Search Documents

By C. R. Johnson, R. A. Greenkorn, E. G. Woods

A new method of reservoir evaluation called pulse-testins has been developed for describing formation properties between wells. Pulse-testing utilizes a sensitive differential-pressure gauge at a responding well to measure and record the response generated by a series of flow rate changes (pulses) at an adjacent or pulsing well. Since the pulse-test instruments have a sensitivity of about 0.001 psi, pulses of several hours or less in duration will generate a measurable response in most reservoirs. For this reason, many well pairs can be tested in a short period of time with little interference in field operations. Comparison of pulse-test results to conventional testing methods shows that the pulses obey unsteady-state, compressible-flow theory and thus provide a measure of both transmissibility (kh/µ) and storage (Fch). In additian, the method can be used qualitatively to describe communication across faults and between zones, and direction and tnagnitude of fracture trends. INTRODUCTION To obtain maximum usefulness of new reservoir analysis methods as well as to aid the field engineer in understanding local reservoir anomalies, improved methods are needed to describe heterogeneities in specific reservoirs. Optimum well spacing, equipment specifications, well completion design and especially the economics of pressure maintenance and secondary recovery programs depend on the extent and location of the heterogeneities that affect flow behavior in the field. One method for obtaining a measure of areal reservoir heterogeneity is an interference test. In the simplest interference test. constant-rate production or injection is initiated at one well and the effect of this flow is measured as pressure vs time at another well. Thus, during interference tests the flow characteristics of the formation are determined in situ. Despite their obvious usefulness in reservoir delineation. interference tests have not enjoyed frequent usage. Reasons for this have been the weeks or months required in many fields to obtain a pressure response measurable with conventional gauges, and the interruption of routine field operation during the field-wide shut-in normally required during these long times. Also, only average properties of the relatively large volume of the reservoir disturbed during these long times can normally be obtained — variations in properties between individual wells cannot be delineated. To eliminate these drawbacks of conventional tests, a special reservoir description technique called pulse testing' has been developed. Pulse-testing has several advantages that make it more convenient and practical for field use than interference tests. Valid tests are more certain because use of a series of flow disturbances gives rise to a diagnostic pressure response that can more readily be distinguished from unknown trends in reservoir pressure and other "noise." The time required is only a fraction of that for an interference test because a special, high-sensitivity differential pressure gauge can detect a much smaller pressure change. Variations in properties between individual wells can be delineated because of the relatively small volume of the reservoir disturbed during these short times. Finally, wells other than the pulsing and responding wells do not have to be shut in or carefully regulated.

Jan 1, 1967

By L. C. Raymond

Valuations in the mineral industry differ from those of other enterprises because mines and oil wells have a definite life so cannot be considered a perpetuity. This requires that in any mineral-property evaluation the recovery of invested capital is necessary during the life of the property. Capital writeoffs for nonextractive industries are assumed to be continuously plowed back to sustain the operation and produce yields on the capital invested. The extractive or mineral industry, however, generally attempts to return to the investor both interest and principal during the life of a property. Normally this is done currently and the dividend includes both items. Where the mineral properly possesses large reserves and the life factor approximates a perpetuity, the return on investment is generally comparable to that of industrial stocks. The valuation of a mineral property, at best, is based on educated estimates and judgment factors. This is particularly true as it relates to estimating selling prices over a long term or assessing the quality of management. Also, it is possible to make various assumptions as to rapidity of working out the deposit, varying time for start-up of operations, varying earning rates, so as to obtain different results with the same basic facts. Thus it is not surprising that two engineers, irrespective of their abilities, may not agree exactly even when given the same facts, but their results should be close enough to be used in establishing a fair value for trading purposes. The valuation is no better than the source of basic data and the soundness of judgment factors. Fundamentally the basic principles of mineral valuation are similar for base metals, sulphur, oil, or any other mineral. Each mineral, however, requires an engineer to have a knowledge of such factors as its occurrence, distribution, mining and processing methods, and marketing problems in order to gather and analyze all the facts and data that have a bearing on the earning potential of the property. PRESENT VALUE OF A MINERAL PROPERTY In essence the present value of a mineral property is a sum of money in today's dollars that future earnings from the property are worth. It differs

