Search Documents

By Richard P. Rothwell

FIRES in mines are so serious in their consequences and of such frequent occurrence, that their causes and the means of extinguishing them are certainly questions of the greatest interest to a large part of the engineering profession. We have already, in this country, many mines which have been burning for years, and though our hard anthracite is so difficult to ignite that for a quarter of a century after it was first discovered it was not known how to burn it except with the aid of an artificial blast, yet most of the fires which have occurred underground have been in anthracite mines, and in the coal itself. The injury which these fires have caused to properties in various parts of the anthracite regions, and the cost of extinguishing them, would amount to many millions of dollars, and they have also occasioned the loss of many valuable lives. It is not surprising, therefore, that the subject has already attracted much attention, and the exercise of great ingenuity ; and the present communication is made less with the expectation of announcing anything new, than with the object of putting upon record the present state of our knowledge on this subject, or, in other words, of indicating how defective are the present means of combating underground conflagrations. (Causes of Mine Fires.-Even upon the surface, fire is a terrible foe to contend with, and there is probably no other which inspires such thorough and well-founded alarm. With what feelings, then, must we look upon this destructive element, when its field is in the narrow galleries of a mine, where the poisonous products of combustion, spreading in every direction, protect, in the most effectual manner, the fire itself from the attacks of extinguishers, while, if the face of attack be ventilated so as to enable them to approach the seat of the fire, the air current simply increases the extent and violence of the conflagration. Fires underground originate in as various ways as those on the surface, and it is scarcely necessary to say that, except in the rare cases where they are the result of design, they are invariably classed as " accidents," and most generally as " unavoidable accidents." In reality, by an intelligent understanding of their causes and with due precautions, they can almost always be prevented. Ignorance and

Jan 1, 1876

By AIME AIME

THE second blast furnace of the Azov steel mill was blown in on Feb. 17, says the Economic Review of the Soviet Union. This furnace, the 111th in the U. S. S. R., has a volume of 930 cubic meters, and a daily output of 775 tons of pig iron. The 1934 program at the Azov plant includes three 250-ton-open-hearth furnaces, two coke-oven batteries, a repair shop, mine and agglomeration plant at Gamysh-Burum, and two ports, one at the latter town and one at Mariupol. On Feb. 21 the sixth open-hearth furnace of the Stalinsk (Kuznetsk) mill started operations; on Feb. 12 the fourth open-hearth furnace at the Liebknecht mill at Dniepropetrovsk, produced its, first steel, 47 tons of high-grade boring steel. The fourth open-hearth furnace

Jan 1, 1934

By William D. Manly, John Towers, Paul A. Beck

RECENT work on grain growth in high purity aluminum and in a solid solution type alloy of aluminum and magnesium' showed that the isothermal increase of the average grain diameter D with time follows the equation [D = K(to + A)-Eq I] Here [to] is that portion of the total annealing time [t], which is available for grain growth, i.e. the annealing time less the time necessary for complete recrystallization. The parameters A and n depend only on the temperature. A has the dimension of time, and is usually of the same order of magnitude as the time for recrystallization: R. In some instances R may be substituted for A in Eq I. This is the case for example at long periods of annealing or at high temperatures, where both A and R become small in comparison with t. In such instances Eq I is simplified to [D-K-tnEq2] For high purity aluminum the exponent n increases in the ratio of about 1 to 5 in the temperature range of 350° to 600°C. 70-30 brass has been long known to exhibit grain growth of the continuous type, such as occurs in pure metals. For this reason, it was of interest to determine whether grain growth in brass also follows Eq I and 2 as it does in aluminum. Isothermal grain growth data for 70-30 brass were published in recent years by R. S. French2 and by H. L. Walker3 Fig I shows a log D vs. log t plot of French's data, together with the 500, 600 and 100°C data by Walker for 42.8 pct reduction by rolling. In such a log D vs. log t plot Eq 2 corresponds to a straight line with a slope of n. As seen in Fig I, the data of French and the 600°C data of Walker can be represented by straight lines. However, the 500 and 700°C data of Walker give curved lines and the average slope of his 500°C line is very different from the slope of the line representing French's data for the same temperature. Furthermore the curvature of the 700°C line suggests a tendency for grain growth to stop after 8 hr. If confirmed, this would constitute a definite deviation from Eq 2, not explainable on the basis of the specimen thickness effect found in high purity aluminum.1 Walker's specimens were 0.125 in., i.e. 3.18 mm thick, while the deviation occurs at a grain size of approximately 0.4 mm. A further point of divergence arose recently, when J. E. Burke suggested4 on the basis of Walker's data, that, instead of Eq 2, grain growth in 70-30 brass follows the equation [D-D. =K• t,Eq3] Here D, is the grain size as recrystallized at the temperature in question. Although it was possible to show5 that, for pure aluminum, for which isothermal grain growth has been carefully investigated, Eq 3 is incompatible with the experimental facts, the situation remained somewhat obscure with respect to 70-30 brass. In view of the discrepancies between the

