Search Documents

By M. W. Strong

The technique of handling drilling muds varies somewhat, partly because of personal factors but mainly because of differences in formation, the type of problems, and the general drilling conditions in different localities. The much greater depths to which bore holes are now carried have made necessary closer attention to and great modifications of all aspects of drilling-mud technique. Increased depth means smaller hole, smaller drill pipe, smaller clearances, higher pumping pressures, higher differential pressures between shows and the mud column, less accurate control of the weight of the mud column, delayed receipt of formation data, and poorer samples. It means longer delays and greater hazards in rectifying mistakes or dealing with accidental occurrences. Equipment on a larger scale is necessary and more pains must be taken with layout. Lastly, the budget costs of raw materials have risen to high figures and economy of time and of direct monetary expenditure have come to mean much more than formerly. A mud laboratory is now part of the essential establishment of a modern oil field and to it current problems can be submitted for the most thorough investigation. The detailed chemical properties of all materials purchased or quarried have to be investigated. Detailed data on the physical properties have to be ascertained and research on improvement of material and its most efficient use has to be carried out. In this paper will be discussed the main mud problems of Iran, some of which are peculiar to local conditions while others are of the general type common to all workers in this subject. Underground Conditions In deep wells in Iran the normal overburden may consist of: (1) up to several thousand feet of marls with interbedded sandstones and limestones of varying porosity and permeability; (2) beneath this a chemical series of rock salt and anhydrites, containing various marls and thin limestones,

Jan 1, 1939

By M. W. Strong

The technique of handling drilling muds varies somewhat, partly because of personal factors but mainly because of differences in formation, the type of problems, and the general drilling conditions in different localities. The much greater depths to which bore holes are now carried have made necessary closer attention to and great modifications of all aspects of drilling-mud technique. Increased depth means smaller hole, smaller drill pipe, smaller clearances, higher pumping pressures, higher differential pressures between shows and the mud column, less accurate control of the weight of the mud column, delayed receipt of formation data, and poorer samples. It means longer delays and greater hazards in rectifying mistakes or dealing with accidental occurrences. Equipment on a larger scale is necessary and more pains must be taken with layout. Lastly, the budget costs of raw materials have risen to high figures and economy of time and of direct monetary expenditure have come to mean much more than formerly. A mud laboratory is now part of the essential establishment of a modern oil field and to it current problems can be submitted for the most thorough investigation. The detailed chemical properties of all materials purchased or quarried have to be investigated. Detailed data on the physical properties have to be ascertained and research on improvement of material and its most efficient use has to be carried out. In this paper will be discussed the main mud problems of Iran, some of which are peculiar to local conditions while others are of the general type common to all workers in this subject. Underground Conditions In deep wells in Iran the normal overburden may consist of: (1) up to several thousand feet of marls with interbedded sandstones and limestones of varying porosity and permeability; (2) beneath this a chemical series of rock salt and anhydrites, containing various marls and thin limestones,

Jan 1, 1939

By H. H. Stoek

(Wilkes-Barre Meeting, June, 1911.) THE origin of the Mine-Rescue Service of the State of Illinois can be traced to two distinct sources, the work of the Rescue Station at Urbana and the Cherry disaster. During the early part of the year 1909, the Technologic Branch of the U. S. Geological Survey, now the Bureau of Mines, in connection with the Illinois Geological Survey and the College of Engineering of the University of Illinois, established at the University of Illinois, in Urbana, a branch rescue-station to supplement the work of the Pittsburg station of the Geological Survey. As a result of the work of training at the station in Urbana by R. Y. Williams, mining engineer, and James Webb, foreman of the Bureau of Mines, and the use of the helmets at several mine-accidents in the State of Illinois, . the people of the State were somewhat familiar with oxygen-helmets when the Cherry disaster occurred, in November, 1910. The oxygen-helmets were successfully used in connection with that disaster, and upon the recommendation of the Illinois Mining Investigation Commission, the Legislature of the State, assembled in special session during the winter of 1910, passed a bill appropriating $75,000 for the erection and maintenance of three rescue-stations, stipulating that they should be located in the northern, central, and southern parts of the State. The Act also provided that the stations should be in charge of a Commission of seven, two representing the United Mine Workers of Illinois, two the mine-operators, one the Federal Bureau of Mines, one the State mine-inspectors, and one the Department of Mining Engineering of the University of Illinois. This Commission was called together by the Governor of the State, Aug. 2, 1910, and since that time three stations have been located, built, and equipped: at La Salle for the northern

