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By P. J. Clifford, A. B. Brown

The development of computerised mine planning has been hindered by the cost of processing the large data bases associated with mineral deposits and the inherent inconvenience of performing an interactive process on a time-shared computer. A dedicated computer is ideally suited for the purpose but reasonably priced micro/mini-computers have not had the capacity to store the volume of data or the processing capability required. Hardware development has cleared the way for the development of truly interactive mine planning software, covering the complete range of activities associated with mine planning, from geological assessment to short-term scheduling of operations, incorporating them into a single system using a common database. The integrated system, comprising software and dedicated hardware, adds previously unattainable speed, flexibility and clarity to the planning process because it has been tailored exclusively for that purpose.

Jan 1, 1983

By David Turnbull

STAFF: Editor, Gerhard Derge Carnegie Institute of Technology Schenley Park Pittsburgh 13, Pa. Editorial Assistant, M. A. Redmerski Production Editor, Otto T. Johnson THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY: J. S. Smart, Jr., President; C. C. Long, Past-President; K. L. Fetters, Vice President; T. D. Jones, Treasurer; R. W, Shearman, Secretary. PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY: C. L. McCabe, Chairman; H. L. Bishop, K. L. Fetters, J. J. Harwood, W. A. Krivsky, F. C. Langenberg, R. E. Lund, W. O. Philbrook, L. L. Seigle, R. L. Smith, and F. L. Vogel. Review and selection of monuscripts is under the supervision of the following Publications Committees: Extractive Metallurgy Division: C. L. McCabe, Chairman; R. E. Lund, Vice-Chairman; D. H. Baker, Jr., W. A. Krivsky, R. A. Lewis, Paul Queneau, A. S. Russell, R. E. Shinkoskey, W, W. Stephens, and M. E. Wadsworth. Institute of Metals Division: L. L. Seigle, Chairman, Paul A. Beck, I. I. Bessen, J. 0. Better-ton, Jr., J. B. Clark, R. S. Davis, A. E. Dwight, R. W. Fountain, R. B. Gordon, C. D. Graham, Jr., R. W. Guard, J. C. Gurland, E. L. Harmon, J. J. Heger, A. A. Hendricksan, M. Herman, J. N. Hobstetter, H. H. Johnson, Jr., R. R. Nash, T- N. Rhodin, R. H. Richman, W. Ros-toker, P. G. Shewmon, C. W. Spencer, L.SIifkin, J. K. Stanley, C. D. Starr, and H. C. Stumpf. Iron and Steel Division: H. L. Bishop, Chairman; R. E. Boni, F. C. Langenberg, J. B. Wagstaff, and T. V. Wainwright. Published bimonthly by the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc., 29 West 39th Street, New York 18, N. Y. Telephone: PEnnsylvania 6-9220. Subscription $20 per year for non-AIME members in United States and North, South, and Central America; $25, foreign; $5 for AIME members. Single copies, $4.00, single copies foreign, $5.00. The AIME is not responsible for any statement made or opinion expressed in its publications . . . Copyright 1961 by the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. . . . Registered cable address, AIME New York .. . Indexed in Engineering Index, Industrial Arts Index, and Chemical Abstracts . . . Second class postage paid at New York, N. Y., and Ann Arbor, Mich. Volume 221, Number 3.

Jan 1, 1962

By Robert E. Allen

The organized curtailment of California oil production is not yet one year old but during its first year it has accomplished so much that it is now firmly established as an agency of economic efficiency. The principle of cooperative curtailment has been adopted by other states and it is safe to say that the principle will continue as long as the demand for petroleum is notably less than the potential production. It' is interesting to note that this same principle of regulating supply to meet demand is now being urged for other industries, such as agriculture and mining. Since Oct. 31, 1929, when curtailment was instituted by the oil producers of Santa Fe Springs and Long Beach in an effort to avert the disaster of ruinously low prices which confronted them, there has been a constant and increasingly effective curtailment program in California. Prior to that time a notable effort toward the restriction of oil production was made under the direction of F. C. Van Deinse during the early summer months of 1929. A considerable reduction of oil output was recorded as the result of this effort, but because of incomplete cooperation and the discovery of still deeper zones at Santa Fe Springs the effort was abandoned; flush field production became unrestrained and prices soon fell to low levels. This initial curtailment movement was educational and experimental. It showed all operators a way out of their overproduction difficulties and developed the principles followed in later curtailment efforts. Thus it was that only a few days after their oil had been reduced to 60 c. per barrel, the operators of Santa Fe Springs got together and agreed to restrict their current production of more than 270,000 bbl. daily to not more than 150,000 bbl. daily. The operators at Long Beach followed the same course a few clays later and agreed to limit their production to not more than 110,000 bbl. daily. The Santa Fe Springs operators chose H. P. Grimm as umpire and director of their proration program. Neal H. Anderson was chosen umpire for Long Beach. Since that time, as the need for curtailment has increased, practically every field of the state has come under the curtailment of these two umpires. Curtailment of the Elwood and