Jan 1, 1948

By V. Rajaram, I. P. Nielsen, H. D. Raymond

The Parachute Creek member of the Green River formation in the Piceance Basin, Colorado, contains vast reserves of oil shale, nahcolite, dawsonite, and other accessory minerals. The dry alkali process of sulfur dioxide removal using nahcolite (naturally occurring sodium bicarbonate) has great potential. A room and pillar mining scheme has been designed to extract a nahcolite zone occurring at a depth of 472 m, from the lease application area of the Yankee Gulch joint venture. Geotechnical parameters affecting mine design will be discussed. A preliminary development plan for mining at the rate of 1000 t/d will be described in detail.

Jan 12, 1979

By Randy L. McGuire, Dale P. Ingold

The Youghiogheny and Ohio Coal Company expanded computer usage in the areas of engineering and production analyses by establishing a time-share terminal with Ohio University. Through the use of a graduate student on a consulting basis this relationship has enabled the company to gain computer programming capabilities in the scientific languages such as FORTRAN IV. The engineering function has benefitted from programs which dealt with mine power distribution and geostatistical analysis. Additionally, the University has modified a group of simulation programs developed by Virginia Polytechnic Institute so they are interactive enabling data entry from the remote terminal.

Jan 1, 1983

By F. W. Bremmer

The experiments described in this paper constitute the preliminary work of an investigation outlined to determine the combined effects of steam and temperature on the endurance properties of certain steels. Essentially of a fundamental nature, it was found necessary, in order to make the investigation comprehensive, to test materials treated to give a wide range of properties. The work reported deals chiefly with nickel steel with one series of tests including nitriding steel. Such a study involves numerous variables, and requires an endurance-testing machine of rather special design. Testing Machines The testing machines used were designed by C. E. Weaver;l they are a modification of the White-Souther and McAdam types. Each was driven directly by an individual 1/2-hp. 115-volt direct-current motor, running at a speed of 2200 r.p.m. Fig. 1 shows the assembly drawing and Fig. 2, a photograph of one of the machines. Specimen B is held by the rotating specimen holder A inside the steam box F, which is closed at the top by a tight-fitting, elliptical cover G. The load is applied to the specimen through the rod D and bearing C. E is an oil pipe leading fromthe lubrication system to the bearing C. The steam, which comes from the power house, is admitted through an inlet (not shown in Fig. 1) at the side of the box, the drain being at the bottom. Steam packings were placed around the rod D and the rotating shaft at H, from which the water was drained by means of a vacuum, which usually showed a gage reading of about 10 in. The temperature was measured by a mercury thermometer, and the pressure by a steam gage. Method of Applying Load After the motor has been started and the specimen as a consequence put in rotation, the load is applied by placing the foot pedal A (Fig. 2) in contact with electromagnet B, the winding of which is connected electrically in series with the motor. This operation releases the support under the weights that constitute the load. By this means the load

Jan 1, 1930

By C. M. Young

Wherever salt is extracted from the ground as an artificial brine produced by pumping down fresh water to dissolve the salt, subsidence of the overburden is a possibility, though apparently few cases of such subsidence have been noted and detailed records are wanting. This description is intended as a record of subsidence that may permit the forcasting of similar occurrences in other cases; the data were supplied largely by R. B. Lee, city engineer of Hutchinson, Kans. About eleven years ago, ground movement occurred at a neighboring salt plant, when the surface assumed the form of a shallow funnel. Movement was probably due to a flow of sand into a well through a poor seal or a broken casing. The salt deposit increases in thickness from the east until at Hutchinson, where the subsidence occurred, it is about 310 ft. thick. The interbedded layers of shale vary in thickness from mere traces to about 7 ft. While knowledge of the shale content of the beds is not exact, the log of a shaft 3 miles east of Hutchinson indicates that shale forms about 25 per cent. of the total thickness. This shaft does not reach the bottom of the salt by about 60 ft., but there is no reason to think that the lower part of the bed is different from the upper. Logs of wells sunk to the bottom are not sufficiently detailed to be of much value. Above the salt is the shale of the well-known Red Beds. The thickness of this is variable, principally because of its eroded surface, but at the mine it is 340 ft. This shale is variable in character and strength, but contains no strong members of limestone or sandstone. If the support is removed, very probably it will subside. The Arkansas River flows across the salt district and Hutchinson is situated on the flood plain. Between the top soil, which is about 8 ft. thick, and the shale is 60 to 100 ft. of water-bearing sand and gravel. The process of removing salt, at least in the case of the earlier wells with which we are concerned, is as follows: An 8-in. hole is put down through the sand and gravel by means of a drive pipe, which is bedded in the shale. Prom the top of the shale, a 6411. hole is drilled through the shale, to, or nearly to, the bottom of the salt. Casing is put in to a depth of about 140 ft. to shut off a water-bearing layer in the shale.

