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By C. B. Richardson, R. D. Sprague

The year 1938 was the most active and successful in the history of the oil industry in southern Louisiana. Drilling showed a 16 per cent increase over that of 1937, with a total of 538 wells drilled, which yielded 315 oil wells, 19 distillate wells, 4 gas wells and 200 dry holes. Nineteen new fields were discovered during the year, all but three of which were completed by plugging back to sands previously drilled through. Electrical logging played a large part in these new discoveries as well as in the discovery of new sands during routine development of fields. Fourteen of the new discoveries produced oil, and five produced only gas and distillate. Southern Louisiana continues to lead the world in depth of drilling, which is in part due to the great thickness of comparatively young deltaic sediments near the coast and the existence of numerous sands. The present development is rather evenly distributed over a coastal strip 100 miles wide. New Fields North Tepetate, Acadia Parish.—Atlantic Refining Company's No. 1 Klumpp was completed for a new field through perforations from 7960 to 7970 ft. The initial production was 65 bbl. of 54" gravity distillate and 4 million cubic feet of gas daily through a 1/4-in. choke with tubing pressure of 2850 Ib. and casing pressure of 2930 lb. The well is in see. 12, 7 S., 2 W., just north of Tepetate field. It was drilled to a depth of 8705 ft. and plugged back for its final completion. Atlantic's NO. 2 was completed in a new sand at 8300 ft., also for distillate. South Crowley, Acadia Parish.—Humble Oil and Refining Company's No. 1 Boyd Finch was completed in July 1938, as an oil well through perforations from 7318 to 7325 ft. after plugging from a total depth of 10,222 ft. After making several hundred barrels of oil, the well went to

Jan 1, 1939

By Walter Lang

The year 1931 has shown a marked change over 1930 in New Mexico, with respect to the volume of activities attendant upon the petroleum industry. Although the total production of oil and gas this year exceeds that of preceding years, the results have been attained from established units operating under restriction, but capable of supplying far more than the economic conditions justify. The presidential order of March 12, 1929, that "there will be complete conservation of Government oil in this administration," has merely anticipated a normal consequence of overdevelopment. As a result of the combined economic and legal restrictions imposed, very little new drilling has occurred during the year. Even in proven areas the drilling of offsets has been curtailed to the absolute limit of requirements. Scouting and sample-cutting, which in 1930 were still in a state of feverish activity, are at low ebb, and lease buying has reached a condition of stagnation. A number of the major oil companies have either materially reduced their field and office forces or completely eliminated local office representation. Two tests of particular interest, because correlation shows them to be structurally high although they failed to produce, are the National Securities well drilled six miles west of the town of Hobbs, on sec. 33, T.18 S., R.37 E., Lea County, to a total depth of 4272 ft., which developed a flow of 4,000,000 cu. ft. of gas at 3860 ft., and a show of oil; and the Western Drilling Co. No. 1 State, sec. 16, T.20S., R.32 E., Lea County. The latter test found dead oil at 2575 to 2580 ft., and sulfur water at 2745 ft., increasing to 2780 ft., representing the zone from which production was generally expected. The well was drilled to 4013 feet. The discovery of sulfur at about 950 ft. in the deepening of an old water well (Pearson, NE. 1/4 sec. 8, T.16 S., R.25 E.) drilled in the Little Cottonwood area northwest of Artesia led the Union Sulphur Co. to drill three prospect tests on a block of acreage in the vicinity during the summer and fall. The results of the investigation have not been disclosed. The Kummbaca Oil and Gas Co. drilled the T. J. Kerline No. 1, in sec. 34, T.21 N., R.30 E., Harding County, gaging 3,654,000 cu. ft. of 98 per cent CO² at 940 ft. The Barton structure, 20 miles east of Albu-

