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By Van H. Manning

In substance, the international aspects of the petroleum industry, as these relate to the United States, are as follows: The domestic production is not keeping pace with the domestic demands; our best engineering talent warns us of the imminence of a decreased production by our oil wells, although more oil is needed; and the only practical source whence this increasing demand can be supplied for some time to come will be the foreign fields. Other nations have given thought to the future and, in recent years, have shown a tendency to adopt strong nationalistic policies regarding their petroleum resources, policies that hinder or prevent the exploitation of these resources by other nationals. In consequence, we find that, facing a probable shortage of the domestic supply, our nationals are excluded from foreign fields; and this in spite of the fact that foreign nationals have been permitted to enter into and exploit our own oil resources on an equality with American citizens and without hindrance or restrictions. This country has supplied the larger part of the petroleum consumed by the world and yet, with a failing supply imminent, it finds that those countries that, have been drawing upon our resources to supply their needs are showing a tendency to exclude us from their resources. In this way we shall be transferred from a position of dominence to one of dependence; and only by sufferance of those countries that are now seeking financial or political control of petroleum supplies, shall we be able to obtain the oil we will need. Impoetance of Petroleum Petroleum has become, during recent years, one of the essentials of our social and industrial life. All civilized countries recognize that the world is dependent on petroleum as on nothing else except textiles: foodstuffs, coal, and iron. Today, the tendency is toward an ever-increasing consumption of petroleum and its products as new and more efficient uses are found for them. The utilization of petroleum is extending more and more into the structure of our civilization. Consequently,

Jan 1, 1921

By D. O. Noel, E. B. Gebert, J. D. Shaw

IT. is, of course, expected that manufacture of the various metal powders should involve numerous methods adapted to the specific characteristics of the metals themselves. Several methods for powdering a particular metal may be available, but the physical characteristics of the powder as produced by the several methods may be quite different. In the final analysis, the application of the metal powder dictates the physical properties that the metal powder must possess, and this, to a very large extent, will determine which of several possible methods of. manufacture is adopted. Sometimes powder of the same metal is produced by more than one method, each powder having specific characteristics .that make it particularly suitable for its application. For purposes of classification, the various methods of powdering metals can be grouped as follows: 1. Machining. 2. Milling (by ball mills, stamps, attrition mills, etc.). 3. Shotting (pouring molten metal into water, air, etc.). 4. Granulation (by stirring molten metal while solidifying). 5. Atomizing (disintegrating by steam, compressed air, etc.). 6. Condensation of metal vapor. 7. Reduction of oxide powders. 8. Chemical precipitation. 9. Electrolytic deposition. 10. Sintering (for producing alloy powders). 11. Formation of an alloy followed by dissolving or otherwise removing one of the alloying constituents. MACHINING Turnings, cuttings, filings, etc., are, of course, produced as by-products in machine work of various kinds, and find certain applications as metal powders. For example, iron powder so produced is used extensively as a reducing or precipitating agent and as a constituent in certain hard-finish cements.

Jan 1, 1938

By Bror Nordberg

SAND and gravel are unconsolidated granular materials resulting from the natural disintegration of rocks. The two materials nearly al- ways occur together, variably proportioned in widely available de- posits. A commercial sand comprises the fine granular material, usually less than f in. in diameter (ASTM Designation C58-28), and gravel consists of the coarse, granular material larger than sand (ASTM Designation C125-46T). Gravel falls within the range of 1/4 in. and a top size usually of 3 ½ in. Chemical definition is impossible. Sand and gravel are always of secondary origin. They were formed from various massive rocks through the action of chemical and mechanical forces; then transported, abraded, washed, sorted, and classified by streams, glaciers, waves, or winds, to be redeposited in beds as they are found. Chief disintegrating forces in the reduction of rocks into granular particles were frost, rain, the dissolving action of acid and alkaline ground waters, the mechanical action of streams and waves, and the action of glaciers. Method of formation and deposition have imparted physical properties to sands and gravels that largely determine the commercial value of the materials for particular use and influence the manner of exploitation. In the early days of the commercial industry, purchasing specifications were relatively lenient but in. the past decade much more rigid quality requirements have had to be met for acceptance by all classes of purchasers. The trend to further severity in requirements is a challenge to the industry that commands full knowledge of the nature of raw materials at hand and skillful application of processing into commercial products. Mechanical strength, the ability to resist disintegration, chemica

