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By C Gunther

In deposits in which the secondary zones are well defined a layer of rich oxidized ore is frequently found immediately to overlie the enriched sulphides, from which it is derived by direct oxidation in place. In deposits that contain oxidizing precipitants particles and masses of residual oxidized ore are likely to be scattered through the leached zone, having been precipitated during migration before reaching the zone of enrichment. This precipitation hinders secondary enrichment and in extreme cases prevents the formation of such concentrations. Residual ores are precipitated by various reagents. Carbonates are formed through the action of the carbonic acid contained in surface waters, and also directly through the replacement of calcite, especially where the containing rock is limestone. Native metals, such as copper, gold, and silver, are formed by the action of reducing agents, among which organic matter and ferrous sulphate are prominent. Kaolin, gouge, and certain shales occasionally act as powerful precipitants through adsorption. Silver is often found as residual chloride, formed through precipitation by the chlorine contained in surface waters. Residual ores are often the result of incomplete solution, the relatively insoluble minerals being left behind during the migration of associated metals; incomplete oxidation and solution often leave residual masses of unaltered, or partly altered, sulphides in the oxidized zone. Such residual particles or masses have commonly been enriched by additions from circulating, metal-bearing solutions. During oxidation under conditions that permit reprecipitation, such as the oxidation of sulphide deposits in limestone, a scab

Jan 1, 1932

By Richard H. Jahns

Terminology and Basic Specifications Minerals and closely allied natural substances that are used for personal adornment, as raw stock for the fashioning of ornamental objects, or for other decorative purposes can be referred to collectively as gem materials. Industrial gem materials are those employed directly in various areas of industry. Substances that are manufactured for gem or industrial uses are termed synthetic gem materials; most of these correspond in composition and crystal structure to certain minerals found in nature. Imitation materials are those whose use is based upon their resemblance to substances of different composition and greater value. Gem stone is a designation commonly restricted to those materials suitable for personal adornment, and the complementary term ornamental stone is applied to the remaining materials not used industrially. This distinction is arbitrary and somewhat inconstant, owing to numerous geographic differences and historical shifts in end uses. Further, there is a complete gradation between the category of ornamental stones and that of dimension stone. Although many building and monumental stones are undeniably ornamental in their uses, treatment of such material is beyond the scope of this chapter. Substances that lose their identity in use are excluded from the gem category. Thus a transparent crystal of beryl would not be classed as a gem stone if it were treated as a source of beryllium metal. The adjectives precious and semiprecious have been employed as a means of distinguishing different gem materials on the basis of their recognized value. Diamond, emerald, ruby, and sapphire consistently have been regarded as precious stones, and in cut form they commonly are referred to as the noble gems. Opal, pearl, turquois, and chrysoberyl also have been classed as precious at various times. In recent years, however, it has been increasingly recognized that no satisfactory distinction can be based upon assessed value or any group of intrinsic properties, and at the present time all gem stones normally are referred to as precious. Indeed, the tendency is to extend this term to include many of the so-called ornamental stones, and the designation semiprecious has been essentially discontinued. Unlike most mineral commodities of economic value, gem materials are little altered in processing for end uses. Some stones are used in essentially their natural form, and most are reshaped and polished without significant changes in their fundamental properties. Thus the preparation of gem and ornamental stones is intended chiefly to emphasize or enhance desirable characteristics that are present initially. The worth of most synthetic gem stones is founded upon the identity between their major properties and the natural characteristics of the corresponding minerals, just as the pleasing qualities of imitation stones depend upon how well certain of their properties simulate those of more valuable substances. The most important specifications of gem materials represent four basic factors: beauty, durability, rarity, and portability. Beauty, whether expressed as splendor, "purity," attractiveness, or in some other way, is mainly a function of personal response to optical properties such as color, transparency, indices of refraction, and dispersion. Freedom from visible imperfections is important for transparent stones. For some substances beauty depends also upon asterism, opalescence, textural and

Jan 1, 1960

By A. Martens

When I was honored with an invitation from the American Institute of Mining Engineers to present a paper at the Chicago meeting on the microstructure of iron, I hesitated about accepting, as the short interval that would remain at my disposal, after other pressing matters had received attention, could not but seriously affect the work of preparing such a paper. Unfortunately my fears have been realized and my work is neither completed, nor yet as comprehensive as I should desire. Mindful of my promise, however, and recognizing that 1 have reached a point where the results of my researches may prove suggestive, I am led to present them now, trusting that this brief explanation map secure indulgence for whatever deficiencies the paper may disclose. So far as my knowledge of published memoirs and treatises extends, microscopy cannot yet be said to possess a really firm foundation. In few cases only has any systematic development of the methods of investigation been undertaken, and broad gaps remain to be filled. It is not yet possible, therefore, to give a complete survey of the field, or, indeed, to supply a text-book on microscopic metallography. As Mr. F. Osmond, of Paris, a distinguished member of our profession, has undertaken to prepare for the Chicago meeting a historic review of the work actually accomplished I need not touch on that branch of the subject; but before entering upon my special theme, it may not be out of place for me to introduce certain explanations, as furnishing reasons for the course 1 have hitherto pursued, and to offer some suggestions for the further development of the methods of microscopic investigation. In microscopic metallography, the examination has to be conducted principally with incident light. Objectives of low power, in which the distance between the front lens and the abject is considerable, are adapted for directly incident light, and in such cases the relatively great depth of the image renders it possible to examine

Jan 1, 1894

By Lester Blackner

THE PROPERTY AND LOCATION THE Ray Consolidated Copper Co.'s mining property is located on Mineral Creek 6 miles north of Kelvin, at Ray, Pinal County, Ariz. (Fig.. 1) . The mining claims now owned by the company consist of 126 lode claims, comprising 2,144.9 acres, containing at the beginning of operations 82,904,368 tons of 2.19 per cent. copper ore. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OREBODY The main orebody is a disseminated deposit in schist and porphyry formed by secondary enrichment. Its existence was proved by churn drilling, and it is at present one of the largest proved copper deposits in the world. The orebody itself covers .205 acres with an average thickness of 121 ft., and occupies a definite belt which has a northwest direction. Its length is approximately 5,000 ft. The width varies, being about 2,000 ft. at the west end and 2,500 ft. at the east, narrowing down irregularly front both ends to a few feet in the center. The thickness of the body varies greatly along the line of lode, ranging from a few feet up to 470 ft. thick. The ore horizon is not constant, but varies, following in a broad sense the topography The body in general dips slightly to the northeast, and is broken up by numerous small faults and fractures. The ore-bearing formations, consisting of mineralized schist and mineralized granite porphyry, stand fairly well and offer no difficulty in mining operations.