Jan 1, 1932

By Robert S. Dewey

AS a result of drilling operations during 1943, West Texas again added sufficient new oil reserves to replace the oil produced during the year, but failed to maintain its position in currently available reserves because the deeper discoveries will require years for development. Drilling failed to provide the additional oil necessary to meet the increase in current and anticipated market demand. Although 13.3 per cent of the total footage drilled was in wildcat exploration, the ratio of oil discoveries to total wildcats was less in 1943 than in 1942, but comparable to that in 1941. Of the 732 field wells completed, 270 were at Slaughter, 55 at Wasson, 45 at Mascho and 31 at North Cowden. As of Dec. 31, 1943, there were 361 drilling wells including 71 wildcat and 290 field wells; 19.7 per cent were wildcats. It is anticipated that the percentage of wildcats of the total wells will be higher during 1944 than in either 1942 or 1943. Tables 3 and 4 present a three-year comparison of drilling activity and illustrate the downward trend of development that has been in effect during that time. Because of development lag in the deeper Ordovician fields, several years elapse before 2 sufficient number of wells is completed to give a substantial producing rate. As these new oil reserves cost more to find, and will cost more to produce on a barrel basis than the oil marketed during the year, their reserve replacement value to the industry is less in money. Costs While complete costs for deeper drilling are not yet available for analysis, it is evi- dent from the data on drilling rates to comparable depths, contract prices, and general increases in costs, that the cost of drilling has risen approximately 20 per cent during the year. One representative drilling contractor estimates that the average drilling time on a 5000-ft. field well has increased nearly one third and that out-of-pocket costs have increased a dollar per foot. Three major factors contribute to this increased cost: (I) less experienced labor, (2) deterioration in mechanical equipment and expendable material, and (3) increased contract prices. In the past, when there were more drilling rigs than wells to be drilled, some contractors would cut their drilling profit to keep their personnel and rigs working. As this practice is no longer necessary, the contract prices are adjusted upward to assure a profit. On deep and difficult drilling, contracts are let on a cost plus basis. A number of mechanical difficulties have become evident. Inferior quality of steel used in drill pipe and rock bits has added appreciably to drilling time and cost. Contractors are experiencing delay in obtaining repair work and repair parts for prime movers. As the length of drilling time required an shallow-field wells has not increased in proportion to that on deeper wells, it seems that the medium-sized drilling rig is better adapted mechanically than the heavy one to the work imposed. One of the main deficiencies in the heavy rig equipment is inadequate pump capacity. Drilling Mud The increasing amount of deep drilling has emphasized the importance and relationship of good mud to efficient and suc-

Jan 1, 1944

By Robert S. Dewey

AS a result of drilling operations during 1943, West Texas again added sufficient new oil reserves to replace the oil produced during the year, but failed to maintain its position in currently available reserves because the deeper discoveries will require years for development. Drilling failed to provide the additional oil necessary to meet the increase in current and anticipated market demand. Although 13.3 per cent of the total footage drilled was in wildcat exploration, the ratio of oil discoveries to total wildcats was less in 1943 than in 1942, but comparable to that in 1941. Of the 732 field wells completed, 270 were at Slaughter, 55 at Wasson, 45 at Mascho and 31 at North Cowden. As of Dec. 31, 1943, there were 361 drilling wells including 71 wildcat and 290 field wells; 19.7 per cent were wildcats. It is anticipated that the percentage of wildcats of the total wells will be higher during 1944 than in either 1942 or 1943. Tables 3 and 4 present a three-year comparison of drilling activity and illustrate the downward trend of development that has been in effect during that time. Because of development lag in the deeper Ordovician fields, several years elapse before 2 sufficient number of wells is completed to give a substantial producing rate. As these new oil reserves cost more to find, and will cost more to produce on a barrel basis than the oil marketed during the year, their reserve replacement value to the industry is less in money. Costs While complete costs for deeper drilling are not yet available for analysis, it is evi- dent from the data on drilling rates to comparable depths, contract prices, and general increases in costs, that the cost of drilling has risen approximately 20 per cent during the year. One representative drilling contractor estimates that the average drilling time on a 5000-ft. field well has increased nearly one third and that out-of-pocket costs have increased a dollar per foot. Three major factors contribute to this increased cost: (I) less experienced labor, (2) deterioration in mechanical equipment and expendable material, and (3) increased contract prices. In the past, when there were more drilling rigs than wells to be drilled, some contractors would cut their drilling profit to keep their personnel and rigs working. As this practice is no longer necessary, the contract prices are adjusted upward to assure a profit. On deep and difficult drilling, contracts are let on a cost plus basis. A number of mechanical difficulties have become evident. Inferior quality of steel used in drill pipe and rock bits has added appreciably to drilling time and cost. Contractors are experiencing delay in obtaining repair work and repair parts for prime movers. As the length of drilling time required an shallow-field wells has not increased in proportion to that on deeper wells, it seems that the medium-sized drilling rig is better adapted mechanically than the heavy one to the work imposed. One of the main deficiencies in the heavy rig equipment is inadequate pump capacity. Drilling Mud The increasing amount of deep drilling has emphasized the importance and relationship of good mud to efficient and suc-

Jan 1, 1944

By P. C. Hodges

WHILE there is very little romance connected with the operation of a stone quarry, yet to those who have participated in the growth and development of a business that has been a pioneer in its field and that FIG. 1.-LOCATION OF PROPERTY OF MARBLE CLIFF QUARRIES COMPANY. has been in continual operation two-thirds of a century there is bound to be a background of experience, which if properly capitalized, brings progress as well as satisfaction in its accomplishment.

