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By Laurence Delisle, Arron Finger

The alloys formed by the addition of nickel to iron by conventional metallurgical procedures show physical properties that differ widely from those of the individual metals. The effect of alloying on the mechanical properties is most pronounced in alloys containing between 15 and 25 per cent nickel. The tensile strength of an alloy containing, for example, 20 per cent nickel and 80 per cent iron (with 0.06 per cent carbon), in an annealed condition, is above 150,000 lb. per sq. in.$ owing to a martensitic type of transformation, as compared with about 50,000 lb. per sq. in. for pure iron in the same condition. The object of this work was to determine whether the same beneficial alloying effect coulcl be obtained in alloys of iron and nickel prepared by powder metallurgy technique. Procedure Bars and pellets for tension and compression tests, respectively, were made. Two groups of specimens were prepared: (I) by cold-pressing the powders and sintering; (2) by cold-pressing the powders, sintering, repressing and resintering. Raw Materials Nickel powder supplied by Metals Disintegrating Co., marked MD-151, was used. A typical analysis of this powder was as follows: sulphur, 0.040 per cent; copper, 0.18; iron, 0.23; manganese, 0.002; magnesium, o.oo15; lead, 0.035; tin> 0.025; silicon, 0.08; chromium, 0.008. Electrolytic iron powder supplied by Plastic Metals Inc. was used. A repre-sentative chemical analysis for impurities other than gases, supplied by the vendor, gave the following results: carbon, 0.005 per cent; manganese, 0.002; silicon, 0.003; phosphorus, 0.001; sulphur, 0.004; nickel, 0.008. The fractions from these powders passing a 325-mesh sieve were reduced in hydrogen at 600°C. for one hour, to clean the sur-faces of the particles. The reduced pow-ders, slightly caked, were ground in a mortar and screened again through a 325-mesh sieve. Mixing The proper proportions of the powders were mixed overnight on rolls, in glass jars fitted with iron-wire baffles to break aggregates of particles that might form. Pressing All specimens were compacted on hy-draulic presses. The pellets were com-pacted in a cylindrical die, 34-in. diameter. The ratio of thickness to the diameter of the pellets was maintained as nearly as possible at 0.9, as specified for standard short compression pieces. The tensile bars were made by compacting 30 grams of powder. Their shape is shown in Fig. I. The compacting pressures for the pellets and the tensile bars were:

Jan 1, 1946

By Arron Finger, Laurence Delisle

The alloys formed by the addition of nickel to iron by conventional metallurgical procedures show physical properties that differ widely from those of the individual metals. The effect of alloying on the mechanical properties is most pronounced in alloys containing between 15 and 25 per cent nickel. The tensile strength of an alloy containing, for example, 20 per cent nickel and 80 per cent iron (with 0.06 per cent carbon), in an annealed condition, is above 150,000 lb. per sq. in.$ owing to a martensitic type of transformation, as compared with about 50,000 lb. per sq. in. for pure iron in the same condition. The object of this work was to determine whether the same beneficial alloying effect coulcl be obtained in alloys of iron and nickel prepared by powder metallurgy technique. Procedure Bars and pellets for tension and compression tests, respectively, were made. Two groups of specimens were prepared: (I) by cold-pressing the powders and sintering; (2) by cold-pressing the powders, sintering, repressing and resintering. Raw Materials Nickel powder supplied by Metals Disintegrating Co., marked MD-151, was used. A typical analysis of this powder was as follows: sulphur, 0.040 per cent; copper, 0.18; iron, 0.23; manganese, 0.002; magnesium, o.oo15; lead, 0.035; tin> 0.025; silicon, 0.08; chromium, 0.008. Electrolytic iron powder supplied by Plastic Metals Inc. was used. A repre-sentative chemical analysis for impurities other than gases, supplied by the vendor, gave the following results: carbon, 0.005 per cent; manganese, 0.002; silicon, 0.003; phosphorus, 0.001; sulphur, 0.004; nickel, 0.008. The fractions from these powders passing a 325-mesh sieve were reduced in hydrogen at 600°C. for one hour, to clean the sur-faces of the particles. The reduced pow-ders, slightly caked, were ground in a mortar and screened again through a 325-mesh sieve. Mixing The proper proportions of the powders were mixed overnight on rolls, in glass jars fitted with iron-wire baffles to break aggregates of particles that might form. Pressing All specimens were compacted on hy-draulic presses. The pellets were com-pacted in a cylindrical die, 34-in. diameter. The ratio of thickness to the diameter of the pellets was maintained as nearly as possible at 0.9, as specified for standard short compression pieces. The tensile bars were made by compacting 30 grams of powder. Their shape is shown in Fig. I. The compacting pressures for the pellets and the tensile bars were:

