Search Documents

THE CHALRYAN.--I think that we have set the stage for the balance of the sym- posium. Most of the emphasis has been placed on the immediate value of every- thing we can do and everything we can learn for the furtherance of the war effort. I believe that ought to be first, but I also believe that this is the time for us to con- sider very seriously not only what these improved methods and techniques do to form a closer approach to ideal segregation but what effect these great quantities of scrap metals and alloys that are going to be produced this year and next, are going to have-what their impact will be-on post- war industry in general and in particular ,, on the primary metals fields. In some cases we have been hearing in the last month or two of the law of diminishing returns coming to the fore. We find alloy simplification growing and certain alloys being produced in great quantities, which will perhaps drop out of the picture some- what as the war ends but never to the lower ( stage they had before. We have I think a pretty good cross- section of the producers, the refiners, the reclaimers and ingot makers, the ultimate users here, and there ought to be some good and helpful discussion. The papers are open for discussion. Mr. Beattie, do you want to make any 1 comment? H. J. BEATTIE.*-To start the discussion I might ask Mr. Deitz what they do with manganese bronze turnings? We segregate the manganese bronze turnings from the other bronze turnings. The value of it seems to be much out of line with the price of ingot, that is, as compared to some of the other alloys like 88-10-2 or 85-5-5-5. I assume it is because they can only use a

Jan 1, 1943

By O. G. Kiel, G. W. Swift

The concept of "a continuous succession of steady-states", which has been applied successfully by Aromfsky and Jenkins to obtain a solution for the nonlinear partial differential equation describing the transient Darcy flow of gas through porous media, is demonstrated to be equally valid for transient non-Darcy flow. A mathematical model, which numerically solves the partial differential equation, is used to check the validity of the succession of steady-states solution. Comparison of sand-face pressure histories compelted by the two methods shows excellent agreement. The utility of the succession of steady-states solution in predicting performance of gas wells rests in the fact that no special computation equipment is required. The development of the succession of steady-states solution leads also to a practical method for determining and analyzing field test data. A method for taking gas-well test data under constant-rate conditions is presented. Experimental data obtained in the field by employing the constant-rate method are presented and analyzed in accordance with the succession of steady-states solution. Analysis of data in this fashion is demonstrated to give direct "in situ" information for reservoir permeability, porosity and turbulence or non-Darcy coefficient. INTRODUCTION The economics of gas production are dependent upon the transient behavior of flow within the reservoir. For production from a finite reservoir, the transient flow behavior can be subdivided into two parts. At first, the transient caused by the movement of the pressure "wave" into the reservoir is of importance. Later in the production history, the pressure-wave movement ceases and the second transient stage of material depletion becomes controlling. For reservoirs of relatively high permeability, it can be shown that the pressure wave moves into the reservoir and stabilizes quite rapidly. In the case of relatively impermeable reservoirs, quite the opposite is true. Although it is theoretically possible to compute the production capability of a well from the properties of the reservoir as determined by static tests and core analyses, more reliable information is obtained by conducting flow tests on the well and thereby obtaining some measure of "in situ" formation properties. For gas wells, there are two basic types of tests in existence: the flow-after-flow method,' and the isochronal method.' Both of these techniques are tailored to obtain data that can be analyzed in accordance with the empirical performance equation: In addition, the isochronal method makes provision for the sluggish nature of pressure-wave movement in "tight" formations by requiring pressure build-up between flows and by stipulating that data obtained on successive flows be analyzed at equal elapsed flow times. It can be demonstrated that either test is valid for reservoirs of high permeability. Further, since it has been pointed out that the pressure wave stabilizes rapidly for reservoirs of this type, tests of relatively short duration will give stabilized information on the performance of a well. Further decline of sand-face pressure and/or production rate may be determined by employing material-balance techniques. Cullender' points out that for relatively impermeable reservoirs the flow-after-flow method gives invalid results. (See Appendix C.) If the isochronal method of testing is used, there are two alternatives: (1) the tests must be conducted for a sufficient length of time to obtain stabilized information (which may require months to accomplish); or (2) some method for extrapolating the results of short-term isochronal tests must be employed. The first alternative is impracticable because of manpower, conservation and economic considerations. Recourse to the second alternative requires some assurance regarding the reliability of the extrapolation technique. Poettmann and SchilsonJ present an empirical method for predicting stabilized performance. The present investigation was originally initiated to determine the reliability of this technique. To do this, a mathematical model was developed to simulate the Darcy and non-Darcy flow of gas through porous media. The model consisted of a finite-difference approximation of the nonlinear partial differential equation which was solved on an IBM 7090 computer. Long-term production histories were simulated by the model and compared against predictions obtained from the Poettmann-Schilson method. As the work progressed, it became apparent that a straightforward predictive equation could be developed by utilizing the concept of a succession of steady-states. As a result, the emphasis of the work was redirected to exploit the advantages of the new method.