Jan 6, 1915

By Samuel H. Dolbear

THE value of a mine is basically dependent on its capacity to yield profits. Since the ore must be mined, treated, and sold, some of it in various future years. there is a risk involved as to future costs, selling price, and working conditions. It cannot be expected that the economic condition existing at the time of valuation will continue unchanged for long periods in the future. During the past 20 years, mineral production in the United States has been conducted under a changing economy in many respects more exacting than that applied to other businesses. There have been increased production incentives, technical aid, exploration of privately owned mineral deposits by government at federal expense, and liberal loans for development and equipment, with risk partially assumed by government.. Some of these benefits have been counterbalanced by price ceilings, consumption controls, and stimulation of competition from foreign producers who have been offered the same advantages extended to American operators. For the present, mines will operate under a government policy directed toward reducing federal aid and control. The tenure of this change will depend upon future elections and the status of foreign relations. War and threat of war are now of the most vital significance to the mineral industries. Other factors which influence cost of production, markets, and price of mine output might be classified as Acts of God or Acts of Government. In some countries expropriation and the difficulty of exporting earnings or investment returns are risks that must be considered by foreign capital. Recognizing that this retards American investment in foreign countries, the Mutual Security Agency offers insurance against such expropriation and guarantees the convertibility of capital and profits. Since it is impossible to predict with certainty either cost of production or selling prices of metals for long periods, some assumptions must be made as to profits in the future. The basic assumption must be that the price of the company's product will vary in proportion to changes in operating cost. There is often a lag in this reaction, however, for prices of minerals are generally more sensitive to declines and less sensitive to increases than are costs. This reflects in part the resistance of labor to downward wage revision and a corresponding alertness in realizing its share of price advances. Some labor contracts include automatic adjustments to metal prices. Notwithstanding the complexity of the, problems involved and the difficulty of weighing their effect on value, such risks may be appraised with reasonable accuracy and a rate of earnings adopted that is compatible with the risk. It is, of course, possible to revert to a yardstick of value such as the commodity dollar, which has been advocated from time to time, but while revaluation in 1933 disturbed public confidence, the theoretical gold dollar continues to be the standard of greatest stability. Its gain or loss in purchasing power is reflected ultimately in cost of production and selling price of the mine product. At present 35 dollars are allocated to one ounce of gold. Measurement of Risk In the application of the Hoskold and most other formulae, a yearly dividend rate commensurate with the risk involved is set aside out of annual earnings. If the risk is great, this rate may be 15 to 25 pct of the amount invested. The remainder is placed in a sinking fund invested in safe securities such as high grade bonds or conservative equities, and the interest or dividends from these securities are added to the sinking fund. The sum of these sinking fund payments and the compounded interest at the end of the mine life is taken as the value of the mine. Admittedly the decision as to the size of the risk rate is the most difficult element in valuation and one requiring the most exacting consideration. It is necessary to look years ahead in an effort to determine future costs, market prices, demand, competition which may develop, including that of substitutes, and other influences common to the mine and to the region in which it is situated. Another phase of risk is the enactment of unfavorable legislation, taxes, and what appears to be an alarming spread of nationalization and expropriation. Capital is sometimes borrowed from the government to finance strategic production. Such loans may be collectable only out of production and involve no liability otherwise. Valuation in these cases must recognize the effect of such a reduction in liability. Offsetting some of these risks are the possibilities of mechanization and other cost-reducing discoveries, improvements in mining and treatment methods, new uses for minerals and metals, and normal growth of markets. In this paper, the terms risk rate, dividend rate, and speculative rate are synonymous. Safe rate and redemption rate are also used interchangeably. These alternatives are used here because they are commonly found in the literature on mine valuation. In Michigan, the State Tax Commission has long employed a risk rate of 6 pct in its valuation of iron mines. There the outline of reserves is well established and operating costs and conditions are based on adequate experience. The following comment on rates appears in the report of the Minnesota Interior commission on Iron Ore Taxation submitted to the Minnesota Legislature of 1941.1 Most engineers agree that 7 percent for the specu-lative rate is "an absolute minimum". C. K. Leith in

