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By DOOLITTLE E. M.

(Canal Zone Meeting, November, 1910.) The following notes are contributed, not with the idea of offering a complete history of the development of this very important process as applied to the Leadville district, but with the hope that the practice, as it was carried out in the Bi-Metallic Smelter, may still be of interest to others. The Bi-Metallic Smelter, at Leadville, Colo., was the first to make a commercial success of the process described in the following pages, which consisted essentially of smelting raw silver- and copper-bearing sulphide ores in blast-furnaces to form a matte, which was generally re-smelted with siliceous ores for a second high-grade matte. Robert Sticht, in his excellent monograph on the subject,1 has outlined briefly the plant belonging to this company. He says, in effect: The Boulder, Mont., enterprise set the example for others with whom the patentee (w. L. Austin) had been negotiating, and the old La Plata lead-smelter at Leadville, Colo., was fashioned into a crude, temporary experimental plant for the Bi-Metallic Company, and the feasibility of the process demonstrated by a trial run. Subsequently, the plant was considerably improved, and, being supplied with very favorable ores, continued to run without interruption from August, 1892, to June, 1893. In September, 1893, smelting was resumed in a completely remodeled establishment, some $200,000 having been expended upon the new work. Thus, aside from the Montana experiments, which, under the direction of W. L. Austin, began as early as- 1885 2 at Toston, and continued with indifferent success for six or seven years, the Bi-Metallic plant at Leadville may be said to have * Formerly Superintendent, Bi-Metallic Smelting Co. + Formerly Chief Assayer and Chemist, Bi-Metallic Smelting Co. 1 Modern Copper Smelting, E. D. Peters, 7th ed., p. 415 (1895). 2 Trans., xvi., p. 259 (1887-88).

Dec 1, 1910

By George Hallerman, R. J. Gray

In the customary method of studying age hardening, the process of aging is interrupted by cooling the specimen and measuring its room-temperature hardness. However, the aging process may be conveniently measured while it is occurring at an elevated temperature by a series of hardness measurements at suitable time intervals. The latter method gives data void of complications that might result from processes occurring during the quench, and the data may be more indicative of the alloy's properties at elevated temperatures. The elevated-temperature hardness tester1 used in the present study employed a dead-weight loading system with a synthetic sapphire Vickers-type in-denter mounted in a molybdenum holder. The tests were performed in a vacuum of l0 to 10 torr. Hardness impressions were made by applying a 2-kg load for 15 sec. Although the hardness impressions made in the tester at elevated temperatures were measured at room temperature, the correction for thermal contraction during cooling was insignificant and therefore neglected. The two methods of obtaining age-hardening data were compared using eighteen samples of Haynes alloy No. 25* which had been annealed for 2 hr at 2250°F (1232°C). The test surfaces of the 1 by 1 by 1/4-in. samples were ground and then polished on vibratory polishers2 prior to testing. Three groups of five samples were aged at 1400°, 1650°, and 1800°F (760°, 899", and 982°C) for 4, 16, 32, 64, and 100 hr and then water-quenched. Room-temperature hardness as a function of aging time for these samples is shown in the broken lines of Fig. 1. Only one sample for each of the three temperatures was necessary to determine the hardness of the alloy at the aging temperatures with the elevated hardness tester. The specimens were heated isothermally and hardness impressions were made after various time intervals up to 100 hr. The results of these determinations were represented by solid lines in Fig. 1. Comparison of the two sets of curves shows, as expected, the hardness values determined at the aging temperatures are lower than the room-temperature hardness of the quenched specimens and the hot-hardness values reflect a strong tempera-

Jan 1, 1964

By W. S. Gresley

The traces of fossils herein described were discovered in or upon piles or heaps of iron-ores upon the docks at Erie, Pa. The author has worked among these ore-piles since 1890, when his attention was first directed to what looked like organic remains upon certain specimens collected. All the specimens described and figured herein were found by him, and, as no ironore is used at Erie, and no other iron-ores, save those of the Lake Superior region, find their way to the stock-piles at this place, there can be no question but that the specimens in question are genuine ore transported from that region over the great lakes, and cannot have been brought in from other ironore regions. The author has reason to think that no fossil remains have been reported hitherto as occurring in the iron-ores of the Lake Superior region, and he believes that these specimens, however imperfect, rank among the oldest forms of which man has any knowledge. The illustrations are engraved from photographs of drawings. The specimens themselves have not been photographed, because their condition would have prevented bringing out, by that process of reproduction, all the markings as clearly as is necessary, and would have rendered the specimens otherwise less distinct by reason of the blotchy character of their colors, the presence of cracks, or of marks more or less in contact with those of the organisms. In drawing these remains, therefore, I left out everything upon the specimens of ore that did not seem to belong in any way or contribute to their value as illustrations of the fossils. According to information obtained from the dock superintendent at Erie, Pa., the majority of these specimens came from the Chapin mine, Iron Mountain, Menominee range, Mich. As to the rest of them, I stupidly failed