Jan 1, 1949

By Ernest A. Kaarsberg

This paper presents the results of studies of the elasticity of some isotropic and anisotropic rock samples based on longitudinal- and shear-wave pulse velocity measurements. Experimental evidence from velocity measurements on isotropic steel samples is also presented to show, within error limits, that any two of the elastic constants required to completely describe the elasticity of an isotropic solid can be obtained from any two of the following four velocity measurements: longitudinal "rod,' "plate," extended medium (infinite medium equivalent), or shear wave. Measurements of three of these velocities in an approximately isotropic basaltic rock sample are used to illustrate this application to this type of rock. For the anisotropic study, a suite of Colorado oil shale samples is used. These rocks exhibited transverse isotropy. The five elastic constants required to completely specify this type of anisotropy are obtained from longitudinal- and shear-wave pulse velocity measurements made in directions parallel, perpen-dicular, and at 45° to the bedding plane. Density, velocity, and elastic modulus relationships among these shales are also given. Duvall 1 has described a method for determining the elastic constants of isotropic and, in two cases, anisotropic rock samples. This method is based on ultrasonic pulse techniques and on resonance-frequency measurements of rock samples in the shape of rods (diamond drill cores). Rock samples, however, are not always available in rod form. When this is the case, other methods can be used to study their

Jan 1, 1969

By D. R. Shreve, L. W. Welch

An analysis for predicting the behavior of reservoirs exploited by a combined gas drive and gravity draintrge mechanism is presented. The method allows the prediction of gas-oil ratio, oil production rate, and cumlulative oil recovery for high relief pools in which pressure is maintained either by gas injection in the crest of the structure or by a combined gas and water injection program. The reservoir is represented by a model of communicating vertical prisms, with production or injection at the upper or lower boundaries of each prism. The theory of macroscopic gravitational segregation of two fluids within a reservoir is discussed in detail for all ranges of saturation. A description of an application of the analysis to a typical field problem is also presented. INTRODUCTION The importance of gravity drainage as a producing mechanism has become more evident during recent years. However, many of the reservoir engineering methods which have been used in the past for predicting the behavior of reservoirs producing by this mechanism have required such drastic, simplifying assumptions that the calculated performance in some cases does not resemble the actual pool behavior. The mechanism of fluid displacement in porous media has been described by Buckley and Leverett,1 and a simplified "one zone" method based on this development has been used by engineers to evaluate the performance of gravity drainage pools. Welge2 has modi- fied this approach so that the calculation time has been markedly decreased. In addition, many other authors3-9 have analyzed various phases of the gravity drainage producing mechanism during the past several years. In a high relief reservoir in which gravity may affect the recovery mechanism, there are two main types of exploitation programs which can be employed: 1. Reservoir pressure is maintained by injecting gas into the upper portions of the reservoir. In this case gas is not released from solution and, if dynamic pressure drops are small compared to the total pressure of the system, the gas and oil may be considered to be immiscible and to have constant fluid characteristics. 2. Reservoir pressure is not maintained and a "natural depletion" mechanism prevails. The term "natural depletion" can be used to describe the production history of a reservoir in which a gradual decline of average pressure and the associated release of solution gas continue throughout the producing life. In this mechanism gas is released throughout the reservoir and there is a continuous change in the characteristics of both the gas and the oil phases. It is the purpose of this paper to present the results of mathematical developments by which a method has been devised for evaluating the performance of reservoirs which are depleted by the first type of exploitation program discussed above. It should be mentioned that, although throughout the analysis gas and oil represent the two fluids existing in the reservoir, the method is equally applicable to gravity drainage in water-oil systems. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM In reservoirs of pronounced structural relief, where the closure of the oil section is great or the angle of

Jan 1, 1957

By W. A. Krivsky, R. Schumann

Relaxation calculations were made to find the temperature distribution in the refractory wall surrounding a tuyere pipe. One set of boundary conditions approxiwated those of a standard copper converter while a second set represented a hypothetical,thermally insulated tuyere pipe. The pvonounced cooling effect of the tuyere is related to the problem of tuyere accretions and tuyere bunching. PARTICULARLY severe service conditions are encountered in the tuyere zone of a basic copper converter during the matte blow. High-temperature gradients result from the juxtaposition of the hot charge and the tuyere pipe carrying cold air. Refractory temperatures near the tuyere mouth vary rapidly with time when the blast is turned on or off. One of the most serious problems is the formation of magnetite accretions around the tuyere mouth, which occurs very rapidly under some operating conditions. As a result, continual punching of the tuyeres is necessary to maintain a satisfactory rate of converting. Thus, if some means could be devised for keeping the tuyere pipes fully open without necessity for punching, a considerable saving should result from reduction in labor cost, maintenance of full capacity operation, and reduction in refractory costs. Recent quantitative studies of the FeO-Fe,O,-SiO, system1 have shown that the solubility of magnetite in iron-silicate slags decreases rapidly with de- creasing temperature in the range of copper converting temperatures. Data taken from the previous work are shown in Fig. 1. Thus the formation of "horns" and accretions around the tuyere mouth can result simply from the freezing out of magnetite on the cooler areas of refractory immediately adjacent to the tuyere pipes. One might expect to find a correlation between the severity of magnetite formation and the area of refractory surface which is cooled below the freezing point of the slag (corresponding to magnetite precipitation). Magnetite itself has a very high melting point (1597°C) so that the accretions are for all practical purposes infusible. The accretions might be dissolved by increasing the silica content of the slag and at the same time raising the temperature, but this approach is not feasible because it results in rapid corrosion of the basic refractory lining of the converter as a whole. In order to understand better the problems involved in tuyere design and operation, it seems essential to have at least a semiquantitative idea of the thermal conditions in the tuyere zone. Accordingly, this paper presents results of thermal calculations for an idealized copper converter tuyere. These calculations follow the so-called relaxation