Jan 1, 1931

By W. N. Logan, P. Simpson

There was less activity in the petroleum industry in Indiana in 1933 than in previous years, owing largely to adverse market conditions. The only development of any consequence was for oil in Perry and Vander-burgh counties in southwestern Indiana, a few gas wells being brought in in Jay County in northeastern Indiana. Indications are that there will be more activity in southwestern Indiana in 1934. Little change may be expected in northeastern Indiana. One hundred and sixty wells were drilled in Indiana in 1933, of which 57 were dry, 44 produced oil, 38 produced gas and 21 either were not completed or information on them was lacking. There were 153 wells abandoned and plugged in 1933, as compared to 205 in 1932. Southwestern Indiana This area centers about Gibson County and is the principal source of oil and gas production in the state. Production is from the Lower Pennsylvanian and Upper Mississippian formations. Oil production for 1932 was approximately 847,000 bbl. and for 1933 was 804,000 bbl. Gas production for 1933 was 942,000,000 cubic feet. The Siosi field, in southwestern Vigo County and northwestern Sullivan County, discovered six years ago, produced approximately 244,000 bbl. in 1932 and 223,000 bbl. in 1933. Production is from Devonian and Silurian formations. The oil is high gravity, but contains considerable sulfur. The Shelburn and other small pools in central Sullivan County produced approximately 68,000 bbl. in 1932 and 2,000 bbl. less in 1933. Production is from one or more of five horizons in the Pottsville and is obtained at 600 to 800 ft. This area also produces approximately 19,000,000 cu. ft. of gas a year, supplying the city of Sullivan. The field is over 20 years old. The Gibson-Pike County area, made up of many small pools, including several in southern Knox and southwestern Daviess counties, produced approximately 486,000 bbl. in 1932 and 450,000 bbl. in 1933. This production is from the Mansfield sandstone of Pennsylvanian and/or

Jan 1, 1934

By Kendall E. Born

Production of crude oil in Tennessee during 1941 was slightly more than 15,000 bbl., about the same as in the preceding year. Two thirds of the total was from the Mississippi limestone pools in Scott and Morgan Counties. About a dozen small scattered wells in Clay, Pickett, and Fentress Counties, pumped irregularly, produced approximately 5000 bbl. Natural gas was marketed from wells in Morgan and Fentress Counties for consumption in the Sunbright and Jamestown areas, respectively. The production by counties is shown in Table I. Drilling activities in the state fell to the lowest stage since 1933. Twenty-seven wells were spudded in during 1941, of which six were drilling or only temporarily suspended on Dec. 37, 1941. Of the 22 completions, four were gas wells of undetermined quantity, but are classed as commercial, and 17 were dry or near-dry holes. One well encountered oil, but it has not been tested. The total footage drilled during the year was 29,916 ft.; the average depth of wells was 1359 ft. The more important wildcats are listed in Table 2; the distribution of tests according to physiographic divisions is given in Table 3. East Tennessee.—One well was drilled to 3480 ft. in northwestern Anderson County, in the highly disturbed Appalachian area, a region long considered the most unfavorable in the state for the accumulation of oil and gas. Another test is now drilling below 2000 ft. in this general area. Cumberland Plateau.—There were two completions in the Cumberland Plateau area. One test, drilled in northwestern Scott County in an area of former Mississippi limestone production,' encountered a considerable amount of free oil at 850 ft., about the same horizon as in the old abandoned wells. No pumping tests have been made to date. A well at Oneida, Scott County, found gas at 1579 ft. in a sandy limestone of lower Mississippian age. The volume was reported doubled by a shot, although no open-flow measurement is available. Eastern Highland Rim.—Six completions on the eastern Highland Rim resulted in two small gas wells in Fentress County, which will be used to augment the supply for Jamestown. The producing horizons are shaly limestones of Ordovician (Trenton) age. Two wells in this area tested the upper part of the Knox dolomite group, one of which encountered some free oil in a sandy dolomite at 1670 to 1681 ft. A test high on a well-defined structure in Clay County found a considerable amount

