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By Oliver Bowles

WHILE vast quantities of limestone and dolomite. are used in metallurgy, the estimated production in 1926 being 23,860,000 tons, there are many problems connected with their use which have not received adequate study. The literature of metallurgy is notably lacking in comprehensive discussions of fluxing or furnace stone. Approximately 900 lb. of limestone is used for every long ton of pig iron produced in the blast furnace, but this important constituent of the charge receives little attention compared with the intensive study that has been applied to ores and fuels, the other important constituents of the charge. In an effort to elucidate some of the doubtful points, the writer has made a wide review of metallurgical literature, and has had the disappointing experience of finding not more than a paragraph or two on metallurgical stone' for each two or three thousand pages of literature reviewed. Furthermore, the limited information supplied is in some instances contradictory and even absurd. For example, a correspondent in a reputable metallurgical magazine classifies magnesia and silica together as impurities in flux "that must be melted and run off as slag." From the furnace operator's viewpoint it is desirable that as complete knowledge as possible be obtained concerning the effects of chemical composition and physical character of the stone on its action in the furnace and on the quality of the metal produced. A better knowledge of these features is advantageous also to the quarry operator in that it enables him to work more intelligently in producing stone that will best satisfy the metallurgists' requirements. The following pages comprise a brief compilation of data now available. Much of the information is well established and probably acceptable to most metallurgists. On some points there is room for debate, and the chief purpose in presenting a paper at this time is to arouse discussion which will throw more light on controversial points and thus assist the author in preparing a more comprehensive and accurate discussion of metallurgical limestone problems.

Jan 1, 1928

By A. E. Belton

The individual projections for large mines in the Pittsburgh coal seam in northern West Virginia are discussed with emphasis on roof control and ventilation requirements. All four mines use continuous miners with panel belts and rail for main line haulage. Both development and retreat-type mining are covered. There are a variety of mining projections being used currently in northern West Virginia. To discuss each would be impossible, so an arbitrary cross section has been selected in an attempt to indicate a fair degree of representation. Four mines, hereinafter referred to as Mines A, B, C and Dl will be discussed separately. The greater part of northern West Virginia coal production is mined from the Pittsburgh seam. This is the seam worked by all the mines discussed here. Although the coal bed outcrops at the eastern and southernmost points, these mines are all working in a depth ranging from 400 to 1400 ft below the surface. Some steep gracles have been encountered but are only considered local in nature; the overall average dip of the seam is 1 1/2 % northwest. In each of the operations the particular mining scheme used has proved advantageous, since they have been designed to satisfy particular equipment and/or physical condition requirements. So regardless whether such projections utilize a partial or full recovery principle, the productivity performances appear better than average. MINE A Full retreat is the basic mining approach for mine A, although current mining is primarily in the entry-driving stages to expand territory in preparation for pillar work. Only one section unit now on retreat. The average clean coal production at this mine is 7000 tons per day. Initially, a ripper-type miner was used for development at this mine. But with a rather weak roof overlying the coal bed and the greater horizontal span left at the top by a ripper machine, roof control became a critical problem. Even though roof bolts were used concurrently in the mining cycle for initial support, the majority of the roof in these entries

Jan 1, 1962

TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGICAL ENGINEERS Gentlemen:-The following report covers briefly some of the more important activities of the Institute during the year 1923. In my report for the year 1922, I drew attention to the falling off in membership of the Institute due to the depressed condition of the mining industry in several lines and the inability of many of our members to find profitable employment in mining or its associated branches. A number who were unemployed during 1922 established connections during 1923, but a still greater number have been forced to resign or drop their membership during 1923. Fortunately, the number dropped is not so great as in the previous year. The Employment Service conducted by the four Founder Societies bears witness to the trend in business. For the young men just out of college, there are plenty of opportunities at small salaries, there are plenty of opportunities for them as laborers; but for the mature members, those of experience, there are few calls. During the last eighteen months, our Employment Service has been able to place only six of our members out of every hundred engineers for whom it has found work. Another loss which this Society has suffered, but which is not felt so keenly by our sister societies, is in its foreign members. The A. I. M. E. has always had a large foreign membership, but of recent years exchange has been so heavily against many European and South American countries that a large number of members residing abroad have been compelled to relinquish their membership. Almost invariably these members express keen regret because of the necessity that confronts them, and almost invariably the writers express hope that present conditions will not last long and that they will soon be able to ask-for reinstatement. Having stated the darkest side of the picture first, it may now be drawn to your attention that in spite of these losses the number of persons applying for membership was decidedly encouraging.

