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By Andres M. Liebenthal, Jan M. Mutmansky

This paper is concerned with the layout of a conveyor and beneficiation plant system involving several mines and a single point of delivery. The objective of the procedure is to locate the conveyor lines and beneficiation plants in an optimal manner considering the economics of scale inherent in both the transportation and beneficiation processes. Upon completion of the mining plan, the layout of the conveyor network is achieved through the principle of Steiner minimal trees. The optimal number and location of beneficiation plants for this layout are then determined using a sequential economic analysis based upon the flow of material from the individual sources to the ultimate destination. The practical aspects of the method and the advantages and disadvantages of its use are discussed to link the model to a practical problem.

Jan 1, 1976

By C. Perez-Rosales

A statistical method for determining simultaneously some of the basic geometrical characteristics of porous media such as porsity, specific surface* mean pore width, mean grain thickness and absolute permeability is presented. The proposed method is characterized by its simplicity and the minimum amount of laboratory equipment that it requires. The experimental procedure used to evaluate the various geometrical characteristics is based 'pan the 'surface analysis Of a a In view of this fact the app1icability Of the method is limited to homogeneous and isotropic materials. INTRODUCTION The behavior of a fluid flowing through a porous medium depends, among other things, upon the internal geometry of the medium; hence the importance of developing efficient methods to determine the geometrical properties of porous materials. This paper describes a statistical method to determine simultaneously some of the basic geometrical properties of porous materials such as porosity, specific surface, mean pore width, mean grain thickness and absolute permeability. The mathematical formulation has been developed that the data required to calculate the various geometrical characteristics of a sample can be easily measured by analyzing a section of the sample with an evenly spaced grid. THEORY A simple way of obtaining information about the internal geometry of a porous material is to throw a point at random over a cross-section of a sample. l-Through this procedure the porosity can be detemined.l,2 By considering that the material is homogeneous and isotropic, and that the point is dropped many times, the porosity 4 is given by where N is the total number of times the point is thrown and n is he number of times the point falls within pore areas. Another simple manner of analyzing the structural characteristics of a porous material is to superimpose an arbitrarily long line on a cross-section so that its length is evenly distributed over the surface area. Through this procedure the porosity can also be determined. If L is the total length of the line, and 1 is the sum of the lengths of the line segments within void spaces, the porosity is given by 4 = —.1.............. (2) The advantage of this type of analysis is that geometrical characteristics other than porosity can be obtained. Thus, if c represents the number of intersections between the line and the perimeter of pores, it can be shown3 that the specific surface, defined as he surface area of pores per unit bulk volume, is given by To give a proper description of the internal geometry of a porous medium, it is necessary to define quantities that characterize the notions of pore size and grain size. Unfortunately, because of the complexity of porous materials, it is difficult to give exact geometrical definitions of what is meant by the ConCePtS of "poresl' and "grains", especially when dealing with consolidated materials. Never theless, one often talks about the "size of pores" and the "size of grains" without defining accurately the terms. A possible solution to this problem follows. Assume that an arbitrarily long line is placed on a section of a sample so that the line is evenly distributed over the surface area (see Fig. 1). 1n a system like this, each line segment within a void space will be, by definition, the pore width in a given location and direction. Consequently, if the

Jan 1, 1970

By E. P. Pfleider

IT is generally believed that the amount of diamond drilling will increase appreciably in the next decade, as the search for minerals throughout the world becomes more difficult and intense. An attendant problem may be one of short diamond supply, resulting in higher bit and drilling cost. With this background, the U. S. Bureau of Mines1 and the School of Mines at the University of Minnesota2 have established comprehensive research programs in diamond drilling. One of the several aims is the design of a more efficient bit, which would lower diamond consumption and increase rate of advance, both essential in reducing drilling costs.

