Search Documents

By William D. Klopp, Joseph R. Stephens

ThE phenomenon of high ductility associated with a phase transformation, termed super plasticity, has been reported for a number of alloy systems. Abnormally high ductility has been observed during tensile testing of cast eutectic alloys of Pb-Sn and Mg-cu.1 Brasses of Cu-37 at. pct Zn and Cu-40 at. pct Zn elongate up to 180 pct when tested near their transformation temperature.' Enhanced ductility was also observed in Cu-47 at. pct Zn tested near the order-disorder transformation temperature. The most remarkable super-plastic effect reported to date is for the eutectoid alloy A1-60 at. pct Zn, where elongations up to 1000 pct have been reported.3 underwood4 has recently summarized the conditions that normally accompany the superplastic effect which are: 1) a phase transformation or allotropic change or order-disorder transformation; 2) an externally applied stress; 3) presence of an interface between two phases; and 4) a metastable structural condition. In addition, higher ductility is observed when the specimen is tested at slow deformation rates rather than under impact. The purpose of this note is to present evidence of the superplastic effect in a Cr-30 at. pct Co alloy. In addition, low-temperature bend ductility data are given for the alloy in the quenched, metastable, single-phased condition and in the slow-cooled, two-phased, near-equilibrium condition. Sixty-gram alloy ingots were prepared by noncon-sumable arc melting of iodide chromium and electron-beam-melted cobalt. These were cast into rectangular ingots and fabricated to 0.035-in. sheet by rolling at 2300°F. Attempts to roll at slightly lower temperatures invariably resulted in severe cracking, apparently due to presence of the brittle a phase below the transformation temperature of 2230°F. Tensile specimens with a 0.25 by 1.0 in. reduced section were cut from the sheet by electrical discharge machining. The specimens were heated at 2400°F for 1/2 hr to obtain a recrystallized, bcc, single-phased structure. Temperature of the specimens was subsequently raised or lowered to the desired test temperature and held for 10 min prior to testing at a crosshead speed of 0.01 in. per min. Fig. 1 shows the chromium-rich side of the Cr-Co phase diagram.6 The alloy composition investigated is near the point of maximum solubility of cobalt in chromium, and the alloy is two-phased when in equilibrium at temperatures below 2230°F. The results of tensile tests conducted at temperatures indicated by X's in Fig. 1 are summarized in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Tensile elongations shown in Fig. 2 increase from 11 pct at 1900°F to a maximum of 160 pct at 2250°F. The elongation then decreases to 44 pct as the test temperature is further increased to 2600°F. The proximity of the temperature of highest elongation and the solvus temperature suggests that a superplastic effect is present in Cr + 30 at. pct Co similar to that observed for other alloys that show anomalous ductility. The variation of upper yield stress with temperature is shown in Fig. 3. A small peak in yield stress occurs at 2250"F, coincident with the maximum in

Jan 1, 1967

By R. F. Dickerson, D. A. Vaughan, A. F. Gerds

ALTHOUGH the metallurgy of uranium has been under intensive study since the early 1940's, no systematic effort has been made to identify the non-metallic inclusions in uranium. Uranium carbide (UC), which is probably the most common inclusion found in graphite-melted metal, has been tentatively identified by previous investigators, but the other nonmetallic inclusions have received little attention. Since metallography is a valuable tool in metallurgical studies, the metallographic identification of the nonmetallic inclusions in uranium is important. Such an investigation has been completed and the identification of slag-type inclusions and of uranium monocarbide, uranium hydride, uranium dioxide, uranium monoxide, and uranium mononitride is described. Metallographic Preporation It is often possible to prepare specimens for metal-lographic examination equally well by several methods. The specimens which were examined in this work were prepared by one of two acceptable methods. For the convenience of the reader, both methods will be discussed in detail and will be referred to simply as Method I or Method II in the subsequent sections. For both Methods I and 11, specimens for microscopic examination usually were mounted either in bakelite or in Paraplex room temperature mounting plastic. Method I—Specimens were ground in a spray of water on a revolving disk covered successively with 120-, 240-, and 600-grit silicon carbide papers. It was necessary to perform the final grinding operation carefully on worn 600-grit paper to keep the scratches as fine as possible. After washing and drying, the specimens were polished for 3 to 4 min on a slow speed wheel (250 rpm) covered with a medium nap cloth. Diamet Hyprez Blue diamond polishing paste, Grade 00, 0 to 2 µ, was used as abrasive with kerosene as lubricant on the wheel. Specimens were washed thoroughly in alcohol and final polished electrolytically in an electrolyte composed of 1 part stock solution (118 g CrO, dissolved in 100 cm3 H2O) with 4 parts of glacial acetic acid. A stainless steel cathode was used. At an open circuit potential of 40 v dc, a polishing time of 2 sec retained inclusions well with the bath at room temperature. If additional etching was required to sharpen the interface between the metal and the inclusions, an electrolyte composed of 1 part stock solution (100 g CrO3 and 100 cm8 H20) and 18 parts glacial acetic acid was used at room temperature. Best results were obtained by etching for from 10 to 15 sec at 20 v dc in the open circuit. Surfaces obtained by this method are suitable for microscopic examination. However, if desired, they may be etched further with other chemicals. Method 11—Rough grinding was done on a wet 180- or 240-grit continuous grinding belt. The specimen was then ground by hand successively on 240-, 400-, and 600-grit silicon carbide papers in a stream of water. Final polishing was accomplished on a 4 in. high speed wheel (3400 rpm) covered with Forstmann's cloth. Linde B levigated alumina, suspended in a 1 volume pet chromic acid solution, was the abrasive. Specimens usually were polished in 5 min or less by this technique. Often the inclusions present in the metal were identified in the mechanically polished condition. When etching was required to outline inclusions more sharply, one of the two following methods was used. In the first method, the specimen is etched lightly while electropolishing in the chromic-acetic acid solution described above (1 part of stock solution to 4 parts of acetic acid). The electrolyte was refrigerated in a dry ice-ethyl alcohol bath and specimens were etched at 60 v dc on the open circuit for 2 or 3 cycles of 3 to 4 sec each. The second technique utilizes electrolytical etching at about 10 v dc (open circuit) in a 10 pet citric acid solution at room temperature. X-Ray Diffraction Technique The major problem in the identification of inclusions in metals by X-ray diffraction techniques is the extraction of a sufficient amount of each type of inclusion to obtain an X-ray diffraction pattern. In the present study, X-ray diffraction patterns were obtained from individual inclusions of the order of 10 µ diam. The polished and etched samples shown in the micrographs were examined at a magnification of X54 or XI00 with a binocular microscope. This allowed sufficient working distance to extract the inclusions with a needle probe for powder X-ray diffraction analysis. Friable inclusions such as MgF2, CaF2, UO2, and UH3 could be freed from the metal by probing the as-polished and etched surface. The fine particles then were picked up on the end of a Vistanex-coated glass rod (0.002 in. diam) which was held in a brass adapter made to fit the powder X-ray diffraction camera. The end of the glass rod was centered in the path of the X-ray beam. In the case of the UC, UO, and UN inclusions which are smaller in size, more metallic in appearance, and less friable than the other inclusions, it was necessary to etch the inclusion in relief before extraction. UN inclusions etched sufficiently in relief in the electrolytic polishing solution described in Methods I and II by increasing the polishing time. UN inclusions were relief etched by extending the