Jan 2, 1924

By John Gross

The group of claims, comprising over 1,100 acres, located at Maitland (formerly known as Garden City), in the Ida Gray mining district, Lawrence county, South Dakota, are now being developed and operated by Alexander Maitland, the owner. Prior to the acquisition of this property two years ago by Mr. Maitland, but little work had been done in this district, and little was known of the extent of the ore-deposits. Recent development, however, has opened up some very promising ore-shoots. The ores so far encountered are the so-called " Potsdam siliceous ores," occurring in the flat formation lying immediately above the Cambrian quartzite, which dips at this locality about 12º. Both oxidized and blue ores are found, and the latter have proven particularly refractory to treat. No prospecting in the underlying slates of the Archean period has so far been attempted; but this work is one of the future considerations in the development of the property. Small quantities of blue ores are unavoidably sent to the mill, but special care is taken to send only the oxidized ores for the cyanide treatment. The ores, being close-grained and hard, have given considerable trouble in their treatment. Pyrrhotite arid pyrite exist in about equal proportions; arsenic, copper, and traces of antimony and tellurium are encountered, and considerable quantities of bismuth have been found in the zinc-box precipitates. The silver in the low-grade ores is slightly greater than the gold, while in the high-grade ores the reverse is generally true. Table I., showing the variations in the analyses of these ores, gives a fair idea of their general character. Early in 1902, the building of a 40-stamp wet-crushing cyanide-mill was begun, and it was finally placed in commission

Jan 1, 1905

By Robert Archer

Two new alloys of the "strong alloy" class having improved fabricating qualities are described; also methods of producing alloys of the duralumin type with greater strength and hardness than previously obtained, are given. IT is about fifteen years since the development in Germany, largely by Alfred Wilm, of the aluminum alloy called duralumin. In this alloy, combining as it does the tensile strength of mild steel with the lightness and corrosion resistance of aluminum, a distinctly new material was presented to the engineering world. Despite the evident usefulness of this material, however, its commercial development has been slow, due in part to the difficulties involved in its fabrication. In view of the potentially great utility of strong aluminum alloys, it seemed desirable to find means of producing such alloys with better fabricating properties, and work was undertaken with this object in the laboratories of the Aluminum Company of America several years ago. This work has resulted in the production of two new types of aluminum alloy of the "strong alloy" class, having distinctly improved fabricating qualities. The knowledge gained has also made it possible to produce alloys of the duralumin type with greater strength and hardness than previously obtained. There have thus been made available some new engineering materials which it is the object of this paper to describe. These alloys, including duralumin, are fundamentally wrought alloys. Castings of the same compositions, heat-treated in the same manner give inferior physical properties, particularly as to ductility. The statements made subsequently concerning properties and heat treatment apply to material that has received sufficient working to thoroughly break down the cast structure. The material referred to has; in general, undergone a reduction in section of at least 80 per cent. by mechanical working. It may be mentioned in passing that other compositions have been found that are suitable for the production of the maximum physical properties in heat-treated castings.

Jan 2, 1925

By E. C. Potter

It is not the purpose of this paper to enter into the minutiae of a subject so vast, upon which volumes have already been written and volumes more might still be written, but simply to pass in review the characteristic features of that practice, which, dating from the blowing-in of the Edgar Thomson "A" furnace in 1879 and continuing down to the present day, has given to American blast-furnace operations a new significance. The blowing-in of " A" furnace marked the beginning of a new era in the science of iron-smelting if, indeed, it was not the very birth of science as applied to this industry in the United States. American blast-furnace practice in its generic sense and world-wide significance dates from that day, and really all that is valuable, all that is remarkable or worthy of discussion, is embraced in the experiences and achievements of the past fifteen years. Back of that we find only the dead level of mediocrity, or worse, a dispoition to " let well enough alone;" a general, almost universal, employment of " rule of thumb " methods. The application of scientific principles and methods was rare and, indeed, previous to the introduction of the Bessemer process in the early seventies, science had no place in controlling the operations of the American blast-furnace. The old practice consisted mainly in dumping raw materials in at the top of the furnace and tapping out iron and slag at the bottom, for the successful consummation of which the furnace-manager directed his best energies toward keeping the furnace as free as possible from "gobbing" with, alas ! but indifferent success. The burdening of the furnace was based largely on Mark Twain's receipt for " Johnny-cake," altered to suit the circumstances, viz.: a lot of ore, a lot of fuel and about a quarter of a lot of flux. The possible capacities of furnace-plants were not nearly realized. Enormous wastes were permitted, unheeded because not understood. In the use of fuel quantum suff. was always the rule. Increase of product was not thought of because it was not deemed wise or safe to attempt