Dec 1, 1911

WE the undersigned, being ell persons of full age and citizens of the United States, and a majority resident of the State of New York, desiring to form a corporation pursuant to the provisions of the membership Corporations Law for the purpose of incorporating, as provided in section 5 of Article I. of said law, the existing unincorporated association known as American Institute of Mining Engineers, do hereby make, acknowledge and file this Certificate for that purpose, and do Certify as follows: I. That the American Institute of Mining Engineers is an unincorporated association organized and existing with the object of promoting the arts and sciences connected with the economic production of the useful minerals and metals and the welfare of those employed in these industries by means of meetings for social intercourse and 6he reading and discussion of professional papers, and to circulate by means of publications among its members and associates the information thus obtained. II. That the persons duly appointed or designated to manage the affairs of said association are designated by the rules thereof Members of its. Council; that the undersigned are all members of said Council as the same was constituted on the 296h day of December, 1904. III. That on said last-mentioned date a regularly called meeting of said association was held at its office in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York; that thirty days before such meeting notice of the intention to incorporate said association was given by mail to each member thereof whose residence or post-office address is known; that at said meeting the following resolutions were offered, seconded and duly adopted by the unanimous vote of all its members then present, to wit: "Resolved, That it is the sense of the members and associates of the American Institute of Mining Engineers in general meeting assembled that it is desirable and necessary for the well being of said association and its members and for the furtherance of the objects for which the same has been formed, that said association incorporate under the Membership Corporations Law of the State of New York; "And Further Resolved, That the Members of the Council of this Association, or a majority thereof, be and they hereby are authorized, in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of Article I. of the Membership Corporations Law, to incorporate this association for the same purposes for which it has been organized and conducted, in the manner provided in Article 11. of said law; "And Further Resolved, That the name of said corporation as hereby adopted by this meeting shall be American Institute of Mining Engineers; "And Further Resolved, That the said incorporators shall be named in the Certificate of Incorporation as directors of such corporation until its first annual meeting, and that such directors and their successors in office shall be and they hereby are authorized to enact and adopt a Constitution and By-Laws for the government of said corporation." IV. That the name of the proposed corporation is American Institute of Mining Engineers. V. That the purposes for which this corporation is to be formed are: To promote the arts and sciences connected with the economic production of the useful minerals and metals, and the welfare of those employed in these industries by all lawful means; to hold meetings