Jan 1, 1960

By M. Gensamer

In applied mechanics and in metallurgy the transition from elastic to inelastic action is a matter of considerable interest and importance. Often the first inelastic deformation is apparently quite homogeneous; that is, uniformly distributed throughout the specimen. Sometimes this deformation is heterogeneous; that is, localized; inelastic deformation proceeds to some definite amount in restricted regions before adjacent regions of the specimen are inelastically deformed. In such cases the deformation does not become homogeneous until the whole specimen has been deformed the amount corresponding to that for each localized deformation. If the test is stopped before uniform extension sets in, the heterogeneous character of the deformation is apparent on the surface of the specimen through characteristic markings, which have been called "LÜders'" lines, "Hartmann's" lines, the "Piobert effect," or simply "flow figures." These markings are the source of considerable trouble in fabricating operations, particularly in the deep drawing of steel sheet. In many cases where the transition is of this nature, the stress developed at the upper limit of the elastic range is greater than the stress during the period of heterogeneous deformation, giving rise to the familiar "drop of the beam" effect in testing. The amount of the yield-point elongation, as well as the value of the stress at the lower yield point (the value to which the stress drops when yielding begins), are functions of the temperature and the testing speed. Lower temperatures and faster rates of testing increase both the yield-point elongation and the yield-point stress. These matters have been ably discussed in a recent paper by Winlock and Leiterl though, as brought out by the discussion of that paper, the phenomena are but little understood. The purpose of the present paper is to clarify the problem through the application of a simple principle, and to show that, through the application of this principle, a number of phenomena in the plastic deformation of metals become more readily understood. The principle is this: During homogeneous flow, the rate of work-hardening is greater than the rate of change of stress resulting from change

Jan 1, 1938

By M. Gensamer

In applied mechanics and in metallurgy the transition from elastic to inelastic action is a matter of considerable interest and importance. Often the first inelastic deformation is apparently quite homogeneous; that is, uniformly distributed throughout the specimen. Sometimes this deformation is heterogeneous; that is, localized; inelastic deformation proceeds to some definite amount in restricted regions before adjacent regions of the specimen are inelastically deformed. In such cases the deformation does not become homogeneous until the whole specimen has been deformed the amount corresponding to that for each localized deformation. If the test is stopped before uniform extension sets in, the heterogeneous character of the deformation is apparent on the surface of the specimen through characteristic markings, which have been called "LÜders'" lines, "Hartmann's" lines, the "Piobert effect," or simply "flow figures." These markings are the source of considerable trouble in fabricating operations, particularly in the deep drawing of steel sheet. In many cases where the transition is of this nature, the stress developed at the upper limit of the elastic range is greater than the stress during the period of heterogeneous deformation, giving rise to the familiar "drop of the beam" effect in testing. The amount of the yield-point elongation, as well as the value of the stress at the lower yield point (the value to which the stress drops when yielding begins), are functions of the temperature and the testing speed. Lower temperatures and faster rates of testing increase both the yield-point elongation and the yield-point stress. These matters have been ably discussed in a recent paper by Winlock and Leiterl though, as brought out by the discussion of that paper, the phenomena are but little understood. The purpose of the present paper is to clarify the problem through the application of a simple principle, and to show that, through the application of this principle, a number of phenomena in the plastic deformation of metals become more readily understood. The principle is this: During homogeneous flow, the rate of work-hardening is greater than the rate of change of stress resulting from change

