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By G. M. Schwartz, J. N. Gundersen

Utilization of magnetite-bearing taconite from the great Mesabi range of Minnesota is fast becoming a major industry in the state. The planning and early development stages of taconite processing projects have been de-scribed1-3 and an excellent discussion has appeared recently4 concerning the current mining, crushing, concentrating, and pelletizing techniques of the Reserve Mining Co., whose operations lie entirely within the Eastern Mesabi district. The present paper will deal only with some of the geological aspects of taconite utilization in the district, with emphasis placed upon some of the common mineralogical and textural features of the tacon-ites currently being mined or stripped and how these factors generally affect the potential recovery of the iron from the metamorphosed Biwabik iron-formation. The generalized geologic setting of the Eastern Mesabi district is presented in Fig. 1. The small circles on the geologic map, adapted from Grout and Broderick,3 mark the location of drill holes that were available for inspection during this study through the courtesy of Reserve Mining and Erie Mining Cos. The cores from these holes were divided into stratigraphic units and examined for their mineral content. Typical mineral associations and grain fabrics were also determined from hundreds of thin and polished sections. Available metallurgical tests made it possible to determine the probable response of a given variety of taconite to magnetic concentration. The longitudinal section of Fig. 1, projected along the strike of the iron formation, presents the simple stratigraphy of the area. It also shows the uniformly thick nature of the iron formation members in the district as well as a somewhat abrupt thickening of the formation to the west of the probable fault. The stratigraphy of these precambrian rocks has been described5-' elsewhere and need only be briefly reviewed. Historically, the oldest rocks unit, the Giants Range granite (Algoman) was covered by the Animikie group of sediments (Middle Huronian?), consisting of the Pokegama, Biwabik, and Virginia formations. Outcrops of the Pokegama quartzite are locally distributed along the northern limit of the Biwabik iron formation, but they are too limited to depict on the geologic map of Fig. 1. The effects of the intrusion of several small diabase sills within the Virginia and Biwabik formations are obscure because all of these rocks have been subsequently highly metamorphosed, mainly by the Duluth gabbro. The emplacement of the transgressing Duluth gabbro (Middle Keweenawan) and that of numerous peg-matitic veins in the iron formation8 has resulted in extensive contact and metasomatic metamorphism which has locally reconstituted the previously existing minerals of the Biwabik formation, in large part quartz and magnetite, into a wide variety of silicate mineral assemblages9 that have a profound effect upon the re coverability of the remaining magnetite. The entire region has subsequently been eroded and largely buried beneath Pleistocene glacial deposits. Structurally, the strike of the gently dipping Animikie group generally parallels the elongate outcrop pattern of the Biwabik iron formation on the map of Fig. 1. The Animikie group most commonly dips from 5" to 15" to the south-southeast. In this area, the Duluth gabbro pluton is somewhat sill-like, dipping about 30" to the southeast. Projecting these present structures upward, it seems probable that the gabbro once extended over the underlying Animikie group in the Eastern Mesabi district. SELECTION AND PRESENTATION OF DATA Because of the locally intense metamorphic activity in the district, mineralogical variations within the magnetite-bearing taconites are commonly abrupt, both vertically and laterally. Consequently it is difficult to select a single hole or small group of holes whose cores will be entirely representative of all of the district. Two holes have been selected, however, that in a general way represent mineralogical and textural variations that are likely to be encountered in both the eastern and western parts of the district. These recently drilled holes were chosen for discussion because it was possible to log the core and then to place the sample intervals at stratigraphic boundaries prior to preparation of the core for magnetic tube tests.

Jan 1, 1961

By M. R. Geer, J. D. Davis, H. F. Yancey

ALTHOUGH the mechanical cleaning of coal is carried out at plants on the surface, preparation is actually begun at the face in the mine. Here the character of the coal and the amount, character, and distribution of the impurities within the bed may be seen. Blasting methods, dust-allaying procedures, location of mining cut with respect to bands of impurity, and the practice of discarding segregated impurities underground, all have an important bearing on the successful operation of surface cleaning units. The most important single characteristic of both coal and its asso¬ciated impurities from the standpoint of cleaning is specific gravity. Other characteristics related in one way or another to the preparation of coal are rank, petrographic composition, structure and hardness, and friability. These and still other coal properties are discussed in the first section of this chapter and impurity characteristics in the second. COAL CHARACTERISTICS RELATED TO PREPARATION Rank As a result of work done over a period of several years by committees of the American Society for Testing Materials and the American Standards Association, standard specifications are now available showing the classification of coals according to rank and quality of grade.' The term "rank" expresses the degree to which the original coal-forming material has been changed by metamorphism through successive stages from peat to anthracite. Table 1 shows the classification of coals according to rank as devised by the committees of the organizations mentioned. The basic scheme of classification for the higher-rank coals is according to