Jan 1, 1936

By H. Meseck

The new building of the Central Bank of Iraq in Baghdad was footed in difficult underground conditions on more than 600 reinforced concrete driven piles, with cross-sectional diameters of 45 x 45 cm and pile lengths of 12.0 to 18.0 m. The necessary embedded depth and the bearing capacity thus reached were established on all 600 drives piles by means of dynamic pile tests. For the calibration of the dynamic pile tests, 6 static pile load tests were carried out. The execution of the construction and the results of the extensive tests on the building site are shown.

Jan 1, 1989

By R. Benemelis

The existence of resins in some coal deposits in various parts of the world has been known for many years. These resins vary considerably in chemical structure and properties. The resin that is found in Utah coal, however, is rather unique, and has properties particularly attractive for the manufacture of printing ink mastics and adhesives. This resin is a rather dark, very high melting point, low molecular weight hydrocarbon resin. Its typical properties are shown in Table I. Its largest use by far, has been in the printing ink industry. The history of Utah coal resin is interesting, but unfortunately one of disappointment and failure.

Jan 1, 1990

By H G. Bosmare, G Bedser, C V. B Cunningham

Peak Quany has achieved substantial improvements to its bottom lie by giving close attention to blasting practice, and in pr@icnlar by introducing electronic delay detonators for routine production blasting. The precision and flexibility provided by these units has enabled the quarry to gain control over fmes and curtail oversize without increasing explosive usage. In addition, the extent of nuisance from blasting vibrations has been reduced.

Jan 1, 1998

Grade uncertainty can have a number of important implications for a mining operation. One of the most significant risks in not considering grade uncertainty in planning is the over or under allocation of processing or mining capacity when compared to realised grades. This could lead to wasted capital expenditure or missed opportunities to add value. This paper demonstrates a method that optimises production capacity and mining schedules in the presence of grade uncertainty. Applying this method to the case study of a nickel deposit recommended a reduction in processing capacity, an increase in mining capacity and more extensive utilisation of stockpiles than optimisations completed with traditional methods. As a result, average NPV improvements of between seven per cent and 27 per cent were gained.

Dec 6, 2010

By Fabio Mielli

In these times of increasing costs and diminished returns, energy consumption is one source of savings that remains relatively untapped in the mining sector. Typically, 15% to 40% of operational costs can be attributed to energy in mining operations. This ?process variable? is a complex, multi-faceted variable that involves government regulations, societal pressures, cost and competitiveness. A mining company able to successfully embrace an energy efficiency program is more often than not a successful mining company. Production optimization programs, relatively common today, provide increased production, increased availability of assets and, in many cases, improved quality. They generally ignore the energy question altogether. Production Energy Optimization combines reductions in energy consumption with production improvements to reduce the cost per unit of production while improving emissions reporting. An energy strategy in mining and mineral processing operations is a critical component of Production Energy Optimization. This strategy must support the financial and operational integrity of the business. Developing a successful energy strategy requires a well structured approach such as following: ??Understanding where energy is being used and why, ??Recommending and implementing energy conservation measures, ??Driving visibility to targets and results, ??Re-evaluating continuously. The objective of this paper is to help you better understand the process, tools and technologies that enable mining organizations today to address energy and sustainability issues more tactically and proactively.