Jan 1, 1957

By R. O. Williams

It is shown that Ni3Al precipitates homogeneously from nickel-rich alwminum alloys as plates on the (100) planes. Prior to actual precipitation a process occurs which is believed to be one of increasing short-range order. After precipitating the Ni3Al plates enlarge through competitive growth. Discontinuous precipitation can occur simultaneously with the above processes. Recent ideas of the origin of precipitation strengthening appear adequate to explain the hardness changes. REMARKABLY little appears to be known about the precipitation process in Ni-Al alloys in spite of their technical importance. This investigation originated to supply additional information about precipitation in general, this system in particular. Information on the structures and kinetics have been obtained through the use of hardness, X-rays, microscopy, calorimetry, and resistivity on high-purity alloys. PROCEDURES Six alloys, Table I, were prepared by melting carbonyl nickel and high-purity aluminum in alumina crucibles in vacuum and casting into 1-in. graphite molds. All rods were homogenized at least once at 1300°C for 24 hr prior to swaging and this was repeated on the first three alloys after 75 pct reduction. Alloy 4 could be reduced only 10 pct at 1000°C (probably in two-phase field) prior to fracture but 1/4-in. samples quenched from 1100°C were readily reduced cold. Alloy 5 was reduced 15 pct cold but failed on the next pass while alloy 6 of essentially the same aluminum content failed inter-granularly without apparent flow up to 1000°C. The alloys were heated in hydrogen at the elevated temperatures and formed thin, coherent aluminum oxide coatings which provided excellent oxidation resistance at lower temperatures. However, freshly prepared surfaces showed considerably less resistance at 500"to 700°C in air and apparently resulted in internal oxidation. As a consequence, low-temperature agings were carried out in evacuated tubes. RESULTS The isothermal hardening behavior of these alloys at 500"and 565C is given in Figs. 1 and 2. These results were obtained from samples cold worked 75 pct, recrystallized at 1000°C (1100°C for the 7.8 pct Al) and quenched in water. This recrystallization was used to give smaller grain sizes so as to obtain more uniform hardness values and the points represent an average of five readings. The electrical resistivity was measured on 1/16-in. wires quenched from 1000°C during aging at 495°C to give Fig. 3. The energy release and its rate are given in Fig. 4 for the 6.9 pct Al alloy during aging around 500°C. Inasmuch as this was a single run, its accuracy is not known but certainly the general shape and magnitudes are correct. The method used to obtain these results is described elsewhere.' Data for the aging at 600°, 700°, and 800°C of these alloys cold worked 50 pct are given in Fig. 5. Supplementary information from microscopy and X-ray diffraction have been included to indicate recrystallization, discontinuous precipitation and the appearance of superlattice lines from the Ni3Al. The hardness of these alloys as annealed, aged, cold worked, and cold worked and aged is given vs composition in Fig. 6. Those samples which were isothermally aged, Figs. 1 and 2, were reaged at 532°C and at successively higher temperatures for the indicated times to give the data of Fig. 7. These results as well as certain others, support the idea that the level of hardness reached for temperatures above 600°C are equilibrium values more or less independent of path. This being the case, the breaks in the curves would be the complete solution of the Ni,Al. The electrical resistivity versus temperatures for some of these alloys, both aged and unaged, is given in Fig. 8 along with those data from heating slowly (10 deg per day) to high temperatures. Interesting points include the lowering of the Curie temperature (the change in slope), the lack of any indications of a solubility limit and the large temperature coefficient for the Ni3Al. A slight break for Ni3Al around 100C shows up but this is not a Curie temperature as Ni3Al is not ferromagnetic down to -190°C. Metallographically both the nickel-rich solid solution and the Ni3Al appear very much like pure nickel. Profuse twin boundaries are present both