Jan 1, 1964

By D. G. Russell

A simple method has been developed with which flowing bottom-hole pressure data from two-rate flow tests in oil or gas wells can be analyzed to estimate the formation permeability, skin factor and average reservoir pressure. The required pressure data are obtained by observation of the transient bottom-hole pressure behavior after the stabilized producing rate of the well is changed to another, higher or lower, rate. The new method yields the same information as a conventional pressure buildup analysis, but eliminates the need for closing in the well. The analysis of a two-rate flow test is of the same degree of difficulty and requires about the same engineering time for application as a conventional pressure buildup analysrs. The extended closed-in periods experienced with conventional buildups because of long, low-rate afterproduc-tion periods are eliminated by fIow tests. Other anomalous pressure buildup effects, such as "humping" due to weli-bore phase segregation, can be successfully eliminated with the new method. Generally, flow tests of about 24 hours' duration run with conventional pressure measurement equipment are sufficient for interpretation purposes. Field testing of the two-rate flow test method has established that it is a reliable and economical method which can be used in many instances to complement or even replace conventional pressure buildup methods. INTRODUCTION The principal method for estimating formation permeability and well damage, or skin factor, in a producing oil or gas well is the analysis of shut-in bottom-hole pressure buildup data.' This familiar method has been used quite successfully by reservoir engineers for many years. It is based on the solution of the radial flow equation for constant rate conditions, and requires that the well be closed in for a sufficient period of time to obtain a clearly defined linear portion on the plot of observed t + ?t bottomhole pressure vs log t + ?/?t(where At is shut-in A? time, and t is producing time to the instant of shut-in). From the slope of the plot and other normally obtainable data, the permeability, skin factor, and reservoir pressure at infinite shut-in time (if the reservoir were infinite) can be estimated. Over the years several drawbacks have become apparent in the use of conventional shut-in pressure buildups for determining permeability and skin factor. The conventional pressure buildup interpretation theory assumes that a well is closed in at the sand face and that no production into the well occurs after shut-in. In practice, of course, the well is closed in at the surface, and inflow into the well continues until the well fills sufficiently to transmit the effect of closing in to the formation. This adjustment period is commonly referred to as the "after-production" portion of the pressure buildup. In the tight reservoirs, long, low-rate after-production periods frequently occur, and the well must be shut in for several days or, in some instances, even weeks to obtain an interpretable buildup curve.' Obviously, such long shut-in times can cause loss in current income, both from reduced oil production and from the fact that personnel and pressure measurement equipment are occupied with a single well for too long a time. In other cases, even long shut-in periods do not seem to be of much aid in obtaining an interpretable buildup." If there is considerable phase redistribution (liquid fallout or bubble rise) after a well is shut in, then curves with no interpretable portion are often obtained during the buildup. In addition to instances in which wellbore effects cause trouble, there are also cases in which the major objection to use of the closed-in pressure buildup is simply the fact that the well must be shut in. When there is no proration and when the well has limited producing capacity. closing in the well means loss of income. From the foregoing discussion it is apparent that it ib desirable to have an alternative method of obtaining the same information as that derived from a conventional buildup without the need of closing in the well. One possible solution which has been offered for this problem is the use of a bottom-hole shut-in tool' which isolates the major portion of the flow string from the formation face during the buildup. In this paper an alternative method which is frequently successful in avoiding wellbore effects and which does not require the use of special equipment is presented. A new, simple method has been developed with which the flowing bottom-hole pressure data from flow tests in oil or gas wells can be used to estimate permeability, skin factor and the average reservoir pressure. The required pressure data are obtained by observation of the transient bottom-hole pressure behavior after the stabilized production rate of the well is changed to another, higher or lower rate. The need for closing in the well is eliminated, and pressure measurement periods of only 18 to 24 hours arc usually sufficient, even in tight reservoirs. Thus, the new

By J. A. Stachura

Continuous mining machinery provides the coal industry with one way to compete for a larger share of the total energy market. Various types of machines are discussed and some of the problems with continuous miners, encountered by operators, are reviewed. Equipment manufacturers are working with mine personnel to provide solutions for problems that arise. While coal production over the past 25 or 30 years has been on a horizontal plane, coal's share of the total energy market has declined. To participate more effectively in this total energy market, it is necessary to produce coal more efficiently. It is the obligation of all management, employes, and mining departments to gear the deep mining industry to the rapid progress and changing of today's modern industry. This can be accomplished in the near future with the selection of the proper type of continuous miner best suited to each operator's individual situation. In most mining operations there is tremendous incentive to undertake the continuous mining program. It can reduce the size of the mine greatly by permitting a minimum of working places; it makes pillar recovery work more efficient from the standpoint of overall cost, amount of coal recovered, and safety. The work force can be reduced materially permitting closer and more efficient supervision. It simplifies maintenance because equipment can be more readily standardized. The trend of the coal market favors the use of continuous mining machines. Although there appears to be a general feeling that continuous mining is still a relatively new program and will be slow in replacing conventional mechanical equipment, the fact is that tremendous strides have been made since the first machines were installed in 1948. This program is advancing at approximately the same rate that mobile loading machines replaced hand loading. From 1948 to 1955 there were approximately 450 continuous mining machines in service. In October 1959, a survey revealed that there were more than 700 continuous mining machines in service. Many operators have expressed a desire to undertake this program, but they feel that they could not do so at this time because of one or more of the following reasons: 1) the thickness of their coal seams, 2) seam characteristics, 3) soft bottoms, 4) bad roof conditions, 5) size consist, 6) insufficient flexibility in machines, 7) difficult ventilation problems, and 8) high maintenance costs. With the realization on coal about the same today as it was in 1948, or slightly less and since coal is still failing to participate to a greater degree in the total energy market, it is not surprising that the coal industry is desperately exploring more economical methods for deep mining. The manufacturers are aware that the coal industry is willing to invest in continuous miners if the equipment is built for maximum flexibility, will produce higher tons per man, and assure long life between overhaul programs. CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINES Before discussing details regarding the selection of a continuous miner, let us have a preview of some of the continuous mining machines which are available to the coal industry today. Jeffrey Manufacturing Co.: The machine shown is the Jeffrey 76 A.M. Colmol. This is their most widely used miner, and has been particularly successful in central Pennsylvania and in high-wall mining in western Kentucky. One of the outstanding features of this auger-type miner is its portability. The entire mining range can be changed from its lowest point to the maximum height without stopping the mining operation. Jeffrey 76 B.M. Colmol: This machine is similar to the 76 A.M. model; however, it is built bigger and stronger for a mining range of 50 1/2 to 72 in. This is the model that is now available (Fig. 2). Jeffrey has added two arms to the top row, omitted the odd arm in the bottom row, thus permitting a 50 pct larger throat opening. This eliminates one