Jan 1, 1943

Jan 1, 1949

By S. S. Clarke

LATE in 1942, the increasing demand for zinc, coupled with the growing shortage of miners and the knowledge that some abandoned mines would have to be reopened for prospecting and development, led to considerable thought as to the possibilities of further mechanization in order to conserve man power. The ore bodies, locally termed "sheet ground," are an important ore bed in some mines and are in the lower part of Boone formation of the Mississippian Series. Some mines contain interbedded layers of nearly pure galena and sphalerite in horizontal sheets ranging in thickness from a thin seam to several inches and is persistent over large areas. This type of ore body offered the best opportunity for study and experiments. The use of jumbo drill carriers was advanced but some doubt was expressed as to the adaptability of jumbos as then in use to mine headings as compared to post and arm mounting (Fig I). Another consideration was the introduction of truck haulage when several mines were trackless. A drill frame, built to carry 2 4-in. drifters, was mounted on a truck chassis. This design proved a failure as it was not rigid and the resiliency of the tires and springs allowed too much play. Long screw jacks were then used to hold the truck firmly in place, but placing the jacks and securing the truck required more effort and time than setting up post drills, so the truck carrier was abandoned. The use of a bull dozer underground had been under consideration for some time to be used in "brunoing" the broken dirt from behind pillars and other inaccessable places so the slusher drags could load without double dragging the dirt. A dozer with hydraulic blade lift was purchased and R. I. Tuthill, Superintendent of Section 30 Mines, suggested that a long drill arm be substituted for the blade, and the drills mounted on the cross member. The hydraulic lift would permit drilling holes at any required spacing. The "cat" was very mobile and answered the problem of a trackless mine. The initial tests showed that the "cat" would make a good carrier, but the hydraulic controls Were not positive enough to keep the drills in alignment while drilling. The next step was to build a small hoist. This hoist was attached to the power take-off on the "cat" and by means of sheaves and a double line of 3/8-in. hoist cable, a positive control for raising and lowering the boom was obtained. To avoid serious injuries to the drillers should the cable break, a safety chain was fastened to the drill boom and hooked into a slot in the back of the "cat" frame. A different power unit was obtained for the "cat," as a state law prohibited the use of internal combustion engines in mines. A custom machine shop had just placed on the market a small hoist powered by a Model A Ford engine that had been very ingeniously converted to a slide valve engine using compressed air. To use this unit on a "cat," our master mechanic de-

Jan 1, 1947

By S. F. Emmons

The first paper which appears in the published Transactions of our Institute is that read by our respected Secretary at its first meeting in Wilkes-Barre in May, 1871. It is entitled " The Geographical Distribution of Mining Districts in the United States," and presents a brief but masterly review of what was known of the distribution of our deposits of useful minerals, particularly the metals, not only from a geographical but from a geological stand-point. At the request of Dr. Raymond I agreed, somewhat hastily, perhaps, to write for this occasion a brief sketch of the geological distribution of the deposits of the useful metals in this country, in the light of the increased knowledge of the present day. In the time given no personal investigation was possible, and as it was therefore out of the question to attempt to make anything that could be considered an original contribution to the history of our ore-deposits, I have been obliged to limit myself to an examination of such pub-

Jan 1, 1894

By R. E. H. Pomeroy

EARLY in 1917, it became evident, owing to existing and pending market conditions, that a substitute for crude petroleum must be found for firing the smelter furnaces. After a review of the plants then existing, it was deemed advisable to depart from their practice and to adopt the following described system of distributing pulverized coal to the furnaces. The principal advantages of the proposed system, which influenced this decision, were: (1) Equal safety; no pulverized coal is stored at the furnaces; (2) greater ease of operation, furnace fires being controlled by regulating valves in burner branches, as in gas firing; (3) better organization; all machinery, including pulverized coal feed, is under one roof, and the organization is separate from the furnace department; (4) greater cleanliness; all machinery is under vacuum; (5) greater flexibility of application; the coal and air mixture can be piped where needed. The design of the plant is the result of the combined efforts of the local engineering staff and of the machinery manufacturers. Many new features were embodied in this design to insure greater safety, cleanliness, and efficiency of handling. After 14 months of continuous operation, the plant has proved entirely satisfactory. The building is of structural steel, covered with corrugated steel, with many windows and is painted light gray inside and out. The building floor is of concrete with ample drains to the sewer, and the building is equipped with fire and service water piping. Fig. 1 shows the east side of the building and the incline conveyor from the raw-coal bins.