Jan 1, 1946

By J. C. Bradley

THE relation of annealing temperature to conductivity of copper wire has been determined.1 Conductivity hard was 98.26 per cent. After a 10-min. heating at 200° C. it was 98.69. By annealing 10 min. at 300° C. a large increase, to 100.93, occurred. Maximum conductivity, 101.15, was attained after a 500° C. anneal; thereafter it decreased to 100.53 after a 950° C. anneal. If copper is gassed the decrease is much more than this. MATERIAL AND METHOD The work was done on high grade electrolytic copper, 99.942 per cent. copper-plus silver, silver 0.0008 per cent. It was hot-rolled to 3 in., then cold drawn to 0.080 in. The wire was cut into 25 5-ft. lengths and numbered 1 to 25 as cut. Four samples were tested hard. The others were wound into 5-in. diameter coils. For the 100° C. heating a coil was put into water, the water brought to boiling, and the wire kept at this temperature for 10 min. For the higher temperatures the coils were placed in envelopes of sheet copper, a little water added, and the envelopes sealed by folding over the edges twice, and hammering them together. This kept the air out very well. The envelope and wire were brought to the desired temperature; this was maintained for 10 min., then the whole was water-quenched.

Jan 1, 1927

[Secretary's Note.—The following official tables, prepared by the government of the State of Nuevo Leon, and presented to the Institute at the fifth seseion of its Mexican meeting, held at Monterrey, November 26, 1901, present in compact form a general summary of the mineral and metallurgical industry of the State for the preceding calendar year, together with a statement of the railway-shipments of ores from January 1 to October 31, 1901, which, in the absence of direct official mining and metallurgical statistics (not yet available for that year), clearly indicates an increased activity and productiveness of these industries. In other words, the mines are reported to have yielded in 1900 a total product of 83,960,169 kilos of ore; whereas, the railway is reported to have carried, in 10 months of 1901, a total of 108,318,647 kilos of ore. At this rate, the railway-shipments for 1901 mould amount to nearly 130,000,000 kilos. It is, of course, possible that the railwaystatistics include other freight than ores, or that they include duplications, such as would be involved in the record, first of certain ores transported, and afterwards of the " base bullion " produced therefrom. An accurate comparison is therefore impossible ; yet, after making all reasonable allowances for such items as have been named, it seems safe to infer that the mining and metallurgical industry of this State accomplished in 1901 a substantial progress.]

Jan 1, 1902

By Albert E. Wiggin

PagE I. Early History of Boston & Montana Mill at Great Falls (1891 to 1905). 210 a. Original Mill Built in 1891.........210 b. Coarser Concentration Tried...211 c. Screen Sizing of Fine Jig Feed Introduced..211 d. Installation of Finer Grinding.......211 e. Steam Stamp Tried in Place of Blake Crushers..... 211 j. Mill Increased from Three to Six Sections........ 213 g. Tonnage Increased from 300 to 450 Tons per Section... 212 h. Round Tables Replaced by Wilfley Tables....212 I1. Hancock Jig Replaces Evans Jig...212 a. Description of Hancock Jig...213 - b. Tests Made on- Hancock Jig..213 1. Treating Natural Feed..215 2. Treating Sized Feed..215 3. Treating Classified Feed .215 c. Tests Made on Evans Jig...216 III. Richards Pulsator Classifier System...218 a. Experimental Work.....218 b. Installation of System in Section No. 4,....... 220 IV. Woodbury Classifier and Jig System.............222 V. The Great Falls System................ 222 a. As Installed at Anaconda............ 224 1. Coarse Crushing and Jigging Division...... 225 2. Hancock Jig Division........... 226 3. Fine Middling Division.......... 229 4. Table Division............. 230 5. Slime Division.........230 b. Special Features of Great ails Flow sheet....... 231 1. Development of Hancock Jig Flow Sheet..... 231 2. Development of Finishing Table Flow Sheet.... 232 3. Treatment of Coarse Middling Table Products .. 232 4. Results of Test Made on 500-Ton Section at Great Falls Mill...........234 VI. Comparison of Great Falls and Evans System at Anaconda.... 236

