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By R. W. Raymond

Richard Pennefather Rothwell, was born May 1, 1836, at Oxford, Upper Canada (now the province of Ontario). His father, Rev. John Rothwell, was a native of County Meath, Ireland, where the family (originally, no doubt, a Scottish one) still holds large estates, under a grant from William and Mary. John Rothwell was graduated at Trinity College, Dublin, and became a clergyman of the Established Church. He married Elizabeth Garnett, of Athearn Castle, Ireland, and subsequently came to Canada. It is said that he was a man of liberal views combined with sterling piety, an enthusiastic sportsman and yachtsman, and a pastor who refused for many years to accept any remuneration from his parishioners. After preliminary education, the subject of this sketch entered Trinity College, Toronto, with the intention of studying law; but a year later he resolved to become a civil engineer, and entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y., where he was graduated, with high standing, as civil engineer, in 1858. He then went to Paris, and entered the Imperial School of Mines, where, by reason of the proficiency he had already acquired in civil engineering, he was able to finish in two years and a half the full three-year course, and to take the degree of Engineer of Mines. In 1861 he took the "practical courses" in mining and ore-dressing at the Mining Academy of Freiberg, Saxony. After traveling in Italy, etc., he went in 1862 to London, where, for the purpose of familiarizing himself with business methods, he entered the offices of W. T. Henley, a manufacturer of wire

Jan 1, 1902

By W. A. Bruce

THIS paper presents the essentials of a mathematical method of studying the pressure behavior of an oil reservoir as the fluids are withdrawn. Methods are shown whereby the behavior of a reservoir can be used to predict the future relationship between withdrawals and pressure. The oil reservoir is considered as a small part of a large porous continuum, which contains for the most part water. The expansion of this water resulting from a decrease of pressure in the oil zone causes a movement of water that is an important factor in the relationship between fluid withdrawals and reservoir pressure. Examples are given to illustrate the methods of pressure prediction for a circular reservoir containing undersaturated crude, the pressure distribution over a field that has a uniform production rate, the effect of a fault line near a field, the mutual interference of near-by fields, and the perturbing influence of a gas cap. Applications of the analysis to sell-spacing problems are shown.

Jan 1, 1942

By Bror Nordberg

SAND and gravel are unconsolidated granular materials resulting from the natural disintegration of rocks. The two materials nearly al- ways occur together, variably proportioned in widely available de- posits. A commercial sand comprises the fine granular material, usually less than f in. in diameter (ASTM Designation C58-28), and gravel consists of the coarse, granular material larger than sand (ASTM Designation C125-46T). Gravel falls within the range of 1/4 in. and a top size usually of 3 ½ in. Chemical definition is impossible. Sand and gravel are always of secondary origin. They were formed from various massive rocks through the action of chemical and mechanical forces; then transported, abraded, washed, sorted, and classified by streams, glaciers, waves, or winds, to be redeposited in beds as they are found. Chief disintegrating forces in the reduction of rocks into granular particles were frost, rain, the dissolving action of acid and alkaline ground waters, the mechanical action of streams and waves, and the action of glaciers. Method of formation and deposition have imparted physical properties to sands and gravels that largely determine the commercial value of the materials for particular use and influence the manner of exploitation. In the early days of the commercial industry, purchasing specifications were relatively lenient but in. the past decade much more rigid quality requirements have had to be met for acceptance by all classes of purchasers. The trend to further severity in requirements is a challenge to the industry that commands full knowledge of the nature of raw materials at hand and skillful application of processing into commercial products. Mechanical strength, the ability to resist disintegration, chemica

Jan 1, 1949

By J. C. Osler

The design of a tailings dam is a geotechnical engineering project of considerable scope. For the design, it is necessary to establish the engineering properties of the soil or rock strata which will support the dam and the tailings or other fill which will be used to construct the dam. The various field and laboratory investigations which are necessary to obtain the required design parameters are discussed in the paper and the use of these parameters to compute stability, settlement, and seepage are considered. The designer of a tailings dam can never assume an absolute knowledge of the properties of the foundation strata. Further, initial design assumptions are often approximate, particularly with regard to the distribution of pore pressures through and beneath the dam. Thus, the installation of performance monitoring instruments is recommended, since data obtained from such instrumentation can be used to check the stability of the structure both during construction and after its completion.