Jan 1, 1897

By J. A. Barr, R. B. Burt, I. S. Tillotson

THE pumping of solids in water suspension is an important part of many metallurgical and mining operations. In most cases, it is still in the rule of thumb category for which no universal formula has been developed, and much research is needed. Because of the limited and incomplete data available, this article may be classed as an experience paper, which is presented with the hope that some contribution will be made toward the development of the so-called universal formula. This formula, if and when developed, may be evolved from several factors, many of which are not now available for general application. The designing engineer is interested in obtaining accurate forecasts on: 1—the minimum velocities needed to prevent choke-ups in the pipeline, which in turn dictates pipe sizes, 2—power required for pumping, 3—pump selection. The basic factors for a given problem will include: 1—weight per unit of time of solids to be handled, 2—specific gravity of solids, for calculation of volume, friction and power, 3—screen analysis of solids with the colloidal acting, i.e., the slime fraction, a very important factor, 4— shape of particle or some means of determining a friction constant, 5—effects of percentage of solids, 6—development of a viscosity factor to be used in the overall calculations, 7—calculation of the lower limits of pipeline velocities permissible, 8—calculation of total head, pump horsepower, and 9—setting up of pump specifications. In certain limited cases horsepower and total heads and minimum velocities may be computed and a suitable pump selected from basic data, but in many cases, as in mining of Florida pebble phosphate, experience rather than a hydraulic formula still should be used as a basis of selection. Pumping Florida Pebble Matrix Pumping at the Noralyn mine of International Minerals and Chemical Corp. will be used as an example. Other areas will vary as to the characteristics of the matrix, especially the slime content. A typical screen analysis of this matrix is: +14 mesh, pebble size,* 2.1 pct; —14 +35 mesh, 11.4 pct; -35 +I50 mesh, 60.5 pct; -150 mesh, 25.0; total, 100 pct; moisture in bank, 20.0 pct; weight per cu ft in bank, 120 lb. The —150 mesh fraction may increase to as much as 35 pct in adjacent areas. When thoroughly elutriated, the matrix has a relatively slow settling rate, which is an important factor in permitting lower pipeline velocities without choke-ups. Exact data is not available to evaluate settling rates. For a factor of 100 a suspension of clean building sand in water is suggested. When pumping long distances, a quick settling matrix allows the coarser solids to settle out along the bottom of the pipeline, causing drag, turbulence, and increased friction. With a slow settling matrix as at Noralyn, turbulence acts to keep the solids in suspension at a lower friction head, regardless of the pumping distance. When the pebble content of the matrix, i.e., the + 14 mesh fraction, is in excess of 10 pct of the total solids, trouble may be expected from settling out even in normal pumping distances. To prevent choke-ups and maintain tonnage, an additional pump must be added in the long runs, where one pump would otherwise be satisfactory. A typical pulp handled is: total volume, 7800 gpm; water, 4500; solids pumped per hr, 4200 lb; sp gr pulp, 1.4; percent solids in pulp, 46.; pipe size, 16-in. ID; pulp velocity, 12.85 fps; probable critical velocity, 10 fps, as below this minimum velocity choke-ups would be numerous. In calculating friction heads the Armco handbook is used where a roughness factor based on 15-year-old pipe is set up. Because the pipe used in pumping matrix is smooth and polished because of the scouring action of the phosphate and its silica content, the head losses in the Armco table for water are practically the same as in pumping the Noralyn matrix through smooth pipe, plus the fact that conditions vary widely over short periods, making accurate determinations difficult to obtain. New pumps and pump changes are being tested continuously and a wealth of data built up. This has resulted in a substantial improvement and lower relative costs in pumping matrix. The Florida phosphate industry is constantly seeking to offset higher wage and material costs with improved technique. Until a few years ago a 12-in. discharge pump was commonly used, with heads as low as 80 ft. Sizes have gradually increased and heads more than doubled. For example, the following pump was placed under test at the Noralyn mine: make, Georgia Iron Works; size, suction 16 in., discharge 14 in.; impeller, 39-in. diam; motor, 600 hp, slip ring; full load speed, 514 rpm. The results were increased head, higher capacity than the older design, with fewer pumps in the line from mine to washer.

Jan 1, 1953

By R. B. Burt, J. A. Barr, I. S. Tillotson

THE pumping of solids in water suspension is an important part of many metallurgical and mining operations. In most cases, it is still in the rule of thumb category for which no universal formula has been developed, and much research is needed. Because of the limited and incomplete data available, this article may be classed as an experience paper, which is presented with the hope that some contribution will be made toward the development of the so-called universal formula. This formula, if and when developed, may be evolved from several factors, many of which are not now available for general application. The designing engineer is interested in obtaining accurate forecasts on: 1—the minimum velocities needed to prevent choke-ups in the pipeline, which in turn dictates pipe sizes, 2—power required for pumping, 3—pump selection. The basic factors for a given problem will include: 1—weight per unit of time of solids to be handled, 2—specific gravity of solids, for calculation of volume, friction and power, 3—screen analysis of solids with the colloidal acting, i.e., the slime fraction, a very important factor, 4— shape of particle or some means of determining a friction constant, 5—effects of percentage of solids, 6—development of a viscosity factor to be used in the overall calculations, 7—calculation of the lower limits of pipeline velocities permissible, 8—calculation of total head, pump horsepower, and 9—setting up of pump specifications. In certain limited cases horsepower and total heads and minimum velocities may be computed and a suitable pump selected from basic data, but in many cases, as in mining of Florida pebble phosphate, experience rather than a hydraulic formula still should be used as a basis of selection. Pumping Florida Pebble Matrix Pumping at the Noralyn mine of International Minerals and Chemical Corp. will be used as an example. Other areas will vary as to the characteristics of the matrix, especially the slime content. A typical screen analysis of this matrix is: +14 mesh, pebble size,* 2.1 pct; —14 +35 mesh, 11.4 pct; -35 +I50 mesh, 60.5 pct; -150 mesh, 25.0; total, 100 pct; moisture in bank, 20.0 pct; weight per cu ft in bank, 120 lb. The —150 mesh fraction may increase to as much as 35 pct in adjacent areas. When thoroughly elutriated, the matrix has a relatively slow settling rate, which is an important factor in permitting lower pipeline velocities without choke-ups. Exact data is not available to evaluate settling rates. For a factor of 100 a suspension of clean building sand in water is suggested. When pumping long distances, a quick settling matrix allows the coarser solids to settle out along the bottom of the pipeline, causing drag, turbulence, and increased friction. With a slow settling matrix as at Noralyn, turbulence acts to keep the solids in suspension at a lower friction head, regardless of the pumping distance. When the pebble content of the matrix, i.e., the + 14 mesh fraction, is in excess of 10 pct of the total solids, trouble may be expected from settling out even in normal pumping distances. To prevent choke-ups and maintain tonnage, an additional pump must be added in the long runs, where one pump would otherwise be satisfactory. A typical pulp handled is: total volume, 7800 gpm; water, 4500; solids pumped per hr, 4200 lb; sp gr pulp, 1.4; percent solids in pulp, 46.; pipe size, 16-in. ID; pulp velocity, 12.85 fps; probable critical velocity, 10 fps, as below this minimum velocity choke-ups would be numerous. In calculating friction heads the Armco handbook is used where a roughness factor based on 15-year-old pipe is set up. Because the pipe used in pumping matrix is smooth and polished because of the scouring action of the phosphate and its silica content, the head losses in the Armco table for water are practically the same as in pumping the Noralyn matrix through smooth pipe, plus the fact that conditions vary widely over short periods, making accurate determinations difficult to obtain. New pumps and pump changes are being tested continuously and a wealth of data built up. This has resulted in a substantial improvement and lower relative costs in pumping matrix. The Florida phosphate industry is constantly seeking to offset higher wage and material costs with improved technique. Until a few years ago a 12-in. discharge pump was commonly used, with heads as low as 80 ft. Sizes have gradually increased and heads more than doubled. For example, the following pump was placed under test at the Noralyn mine: make, Georgia Iron Works; size, suction 16 in., discharge 14 in.; impeller, 39-in. diam; motor, 600 hp, slip ring; full load speed, 514 rpm. The results were increased head, higher capacity than the older design, with fewer pumps in the line from mine to washer.