Jan 1, 1961

By John C. Calhoun, R. C. Newman

A report is made of experimental work performed on the capillary retention of water within porous solid systems, the displacement being accomplished with air and various organic liquids. A portion of the experiments were designed to measure the lowering of vapor pressure of water within a porous solid with subsequent conversion of such vapor pressure data to capillary pressure values. The form of the capillary pressure curve at high capillary pressures has been elucidated from this data. Certain theoretical approaches are presented to indicate the correlation between work done by previous investigators. The present work is correlated also with theory. Surface area values are calculated for the various core systems studied. INTRODUCTION Leverettl in 1941 presented a paper which gave the essential concepts of capillary behavior in porous solids. His presentation included both theoretical and experimental aspects of the problem. He defined the term "capillary pressure" and applied it to an ideal porous system. His work included the definition of a dimensionless quantity which was a function of fluid saturation and which could be correlated with porosity and permeability for clean, unconsolidated sands. His experimental work was performed by the drainage of water from packed columns of unconsolidated sands. Subsequently, other authors have presented experimental techniques which permit the determination of capillary pressure data on small core samples. Data have been presented on porous systems other than unconsolidated sand and with the use of liquids other than water. Notable among these are the works of Hassler, Brunner and Deahl,2 Bruce and Welge,³ Amyx and Yuster, and Purcell. Others have indicated the applicability of such data to field problems without regard to the theoretical aspects of the capillary pressure saturation function. Within the recent published literature there have also been reported studies of the correlations between capillary pressure data and other fundamental properties of porous solids. It was the intent of the present reported work to investigate the behavior noted by water and various other liquids within porous systems in an attempt to amplify existing correlations between capillary properties, surface properties, and other fundamental characteristics of porous systems. The experimental work described here was performed as two different investigations but due to its nature it is reported as separate phases of the same general topic. CAPILLARY PRESSURE AND VAPOR PRESSURE LOWERING It has long been recognized that the vapor pressure above the curved surface of a liquid is a function of the curvature of the liquid surface." The capillary pressure is also a function of the curvature of the liquid surface. Both capillary pressure values and vapor pressure lowering are, therefore, functions of the liquid saturation of a porous solid. A quantitative relationship between the vapor pressure lowering and the capillary pressure can be simply developed by considering a porous solid system containing water in equilibrium with its vapor. The capillary pressure at any height within the system is defined as Pc= Pv -P1.......(1) where PI is the pressure in the vapor phase and PI is the pressure in the liquid phase. Consider that both the water and its vapor are continuous phases within the system and that at any point the two phases are in equilibrium. The gradients in the liquid and vapor columns within the porous system are: PI = plgdh dPv = pvgdh By integrating these gradients from the point where h = 0 to the height h, values of PI and PI at the point h are found. Let the point where h = 0 be that where Pc = 0. At this point also Pv is equal to Pve, the equilibrium vapor pressure of the liquid above a flat surface. From the first of these integrations since p is independent of height: P = p1gh + P, From the second, by substituting pv = PvM/RT, where M is the molecular RT weight: Pv M Pvo- RT gh By combining the two last equations to eliminate h, one obtains: P1 RT Pv Substituting, values for Pv and Pi in equation (1) gives PyRT RT Pv which is approximately Pc=RT/Mp1 In Pvo/Pv .......(2) This equation relates the vapor pressure above a curved surface with the capillary pressure across the curved surface in terms of measurable quantities. The equivalent of this equation is given by Freundlich."