Jan 1, 1960

Executive Committee, Board of Directors Grover J Holt, Chairman, C E Reistle, Jr , Vice-Chairman, A W Thornton, A B Kinzel, J L Gillson Finance Committee, Board of Directors Andrew Fletcher, Chairman, R B Caples, Gail F Moulton Investments Erle Daveler, '60, Chairman, Henry Krumb, '59, John Warren, '60, C R Dod¬son, ex off as Treasurer, Andrew Fletcher, ex off as Chairman, Finance Committee Endowment Andrew Fletcher, Chairman, N G Alford, E V Daveler, W J Coulter, J V N Dorr, R B Gilmore, J B Haffner, 0 H Johnson, D H McLaughlin, J R McMillan, L F Reinartz, C E Weed, Wilfred Sykes, J R Suman Honorary Memberships L F Reinartz, Chairman, C E Reistle, Jr , H DeWitt Smith, ex off as Past Presidents of AIMS, Grover J Holt, ex off as President AIMS, P D Merica, '59, Henry Krumb, '58, M L Haider, '60, D H McLaughlin, '61

Jan 1, 1957

By R. B. Russell

The expansion coefficients of hexagonal (a) zirconium have been calculated from the lattice expansionparameters of both coefficientsofhexagonallow and high hafnium alloys in the range 0° to 600°C. It is found parametersofboththat the coefficients are straight-line functions of the temperature and that the effect of hafnium is to depress the mean coefficients by about 1 pct at room thattemperature and 9 pct at 600°C. The cubic (ß) form was stabilized so that its coefficient could be determined from 400' to 900°C. COEFFICIENTS of thermal expansion for hexagonal-close-packed (a) zirconium were determined up to 600°C (1112°F), without any interference from the effects of preferred orientation, by measurement of the lattice parameters obtained from a symmetrical back-reflection focusing X-ray camera. This paper combines the results for a 1.2 atomic pct hafnium alloy from an earlier report' with those for hafnium-free zirconium. The problem confronting the investigator is essentially that of getting sharp, high-angle diffraction lines which represent the material at a known constanl. temperature and chemical composition. In order to do this, it was necessary to use the proper X-ray emission wave length (Co K was chosen) and to have a fine-grained metal whose atomic spacings would be free from effects of cold work (the specimen was annealed) and to prevent a changing composition owing to gas absorption during the heating of the metal to temperature (the sample was heated in a vacuum). A summary of the effect of temperature on properties is listed in Table I which gives data for ordinary zirconium, as well as new values for the low hafnium metal. The coefficients of the linear thermal expansion that have been reported are given in Table 11. The discrepancies shown may be explained perhaps by the effect of preferred orientation, and McGeary and Lustman2 have done this successfully for sheet metal. The differences in texture cannot explain all the differences in expansion coefficient shown in Table II. liesults by the author agree most closely with those of Kroll.3 Chemical analysis of the high hafnium metal pre- viously reported1 showed that it was 98.22 atomic pct (97.40 wt pct) pure. The low hafnium metal was dehydrogenated Westinghouse crystal bar, designated SMZ-137A. Its analysis was as given in Table 111 (chemical analyses 5377, 5431, and 5432).

Jan 1, 1955

By Milton Williams

It is generally recognized that fluid is lost from rotary drilling muds to permeable strata during normal drilling operations;1,2-3 but that this fluid is the filtrate from the mud, rather than the mud itself, has been shown by various workers.1,4,5 The presence of this filtrate in oil-bearing or gas-bearing strata is undesirable and harmful. The decreased permeability of the stratum to oil effected by the presence of water has been pointed out by several investigators,6,7 and since, in the production of the reservoir fluid, the greatest pressure drop occurs immediately adjacent to the borehole, it follows that infiltered water is particularly objectionable in this region. Again, this filtrate tends to make electrical logs less reliable, since oil in the proximity of the borehole is probably flushed out to an appreciable extent by the water.8 Observation of side wall cores may be misleading for the same reason. Drill-stem tests in low-pressure areas may be of doubtful value where no oil is recovered, unless sufficient time is allowed for production of water lost from the mud. The infiltered water may hinder drilling operations by softening shales and causing sloughing; the ['tight hole" occasioned by excessive deposition of filter cake in the hole is a common occurrence. The filter cake remaining on the face of the producing formation may itself sometimes be detrimental to production.9 In view of these implications of the importance of filtration of mud, an investigation was undertaken to determine the factors involved in the infiltration process, and to correlate these in such a manner that the values obtained in routine filter tests employing a conventional filter of the "wall-building tester" type,10 together with data on size of hole, drill pipe, and rate of mud circulation, could be used to estimate water loss and distance of penetration of the filtrate into strata. Quantitative relations of filter-cake permeability, filtrate viscosity, and rate of filtration have been developed for filtration in the simple laboratory filter.4a,11,12,13 It is obvious, however, that the conditions