By Norikazu Hashimoto

SILICIDE coatings on refractory metals are often applied by transporting a silicon halide vapor to a hot metal surface . The coatings are usually grown by solid-state diffusion reaction. The diffusion is often slower than the vapor transport and hence may become rate-controlling.

Jan 1, 1968

By S. C. Libby

Physical degradation of calcined bauxite is related to the presence of goethite in the raw bauxite and to the development of secondary gibbsite. Goethite in the bauxite matrix will shrink and decrepitate during calcining, leaving a friable matrix and allowing disaggregation of the calcined bauxite during transport and handling. A matrix consisting of cryptocrystalline gibbsite alone or mixed with hematite will not shrink during calcination, yielding a calcine with high abrasion resistance. The development of secondary gibbsite between coarse gibbsite crystals also reduces degradation of the calcine by reducing the amount of disruption between grains resulting from differential thermal expansion.

Jan 1, 1981

A professional and special section of the United States Employment Service, Department of Labor, has been created for the purpose of aiding officers and men who have been discharged from military service, but who, for various reasons, cannot resume their former positions, to place themselves in industry without loss of time. Its work is carried out in conjunction with the Engineering Societies Employment Bureau. The machinery of this new professional section is being set up as rapidly as possible, and an office is already in operation at 16 East 42c1 St., New York. The work in the New York State district is under the direction of Mr. Henry Bruere, formerly City Chamberlain of New York City. Dr. Thomas T. Read, Chairman of the A. I. M. E. Committee on Industrial Organization, has charge of the clearance between the State offices of the Eastern States. This service is designed for the purpose of placing not only men in the engineering professions, but for all other kinds of professional and highly trained, skilled men. Full details regarding the qualifications desired in a man should be given, so that employers may be put in touch only with such available men as will fully qualify for the positions.

Jan 2, 1919

By Arnold H. Kackman

At the Kaiser Cement and Gypsum plant near San Jose, Calif., one rod-ball mill has taken over the entire raw grinding function for the largest single cement operation in the West. Installed as part of a major overhaul performed on the plant by Kaiser Engineers, the new mill does the work of seven previous mills in feeding the plant's six kilns and keeping pace with its annual capacity of 8.5 million bbl of cement. Installation of the mill, which is the largest in the world, was started in December of 1966 and completed in April of 1967. The over-all modernization program surrounding the new mill has included the modification of existing crushing facilities; the building of new raw materials handling and blending facilities, new raw milling facilities, and new slurry handling facilities; and the installation of a digital-analog control system.