Jan 1, 1927

Albin, B. R Billings, Mont. Amster, Nathan L 25 Broad St., New York, N. Y. Bache, Jules S 42 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Barrett, C. P6338 Harper Ave., Chicago, Ill. Baum, Frank G Hobart Bldg., San Francisco, Cal. Bayless, Hon. William S Russ Bldg., San Francisco, Cal. Bean, Louis H., V.P., Dwight P. Robinson & Co., Inc 125 E. 46th St., New York, N. Y. Beatty, Ross J 1106 First National Bank Bldg., Chicago, Ill. Benwell, Oswald F 205 Colorado National Bank, Denver, Colo. Beymer, Albert S., V.P., Keystone National Bank Pittsburgh, Pa. Bingham, Charles W 1542 Hanna Bldg., Cleveland, Ohio. Blumenthal, Hugo 44 Pine St., New York, N. Y. Boettcher, Charles Ideal Cement Bldg., Denver, Colo. Bowlus, Thomas H Iola, Kans. Bragg, E. B Carmel, Cal.

Jan 1, 1929

By C. Wachmann

The theory presented ill this paper makes possible examination of the phenomenological aspect of secondary oil recovery by alcohol flooding. Limitutions of the theory are contingent on three primary assumptions: (1) chemical equilibrium, (2) no fingering, and (5) no dispersion. The second assumption implies one-dimensional flow. In a geometric sense the theory extends the Buckley-Leverett construction to systems of two slightly miscible fluids and to systems of three components. This is made possible by considering single-phase fluids to be made up two phases, namely of an excess of one phase and a negative amount of the other phase. The procedure is discussed in the paper. The theory also permits direct determination of the relationship between the aqueous phase saturation and the concentration of water in the aqueous phase in a zone of variable composition. The velocity of planes of constant water concentration and of constant saturation can be computted likewise and the existence of saturation discontinuities inferred. Consequently the behavior of such a Zone, which may exist at some time between a displaced and a displacing fluid, May be determined. mathematical details are given in Appendices. Problems of experimental verification are pointed out on the basis of a supporting experiment. Implications of the theory and effects of violations of primary assumptions are discussed briefly. The major conclusion is that, if the primary assumptions are met, with pure alcohol and alcohol-rich .slugs piston-like displacement of oil and water is possible. INTRODUCTION The recovery of oil from porous media by alcohol displacement has been studied for several years. Extensive experimental investigations into alcohol flooding have been carried out in the laboratory although little has been done in the field. A large amount of practical information is available, the extent being indicated by the first three papers cited 1-3 and their respecrive bibliographies. This has permitted the Formulation of inferential theories. A more analytical approach in which theories are developed primarily by reasoning from known physical principles and relationships has, however, lagged behind. In fact, an analytically derived theory of alcohol displacement has not been available. The theory presented in this paper on oil and water displacement by alcohol from a porous medium is a result of the analytical approach. The theory is idealized, as certain assumptions had to be made to make the mathematics tractable and reduce complexity of argument. In particular, major assuptions concerning conditions of equilibrium, interfacial stability, longitudinal mixing, etc., led to the exclusion of fingering, for example, from all considerations. In many laboratory experiments reported in the literature fingering could not be avoided. There is, therefore, disagreement between theories based on experimental evidence available and the analytically derived theory presented here. This theory presented is based on known physical data and makes use of the Buckley-Leverett construction and its suggested extension. The mathematical derivation of the theory is given in Appendices. Three examples relevant to alcohol displacement are discussed to explain the use of this theory: (1) system of two immiscible fluids (the Buckley-Leverett case); (2) system of two slightly miscible fluids involving an extension of the Buckley-Leverett construction; and (3) system of three components, including injection of pure alcohol or alcohol-rich fluid as a special case, which involves a more general extension of the Buckley-Leverett construction. In these discussions strict assumptions were made to impose equilibrium conditions and exclude mixing and fingering. Effects of relaxing these assumptions and consequent extensions of the theory are indicated. The complexity of the alcohol displacement process makes experimental verification of the theory essential. Some relevant evidence is offered in this paper.