Jan 2, 1920

By M. Sheffield

This paper presents a technique lor predicting the flow of oil, gas and water through a petroleum reservoir. Gravitational, viscous arid capillary lorces are considered, and all fluids are considered to be slightly compressible. Some theoretical work concerning the fluid flow in one-, two- and three-space dimensions is given along with example performance predictions in one- and two-space dimensions. INTRODUCTION Since the introduction of high speed computing equipment, one of the goals of reservoir engineering research has been to develop more accurate methods of describing fluid movement through underground reservoirs. Various mathematical methods have been developed or used by reservoir engineers to predict reservoir performance, 193-5,7,8 The work reported in this paper extends previously published work on three-phase fluid flow (1) by including a rigorous treatment of capillary forces and (2) by showing certain theoretical mathematical results proving that these equations can be approximated by certain numerical techniques and that a unique solution exists. DISCUSSION The method of predicting three-phase compressible fluid flow. in a reservoir can be summarized briefly by the following steps. 1. The reservoir, or a section of a reservoir, is characterized by a series of mesh points with varying rock and fluid properties simulated at each mesh point. 2. Three partial differential equations are written to describe the movement at any point in the reservoir of each of the three compressible fluids. All forces influencing movement are considered in the equations. 3. At each mesh point, the partial differential equations are replaced by a system of analogous difference equations. 4. A numerical technique is used to solve the resulting system of difference equations. Capillary forces have been included in two-phase flow calculations.1,4,8 The literature, however, does not contain examples of prediction techniques for three-phase flow that include capillary forces. Where capillary forces are considered, each of the three partial differential equations previously discussed has a different dependent variable, namely pressure in one of the three fluid phases. Therefore, three difference equations must be solved at each point in the reservoir. Where large systems of equations must be solved simultaneously, an engineer might question whether a unique solution to this system of equations actually exists and, if so, what numerical techniques may be used to obtain a good approximation to the solution. It is shown in the Appendix that a unique solution to the three-phase flow problem, as formulated, always exists. It is also shown that several methods may be used to obtain a good approximation to the solution. The partial differential equations and differenceequations used are shown in the Appendix. Matrix notation has been used in developing the mathematical results. Two sample problems were solved on a CDC 1604. They illustrate the type of problems that can be solved using a three-phase prediction technique. SAMPLE ONE-DIMENSIONAL RESERVOIR PERFORMANCE PREDICTION A hypothetical reservoir was studied to provide an example of a one-dimensional problem that can be solved. Of the several techniques available, the direct method of solution as shown in the Appendix was used. The reservoir section studied was a truncated, wedge-shaped section, 2,400 ft long, with a 6' dip. (A schematic is shown in Fig. 1.) This section was represented by 49 mesh points, uniformly spaced at 50-ft intervals. The upper end of the wedge was 2 ft wide, and the lower end was 6 ft wide. The section

Jan 1, 1970

By D. T. Peters

To better understand the Co-Mo interaction in maraging steels, the precipitate reversion behavior of two alloys closely related to the 18 Ni-250 grade has been studied. The reversion experiment is carried out by aging at a low temperature, T1 (preaging temperature), for some period of time and then aging at a higher temperature, T2, called the reversion tetnperature. Aging and reversion tmzperatures used were in the range 679 to 1050°F. Reversion is marked by an increase in resistivity and a decrease in hardness. It teas found that some reversion took place at all cornbinations of T1 and T2 but that pronounced rei3ersion resulfed for an Fe-18 pct Ni-5 pct Mo-8 pcl Co alloy exposed to preagz'ng' temperatures at or below 850°F. A similar alloy not containing cobalt exhibited no such discontinuity in reversion behazior with TI. The results are interpreted in terms of two types of molybdenum-rich precipitates, one nucleated at dislocations and the other in the matrix. The increased supersaturation resulting from the presence oj- cobalt evidently provides sufficient energy to nucleate the matrix phase. Anotnalies in the temperature dependence of the resistivity decrease and peak hurdness in the Fe-18 pct Ni-5 pct Mo-8 pct Co alloy as a junction of aging temperature noted in an earlier study are explained on this basis. SEVERAL investigatorsl-9 have studied the details of the precipitation-hardening reaction of the maraging steels. The great majority of conclusions have been drawn from transmission electron microscopy. Although much has been learned by this method, alternate techniques which will give information earlier in the aging process are needed for a more complete understanding of the series of precipitation steps probably involved in the aging reaction. Peters and cupp'' have recently shown, by measurements of the kinetics of precipitation, that an 18 pct Ni-Co-Mo maraging steel shows a distinct change in precipitation behavior at aging temperatures below 850°F. The results were interpreted in terms of the existence of two types of precipitates at low aging temperatures. Only one precipitate type is present at higher aging temperatures. The low-temperature precipitate was found to be a particularly effective strengthener. No evidence for the additional low-temperature precipitate was found in the 18 pct Ni-5 pct Mo ternary alloy. The object of this investigation was to study further the characteristics of the two types of precipitates and the interaction between cobalt and molybdenum characterizing this system. Some preliminary experiments indicated a difference in reversion behavior in specimens aged above and below 850°F. This suggested that knowledge of the reversion behavior might shed some light on these two questions. Hardy and Heal11 have defined reversion as the loss of hardness, electrical conductivity, or other properties caused by heating for a very short time at temperatures above the aging temperature. The precipitate reversion referred to in this paper is entirely distinct from "austenite reversion" often referred to in maraging steel literature. This latter phenomenon could more accurately be called the diffusion-controlled formation of austenite. Much has been written about reversion in several of the aluminum-base binary and ternary alloys.'2-16 Two explanations for reversion have been advanced. Based on the classical nucleation theory of Volmer-Weber-Becker-Doring,17 Konobeevski18 suggested that reversion was due to the size of the precipitate particles