Jan 2, 1953

By J. M. Uys, T. B. King

The solubility of water in silicate melts of various compositions was measured. The basicity of the silicate did not appreciably affect the water solu-bulity at low-base content (acid compositions). Near the orthosilicate composition the solubility increased with basicity for silicates in which the cation displayed a weak ion-oxygen attraction and apparently decreased for those in which the cation showed a strong ion-oxygen attraction; metasilicates of the former class dissolved more water than those of the latter. Temperature had little effect on water solubility. The experimental results are interpreted on the basis of two modes of solution, the contribution of one decreasing, and that of the other increas -ing, with increased melt basicity. In the former, solution occurs through interaction with doubly-bonded oxygen atoms and in the latter, through interaction with singly-bonded oxygen atoms, or, in very basic melts, through reaction with free oxygen ions. THE hydrogen content of a steel melt is in a large measure determined by water dissolved in the slag. In some glasses water may be a major cause of "seeds". Water vapor in the furnace atmosphere is the primary source in both instances. A knowledge of the mechanism of water solution in silicate melts should help in assessment of practical methods for its control in steelmaking and glass refining. Walsh et a1.l measured the water content, expressed as hydrogen, of 40 pct lime-20 pct alumina-40 pct silica and 62 pct manganese oxide-38 pct silica melts as a function of the steam partial pressure, in equilibrium with the melt. Tomlinson 2 and, also, Russell3 investigated this relationship for a molten 30 pct soda-70 pct silica glass. In all three investigations, the solubility of water was found to be proportional to the square root of the partial pressure of steam. Moulson and Roberts 4 confirmed this relationship for a silica glass. On the basis of the square root relationship, Tomlinson2 and Russell3 interpreted the solution reaction as "network-breaking", similar to that expected on the addition of metal oxides to silica. Walsh et al.' postulated two possible modes of solution, one the mechanism suggested by Tomlinson and Russell and the other the reaction of the water molecule with an oxygen ion to form hydroxyl ions. These two modes of solution suggest opposite effects of melt basicity on water solubility. However, little appears to be known about the effect of melt basicity on water solubility. Walsh et a1.l found, in the lime-silica system, that the water content increased slightly with increased basicity. As these authors pointed out, this does not appear to be in accord with their further observation that slags containing little or no silica dissolve very little water. Kurkjian and Russell5 measured the effect of basicity on water solubility in alkali silicates in the composition range 15 to 45 mole pct alkali oxide. They found a minimum in the water content at about 25 mole pct alkali. This was interpreted on the basis of two concurrent solution reacZions; one in which solubility was proportional to the activity of doubly-bonded oxygen and, in the other, proportional to the activity of singly-bonded oxygen. The present work was aimed at establishing the effect of basicity on water solubility in silicate melts over as wide a range of compositions as practical. APPARATUS AND EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The silicate melt was equilibrated with a "carrier-gas" of accurately known water content, quenched, and analyzed for water by a vacuum fusion technique. Some pertinent details of the equilibration procedure, analysis technique, preparation, and handling of the silicates are given below. Gas-Silicate Equilibration. The apparatus used to equilibrate the melt with the gas mixture was similar to that used by Walsh et al.' but with some important modifications.6 Purification trains were provided for nitrogen and hydrogen; whenever air or oxygen was used as carrier gas the nitrogen purifiCation train was used with the copper furnace at room temperature. Gas flow rates were measured with capillary flow meters; bleeders filled with a mixture of dibromo and tribromo ethyl benzene (density about 2 g per cc) were used for convenience in controlling flow rates.

Jan 1, 1963

By G. Gutzeit

An inner complex is a cyclic chemical structure containing an inorganic cation that is bound simultaneously to several atoms in a single organic molecule; on the one hand by means of ordinary valence bonds (electron exchange), on the other hand through the action of the electric field thus created, which satisfies the so-called secondary valences. The relative positions of the salt-forming and complex-forming groups are such that most frequently a four, five, or six-membered ring results through this double attachment of the cation.1-6 The formation of inner-complex ring systems depends not only upon the nature and suitable position of the salt-forming and complex-forming groups for ring closure, but, to a great extent, also on the nature of the metallic cation entering the reaction. This selective character of chelate-forming organic compounds is one of their most interesting and most valuable properties. As a matter of fact, the largest number of their practical applications is based upon their specificity.4,7-l3 Once a chelate compound is formed, its character is definitely "organic" in nature. In other words, its properties are conditioned to a much larger degree by the carbon chains or rings than by the metallic atom. Many inner complexes are soluble in nonpolar solvents such as benzene, paraffin oil or carbon tetrachloride, while the chelate-forming reagent before closure of the metal-organic ring is water soluble. (Example: copper complex of salicyl-aldoxime') It is obvious that such particular properties as those indicated above can be utilized whenever specificity and practically complete binding of inorganic ions into an undissociable complex are required. One of the well-known applications of chelate-forming compounds has been the development of specific reagents in analytical chemistry, creation of the spot-test method,4,14-16 and the application of the same principles to the contact print method for determining minerals." Chelate-forming Compounds as Collectors In the field of flotation, where selectivity is often a quality of paramount importance for the collector, various workers have lately attempted to apply their knowledge of specific organic analytical reagents to this purpose. A. C. Vivian18 has concentrated cassiterite by using ammonium nitrosophenylhydroxyl-amine (Cupferron) C6H5NO(=NONH4). Holmanl9 has tested dimethylglyoxime for the flotation of nickel oxide minerals, while deWitt has shown in a series of systematic experiments that alpha-diox-imes were generally selective collectors for nickel ores. Taurin NH2(CH2)2S03H has been proposed for the concentration Of Oxidized lead ores.19 Diphenylthio-carbazone