Jan 1, 1965

By D. K. Bose, C. K. Gupta, K. U. Nair

A new approach to processing an indigenously available low grade molysulfide concentrate by chlorination with elemental chlorine in presence of oxygen is reported. Recovery of nickel and copper values associated with the sulfide concentrate by suitably treating the residue obtained after chlorination is also reported. In the chlorination process, a gaseous mixture of chlorine and oxygen in the volume ratio bf 2:5 has been passed at 1.66 x 10- 5 m3/s for 1800 s over a 0.01 kg batch of molysulfide concentrate at a temperature of 573°K. Most of the molybdenum has been volatilized as molybdenum oxychloride which has subsequently been extracted in water. The molybdenum value from the aqueous solution has been recovered in the form of calcium molybdate (CaO.MoO3) by treatment with calcium chloride (CaCI2). In an alternative processing scheme, the molybdenum rich solution has been treated with an oxidizing agent (K2S20f.J) and allowed to boil to recover a major portion of the molybdenum value in the form of molybdic oxide (MOOS). The spent charge obtained after molysulfide chlorination has been mixed with about 1 wt % sodium chloride and heated at 773K under an oxygen atmosphere. The reacted mass has been water-leached to yield a nickel-copper bearing solution with limited iron. The process liquor appears to be well suited for further processing by known hydrometallurgical recovery processes for nickel and copper. In the conventional process of molybdenum extraction, the molysulfide concentrate (-59% Mo) is first subjected to roasting to produce molybdic oxide. The oxide is then further processed in sequential steps involving vacuum distillation, ammonia leaching, and calcination to higher purity prior to hydrogen reduction to metal. In India there is at present some small tonnage production of molysulfide concentrate from a byproduct recovery plant of the M/s. Uranium Corp. of India Ltd. (M/s UCIL), Bihar. Efforts are being made at this laboratory to process the low grade fraction of the concentrate which contains sulfides of copper, nickel, and iron; quartz; and chlorites. Here, the conventional routes involving roasting and vacuum distillation appear unsuitable to produce an acceptable quality of molybdic oxide at high recoveries. Formation during roasting molybdates of some of the impurities present in the sulfide concentrate make subsequent vacuum distillation less efficient. In view of these problems, in earlier work reported from this laboratory the low grade concentrate has been processed hydrometallurgically to P. produce calcium molybdate. Starting from this molybdenum intermediate, processes have also been developed for the production of molybdenum and ferromolybdenum. Chlorination as an alternative to roasting for metal sulfides has been drawing considerable interest. The high reactivity of chlorine, the relatively low temperature of operation, the suitability of application to low grade resources, the convenience of recovering sulfur in non-polluting form, and the purity of chlorides which are separated by distillation all favor chlorination. In recent years, considerable work has been reported on the chlorination of common metal sulfides. In the field of molybdenum extraction from its sulfide resource, use of chlorination technology has been rather limited. Senderoff and Labrie3 were the first to chlorinate molysulfide concentrate with elemental chlorine at about 823°K to molybdenum pentachloride for use in the electrolytic preparation of molybdenum. The only other reported work, by Haver, Uchida and Wong, involved reaction between molysulfide and chlorine at 673°K to recover sulfur. The reaction products were, however, identified as molybdenum pentachloride and sulfur monochloride.

Jan 1, 1979

By Eugene P. Pfleider

Research indicates that the cube diamond is a superior stone for drill bits. It can be oriented to combine a long cutting edge with structural strength and high resistance to wear. Test bits set with preferred orientation give double the bit life at astoundingly low diamond loss in comparison to oriented octahedral diamonds. A PROGRAM of research on the orientation of diamonds in drill bits has been under way for several years at both the United States Bureau of Mines Experimental Mine at Mount Weather, Va., and the School of Mines and Metallurgy of the University of Minnesota. Reports on past work done both in the laboratory and the field are available in the technical press.1,3,4 The results of such drilling, done under comparable conditions, show that bits having diamonds oriented in a direction that combines structural strength and greatest hardness not only can advance somewhat faster than random set bits but can do this with a unit diamond loss of 50 pct or less. Several bit manufacturers have initiated the training of diamond setters in the principles of orientation on the basis of the above-mentioned research results. The basic information on the crystallography and hardness variation of the diamond was presented in an earlier paper,' which pointed out that the diamond is several hundred times harder along certain directions and certain faces than on others. The same article discussed the drilling results obtained with a group of nine bits having octahedron diamonds set with on-point, positive (gouge) rake, and negative (drag) rake orientations. The testing of oriented cube diamonds is an extension of this research program, employing the same procedures and equipment (Hy Mac hydraulic drill unit, EXT diamond core bits, St. Cloud Pink granite) as previously described. This current work covers the test experience of seven bits set with cube diamonds running approximately 10 stones per carat. The individual stones were near perfect cubic form; hence it was simple to orient them in any desired direction. The cube is a comparatively rare crystal form of the diamond, although considerable numbers are produced from the Congo. It is understood that most of the cube diamonds are retained in Africa, where they are either used locally for diamond bit manufacture or ground up to make powder. They have been considered to be an inferior stone for drilling purposes.

