Search Documents

By Arthur Phillips, E. N. Skinner

DURING the course of an experimental program concerned with the hydrogen embrittlement of copper containing oxygen in concentrations within the solubility limits it became necessary to make a critical appraisal of the literature dealing with the solubility relationships of oxygen and solid copper. The latest determinations, and perhaps the only data obtained on "spectroscopically" pure copper, are those of Rhines and Mathewson1 who reported that the solid solubility increases from 0.007 per cent oxygen at 600°C. to about 0.015 per cent at 1050°C. Hanson, Marryat and Ford2 had previously placed the solubility limit at less than 0.009 per cent oxygen at 1000°C. and Allen and Street3 had suggested, on the basis of an unpublished research by T. Hewitt, not over 0.005 per cent oxygen at 500°C. In the introductory stages of the investigation indirect evidence accumulated to suggest that the solubility limits were significantly lower than those previously reported. For this reason it was deemed essential to clarify this point before proceeding with a program intended to establish a quantitative relationship between hydrogen embrittlement and oxygen concentrations positively known to be within the solid solution range. Furthermore, the increasing production and the highly selective applications of the commercial "oxygen-free" coppers inevitably direct attention to the practical necessity for exact knowledge regarding the effects of minute concentrations of the elements ordinarily found in the high-purity coppers now available. Of these elements oxygen occupies a unique position, not only by virtue of its specific effects on copper but more particularly in view of its important reactive tendencies toward the other impurities with which it is associated. Rhines and Mathewson considered several methods for measuring the solubility of oxygen and finally adopted the simple plan of saturating the specimens, obtained from redeposited cathode copper, by heating at the desired temperature in air. After the removal of surface oxide by mechanical and chemical means, the oxygen content was determined in the underlying metal. In general, this process of saturation, with a few modifications, was followed by the present writers. Although the procedure is direct and has obvious advantages, its effectiveness, unfortunately, is reduced by an excessive scaling of the copper, particularly at the higher temperatures. After saturation treatments above 900°C. the writers found that the specimens, necessarily rather thin in the original condition, consisted largely of scale and yielded too little metal for a satisfactory analytical sample. Furthermore, great difficulty was experienced in effecting complete removal of the scale. Needless to say, it is necessary to exercise extraordinary care in the preparation of the surface of the analytical sample in order to eliminate submicroscopic fragments of cuprous oxide which ordinarily are lodged in the crevasses and

Jan 1, 1941

By Joseph Jensen

California's outstanding contribution to unit operation is the plan of development now established for the North dome of the Kettleman Hills. Beginning April 1, 1931, the Kettleman North Dome Assn. will control the unified operation and development of 10,800 acres of proven and semiproven oil land, and at the same time the Standard Oil CO. of California will operate as another unit its fee land of 9460 acres of similar character. The holdings of the two companies are in a checkerboard mile-square pattern. In addition to this, 410 acres of land may yet be included in the Kettleman North Dome Assn. unit and 530 acres of land are definitely out of both units. The owners of some of this land have expressed their intention of cooperating in a reasonable way with these two units. Cooperative agreements are now in force as to most of this field. Under the definitions of a unit pool and a near-unit pool,' the operation at Kettleman Hills will be a near-unit operation, but because of the size of the structure and its proven highly productive character, the arrangement. concluded on Jan. 31, 1931, in the approval of the Kettleman North Dome Assn. Agreement by Secretary of the Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur and by California State Oil and Gas Supervisor R. D. Bush is of outstanding importance to the entire oil industry. No other major unit operation plans are under way in California at the present time. There has been some little discussion of a plan in the North Belridge field and a feeling that the discovery of oil in the Lost Hills field and also in the South Belridge field would necessitate consideration of unit plans. So few data are available for these areas, as to the land that should be included in such unit plans, that little constructive action is now possible. The beginning of drilling on the Middle dome of the Kettleman Hills also makes it an area deserving consideration for unit operation. All four of the above-named areas lie on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, in Kings and Kern counties, to the south of the

Jan 1, 1931

By James Terry Duce

In order to facilitate interpretation of the data in this chapter, we print the following excerpts from circulars to authors, compiled by Mr. Frank A. Herald when he was Vice-chairman for Production of the Petroleum Division, and revised in 1939. Generally in Table 1 the unit for prescntation of data is a field. For our purposes a field is defined as the whole of a surface area wherein productive locations are continuous. Such unit commonly includes and surrounds nonproductive areas. Such unit commonly includes a great variety of geologic conditions—several units of continuous productive reservoirs of distinctly different structure and of distinctly different stratigraphy. Therefore it is hoped that our authors will subdivide "field" so as to enable students to make analyses that may have scientific and /or commercial value. As to each spacc in the tabulation, it is citller (1) not applicable, (2) the proper entry is not determinable, (3) the proper entry is determinable, but not determinable from data available to the author, (4) the proper entry is determinable by the author. In spaces not applicable, the author will please draw horizontal lines; in spaces where the proper entries are not determinable, the author will please insert x; in spaces where the proper entries are detcrminable but not detcrminable from data available to the author, the author will please insert y; in spaces where the proper entries are determinable by the author he will, of course, make such entries. Generally, y implies a hope that in some future year a definite figure will be available. Inability to determine precisely the correct entry for a particular space should not lead the author to insert merely y. Contributions of great value may be made by the author in many cases where entries arc not subject to precise determination. In such rases the author should use his good judgment and make the best entry possible under the circumstances. For many spaces, the correct entries represent the opinion of the author (for example, "Area Proved") and in such cases the entries need not be hedged to such extent as in cases where the quantities are definite yet can be ascertained only approximately by the author. In cases under definite headings but where figures are only approximate, the author may use x. For example, if the total production of a field is known to be between 1,800,000 and 1,850,000, the author may report 1,8xx,xxx; or if the production is between 1,850,000 and 1,900,000, the author may report 1,9xx,xxx. Where a numeral is immediately to the left of x or y, such numeral represents the nearest known number in that position. As to quantity of gas produced from many fields the question will arise as to whether the figures should include merely the gas marketed or should include also estimates of gas used in operations and gas wasted. Although rough approximations

