with stevens zone wells being more adversely affected by fresh water. cores from these zones have been studied and are discussed. It appears that differences in this behavior can be ascribed to differences in the nature of the contained clays. The value of the infrarecl spectra of the clay fractions in establishing the identity of the predominant clay minerals is given particular emphasis. INTRODUCTION It is a challenge to the technical resources of the petroleum industry that when the economic limit of production is reached, from 40 to 70 per cent of the oil in California reservoirs remains unproduced even by use of the best presently known methods of recovery. The magnitude of this abandoned volume of oil can be appreciated when it is considered that to 1950 in excess of 8 billion bbll has been produced from California reservoirs with estimated economically recoverable reserves in known fields and pools totaling nearly 4 billion bbl.24 If for every barrel of oil produced there is at least another barrel still in place, it is evident that the revenue obtained from the recovery of only a .few per cent of this volume would repay the cost of the required research manyfold. From well completion experience. production behavior, and a growing body of laboratory data it now appears certain that the mineral composition of a producing stratum has an important bearing on the productivity and ultimate yield. In addition to the organic component and water, the cores con,ist of gravel, sand. silt, and clay" in diverse variety of (a, composition and (b) texture. It is the composite effect of these two factors which is probably responsible in large measure for the way in which the oil flows to the well. The role of the clay and fine-size accessory minerals is not clear but there is a growing opinion, based on their physical and chemical properties, that it is a significant one. of particular importance are the prime facts: 1. The silt and clay fractions of the reservoir matrix possess the highest surface area per gram, and 2. The silt and especially the clay fractions are the most chemically reactive of the inorganic constituents present. Only within the last few years has the knowledge of clay mineralogy and the techniques of identifying the clay minerals reached such a stage as to enable reliable inquiry into the composition of argillaceous sediments.2,8,10,11,12,16,26 It is the purpox of this and succeeding papers to add to the fund of information on the role which these materials play in the production of petroleum from California formations by correlating their presence and associated properties with observed reservoir behavior. In the present paper attention is directed to their possible influence on damage by fresh water. OBJECTIVES The attack on this problem divides naturally into two broad phases: 1. Determination of the nature of the clays and their relationships to the other mineral components, and 2. Determination of the physico-chemical relationships between the clays and the interstitial fluids. In the work described in this paper the emphasis has been on phase 1, which stems logically from the necessity of identifying and understanding the materials to be dealt with in Phase 2. Based on the authors&apos; present opinion that not all of the minerals which occur in oil-bearing formation are of equal importance in their effects on the flow and recovery of oil, it was decided to focus attention first upon the clay minerals content and then. later perhaps. work into the field of the normally larger size non-clay minerals and fractions. The

Jan 1, 1951

By W. C. Merrill, P. G. Nahin, A. Grenall, R. S. Crog

A progress report of an experimental investigation into the role of clay in reservoir performance is presented. The Paper gives some of the reasons for considering clay as a significant component and outlines the objectives of a broad field of stud) which it is intended to pursue. Descriptions of the analytical methods used are given; these include X-ray diffraction. elec tron miscroscopy, thin section petrography, infrared spec-troscopy, and cation exchange analysis. A suite of the more important clay minerals has been assembled and characterized l~y these methods for use as standards in core analysis. From the data obtained it appears that although no one method of analysis is diagnostic for all of the clay minerals the infrared technique shows considerable promise in this direction. For the present, one or more supplementary methods should be used to confirm the clay mineral identifications. The methods of analysis are applied to field cores taken from repesentative and widely differing strata especially as regards their susceptibility to damage by fresh water. well.; completed in the stevens and Gatchell zones in San Joaquin valley are I,articularly clear-cut examples of this behavior with stevens zone wells being more adversely affected by fresh water. cores from these zones have been studied and are discussed. It appears that differences in this behavior can be ascribed to differences in the nature of the contained clays. The value of the infrarecl spectra of the clay fractions in establishing the identity of the predominant clay minerals is given particular emphasis. INTRODUCTION It is a challenge to the technical resources of the petroleum industry that when the economic limit of production is reached, from 40 to 70 per cent of the oil in California reservoirs remains unproduced even by use of the best presently known methods of recovery. The magnitude of this abandoned volume of oil can be appreciated when it is considered that to 1950 in excess of 8 billion bbll has been produced from California reservoirs with estimated economically recoverable reserves in known fields and pools totaling nearly 4 billion bbl.24 If for every barrel of oil produced there is at least another barrel still in place, it is evident that the revenue obtained from the recovery of only a .few per cent of this volume would repay the cost of the required research manyfold. From well completion experience. production behavior, and a growing body of laboratory data it now appears certain that the mineral composition of a producing stratum has an important bearing on the productivity and ultimate yield. In addition to the organic component and water, the cores con,ist of gravel, sand. silt, and clay" in diverse variety of (a, composition and (b) texture. It is the composite effect of these two factors which is probably responsible in large measure for the way in which the oil flows to the well. The role of the clay and fine-size accessory minerals is not clear but there is a growing opinion, based on their physical and chemical properties, that it is a significant one. of particular importance are the prime facts: 1. The silt and clay fractions of the reservoir matrix possess the highest surface area per gram, and 2. The silt and especially the clay fractions are the most chemically reactive of the inorganic constituents present. Only within the last few years has the knowledge of clay mineralogy and the techniques of identifying the clay minerals reached such a stage as to enable reliable inquiry into the composition of argillaceous sediments.2,8,10,11,12,16,26 It is the purpox of this and succeeding papers to add to the fund of information on the role which these materials play in the production of petroleum from California formations by correlating their presence and associated properties with observed reservoir behavior. In the present paper attention is directed to their possible influence on damage by fresh water. OBJECTIVES The attack on this problem divides naturally into two broad phases: 1. Determination of the nature of the clays and their relationships to the other mineral components, and 2. Determination of the physico-chemical relationships between the clays and the interstitial fluids. In the work described in this paper the emphasis has been on phase 1, which stems logically from the necessity of identifying and understanding the materials to be dealt with in Phase 2. Based on the authors&apos; present opinion that not all of the minerals which occur in oil-bearing formation are of equal importance in their effects on the flow and recovery of oil, it was decided to focus attention first upon the clay minerals content and then. later perhaps. work into the field of the normally larger size non-clay minerals and fractions. The