Jan 1, 1972

By H. W. Schreiber, H. R. Babitzke, R. E. Rodriquez, Patterson J. A., C. D. Masters, J. J. Schanz, R. B. McCammon, E. A. Noble, P. M. Krishna

A five-year effort by the ASTM subcommittee E10.14 on uranium resource evaluation has culminated in the approval of E901-82, Classification System for Uranium Resources (ASTM Standard E901-82, April 1983). The standard classification was prepared with participation of representatives from the US Department of Energy, the US Department of Interior's Geological Survey and Bureau Mines, utilities, and consultants. The classification a resource is based on level of knowledge and the economic producibility of the resource at a given time. Alphanumeric identifiers are used rather than words to avoid confusion with existing terms, definitions, and classifications. An example demonstrates the dynamic nature of the process of classification and attests to the necessity of addressing both the aggregate needs of broad-scale resource planning and the specific needs of individual property evaluation. Problems that remain infixing the classification a given uranium resource include uncertainty in estimating the quantity of undiscovered resources and resolving differences that may exist in deciding when the drill-hole spacing is adequate to determine the tonnage and grade of discovered resources.

Jan 1, 1985

By H. K. Work

THE Bessemer process is one of the most interesting methods of making steel. At one time it was by far the most important. In recent years, however, it has steadily lost ground to the open-hearth process. The forces working against this method of steelmaking are partly economic and partly metallurgical.' In this paper, dealing as it does with the control of the process, the metallurgical factors alone will be considered, although it is obvious that economic factors must play a part in determining the ultimate status of the Bessemer process. This discussion has been limited in another respect-it deals primarily with the acid Bessemer process in bottom-blown converters, although much of the information is applicable to basic and side-blown converters. The fact that open-hearth steel has superseded Bessemer steel to a large extent has tended to create an impression that Bessemer steel is inferior. As a matter of fact, Bessemer steel is actually superior to open-hearth for many applications.2 There are, however, definite metallurgical limitations to the use of Bessemer steel, resulting largely from two factors: (I) the physical properties conferred by nitrogen and phosphorus, and (2) the variability from blow to blow. These, of course, are not entirely independent, since some of the variability covered in the second item is undoubtedly due to nitrogen. But the variability is also caused by other factors. One of these is the relatively small size of the Bessemer heats. Because of this, a given shipment of Bessemer steel is more likely than a shipment of open-hearth steel to contain the product of several heats, each with its own distinctive and slightly different characteristics. Added to this is the fact that the refining of Bessemer steel proceeds so rapidly that the timing of the end point is limited to a matter of seconds, whereas the finishing period in the open hearth extends over a period of one or two hours and the timing of the end point may vary by several minutes without seriously affecting the product. There is no doubt that this has contributed to the variability of Bessemer steel and has led to the use of open-hearth steel in many optional applications. That Bessemer steel may vary is not necessarily objectionable, and it may even prove an advantage, providing a precise control is available to secure the desired qualities for any specific application. With this in mind, a comprehensive research program was undertaken, one phase of which was directed toward securing more accurate control of the blow. The results have been encouraging, and it is the purpose of this paper to describe a method in which modern scientific instruments, based on photocells, are currently being employed to assist the blower. THE CONTROL PROBLEM In this day of scientific control of technical processes, where the operating

Jan 1, 1941

By authority of the Secretary of War, and in response to frequent requests, the following suggested list of reading is issued by the War Department for the information of civilian engineers desiring to inform themselves on military subjects: These references have been selected, first, with a view to giving to engineers unfamiliar with the art of war a general survey of that sub-