Jan 1, 1914

By K. A. ACKLEY

The petroleum industry experienced a year of satisfactory accomplishment in Oklahoma during 1945. Crude oil production was increased, a new record for recent years was established in well completions, and refinery operations were maintained at a maximum level. Daily average crude oil production increased to 382,000 bbl., reflecting a 13.5 per cent gain compared with production during the previous pear. Total wells drilled during 1945 amounted to 2556, a gain of 28.7 per cent over 1944 Refinery throughout averaged 187,500 bbl. daily, an increase of approximately 4 percent over the preceding year.

Jan 1, 1946

By Mazany, M. S.

THE Caletones copper smelter of the Braden Copper Co. is in the " Teniente" mining district about SO km. (49.7 mi.) southeast of Santiago, Chile. From the seaports of San Antonio and Tralparaiso, the property is reached via the Chilean State Railway (66-in. gage) to Rancagua, whence the Braden railroad (30-in. gage) leads to the smelting plant at Caletones, 60 km. away at 5100 ft. elevation, and continues on to the mine and concentrator at Sewell, at 7000 ft. elevation, 12 km. farther into the Andes. The smelting plant was completed and put into commission in February, 1922. At the start, it smelted daily 750 tons of concentrates produced at Sewell from 10,000 tons of ore; later, its capacity was increased to 900 tons of concentrates from 12,000 tons of ore per day; and it is now being increased to 1100 tons of concentrates from 15,000 tons of ore per day. The smelting plant production is governed chiefly by the

Jan 1, 1925

By R. W. Smith

IN the manufacture of portland cement, the basic and fundamental essential is a limestone uniformly rich in calcium carbonate and carrying less than 3 per cent magnesium carbonate. In searching for such a deposit, also having in mind quantity of rock, accessibility and quarrying facilities, the Pacific Coast Cement Co. discovered and developed its present quarry at View Cove on the east coast of Dall Island, Alaska. Dall Island is about 100 miles west of Ketchikan and 650 miles north from Seattle. It is 70 miles in length and 5 to 10 miles in width. The climatic conditions are much more favorable than would be expected. The temperature ranges from zero to 70 degrees. The precipitation is considerably more than at Seattle, although there was less snow during the last season than at Seattle. The island is rugged and mountainous; the vegetation is moss and grass and a large portion is timbered with spruce, hemlock and cedar. Some of this timber has market value. The limestone quarry is about 30 miles north of the extreme southern end of the island. The company acquired 240 acres which contain limestone of remarkable uniformity, the percentage of calcium carbonate being about 95. It is estimated that there is ample recover- able rock on the holdings to supply the cement plant at its maximum capacity for well over 100 years.

Jan 1, 1929

By R. E. Heithecker

Almost every oil well drilled into limestone formations in Kansas is treated with hydrochloric (muriatic) acid upon completion: to increase potential capacity of well and thereby increase its "daily allowable" production; to shorten time required to produce recoverable oil; and to increase quantity of oil recovered ultimately from reservoir. Acid treating marked a forward step in the producing fields of Kansas; in fact, many old limestone fields that almost had reached their economic producing limit were "rejuvenated" with acid and their capacities to produce increased several times. It also caused a marked increase in the ultimate oil recovery of some old and nearly depleted fields of Kansas. The effect of the acid was due to the cleaning-out action by the acid at the face of the limestone, the enlargement of the small drainage channels, and the apparent penetration of the acid to previously undrained porous and saturated strata. Studies of the effects of acid were made in the Fairport field, three groups of wells in the El Dorado field and the Shutts field. Estimation of increased recoveries resulting from acid in these fields and groups of wells ranged from 1000 to 2400 bbI. per acre. Limestone structures that had been tested by drilling and found noncommercial were later completed as commerical oil-producing formations through the use of acid. The Kansas City formation, Valley Center field of Kansas, is an example. Increased oil production and revenue from the old fields justified the reconditioning of equipment, which in most cases had become in poor mechanical condition. The first treatment with hydrochloric acid of an oil well in Kansas was in October 1932, and by the end of 1937 almost 6000 wells had been treated. Many wells were treated more than once and the total number of treatments exceeded 8000 by the end of 1937. Approximately 12 3/4 million gallons of acid was required for these treatments. The report includes 15 illustrations and 16 tables.