Jan 1, 1954

By W. S. Gillam

A need for new supplies of fresh water exists today and in many specific areas that need is urgent. One solution lies in saline water conversion, a problem complicated by cost factors. The principles involved in saline water conversion, the status of development, and the estimated costs (present and future) of several processes are presented. Among the methods discussed are distillation, electrodialysis, and freezing. In general, the costs presented are based on a standardized procedure for estimating conversion costs, permitting a valid comparison among the various processes. The need for new supplies of fresh water and the potential benefits to be derived from an abundant supply of converted water are recognized by practically everyone concerned with water problems. The water supply problem exists today; it is urgent in many specific areas in this country and also in the world, and it will become more acute in the future. One answer to the growing problem of adequate water supplies is the development of new sources. Very significant quantities of brackish underground and surface waters exist in certain areas and an inexhaustible supply of ocean water is available. Thus in many areas water resources can be extended through saline water conversion. Congress recognized the need for new sources of fresh water in 1952 and passed the Saline Water Act, Public Law 448, amended it in 1955, and in September 1958, enacted Public Law 85-883, calling for the construction of at least five demonstration plants. The program is administered by the Dept. of Interior through the Office of Saline Water, and its primary objective is to reduce the cost of converted water produced, whether it be by development of new processes or improvement of known processes. This is a most difficult problem and one that will require several years of prodigious effort. It is difficult—not because of any intricate or new chemistry, engineering, or physics involved—but because of the difficulty in converting water at low cost. Whatever the sources of the saline water, the salts which are held tenaciously in solution must be removed before the water becomes suitable for industrial or domestic uses. Saline water is a relatively simple system of salts dissolved in water. It has certain chemical and physical properties that determine the various methods by which the salts may be separated from the water. The system, although not complex, in most instances, has had countless years in which to reach equilibrium and is, therefore, comparatively stable. Because of its stability, separation of saline solutions requires relatively large quantities of energy. The unique properties of water depend on the fact that its molecules are chemically active. The chemical and physical properties of water are associated with the type of bonding involved in the water molecule. Chemical changes such as hydrolysis, or rusting of iron, involve the breaking of chemical bonds between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Physical changes, such as evaporation in a boiler, the melting of ice, or the viscous resistance to flow in a pipe, involve breaking of the hydrogen bonds. (The hydrogen nucleus is so small that it can attract two negative atoms.) Thus water molecules not only combine with molecules of other compounds but even with one another; e.g., each molecule may be bounded to four other molecules. Water molecules cling to the ions of dissolved salt to form water-encumbered hydrated ions and they cling to one another to form entangling networks through which hydrated ions can be propelled only by tearing the networks apart. That is one reason why considerable energy still needs to be expended in our simplest procedures for purifying water. If water molecules did not have this habit of clinging so tenaciously to other molecules, and to one another, it would be easy to push salt ions past the water molecule and get a separation. But the water would not then dissolve salt, so the problem would not exist.' Water when heated evaporates very slowly, relative to other liquids having simple molecules. Vaporization involves the separation of molecules from the liquid, and this means overcoming the attraction between molecules which is due to the hydrogen bonding. The heat of vaporization for water is high; consequently, the boiling point of water is also high. Water boils at 100" C; hydrogen sulfide (H2S) at -60" C; oxygen (02) at -183" C; nitrogen (N2) at -196" C; and methane (CH4) at-161°C, even though the latter has about the same molecular weight as water. Because of these peculiar properties of water, it exists as a liquid on earth instead of a gas such as hydrogen sulfide or nitrogen and oxygen.

Jan 1, 1961

Philip Argall, Denver, Colo. (communication to the Secretary) : Mr. Rickard expresses regret that I have not given more extracts " from the fresh leaves of nature's open book." The quotations used by me in argument were all from nature's open book, and by authorities recognized in the scientific world as being able to decipher nature's unwritten pages, if not lay bare her inmost secrets. The study of -nature should be preceded by a knowledge of her laws. Natural science is but the summary of the observations of the past or an organized and accurate knowledge of the order in which things have been observed to happen. One who ignores the 'knowledge of the past or despises that of the present and approaches nature's open book with a virgin mind but too often finds her

Jan 1, 1895

By R. J. S. Brown, B. W. Ganison

A new logging method has been developed, based on measurement of the nuclear magnetism of formation fluids. The nuclear magnetism log (NML) is the only log that responds solely to formation fluids. It operates equally well in both oil-base and water-base muds and in empty holes, and can be used in all kinds of formations except strongly magnetic ones. Two separate NML measurements can be made, one of which provides a continuous formation fluid curve. This fluid curve is called the free fluid log (FFL) and is believed to indicate a minimum effective porosity in most formations. The FFL not only delineates fluid-containing zones, but provides an excellent correlation curve that can be obtained under conditions where conventional correlation logs are ineffective. Preliminary tests indicate that the second kind of NML measurement may help distinguish oil and water zones and provide information concerning permeability and wettability. (The FFL itself appears to provide some information on permeability.) The second kind of NML measurement requires stopping the logging tool for a short time opposite a zone of interest and taking more extensive NML data that can be displayed as nuclear magnetic relaxation curves. In some instances, oil and water saturations for the region immediately adjacent to the borehole can be read from these relaxation curves. INTRODUCTION In 1946, Bloch, Hansen and Packard and Purcell, Torrey and Pound3 independently announced the successful demonstration of the phenomenon of nuclear magnetic resonance. During the past 13 years, there have been many applications of nuclear magnetic resonance, including applications to the study of chemical structure and to the measurement of magnetic field strengths. Preliminary experiments on the feasibility of using nuclear magnetism measurements in well logging were made independently by California Research Corp. and Varian Assoc., the Varian work being sponsored by the Byron Jackson Tools, Inc. Since then a cooperative research program on nuclear magnetism logging has been carried out by the Byron Jackson Div. and Research Center of Borg-Warner Corp., and California Research Corp., subsidiary of Standard Oil Co. of California. The use of nuclear magnetism in well logging is of special interest because it offers a way of making direct measurements on the hydrogen in the formation fluids and not on the rock matrix. Within the past 1 1/2 years, successful measurements have been made with a research model logging tool in wells in California, Tex as, Utah, Louisiana and Wyoming. NUCLEAR MAGNETISM SIGNALS Polarization, Relaxation and Precession Many atomic nuclei possess magnetic moments and spins; that is, they are similar in some respects to bar-magnet and gyroscope combinations. Molecules and their nuclei are subject to thermal motion, which has a scrambling effect, tending to leave as many nuclear spins oriented in any one direction as in any other. However, if a magnetic field is applied, the magnetic nuclei tend to align in the direction of the field. The scrambling and aligning forces compete with each other, with the result that a few more spins are oriented parallel to the field than in other directions. This gives a net magnetization, or polarization, which is directly proportional to the strength of the applied magnetic field (aligning influence) and inversely proportional to the absolute temperature (scrambling influence). When the magnetic field in, or temperature of, a liquid sample containing protons is changed, the new equilibrium value of proton polarization is not established immediately but requires an amount of time which depends on the nature of the hydrogen-containing materials. The process of approaching the equilibrium value of polarization is called relaxation.'.' Polarization is a vector quantity, and the components parallel to and perpendicular to the magnetic field must be considered separately. Relaxation of the component parallel to the field is called "thermal relaxation", or "longitudinal relaxation", and the corresponding time for this component of non-equilibrium polarization to decay by a factor of e (natural log base) is denoted T. The relaxation of the perpendicular component is called "transverse relaxation", and the corresponding relaxation time is denoted T,. The potential energy of a magnet in a uniform field depends on the angle the magnet makes with the field; therefore, a change of the component of net polarization parallel to the magnetic field involves an exchange of energy between the spin system and the thermal motion of the molecules, leading to the term thermal relaxation for the relaxation of this component. Suppose we subject a sample to a strong magnetic field at right angles to the earth's field for a time greater than TI. A polarization, thus, is established at right an-