Jan 1, 1968

By Paul A. Beck, M. N. Parthasarathi

The vecrystallization texture. formed by selective growth of random nuclei in an 80 pct volled 99.997 pct A1 crystal of initial orientation mear (123) (41.21 was found to consist of components related to the single-component rolling texture by 40 deg. rota-tiows around [111]axes. The relative-volume fractiovz of the various recrystallization-texture componezts may be accouzted for 012 the basis of the Lou) mobility of twist boundaries, if it is assumed that the mobility of the tilt boundaries also varies with their orientation. Similar results with a, aluminum-alloy cystal of the (110) [112] orientation, containing iron, silicon, and zinc, show that these solute contents do not impair the effectivezess of the oriented growth mechanism of re cry s-tallization- texture formation. In a previous investigation1,2 it was found that a sharp recrystallization texture is formed as a result of the oriented growth of random artificial nuclei in an aluminum crystal rolled to 80 pct RA, on the (110) plane in the [ 112] direction. Four recrystallization-texture components were found to occur, with orientations corresponding to 40-deg rotations around [111 1 axes of the deformation texture. Reorientations of this type were already found in earlier work,3,4 where the presence of random nuclei could be reasonably assumed, but was not rigorously documented. The same orientation relationship was found also by Lucke and Liebmann, who actually measured the orientation dependence of boundary-migration rates in the recrystallization of A1 crystals slightly deformed in tension.5,6 The occurrence in the recrystallization texture of only four of the eight crystallographically equivalent orientations of the type referred to above remained unexplained,1,2 although it was clearly not a result of the absence of suitable nuclei. Recently Burgers7 suggested that this effect may be due to the aniso-tropy of boundary mobility observed2'6; it was found that the recrystallized grains of the 40-deg [111]-rotated type grow much faster in directions perpendicular to the [ 111] they have in common with the matrix than parallel to this direction, i.e., the tilt boundaries have much higher mobility than the twist boundaries. The four orientations corresponding to

Jan 1, 1962

By R. L. Fleischer, B. Chalmers

In order to observe size effects associated with a grain boundary, aluminum single crystals and bicrystals of various cross-sectional dimensions were deformed in tension. Typical stress-strain curves are presented in conjunction with measurements of the effects of changes in crystal dimensions. Some effects of the growth rate used in preparation of crystals are also described. It is indicated that the macroscopic constraints at a grain boundary are responsible for the most prominent grain-boundary effect, the production of multiple slip. Two measurements of the width of the region of double slip are in agreement. It is concluded that the yield stress of aluminum is affected markedly by the inherent oxide coating. THE general problem to be examined is that of dimensional effects in the plastic deformation of metal crystals. These effects will be termed "size effects" and are here defined as follows: A size effect occurs in a series of crystals if their plastic-deformation properties are a function of crystal dimensions. Clearly then size effects depend on the nature of the boundary conditions imposed on the crystal. Crystal boundaries can be of three types: interphase, inter-crystalline, and free surface. Such deformation effects as are caused by distribution of phases, grain size, lineage structure, and single crystal external geometry are specific types of size effects. This discussion will be confined primarily to grain-boundary and single-crystal size effects, though in practice most "single crystals" not only have a number of small angle boundaries but also have one or more surface phases, so that the boundary conditions appropriate to a free surface do not necessarily apply. Hence, to this extent interphase size effects will be considered. The question of size effects associated with grain boundaries (called here intercrystalline size effects)

