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By G. W. Josephson

SINCE the earliest years of recorded history the durability and protective qualities of asphalt and tar have been known and utilized. The mummies of early Egyptian kings were coated with asphaltic materials, and asphalt mastics were common in Babylon. However, according to various authorities, it was not until 1780 that the first forerunner of present-day composition roofing was discovered,1 and the large-scale expansion of the industry has taken place since 1900. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Development was stimulated by the growing popularity of manufactured gas. The by-product tars from these operations accumulated in large waste piles that had no commercial value and were a source of annoyance and expense to the gas companies. These tars were offered at very attractive terms to anyone who would take them away, and the infant "composition" roofing industry benefited accordingly. At first the process consisted simply of dipping sheets of burlap or other fabric in a tank of molten tar or asphalt. The long strip of roofing was rolled up for convenient handling, and the early experimenters soon found that it was necessary to dust the surface of their new "roll roofing" with some kind of material that would prevent the tarred surfaces from sticking together. Any finely divided, low priced local material like sand or fine gravel served this purpose and from its application the roofing-granule industry grew. As time went on other characteristics of a properly applied mineral surfacing were recognized. As with wooden shingles, tar and asphalt can be ignited by flying embers from near-by fires. It was found that by increasing the largest particle size to the maximum that could be successfully embedded, and by properly controlling the amount of smaller fractions retained in the grade so as to cover the asphalt completely a Nigh degree of resistance to fire was attained. Needless to say, in this early period asphaltic roofing needed such selling points to gain acceptance in a field dominated by wood, slate, and tile. When asphalt is protected from the sun's rays it is extremely durable, but when exposed to sunlight its surface is comparatively rapidly decomposed. Completely covering asphalt roofing with mineral surfacing protects the asphalt and adds materially to the life of the roof-conservatively, 500 per cent. Slate Granules In the production of split slate shingles a large quantity of waste slate is accumulated, as 60 to go per cent of the rock quarried is discarded. This waste was a continuing burden on the industry. Some was marketed as ground slate flour for filler in paint and linoleum, and there is a record that as early as 1906 two carloads of coarse screenings from slate flour were marketed as granules for surfacing roofing. This new field appeared to the slate pro-

Jan 1, 1944

By M. E. Wadsworth, W. H. Dresher, W. M. Fassell

HIGH temperature-high pressure techniques have long been used to great advantage in the organic chemical industry, the petroleum industry, and the paper industry. Only recently, however, have these methods been used to extract metals from their ores on a commercial scale. The Chemical Construction Corp., together with interested producers of nickel and cobalt, has done much to develop methods of producing nickel and cobalt powders by the use of high temperature-high pressure techniques.' The Howe Sound Co. is currently operating a plant near Salt Lake City in which the new Chemical Construction Corp. technique is applied to cobalt-arsenic sulfide concentrates. In this method the concentrates are leached in a dilute solution of sulfuric acid under air pressure at a high temperature. Near Edmonton, in Alberta, Canada, the Sherritt Gordon Co. is also using the new method in conjunction with its ammoniacal leach process.' National Lead Co., at Fredricktown, Mo., is operating a process similar to that of Howe Sound. In spite of the rapid growth of high temperature-high pressure hydrometallurgical processes, there has been very little work done on fundamental principles involved in this type of process. Conse- quently the literature lacks any significant data in this field. Oxidation of pyrite,3 sphalerite,4 galena," and recently molybdenite" in alkaline solutions has been reported to some extent. This investigation was initiated, therefore, to broaden the application of high temperature-high pressure hydrometallurgy and also to contribute some insight into the basic mechanisms of oxidation in an aqueous medium under these conditions. In addition to the immediate consequences of these processes much valuable information remains to be learned about fundamental reactions when they are carried out at temperatures and pressures slightly higher than those normally encountered. Leaching of molybdenite by alkaline solutions under oxygen pressure has recently been reported in the Russian literature by E. S. Usataya,6 ho found that leaching rate increased with an increase in the pH of the solution—the strongest effects being observed at a pH of 10—and also with an increase in temperature. Usataya also has reported the formation of a protective film on the surface of the molybdenite when the leaching solution was weakly alkaline, neutral, or acidic. He believes that this oxidation process explains the migration of Mo++ in the oxidation zones of molybdenite ore deposits and the subsequent impoverishment of the ores. Equipment: The high temperature-high pressure reaction unit used in this work was especially designed for kinetic studies of this nature, emphasis being placed on accuracy of measurement and precision of control. As details of the unit's construction and operation have been discussed elsewhere,' only basic features and principles of operation will be discussed at this point.