Jan 1, 1940

By Milton Williams

It is generally recognized that fluid is lost from rotary drilling muds to permeable strata during normal drilling operations;1,2-3 but that this fluid is the filtrate from the mud, rather than the mud itself, has been shown by various workers.1,4,5 The presence of this filtrate in oil-bearing or gas-bearing strata is undesirable and harmful. The decreased permeability of the stratum to oil effected by the presence of water has been pointed out by several investigators,6,7 and since, in the production of the reservoir fluid, the greatest pressure drop occurs immediately adjacent to the borehole, it follows that infiltered water is particularly objectionable in this region. Again, this filtrate tends to make electrical logs less reliable, since oil in the proximity of the borehole is probably flushed out to an appreciable extent by the water.8 Observation of side wall cores may be misleading for the same reason. Drill-stem tests in low-pressure areas may be of doubtful value where no oil is recovered, unless sufficient time is allowed for production of water lost from the mud. The infiltered water may hinder drilling operations by softening shales and causing sloughing; the ['tight hole" occasioned by excessive deposition of filter cake in the hole is a common occurrence. The filter cake remaining on the face of the producing formation may itself sometimes be detrimental to production.9 In view of these implications of the importance of filtration of mud, an investigation was undertaken to determine the factors involved in the infiltration process, and to correlate these in such a manner that the values obtained in routine filter tests employing a conventional filter of the "wall-building tester" type,10 together with data on size of hole, drill pipe, and rate of mud circulation, could be used to estimate water loss and distance of penetration of the filtrate into strata. Quantitative relations of filter-cake permeability, filtrate viscosity, and rate of filtration have been developed for filtration in the simple laboratory filter.4a,11,12,13 It is obvious, however, that the conditions

Jan 1, 1940

By Henry S. Washington

I. INTRODUCTION. DURING the last twenty years or so the chemical investigation of rocks has made great advances, and it is now generally recognized that a knowledge of the chemical composition is as essential as that of the texture or mineral composition-if not more so-for the proper classification of rocks and study of their origin and relationships. Rock-analyses have vastly increased in number and, what is of greater importance, in quality. New and improved methods permit of greater accuracy than was possible in the early days, and the list of chemical constituents frequently determined has risen from the seven or eight of the greater part of the nineteenth century, to twenty or more. Indeed, rock-analyses with determinations of so many constituents ire now commonly made by the chemists of the United States and Australia, while in Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy the rarer constituents are determined more frequently-than formerly. As a consequence of this modern, accurate work, it has been discovered that some elements which were formerly supposed to be rare are of wide-spread occurrence and are often present in considerable amount. The fact is further being developed that the elements tend to show certain relations of occurrence or abundance in connection with each other. This is a fact which is applicable to the rarer elements, and which also finds a broad geological and petrological expression in the recognition of petrographic provinces. We are beginning to obtain some definite, though as yet rudimentary, knowledge of the distribution of the elements among igneous rocks. Some of the results along these lines obtained by study of the vast accumulation of analytical data now available are well known to petrologists, while others do not seem to be so gener-

Jan 1, 1913

By W. L. Chu

It was observed that chromized coatings on low carbon steel could be embrittled by cooling slowly through the 475°C range. A higher chromium coating was more susceptible to embrittlement than a lower chromium coating. Coating structure and composition could be correlated with the chromizing process and prior carbon content of the steel. IT was recently observed that during the fabrication of rectangular tubings made with chromized thin gage 1010 steel, a high percentage of these parts were fractured readily in a brittle manner under the light impact-forming load employed. Ensuing investigation indicated the cause for such brittle failures to be the so-called 475°C embrittlement of the chromized coatings. The experimental work and results are briefly reported. Rectangular tube sections of normalized AISI C1010 steel, which had a cross-section of 0.5x1.5 in. and a wall thickness of 0.030 in., were chromized to yield coatings having several ranges of thickness, varying from 0.0005 to 0.002 in. Essentially, the chromizing process is similar to that described by Samuel and Lockington,' which consists of heating the parts in a sealed container at about 955°C for 4 hr in intimate contact with a chromizing mixture* samples in a hydraulic press, and the other employed a simple beam bending test of the flat sides of the tubing walls. Neither, however, was able to differentiate the relative brittleness of samples known to include both the brittle and tough types, since the impact-brittle samples were found to deform readily in a manner similar to the tough ones. Both the tough and brittle samples were studied by reflection microscopy. Observation showed that the microstructures of the steel cores were similar in content and distribution of inclusions as well as in the ferritic grain size. Results of Filar micrometer measurements showed that coating thicknesses+ of the brittle samples averaged 0.0007 in., whereas those of the tough samples averaged 0.0016 in. The micrographs of Fig. 2 illustrate the structural differences between coatings of both types of samples. By dissolving the steel cores in nitric acid, coatings of both the brittle and tough samples were isolated. Simple bending tests showed that coatings of the brittle samples cracked readily at about 90" bend, whereas those of the tough samples could be bent nearly 180° without cracking. The coatings as well as the steel cores were analyzed for carbon and