Jan 1, 1928

WE the undersigned, being all persons of full age and citizens of the United States, and a majority residents of the State of New York, desiring to form a corporation pursuant to the provisions of the Membership Corporations Law for the purpose of incorporating, as provided in Section 5 of Article I. of said law, the existing unincorporated association known as American Institute of Mining Engineers, do hereby make, acknowledge and file this Certificate for that purpose, and do Certify as follows: I. That the American Institute of Mining Engineers is an unincorporated association organized and existing with the object of promoting the arts and sciences connected with the economic production of the useful minerals and metals and the welfare of those employed in these industries by means of meetings for social intercourse and the reading and discussion of professional papers, and to circulate by means of publications among its members and associates the information thus obtained. II. That the persons duly appointed or designated to manage the affairs of said -association are designated by the rules thereof Members of its Council; that the undersigned are all members of said Council as the same was constituted on the 29th day of December, 1904. III. That on said last-mentioned date a regularly called meeting of said association was held at its office in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York; that thirty days before such meeting notice of the intention to incorporate said association was given by mail to each member thereof whose residence or post-office address is known; that at said meeting the following resolutions were offered, seconded and duly adopted by the unanimous vote of all its members then present, to wit: "Resolved, That it is the sense of the members and associates of the American Institute of Mining Engineers in general meeting assembled that it is desirable and necessary for the well being of said association and its members and for the furtherance. of the objects for which the same has been formed, that said association incorporate under the Membership Corporations Law of the State of New York; "And Further Resolved, That the Members of the Council of this Association, or a majority thereof, be and they hereby are authorized, in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of Article I. of the Membership Corporations Law, to incorporate this association for the same purposes for which it has been organized and conducted, in the manner provided in Article II. of said law; "And Further Resolved, That the name of said corporation as hereby adopted by this meeting shall be American Institute of Mining Engineers; "And Further Resolved, That the said incorporators shall be named in the Certificate of Incorporation as directors of such corporation until its first annual meeting, and that such directors and their successors in office shall be and they hereby are authorized to enact and adopt a Constitution and By-Laws for the government of said corporation." IV. That the name of the proposed corporation is American Institute of Mining Engineers. V. That the purposes for which this corporation is to be formed are: To promote the arts and sciences connected with the economic production of the useful minerals and metals, and the welfare of those employed in these industries by all lawful means; to hold meetings

Jan 1, 1928

By Zárate G. E.

Practical and statistical considerations concerned with the sampling, sample preparation and chemical analysis of precious metal ores are reviewed. The principal requirements related with the characteristics of sample cutter, sample preparation, equipment and methods are discussed. The main errors introduced in the different stages of the sampling systems are defined. The application of statistical techniques to evaluate these errors to determine the ore grade variation and to design the number of increments needed to get an accurate assay are presented. Finally, results obtained with the application of this method to gold and silver ores are analyzed and some recommendations are given.

Jan 1, 1984

By Edgar C. Bain

A NUMBER probably a sizable group of person with a dominant interest in metals maintain contact with the developments in ferrous metallurgy by reading week by week, as time permits, some four or five periodical devoted in considerable part to this field. It seems possible that some of these, like ourself, find it difficult to see the net results of the development day by day in clear perspective, The impression sometimes seems blurred by the uninterrupted succession of so many accounts, or out of focus from the very impact of so many reports of new things enthusiastic, well written, and understandable though they usually are. It is at times almost as though one were trying to observe, from a fastmoving vehicle, objects all too near at hand. Or perhaps this impression is merely a manifestation of our individual hyperopia ; in which case we should content ourself with an observation that it would be more satisfactory on the whole to discuss in 1941 the metallurgical advances of 1930-35 than those of

Jan 1, 1941

By John R. Freeman

THIS paper relates entirely to the casting of brass under fluid pressure in steel dies Die castings of metals and alloys of low melting point have been available for many years but the development of brass die castings has been relatively recent, occurring within the past five years The successful development of brass die castings has resulted from the availability of alloy steels that would give satisfactory life as dies and the development of suitable die-casting machines The melting point of copper is 1084° C (1983° F ) and of a high brass about 900° C (1652° F ), as compared to 327 5° C (6215 °F) for lead, 419 4° C (786 7° F) for zinc and 658 7° C (1217 7° F) for aluminum, temperatures that ale indicative of the casting temperatures required for the various types of alloys, of which the melting points are somewhat lower than those of the pure metals TYPE OF DIE-CASTING MACHINE In the well-known plunger and gooseneck types of die-casting machines used for casting the alloys of relatively lower melting point, much of the working mechanism is immersed in the molten alloy For alloys having the relatively high melting point of brass, this obviously is impossible Machines with a separate melting chamber are essential Two rather distinct types are in extensive use at the present time, the Pack and Polak machines, the former designed by Charles Pack and developed at the American Brass Co , the latter developed by Zoseph Polak, of Prague, Czechoslovakia The principles of operation of these machines have been described in articles by Pack1,2,3 and by Sieg 4