Jan 1, 1947

By G. Gutzeit

An inner complex is a cyclic chemical structure containing an inorganic cation that is bound simultaneously to several atoms in a single organic molecule; on the one hand by means of ordinary valence bonds (electron exchange), on the other hand through the action of the electric field thus created, which satisfies the so-called secondary valences. The relative positions of the salt-forming and complex-forming groups are such that most frequently a four, five, or six-membered ring results through this double attachment of the cation.1-6 The formation of inner-complex ring systems depends not only upon the nature and suitable position of the salt-forming and complex-forming groups for ring closure, but, to a great extent, also on the nature of the metallic cation entering the reaction. This selective character of chelate-forming organic compounds is one of their most interesting and most valuable properties. As a matter of fact, the largest number of their practical applications is based upon their specificity.4,7-l3 Once a chelate compound is formed, its character is definitely "organic" in nature. In other words, its properties are conditioned to a much larger degree by the carbon chains or rings than by the metallic atom. Many inner complexes are soluble in nonpolar solvents such as benzene, paraffin oil or carbon tetrachloride, while the chelate-forming reagent before closure of the metal-organic ring is water soluble. (Example: copper complex of salicyl-aldoxime') It is obvious that such particular properties as those indicated above can be utilized whenever specificity and practically complete binding of inorganic ions into an undissociable complex are required. One of the well-known applications of chelate-forming compounds has been the development of specific reagents in analytical chemistry, creation of the spot-test method,4,14-16 and the application of the same principles to the contact print method for determining minerals." Chelate-forming Compounds as Collectors In the field of flotation, where selectivity is often a quality of paramount importance for the collector, various workers have lately attempted to apply their knowledge of specific organic analytical reagents to this purpose. A. C. Vivian18 has concentrated cassiterite by using ammonium nitrosophenylhydroxyl-amine (Cupferron) C6H5NO(=NONH4). Holmanl9 has tested dimethylglyoxime for the flotation of nickel oxide minerals, while deWitt has shown in a series of systematic experiments that alpha-diox-imes were generally selective collectors for nickel ores. Taurin NH2(CH2)2S03H has been proposed for the concentration Of Oxidized lead ores.19 Diphenylthio-carbazone

Jan 1, 1947

By David B. Scott

When mining operations were first instituted in the mines of the Miami Copper Co., at Miami, Ariz., the relatively hard character of the ground in the western section of the property made it seem advisable to use a wide shrinkage stope and pillar system. The system as finally evolved was applied to the mining of 2,300,000 tons of ore by the use of stopes and pillars each 50 ft. in width. Development, mining and extraction of this reserve has been continuously in progress since 1910, and the final stages of extraction are now reached. A complete survey of all phases of this system can therefore be made. Modification in working methods was obviously necessary, and the system to be described is believed to be typical of the best features. Development The preliminary work had three main objectives: The opening of a haulage level, the construction of a drawing-off level, and the driving of sublevels for use in stoping. In addition to these, some extra sublevel drifting was necessary to determine exactly the boundaries of the orebody, the general outline having been determined by churn drilling. This development was based on the requirements of stopes 50 ft. wide, with pillars 50 ft. wide between each stope. The length of these units varied from 200 to 500 ft.. Haulage Level The tramming level was 50 ft. below the floor of the stopes, and the tramming lines were run parallel with the long axis of the stopes. These lines were also beneath the middle of the stopes and pillars. Each line therefore served one stope or one pillar, this arrangement making it possible to load along an entire stope without switching or uncoupling. This advantage is apparent principally during the process of stoping when rapid drawing of excess broken ore is desirable. Furthermore, the arrangement of the drawing-off level chutes at 25-ft. intervals, as shown

