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By J. P. Martin, A. H. Geisler, J. H. Crede, E. Both

The investigation of a 50 pct Co alloy was undertaken to determine whether there was any direct correlation between the structure and properties of Co-Fe alloys which were given various magnetic heat treatments. The magnetic anisotropy and texture of the 0.002-in. cold-reduced 98 pct material tend to decrease and change in nature with increasing temperature of the recrystallization anneal. Annealing samples in a magnetic field had little effect on either the magnetic properties or texture. However, cooling them in a magnetic field greatly improved their magnetic properties. THE beneficial influence of a magnetic field applied during the heat treatment of certain soft magnetic materials has been known for a long time. Early work showed that the presence of a magnetic field of a few oersteds during the heat treatment of Fe-Ni alloys will cause a large increase in maximum permeability. A pronounced increase in the residual induction which is produced by the magnetic anneal causes the hysteresis loop to approach the shape of a rectangle. Such results are beneficial since the desired properties are high permeability, high induction at maximum permeability, high residual induction, and low coercive force. More recently Libsch and coworkers1 studied the effect of magnetic annealing on the hysteresis properties of a series of Co-Fe alloys prepared from powders. They observed good response for the 35 and 50 pct Co alloys but little response for the 42 pct Co alloy. They pointed out that this was somewhat surprising since the 42 pct alloy has a high linear magnetostriction and zero crystal anisotropy and similar conditions in Fe-Ni alloys give excellent response to magnetic annealing. They found optimum properties to be at the 50 pct composition with residual induction, Br = 19,000 gauss and coercive force, Hc = 0.68 oersteds after the magnetic anneal. Before the magnetic anneal these values were B, = 12,600 gauss and Hc = 1.15 oersteds. The optimum treatment consisted of cooling from above the y-a transformation temperature to 900°C in a field of 20 oersteds, holding 11/2 hr at 900°C, then cooling at a rate of 20° to 25°C per min in the field to below 230°C. Cooling rate mainly affected coercive force with the value decreasing from 1.09 to 0.88 oersteds as the rate was increased from 3° to 48°C per min. Cooling from 1020" to 900°C in a field followed by further cooling to 230°C without the field gave properties decidedly inferior to those for samples annealed with the field applied throughout the cooling. They concluded that to get the best properties the samples must be cooled in a field to a threshold temperature above which the alloy is plastic enough to be affected by magnetostriction. In this respect the holding temperature must be high enough so that the alloy exhibits good plasticity to permit the optimum orienting of magnetic domains by relaxation of magnetostriction. In contrast, the holding time was of less significance for there was little improvement when the time exceeded 1/2 hr. The improvement in properties effected by magnetic annealing has usually been attributed to the establishment of a domain texture caused by the "freezing in" of magnetic strains. On the other hand, Smoluchowski and Turner2,3 apparently found that a magnetic field applied during recrystallization could alter the crystal texture. If this effect is real, improved properties would also be expected when

Jan 1, 1954

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Jan 1, 1938

By A. H. Bell

The general principles of the gas-lift will not be described in this paper. Only specific details that have not been fully discussed in previous papers, or results that do not fully coincide with conditions previously described, will be dealt with. The principal points to be emphasized and for which supporting data are furnished are as follows: 1. Gas-lift installations usually have comparatively high efficiencies as compared with standard pumping equipment, when reduced to a basis of barrels produced per horsepower installed. 2. Advantages of high-pressure plants from the standpoint of operating efficiency and for the application of the gas-lift early in the life of flowing wells. 3. Evidence of increased ultimate yield through conservation of gas by the gas-lift. 4. Possibility of development of new equipment to increase efficiency of the gas-lift. 5. Indications of the advantages of repressuring as a means of stabilizing gas-lift wells and as a means of increasing ultimate yields. TyPes of Installation The gas-lift installations of the more important companies in California have been of the central-plant type wherever field conditions would permit. This has resulted in greater flexibility and lower installation costs per well than could be obtained with individual well units. In general discussions of the gas-lift method of production, the installation costs are frequently referred to as being too high for economical operation. If the field conditions are carefully analyzed and the plant designed with the idea of obtaining high operating efficiencies, the installation cost per well can be lowered sufficiently to compare favorably with individual well-pumping units, when the operating advantages are considered. Much greater production per horsepower can be obtained with the gas-lift than is possible with pumping equipment. Table 1 shows the unit sizes and costs of gas-lift installations of three companies in the Los Angeles basin. The cost of walking beams, rods,