Jan 1, 1935

By W. R. Crane

Mining of the red iron ores of the Birmingham district has been carried on energetically during the past 60 years, and their development has created a large iron and steel manufacturing center, the only important one in the South. The district produces approximately 10 per cent. of all the iron ore of the United States (80 per cent. of the Alabama ore mined is red ore); also, 40 of the 400 blast furnaces of the country are in the district tributary to Birmingham. The rapid growth of the district has been made possible through investigations that resulted in radical changes in furnace practice, and a still greater impetus will come from the study of the low-grade, high-silica ores, as a result on which they will be made amenable to treatment by concentration. Mining practice in this district has been comparatively simple because of the occurrence of the ore; but with the rapid extension of the workings and the disturbed condition of the ore bed at some distance from the outcrop, more difficult conditions are encountered and the tendency is toward worse rather than better conditions. Should the high-silica ores of the lower bench of the Big Seam become available through beneficiation, mining practice will have to be modified to meet the new conditions, which will be rendered more difficult by the increased weight of cover that will exist at considerable distances from the outcrop. Support of workings will require greater attention and the efficient and economical operation of the mines will depend largely on the successful solution of the problems of working and handling the ore. History and EaRly Development The first explorers of the coal and mineral lands of Alabama were blacksmiths and mechanics mustered out of the army after the war of 1812. These men recognized the red rock of the Birmingham district as iron ore, and utilized it in making cooking utensils and farm implements. The first blast furnace was built and operated at Russellville in 1818, where also was a foundry and rolling mill. Soft ore was used at that time, but, in 1864, the first red hematite ore of Red Mountain was smelted, near Irondale. Birmingham was founded in 1871, and the successful use of coke in making pig iron in 1876 was the beginning of

Jan 1, 1925

By R. A. Kinzie

THE major operating costs in a cement plant are labor, power, and fuel. The opportunities and methods of savings in labor and power parallel other industries. Because our industry's use of fuel is large and its method of use is unique, the devices adapted for saving fuel are of interest. In normal practice the raw material in the form of a dry powder or a mud is fed to a rotating inclined cylinder where it is dried, calcined, and clinkered. In a Lepol kiln the raw material is rolled up into little balls with water in the nodulizer, fed to a traveling grate on which it is dried and partially calcined and tben to a short kiln where the process is finished. The more usual methods of saving heat have been the use of long kilns with chains in wet process plants and the use of waste heat boilers in dry plants (fig. 1). At the Santa Cruz plant we have used a Lepol system kiln and achieved a fuel 'economy of 4.7 gal per bbl of clinker or about 704,-000 Btu per bbl. This can be compared with our old kilns using the same fuel and raw material which consume 7.8 gal per bbl or 1,130,000 Btu per bbl. These are gross Btu and not the net figures usually used in reports of foreign companies. Our average consumption for 1948 was 708,000 Btu per bbl of Lepol clinker, based on cement sold, and oil purchased. The overall fuel consumption for 1948 was 6.61 gal per bbl. The Lepol system consists of a nodulizer, a grate, and a kiln. There is the usual accessory equipment which is similar to that used in other cement plants. The following description covers the equipment in operation at our plant. The nodulizer is a cylinder 8 ft 10 in. in diam by 18 ft long set on a slope of 1/2 in. per ft, and rotated at about 10 rpm. It is driven by a 50 hp wound rotor motor drawing about 9 kw. The inside of the shell is cleaned by a continuously operating scraper which draws 0.1 kw. The dry raw material is fed to the nodulizer where, being sprayed with water, it rolls into small spheres about 90 pct being between 1/2 and 1 in. in diam and containing about 15 pct water. The nodules fall on the traveling grate where the hot gas from the kiln is pulled down through the