Jan 1, 1953

By J. A. Barr, R. B. Burt, I. S. Tillotson

THE pumping of solids in water suspension is an important part of many metallurgical and mining operations. In most cases, it is still in the rule of thumb category for which no universal formula has been developed, and much research is needed. Because of the limited and incomplete data available, this article may be classed as an experience paper, which is presented with the hope that some contribution will be made toward the development of the so-called universal formula. This formula, if and when developed, may be evolved from several factors, many of which are not now available for general application. The designing engineer is interested in obtaining accurate forecasts on: 1—the minimum velocities needed to prevent choke-ups in the pipeline, which in turn dictates pipe sizes, 2—power required for pumping, 3—pump selection. The basic factors for a given problem will include: 1—weight per unit of time of solids to be handled, 2—specific gravity of solids, for calculation of volume, friction and power, 3—screen analysis of solids with the colloidal acting, i.e., the slime fraction, a very important factor, 4— shape of particle or some means of determining a friction constant, 5—effects of percentage of solids, 6—development of a viscosity factor to be used in the overall calculations, 7—calculation of the lower limits of pipeline velocities permissible, 8—calculation of total head, pump horsepower, and 9—setting up of pump specifications. In certain limited cases horsepower and total heads and minimum velocities may be computed and a suitable pump selected from basic data, but in many cases, as in mining of Florida pebble phosphate, experience rather than a hydraulic formula still should be used as a basis of selection. Pumping Florida Pebble Matrix Pumping at the Noralyn mine of International Minerals and Chemical Corp. will be used as an example. Other areas will vary as to the characteristics of the matrix, especially the slime content. A typical screen analysis of this matrix is: +14 mesh, pebble size,* 2.1 pct; —14 +35 mesh, 11.4 pct; -35 +I50 mesh, 60.5 pct; -150 mesh, 25.0; total, 100 pct; moisture in bank, 20.0 pct; weight per cu ft in bank, 120 lb. The —150 mesh fraction may increase to as much as 35 pct in adjacent areas. When thoroughly elutriated, the matrix has a relatively slow settling rate, which is an important factor in permitting lower pipeline velocities without choke-ups. Exact data is not available to evaluate settling rates. For a factor of 100 a suspension of clean building sand in water is suggested. When pumping long * Pebble is a commercial designation for the coarser fraction of finished phosphate from a washer, usually +14 mesh. distances, a quick settling matrix allows the coarser solids to settle out along the bottom of the pipeline, causing drag, turbulence, and increased friction. With a slow settling matrix as at Noralyn, turbulence acts to keep the solids in suspension at a lower friction head, regardless of the pumping distance. When the pebble content of the matrix, i.e., the + 14 mesh fraction, is in excess of 10 pct of the total solids, trouble may be expected from settling out even in normal pumping distances. To prevent choke-ups and maintain tonnage, an additional pump must be added in the long runs, where one pump would otherwise be satisfactory. A typical pulp handled is: total volume, 7800 gpm; water, 4500; solids pumped per hr, 4200 lb; sp gr pulp, 1.4; percent solids in pulp, 46.; pipe size, 16-in. ID; pulp velocity, 12.85 fps; probable critical velocity, 10 fps, as below this minimum velocity choke-ups would be numerous. In calculating friction heads the Armco handbook is used where a roughness factor based on 15-year-old pipe is set up. Because the pipe used in pumping matrix is smooth and polished because of the scouring action of the phosphate and its silica content, the head losses in the Armco table for water are practically the same as in pumping the Noralyn matrix through smooth pipe, plus the fact that conditions vary widely over short periods, making accurate determinations difficult to obtain. New pumps and pump changes are being tested continuously and a wealth of data built up. This has resulted in a substantial improvement and lower relative costs in pumping matrix. The Florida phosphate industry is constantly seeking to offset higher wage and material costs with improved technique. Until a few years ago a 12-in. discharge pump was commonly used, with heads as low as 80 ft. Sizes have gradually increased and heads more than doubled. For example, the following pump was placed under test at the Noralyn mine: make, Georgia Iron Works; size, suction 16 in., discharge 14 in.; impeller, 39-in. diam; motor, 600 hp, slip ring; full load speed, 514 rpm. The results were increased head, higher capacity than the older design, with fewer pumps in the line from mine to washer.