Jan 7, 1967

* Kennecott Copper Corp. gets Charles R. Cox as president on Jan. 1. Mr. Cox is resigning his position as president of Carnegie-Illinois to take the new post with Kennecott, left vacant by the death of Mr. Stannard in September. •The ECA signed a contract in December to advance X3,600,000 to Newmont Mining Corp. to aid development of lead and zinc mines in French Morocco. The funds are to be repaid in lead and zinc for the United States' stockpile over a period of seven years. The mines are owned by the Societe des Mines de Zellidja, with which organization Newmont is associated. • Under the direction of John M. Brooks, Jr., general manager, the Matahambra mine in Cuba, will probably produce sufficient tonnage to make 4 million lb of copper per month during 1950. The grade is presently running between 7 and 10 pet. •S. H. Ash reports that the fatality rate per million-man-hr for the anthracite industry for 1949, through November, is 0.78. This is 15 pct better than that achieved during 1948, which was the lowest fatal injury rate in coal mining history. The first full year on record without a major disaster was recorded in 1949 (p. 34). •The Atomic Energy Commission has authorized the production of 200 lb of uranium metal for use under AEC license in non-Commission research projects. •A national survey of projected 1950 purchases of new machine tools, machine tool accessories, materials handling equipment, etc., just completed by the American Society of Tool Engineers reveals that, of the companies reporting, 80 pct state that they plan to buy either more equipment or the same amount as in 1948. • Armour Research Foundation is conducting investigations for the use of clay and shale deposits to make lightweight aggregates. The material is heated until it expands and forms material suitable for mixing with cement which it is hoped will be lighter, stronger, have better insulating qualities and will lower the cost of concrete. •In the first six months of 1949 the bituminous coal miners' average hourly earnings were $1.94 -as compared with X1.392_ national average for all manufacturing. Average annual earnings of full-time employees in the bituminous coal mines in 1948 were $3387 as compared with $2809 for all industry. •LaSalle Business Bulletin reports: "year ends on a rising trend in industry and trade ... nearly record-breaking demand from almost all sources keeps business high... most indicators but little below postwar peak... forces keeping activity high arestill powerful--changes in general business conditions likely to be slow and moderate." •Office of Internal Trade of the Commerce Department requests that technical data significant to the national security which is to be sent outside of the United States be submitted to it for an official opinion on the desirability of transmitting such information. This voluntary compliance program is part of our national security control. • Blast furnace slag reduced to 12 to 16 mesh is being used for sanding track at the Mont Coal mines of Armco. The slag replaces silica sand which caused silicosis. It has proved so effective and cheap that tests are being made to use the slag for rock dusting.

Jan 1, 1950

By C. R. St. John, R. W. Lindsay, Charles R. Austin

MANY of the factors influencing the creep behavior of ferrous alloys have been investigated and reported upon in the literature, including such variables as grain size, steelmaking practice, nature and stability of the microstructure, and the effect of alloying elements in steels. However, with respect to the latter, the microstructures involved are usually heterogeneous and as a result the effect of the addition is related to its effects on the various phases present in the microstructure. In the instances where this structure consists of ferrite and carbide, the behavior of the alloy addition will be related to its action in strengthening ferrite and in opposing temperature softening of ferrite as well as coalescence of carbide. The present paper is the third in a series comprising a comprehensive review of investigations on the properties of iron binary alloys. 1.2 Its purpose is to describe the results of isolating one microstructural phase, namely ferrite, and studying its creep characteristics in both the unalloyed and alloyed conditions. This should aid in establishing to a large degree the importance of ferrite in the creep behavior of steels consisting of the previously mentioned ferrite-carbide aggregate. REVIEW OF PREVIOUS WORK In view of the fact that the present investigation deals only with the effects of silicon, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, nickel, and cobalt, and to a certain extent with the effects of carbon, the review of previous literature will be confined to these elements. Practically no references were encountered dealing with the influence of these elements on the creep characteristics of the isolated phase. However, various contributions have dealt with the creep behavior of low-carbon steels alloyed with the elements under consideration. A particularly concise review in this respect is given by Bullens (Battelle)3 and much of this material has been drawn upon. The definite improvement in creep resistance and high-temperature strength conferred by molybdenum is well known. Published suggestions by the A.S.M.E.4 permit of an increase of some 2000 to 5000 lb. per sq. in. in permissible design loads over a temperature range from 650° to 1000°F. as a consequence of additions of 0.40 to o.60 per cent of this element in carbon steels of the order of o.25 to o.35 per cent carbon content. Babcock and Wilcox Tube Co.5 has published data showing the pronounced increase in stress necessary to cause one per cent creep per 10,000 hr. when additions of 0.5 or 1 per cent molybdenum are made to a plain carbon steel. These data apply to temperatures over a range from 800° to 1000°F.