Jan 1, 1954

By AIME AIME

THE 1941 fall meeting of the Iron and Steel and the Institute- of Metal, Division held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Philadelphia, during the first three days (Oct. 20-22) of the National Metal Congress was well attended as usual, and the seven technical sessions and the joint round table on order-disorder transformations were this year of considerably more than routine interest. Despite unseasonably warm weather, a scarcity of hotels (there were rumors, apparently well-founded, that , some of the metal man attending the Congress had to stay in tourist camp), and a multiplicity of technical and other ions of the co-operating societies that gave the Congress this year the general air of a three-ring circus the A.I.M.E. sessions attracted audiences that ragged from seventy or eighty up to 350

Jan 1, 1941

By Berke L. Thompson

INTRODUCTION Purpose of Wall System There were 2379.88 m (meters) of tied back wall along Interstate 77 in the Capitol Complex area in Charleston, West Virginia. The main purposes of this wall system was for aesthetics, reduction of excavation, saving the forested slopes, and control of sloughage of the back slopes onto the Interstate. Failure At 1 PM on Thanksgiving Day, 1982, 3 wall panels fell from the insitu position onto the interstate in a matter of seconds. See Fig. 1. The total length of wall that fell was 29.25m. The height of the three panels varied from 10.06m to 10.36~1 and each individual panel had a length along the highway of 9.75m. These were abutting panels that were approximately in the middle of a section of wall 165.81m long. The panels separated from the remainder of the wall at 2 expansion joints that occur at the ends of every 3rd panel. The reinforced portland cement concrete panels were designed on a 76.2mm (millimeter) batter. See Fig. 2 for Wall Dimensions. The footer for these panels was lm wide, was keyed into sandstone bedrock 0.30m and was approximately 1.52m below the portland cement concrete pavement and shoulder. Thirteen of the 17 panels in this section of wall were tied to the sandstone bedrock behind the wall by either 25.4mm or 34.93mm hollow rock bolts. Two panels on each end of the wall were cantilever type walls. The panels that failed had 25.4m hollow rock bolts. A portion of each panel adjacent to both sides of the failure was pulled out from the rock face and appeared to be in imminent danger of also failing. All of the 21 rock bolts in the panels that fell were separated either at the backface of the wall, in the extension from the wall to the rock face or at the rock face. None of the rock bolts had been pulled out of the bond length in the sandstone bedrock. After considering the condition of the wall and

Jan 1, 1984

By J. R. Kyte, L. A. Rapoport, R. J. Stanclift, S. C. Stephan

Experimental studies covering a wide range of core materials and fluid properties have been conducted to determine the mechanism of oil displacement by water in a partially gas-saturated porous medium. In all instances, the presence of a gas phase was found to have a beneficial effect in reducing residual oil saturations. The practical significance of this benefit is discussed, and a simplified procedure is outlined for evaluating the effects of free gas on water flooding by means of short core tests. INTRODUCTION In addition to oil and water, reservoirs subjected to water flooding frequently contain, also, a gas phase. Common engineering procedures account for the presence of this "free gas" only from the viewpoint of volumetric balance, implying that the only role of the gas consists of providing "fill up" space. It is usually visualized that during the initial stages of the water invasion, the oil, moving ahead of the water, displaces part of the gas and that subsequently the remaining portion of the gas phase is totally compressed and dissolved in the advancing oil bank. Thus, consideration of a two-phase, water-oil flooding mechanism supplies an adequate basis for predictions of oil recovery if the pressure build-up caused by the flood is sufficiently great, so as to reduce the free gas saturation to a negligible value in any portion of the reservoir by the time that portion is reached by the advancing flood water. In many in- stances, however, waterflooding operations are carried out when the reservoir pressure is still relatively high SO that the pressure build-up associated with the water flood may not result in complete dissipation of the gas phase. Under such circumstances it is necessary to ascertain whether or not the presence of free gas has an effect on waterflood behavior and, if so, to account for any such effect in the evaluation of field operations. The difficulties encountered in attempting to arrive at a comprehensive picture of the displacement mechanism of oil by water in the presence of free gas stem from the fact that most of the published data on this subject were obtained under conditions that were either not clearly representative of those existing in a reservoir or not sufficiently controlled to permit evaluation of the effects specifically caused by the gas phase. Some of the most precise data found in the literature were obtained in tests using a "static" gas phase created prior to each water flood by circulating oil through partly gas-saturated cores until a "trapped," residual gas saturation was established throughout the system.' Other investigations were conducted under more representative conditions where the gas phase was free to move during the water flood: but in most cases the results of these tests were obscured by auxiliary phenomena which arise from the compressibility and solubility of the gas and preclude quantitative conclusions.2,3,4 Prior to water flooding, a reservoir usually contains oil and gas, distributed in a manner in which both are free to move. Thus, the principal objective of the present studies was to determine the type of displacement mechanism occurring when water invades a porous medium containing oil and a "mobile" gas phase. Further-

