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Jan 4, 1951

By C. M. Marquardt

Tramp iron and steel moving on a conveyor belt cause small currents to be generated in a coil situated in a strong magnetic field, which are converted to an alternating current and are amplified. The output voltage from the amplifier fires a thyratron with a relay in its anode circuit, which actuates a howler and simultaneously drops a spot of marker material on the belt.

Jan 1, 1950

By P. E. Busby, C. Wells

FURTHER study of data used in determinations of 1—rates of diffusion of boron in austenite and 2—solubilities of boron in the a and phases of iron and steel' has provided an equation for the diffusion of boron in a iron. In brief, the previously published data were accumulated from the results of deboron-izing (and decarburizing) experiments carried out in the range of 700° to 1300°C. Diffusion coefficients (D?) for boron in austenite were calculated using the Grube solution of Fick's law. However, only solubility values were estimated from the discontinuous concentration-penetration curves, Fig. 1, which are characteristic of diffusion in two phases. Dr. Carl Wagner' has recently provided a solution for calculating D values from penetration curves of this type as follows: Cl1.1 —C8/C8- C11.1 = vp ? e ? erf (?) and D = ?/4?2 t where C11,12, C8, C11, and E have the values shown in Fig. 1. D is the diffusion coefficient, sq cm per sec; t is time of deboronizing anneal, see; and ? is a di-mensionless parameter. For a given diffusion experiment, the value of ? can be readily obtained by graphical solution from a plot of y vs the right-hand part of Eq. 1. D may then be evaluated from Eq. 2. The avplication of this solution to previously re-ported results, of which excerpts are given in Table I, permits the calculation of diffusion coefficients for boron in a iron. On the basis of these meager data, it is tentatively concluded that the diffusion of boron in a may be represented by the equation Da = 1011 e-92,900/RT where R is the gas constant, cal X 0C-1 X mol-1; and T is the absolute temperature, OK. Although the frequency factor, 106 sq cm per sec, is admittedly several orders of magnitude higher than expected, the value of Q, 62,000 cal per mol, appears reasonable and is, in fact, very similar to that for the self-diffusion of iron. It is pertinent to mention at this point that the value of Q obtained for the diffusion of boron in austenite by means of the Wagner solution is 19,000 cal per mol and is in excellent agreement with the value previously reported1 in the equation DT = 2xl0-3 e-21,000/RT [4] which was determined by the application of the Grube solution to other data. The fact that determined constants A and Q in the equation D? = A e-Q/RT were practically the same, independent of whether the Wagner or Grube solutions were used in determinations of D values, strengthened the authors' belief that the computed values of D (Table I) using the Wagner solution are reliable. The relative values in Eqs. 3 and 4 for the diffusion of boron in the a and ? phases, respectively, suggest that boron forms a substitutional solid solution in a iron and an interstitial solid solution in ? iron. The same tentative conclusion has been reached by McBride et al.3 on the basis of relative solubilities, atom diameter, and the size of the interstitial hole in a and ? iron. In connection with the data for test 14 listed in Table I, it is of interest to calculate the solubility of boron in a iron using the D value given by Eq. 3. As might be anticipated from the small movement of the interface in test 14, proper substitutions in Eqs. 2 and 1 give a low value, approximately 0.0004 pct B, at 850°C. Apparently at 835°C (test 13) it is possible to obtain 0.0018 pct B, and at 850°C only 0.0004 pct B into solution in the a phase before a second phase appears. These observations are consistent with the Fe-B constitution diagram proposed by McBride, Spretnak, and Speiser.3 References P. E. Busby, M. E. Warga, and C. Wells: Diffusion and Solubility of Boron in Iron and Steel. Trans. AIME (1953) 197, p. 1463; Journal of Metals (November 1953). 'W. Jost: Diffusion in Solids, Liquids, Gases. (1952) pp. 69-71. New York. Academic Press Inc. "C. C. McBride, J. W. Spretnak, and R. Speiser: A Study of the Fe-Fe2B System. Trans. ASM (1954) 46, p. 499.

Jan 1, 1955

By A. L. Moore

KAISER Bauxite Co., a subsidiary of Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., has been mining and shipping Jamaican bauxite for over a year. On Feb. 10, 1953 the first boat load of bauxite left Port Kaiser, Jamaica, for the company's alumina plant at Baton Rouge, La. To provide its own source of the aluminum ore, a Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. exploration party started initial reconnaissance in 1947. This work, and subsequent exploration, led to the acquisition of reserves sufficient to warrant a full-scale mining operation for several decades.