Jan 1, 1945

THE award from the fund established by Mrs. John-son, in memory of her husband, J. E. Johnson, Jr., to be given to some promising engineer, not over 40 years of age, because of meritorious research, inven-tion or contribution to the professional literature of iron and steel along the lines of blast-furnace process, has been given, for, 1928, to P. H: Royster. Mr. Royster was born at Raleigh, N. C., in 1888. and graduated from the University of North Carolina, in 1907, taking his A.M. degree at, the same school in 1908. He then went to Harvard where he continued research work in physics. After engaging for a while in commercial research in the turbine department of the General Elec-tric Co. and with Cutting and Washington he joined the staff of the Bureau of. Mines in 1916 and was assigned to work on the physical chemistry of the blast-furnace process. He worked with A. L. Feild on slag viscosity and they jointly presented-to the Institute the. papers on "Temperature and Viscosity Relations in the Ter-nary System CaO-A12O3-SiO2" (TRANS. LVIII, 658) and "Slag Viscosity Tables for Blast-furnace Work" (TRANS. LVIII, 650). He also presented a paper on "Production of Ferromanganese in the Blast 'Furnace" .(TRANS. LXII, 18), and jointly with T. L. Joseph contributed a paper on "Effect of Coke Combustibility on Stock Descent in Blast Furnaces" (TRANS. LXX, 236), and another on "Pyrometry in Blast-furnace Work" which was included in the special pyrometry volume published in 1920. The titles of these works perhaps sufficiently indicate the part Mr. Royster has played in the notable research work on the blast-furnace process carried on by the Bureau of Mines, and for which the committee recommended him to the Board of Directors to receive the Johnson award.

Jan 2, 1928

By Leon Y. Sadler

Three new transfer functions relating the time response of the amount of floatable mineral in the under flow to time-dependent changes in the amount of floatable mineral in the feed to the cell are presented. Using experimental stimulus-response data obtained from the flotation of -200+325-mesh glass spheres in a rotor-stator-type cell, the new transfer functions are compared to the only transfer function to be presently found in the literature by nonlinear least-squares fitting in the frequency domain. The new mathematical model based on the amount of available bubble surface area and its rate of introduction is quite promising. The transfer function which allows for a distributed first-order flotation rate constant also gives good results. Simultaneous sodium chloride tracer and glass bead stimulus-response tests show that the mixing conditions in the cell were nearly ideal. It is felt that the new transfer functions presented offer excellent alternatives for use in the design of automatic process control equipment for the continuous mechanical froth flotation cell.

Jan 1, 1974

By Chester Wells Purington

Situation.—The Camp Bird mine is in Imogene basin† (Fig. 1) at the head-waters of Canon creek, a branch of the Gunnison, in the southern part of Ouray county, Colorado, towards the northern edge of the region known as the San Juan mountains, and about 10 miles W. of the continental divide. It is 8 miles by wagon-road from Ouray, the terminus of a branch of the Rio Grande' Southern railway. The distance from Denver to Ouray is 387 miles by rail. In an air-line, the mine is 190 miles SW. of Denver. The altitude of the town, tunnel and buildings is 11,200 ft., and level No. 2 is 11,500 ft., and No. 1 is 11,670 ft., above sea-level. The lowest point of the lode-ontcrop, which crosses the basin E. and W., has an elevation of 11,850 ft., and that of the highest point, on the divide between Imogene and Tomboy basins, is 13,250 ft. On the eastern slope of the Imogene basin (towards Ironton) the vein is less clearly defined on the surface. Ownership and Extent.—At the time of the writing of this paper, the property is owned by Mr. Thomas I?. Walsh, and operated under the management of Mr. J. W. Benson. It

Jan 1, 1903

By W. P. Blake

Forty-five years have passed since I discovered the extensive and remarkable diatom-earth beds at Monterey, California., and now I have the satisfaction of bringing to notice still another wonderful deposit in the heart of Arizona. The Monterey beds mere described at the Philadelphia Academy,* and specimens were sent to Prof. J. W. Bailey, West Point, N. Y., at that time the leading American authority upon such microscopic relics of organic life. The earth from both localities is snow-white and pulverulent. It rubs off' like soft chalk upon the fingers when handled, and has the general appearance of chalk. But, unlike the Monterey beds, these newly-discovered deposits consist largely of volcanic ash, through which the siliceous shells of the diatoms are distributed. These deposits are in the central portion of the San Pedro valley,† in the southeastern corner of Pinal county. The region of their greatest development is a few miles south of the mining town of Mammoth, on the east bank of the stream, and near Redington, some 40 m. N. of Benson, on the Southern Pacific railway. The altitude is about 2600 ft. above tide. This portion of the San Pedro valley lies between the high Catalina and Rincon ranges on the west and the Galiuro mts. on the east. The Catalinas are composed chiefly of crystalline DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA SCHOOL OF WINES,