Jan 1, 1939

By R. S. Shoemaker, F. W. McQuiston

The principle of cyanide recovery or regeneration of cyanide from solution, be it a weak wash or a foul solution, is by acidulation. All or part of the cyanogen is converted thereby into hydrogen cyanide which is fixed by an alkali (generally lime) and returned to the cyaniding system (the Mills- Crowe process). The solution is made acid by bringing it into contact with sulfur dioxide. The acidified solution is stripped in a packed tower by a counter flow stream of air in which the air and the solution are brought into intimate contact. The air leaving the tank charged with hydrogen cyanide is then passed to another tank in which it is mixed with an alkaline solution, the latter absorbing the HCN and leaving the accompanying air clean for reuse in removing more HCN from the acidified solutions. Of the recoverable cyanide, 9770 is usually recovered in a three-unit disperser tower system. When there is a considerable content of copper, the solution is made acid following standard procedure; however, the HCN is not removed until the copper is reduced by regeneration. Copper removal at this point may be as high as 90%. After reduction of the copper, the acidified solution then is contacted with a lime solution which brings down calcium sulfate as a second step. The silver, gold, and copper are recovered in the form of a precipitate which can be shipped to a smelter. At the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company, Ltd., most of the precious metals have been recovered in the copper and lead concentrates, but it has been found profitable to submit the flotation tailings to a scavenger cyanide treatment for the recovery of exposed gold contained in pyrite rejected during flotation. Due to the fine particle size, maximum dissolution is achieved in a four-hour contact period. In the cyanidation plant, the thickened flotation tailing at 70% solids is given a four-hour agitation in weak calcium cyanide solution and filtered. Filter cake is repulped and discharged either to the tailing storage area or to the mine as backfill. Clarification, de-aeration and precipitation of pregnant solutions are carried out in a standard Merrill-Crowe unit. Typical analysis of precipitate is as follows: Au, 0.47%, Ag, 4. 88%; Cu, 46.0%; Zn, 13. 8%. Cyanicides in the form of copper minerals limit the reuse of barren solution. To recover the substantial quantities of cyanogen chemically combined with base metals in this solution, a cyanide regeneration plant is in operation. The barren solution is acidified with sulfuric acid in a spray tower where an upward current of air from a blower sweeps the liberated hydrocyanic acid gas to an adsorption unit where it meets a fine rain of lime suspended in plant solution with which it combines to form calcium cyanide. The lime--water solution carrying calcium cyanide is reused in the cyanide circuit. The return gases are drawn into the blower and back to the disperser tower thus

Jan 1, 1975

By R. C. Mahon

THE Homer iron-ore mine is at Iron River, Mich. Because it covers a large area, 400 acres, and because there was a considerable depth of water in the glacial drift above most of the ore bodies, this mine has presented a number of unusual and often difficult operational problems. The purpose of this paper is to discuss a few of the most important problems encountered. SURFACE WATER Mining on this property was started on one 40-acre tract. The ledge in this area was the highest on the property and, although it was a real problem, water could be handled by underground pumping. During the first period of mining, drifts were driven just under the ledge and holes were drilled through to the surface material. In later years these drifts have been extended wherever possible. Although these drifts assisted in the drainage problem, it was evident they would not be sufficient alone. Before mining on a large scale could be started on this property, the water problem had to be solved. A number of test holes were put down to the ledge, and showed that there was an average 150 ft. of water-saturated glacial drift above the ledge over the rest of the mine. The upper 70 ft. was gravel and sand and the lower 80 ft. clay and hard pan, with some narrow seams of sand and gravel. It was evident that the water above the clay seam could not be drained off through openings in the ledge and for that reason it was decided to install surface drainage wells. This method of drainage was entirely new at that time and was pioneered at the Homer mine. The sinking of the first well was started in June 1929. Immediately following the first well a number of wells were sunk, but only to the top of the clay seam. This was done with the idea that a greater capacity could be obtained in a shorter time from gravel seams where the water flowed more freely and that the cost of pumping the water above the clay seam would be considerably less than if the wells had all been sunk to the ledge at once. Before the drainage of surface water was started, 1200 gal. per min. against a head of 800 ft. was being pumped from the mine. By March of 1932, with five surface wells in operation, the mine pumping had been reduced to 150 gal. per min. At this time we were pumping 5000 gal. per min., under an average head of 110 ft. from the surface wells. The total pumping costs were 30 per cent less than in 1929 because the greater capacity was being pumped at a much lower head. From 1932 to 1936 the mine was idle and all surface pumping was stopped. Since 1936, 10 new wells have been added with a total pumping capacity of 8000 gal. per min. at the present time. The water level has been lowered 70 ft. since surface pumping was started in 1929, and it is now approximately at the top of the clay. To remove the water below the clay seam, 11 of the 15 wells were sunk to the ledge.

Jan 1, 1945

By H. P. Schwede, H. G. Doll

This paper describes a method to provide identification of particular depths in a borehole through the use of radioactive markers. The correlation of a marker, placed in the wall of a borehole, with known points of the electrical log and with the casing collars in the cased hole permits accurate positioning of tools with respect to a formation, regardless of absolute depth. Such a process is particularly useful in gun perforation of a casing in a well. Technique and equipment are discussed and illustrated. Examples are given of practical application in the field. Introduction During the past decade the search for petroleum has increased the importance of testing zones at depths in wells which have become progressively deeper. The development of new techniques, such as electrical logging, has permitted the identification of producing formations which consist of comparatively thin strata. When thin beds are to be produced at great depths, the problem of positioning tools accurately to place the well in production becomes acute.l Continuous consideration is being given in the petroleum industry towards the improvement of depth measurements in a borehole. The accuracy in absolute depth measurements, whether made in an open or cased hole, whether determined by a cable or a drill pipe, depends upon a number of factors, such as tension, temperature, and calibration. For example, the effects of tension from the weight of 10,000 ft of drill pipe and the thermal expansion of this length . of pipe, where its average temperature has increased SO"', will Produce an elongation as much as 8 ft.2 The effects Of such factors can be minimized through the use of care in depth measurements, the application of corrections based on experience, and continuous calibration or checking. The fact that different methods and different tools are used to determine the depths of formations in wells will sometimes give rise to a difference between measurements. It is evident that an important requirement in a well is the ability to locate at will any subsurface point. While absolute depth measurements have ion in recent years, it is reassuring to have other means to verify, for example, that a casing is perforated at a particular place with reference to a zone within a formation. Such a check on measurements may be had by placing a reference marker at a point known with respect to the electrical log of the borehole. That point is usually chosen to be in proximity to the 'One to be perforated. Thus, only short in depth measurements are made and any inaccuracy becomes very small and of minor importance' The use of reference markers located at fixed points predetermined in each zone where future operations are contemplated enables the operator to position any tool