Jan 3, 1954

By W. M. Parris, P. D. Frost, H. A. Robinson

The effects of hydrogen content and strain rate on the static tensile and notch-rupture properties of the Ti-3Mn-complex alloy heat-treated to differed strength levels were investigated. The extent of embriulement was found to be proportional to the amount of hydrogen present and the strength to which the specimens were heat-treated. The research suggests the possible necessity of specifying lower hydrogen limits than are now allowed when titanium alloys are heat-treated to higher strengths than are presently used. The research also supports a hypothesis advanced earlier for a mechanism of hydrogen embrittlement. MUCH attention has been focused on the effects of hydrogen in in Most of the published in- formation has dealt with the effects of hydrogen on alloys in the annealed or lowest-strength condition. The work of Kotfila and Erbin3 is one of the few exceptions. In view of the fact that heat-treatments are now being used to produce high strength in titanium alloys,' it is necessary that more attention be given to the effects of hydrogen on these alloys in the heat-treated condition. Research was initiated to establish the effects of hydrogen on the properties of the Ti-3Mn-complex alloy at various strength levels. This research, which supplemented that of Kotfila and Erbin, was started because it was found that high-strength tensile specimens of this alloy were strain-rate sensitive. The essential results of the research are summarized in this paper. MATERIALS AND EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES Material for this investigation was a 41/2-in.-diam bar forged from a single commercial heat of the Ti-3Mn-complex alloy having the composition given in Table I. The as-received forging was reduced further by forging at 1750°F to 3/4-in. square bars. About one fourth of this material was vacuum annealed at 1400°F for 24 hr to obtain a base hydrogen content of 25 ppm. The remaining bars were hydrogenated to levels of 90, 140, and 260 ppm in a large Sievert's apparatus in the following manner: Four 3/4-in. square bars, 5 in. long, were placed in the reaction chambzr. The chamber was evacuated, heated to 1400°F, and a measured amount of hydrogen was introduced. When absorbtion was complete, as indicated by the drop in pressure, the reaction tube was cooled and the bars removed. Each batch of bars was then sealed in individual evacuated Vycor containers and heated for 24 hr at 1400°F in order to distribute the hydrogen homogeneously. After vacuum-annealing or hydroge nation, the bars were rolled at a temperature (1400°F) below the ß-transus to 1/2 - in. - diam rounds. Groups of the rolled specimens representing each of the hydrogen levels were given the following heat-treatments: 1) One hr at 1300°F, water-quenched. 2) One hr at 1300°F, water-quenched, and aged 8 hr at 1100°F. 3) One hr at 1300°F, water-quenched, and aged 4 hr at 1000°F. 4) One hr at 1300°F, water-quenched, and aged 48hr at 800°F. Heat-treated bars were machined into standard 0.250-in.-diam tensile specimens having 1-in. gage lengths. Throughout the processing and testing of this material, hydrogen analyses were made by vacuum-fusion methods to check for accuracy of hydrogen additions, homogeneity, and possible losses during processing. A summary of these analyses is given in Table II It may be seen that the actual hydrogen contents were reasonably close to the desired levels. In addition, it was noted that the variation in hydrogen content within any one bar did not exceed