Jan 1, 1951

By S. W. Nabbs, W. D. Bachman, A. W. Last

A study has been made of wet, autogenous grinding of disseminated copper ores, including testing of a large number of samples from. Kennecott Copper Corp.&apos;s Chino mine. The grindability of the various samples was found to vary over an extremely wide range, even among samples taken from diflerent locations within the same ore body. These variations in grindability can be qualitatively correlated with the composition of the rock and the fracturing and alteration that had occurred. Because of the large-scale nonhomogeneity of disseminated copper ore bodies, extensive and careful testing of autogenous grinding is needed. An accurate correlation of the grinding data from various samples with the geology of the ore body and with mining plans will indicate if variations in grinding mill throughput can be avoided in practice by mixing or blending of mill feed and if, therefore, autogenous grinding can be applied successfully. In the past 15 years, comminution by primary autogenous grinding has been investigated and applied economically in the minerals industry, particularly in iron-ore processing. Successful application of primary grinding is described by A. A. Dor,l.&apos; P. B. Dettmer,334 R. R. Turner, and W. F. McDermott." other authors describing the advantages of primary grinding include H. Hardinge,&apos; R. T. Hukki,&apos; D. S. Coyle" and F. C. Bond,"," to mention only a few. For the past several years, Kennecott Copper Corp.&apos;s Metal Mining Div. Research Center has been investigating primary grinding of disseminated copper ores. Both fully autogenous and semi-autogenous grinding has been explored. Ores from three of Kennecott&apos;s western operating properties and from several development properties have been tested. Host rocks include diabase, schist, silicated and argillaceous limestones, shale, granite porphyry, quartzite, and granodiorite. The object of this paper is to supplement the general knowledge in the field of primary grinding by presenting information gained from the studies with the various disseminated copper ores. Data are presented which show that carefully considered test programs are required to determine the practicality of applying autogenous grinding to a specific mining-beneficiation operation. Particularly this is so if more than one rock type occurs within an ore body or if there are wide variations in the degree of rock alteration within a deposit. Extensive sampling and subsequent testing of the ores within a mine are required if serious pitfalls are to be avoided and good engineering data acquired. We hope that this presentation will stimulate studies to increase the understanding of the fracturing process applicable to large pieces of rock, a factor which is important in autogenous grinding. Test Facilities and Procedures Both pilot-scale and full-scale test facilities were used to investigate primary grinding characteristics of the disseminated copper ores. A 6-ft Hardinge Cascade mill, a 24-ft Hardinge Cascade mill, and a 5-ft Aerofall mill were used in the studies. The Cascade mills were operated wet, while the Aerofall mill was operated both wet and dry. The Cascade mills were operated both for fully autogenous and for semi-autogenous grinding; the Aerofall mill was operated only semi-autogenously. Fully autogenous grinding, as the term is used in this presentation, is defined as the direct grinding of coarsely crushed rock by the action of the rock mass. Semi-autogenous grinding is defined as the grinding of coarsely crushed rock with the rock mass supplemented by a steel ball charge. Most of the test work was done using the 6-ft Cascade mill, operated under fully autogenous grinding conditions. Only limited testing was conducted with the 5-ft Aerofall mill and only one ore was tested using the 24-ft Cascade mill. This presentation is concerned, therefore, primarily with fully autogenous, pilot-scale grinding in the Cascade mill. Fig. 1 presents a diagram of the test facilities used with the 6-ft Cascade mill. Principal test equipment consists of a 6-ft Cascade mill, an 18-in. spiral classifier, an elevator, a 2 x 9-ft belt feeder, a conventional integrating kilowatt-hour meter, and a recording wattmeter. In testing, feed charges, adjusted as to weight, were deposited as evenly as possible on the belt feeder every 15 min. The weight of each charge was adjusted to maintain a mill charge of 27 to 30% of mill volume. The classifier was adjusted to obtain the desired size-consist of the final product, generally at 20% + 100 mesh. After equilibrium was established in the circuit, the feed, mill discharge, classifier sand, and classifier overflow were sampled and their size distributions determined. During the sampling periods, the power drawn by the mill was measured to determine the energy consumed in the reduction of the size consist of the ore solids. Fully Autogenous Pilot Grinding Tests on Various Kennecott Ores Typical test results obtained in the 6-ft Cascade mill with samples from Kennecott&apos;s Ray Mines Div., Chino Mines Div., Utah Copper Div., and a development property designated as Mine A are presented in Table 1. As shown, the ores that were ground most easily in the pilot-scale mill were composite mine samples obtained