Jan 1, 1894

By C. Williams, D. V. Carter

During 1943 five oil fields and two gas-condensate fields were discovered in the East and East Central Texas district. The New Hope field, discovered by Tide Water-Seaboard in Franklin County, is the most important oil discovery since the Hawkins field in 1940. At the close of the year two oil sands were producing and two additional oil sands were being tested. The gas-condensate fields of Appleby in Nacog-doches County and the Stewards Mill field in Freestone County had only one producing well each. The Carthage field was extended 3 miles north and 4 miles west. Another well that was testing at the year end indicated a probable eastward extension of several miles. The Quitman field, in Wood County, was the most active from the standpoint of drilling operations. Approximately 48 wells were complcted during the year. The second and third most active fields were Hawkins field, Wood County, and Kildare field, Cass County, respectively. Wartime restrictions of material, together with manpower shortage and Federal spacing regulations, reduced the number of oil and gas-well completions from 265 in I942 to 171 in 1943. This represents a drop of 35 percent, or approximately 1/3, enough to replace the 531 producing wells abandoned in the district during the year. No changes were made in the price of crude oil in the district in 1943. The district produced 177,652,940 bbl. of condensate and oil during 1943. This represents an increase of approximately 11 per cent compared with the previous year. The East Texas field, which is the largest and most important field in the district, had an annual production of 128,568,647 bbl. of oil, which is approximately 6.5 per cent more than the previous year, and represents 72 per cent of the district's production of condensate and oil for the year. The district had an estimated basic daily allowable of approximately 509,000 bbl. of oil on Dec. 31, 1943. The entire district produced approximately 30 pcr cent of the state's production for the year 1943. The Hawkins field, Wood County, was operated 271 days during the year and with an average daily production of approximately 52,488 bbl. for the year. This field, which is the second largest in the district, produced 14,224,164 bbl, of oil during the year. Changes in annual production in certain fields in the district can be attributed to their ability to produce at higher rates, the demand, and transportation facilities in the war effort. The East Texas field showed an over-all decrease in reservoir pressure of 8.30 lb. during the year. Indications were that through the first quarter of 1944 the return of salt water to the reservoir was having a beneficial effect. It is hoped that, as more and more water is returned to the reser-

Jan 1, 1944

By Alec M. Crowell, Harry P. McClintock

Production of oil and gas condensate from the 45 oil and gas fields of South Arkansas increased for the eighth consecutive year, the production for 1943 being 27,605,647 bbl. Six new pools were discovered during 1943, bringing the state's crude oil and condensate reserve to 475 million barrels, a net increase of 70 million barrels for the year. The gross increase in proven reserve was 98 million barrels, from which, of course, is subtracted production of approximately 28 million barrels to reach the net figure of 70 million barrels. There were 35 more wildcats in 1943 than in 1942, and 29 more wells were drilled in fields of the state. Sixteen companies operated exploratory crews during the year for a total of 677 crew weeks, divided as follows: 563 weeks seismograph, 111 weeks gravity and 3 weeks core drill. There was a decided increase in gravity work and a decrease in seismic work. The year started with 15 seismic crews and ended with 5 seismograph and z gravimeter crews. Geologically, it is interesting that the number of wells bottomed in Gulf, Comanche, and Jurassic strata were near equal for the year 1943. During 1942 Jurassic was much higher than the other two. However, Jurassic still led in wildcats for the year 1943. Abandoment of wells in the stripper areas of the state reached about the same figure for the year 1943 as for the year 1942; that is, 145 wells were permanently abandoned. However, 243 wells were drilled in 1943, as against 184 for the previous year. The completions for the year were divided into 103 dry holes, 137 oil and condensate wells and 3 dry gas wells. Among new developments perhaps the most significant was the pressure-main-tenance project for the Midway field of Lafayette County, which is utilizing fresh water as the maintenance medium. This is the first fresh-water pressure-maintenance operation during primary production of an oil field in the United States. The operator of the project, Barnsdall Oil Co., estimates that the ultimate recovery of oil from this field will be increased from 32.5 to 65 million barrels. The Midway pool is of the dissolved-gas type, but a similar project is getting underway for the Magnolia field, Columbia County, a pool of the gas-cap and water-drive type. Dual completion of wells, on concurrent production from two productive zones through a single well bore, became common practice in South Arkansas during the year. As the year ended, some 50 wells had been dually completed and it was estimated that the first 37 of these wells represented a saving of more than 2 1/4 million dollars and a saving in steel of 7000 tons. The majority of the wells dually completed were those reaching depths in the neighborhood of 9000 ft. below the surface and initially productive there. Selective completion at lesser depths in the same well bore proved mechanically feasible and economically sound. The year was marked by the successful completion and placing into operation of three large natural-gas desulphurization