Jan 1, 1959

By R. E. Steiner, A. F. Weinberg, R. J. Van Thyne

Uranium solubility in molten bismuth was determined in the temperature range 350" to 600°C, varying from 0.09 wt pct to near 2 wl pct, respectively. Zirconium and magnesium, simulated fission products, and sodium were found to increase or decrease uranium solubility in bismuth in the temperature range 370° to 420°C, depending upon the addition or temperature. Data were obtained by both chemical analysis of samples obtained by filtration from saturated melts and by measurement of the variation of electrical resistance with temperature. IN a study for the United States Atomic Energy Commission, a Liquid Metal Fuel Reactor Experiment (LMFRE) was proposed in which a solution of uranium dissolved in molten bismuth served as both the fuel solution and the primary coolant. It was proven necessary to add other elements to this solution for certain desirable properties: 1) zirconium acts to prevent reaction of the fuel solution with the graphite core (which would result in the formation of uranium carbide) and also to inhibit mass transfer of iron and chromium from the walls of the reactor tubing to cold spots resulting in blockage; and 2) magnesium acts as a deoxidant and prevents loss of uranium. In addition to these intentional additives, other elements entering the solution are: 1) fission products which are a by-productof reactor operation, 2) sodium (the secondary coolant) through possible small leaks in the heat exchange system, and 3) iron and chromium from the container walls. Each of these elements may affect the solubility of uranium in the fuel solution. Since the concept of this reactor is based upon a liquid solution, the relatively low solubility of uranium in bismuth will dictate the minimum temperature at which the reactor heat exchanger can be operated. The solubility of uranium in liquid bismuth and the effect of some additives on this solubility have pre- viously been investigated1-' (more recent results6" became avaliable after initiation of this investigation). However, some discrepancies between the various results have been noted, and also the cumulative effect of the several additions or impurities was not known. This investigation was commenced to obtain definitive results. MATERIALS Analyses of the materials used are presented in Table I. Although ostensibly of extreme purity (99.999 wt pct), the bismuth was found to contain a significant amount of impurities, probably oxides. Except for determination of the binary system, Bi-U, prior to use all bismuth was hydrogen-refined and

Jan 1, 1962

By Eugene N. Cameron

Pegmatites occur in abundance in certain areas of South West Africa and in adjacent parts of northern Cape Province in the Union of South Africa. Some of the pegmatite deposits were prospected before World War I, and intermittent mining was done during the period between the two World Wars. The deposits of the Jooste lithium mines became an important source of lepidolite, and beryl, columbite-tantalite, wolframite, and other minerals were produced. Since World War I1 prospecting and mining have been carried on vigorously, with the result that South West Africa produced nearly 3000 tons of beryl during 1949 through 1953, together with more than 40,000 tons of lithium minerals, chiefly lepidolite and petalite. Small amounts of tantalite, columbite, and other minerals have also been produced during the postwar period. Most of this mineral production has come from two pegmatite areas roughly outlined in Fig. 1. One is the Karibib-Omaruru area of north central South West Africa. The second is the northeastern part of the Orange River pegmatite area, which extends into adjacent parts of Namaqualand, in northern Cape Province of the Union of South Africa

Sep 1, 1955

By A. J. Conelius, D. P. Sobocinski

This paper presents a correlation for predicting the behavior of a water cone as it builds from the static water-oil contact to breakthrough conditions. The correlation is partly empirical and involves dimensionless groups of reservoir and fluid properties and of production and well characteristics. The groups were deduced from the scaling criteria for the immiscible displacement of oil by water. The correlation is based on a limited amount of experimenfal data from a laboratory sand-packed model and on results from a computer program for a two-dimensional, incompressible system. Because the correlating groups are dimensionless, they can be used to estimate the performance of water coning cases not specifically considered in the correlation. However, despite its dimensionless nature, the correlation is not completely general and will not provide meaningful estimates of cone behavior in many situations. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The production of water from oil wells is a common occurrence which increases the cost of producing operations and may reduce the efficiency of the depletion mechanism and the recovery of reserves. We will deal with one cause of this water production, namely, coning. The coning of water into a producing well is caused by pressure gradients established around the wellbore by the production of fluids from the well. These pressure gradients can raise the water-oil contact near the well where gradients are most severe. Gravity forces that arise from fluid density differences counterbalance the flowing pressure gradients and tend to keep the water out of the oil zone. Therefore, at any given time, there is a balance between gravitational and viscous forces at points on and away from the completion interval. When the dynamic forces at the wellbore exceed gravitational forces, a cone of water will ultimately break into the well to produce water along with the oil. We can expand on this basic visualization of coning by introducing the concepts of stable cone, unstable cone and critical production rate. For instance, if a well is produced at a constant rate and the pressure gradients in the drainage system have become constant, a steady-state condition is reached. If, at this condition, the dynamic forces at the well are less than the gravity forces, then the water or gas cone that has formed will not extend to the well. Moreover, the cone will neither advance nor recede, thus establishing what is known as a stable cone. Conversely, if the pressure in the system is in an unsteady-state condition, then an unstable cone will continue to advance until steady-state conditions prevail. If the flowing pressure drop at the well is suffcient to overcome the gravity forces, the unstable cone will grow and ultimately break into the well. It is important to note that in a realistic sense, stable cones may only be "pseudostable" because the drainage system and pressure distribution generally change. For example, with reservoir depletion, the water-oil contact may advance toward the completion interval, thereby increasing chances for coning. As another example, reduced productivity due to well damage requires a corresponding increase in the flowing pressure drop LO maintain a given production rate. This increase in pressure drop may force an otherwise stable cone into a well. The critical production rate, well known in the literature, is the rate above which the flowing pressure gradient at the well causes water (or gas) to cone into the well. It is, therefore, the maximum rate of oil production without concurrent production of the displacing phase by coning. At the critical rate, a built-up cone is stable but is at a position of incipient breakthrough. Numerous papers have been published on critical rates. Some of the better known of these include the work of (1) Muskat and Wyckoff,' who first dealt with the coning problem; (2) Chaney, et al,' who developed expressions similar to those of Muskat but who presented results in a conven ient-to-use graphical form (the "Sun" method); and (3) Meyer and Garder,b hose analysis is based on radial-flow formulas. One assumption in critical production rate analyses is that the cone has built-up to just before its breakthrough into the well. But, these analyses reveal nothing directly about the time it takes for the cone to build up to this incipient breakthrough position. Thus, water-free oil can be produced from a well for prolonged periods at rates above the critical rate before the well reaches the condition to which the critical rate applies. The published literature contains little on the rate of growth of a cone. Experimentally, Meyer and Searcy studied the rate of rise of a cone in a Hele-Shaw model.' Additional related work on water breakthrough and produced water-oil ratios in water driven reservoirs was reported by Muskat," Hutchinson and Kemp," Henley, et al,' and Stevens, et a1.B Theoretically, the basic coning equations for a water-oil system can be developed by applying the conservation of mass to each of the phases, relating flow velocities with pressure by Darcy's law, and relating pressures across water-oil interfaces by capillary pressure. With the usual boundaries at the well and reservoir limits, the solution of the resulting equations for the time behavior of a water-oil interface constitutes a free-surface, boundary-value problem. The shape of the boundary depends on the internal potential distribution, while this