Jan 1, 1916

By Pramod C. Thakur

Introduction Methane is contained under pressure within the fractures and adsorbed on the surface of the coal seams and adjacent strata. It is released into the mine atmosphere during mining of the seam creating explosive gas-air mixtures. Large volumes of air, sometimes as high as 20 tons of air for each ton of coal mined, are circulated constantly to dilute and carry away methane from coal mines. Removal of methane from solid coal, wherever high methane emissions occur, has been discussed by Spindler and Poundstone (1960) and Thakur and Davis (1977). Methane control in longwall gobs is much more complicated. As longwall mining progresses, the overburden continually subsides, and the immediate roof caves behind the roof supports. Even the underlying strata heave and open up communication channels feeding gas to the longwall gobs. The pressure of gas in the underlying and overlying strata is usually higher than the ambient air pressure in the mine. Thus the mine workings become natural pressure sinks, into which gas flows from the entire disturbed zone. Winter (1975) defines this zone as the "gas emission space". Depending on the number of gas-bearing zones in the gas emission space and their gas contents, the total methane emission from longwall gobs could vary from a few to more than one hundred cubic meters of gas per ton of mined coal. Hence the ventilation of longwall faces demands a large quantity of air. This ventilation need is further enhanced by high air losses specially on caving faces (with no stowing of the gobs). The old system of longwall ventilation, the 'U' pattern, where all the air was brought down one gate road and exited through the other gate road, loses large quantities of air through gobs giving a high methane concentration at the return end of the face. The 'Y' ventilation pattern where intake air is brought down both head and tail gate roads relieves the situation to some extent but, on most longwalls, some kind of methane control is still needed. With the onset of longwall mining in Europe several decades ago, the initial work on methane control on longwall has naturally been done there. The basic principle of methane control has always been, and still remains, some means of "bypassing methane from the gas emission space without letting it mix with the mine air". In most cases the bypassing mechanism is either a strategically located borehole or a roadway. A successful methane control program depends on the following basic premises: a. Determination of the geometry of the gas emission space and location of gas bearing horizons therein. b. Estimation of the rate of methane influx into the longwall gob. c. A scheme to bypass the gas in the most economic and efficient manner and thus prevent it from entering the mine atmosphere. In successful methane drainage programs a high proportion, usually between 50 and 70 percent, of the total gas emissions in a working district is removed before it can enter the mine airways. Advantages of methane drainage can be summarized as: 1. Generally reduced methane levels in the mine leading to increased safety and productivity. 2. Reduced air requirements and corresponding savings in ventilation horsepower. 3. Faster rate of advance for development headings and economy in the size of headings. 4. Possible use of mine gas as an additional source of fuel. The purpose of this paper is to briefly review the geometry of gas emission space and methane influx therein and discuss more successful European and U.S. longwall gob gas control techniques.

Jan 1, 1981

Report of Secretary TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGICAL ENGINEERS Gentlemen -I herewith present a report of some of the more important activities of the Institute for the year of 1922. The outstanding feature of the year is the optimism felt by our members despite the continued depression in the mining industry. January 1, 1921, found many of our members out of employment or drifting into other industries to tide them over the depression; but almost universally the feeling has been that this was but a temporary condition and that sooner or later the necessary production of raw materials would enable these members to return to their former activities and renew their participation in Institute affairs As the year passed conditions improved and, before it ended, many had found employment in their previous occupations. Bearing in mind that this depression has been very real, we have reason to be well satisfied with the work that the Institute has been able to do The loss of members through inability to pay dues has been large, and income has been correspondingly reduced, but it proved to be materially in excess of that anticipated early in the year, so that a substantial and unanticipated balance was carried forward toward the activities of 1923.

Jan 1, 1923

By Ernest A. Hersam

Accurate ore-sizing with screens is drawing attention to certain details that now, more than ever before, require attention. There are many tests that must be preceded by careful sizing. The assayer often could profit by a more careful selection of screens. In milling, more attention is given the slimes produced. Cement-manufacturers are pulverizing and screening finer than they formerly did, and others are reducing materials to fine sizes at high cost, with screens used to govern the fineness of the pulverized product. Fine screens are expensive, easily injured by misuse, are carried in stock sparingly by most dealers, and are handled often by those who know little about them except their designated number. More attention, on the whole, needs be given the actual size of the mesh-openings, and less emphasis placed upon any custom or conventionality in numbering. An effort to classify wire screens, in this respect, leads at once into computations, where one is confronted with details of sizes and standards, of different wires, different gauges, and different customs. There is always uncertainty about the exact working-size of a screen until one gives the matter special attention, and devotes more time to it than its simplicity seems to demand. To know only the number is not sufficient for all uses. Often, in sets, superfluous sizes are used; and sizes are omitted that are of critical importance. In wire screens, the use of different standard sizes of wire makes important differences in dimensions that must be taken into account. The dealer usually grades screens by the number of openings per linear dimensions, regardless of the size of the openings or of the wire. Certain 100-mesh screens in use are found, by measurement, to be actually coarser than others of 90-mesh, a result which is due, of course, to the use of larger

