Search Documents

By M. R. Geer

THE importance of the size composition of coal is reflected in the differ-ence in price of the various sizes of the same coal and in the large number of primary sizes and mixtures of sizes produced by the modern preparation plant to meet the demands of a market that in late years has grown increasingly conscious of coal size. The importance of size in the indus-trial and domestic uses of coal has its counterpart in the role played by size composition in the laboratory examination of coal. Investigation of many of the physical properties of coal in their relation to its uses requires an evaluation of size composition. In fact, the Standards on Coal and Coke issued by the American Society for Testing Materials in 1936 contains 12 standard methods of testing that involve some use of size composition. The screen analysis is, of course, the standard method of determining size composition, whether the material is coarse run-of-mine coal or fine pulverized fuel. Customarily, the analysis is reported as the weight percentages retained on or passing each of a series of testing screens, the number of which may range from only two or three to as many as 20. When more than two or three sieves are used, which is usual, the number of weight percentages obtained is so great as to make the analysis difficult to comprehend. Direct comparison of analyses made on the same sieves is hard, and comparison of analyses covering the same range of sizes but made oil different sieves is next to impossible. Consequently, a frequent purpose of sizing tests-correlation of size with properties and charac-teristics related to size-is rendered difficult.

Jan 1, 1938

By R. R. Sayers

Ventilation may be defined as the process by which vitiated air of an enclosed or partly enclosed space is continuously replaced by fresh air. Fresh air has been defined as invigorating pure air. Pure dry air at sea level contains the following gases:1 Analysis of Air at Sea Level Per Cent. Oxygen.................................................. 20.94 Nitrogen................................................. 78.09 Carbon dioxide........................................... 0.03 Argon................................................... 0.94 Helium, krypton, neon, xenon, hydrogen, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, ozone........................................ traces Carbon Dioxide Limit For many years carbon dioxide was used as an index of the purity of the air vitiated by the metabolism of people. It was, however, well known that the untoward effects produced on those exposed to such air was not due to the concentration of the carbon dioxide. It has been found that the untoward effects on the comfort and efficiency of those so exposed are due to the increased temperature and humidity. It has been found that men can breathe air containing many times the amount of carbon dioxide found in our worst ventilated theaters and assembly halls, which, according to Rosenau, do not contain above 0.5 per cent, carbon dioxide. Nevertheless, in mines it sometimes occurs in sufficient quantities to cause symptoms in men or even unconsciousness and death. One-half of 1 per cent. of carbon dioxide in normal air causes a slight and unnotice-able increase in the ventilation of the lungs, that is, a man exposed to one-ha,lf of 1 per cent. of carbon dioxide will breathe a little deeper and a little faster than when in pure air. If 2 per cent. of carbon dioxide is in the air, the lung ventilation will be increased about 50 per cent.; if there

Jan 1, 1927

By D. W. Smith

The beta solid solution phases of the systems copper-zinc, copper-aluminum, copper-tin and silver-zinc are structurally analogous.' R. F. Mehl and 0. T. Marzke2 have shown that the a phase upon segregating from the 6 phase in the system copper-zinc takes the form of needles lying parallel to a [Ill] direction or some similar direction, such as [556], of the parent solid solution, and that the a phase upon segregating from the ß phase in the system copper-aluminum also takes the form of needles. By analogy they assume that in this case also the segregate needles lie parallel to the [ill] or [556] direction in the ß lattice. The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether the structures resulting from segregation of the a phases from the respective ß phases of the systems copper-tin and silver-zinc are analogous to those obtained by Mehl and Marzke in the systems copper-zinc and copper-aluminum. Segregation of the a Phase from the ß Phase in the Copper-tin System Preparation of the Alloy.—An alloy containing 74.92 per cent (by weight) of copper and the balance tin was chosen for this investigation. This alloy, as can be seen from a portion of the constitutional diagram, Fig. 1, of the system copper-tin by Hamasumi and Nishigori,3 with the proper heat treatment should segregate the « phase out of the a parent, solid solution phase. The alloy was prepared from high purity cathode copper (analyzing 99.98 per cent Cu) and Straits tin (analyzing 99.94