Jan 1, 1951

By R. A. Kinzie

THE major operating costs in a cement plant are labor, power, and fuel. The opportunities and methods of savings in labor and power parallel other industries. Because our industry's use of fuel is large and its method of use is unique, the devices adapted for saving fuel are of interest. In normal practice the raw material in the form of a dry powder or a mud is fed to a rotating inclined cylinder where it is dried, calcined, and clinkered. In a Lepol kiln the raw material is rolled up into little balls with water in the nodulizer, fed to a traveling grate on which it is dried and partially calcined and tben to a short kiln where the process is finished. The more usual methods of saving heat have been the use of long kilns with chains in wet process plants and the use of waste heat boilers in dry plants (fig. 1). At the Santa Cruz plant we have used a Lepol system kiln and achieved a fuel 'economy of 4.7 gal per bbl of clinker or about 704,-000 Btu per bbl. This can be compared with our old kilns using the same fuel and raw material which consume 7.8 gal per bbl or 1,130,000 Btu per bbl. These are gross Btu and not the net figures usually used in reports of foreign companies. Our average consumption for 1948 was 708,000 Btu per bbl of Lepol clinker, based on cement sold, and oil purchased. The overall fuel consumption for 1948 was 6.61 gal per bbl. The Lepol system consists of a nodulizer, a grate, and a kiln. There is the usual accessory equipment which is similar to that used in other cement plants. The following description covers the equipment in operation at our plant. The nodulizer is a cylinder 8 ft 10 in. in diam by 18 ft long set on a slope of 1/2 in. per ft, and rotated at about 10 rpm. It is driven by a 50 hp wound rotor motor drawing about 9 kw. The inside of the shell is cleaned by a continuously operating scraper which draws 0.1 kw. The dry raw material is fed to the nodulizer where, being sprayed with water, it rolls into small spheres about 90 pct being between 1/2 and 1 in. in diam and containing about 15 pct water. The nodules fall on the traveling grate where the hot gas from the kiln is pulled down through the

Jan 1, 1951

By L. K. Smith, E. M. de Kock, J. van der Walt

A unique and systematic approach for analysing alternative methods of ventilating and cooling large hot mines is presented. The important factors that have a bearing on ventilation and cooling requirements and practices, such as air flow through the mine, geographical distribution of heat loads, micro ventilation considerations etc., are dealt with. Analysis of these leads to the definitive ventilation and cooling strategies, air and water process design, detail specifications and design of associated plant and equipment.

Jan 1, 1982

By Gearge C. Wallick

This paper describes experimental procedures for the calibration of capillary tubes to be employed as comparison standards in gas flow-rate measurements and considers several types of flow which were observed in the calibration of seven capillaries of varying diameter. It is shown that under certain experimental conditions deviations from Poiseuille flow are observed which may not be attributed to turbulence, and that this flow behavior may be described empirically by introducing the classical kinetic energy correction into the Poiseuille equation. INTRODUCTION Techniques have been developed for the measurement of the volume rate of flow of nitrogen through glass capillary tubes as a function both of the differential pressure applied and of the absolute gas pressure. Capillary tubes thus calibrated are frequently used to determine the rate of gas flow through a porous sample in the measurement of slip-corrected permeability. The purpose of this note is to describe the calibration procedure and to discuss some observed deviations from the ideal flow behavior predicted by the Poiseuille equation. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The volume flow rate of nitrogen as a function of the differential pressure was determined experimentally for a series of seven glass capillary tubes of varying diameter. As is shown in Table 1, the capillary radii in the series ranged from 0.004 cm for K1 to 0.07 cm for K7. The capillary tubes were cut from capillary tubing purchased on special order from several manufacturers and the bore radii were determined by microscopic measurement. The gas volume flow rate was measured for each capillary tube at a series of differential pressures in the range from 0 to 3 cm of mercury and at average absolute pressures of 1.0, 2.5, 4.0, and 6.0 atm. Experimental Procedure for Small Capillaries A schematic diagram of the apparatus used to calibrate the three smallest capillaries, Kl, K2, and K3, is shown in Fig. 1. By means of a standard Ruska Instrument Corp. volumetric pump (equipped with a synchronous motor drive, two stages of gear reduction, and a quick-change lathe gear box), nitrogen was displaced by mercury from a metal cell immersed in a constant-temperature bath. The pump, the line to the cell, and a part of the cell were filled with mercury. As mercury was forced into the cell, it displaced nitrogen which passed through the capillary tube being calibrated and into a large container with a volume of approximately 30 liters. Since the volume of this container was very large compared to the total volume change of the gas resulting from the action of the displacement pump, the absolute pressure of the system was essentially constant throughout any one run. Prior to any determination this pressure could be set at any desired level by means of an auxiliary nitrogen cylinder. The differential pressure across the capillary was measured with a Meriam Red Oil manometer and recorded together with the corresponding pump displacement rate which was equal to the gas flow rate. By repeating this process for a series of different displacement rates at each of the absolute pressures of interest, the data necessary for plotting the calibration curves for capillaries K1, K2, and K3 were obtained. All calibration measurements were made in a constant temperature room to minimize errors due to temperature fluctuations. In each run. the flow was maintained until equilibrium was established. Experimental Procedures for Large Capillaries The flow rates through Capillaries K4, K5, K6, and K7 required to obtain the pressure drops desired were larger than could be obtained from available constant displacement pumps, and it was thus necessary to employ an alternative calibration procedure. The arrangement of apparatus used in calibrating these capillaries at an average pressure of one atmosphere is shown in Fig. 2. Each capillary was calibrated by flowing nitrogen through the capillary and recording the differential pressure as a function of the flow rate. 'The differential pressure was measured with a Meriam Red Oil manometer and the flow rate was determined by collecting the effluent gas over water at constant pressure and recording the increase in volume per unit time after an equilibrium had been established. Appropriate corrections were made for the