Jan 1, 1948

By E. D. Gardner

Introduction Oil shale deposits have been exploited in various countries throughout the world, but generally with government aid. The oil-shale industry of Scotland perhaps is the oldest and best-known; the largest was conducted in Manchuria by the Japanese during World war 11 as a source of liquid fuels for military uses. In general, foreign oil-shale deposits that have been exploited are much lower grade than those in the western United States. Considerable interest began to be shown in western oil shales in 1916; the peak of activities was in 1923. The catlin operation, near Elko, Nevada, perhaps was the nearest approach in this country to an oil-shale enterprise on a commercial scale. Over 100 companies were formed, ostensibly for exploiting the oil shale; a large number of them, however, proved to be stock promotions only, which gave the embryo industry a black eye. The Bureau of Mines operated an experi-mental oil-shale retort plant near Rifle, Colorado, from September 1926 to June 1927 and again from April 1928 to July 1929, after which the plant was dismantled. By this time the East Texas oil fields had come ill and the country lost interest in substitute liquid fuels. During World War II the Nation again became concerned about the magnitude of its petroleum reserves. Congress (April 1944) directed the Bureau of Mines to build and operate demonstration plants to produce synthetic liquid fuels from coal, oil shales, and agricultural and other products; a five-year Program was authorized. *' a part of this program the Bureau of Mines has built, at Anvil Points near Rifle, Colorado, a retort plant and develOped an experimental mine to supply the plant with oil shale. An important part of the mining work at Rifle is to devise methods and select practices for mining the oil shale on a commercial scale at the lowest practicable cost. The product to be mined has a relatively low value, a fact that must be kept in in mind. The combined aim of those in charge of the mining and those in charge of retorting is to demonstrate that the shale oil can be produced at a cost per barrel corresponding to the current quotation for crude petroleum —or at least very close to it. Plans call for an uninterrupted flow of broken oil shale from the lace in the mine, through crushers, through the retorts and thence to the disposal dump. The disposal of the spent shale in the Ride area should present no unusual problem. Mining research has consisted so far of Paper studies of the general phases of the probleml determination of the widest Span that the roof Stone will stand safely unsupported, and drilling problems. underground development has not proceeded far

Jan 1, 1949

By Brooks J. Klimley, Daniel M. Higgins, Grover R. Castle

Measuring The Economic Viability Of Resource Projects (A Western Surface Coal Project) The bankers approach to the analysis of a new "green fields" mining project is similar but different from the approach that the pining company might take. The purpose of this paper shall be to discuss the techniques that are used by mining companies and bankers as they try to measure the economic viability of mining projects. The analysis of these new projects (by both the mining companies and the banker) is based on a projected revenue stream and not on historical earnings or past perfomance because these projects are start up situations with no history to look to. The starting point in the analysis of these projections is the choice of the assumptions to be used in preparing these projections. After the assumptions have been determined and the projections are prepared then the projections are submitted to various tests in order to determine whether the project measures up to previously agreed upon minimum standards. In order to illustrate the analytical procedures used in evaluating a mineral project the writer has constructed a hypothetical case involving the development of a western surface coal mine (Property). The basic data in connection with this hypothetical new project is described in the next section of this paper. After the Description of the Project is a section which shows the type of analysis that a mining company might prepare in order to approach a bank for a loan and the final section illustrates the type of analysis that a bank might prepare in evaluating this loan request. Description Of The Project or Basic Data In Connection With Undeveloped Western Surface Coal Property An independent mining/geological Consultant's report has been completed on the Property which confirms that the Property contains 175 million tons of economically recoverable coal subdivided into the following reserve categories in accordance with U.S. Bureau of Mines and U.S. Geological Survey definitions: Measured or Proven 90,000,000 Indicated or Probable 50,000,000 Inferred or Possible 35,000,000 The owners of the reserves have chosen to drill up those reserves that are nearest to the subcrop and have not spent as much time on those portions of the Property which are on the fringes of the deposit where the overburden is thicker because the stripping ratio and hence the operating costs and capital requirements are higher down dip. The proven reserves are based on an average thickness of 80 feet, of which a mining recovery of 90% is projected. The overburden thickness varies from 0' to 280' with an average thickness of 127'. The overburden consists mainly of scoria, sandstone, gravel, shale and silty clay. 134 holes were cored (and analysis done on five foot increments) in the measured reserve on the following spacing: 100 foot centers to define the burn line; 1,320 foot centers to define the early mining areas; 2,640 foot centers to identify the later mining areas.