Jan 1, 1957

By A. Rosen, P. Wynblatt, J. E. Dorn

The temperature, strain rate, and structure dependence of the flow stress in a poly crystalline Fe-2 pct Mn alloy was investigated between 77" and 370°K. It was possible to identify the low-temperature data from 77° to 160°K with Dorn and Rajnak's theory of the Peierls mechanism of plastic deformation. Above 160°K one or more thermally activated mechanisms must he operative; however, these were not identified in this investigation. The mechanistic basis for the rapid decrease in the flow stress of bcc metals with an increase in temperature over the low-temperature range is yet being debated. Various dislocation mechanisms have been suggested in the past but the agreement between the various proposed theories and the experimental results have not been definitive. In the present paper, the authors will demonstrate that the plastic behavior of polycrystalline iron containing 2 wt pct Mn plus interstitials agrees excellently with predictions based on the Peierls mechanism from 77" to 160°K whereas from 160" to about 370°K other as yet unidentified thermally activated mechanisms take over. Undoubtedly, the overlap of these mechanisms with the Peierls mechanism contributed to the difficulties of rationalizing the low-temperature behavior of iron and its alloys. I) EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES AND RESULTS Although extensive data are now available on the effect of temperature and strain rate on the flow stress of various bcc metals and alloys, it was, nevertheless, deemed necessary for the objectives of the present study to obtain highly accurate data of the type most pertinent for checking the theories on a series of well-documented work-hardened states. Iron containing 2 wt pct Mn was used in this investigation in order to obtain a lower ductile to brittle transition temperature than that for iron.' The additional elements present were 0.004 pct C, 0.05 pct 0, 0.004 pct S, 0.003 pct P, 0.006 pct N, and 0.001 pct Si. The as-received 3/8 by 3/4 in. bars were cold-rolled to 0.100-in. thickness, recrystallized under argon for 30 min at 1073"~, further cold-rolled to 0.063-in. thickness, and finally recrystallized under argon for 30 min at 1000°K. This treatment gave a stable reproducible equiaxed grain structure having an average grain diameter of about 90 p. Prior to the final recrystallization treatment, the sheet was machined into tensile specimens 1/4 in. wide having a 1.625-in.-long gage section. All specimens were tested in controlled-temperature baths on an Instron Testing Machine. For convenience in the theoretical analyses the data will be given in terms of the shear stress for flow, 7, the shear strain rate, f, and the shear strain, y. A series of three standard strain-hardened states were obtained by prestraining specimens at 300°K and at a shear strain rate of 7.68 x lo-' per sec to three stress levels of 6.89 X l08, 10.3 X lo8, and 14.5 x 10' dynes per sq cm, respectively. Immediately following this prestrain the temperature bath was changed and each specimen was pulled in tension at either f = 7.68 X lo-' or f = 3.06 X 10"3 per sec. In terms of the accuracy that was achieved, the values obtained did not deviate more than *0.1 X 10' dynes per sq cm and * 1°K from the reported values of stress and temperature and not more than *5 pct in the reported values of the strain rate. The tensile stresses were converted to shear stresses using a factor of 1/2. The shear stress for the initiation of flow at the test temperature was determined by taking a y = 6.16 x 10'3 offset. from the modulus line at which point good accuracy could be achieved in determining y and the associated flow stress 7, with only a negligible increase in the pre-

Jan 1, 1965

By R. G. Davies, R. H. Richman

Several techniques, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, conventional, metallography, and mechanical property measurements are combined to investigate decomposition in the suPersaturated solid solution Fe-27 at. pct Be. The following sequence of structures for aging temperatures below 400°C is established: massive short-range order, pseudo-FeBe (L2o) order, Fe3Be (DU3) order, sinusoidal modulation of composition, general or continuous precipitation, and discontinuous or cellular precipitation. In addition to this sequence itself, several features of the individual stages are noteworthy; for example, when coherent modulations occur, their development is parallel to (100) everywhere in the specimen apparently without incubation, and both the wavelength and the composition amplitude of the modulations increase with aging time. Two types of discontinuous reaction are observed, depending upon the aging temperature. At low temperatures (<550°C) the boundary-nucleated variety of discontinuous precipitate predominates; but at higher temperatures (>600°C) the crystallographic variety occurs instead. Hardness and flow-stress measurements clearly reflect the quoted structure sequence. Some qualitative aspects of the structure changes and of the relationship between mechanical properties and structure are discussed. BERYLLIUM in solid solution markedly strengthens iron.&apos;" A recent study demonstrated that not only were supersaturated single crystals of Fe-27 at. pct Be very strong, but they deformed primarily by mechanical twinning.3 Such behavior, coupled with the decrease in solid solubility of beryllium in a Fe from about 33 at. pct at 1165°C to about 10 at. pct at 500°C4 as shown in Fig. 1, leads naturally to questions about property changes with aging in this system. In 1929 roll,1 and later Seljesater and Rogers,5 reported that useful increases in strength could be obtained by aging quenched Fe-Be alloys, but it was not until quite recently that any of the details of precipitation in these alloys were studied. Richman6 observed that both an Fe3Be superlattice (with a DO3 crystal structure the same as Fe3A1, illustrated in Fig. 2) and a modulated structure preceded the appearance of a discrete second phase in the 20 at. pct Be composition. Here, a modulated structure refers to a periodic composition fluctuation within one crystal, while its lattice remains coherent. Subsequent work on a Fe-Be alloys by Heubner7 and von Heimendahl and Heubner8 confirmed the existence of the modulated structure, although only an FeBe (L20) ordered structure was detected (also shown in Fig. 2). Both Rich-man and Heubner corroborated the large increases in hardness during aging reported earlier, but other mechanical properties were not examined. Since modulated systems are encountered relatively infrequently, the influence of coherent modulation upon mechanical properties is not well-known. With the accumulation of information about age-hardening systems, it has become clear that many precipitation reactions cannot always be described by the concept of heterogeneous nucleation at some lattice discontinuity followed by diffusional growth. Rather, complex sequences involving prior "preparation" of the matrix are quite common; that is, a transition structure occurs in the parent phase, instead of in some "nucleus" form. Delineation of such subtle sequences appears to be a worthwhile step toward the understanding of solid-state precipitation. Since not many structural progressions of comparable nature have been reported, the objectives of the present survey are to identify and elucidate the various