Jan 1, 1942

By Kendall E. Born

Production of crude oil in Tennessee during 1941 was slightly more than 15,000 bbl., about the same as in the preceding year. Two thirds of the total was from the Mississippi limestone pools in Scott and Morgan Counties. About a dozen small scattered wells in Clay, Pickett, and Fentress Counties, pumped irregularly, produced approximately 5000 bbl. Natural gas was marketed from wells in Morgan and Fentress Counties for consumption in the Sunbright and Jamestown areas, respectively. The production by counties is shown in Table I. Drilling activities in the state fell to the lowest stage since 1933. Twenty-seven wells were spudded in during 1941, of which six were drilling or only temporarily suspended on Dec. 37, 1941. Of the 22 completions, four were gas wells of undetermined quantity, but are classed as commercial, and 17 were dry or near-dry holes. One well encountered oil, but it has not been tested. The total footage drilled during the year was 29,916 ft.; the average depth of wells was 1359 ft. The more important wildcats are listed in Table 2; the distribution of tests according to physiographic divisions is given in Table 3. East Tennessee.—One well was drilled to 3480 ft. in northwestern Anderson County, in the highly disturbed Appalachian area, a region long considered the most unfavorable in the state for the accumulation of oil and gas. Another test is now drilling below 2000 ft. in this general area. Cumberland Plateau.—There were two completions in the Cumberland Plateau area. One test, drilled in northwestern Scott County in an area of former Mississippi limestone production,' encountered a considerable amount of free oil at 850 ft., about the same horizon as in the old abandoned wells. No pumping tests have been made to date. A well at Oneida, Scott County, found gas at 1579 ft. in a sandy limestone of lower Mississippian age. The volume was reported doubled by a shot, although no open-flow measurement is available. Eastern Highland Rim.—Six completions on the eastern Highland Rim resulted in two small gas wells in Fentress County, which will be used to augment the supply for Jamestown. The producing horizons are shaly limestones of Ordovician (Trenton) age. Two wells in this area tested the upper part of the Knox dolomite group, one of which encountered some free oil in a sandy dolomite at 1670 to 1681 ft. A test high on a well-defined structure in Clay County found a considerable amount

Jan 1, 1942

By Kendall E. Born

Production of crude oil in Tennessee during 1944 was slightly more than 9500 bbl., about 1300 bbl. more than 1943. Approximately 8000 bbl. was produced from the "Mississippi lime" in Scott and Morgan Counties. Some half dozen wells in Clay, Pickett, and Fentress Counties, pumped intermittently, produced about 1500 bbl. This production is from rocks of Ordovician age ranging in depth from less than 500 ft. to approximately 1000 ft. Natural gas was marketed from wells in Morgan and Fentress Counties for consumption in the Sunbright and Jamestown areas, respectively. The production of oil by counties is shown in Table I. Developments There were 20 completions during 1944 totaling 19,615 ft., nearly twice as much as in 1943. One well was drilling on Dec. 31, 1944. Of the 20 completions, one was a small oil well soon abandoned. Three gas wells were completed which are used locally. The completions are listed in Table 2. The distribution of tests according to physiographic divisions is given in Table 3. Cumberland Plateau There were five completions in the northern part of Cumberland Plateau. One was a small gas well in the Cooper pool 3 miles west of Oneida, but an attempt to extend the pool to the south resulted in a dry hole. The most active area in the state during 1944 was the northern Cumherland Plateau, especially in Cumberland, Morgan, and Scott Counties. Several blocks, aggregating more than 500,000 acres, were assembled and leasing was continuing in the early part of 1945. Surface work has been, or is being, carried on by at least four companies. While in an area of past oil and gas production from the "Mississippi lime," the principal interest appears to be in the essentially unexplored pre-Mississippian possibilities. The Knox dolomite group of Cambro-Ordovician age is receiving some attention as a possible reservoir. As the year closed one well was drilling on a surface structure near Lantana, 6 miles southwest of Cross-ville. This test will be drilled into the upper part of the Knox. Late in 1944, it was planned to lay a gas line from northern Morgan County to Oneida in Scott County, a distance of approximately 20 miles. Middle Tennessee Fifteen wells were drilled in Middle Tennessee. In the northeastern Highland Rim area there were 11 completions, one