Jan 1, 1959

By R. A. Salathiel, A. D. Kaiser, P. H. Monaghan, B. E. Morgan

The productivities of many hydrocarbon-bearing for-rnntions appear to be reduced during drilling, completing and repairing operations. The reason for these othcarwise unexplainable low productivities may be a drastic reduction of formation permeability immediately surrounding the borehole. A possible cause of the reduced permeability is swelling and dispersion of clays present in porous media when contacted by fresh water or mud filtrates. Hence, the invasion of fresh water or mud filtrate into hydrocarbon-bearing formations that contain clays may cause low productivities as a result of formation damage. Present laboratory investigations have yielded results which supplement existing literature on formation damage. An expanded-type clay, montmorillonite, way found in hydrocarbon-bearing formations not previously analyzed. When sand columns and formation cores containing montmorillonite were contacted by fresh water, their oil permeabilities were reduced. This reduction in oil permeability way restored partially but not completely by a repair procedure, i.e., flooding with kerosene containing organic agents or flooding with water containing electrolytes. Hence, where montmorillonite is present in formations, prevention of formation danzage was indicated to be the only complete solution to the problem. To prevernt formation damage, results suggested use of an approximately 1 per cent solution of calcium chloride or stronger solutions of sodium or potassium chloride. In conventional rotary drilling operations the wall of the hole is exposed to drilling mud for days, weeks, and in some instances for as long as several months. During this time, drilling mud filtrate seeps slowly into formations surrounding the hole. The permeability and stability of many formations, especially those containing clayey materials, are impaired by the mud filtrate. Often interaction between the mud filtrate and the formation causes drilling and production difficulties. Serious reduction in productivity of oil and gas formations during drilling, completing and repairing wells has been noted often in recent years. Cases are known of development wells which produced only small volumes of fluid upon completion. However, after a period had elapsed, they began to produce oil or gas in commercial quantities. In other cases, results of drill-stem tests taken during the drilling of deep wells have indicated good production should be obtained from shallow formations. Later difficulty has been experienced in obtaining production from these shallow formations which had remained in contact with drilling muds for an extended time. In yet other cases wells have failed to attain the productivities expected from previous performance after the use of drilling mud as a circulating fluid during workover operations. It is evident from the field behavior cited that the productivities of certain oil- and gas-bearing formations have been damaged by exposure to drilling muds. This reduction in well productivity, called "formation damage", causes serious consequences. In development wells, expensive remedial operations are incurred. In wildcat wells, good formations may appear to be marginal or even non-productive. The importance of formation damage has been recognized by a number of investigators1-s who have considered the effects of fresh water, saline solutions and aqueous mud filtrates on the permeabilities of formations. A general conclusion from such studies is that interaction between water and formation clays reduces permeability of reservoir rock and that the permeability decreases as salinity of the water decreases. Data in these references, however, concern the permeability change with only a single fluid present. A more pertinent and direct consideration in the production of oil and gas from wells is the permeability change when two fluids, oil and water, are present. Recognizing this, Nowak and Kreuger2 and Bertness1" considered several ways in which mud filtrates and saline solutions caused reductions in the oil permeability of formation cores. Investigations discussed here were designed to supplement information in the literature on changes in oil

By J. L. Bruce, N. B. Braly, F. A. Linforth, Wm. B. Daly, Paul A. Gow, C. L. Berrien, R. H. Sales, P. F. Beaudin, John Gillie, G. W. Roddewig

Butte mining district is situated in Silver Bow County, in the southwestern part of Montana. Butte originated as a placer mining camp, gold having been discovered in 1864, on Silver Bow Creek, near the southerly end of what is now Main Street. The Butte placer gold was heavily alloyed with silver, and only commanded $13 an ounce. Placer mining was vigorously prosecuted along Silver Bow Creek and its tributary gulches for about 5 years, at the end of which time, in 1870, the Butte camp was practically deserted. In the meantime, the quartz veins prominently traceable over the hillsides were located, the first location, July 12, 1864, being made by the Missoula Mining Co. and called the Missoula Lode Claim, and later relocated by G. 0. Humphreys. Reasoning from the presence of the gold placers, free milling gold and silver ores were eagerly looked for by the early prospectors. Claims covering the great Rainbow and other silver lodes were located in the 60's. The presence of valuable silver ores in these veins caused the staking of many claims, believed to be valuable only for silver, but which later, at depth, proved to be enormous copper producers.

Jan 1, 1925

By H. O. Hofman

PAGE I. Introductory,.......... 258 11. Condensed Account of Past and Present Plants,. .. 259 111. The Ores. Table I., Average Analyses,..... IV. Metallurgical Treatment—Roasting OF Ores,... The Allen-O'Hara Furnace,....... The Wethey Furnace,........272 The Pearee Turret-Furnaces,....... 273 The MacDougall Furnace,.......275 Original MacDougall,.......276 Herreshoff,......... Evans-Klepetko,........ General Results (Table II.),.......282 V. Smelting Ores in The Blast-Furnace,...,. Table 111. Examples of Montana Blast-Furnace Smelting,. 284 Table IV. Analyses of Coke and Coke-Ash,. .. . VI. Smelting Ores in the ReveRberatory Matting-Furnace,. 289 Table V. Percentage of Components of Charge,. .. 290 Table VI. Analyses of Flue-Dust and Briquettes,. .. Table VII. Examples of Montana Reverberatory-Smelting,. 292 Table VIII. Analyses of Coals,...... Table IX. Analyses of Producer-Coal and Ash,. .. Details of Practice,........297 VII. Converting Coppr-Matte,....... 302 Table X. Analyses of Materials of Converter-Linings,. . 306 Table XI. Montana Converters,......308 Yield of Metal..........308 VIII. Electrolytic Refining of Copper,..... Refining of Cathodes,........ 313 Table XII. Details of Electrolytic Refineries,. .. . Table XIII. Efficiency of Some Rocky Mountain Coals,. . 316 I. Introductory. In 1901,* this country produced 268,782 long tons of fine copper. Of this total, Montana is credited with 102,621 long tons, or 38.2 per cent.