Jan 1, 1957

By John Rear Admiral Edwards

Introductory.-There are many interesting and important events connected with the petroleum problem. The remarkable men who conceived the thought of transporting petroleum by pipe line, conserving the by-products of the commodity, and conducting extended investigation and research whereby the flash point of the oil was raised, its cost reduced and its Supply assured, are deserving of the gratitude of this nation. It was primarily the success attained by Captain Lucas, after his comprehensive search for oil in Texas and Louisiana, that was the impelling cause. which 'prompted the Navy Department to conduct the extensive series of liquid fuel-oil tests that were made from 1901 to 1903. The sensational discovery of oil at Spindle Top made a deep impression upon Rear Admiral George W. Melville, then Engineer-in-Chief of the Navy, and the discovery of the vast oil field in Texas convinced him that, within a generation, if not within a decade, crude petroleum was going to play a very important part in warfare, and that the commodity might possibly develop into a necessary munition of war. The United States' Commanding Position as a Petroleum Producer.¬ In the study of the various problems relating to the world's production of crude petroleum, the position of the United States is one of commanding importance, whether viewed from the industrial or the military aspect. The present yield of this country is practically double that of the rest of the world, and, in view of the productive and prospective fields possessed by various countries, together with the comprehensive and exhaustive search that has been made throughout the world for petroleum, it is extremely probable that this lead will be maintained for the next decade. As regards the character of the crude-oil yield of different countries, America possesses the greater part of the supply that contains a paraffine base, and therefore a considerable portion at least of the American product produces the best illuminant. Of all the crude-oil distillates, kerosene is in many respects the most important, and the Appalachian product for this purpose is favored, particularly in the Far East, above that of any other petroleum yield of the world.

Jan 9, 1914

By Edmund B. Kirby

This meeting marks the point at which the long-standing dissatisfaction with the mineral-land laws, the innumerable protests against them, and the many isolated efforts to obtain relief, have developed into a general movement for their revision. That part of the mining industry which is affected by these laws has three general organizations which are able to speak for it: the American Institute of Mining Engineers, the Mining and Metallurgical Society of . America, and the American Mining Congress; all of which are represented in this meeting. In the series of able and thoughtful papers presented here, prominent men have discussed the evils of the present laws and some of the reforms which should be made in them. We all appreciate fully the ultimate value of these studies; but we are also painfully aware of the fact that discussion of this kind has been going on for a quarter of a century without any other effect than a steady increase in the mass of printed records stored on library shelves. In order to get any practical result we Gust induce an indifferent government at Washington to act, and to do this we must unite in pushing some practical plan whereby it may act in a simple and effective way and with the least possible amount of criticism or opposition. The actual question before us is not whether the mining laws are bad; for their evils and absurdities are not only beyond discussion but also beyond the resources of a temperate and dignified vocabulary. It is not what particular changes ought to be made; for it is premature to make . specific recommendations until there is some one to listen to them. Moreover, we all know that there are wisdom and experience enough available, and awaiting that time, for the creation of a code which would be a model to the mining world. The practical question now is, how to obtain the revision; and since the American Mining Congress has of late restricted its attention to this phase of the problem I wish as one of its representatives here to present its views upon the matter.

Jan 1, 1915

By Frederick Prime

THE Great or Cumberland Valley, which (under a variety of names) extends from Canada, through Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and East Tennessee, to Alabama, is composed in part of limestones lying immediately above the Potsdam sandstone. Geologically, they belong to the era between the Potsdam and Trenton, and are commonly termed Calciferous. A peculiarity of these limestones is their great richness in limonite or brown hematite ores, which form a large part of the charges of the many blast-furnaces situated on their outcrops. The mines from which the ores are obtained are (properly speaking) only pits or quarries, from which the ore is extracted by means of picks or shovels, powder being rarely employed. The ore does not occur casually at any point in the limestone, but forms regular lines, following apparently the 'outcrops of certain beds. In Lehigh County, Penn., where I have been engaged on the Geological Survey of' the State, during the past season, there are three or four of these lines. During the progress of the survey I was much struck by the fact that the two most important and promising lines of outcrop were, one at the base of the crystalline schists (forming the South or Lehigh Mountain), and overlying the Potsdam sandstone conformably; the other, near the line of junction of the calciferous limestone with the slates of the Cincinnati epoch. The mines along these two lines, following the topography of the country, were in place, richer and more permanent than those of the belts between, which were generally leaner. A peculiarity of these two lines of outcrop, and one to which I particularly desire to draw attention, is the occurrence of what I at first mistook for a highly altered slaty limestone, but which subsequent analysis proved to consist in great part of damourite (hydrated potash mica). The following are analyses of this damourite slate I. From Fogelsville, Lehigh County, within a few hundred feet of the contact of limestone and slate, by Dr. F. A. Genth. II. From Hensingerville, Lehigh County, within 300 feet of gneiss, by Mr. Sydney Castle, of the University of Pennsylvania. III. From Allentown, Lehigh County, within 150 feet of con-