Jan 1, 1967

By N. H. van Lingen

A laboratory stud], has been made to determine what factors affect the penetration rate of roller bits, diamond bits and drag bits in rock drilling with clay /water muds. The rather simple relations that exist when pressures in and around the borehole are equal become more conzplicated when under down-hole conditions the penetration rate is hampered by the existence of a pressure differential between the mud at the hole bottom and the pore liquid at cutting depth. Expressions that have been derived for both the penetration rate and the magnitude of the pressure differential in permeable rock together fully account for operating, rock, mud and bit variables. In impermeable rock a similar pressure differential is caused by the bit action itself. In all cases, the pressure difierential and the reduction in penetration rate increase with the effectiveness of the plastering at the bottom of the hole by mud particles. Where bits are employed whose action is largely that of crushing, however, the plastering may become even more effective owing to the addition of rock particles rubbed into the pores of the rock. With roller bits, a plastically hehaving layer may be formed, which causes a further reduction in penetration. In the case of bits whose action is chiefly scraping, moreover, penetration may be arrested by the bit&apos;s becoming balled-up. The various adverse effects are reduced by thorough scavenging of the hole bottom. This paper shows how with jet bits the efficiency of such scavenging may he improved by suitable choice of the position of the nozzles. INTRODUCTION The reduction in a bit&apos;s penetration rate with increasing depth of hole has been the subject of many investigations. Various investigators &apos;,&apos; have independently reached the conclusion that this reduction occurs not so much because the rock-breaking process becomes more difficult as it does because the lifting of the rock fragments is impaired by a fluid pressure differential holding the fragments down. When such a pressure differential can be avoided, as in air drilling and to a smaller extent in water drilling, penetration rates remain high. Although the range of applicability of these techniques is being extended, most oil wells still have to be drilled with mud. In this paper we present the results of laboratory experiments carried out to determine what factors govern the hold down effect encountered in mud drilling. In the course of this investigation, the well known importance of bottom scavenging came more and more into prominence. Not only may it reduce the magnitude of the hold-down forces, but also it appeared to be a means of preventing the accumulation of a plastic mass of cuttings and mud on the hole bottom and bit which may cause penetration to cease almost completely. So that the effects of fluid pressures may be more readily understood, the factors that govern penetration rate in the absence of these pressures will first be discussed. The effect of down-hole pressures will then be assessed for the case of permeable rock where fluid pressures are well defined, and it will be demonstrated how rock strengthening due to confining can be accounted for. Subsequently, fluid pressures in less-permeable rock will be examined; we will show that in impermeable rock it is the bit action that governs fluid-pressure distribution and hold-down. In the case of poor scavenging and/or high bit load. cutting cake manifests itself. The effect, like various others. appears to depend on the type of bit used. From the very beginning, therefore, we shall base our discussion on the three main types of bits used in rotary oil-well drilling— roller bits, diamond bits and drag bits. Since space is limited, it will be impossible to make more than a passing reference to many aspects of the problem. Moreover. certain relations that are not of primary irnportance to our argument will unavoidably have to be stated in a somewhat dogmatic fashion, and the experimental data on which these are based necessarily must be omitted. EQUIPMENT The drilling experiments were performed on three machines, of which one has been designed for the realistic simulation of down-hole pressure conditions. HIGH-PRESSURES MACHINE In this machine (diagramed in Fig. 1) the mud, pore and confining pressures can all be adjusted independently. The foil-covered rock sample contained in the inner pressure vessel is confined by oil that is pressurized by means of a hand pump. The pore space of the watersaturated sample is connected to an arrangement which keeps the pressure in the pore space constant regardless of the rate of filtrate flow through the sample.