Jan 1, 1949

By John C. Calhoun, R. C. Newman

A report is made of experimental work performed on the capillary retention of water within porous solid systems, the displacement being accomplished with air and various organic liquids. A portion of the experiments were designed to measure the lowering of vapor pressure of water within a porous solid with subsequent conversion of such vapor pressure data to capillary pressure values. The form of the capillary pressure curve at high capillary pressures has been elucidated from this data. Certain theoretical approaches are presented to indicate the correlation between work done by previous investigators. The present work is correlated also with theory. Surface area values are calculated for the various core systems studied. INTRODUCTION Leverettl in 1941 presented a paper which gave the essential concepts of capillary behavior in porous solids. His presentation included both theoretical and experimental aspects of the problem. He defined the term "capillary pressure" and applied it to an ideal porous system. His work included the definition of a dimensionless quantity which was a function of fluid saturation and which could be correlated with porosity and permeability for clean, unconsolidated sands. His experimental work was performed by the drainage of water from packed columns of unconsolidated sands. Subsequently, other authors have presented experimental techniques which permit the determination of capillary pressure data on small core samples. Data have been presented on porous systems other than unconsolidated sand and with the use of liquids other than water. Notable among these are the works of Hassler, Brunner and Deahl,2 Bruce and Welge,³ Amyx and Yuster, and Purcell. Others have indicated the applicability of such data to field problems without regard to the theoretical aspects of the capillary pressure saturation function. Within the recent published literature there have also been reported studies of the correlations between capillary pressure data and other fundamental properties of porous solids. It was the intent of the present reported work to investigate the behavior noted by water and various other liquids within porous systems in an attempt to amplify existing correlations between capillary properties, surface properties, and other fundamental characteristics of porous systems. The experimental work described here was performed as two different investigations but due to its nature it is reported as separate phases of the same general topic. CAPILLARY PRESSURE AND VAPOR PRESSURE LOWERING It has long been recognized that the vapor pressure above the curved surface of a liquid is a function of the curvature of the liquid surface." The capillary pressure is also a function of the curvature of the liquid surface. Both capillary pressure values and vapor pressure lowering are, therefore, functions of the liquid saturation of a porous solid. A quantitative relationship between the vapor pressure lowering and the capillary pressure can be simply developed by considering a porous solid system containing water in equilibrium with its vapor. The capillary pressure at any height within the system is defined as Pc= Pv -P1.......(1) where PI is the pressure in the vapor phase and PI is the pressure in the liquid phase. Consider that both the water and its vapor are continuous phases within the system and that at any point the two phases are in equilibrium. The gradients in the liquid and vapor columns within the porous system are: PI = plgdh dPv = pvgdh By integrating these gradients from the point where h = 0 to the height h, values of PI and PI at the point h are found. Let the point where h = 0 be that where Pc = 0. At this point also Pv is equal to Pve, the equilibrium vapor pressure of the liquid above a flat surface. From the first of these integrations since p is independent of height: P = p1gh + P, From the second, by substituting pv = PvM/RT, where M is the molecular RT weight: Pv M Pvo- RT gh By combining the two last equations to eliminate h, one obtains: P1 RT Pv Substituting, values for Pv and Pi in equation (1) gives PyRT RT Pv which is approximately Pc=RT/Mp1 In Pvo/Pv .......(2) This equation relates the vapor pressure above a curved surface with the capillary pressure across the curved surface in terms of measurable quantities. The equivalent of this equation is given by Freundlich."

Jan 1, 1949

By John Birkinbine

The experience of the past five years has furnished opportunities to study and to partially explain the operation and some of the causes of the short blast of Warwick Furnace at Pottstown, Pennsylvania, as described in the paper read at the Lake Superior Meeting, in August, 1880.* The many inquiries concerning the details of furnace operation which followed the publication of the paper, and the expressed desire of furnace managers to be informed as to future operations of this plant, have encouraged the preparation of the following data. To make the record continuous, and add to the value of both contributions, the present paper commences where the review of a short blast of Warwick Furnace ended, and includes the data of another short blast of two months, and a subsequent continuous campaign of nearly five years, which, by comparison, we shall designate as "the long blast." Frequent visits to the plant in the five years, during which its operation could be studied, and correspondence with the manager, Mr. Edgar S. Cook, have given a knowledge as to general features and details, and the courtesy of the officers of the Company which has given free access to the books of record permits the presentation of data which it is believed will be welcomed by furnace managers. Interest will undoubtedly be increased by the remarkable results which Mr. Cook has achieved chiefly with anthracite coal in a furnace whose details of construction will scarcely be generally admitted as embodying advanced ideas, its height being but 55 feet, with a bosh diameter of 15 feet 6 inches, its bosh-slope comparatively flat, its crucible smaller than the average, and the heat of the blast never reaching 1000' Fahrenheit. At present writing the credit of the best anthracite blast-furnace practice recorded in our Transactions is conceded to be that pursued by Mr. Fackenthal, at the Durham furnace, and Mr. Cook, at War-

Jan 1, 1886

By T. F. Witherbee

The Iron Mountain, situated three-quarters of a mile NE. of the limits of the City of Durango, rises abruptly from a level plain, and trends N. 83' E. Fig. 1 gives a view of the mountain, with the company's iron-works. There are indications that the vein or deposit of iron-ore extends also about two leagues across the Murca ranch, in the same general direction. The Iron Mountain proper is divided into two great lenses by a horse of cantera or eruptive rock, some hundreds of feet in width.