Jan 1, 1944

By Morris Muskat

Analytical calculations have been carried out on the effect of casing perforations on the productivity of wells, and formulas have been derived for general types of perforation patterns. The numerical calculations, however, show that the resultant well productivity is essentially independent of the perforation pattern, but is determined mainly by the total perforation density. Thus, for example, for a density of three perforations per foot of casing, the well productivity will be cut to one third of that of the uncased well for a perforation radius of 1/8 in., and to approximately one half for a perforation radius of 1/4 in., regardless of the detailed manner in which the perforations are distributed over the casing surface. The analytical theory is also extended to include wells completed with slotted liners. It is shown that the reduction in productivity due to such liners will be relatively small as compared with that due to perforated casings. The increasingly important role being played by productivity factors of wells in determining well potentials and in the general evaluation of producing formations lends interest to the analysis of all the various factors that may infuence the productivity of a well. In recent papers1 the results have been given of theoretical studies made to determine the effect on the productivity factor of a well of the gas-oil ratio of the production and the connate water within the sand. These have served to show that both of these factors may, under suitable conditions, materially reduce the effective productivity factors below those that would be anticipated on the assumption that the wells produce homogeneous fluids. In this paper will be presented the results of the analysis of an entirely different factor influencing the productivity of a well. This refers to that resulting from the increased use of the method of completing wells by setting casing opposite all of the productive strata and then gun-perforating the particular zones of immediate interest. The practical success of this method of completion would appear to be an answer to the question as to whether it seriously reduces the well productivity or materially cuts down the ultimate oil recovery that may be derived from the producing section. Nevertheless, it is of interest to examine just how great the effect of the restricted flow channels, represented by the gun perforations, may be in increasing the over-all effective sand resistance. Of course, to the extent that the well potentials are severely restricted by proration regulations, minor reductions in well productivities are even less serious than if the wells were to be allowed to produce wide open. On the other hand, even under these circumstances there may be at least the academic interest in such calculations in being able to correct and evaluate the effect of the perforations in order to carry

Jan 1, 1943

By Richard H. Willey

Efficient handling of large tonnages in open-pit mining demands, primarily, an abundance of well fragmented rock. To accomplish this, a drilling and blasting department composed of a well-knit, versatile group of workers and supervisors must be established. Some costs will remain relatively on the same level over a period of years, while others can be greatly lowered as will be shown. 'The Utah Copper Division, Kennecott Copper Corp., Bingham Canyon, Utah, has been ever alert for improvements in operating methods and equipment to gain increased efficiency and lower costs. Bingham Canyon MIne The greatest dimension of the mine is 8000 ft northeast-southwest with a width of 5000 ft southeast-northwest. From the lowest level, at an elevation of 6040 ft above sea-level, the mountain rises in 27 benches on the west side to W level (elevation 7800 ft) and 21 benches on the east side to Q level (elevation 7460 ft). At the inception of open-pit mining in 1906, the overcapping of leached porphyry had to be removed to reach a commercial grade of sulphide ore. The overcapping or waste now remaining is quartzite with intercalated limestone beds. The limestones are usually soft in nature except in the south-middle portion of the mine where they have been meta-morphized along the contact zone. This area usually gives drilling and blasting operations a great deal of trouble. Here occurs the greatest amount of secondary blasting, as the well-established fracture planes cause the altered beds to break into large boulders. Several massive quartzite "ribs" occur in the overburden, and as a result, the uniform breakage is difficult to obtain. The major quartzite areas have been subjected to complex folding, fracturing and faulting because of the intrusion of the underlying stock. The monzonite porphyry, which carries the commercial values, presents no serious drilling problem because of its softness and extensive minute fracturing throughout the mass. A series of major slips or faults pass through the ore body which, although of considerable advantage to the drilling and blasting department, sometimes works to the disadvantage of the track department. Drilling an11 blasting of the porphyry apparently becomes easier as depth is attained. but highly siliceous streaks throughout the pit still present difficulties. At no place is the rock of such character as to allow excavation without preparations. On certain higher elevations or levels, old fill material can be dug by the shovels, but only at some risk to equipment because of bank slippage. Past Methods At the outset of shovel operations in 1906, drilling was done with the Ingersoll-Rand F-24 piston drill mounted on an un-