Jan 1, 1928

By Klaus M. Zeitler

INTRODUCTION One cannot discuss the subject of "Raising Capital in the 1990s" without having a crystal ball and a reliable fortune teller. This discusses "Raising Capital for the 1990sW, which is what Metal1 Mining Corporation did in 1987. We raised (3166 million in an IPO (initial public offering) that was originally planned for only some (375 million. Why did we raise this money? How did we do it, and why was this IPO so successful? The answer to the first question requires a description of the promoter and principal shareholder of Metal1 Mining Corporation, Metallgesellschaft AG. This West Germany company was founded over 100 years ago in Frankfurt as a trading house for non-ferrous metals. It has developed into one of the world's leading firms in the non-ferrous metals industry. The company's worldwide activities in all areas of that business include mining, smelting and refining, the trading of ore, base and precious metals, the production of semi-fabricated and finished metal products, and the provision of engineering, construction and transportation services. Metallgesellschaft AG has also diversified into many other areas, the most significant of which are manufacturing, the production of chemicals, the development and application of technical and chemical processes, the planning and construction of industrial plants, and activities associated with finance, insurance, shipping and freight forwarding, and the provision of barter and countertrade services. The company maintains a network of more than 100 offices around the world; it employs some 25,000 people in its worldwide activities. [Selected financial data, as of September 30, 1987: (MetaUgesellschafl AG) Working Capital DM 8%.6 million CDNS 672.8 million Long Term Debt DM 568.0 million CDNS 426.2 million Sales DM 14.9 billion CDNS 11.2 billion Net Income DM 87.7 million CDN$ 65.8 million Market Capitalization at April 27, 1987: (Metallgesellschafi AG) Outstanding Shares ~,6oo,o0o DM 1,875 million CDNS 1,407 million] For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1987, Metallgesellschaft AG had, on a consolidated basis, net sales of DM13.3 billion, net income of DM100 million and total assets of about DM7.0 billion. Metallgesellschaft AG established the American Metal Company, a predecessor of AMAX Inc. one of the largest ventures undertaken by Metallgesellschaft AG then was the acquisition, through the American Metal Company, of a majority share in the Mexican Penoles mine, a large lead and silver deposit. METALLGESELLSCHAFT AG Figure 1 depicts an overview of Metallgesellschaft AG before and at the time the initial public offering of Metall Mining Corporation's shares took place. It shows that mining was far from the centre of Metallgesellschaft's activities. Therefore, it could not expect to receive an extraordinary amount of board attention. Thus, mining investments not only had to compare well with other mining opportunities, but were in fierce competition with projects from other divisions. In addition, mining was sub-divided into two separate departments -- domestic and international. These two departments had different management styles and diverging interests which resulted in a minimum co-operation between them. The domestic mining department was primarily interested in the survival of the local mines. These mines were characterized by rising operating costs and declining ore grades. It took a special commitment and continued ingenuity to develop and adjust to local conditions, and modern mining and processing technology, in order to remain competitive, or at least survive within the international mining industry. Local management

Jan 1, 1990

By Alfred Heggem

IT is the purpose of this article to describe methods recently introduced into the oil and natural gas industry to safeguard the lives of the workmen and to protect property from destruction. Only such drilling methods are described as pertain directly to the operations necessary to maintain the well under complete control at all times. Wells Formerly Drilled Without Controlling Equipment It may seem incredible that practically all wells, until recently, were drilled without the provision of any means for control. To drill a hole into a boiler carrying high-pressure steam without first providing means to control the escape of steam would be unthinkable, yet in oil fields wells are drilled into a gas or oil formation with a possible pressure of 300 to 1,800 lb. per square inch and a daily flow of 20,000,000 to 80,000,000 cu. ft. of gas or 1,000 to 15,000 bbl. of oil per day. Some wells have produced in excess of 100,000 bbl. of oil per day, but these are exceptional cases. In addition to the loss of product, one must consider the great danger attendant upon the promiscuous liberation of such an amount of explosive and inflammable substance.

Jan 1, 1916

By Guy Ruggles

IN this paper the authors aim to chronicle the experience and salient points brought out in changing flotation reagents at a concentrator which had probably been using a minimum amount of oil at a minimum cost per ton, to a more complicated system requiring a partial chemical control. The original oils were coal tar and pine oil. The new reagents are line, xanthate and pine oil. It was found that there were no insur-mountable difficulties and eventually the cost of the new reagents per ton of ore proved to be very little more than that of the old. LIME PLANT When the question of handling lime came up there were two propositions open: (1) to handle the lime dry; (2) to handle it wet in the form of an emulsion. Granting that a dry lime feeder would function properly, delivering lime uniformly, the chief objection was the dust that would be raised when these feeders were being charged or operated, as the only possible location was on a gallery beneath which men were working. With this objection the handling of lime as an emulsion seemed to he the better scheme. The lime plant which was first installed was for experimental work on one section. This was gradually changed and developed until it was of sufficient size to accommodate 20 sections. The various changes will not be discussed and the following description deals only with the fully developed plant. Crude as it is, and perhaps somewhat expensive to operate, the lime-handling plant has been quite successful. Much has been learned which will pave the way for a better installation in the future.