Jan 1, 1917

By T. J. Nowak

The heat flow processes determining the injection and shut-in temperature logs in a water injection well have been analyzed and the theoretical basis for determining the water injectivity profiles from the temperature logs has been presented. Both the injection and the subsequent shut-in logs are necessary to resolve the injection interval into relative water intake strata; the former, to provide an accurate estimation of the thicknesses of the strata, and the latter to indicate the major and minor intake rates into the strata. A procedure is described for estimating the injectivity profile from the temperature logs and is applied to several temperature logs. For a water injection well, a comparison is made of the injectivity profiles obtained from the core analysis, the spinner survey, and the temperature logs. INTRODUCTION In secondary recovery of oil by water flooding, the injectivity profile is needed to obtain diagnostic evaluation of water intake distribution over the injection interval. If the distribution is unfavorable among the various strata, corrective measures can be taken to provide better control. Numerous methods have been developed for determining the injectivity profile from water velocity measurements in well bores. Often, dependence is placed upon core analyses and/or electric logs for estimating the relative water intakes over the injection interval. In many cases, the temperature log method described herein will give results more diagnostic than those obtained through use of the other available methods inasmuch as it is based upon the study of temperature disturbances in and around the well bore as a function of water flow in the well bore and in the formation. This method is the result of analyses of a number of temperature surveys made in water injection wells to determine the point of entry of the water into the formation. The material in this paper is presented in two sections: the first deals with the theoretical study of temperature survey data, and the second deals with the field application. PART I — THEORETICAL TREATMENT OF TEMPERATURE LOG DATA Before discussing the various aspects of heat flow relative to temperature log data, the phenomena that give rise to well bore temperatures — namely, the indigenous formation temperature and the associated rates of heat flow — will be considered. Geothermal Gradient The geothermal gradient is defined as the increment of depth at which the indigenous subsurface temperature increases by l°. It is caused by the continuous flow of heat outward from the interior of the earth. The flow of heat is an equilibrium process between the heat sources, the thermal conductivities of the formations, and the mean surface temperature. Therefore, there is no accumulation of heat energy in the path of heat transmission, and the geothermal gradient for a given formation will depend upon its thermal conductivity.

Jan 1, 1953

By Ben E. Lindsly

PetRoleum engineers generally are familiar with the investigations of Dow and Reistle,1 Beecher and Parkhurst,2 and Dow and Calkin3 relative to the solubility of natural gas in crude oil. Since the publication of the results of those investigations and the work of Mills and Heithecker,4 little additional knowledge on this interesting and important subject has appeared in the petroleum engineering literature. The reports of Beecher and Parkhurst and Dow and Calkin agree substantially. The data from both investigations showed that, under the conditions of the tests, the solubility of natural gas in crude oil increased in direct proportion to the pressure at which the gas was put into solution, and the solubility decreased to a considerable extent with increased temperature. These facts, and others relating to the changes in viscosity, surface tension and specific gravity of the crude caused by the solution of gas in the oil, have been given due consideration in the petroleum industry, and the recognition of these facts has resulted in a great improvement in the technique of producing oil. However, in these first experiments, various grades and types of weathered crude oil were contacted at various pressures up to 500 lb. per sq. in. gage with gases deficient to a considerable degree in the heavier hydrocarbons, as compared with the gas that was originally in solution in the oil in its natural underground reservoir. The amount of dissolved gas that was liberated upon reducing the pressure to 1 atm. was measured. For these reasons, the complete significance of the effect of dissolved gases in crude oil, as it occurs in nature, cannot be determined directly from the data obtained under the conditions of the tests as described.

Jan 1, 1931

By Wolfgang Pietsch

Direct Reduced Iron is a product obtained during solid state reduction of iron oxides into metallic iron. General chemical and physical characteristics of all direct reduced iron materials result in a noticeable reoxidation tendency and a relatively low ignition temperature. As most of the chemical reactions are exothermic, normally heating occurs and if water is present hydrogen evolves. Dry direct reduced iron deactivates quickly in air but is still reactive if it comes into contact with moisture. Because of these characteristics, special requirements are necessary for safe storage, shipment, and handling. In an effort to improve this situation passivation techniques were and still are being developed. The paper discusses the properties of direct reduced iron, presents past experience with storage, shipment, and handling of MIDREX® Iron, a direct reduced iron material produced in the MIDREX® Direct Reduction Process, and evaluates benefits derived from different passivation techniques.