Jan 1, 1953

ZAY JEFFRIES (communication to the Secretary*).-Having seen Mr. Ruder's micrographs of electrolytic iron, I am of the opinion that the tentative explanation offered verbally is correct. Mr. Ruder has informed me that both of the samples were cooled in the furnace. The structures as shown in Figs. Band C resulted from the last cooling through the temperature range near 900° C. Assuming that the rate of cooling through this range was the same in both cases, the differences in struc-ture of the gamma iron in the two samples must have ]:)]-ought about, in some way, the variations in grain size and grain shape shown in Mr. Ruder's micrographs. Even though there is practically no temperature gradient in muffle-furnace treatment during the "soaking" period, during both heating and cooling, there is a temperature gradient. Fig. B should normally have been fine-grained prior to the last cooling, due to the comparatively low maximum temperature to which it was heated (1,000° C.). On cooling through the allotropic change point at 900°, these small gamma grains, iii conjunction with the temperature gradient, should form an ideal condition for germination. Germinant grains should form near the surface of the sample (the-colder portions) and the small gamma grains would be progressively absorbed as they changed into non-gamma iron. The elongated grains in Fig. B, converging toward the axis of the piece of iron, indicate that germinant grains first formed near tine surface and advanced their boundaries toward the interior of the sample. The gamma grains in Fig. C, however, should have been large, prior to the last cooling, due to time high temperature treatment (1,250 to 1,300° C.). In other words, to use one of Prof. Howe's expressions, the crystalline organization should be very complete and the change from gamma to non-gamma iron on cooling would take place reluctantly. This resistance to change from gamma to non-gamma iron would probably be greater in the interior of the large grains than at their boundaries. Non-gamma iron centers or nuclei would probably form at a great many places, at the grain boundaries, thus masking the influence, to a large

Jan 6, 1917

By Clyde E. Williams

THIS review of the progress made in iron and steel metallurgy during the past year is confined to developments in this country. It attempts to give examples to illustrate progress made rather than to appraise results. As a result of the gradually diminishing supply of rich iron ores and of predictions made as to the probable life of the iron-ore reserves of the Lake Superior District, attention of iron and steel executives was directed to the question of beneficiation of iron ores. Laboratory and plant-scale experimental work was conducted on the wash ores .of Minnesota and an investigation, was, begun on the Old Range low-grade ores.