Jan 1, 1933

By Henry Hanson

A STUDY of the ore to be treated should be the first step in deciding on a machine for crushing or grinding. Coarse crushing is practically confined to the jaw and the gyratory crushers, the large-size jaw type being often employed in large installations as a primary crusher, followed by the gyratory type for secondary reduction. In small plants where mine-run ore is reduced in a single step, either of these machines will do the work. In intermediate and fine grinding, various machines are used. The relative merit of the different types will be governed in no small measure by the size of the installation, the character of the ore to be reduced and the final product desired for subsequent treatment. It should be possible, nevertheless, with the data available, if properly classified, to arrive at an approximation of the relative efficiency of these intermediate and fine grinders. It should be possible, also, to determine the economic grinding range of the different machines. With this in mind, it will be the object of this article to indicate, in rough outline, how the data available may be classified, rather than to attempt to discuss any particular practice and compare the results with other practices. Conclusions or generalizations can not be drawn without an exhaustive classification of data; in fact, many vital points will have to be determined by additional experiments which can be carried on most advantageously in the laboratory. The expense en-tailed in such experiments would be worth while if the data obtained should lead to definite conclusions that would aid in standardizing and simplifying grinding practice.

Jan 2, 1923

By Milton E. Wadsworth

INTRODUCTION The purposes of this conference are aimed mainly at the treatment of fine or ultra fine particles in terms of beneficiation and chemical processing of minerals. For this reason the discussion on leaching will be confined to processes which treat slurries rather than those which treat a large variety of low and medium grade materials by vat leaching or dump leaching techniques. This eliminates such hydro-metallurgical systems as solution mining from consideration. This discussion will focus predominantly upon the behavior of fine particles as associated with their chemistry in leach reactors. Four major sub-headings may be pointed to as encompassing the major areas in which research and engineering design activity should be directed. These are: 1) generation of fine particles, 2) heterogeneous kinetics of leaching, 3) solution chemistry, 4) engineering design and control of flow reactors. Each of these topics will be addressed briefly in this presentation to illustrate current developments and future needs. GENERATION OF FINE PARTICLES As will be pointed out more quantitatively in the next section the generation of fine particles has great influence upon leaching systems inasmuch as in most cases the rate of leaching is related to the surface area of the particles involved. This is true for acid or base leaching of oxide minerals as well as a large variety of sulfides which have been considered in commercial processes and which have in the case of copper received increased attention during the past decade. Mean particle sizes of slurries vary broadly depending upon the type of grinding equipment being used. For example, in the agitation leaching of uranium ore the slurry typically consists of particles approx-

Jan 1, 1979

By G. R. Speich

RECENT studies by Smith and Olney,1,2 Olney,3 Greifer and Salli,4 Rys etal., and Olney and smith 6 have established that graphite is the first decomposition product to format the surface of hypereutectoid plain-carbon steels when they are austenitized in a vacuum or inert atmosphere and slowly cooled. This graphite evidently forms directly from the austenite and only at the surface of the specimen. The interior of the specimen is found to be free of graphite. The graphite layer can almost completely cover the specimen surface and the rate of its formation is markedly sensitive to the orientation of the austenite. The present work was undertaken to study this phenomenon further, especially with regard to the effect of temperature and austenite orientation. The material studied in this work was a high-purity iron-carbon alloy containing 0.88 pct C, 0.005 pct Mn, 0.016 pct Si, 0.005 pct S, and 0.002 pct P. Specimens were heat-treated in a commercial hot stage modified for rapid quenching.7 This permitted direct observation of the formation of the surface graphite. A vacuum of 10"" to 10-5 mm of Hg prevented oxidation or decarburization of the specimens. Specimens were austenitized for 30 min at 1100°C and quenched to a series of lower temperatures where they were isothermally transformed. Surface graphite was observed to form at 700°, 750°, and 780°C but not at 825°, 900° or 1000°C. Since the maximum solubility of austenite for graphite is 0.88 pct C at 800°C,8 surface graphite only forms at tem-