Jan 1, 1875

By H. S. George

A method of illumination that enhances the value of microscopic study of opaque materials, as in metallography. By simulating natural lighting, structures. That possess relief are given a natural appearance. An example is included of the revelation of a hitherto invisible microconstituent. Erroneous interpretation is avoided. For example, etching figures in ferrite, heretofore considered to be pits, are revealed as pyramids, standing in bas-relief. Suggestions on technique are given, for, while the method is obvious, practice and attention to detail are requisite. ON one occasion when it seemed desirable to reveal under the microscope not only the metallic structure of an alloy, but certain small non-metallic inclusions, that are ordinarily obliterated by etching, it was discovered that, by partly eclipsing the illuminating pencil of light rays, the residual light was thrown on the object from one side and the structure was brought out in relief. At the same time, the non-metallic inclusions were retained in clear view. In this first demonstration of lighting obliquely through the objective a card was thrust part way into the light beam between the arc iris, and the light filter; the shadow of the card on the filter served to locate its position. Next several stiff-paper disks of various diameters were mounted on flexible wires some plasticine on the other end of the wires made it easy to adjust and maintain a disk at any desired position in the light beam. To facilitate manipulation, an assortment of disks, was mounted on a wheel, as shown in Fig. 1. The purpose of partly eclipsing the light beam was discussed in an earlier paper.1 There it was pointed out that the usual methods of illuminating opaque objects for microscopic examination lend an, un-natural appearance to, the view, while the new method, which has been termed conical illumination, revels the true relationship of constituents by simulating natural lighting.

Jan 3, 1924

By H. G. Landua, Leah L. Naugle, H. H. Lowry

Evidence has been accumulating in recent years, in part from the work of the Coal Research Laboratory, that coals belong to a family of natural polymers and that even in complex reactions the differences between coals are quantitative and not qualitative. This point of view leads to the expectation that if a series of coals were subjected to a closely controlled set of experimental conditions the results obtained should be related to the chemical analyses of the individual coals. The data accumulated over the past 10 years by the Bureau of Mines in its ('Survey of Coke-, Gas-, and By-Product-Making Properties of American Coals," in what has come to be recognized as the Bureau of Mines-American Gas Association (BM-AGA) carbonization assay test,l-l2 offer an unusual opportunity to check this conclusion. The present paper reports an analysis of the data on the first go coals and coal blends— including coals numbered I to 55B, inclusive —which have been carbonized according to a standard procedure at intervals of 100°C. from 500° to 1100° in either or both 13 or 18-in. cylindrical retorts.13 In Table I are given the name of the seam from which the sample was obtained, the analytical data used, and the reference to the original publication of the Bureau of Mines. The coals range in fixed carbon from 46.2 to 79.0 per cent, in volatile matter from 15.4 to 41.3 per cent, in ash from 2.1 to 15.9 per cent, in moisture from 0.8 to 19.7 per cent, and in total sulphur from 0.40 to 4.44 per cent; therefore the entire gamut of bituminous coals is represented. The petrographic nature of the individual coals is not considered in the following analysis, although both "normal" bright coals and splint coals are included in the samples studied. For information on the petrography of the coals and for further information characterizing the coals the original papers should be consulted. Although the coals that are included extend over the whole range of bituminous coals, they do not cover this range entirely adequately. In particular, only 13 of the 90 coals have moisture contents greater than 3 per cent. This concentration at low moisture values means that the effect of moisture, which is an important factor, cannot be determined with as much certainty as would be desirable. All the coals were not tested at every temperature and in both retort sizes. Only the first 30 coals were tested at 1100°, and only about 50 at the other temperatures, except at 900°, where nearly all of them were included. In the accompanying tables the actual number of observations entering into each correlation is given. In this study equations are given for calculating analyses, yields, and properties of coke and by-products from the coal analyses. To decide whether these equations are satisfactory it is necessary to know the accuracy with which these quantities were measured in the assay tests.