Jan 1, 1953

By R. B. Burt, J. A. Barr, I. S. Tillotson

THE pumping of solids in water suspension is an important part of many metallurgical and mining operations. In most cases, it is still in the rule of thumb category for which no universal formula has been developed, and much research is needed. Because of the limited and incomplete data available, this article may be classed as an experience paper, which is presented with the hope that some contribution will be made toward the development of the so-called universal formula. This formula, if and when developed, may be evolved from several factors, many of which are not now available for general application. The designing engineer is interested in obtaining accurate forecasts on: 1—the minimum velocities needed to prevent choke-ups in the pipeline, which in turn dictates pipe sizes, 2—power required for pumping, 3—pump selection. The basic factors for a given problem will include: 1—weight per unit of time of solids to be handled, 2—specific gravity of solids, for calculation of volume, friction and power, 3—screen analysis of solids with the colloidal acting, i.e., the slime fraction, a very important factor, 4— shape of particle or some means of determining a friction constant, 5—effects of percentage of solids, 6—development of a viscosity factor to be used in the overall calculations, 7—calculation of the lower limits of pipeline velocities permissible, 8—calculation of total head, pump horsepower, and 9—setting up of pump specifications. In certain limited cases horsepower and total heads and minimum velocities may be computed and a suitable pump selected from basic data, but in many cases, as in mining of Florida pebble phosphate, experience rather than a hydraulic formula still should be used as a basis of selection. Pumping Florida Pebble Matrix Pumping at the Noralyn mine of International Minerals and Chemical Corp. will be used as an example. Other areas will vary as to the characteristics of the matrix, especially the slime content. A typical screen analysis of this matrix is: +14 mesh, pebble size,* 2.1 pct; —14 +35 mesh, 11.4 pct; -35 +I50 mesh, 60.5 pct; -150 mesh, 25.0; total, 100 pct; moisture in bank, 20.0 pct; weight per cu ft in bank, 120 lb. The —150 mesh fraction may increase to as much as 35 pct in adjacent areas. When thoroughly elutriated, the matrix has a relatively slow settling rate, which is an important factor in permitting lower pipeline velocities without choke-ups. Exact data is not available to evaluate settling rates. For a factor of 100 a suspension of clean building sand in water is suggested. When pumping long * Pebble is a commercial designation for the coarser fraction of finished phosphate from a washer, usually +14 mesh. distances, a quick settling matrix allows the coarser solids to settle out along the bottom of the pipeline, causing drag, turbulence, and increased friction. With a slow settling matrix as at Noralyn, turbulence acts to keep the solids in suspension at a lower friction head, regardless of the pumping distance. When the pebble content of the matrix, i.e., the + 14 mesh fraction, is in excess of 10 pct of the total solids, trouble may be expected from settling out even in normal pumping distances. To prevent choke-ups and maintain tonnage, an additional pump must be added in the long runs, where one pump would otherwise be satisfactory. A typical pulp handled is: total volume, 7800 gpm; water, 4500; solids pumped per hr, 4200 lb; sp gr pulp, 1.4; percent solids in pulp, 46.; pipe size, 16-in. ID; pulp velocity, 12.85 fps; probable critical velocity, 10 fps, as below this minimum velocity choke-ups would be numerous. In calculating friction heads the Armco handbook is used where a roughness factor based on 15-year-old pipe is set up. Because the pipe used in pumping matrix is smooth and polished because of the scouring action of the phosphate and its silica content, the head losses in the Armco table for water are practically the same as in pumping the Noralyn matrix through smooth pipe, plus the fact that conditions vary widely over short periods, making accurate determinations difficult to obtain. New pumps and pump changes are being tested continuously and a wealth of data built up. This has resulted in a substantial improvement and lower relative costs in pumping matrix. The Florida phosphate industry is constantly seeking to offset higher wage and material costs with improved technique. Until a few years ago a 12-in. discharge pump was commonly used, with heads as low as 80 ft. Sizes have gradually increased and heads more than doubled. For example, the following pump was placed under test at the Noralyn mine: make, Georgia Iron Works; size, suction 16 in., discharge 14 in.; impeller, 39-in. diam; motor, 600 hp, slip ring; full load speed, 514 rpm. The results were increased head, higher capacity than the older design, with fewer pumps in the line from mine to washer.

Jan 1, 1953

By J. H. Moran, E. E. Finklea

The pressure build-up technique is a recognized method of determining permeability from conventional drillstem tests. In this paper an effort is made to extend such techniques to the interpretation of data obtained from the wireline formation tester. Such a study is necessary because of the differences, for this case, in the magnitude of the flow parameters (rate of flow, amount of recovered fluids) and in the flow geometry (flow through a perforation vs flow across the face of the wellbore, etc.) involved in the solution of the equations of flow for compressible fluids. The perforation is replaced by a spherical hole, and the effect of the borehole is neglected, so that the flow can be considered to be radial in a spherical co-ordinate system. Arguments are presented to justify this idealization. Assuming single-phase flow, general relations between pressure and flow rate are developed for a homogeneous medium. The study is then extended to permeable beds of finite thickness. It is shown that the early stages of pressure build-up tend towards spherical flow, while the later stages tend towards cylindrical flow. The thinner the bed, the more quickly flow approaches the cylindrical model. The prevalence of thin beds in practical work makes this analysis quite important. Cases involving permeability anisotropy are treated. INTRODUCTION From wireline formation tester operation, two types of data are obtained: (1) the nature and amount of recovered fluids, and (2) the pressure history recorded during the test. A number of papers have been written dealing with the interpretation of formation production on the basis of the recovered fluids.'.' In general, the methods described have been quite accurate for both high- and low-permeability formations. The present paper will deal with an analysis of the pressures observed. An analysis of the pressure build-up curves obtained in hard-rock country has already been attempted on the basis of the formula proposed by Hor-ner. Although this approach has met with success in many instances, some questions have been raised as to its validity. It is the aim of the present study to place the analysis of pressure build-up in the formation tester on a firmer basis, from which more detailed methods of interpretation can evolve. Because of the great differences between the operation of the wireline formation tester and the conventional drillstem test, modifications are necessary in the interpretation. The major difference relates to the flow geometry. Once the flow geometry has been established other features such as multiphase flow, skin effect, afterflow, etc., well described in the literature, can be introduced. It will be assumed that the mechanical operation of the formation tester is already known to the reader.6 t will suffice here merely to state that the tester provides the means for taking a relatively small sample of the fluid immediately adjacent to the borehole, and for recording the subsequent pressure response. In comparison with conventional drillstem tests, the time required for a satisfactory pressure build-up response is much shorter, because of the relatively small quantity of fluid withdrawn by the wireline tester. This feature is highly desirable in the case of low-permeability formations. For an analysis of the pressure response within the formation, three simple flow geometries are considered— linear, cylindrical and spherical. The spherical and cylindrical flow geometries are most pertinent to the formation tester; therefore, they will receive the major emphasis. Since the configuration of the borehole and the perforation made by the tester complicate the flow geometry, it is necessary to allow for them in the drawdown response. However, because of the volume of formations contributing to the pressure-response, the details of the perforation shape are unimportant in the build-up period. Since relatively small amounts of fluid are withdrawn from the formation, in contrast to a conventional drill-stem test, a study of the "depth of investigation" and the significance of drawdown as well as build-up data will be included. Because the "depth of investigation" will be shown to be rather large, the effect on the build-up curves of the finite thickness of the permeable bed is considered. It is this consideration that leads to the importance of cylindrical flow geometry. Also included is a discussion of permeability anisotropy and its effect on the interpretation of the tester results. The pressure curves recorded by the formation tester will follow two general patterns, depending upon whether the formation is of high or low permeability. Fig. I (a and b) schematically illustrates these two responses. In Fig. 1(a), the high pressure recorded during fill-up of the tool is essentially the pressure differential across the choke in the system. In Fig. l(b), the flow rate is