Jan 1, 1985

By W. K. Hardy, H. H. Stadelmaier, L. J. Huetter

The ternary system Co-Sn-C was studied in the cobalt-rich region. The liquidus projection ulas established and two fonr -phase reactions were found. An isothermal section at 950°C was worked out. In the region studied the following phases were observed: cobalt-rich solid solution, graphite, binary compound y -cobalt-tin, and a ternary compound. As a result of the limited solubility of carbon in liquid cobalt-tin alloys, the investigation was limited to the cobalt-rich region. Tin contents up to 32 at. pct were studied. Cobalt of 99.99 pct purity, tin of 99.97 pct purity and synthetic graphite of 99.93 pct minimum purity prepare the alloys. Carbon determinations of all alloys were obtained by gas volumetric analysis. Samples were investigated microscopically and by X-ray diffraction using CoK, and FeK, radiation. Cooling curves were obtained with a number of alloys to determine the temperature of the four-phase reactions. The thermocouple was calibrated with the melting points of high-purity silver and copper. In the region studied the following phases were observed: Cobalt-rich solid solution (face-centered cubic) Graphite. Binary compound y (solidifies congruently at composition Cop~n)'. Ternary compound k which is face-centered cubic with superlattice and nonferromagnetic.' In Fig. 1 the fields representing the projections of the liquidus surfaces were determined by microscopic investigation and are labled by their primary phase. In the field labled C graphite is the primary phase. During solidification in this field much of the primary graphite was expelled through the surface of the melt. It could not always be established microscopically whether the remaining graphite was primary or purely eutectic. Therefore it was not possible to determine accurately the boundary curve which drops from the binary eutectic el at 1309 "~~ to the point of the four-phase reaction at F. The ter-nary carbide is the primary phase in the field labled k. To the right of this field the primary graphite is consistently nodular whereas flake graphite is observed at tin contents somewhat below F. The ternary carbide does not appear to solidify congruently. The graphite is attacked in a peritectic reaction along the boundary between k and C. Thus no graphite is observed in alloys in the k field. In alloys right of the boundary between k and C the graphite nodules are located in the center of the k crystallites, further documenting the peritectic nature of the reaction with the graphite. A four-phase reaction was found at F and 1120 &3"C. The most likely reaction is L+ CY-Co + C — k. Below the temperature of the binary eutectic ez at 1112" a second four-phase reaction was observed at E and 1100 lt3"C. It is the ternary eutectic L — CY-Co + k + y. Figs. 2(a ) to (e) show microstructures of the ternary alloys in the as-cast condition. Fig. 2(a) shows the eutectic a-Co + C (with some primary graphite) with the carbide k in the grain boundaries. Fig. 2(b) shows primary cobalt (dark areas) and the eutectic a-Co + k which is formed along F-E.

Jan 1, 1961

By Ralph M. Hunter

Until recent years, maintenance of surface coal handling facilities was a relatively simple task. Equipment consisted principally of conveyors, screens and crushers of comparatively simple construction. Electrical equipment consisted of motors and starters, with little, if any, interlocking. In most cases failure of any component affected only the grades of coal loaded so that even a prolonged breakdown did not affect mine operation materially. However, with the introduction of modern cleaning plants, the picture has changed. The equipment is much more complex and therefore more difficult to maintain. In many cases failure of any component of the plant prevents loading of coal. Even if provision is made to bypass, the quality of coal loaded is lowered, affecting markets. In the case of plants designed to permit full seam mining, marketable coal cannot be loaded without operation of the cleaning plant. Under these conditions it is apparent that considerable thought and effort toward better maintenance are justified. In order to assure continuous, efficient and economical operation, maintenance should receive consideration, not only after the plant is in operation, but while it is being designed. It is hardly necessary to say that the designer should strive for sturdi-ness and wearing qualities. It is sometimes not realized, however, that even the best parts will sooner or later require replacement or repair. The designer should, there- fore, give consideration to accessibility. Anyone who has had to do with cleaning plant maintenance is familiar with installations where several hours are required to get at a part that can be repaired or replaced in a few minutes, once it is accessible. As in most cases, experience is the best guide. The men who operate and maintain this equipment know the problems encountered. Whenever available, the opinions of these men should be sought and heeded. As an example, we might consider the refuse elevator on a Chance Cone. Our company is now operating three of these cones, the first of which was installed in 1941, and the latest in 1946. Exact records are not available, but well over 50 pct of delays charged to the Chance Cones have been caused by the refuse elevator. This elevator receives refuse from the cone and carries it to a point above the water level of the cone, discharging onto a dewatering and desanding screen. Since the elevator operates under water and necessarily has close clearances in the lower boot, it tends to jam on large pieces of refuse or tramp iron. The chain, buckets and boot are also subjected to the action of water, sand and refuse, which accelerate normal wear. In case of jamming or chain-breakage it is necessary to drain the elevator and the cone so that even a minor fault in the elevator causes a considerable loss of time for the cone. In our new plant, which will contain two Chance Cones, the refuse elevator has been eliminated. This was accomplished by raising the cone so that the refuse gates could discharge directly onto the dewater-

Jan 1, 1949

By C. M. Young

The following paper has been prepared with the object of placing on record in the Transactions some facts concerning the present condition and future prospects of the coal industry of Illinois. In presenting it, the writer wishes to say that a considerable amount of the material contained is taken from the publications and records of the Illinois Coal Mining Investigations, the annual Coal Report of the State Mining Board, and the work of the State Geological Survey. Coal Beds and Mining Methods According to the latest maps of the State Geological Survey, there are only 19 of the 102 counties of the State some portion of whose territory is not within the borders of the coal measures. If outlying areas in Calhoun and Whiteside Counties are considered, the number is reduced to 17. This does not mean that all of the 85 counties that are partly or wholly underlain by coal measures will become producers, as there are some portions of the State in which the coal does not occur in beds of such thickness as to warrant the hope that it can be mined. The mining of coal is widespread, however, for in 1916 there was production from 61 of the 102 counties of the State, There seem to be no cases in which operations will be limited by depth, as none of the coal measures lie at depths much greater than those at which it has been proved that coal may be profitably mined in this field. In fact, the deepest shaft reaching a bed of bituminous coal in the United States is located in this State at Assumption, where coal only 3 ½ ft. (1.07 m.) thick is worked at a depth of 1004 ft. (306 m.). The coal beds occur in the form of a basin which is deepest along a line extending through the central part of the State and bearing a little west of north. The northern, western and southern borders of this basin lie within the boundaries of the State, but on the eastern side the Illinois field is continuous with the Indiana field. The glacial drift covers all except the extreme southern end of the State and the visible outcropping