Jan 1, 1966

By H. C. Weed

THE Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co., located in the Globe-Miami district at Inspiration, Ariz., became a producer of copper in 1915. From 1915 until 1948, 116,278,000 tons of ore were produced from underground workings by the block-caving system of mining. In April 1948, open-pit ore production from portions of the ore body was started and earlier plans for block-caving in these areas were abandoned. The change was due to economic conditions.

Jan 8, 1950

By L. D. Hall, S. J. Rothman

The diffusion of lead and of trace amounts of bismuth in liquid lead have been investigated by the capillary method, using ROD and ROE as tracers. The results are compared with existing theories of diffusion in liquids, the agreement with theory being fair. The heat of activation for self-diffusion in lead is found experimentally to be close to the corresponding activation energy obtained from viscosity data. The pioneer data of Groh and von Hevesi for the self-diffusion of liquid lead, using ThB as a tracer, fit in with the present results. OMPARED with the volume of effort expended on solid state diffusion, there has been little attention paid to diffusion in liquid metals. A review of experimental work in this field, covering most of the studies up to 1951, was given by Jost.' More recent papers include those by Hoffman2 on self-diffusion in mercury, Morgan and Kitchener" and Stark, Shchilishchev, and Kazachkev4 on the diffusion of various elements in liquid iron, and Grace and Derge on the diffusion of bismuth in bismuth-lead alloys. The need for more experimental data to aid in the evaluation of existing theories prompted the