Jan 1, 1927

By R. G. Clay, C. F. Seaman

THE mines of The Tennessee Copper Co. are in the Ducktown Basin, in southeastern Tennessee. The ore is a heavy sulphide consisting principally of chalcopyrite, pyrite and pyrrhotite and in places running as high as 05 per cent sulphur and iron. Operating mines are the Burra Burra and Eureka. Development of the Boyd ore body was started in 1940. Late in 1939 the decision was made to change from fuse and cap to all electric blasting and at the same time electric cap lamps were installed to replace carbide. These changes were made to improve the safety and working conditions in the mines. Both the Bureau of Mines and explosives manufacturers recommended electric blasting as a safety measure. Until that time, electric blasting had been used only for shaft sinking and in places where it was absolutely essential for safety. Very few men had had experience in this type of blasting, as the places where it was required were those that also required direct supervision. It was necessary for the mining staff to work out methods, procedure, and equipment to he used. In this they were ably assisted by representatives of the explosives manufacturers. Many mistakes were made and it is the purpose of this paper to describe the original plan and installation, show the major difficulties encountered, the remedies applied, and present the practices now being followed. Comparison of costs of the two methods will also be discussed. About six months were required to make the change and eliminate fuse and cap blasting entirely. The first electric blasting stations were installed in November 1939 and the last fuse was taken underground in May 1940. A very unusual condition forced the use of fuse for a short time in one heading after May, but that will be discussed later. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND INSTALLATION A power line is generally recommended as a source of current where permanent blasting stations are used. The plan worked out for electric blasting was to tap 220-volt alternating-current lines when they were available and use 250-volt direct current from the trolley wire at all other places. A blasting machine would he available at each shaft for places where there were no regular blasting stations and could he used if a regular station should fail. The equipment decided on was No. 16 duplex reinforced lamp cord for lines to within about 50 ft. of the working place and No. 20 lead wire from that point to the shots. An open double-pole, double-throw switch with slate base was put in the circuit, so connected that the down position would close the line to the shots and the up position would connect it to the line from the power contactor. This switch was located in the circuit as close to the blast as was safe (should the shots explode when it was placed in the shooting

Jan 1, 1942

By Rossiter Raymond

(Butte Meeting, August, 1913.) ON Mar. 28, 1913, the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Mining Engineers unanimously adopted the following Minute: JOHN FRITZ, one of the most distinguished of American mechanical and metallurgical engineers, won that position by the force of innate genius, indomitable industry, unstained integrity and unfailing sympathy, and generosity towards his fellow-men. Self-educated in the hard school of practice, he appreciated nevertheless the advantages of technical instruction and discussion, and evinced this appreciation both by his membership and lively interest in this and other similar societies, and by his munificent gifts to engineering education at Lehigh University, and his long and faithful service us a Trustee of that institution. . As one of the foremost of those American engineers who, through their brilliant inventions and practical skill. developed here -the modern iron blast-furnace -and rolling-mill, and introduced and perfected the Bessemer process and other improvements in the manufacture of steel, Mr. Fritz contributed mightily to the chief departments of that industrial progress which characterized the Nineteenth Century. Proud of his great achievements, we cannot but rejoice over his long and fruitful life, crowned with a peaceful death ; but our praise and thanks are mingled with sorrow, as we recall the kindly face which we shall see no more on earth, and the loyal friendship and spontaneous good-will which led the love of his generation, and the reverence of the generation which followed, to regard him universally as " Uncle John Fritz." That. summary, though only an outline, is a good portrait ; and in the present sketch, we shall do no more than supply some details of the likeness, and some elements of the background.

Jan 6, 1913

By Clarence P. Linville

It is recognized that, in all metallurgical operations, the greatest possible uniformity in all conditions is essential to the best results. It is the constant aim of metallurgists to secure this uniformity, and their success in this respect has been in many cases the cause of great advances in the metallurgical processes themselves. Of all such processes, the production of pig-iron in the modern blast-furnace is perhaps the most complex and the most difficult of control. Notwithstanding the great progress of recent years, there is still great difficulty in obtaining anything like uniform conditions and results in the manufacture of pig-iron. The reason is not far to seek. The ores vary in composition and physical properties, often carrying a varying amount of gangue material, unevenly distributed. The coke may vary in composition, cell-structure, moisture, hardness, and other properties. The blast, the weight of which far exceeds that of any other constituent, varies in its moisture-content and consequently in its chemical composition; and its temperature, by reason of the method of heating, is not uniform, but, besides varying from time to time with atmospheric and other outside conditions, has a maximum and minimum for every changing of stoves. Now, with regard to these variations, the modern demand for uniformity has been greatly aided. Chemical analysis has made it possible to select ores so that the composition of the charge can be kept fairly constant; coal may be obtained from a given field, and coked in the same kind of ovens under conditions which make the fuel practically uniform; the Gayley