Jan 1, 1903

By W. F. Mattes

The manufacture of steel rails in the United States upon a large scale may be roughly dated from the years 1875-76, and the same years witnessed an active movement among the railroads toward the adoption of heavier and improved patterns. In this movement each road was a law unto itself, and the "personal equations " of some scores of engineers were so freely injected into the calculations that patterns were multiplied in the most absurd and mischievous manner, until at length the burden upon the mills became wellnigh unendurable, and called forth a vigorous protest in Mr. Holley's paper,* read before the Institute in February, 1881. There were then regularly manufactured in the various mills of the United States, no less than 119 different patterns of steel rails, subject to current order, of which 64 per cent. were embraced under five weights per yard. Commenting upon these and other figures there given, Mr. Holley stated as the primary object of his paper, " to show that,, while this multiplication of rail-patterns is an annoyance and an expense to rail-makers, it is a source of immense loss to railway companies." Since 1876 the increase in gross annual tonnage upon our leading lines has been very great, and has been accompanied by an increase of wheel-loads and running-speeds. As the average weight of the rails of 1876 was by no means excessive, the growing deman Is of traffic have slowly driven the roads toward stiffer sections, inaugurating a movement that now promises to become epidemic. In 1876 a 67-pound rail was a first-class equipment; to-day everything under 75 pounds is light, and many 80's are coming into use. European practice has long been heavier than ours; in part because the higher cost of sleepers has led to an average of 3-feet spacing, instead of two-feet as with us. The old 84-pound double-header, and Sandberg's 80- and 89-pound rails, respectively 51/4 inches and 591/2 inches high, are reported common on English roads; and he is strongly advocating the general adoption of the 100-pounder shown in Fig. 7, with what success I have not learned, except that the Belgian government has ordered a lot. Mr. Sandberg points out the undesirability of frequent changes of pattern, and the recent rapid growth in traffic-requirements; prognosticates a continuance of this

Jan 1, 1887

By Bradley Stoughton

My attention was called by Prof. Henry M. Howe to the article by N. M. Wittorff, entitled Preliminary Investigation of Primary Crystallization and Subsequent Physico-Chemical Permutations in Iron-Carbon Alloys Containing More Than 4 Per Cent. of Carbon. I thereupon wrote to Mr. Wittorff and received a copy of the paper in the Russian language, with permission from him to publish a translated abstract in our Transactions, the original having appeared in the .Journal of the Russian Chemical Society, vol. xliii. (1911), in which it occupies some 78 pages, with 10 illustrations and 47 micrographs. The novelty of the data presented, and especially the scientific importance of Mr. Wittorff's deductions, as well as their value in helping to clarify our meager understanding of that useful but puzzling commodity, cast-iron, seemed to more than justify a publication of the essential facts in concise form in the English language, which has not been done previously so far as I know, although a very brief abstract has been published in German, and a somewhat more extended one in French.' When the work of translation was begun, I did not know that it bore in part upon the investigations of Ruff, which Howe is reviewing at some length at this meeting. This coincidence renders the following condensed translation of Wittorff's work, which I have prepared with the aid of Sidney Marcus as interpreter, the more appropriate here. The result of Wittorff's study is greatly to extend our knowledge of the hyper-eutectic alloys of iron and carbon, and to add several significant lines at the right-hand side of the diagram originally drawn by Bakhuis-Roozeboom, and developed by Roberts-Austen, Benedicks, Carpenter and Keeling, Upton, Goerens, and others. Some of the original lines of the dia-