Jan 1, 1957

By George Macready

TRINIDAD, British West Indies, is an island near the north coast of South America, situated between latitudes 10° and 11° N:, and. opposite the numerous outlets of the Orinoco River Delta. It is separated from Venezuela by the Gulf of Paria (salt, water) and straits over 5 mi. (8 km.) wide. The area of the island is approximately 1750 sq. mi. (453,- . 250 hectares) and the population is approximately 400,000. The climate is tropical with an annual rainfall of from 45 to 60 in. (114 to 152 cm.). The oil fields consist of several units, or fields, located in the southern half of the island. Approximately 90 per cent. of the total production has been yielded by fields situated within 7 mi: (11.3 km.) of the famous asphalt lake and on the southwest peninsula. The most important producing fields, or units, are the following, which are shown on the accompanying map: Brighton, or Pitch Lake Field, operated by the Trinidad Lake Petroleum Co., Ltd., is situated beside the famous Pitch Lake; it, even encroaches on the lake. Vessigny Field, operated by the Trinidad Lake Petroleum Co., Ltd., is situated 2 mi. (3.2 km.) south of Pitch Lake. Lot One Field, operated by the Petroleum Development Co., Ltd., the United British Oilfields of Trinidad, Ltd., and Stollmeyer, Ltd., is situated 3 mi. south of Pitch Lake upon Lot One of Morne 1'Enfer Forest Reserve and adjoining properties. Parry Lands Field, operated by the United British Oilfields of Trinidad, Ltd., and the Petroleum Development Co., Ltd., is situated 3;2 mi. south of Pitch Lake on Lot Three of Morne l'Enfer Forest Reserve and adjoining properties. Point Fortin Field, operated by the United British Oilfields of Trinidad, Ltd., is situated at Point Fortin, 6 mi. southwest of Pitch Lake. Fyzabad Field, operated by Trinidad Leaseholds, Ltd., is situated several miles southwest of Fyzabad Village and 6 mi. south-southeast of Pitch Lake. Barracpore Field, operated by Trinidad Leaseholds, Ltd., is situated several miles south of. San Fernando and 15 mi. (24.14 km.) east of Pitch Lake.

Jan 9, 1920

By W. Mitchell, B. H. Bergstorm, C. L. Sollenberger

A unique compression testing machine was constructed to load individual 1/8 to I-in. spheres of glass, etc., at rates from 100 to 100,000 lb per min. During loading the applied load was continuously plotted us the deformation of the sphere-platen system. The load-deformation curve conforms to the theory of elasticity. The spheres were surrounded by steel retaining rings or by gelatin (to prevent secondary fracture). The product size modulus was determined from screen analyses. The data shows: 1) Energy input per unit mass is inversely proportional to the product size modulus (or directly proportional to the surface area per unit mass). 2) Increased loading rates slightly increase the energy input per unit mass required for fracture without affecting the preceding relationship. Theory and experiments show that much of the input strain energy is transformed into kinetic energy of fragments at fracture, this being a reason efficiencies based on "surface energies" are exceedingly small. This large kinetic energy component is usually dissipated as heat but may be partially reclaimed because impact of fragments against the surface of steel retaining rings causes additional comminution. There are currently several theories of crushing, all of which can be derived from the general energy equation of Gillilandl as was pointed out by Mitchellet al in 1954'and more recently by Rose and Sullivan. If the exponent of the equation dE-x-"dx is assigned values of 2,1, or 3/2, one obtains by intergration between suitable limits, the equations of Rittinger, kick,' and Bond,' respectively. Other investigators prefer to let the exponent be a variable parameter. To help resolve the controversy, the Allis-Chal-mers Research Laboratories set up a series of carefully controlled experiments in which the level of energy input required to induce the comminution of a single particle by slow compression loading was very accurately measured. The energy input requirement, in conjunction with the size analysis of the fragments produced at fracture, yielded an accurate energy-product size relationship for the conditions studied. APPARATUS The experimental apparatus was designed to apply a compressive load on opposite sides of an "ideal particle." Spherical shapes were chosen, because point contact loading is typical of the mechanics of conventional crushers. The bulk of the experimental data was obtained with glass spheres because glass is a fairly homogeneous, brittle material for which the properties follow definite statistical distributions. The spheres ranged from 1/8 to 1-in. diam. The compressive load was applied to the specimen at a uniform rate by a loading mechanism (Fig. 1) which acted through a system of levers. The uniform rates, ranging from 100 to 100,000 lb per min, were obtained by metering water into a bucket suspended at the end of the secondary level. Point contact was made with the sphere through tungsten-carbide platens. This latter material is extremely hard and has a high modulus of elasticity, thereby having a minimum of distortion when loaded. The actual load on the sphere was measured independently of the lever system by a load cell, Fig. 2, which was designed so that the voltage output of the load cell would be proportional to load. The deformation of the specimen was indirectly measured by a pair of transformers which were attached to opposite edges of the upper platen. The cores of the transformers, which were attached to the lower platen, moved relative to the transformer so that the voltage output was proportional to the deformation of the sphere-platen system. The load was plotted against the deformation on an X-Y recorder. The area under the curve, as shown on Fig. 3, was proportional to the energy input of the

Jan 1, 1961

By Charles P. Williams

The lead-bearing area of Missouri has been subdivided, geographically, into the Southeastern, the Central, and the Southwestern