Jan 1, 1918

By H. G. Doll, H. P. Schwede

This paper describes a method to provide identification of particular depths in a borehole through the use of radioactive markers. The correlation of a marker, placed in the wall of a borehole, with known points of the electrical log and with the casing collars in the cased hole permits accurate positioning of tools with respect to a formation, regardless of absolute depth. Such a process is particularly useful in gun perforation of a casing in a well. Technique and equipment are discussed and illustrated. Examples are given of practical application in the field. Introduction During the past decade the search for petroleum has increased the importance of testing zones at depths in wells which have become progressively deeper. The development of new techniques, such as electrical logging, has permitted the identification of producing formations which consist of comparatively thin strata. When thin beds are to be produced at great depths, the problem of positioning tools accurately to place the well in production becomes acute.l Continuous consideration is being given in the petroleum industry towards the improvement of depth measurements in a borehole. The accuracy in absolute depth measurements, whether made in an open or cased hole, whether determined by a cable or a drill pipe, depends upon a number of factors, such as tension, temperature, and calibration. For example, the effects of tension from the weight of 10,000 ft of drill pipe and the thermal expansion of this length . of pipe, where its average temperature has increased SO"', will Produce an elongation as much as 8 ft.2 The effects Of such factors can be minimized through the use of care in depth measurements, the application of corrections based on experience, and continuous calibration or checking. The fact that different methods and different tools are used to determine the depths of formations in wells will sometimes give rise to a difference between measurements. It is evident that an important requirement in a well is the ability to locate at will any subsurface point. While absolute depth measurements have ion in recent years, it is reassuring to have other means to verify, for example, that a casing is perforated at a particular place with reference to a zone within a formation. Such a check on measurements may be had by placing a reference marker at a point known with respect to the electrical log of the borehole. That point is usually chosen to be in proximity to the 'One to be perforated. Thus, only short in depth measurements are made and any inaccuracy becomes very small and of minor importance' The use of reference markers located at fixed points predetermined in each zone where future operations are contemplated enables the operator to position any tool

Jan 1, 1948

By Charles H. Moore

In the study of the properties of rutile pigments it became apparent several years ago that certain physical and optical properties could not be determined on particles of pigmentary size. Since reflected light is the dominant type which reaches the eye from small particles, the true color of pure rutile was not known. Most rutile pig-ments are acicular in habit, elongated parallel to the "c" axis. It was considered important to know the nature and tone of light transmitted, for example, by a basal plate. Further, as shown by spectrophotometric curves, there is a very strong absorption of light of 4000 A as measured on particles with random orientation. It would be interesting to see whether this absorption position varied with predetermined and selected orientations. Also, since the behavior of titanium pigments in a vehicle is important, a knowledge of the surface wettability of single crystals by various media should prove very fruitful. Finally, the optical properties of rutile are such that it should show, in a single pure crystal, greater fire and brilliance than the diamond. Mineralogists had long speculated that this would be the case and curiosity was strong to produce a single crystal large enough to cut. In light of the above, a project was initiated for the formation of single crystals of rutile. Method of Formation of Rutile Single Crystals Fortunately, purification of TiO2 produced from both titanium tetra-chloride and titanyl sulphate solutions had reached the stage where spectro-graphically pure starting material could be made. Spectrographic analysis of the feed material used in the initial experiments is compared with the present feed material in Table 1. It is apparent that the present large scale purification is approximately as good as the original experimental, small scale purification. Verneuil1 produced synthetic ruby and corundum in 1904 by the well-known flame fusion process, which today bears his name. Except for mechanical improvements the present commercial production of synthetics by flame fusion is essentially unchanged from his initial method. His burner consisted of an inner orifice through which was fed the feed material and oxygen. Surrounding this was a larger outer orifice through which was fed hydrogen at lower pressure. This arrangement consists then of a lance of oxygen burning in an atmosphere of hydrogen. The proportions of hydrogen to oxygen usually used in corundum production is about 3:1, providing there is sufficient temperature to reach the 2050.°C required for the fusion of alumina. From work done in the Titanium Division Laboratories2 and from the published work of Erlich3 it was known that rutile appears to lose oxygen near its melting point and that it would not be possible to grow single crystals in a strongly reducing environment. Consequently, in order to determine whether single crystals could be grown at all, an Airco oxygen-acetylene torch with

Jan 1, 1950

By R. A. Generes, H. C. H. Darley

Laboratory tests showed that at elevated temperatures a reaction takes place between all metal hydroxides and clay muds, which results in a thickening or solidifying of the mud, the extent of which depends on the nature of the ingredients. Calcium hydroxide gave the strongest solidification whereas barium hydroxide only caused a mild thickening, indicating that the use of barium hydroxide muds instead of lime muds would be a good way of preventing high-temperature solidification. It was found possible to prepare barium mud in the laboratory with caustic soda and a thinner in the same manner as lime muds, and these barium muds had the same or better toleration of high solids content, resistance to salt contamination, and low gel strengths as the corresponding lime muds. Three field trials have been made with barium mud. The principal difficulty encountered was in determining the correct proportions of the tourly treatments required to maintain low gel strengths. A satisfactory systern was finally developed, and low gels were maintained throughout the third test. The wells on which the trials were made were not carried deep enough to test the resistance to solidification adequately, but oven tests at 350°F were made periodically and no tendency to solidification was noted except immediately after severe cernent contamination had introduced excessive amounts of calcium into the system. Although barium hydroxide costs considerably more than lime, the total mud costs were as low, and on the last well significantly lower, than the average cost of lime mud wells drilled in the vicinity. INTRODUCTION The advantages of repressing dispersion and hydra-tion of clay cuttings carried in the mud, particularly when drilling through thick clay formations, are well recognized. This repression is generally achieved by the use of lime, and lime muds have in consequence the desirable characteristics of high toleration of solids, low thixotropy, and good resistance to contamination. They have, however, the disadvantage of high-temperature solidification. This phenomenon has been described in detail by Gray et al, who have shown that it is the result of a chemical reaction between the hydroxides and the clay minerals. The work described in this paper was undertaken to find a substitute for lime which would not cause this solidification. LABORATORY EXPERlMENTS The principal positive requirement for a substitute for lime is that it should repress the hydration and dispersion of clay. It is well known that monovalent cations promote hydration while polyvalent cations repress it. Therefore, a few representative polyvalent salts and hydroxides were tested to determine whether they could be used as substitutes for lime. Their efficiency at repressing hydration and dispersion was measured by means of the clay-volume test. It has been shown elsewhere' that this test is a good measure of degree of dispersion of clay in suspension and that hydration accompanies and correlates with dispersion, so that measuring one measures the other. The test is made by centrifuging a 1:100 mixture of mud and 1-N NaCl and observing the volume of sediment—the greater the volume, the greater the dispersion. The tendency to caux solidification was measured by heating the muds in pressure vessels for 16 hours at 150°F and 370°F. An approximate quantitative