Jan 1, 1978

By John E. Conley

The slate industry of the United States has shown a marked decline in value of products made annually since the peak year 1925, although there has been moderate improvement over the lean years 1932 to 1934. In 1940, the value of all slate products sold was approximately 5¾ million dollars for a total output of 473,450 short tons. The quantity sold was a little less and the value a great deal lower than the annual averages for the past two decades. Enormous quantities of waste materials result from the quarrying, splitting and milling of slate. Obviously, utilization of such waste material is desirable, not only from the viewpoint of economical operation but also for the purpose of conserving natural resources. One possible use is to produce expanded or puffed lightweight aggregate for use in concretes. Such concretes are strong enough for specific uses, and the advantage of lightness could be obtained in such structures as the walls and roofs of buildings, suspension-bridge roadways and various other applications where weight is a factor. Conceivably, these uses could consume an appreciable annual tonnage. Use of Waste Slates for Making Aggregates The lightweight-aggregate industry has been discussed elsewhere4,5 and need not be covered in detail in this paper. The materials commonly utilized are naturally occurring aggregates such as volcanic cinder, tuff and pumice; by-product materials, such as ordinary cinders and air-cooled slags; and the specially manufactured products, including Haydite, Pottsco, Gravelite, Cel-seal, Superock and Waylite. Slates, however, have not been given the consideration they merit, especially in the United States. In the British Isles, some work has been done3 on certain Welsh slates by the Building Research Station to stimulate the use of these wastes. Requirements for Raw Materials As pointed out by Hughes,4 the lightweight-aggregate industry is segregated in regions adjacent to large cities in order to localize the market and avoid the necessity of long freight haulage. Waste slate from the deposits of eastern Pennsylvania, northern Maryland, and Virginia would meet the basic requirement of ally low-priced structural raw material. One apparent advantage is attained when slate waste, normally discarded, is utilized in the manufacture of a by-product. Mining or quarrying costs usually have been assessed against the main product. Some additional grinding might be desirable, but this operation would be relatively cheap, as most slates grind easily. It is believed that virtually all slates, when properly heated, will expand to some degree. However, types that will expand from 3 to 7 times their original volume are preferred. Fig, I illustratcs the expansion of a Pennsylvania slate. The cube originally

Jan 1, 1942

By John E. Conley

The slate industry of the United States has shown a marked decline in value of products made annually since the peak year 1925, although there has been moderate improvement over the lean years 1932 to 1934. In 1940, the value of all slate products sold was approximately 5¾ million dollars for a total output of 473,450 short tons. The quantity sold was a little less and the value a great deal lower than the annual averages for the past two decades. Enormous quantities of waste materials result from the quarrying, splitting and milling of slate. Obviously, utilization of such waste material is desirable, not only from the viewpoint of economical operation but also for the purpose of conserving natural resources. One possible use is to produce expanded or puffed lightweight aggregate for use in concretes. Such concretes are strong enough for specific uses, and the advantage of lightness could be obtained in such structures as the walls and roofs of buildings, suspension-bridge roadways and various other applications where weight is a factor. Conceivably, these uses could consume an appreciable annual tonnage. Use of Waste Slates for Making Aggregates The lightweight-aggregate industry has been discussed elsewhere4,5 and need not be covered in detail in this paper. The materials commonly utilized are naturally occurring aggregates such as volcanic cinder, tuff and pumice; by-product materials, such as ordinary cinders and air-cooled slags; and the specially manufactured products, including Haydite, Pottsco, Gravelite, Cel-seal, Superock and Waylite. Slates, however, have not been given the consideration they merit, especially in the United States. In the British Isles, some work has been done3 on certain Welsh slates by the Building Research Station to stimulate the use of these wastes. Requirements for Raw Materials As pointed out by Hughes,4 the lightweight-aggregate industry is segregated in regions adjacent to large cities in order to localize the market and avoid the necessity of long freight haulage. Waste slate from the deposits of eastern Pennsylvania, northern Maryland, and Virginia would meet the basic requirement of ally low-priced structural raw material. One apparent advantage is attained when slate waste, normally discarded, is utilized in the manufacture of a by-product. Mining or quarrying costs usually have been assessed against the main product. Some additional grinding might be desirable, but this operation would be relatively cheap, as most slates grind easily. It is believed that virtually all slates, when properly heated, will expand to some degree. However, types that will expand from 3 to 7 times their original volume are preferred. Fig, I illustratcs the expansion of a Pennsylvania slate. The cube originally