Jan 1, 1949

By R. C. Mahon

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

Jan 1, 1945

By Morris Muskat

Analytical calculations have been carried out on the effect of casing perforations on the productivity of wells, and formulas have been derived for general types of perforation patterns. The numerical calculations, however, show that the resultant well productivity is essentially independent of the perforation pattern, but is determined mainly by the total perforation density. Thus, for example, for a density of three perforations per foot of casing, the well productivity will be cut to one third of that of the uncased well for a perforation radius of 1/8 in., and to approximately one half for a perforation radius of 1/4 in., regardless of the detailed manner in which the perforations are distributed over the casing surface. The analytical theory is also extended to include wells completed with slotted liners. It is shown that the reduction in productivity due to such liners will be relatively small as compared with that due to perforated casings. The increasingly important role being played by productivity factors of wells in determining well potentials and in the general evaluation of producing formations lends interest to the analysis of all the various factors that may infuence the productivity of a well. In recent papers1 the results have been given of theoretical studies made to determine the effect on the productivity factor of a well of the gas-oil ratio of the production and the connate water within the sand. These have served to show that both of these factors may, under suitable conditions, materially reduce the effective productivity factors below those that would be anticipated on the assumption that the wells produce homogeneous fluids. In this paper will be presented the results of the analysis of an entirely different factor influencing the productivity of a well. This refers to that resulting from the increased use of the method of completing wells by setting casing opposite all of the productive strata and then gun-perforating the particular zones of immediate interest. The practical success of this method of completion would appear to be an answer to the question as to whether it seriously reduces the well productivity or materially cuts down the ultimate oil recovery that may be derived from the producing section. Nevertheless, it is of interest to examine just how great the effect of the restricted flow channels, represented by the gun perforations, may be in increasing the over-all effective sand resistance. Of course, to the extent that the well potentials are severely restricted by proration regulations, minor reductions in well productivities are even less serious than if the wells were to be allowed to produce wide open. On the other hand, even under these circumstances there may be at least the academic interest in such calculations in being able to correct and evaluate the effect of the perforations in order to carry

Jan 1, 1943

By Clarence E. Sims, George A. Moore

INTRODUCTION IN previous publications of the writers4-7 it has been shown that vacuum extraction of steel can be carried as close to quantitative completion as desired provided the steel is in the austenitic state and sufficient time is allowed. For precise work, the method claims preference because the equipment for holding and heating the sample can be made simple, and because crucibles, boats, and other unnecessary materials can be eliminated and the blanks thus made very small. It is well known that the evolution rate of hydrogen is smaller just above the transformation than immediately below, as would be expected from the increase in solubility when passing into the gamma state. Many attempts have been made to obtain analyses by extraction just below the transition, using times of approximately 2 hr. While it is true that the rate of evolution drops nearly to zero under these conditions, it has repeatedly been shown that the process is incomplete since on raising the temperature into the austenitic range, evolution will be resumed, usually after a considerable induction period. The low-temperature evolution process appears to be useful in some cases for comparative tests where the residual error may be more or less constant between samples. For general use, however, there is no guarantee that the error caused by incomplete extraction is constant; hence, the more laborious but more reliable high-temperature process must be used. At high temperature, an original flash evolution, similar to that at lower temperature, is first observed. After not more than an hour, the flash subsides and evolution settles down to a regular first-order reaction rate for which the half-life* is usually of the order of a few hours for the 5/8-in. diam cylinder at 1050°C. The regular evolution may be followed for whatever period appears justified, after which the residual gas may be estimated as equal to that which was evolved in the last observed half-life period. Tests have shown that the composition of the evolved gas does not vary greatly during the progress of evolution; therefore the residual gas may safely be taken to have the same composition as the portion col-