Jan 1, 1962

By J. M. Morris

The point to be made most clear in this paper is the economic value of flotation in the Benguet mill flow sheet. It is rather a statement of effect with no attempt at a technical explanation of the cause. Certain well-known, easily understood reagents, mechanisms and principles have been adapted to the conditions at Benguet, and have proved to be more successful than was demonstrated in the laboratory. The mechanical and metallurgical development of this particular operation was arrived at by trial and error, with fortunately very little error. Changes were slow, of necessity, which in the end proved a blessing in that time was afforded for observation and analysis of the disturbing factors; and as a result each change was a definite step towards higher efficiency. Many of these steps were unpredictable from laboratory work because of the varied and differing characteristics of ores met with in daily operation of the mill, which were practically impossible to reproduce on a laboratory scale. The Benguet mill receives daily ores that differ as much as if they were delivered from three different properties. There is first the surface and upper-level zone, which produces an oxidized secondary ore containing considerable iron oxide, manganese oxide and some organic matter. Formerly, most of this ore consisted of very soft fill with some hard rock mixed in. It also contained an unusual amount of iron and aluminum sulfate, which formed hydrates upon entering the alkaline cyanide solution and caused excessive frothing. When flotation was introduced in the Benguet mill the general characteristics of this upper-level ore had changed considerably, in that it was practically all newly mined, fairly hard ore. It still contained many of the same disturbing elements, but was somewhat simpler to treat than formerly. The small proportion of fines is still troublesome in flotation, and plant practice probably does not show more than 80 per cent extraction on this small portion of the ore. No definite figure on this is available, as this particular ore is delivered at irregular intervals

Jan 1, 1939

By Wallace Pratt

INTRODUCTION IRON-ORE deposits in the Philippine Islands became the subject of official record as early as 1664. Undoubtedly iron ore was known and recognized by the Filipinos long before the earliest Spanish records. It is even possible that the Filipino practice of smelting iron ore is, like the native copper smelting, older than the Spanish conquest of the islands. The first records have to do with the magnetite-hematite ores near the towns of Santa Inez and Bosoboso in Rizal Province, from 15 to 20 miles east of Manila. The magnetite-hematite ores of Bulacan were exploited in 1783. Similar ores near the town of Mambulao in Camarines Province yielded a number of specimens to be exhibited in Spain in 1834. With the exception, then, of the lateritic iron ores on the eastern coast of northern Surigao, the true nature of which was not recognized until 1914, the important iron-ore deposits of the Philippines had all been discovered before the islands came under the dominion of the United States. Indeed, in the Spanish documents relating to the history of iron mining are statements which, if their accuracy be not questioned, leave us in the Philippines today with much less iron ore than the Spaniards found. To quote, for example, a report submitted to the Superior Government in Spain in 1835 by one of its emissaries, Don Lorenzo Calvo: "The Philippine Islands, most excellent Sir, possess iron and exhibit it in nearly every known mineralogical combination, and in such abundance that the cordillera of the island of Luzon, from Montufar Point in San Bernardino Straits to Cape Bojeador, is composed of no other mineral than iron, its ranges, of the third order, being in content and structure totally iron of the best quality, the more valuable in that its combinations are such as to facilitate its fusion and to render its reduction to metal simple."

Jan 2, 1916

By J. M. Morris

The point to be made most clear in this paper is the economic value of flotation in the Benguet mill flow sheet. It is rather a statement of effect with no attempt at a technical explanation of the cause. Certain well-known, easily understood reagents, mechanisms and principles have been adapted to the conditions at Benguet, and have proved to be more successful than was demonstrated in the laboratory. The mechanical and metallurgical development of this particular operation was arrived at by trial and error, with fortunately very little error. Changes were slow, of necessity, which in the end proved a blessing in that time was afforded for observation and analysis of the disturbing factors; and as a result each change was a definite step towards higher efficiency. Many of these steps were unpredictable from laboratory work because of the varied and differing characteristics of ores met with in daily operation of the mill, which were practically impossible to reproduce on a laboratory scale. The Benguet mill receives daily ores that differ as much as if they were delivered from three different properties. There is first the surface and upper-level zone, which produces an oxidized secondary ore containing considerable iron oxide, manganese oxide and some organic matter. Formerly, most of this ore consisted of very soft fill with some hard rock mixed in. It also contained an unusual amount of iron and aluminum sulfate, which formed hydrates upon entering the alkaline cyanide solution and caused excessive frothing. When flotation was introduced in the Benguet mill the general characteristics of this upper-level ore had changed considerably, in that it was practically all newly mined, fairly hard ore. It still contained many of the same disturbing elements, but was somewhat simpler to treat than formerly. The small proportion of fines is still troublesome in flotation, and plant practice probably does not show more than 80 per cent extraction on this small portion of the ore. No definite figure on this is available, as this particular ore is delivered at irregular intervals