Jan 1, 1913

By H. M. Dess, S. R. Bolin

A modifiedl Czochralski technique has been utilized to grow single crystals of YVO, pure or doped with europium or neodymium, from 1 to 2 in. long and 4 to 1/2 in. in dianz. An oxyhydrog-en gas-fired furftace zuas used in this ulork, and melts were contained in iridium crucibles. Successful application of the Czochralski ~vzethod was found to depend upon atmosphere control to prevent crusting and to limit melt decomposition, the establishment of symmetrical thermal gradients in the melt to obtain stable growth, and the selection of high-quality single-crystal seeds to prevent propagation of misorientations during growth and subsequent catastrophic cracking. The suitability of YVO4 as a host for laser-active trivalent rare earth ions has long been recognized. However, the problems associated with the growth of sufficiently large, good-quality single crystals have, until quite recently, seriously hindered satisfactory evaluation of the laser potentialities of this material. Both flux growth and Czochralski growth techniques were investigated at an early stage of interest in YVO,. The former method proved incapable of yielding crystals large enough for practical use,ly2 and the latter was beset with difficulties which took some considerable time to understand and overcome. Recently, however, the Czochralski growth process for YVO, has been improved along separate but similar lines of development by groups working independently in the Crystal Products Department of Union Carbide's Electronics Division and Bell Telephone Laboratories3 so that now good-quality single crystals of satisfactory size can be produced on a routine basis. Stimulated emission from a neodymium-doped YVO4 crystal grown by the Crystal Products Department of Union Carbide was obtained by O'connor4 of MIT, Lincoln Labs. An oxyhydrogen gas-fired furnace was used in this work, Fig. 1, and melts were contained in iridium crucibles. The starting material was 99.9 to 99.99 pct pure YVO4 powder purchased from the Chemical and Metallurgical Division of the Sylvania Electric Products Co. Typical impurity levels, determined by spectrographic analyses, were as follows: Si, 50 to 500 ppm Al, Fe, Mg, 5 to 50 ppm Ni, Pb, Mo, Mn, Ce, Cs, 1 to 10 ppm Initially, YV04 powders predoped with neodymium or europium were obtained from Sylvania. Later, however, because of a desire to grow a series of crystals containing relatively broad concentration ranges of these dopants, it proved more convenient to start with pure YV04 and mechanically admix Nd2O3 or Eu@~ powders plus equimolar amounts of V2O5. The empty crucibles were preheated to 1900" to 1950oC, a temperature range where melting occurred readily. The powdered YVO4 feedstock was then added incrementally. However, a marked tendency toward

Jan 1, 1968

Jan 1, 1967

By A. Andreas

New Mexico, after several years as the sixth ranking oil-producing state, was surpassed by Illinois and for 1939 ranks seventh in the United States. Oil production for 1939 was 36,746,840 bbl. Production for 1938 was 35,510,176 bbl., a gain of 0.033 per cent. Production for the year would have been greater had there been a pipe-line outlet for the Vacuum field. The complete shutdown during the latter part of August covering a period of 15 days meant a production loss of over 1,500,000 bbl. of oil. Daily production allowable as set by the Oil Conservation Commission has followed very closely the recommendations of the Bureau of Mines. It has been found that the recommended allowables as quoted by the Bureau of Mines do not always reflect the actual demand, as there is a considerable lag hetween the recommended amounts and the current demands. During the year the various operating companies have done considerable remedial work in setting packers to reduce the gas-oil ratios in the various fields. Six new fields were discovered in New Mexico during 1939; three in Lea County, two in Eddy County and one in Chaves County. In the early part of 1939 a committee composed of the various engineers and geologists recommended subdividing the old Artesia area into various producing pools. This division was accepted, therefore the total number of producing fields in New Mexico is considerably greater than the number of fields in 1938, but does not represent new fields discovered during the year. The southeastern area continues to he the largest producer of oil. During the year 2,716,551 bbl. were produced in Eddy County and 33,690,996 bbl. in Lea County. Total production ill the northwestern part of the state, which includes San ,Juan and McKinley Counties, was 338,293 bbl. At the beginning of the year the daily average nonmarginal well allowable for Lea County was 48 bbl. At the close of the year it was 49 bbl. The daily average production for the year was 97,313 bbl. During the year, 659 wells were drilled in the state, of which 565 were producing oil wells, 15 gas wells, 6 carbon dioxide gas wells and 73 dry holes. Summarized at meeting; manuscript received at the office of the Institute March 18, 1940. * State Geologist, member of New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Jan 1, 1940