By R. K. Hopkins

Fox a great many years fusion welding has been used in and around petroleum refineries, but it is only within six or seven years that the more important pressure vessels have been constructed by this process, because before that time the properties of fusion welds would not withstand such rigorous service. Since the adoption of fusion welding for the construction of this equipment, the refiner has required pressure vessels suitable for operation over a very wide range of conditions. On the one hand, vessels must operate at extremely high temperatures, in the range of 950° to 1000° F., and on the other vessels must be suitable for operation at sub-zero temperatures down as low as -75° F. Also, vessels are required suitable for operation at pressures upwards of 1000 lb. per sq. in., and as low as a 29-in. vacuum. In addition, vessels are required to withstand the attack of very corrosive mediums. It has been a rather difficult task for the fabricator to meet all of these requirements, but as a result of the extensive research carried on by steel manufacturers and several fabricators of class I vessels, practically all of these demands have been met. In order to meet the refiners' requirements for this wide range of conditions, the fabricator has worked closely with the metallurgist. This has enabled him to choose the proper base metal for each service condition, but it has been the fabricator's problem to develop a welding rod and welding technique, as well as a heat-treatment, that would produce in the welded vessel characteristics in and around the weld comparable to those in the base metal. Where corrosion is not a serious problem, and where the operating temperatures are not too high, ordinary carbon steel has served very well. But when corrosion is serious, and/or when the temperatures are either very high or very low, it is necessary to use some form of alloy steel to give satisfactory service.

Jan 1, 1935

By H. Baldauf, H. Schubert

The structure of flotation reagents is important for their adsorption on mineral surfaces and thus for their flotation effectiveness. The influence of the structure of organic depressants on the flotation of fluorite and barite with anionic and cationic collectors was investigated using a modified Hallimond microflotation cell. In addition, adsorption, desorption, and electrokinetic results were employed to further elucidate the role and the correlation of the structural parameters for adsorption and the depressing effect. As hydrophilic reagents, different aliphatic and aromatic compounds capable of forming chelates with alkaline earth materials were used. For the depressing effect, the kind, number, and position of the polar groups in the molecule, as well as the structure of the reagent films play decisive roles.

Jan 1, 1980

By G. K. Williams

The continuous process of lead refining as at present operated at the Port Piric plant of The Broken Hill Associated Smelters Proprietary Ltd. was a development from investigations conducted in connection with the ordinary Parkes desilverizing process. It is not proposed here to discuss the theoretical considerations involved in continuous desilverizing because this aspect has already been dealt with in previous publications.1 Continuous Softening Process For economical desilverization of lead bullion, the bullion must first be subjected to refining processes for the removal of such impurities as copper, sulphur, arsenic, antimony and tin. This refining is effected by first drossing to remove copper and sulphur and then preferentially oxidizing the arsenic, antimony and tin from the bullion in the softening process. The theoretical basis of the continuous softening process is illustrated by the portion of the Pb-Sb-O ternary equilibrium diagram shown in Fig. 1. Under conditions of complete liquefaction, metal of the composition of softened bullion is in equilibrium with an oxide slag containing about 9 per cent antimony. In practice, of course, arsenic also is always present, and while the 0Pb-Sb-As-O quaternary system has not been worked out in detail, it has been found that in softening drossed smelter bullion of the composition produced at Port Pirie, arsenic is always reduced to 0.001 per cent or less when the antimony in the bullion is reduced to a satisfactory figure. In the operation of the continuous softening process, a two-phase system of a bullion low in arsenic and antimony and an oxide slag relatively high in those components exists in equilibrium. To this system is added continuously a bullion containing 0.2 per cent As and 0.8 per