Jan 1, 1938

By H. J. Hand

STATISTICAL methods are becoming increasingly important for interpreting routine reports, or for analyzing special test data in industrial plants, such as steel plants. They have already become practically a necessity to the plant metallurgist. A paper by Chancellor,' written in 1933, gives many examples of the benefits the plant metallurgist can derive from the use of these methods. The present paper discusses applications of importance to many others who must analyze reports in the steel plant, as well as other examples of interest to metallurgists. Statistical Methods Logically Suited to Plant Problems.-Statistical methods are not new as a branch of mathematics. Until comparatively recently, however, practical applications were confined mainly to actuarial science,, biology, and economics; fields in which an observed result is obviously influenced (and often determined) by a complicated set of variables more or less constantly tending to affect it. As pointed out by Daeves,2 a decade or more ago, problems in industry are basically similar to those in these other fields in that a given result is at least partly due to that chance combination of causes happening to be present at the time. When trying to do the same thing repeatedly, constant results are never attained; they vary about the desired result with more or less well defined mathematical regularity. Such a condition arises out of the great number of factors tending to affect the final result. If statistical methods are so valuable to the biologist or economist, why then should .they not also be of great value to plant managers and engineers, and to all who must interpret reports from various sources in the industrial plant? Within the last few years, industry has become conscious of this situation, and the use of these methods has been rapidly expanding in such plants. † Many Useful Statistical Devices Available.-Many statistical methods of attack are available for the analysis of plant data. It is the object of this paper to discuss applications of some of these methods to the solution

Jan 1, 1938

By R. C. Hepworth

Heaving in roads built on the Mancos Shale is a serious problem in east-central Utah. Heaves are expressed as local bumps, general rises and severe cracking of the pavement. The heaves usually occur in shale road cuts and generally show a seasonal cycle, which reaches a maximum development in the winter. The presence of certain salts, absorption of moisture and physical properties of the subgrade materials were considered, in Utah, to be the main factors in the heaving mechanism. Work done on similar problems elsewhere and studies conducted by the author indicate that the latter two factors are the most important. Results of this investigation indicate that heaving areas are associated with slaking shale or expansive clays, with and without salts present. Laboratory studies show that the initial moisture content of remolded samples and the desiccation history of un- disturbed samples have a major effect on swelling. Swell tests on compacted samples at various temperatures indicate that water has more influence on swell than temperature, except for samples containing sodium sulphate, which swelled with decreasing temperature. Chloride salts inhibited swelling. Tests on shale cores indicate that the stability of slaking shale can be preserved by maintaining its original moisture content. It is concluded that shales and expansive clays, when exposed in road cuts, become desiccated and are subject to expansion when moisture is subsequently available. The seasonal cycle of heaving may possibly be explained by the annual moisture excess and deficiency. To minimize the problem, freshly exposed shale should be kept wet, and the thickness of the subbase and base courses should be increased. The Utah State Department of Highways has been plagued for many years with a distressed condition that develops in roads constructed on the Mancos Shale. Locally these distressed areas are known as heaves, frost boils and alkali boils. These names refer to the surface expression, time of year

Jan 1, 1965

OPEN-HEARTH refractories are not merely an accessory to the furnace. They are the furnace, to all intents and purposes. The steel work of the main structure is merely an open frame which helps to support the refractories ; and the regenerators, a necessary part of the furnace system, consist almost entirely of refractories. Not only do refractories constitute the essential part of the furnace, but they also carry the liquid steel all the way to the point where it begins to solidify. On leaving the furnace the liquid passes through a refractory runner into a refractory-lined ladle, then through a refractory nozzle closed by a refractory stopper on the end of a rod protected by refractory sleeve bricks. The liquid is sometimes sent through an additional refractory- lined tundish, a supplementary ladle, or a refractory runner for bottom pouring, until it finally enters the iron mold in which it solidifies. Even in the mold, refractory materials are sometimes used to provide a nonconducting "hot top." This series, from runner and ladle to hot top, inclusive, is often referred to collectively as the "pouring-pit refractories." REFRACTORY RAW MATERIALS The raw materials available are best classified into basic and acid types. The principal basic raw materials are magnesite, dolomite, and chrome ore. The principal acid materials are silica in various natural forms, and fireclay. Magnesite. Austria was the principal source of magnesite (MgCO3) until recent years, when the Province of Quebec, in Canada, and the states of Nevada and Washington became important sources for the American steel industry. More recently these natural sources have been supplemented by the so-called "sea-water magnesite"-which is the name somewhat incorrectly given to magnesium hydroxide obtained as one of the products

Jan 1, 1964

By Harold L. Bare, Frank R. Barnako

Coal mining historically has been a hazardous occupation but, in recent years, tremendous progress has been made in reducing accidental coal mine deaths and injuries. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the basic principles of accident prevention as they are related to coal mining. Accident prevention fundamentals are no different for coal mining than for any other type of work. The fundamentals apply to all industries. Construction workers may be struck by falling tools and materials, and miners may be struck by falling slate and coal. Sailors may be trapped by shipboard fires, and miners may be trapped by mine fires. Railroad brakemen may lose hands and fingers positioning couplers, and miners may lose hands and fingers positioning couplers. Many other examples could be cited, but the point is that accidents that happen in coal mines are basically similar to accidents that happen in other industries. Thus, the basic principles for preventing accidents apply in coal mining as they do in any other type of work. COAL MINE ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE The US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is the main source for accident experience data in coal mines. Coal mine operators are required, by law, to forward to MSHA monthly the number of fatal and disabling injuries, man-hours worked, and tons of coal mined. This information is compiled and published quarterly, with annual summaries, by MSHA. Trends in the number of fatalities and fatal injury rates are shown in Fig. 1. Major coal mine disasters, with number of miners killed, and dates of coal mine safety legislation are shown in Table 1. The fatal and disabling injury frequency rates for the coal industry are shown in Fig. 2.