Jan 1, 1956

By Arthur Taggart

INTRODUCTION THE flotation process for the concentration of ores is a method by means of which one or more of the minerals in the ore (usually the valuable ones) are picked up by means of a liquid film and floated at the surface of .a mass of fluid pulp. Here they are separated from the other minerals, which remain immersed in the body of the pulp. In general, the minerals which are floated are sulphides of metallic luster, but some other minerals of metallic luster such as graphite and some sulphides with adamantine luster, such as sphalerite and cinnabar, are amenable to treatment by the process. The importance of flotation lie's in the fact that it is primarily a "slimes process" by means of which the particles of valuable mineral, too fine for efficient gravity concentration, are saved with a high percentage of recovery. Recoveries in the mills treating low-grade copper sulphide ores have been advanced 10 to 20 per cent. by the installation of the process and similar increased savings have been accomplished by the same means in mills treating sulphide ores of zinc and lead. When finely ground ore containing sulphides mixed with a siliceous or earthy gangue is brought gently onto the surface of a body of water, in a direction forming an acute angle with the surface of the water, a considerable portion of the sulphide constituent of the ore floats on the surface of the liquid, while the gangue sinks. This is the so-called film flotation, exemplified by the Wood and Macquisten processes. When gas bubbles are introduced into a fluid pulp composed of finely ground ore and water, to which has been added (1) a small amount of certain oils, or (2) a small amount of certain acids or acid salts, or (3) a small amount of certain alkalis or alkaline salts, or (4) a small amount of a mixture of oil with acid or alkali, the sulphide particles in the ore are brought to the surface on the gas bubbles. These collect in a froth

Jan 8, 1916

By J. J. Taber

The turbulent flow drag coefficients, or friction factors, have been experimentally determined for the cut-tings normally encountered in drilling operations. The gas law and average drag coefficients for characteristically flat particles (limestones and Shales) and for angular to sub-rounded particles (sandstones) were used to extend Newton's equation to a more useful form. The resulting equations are expressions for the slip velocity of a particle as a function of the particle size and shape, the bottom-hole injection Pressure, and the Bottom-hole temperature. The velocities necessary to lift actual rock cuttings as observed in the laboratory were compared with velocities predicted from the derived equations. Results indicate that there is no single correct circulating velocity and that the commonly used 3,000 ft/min linear velocity may he sufficient to lift only very mall particles. The advantage, in terms of horsepower requirements, of cycling high pressure air to obtain lower compression ratios was shown. INTRODUCTION A promising departure from standard rotary hydraulic drilling is air or gas drilling. In many instances the rate of penetration and bit life increases resulting from this method have been very substantial. Further the application of air drilling in areas of lost circulation or water sensitive pay zones has been highly successful. Purpose For the drilling contractor, the practical question remains, "How much air pressure and volume should I have?' lt is necessary to have a reasonable knowledge of the air velocities and pressures required in air drilling operations for the proper design and most advantageous use of surface equipment and for adequate removal of cuttings from the borehole. Eased on experience, most operators agree that at least 3,000 ft/min linear velocity is necessary for satisfactory hole cleaning.' It was the purpose of this investigation to evaluate the drag coefficients, or friction factors, for the cuttings normally encountered in drilling operations, i.e., sandstones, limestones and shales, and to utilize the values obtained to develop an expression for the minimum velocities and pressures (hence the volumes) necessary to lift these cuttings. THEORY Several investigators have done extensive work on the ability of drilling mud to lift bit cuttings. They conclude that the ability of a drilling mud to lift cuttings is dependent on the density difference between the rock being drilled and the drilling mud, the cutting size and shape, the mud flow constants, and the flow state (laminar, transitional or turbulent) of the mud. However, drilling muds are not true fluids but have a variation of viscosity with velocity in laminar flow and a constant apparent viscosity in turbulent flow. A survey of the literature revealed that no experimental work had been done to determine the velocities necessary to lift actual rock cuttings using a compressible fluid such as air or gas. In 1953, Nicolson6 stated that in air drilling fluid mechanics the particles could be assumed spherical in shape and that ; constant drag coefficient of 0.5 could be used due to the highly turbulent flow of the circulating air. By equating the turbulent resistance on the particle to the gravitational force on the particle, he obtained the expression, ^ = 2.67^y ,.......(1) where V, is slip velocity of spherical particle, ft/sec; D is particle diameter, in.; p, is particle density, 1b/ft8; and p, is fluid density, lb/ft3. However, as stated earlier, most operators seem to agree that adequate hole cleaning can be obtained by circulating a sufficient volume of air to give a linear velocity of 3,000 ft/rnin in the annular space. Basic Equation The velocity with which a solid particle freely falls through a fluid will increase until the accelerating force, gravity, is equal to the resisting forces, buoyancy due to the fluid displaced by the particle and friction due to the relative motion of the particle through the fluid. When the accelerating and resisting forces become equal,

Membership at the end of the year 1951 was 19,711 including 2228 Student Associates. The data in the third column include these Student Associates. 1. This includes all the cash dues income received from new and old members of all grades. 2. All cash initiation fees received. 3. Net income received from advertising in the three journals. The figure was $72,273, for MINING ENGINEERING; $39,844 for the JOURNAL OF METALS; and $31,564 for the JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY. Income in 1950 was $54,572, $30,390, and $18,443 from these sources, respectively. 4. Receipts from individual sales, nonmember subscriptions, and multiple subscriptions of members. 5. Includes Transactions volumes and the Petroleum Statistics volume. 6. Sales of all other printed matter except special volumes sponsored by certain Funds. Includes a considerable sale of preprints and reprints of technical papers. 7. Does not include dividends and interest from certain Funds whose income reverts to those Funds. 8. Miscellaneous income not included in any of the above categories. 9. The total income compares with $493,197 -in 1950, an increase of $29000.