Jan 1, 1957

By N. E. Grosvenor

Several methods have been proposed for determining the tensile strength of rock. These have been tried out over the past several years, but the results have been erratic and of doubtful value. The tensile strength of rock is its weakest property, and this property apparently enters into all failure phenomena, whether underground or on the slope of an open pit. Therefore, it is essential that detailed quantitative information is known about the tensile strength of rock if the design engineer is going to select the proper pit slope, pit orientation, or orientation of underground workings so as to give the most economical and safest mining condition. This quantitative information may be used to orient the pit in such a manner as to allow steep slopes along two sides. This information possibly may be used to orient the direction of either underground workings or open pits so as to decrease powder consumption and to increase blasting efficiency. Hence it is of prime importance that a method of determining accurately the tensile strength of rocks be developed. The U. S. Bureau of Mines states' that no standard methods have been proposed by the ASTM for testing the tensile strength of rock. The method described in the Bureau publication is said by them to be unsatisfactory. A similar test that has been used in our laboratory in place of the USBM test is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. h this test the core is placed in a set of grips that has been designed for one particular size core. The grips are designed to distribute the stress around the core if they are tightened correctly. A universal joint or a flexible cable may be used in conjunction with the apparatus to prevent bending or twisting of the specimen. The main difficulty encountered with the system shown is the failure of the specimen within the grips. The possible cause of the failure within the grips may be due to a stress concentration set up by the uneven tightening of the grips. This method can be used only for tests on cores, and even then has been found to be totally unsatisfactory because of the failure within the grips. The U. S. Bureau of Reclamation has been using a test similar to the sketch shown in Fig. 3. Sulfur is cast around each end of the specimen to form a bearing surface and then a ring grip is used to apply a tensile stress. The grips are in contact with the sulfur cast and do not touch the specimen. This method is unsatisfactory, apparently because a large number of the specimens appear to break within the sulfur cast. Professor Wuerker of the University of Illinois uses the test shown in Fig. 4.' Professor Wuerker states2 that this method has given definite and reproducible results with the weakest as well as with the strongest rocks. The test is a supplement in all cases where cores cannot be obtained. The principle and equipment are the same as for the test for tensile strength of hydraulic-cement mortar. Soft

Jan 1, 1961

By C. K. Eilerts, J. D. Ham

Laboratory research has been conducted to evaluate the characteristic effects of condensate saturation on the mobility of gas in typical reservoir rocks. A pump with two pistons provided phases in equilibrium at controlled flow rates and constant liquid-vapor volume ratios. Core samples were tested in a holder that permitted sealing steady-state phases in the pore spaces under flow test pressures for weighing with sufficient precision to give an accurate measure of the attained saturations. Parameters of the study were pressure, apparent velocity, flowing liquid-vapor volume ratio, fluid composition, core material and length-to-diameter ratio. Tests were conducted at 515 and 1,515 psia to determine the effect of pressure on the mobility-saturation relationship. Influence of the apparent velocities 0.30, 0.15 and 0.07 cm/sec and of five liquid-vapor volume ratios from 0.0001 to 0.01 was determined at 515 psia The principal fluid system was nitrogen and and separator liquid from a Gulf Coast condensate, but the effect of a condensate of different viscosity was also determined. The significance of a possible concentration of liquid near the outlet end of the test cores was investigated. Core materials included a consolidated sandstone and a low-permeability limestone. Relative mobility and liquid-vapor volume ratio relationships are concluded to be dependent on pressure, saturation and, to a lesser extent, on velocity. For each porous medium and fluid there is a minimum saturation essential to two-phase flow, and high velocities of flow have only limited effect on saturations in this range. INTRODUCTION It is now recognized that knowledge of the availability of a reservoir gas — the period that gas may be recovered from a reservoir at a given rate — is as important as the estimate of gas in place. When reservoir conditions are such that pressure decline owing to production will result in retrograde condensation, liquid saturation can increase in the structure around the production well in a way that may restrict flow capacity, and hence future availability. l Based on a numerical solution of transient radial flow of single-phase gas-condensate fluids, 2 a program for computing the accumulation of condensate in a reservoir and the effect of this condensate on deliverability has been developed. During this development a need evolved for data that described the influence of pressure, velocity of flow and condensed liquid on mobility as recovery progressed. This paper presents the results of experimental investigation to obtain insight into the mobility relationship at reservoir pressures of gas-condensate fluids. A core holder for flow tests at reservoir pressure was developed to weigh the core and its fluid contents under pressure to determine saturation. A specially constructed pump was used to drive a two-phase fluid through the core until a steady state prevailed. The core was used as a differential device, and properties measured were intensive rather than extensive. APPARATUS Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of the major pieces of equipment used in the mobility determination. The weighable core holder is connected to a two-piston, constant-displacement pump. Attainment of steady-state flow is indicated by stability of the flow differential read from the high-pressure manometer. WEIGHABLE CORE HOLDER An important part of the data needed was the mobility-saturation relationship. This required that mobilities and saturations be measured at pressures, flow velocities and liquid-vapor volume ratios characteristic of condensate reservoirs.