Jan 1, 1939

By R. E. Heithecker

Almost every oil well drilled into limestone formations in Kansas is treated with hydrochloric (muriatic) acid upon completion: to increase potential capacity of well and thereby increase its "daily allowable" production; to shorten time required to produce recoverable oil; and to increase quantity of oil recovered ultimately from reservoir. Acid treating marked a forward step in the producing fields of Kansas; in fact, many old limestone fields that almost had reached their economic producing limit were "rejuvenated" with acid and their capacities to produce increased several times. It also caused a marked increase in the ultimate oil recovery of some old and nearly depleted fields of Kansas. The effect of the acid was due to the cleaning-out action by the acid at the face of the limestone, the enlargement of the small drainage channels, and the apparent penetration of the acid to previously undrained porous and saturated strata. Studies of the effects of acid were made in the Fairport field, three groups of wells in the El Dorado field and the Shutts field. Estimation of increased recoveries resulting from acid in these fields and groups of wells ranged from 1000 to 2400 bbI. per acre. Limestone structures that had been tested by drilling and found noncommercial were later completed as commerical oil-producing formations through the use of acid. The Kansas City formation, Valley Center field of Kansas, is an example. Increased oil production and revenue from the old fields justified the reconditioning of equipment, which in most cases had become in poor mechanical condition. The first treatment with hydrochloric acid of an oil well in Kansas was in October 1932, and by the end of 1937 almost 6000 wells had been treated. Many wells were treated more than once and the total number of treatments exceeded 8000 by the end of 1937. Approximately 12 3/4 million gallons of acid was required for these treatments. The report includes 15 illustrations and 16 tables.

Jan 1, 1939

By AIME AIME

OCTOBER will be western month for the Institute. With meetings at Spokane, Tulsa, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, and with a large number of American Institute of Mining Engineers members and their families in the party sailing out through the Golden Gate to Japan on the afternoon of the tenth, the major activities of the Institute will, for this month at least, be west of the Mississippi. Despite cancellations due to necessity, most of the officers of the Institute will be present and taking part in some one or more of the Western meetings. Prof. Robert S. Richards, our senior past-president, will attend both the Spokane and San Francisco meetings and then go to Japan. President Bradley will preside at the San Francisco meeting and then head the party going to Tokyo. At Tulsa and Los Angeles, the principal officers of the Petroleum Division will be present and active and at all the meetings, directors, ex-directors and -present and past officers will be on the job and keeping things moving.

Jan 1, 1929

By Stephen Krickovic

THERE is today no proven continuous mining machine that can be used under all the varying conditions found in most bituminous coal mines. During the last five years, however, both the machines and methods of using them have been improved. Coal operators can now exercise a fair degree of selectivity, except those who must struggle with thick and hard partings and operate in seams less than 40 in. thick. It must be realized, then, that more than one type of continuous miner may be used advantageously in the same coal mine. Although this appears to violate the standardization generally sought after, the gain can more than offset added maintenance and, to a lesser degree, operating problems.