Jan 1, 1902

By R. I. Jaffee, F. C. Holden, H. R. Ogden

The mechanical properties of Ti-C and Ti-C-0 alloys can be altered by heat treatments to dissolve or reject carbon from solid solutions. The maximum strength is obtained by annealing just below the peritectoid temperature. Quenching from the ß-carbide field results in softening. Impact behavior is influenced by the extent of solution of interstitials CARBON is not as important in titanium alloys as it was in earlier years when graphite induction melting was more prevalent. With induction melting, carbon pickup is about 0.5 to 0.8 pct. Cold-mold arc melting with graphite electrodes, which is among the more current methods, results in carbon pickup of 0.1 to 0.2 pct. The titanium-sponge melting stock itself contains about 0.02 to 0.07 pct C, picked up from the magnesium used in the reduction process. Thus, carbon is still one of the more important contaminants in titanium and needs careful study and evaluation in order to understand titanium and titanium alloys. Moreover, it is equally proper to consider carbon as an alloying addition because, in controlled amounts in titanium alloys, it may serve a most useful function. This is particularly the case where the ultimate in toughness is not required. The addition of carbon to titanium results in a peritectoid-type system as illustrated in Fig. 1. The solubility of carbon is seen to be higher in the a phase than in the ß phase in the temperature range of interest. Below the peritectoid temperature, the solubility of carbon in a titanium decreases with decreasing temperature. This type of system permits many microstructural and heat-treatment variations which may influence the properties of the alloys. The study of how the microstructure variations affect mechanical properties is described in this paper. Experimental Procedures The experimental techniques and testing methods used in this work were the same as those described in detail in a previous paper.' No further descriptions will be given except where changes have been made. High purity iodide titanium, produced by the New Jersey Zinc Co., was used in all of the alloys. Carbon additions were made using high purity spectro-graphic carbon electrodes in order to obtain the highest purity carbon available. The alloys were prepared by double arc melting to reduce the possibility of segregation. The alloys were forged at 875°C to ¾ in. round, descaled, vacuum annealed for 5 hr at 900°C to remove the residual hydrogen, and swaged to ¼ in. round at 750°C. All heat treatments were made on material in this initial condition. Two of the early Ti-C ingots were found to have been contaminated in melting. Vacuum-fusion analyses showed that the two contaminated alloys had picked up oxygen, so the test results on these two alloys permitted an evaluation of ternary Ti-C-0 alloys. A list of the alloys and their compositions are given in Table I. Properties of Ti-C Alloys In a peritectoid-type system, such as the Ti-C system, the chief microstructural variable which influences the properties is solid-solution strengthening. For a given composition, it is possible to control the disposition of carbon, either in solid solution or as the compound Tic, by suitable heat treatments. When in solid solution, the carbon present in the alloy makes a definite contribution to the strength of the alloy. However, when present as Tic, it has very little effect on the strength. Other microstructural variables considered in this investigation were transformation structures and grain size. As discussed in subsequent sections, these variables have only a minor effect on properties as compared to the solid-solution effect. Solid-Solution Strengthening: The principal strengthening mechanism for Ti-C alloys has been found to be solid-solution strengthening. Carbon in interstitial solid solution strengthens titanium, but has very little strengthening effect if present as the compound. Since carbon has a higher solubility in

Jan 1, 1956

By F. G. Cottrell

About a year and a half ago, at the San Francisco meeting of the American Chemical Society, in connection with the excursions to local smelting-works, I had occasion to show some lantern-slides illustrating the recent commercial development of electrical methods for precipitating the suspended matter from smelter-smoke, the underlying phenomena of which were clearly brought to the attention of the technical public by Sir Oliver Lodge as long ago as 1884. In the .Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, August, 1911, most of these views were reproduced, together with an account of the work from its beginning up to July, 1911. To-day I wish particularly to show you some of the further developments of the work since that time; but in order to make these clear they will be prefaced by a brief abstract of the article above referred to. The removal of suspended particles, from gases, by the aid of electric discharges is by no means a new idea. As early as 1824 we find it suggested by Hohlfeld ' as a means of suppressing ordinary smoke, and again a quarter of a century later by Guitard.2 These suggestions, which do not seem to have stimulated any practical study of the question, were soon entirely forgotten, and only brought to light again by Sir Oliver Lodge: many years after he himself had independently rediscovered the same phenomena and brought them to public attention4 in a lecture before the Liverpool Section of the So-