Jan 1, 1904

By Charles W. Bloomquist

The profitability of miscible flooding in a hypothetical target oilfield is examined. The major costs, including Windfall Prof it Tax, are identified and their re1ative importance are discussed. The sensitivity of profit to important physical and economic variables is evaluated and discussed, including variance in oil recovery, oil price, injectant requirements, injectant cost, and capital requirements. Economic sensitivities to important development and operating decisions such as timing, Spacing, Slug size, and gas recycling are also analyzed. The Windfall Profit Tax (WPT) as it applies to gas miscible EOR projects is reviewed. The effect of WPT on each of the various project cases is analyzed and the effect of reduced WPT on remaining production from existing operations is evaluated. Tax implications are compared for integrated vs. "independent" controlled projects and the alternative of expensing vs. capitalizing tertiary injectants is also evaluated. The impact of the Net Income Limitation in reducing WPT. during early and late project life is determined and discussed.

Jan 1, 1982

By Charles H. Fulton

Experimental work on the process was begun on a laboratory scale at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1914, and transferred to East St. Louis, Ill. in 1916, where a commercial sized furnace was in technical operation until January, 1918. The essential steps of the process are as follows: Oxidized zinc ore or roasted zinc concentrate is mixed with crushed coke and coal-tar pitch and formed into briquets 9.25 in. (23.5 cm.) in diameter and 21 in. (53 cm.) long in a manner similar to that used in the manufacture of graphite or carbon electrodes, except that much less care and time are required. The composition varies with the nature of the ore; in one case, the composition was 100 parts ore, 70 parts coke, and 18 to 20 parts pitch. These briquets maintain their form and volume during and after the distillation of the zinc. This object is gained by using coke as the matrix and coal-tar pitch as the binder; this pitch becomes coke on heating and unites the ore particle and the original coke particle into a continuous mass. The briquet is an electrical conductor but only to such a degree that it can be used as a resistor. The size of the ore, as in the present practice of zinc metallurgy, ranges from fine material, such as flotation concentrate, to coarse table and fine jig concentrate. The process is not restricted to any particular kind of ore, but is applicable to pure high-grade ores, ores high in iron, and complex zinc-lead ores, since the residue from the distillation IS held immovably in place within the briquet. In the case of complex zinc-lead ores, the distillation is conducted with a carefully regulated temperature so that a high percentage of lead is retained in the distilled briquet, which may then be smelted for its lead content. In present zinc smelting practice, the reduction fuel is from 40 to 50 per cent. of the weight of the ore. In the briquet, it is from 60 to 85 per cent. of the ore; but unless the ore is exceptionally high in residue, the distilled briquet may be used over again as coke, or as a high ash coke for fuel purposes in power production. Baked briquets are hard and tough and may be handled roughly

Jan 1, 1921

By L. A. Schrider, J. A. Wasson

A method of predicting waterflood performance has been developed that combines certain facets of several previously published prediction techniques. The manner of combination has required the development and use of some new and some little-known relationships and has eliminated several of the weaker assumptions inherent in the original individual prediction methods. This approach, which was designed for computer solution, has removed the necessity of referring to plotted curves and permits the analytical prediction of water flood performance for a five-spot well pattern in either homogeneous or stratified reservoirs. The Predicted values are expressed in common oilfield units rather than in abstract or dimensionless terms. The calculation procedure has been programmed in FORTRAN IV and the entire program listing is available to potential users.* Introduction Prior to initiation of secondary recovery of oil by waterflooding, the possibilities of economic success or failure must be evaluated with the greatest practical accuracy. Although many prediction techniques are available, most, if not all, have serious limitations. In recent years, the Bureau of Mines has attempted to stimulate interest in the secondary recovery of oil from Appalachian pressure-depleted reservoirs. Waterflooding, because of its widespread acceptance and success, is the principal secondary-recovery method considered. During the life of the project, several performance prediction methods have been studied and applied. Because these methods, individually, have inherent assumptions and limi-tations, portions of some of them have been selected and combined in an effort to eliminate such shortcomings wherever possible. We believe that the resulting technique is as accurate as the necessary available data will permit and that it has several distinct advantages over previously published methods. Development of the Method The fractional flow equation developed by Buckley and Leverett' from Darcy's law is the fundamental mathematical statement describing immiscible fluid-fluid displacement in porous media. A generalized form of this relationship, whose derivation is readily available in the literature, is The formation dip, a, is usually very small in those petroleum reservoirs being considered for pattern waterflooding in the Appalachian area. Therefore. in many cases. a has an almist negligible value. In addition, Ap, the difference between the density of water and the density of oil, is relatively small. For these reasons the gravitational term may often be neglected. Capillary pressure is a function of saturation, which is in turn a function of distance from the upstream boundary of the system or the injection well. In this study it is assumed that the frontal zone of the waterflooding (or zone of capillarity) has negligible length and that only those saturations in the water-swept zone at breakthrough and later are of interest. As the distance in a waterflood pattern is comparatively large and the change in water saturation with distance is usually small, the change in capillary pressure with distance is negligible. The simplified form of the fractional flow equation is appropriate, therefore, in this application. Three variables must be considered in determining that fraction of the total fluid flow that consists of water: the viscosity ratio, saturation, and relative permeability ratio.

