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By J. E. Warren, J. H. Hartsock

Because of the extensive utilization of hydraulic fracturing for the stimulation of low-productivity wells, the two related problems of fracture design and evaluation have become economically significant and, as a consequence, helve motivated this investigation. The producing characteristics of horizontally fractured wells were studied to determine the fracture configuration that should be employed as the basis for the design of the treatment and to develop a method that can be used to establish the degree to which the design objectives have been achieved. The equations which describe the steady-state flow of a single-phase fluid into, and through. a finite-capacity fracture were solved numerically for an idealized reservoir-fracture model. The numerical results were used to obtain an apparent skin effect for each combination of the parameters considered. Based on the computed results, subject to the limitcitions implied by the assumptions that were made, the following general conclusions were drawn. 1. For a radius of drainage at least four times us large as the radius of the fracture, an apparent skin effect that is independent of the radius of drainage can be calculated. 2. The productivity of the hydraulically fractured system, relative to that of the unfructured well, can be determined from the apparent skin effect and can be used to establish design objectives. 3. In the evaluation of a fracture job, it is not Possible to determine both the radius of the fracture and its flow capacity uniquely from the apparent skin effect; an independent determination of one of the quantities is necessary. lNTRODUCTION Although hydraulic fracturing has been employed as a method for stimulating the productivity of literally hundreds of thousands of wells during the past 10 years, it is only in the last few years that improvements in fracture design1-6 and fracturing technique' have combined to increase the probability of obtaining a successful treatment to such an extent that the mechanics of the method may be considered to be standardized. From an economic point of view, however, two related questions must be satisfactorily answered before hydraulic fracturing can be used in the most profitable manner. The two questions are the following. I. For a particular well in a given formation, what are the optimum design specifications for the fracture treatment? 2. Have the design objectives been achieved by the fracture treatment? The significance of these questions has been recoguized, and some attempts to obtain answers have been made. Howard, et al,8 endeavored to determine the optimum treatment, based on maximizing profits, for any given formation; unfortunately, this work was based on a crude method for approximating the productivity of a well. Carter and Tracy9 utilized the same approximation to study the effect of fracturing on the behavior of a well producing by virtue of a solution-gas drive. Electrolytic models were used by van Poollen10 to investigate the variation in productivity due to fracturing; however, only a limited number of results were presented. Later, from the same model results, van Poollen, et al,11 attempted to justify an approximate expression for determining the productivity of a fractured well. It is quite apparent that there is a definite lack of the practical information necessary for specifying the optimum fracture configuration to be considered for design purposes. The only detailed attempt to develop a procedure for evaluating the result of a given fracture treatment appears to be that of van Dam and Horner.12 These authors described a technique for analyzing pressure build-down data, obtained immediately after fracturing, to determine the final fracture volume, the final fracture porosity, the fracture area, the fracture thickness and the in situ fluid loss of the fracturing fluid. While this approach should be useful whenever acceptable pressure measurements are available, it does not yield a value for the flow capacity of the fracture. Since the problems of fracture design and evaluation are inversely related, it should be sufficient to study the effect of the fracture configuration on the performance of a well. The primary objective of this investigation is to evolve a technique for computing the desired solutions. The secondary objective is to analyze these computed results in order to prescribe a method for evaluating fracture treatments. Because this study is exploratory in nature, its scope

By Lester Strauss

The fact that the loss of silver in the slag of the smeltingprocess increases with the amount of silica in the furnacecharge, was probably the ground of a general opinion that the silver is present in the slag as a silicate. Dr. Iles, in his inter-