Jan 1, 1942

By Leah L. Naugle, H. H. Lowry, H. G. Landua

Evidence has been accumulating in recent years, in part from the work of the Coal Research Laboratory, that coals belong to a family of natural polymers and that even in complex reactions the differences between coals are quantitative and not qualitative. This point of view leads to the expectation that if a series of coals were subjected to a closely controlled set of experimental conditions the results obtained should be related to the chemical analyses of the individual coals. The data accumulated over the past 10 years by the Bureau of Mines in its ('Survey of Coke-, Gas-, and By-Product-Making Properties of American Coals," in what has come to be recognized as the Bureau of Mines-American Gas Association (BM-AGA) carbonization assay test,l-l2 offer an unusual opportunity to check this conclusion. The present paper reports an analysis of the data on the first go coals and coal blends— including coals numbered I to 55B, inclusive —which have been carbonized according to a standard procedure at intervals of 100°C. from 500° to 1100° in either or both 13 or 18-in. cylindrical retorts.13 In Table I are given the name of the seam from which the sample was obtained, the analytical data used, and the reference to the original publication of the Bureau of Mines. The coals range in fixed carbon from 46.2 to 79.0 per cent, in volatile matter from 15.4 to 41.3 per cent, in ash from 2.1 to 15.9 per cent, in moisture from 0.8 to 19.7 per cent, and in total sulphur from 0.40 to 4.44 per cent; therefore the entire gamut of bituminous coals is represented. The petrographic nature of the individual coals is not considered in the following analysis, although both "normal" bright coals and splint coals are included in the samples studied. For information on the petrography of the coals and for further information characterizing the coals the original papers should be consulted. Although the coals that are included extend over the whole range of bituminous coals, they do not cover this range entirely adequately. In particular, only 13 of the 90 coals have moisture contents greater than 3 per cent. This concentration at low moisture values means that the effect of moisture, which is an important factor, cannot be determined with as much certainty as would be desirable. All the coals were not tested at every temperature and in both retort sizes. Only the first 30 coals were tested at 1100°, and only about 50 at the other temperatures, except at 900°, where nearly all of them were included. In the accompanying tables the actual number of observations entering into each correlation is given. In this study equations are given for calculating analyses, yields, and properties of coke and by-products from the coal analyses. To decide whether these equations are satisfactory it is necessary to know the accuracy with which these quantities were measured in the assay tests.

Jan 1, 1942

By John R. Green

ROTARY kilns, varying in construction, are used in a variety of processes. Products differ and operating conditions vary according to economic requirements. All of these variables influence the degree of instrumentation and type of control necessary or profitable to install. Products fired in rotary kilns are the results of combined temperature and time treatment and the interrelation of these two factors should be kept constantly in mind in the perusal of this paper. MEASUREMENTS OF KILN TEMPERATURE The securing of proper temperatures within the rotary kiln, either of the charge or of the kiln lining in the high fire zone, are basic objectives of kiln operation; therefore the measurement of these high-temperature conditions merits first consideration. For these measurements, radiation pyrometers, properly designed and protected, have proved adequate, particularly where records or automatic control are desired, while optical pyrometers may serve as portable indicators. Light-sensitive devices or photoelectric cells in this service are capable of producing records as well as certain forms of automatic control. High-temperature measuring devices for rotary-kiln work should have the measuring unit protected from dust, as a continued accumulation of deposit would lower the readings. Fig. I shows a typical application of radiation equipment to a rotary kiln, mounted far enough away from the sighting hole through the kiln hood to be protected from puffs or stingouts and with a sighting tube having a series of settling chambers, to prevent dust from reaching the lens. Although dust conditions inside the kiln itself usually fluctuate considerably and have their effect upon the readings at that moment, such effects are not cumulative and show as a continuous fluctuation in the temperature indicated, provided the radiation unit and recorder are responsive to such slight and rapid temperature fluctuations. The ambient temperature to which a measuring unit is subjected fluctuates from possibly 0° to over 200°F., therefore these changes should have no effect upon the final reading or upon the life of the measuring unit. A very narrow sighting angle is desirable, so that measurement of temperature may be made as far as possible into the high fire zone without effect of the flame temperature. There should be some sighting means on the measuring unit, so that the proper field may be viewed. Measurement of wall temperature taken at a point where the charge has just left the wall is less affected by dusting conditions than when taken elsewhere. Factors Influencing Temperature Table I gives an outline of the factors that produce kiln temperatures and comments on the possibility of measurement and control. Of greater number and of varied influence are the factors that control when, where and how the heat is delivered to the kiln, the type of flame and the rate of