Jan 1, 1969

By W. Hurst

What is entailed here is the extension of the sinzplified material balance formulas to encompass interference between oil fields. As previously reported, the ex-plicitness as so revealed for the cunzulative pressure drop as a function of all factors contributing to its change in the material balance equation, is now transcribed through the inter-conzmunicating aquifer to effect an increased pressure drop on an adjoining field by interference. Such is performed by mathematical analyses and the application of the Laplace transformations. What is accomplished is that the reiteration problems previously associated with interference studies are nullified, since volumetric changes for the fluids in situ are automatically adjusted by the explicitness so expressed, and what pertains to the superposition principle applies only to the impeded water drive upon a su.bject field, which is likewise incorporated in the over-all pressure drop that results. The mathematics treats with the rigorous solution of the problem, as well as with methods easily amenable to numerical interpretation by the practicing engineer. In all cases, however, what is deduced for areal extents, reveal interference between wells when time becomes large that further substantiate the analyses. Probably of equal significance, all variables and for/nation characteristics are accounted for. This applies to the differences in PVT analyses that occur from field to field and the physical parameters associated with the lithology of the reservoirs. The latter is deduced from a rigorous interpretation of the unsteady-state flow problem for sands of different permeabilities in series. Thus, what purports to be a trial-and-error calculation to include variations in sand conditions within the intercommunicating aquifer to define water drive has little importance compared to the designation of such paranzeters at the reservoir to constitute the essential criteria. INTRODUCTION In a recent publication, the reader has been introduced to the simplified material balance formulas,' It has been shown that the complexities formerly associated for identifying and determining reservoir pressure in the material balance relationship can be resolved by treating with the Laplace transformations, the inversion of which reveals pressure as an explicit function of all factors contributing to its change. For an under saturated oil reservoir, this constitutes an integrated effect from the inception of production; and for a saturated oil reservoir, such represents a survey traverse. However, what is most important, for the first time we are able to express the pressure change in a reservoir directly to the oil, gas and water produced, and to the physical parameters of the formation, in the same manner that reservoir pressure has served in the past to define well interference — which opens up this avenue of endeavor for investigating interference between oil fields. The occurrence of interference is by virtue of the juxtaposition of two or more oil reservoirs producing in the same aquifer. Thus, in any one field, the extended production so incurred creates a pressure lowering in the field, as well as in the aquifer, which can now be transcribed by these simplified material balance formulas to the adjoining reservoir to observe the increased pressure change so induced. These effects are retroactive from field to field, to reveal a pressure drop far in excess of normal depletion to evidence the interference pattern that can result. Such is the purpose for the present undertaking — to develop the mathematical physics treating with this phenomenon of interference between oil fields, employing the simplified material balance formulas. Since Ref. 1 often will be referred to in the text, it is identified as "The Simplification", in the same connotation that another paper has been referred to as the "Laplace Trans-formation. However, the amount of material to be covered in these passages is substantial; therefore, the total emphasis will be placed upon developing these fundamental ideas treating with interference rather than attempting to offer work curves, which always can be prepared. For the practical application of these simplified material balance formulas that form the framework of the present development, the reader will find a comprehensive treatment in the Appendix of Ref. 1, illustrating a factual field example. In essence, what is proposed by this presentation is to make available to the practicing engineer a simplified means to treat with interference between oil fields, independent of the complex machine computations that have attended such undertakings in the past. As the problem unfolds, a common pattern will be discernible, whereby the many reiteration processes that previously required computing devices are eliminated.

By P. A. E. Armstrong

For hardening, the steel should be heated just above the critical temperature, as a properly forged steel quenched from this heat has some toughness, with maximum hardness and density. The quenching bath should be kept at approximately a constant temperature. In drawing or tempering, longer time periods at lower temperatures are better than the shorter periods at higher temperatures. A recent questionnaire brought out the following facts: The double-arc, double-taper bit and cross bit give the best service; resharpening of the drill steels most frequently was caused by wear of gage; chipping of bit was, with one exception, the second cause; breakage of shank was with one exception, the third cause; upsetting of bit, upsetting of shank, and breakage of body were the fourth cause. The direct cause of the necessity of resharpening given was poor heat treatment first, and faulty steel and severe rock conditions second. Rock-drill Steel By N. B. Hoffman Much of the drill steel produced in America is manufactured into hollow rods. After all forging has been finished the entire bar should be thoroughly annealed and heat trcated before the point is hardened and tempered, at least where the drill has heavy duty, such as working in deep holes and hard rock. A large number of tools of like character and doing work requiring similar properties are now being made of alloy steels; for instance a steel with a carbon content of 0.75 to 0.85 per cent., manganese 0.25 to 0.35, phosphorus under 0.020, sulfur under 0.030 and vanadium 0.18 to 0.23 has proved very satisfactory for chisels. A steel of this type properly manufactured will be far superior to the ordinary carbon steels, while at the same time is one whose price range should not prove prohibitive. Much of the cutting efficiency of a drill depends on proper heat treatment. This vanadium steel has a far greater safe hardening and forging range than ordinary carbon steels, making it more nearly foolproof. It will harden nicely at 1400" I?. but will also harden well and satisfactorily at 1550" F. retaining its quality of hardness and toughness in either case. Drill Steel from Hollow Ingots BY P. A. E. ARmstrong Hollow drill steel is made from a drilled billet with a sand-filled core or the drilled, pierced, or the drilled and pierced billet, not sand-filled, is rolled down over a projectile or ball much the same as in ordinary pipe manufacture. The first is the method generally used in this country; the second is used largely in Sweden. Swedish hollow drill steel has a