Jan 1, 1937

By J. A. Jargon, H. K. van Poollen

Flow of slightly compressible fluids through porous media can be described by linear equations. Many mathematical solutions- are available for the boundary conditions of constant terminal pressures or constant flow rates, or a combination of both. Various techniques of formation evaluation use drastic rate changes, such as sudden shut-in. Other methods require that the well be produced at a constant rate. In practice, one is not always able m fulfill these rigid requtirements. This report shows a methor1 by which varying-rate data can be converted to a constant-rate pressure response, called the unit response function. After obtaining the unit response function, one may analyze it, using techniques described in the literature. The method uses tile principle of superposition. Necessary data is a time history of pressure and production. If pressure changes and/or rate changes are very drastic, the unit response function becomes erratic and oscillates The erratic and oscillating results are obvious, and under those circumstances, no answer can he obtained. It appears, however, that a response function without oscilla-tion will not contain any appreciable errors —- one gets either good results or no results. This report includes a mumber of examples of converting constant-rate data to constant terminal-pressure data and vice versa. In addition, a number of field-test applications are given. This method should be useful in converting mathematical solutions from one boundary condition to another. It already has proven useful in converting varying-rate data to constant-rate conditions. INTRODUCTION Pressure drawdown tests are performed on production wells to determine various reservoir characteristics, including permeability, distances to discontinuities, reservoir continuity and wellbore conditions. An ideal drawdown test is performed at a constant production rate with pressure observation during the drawdown period. A typical drawdown curve for a constant rate of production is shown in Fig. 1. In practice, a constant production rate cannot always be maintained. Fig. 2 shows a pressure drawdown curve for a varying rate. Usual methods of analysis are not applicable to tests such as this. It is, therefore, necessary to convert the varying-rate data somehow, before usual analytical techniques can be applied. This report describes a method of obtaining a response function. A response function can be defined as the relationship between pressure and time for a well producing at a constant unit rate. Such a response function can be analyzed by the usual analytical techniques. Hutchinson and Sikora' first approximated a resistance function (response function), and by applying the superposition principle, pressures were calculated using the varying rates. If no match was obtained, adjustments were made to the response function and the closer approximation was used again in an attempt to match calculated and observed pressure behavior. If a good match was obtained: the response function was then used to extrapolate the future aquifer behavior.

Jan 1, 1966

By B. S. Norris, Charles R. Austin

IN a recent paper the authors1 discussed the reactions to tempering of hypereutectoid steels quenched from 1000° C., as revealed by studies on changes in hardness, electrical resistivity, coercive force and metallographic characteristics. The data, which related specifically to tempering temperatures of 550°, 650° and 710° C., for varying periods up to 125 hr., permitted the following important conclusions: 1. The rate of softening of the steels at the temperatures examined differed markedly although the steels were of "similar" general chemical composition. 2. The temperature of maximum softening spread over a range from about 650° C. to the eutectoid inversion. 3. The divergence in behavior was ascribed, at least in part, to a profound difference in tendency to graphitization on annealing at subeutectoid temperatures. 4. The node of spheroidization of the cementite, as revealed by metallographic studies, also varied considerably in the different steels. The purpose of the present investigation is to pursue further the study of the difference in behavior of the steels on tempering over a wider range of temperature. To this end the following features have received particular attention: 1. Comparison of temperatures of maximum softening of the various steels when the quenched samples were tempered for 5 hr. and for 75 hr. followed by furnace cooling and by quenching in water. 2. Determination of the effect of quenching temperature, prior to tempering, on the rate of softening. Quenching temperatures of 1000° and 850° C. were used in the investigations. 3. Examination of the microstructures obtained with the various heat-treatments employed.

Jan 1, 1938

By E. Teghtsoonian, K. G. Davis

THE preparation of cobalt crystals offers problems: on cooling through 400°C a phase transformation takes place whereby the structure changes from face-centered cubic to the low temperature close-packed hexagonal form. There are a few references in the literature which describe the preparation of cobalt crystals for magnetic work1,&apos; where melt-solidification methods were used. Reasons will be given why such methods were found unsuitable for our purposes. The following techniques were tried: 1) Solid state methods. Any mechanical shaping of tensile specimens would lead to uncertainty with regard to residual strains. With this in mind, following Kaa, strain-anneal and grain growth techniques were extensively investigated. In no Case were useful single crystals obtained. The transformation boundaries, which are crystallographically similar to twin boundaries, are probably extremely stable and inhibit the grain growth. 2) Growth from the melt. Normal melt-solidification methods were tried, using recrystallised alumina crucibles, and also a osoft moldo technique in which cobalt rod was packed in alumina powder. Trouble was encountered with gas evolution on solidification of the melt, giving porosity. Some adhesion of cobalt to the alumina also took place. Only a small proportion of the runs gave single crystals. 3) Zone-refining. Much the best results have been obtained using an electron-beam floating zone refiner. The refiner, based on a design by Calverly et Al .5 had a single-turn tungsten filament. It was operated at 600 v with an emission current around 45 ma. Commercial cobalt rod 1/8 in. in diam was given one pass at a rate of zone travel normally 25 cm per hr, under a vacuum approximately 10-5mm of Hg. Over 50 pct of the runs gave long sections of single crystal. Crystals up to 2o Cm long with good uniformity of cross section and straightness have been grown in this way. Increase in the length of the molten zone resulted in higher single-crystal yields, but control of zone stability was reduced. Sub-boundaries in the zoned crystals were few, and Laue X-ray spots were sharp. The success of the method is believed to lie in two factors, namely i) the absence of crucible restraints during the transformation, and ii) extreme axiality of heat flow during cooling. The axes of the zoned crystals were clustered around the [ 1010] pole, the pole of the basal plane being at least 60 deg from the specimen axis. Crystals grown at lower rates of zone travel showed the same orientation range, Fig. 1. This orientation is similar to that for other hexagonal metals grown from the melt, which is a little surprising when the mode of formation of the hexagonal phase is considered. The preferred orientation is probably caused by anisotropy of heat conduction, i.e., that crystal which can most effectively conduct heat away from the transformation interface will be favored. Fig. 2 shows the area on a standard cubic stereo-gram in which there are no poles more than 60 deg from one of the four < 111> directions. This area