Aug 1, 2013

By Charles H. Fettke

The Bradford field of northwestern Pennsylvania and adjacent portions of New York state has attracted world-wide attention in recent years on account of the remarkable success that has been attained in the application of water-flooding as a means of increasing the extraction of oil from a pool that had almost reached the economic limit by ordinary production methods. It is one of the few large oil fields in which artificially conducted water drives have thus far proved successful, although many attempts have been made to apply them elsewhere. As detailed a knowledge as possible of the character of the producing sand in this field is therefore of considerable interest, not only from a scientific but also from a practical standpoint. Outside the Bradford field, such knowledge should aid operators in determining whether or not their sands are amenable to flooding. In the Bradford field itself flooding operations are not uniformly successful over the approximately 85,000 acres of productive area, due in many instances primarily to variations in sand conditions. A knowledge of just what these variations are would often be a great aid in overcoming the difficulties, or else would save considerable sums of money which might otherwise be wasted in experimenting in areas where the chances of success are very small. Realizing that more precise information in regard to the nature of the reservoir rock was essential to improvements in the methods of oil recovery, the Northwestern Pennsylvania Oil Producers Assn., by private subscription of its members, took a core of the Bradford sand from a well 1/2 mile west of Custer City, Pa., during the spring of 1925. The Forest Oil Co. also took a core of the same sand from a well about 8 miles east of Bradford at that time. The cores were submitted to the United States Geological Survey for study and A. F. Melcherl has published the results of porosity determinations on the Custer City core.

Jan 1, 1929

By J P. Ashby

Compared with elsewhere in the world, New Zealand quarries have tended to be mostly small. The reasons for this are a combination of the relatively high transport costs, low population density and a pioneering, self-employed attitude. The small size of the operations is reflected in low productivity, a tendency to repair and rebuild equipment rather than replace it, designed flexibility in the processing plant, minimal reserves investigation or development planning and a versatile and innovative work force who are generally not professionally trained. The Resource Management Act and the Health, Safety and Employment Act as well as a customer driven demand for higher quality and consistent products will have even greater influence upon future direction of the Industry. The trend will be towards fewer quarries operated by companies and professional managers that can adapt to the new demands.

Jan 1, 1993

By M. Abdellatif

The production of a 40% Al-Ti alloy was successfully proven at the lab scale, using pure TiO2, aluminium, and lime. These tests were conducted in an induction furnace maintained at 1600?16250C. The introduction of rutile into the feed recipe resulted in an alloy containing between 0.35 and 1.10% Zr, depending on rutile to TiO2 ratio. DC arc production of the alloy was largely accomplished at 40 and then 200kW scale. These tests evaluated various metallurgical and operational factors including target slag composition, Ti-content in the alloy, co-feeding versus sequential, furnace bath depth, and rutile as part of the Ti containing feedstock. Overall, an alloy containing 24?33% Ti was consistently produced with co-feeding of the reactants and with lower taphole tapping. When rutile was added, the zirconium analysis in the alloy remained below 0.2%. The main impurity elements were iron, silicon, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen.

Jan 1, 2009

By Norman Ketzlach

Manganese Products, Inc. has developed a chemical process for the recovery of high-grade manganese oxides from low-grade manganese ores. Ammonium sulphate is also produced. Manganese ore is leached with sulphurous-sulphuric acids. The impurities are removed with ammonia, heat, and air. Manganese oxides are produced by addition of more ammonia and air under pressure. Ammonium sulphate is recovered from the remaining solution.

Jan 3, 1950

In, one stage of the purification sequence of the zinc sulphate electrolyte used at Risdon, cobalt is, precipitated as cobalt nitroso-,B-naphtholate, which is separated from the solution by filtration. Owing to the method of conducting the purification the filter cake contains much gypsum, unconsumed calcium hydroxide, basic zinc sulphate, and entrained zinc sulphate solution, Small amounts of iron and copper that have escaped previous purification steps are also precipitated with the cobalt as nitroso-,B-naphtholate. Thisprecipitate, normally carrying about 18% cobalt, is the raw material for the production of cobalt oxide, cobalt sulphate and cobalt metal.COBALT OXIDEThe main problem in the preparation of a reasonable grade of cobalt oxide from the filter cake is the economic separation ,of the cobalt nitroso-,B-naphtholate from the gypsum. This was solved by the application of flotation. It was discovered that the cobalt nitroso-,B-naphtholate, under correct conditions, would float without any addition agent, giving a relatively high grade concentrate. A plant, was built and has been in operation since 1936. The filter cake is pulped with water and pumped to one of two mechanically agitated tanks, eath capable of holding one day's output. Sulphuric acid is added until the free acid concentration reaches about 3 gm. per litre. Basic zinc sulphate is dissolved and calcium hydroxide converted to gypsum. The pulp, carrying about 2t lb. of solids per gallon, is pumped at a suitable rate to the first of a series of 10 flotation, boxes.. Each box is 3 ft. by 2 ft. 9 in. by 5 ft. deep, and, all have a common, pulp level, since the...