Jan 1, 1948

By S. Skowronski

OvErpolEd copper, as commonly defined,- is copper which has been excessively reduced during the poling period of the refining process. Owing to its porosity, such coppcr is unfit for commercial purposes. The cause of this phenomenon is undoubtedly the lack of oxides in the copper, yet this does not completely explain it. Refined copper of the same "pitch" and "set" varies considerably in oxygen contents, and analyses of overpoled bars also show similar wide differences; moreover, it is possible to melt copper in 'crucibles so as to obtain bars that are practically free from oxygen although they show a "tough pitch" and "level set" surface. Frederick Johnson advances the following theory: The regulation of the quantity of oxygen in copper is the keynote of all copper refining. It is the presence of a well defined proportion of oxygen in the form of cuprous oxide, forming a copper-cuprous oxide eutectic, which enablcs copper to be cast free from blowholes. It seems that when oxygen is present, other gases are less soluble in molten copper; when oxygen is absent, or is present in insufficient quantity, the copper dissolves other gases, such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which are insoluble in the copper when solid, and, being rejected during the process of solidification, causes internal porosity and external ridges and excrescences.1 The "level set" of wire bars, etc., is entirely the result of a compromise between the occluded gases and cuprous oxide. With excess of the former the metal would be "overpitch" and spongy, while an excess of the latter would result in the metal being "underpitch" and brittle.2 The result of the absorption and subsequent expulsion of reducing gases, carbon monoxide and hydrogen,' and the effect of this action on the overpoling of copper are in dispute; the literature on the subject is full of contradictory statements and will continue to be so until better analytical methods have been developed. Sulfur, however, is tangible. The refiner can see it in his button sample and consequently attributes to it any trouble that may happen during the melting of the copper.

Jan 1, 1919

By Tracy L. Atherton

THE mapping of slant-hole oil fields is complicated by the fact that relationships between wells are subject to variations in three dimensions and are not readily adaptable to representation on a plane surface. Formalized perspectives usually expand into an undecipherable maze of lines and peg models with the necessary supporting dividers serve only to awe the beholder with their perplexity. The usual compromise arrived at is a plotting of the projection of the courses of all of the wells in the field onto a horizontal plane (Fig. I). These complicated plots, when used in conjunction with the individual vertical projections of the wells, heretofore have been the most practical foundation for the study of general field problems. This method has many shortcomings, however, which are not found in the recently developed straight-hole equivalent projection method. The new method supplies a series of maps similar to the type now in common use in straight-hole fields. It is remarkably simple to use and supplies a ready check on clearances between wells. Perhaps the method can best be understood if the steps that led to its development are described. Common practice of oil-well surveyors is to supply the owner with a tabling of the survey and a plan view plotted against the true meridian. If a vertical projection is plotted, it is usually plotted separately and shows vertical depths against the projection of the stations along a section line joining the top and bottom of the hole on the plan view. A more practical method would be to plot the section line of the plan parallel to the abscissa of the vertical projection (Fig. 2). If this is done, any line parallel to the "base line" will pass through the points on each projection that represent a single point in the hole. Another very useful graph, which the well surveyor could provide, would be plotting of vertical depths against measured depths. Fig. 3 illustrates the next step facilitated by this form of plotting. The lines designated "well A" represent the proposed course of a hole to be drilled. Superimposed on the drawing, in its proper relative position, is the plan view and a portion of the vertical projection of a present producer, "well B." From an inspection of the plan view we arrive at the correct conclusion that the only indicated possibility of collision is at the point of crossing of the wells on the plan view. Referring to the vertical projection, note that the vertical depths of stations on B, in the vicinity of the crossing, are plotted on the same plane of projection as A. The clearance is the indicated distance between the two vertical sections measured along the parallel to the "base line," which passes through the point of intersection of the plan view. Repeat this process for the other wells crossing the proposed course of A on the plan view and you have a preliminary check of clearance for the proposed course. A similar comparison of crossings on the vertical projections of all