By G. Ansel, J. P. Doan

THE important literature concerning zirconium in magnesium-base alloys is predominantly contained in patent references. Sauerwald, Eisenreich, and Holub1-4 discovered the profound grain-refining influence of small amounts of zirconium on cast magnesium and the attendant increases in strength, and ductility. They extended their work to reveal that limited amounts of certain other elements, including zinc, could be added for further improvement in strength and hardness. British. Patent 5111376 relates to the parent discoveries of Sauerwald, Eisen¬reich, and Holub. All of these references deal primarily with casting characteristics and properties in the cast state. Minor mention is made of desirable tensile strength, ductility, and toughness of wrought Mg-Zr alloys* modified by one or more additional elements. No extensive reference in the literature" has been found to the particular characteristics of wrought Mg-Zn-Zr alloys, with which the present paper is concerned. - The work to be discussed represents essentially an extrusion study of the Mg-Zn-Zr alloys and indicates that this system is highly interesting in the wrought state both academically and commercially. Accordingly, an important aim of this paper is to describe the hot-workability, tension and compression properties, metal¬lography, and toughness of these alloys. Compositional variations are limited to the ranges o to 7 per cent Zn and o to I per cent Zr. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Alloying and Casting Alloying ingredients were cell mag¬nesium, commercial zinc (intermediate grade), and a chloride salt containing approximately 50 per cent ZrCl2 and 50 per cent alkali chlorides. This salt is produced by Titanium Alloy Manu¬facturing Company. Melting, alloying, and pouring procedure essentially followed the crucible process as described by Nelson.6 The magnesium was melted using Dow No. 310 flux, and the temperature raised to 1350° to 1400°F for the alloying operations. After alloying of the zinc, the zirconium containing salt was added in small portions with vigorous stirring. This is an adaptation of the method described in British Patent 533264.7 The alloying efficiency of zir¬conium was approximately 30 per cent. During the alloying of zirconium, fluorspar was added in amount required as a flux¬inspissating agent. Next the melt was refined with Dow No. 310 flux and held quietly for 15 min. Finally billets were cast in a book-type permanent mold

Jan 1, 1946

By Harold Earle Cook

The purpose of this paper is to state briefly the inspection requirements of the Bureau of Ordnance, the specifications governing the inspection, and the physical and chemical properties of the steel used in the construction of ordnance for our Navy. It would be of interest to evoke discussion on points in these specifications which do not tend to insure the production of the very best material for the purpose intended. In other words, what requirements of our specifications are useless and also in what manner are our specifications deficient? It might be well at the start to answer the first criticism of this paper which will probably be made, and that is that the title does not agree with the subject matter. Considering metallographic work as covering only the macroscopic and microscopic examination of metals, this paper will have gone beyond the subject; but it is believed that a broader definition of metallography is that it is the study of the relation of the internal structure of metals and alloys to their composition and to their physical and other properties. The internal structure of steel is dependent on its physical and its chemical properties. These physical properties are dependent on the chemical composition and the mechanical and thermal treatment of the steel. So it seems that this subtitle would not be entirely necessary and that the title " Metallography of Steel for Ordnance Purposes" would cover a study, not only of what we can learn of macroscopic and microscopic examination, but broadly of the whole subject of the specifications, the fulfillment of the requirements of which produce the structural conditions revealed by macroscopic and microscopic examination. I will refer but briefly at the beginning to the microscope and its uses in our inspection. It is only very recently that the Bureau of Ordnancc has furnished certain of its inspection offices with a portable Tassin outfit for the microscopic examination of steel. Since that