Jan 1, 1911

By Paul B. Crawford, Melvin B. Burton

A procedure is given which describes how the gelatin model may be-used to study the effect of mobility ratio on areas swept before and after breakthrough in fluid injection programs. Differences in mobility ratio are achieved through the proper selection of electrolytes for the invading and displaced fluids. The progress of the front is followed visually and photographed or traced onto plates (it desirrd positions before and after breakthrough. Example applications to standard flooding pattrrrls, vertically and horizontally fractured reservoirs and the in-situ combustion recovery process ore presentrtl. INTRODUCTION In water flooding, gas cycling and other fluid injection programs, the sweep efficiencies and swept areas after breakthrough are known to depend on the mobility ratio. Previous investigators have described the application of the X-ray technique, stepwise use of the poten-tiometric model and numerical procedures for studying these problems.1,3,4,6 Others have described the application of the electrolytic and gelatin models for studying sweep efficiencies at a mobility ratio near one.2,5,7,8,9 It is a purpose of this paper to describe a procedure for using the gelatin model to study swept areas at mobility ratios other than one. PROCEDURE The technique developed for gelatin model studies is composed of four phases: the construction of the model, the selection and preparation of electrolytes, the running procedure, and the recording of the swept areas. Each phase is discussed independently in order that the over-all procedure will not be confused. Construction of the Model Since some of the advantages of the gelatin model are its economy, and speed, it is desirable to have as small a model as is possihle without creating error through the inability to follow visually the progress of the colored front. For this work, it was found that a distance of 4 to 6 cm between salt bridges is convenient to use. Since the size is relatively small, it follows that the gelatin layer must be thin. For this study, 1/8 in. was used as the gelatin thickness in each case. The model was constructed on a flat 1/2-in. plastic (Lucite) base with boundaries constructed from 1/8-in. plastic strips. The well pattern to be studied was outlined with the 1/8-in. plastic strips on the base with narrow apertures (- - 2 mm) in the boundary to represent the wells. Behind each well opening, a rectangular area of some 8 to 12 sq cm was outlined by additional plastic strips. The plastic strips were fastened to the base by any suitable non-conducting cement so that the boundary system was liquid tight. The electrodes were constructed from sheet copper in a fashion that would allow easy removal. In this work, it was found that by simply forming a large U-shaped clip from a strip of the copper that would slip over the boundary was satisfactory and easily removed. The electrodes should be as wide as one of the sides of the rectangular area behind the well opening. If a fractured pattern is studied, fractures inside the well pattern may be represented by strips of copper of the desired shape mounted in some easily removable fashion. The reason that apertures (or salt bridges) were used for wells instead of metallic electrodes is that the plating of the electroactive ion at the cathode and the introduction of an electroactive ion at the anode has a detrimental effect on the swept area outline if these operations \rere permitted to be carried on within the well pattern itself. The anode may be used within the well pattern

Jan 1, 1957

By Leonard L. Melton, Calvin D. Saunders

The design and performance of many operations common to the petroleum industry depend upon the unique properties of a class of materials known as non-Newtonian fluids. The art of measuring and describing these properties, called rheology, has fallen far behind the field applica-tion of these fluids in this industry. Empirical methods are still employed although theoretically sound methods of analysis are now available. This paper illustrates a completely general method of analysis of the rheological properties of non-Newtonian fluids which id independent of the type of viscometer employed and also the rheological type of fluid encountered except those of a thixo-tropic or rheopectic nature. Values of the rheological properties of a fluid obtained using this method of analysis are based upon an absolute scale of measurement, eliminating the necessity of employ-jng arbitrary concepts of the flow properties of non-Newtonian fluids, The fundamental nature of this method of analysis is further demonstrated by evaluating the precision with which measurements have been made of these rheological properties by employing a dimensionless criteric: —the Fanning friction factor-Reynolds number correlation. INTRODUCTION Non-Newtonian fluids are not new in the petroleum industry. Particular properties of non-Newtonian materials have been recognized and used to advantage in drilling fluids and have found excellent application in the hydraulic fracturing process.'.' While usage of these fluids is not new in this industry, the art of measuring and describing their rheological properties is still in its infancy. This is reflected in the accepted method of evaluating drilling fluids, API RP 29, (1950), which recommends a one point "viscosity" measurement. These shortcomings are recognized by various groups in the industry and more adequate methods have been prposed.3,4 The efforts Of these people are to be commended; but, at the same time, the limitations of their method of analysis and viscometer must be appreciated. This method Of analysis is applicable Only to Bingham plastic fluids as is pointed out early in their articles. The consistency of a Bingham plastic fluid must also lie within the range of the viscometer which is also well defined by the author. It is believed that the apparent simplicity of this method of analysis and the utility Of Operation Of their viscometer will soon make the terms non-Newtonian fluid and Bingham plastic fluid synonymous as used in this industry; a tendency which has already been encountered. Application of this method of analysis to a non-Newtonian fluid other than a Bingham plastic can lead to erroneous results. The field of rheology has long been hampered by the adherence to arbitrary concepts of Of of the flow properties Of non-Newtonian fluids. This has resulted in the design and operation of viscometers so as to fulfill these concepts rather than following the more logical method of analyzing experimental data so as to yield a fundamental truth. completely Bingham proposed the concept Of plastic flow and yield asu rement. data presented by Buckingham could hardly be interpreted so as to substantiate this theory; but rather succeeded in establishing the fact that compliance with this flow concept could never be realized in the capillary tube vis-cometer.5 Bingham, in reply, sug-gested "Rather than complicate our formula, it would seem to me a much better plan to so change the conditions of flow that the formula will be linear... Reiner0 stated .This plan has been followed by me in collaboration with Miss Riwlin. . . . From the present paper (Reiner and Riwlin, 1929) it will be seen that it is possible to choose the conditions of flow so that the formula based on Bingham's law of plastic flow remains linear. This is realized in the rotation viscometer," Thus, a viscometer, with design and operation based on the Reiner and Riwlin equation for plastic flow, is restricted to a specific range of flow