By G. T. Davis, C. C. Mattax, M. O. Denekas

The effects of crude oil cornponents on the wellabil-ities of sandstone and limestone were investigated. Fractions containing cornponents differing in molecular weight and molecular structure were obtained from crude oils by distillation, extration and chromatography. Individual fractions were then tested for their effects on rock wettability. Tests indicate that sundstone wetta-bility may he changed by a complex variety of surfactants varying both in molecular structure and molecular weight. Limestone appears to be particularly sensitive to basic, nitrogenous surfactants. INTRODUCTION Investigations in recent years have shown that petroleum reservoir rock wettability can exert a significant influence on the efficiency with which oil can be produced by water flooding. While most reservoirs are presumably water-wet, they niay range in their degree of water-wettability from near-neutral to strongly water-wet.'" Reservoir wettabilities other than strongly water-wet are likely to be induced by adsorption of surface-active components froni the crude oil on the pore walls of reservoir rock.:' Little is known, however, about the nature of the surface-active materials which are likely to be adsorbed by the reservoir rock. Due to the complexity of crude oils. attempts made in the past90 isolate these surface-active components have met with only limited success. It is probable that many different types of surface-active materials arc indigenous to crude oils and that many of these may be adsorbed to varying degrees by reservoir rock. This was cxolored in the studies discussed in this paper. The over-all objective in these studies is to ascertain whether the wettability of a given reservoir can be determined by examining the surfactant content of the reservoir crude. To this end, crude oils were examined to determine the variability of indigeneous surfactants with regard to chemical type and molecular weight. Crude oils were separated by distillation into fractions differing principally in molecular weight, by chroma-tography into fractions containing compounds differing in polarity, and by solvent extraction into nitrogenous and non-nitrogenous fractions. Individual fractions were then tested for their effects on the wettabilities of sandstone or limestone rock samples. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES Fractionation of the Crude Oils Samples of Miocene, Eocene and Jurassic crudes were distilled at temperatures not exceeding 200°C. The final stages of distillation were completed in a molecular still at pressures down to three microns of mercury. Fifteen to 30 fractions were obtained from each crude oil. These cuts were sufficiently broad that separation can be considered to have been effected principally on the basis of the molecular weights of the constituents of the crude oil. A considerable portion (20 to 40 per cent) of the crudes would not distill under these conditions. The residues were recovered and tested with the other fractions. Fractions differing in polarity were separated from a crude of Pennsylvanian age and an extracted sample of Miocene oil by chromatography, using a solid adsorbent. Since surfactants are, for the most part, polar compounds, chromatography should separate many of the surfactants from the crude oil. Such a separation should provide fractions containing compounds differing in molecular structure. Nitrogeneous compounds were extracted from Miocene crude oil with a solution of sulfuric acid in meth-anol. The residual oil was further processed by chonia-tography. Each of the fractions obtained by thesc procedures was dissolved in a non-polar solvent (xylene) and diluted to its original concentration in the crude oil. No attempt was made to maintain an anaerobic atmosphere above the samples while they were being dissolved. These solutions of the fractions were then tested for their effects on the wettability of sandstone and limcstone as discussed in the next section. Measurement of the Effects of Crude Oil Fractions on Rock Wettability No entirely satisfactory method for measuring rock wettability has yet been developed. All methods used are empirical. The imbibition test was used in these studies. This test is based on the tendency of a rock to imbibe the wetting phase spontaneously. For example, if a strongly water-wet rock is first saturated with oil and then placed in water, the water will quickly invade the rock by capillarity and much of the oil will be displaced. If the rock is slightly water-wet, water irnbibition will proceed more slowly and, in many instances, considerably less oil will be displaced. A water-saturated, oil-wet rock will imbibe oil. The initial rate with which water (or oil) imbibition takes place indicates, qualitatively, the degree of water (or oil) wettability of the rock.

By Paul Foote

The temperature of a material may be ascertained by measurement of the intensity of the radiant energy it emits. This measurement may refer to the radiation of all wave lengths emitted by the material, or, if the material is glowing, the measurement may refer to the visible light emitted, or to the radiation in n very restricted portion of the visible spectrum. In general, the intensity of radiation depends not alone upon the temperature of the source, but, also upon its nature. Thus, glowing carbon appears to the eye about three times as bright as glowing platinum, at the same temperature. This is technically expressed by saying that the emissive power or emissivity of carbon is about three times that of platinum. A material having the highest theoretically possible emissivity is known as a "black body;" it is customary to assign a numerical value of 1 to the emissivity of a black body. A black body is experimentally realized by uniformly heating a hollow enclosure and observing the radiation coming from a small opening in the wall. The intensity of radiation emitted from this opening depends only on the temperature of the walls, and not on the material of which they are constructed. If E is the emissivity of any non-transparent material and R is its reflection coefficient, it can be shown that E + R, = 1. If a material having an emissivity of, say, 0.40, and hence a reflection coefficient of 0.60, is placed inside a black body it becomes indistinguishable from its Surroundings, because the total intensity of radiation leaving the material is the same as that emitted by the black body. While the material actually emits only 40 per cent of the intensity of a black body at the same temperature, 60 per cent. of the radiation falling upon it from the walls of the enclosure is reflected. However, if the material is removed from the black body and placed in the open air, the reflected intensity is no longer present and the object appears but 40 per cent. as bright as a black body at the same temperature.