Jan 1, 1952

By Kenneth E. Gray

The turbulent flow drag coefficients, or friction factors, have been experimentally determined for the cut-tings normally encountered in drilling operations. The gas law and average drag coefficients for characteristically flat particles (limestones and Shales) and for angular to sub-rounded particles (sandstones) were used to extend Newton's equation to a more useful form. The resulting equations are expressions for the slip velocity of a particle as a function of the particle size and shape, the bottom-hole injection Pressure, and the Bottom-hole temperature. The velocities necessary to lift actual rock cuttings as observed in the laboratory were compared with velocities predicted from the derived equations. Results indicate that there is no single correct circulating velocity and that the commonly used 3,000 ft/min linear velocity may he sufficient to lift only very mall particles. The advantage, in terms of horsepower requirements, of cycling high pressure air to obtain lower compression ratios was shown. INTRODUCTION A promising departure from standard rotary hydraulic drilling is air or gas drilling. In many instances the rate of penetration and bit life increases resulting from this method have been very substantial. Further the application of air drilling in areas of lost circulation or water sensitive pay zones has been highly successful. Purpose For the drilling contractor, the practical question remains, "How much air pressure and volume should I have?' lt is necessary to have a reasonable knowledge of the air velocities and pressures required in air drilling operations for the proper design and most advantageous use of surface equipment and for adequate removal of cuttings from the borehole. Eased on experience, most operators agree that at least 3,000 ft/min linear velocity is necessary for satisfactory hole cleaning.' It was the purpose of this investigation to evaluate the drag coefficients, or friction factors, for the cuttings normally encountered in drilling operations, i.e., sandstones, limestones and shales, and to utilize the values obtained to develop an expression for the minimum velocities and pressures (hence the volumes) necessary to lift these cuttings. THEORY Several investigators have done extensive work on the ability of drilling mud to lift bit cuttings. They conclude that the ability of a drilling mud to lift cuttings is dependent on the density difference between the rock being drilled and the drilling mud, the cutting size and shape, the mud flow constants, and the flow state (laminar, transitional or turbulent) of the mud. However, drilling muds are not true fluids but have a variation of viscosity with velocity in laminar flow and a constant apparent viscosity in turbulent flow. A survey of the literature revealed that no experimental work had been done to determine the velocities necessary to lift actual rock cuttings using a compressible fluid such as air or gas. In 1953, Nicolson6 stated that in air drilling fluid mechanics the particles could be assumed spherical in shape and that ; constant drag coefficient of 0.5 could be used due to the highly turbulent flow of the circulating air. By equating the turbulent resistance on the particle to the gravitational force on the particle, he obtained the expression, ^ = 2.67^y ,.......(1) where V, is slip velocity of spherical particle, ft/sec; D is particle diameter, in.; p, is particle density, 1b/ft8; and p, is fluid density, lb/ft3. However, as stated earlier, most operators seem to agree that adequate hole cleaning can be obtained by circulating a sufficient volume of air to give a linear velocity of 3,000 ft/rnin in the annular space. Basic Equation The velocity with which a solid particle freely falls through a fluid will increase until the accelerating force, gravity, is equal to the resisting forces, buoyancy due to the fluid displaced by the particle and friction due to the relative motion of the particle through the fluid. When the accelerating and resisting forces become equal,

William P. Blake, TUCSON, Ariz. (communication to the Secretary): As one who in youth, now nearly half a century ago, had the privilege of participating in the initial explorations which have alreacly resulted, within a single lifetime, in the establishment and Development of a vast continental empire, so well described by Dr. Douglas, I may be permitted to supplement with some additional details the comprehensive sketch given in his paper. Before the War Department, in 1853, sent out the Pacific railroad exploring parties, Fremont had already made his memorable expeditions, exploring the Great Basin and the passes into California; Sitgreaves had traversed, from east to west, the Zuni and Moqui country; and, still later, Emory had examined the region along the boundary-line between the United States and Mexico. The services of these pioneers deserve to be mentioned in even an outline of the history of continental development. Concerning the five practicable railroad-routes, suggested in the Reports of Explorations aid Surveys," etc., as published