Jan 1, 1939

By Horace Knerr

The term. "high-yield-strength," used in the title of Dr. Gillett's paper (p. 40) is obviously relative. His discussion is limited to improved steels intended to compete with the low-cost, low-carbon, hot-rolled, sheet and plate steels of commerce made and used on a tonnage basis, without heat-treatment. In his list of about three dozen steels, only three have a yield strength of 70,000 lb. per sq. in., or over. Double such values are not uncommon in aircraft steels. Dr. Jeffries (p. 21) refers to "light-weight metals," obviously meaning strong alloys of low specific gravity; namely, aluminum alloys of the duralumin type and certain magnesium alloys. In a structural material, "lightness" is determined by two factors, strength and specific gravity. They must always be considered jointly. The basis of comparison is a strength-weight ratio, obtained by dividing the desired strength value, such as tensile strength, yield strength, or endurance limit, by weight per unit of volume, such as specific gravity or pounds per cubic inch1. For example, aluminum is a heavy metal, structurally, unless alloyed and heat-treated to give it high strength. When the strength of a structural metal is raised by heat-treatment or by cold-work, its specific gravity is not appreciably changed, but it is made lighter in direct proportion to the increase in strength because less of it will be required to carry the load. The lightness of the finished structure of adequate strength is the real point of interest. This structure must not only carry designed load, but "stand the gaff" of service, which includes the effects of accidental overload, fatigue, corrosion, loosening of joints, and so forth. Neither Dr. Gillett nor Dr. Jeffries mentions the true "lightest material of construction," which is alloy steel, tubular in form (Fig. 1), assembled by welding and heat-treated to a yield strength in excess of 150,000 lb. per sq. inch.

Jan 1, 1936

By Allen F. Agnew

Geologic studies for the Federal and State governments in the Wisconsin-Illinois-Iowa zinc-lead district were begun in 1835, and subse¬quent surveys were made in the three states at in¬tervals until 1916, see Table I. The current study of the district, Fig. 1, by the U. S. Geological Survey was begun in 1942 in the hope that a systematic investigation would help in¬crease production of zinc and lead, then in ex¬tremely short supply. Major emphasis of the USGS program was on detailed mapping of the geologic structure and ore deposits. Preliminary maps and reports covering localities of intensive mining ac¬tivity have been published during the course of this study, Fig. 2. By 1950 the objectives of the study by the USGS were revised; 7Y2-min quadrangles of relatively unprospected localities as well as inten¬sively mined localities are now being mapped in Wisconsin. Since 1945 the investigation in Wiscon¬sin has been made in cooperation with the Wiscon¬sin Geological and Natural History Survey, and since 1951 the geologic mapping of areas of particu¬lar interest in Iowa has been performed in coopera¬tion with the Iowa Geological Survey. At intervals since 1943 the Illinois State Geological Survey has mapped the geologic structure and ore deposits of localities in the Illinois part of the mining district, see Fig. 2.