Jan 8, 1919

By John G. H. Crump, E. W. Owen, Peter P. Gregory

.Although oil Production in West Texas in 1939 reached the highest figure for any year since the inauguration of proration, drilling activity continued in the decline that had commerlced the previous year. Production totaled 79,469,341s bbl. of oil during 1939 as compared with 71,257,541s bbl. in 1938 and 75,743,000 in 1937. The number of wells completed in 1939 was 1850, compared with 2045 in 1938 and 2806 ill 1937. Several factors combined to cause the decrease in drilling activity, principally the contiriued increase in the length of time required to obtain a return of invcstment and the scarcity of important new discoveries during the past two years. Of the 1850 completions 1638 resulted in oil wells, 4 were gas wells, 168 were dry holes and 40 were abandoned locations; 1990 new locations were made during the year. The ratio of dry holes to producing wells completed was one dry hole to each 9.75 oil wells, compared with one dry hole to each 7.48 oil wells completed during 1938. This large decrease in dry holes was due to a marked decline in the number of wildcat wells drilled, there having been only 120 wildcat completions during 1939. In addition to the lessened exploration work, the deeline' in activity was largely accounted for by the slowing up of operations in the older pools of Ector, Howard and Winkler Counties. Ector County, which had led West Tcxas in 1938 with 622 new oil wells, furnished only 485 producers in 1939, but was still the leader for the West Texas district. The largest gain in activity was in Yoakum County, whew 350 oil wells were completed in the Denver-Wasson field against 152 during 1938. Most of the older oil fields have been almost completely drilled up, only a few new producers still being completed from time to time in

Jan 1, 1940

By E. W. Owen, John G. H. Crump, Peter P. Gregory

.Although oil Production in West Texas in 1939 reached the highest figure for any year since the inauguration of proration, drilling activity continued in the decline that had commerlced the previous year. Production totaled 79,469,341s bbl. of oil during 1939 as compared with 71,257,541s bbl. in 1938 and 75,743,000 in 1937. The number of wells completed in 1939 was 1850, compared with 2045 in 1938 and 2806 ill 1937. Several factors combined to cause the decrease in drilling activity, principally the contiriued increase in the length of time required to obtain a return of invcstment and the scarcity of important new discoveries during the past two years. Of the 1850 completions 1638 resulted in oil wells, 4 were gas wells, 168 were dry holes and 40 were abandoned locations; 1990 new locations were made during the year. The ratio of dry holes to producing wells completed was one dry hole to each 9.75 oil wells, compared with one dry hole to each 7.48 oil wells completed during 1938. This large decrease in dry holes was due to a marked decline in the number of wildcat wells drilled, there having been only 120 wildcat completions during 1939. In addition to the lessened exploration work, the deeline' in activity was largely accounted for by the slowing up of operations in the older pools of Ector, Howard and Winkler Counties. Ector County, which had led West Tcxas in 1938 with 622 new oil wells, furnished only 485 producers in 1939, but was still the leader for the West Texas district. The largest gain in activity was in Yoakum County, whew 350 oil wells were completed in the Denver-Wasson field against 152 during 1938. Most of the older oil fields have been almost completely drilled up, only a few new producers still being completed from time to time in

Jan 1, 1940

By A. R. Elsea, E. E. Fletcher

Cast X-40 alloy with the lowest nitrogen content studied had a 100-hr rupture stress at 1500°F about equal to the reported value for the commercial alloy. Increases in nitrogen content progressively decreased the rupture strength, and with about 0.1 to 0.2 pct N a minimum strength was reached, but there was no accompanying change in microstructure. Further increases in nitrogen resulted in the fomzation of progressively increasing amounts of a lamellar, pearlitic-type structure at the grain boundaries, with accompanying increases in rupture strength, and above about 0.25 to 0.33 pct N, the rupture strength exceeded the normally reported values. Two series of melts representing different melting stocks exhibited minimum rupture strengths at different nitrogen contents. This suggests that some unidentwed trace element not removed by vacuum melting has a strong influence on the response of this alloy to variations in nitrogen content. In a series of melts with manganese contents ranging from 0.6 to 3.2 pct, the material with the lowest manganese content had the highest 100-hr rupture strength at 1500°F. The manganese variations had no appreciable effect on the microstructure. CAST cobalt-base alloys such as X-40* exhibit high strengths at elevated temperatures (1500°F and above), but they also show considerable scatter in high-temperature properties. Since the design of parts for critical applications must be based on the minimum expected properties, this broad scatter appreciably lowers the design strength of the alloy. If the relatively poor properties exhibited by a few test parts from any given group could be improved, the spread in properties would be narrowed, and the design stress could more closely approach the average expected properties. The purpose of this research investigation was to learn what were the causes of these erratic properties and, if possible, to find methods for eliminating them. Earlier unpublished work showed that vacuum melting markedly influenced the high-temperature strength of cast X-40 alloy. There were indications that this behavior may have been the result of changes in the nitrogen or manganese content of the castings. Consequently, in the current investigation, the influence of variations in nitrogen and manganese content on the structure and high-temperature properties of cast X-40 alloy was studied. In this program, X-40 melting stock was vacuum melted to produce a base material that was very low in nitrogen content and in volatile trace elements. Additions were then made to this base material to produce alloys of the desired composition. The metal was cast into investment molds producing coupons which were machined into stress-rupture bars. These bars were subjected to stress-rupture tests and me-tallographic study to determine the influence of changes in analyses (nitrogen and manganese content) on the structure and properties. Material—The melting stock used for these experi-ments was in the form of shot from two master heats of commercial X-40 alloy. Only one master heat was used in a given series of melts. Thus, any differences in structure or properties that showed up in the specimens from a given series would be the result only of the intended variations in composition. The certified analyses of the master heats were as follows: C Mn Si Cr Ni Lot No. 2 0.50 0.71 0.66 25.44 10.53 Lot No. 3 0.54 0.73 0.70 25.95 10.00 W Fe Co P S Lot No. 2 7.45 1.34 Bal. 0.011 0.013 Lot No. 3 7.58 1.53 Bal. 0.005 0.016