Jan 1, 1981

By J. Richard Lucas

The coal industry, one of the great basic industries in the nation, plays a major role in the American economy. Coal is the principal fuel used in generating tremendous quantities of low-cost power so necessary to the nation. Two-thirds of the electrical energy and one-fourth of all energy consumed in the nation is produced from coal. Large-scale production of steel, cement, and chemicals is vitally dependent upon this natural resource. Because of extensive reserves and low mining cost, it is one of the few natural resources in which the United States is a significant exporter. During 1965 in excess of 500 million tons of coal were produced, almost 10% over the previous year; more than 50 million tons were shipped to foreign markets. The utility market gained approximately 8% during the year for a total of 242 million tons.

Jan 2, 1966

By T. D. Thomas

CONTENTS PAGE T. D. Thomas-Misfires in Anthracite Coal Mines 3 W. H. Forbes-Misfires in Bituminous Coal Mines 12 A. W. Worthington-Misfires in Non-metallic Mining (Limestone) 18 Misfires in Anthracite Coal Mines BY T. D. THOMAS,* LANSFORD, PA. (New York Meeting, February, 1929) IN THIS paper, major attention is given to misfires in mines where electric multiple shot-firing is the system used. Misfires are sometimes caused by one action or condition and at other times by a combination of two or more. They may be divided into two classes: (1) those caused by workers in the mines, (2) mechanical or manufacturer's causes. The second cause will be discussed first.

Jan 1, 1929

By J. B. Scott, J. S. Nelson, G. H. Kruse, W. S. Johnson, K. L. Zerneke

The economics of pressure tunnel design emphasize the utmost utilization of the least expensive pressure-resisting material available, namely, the rock surrounding the tunnel. A major difficulty in the design is the problem of transferring internal hydraulic pressure to the rock through a tunnel lining or membrane provided to maintain watertight conditions. The lining is necessary not only to prevent water loss, but to prevent the diffusion of water at high pressure through joints and fractures beyond the confines of the tunnel, an occurrence which could ultimately affect the stability of the rock mass through which the tunnel passes. Because of its toughness and ability to bridge localized areas of weakness, steel is used for a lining material whenever high internal pressures are involved. The steel lining is coupled to the surrounding rock mass through an annular ring of concrete backfill. It is paradoxical that the steel lining, needed primarily to assure water tightness, must of necessity be incorporated into the structure as a major pressure-resisting component, not to augment the bearing capacity of the concrete and rock, but to limit the strain for the safety and preservation of the steel lining itself. With the deformation modulus of the steel so much greater than that of the rock, the liner approaches its yield strength before the load capacity of the rock can be fully mobilized. An economical determination of plate thickness for steel liners is therefore dependent upon measurement of the properties of the surround-