Jan 1, 1945

By Geo. H. Ashley

THE year 1923 saw a decline in the production of crude oil and a strong advance in the production of natural gas. The production of petroleum in Pennsylvania has been remarkably uniform for many years, but with a slight average decline. Until 1918, production was maintained above 7,500,000 bbl. Four of the six years from 1918 to 1923, inclusive, saw a yield of between 7,400,000 and 7,500,000 bbl.; 1923 gave only 7,253,000 bbl. The production of natural gas in Pennsylvania has been variable, reaching a maximum of 138,000,000,000 cu. ft. in 1906 and nearly reaching that figure again in 1907 and 1917. In 1921 production dropped to 86,000,000,000 cu. ft., and it seemed that a rapid decline had set in. Prices were raised by most of the gas companies, and -these raises sustained by the Public Service Commission. Possibly as a result of this and the better prices realized, drilling in the gas fields has been active. The year 1923 has not been prolific in large oil wells. The largest single well was drilled by the Manufacturers Light & Heat Co. on the William Auld farm near Prosperity, Morris township, Washington County. This well started at 225 bbl, but quickly dropped to 60 bbl. A 100-bbl. well was struck in September in Springhill township, Greene County. Three wells in the Tidioute pool started at 50 bbl. or better, and a well near the 28th Ward, Pittsburgh, came in at 60 bbl. One well in Washington County started at 50 bbl., but all of the other wells started at less than 20 bbl. The Tidioute pool, which was the sensation of 1922, had by Jan. 1, 1923, dropped in daily total production to 1430 bbl., by Feb. 1 to 1040 bbl., and by May 1 to 700 bbl. At that time, most of the wells were still flowing naturally, though, as the gas pressure was rapidly decreasing, it was not anticipated that such a flow would long continue. As the wells in this pool started at from 500 to. 800 bbl.. a day, it is evident how rapidly they fell off. In August, 1922, the average production per well per day was 44 bbl. ; in February, 1923, 4 bbl.

Jan 3, 1924

By C. E. Shoenfelt

There was very little oil activity in Utah in 1938. A few wildcat tests were drilled and the well at Cane Creek, started in 1937, was in active operation, but failed to reach its objective by the close of the year. The Clay Basin field in Daggett County, northeastern Utah, was extended about a mile east by the Mountain Fuel Supply Co. with the completion early in June of No. 3-D Murphy, NW. NW. SW. of sec. 23-3N-24 E. This well had an initial production of 16,000,000 Cu. ft. of gas a day under 2160 Ib. pressure, from Dakota sand at 5918 to 5925 ft. after plugging back from a total depth of 6035 feet. The Clay Basin field, in the few years it has been in operation, has developed into a gas field of major importance. Approximately 1300 acres has now been proved by development. Six wells are on production, five of which were completed in Dakota sand and the sixth in a sand in the Frontier formation. The field was connected to the Salt Lake line

Jan 1, 1939

By C. E. Shoenfelt

There was very little oil activity in Utah in 1938. A few wildcat tests were drilled and the well at Cane Creek, started in 1937, was in active operation, but failed to reach its objective by the close of the year. The Clay Basin field in Daggett County, northeastern Utah, was extended about a mile east by the Mountain Fuel Supply Co. with the completion early in June of No. 3-D Murphy, NW. NW. SW. of sec. 23-3N-24 E. This well had an initial production of 16,000,000 Cu. ft. of gas a day under 2160 Ib. pressure, from Dakota sand at 5918 to 5925 ft. after plugging back from a total depth of 6035 feet. The Clay Basin field, in the few years it has been in operation, has developed into a gas field of major importance. Approximately 1300 acres has now been proved by development. Six wells are on production, five of which were completed in Dakota sand and the sixth in a sand in the Frontier formation. The field was connected to the Salt Lake line