Jan 1, 1916

By C. C. Miller, A. B. Dyes

The cost of finding and developing new reserves is continually rising. We must meet these rising costs with more economical operations. This can he accomplished if we revise our ideas of proper well spacing and well allowable to consider the concept of optimum well spacing. According to this concept, the optimum spacing is the one which leads to the maximum present worth for a reservoir when ail factors affecting total cost and total revenue are considered and when the wells are produced in the most eficient manner. Application of this principle efficiently utilizes available well potential and properly considers the recovery eficiency in addition to fixing the spacing on the basis of the amount and value of the oil to he recovered. This Study presents an analysis of one producing zone containing low gravity crude to illustrate the effect of these factors on the present worth and on the optimum economic spacing under two production drives—-evolved gas and water drive. The maximum present worth occurs when the optimum number of wells for open-flow operation is employed. Frequently, this optimum development cal1s for very wide spacing and the ideal field rates are not unreasonable. Under other circumstance. where proration is necessary, an optimum combination of well spacing and well allowable exists which permits production at relatively high rates. The optimum well density in a field depends on the recovery efficiency and the valule of the oil. In solution gas-driven reservoirs this optimum spacing for operation at high producing rates can vary from extremely wide spacing to handle viscous low gravity oil in thin formations to relatively close spacing in thick sands where good recoveries are expected. Because of the better recovery from water-driven fields, the optimum spacing in these fields is closer than in solution gas-driven fields. Also, the water encroachment pattern is dependent upon the well spacing, and an adequate numher of wells is needed to assure a good sweep eficiency. The economic optimum well density in a water-driven field is high enough for this purpose. INTRODUCTION From year to year domestic oil becomes more difficult to find. The fields we do locate are frequently smaller and deeper than older fields and the costs for men, material and equipment are continually rising. To replenish our reserves we must continue to search for and develop new fields, but experience has shown we cannot expect prices to rise in proportion to costs. Consequently, we must meet increasing costs by more economical operations. A vigorous effort is being made within the industry to improve exploration methods, to cope with the problems of deeper drilling, and to obtain a secondary yield from older fields. Many significant contributions have resulted from these efforts. The economic operation of new fields can be further improved by developing these fields on optimum spacing and producing the wells at higher rates. This would avoid the drilling of unnecessary wells and provide additional capital for seeking new oil. While the benefits of these practices are obvious, the problem of defining the optimum development of a field for natural depletion can become very complex. A study of the effect of well spacing and several reservoir variables on economic worth of a specific field is reported here to illustrate the problem and to show the magnitude of the benefits to be realized. This study is necessarily limited to the field conditions selected and is not intended as a general solution of the well spacing problem. It does, however, indicate factors to be considered, the trends to be expected, and the direction in which we should proceed in developing new fields. NO consideration is given to land and legal considerations which might arise. METHOD OF ANALYSIS The optimum method of developing and producing a field is to use the combination of spacing and prora-tion which gives the maximum return. In addition, we do not want to lose recovery. These considerations of maximum return and maximum recovery present no serious conflict. The value of each method of operation is conveniently expressed in terms of its present worth. According to the present worth method of evaluation,' an acceptable annual percentage return is assigned to the operation, and all incomes, capital costs, and expenses are discounted at this rate to the start of the operation. This net value is the present worth. If we apply the same discount rate to several alternate methods of operation, the one yielding the greatest present worth is the best method. If we express net income in terms of price per barrel of oil produced, drilling and equipment costs on a well basis, and expenses as cost per well year, this evalu-

By E. M. Tory, P. T. Shannon

An analysis of batch and continuous thickening in terms of the movement of planes of constant concentration (i.e. continuity waves) is presented. Use of solids flux as a primary variable greatly facilitates the analysis and clarifies the relationship between batch and continuous thickening. An "ideal" slurry is defined as one whose settling rate is a function only of the local solids concentration. An analysis of continuous thickening of this ideal slurry in an ideal thickener explains many aspects of the steady — and unsteady — state behavior of real slurries, such as the main features of a thickener's "solids profile" (including the break attributed to rake action), the sudden appearance at abnormally high feed rates of a zone of constant concentration and the velocity with which it rises, and the effect of detention time at constant weight of sludge per unit area. Where deviations exist, they are explained in terms of the batch settling behavior of real slurries. The purpose of this paper is to interpret continuous thickening phenomena in terms of batch settling behavior. Both types of thickening may be considered as the process of propagating concentration changes, due to the downward movement of the solids, from the bottom of the settling vessel upward through the slurry.' These concentration changes may be either finite or infinitesimal as in the case of the propagation of a continuous concentration gradient. The slurry itself may be moving downward as in the case of continuous thickening. The downward velocity of the slurry may be such that the concentration changes being propagated up from below remain stationary relative to the thickener walls. This is the case for steady-state thickening. It seems appropriate to analyze continuous thickening in terms of the movement of planes of constant concentration. This has already been done for batch settling."3 Although our main interest is in real slurries, there are certain aspects of both types of settling which can be deduced from a theoretical analysis of highly idealized systems. To this end, an "ideal slurry" is defined as one for which the dimensionless settling rate at any point is a function only of the local solids concentration.1,2 An "ideal thickener" is one in which there is no radial variation in either the solids concentration or in the downward component of slurry velocity. The underflow outlet is a point sink. It is to be expected that the behavior of non-ideal systems will deviate in some measure from theoretical results. However, the same characteristics which cause deviations in continuous thickening should be evident in batch settling, permitting a rational explanation of the former in terms of the latter. PREDICTED RESULTS FOR AN IDEAL SLURRY IN AN IDEAL CONTINUOUS THICKENER General Theory: In continuous thickening, the downward solids flux (mass/area-time) relative to the thickener, G, results from two different

Jan 1, 1967

By J. E. Lamar, J. S. Machin

INSULATING materials include a wide variety of nonmetallic mineral products such as exfoliated vermiculite, expanded gypsum, 85 pct magnesia, diatomite, asbestos, perlite, cellular glass, pumice, silica aerogel, expanded aggregates and mineral wool. Except mineral wool, most of these products, or the materials from which they are manufactured, are described in other chapters of this book. PROPERTIES OF INSULATING MATERIALS The insulating properties of the materials considered in this chapter result in general from entrapping extremely small pockets of air in such a manner that heat is not transferred by convection. The minimum heat conductivities of such insulating materials are slightly greater therefore than the conductivity of still air. In addition, conductivity varies with the overall density of the material, the temperature range in which the measurements are made, and the form into which the material is fabricated. However, the numerical value of heat conductivity should not be the sole criterion of an insulating material; for a particular application it may be advantageous to use a material of somewhat higher conductivity in order to secure other desirable engineering properties. This is especially true with certain materials that are used because of their refractoriness. Comparative insulating values of some commonly used insulating materials are shown in Table 1. In comparing the values presented in this table it should be borne in mind that heat conductivity varies with the mean temperature, with the overall density, and with the amount of moisture present. With fibrous or granular materials it varies with fiber or grain size and with the amount and kind of binder, if any is used. Under some circumstances it may vary with the arrangement of