Jan 1, 1913

By J. J. Gilman

THEORIES of fracture in metals have been based primarily on the dependence of fracture strength on grain size. This dependence was first observed by Masing and Polanyi.l These workers, as well as 0rowan12 and Davidenkov and Wittman,' thought the grain size could be equated with the crack size in the Griffith condition for crack propagation.4 In this way they could account for the observed proportionality between fracture stress and the reciprocal square root of the grain size. The chief results of recent investigations of the fracture strength of polycrystals are summarized in Fig. 1. Low for iron,5 Petch for iron,' Greenwood and Quarrel for zinc, Petch and Zein for zinc,' and Hauser, Landon, and Dorn for magnesium'' have all found that the fracture stress of a polycrystal is proportional to the reciprocal square root of the grain size. Also, they find that, for large grain sizes, the fracture stress lies near the extrapolation of the yield-stress curve determined at small grain sizes; where measurable plastic strain precedes fracture. Low9 has gone a step further and shown that, in Range 1, the fracture stress in tension is almost identical to the yield stress in compression for a given grain size. Homes and Gouzou, 10 and Low also have shown that, in Range 2 of Fig. 1, microcracks form when the yield stress is reached, but they do not cause failure until the stress reaches a much higher value. The fact that yielding always precedes fracture suggests that fracture is induced by plastic flow. A mechanism by which this might occur was first proposed by Zener.11 He pointed out that blocked dislocations would cause stress concentrations which might cause fracture. The blocking would be caused by grain boundaries. This idea has been developed by Eshelby, Frank, and Nabarro,12 by Koehler,13 and by Stroh.14 By means of etchpits blocked dislocations have been observed in brass by Jacquet,15 in zinc by Gilman,16 and in lithium fluoride by Gilman and johnston. The blocked-dislocation theory and the experiments that bear on it have been summarized by Mott.18 One of the strong points of the blocked-dislocation theory is that it can explain the grain-size dependence of the fracture stress in a natural way. However, Low9 has pointed out that the theory is not satisfying when it is considered quantitatively. Gilman10 also has criticized the theory and presented an alternative interpretation of the relation between fracture stress and grain size. Since the blocked-dislocation theory is not the only theory that can explain in the grain-size effect, it is necessary to find other evidence either to support or deny it. In this investigation the following points were studied: 1) If blocked dislocations normally cause fracture, then the fracture stress ought to be very high in the absence of plastic glide. Is it? 2) If dislocations must be blocked in order for metals to fracture, then certain types of grain

Jan 1, 1959

By R. A. Harrington

THE structure of anodic films formed on aluminum and other metals under varied conditions is not well known despite the wide use of such films both as protective coatings and as the dielectric medium in elec-trolytic condensers. The present work was undertaken as a survey of the possibilities of electron diffraction in the investigation of anodic films, especially in comparing the properties of anodic films formed under dif-ferent sets of conditions and subjected to various subsequent treatments. In addition, an effort has been made to compare surface films formed on aluminum by anodic treatment with surface films formed by heating, immersion in chemicals, etc, The electron diffraction method in many cases has been successfully applied to the study of thin surface films. Its principal advantage is that it can be used without removing the films from the base material upon which they have been formed. The low penetrating power of electrons, in the "reflection" diffraction method which has been used in this work, prevents the appearance of diffraction patterns from substances at depths greater than about 100 Angstrom units (10-6 cm.). Different investigations of the structure of anodic films have shown widely varying results, depending on the methods used in preparing the films. Apparently under some conditions these films are crystalline and under other conditions they are amorphous, and it has been difficult to say which type of structure will be found in any particular case. Schmid and Wassermann's' X-ray diffraction patterns of eloxal? films show two broad, diffuse bands, which these investigators attribute to finely divided cubic y-Al2O3-§ Burgers, Claassen, and Zernicke3 obtained sharp X-ray

Jan 1, 1940

By H. C. George

THE Wisconsin. Zinc District, or the Upper Mississippi Lead and Zinc District as it is often called, lies in the southwestern corner of Wisconsin, in, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Counties, and it includes adjoining parts of Illinois and Iowa. The district is about 70 miles long, north and south, and about 40 miles wide, east and west. It lies wholly within what is geologically known as the non-glaciated area of the Upper Mississippi Valley. HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT The district was first opened up as a lead producer in 1822. From this time until 1860, about 205,000 tons of cog lead (galena) and washed lead (galena) was produced from shallow crevices and openings. From 1860 to 1900, about 74,500 tons was produced, and since that time, from 5000 to 7000 tons has been produced annually. Since-1900, most of the lead concentrate produced has been as a byproduct of the zinc mines. The first zinc ores were mined about 1862. These were the carbonate ores, locally known as " drybone." Very little zinc blende was mined in the district, previous to 1875. The zinc blende ores mined from 1875 to 1900 were mostly of the high-grade, hand-cobbed, sheet-ore class, which usually contained from 45 to 60 per cent. metallic zinc. Such nines as the "Sallie Waters," ? Quinlin," "Lead Mine," "Benton Blende" and "Ida Blende," located near Benton, Wis., were mines which produced ores of this type, during this period. The mines located at Highland, the "Coker Mine" located at Livingston, Wis., and the "Opencut Mine" located at Shullsburg, Wis., were mines that were heavy zinc carbonate producers, previous to 1900.

Jan 12, 1917

By E. C. Winegartner, A. A. Ubbens

The company attempting to sell coal to large utility plants is faced with a confusing array of quality parameters and specifications which are often poorly understood by both the utility company and coal supplier. While these specifications are placed on the coal by the utility company, many of them originate with the boiler manufacturer who must guarantee that his product will perform satisfactorily on the design coal. A proper understanding of these parameters by both the coal supplier and utility company can lead to a better understanding of their mutual problem. This paper brings together most of the parameters in common use today and attempts to show what the parameters mean to the boiler designer, particularly in the area of boiler slagging and fouling.