Jan 1, 1939

By Frank C. Green

Drilling for oil and gas in Missouri in 1935 was mostly confined to proven areas, but was marked by the completion of one of the largest oil wells, 53 bbl., and one of the largest gas wells, 2,000,000 cu. ft., drilled in recent years. A new oil pool, discovered in southern Cass County late in 1934, was further developed; a new pool in southern Platte County is possibly indicated by the completion of a single small well, which flowed naturally; and a deeper sand was developed in the Marota gas pool in Jackson County. Completions dropped to a lower level than in any recent year. A total of 73 wells, which included the deepening of 8 old wells, was drilled. In Bates County, there was one gas well with an open flow of 100,000 cu. ft., and one dry hole. Cass County had six oil wells with about 100 bbl. initial production; one gas well with an open flow of 500,000 cu. ft., and three dry holes. In Jackson County there were seven oil wells with 25 bbl. initial production; 24 gas wells with 7,358,968 cu. ft. open flow, and 27 dry holes. Platte County had one oil well, one small gas well and one dry hole. The oil well flowed naturally about 4 or 5 bbl. per day. It is rather difficult to obtain production figures on either oil or gas leases, but in cases where the figures have been given to the writer in confidence, they disclose conditions comparable with many other regions. One oil lease of 32 acres has produced 125,000 bbl. in four years, or nearly 4000 bbl. per acre. Another lease has made 50,000 bbl., or about 3000 bbl. per acre. It is probable that the total daily production at the end of 1935 was close to 200 hill. per day. A gas pool covering less than one square mile has made 110,111,000 cu. ft. in about 18 months. In this period, the open-flow capacity has been reduced from about 10,500,000 cu. ft. per day to about 3,500,000.

Jan 1, 1936

By Frank C. Green

Drilling for oil and gas in Missouri in 1935 was mostly confined to proven areas, but was marked by the completion of one of the largest oil wells, 53 bbl., and one of the largest gas wells, 2,000,000 cu. ft., drilled in recent years. A new oil pool, discovered in southern Cass County late in 1934, was further developed; a new pool in southern Platte County is possibly indicated by the completion of a single small well, which flowed naturally; and a deeper sand was developed in the Marota gas pool in Jackson County. Completions dropped to a lower level than in any recent year. A total of 73 wells, which included the deepening of 8 old wells, was drilled. In Bates County, there was one gas well with an open flow of 100,000 cu. ft., and one dry hole. Cass County had six oil wells with about 100 bbl. initial production; one gas well with an open flow of 500,000 cu. ft., and three dry holes. In Jackson County there were seven oil wells with 25 bbl. initial production; 24 gas wells with 7,358,968 cu. ft. open flow, and 27 dry holes. Platte County had one oil well, one small gas well and one dry hole. The oil well flowed naturally about 4 or 5 bbl. per day. It is rather difficult to obtain production figures on either oil or gas leases, but in cases where the figures have been given to the writer in confidence, they disclose conditions comparable with many other regions. One oil lease of 32 acres has produced 125,000 bbl. in four years, or nearly 4000 bbl. per acre. Another lease has made 50,000 bbl., or about 3000 bbl. per acre. It is probable that the total daily production at the end of 1935 was close to 200 hill. per day. A gas pool covering less than one square mile has made 110,111,000 cu. ft. in about 18 months. In this period, the open-flow capacity has been reduced from about 10,500,000 cu. ft. per day to about 3,500,000.

Jan 1, 1936

By Kendall E. Born

Production of crude oil in Tennessee during 1943 was approximately 8200 bbl., slightly less than the 1942 production, Counties. Some half dozen wells in Clay, Fentress, and Pickett Counties, pumped intermittently, produced about 1000 barrels. Natural gas was marketed from wells in Morgan and Fentress Counties for consumption in the Sunbright and Jamestown areas, respectively. The Morgan County production was about I0,000,000 cu. ft. and approximately 8,000,000 cu. ft. was produced from the Jamestown gas field from six wells. The production of oil by counties is shown in Table I. Thirteen wells were spudded during the year; three were drilling on Dec. I, 1943. Of the nine completions, representing 10,488 ft. of hole, three were gas' wells of commercial size although only one of them has been placed on the line. The completions are listed in Table 2. The distribution of tests according to physiographic divisions is given in Table 3. Cumberland Pluteuz.-There were three completions in the northern part of