Jan 1, 1907

E. T. DUMBLE, Houston, Tex.-This paper is a continuation of one that was published by Mr. Garfias, I believe, in the Journal of Geology, 1912, in which he gave the results of his investigations in Mexico, showing that the basalt extrusions frequently did not come up as cones. but reached the surface as a small neck and then mushroomed out into a sill, penetrating the beds both in limestones and in shales. He has continued his investigations to show that as these basalt protrusions came up they forced the strata into a funnel shape at the top instead of throwing them out altogether. While this may be true concerning these particular beds, there are other places at which the basalt does appear clearly as cones and dories, and there the funnel structure does not exist. We know that the sills are there, because we find them in the wells. In one well that I know of. we found a 2-ft. sill of basalt at about 1600 ft. and oil below it at about 2100 ft.; others have gone through similar beds. We also know that there. are cones, because north of the Ranuco River one well struck basalt at about 800 ft. and continued in it for several hundred feet-did not pass through it at all. This paper of Mr. Garfias will give us considerable help in that oil field. W. E. WRATHER, Wichita Falls, Tex.-I would like to ask for information as to the temperatures of Mexican oils. I have heard a number of conflicting reports about the high temperatures of the water and oil, and the relationship between them.

Jan 1, 1918

The Library of the above-named Societies is open from 9 A.M. to 10 P.M. on all week-days, except holidays, from September 1, to June 30, and from 9 A.M. to 6.P.M. during July and August. The Library contains about 55,000 volumes, including sets of technical periodicals and the publications of scientific and technical societies. Members of the Institute, with few exceptions, are forced to spend a portion of their time in localities isolated from sources of information. T o these the Library can render valuable service through correspondence; letters requesting information will receive special attention. The Library is prepared to furnish references and copies of articles on mining and metallurgical subjects; to determine the existence of mining-maps, and to furnish general information as to the geology and mineral resources of all countries. All communications should be made as definite as possible so that the information received may be What is desired and not include collateral matter which may not be of interest. The time spent in searching for such collateral matter will be saved, and the information will be sent more promptly and in more usable shape. The members of the Institute can be of service to the Library by forwarding copies of mining-reports, maps privately issued, and similar material, which will be classified, indexed, and made available to other members. Suggestions for additions to the Library, either by purchase or personal solicitation as gifts, will be welcomed. It is hoped that members while in the city will use the Library freely, and assurance is given that most careful service will be rendered to them.

Jan 7, 1914

By Joseph A. Holmes, Henry Kreisinger

At the Mining Experiment Station of the U. S. Geological Survey, in Pittsburg, an investigation of the process of combustion is being carried on in a specially-designed furnace having an unusually long combustion-chamber. This work is conducted by a con~mittee consisti~lg of 11. Kreisinger, mechanical engineer; Dr. J. C. W. Frazer, chemist; and Dr..J. K. Clement, physicist. The problem, essentially one of physical chemistry, is estremely interesting to all who are concerned in the burning of coal or the construction of furnaces. The main object of these experiments is to ascertain the relation between the amount of' the volatile combustible driven from the coal and the combustion-spaces necessary to burn it completely. Our best steam-coals vary from 15 to 45 per cent. in volatile matter and from 40 to 75 per cent. of fixed combtistible. The greater part of the latter is burned on the grate: but the volatile combustible leaves the freshly-charsed coal and must be burned in the combustion-space. If this space is not large enough, the volatile combustible mill leave the furnace only partly burnecl, and the result will be a considerable heat-loss and a smoky stack. Strictly speaking, the factor which determines the completeness of combustion of the volatile matter, after it has been mixed with a certain amount of air, is the length of time the mixture is allowed to remain in the combustion-space; but this length of time depends on the extent of the space itself. Let us suppose, for instance, that, when a given coal is burned at a certain standard rate, the volume of the volatile combustible driven oft' per second is 10 cu. ft. Adding, say, 10 cu. ft. of air, the volume of the resulting burning mixture is increased to 20 cu. ft. If the combustion-space is 30 cu. ft., the burning mixture will stay in it,