Jan 1, 1970

By Peter R. Drummond

THE final casting of refined copper has been re-J- stricted for generations by the following sequence of operations: Filling the reverberatory furnace, melting, skimming, blowing or flapping, and poling. The hoped-for 24 hr cycle, producing 300 tons or more, has been taken up largely with the necessary bat time-consuming tasks of cleaning the bath, sulphur elimination, and in turn removal of excess oxygen to produce tough-pitch copper. Incidental to comparatively slow melting under combustion gases, copper oxides react with the furnace lining, and the slag so-formed must be completely recycled. The three-phase arc furnace has eliminated some of the cycle stages, and telescoped the remainder into a continuous operation. Electrical energy, supplied to graphite electrodes enclosed in high grade refractories, rapidly melts copper cathodes and sustains a stream of metal, containing approximately 0.01 pct oxygen, without contamination from fuel. The arc was struck on the first large electric furnace for melting copper in the United States on April 13, 1949. The earliest use of this type of furnace was at Copper Cliff, Ont., in 1936, and an admirable description of their installation has been published? Copper, melted in the Baltimore furnace, is used to cast billets, and the installation differs somewhat from the Canadian, as will be described. The arc furnace is a heavy-duty, three-phase furnace, holding 50 tons, the general outline of which appears on Fig. 1. The steel shell is 15 ft ID with a bottom radius of 14 ft 2 in. The roof, separate and distinct from the body, consists of a 15-ft water-cooled, cast-steel ring of the same outside diameter as the furnace. The center line of the furnace lies 9 ft 6 in. from that of the trunnions, permitting a 5" backward tilt for skimming, and a 40" maximum nose tilt forward for complete draining. Normally, the furnace overflows by displacement, and the use of the forward tilt arrangement is restricted to covering charging delays. The charging slot, 3 ft 8 in. x 5 in., lies on the north center line, the tap hole on the south, and the 30x30 in. skim door 45" to the west of the slot. The original 20-in. graphite electrodes were replaced with 14 in. in December 1949. Three conventional direct current winch drives, governed by electrical controls, position each electrode which has individual mast supports and counterweights. An independent circulation supplies cooling water for the electrode glands, the roof ring, charge slot, and the skim door frame. Arc Furnace Refractories Hearth: Fused-in monolithic bottoms had been used in copper arc furnaces, installed prior to April 1949. These consisted of thin layers of periclase, successively fused in place over preliminary brick courses. Heat was obtained from the arc, using a T-like arrangement of broken electrodes resting directly on the periclase to be fused. The operation, taking weeks to perform, was very expensive. The chemically-bonded magnesite-brick bottom, installed at Baltimore, was the first of its kind and a radical departure from previous practice. It consists of a 1 to 6-in. layer of castable refractory laid on the steel shell, modifying it to a 12 ft 2 in. bottom radius. Two courses of 9x2 % -in. fireclay straights and keys follow. The third course is made of 9-in. magnesite blocks of special shape to form circles of an inverted arch. It was started by a four piece keystone with skew-backs forming the outer course. The fourth course also started on a central keystone, or button, of four 90" segments, 12 in. diam x 13 Vz in. deep, and continued with 13%-in. blocks. Skewbacks at the shell completed the course to produce a horizontal surface for the side walls with a single course of No. 2 arch fireclay against the steel. Dry chrome-magnesite cement was brushed over each course after laying, and a 1-in. expansion space between the brick and the shell was filled with the same mixture. The total bottom thickness, excluding the castable material, was 5 in. of clay plus 22% in. of chemically-bonded magnesite. Tap Hole: A 5-in. OD and 3-in. ID silicon-carbide tube constitutes the tap hole and is set tangential to the upper course of the furnace bottom. Molten metal fills the tube when the furnace is level and filled to capacity. Side Walls: The lining, against the shell, consists of a 9x4Y2x3 in. soldier course of fireclay, using straights and No. 1 arches to turn the circles. A second soldier course of 9x4'/2x2'/2-in. fireclay was laid in a somewhat similar fashion. Three courses of 13Y2x6x3 in. and 9x6~3 in. of final magnesite, laid flat, completed the lining, using Nos. 1 and 2 keys to turn the circles. Cardboard spacers were placed between every two bricks in horizontal courses, and a thin coat of chrome-magnesite cement filled the joints between the firebrick and magnesite. A sprung-arch spanned the skim door with jambs of suitable magnesite shapes. Charge Slot: The slot is 3 ft 8 in. wide x 5 in. high. A silicon-carbide sill of special shapes has a 30" slope to allow cathodes to slide easily into the bath. The original arch was flat, and composed of Nos. 1 and 2 wedge magnesite with a 6-ft radius. It projected 5 in. over the sill, and, being a flat arch, gave an 18 15/16-in. opening between the inner edge and the metal line. The whole assembly was later raised 9 in., and the flat arch replaced with an arch, the lower edge of which maintained the 5-in, width from the outer to inner edges as shown in Fig. 2. A water-cooled, cast-copper jacket protects the steel shell behind the slot.

Jan 1, 1952

By J. W. Leonard, J. C. Anderson, C. T. Holland

PREPARATION CONTROL IN UNDERGROUND MINING Selective Mining According to district Depending upon the particular geographic location or seam characteristics modem raw coal preparation practices can be used to obtain improved product quality and uniformity. Nevertheless, certain coal markets may require only marginal quality while others may require very high quality and these objectives may be sought by commencing the preparation of coal underground at the "working face." Underground preparation involves choosing those portions of the bed which can be cleaned to satisfy predetermined market requirements involving (1 ) maintenance of uniformity in chemical quality, (2) elimination of removable impurities, (3) control of sizes and size ratios and (4) control of moisture. The methods employed to attain these objectives vary widely with the (1) seam under development, (2) mining equipment available and (3) changing trends in the consuming markets. When a mining property is opened and development progresses from one section to another the (1) petrography of the coal in the bed does not re- main uniform, (2) character of roof and floor are subject to change and (3) character and prevalence of mineral impurities are subject to considerable variation. The quality of coal shipped to market from any mine depends upon intelligent foresight, planning, execution and supervision. Mining becomes a highly technical art. The quality of coal as determined by chemical and petrographic analysis is without question one of the most important considerations in the development and life of any coal-mining property. Variations in such proper- ties as volatile matter, ash, sulfur, Btu content and petrography are of considerable interest and to a limited extent so are such properties as phosphorous content, free swelling index, plasticity, hardness, pressure formation during coking and ash composition. The maximum and minimum specifications of these characteristics as established by competitive market conditions place definite limits on the marketability of a coal. The prospecting and evaluation of any area containing one or more salable coal beds by means of channel samples taken from outcrop openings and/or from diamond-drill cores can yield valuable data on coal characteristics. By correlating the data developed from distinct petrographic sections of channel and/or drill core samples, the quality of the bed according to stratification will be evident. There are few coal beds that do not show wide variations of such characteristics as ash and sulfur