Jan 1, 1941

By C. P. Walker

Determining the distance to remote objects by observing the time required for sound to traverse the intervening space is an old practice. Attempts have been made to use this method for determining the fluid level in oil wells but as far as the writer is aware it was not found to be practicable, because vibrations in gas in the audible frequency range do not travel as well and as far as low-frequency pressure waves, which are capable of transmitting a greater amount of energy than can be transmitted by audible waves. Wood, in his book "Sound," states that in a given medium the range of sound transmission will vary inversely as the square of the frequency. The fact that the sound from a whistle having a low tone has a much lower attenuation rate than that from a whistle of high pitch is well known. Also, the pressure waves caused by cannon fire often rattle windows at points so distant that no sound of the cannon is heard. In 1932 P. E. Lehr and H. T. Wyatt, of the Shell Oil Co., experimented with the principle of the concussion, or pressure-wave echo, method of determining fluid levels in oil wells. They released compressed gas into the top of the casing, thereby creating a pressure wave, which traveled down the well and back again. Their experiments proved conclusively that, with the proper apparatus for recording the echoes and determining the velocities at which the waves travel, the method could be used successfully for determining fluid levels in oil wells. Wells are often equipped with from one to three tubing catchers and these together with the top of the liner are frequently above the fluid. Each of these obstructions reflects a part of the pressure wave. In such wells there may be, therefore, as many as five pressure-wave reflections. Thus it is obvious that in order to identify the various reflections and to determine therefrom the fluid level in a well it is necessary to obtain a graphic record of these reflections.

Jan 1, 1937

By E. F. Kingsbury

ONE of the well-known and important uses of the noble or precious metals has been for electrical contacts. In fact, the elements of this group, comprising gold, silver and the six platinum metals, have been called "noble" because of their ability to resist heat and corrosion, properties which were early found to be of importance in good contacts. Of these, platinum and its iridium alloys, palladium, and silver, have been extensively used. In recent years the electrical industry has been responsible for about one-eighth of the total consumption of the platinum metals in the United States. Information is not available as to what part of this one-eighth has been used for contacts but it is certainly an important one. SUBSTITUTES FOR PLATINUM During the past 20 years a considerable number of contact alloys have been proposed in the patent literature largely with the aim of more or less replacing platinum by gold or silver, and some of these alloys are finding increasingly widespread application as the reliability of their performance becomes established. From even the partial data-at hand it appears that this substitution by the less precious metals has replaced at least one-half of the amount of platinum that the entire electrical industry would otherwise be consuming at the present time. While the subject is of considerable interest to the metallurgist it is , even more so to the electrical engineer and it is surprising that the literature records no systematic and comprehensive investigation along these lines. Practically all the scattered work on noble metal contacts has centered around platinum as a Standard and has had two more or less distinct aims. One of these has been the replacement of platinum by cheaper materials, and the other, the development of materials of superior electrical performance. The merit of a contact metal has been assumed to be dependent on its infusibility, and since the more precious metals have the higher melting points there has naturally been an association of the two qualities in the sense that the more precious were

Jan 1, 1928

By Thomas H. Sheldon

In the zeal for opening up new ore-bodies, or for extracting the ore from attractive bodies already opened up, we very often lose sight of the fact, that, after all, the operation of a mine is a business proposition, pure and simple, and, for the best working-results, should be treated upon a strict business basis. Of course, in every mine of consequence, a record is kept of expenditures and receipts, and such glittering generalities as " gross receipts," " net receipts," " mining expenses," and a per cent. profit," can be told to the cent; but does this record show economy of management, as compared either with the same record of other months, or with the record of other mines of the same class ? Moreover, if such a record shows that the cost of mining is high, does it in any way enable the manager to put his finger on the leakage ? Does it necessarily follow that a mine which makes a profit of, say, 40 per cent. on 25-dollar ore, is doing less economical mining than one which saves 60 per cent. on 80-dollar ore ? Of course the figures in the latter case look the more attractive; yet when it comes to the point of saving everything which can be saved, and of cutting down expenses to the lowest possible cost of operation, the former mine is doubtless on the firmer and more economical financial basis. But as to the relative merits of the system of mining in the two cases, nothing could be decided without a basis of detailed comparison ; if one system is more economical than the other, why is it so, and wherein does the advantage lie ? This can be shown only by keeping accurately the cost of each mining operation. And no matter how dissimilar two mines may be in character and operation, yet there are a few general heads common to all mining operations. In the first place, it is necessary to break the ore from the solid ground;

Jan 1, 1907

By S. F. Shaw

IN 1913, the Tiro General mine, at Charcas, S.L.P., Mexico, which had been making from 125 to 150 gal. of water per min., was allowed to become flooded, after all the pumps had been removed, and in 1918 the problem of unwatering it came up for solution. There are two vertical shafts, the Tiro General, 1390 ft., and the San Fernando, 1225 ft. in depth, with five connecting levels between them. The San Fernando shaft had been partly retimbered, while the Tiro General had been newly timbered from the collar to, 1090 ft. in depth. It had been possible to place guides in only one compartment of the Tiro General, from the collar to the seventh or 850-ft. level, to which it was necessary to lower the water before station pumps could be installed. Soundings indicated that compartments in the Tiro General were open to 1082 and 428 ft., and in the San Fernando shaft to 471, 488, and 586 ft. The water had risen to a point 140 ft. below the collar of the Tiro General shaft. PUMPING EQUIPMENT The steam plant at the Tiro General shaft includes one 300-hp., one 150-hp. and one 100-hp. Erie City water-tube boiler, and two 160-hp. Heine water-tube boilers. All but one of these boilers were supposed to be in good shape, but it was soon discovered that six years of idleness in a climate that is foggy for several months of the year had left them in poor condition. The compressed-air plant comprises one Nordberg cross-compound compressor with piston displacement of approximately 2500 cu. ft. of free air compressed to 96 lb. per sq. in.; and another Nordberg cross-compound with piston displacement of 1235 cu. ft. of free air, to the same pressure.