Jan 1, 1911

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

Jan 1, 1923

By V. W. Bihlman, H. M. Williams

In the construction of internal-combustion engines, the cooling of the combustion chamber and pistons is of great importance. In certain types of engines, the adequate dissipation of heat from the bearings is also important. One of the important factors affecting heat dissipation from these parts is the thermal conductivity of the material used. A search of the technical literature shows that, in general, the thermal conductivity of the elements1 has been determined accurately by a number of investigators. The data on the industrial alloys are, however, meager. For an investigation of these alloys, the thermal-conductivity apparatus described in this paper has been constructed at the laboratory of the General Motors Research Corporation. It is desirable that an apparatus for work of this nature should give fair accuracy of results with a convenient form of specimen and a reasonable rapidity of operation. A summary of the different methods of determining thermal conductivity is given in the first volume of the " Dictionary of Applied Physics," pages 429 and 470. The method selected as best satisfying these conditions is that of Griffith, on page 443, with the addition of a guard ring similar in principle to the method used by Berget (P. 445). Briefly, the method consists of heating one end of a bar T, Fig. 1, electrically, measuring the amount of heat transmitted through the bar by a flow calorimeter J fastened to the other end, and measuring the temperature gradient along the bar. To compensate for the loss of heat laterally, the test bar is surrounded by a guard ring E, in the form of a steel pipe, which is electrically heated at the bottom and cooled at the top with a

Jan 1, 1923

By V. W. Bihlman, H. M. Williams

In the construction of internal-combustion engines, the cooling of the combustion chamber and pistons is of great importance. In certain types of engines, the adequate dissipation of heat from the bearings is also important. One of the important factors affecting heat dissipation from these parts is the thermal conductivity of the material used. A search of the technical literature shows that, in general, the thermal conductivity of the elements1 has been determined accurately by a number of investigators. The data on the industrial alloys are, however, meager. For an investigation of these alloys, the thermal-conductivity apparatus described in this paper has been constructed at the laboratory of the General Motors Research Corporation. It is desirable that an apparatus for work of this nature should give fair accuracy of results with a convenient form of specimen and a reasonable rapidity of operation. A summary of the different methods of determining thermal conductivity is given in the first volume of the " Dictionary of Applied Physics," pages 429 and 470. The method selected as best satisfying these conditions is that of Griffith, on page 443, with the addition of a guard ring similar in principle to the method used by Berget (P. 445). Briefly, the method consists of heating one end of a bar T, Fig. 1, electrically, measuring the amount of heat transmitted through the bar by a flow calorimeter J fastened to the other end, and measuring the temperature gradient along the bar. To compensate for the loss of heat laterally, the test bar is surrounded by a guard ring E, in the form of a steel pipe, which is electrically heated at the bottom and cooled at the top with a

Jan 1, 1923

By James R. Swaisgood, Ronald E. Versaw

Hundreds of shafts have been sunk in the United States in the past. Most of these have been successful however, in some instances thousands of dollars have been lost due to work stoppage while emergency measures were taken to control unexpected water flows. In cases where it was not possible to control the water, the shafts were completely lost. Many thousands of dollars have also been wasted in overconservative support design for the successful shafts. These "hell for stout" designs were necessary because of the importance of the shaft in the operation of the mine. If there was trouble in the shaft, all underground operations would come to a halt. Over-design was also necessary because no reliable preconstruction investigation methods or rational support design methods were available.

Jan 6, 1974

By Rudolf Kudlich

THE problem of eliminating the hazards of hoisting in mines has been with us since the industry passed its earliest stages, when coal and ore could be won from surface working and tunnels. At first, safety devices were introduced as means of decreasing the amount of labor necessary, to produce the mineral, or to increase the amount that could be obtained from a certain opening. For example, crude, ladders replaced winding footpaths or steps cut into the walls of the pit or shaft, decreasing the distance it was necessary to carry the product to the surface and eliminating, to some extent, the hazard introduced by the precarious footing afforded by such paths and steps. Later, instead of being carried from the pit on the backs of men, the product was hoisted in buckets or baskets on a rope passing over a pulley or around a windlass. Thus the capacity of the pit was considerably increased, and the hazard due to making many trips up and down the shaft was eliminated. From such beginnings accident prevention in mine hoisting advanced with the importance of the industry, until at present hoisting compares favorably with other branches of the mining industry with reference to safe practices. As in the other branches, this progress has been accomplished along two general lines-by legislation, rules, and education, and by the installation of safety devices. Though due credit must be given the former, it is not so satisfactory as the latter. Legislation, to be effective, requires a policing and inspection system to guarantee enforcement, such as we cannot hope to inaugurate. Rules may be satisfactory so long as the employer controls the labor market, and dismissal or some other form of discipline is an effective means of insuring obedience to the rules; but where labor demand is in excess of the supply, or where labor organizations are in control, such measures are not effective. An educational campaign will draw attention to hazards and may awaken a desire to avoid accidents by exercising the proper care.