Jan 1, 1942

By Edna A. Dancy, Ronald L. Pastorek, Gerhard J. Derge

In an earlier study1 in this laboratory, it was found that there is a minimum in the specific conductance of Ni-S melts in the region of the stoichiometric composition, Ni3S2. This and similar observations on other sulfide1 and telluride2 systems suggest that short-range order exists in the molten phase for several hundred degrees above the melting point, and a qualitative energy-band model has been proposed, with intrinsic semiconduction at the stoichiometric composition and degenerate electron and hole conduction at metal- and tellurium-rich compositions. This suggestion has been substantiated for the telluride systems by Seebeck coefficient measurements which showed a change in sign from negative on the metal-rich side to positive on the tellurium-rich side. In the present investigation, in order to substantiate still further the proposed model, Seebeck coefficient determinations have been extended to the Ni-S system over a composition range in the vicinity of Ni3S2. The experimental method was essentially the same as that used for the telluride systems, with minor modifications on cells for high sulfur melts to permit the use of tungsten wires and W— W-Re th~rmocouples instead of the chrome1 or alumel wires and chromel-alumel thermocouples originally used. Chrome1 and alumel both deteriorate very rapidly in atmospheres containing sulfur. The Ni-S alloys were prepared as described in the conductivity paper. Initially, a portion of the solidified melt was analyzed at the end of a run, but after this was found to be inaccurate because of segregation during cooling, the whole sample was analyzed. The nickel content, only, was determined, the sulfur content being obtained by difference. The results are summarized graphically in Fig. 1, and clearly show a change in the sign of the Seebeck coefficient in the region of the stoichiometric composition. This change of sign near Ni3S2, coupled with the minimum in the conductivity, is suggestive of an intrinsic semiconductor at the stoichiometric composition, with degenerate electron and hole conduction on either side of this composition, in keeping with the proposed model. The negative temperature coefficient of conductivity, normally indicative of metallic conduction, is not inconsistent with this model. In the completely degenerate region it would be expected, while in the vicinity of Ni3S2 the suggestion originally made by Argyriades, Derge, and pound3 for the Fe-S system can probably be applied. They proposed that the forbidden gap between the valence band and the conduction band is small, and that the increase in the number of the conducting species with increase in temperature is not large enough to compensate for the loss of mobility through thermal scattering. The research was sponsored by the Office of Naval Research under Contract NONR-760(22) Project NR 039-081. 'E. A. Dancy and G. J. Derge: Trans. Met. Soc. Aime, 1963, vol. 227, pp. 1034-38. 'E. A. Dancy: Trans. Vet. soc. AIME. 1964, vol. 233, pp. 270-77. 'D. Argyriades, G. Derge, and G. M. Pound: Trans. Met. Soc. . 1959, vol. 215, pp. 909-12.

Jan 1, 1965

By K. D. Hester, A. C. Anderson

The Elliot Lake uranium deposits are contained in a pebble conglomerate which is similar throughout the basin. This paper compares the solid-liquid separation circuits of two nominal 3000 T/d acid leach uranium concentrates treating Elliot Lake ore. One concentrator employed rotary vacuum drum filtration for solids removal and washing, the .other used counter current decantation in torque arm thickeners. Capital and operating costs, operation and maintenance, and metallurgical performance of the two solution recovery methods are compared and contrasted. A recent development, removal of the sand fraction ahead of C.C.D. and separate sand washing in hydraulic cyclones, is also discussed.

Jan 1, 1973

By Emmanuel Detournay, Charles Fairhurst

A method is proposed for computing (a possible solution of) the ground reaction curve, for use in tunnel support analysis, in cases where the initial stress field is not hydrostatic. Rock around a circular tunnel is assumed to behave as an elasto-plastic material with a Mohr-Coulomb yield envelope.

Jan 1, 1982

By L. W. Rowe, W. R. Opie

A brief history of TiCI, production and purification is given. Chlorinator feed materials for the production of TiCI4 are classified. The thermodynamics and kinetics of Ticl4 production by chlorination of TiO2 are discussed. Problems encountered in the chlorination and purification steps are outlined in detail. MOST of the current processes for the production of titanium metal require the use of TiC14 as a source of titanium values. This material can only be produced by a dry chlorination process, since it is immediately hydrolyzed in the presence of water. When pure, the tetrachloride is a colorless liquid boiling at 136°C. It fumes readily in moist air, reacting immediately with the moisture to form TiO, and HC1. History The tetrachloride was prepared as early as 1826 by DumasL who chlorinated a red hot mixture of carbon and TiO,. Since then, numerous other mixtures have been used including rutile, ilmenite, beneficiated ilmenites, titanium pigment, slags, and the various titanium metalloids such as TiN, TiCN, TiOC, and TiS2. S2Cl2, phosgene, and CC14 have been substituted for chlorine and CO has been used in place of carbon.