By A. Andreas

New Mexico, after several years as the sixth ranking oil-producing state, was surpassed by Illinois and for 1939 ranks seventh in the United States. Oil production for 1939 was 36,746,840 bbl. Production for 1938 was 35,510,176 bbl., a gain of 0.033 per cent. Production for the year would have been greater had there been a pipe-line outlet for the Vacuum field. The complete shutdown during the latter part of August covering a period of 15 days meant a production loss of over 1,500,000 bbl. of oil. Daily production allowable as set by the Oil Conservation Commission has followed very closely the recommendations of the Bureau of Mines. It has been found that the recommended allowables as quoted by the Bureau of Mines do not always reflect the actual demand, as there is a considerable lag hetween the recommended amounts and the current demands. During the year the various operating companies have done considerable remedial work in setting packers to reduce the gas-oil ratios in the various fields. Six new fields were discovered in New Mexico during 1939; three in Lea County, two in Eddy County and one in Chaves County. In the early part of 1939 a committee composed of the various engineers and geologists recommended subdividing the old Artesia area into various producing pools. This division was accepted, therefore the total number of producing fields in New Mexico is considerably greater than the number of fields in 1938, but does not represent new fields discovered during the year. The southeastern area continues to he the largest producer of oil. During the year 2,716,551 bbl. were produced in Eddy County and 33,690,996 bbl. in Lea County. Total production ill the northwestern part of the state, which includes San ,Juan and McKinley Counties, was 338,293 bbl. At the beginning of the year the daily average nonmarginal well allowable for Lea County was 48 bbl. At the close of the year it was 49 bbl. The daily average production for the year was 97,313 bbl. During the year, 659 wells were drilled in the state, of which 565 were producing oil wells, 15 gas wells, 6 carbon dioxide gas wells and 73 dry holes. Summarized at meeting; manuscript received at the office of the Institute March 18, 1940. * State Geologist, member of New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Jan 1, 1940

Jan 1, 1959

By Roscoe E. Bell

BETWEEN 1945 and 1948 the author made studies of the western phosphate industry and its potentialities. These included an appraisal of the opportunities for western development of the industry, studies of production costs, of market potentials, of transportation economics, and of industry location. This paper will be directed toward pointing up the factors which have an important bearing on the establishment of fertilizer plants in the western area. Industry Location Factors: There are, of course, an infinite number of possible organizational setups which might require consideration. However, the phosphate industry is simple enough so that studies of the most probable alternatives can be made conveniently. The salient factors which require special consideration in such a study are: (I) the location of the raw materials, (2) the location, size, and character of the present and potential markets, (3) the location of energy sources and materials required for fertilizer processing, (4) the location and capacity of present manufacturing facilities, (5) the cost of assembling the materials and energy needed in manufacturing, and (6) the cost of distributing the manufactured product. Raw Material Supplies: Rock phosphate is the raw material for the manufacturing of phosphate fertilizer. In the United States the important known deposits of this material are located in three general areas (fig. 1). The western deposits, comprising about 60 pct of the nation's supply, are in the four-state area—Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Montana. The Florida deposits comprise roughly 38 pct of the national supply. The Tennessee deposits, comprising about 2 pct of the national supply, have been the most important source until recent years. The western deposits, which are virtually undeveloped, have not been used to any extent to meet the nation's need for phosphate rock and phosphate fertilizer. Fertilizer Markets: The large national markets for fertilizer are in the midwestern and eastern United States (fig. 2). The principal far-western markets are along the Pacific Coast, especially in California. Until recent years the western markets have been extremely limited, whereas the markets in the eastern United States have long been established and manufacturing facilities have been provided to meet these needs (fig. 3). In recent years the western markets have expanded very rapidly, continuing to grow throughout the war years and postwar period at a similar rate. The question always arises as to whether this is a temporary war-swollen market which will shrink back to its original size as soon as the present agricultural price levels drop. In order to answer this question consideration must be given to the character of the market (fig. 4). I have considered seventeen western and midwestern states in the western market area where transportation costs from the western deposits are equal to or lower than those from Florida. They include all states west of a line drawn through Chicago, Kansas City and the western boundary of New Mexico. In the mewar period this was a small market totaling only 37,000 tons of P,O, annually. The 1946 total for this same area was approximately 200,000 tons. Considerably more fertilizer would have been used in 1946 had adequate supplies been available. Estimates of future markets are difficult to make, but we do have some indices that are useful. The

Jan 1, 1951