Jan 1, 1900

By Per Kofstad, Hallstein Kjöllesdal

The oxidation behavior of niobium (columbium) has been studied in the temperature range 500° to 1200°C and at oxygen pressures of 760,100, 10, 1, and 0.1 mm of Hg. The work comprises kinetic studies of the oxidation as well as structural investigations of the oxidized specimens by means of X-ray diffraction, electron diffraclion, electron microscopy, and metal1ographic techniques. The oxidation reaction has a highly irregular temperature dependence and is unusually sensitive to changes in the oxygen pressure. The complex oxidation behavior is suggested to be due to formation of different Nb2O5 modifications in different temperature regions. During oxidation oxygen is also dissolved in the metal. Formation of oxide whiskers take place on the oxide surface at temperatures above approximately 800°C. VARIOUS aspects of the oxidation of niobium have been studied.l-12 The investigations show that niobium has a complex oxidation behavior, and the oxidation

Jan 1, 1962

BLOCK CAVING HAS BEEN DEVELOPED to a high degree of efficiency in the last two decades and more particularly since World War II. At the Jeffrey mine of Canadian Johns-Manville Co., in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, several innovations have increased production and decreased costs. Asbestos ore is produced at the rate of 10,000 tpd from an underground operation supplemented by a large open pit that has been mined since 1881. The orebody consists of asbestos veins in a fractured and serpentinized peridotite. Hardness and structural strength of rock vary from soft shear zones at one extreme to a small amount of hard granitic inclusions at the other. In general the ore is weak and deteriorates on exposure to air, so that it is difficult to maintain underground openings for any period of time. Permanent workings are lined with concrete and temporary ones are driven mini- mum size and supported with steel sets as required.

Jan 5, 1954

By E. L. Dougherty

A phenomenological theory for a one-dimensional unstable miscible displacement similar in type to the Buckley-Leverett model but including the effects of mixing is proposed An equation giving the fractional flow of pure solvent through an oil phase containing dissolved solvent is derived including the effects of gravity and nonbomogeneities. Numer ical integration of the resulting pair of nonlinear hyperbolic partial differential equations gives volumes of dissolved and undissolved solvent as functions of space and time. Parameters in the model which characterize mixing due to dispersion were determined from experimental data; the parmeters correlated with viscosity ratio. The results indicate that the rate of dispersive mixing is proportional to volumetric flow rate Incorporated into our equations were Koval's heterogeneity factor H. which characterizes mixing due to channeling. This allowed satisfactory predictions of displacement behavior observed in horizontal floods in nonhomo-geneous cores; but in most cases the values of H which we used were considerably larger than those used by Koval. INTRODUCTION It has been shownl,2,3 that for favorable viscosity ratios, the diffusion equation with convection satisfactorily describes the behavior of a miscible displacement in a porous media. Numerous attempts to develop a satisfactory mathematical description for the case of unfavorable viscosity ratio have been reported, but they have met with only partial success. These attempts, which are reviewed by oval! have taken two approaches: (1) development of a flow model akin to the Buckley-Leverett approach for immiscible displacement neglecting the effects of mixing5,6 and (2) simultaneous application of Darcy's Law for flow and the diffusion equation with a convection term for mass transfer.7,8,9 We set out to construct a mathematical model of Type 1 including, though, the effects of mixing. Based upon a set of hypotheses, we derived a pair of nonlinear hyperbolic partial differential equations which describe in a one-dimensional system the combined effects of flow and mixing. To work with these equations it was necessary to develop a fractional flow formula. The combined system was integrated numerically using the method of characteristics. In our equations the mixing process is characterized by four parameters. Three of these, labeled ß, P1 and P2, account for dispersive type mixing. The fourth is the heterogeneity factor H, proposed by Koval to account for channeling due to nonhomogeneities in the porous media. Values of the parameters which would cause agreement between theory and experiment were determined by trial-and-error for miscible floods conducted in horizontal cores of both homogeneous and heterogeneous materials. Calculations were also performed for vertical floods in homogeneous cores. The purpose of this paper is (1) to present the details of the mathematical analysis, (2) to present the results of the calculations, (3) to consider what light the results shed on the mixing process in an unstable miscible displacement, and (4) to provide a firmer foundation for the correlation technique developed by Koval for predicting the behavior of unstable miscible floods. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM The problem is to construct a mathematical model which describes in one dimension the observed behavior in an unstable miscible displacement. The approach is phenomenological in that the equations are based on assumptions which violate certain physical precepts known to apply to the displacement phenomenon. However, the assumptions do allow us to account mathematically for the more essential phenomena. The work is of value if we can quantitatively predict experimental results which heretofore could not be predicted, even though the synthetic nature of the model belies complete explanation of the observations. We assume that the system is comprised of two contiguous flowing phases. One phase, which we call free solvent, has the properties of pure solvent. We call the fraction of the pore volume occupied by this phase the solvent saturation, designated s. The oil phase consists of oil containing dissolved