Jan 1, 1901

By John W. Burd

A system is described for the simultaneous deposition of epitaxial layers on as many as eight substrates. A high degree of uniformity of both physical and electrical characteristics is achieved in the films. Variation of film thicknesses is consistently less than ±10pct within a wafer and from wafer to wafer within a run with the variation typically on the order of 55 pct. Composition variation of GaAs1-x PX layers within a wafer and from wafer to wafer within a run is consistently less than 51 pct. Electrical evaluation of the films by several techniques indicates excellent doping uniformity within a wafer and from wafer to wafer within a run. Mobilities for lightly doped GaAs films at 300°K are consistently >6000 cm2 v-1 sec-1 and mobilities > 7000 cm2 v- 1 sec-1 are regularly attainable. Techniques for the preparation of material with carrier concentrations from 1 x 1015cm-3 to 1 x 1019 cm-3 n-type and 5 x 1016 to 5 x 1018 cm-3 p-type are discussed. METHODS for the preparation of 111-V compounds by vapor phase reactions have been extensively reported in the literature.1-6 Almost all of the apparatus described for these various methods are suitable for processing one or at the most a very limited number of wafers simultaneously. With the recent rapid advances in the use of vapor grown GaAs for microwave oscillators and GaAs1-xPx as visible light emitters the requirements for these materials are steadily increasing. In order to satisfy these requirements it is necessary to move from a laboratory scale apparatus to one which is capable of processing a large number of wafers simultaneously. Desirable features would be a high degree of uniformity among the wafers and good reproducibility from run to run. The apparatus to be described fulfills these requirements very well. DISCUSSION The various methods reported in the literature can be classified under three headings: 1) closed tube, 2) open tube, and 3) the close-spaced method. Of these three the open-tube method is the most amenable for scale-up to a manufacturing process. It is the most versatile and the various operating conditions can be more precisely controlled than with the other two methods. A number of chemical reactions may be used to achieve vapor-phase growth of 111-V compounds. Sev-era1 of the more generally used reactions are shown in Fig. 1. All of these reactions have the following points in common: 1) generation of a volatile group III(Ga) species by the reaction of the transport agent (halide or HC1) with either Ga or GaAs, 2) introduction of the Group V(As and/or PI component, 3) a method of adding dopant, if desired, and 4) a region in which deposition from the vapor will occur and form as a single crystal epitaxial film on the substrates. The laboratory scale reactors permit the hot re-actant gases to flow into the relatively cooler deposition zone and pass successively over the several substrates which are arrayed along the long axis of the tube parallel to the gas flow. With this arrangement the composition of the reactant stream is continually changing as solid material is deposited on each successive substrate. As a result of this changing gas composition the reaction driving force also changes from substrate to substrate and the degree of uniformity of layer thickness, doping level, and so forth, is poor. This effect can be partially overcome by imposing a controlled temperature gradient along the deposition region to compensate for change in gas composition. However, even when this is done variations in layer thickness on the order of 30 to 40 pct are common and as high as 50 pct are frequently experienced between adjacent wafers in the tube. To expand this arrangement to a large number of wafers would only increase the nonuniformity from the first to last wafer in the line. From the above discussion the two undesirable features of changing gas composition and temperature gradient become evident. A reactor system which eliminates or minimizes these undesirable features is one in which the apparatus is mounted vertically as shown schematically in Fig. 2. The vertical mounting permits the disposition of a number of substrates on a suitable support so that all wafers are at the same vertical height in the furnace and hence at essentially the same temperature. By using only a single row of wafers the reactant gas mixture passes over only one substrate in its path through the reactor. Thus the two undesirable features of changing gas composition and temperature gradient are minimized. An additional design feature which further minimizes temperature variations is rotation of the substrate holder. Rotation serves to integrate any radial temperature gradient existing around the resistance heated furnace. A photograph of a reactor assembly at the completion of a run is shown in Fig. 3. MATERIAL PREPARATION Apparatus. Although any of the several chemical systems shown in Fig. 1 are adaptable for use in this apparatus the one generally used is System 2, the hydride synthesis system. This system has been de-

Jan 1, 1970

By Otto F. Pfordte

In my paper on " The Refilling of Sulphides Obtaihed in the Lixiviation-Process with Hyposulphite Solutions " (Trans., xx., 37), I gave the outlines of a process for refining sulphides. In a subse-

Jan 1, 1893

By S. T. Wellman

The gradual change within the Iast few years from wrought-iron to steel for many purposes, notably for rails, plates, beams and other structural shapes, has brought the desirability and possibility of casting and rolling the steel in very large masses as compared with the

Jan 1, 1891

By N. B. Aughenbaugh, W. C. Patrick

The availability of a thorough, simple-to-use roof fall classification system is desirable for several reasons. First, such a system would expedite the reporting of falls for the purposes of estimating material removal costs, analyzing damage levels, and complying with federal regulations to report falls in certain areas of the mine. Second, the classification system would allow the mining engineer to record falls routinely with little time and effort expended. This would encourage him to make observations concerning what type of roof support would work best in a given situation. Third, and probably most important, an