Jan 1, 1958

By E. H. Rose

The present symposium on flotation machines provides a unique opportunity for group reappraisal of standard or habitual viewpoints. A symposium is by definition a trading post- for observations that might prove complementary when put together, thus leading to useful thoughts that might not have been evident from the original observations individually. The present paper, pertaining to power consumption in flotation, is deliberately an experiment of that kind. Data were solicited from the operating superintendents of several of the major flotation plants on this continent. The information received, covering a total of 14 separate operations in seven plants, has been collated in terms of power intensity; that is, the total power input per cubic foot of cell volume. This departs somewhat from the conventional expression of power per ton of ore treated, though the latter figure is also given for the plants concerned. Because of wartime restrictions, particularly in Canada, identifying names of plants and machines are withheld. Not as a firm conclusion, but as a tender for symposium discussion, the following points are made: 1. That flotation is a power operation in much the same sense as ball milling. 2. That contact time is the complement of power intensity and may be decreased as the latter is increased. 3. That a decrease in flotation power per ton of ore can result from an increase in power intensity. Analogy with Grinding In grinding, it has become axiomatic that the more the power put into a given operation, the greater the work performance. The analogous view is now proposed that the effectiveness of any flotation operation will be related to the mechanical energy usefully applied to that operation. Under this view, each increment of properly directed input energy should give either an increase in unit tonnage or an improvement in the metallurgical separation (concentrate grade or tailing grade), until either the theoretical limit imposed by mineral constitution or surface condition is reached, or until further increments of power become uneconomic under the law of diminishing returns. Thus, as in grinding, there are two forms of output that greater power input or improved utilization of power can produce. As for the law of diminishing returns, lower unit cost of power through improved generating efficiency in the past decade has pushed the limit back. Over and above this, however, there is strong indication in the operationg data herein presented that higher power intensity results in an actual economy of over-all power consumption. Like crushing and grinding, flotation accomplishes a rupture of the forces of molecular attraction, by taking particles from the common environment and placing them in the two separate environments of

Jan 1, 1947

By E. H. Rose

The present symposium on flotation machines provides a unique opportunity for group reappraisal of standard or habitual viewpoints. A symposium is by definition a trading post- for observations that might prove complementary when put together, thus leading to useful thoughts that might not have been evident from the original observations individually. The present paper, pertaining to power consumption in flotation, is deliberately an experiment of that kind. Data were solicited from the operating superintendents of several of the major flotation plants on this continent. The information received, covering a total of 14 separate operations in seven plants, has been collated in terms of power intensity; that is, the total power input per cubic foot of cell volume. This departs somewhat from the conventional expression of power per ton of ore treated, though the latter figure is also given for the plants concerned. Because of wartime restrictions, particularly in Canada, identifying names of plants and machines are withheld. Not as a firm conclusion, but as a tender for symposium discussion, the following points are made: 1. That flotation is a power operation in much the same sense as ball milling. 2. That contact time is the complement of power intensity and may be decreased as the latter is increased. 3. That a decrease in flotation power per ton of ore can result from an increase in power intensity. Analogy with Grinding In grinding, it has become axiomatic that the more the power put into a given operation, the greater the work performance. The analogous view is now proposed that the effectiveness of any flotation operation will be related to the mechanical energy usefully applied to that operation. Under this view, each increment of properly directed input energy should give either an increase in unit tonnage or an improvement in the metallurgical separation (concentrate grade or tailing grade), until either the theoretical limit imposed by mineral constitution or surface condition is reached, or until further increments of power become uneconomic under the law of diminishing returns. Thus, as in grinding, there are two forms of output that greater power input or improved utilization of power can produce. As for the law of diminishing returns, lower unit cost of power through improved generating efficiency in the past decade has pushed the limit back. Over and above this, however, there is strong indication in the operationg data herein presented that higher power intensity results in an actual economy of over-all power consumption. Like crushing and grinding, flotation accomplishes a rupture of the forces of molecular attraction, by taking particles from the common environment and placing them in the two separate environments of

Jan 1, 1947

By D. H. Davis

HAND picking was the earliest form of coal preparation, first practiced to improve the outward appearance of the coal being loaded and to remove any pieces that might appear objection- able to the buyer. It is still extensively practiced on the plus 1-in. sizes, and particularly on the plus 4-in. and larger sizes. The percentage of ash reduction that can be obtained by hand picking depends entirely upon the amount of free impurity occurring in the coal. In a particularly dirty seam, where a considerable quantity of rock occurs with the coal as mined, hand picking produces sizable reductions in ash. If the coal is prepared clean at the working face hand picking is a final check; in some cases, on the smaller sizes, it is practiced only to show that an effort is being made to prepare a clean product. Because of the variety and different methods of handling coal, the early plants were not always adapted for efficient hand picking. At most mines an attempt is made to remove the visual impurities at one or more of the following places in the surface plant:2 (1) in the tipple during screening; (2) on picking band, belt, or shaking conveyors;. (3) during the loading of the coal as it goes into the railroad car. Whatever the physical arrangements of the plant may be, the usual practice is to run the coal over the screen, picking table or boom at such a rate that each-piece of impurity is exposed to the view of the picker. Coal should be uniformly sized and spread out on the table so as not to exceed one particle in depth. The flow should be even in tonnage and the speed of travel should be from 30 to 60 ft. per minute and not 'exceed 80 ft. per minute. The dirtier the coal, the slower the speed required for a fixed number of pickers. Actually, picking capacity depends on the number of particles per minute that can be picked out and-rejected. The percentage of impurity removed is determined by this and the average weight of piece rejected. Handling a mixture of sizes from nut to the largest lump over the same picking table or conveyor is not conducive to efficient separation by hand picking because the lump hides the smaller impurities. Picking tables should not exceed 5 ft, in width, so that a picker on either side will be able to remove impurities from the center of