Jan 1, 1968

By G. H. Bruce, C. E. Williams

The trend toward deeper drilling, together with the attcndant increase in power requirements for circulation of the drilling fluid, has emphasized the need for a critical examination of the factors affecting the removal of bit cuttings from the hole by the drilling fluid. The ability of drilling fluids to lift cuttings is called their carrying capacity. A series of laboratory and field experiments has been conducted to determine the minimrim annular velocity necessary to remove cuttings, and to investigate the effects of properties of drilling fluids on their carrying capacities. Consideration of the results of these experiments led to the following conclusions: 1. Turbulent flow in the well annulus is most desirable from the standpoint of cutting removal. 2. Low viscosity and low gel are advantageous in removing cuttings. 3. Increase in mud weight is effective in increasing carrying capacity. 4. The carrying capacity is higher when the pipe is rotated than when it is not. 5. If turbulent flow can be maintained, an annular velocity slightly higher than the slip velocity of the largest cuttings to be transported should keep the bore hole clean. This implies velocities of 100 to 125 ft per minute rather than the presently used 175 to 225 ft per minute. INTRODUCTION Power Savings by Reduction of Annular Velocities A large portion of the power expended in drilling operations is consumed in circulating the drilling fluid. An important factor in establishing the rate of mud circulation is the minimum velocity in the annulus necessary to remove bit cuttings. Empirically, it has been found that average annular mud velocities of about 200 ft per minute will remove cuttings. It was not definitely known, however, whether annular velocities of about 200 ft per minute were just above the minimum necessary to remove cuttings, or whether such velocities could be materially reduced without sacrifice of the ability of the mud to remove cuttings. It is apparent that if annular velocities could be reduced without impairment of cutting removal, a considerable saving in power requirements would result. Need for Research on Carrying Capacity The ability of a drilling fluid to transport cuttings is called its carrying capacity. Although it has been recognized that the carrying capacity of a mud is affected by mud properties such as viscosity and density1,2,3,4 there have been various views in the industry as to the effects of these mud properties on carrying capacity. The economic importance of the problem of carrying capacity and the scarcity of information on the subject indicated that research on the problem was needed. THE FACTORS AFFECTING CARRYING CAPACITY Qualitative Determination of Factors The mechanism of cutting transport is closely related to that involved in the separation of material by settling processes. A considerable amount of research has been done on settling problems, and discussions of sedimentation theory can be found in standard texts.5,6 Consideration of the information available from these sources, together with consideration of the mechanism of cutting transport, leads to the conclusion that the factors affecting carrying capacity are the dimensions of the system, the physical properties of the cuttings. and the physical properties of the drilling fluid. system Dimensions and Their Effect The dimensions of the fluid circulating system of importance to carrying capacity are the bore hole size, drill pipe size, pump capacity, and pump speed. These dimensions determine the annular velocity of the drilling fluid. Physical Properties and Their Effects The physical properties involved in the interaction between mud and cuttings are the density and shape of the cuttings and the density, viscosity and gel strength of the drilling fluid. The effect of the density factor on carrying capacity is fairly obvious; high density difference between cuttings and fluid results in a low buoyant force and therefore decreases carrying capacity. The effect of cutting shape is less obvious. Although