Jan 1, 1971

By C. H. Mathewson, E. M. Thalheimer

In planning the present experiments, we have made a particular effort to secure that adjustment of working conditions which would render the forthcoming tests most serviceable by way of indicating the comparative properties of the three different commercial grades of copper used. More specifically, we have endeavored to obtain certain definite information with respect to the relative behavior under test of ordinary electrolytic copper and furnace-refined lake copper containing (a) a moderate percentage of arsenic and (b) a rather large percentage of arsenic, in addition to the usual content of silver and other impurities. These comparisons were made systematic and comprehensive by testing throughout a series of (eight) reductions running from 0 to 70 per cent. in the case of cold-rolled metal, and throughout a series of (15) temperatures running from 100&apos; C. to 1,000" C. in the case of annealed metal. In other words, a survey of properties similar to that made by Grard,&apos; in the case of electrolytic copper, was here repeated (with modifications) and extended to two other commercial varieties of copper. The great importance of copper both as a material of construction and as the base of our most important alloys (aside from steel) has led to innumerable investigations of its properties, particularly in commercial forms. Naturally, the merits of furnace-refined lake coppers us. those of the very pure electrolytic product have furnished the subject of much experimental work and animated discussion, wherein the effect of arsenic has by no means been overlooked. In the literature of the past 10 years,

Jan 1, 1917

While coal was mined in New Mexico in 1860, production was on a small scale during the period considered here, and Table 77 contains all the data found. [ ]

Jan 1, 1942

By J. L. Carne

ORE control is a matter of planning and supervision based on a foreknowledge of the content and distribution of ore. The Inspiration orebody is predominately a copper-sulphide blanket, overlain by an oxidized zone of copper silicates, copper carbonates, and barren capping. Most of the ore is treated by leaching, and the optimum requirement of this method is the goal toward which the mining schedule is aimed. Both open-pit operations and underground mining are used. The problems of ore control at Inspiration are: I—maintenance of metallurgical balance, 2—conservation of oxide ore, and 3—mining out of the orebody at an average grade which parallels that of the reserve figure. Prior to the fall of 1926 all of the Inspiration division ores were treated by flotation, but the mixed ores of the Live Oak—Keystone section carried too large a proportion of copper in the form of chrysocolla for satisfactory flotation. For this type of mixed ore the leaching process now in use had been worked out, and the plant was put into operation in the fall of 1926. The process is known as the ferric sulphate leach, and the leaching solvents contain both ferric sulphate and free sulphuric acid. Sulphide copper in the form of chalcocite is leached by the ferric sulphate, and the oxidized copper minerals are dissolved by the sulphuric acid. From the beginning of operations to the present time the plant has treated some 67 thousand tons of ore having an average copper content of 1.142 pct, of which 0.605 pct has been in the form of oxidized copper minerals. The plant is currently being operated at the rate of 11,500 tons per day, 7 days per week. However, this tonnage is produced in 6 days of mine operation. The average current grade is approximately 1 pct copper, of which about 50 pct is present as oxidized or acid-soluble copper. Close control of metallurgical procedures is a vital factor in operation of the plant and is in turn dependent upon careful regulation of feed. An excess of sulphide copper requires the presence of more ferric sulphate in the leaching solvents. On the other hand, an excess of ferric sulphate in the presence of a low sulphide feed seriously reduces the efficiency of electrolytic precipitation in tank house operations. This condition must be avoided at all costs. An additional factor must be considered. It is known that the sulphide content is predominant in the ore which remains in the reserve. To maintain the necessary sulphide-oxide proportion, so that the entire reserve will mine out at both a grade and a sulphide-oxide ratio that will be permissible throughout the remaining life of the property, it is obvious that the oxide reserve must be currently preserved to as great an extent as possible. Fortunately much of the oxide reserve is found in the open-pit operation. This happy circumstance adds flexibility to the procedure and makes it possible to maintain the close regulation necessary to insure best overall results, both mining and metallurgical. The two ore streams from the pit and underground operations join at the coarse-crushing plant, and proper control must be exercised before the ore reaches this point. The open pit is currently providing about 55 pct of the ore and underground operations the balance of production. Both operations are under a single superintendent so that the closely interrelated problems may be more readily controlled. The least flexible of the two producing units is the underground mine, where the mining method is block caving. Although a block of ground may be undercut and developed, characteristics of the material determine its caving action. The ore in the chutes must be drawn. The area currently mined from underground is in a zone predominately sulphide and is generally

Jan 1, 1953