Jan 1, 1949

By J. H. Henderson, T. E. Morrisson

An irvestigation has been made of the production of oil through horizontal fractures of high capacity and large radius placed at the base of producing formations. The specific aitns of the study were to (I) determine by model studies the reservoir performance when gravity drainage is the only producing mechanism, and (2) develop a method of predicting such perfortnance from commonly measured reservoir proper-ties. Although the theoretical approach tailed to develop a rigorous analytic sorution to the transient problem, it (lid lead to a practical method of predicting performance. Predictions (Ire in good agreement with rates and recoveries observed in scaled-model experinzents. Capillary effects and the influence of relative permzenbil-ity are taken into account. The experimental program was mainly concerned with the influenre of fracture radius, fracture capacily and capillary hold-up on the total recovery and the rate of recovery. Much of the experimental work was done on a triangular model which represented one-eighth of a square well pattern, so constritcted that horizontal fractures of varying radii and flow capacity could be studied. An electrolytic model was used to relate the initial production rates to fracture radius, formation thickness and the drainage radius of the well pattern. The conclusions reached as a resrtlt of the work are as follows. I. The production of oil under gravity force alone into a well-propped horizontal fracture, whose radius is of the order of hundreds of feet, is a recovery method which combines high recoveries with very acceptable production rates. 2. The mechanism is effective in "dead oil" reservoirs as well as in reservoirs which possess the energy of solution gas. 3. A method of predicting performance has been developed which gives good agreement with experimental behavior in cases of practicnl interest. Even for very thick beds and large fracture radii, where actual conditions do not conform to the assumptions made, the method gives order of magnitude predictions which would not otherwise be possible. INTRODUCTION Gravity drainage of oil from a formation which has continuous ver- tical permeability over a reasonable depth interval is a surprisingly effective method of recovery. However, for a conventional well the production rates which result from gravity drainage are so low that the economics are seldom attractive. The same formation may produce rapidly and profitably by gravity alone through a high capacity, extensive (i.e., > 100-ft radius) horizontal fracture placed near the bottom of the pay section. Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the plan. Energy in the reservoir gas is not a necessary condition for this recovery process. With a sufficiently large fracture, attractive production rates will result from gravity flow alone, and the producing GOR need only be the solution GOR. It is, of course, necessary to keep the fluid level in

By A. L. Benham, W. E. Dowden, W. J. Kunzman

The mechanism involved in creating a miscible fluid displacement of typical reservoir fluids through porous media by light hydrocarbon mixtures usually involves a number of mixing and separation stages in the contact area. This mechanism has been illustrated on ternary diagrams for miscible displacement of reservoir fluid by rich hydrocarbon gases. A relatively simple method has been devised for calculating the approximate conditions for a miscible displacement of reservoir fluid by rich, light hydrocarbon gases or by LPG mixtures. Miscibility is favored by increased pressures, decreased temperatures, light reservoir fluids and light hydrocarbon-displacing fluids rich in the heavier components. The conditions for miscible displacements of five typical reservoir fluids by various light hydrocarbon mixtures were determined for a range of temperatures from 70" to 260°F and pressures from 1,000 to 3,000 psia. A correlation of these conditions was obtained using the variables of temperature, pressure, C,+ molecular weight of the reservoir fluid, C,+ molecular weight of the displacing fluid, and mol per cent methane in the displacing fluid. This correlation has been applied to data appearing in the literature with very good success. A partial check of the correlation has been made using a step-wise procedure with a windowed PVT cell. INTRODUCTION The term, "miscible fluid displacement", may be defined as any oil-recovery displacement process where there is an absence of a phase boundary or interface between the displaced and displacing fluids. A water flood would not be a miscible fluid displacement, although cycling in a condensate reservoir would be. Another example is displacement of oil by gasoline. Not so obvious, however, are the conditions under which fluids (such as propane, mixtures of propane and methane, or other similar systems) will give a miscible fluid displacement of oil. There are four standard miscible-fluid-displacement processes being used for the recovery of oil from an "nderground reservoir—(1) high-pressure dry-gas miscible displacement, (2) rich-gas miscible displacement, (3) miscible slug using a slug of LPG followed by a lean dry gas under miscible conditions, and (4) gas driven-slug process using a slug of LPG followed by a lean dry gas under immiscible conditions. The first problem faced by the engineer designing a miscible displacement process is to determine the conditions for miscibility. A number of papers have included discussions of the process of obtaining miscibility in these processes.1-8 However, methods for calculating the conditions for miscibility have not been published. This paper includes a method for calculating the conditions for a miscible displacement of reservoir fluid by a rich gas (LPG diluted with methane or natural gas). In this paper, a rich-gas miscible displacement process is defined as an oil-recovery process in the reservoir. The cost of a rich-gas miscible displacement will be decreased by diluting the LPG with methane or natural gas as much as possible. Therefore, it is important to be able to predict the maximum dilution for miscibility. MECHANISMS The mechanisms for obtaining miscibility between a displacing mixture of light hydrocarbons and displaced reservoir fluid often involve a number of displacing and mixing stages. As stated previously, the cost of a rich-gas miscible displacement is decreased by diluting available LPG with natural gas. The problem is to predict the maximum dilution allowed while maintaining miscibility. To get a picture of the displacing and mixing stages, it is helpful to consider these complex hydrocarbon mixtures as pseu do-ternary systems. Graphical representation of a complex system as a pseu do-ternary system can be thermodynamically rigorous if enough variables are used to describe the character of each pseudo-component in one of the phases. However, even if the characterization of each pseudo-component is not complete, pseudo-ternary representation does serve to illustrate the mechanism for obtaining miscibility and can be used to make some general conclusions concerning the conditions for obtaining miscibility. A phase diagram for the ternary system, methane-