By D. A. Flanagan, P. B. Crawford

A study has been made of the feasibility of storing liquid meihane at low pressures in undergrohd caverns. Methane liquefies at — 258°F at atmospheric pressure. It is shown that the methane evaporation rates will rapidly decrease and cool the surrounding rock so that at the end of one month they would be between 50 Mcf/hr for a cavern of 25-ft radius and 700 Mcf/hr for a cavern of 100-ft radius. At the end of 10 years, the evaporation rates would be 18 and 100 Mcf/hr, respectively, for caverns of the same radii. The evaporation rates may be reduced by a factor of 2 to 10 by the application of insulation. The cost for mining the caverns is estimated to be $.75 to $1.25/Mcf of storage. This is substantially less than surface storage; it is believed to be safer and to result in lower maintenance, savings in space and savings in strategic materials. INTRODUCTION During the past few years, there has been an increasing interest in the economic feasibility of liquefying methane. Methane liquefaction is being considered for tanker transport; in addition, liquefaction is being reconsidered for shaving peak gas demands. Several articles have described natural gas liquefaction and the progress of the tanker in making trial runs from the United States to Great Britain to determine the feasibility of tanker transport. At the present time, pipelines are not designed to supply peak gas loads during extremely cold periods such as are oiten encountered in the North and Northeast. Gas is being stored in underground reservoirs en-route to its destination, but in many instances satisfactory storage in porous reservoirs has not been practical, especially along the Eastern seaboard where few petroleum reservoirs have been found. In England and other foreign countries, it is unlikely that satisfactory porous structures could be found, and it may be desirable to mine or excavate the rock to obtain storage. By storing the methane near the consumption point, product availability can be increased during periods of need. Methane liquefies at - 258OF at atmospheric pressure, and 1 cu ft of liquid methane will make about 600 cu ft of gaseous methane. Methane liquefaction for shaving peak gas demands was conducted in Cleveland, Ohio in the early 1940's. The Cleveland plant was designed to liquefy 4 MMcf/D of natural gas.' Development of several low-temperature processes has resulted in some improvements in the design of low-temperature storage vessels. Liquefied-methane storage vessels can be designed for various evaporation rates. The desired rate will depend on the reason for liquefaction. For shaving peak gas demands, the desired evaporation rates would be low, possibly between 0.2 and 1.5 per cent/day. For methane tanker transport and supply, the evaporation rates must be high and must equal the total daily rate of supply. It is apparent that the cost of storage facilities will depend on the objective and will vary appreciably. Surface storage of methane may cost between $3,000 and $20,000/MMscf, depending on the size and design. The failure of the surface storage vessels at Cleveland, with the resulting injury and loss of many lives, has caused considerable emphasis to be placed upon developing new, safer and improved methods of storing liquid methane. Storage of liquefied propane and butane in underground salt domes has been very satisfactory. The per-barrel cost of underground storage for any sizeable capacity is very small compared to the cost of surface storage for LPG mixtures. The larger the capacity of the underground storage, the less is the per-barrel cost. Numerous advantages appear to exist if liquefied methane could be satisfactorily stored underground, the principal advantages being increased safety, lower initial cost, lower maintenance cost, savings in space and savings in strategic materials. The purpose of this paper is to determine the feasibility of storing liquid methane underground in mined caverns. If a large spherical cavern is dug underground and is filled instantaneously with liquid methane, the surface of the sphere may approach the liquid methane temperature almost instantaneously. The temperature distribution for a sphere of radius r. in an infinite medium, initially at one temperature with spherical surface kept at T, from time t = 0, is given by Eq. 1.'

By R. J. Wysor

CHARLES H. RICH, Conshohocken, Pa. (communication to the Secretary*).-Mr. Wysor has certainly covered his subject in the most thorough and able manner and his paper will no doubt result in enlarged effort toward the conservation of this important byproduct. Not all furnace burdens are as rich in alkalies as those noted by Mr. Wysor. In our own experience we have never gone into any extended examination of the materials entering the furnace burdens, but have made a number of determinations of the water-soluble alkalies of our flue and boiler dust and found maximum of about 4 1/2 per cent. K20-too small for profitable reclamation. We have, however, frequently encountered the smoky gas described by Mr. Wysor. Such gas carries heavy fume, and buds with a fitful flame difficult to maintain. So pronounced was the inhibitory effect of the fume that, in extreme cases, the flame of a lighted match was extinguished by the current of gas and it was found impossible to conduct calorimeter tests without preliminary washing of the gas. When the gas was led through a washer filled with distilled water and pieces of coke, the fume was absorbed and the gas burned without difficulty. Careful analyses conducted on the water solution from the washer showed cyanides in increasing amounts in proportion to the difficulty experienced in burning the gas. We, note Mr. Wysor's statement that he has never found evidence of cyanides in their gas, ascribing the difficulty of burning such gas to the presence of chlorides. Our determinations were conducted in such manner as to preclude possibility of interference by chlorine.

Jan 3, 1917

By Charles H. Jacoby, Leo E. Read

IN diamond coring salt beds to evaluate deposits, special techniques are applied to standard slim hole drilling to obtain a representative sample of the water soluble sodium chloride. Industrial consumers generally require a run-of-the-mine material of 98.0 pct sodium chloride. Since no commercial beneficiation has yet been devised to upgrade the lower quality salt beds, the only processing is crushing and screening to the size required by the customer. Coring salt sections has recently become important not only in dry mining, but also in the development of brine cavities by hydraulic fracturing and the formation of jugs for storing liquid petroleum products. Drilling Fluid: The fluid used in coring salt beds in New York, Ohio, and Michigan is a thoroughly saturated brine made from 3.0 lb rock salt per gal of make-up water. This mined rock salt, -4 mesh +10 mesh, is dissolved in a lixator, a double-bottomed cone hopper that turns fresh water to fully saturated brine.

Jan 5, 1957