Jan 12, 1957

G. M. TAYLOR,* Colorado Springs, Colo.-The ore treated at the United Eastern is primarily a gold one and is cyanided-the counter-current decantation method being employed. One of our employees visited this plant a few months ago and, on his return, reported that the moisture in the tailing was carrying 20 c. per ton, which would appear to be somewhat high. As this type of plant has been advocated by one of the recognized cyaniding engineering firms in the country, and a number of these plants are in successful operation, it does not seem to me that the dissolved loss could be so high, and I would like to know if any one can give any definite information on this point? J. V. N. DORR, New York, N. Y.-I am very glad that Mr. Taylor has raised this question. When I first read Mr. North's paper and saw his statement, that they had an actual dissolved loss of 21.5 c. per ton, I was very much puzzled at this high loss which appeared avoidable by another decantation or the addition of a rotary filter. Reading it again, however, I noted that the actual dissolved loss of 21.5 c. given was evi-dently obtained by multiplying the assay of solution discharged from Z. thickener by the tonnage. On the basis of 283 tons milled per clay, this means $56.54 going to the clam. He states, however, that he returns from. the dam into the system, 70 tons daily assaying 40 c. per ton or $28 per day, so it would seem reasonable, unless I have overlooked something to regard the actual dissolved loss as $56.54 less $28 or $28.54, equaling 10.8 c. per ton. Even this loss, however, is much higher than good practice elsewhere, and can be accounted for largely by the tonnage being handled, which I believe is 30 per cent. above the capacity planned.

Jan 12, 1919

By S. B. Casey

[ ] IN 1880, an electric arc was struck over metal for the first time to experiment with controllable melting. The glare of this arc has reflected on the stacks of the steel industry and continued to light the path of steelmakers in their never ending quest -for faster, more economical, and better ways of producing steel. William Siemens is credited with first employing the electric arc to melt metal in a closed hearth and produce basic metallurgical reactions. By the turn of the century, an Italian, named Stassano, was experimenting with ore reduction by the electric arc. In 1899, Dr. Paul Heroult, in France, used the direct arc principle for producing ferro-chromium. His experiments quickly led him to develop a dosed-top arc furnace for the production of steel, and his first commercial shipment was recorded in December, 1900. American steelmakers, quick to sense the possibilities of this method of melting, invited Heroult to our shores, where, in 1905, he was responsible for installing the first arc furnace on the North American continent. This furnace, at Sault Ste. Marie, was built for ore reduction. But Charles Holcomb, founder of Holcomb Steel. Co. of Syracuse, N. Y. contacted Heroult in 1905 and contracted for the first American direct-arc electric furnace for steelmaking. On April 5, 1906, the first heat was tapped from this 3-ton unit. The furnace was basic lined and powered by a single-phase, 500 kw generator, -producing high amperage at low voltage. It is interesting to note that, although the first few heats were made with cold charges, subsequent heats were duplexed. R. H. Bully, first superintendent of Holcomb Steel, persuaded the directors to purchase the unit to effect a more economical and efficient means of making tool steel by duplexing prime melting in a combustion fired furnace, and transfer of hot metal to the arc furnace for temperature adjusting, refining, and adding carbon and alloying elements. Today, duplexing is foreseen by some as the steelmaking process of the future. The promise shown by America's first arc furnace for ingot production quickly led to the purchase of a similar unit by The Firth Sterling Steel Co., in 1909, and to the purchase of the first arc furnace for production of steel castings, by the Treadwell Engineering Co., in 1911. From its humble start in 1906, production of arc furnace steel has never ceased to increase its yearly percentage of total steel production in the U. S., although certain other methods have declined or almost disappeared. By its ability to be used intermittently, the arc furnace gained favor and enhanced its reputation during depression days. When the attack on Pearl Harbor plunged us headlong into the long days of World War II, the arc furnace stood ready, flexible enough to be overburdened hearth wise 30 pct and power wise 25 pct, pouring its endless flood of alloy for the guns, tanks, ships, and planes which ultimately brought victory. During the post war boom, the now, proven virtues of low initial cost, faster installation, better yield, improved availability, and lower operating cost, enabled industry-particularly the small, new, independent producers-to locate strategically and profitably to meet the demand of an America that had been starved for new homes, appliances, cars, and highways. In the Korean police action, the arc furnace again proved itself by providing the latest alloys metallurgists could develop to meet the demands that the jet age and the innovations of guided missiles required. In today's peacetime prosperity, the arc furnace is continuing to provide the economic flexibility required to meet an ever increasing demand for better steel in the face of mounting costs, scrap shortages, and pressure toward decentralized location of industry.