Jan 2, 1920

By M. R. J. Wyllie

Eight laboratory-prepared aqueous base drilling muds representing common mud types, and 15 aqueous base drilling muds sampled in the field, have been used in an experimental investigation of the relationship between the streaming potential developed across a mud filter cake and the differential pressure causing filtrate flow. It has been established that the relationship is of the form, ES = kPy, where Es is the streaming potential, P the differential pressure and k and y are constants for any particular mud system at constant temperature. Beyond a certain minimum thickness this relationship is independent of filter cake thickness. Experiment has shown that both k and y are temperature dependent parameters and that in certain mud systems there is a critical value of P above which the simple relationship Es = kPY ceases to hold. The constant k tends to be a function of the mud resistivity at 77ºF, but the exponent y has not been found to be related to any commonly measured mud property. Certain field experiments are described which serve to demonstrate that the total SP (self potential) developed opposite a formation may be quantitatively accounted for as the algebraic sum of an electrochemical potential and an electrokinetic potential. A chart to permit the simple use of mean solution activities in the interpretation of electrochemical SP data is given and its use described. Various field methods for computing the electrokinetic SP component of the total SP are considered and rejected as being unduly complicated and inaccurate. It is shown that the employment of low resistivity drilling muds is essential if optimum accuracy is desired in the use of the S.P. curve for the purpose of computing connate water salinities by the electrochemical SP method. The use of such low resistivity drilling muds is accordingly recommended. INTRODUCTION In a previous paper' a quantitative analysis of the electrochemical compovent of the SP (self potential) curve was made and it was shown that the electrochemical* emf, E, could be expressed as E = ZtRT/F In a,/a,, where t is the transference number of the chloride ion, R is the gas constant, T the absolute temperature of the formation water and mud, a, the mean activity of the connate water (assumed to be sodium chloride) and a, the mean activity of the mud (as sodium chloride). The essential accuracy of this expression was confirmed by an investigation 2 of the SP kicks opposite sands of known water salinity. The logs examined had been routine runs in oil wells in a number of Mid-Continent states. Further confirmation of the original analysis of the electrochemical SP is implicit in the paper by Tixier3 wherein a relationship between the SP and the ratio of connate water and mud resistivities, based only on field data, is given. Allowing for the fact that mud and connate water resistivities were used instead of activities, and that electrokinetic effects were ignored, the constant reported by Tixier is essentially 2tRT/F. The error involved in the universal substitution of resistivities for activities will receive further reference below. Possible reasons for the fact that the electrochemical properties of shales do not appear to be significantly dependent upon either the nature or the quantity of cation exchange materials, such as clays, they contain has been considered at some length by Wyllie and Patnode.4 In the same paper, the probable effects of shale thickness and compaction on electrochemical efficiency, and hence the inherent difficulty of obtaining reliable laboratory-scale data, were also pointed out. However, it is