Jan 1, 1944

By Kendall E. Born

Production of crude oil in Tennessee during 1943 was approximately 8200 bbl., slightly less than the 1942 production, Counties. Some half dozen wells in Clay, Fentress, and Pickett Counties, pumped intermittently, produced about 1000 barrels. Natural gas was marketed from wells in Morgan and Fentress Counties for consumption in the Sunbright and Jamestown areas, respectively. The Morgan County production was about I0,000,000 cu. ft. and approximately 8,000,000 cu. ft. was produced from the Jamestown gas field from six wells. The production of oil by counties is shown in Table I. Thirteen wells were spudded during the year; three were drilling on Dec. I, 1943. Of the nine completions, representing 10,488 ft. of hole, three were gas' wells of commercial size although only one of them has been placed on the line. The completions are listed in Table 2. The distribution of tests according to physiographic divisions is given in Table 3. Cumberland Pluteuz.-There were three completions in the northern part of

Jan 1, 1944

By Frank C. Greene

Drilling in Missouri in 1945 dropped slightly from the preceding year. The only notable development was that in the Ballard area in Bates County, where a number of farmers drilled private gas wells with an average depth of a little more than 30o feet. Table 1 gives a summary of activities by counties. The total footage drilled was 36,186 ft. of which 20,489 ft. was by cable tools and 15,697 ft. by rotary tools.

Jan 1, 1946

There have been no major field developments during 1935. Operations have proceeded normally on the company's three producing fields, Masjid-i-Sulaiman, Haft Kel and Naft-i-Shah. The refinery at Kermanshah was commissioned in September, 1935, with a rated throughput capacity of 75,000 tons a year of topped crude to meet local requirements. Crude production from the Masjid-i-Sulaiman and Haft Kel fields is tabulated below: Masjid-i-Sulaiman Field.—The flowing lives of wells have been extended by (I) a process of acid treatment, thereby reducing the bottom-hole pressure differentials, and (2) by reducing the back-pressure. Optimum producing conditions for individual wells have been determined as a result of an experimental study of the amount of available energy in the reservoir crude and of energy losses in flowing wells. The return of surplus products to the reservoir has continued to be a satisfactory economic operation and the crude throughput capacity of the topping plant has been increased. The viscosity of residue returned to the reservoir is reduced before injection by regassing at 35 lb. per sq. in. absorption pressure with surplus gas. The pressure in the gas dome is falling at the low rate of one pound per annum. Haft Kel Field.—The delimitation of the main structure has proceeded; the oil-bearing area so far proved being about 50 square miles.

Jan 1, 1936

There have been no major field developments during 1935. Operations have proceeded normally on the company's three producing fields, Masjid-i-Sulaiman, Haft Kel and Naft-i-Shah. The refinery at Kermanshah was commissioned in September, 1935, with a rated throughput capacity of 75,000 tons a year of topped crude to meet local requirements. Crude production from the Masjid-i-Sulaiman and Haft Kel fields is tabulated below: Masjid-i-Sulaiman Field.—The flowing lives of wells have been extended by (I) a process of acid treatment, thereby reducing the bottom-hole pressure differentials, and (2) by reducing the back-pressure. Optimum producing conditions for individual wells have been determined as a result of an experimental study of the amount of available energy in the reservoir crude and of energy losses in flowing wells. The return of surplus products to the reservoir has continued to be a satisfactory economic operation and the crude throughput capacity of the topping plant has been increased. The viscosity of residue returned to the reservoir is reduced before injection by regassing at 35 lb. per sq. in. absorption pressure with surplus gas. The pressure in the gas dome is falling at the low rate of one pound per annum. Haft Kel Field.—The delimitation of the main structure has proceeded; the oil-bearing area so far proved being about 50 square miles.

Jan 1, 1936

By W. E. Hubbard

The Panhandle area of northwest Texas embraces the northern portion of the Permian Basin of Texas as well as a considerable portion of the western part of the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma. For the purpose of this report it will include in addition to the 20 counties of the Panhandle proper the two tiers of counties lying to the south, a total area of about 32,000 square miles. Crossing the Texas Panhandle diagonally from northwest to southeast is the Amarillo Arch, related to which is all of the production discovered to date. Oil Production Up to Jan. 1, 1930, the Panhandle has produced about 125,000,000 bbl. of oil. The peak yearly production occurred in 1927, during which period 49,000,000 bbl. were produced. In 1928 the production fell to 25,000,000 bbl., but in 1929, on account of important discoveries in Gray County, the total increased to 31,000,000 bbl. To date Hutchinson County has produced 64 per cent. of the total. Table 1 shows the total yearly production by counties. The present production of the Panhandle is 100,500 bbl. from 1745 wells or an average of 57.6 bbl. per well compared to a production on Jan. 1, 1929, of 59,748 bbl. from 1468 wells or an average of 40.7 bbl. per well. The peak production of the year occurred during the week