Jan 1, 1961

By J. M. Boutwell

I. Introduction. THE object of this paper is to present a concise statement on the genesis of the copper- and lead-deposits of the Bingham Mining District, Utah. It is essentially a condensation of a chapter in a detailed report on this district, together with so much on geologic features, and on the character and occurrence of the ores as bears on the problems of ore-deposition. The studies upon which the paper is based were undertaken in 1900 under the direction of S. F. Emmons, Geologist-in-Charge of the Section of Metalliferous Deposits, U. S. Geological Survey; and a little additional data was secured in subsequent years. The evidence then obtained as to the genesis of the replacement copper-ores has led, to conclusions which differ somewhat from explanations hitherto current. Accordingly, it seems desirable briefly to present the facts together with the resulting conclusions in a separate paper.

Nov 1, 1905

By William E. Ford, Edward Salisbury Dana

The Silicates are m part strictly anhydrous, in part hydrous, as the zeolites and the amorphous clays, etc. Furthermore, a large number of the silicates yield more or less water upon ignition, and in many cases it is known that they are, therefore, to be regarded as basic (or acid) silicates. The line, however, between the strictly anhydrous and hydrous silicates cannot be sharply drawn, since with many species which yield water upon ignition the part played by the elements forming the water is as yet uncertain. Furthermore, in the cases of several groups, the strict arrangement must be deviated from, since the relation of the species is best exhibited by introducing the related hydrous species immediately after the others. This chapter closes with a section including the Titanates, Silico-titanates, Titano-niobates, etc., which connect the Silicates with the Niobates and Tantalates. Some Titanates have already been included among the Oxides.

Jan 1, 1922

By Geoffrey Gilbert

A study of specimens shows that the key to both oxidation and enrichment at Duck-town is the behavior of pyrrhotite, which is in part dissolved and in part replaced by marcasite. Enrichment takes place chiefly at the expense of marcasite. THE material that forms the basis of this paper was collected in the spring of 1922, during a ten-day visit to Ducktown by the writer in the company of Prof. L. C. Graton. The time available for the work was far too short to allow anything like a thorough study of the deposits, and structural and stratigraphic questions, though they have an important bearing on the origin of the primary ores, were necessarily left untouched. Attention was focussed on the zone of oxidation and enrichment; and by devoting most of our time to the upper levels, open pits, and old workings, and examining the deeper levels only thoroughly enough to obtain a fair idea of the nature of the primary sulfide ore, we were able to make a reasonably complete survey of the various orebodies. With this field work for a background, the writer later made a study, in the Harvard laboratories, of the specimens obtained during the visit. As some of the facts brought to light by this study appear to be new, it seems worth while to set forth the outstanding features and a proposed explanation of them. Much of the Ducktown material that is obviously of greatest significance, as regards oxidation and enrichment, is soft and crumbly. Notwithstanding the desirability of gaining from such material all possible information as to its mineral composition and textural relationships, but little has heretofore been learned regarding it; but, by suitable preparation of this material in connection with the present study, it has been possible to examine it under the microscope without any disturbance of its texture and about as satisfactorily as if it were hard, fresh ore. The information thus gained has contributed measurably to the results set forth in this paper.

Jan 3, 1924

By Percival Roberts

I DESIRE to present this evening a few notes from the standpoint of a manufacturer upon the subject of tests of iron for structural purposes; not that I have any new facts to which to call your attention, but rather a statement of a few of the objectionable features of the present modes of operation, showing the absolute necessity of important and very radical changes. At the present time, as most of you are well aware, proposals for materials are accompanied by certain specifications as to quality and tests to which the manufactured article must conform. Evolved in many cases from the inner consciousness of some one more expert in theory than in practice, we find a few of the specifications to be good, many bad, and some indifferent. Appended are specimens of specifications of the most prominent engineers and railroad companies, which may be taken as representing the best and most intelligently framed specifications which we now have, arid yet in some pints scarcely satisfactory, owing to misunderstanding of tests as now made. To show the very varied opinions held as to proper quality of iron for bridge-work, I give the tests of two lots of fron made by inspectors with the results, which were referred to the maker with the following commensts : Lot No. 1. Teat of Iron for Eyebars. Reduced area. Elongation. Size. Per cent. Per cent. Breaking load. 4" x 1 3/8 26 25 68,500 Bent 120° around 1 1/2" bar with fracture. Reduced area. Elongation. Size. Percent. Percent. Breaking load. 6" x 1 7/15 24 24 48,820 Bent 110° around 2" bar. This iron should bend 180° without fracture, and is therefore rejected. Lot No. 2. Test of Iron for Brirlye. All measurements taken upon a parallel section of 10". Iron for tension members. Breaking load Elongation. size. per aquare inch. Percent. 1 5/8 49,600 20 14 61,600 27