Jan 1, 1956

By M. J. Spendlove, H. W. St. Clair

The problem frequently arises, particularly in refining metals or smelting scrap metals, of separating metals in the metallie state. Many metals may be separated by taking advantage of their difference in vapor pressure. Such separations can be made at atmospheric pressure, but the separations are much more selective and can be carried out at considerably lower temperatures if the distillation is done at pressures of a few millimeters or less in an evacuated enclosure. Until recently, this has not been considered feasible as a metallurgical operation, but the recent improvemcnts that have been made in vacuum technology have broadened the applicability of vacuum processes and have prompted re-examination of low-pressurc distillation of metals as a practicable process. The distillation of zinc from lead is one separation that has already been reduced to practice.l This paper is the first of a series of studies being made on separation of nonferrous metals by distillation at low pressures. Although these experiments were confined to the separation of zinc from aluminum, the significance of the results is by no means confined to these two metals. The purpose has been to investigate a metallurgical technique rather than merely to devise a means of separating specific metals. The experimental work on distillation of zinc from zine-aluminum alloys at reduced pressure grew out of earlier work on distillation at atmospheric pressure.2 The earlier work indicated that it would not be practicable to decrease the zinc in the alloy much below 10 pct owing to the high temperature required. Therefore attention was turned to distillation ah low pressures, at which lower temperatures are required. After preliminary tests were made in a small, evacuated tube furnace, a larger furnace having a capacity of 100 to 150 Ib of metal per charge was constructed. Distillation tests were first made on pure zinc and then on aluminum-zinc alloys of various composition. Particular attention was given to the limit to which zinc could be reduced in the residual metal. Data were also taken on the rate of evaporation, and heat balances were made for both the crucible and the condenser. Distillation Furnace The vacuum-distillation unit is illustrated schematically in Fig 1. The major components are the induction furnace, the condenser, the vacuum system, and the power-conversion unit. Power is supplied to the induction furnace from a 50-kw 3000-cycle motor-driven alternator. The pressure in the furnace is reduced by a vacuum pump having a nominal pumping speed of 10 liters per sec. When in operation, the metal vapors travel upward from the furnace to the water-cooled condenser where they are collected in amounts of 50 to 100 lb. The condenser is removed with aid of an electric hoist. When the system is under vacuum, the condenser is made self-sealing by a rubber gasket between the smooth-faced, water-cooled flanges at the top of the furnace and the bottom of the condenser. The pressure of the atmosphere is more than sufficient to insure sealing. At the conclusion of an experiment, the residual metal can be removed from the furnace by removing the condenser and tilting the furnace with the electric hoist. The metal was cast into the molds carried on a mold truck. A photograph of the furnace and auxiliary equipment is shown in Fig 2. The details of the vacuum furnace are illustrated in Fig 3. The furnace proper is made vacuum-tight with rubber gaskets placed at each end of a fused quartz cylinder. A clamping plate at the bottom and a ring at the top are made to squeeze the rubber between the metal and the end of the quartz tube. A large graphite crucible placed inside the quartz cylinder is thermally insulated and physically supported by refractory insulating bricks. A thermocouple in a quartz protection tube is located at the bottom of the crucible: the leads pass through a rubber seal in the bottom plate. The supporting structure for the furnace is an angle iron frame with transite board sides. The condenser is made in the form of a water jacketed cylinder with an opening to the vacuum line at the top. The bottom has a projecting skirt inside the machined flange to provide additional cooling for the rubber gasket. Condenser sleeves are made in the form of two semicylindrical pieces of sheet metal that fit snugly inside the cooling jacket. The split sleeve facilitates removal of the condensate. Measurement of Temperatare and Pressure The metal temperature was measured by a platinum-platinilm rhodium thermocouple inserted in a well extending up into the bottom of the graphite crucible. During rapid evaporation there is a wide difference in temperature between the surface and the main body of metal in the crucible because of the large amount of heat that must be conducted to the surface to supply the heat of evaporation. The heat of