By S. Fukushima, E. Kimura

In the Mitsubishi beneficiation process of ilmenite, chlorine is regenerated in the dechlorination furnace where the gases produced from a selective chlorination of ilmenite are directly introduced. The present paper describes a reaction mechanism and mixing characteristics of the reactant gases for dechlorination of ferric chloride with oxygen. A furnace of a small diameter where the reactant gases passed through in the state of nearly plug flow was used for determination of the effects of temperature and of partial pressures of ferric chloride and oxygen on the rate of the reaction. The experimental data of the reaction rate were applied to various models for calculations of the rate equations and the most suitable reaction model was determined. The results of the experiments also showed that effects of gas mixing onto the reaction rate could not be ignored, so that experiments of gas mixing was carried out. Gas flow patterns and scale effects were observed with use of transparent model furnaces of different sizes.

Jan 1, 1976

BECAUSE of the impetus given to placer mining since the price of gold was advanced to $35, several types of small dredges have made their appearance, especially in the Lincoln and Oroville areas of California. Some of these are known as "doodle bugs," and have been given considerable publicity, though many believe their performance has been overrated and that complete costs of construction and operation, if known would not put them in so favorable a light. Fig. 1 is a doodle bug owned by E. M. Clark and operated near Lincoln, Calif. It is understood that it was abandoned because of inability to handle deep ground. A similar machine that has been operated-profitably by Comstock Placers is shown in Fig. 2.

Jan 1, 1938

By C. A. Doh, R. Q. Fields, M. Lebourg

A formation tester run on logging cable is now available to the oil industry. It offers a method of safely and rapidly testing possible producing formations in uncased holes. These tests can be made up the hole after running the electric log. Reservoir pressure data is continuously recorded at the surface as the fluid sample is extracted. The tester may be assembled with a reservoir of 1-, 2.75-, or 5.5-gal capacity. A retaining pad on the body of the tool is expanded against the wall of the hole at the exact depth desired; this depth is determined by electrical log control. Two bullets are then fired through the center of the retaining pad which create a connection between the formation and a flow line to the sample chamber. When the chamber is filled, a valve is closed and the fluid sample sealed at maximum pressure. The tool is retracted to minimum diameter and brought out of the hole. Electrical circuits permit a complete recording at the surface of the mechanical operations of the tool as well as the formation pressure build-up and the hydrostatic mud pressure. The tool was introduced commercially during the latter part of 1955 in the Gulf Coasts of Louisiana and Texas. Over 1,000 operations have been made to date (Sept. 1, 1956); 50 per cent of which resulted in successful tests. Failures have been due mostly to ineffective sealing in unconsolidated sands. One major company had 41 successful tests out of 80 attempts with 23 ineffective pad seals. Results for this company were very gratifying as to pinpointing gas-oil ratios, indicating productive permeabilities and aiding in determination of fluid content where electrical log and side-wall coring information were inconclusive. Eight typical pressure curves are discussed (including misruns). Six types of fluid recoveries are interpreted. Eight actual field examples of electric logs, showing the problems solved by the formation tester, are illustrated. The present applications of the tool are discussed: 1. Determination of productive fluid—varticularlv differentiating between gas and oil. 2. Determination of reservoir pressure as an aid to: (a) safety in completion technique, (b) reduction in drilling costs, and (c) reservoir analysis. 3. Determination of minimum gas-oil ratios. 4. Location of gas-oil or oil-water contacts. 5. Recovery of samples for examination and analysis: oil (gravity); gas (hydrocarbon content); water (salinity). Additional applications envisioned for the future are also given: (I) subsurface exploration based on accurate pressure, (2) recovery of fluid samples from the undisturbed reservoir for PVT work, and (3) possible quantitative study of permeabilities or productivity index. Running the formation tester requires no special pre-cautionary measures. Because full hydrostatic mud pressure is maintained at all times, well depth is no problem. Thus, the method allows safe, economical testing in wells which heretofore could only be tested by setting casing. INTRODUCTION A new method of safely and rapidly testing possible producing formations in uncased holes is achieving considerable success. The method offers promise of further advances in reservoir study. Called the formation tester, the new instrument is unique in that it operates on logging cable. It thus offers all the advantages of wire-line operations and becomes an important adjunct to present logging and side-wall coring services. The tester is operated against the wall of the hole at any depth desired. Zones to be tested are usually determined by a study of the electrical and the micro-caliper surveys. Reservoir data, as well as the operating cycle of the tool in the hole, are continuously recorded at the surface during the operation. The tester, as it was originally designed, was capable of recovering a 1-gal sample of reservoir fluid per trip in the hole. Tools with reservoirs of 2.75- and 5.5-gal capacity are now available. The 5.5-gal reservoir is equipped with a segregating system, set before going in the hole, so that the last portion of the recovery (usually 1 gal) is automatically separated from the first portion. This makes it possible

Jan 1, 1958