Jan 1, 1882

By C. E. Coleman, D. Hardie, A. E. Wraith

A photoguaplric method of measuring crack velocities has been applied to an examilzation of- the effect of hydrogen on the impact properties of zirconium. Results indicate that the crack in hydrided zirconit travels at about 26 m per sec whereas that in the uacuum -annealed is dependent on the speed of the hammer. RECENT work on the effect of hydrogen on zirconium reveals that when hydrided zirconium is tested in slow bending the crack producing failure can be unstable. The mode of fracture seems to involve the crack linking up broken hydrides by a ductile mechanism in the zirconium matrix.2" In order to compare the fracture of zirconium with that of other metals which show unstable crack propagation, notably steel, the rate of the crack spread must be known. As the methods previously used for measuring crack growth are either unsuitable for the present work5-'' or very costly," a simple technique has been devised in which the maximum crack velocity is derived from a series of crack position-time measurements. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The experimental arrangement is shown schematically in Fig. 1. The flash unit12 was triggered when the Charpy hammer touched the specimen and the 6-psec flash of the lamp delayed by a preselected time interval in the range 100psec to 10 msec. The camera was left on open shutter during the test. From direct measurement on a calibrated photographic print, Fig. 2, the position of the crack and the specimen was found at a known time after impact and, from a series of such tests using an appropriate range of flash-delay times, the crack velocity was estimated. Preliminary experiments were carried out on mild steel above and below its transition temperature. Vacuum-annealed zirconium, and zirconium hydrided to 100 ppm H were then tested at 20" and 150°C. For comparison, Zr-2.6 pct Nb alloy (in the 0 + transformed /3 condition), vacuum-annealed or hydrided to 100 ppm H, was tested at 20 C. The chemical analyses of these materials are given in Table I. For the high-temperature tests a fine chromel-alumel thermocouple was spot-welded onto each specimen close to the notch. The test piece was heated up to 200°C to allow enough time for preparing the apparatus while the specimen cooled to the testing tem- perature. It was assumed that the specimen cooled uniformly. The accuracy of the flash-delay time was better than i2 pct i 5 psec. The crack length was taken as its maximum distance traveled normal to the length axis of the specimen. Errors in these measurements arise as a result of the uncertainty in the location of the crack tip and the difficulty in defining the exact position of the crack starting point. The latter was due to the bonding and large amounts of deformation at the hammer contact point, especially in the vacuum-annealed specimens tested at 150°C. The maximum error in the measurements was however estimated to be about 5 pct. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS From the trial experiments using mild steel above its transition temperature it can be seen from the plot of crack length against time after impact, Fig. 3. that a reasonable estimate of the maximum crack velocity at the surface of the specimen may be made. Other features of note are the initiation time before the crack is first seen and the slowing down period