Jan 1, 1922

By Charles B. Dudley

THEO. N. ELY, Esq., Superintendent of Motive Power. DEAR SIR: It is now nearly three years since my first report to you on the subject of steel rails was written. That report, as you will remember, dealt principally with the question of the relation between the chemical composition and physical properties of steel rails and their power to resist crushing and fracture in actual service. Other matters were referred to or touched upon in that report, but the main question was, Why do some rails crush or break in service while others do not? You will doubtless remember that the principal conclusion arrived at was, that the softer rails are less liable to crush or break in service than the hard ones. Or, in other words, so far as conclusions could be drawn from the chemical analysis and physical test of 25 samples of steel rails which had actually been in service, these conclusions were that those rails which have the smaller amounts of carbon, phosphorus, silicon, and manganese are less liable to crush or break in service than those which have larger amounts of these elements. Or, again, looked at in the light * At the Lake George meeting of the Institute in October, 1878, I had the honor of presenting to the Institute, through the kind permission of the officers of. the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, the results of a study of twenty-five samples of steel rails, which had all been in actual service. Considerable discussion followed the publication of that paper, and there seemed to be a strong disinclination, especially on the part of the steel-rail manufacturers, to accept the conclusions presented. One of the principal objections urged against the conclusions drawn was, that they were based on too few samples; in other words, that no conclusions safe to act upon could be drawn from the examination of twenty-five rails. In view of this criticism it was decided to repeat the investigation with a larger number of samples, and with the aid of the experience gained in the first investigation. The results of this second study of steel rails are, by the permission of the officers of 'the Pennsylvania. Railroad Company, herewith presented to the Institute, with the sincere desire that they may aid in adding to our knowledge of this most important product. Like the previous paper, this is in the form of a report to one of the officers of the company, which will account for the style, and the manner of presenting the data

Jan 1, 1881

By S. C. Oliphant, R. Floyd Farris

Presented in this paper is a summary of the results of experiments conducted in both the laboratory and the field during the past three years in connection with casing-perfora. tion problems. Included are studies of gun features that influence bullet performance and penetration, and studies of the effect of perforator bullets on casing and the neat cement in the annulus. Discussion and data are also presented relative to the accuracy of depth measurements in deep wells. Introduction It is a common practice in the oil industry to effect the completion of oil wells by setting and cementing casing through the producing horizons and perforating the section of casing opposite the desired interval by means of a gun lowered into the well on a cable or on the tubing. This practice has been followed for some time, and this method of completion has been given considerable study by the companies that render perforating service as well as by the oil companies that utilize their services. Through continued research on this subject, it has been possible to develop guns, bullets, and powder that will permit controlled firing at great depths, and penetration of as many as two strings of casing. It is the object of this paper to present the results of studies made of gun perforating in both the field and the laboratory. These studies were made to determine the factors that affect penetration of the bullet, burring of the casing, accuracy of depth measurements, and other items. It is hoped that by presenting the results of these investigations a better understanding may be obtained of certain of the factors involved in gun perforating and further investigation of the subject will be prompted. Subsurface Tests A well approximately 9000 ft deep, which was being prepared for abandonment, was selected for subsurface tests of gun-perforating experiments, In preparing the well for the experiment, 51/2-in. casing in the hole was pulled and racked in the derrick. A test section of pipe, which consisted of 65 ft of 5-in. 18-lb J-55 casing centered inside 7-in. 28-lb N-80 casing, was placed in the derrick corner and the annulus between the two pipes was cemented from the bottom up with 161/2 lb per gal neat cement, which was mixed and displaced with a cementing truck in the usual manner. After the cement had been allowed to harden for about a week, the test section was lowered into the hole on the 51/2-in. casing to a depth of 6600 ft by casing measurements. The hole was filled with drilling fluid weighing 10 lb per gallon. A perforating company was called to perforate the pipe, but was not advised that an experiment was being conducted. The company was asked to check the total depth (to cross pins in the bottom of the test section), then to raise the gun a given distance and fire a given number of shots with 1/2-in. bullets, pick up another distance and fire a given number of 3/8-in

Jan 1, 1947