Jan 1, 1960

By R. Simon

Maurer's review1 summarizes quite thoroughly the various theoretical developments and experimental findings that contribute to the knowledge of rock mechanics in drilling. This discussion supplements Maurer's paper by including generalities that either have been incompletely treated in his review, or formulated from new considerations by the discussant and from hitherto unpublished experimental data. These generalities are associated with the observation that all mechanical methods of rock drilling essentially comprise a sequence of indexed, concentrated loadings on the bottom of the hole being drilled. A concentrated loading is defined as a mechanical loading by a tool that contacts at any one time only a small fraction of the surface of the body being worked and penetrates only a small fraction of the body thickness. The surface in this application is the bottom of the hole. The deformation of ductile material by concentrated loading has received considerable attention because of the importance of indentation tests for measuring hardness of metals. Some of the generalities involved in concentrated loadings on ductile materials apply also to concentrated loadings on more brittle materials such as rock. Among these generalities is the applicability of similitude considerations to scaling laws and to force-displacement and energy-volume characteristics for tools of various shapes, as summarized by Tabor.2 Vork on the flow and fracture behaviors of glass loaded with pyramidal and spherical indenters is reviewed by Douglas.3 Maurer refers to the work of Evans and Murrell on wedge loadings on coal and on mixtures of pitch and sand. It is evident from Maurer's paper that a considerable portion of the studies of rock mechanics in drilling, such as crater formation experiments, has involved concentrated loadings on rock.

Jan 1, 1967

By R. D. Daniels, T. W. Wood

The tensile properties of columbium and Cb-H alloys containing up to 455 ppm H were studied as a function of temperature and strain rate. Hydrogen, introduced into columbium at elevated temperatures, using a thermal -equilibrium technique, embrittled columbium most severely at about —77°C. This elnbrittle ment occurred even at hydrogen concentrations of an order of 20 ppm. At higher temperatures, the hydrogen tolerance of columbium increased in relation to the increased solubility of hydrogen in tile metal. Below this temperature hydrogen tolerance, as determined by ductility and fracture stress, increased slightly. Strain rate had little effect on the tensile results for cross-head speeds over the range 0.002 to 2.0 in. per min. Strain aging during the tensile test appears to explain the ductility mininmum at —77°C. The apparent increase in hydrogen tolerance at lower temperatures is attributed to the low mobility of hyhogen. Experiments were performed in which samples were prestrained in tension at room temperature and tested to failure at —196°C. Results suggest that hydrogetz segregation to preformed crack nuclei can cause subsequent embrittlement even at temperatures where hydrogen mobility is too low to cause embrittlement in a normal tensile test. COLUMBIUM is an example of the class of bcc metals with ductile-brittle transition temperatures sensitive to the presence of interstitial atom contaminants. Hydrogen is one of these embrittling contaminants. The embrittling effect of hydrogen is less potent, perhaps, in columbium than in some of the other bcc refractory metals, but it is still a problem of both theoretical and practical interest. Unlike hydrogen in iron and steels, hydrogen in columbium is exothermically rather than endo-thermically occluded. The embrittlement process in exothermic systems has not been studied as extensively as that in endothermic systems, especially at hydrogen concentrations below the limit of solubility. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the embrittlement process in initially pure columbium as a function of hydrogen content, temperature, and strain rate. The Cb-H phase diagram, according to Albrecht et al.,1 is shown in Fig. 1. Columbium reacts exothermically with hydrogen producing a solid solution at concentrations of less than about 250 ppm (parts per million by weight) H at room temperature. At concentrations above the highly temperature-dependent solvus a second phase is formed. Like many similar hydrogen-metal systems,2 his system exhibits a miscibility gap with respect to hydrogen solution. Albrecht found the critical temperature of the miscibility gap to be about 140°C, the critical concentration to be 0.23 atom fraction hydrogen, and the critical pressure to be 0.01 mm Hg. Above 140°C there is a solid solution of increasing lattice constant extending across the phase diagram. Hydrogen concentrations of particular interest in this investigation were those below the limit of solubility in columbium. At hydrogen concentrations above the limit of solubility, columbium will contain the hydrogen-rich second phase and will be brittle under most testing conditions because the hydride generally precipitates as platelets with coincident matrix lattice strains.1'3 At hydrogen concentrations below the limit of solubility, the tensile behavior of columbium is expected to be more sensitive to the interrelationships between hydrogen concentration and mobility and the testing variables such as temperature and strain rate. Literature references to the hydrogen embrittlement of metals, especially ferrous alloys and titanium alloys, are too voluminous to mention. It is only recently, however, that detailed studies of the hydrogen embrittlement of columbium have been undertaken. Wilcox et a1.4 studied the strain rate and temperature dependences of the low-temperature deformation behavior of fine-grained are-melted columbium (1 ppm H) and the effect of hydrogen content (1,9, and 30 ppm H) on the mechanical behavior of columbium at a series of temperatures for a single strain rate. A strain-aging peak was ob-served at about -50°C which was attributed to the presence of hydrogen in the metal. Eustice and carlson5 studied the effect of hydrogen on the ductility of V-Cb alloys at a series of temperatures over the range -196° to 25°C. Pure columbium was embrittled by 20 ppm H which produced a ductility transition at approximately -70°C. Ingram et al.6 studied the effect of oxygen and hydrogen on the tensile properties of columbium and tantalum. A minimum in the notched-to-unnotched tensile ratio of hydrogenated columbium was obtained at about -75°C, but because of the relatively large hydrogen content employed (200 and 390 ppm) the ductility