Jan 1, 1962

By J. F. Breedis

The morphology and crystallography of marten -site formed during quenclzing were examined by transmission electron microscopy in alloys whose compositions lie between Fe-19 wt pct Cr-11 wt pet Ni and Fe-33 wt pet Ni. Depending upon composition, four types of transformation products were observed in this portion of the Fe-Cr-Ni system. Three of these products are denoted as lath, plate, and surface martensite. The hcp structure found in association with martensite it? certain higlz-clzromium stairzless steels does not influence the transformation crystallogyaphy and cannot he Considered to act as a transitional structure in the transformation from austenite to martensite. DISTINCT changes in the characteristics of mar-tensitic transformations are produced by the partial replacement of nickel by chromium in austenitic iron alloys. Large, discrete martensite plates form in Fe-30 pct Ni, while aggregates of small crystals form in sheets parallel with (111)A austenite planes in stainless steels containing in the vicinity of 18 pct Cr and 8 pct Ni. These transformation structures are termed plate and lath martensite, respectively. In addition, an hcp structure (E) has been observed in certain high-chromium stainless steels in association with martensite. It has been suggested that the E structure acts as an intermediate step in the nucleation of martensitel-&apos; and influences the morphology and crystallography of the final transformation product. However, this structure may be the consequence of the deformation of austenite arising from the shape distortion accompanying the transformation to bcc martensite.&apos; An hcp stacking of atoms is produced in an fcc lattice by the introduction of an intrinsic stacking fault on alternate (111)A planes. At present, the arguments behind each explanation for the E structure are based on circumstantial evidence. This investigation seeks to determine the importance of the hcp structure to the martensitic transformation, and to examine the crystallography and morphology of the structures produced in bulk samples by quenching in alloys whose compositions lie between Fe-19 wt pct Cr-11 wt pct Ni and Fe-33 wt pct Ni. These aspects of the martensitic transformations occurring in these alloys have been studied by electron metallography and selected-area diffraction of foils examined in transmission in the electron microscope. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS The alloys have been prepared from thoroughly mixed powders of pure iron (99.6+ pct, 0.06 max pct C, 0.15 max pct N), chromium (99.9+ pct), and nickel (99.9+ pct). After sintering in an Ar-H2 atmosphere, the mixtures were melted by induction heating in recrystallized alumina boats under purified argon. The ingots were cold-rolled to 0.4-mm sheets (100 pct reduction in thickness) after the removal of at least 1.5 mm from their surfaces by grinding. Three-millimeter discs were punched from the cold-rolled sheet and annealed at 1150°C for approximately 24 hr in evacuated quartz capsules. The average grain size was 40 µ Thin foils for examination in transmission in the electron microscope were prepared from discs quenched to liquid-nitrogen temperature. A depression was first jet-machined into the center of a disc and a thin area (less than approximately 3000A in thickness) was produced at the base of the depression by electropolishing. Electron-microscope studies utilized the RCA EMU-3 and the Philips EM-100B microscopes operating at 100 kv. X-ray examination of the polycrystalline alloys was performed either in a diffractometer or in a

Jan 1, 1964