Jan 1, 1951

By C. E. Williams, G. H. Bruce

The trend toward deeper drilling, together with the attcndant increase in power requirements for circulation of the drilling fluid, has emphasized the need for a critical examination of the factors affecting the removal of bit cuttings from the hole by the drilling fluid. The ability of drilling fluids to lift cuttings is called their carrying capacity. A series of laboratory and field experiments has been conducted to determine the minimrim annular velocity necessary to remove cuttings, and to investigate the effects of properties of drilling fluids on their carrying capacities. Consideration of the results of these experiments led to the following conclusions: 1. Turbulent flow in the well annulus is most desirable from the standpoint of cutting removal. 2. Low viscosity and low gel are advantageous in removing cuttings. 3. Increase in mud weight is effective in increasing carrying capacity. 4. The carrying capacity is higher when the pipe is rotated than when it is not. 5. If turbulent flow can be maintained, an annular velocity slightly higher than the slip velocity of the largest cuttings to be transported should keep the bore hole clean. This implies velocities of 100 to 125 ft per minute rather than the presently used 175 to 225 ft per minute. INTRODUCTION Power Savings by Reduction of Annular Velocities A large portion of the power expended in drilling operations is consumed in circulating the drilling fluid. An important factor in establishing the rate of mud circulation is the minimum velocity in the annulus necessary to remove bit cuttings. Empirically, it has been found that average annular mud velocities of about 200 ft per minute will remove cuttings. It was not definitely known, however, whether annular velocities of about 200 ft per minute were just above the minimum necessary to remove cuttings, or whether such velocities could be materially reduced without sacrifice of the ability of the mud to remove cuttings. It is apparent that if annular velocities could be reduced without impairment of cutting removal, a considerable saving in power requirements would result. Need for Research on Carrying Capacity The ability of a drilling fluid to transport cuttings is called its carrying capacity. Although it has been recognized that the carrying capacity of a mud is affected by mud properties such as viscosity and density1,2,3,4 there have been various views in the industry as to the effects of these mud properties on carrying capacity. The economic importance of the problem of carrying capacity and the scarcity of information on the subject indicated that research on the problem was needed. THE FACTORS AFFECTING CARRYING CAPACITY Qualitative Determination of Factors The mechanism of cutting transport is closely related to that involved in the separation of material by settling processes. A considerable amount of research has been done on settling problems, and discussions of sedimentation theory can be found in standard texts.5,6 Consideration of the information available from these sources, together with consideration of the mechanism of cutting transport, leads to the conclusion that the factors affecting carrying capacity are the dimensions of the system, the physical properties of the cuttings. and the physical properties of the drilling fluid. system Dimensions and Their Effect The dimensions of the fluid circulating system of importance to carrying capacity are the bore hole size, drill pipe size, pump capacity, and pump speed. These dimensions determine the annular velocity of the drilling fluid. Physical Properties and Their Effects The physical properties involved in the interaction between mud and cuttings are the density and shape of the cuttings and the density, viscosity and gel strength of the drilling fluid. The effect of the density factor on carrying capacity is fairly obvious; high density difference between cuttings and fluid results in a low buoyant force and therefore decreases carrying capacity. The effect of cutting shape is less obvious. Although

Jan 1, 1951

By Charles C. Templeton

Any explanation of the nature of multiphase fluid flow through porous media must ultimately involve a knowledge of the mechanism of such flow through the individual pores of the medium. To provide quantitative information of the latter type, a study was made of gas-liquid and liquid-liquid displacements in single uniform Pyrex capillaries with diameters as small as 4 microns. Quantitative observation of air-liquid displacements with zero contact. angle indicates the adequacy of a model based on Poiseuille's Law and the independence of capillary pressure and interfacial velocity. Consequently, this work discounts previous claims that flow is abnormally retarded in very small capillaries. For the displacement of a very viscous oil by water in a capillary initially filled with water, flow is faster than predicted by the above model. This behavior is probably due to the existence of a thin annular film of water between the oil column and the capi1lary wall as postulated by Yuster. INTRODUCTION The need for experimental observation of the microscopic nature of multiphase fluid flow, to further the understanding of the results of macroscopic flow investigations, has been previously recognized. Chatenever and Calhoun1 in connection with the API Project 47B have extensively studied the flow of fluids through layers of glass or lucite spheres between glass or lucite plates. Lowman2 prepared an interesting film concerning flow in a single capillary, using an apparatus which made a moving interface appear stationary in the field of a microscope. The purpose of the present investigation was to deter- mine what contribution might be made to this field by comprehensive quantitative observation of gas-liquid and liquid-liquid displacements in single capillaries of uniform, very small diameter. The techniques used are similar to those of Lowman but incorporate improvements necessary for quantitative work. Quantitative observations must begin with fluids of simple chemical composition to provide a basis for analyzing the more complex behavior that may be expected with natural reservoir fluids. However, some qualitative observations on systems involving crude oils are presented. Experiments of this sort involve the observation of the velocity of the interface separating two fluids, and have been performed in horizontal or vertical capillaries by several investigators.3,4,5,6,7,8 The most general treatment of their mechanics, by Brittin,9 involves forces due to capillarity, viscous resistance, gravity, an "end-drag" effect, and the rate of change of momentum of the capillary contents. Since the range of pore diameters of interest in petroleum reservoirs is about 0.1 to 100 microns, it was desired to perform these experiments in the smallest capillaries possible, to ascertain whether capillary diameter had any effect on the existing theory based on data from larger capillaries.* It was also important to be able more systematically to vary the direction and rate of displacement than was done by previous investigators. Finally, to concentrate attention on viscous and capillary forces by eliminating gravity as a parameter, this study involves only horizontal capillaries. The work of Eley and Pepper' with a "large" (0.766-mm diameter) horizontal capillary is the previous investigation which is most similar to the present method of quantitative observation. Here capillaries with diameters as small as 4 microns will be studied.

Jan 1, 1955