Jan 1, 1950

By L. W. Emery

Undergrorlnd combustion operations were initiated in a 60-acre Bartlesville sand "shoe-string" reservoir in Allen Connty, Kans., in 1956. Tests in separate patterns were conducted using various co~nbinations of air and recycle gas to propagate combustion fronts from the injection toward the producing wells. These patterns were made up of 6 injection and 20 prodrrcing wells Gas and liquid prorluctiorz from each pattern was measured on an individual-well basis, and comparisons were made between the three patterns to ascertain the relative effects of injected gas composition on production behavior. Breakthrough of the combustion front at a well was characterized by an increase in water production from the well followed by an increase in bottomhole temperatrrre to approximately 250" F. After burning fronts had broken through at five producing wells, operations were terminated in 1960. From the total project approximately 79,000 bbl of oil were produced during thermal operations at a cumulative produced GOR of 23 Mcf/bbl. No appreciable change in the character of the produced crude was observed. Combustion in the reservoir was maintained with injected gas compositions ranging fronz 6 per cent oxygen in recycle gas to 100 per cent air. lnjectiotz of large quantities of recycle gas resulted in higher producing GOR's from offset wells than were measured from a pattern into ~vhich straight air ~vas injected. The air required to move the combustion front through I acre-ft of reservoir was computed to be 20 MMscf. This valrre was found to be relatively independent of the quantities of recycle gas injected. The recovery efficiency from the swept area was esti~izated to be about 59 per cent. Areas swept were similar in shape to tlzose obtained with a laboratory potentiometric model. Samples of sund taken from behind the burning front by coring indicated almost total oil removal from the sand. Petrographic analysis of the core samples indicated that the sand had been heated to peuk temperature of rlbout 1,200" F. No rignificant difference in peak temperature was forrnd in two areas where compositions of injected gas were quite different. Compression costs for thermal recovery were estimated to be $1,20/bhl of produced oil. INTRODUCTION The use of the "forward combustion" process as an oil recovery method has received a great deal of attention. This method involves ignition of the formation in an injection well, followed by propagation of a combustion front through the reservoir. Combustion is maintained by the injection of an oxygen-containing gas to react with reservoir hydrocarbons. As the flame front progresses through the reservoir, oil and formation water are vaporized, driven forward in the gaseous phase and recondensed in the cooler part of the formation. In turn, the condensed fluids push oil into the producing wellbores. Completed field tests of the process were first reported by Kuhn and Koch,' and by Grant and Szasz.' Results from other tests have since been reported by Walter,3 by Moss, White and McNeil,' and by Gates and Ramey." ach of these tests essentially utilized a single injection well surrounded by four or more producing wells. Sinclair Research, Inc., elected to do field experimental work using a number of test patterns in a single field in order that comparisons between various operating schemes could be made. The site selected and purchased in 1955 for this experimental work was a 60-acre Bartlesville sand reservoir located in Allen County, Kans. Combustion operations were initiated in mid-1956. Between that time and termination of the project in mid-1960, combustion fronts were propagated from injection wells to producers in three separate well patterns, using different mixtures of air and recycle gas. The test was terminated before sweep of the three patterns was complete so that information about the effect of combustion on the swept areas could be obtained by coring. Results from the test in the form of injection and producing well performance have been carefully recorded, and these form the general basis for this paper. DESCRIPTION OF RESERVOIR The reservoir in which the combustion tests were conducted is a Bartlesville sand "shoe-string", typical of a number of small reservoirs in Southeastern Kansas. Average reservoir characteristics are shown in Table 1. Fig. 1 is an isopachous map of the producing sand showing the reservoir to be approximately 400-ft wide and 2,500-ft long. Maximum net productive sand thickness is 21 ft. Fig. 2 shows a typical core analysis obtained by coring with water-base mud. The reservoir has no appreciable dip and is closed on the sides by degradation of sand into shale. The main body of sand is heavily laminated with shale stringers, which are not continuous between wells. The main reservoir is overlain by 30 to 40 ft of laminated low-permeability sand and shale streaks. No information is available on the original properties of

By Robert Stefanko

Longwall mining which has a long history abroad, was used only on a limited scale in the United States until less than 20 years ago. Modern longwall mining in this country can be said to have begun in 1960 with the first installation of self-advancing props in a coal mine in southern West Virginia. In Europe, because of adverse natural conditions, longwall mining is frequently the only practical method, but, in the United States, the system has had to compete economically with highly productive room-and-pillar systems. However, because it is inherently continuous, it has greater productive potential than room-and-pillar systems, and, therefore, although only about 5% of the total U.S. underground production today is the result of the longwall system, its growth potential is great. As mining, by necessity, progresses deeper and must be done under poorer natural conditions, less opportunity will exist for the room- and-pillar system, and the longwall system will have to be used.

Jan 1, 1981

By Edgar G. Hill

Much has been written and said recently about the methods used and materials and equipment employed in building the long tubes that criss-cross a great part of the United States, like the pattern of a spider's web. This paper will discuss the fundamentals of design of these lines from the economic as well as the engineering viewpoint, pointing out the effect of the volumes transported, and the load factor, on the unit costs of transportation, as well as the effects on costs of the character 01 the fluids the lines are called upon to handle. Generally speaking, crude-oil pipe lines carry oil from the producing fields to the refineries. Sometimes part of the journey is by pipe line to a coastal point and tank ships are employed for the rest of the trip. The main lines of directional flow of crude oil through pipe lines in the United States are shown on Fig. I, but this, of course, does not always show individual pipe lines. Basic Formula for Flow OF Crude Oil The laws governing the flow of crude oil through pipes are well known. The basic

Jan 1, 1942