Jan 1, 1980

Jan 1, 1925

By M. Van Hecke, Y. Berube, L. M. de Smecht

Nitrogen solubilities in water at 100, 200, and 400 psi, in the temperature range 100 to 175C, were determined using an automated system involving flash evaporation and gas chromatography. Rates of gas transfer into a standard laboratory auto-clave were measured by the same technique. The rates at which a gas can dissolve into such a reactor were found to be close to the rates of oxygen consumption observed during the oxidation of several mineral sulfides, indicating that gas transfer might be a rate-limiting step in autoclave leaching.

Jan 1, 1977

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Jan 1, 1938

By G. W. Mao, A. M. Gaudin, D. W. Fuerstenau

Jan 1, 1960

By J. L. Shugert, W. C. Williamson

The paper covers the different phases of dust dissemination in the Butte mines and methods of its control. Dust inspection and reporting same are taken up in detail. Methods of dust and dust counting techniques with their associated problems are discussed. Effects of different methods of dust depression are demonstrated under controlled conditions.

Jan 1, 1950

By Kenyon Burch

ONE of the advantages presented by electric drive in many classes of work is the ease with which the electric motor can be controlled automatically. In a large number of cases certain features of the control are automatic-for example, the rate of acceleration may be limited automatically or the equipment may be stopped automatically at the limit of travel-but the equipment is started and ordinarily is stopped by hand. . In other cases the motion of the machinery is utilized to start, control the: speed, and stop the motor automatically, independently of any operator. A considerable proportion of the large mine hoists now in use have certain automatic features, particularly protective devices against over-winding, and, in some classes of electric hoists, devices for preventing excessive acceleration or retardation. The large automatic hoists discussed in this paper, however, are completely automatic, i.e., capable of snaking their trips without the presence of an operator at the control levers. According to circumstances, various advantages may be obtained by automatic control, chief of which are decreased power consumption', increased precision and safety of operation, and decreased, cost of attendance. The first step in the analysis of a prospective automatic mine hoist is to determine whether automatic operation is feasible at all. If men are to be hoisted, or levels changed, the attention of an operator is required for these purposes; but tinder some conditions it may be entirely practicable and advantageous to build the equipment so that, while provision is made for hoisting mien or changing levels, ore can be hoisted automatically from, any one level. If, however, an operator's attention is required every few minutes for changing levels, handling men or drills, or other work requiring hand control, it is obvious that automatic operation between times will not be of any, practical benefit.

Jan 3, 1916

By W. H. Young, P. D. Torrey

The Eastern fields comprise a distinct geological and geographical unit, located in the northern part of the Appalachian geosynclinal prov-ince. In this area are the fields of New York, producing from rocks of Devonian, Silurian and Ordovician age; the fields of western Pennsylvania, where oil and gas occur chiefly in rocks of Mississippian and Devonian age; the fields of eastern Ohio, where oil and gas are obtained from rocks of Pennsylvanian, Mississippian and Silurian age; and the fields of West Virginia, where oil and gas are produced from rocks of Pennsylvanian, Mississippian and Devonian age. Many of these fields are of great antiquity in comparison to the age of the producing areas in a greater part of this country, and consequently in most instances it is impossible to obtain accurate historical statistics. In addition, the records of many of the more recently discovered fields are either unobtainable or are not sufficiently reliable to justify their incorporation in a review of this character. Rather than overemphasize certain fields and areas, where complete records are available, when there are many other fields of equal importance for which statistical data are not available, the authors have made a tabulation of development that does not take into consideration past operations and production. The records utilized in preparing this paper were derived largely from the scout reports of several of the larger companies, which generously made them available to the authors. These were independently tabulated by counties and townships, in order to eliminate as far as possible duplications and, excepting the Clinton fields of Ohio, where many of the smaller wells have not been individually reported, they represent the most accurate information available. Market conditions in both the oil and gas industry were far from favorable during 1932 and in consequence there was a total decline in drilling in the Eastern States, which is 22 per cent less than the number of completions in the preceding year. This decline was not constant over the entire area, as is shown in Table 1. The oil fields of both New York and western Pennsylvania were the scene of renewed drilling activity, which was largely restricted to the water-flooding operations in the Bradford and Allegany fields. Practically no new operations were started, but a certain number of new wells