Jan 1, 1931

By L. R. Velho, N. A. D. Parlee, J. Gani

THE unsteady-state type of gas-liquid metal diffusion cell1 has found considerable application.2"4 Cells of this general design can function as steady-state cells if allowed to operate long enough to reach steady state. This report tells of some success in the adaption of this type of cell for steady-state work, using the 0-Ag system in which the mass transfer of the gas "species" is basically controlled by diffusion in the liquid. The gas, e.g-., O2, is maintained in the cell tube'-3 at 1 atm pressure, Fig. 1, by buret and sensitive oil manometer. The gas, after diffusing through the stagnant metal, escapes at the annular metal surface around the tube at a lower constant partial pressure, in this case that of O2 in slowly flowing air, 1 atm.

Jan 1, 1970

By Franklyn W. Oatman

In order that the conditions which obtain in an oil well may be readily understood, a brief description of a typical California well and a number of the phenomena accompanying same will be given. That the necessity for the exclusion of water be realized, the effects of water intrusion, a description of methods of prevention, .and a discussion of causes of failure will be presented, followed by a summary and recommendations. Fig. 1 shows a section of a typical well which illustrates the relation of oil sands to overlying strata. It indicates a deep water sand separated from the oil sand by shale, and the proper place for the final shutting off of water. In this well a comparatively thick stratum of compact shale protected the oil from overlying water so that the operation of landing the water string was a simple matter. In some wells the protecting stratum may be only from 3 to 5 ft. thick and very careful operation is necessary in order to land the water string of casing properly and not puncture through to the oil sand. The cases just cited are common, but occasionally, after excluding overlying water, productive oil sands are drilled through in the expectation of finding more productive underlying sand, and a water-bearing stratum is tapped. In this case the problem is the reverse of the normal; water must be prevented from ascending rather than descending. A discussion of well-drilling methods is not within the scope of this paper, except such operations as pertain to shutting off of water. A brief outline of the several conditions which may accompany drilling follows. Some or all may be present in any particular case. The direct relation of these to prevention of intrusion will be discussed in detail further on. In drilling, the hole becomes more or less irregular in shape, and rough, and as the casing follows the bit into the well it does not fit snugly against the walls. As a result, water may descend between the casing and walls of the well. If a circulation pump is not used during drilling, the hole is simply punched through and the pulverized material removed from the well by means of a bailer. If circulation is maintained there is a continual flow of water down inside the casing and up around the outside between the pipe and the walls of hole. This keeps an open space around the pipe.

Jan 1, 1915

By Walter Miller

Crude oil stocks were some 10,000,000 bbl higher on June I, 1947, than at any time during 1946 but the extremely heavy refinery runs the last half of 1947 cut crude inventories to approximately the 1946 closing level of 225,000,000 bbl. Many refiners were seriously short of crude oil during the year. This shortage was reflected in numerous advances in the posted price of crude, justified in part as an incentive for more production but more generally due to competitive bidding. Some purchasers of crude, endeavoring to keep their plants running, resorted to the payment, either directly or indirectly, of premiums above the posted price. Another common practice employed by some suppliers of crude oil was to demand refined products in exchange or trade for their raw material. The refined products picture has darkened in spite of record throughputs. Stocks of gasoline and light and heavy fuel oils were uncomfortably low at the beginning of the year and were in general still lower at the close. The rationing of some products, principally gasoline, to dealers and stations? initiated during the year, gained momentum as stocks continued to diminish. The emphasis placed by the manufacturers of oil-burning equipment on the convenience and economy of heating with oil, together with the tight situation in coal, has developed a tremendous demand for burning oils. Consumption of liquefied petroleum gas for domestic and household fuel had more than doubled in 1946 over 1943, and the demand seems to be limited only by the ability of the equipment builders to furnish necessary storage. transportation, and burning equipment. The supply situation is likely to become more acute in 1948. Demand for petroleum products is being pushed to new heights not only by the unprecedented domestic market but by a sudden and drastic upswing in estimates of military and governmental requirements. Additionally, oil exports are running far below the volume requested, amounting to less than forty percent in a recent quarter, and export licenses are reportedly being approved on the basis of urgent need *only. AX recent White House release sees little likelihood that estimated requirements of the sixteen nations participating in the proposed Marshall Plan can be met in full over its projected life—1948 to 1951. Present demand dictates maintenance of refinery operations at the highest possible level and the Bureau of Mines has forecast daily average crude runs in 1948 of 5,265,000 bbl. The Economics Advisory Committee of the Interstate Oil Compact Commission recently estimated the 1948 demand for petroleum products at nearly 6 pct above 1947. They further estimate daily average crude runs of 5,375,000 bbl in 1948, some 2 pct higher than forecast by the Bureau of Mines. Projected demand exceeds supply to the extent that Capitol Hill is reportedly investigating ways of enabling oil companies to act in concert without danger of antitrust prosecution, such as elimination of crosshauls, pooling of products, and lowering of octane.