Jan 1, 1949

A sinter plant baghouse dust has been treated as a hazardous solid waste, and disposed at a very high price. A series of leaching tests were conducted to examine the possibility to produce high grade potassium chloride from the solid waste. It is found that around 40% of the solid wastes can dissolve into water, and a deposit with more than 90% KCl can be produced after simply drying the solution.

Jan 1, 2009

By Arndt C. R

The Ispat Mexicana SA de CV (IMEXSA) pelletising plant is located at Lazaro Cardenas on the west coast of Mexico. It is the primary source of feed stock for the adjacent direct reduction (DR) plants and steelmaking facilities. The initial design of the pellet plant began in 1981 for 3 Mtpa of DR grade pellets using local concentrate received by pipeline.' Several construction delays, an ownership change, and a decision to use imported concentrates delivered in 60 000 to 90 000 tonnes ship cargoes required flowsheet modifications and additions. The design concepts are described for the plant which includes concentrate regrind to final pelletising particle size.

Jan 1, 1999

By O. Kangal

Flame retardant materials can be incorporated or applied to products, including plastics and textiles, to increase their resistance to fire. Incorporating a flame retardant in combustible materials and plastics is a common procedure to reduce the risk of fires. Flame retardant applications include interior and exterior woods, structural steel columns, fabrics, open and closed cell foam, pressure treated wood, Formica and all types of fabrics for use in commercial applications as well as residential applications where their fire protection products can save lives and valuables. Huntite and hydromagnesite are amongst the most important flame retardant additives materials. Although various areas of the world have potential huntite and hydromagnesite deposits, their place in industry is not well known, and a detailed field search for their deposits has not yet been conducted. They are active during the starting phase of a fire, in that they prevent the spread of an inner or exterior source of ignition to the flame-retarded material, thereby, preventing, delaying or inhibiting the spread of a fire. Flame-retardants are, therefore, just one element among many in a concept for preventive fire safety. To obtain huntite and hydromagnesite concentrates that are more than 95% pure, which are used in flame retardant industry, flotation tests were conducted on low-quality huntite and hydromagnesite ores.

Jan 1, 2009

By M. H. Weinecke, B. P. Faulkner

This paper will discuss the process for making lightweight aggregate, the waste materials that make good lightweight aggregate, the chemistry of making lightweight aggregate and finally a discussion of the commercial prospects for making lightweight aggregate from wastes. Svedala Industries has been making lightweight aggregate (LWA) from waste materials for the last ten years. Many clay-like materials, such as coal-fired boiler ash and washings from a granite quarry, can be used alone or with additional waste materials to produce a commercially saleable LWA.

Jan 1, 2001

By Kumar A, Mishra N. C

For each tonne of chromite ore mined in Sukinda, approximately ten tonnes of fine overburden material is generated. The overburden typically contains about 30 - 60 per cent Fe2O3, 0.3 - 1.1 per cent Ni, four to nine per cent Cr2O3 and 0.04 - 0.2 per cent cobalt and is being discarded leading to loss of valuable metals and creating environmental pollution. In order to take the advantage of presence of iron, nickel and chromium, the present studies advocate the utilisation of nickel lateritic chromite overburden for production of Ni bearing pig iron through blast furnace extracting maximum iron and nickel from the chromite overburden. The present paper deals mainly with the beneficiation of chromite overburden, sintering characteristics and thermodynamic studies. The beneficiation study shows that a beneficiated concentrate having Fe - 50 per cent and Ni -- 1.1 per cent can be achieved from chromite overburden having Fe - 30 per cent and Ni -- 0.7 per cent. Sintering studies have been carried out with bed height of 300 and 450 mm at a suction of 600 and 900 WG respectively. The results reveal that good quality sinter can be produced from chromite overburden concentrate with a basicity of about 1.0 and coke breeze consumption rate about 16 per cent. In all the experiments, Tumbler Index, Abrasion Index and Shatter Index was found to be in the range of 65 - 70, 4.5 - 5.5 and 85 - 90 respectively. The other parameters namely softening temperature, melt down temperature, reduction degradation test and relative reducibility have also been determined. A thermodynamic analysis has also been carried out to make a technological assessment of the process for the production of alloyed pig iron from chromite overburden in blast furnace which shows that it is possible to produce nickel bearing pig iron in blast furnace using the sinter up to 80 per cent. Techno-economic analysis reveals that this route will yield a substantial profit even after accounting for cost of beneficiation, extra coke, raw materials and extra slag produced.

Jan 1, 1999