Jan 1, 1951

By M. R. J. Wyllie

Eight laboratory-prepared aqueous base drilling muds representing common mud types, and 15 aqueous base drilling muds sampled in the field, have been used in an experimental investigation of the relationship between the streaming potential developed across a mud filter cake and the differential pressure causing filtrate flow. It has been established that the relationship is of the form, ES = kPy, where Es is the streaming potential, P the differential pressure and k and y are constants for any particular mud system at constant temperature. Beyond a certain minimum thickness this relationship is independent of filter cake thickness. Experiment has shown that both k and y are temperature dependent parameters and that in certain mud systems there is a critical value of P above which the simple relationship Es = kPY ceases to hold. The constant k tends to be a function of the mud resistivity at 77ºF, but the exponent y has not been found to be related to any commonly measured mud property. Certain field experiments are described which serve to demonstrate that the total SP (self potential) developed opposite a formation may be quantitatively accounted for as the algebraic sum of an electrochemical potential and an electrokinetic potential. A chart to permit the simple use of mean solution activities in the interpretation of electrochemical SP data is given and its use described. Various field methods for computing the electrokinetic SP component of the total SP are considered and rejected as being unduly complicated and inaccurate. It is shown that the employment of low resistivity drilling muds is essential if optimum accuracy is desired in the use of the S.P. curve for the purpose of computing connate water salinities by the electrochemical SP method. The use of such low resistivity drilling muds is accordingly recommended. INTRODUCTION In a previous paper' a quantitative analysis of the electrochemical compovent of the SP (self potential) curve was made and it was shown that the electrochemical* emf, E, could be expressed as E = ZtRT/F In a,/a,, where t is the transference number of the chloride ion, R is the gas constant, T the absolute temperature of the formation water and mud, a, the mean activity of the connate water (assumed to be sodium chloride) and a, the mean activity of the mud (as sodium chloride). The essential accuracy of this expression was confirmed by an investigation 2 of the SP kicks opposite sands of known water salinity. The logs examined had been routine runs in oil wells in a number of Mid-Continent states. Further confirmation of the original analysis of the electrochemical SP is implicit in the paper by Tixier3 wherein a relationship between the SP and the ratio of connate water and mud resistivities, based only on field data, is given. Allowing for the fact that mud and connate water resistivities were used instead of activities, and that electrokinetic effects were ignored, the constant reported by Tixier is essentially 2tRT/F. The error involved in the universal substitution of resistivities for activities will receive further reference below. Possible reasons for the fact that the electrochemical properties of shales do not appear to be significantly dependent upon either the nature or the quantity of cation exchange materials, such as clays, they contain has been considered at some length by Wyllie and Patnode.4 In the same paper, the probable effects of shale thickness and compaction on electrochemical efficiency, and hence the inherent difficulty of obtaining reliable laboratory-scale data, were also pointed out. However, it is

Jan 1, 1951

Jan 1, 1934

By W. Denham Verschoyle

In designing a pocket instrumeut whereby any giver1 horizontal or vertical angle may be closely approximated, the following points should be kept in view, if general utility is aimed at : 1. The instrnment should be light and compact, so that it can be carried in the pocket, or in a sling. 2. It should be capable of observing any angle whatever, horizontal or vertical. 3. Since time is often an important consideration in making a preliminary survey, it should be capable of giving the horizontal and vertical angle at one observation. I do not know of any instrunlent that will fulfill these requirements, except the one here described. Where the depression- or elevation-angle of the distant object, whose bearing is required, exceeds 50 or 60 degrees, it becomes difficult or impossible with a prismatic compass, for instance, to obtain accurate results; and since it frequently happens, particularly in mining, that much work requires to be done beyond that limit, it is obvious that an instrument which can be used to observe a high angle just as easily as a low one, if not absolutely a necessity, will at least be a great convenience. How this a pocket transit" attains to the required degree of universality will be understood from the diagram, Fig. 1, in which B is a beveled, graduated circle, attached to and freely revolving about the center of the magnet A. Light falling on B is reflected through a window in F (the compass-box), along the line AC, and is again reflected back to the eye at D by the prism C. By a simple arrangement, the tight-line BCE call be completely revolved in the vertical plane DE, which is normal to AC. It is clear, then, that no matter through what vertical

Jan 1, 1908

By D. K. Crampton, H. I. Burghoff, J. T. Stacy

The effect of cold-working upon electrical conductivity of copper and of copper alloys appears not to be generally known in detail. Although several papers on the subject have been presented, showing variable effects according to alloy composition, it is often assumed that the 2 to 3 per cent lowering of the conductivity of ordinary tough-pitch copper by severe cold-working is typical for copper alloys. Because of this situation it was decided to carry out the present work upon several types of copper, copper-zinc alloys over the commercial range of brasses, other binary alloys, and numerous age-hardening alloys in the quenched, and quenched and aged conditions. The large number of alloys investigated made it impossible to study every one in the detail it may have merited. Inasmuch as several interesting points that could not be satisfactorily explained came to light, further work is contemplated by the authors. It is usually considered that the normal effect of cold-work on ductile metals and unordered alloys is to decrease conductivity slightly. In alloys that are in the ordered state, as annealed or otherwise heat-treated, cold--working tends to disorder the structure, resulting in very marked lowering of conductivity. The random state of atomic arrangement produces lower con- ductivity than the ordered state for the same composition.1 Previous Work Previous work in the authors' laboratory has shown the electrical conductivity of several copper alloys to be decreased by greater amounts than might have been expected, in view of the general knowledge on the subject, when cold-worked. Guillet and Ballay2 investigated the influence of cold-work upon the resistivity of several metals and alloys, including copper and some copper alloys. The increase of resistivity due to severe working w is less than 4 per cent for all pure metals tested, while the increases for the alloys were generally higher. In the copper-zinc alloys, they found that the increase of resistance due to drawing increased with zinc content, and reported a 21.7 per cent increase of resistance for an alloy contaiiiing 67.9 per cent Cu as severely worked. Masima and Sachs3 studied the change in electrical resistance of three brass crystals when stretched in the tensile test, obtaining increases in resistance of the order of 3 per cent for 30 to 40 per cent reduction of area of the specimens. The resistance decreased again when the cold-worked crystals were subsequently annealed. Bardenheuer and Schmidt4 found that the conductivity of copper was decreased by 3 to 4 per cent when reduced 50 per cent by working. The conductivity of 72-28