Jan 1, 1941

By Harry P. McClintock, Alec M. Crowell

Production of oil and gas condensate from the 45 oil and gas fields of South Arkansas increased for the eighth consecutive year, the production for 1943 being 27,605,647 bbl. Six new pools were discovered during 1943, bringing the state's crude oil and condensate reserve to 475 million barrels, a net increase of 70 million barrels for the year. The gross increase in proven reserve was 98 million barrels, from which, of course, is subtracted production of approximately 28 million barrels to reach the net figure of 70 million barrels. There were 35 more wildcats in 1943 than in 1942, and 29 more wells were drilled in fields of the state. Sixteen companies operated exploratory crews during the year for a total of 677 crew weeks, divided as follows: 563 weeks seismograph, 111 weeks gravity and 3 weeks core drill. There was a decided increase in gravity work and a decrease in seismic work. The year started with 15 seismic crews and ended with 5 seismograph and z gravimeter crews. Geologically, it is interesting that the number of wells bottomed in Gulf, Comanche, and Jurassic strata were near equal for the year 1943. During 1942 Jurassic was much higher than the other two. However, Jurassic still led in wildcats for the year 1943. Abandoment of wells in the stripper areas of the state reached about the same figure for the year 1943 as for the year 1942; that is, 145 wells were permanently abandoned. However, 243 wells were drilled in 1943, as against 184 for the previous year. The completions for the year were divided into 103 dry holes, 137 oil and condensate wells and 3 dry gas wells. Among new developments perhaps the most significant was the pressure-main-tenance project for the Midway field of Lafayette County, which is utilizing fresh water as the maintenance medium. This is the first fresh-water pressure-maintenance operation during primary production of an oil field in the United States. The operator of the project, Barnsdall Oil Co., estimates that the ultimate recovery of oil from this field will be increased from 32.5 to 65 million barrels. The Midway pool is of the dissolved-gas type, but a similar project is getting underway for the Magnolia field, Columbia County, a pool of the gas-cap and water-drive type. Dual completion of wells, on concurrent production from two productive zones through a single well bore, became common practice in South Arkansas during the year. As the year ended, some 50 wells had been dually completed and it was estimated that the first 37 of these wells represented a saving of more than 2 1/4 million dollars and a saving in steel of 7000 tons. The majority of the wells dually completed were those reaching depths in the neighborhood of 9000 ft. below the surface and initially productive there. Selective completion at lesser depths in the same well bore proved mechanically feasible and economically sound. The year was marked by the successful completion and placing into operation of three large natural-gas desulphurization

Jan 1, 1944

By L. D. Fetterolf, G. T. Mahler, W. M. Peirce, R. K. Waring

UNTIL recently, the only commercial method of producing magnesium has been fused salt electrolysis, despite a considerable amount of experimental work on the direct reduction of magnesium oxide. In this early work, a number of investigators demonstrated that magnesium oxide would react with any one of several reducing agents to produce magnesium vapor, but that the mixture of magnesium oxide and reducing agent must be heated to a high temperature even in a vacuum. In particular, it was demonstrated that silicon and aluminum are effective reducing agents and that when either of these is used the magnesium vapor can be condensed to massive metal. In spite of this knowledge, no successful commercial reduction process was developed, at least in this country, because of the operational difficulties imposed by the requirement of high temperature and vacuum and because of the high cost of the reducing agent. The outstanding experimental work done by Pidgeon, who carefully reviewed all of the known methods of making magnesium and then selected ferrosilicon reduction, overcame some of the operational difficulties. The process developed by Pidgeon comprises briquetting a mixture of calcined dolomite and reducing agent, pre-heating the briquets to about 600°C. in an externally heated alloy retort, reducing the MgO with silicon in an evacuated horizontal alloy retort heated externally to about 1150°C., and condensing the magnesium vapor to a solid in a cold extension of the retort projecting beyond the fr6nt of the furnace. A major advantage of Pidgeon's process is that the retort is not cooled down between charges. Earlier investigators had used apparatus that necessitated cooling and reheating of the retort between charges. Early in January 1942, when the War Production Board was considering the Pidgeon process for quickly increasing the production of magnesium, The New Jersey Zinc Co. offered to have a research investigation of the process carried on, with the hope of assisting in its further development. This offer was accepted, and a two-retort pilot plant was built at Palmerton and put in operation on Jan. 29, 1942. An intensive investigation of certain phases of the process was carried out in the ensuing four months. This investigation was completed in the last part of May 1942, and the pilot plant was then shut down. Subsequently, The New Jersey Zinc Co. was requested to have further development work done on the process, and a more extensive investigation was undertaken in August I942 under contract with the War production Board and under the super- vision of the War Metallurgy Committee. This paper describes the phases of the investigation that are thought to .be