Jan 1, 1930

The following table summarizes the information on the Hurghada field. which is still the major producing field in Egypt. Age of field to end of 1937. years..................... 24 Producing area for gas and oil. acres.................. 1.050 Babbels Total oil production to end of 1937................... 30.188.500 Total oil production during 1936..................... 1.219.406 Total oil production during 1937..................... 1.141.230 Average oil production per acre to end of 1937.......... 28.750 Average oil production per acre-foot to end of 1937.... 2.359 Daily average production (Nov. 1937)................ 3.162 Daily average production per well (Nov. 1937)........ 41.88 MillionB Cu. Ft. Total gas production (Aug. 1925 to end of 1937)....... 4,189 Total gas production during 1936.................... 281 Total gas production during 1937.................... 222.5 Maximum daily average in 1937 (July)............... 0.7 Number of producing wells completed to end of 1937... 97 Number of producing wells completed during 1937..... 3 Number of wells abandoned during 1937.............. 1 Producing wells at end of 1937....................... 78= Total number abandoned wella at end of 1937......... 19 Total number dry wells at end of 1937................ 20 Average depth of bottom of producing horizon, ft...... 1,720 Average depth of top of producing horizon, ft.......... 1,598 Character of oil, approximate average in 1937: gravity at 60" F., 0.900; base, mixed. Character of gas, approximate average during 1937: gallons gasoline per 1,000 cu. ft., 6.9. Producing rock (main): Nubian (?) sandstone. Cretaceous (?); character, sand rock and sandstone. 1 Figures were given in E. tons. A conversion factor of 6.98, based on 0.900 sp. gr., was used to obtain the number of barrels.—Ed. *All pumping.

Jan 1, 1938

By Irving B. Cadoff, Stojan M. Zalar

AgInTe2, CuInTe2, and all Proportions of CuxAg1-xInTe, forMed homogeneous single phase alloys after direct solidification from the nielt. X-ray analysis indicated a zinc-blel~de strzccture typical of the chalcopyrite compounds, and the electrical resistivity and Sccbeck coefficient values were in the semiconducting range. AuInTe, and AuxA4g,-, InTe, formed by what appeared to be a peritectic reaction (the thermal analysis curves showing more than one arrest) and were conseyue~ztly polyphase. Substitution of copper into AgIrzTe, resulted in a continuous transition in the room tenzperature Seebeck coefficient from the negative AgIzTe, to the positive CuInTe,. A zero coefficient was obtained at about Cuo.55 Ago.45 InTe, . The temperatzire variation was similar to that observed for the stoichiometric compounds, that zs, tendency towards "p" concEuction at elevated temperatures. The thernzoelectric figure of merit for the compo~uzds, as determined by the Putley -Harmnn method were in the range 10- to 10-7 "K-l; the thermal conductivities in the order of 0.15 cal per sec-cm-oK. INCREASED interest in semiconducting intermetallic substances is expanding much of recent research from simple binary compounds into polyatomic systems and solid solutions. Ternary compounds A' represent a covalent extension of the binary semiconductors Within the a tin isoelec-tronic series, Ag-Cd-In-Sn-Sb-Te-I, divalent cadmium atoms in CdTe are being substituted for by monovalent silver and trivalent indium atoms to form the compound AgInTe, . By cross-substitution with elements of other isoelectronic series, a great number of ternary compounds A 'B"'c? is possible. In all of them, however, a necessary though not sufficient condition for the covalent, semiconducting bond—that there be four sharing orbital electrons per atom—must be fulfilled. In AgInTe,, each silver or indium atom is tetrahedrally surrounded by four tellurium atoms, while each tellurium atom is co-valently bound to two silver and two indium atoms. Synthetic chalcopyrites A'B"'c~ were first recognized as potential semiconduct&rs by Goodman and Douglas.' Austin, Goodman, and Pengelly discuss preparation difficulties and some electronic measurements on AgInS, , AgInSe, CuInSe, , AgInTe, , and CuInTe,. Chalcopyrites A B c2v are mentioned in papers attempting to classify and predict semiconducting behavior of intermetallic compounds; on the basis of saturated tetrahedral sp3 bonds,3 by specific selection criteria,' and by crystallographic considerations."

Jan 1, 1962