Jan 1, 1933

By Frank E. Shepard

Electric power in mining-operations is now successfully applied to haulage, hoisting, lighting and pumping; and until lately, drilling was the one department of mining in which an electric source of energy had not been introduced. Drilling by electric power has been the field for much investigation and several forms of electric-drills have been tried; but in the severe service of rock-drilling many dieculties have been encountered, and the heavy cost of repairs has caused a deep prejudice against this system of drilling. In the majority of electric rock-drills previously placed on the market, two principal factors have been considered; first, a portable electric motor usually of heavy pattern, coupled to the driving-mechanism of the drill proper by means of a flexible shaft; and second, the coupling of some form of reciprocating cross-head to a piston by means of a spiral spring, the drill-bit being fastened to the piston-rod by some suitable form of chuck with fastening bolts and nuts. In this latter form of drill, the cross-head has a fixed stroke, while the piston with drill-bit attached is allowed a variable stroke through the

Jan 1, 1904

By Donald W. Gentry, John F. Abel

This paper presents some of the results of a rock mechanics instrumentation program designed for, and implemented at. longwall panel 4N at the York Canyon Mine near Raton, New Mexico. The objective of this particular instrumentation program was to determine the response of the rock mass to longwall mining of a thick coal seam utilizing shield-type supports. Measurements were made in the rock along the ground surface, above the coal seam, in the coal seam, and immediately below the coal seam. Longwall test panel 4N had a total developed length of 762 m (2500 ft) and a face width of 168 m (550 ft), [Fig. 1]. The seam mining height in the panel area was approximately 3 m (10 ft). The average depth of overburden above the panel is 107 m (350 ft) although it ranges from 73-134 m (240-440 ft). Roof support at the face was provided by 116 Hemscheidt 320 HSL shields. These shield-type supports weigh 11.4 metric tons each.

Jan 1, 1979

By S. C. Oliphant, C. R. Houssiere, George H. Fancher

DRILLING mud can be an item of great expense on the Gulf Coast. In order to understand the nature of a drilling mud, it is desirable to know the composition and size of the mineral particles that are present, The supercentrifuge has been adapted to the fractionation of mud, and this paper discusses the calibration and methods of operation and control. An alignment chart has been prepared, which was found useful in this work. Typical data are included, showing the comparative reliability of the method.

Jan 1, 1942

By Joseph Mac Donald

Stripped of its romantic possibilities, mining is a commercial business, carried on for the profit there is in it; and the business of the manager, in its ultimate analysis, is to make the profit as large as possible. The general manager of a mining company should keep himself personally familiar with all the details of its operations. If he fails to do so, chaos results, labor becomes inefficient, costs go up, and profits go down. Nowhere is this emphasized more than in Mexico. If the mining operations are extensive and complex, involving, besides the work of mining the ore, its transportation and treatment by various milling operations, and the marketing of the products, the business, to be carried on properly, must be

Jan 1, 1909

By H. Carroll Weed

By caving a block into the workings of its open pit and using the block as an ore transfer, the Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co. has solved a transportation and sizing problem, making possible a great expansion of open-pit methods as applied to Inspiration ore- bodies.

Jan 9, 1953

By J. C. Smock

The magnetic and polaric properties of magnetite, or magnetic iron ore: are fundamental facts in magnetism. The disturbing erect of this mineral upon the magnettic needle in land surveying must have been very early observed. The difficulties arising from this source are still almost insurmountable in making accurate surveys in districts where this ore occurs to any extent, either as a rock

By Daniel T. Hegyan, Thomas B. Zugates

Continuous vacuum disk filters are increasingly being used to filter refuse from the fine-coal washing circuits as it becomes important to close the water circuits and eliminate sludge holding ponds. This paper discusses our past experience filtering refuse, effects of solids concentration in the filter feed, use of polymer flocculation aids, effect of flocculation devices, and effects of particle size and ash content on the filtration rate. Detailed tests were performed on existing installations utilizing coal refuse filters to determine optimum flocculant dosage, solids concentration, and disk rotation speed to form a dischargeable cake. Information was also obtained showing effect of flocculant addition on the moisture of the filter cake.

Jan 1, 1977