Jan 1, 1941

By D. K. Crampton, H. I. Burghoff, J. T. Stacy

The effect of cold-working upon electrical conductivity of copper and of copper alloys appears not to be generally known in detail. Although several papers on the subject have been presented, showing variable effects according to alloy composition, it is often assumed that the 2 to 3 per cent lowering of the conductivity of ordinary tough-pitch copper by severe cold-working is typical for copper alloys. Because of this situation it was decided to carry out the present work upon several types of copper, copper-zinc alloys over the commercial range of brasses, other binary alloys, and numerous age-hardening alloys in the quenched, and quenched and aged conditions. The large number of alloys investigated made it impossible to study every one in the detail it may have merited. Inasmuch as several interesting points that could not be satisfactorily explained came to light, further work is contemplated by the authors. It is usually considered that the normal effect of cold-work on ductile metals and unordered alloys is to decrease conductivity slightly. In alloys that are in the ordered state, as annealed or otherwise heat-treated, cold--working tends to disorder the structure, resulting in very marked lowering of conductivity. The random state of atomic arrangement produces lower con- ductivity than the ordered state for the same composition.1 Previous Work Previous work in the authors' laboratory has shown the electrical conductivity of several copper alloys to be decreased by greater amounts than might have been expected, in view of the general knowledge on the subject, when cold-worked. Guillet and Ballay2 investigated the influence of cold-work upon the resistivity of several metals and alloys, including copper and some copper alloys. The increase of resistivity due to severe working w is less than 4 per cent for all pure metals tested, while the increases for the alloys were generally higher. In the copper-zinc alloys, they found that the increase of resistance due to drawing increased with zinc content, and reported a 21.7 per cent increase of resistance for an alloy contaiiiing 67.9 per cent Cu as severely worked. Masima and Sachs3 studied the change in electrical resistance of three brass crystals when stretched in the tensile test, obtaining increases in resistance of the order of 3 per cent for 30 to 40 per cent reduction of area of the specimens. The resistance decreased again when the cold-worked crystals were subsequently annealed. Bardenheuer and Schmidt4 found that the conductivity of copper was decreased by 3 to 4 per cent when reduced 50 per cent by working. The conductivity of 72-28

Jan 1, 1941

By E. V. Foran

Among the many newer disclosures that have accompanied the petroleum industry's progressively deeper exploratory drilling is the increased frequency with which the operators are encountering reservoirs of which the products at the time of discovery exist wholly or predominantly in the gas phase. The popular term "distillate pool" is most often used within the industry when referring to this type of reservoir, and in this paper the term is used in that sense. These pools have been observed in many different surroundings. In some places the entire reservoir is filled with the wet gas containing its water-white condensible products in the gas phase but apparently with no dark oil or other hydrocarbon liquids in the reservoir. The 8200-ft. horizon in the Big Lake field in West Texas is a good example of this type. At other places the wet, or distillate-bearing, gas may form a large gas cap directly overlying and in contact with an extensive reserve of dark oil. Oklahoma City, Kettleman Hills, the 8500-ft. horizon in the Big Lake field, and many others are examples of this type. There are also many places in which the wet distillate-bearing gas fills nearly the entire reservoir space, while the dark oil occupies only a narrow, bandlike zone, which marks the boundary of the reservoir along its lowest productive contour. The heavier components of these deep pool gases are generally water white in color, a large portion of which are condensible in a conventional oil and gas separator, when operated under pressures of the order of 400 to 800 Ib. per sq. in. Although the water-white products recovered in the separator sometimes have end points of 650" F. and higher on standard Engler distillation, they occur only in the gas phase in the reservoir. It is entirely possible that even some small amounts of dark colored reservoir components may occur in the gas phase when the temperature is 300" F. and pressures exceed 6000 Ib. per sq. in. Close approaches to these conditions have been encountered in the deepest producing wells. The condensible content of the deep reservoir gases of the many pools that have been tested or produced to date shows a wide variation in both condensible content, per 1000 cu. ft. of gas, and physical character.

Jan 1, 1939