Jan 1, 1944

By D. V. Carter, C. Williams

During 1943 five oil fields and two gas-condensate fields were discovered in the East and East Central Texas district. The New Hope field, discovered by Tide Water-Seaboard in Franklin County, is the most important oil discovery since the Hawkins field in 1940. At the close of the year two oil sands were producing and two additional oil sands were being tested. The gas-condensate fields of Appleby in Nacog-doches County and the Stewards Mill field in Freestone County had only one producing well each. The Carthage field was extended 3 miles north and 4 miles west. Another well that was testing at the year end indicated a probable eastward extension of several miles. The Quitman field, in Wood County, was the most active from the standpoint of drilling operations. Approximately 48 wells were complcted during the year. The second and third most active fields were Hawkins field, Wood County, and Kildare field, Cass County, respectively. Wartime restrictions of material, together with manpower shortage and Federal spacing regulations, reduced the number of oil and gas-well completions from 265 in I942 to 171 in 1943. This represents a drop of 35 percent, or approximately 1/3, enough to replace the 531 producing wells abandoned in the district during the year. No changes were made in the price of crude oil in the district in 1943. The district produced 177,652,940 bbl. of condensate and oil during 1943. This represents an increase of approximately 11 per cent compared with the previous year. The East Texas field, which is the largest and most important field in the district, had an annual production of 128,568,647 bbl. of oil, which is approximately 6.5 per cent more than the previous year, and represents 72 per cent of the district's production of condensate and oil for the year. The district had an estimated basic daily allowable of approximately 509,000 bbl. of oil on Dec. 31, 1943. The entire district produced approximately 30 pcr cent of the state's production for the year 1943. The Hawkins field, Wood County, was operated 271 days during the year and with an average daily production of approximately 52,488 bbl. for the year. This field, which is the second largest in the district, produced 14,224,164 bbl, of oil during the year. Changes in annual production in certain fields in the district can be attributed to their ability to produce at higher rates, the demand, and transportation facilities in the war effort. The East Texas field showed an over-all decrease in reservoir pressure of 8.30 lb. during the year. Indications were that through the first quarter of 1944 the return of salt water to the reservoir was having a beneficial effect. It is hoped that, as more and more water is returned to the reser-

Jan 1, 1944

By John R. Lewis

DURING the past few years there has been considerable interest in the sizing and the preparation of the iron ore fed into blast furnaces. Furnacemen know that proper sizing of ore tends to increase the efficiency of the furnace. It has been shown by Joseph1 and his associates that there is a direct relationship between the porosity of an ore particle and the time required for its reduction in the blast furnace. This relationship may be stated as follows: All other factors remaining constant, the time for reduction of a given sample of ore is inversely proportional to its porosity. As a consequence, large pieces of very porous ore, say 3 or 4 in. in cross section, will be completely reduced by the time they reach the hot zone just above the tuyeres, while large pieces of dense, nonporous ore may reach the hot zone with their centers unreduced. This means that for the latter complete reduction will be accomplished by the so-called "direct method;" i.e., where carbon reacts directly with the ore. Some recent work by Philbrook2 seems to contradict this rule. He found that of two unlike ores he studied, the one with the lower porosity reduced more readily. He explained his results as "possibly due to an apparently greater tendency of the `A' ore (lower porosity) to crack during preliminary dehydration and during reduction." This brings his results in line with the rule stated above. It is not the author's intention to enter into a discussion of the merits of "direct" versus "indirect" reduction. It is enough to say that, in general, indirect reduction is desirable. For the greatest efficiency, Gruner's theorem3 requires that all reduction in the blast furnace be indirect. Joseph seems to believe this also, because in his recent article on Some Comparisons between Iron Ore, Sinter and Nodules as Blast Furnace Feed' he concludes that: "In general, the carbon in blast-furnace coke is used most efficiently when the largest amount of the carbon charged reaches the tuyeres." However, P. V. Martin,' in an excellent paper, has shown that some direct reduction may actually increase the efficiency of the furnace; that is, increase its rate of production while maintaining maximum fuel economy. For nonporous ores there is more opportunity to have an excess of direct reduction unless the factors that make for indirect reduction are favored; for instance; the proper sizing of the ore particles. Another factor that has an important bearing on the reduction rate, as it is affected by particle size, is the flow of heat into the particle. The ore particle

Jan 1, 1947

By R. S. Dean

THE first attempt to establish an equilibrium diagram of the lead-antimony series was made by Roland-Gosselin1 in 1896. This investigation classified the system as a purely eutectiferous one, with the eutectic at 12.5 per cent. antimony and 228° C. In the next year, Stead2 placed the eutectic temperature at 247° C. The error in temperature made by Roland-Gosselin, however, has been perpetuated in the literature with a remarkable degree of persistency; this value was accepted by Campbell (1902), and Ewen (1910),3 and will be found in the last edition of Desch's3 Metallography (1922). Gonterman's investigation, made in 1907, was the most complete one available at the time the present investigation was started. He concluded' that the system was a simple eutectiferous one and placed the eutectic at 13 per cent. antimony and 247°C. Other investigations by Tammann (1907),5 Garbow (1909),6 Rudolfi (1910),7 Loebe (1911),8 and Leroux (1913)9 added little, if any-thing, to Gonterman's diagram. A number of investigations have been made of physical properties of the alloys. The electrical conductivity of the series was studied by Matthiessen (1860)10 and by A. W. Smith (1921);" the thermoforce by Rudolfi (1910),12 and Pelabon (1923);13 the specific heat by Durrer

Jan 2, 1926