Jan 1, 1943

By W. B. Lilienthal, J. C. Melrose

The application of Bingham's law to the behavior of drilling fluids in a rotational viscometer permits the expression of viscometric data in terms of plastic viscosity and yield value, the flow properties of a plastic fluid. A commercially available rotational viscometer is described, and when modified to a multispeed type viscometer, is shown to provide a simple and convenient instrument for the measurement of these properties both in the laboratory and in the field. The data obtained are shown to be useful in defining and understanding mud control problems relating to chemical treatment and to the hydro-dynamic behavior of muds. INTRODUCTION The highly complex drilling fluids which are required for deep drilling often give rise to new and unusual mud control problems. Rapid and economic solutions to these problems may require, on the one hand, better understanding of the changes which contaminants and chemical treating agents produce in the colloidal and inert solids of the mud, or, on the other hand, closer control of the hydrodynamic behavior of the mud. The latter objective obviously can be achieved only if a correct rheological analysis of the flow behavior of drilling muds is available and if this is accompanied by the appropriate rheological measurements. The purpose of this paper is to describe such measurements in the field, and to show how the resulting data can be of value in solving difficult mud control problems. It is now generally recognized that Bingham's law of plastic flow can be utilized in describing the hydrodynamic behavior of drilling fluids in the non-turbulent flow range. Beck, Nuss, and Dunn' have recently applied this law to the flow of mud in small pipes, and Rogers2 has reviewed the rather extensive literature on this subject. So far, however, the use of Bingham's law has been restricted to the analysis of mud flow in pipes or capillary tubes, and it has not been directly applied to the flow in rotational viscometers. In the work to be reprted, the Reiner-Riwlin3 equation for the flow of a plastic fluid in a rotational viscometer has been utilized to permit the expression of multispeed viscometric data in terms of plastic viscosity and yield value. the two absolute flow properties of a plastic fluid. With regard to the application of these measurements, the calculation of the relationship between pumping rate and pressure drop, both in the drill pipe and annular space, has long been a subject of interest. Beck, Nuss, and Dunn,' following Caldwell and Babbitt: base their calculations for non-turbulent flow on Buckingham's integration of Bingham's law for pipe flow and measurements of the plastic viscosity (rigidity in their terminology) and yield value. In the case of turbulent flow, Fanning's equation is employed, and the pressure drop is relatively insensitive to the flow properties of the mud. Since flow in the drill pipe is likely to be turbulent at usual circulation rates, the plastic flow properties will chiefly influence the pressure drop in the annular space. As pointed out by Beck,' the control of this component of the total pressure drop may be of special importance where lost circulation problems are encountered. Other hydrodynamic problems to which it should be possible to apply measurements of the plastic flow properties include predictions of the velocity distribution in non-turbulent flow and the critical velocity for transition to turbulence. Plastic viscosity and yield value. as abmlute flow propertie.;, will reflect the colloidal or surface-active behavior of the solids present in drilling fluids. Measurements of these properties should therefore find application in developing a better understanding of such behavior and in characterizing the type and condition of these solids. Garrison and ten Brink have utilized multispeed viscometric data in this manner. although their measurements were not expressed in terms of the absolute flow properties. In connection with the application of these measurements, it should be recognized that the presently used one-point viscosity measurements are relative in nature. The API Stormer 600-rpm measurement, for example. is a function of both plastic viscosity and yield value, as well as mud weight, and will often be misleading when its application to mud control problems is attempted. NOMENCLATURE, UNITS, AND DEFINITIONS In Fig. 1 an idealized plot is given of the flow variables involved in any viscometric measurement. It is seen that the flow behavior of plastic fluids is characterized by two constants — plastic viscosity, µp, and yield value, F. Other workers hate used the term rigidity for plastic viscosity or the term mobility for its reciprocal. The term plastic viscosity, however, emphasizes the close relation this property bears to the viscosity of a true fluid and is expressed in the familiar viscosity units of centipoises. The yield value is expressed in lbs/100 sq ft, the units adopted for gel strength measurements with the APT shearometer. Definitions of these properties based on rheological or macrc)scopic flow considerations follow from Fig. 1. The plastic viscosity of a substance obeying Bingham's equation is defined