By Stanley L. Lopata, Eric B. Kula

The problem of preferred orientation has been considered in quantitative phase analysis by X-ray diffraction techniques. The average intensity of a diffraction peak can be obtained by integration over the whole pole figure, or by random rotation of the specimen in the X-ray beam, or by a combination of both. For rod or wire, where the pole figure shows rotational symmetry, the intensity is measured along a radius of the pole figure. Where no symmetry is present, rotational symmetry is imparted by rapid rotation of the sheet around its surface normal during measurement. These methods are applied to the determination of aus-tenite in an Fe-31 pct Ni rod and Fe-28 pct Ni sheet. X-RAY diffraction techniques are frequently used for quantitatively determining the relative amounts of two or more phases present in a structure.1,2 Briefly, the method requires a measurement of the intensity of a Bragg reflection for each phase. The method is based on the principle that the intensity of a Bragg reflection, IA, is directly proportional to the volume fraction of the given phase present, CA: T KRACA/2µ [1] where K is a constant independent of the diffracting phase, RA can be calculated and depends on the Bragg angle ? and the particular reflection measured, and µ is the linear absorption coefficient of the mixture.' For a mixture of two phases A and B, IA = RAcA [2] IA/IB=RAcA/Rbcb and CA+ CB = 1 [3] This allows the volume fraction of a phase to be calculated directly from the measured integrated intensities of the two phases present. This method is frequently used for quantitatively determining retained austenite in steels, but can be used for the quantitative determination of in titanium alloys, as well as phases in other alloy systems. The intensities are generally measured by diffracting only from planes whose normals are perpendicular to the specimen surface, with the implicit assumption being made that this intensity is typical of reflections from planes whose normals lie at other angles to the surface. If the specimen contains a texture or preferred orientation of the crys- tallographic planes by virtue of previous mechanical working, however, this measured intensity is correct only if the intensity level fortuitously is one times random. Examination of pole figures for actual rolled sheet shows that the intensity level at the center of the figure is seldom at the random level, and can very easily differ by a factor of five or more, leading to a commensurate error in the calculated amount of the phases. Textures have been commonly found in materials which are cold-rolled or recrystallized after cold rolling. This problem is becoming of greater importance since structural materials in use today, such as the high-strength stainless steels, frequently are further strengthened by cold rolling, and hence contain textures. Although high-strength carbon-containing alloy steels generally do not contain textures, some of the newer thermomechani-cal treatments will impart a texture even in these cases. In the case of hexagonal metals, such as titanium, probably every wrought sample will show some anisotropy. Since the standard X-ray techniques are inapplicable in all these cases, there is a clear need for some method of taking this anisotropy into account. The specific problem is to obtain the integrated intensity of a Bragg reflection for each phase, averaged over all orientations of the sample with respect to the X-ray beam. This can be done either by purely mechanical means or by a mathematical averaging. Mechanically, a small spherical speci-

Jan 1, 1965

By H. R. Brannon, J. S. Osoba

The introduction of the scintillation counter into field use for gamma-ray well logging has provided a new tool with special utility for the deternzination of natural radioactivity of sediments. Previous subsurface gamma-ray measurements have indicated only the total amount of radioactivity of the sediments. With the scintillation counter, the relative amounts of the elements which emit gamma radiation can be determined. Sediments logged included 35 zones in wells located in the Teras Gulf Coast, East Texas, and West Teras. Although the data obtained from measurements made to date are not sufficient to evaluate the possibilities of spectral logging, it appears likely that spectral measurements will yield information of geologic value. INTRODUCTION Although variations in the natural radioactivity of sediments were recognized as early as 1909,1 the appli- cation of such variations to borehole logging was not made until almost 30 years later. A group of Russian workers in the early 1930's were successful in making crude measurements of natural gamma activity in an oil well borehole. The first practical gamma-ray logging system was developed by Howell and Frosch2 in 1939. Induced radioactivity, or neutron, logging appeared soon after the introduction of gamma-ray logging. After early work had demonstrated the potentialities of radioactivity logging, development of sensitive and stable logging equipment for field use followed, so that neutron and natural gamma logs are now run routinely and have proved to be extremely valuable in characterizing subsurface formations. Even though tremendous strides have been made in developing radioactivity logging, it is apparent that the ultimate in the method of logging has not been reached, for, until very recently1 in none of the commercially available logging systems has advantage been taken of the fact that gamma radiation is composed of a spectrum of rays, each ray having a distinct and characteristic energy. An individual gamma ray originates in a single element and has energy determined by the element. The inten- sity of radiation, or number of rays emitted from unit volume in unit time, is determined by the concentration of the element. If it were possible to sort out these gamma rays and assign them to their parent elements, thereby essentially analyzing for the elements, a wealth of new information descriptive of formation material and fluid content would be at hand. For example, if in natural gamma logging, the gammas due to potassium and to the thorium and uranium series were measured individually, data would thus be available on the concentrations of each of the three elements, adding materially to the information content of the log. In contrast, conventional gamma logs measure only a quantity proportional to the combined concentrations of uranium, thorium, and potassium. The naturally radioactive elements occur in sediments in concentrations dependent on source material of the sediment, and through their chemical characteristics, on conditions of deposition,' so that the individual concentrations may be diagnostic for particular formations. These concentrations, particularly if measured in situ, could lead to a powerful tool for correlation and for reflecting environmental conditions under which sedimentation took place. As a correlation tool, individual uranium, thorium, and potassium measurements