Jan 1, 1948

By Walter Miller

Crude oil stocks were some 10,000,000 bbl higher on June I, 1947, than at any time during 1946 but the extremely heavy refinery runs the last half of 1947 cut crude inventories to approximately the 1946 closing level of 225,000,000 bbl. Many refiners were seriously short of crude oil during the year. This shortage was reflected in numerous advances in the posted price of crude, justified in part as an incentive for more production but more generally due to competitive bidding. Some purchasers of crude, endeavoring to keep their plants running, resorted to the payment, either directly or indirectly, of premiums above the posted price. Another common practice employed by some suppliers of crude oil was to demand refined products in exchange or trade for their raw material. The refined products picture has darkened in spite of record throughputs. Stocks of gasoline and light and heavy fuel oils were uncomfortably low at the beginning of the year and were in general still lower at the close. The rationing of some products, principally gasoline, to dealers and stations? initiated during the year, gained momentum as stocks continued to diminish. The emphasis placed by the manufacturers of oil-burning equipment on the convenience and economy of heating with oil, together with the tight situation in coal, has developed a tremendous demand for burning oils. Consumption of liquefied petroleum gas for domestic and household fuel had more than doubled in 1946 over 1943, and the demand seems to be limited only by the ability of the equipment builders to furnish necessary storage. transportation, and burning equipment. The supply situation is likely to become more acute in 1948. Demand for petroleum products is being pushed to new heights not only by the unprecedented domestic market but by a sudden and drastic upswing in estimates of military and governmental requirements. Additionally, oil exports are running far below the volume requested, amounting to less than forty percent in a recent quarter, and export licenses are reportedly being approved on the basis of urgent need *only. AX recent White House release sees little likelihood that estimated requirements of the sixteen nations participating in the proposed Marshall Plan can be met in full over its projected life—1948 to 1951. Present demand dictates maintenance of refinery operations at the highest possible level and the Bureau of Mines has forecast daily average crude runs in 1948 of 5,265,000 bbl. The Economics Advisory Committee of the Interstate Oil Compact Commission recently estimated the 1948 demand for petroleum products at nearly 6 pct above 1947. They further estimate daily average crude runs of 5,375,000 bbl in 1948, some 2 pct higher than forecast by the Bureau of Mines. Projected demand exceeds supply to the extent that Capitol Hill is reportedly investigating ways of enabling oil companies to act in concert without danger of antitrust prosecution, such as elimination of crosshauls, pooling of products, and lowering of octane.

Jan 1, 1948

By S. G. Lasky

EVENTS during and since the war indicate that the nations of the world are trying to initiate an era of international co-operation. Definitions and objectives include social, economic, and human considerations no less than political considerations. The mineral resources of the world and the absolute and relative position of each nation enter into this situation. The possible use of armed might, the application of sanctions, the international flow of commerce, the ways in which this flow may encourage or hamper international well-being, and the influence of international and domestic well-being upon one another are all matters that must take mineral resources into account. If the United States is to act wisely and forthrightly in such matters we must be thoroughly informed as to our position with respect to mineral resources. What is the mineral position of the United States? A variety of widely conflicting opinions are held in authoritative and intelligent quarters: (1) For practical purposes our mineral resources are already exhausted.

Jan 1, 1946