By H. S. Price, J. C. Cavendish, R. S. Varga

This paper presents a new technique for solving some of the partial differential equations that are commonly used in simulating reservoir performance. The results of applying this technique to a simple problem show that one obtains accurate pressure values near wells, as well as accurate pressure pdients, which can be explicitly calculated. The method is completely rigorous in that convergence of the discrete numerical solution to the continuous solution for both pressure and pressure gradient is established. High-order, piecewise-polynomial approximations are used near the wells where pressure gradients are steep, while low-order, piecewise-polynomial approximations are used elsewhere to reduce greatly the calculation time. This combination is shown to give a uniformly good approximation to the solution. These approximations, obtained by using a Galerkin process with suitable Hermite subspaces, are shown to be theoretically and numerically superior to the usual approximations obtained from standard finite-difference techniques. Not only are much greater accuracies obtained, but computer times are also greatly reduced. The application of this technique to multiphase flow problems (e.g., single well coning problems) would have considerable practical interest, but such extensions of this technique with full mathematical rigor have not been made as yet. However, the numerical methods presented here are general, and in principle extend to multidimensional, multiphase flow. Moreover, the preliminary results given in this paper are sufficiently encouraging that we feel the effort in attempting these extensions is justified. INTRODUCTION The problem of obtaining accurate pressure distributions and pressure gradients around wells is of considerable importance in the numerical simulation of reservoir performance. The most common approach to solving this problem is to use finite difference techniques (see McCarty and Barfield9 or Peaceman and Rachfordl0). This approach, however, has many disadvantages, the major one being that many grid points are generally necessary for accurately describing the pressure distribution and the pressure gradient around wells. This need for a fine grid results in large computer times and often in prohibitively high costs. Besides investigating the method of finite differences, some authors, such as Welge and weber17 and Roper, Merchant and Duvall,13 have considered a combination of analytical and numerical techniques with some success. These approaches, however, are all nonrigorous and quite often cannot even be applied. In this paper, we present a numerical formulation of high-order accuracy, based on the Galerkin method, for solving this problem. We treat here only the partial differential equation that describes steady-state, single-phase flow. However, the methods presented are general and in principle extend to multidimensional, multiphase flow. Specifically we treat special cases of the problem in two dimensions described by: where G is a rectangle (with sides parallel to the coordinate axis) with boundary ?G, ?/?n denotes the outward normal, and y and B are non-negative constants such that y + B > 0.

Jan 1, 1970

By F. H. Bunge, W. H. Jr. Dailey

This paper covers an investigation of the magnetic roasting characteristics of several iron ores when treated in the form of small pebbles (1/8" to 1/2" in size), and in the form of balled fines. The roasting treatment was carried out with apparatus capable of very close control of time, temperature, face velocity, and per cent combustible in the reaction gas. The effect of rapid initial heating was not studied although it is believed that this has a major effect on the results when processing solid pebbles. The test equipment is a fixed bed type, with such a wide range of gas velocities, temperature, combustible content and etc., that the results obtained can be made to approximate those from various commercial roasting processes. The data presented in this report covers reaction rates, effect of processing variables on silica in the concentrate, flow resistance of beds, and to a limited extent, the effect of particle size. The work is far from complete and raises many more problems than it gives answers for. We believe, however, that much of the information will be useful to those engaged in investigation of magnetic roasting processes. We measured the time required for various degrees of completion of the reaction of hematite to magnetite, for finely pound material in balled form and for carefully sized crushed ore. Measurements were made for a variety of Minnesota and Labrador ores. This report covers an ore requiring fine ginding (-325 M) for liberation (Lower Kevin) and an ore requiring coarser grinding (-100 M) for liberation (Upper Olson). These ores represent approximately the range of characteristics for a group in the west end of the Mesabi Range. Our data shows that the reaction rate is very fast for the finely ground material and that tests are readily reproducible. The reaction rate of the larger size material, in the range of 1/8" to 1/2", is much slower and the results more erratic. We found that for the ores tested, the percentage of silica in the Davis tube magnetic concentrate was a function of iron recovery. Normally the concentrate had a low and relatively uniform percentage of silica up to a critical value of recovery. Above this critical recovery value the percentage of silica increased very rapidly. For example, for one particular ore roasted in the form of 3/8" diameter balls made from -28 mesh fines, the silica remained at about 7% to 8% until the recovery exceeded about 93%. Increasing the recovery beyond 93% resulted in over 25% silica with the additional recovery. The degree of conversion of hematite to magnetite (% completion of roast) required to obtain 93% recovery for balled material, varied inversely with the gas flow rate. Percentage silica in the concentrate resulting from roasting 3/16" and 1/2" solid material was relatively erratic. However, for varying degrees of iron recovery the lowest silica percentages corresponded to those obtainable when roasting fines. It is thought the probable reason for the erratic values was the variation in shattering or cracking of the pebbles during initial heating and roasting. There is some indication that very fast initial heating will greatly increase the permeability of the individual particles of ore to gas flow so that the reaction rate for coarse sizes will approach that obtainable with balled fine material.

Jan 1, 1961

By Paul M. Tyler

Mineral raw materials, because they are essential to our industrial prosperity and military strength, must be made available in substantial quantities regardless of cost. Variations in the cost of procuring minerals, as compared with the cost of obtaining other commodities, and changes in the cost of production of different minerals relative to one another, will naturally influence the quantities of a given mineral item that can be marketed readily. However, in the last analysis, the cost of winning minerals from the ground usually constitutes only a small fraction of the value of the end-use products and services derived from them. The miner's share of the cost of a typewriter, telephone circuit, or even a modem office building, is almost insignificant. Far more important to the ultimate consumer, therefore, than any minor saving in cost is the assurance of ample supplies of the minerals needed to aliment our expanding economy. To create a successful metal mining operation involves (1 ) the discovery and systematic development of a mineral deposit, (2) extraction of the ore, (3) the mechanical and metallurgical processing to eliminate worthless or harmful impurities, and (4) the profitable disposal of the product. The fist step of the technological process belongs chiefly in the realm of the geologist, the second is a mining engineer's job, the third is mainly up to the millmen and extractive metallurgists; whereas the fourth and equally important step poses a commercial problem that has aspects in common with the marketing of other products. Ore finding is far from being an exact science. There is no mathematical criterion for evaluating the efficiency of prospecting and exploration. Lady Luck shares the honors or assumes part of the blame along with the prospector and geologist. Marketing like- wise involves factors that seemingly defy engineering analysis. Although the other steps can be measured with some degree of mathematical accuracy, even they tend to vary so widely in basic principle, as well as in