Jan 1, 1957

By D. H. Shaffer, W. F. Harris, W. M. Hickam, M. H. Loeffler

Experiments have been performed on the quantitative addition to niobium of enriched isotopes 018 and 017 at the 0.1 - 40 micro-gram level and their subsequent recovery. A measured quantity of molecular oxygen of known isotopic concentration is added to niobium metal by oxidation. Recovery of the enriched isotopes as carbon monoxide is by the vacuum fusion technique. Quantitative determinations of the enriched isotopes are made in standard volumes at constant temperature using accurately calibrated micromanometers and the mass spectrometer as pressure measuring instruments. THE presence of low concentrations of nonmetallic impurities in metals can often adversely affect the physical properties of the metal. The increase in hardness and the embrittlement of refractory metals due to oxygen is well known. In metallurgical studies dealing with the diffusion rates or the effect of oxygen on the physical properties of refractory metals, it is often necessary to add small quantities of oxygen to the metal and later recover the total quantity present. It is desirable, therefore, to establish the accuracy with which microgram quantities of oxygen can be added to niobium and recovered by vacuum fusion. The successful addition of microgram quantities of oxygen to metals by the usual manometric techniques and the subsequent recovery by vacuum fusion is difficult because of the uncertainty in the accurate determination of the quantity of oxygen originally present in the metal and because of the chance of contamination by atmospheric oxygen. In order to minimize these uncertainties earlier workers have added quantities of O16 at levels much higher than the oxygen concentrations that are of interest.'-3 In order to eliminate the uncertainty associated with the O16 additions to metals at low microgram levels, experiments have been performed on the quantitative addition of oxygen highly enriched in O17 and O18 at the 0.1 to 40 pg level to niobium and the subsequent quantitative recovery of the isotopes by vacuum fusion. Since the natural abundance of O17 is 0.04 pct and of 0" is 0.2 pct this enriched oxygen provides a uniqueness from interference not achieved in earlier work.'-= A measured quantity of molecular oxygen of known isotopic concentration is diffused into the metal. Recovery of the isotopes in the form of carbon monoxide is by vacuum fusion. The total quantity of gas is determined in standard volumes at constant tempera- ture using accurately calibrated Consolidated Electrodynamics micromanometers and the mass spectrometer for pressure measurements. The molecular and isotopic composition is determined mass spectrometrically. APPARATUS A schematic of the oxygen addition apparatus is shown in Fig. 1. Take-offs are provided for the attachment of the isotope container and for sample bulbs which are used to transfer samples to the mass spectrometer. Metal valves are used throughout the system including the sample bulbs in order to achieve a vacuum of 10"6 mm Hg. Evacuation is accomplished with a 3-stage oil-diffusion pump backed by a mechanical pump. A liquid nitrogen trap is used to remove condensables and to prevent oil vapor from entering the system. A micromano-meter is used for pressure measurements. The furnace assembly is shown in Fig. 2. It consists of a quartz tube joined to the apparatus through a 40/W joint with Apiezon W low-pressure wax. The furnace cap, also a 40/W pyrex joint, is provided with a pyrex hook. The sample is suspended from this hook with a platinum wire. The total volume of the furnace section is 435 ml. All volumes were determined by expanding a known volume of gas at a known pressure into the evacuated system and re-measuring the pressure. Both the micromanometer used on the oxygen addition system and the micromanometer used on the mass spectrometer were compared to a precision

Jan 1, 1961

By Donald E. Garrett

The processing of brines from Searles Lake, California, yields one of the world's largest supplies of borax and boron chemicals, second probably only to the massive deposit at Boron, California. Two companies produce from this deposit, the American Potash & Chemical Corp. and the West End Chemical Co., a division of the Stauffer Chemical Co. Two processes are employed in recovering borax from the brines; one is used by both companies and consists of carbonating the brine to form sodium bicarbonate, removing this, and then cooling the liquor to crystallize a crop of borax. Only American Potash uses the second process, evaporating the brine to concentrate it and remove (crystallize) much of its NaCl, Na2CO3, Na2SO4, and NaLi2PO4 content, quick cooling the remaining liquor to remove KCI, and then seeding the filtrate to remove borax. Both methods will be briefly described. Searles Lake is a large evaporite body formed during the most recent two Sierra Nevada ice stages, the Tahoe and the Tioga. Runoff waters from the Sierra Nevada Mountains collected in the large Owens Valley drainage basin and from there overflowed into the Indian Wells basin and then into Searles Lake. In each Lake, evaporation took place. To a large extent the Owens and Indian Wells lakes acted as settling basins, for much of the mud, and insoluble calcium and magnesium precipitates were deposited there. Recent volcanic activity in the mountains to the north and east of Owens Lake had scattered considerable mineral-rich volcanic ash and debris throughout the drainage area, and several hot springs were formed that contained boron and other salts. The present flow rate and concentration of several springs, and the known age of at least the Tioga zone, can fairly well account for all of the boron present in Owens and Searles Lakes.1 The tungsten content can be accounted for in a similar manner.2 Most of the salts thus originally present in the fresh water runoff-from ice, snow, and rain-accompanying these two ice stages were ultimately deposited in Searles Lake. During the Tahoe period, from 25 to 40 ft of massive, mixed salts were deposited, along with six interspersed layers of mud (four inches to two feet thick) representing comparatively brief interglacial periods. Before the final desiccation of the lake, from 10 to 14 ft of new mud was deposited, representing the Tioga stage. The crystals subsequently deposited were from 70 to 90 ft thick, and form the present lake surface. The extent of the salt body is about 34 square miles, of which 12 square miles are exposed salt; the remaining area is covered by recent alluvial deposits (chiefly mud). The present lake is generally dry on the surface but floods to a shallow depth following heavy rains. The crystal body of both zones consists of continuous clusters of salts, and the voids between crystals (about 45 pct of the total volume) are occupied by brine. The level of this brine never recedes more than several inches below the salt surface. The brine pumped to the plants for processing is generally saturated with all of the solid phases present in that area, and thus is a complex mixture containing about 35 pct solids (see Table 3). The brine composition varies somewhat at different areas of the lake and from upper to lower structures, so wells are drilled in the areas and to the depths desired. A casing is cemented in the hole to within a short distance from the bottom, and pumps with about 14-ft suctions are mounted on the casing to pump the brine into the plants. The evaporation process of the American Potash & Chemical Corp. treats upper structure brine, evaporating all of the water from

Jan 1, 1960