Jan 1, 1977

By A. M. Kivari

OPERATIONS at the cement plant of the Permanente Corporation, in the hills about 45 miles south of San Francisco and 12 miles west of San Jose, are interesting to the members because of the adoption of modern hydrometallurgical methods for handling and beneficiating raw materials Closed-circuit grinding, classification, hydroseparation, flotation, agitation, and thickening are familiar terms at this cement plant These methods make it possible to process refractory limestone into suitable materials for the manufacture of modern cements Construction of the plant, haying originally a design capacity of 7000 bbl of cement per clay, was started in June 1939, and the first clinker was ground on the following Christmas Day At present the capacity is about 12,000 bbl of finished cement per 24 hr , most of the production being low-heat cement † About 3130 tons of limestone, 620 tons of clay and 100 tons of gypsum are required daily for this output Occasionally iron oxide is added to the clay to obtain the desired composition This, together with the gypsum, is purchased from outside sources Up to the present time, the corporation has produced low-heat, normal, moderate¬ heat, moderate-sulphate-resisting, high-early-strength, oil-well, modified-oil-well, and plastic cements Most of the present production is for Shasta Dam, near Redding, Calif , the told demand being 5,800,000 bbl of cement Following are sonic of the cement requirements of the Shasta D [im] specifications [ ] The average specific surface in the bin s sampled shill be not less Ulan 1800 sq cm per gram and no individual sample less thin 1600 sq centimeters Compressive strength The average compressive strength in pounds per square inch of three mortar cubes composed of one part cement and 2 75 parts fine testing sand, by weight, shall be equal to or greater thin the following

Jan 1, 1941

By C. S. Matthews, G. L. Stegemeier

In one field in South Texas, approximately 72 per cent of the pressure build-up results show a characteris-i.rtic "hump" (i.e., the pressure builds up and then falls off) which makes interpretation by. standard methods impossible Correlation of size and time of hump with formation permeability. well productivitv index, and method of completion led to the tentativc, conclusion that the humps were caused by segregation of gas and oil in the wellbore after closing-in"'. This conclusion was confirmed by performance of simple laboratory bubble-rise experiments, by theoretical bubble-rise time calculations, and by a detailed calculation of PVT behavior in the well of a particular well Oil which accurate Surface and bottom-hole pressure measure-ments were untile. The hump behavior has since been found to occur in many other fields. The cause, however, is not the mine in all cases. In some of these the hump is trace-ahie to leaks in the tnbing which allow influx from the annulus after closing-in. In other cases the hump is traceable to leaks in the device separating pay horizons in dually completed wells. It is concluded that the recording of both surface and bottom-hole pressures is desirable in wells which show an anomalous build-up behavior. A number of field examples is discussed where use of both sets of measurements enables the cause for anomalous behavior to he found, (and a reasonable interpreation of bottom-hole pressure to be made. INTRODUCTION Theoretically the pressure build-up in an infinite reser-voir should be a linear function of In [(t + at)/nere t is the production time and At a the closed-in time. Some of the variations from this behavior arc well known, such as the curved portion immediately after shut-in which results from after-production and skin effect, and the flattened end portion which results from boundary effects in a limited reservoir. The effect of stratified producing zones and irregular geometrical drainage patterns may also contribute unusual characteristics to build-ups. However, the effect of still another phenomenon—that of movement of fluids within the wellbore—has been neglected in most build-up studies to date. Fluid movements within the wellbore after shut-in occur as a result of after-production, packer failures, leaks in the casing or tubing, or buoyancy of the gas phase when both gas and liquid are present in the well. Each of these movements can influence the pressure build-up, sometimes sufficiently to negate use of the data for computing permeability or stabilized build-up pressure. Examples of each of these phenomena are discussed below. FIELD OBSERVATIONS ON HUMP BUILD-UPS In approximately 75 per cent of the wells in a medium-sized field in South Texas the pressure build-up curves rise to 3 maximum and then decline to what appears to be a stabilized reservoir pressure as shown in Fig. I. Similar behavior has also been observed in wells in other fields in Texas and Louisian:,. Because of the possibility of such behavior being a mechanical failure of the pressure bomb. the bombs were run in tanden into one well which had been known to exhibit this behavior. When both bombs recorded identical curves with the characteristic hump, it was inferred that the unusual build-up is a result of well or forma-