Aug 1, 1955

By Frank Foote, V. H. Nordstrom, Eric R. Jette, Bernard Queneau

The nickel-chromium alloys form the base for many industrial heating alloys, so that this system is of considerable practical importance. The literature on these alloys, however, contains much conflicting evidence, not only regarding the solubility limits of the terminal solid solutions at different temperatures but even regarding the number of phases existing in the system. Part of the difficulty undoubtedly arises from the fact that chromium of sufficiently high purity has been available only during the last few years. A second and possibly even more important difficulty arises from the ease with which chromium reacts with silicon and carbon compounds and the atmosphere to form silicides, carbides, nitrides and oxides. Pilling and Kihlgrenl in 1929 reviewed the existing scanty information. They did not consider the diagram by which they summarized the various bits of information to be entirely satisfactory. Matsunaga2 investigated the system by thermal analysis, microscopic examination and other means. Electrolytic nickel of 99.9 per cent purity and thermit chromium containing 0.30 per cent Al, 0.40 per cent Fe, 0.25 per cent Si and 0.04 per cent C were used. A Tammann furnace with hydrogen flowing through it was used for melting. Sekito and Matsunaga3 reported an X-ray investigation, presumably on these same alloys, which, as far as can be judged from the abstract, essentially confirmed the thermal and microscopic results. Nishigori and Hamasumi4 found compositions for the terminal solid solutions in equilibrium at the eutectic temperature which agreed fairly

Jan 1, 1934

By W. J. Wrazej

THE measurements on the formation of multi-layered scales on pure iron1 and the metal -lographic examination of the produced layer of FeO, Fe,O,, and Fe2O3 shown in micrographs2 throw much interesting light on this apparently well-known subject. Professor Paidassi announced2 that in a few months7 time further results are going to be published with regard to the growth of Fe2O3 and Fe2O3 layers on an Armco iron as a function of temperature. Because of the very thin layers of Fe2O3 which are shown by Paidassi (Fig. 10 of ref. 2) when samples were scaled in air at 700°C for 4 hr and because this is not in agreement with the present author's previous observations, the following experiment was recently carried out. Polished cylindrical samples 13/64 in. in diam and 1/4 in. long from electrolytic iron used for spectro-graphic work (Hilger, H.S. Iron rods, F.693) and an Armco iron sample 1/4 in. in diam of the same length were suspended in a muffle furnace on Nichrome wire and annealed in air for 4 hr at 700°C 5OC. Because of the known easy peeling off of the Fe2O3 layer which is mainly in the form of powder (purple red dust on the surface) the samples were protected against any draft and shock. After annealing, the samples were cooled in air and placed in the mount-

Jan 1, 1954

By W. R. Wawersik, A. M. Starfield

The classical approach to room-and-pillar mine design in flat-lying, tabular ore bodies limits itself to the special case of an extensive and uniform system of pillars. Each pillar is then assumed to carry the same load, and this load is readily calculated from the extraction ratio e and the weight of the overburden : average pillar stress = [ ] where H is depth below surface, p is average density of overburden, and g is acceleration due to gravity. The average pillar load does not, in this case, depend on the mechanical properties of either the pillars or the surrounding rock mass. The only relevant physical property of the pillars is their compressive strength, (i.e., the maximum load-carrying ability) and the criterion for design is that the average pillar stress should not exceed this strength. The wider the pillar, the greater its strength, and the design of the system is concerned with reconciling this increase in strength to the requirements of roof control so as to optimize extraction.l Any departure from a uniform distribution of pillar loads invalidates the classical approach. Such departures may, for instance, be brought about by: (1) a nonuniform layout of pillars and remnants resulting from selective mining, (2) variations in geology which result in gross changes in the properties of part of the seam or the host rock, (3) deliberate use of abutment support in narrow panels, and (4) the use of yielding pillars for local roof support in conjunction with barrier pillars to carry the overburden load.

Jan 1, 1972

By T. D. Yensen, N. A. Ziegler

AGING is a term that connotes a slow change in properties under ordinary operating conditions. It can be accelerated by increasing the temperature and by mechanical straining. The magnetic properties of iron and some of its alloys have for many years been known to be subject to such a change. But the cause of the change was not recognized until a few years ago after mechanical age-hardening in nonferrous alloys of the "duralumin" type had been definitely shown, by means of solid solubility curves, changes in electrical resistance and microanalysis, to be caused by slow precipitation of one or more constituents from the solid solution. The similarity between the solid solubility curves of such alloys (Fig. 1) and those for iron-nitrogen (Fig. 2) and iron-carbon alloys (Fig. 3) below the Al transformation point suggested at once that magnetic aging of iron might be caused by a similar process; namely, by the slow precipitation of carbon and nitrogen in the form of Fe4N and Fe3C at ordinary temperatures because of a cooling rate that had been too rapid to permit complete precipitation according to equilibrium conditions. This suggestion has since been amply confirmed, particularly by the comprehensive work of Köster1 on the effect of nitrogen and carbon. Typical curves are shown in Fig. 4 for the relationship between aging temperature and coercive force. Previous to the establishment of the precipitation-hardening theory it was thought that the effect of nonmetallic elements like C, N, 0, etc., on the magnetic properties of iron was greatest when these elements were retained in solid solution, atomically dispersed throughout the interstitial spaces of the iron lattice2.