Jan 1, 1951

By J. C. Melrose, W. B. Lilienthal

The application of Bingham's law to the behavior of drilling fluids in a rotational viscometer permits the expression of viscometric data in terms of plastic viscosity and yield value, the flow properties of a plastic fluid. A commercially available rotational viscometer is described, and when modified to a multispeed type viscometer, is shown to provide a simple and convenient instrument for the measurement of these properties both in the laboratory and in the field. The data obtained are shown to be useful in defining and understanding mud control problems relating to chemical treatment and to the hydro-dynamic behavior of muds. INTRODUCTION The highly complex drilling fluids which are required for deep drilling often give rise to new and unusual mud control problems. Rapid and economic solutions to these problems may require, on the one hand, better understanding of the changes which contaminants and chemical treating agents produce in the colloidal and inert solids of the mud, or, on the other hand, closer control of the hydrodynamic behavior of the mud. The latter objective obviously can be achieved only if a correct rheological analysis of the flow behavior of drilling muds is available and if this is accompanied by the appropriate rheological measurements. The purpose of this paper is to describe such measurements in the field, and to show how the resulting data can be of value in solving difficult mud control problems. It is now generally recognized that Bingham's law of plastic flow can be utilized in describing the hydrodynamic behavior of drilling fluids in the non-turbulent flow range. Beck, Nuss, and Dunn' have recently applied this law to the flow of mud in small pipes, and Rogers2 has reviewed the rather extensive literature on this subject. So far, however, the use of Bingham's law has been restricted to the analysis of mud flow in pipes or capillary tubes, and it has not been directly applied to the flow in rotational viscometers. In the work to be reprted, the Reiner-Riwlin3 equation for the flow of a plastic fluid in a rotational viscometer has been utilized to permit the expression of multispeed viscometric data in terms of plastic viscosity and yield value. the two absolute flow properties of a plastic fluid. With regard to the application of these measurements, the calculation of the relationship between pumping rate and pressure drop, both in the drill pipe and annular space, has long been a subject of interest. Beck, Nuss, and Dunn,' following Caldwell and Babbitt: base their calculations for non-turbulent flow on Buckingham's integration of Bingham's law for pipe flow and measurements of the plastic viscosity (rigidity in their terminology) and yield value. In the case of turbulent flow, Fanning's equation is employed, and the pressure drop is relatively insensitive to the flow properties of the mud. Since flow in the drill pipe is likely to be turbulent at usual circulation rates, the plastic flow properties will chiefly influence the pressure drop in the annular space. As pointed out by Beck,' the control of this component of the total pressure drop may be of special importance where lost circulation problems are encountered. Other hydrodynamic problems to which it should be possible to apply measurements of the plastic flow properties include predictions of the velocity distribution in non-turbulent flow and the critical velocity for transition to turbulence. Plastic viscosity and yield value. as abmlute flow propertie.;, will reflect the colloidal or surface-active behavior of the solids present in drilling fluids. Measurements of these properties should therefore find application in developing a better understanding of such behavior and in characterizing the type and condition of these solids. Garrison and ten Brink have utilized multispeed viscometric data in this manner. although their measurements were not expressed in terms of the absolute flow properties. In connection with the application of these measurements, it should be recognized that the presently used one-point viscosity measurements are relative in nature. The API Stormer 600-rpm measurement, for example. is a function of both plastic viscosity and yield value, as well as mud weight, and will often be misleading when its application to mud control problems is attempted. NOMENCLATURE, UNITS, AND DEFINITIONS In Fig. 1 an idealized plot is given of the flow variables involved in any viscometric measurement. It is seen that the flow behavior of plastic fluids is characterized by two constants — plastic viscosity, µp, and yield value, F. Other workers hate used the term rigidity for plastic viscosity or the term mobility for its reciprocal. The term plastic viscosity, however, emphasizes the close relation this property bears to the viscosity of a true fluid and is expressed in the familiar viscosity units of centipoises. The yield value is expressed in lbs/100 sq ft, the units adopted for gel strength measurements with the APT shearometer. Definitions of these properties based on rheological or macrc)scopic flow considerations follow from Fig. 1. The plastic viscosity of a substance obeying Bingham's equation is defined

Jan 1, 1951

Since production curtailment for other than engineering reasons is gradually disappearing, and more and more wells are now producing at capacity and showing declining production rates, it was considered timely to present a brief review of the development of decline-curve analysis during the past three or four decades. Several of the commoner types of decline curves were discussed in detail and the mathematical relationships between production rate, time, cumulative production and decline percentage for each case were studied. The well-known loss-ratio method was found to be an extremely valuable tool for statistical analysis and extrapolation of various types of curves. A tentative classification of decline curves, based on their loss ratios, was suggested. Some new graphical methods were introduced to facilitate estimation of the future life and the future production of producing properties where curves are plotted on semilogarithmic paper. To facilitate graphical extrapolation of hyperbolic-type decline curves, a series of decline charts was proposed, which will make straight-line extrapolation of both rate-time and rate-cumulative curves possible. Introduction During the period of severe production curtailment, which is now behind us, production-decline curves lost most of their usefulness and popularity in prorated areas because the production rates of all wells, except those in the stripper class, were constant or almost constant. While production-decline curves were thus losing in importance for estimating reserves, an increasing reservoir consciousness and a better understanding of reservoir performance developed among petroleum engineers. This fact, together with intelligent interpretation and use of electric logs, core-analysis data, bottom-hole pressure behavior and physical characteristics of reservoir fluids, eliminated a considerable part of the guesswork in previous volumetric methods and put reserve estimates, based on this method, on a sound scientific basis' At the same time, a number of ingenious substitutes were developed for the regular production-decline curve, which made it possible to obtain an independent check on volumetric estimates in appraisal work, even though the production rates were constant. with the now steadily increasing demand for oil to supply the huge requirements of this global war, proration for reasons of than prevention of underground waste is gradually disappearing. More and more wells are, or will be, producing at capacity or at their optimum rates, as determined by sound engineering practice. With this trend, the character of producing wells seems to regain, more or less, its "individuality," and the old and familiar decline curve appears to have had a comeback as a valuable tool in the hands of the petroleum engineer. It may be timely, therefore, to retrace the development of decline-curve analysis in the past by presenting a brief chronological review of bulletins and papers published during the past three or four decades, which have