Jan 1, 1967

By E. L. Anders

The Mile Six pool is located on the La Brea-Parinas Cullcession of International Petroleum Co., Ltd., in northwestern Peru on the west coast of South America. The reservoir pressure in this pool has been maintained within 200 psi of its initial value throughout its history, and gravity drainage has played an important role in the production behavior. It has now produced 95 per cent of its estimated ultimate recovery. It is estimated that this interesting oil pool will ultimately produce 67 per cent of the initial oil in place and that the resulting residual oil saturation may be as low as 19 per cent of the pore volume (29 per cent of the hydrocarbon pore volume). An evaluation of reservoir rock and fluid characteristics and ultimate oil recovery is presented. INTRODUCTION This study of Mile Six pool was made to evaluate its performance according to latest available information. The production performance of this pool has been discussed in various articles in the past. and the reported behavior has been used as an example for application of computation procedures for gravity drainage depletion' and as an illustration of field behavior under gravity drainage or expanding gas cap drive. There have been wide variations in reported values of initial oil in place, reservoir oil volume factor. connate-water sauration, volume of effective sand, and ultimate recovery because of the paucity of reliable basic data. These various factors have been determined as accurately as practicable with the latest available information, and this evaluation is presented herein. The production history of Mile Six is an excellent example of gravity drainage depleion with effective pressure maintenance by gar injection. GENERAL Mile Six pool was discovered by cable-tool drilling in November. 1927. when well 1996 was completed in the Parinas sand. After slow development with cable tools and sporadic production. the pool was opened to continuous pro(iuction in November. 1933. and develpment was completed with rotary rigs. Pressure maintenance was started in December, 1933. by returning gas to upstructure wells. Most of the development was 'completed by 1937, but some additional wells were drilled in the period 1939-1947. and several old wells were deepened. A total of 46 oil and gas wells and 4 dry holes were drilled on approximately 7-acre spacing. Of the producers. 21 are now flowing. 2 are pumping. 44 are gas input wells. 3 are abandoned. I is a gas well shut in. and 15 are shut in because of non-commercial production or high gas-oil ratio. The locations of all wells are shown on the map of Fig. I. Total oil production on Dec. 31. 1952, was 30,867,373 bbl: cumulative gas production was 22,023,777 Mcf; and 26,410,946 Mcf of gas had been returned to the reservoir. These figures do not include oil and gas lost ill a blowout in January. 1940. GEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION Mile Six pool is located on the northern end of a structural spur projecting from the La Brea-Negritos uplift.' The spur is probably a reflection of a basement structure. It plunges gently to the north, i broken into a complex series of fault blocks. and contain.; the Verdun Alto. Section Sixteen. and Mile Six pools. The Parinas handstone (lower Eocene!. which is the producing formation in Mile Six. occurs at an average depth of 2,200 ft in the pool and dips north and east at from 15' to 20". The pool covers an area of approximately 350 acres. Mile Six is downfaulted about 600 ft from Section Sixteen pool to the soutb. and a major fault forms its western boundarv. The north and east boundaries are formed by the intersection of the sand top with the water-oil contact which occurs at approximately 2.440 ft subsea. An original gas-oil contact probably existed at about 1.875 ft subsea. Fig. 1 presents the latest structural interpretation of the pool. and Fig. 2 is an isopach map showing thickness of the total Parinas formation above the original water-oil contact. The heavy lints of Fig. 1 are contours on the sand top, and the fine lines are contours on the fault planes. This type of straight-line structural map was developed 1)) International's geologists to reflect structural conditions where the bedding planes dip and have no curvature. 'The La Brea-Parinas Concession is highly faulted by normal fault.. The beds are flat wherever exposed. The Parinas formation is approximately 635 ft thick. and it is etimated that 62 percent II the formation is effective sand. The original oil zone was about 565 ft thick. Fig. 211 presents an electric log showing typical Parinas sand development ill Mile Six pool. The Parinas band in Mile Six i. a well-sorted. medium- to-coal-se-grained. cross-bedded sand with minor lenses of shale and small lenses and pockets of pebble conglomerate. The sand grains are subangular to rounded and consist chiefly of quartz with feldspars. biotite hornblende, and augite as accessory minerals. Because of faulting of the Parinas- formation to the east and north of the pool. there is probably l possibility of a significant, natural water drive in Mile six. The faults within the pool. as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. are of smaller disI,laceInent and seem to act only , partial barriers to fluid movement within the reservoir. RESERVOIR CHARACTERISTICS Core analysis data are available from five wells. The data were obtained from three wells (Nos. 3401. 3586 and 3719) at the time of their completion and from well 1996 when the original liner was sidetracked and the well was deepened ill 1946. Data from well 2779 were obtained in 1943 from old cores taken when the well was deepened in 1934. From these core analyses. the average porosity was estimated to be 22.6 per cent. and the average permeability to dry ail. was estimated to be 780 and Measured productility indices varied from 3.1 to 71.4 B/D per psi differential. Specific productivity indices varied approximately from 0.1 to 0.3 B./D per psi per ft of sand.

Jan 1, 1953