Jan 1, 1935

By J. E. Hackford

IN SOME research. work carried out by the writer, certain results have bean obtained which bear on the fundamental nature and origin of coal and the relationship between coal and petroleum. Without entering into a discussion of the details of the experiments, which were conducted on petroleum and derived bitumens, there are given here, by way of definition, some of the relations that the writer has established between certain classes of bitumens of petroliferous origin. Bitumen.-A natural organic substance, gaseous, liquid, or solid, consisting of hydrocarbons and the oxy- or thionic derivatives of the same, or of a mixture of all three. Diasphaltenes.-Those portions of bitumens that are soluble, in ether or carbon disulfide, but are insoluble in a mixture of equal parts of ether and alcohol. Diasphaltenes are produced by the oxidation or thionization of petroleum oils; they have, as the name indicates, twice the molecular weight of asphaltenes, into which they are converted when subjected to moderate temperature. For example, an artificially produced diasphaltene, which was readily soluble in pentane and ether, was quite insoluble in either of these solvents after heating for three weeks at a temperature of 100° C., and was converted into an insoluble asphaltene. Asphaltenes.-Those portions of bitumen that are insoluble in ether or ether alcohol but are soluble in carbon disulfide. Asphaltites.-Those solid or semisolid natural bitumens that are composed, for the most part, of asphaltenes or diasphaltenes. A pure asphaltite1 would be composed wholly of asphaltenes and diasphaltenes, but most asphaltites contain small percentages of oil and wax, which have not yet been converted into asphaltenes; they may also contain a small percentage of kerotenes, which represent the next stage of the metamorphosis of asphaltenes. Among the naturally., occurring oxyasphaltites may be mentioned grahamite; and among the thioasphaltites, gilsonite.

Jan 8, 1920

By A. M. Gaudin

A GREAT number of hypotheses has been advanced to explain the complex phenomena that are encountered in flotation. In the days of bulk-oil flotation, when a large quantity of oil was employed, it was observed that the oil-mineral aggregate floated above the ore-pulp because of its lesser density. With the advent of froth-flotation this phase of the theory had to be modified to take into account the presence of air bubbles. The reason why the mineral-bearing froth of today rises to the top of flotation cells is, of course, because the air-mineral aggregate, with whatever reagent may be associated with it, is lighter than the pulp. In an attempt to explain froth-flotation the fact has been emphasized that certain minerals are wetted and therefore remain in water; while others are not wetted and therefore become associated in preference with air. Such an "explanation" does not explain facts, it merely states them; for instance, it does not explain why minerals are wetted under some circumstances and not wetted under others. Going somewhat further, the wetting or nonwetting of minerals by water has been ascribed' to differences in the angles of contact between oil droplets and mineral surface at the surface of the minerals. This explanation, however, was abandoned when soluble flotation reagents came to replace the so-called "insoluble" reagents. Another theory, sponsored about 10 years ago by Ralston,2 involves the effects of electric charges at the surface of the minerals particles and air bubbles. This theory, unfortunately, was not developed as fully as it seems desirable.