Jan 1, 1945

By Persifor Frazer

(Read at the Wilkes-Barre Meeting, May, 1877.) A CLASSIFICATION of natural objects is usually based either upon some fundamental and permanent attribute of the thing itself (as in the case of scientific classifications), or it embraces one or more generalizations convenient for use in ordinary life. Thus, it suffices for the statistician to, know that so many tons of fish are annually taken by our fishermen, and that they realize so many thousands of dollars, whereas to the student of natural history the anatomy, habits, and relationships of the animals are of chief interest, as settling their respective places in the scale of animate nature. Many different classifications of coals have been attempted, as one would naturally anticipate from the immense extent of the coal trade, and the different localities whence the supply was derived. The English divisions were prevalent up to the date of the publication of the last geological survey of the State, except so far as they were modified by local designations. Indeed, Rogers' classifications made very little alteration in the English nomenclature, as may be seen by comparing. the tables given below. To commence with the different kinds mentioned in Ure's Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines of 1845 " 1. Cubical Coal.-Black, shining, compact, moderately hard and easily frangible. Comes out in rectangular masses, of which the

Jan 1, 1878

By D. T. King

In coal preparation plants, as in many industrial operations where raw materials are handled, nuisance, health, and equipment maintenance problems arising from the generation of dust are inevitable. Devices for the control or collection of dust are therefore essential components of the plant process equipment. The objective of a dust collector is to separate solid particles from a gas stream in which they are suspended. Various types of devices can be employed to accomplish this end. The choice of the type of collecting device for a given application depends on principles of the behavior of fine particles and on factors associated with the properties of the dust (such as particle size, density, shape) and the suspending medium (such as density, humidity, viscosity, velocity). Particles suspended in a gas stream are acted upon by a number of forces including the buoyant force and frictional resistance of the suspending medium, which tend to keep the particles in suspension, and the force of gravity which tends to impart a relative motion between the particles and the fluid. The smaller the particle the greater the tendency for it to remain in suspension and, thus, the more difficult it becomes to collect the particle, or separate it from the fluid stream. To effect separation, therefore, some external force must be applied on the dust particle. When dust particles in a gas stream are acted upon by an external force, for example, gravity, centrifugal force, or an electrostatic field, the particles will be accelerated in the direction induced by the force. Because of a relative motion between the particles and the gas stream, a frictional resistance will be set up that will limit the velocity of the particle toward the force. To effect collection of the particles, this velocity must be great enough that the particles are trapped by some collection medium before the gas can transport the particles out of the collecting equipment. The most common physical mechanisms employed by collecting devices include gravity, inertial or centrifugal force, impingement, and electrostatic fields.

Jan 8, 1967

By G. R. Countryman, G. H. Thomas, I. Fatt

Miscible displacement in both thewetting and non-wetting phase has been studied in two-phase systems. Experimental data show that dispersion is a function of saturation and cannot be predicted from dispersion theory developed for single-phase miscible displacement. Some of the effect of saturation on dispersion is a result of the development of dead-end pores or a dendritic pore structure in multiphase systems. The presence of dead-end pores or dendritic structure is confirmed by pressure transient studies. INTRODUCTION Displacement by flooding with a miscible liquid is a possible means for recovering the estimated two-thirds of the oil that remains behind after primary production. The immense economic importance of a process that can recover such large quantities of oil has led to extensive laboratory studies of miscible displacement. As usual in production research, most laboratory studies of miscible displacement have not attemped to reproduce all of the conditions existing in a petroleum reservoir. In the early stages of investigation the need has been for information on the broad, basic principles of the phenomena involved in miscible displacement. The effects of overburden pressure, reservoir temperature, and wettability have been considered of secondary importance. However, one property of a petroleum reservoir which is expected to be of major importance and yet has been omitted from many laboratory studies is the presence of interstitial water. Two possible effects of interstitial water on the displacement mechanism in the hydrocarbon phase immediately come to mind. First, from the general1y accepted theory that capillarity governs the distribution of oil and water in porous rock one would expect that for water-wet rock the water will be in the small pores and oil in the large pores. A miscible displacement of oil carried out in the presence of water is operating in a pore size distribution shown in Fig. lb, whereas if the same test had been performed with only one phase present the pore size distribution is as shown in Fig. la. Although there is not yet a theory of miscible displacement which explains in detail the effect of pore size distribution, one would expect the differences between Figs. la and lb to influence the displacement efficiency. A second factor which may make a multiphase system different from a single-phase system is the presence in the multiphase system of dead-end pores or dendritic structure. Experiments of various kinds on reservoir rock have led to the belief that all pores in the network structure of a porous rock take part in conducting fluid during single phase fluid flow.1,2 There are then no dead-end pores and no fingers or dendritic structures containing stagnant fluid. In a multiphase system, however, the second phase may