Jan 1, 1965

On Tuesday evening, February 21st, a reception of visiting societies was held in the Windsor Hall. Hon. George Irvine, Q. C., President of the General Mining Association of the Province of Quebec, occupied the chair, and, after welcoming the guests of the occasion in the name of that Association, introduced Mayor Desjardins, who expressed a cordial greeting for the city of Montreal. After appropriate acknowledgements from the President and the Secretary of the Institute, President Birkinbine delivered his presidential address. The first regular session of the Institute was held on Wednesday morning, February 22d, in the Physics Building of McGill University, where all succeeding sessions were also held. The annual report of the Council was read, as follows : Annual Report of the Council. In accordance with the rules, the Council makes the following report to the Institute:

Jan 1, 1893

By A. Boltax

H. Herman and M. E. Fine (Northzcesteriz University)—The author is to be complimented on the quality and completeness of his work. Of special interest to us was the exponent of time in the exponential rate equation, n = 0.28 ± 0.03, since it is consistent with results for the early stage of quench-aging in A1-2 at. pct Cu, n = 1/3, first determined in this laboratory."' In that work we attributed the early kinetics to attraction of vacancy - solute atom complexes to the plate-shaped zone due to the strain field about the zone and the lowering in free energy. To our knowledge, Hirano et 1.' were the first to

Jan 1, 1962

By John Birkinbine

Modern advances in practically all lines of industrial develo1)ment have occurred in such rapid succession, and have been accepted so readily as accomplished facts, that a retrospect surprises us, by showing how comparatively few of the acknowledged factors of improved conditions may be considered as old. While these advances have not been confined to any country, they have been more pronounced in some than in others, and nowhere more so than in the United States, the population of which, having multiplied nearly three-fold between 1870 and 1910, demanded a proportionately greater increase in materials, supplies, and manufactured products. It therefore appears desirable to discuss mainly conditions in the United States, as concrete evidence of industrial progress throughout the world. Looking backward for but three generations, me mar trace the introduction and developmerit of canal- and steamboat-narigation ; railroad-transportation; artificial illumination beyond that f'urnished by candles and animal-oils; quick communication by mail, and subsequently by telegraph or telephone; the manufacture of iron, beyond forms of small dimensions; the production and utilization of steel in large quantities; the economic use of mineral fuel, oil and gas, etc. The practical coincidence of the fortieth anniversary and the 100th technical meeting of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, offers temptation to recall and compare the conditions of milling and metallurgy in or about the years 1871 .and 1911. A complete résumé would cover phenomenal changes in mining-methods and equipment by which the output of individual exploitations has grown from scores to hundreds and even thousands of units in equal time-intervals. Extension of operations in depth and area, demanding machinery of great power and efficiency, high percentage of extraction, utilization of what

Jan 1, 1912

By E. F. Johnson, F. H. Brinkman, H. J. Welge, S. P. Ewing

This paper presents a method for predicting the manrler in which oil will be displaced from a porous body by enriched gas. The calculations apply to a gas rich enough to give a partially, but not a completely, misci-ble displacement. The method — a three-component, two-phase analysis — takes into account condensation of some of the intermediate hydrocarbons from the injected gas into the oil, as well as enhanced volatility of heavier hydrocarbons at elevated pressures and temperatures. The condensation swells the oil and decreases its viscosity, thus aiding in its recovery. The calculations have been extended to apply to actual crude oil-natural gas systems by arranging the components into three groups according to their volatility. As an approximation, each group is then treated as a single component in the analysis. The influence of an angle of dip for an inclined displacement is also taken into account. The recovery predictions are corroborated by experiments which used both consolidated sand cores and un-consolidated glass beads. In some of these tests, actual live crude oil was displaced by a multicomponent gas typical of enriched gases used in oil fields. INTRODUCTION This paper presents a method for predicting the amount of oil that can be displaced from a homogeneous, linear, porous body at various stages during the injection of enriched, or "wet", gas. The porous body can be in either a horizontal or an inclined position. 'This type of displacement is sometimes known as condensing gas drive The method is developed especially for the case in which the injected gas is enriched enough to be partially, but not completely, miscible with the reservoir oil. The need for a calcula-tive procedure for this type of operation is emphasized by the number of field projects where completely miscible drives are not practical, but where near-miscible conditions are feasible. The factors taken into account in the predictive calculations include: (1) the condensation of gas components into the oil, with a resulting increase in oil volume; (2) the lowering of oil viscosity by the addition of lighter ends from the gas; (3) the increase in oil volatility at high temperatures and pressures; and (4) the physical displacement of the oil by the gas. The techniques developed in the paper can be extended to other nonequilibrium displacement processes. Other such processes that we have analyzed include a displacement by lean gas which stripped intermediates from the oil, and a water flood in which the water con. tained in solution a substance somewhat soluble in the oil. ANALYSIS OF ENRICHED-GAS DRIVE GENERAL PRINCIPLES Our method for predicting the amount of oil that can be displaced by an enriched gas uses an analogy between a three-component and a multicomponent system.' The predictive method is based on these assumptions: (1) constant, or nearly constant, pressure; (2) complete equilibrium by diffusion perpendicular to the main direction of flow, but no significant mixing along the direction of flow; (3) constant injection velocity; and (4) flow in a linear porous body. The composition of a liquid or a vapor with respect to three components can be plotted on a three-component, or ternary, diagram like that in Fig. 1. Let Point A represent the composition of the oil originally in place. In this case, Oil A is undersaturated with gas. If Point A lay on the equilibrium Curve BF, the oil would be saturated. In the extreme case where the original oil contained no intermediates or dissolved gas, Point A would lie at the lower left-hand corner of the ternary diagram. In a displacement of Oil A by Gas D, there will be a progressive change in the composition of the oil phase as more and more gas is brought into equilibrium with the oil. The end result of this progressive change is an oil having the composition represented by Point F. This oil is richer in intermediate hydrocarbon and methane than the original oil and, therefore, has a greater forma-