Jan 1, 1964

By R. A. Flinn, R. D. Pehlke, D. R. Glass, P. O. Hays

Knowledge of the depth of penetralion of an oxygen jet into the bath of the oxygen converter and of the correlation of penetration with driuing pressuve, lance heighl, and nozzle throat area is vital to the understanding of converter operation. If the penetration is too shallow, then severe and hazardous slopping takes place. On the other hand, if the jel penetrates entirely Lhvough lhe bath for an apprcciublc period of time, bottom damage occurs. In addilion to measurement of the penetralion of the jel, knou~ledge of the circulatory movement in the bath is also of interest in order to evaluale various theories oj-concerter operating behavior which have been published. In this investigation, experimental converters were buill of IOU- , 300-, and 4000-lb capacity. Four independent methods were used to determine penelralion: the onset of bottom marking, a nitrogen bubbler probe, observation througlt an optical syslew built into the oxygen lance, and direcl viewing of the jet issuing from the bottom of the vessel. Good correlation zuas obtained, and empirical relalions for pvedicling perletration were found. These relations were conjzrmed by bottom marking tests in 55- and 110-ton vessels. Within the operaling conditions employed in these tests, the depth to which a single oxygen jet penetrated zuas found lo vary according to the relatiorl ThE technical literature is replete with data concerning the successful use of the basic oxygen furnace or converter in steelmaking. Experimental data are lacking, however, on the vital factors of the depth of penetration of the jet into the bath and the induced circulation. Commercial operating conditions usually have been the result of cut and try experiments in lance manipulation until satisfactory results were obtained. There have been, however, two hotly argued opposing theories concerning desirable depth of penetration and these are exemplified by the Schwarz and Miles patents1,2 on one hand and the Suess patent3 on the other. The Schwarz patent teaches that the jet, issuing from the nozzle at supersonic speed, penetrates deeply "so that the reactions between the iron and the oxygen and between the oxygen and the rest of the smelting components take place in the center of the bath". Specific operating suggestions are given by Miles.2 By contrast, the Suess patent calls for surface Circulalion was investigated by lour methods: by direct observation in 200-lb open baths, by the use of graphite rudders in the 300- and 4000-lb converlers, by direct observalion through an oplical system in the lance, and by various models al room temperature. All were in excellent agreement and indicated that the motion of the bath ulas up at the center, radially outluavd at the surface, and down at the sides. Experi-ments in small and in commercial vessels indicate that it is essential to operate with a jet penetration of approximately 50 pct of the bath depth. Surface blowing results in low oxygen eficienty and in hazardous conditions which may render the process inopeuable. RejYactory dartzage al the bottom of the vessel is only encountered when the jet penetrates to the bottom, and this can be avoided by properly applying the penetration formula. The application of this en/pirical formula in commercial peraations is best when limited to combinations of lance size, pressure, and height which are typically encounteved in the use of a single-hole lance. blowing so that "...the oxygen jet does not penetrate deeply into the molten metal bath and is confined to an impingement area at the central portion of the bath surface". These references are given merely to illustrate the basic differences between the two schools of thought and to point out the need for measurement of penetration for the sake of the operator. For example, it is shown later that inefficient and even dangerous conditions can arise if improper blowing conditions are used. Differences are also evident between the two schools of thought as to the mixing, circulation, and agitation which is to be accomplished by the jet. The Schwarz patent states that "surface contact is not sufficient in most cases to bring about quick reaction, the same as the blowing of the gas over the bath surface or the mere blowing of the gas onto the bath surface". The patent goes on to call for active mixing. In contrast the claims of the Suess patent call for "discharging a stream of oxygen ... to an extent to avoid material agitation of the bath by the oxygen stream". In this patent the circulation is said to be downward in the center and up at the sides of the vessel. A number of investigators4-12 have explored penetration and circulation in transparent models. In general, it is agreed in these tests that the circulation is upward at the center (along the sides of the jet cavity),

Jan 1, 1968

By E. T. Turkdogan

This is a compilation and a critical review of the data on the Fe-Ca-0 ternary system. Using the results on the reductiorz-equilibria, an oxygen potential diagram is drawn for the greater part of the system. A number of univariant systems and invariant points, not determined experimentally, are evaluated by making use of the theorem on univariant curves intersecting at an invariant point. The formation of solid solutions and ternary compounds and the crystal structures of some of the phases in the composition-diagram are given for a feu! temperatures. DURING the past thirty years there has been a continued interest in the study of the Fe-Ca-0 system. A detailed literature survey made by white1 in 1943 indicated that further work was required to clarify the phase relationships; in fact, the work carried out in the subsequent years, reviewed by Burdese2 in 1954, made a valuable contribution to a better understanding of this subject. Most of the data were obtained by the step-wise reduction of mixtures of iron oxides and calcium ferrites. However, there is some uncertainty about the phase relationships in this system, arising mainly from insufficient use of thermodynamic concepts in the construction of phase diagrams. In this paper an attempt is made to establish the invariant points from the available data. OXYGEN POTENTIAL DIAGRAM Schenck and coworkers3,4 were the early investigators who studied part of this system by the step- wise reduction method and suggested the formation of two ternary compounds, CaO.FeO.Fe2O3 and 2Ca0.5Fe0.2Fez03, the latter being referred to as point X. They also deduced from their results that the phases Y (8.74Ca0.32.5Fe0.8.74Fe2O3 and Z (2.02CaO-97.98FeO) were formed near the w?stite corner of the system. Martin and voge15 postulated the existence of the compounds CaO.9FeO and 4Ca0.3Fe3O4; the former is very close to the composition of point Z and the latter to that of CaO.FeO-Fe2O3. The most valuable contribution to the presen knowledge on this system was made by Cirilli and Burdese6-8 who showed by X-ray and chemical anal yses that there were two ternary compounds, CaO-Fe0.Fe2O3 and CaO.3FeO-FezO3; the former is the same as that suggested by Schenck et al. and the latter is close to their point X. The results of Cirilli and Burdese show that the phases Y and Z postulated by Schenk et al. are solid solutions of calcium oxide in w?stite. In most of the above-mentioned reduction-equilibria measurements carbon monoxide-carbon dioxide mixtures were used and in a few cases hydrogen-water vapor mixtures were employed. Using the

Jan 1, 1962