Jan 1, 1927

By John Chipman, A. M. Samarin

It has been long known that the gas evolved during the boil in the open-hearth furnace is mainly carbon monoxide associated with smaller quantities of other gases. A number of attempts have been made to determine the precise effects of carbon and oxygen content of the bath, and of other factors, such as temperature, upon the evolution of carbon monoxide. In his investigation of the carbon-iron oxide product in liquid steel, Hertyl showed that the value of this product at equilibrium could be approximated by plotting the value of the product observed in open-hearth reactions against rate of carbon elimination, and extrapolating to zero rate. The results of this study showed a slight but definite effect of temperature upon the carbon-iron oxide reaction. Experimental studies of the evolution of gases from rimming-steel ingots have not yet attained the degree of precision necessary for an exact understanding of the effects of pouring temperature, carbon content, and iron oxide in the metal upon the composition of these gases. Klinger2 showed that the gas consists mainly of carbon monoxide, and that considerable variation in its composition occurs during the solidification of the ingot. In order that these variations may be understood in their proper relationship to the progress of solidification of the ingot and the segregation that accompanies solidification, it is essential to have a knowledge of the condition of equilibrium in the several chemical reactions by which the gases are being formed. It is also necessary to understand the effects of temperature upon the equilibria, and further, to know the manner in which the temperature of the liquid metal within the ingot changes as the skin of the ingot is being built up. The reactions in which we will be chiefly interested are those involving in the one case the oxides of carbon, and in the other case steam and

Jan 1, 1937

By Donald O. Rausch, Robert H. Merrill

12.1 -1. Introduction. Problems concerning slopes in soils and rock generally arise in connection with road cuts and open pit mines. The angle at which a slope will safely stand is of major economic importance to both the road designer and the open pit operator. Stable slopes in soils and rock are evaluated through two fundamental approaches, namely, soil mechanics and rock mechanics. The approach selected to make this evaluation depends upon the material in the slope. For the purposes of this chapter, only slopes totally in soil or totally in rock are considered. By definition, soils are unconsolidated accumulations of solid materials produced by mechanical and chemical disintegration of rocks or the accumulation of sediments (28); rock is defined as the hard, compact, natural materials composing the crust of the earth (10). The basic factors affecting slopes in soil or rock are similar, although rock strengths are orders of magnitude greater than soil strengths. In general, the strength of large masses of soil depends upon the texture of the soil, the particle size, cohesion, and resistance to tensile and shear stress; the strength of large masses of rock depends upon the strength of the rock and the defects, such as faults, fractures or joints, that intersect the rock. Further, some of the defects in rock are cemented or uncemented, and may be filled with materials that are strong or weak compared to the rock. In slopes of either soils or rock, the stability is presumed to be a function of the slope height, slope angle, the size of the excavation, and the stresses imposed on the soil or rock by tectonic and/or gravity forces, earthquakes, or other static or dynamic forces. In addition, both soil and rock slopes are affected by static and dynamic water pressures in the pores of soils or permeable rocks or in the defects in the rock behind the slope. Visual observations of slope failures also indicate that both soil and rock can deteriorate with time, and this deterioration may be caused primarily by weathering (27).

Jan 1, 1968

By S. F. Shaw

The theory that maintaining a high back-pressure on the oil sand lowers the viscosity of the oil has been generally accepted. The theory has also been advanced that lower viscosity permits the oil to be moved through the sand to the well at an expenditure of less gas per barrel of oil than would otherwise be required. It seems reasonable to assume that production of oil at the minimum gas-oil ratio will result in a greater ultimate recovery of oil. During the past five years the writer has acquired data on thousands of tests made on wells to determine the best rate at which to produce them. In the majority of cases reduction in back-pressure did not definitely increase the gas-oil ratio. The information obtained from these tests has raised doubt in the mind of the writer as to the correctness of the theory that lowered viscosity results in lower gas-oil ratios and in higher ultimate recovery of oil. The reasons that explain the results obtained in these tests cannot yet be definitely stated, but the hypothesis is being tentatively assumed that there are other factors which outweigh the influence of viscosity. Energy in Gas Moves Oil to Well The general opinion is that in most cases it is the energy in the gas that moves the oil to the well. In wells flowing naturally it is also the energy in the gas that lifts the oil to the surface. In a flowing well, there are two very distinct operations: 1. Moving the oil through the sand to the well. 2. Lifting the oil to the surface. The more important function of the gas is that of moving the oil to the well. Means for lifting the oil can always be found once it has been delivered to the well. Principles Involved in Lifting Oil A well that flows naturally is the same as a gas-lift well except that all of the gas is supplied by the oil reservoir. This natural flow is subject

Jan 1, 1931