By W. M. Myers

THE hydraulic properties exhibited by the calcination products of certain limestones were recognized at an early datemore than 2000 years ago. It was known that calcined limestone with the addition of other minerals would react with water and produce an insoluble and stable product. This material could be cast in desired forms or could be used as a cement for the unification of other materials in large masses or for bonding brick or masonry structures. Cements are essentially mineral glues and it is their ability to unify other materials plus their fluidity when first mixed with water, enabling the mass to assume any desired shape, that has made them so extraordinarily useful to modern industry. Like other glues, cements do not exhibit their maximum strength when used alone and only when mixed with proper aggregates do their optimum properties appear. The resulting concrete, a mixture of cement, mineral aggregates and frequently of reinforcing steel, exhibits the most desirable properties of the individual constituents with regard to tensile strength, stability and permanence. The speed with which such mixtures can be -prepared and installed in place with mechanical equipment has facilitated their adoption by the engineering profession concerned with the construction industries. The development and application of improved methods of manufacture have resulted in such economies that the finished product can be sold at a remarkably low price. In addition, the necessary raw materials are of such common occurrence and wide geographic distribution that the manufacture of cement was established in 34 of the 48 states by 1946. Plants under construction will add to this number. In recent years the industry has been characterized by the development of a number of new cements designed to possess special properties essential for use in unusual environments. These have introduced the use of some new raw materials and also have complicated the processes of manufacture. In the following pages, the major varieties of cement of commercial importance are treated in the chronological order of their appearance on the market.

Jan 1, 1949

By Frederic Benard

THE treatment of Balbach-Thum slimes at Copper Cliff by the Ontario Refining Co, is of interest because it differs considerably from methods usually employed for the recovery of fine gold from parting-plant slimes. Owing to the comparatively high percentages of palladium and platinum, wet methods are used to remove the greater proportion of these metals before electrolytic refining in the Wohlwill cells. THE PLANT The platinum-metals department, Wohlwill room, and gold-melting room extend along the north side of the silver refinery and are separated from the parting plant by a glass partition (Figs. 1 and 2). The platinum-metals department resembles a laboratory built on a large scale, with the various pieces of equipment laid out on terraces to facilitate handling. . Because of the corrosive nature of the solutions, chemical stoneware is used throughout. Elevation of acids is accomplished by means of Mariotte bottles. On the top level are three steam-jacketed stoneware kettles of 50-gal. capacity, also a packed tower. One kettle is used for digesting the slimes while the remaining kettles are used for precipitating the gold. The dissolver is equipped with a treated concrete hood, which is connected to the flue system. Gases are drawn off through the packed tower by means of a 6-in. stoneware exhaust fan. A 15 per cent solution of sodium carbonate is continually circulated through the tower. On the intermediate level are two suction filters, one for removing silver chloride and the other for the gold sand. The filter medium consists of an asbestos pad covered with a filter paper on which is a layer of twill. On the bottom level are two rectangular cementation tanks, 24 by 48 by 24 in. deep, and a suction filter used for removing the platinum-metal concentrates. The circulating pump for the packed tower is also here. Suction is provided by a vacuum pump having a capacity of 8 cu. ft. at 20-in. vacuum.

Jan 1, 1938

By Donald C. Barton

The elastic earth waves produced naturally by earthquakes have been used for a long time as evidence from which to draw conclusions in ; regard to the constitution of the interior and crust of the earth. The I elastic earth waves produced artificially by occasional explosions and ' recorded by seismological observatories were used to draw conclusions regarding the geology of the intervening area. Intentionally produced elastic earth waves in the past five years have come to be used extensively in the investigation of very local geologic structure. The scismic method of working geologic structure, which makes use of artificially controlled explosions and the resulting earth waves, has developed almost clairvoyant power in handling certain geologic situations; and, in the discovery of salt domes in the Gulf Coastal Plain region of Texas and Louisiana, it has scored the most brilliant success. The first proposal for the use of artificial earthquakes in the study of velocity of elastic earth waves in the surface formations of the earth's crust were made before 1888, by the English seismologists mallet and Abbot. Partly on the basis of their work, A. Schmidt in 1888 proposed the use of time-(Iistnncc graphs of artificial earthquakes to study the variation of vellocity with depth. Belar in 1902 proposed the practical 'application of such investigation in connection with boring tunnels. Galitzcn repeated1y (1912. I9IX) proposed the use of explosions to study the velocity of the longitudinal and transverse waves in the uppermost formations and pointed out that the velocity depended in a high degree on the physical character of the beds and that from changes in the velocity, conclusions could be drawn in regard to the composition of the beds. Somewhat the same thought was proposed by von dem Borne (1908), by Benndorf, Udden and others.' First Use of Artificially Excited Earth waves to Determine Local structure The first application of the use of artificially excited elastic earth waves to thc determination of local geologic structure was worked out,

Jan 1, 1929

By Frank Schrader

J. DANA SPERR, Jerome, Ariz. (communication to the Secretary*).¬Very little accurate information has been published about this district. Most of the geological data appearing in the technical press are based on "careful observations" made from an auto stage and a casual glance through the U. S. Geological Survey Bulletins, No. 340 of 1908 or No. 397 of 1909, both by F. C. Schrader. Mr. Schrader's report is still the best publication on the district. A really careful study of this report will uncover only a very few statements which have since proven questionable. This is a remarkable record when it is considered that only a short time was spent by Mr. Schrader in the field and that there was very little development work done at that time. The mining world and especially Mohave County, Ariz., will feel a sense of gratitude to Mr. Schrader for revising his early report. on this

Jan 3, 1917