Jan 2, 1922

By G. Richards Gwinn

GRAPHITE is one of the so-called minor nonmetals that have become of major importance during the present conflict. Requirements of the domestic industry for graphite are relatively small and uses have changed so greatly in the past 25 years that different types, with few exceptions, are more nearly interchangeable in use. However, the quality of the graphite required for crucibles is exacting and under present manufacturing practices only a small part of the world production can be utilized economically by this industry. Graphite, for the domestic crucible industry, was supplied almost entirely by imports from Madagascar and Ceylon before the present war. The quantity required has been increased by the war and the greatest demand is for Madagascar flake. The fall of France to Germany in 1941 and the Japanese expansion southward threatened our supply of crucible-grade graphite, therefore the domestic industry was revived to supplement imports and to act as insurance in the event of complete stoppage of imports. Two plants were constructed for the Government, one at Ashland, Alabama, called the Crucible Flake Graphite Co., operated by Haile Mines, Inc., and one near West Chester, Pennsylvania, operated by the Benjamin Franklin Flake Graphite Co. Loans were made by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to the Alabama Flake Graphite Co. at Ashland, the Ceylon Graphite Co., at Goodwater, Ala., and the Southwestern Graphite Co., at Burnet, Texas. However, by the end of 1943 the import situation had improved and it was no longer necessary to continue Government assistance to mine and stock-pile the high-cost domestic material. Graphite is found in virtually every country of the world. Most occurrences are of no economic importance because of their poor quality, prohibitive mining and milling costs, inaccessibility, and poor location with reference to the industrial centers where graphite is used. The principal commercial deposits are found in Ceylon, Madagascar, Chosen (Korea), United States, U. S. S. R., Canada, Germany, and Mexico. Graphite is a typical international mineral in that it is utilized mainly in countries noted for industrial activities, whereas the two islands, Ceylon and Madagascar, which produce the major part of the world's high-grade graphite, are virtually devoid of any manufacturing establishments requiring its use. The industry thus is violently disturbed by wars. TYPES of GRAPHITE USED IN CRUCIBLES Graphite of various kinds and from many countries has been used for making crucibles. Passau (Bohemian) flake was first used in Europe, but by the middle of the seventeenth century crucible formulas were established largely on Ceylon graphite and German Klingenberg clay. Ceylon graphite is granular and the grains are subdivided into more or less

Jan 1, 1945

By David B. Reger

Sharp declines of initial production of both oil and gas occurred in West Virginia during 1943. There was only a small decrease in the number of ncw wells, but these wells did not show the quantities of oil and gas that might have been expected. The same situation prevailed both as to routine drilling in old pools and as to exploratory wildcat wells. Out of 42 wildcats drilled, 19 resulted in small commercial gas wells, and 2 in small commercial oil. No new oil pools were discovered, but the proved limits of several old pools were considerably extended, giving 4200 acres of newly proved oil territory. Three new gas pools, resulting from discoveries made in 1942 and former years, came into definite activity. The newly proved gas territory in these and in various extensions of old pools is 39,000 acres or more. It is doubtful whether the newly proved reserves of either oil or gas will balance current withdrawals. The account of operations, as gathered from trade journals and other reporting services, shows that 696 new wells were drilled, resulting in 82 oil wells with 919 bbl. of daily new production; 475 gas wells with 454,735,000 cu. ft. of daily open flow, and 137 dry holes. Also, 57 old wells were drilled to deeper sands, with 3 bbl. and 11,484,000 cu. it. of added production. On the new wells, the oil average was 11.2 bbl. per well per day, and the gas average was 957,337 cu. ft. per well per day. On new wells the ratio of dry holes to completions was 19.68 per cent. On deeper drilling the ratio of failures was 14.03 per cent. The greatly decreased average initial gas-well production in 1943, as compared with 2,270,406 CU. ft. per well in 1942, is directly attributable to the abrupt decline of completions in the Charleston gas field, which reached its peak in 1942. Production of oil for the year was estimated by the U. S. Rureau of Mines as 3,349,000 bbl., as compared with 3,574,000 bbl. in 1942. Production of natural gas for the year is estimated by the author as 210,000, 000,000 cu. ft., compared with the U. S. Bureau of Mines final figures of 215,193,-000,000 cu. ft.* in 1942.

Jan 1, 1944