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US 4,135,913-Extraction of nickel values from iron-containing nickel sulfide ore, particularly pentlandite or nickeliferous pyrrhotite A mixture of raw ore, roasted ore, or iron powder, and coal as a reductant is heated to a temperature of 800- 1000° C in a nonoxidizing atmosphere to convert the bulk of the iron content to metallic iron while diffusing into the iron the bulk of the nickel, the mixture cooled, and the cool material separated into a magnetic fraction containing most of the nickel and a non-magnetic gangue fraction A Illis arid L S Renzoni, assigned to International Nickel Co, Inc Jan 23, 1979 7 pp (75-21) Filed 10-10-75 (621,343) Priority Canada, 10-27-72 (155,032) Same Canadian 981,910, dated Jan 20, 1976 Same British 1,389,145, dated Apr 3, 1975 US 4,135,917-In the recovery of gallium from a solution obtained by the digestion of bauxite or nepheline in an alkali solution for the production of alumina, the digestion solution is neutralized, the neutralized solution evaporated to an op¬timum caustic alkali concentration and adjusted to a ratio of alkali metal oxide to alumina of above 2, the corrected solu¬tion contacted with a gallium-aluminum alloy, arid high-purity gallium recovered from the solution by electrolysis or cemen¬tation K A Badaliants, et al Jan 23, 1979 6 pp (75-109) Filed 12-19-77 (862,201) Priority USSR, 12-22-76 (2,428,¬006) US 4,135,918-Extraction of copper from copper sulfide ore containing also one or more of the metals iron, nickel, arid cobalt Ore is roasted at a temperature of 750-800° C to expel sulfur, the sulfur-free calcine slurried in water containing a sufficient amount of sulfuric acid to supplement any sulfuric acid formed in situ, the slurry heated at 150-165° C in the presence of a reducing gas to form soluble sulfates of metals other than copper while reducing copper to elemental form, arid the slurry filtered to recover copper solids Any precious metals present in the ore will report with the copper solids V A Ettel, A P Devuyst, R Sridhar, arid C. E O'Neill, as¬signed to International Nickel Co, Inc Jan 23, 1979 5 pp (75-117) Filed 3-2-78 (882,610) Priority Canada, 5-13-77 (278,360)

Jan 1, 1980

By John A. THOMPSON, Pazcl D. Torrey, Frank Breayster

DISCOVERY of natural gas in the Dundee field of New York in February, 1930, and the subsequent discovery in Tioga in September of that year, focused the attention of the natural-gas industry on the enormous possibilities of production and distribution in - the most populous area of the United States-New York and New England. Prior to 1926 the natural-gas industry in New York State had settled into a definite and limited policy, with the distributing companies controlling the output from its discovery to the ultimate consumer. Production amounted to between G and 7 thousand mil- lion cubic feet a year, with another 10,000 million feet imported from Pennsylvania for distribution in New York State. This gas was primarily from the Medina sand stone in. the western part of the state.

Jan 1, 1932

By G. P. Walters, W. C. Fuller

THE production of thin films of beryllium became essential early in the irradiation program at Harwell in order to study the fundamentals of irradiation damage in this metal. In common with other metals, electron-microacope specimens of beryllium can be produced by different techniques. The techniques used to produce thin-film specimens varied according to the starting material. Most of the starting material was -0.060 in. thick. Large-area specimens (1 in. long by 0.5 in. wide) were chemically thinned to -0.005 in. thick in a solution containing 85 pct orthophosphoric acid, 10 pct chromium trioxide, and 5 pct sulfuric acid at 70°C prior to electropolishing. Small-area specimens, Fig. 1, had to be mechanically thinned prior to electropolishing because chemical thinning considerably reduces the area as well as the thickness. Mechanical thinning tends to produce a worked layer about 0.002 in. deep and hence this method cannot be used to thin bulk specimens below about 0.005 in. thick. Mechanical thinning is carried out by mounting the specimen on perspex then carefully polishing on wet grinding papers. Polishing is continued until about half the initial thickness is removed; the reverse side is then polished in a similar manner. After the bulk specimens have been mechanically or chemically thinned to -0.005 in. they are elec-tropolished in the solution shown in able I at 50" to 80°C. This solution should be prepared by adding the chromium trioxide to the orthophosphoric acid and then the glycerol last. The glycerol should be added slowly because a vigorous effervescence can occur. Electropolishing is carried out by holding the specimen in stainless-steel tweezers and gently agitating in the solution. Masking or "window" techniques are not required for beryllium, good microscope specimens being obtained from the edges of elec-tropolished foils. A stainless-steel beaker should be used, acting as the cathode and solution container. A closed circuit voltage of 30 v is used for polishing. Too low a voltage produces a matt surface and pitting occurs when it is too high. The solution temperature is important. If it is too low, the solution is viscous and bad polishing results and, if too high, etching of the specimen occurs. After electropolishing, the foils are thoroughly

Jan 1, 1963

SINCE I have told you of the distillation of waters and the extraction of oils from things-all ingenious and useful processes-I wish to continue to speak of the arts. I am reminded that I first wish to write down for you the discourse that I made to you on another occasion a few days ago concerning the operation of a mint, so that if you have lost it from your memory (and this would not be surprising since you have had no practice in it) you may repossess it if you should need to practice it or even to talk about it, and if you find yourself in this activity it may not be new to you. I told you, as I believe you will remember and so again I repeat, that a very great and constant diligence is required by one who wishes to operate a mint well, or to have it operated, because it has many parts which it is necessary for anyone who enters this work to understand very well; indeed, if he wishes that all the work of his helpers be done well, he will have to do it himself. And if it were possible, he should have a hundred hands and a hundred eyes together, and at the same time should be in different places, because some loss often occurs in what is handled because of the carelessness of the workers or because of their little real trustworthiness. It is understood that such things require great hard labors and many kinds of knowledge. The material handled in this work is most often either gold or silver all ready to be spent, and these things are very attractive to those who handle them. In addition to being made into pieces of money likely to disappear, it is very easy to lose, and whatever part is lacking for any reason whatever [132v] brings detriment and loss to the patron since it is a thing of value. Therefore, in short, anyone who wishes to exercise this art well, without being fraudulent therein, must watch the weights with all care because the essence of this art is naught but the division of a quantity of weight into many exactly defined pieces and the alloying of gold by carats and of silver by leghe, exactly established in accordance with what the prince grants you as remedy.* If through negligence you exceed in perfection

Jan 1, 1942

By V. J. Driscoll

A method is given for checking pore volume reserve estimates and transient water inflzix factors utilizing early well performance. Principal applications are based on the observation that there is a convenient transient time-range in terms of well spacing in which observed pressure drop will give a good indication of fluid-in-place. Primary quantity determined is a porosity-feet value applicable in the vicinity of an observation well. Checks on porosity or net pay thickness and permeability values also are obtained. These are particularly valuable in improving quality of interpretive factors entering into pore-volume reserve determinations for larger fields. In smaller fields, direct determination of total field reserves and approximate location of boundaries may be made in some cases. Well interference and production data plus a build-up curve on the observation well are needed. The build-up curve may be taken at any time. Field applications are given. The method can be applied with the completion of the second well on a new discovery or to older reservoirs by major changes in withdrawal rates from a local area. Appropriate test length permits results to be obtained with equal accuracy on widely spaced wells. Criteria for optimizing test conditions are given. Provision is made for various boundary and well effects including incomplete observation well build-up. INTRODUCTION Due to low quality data, initial pore volume reserve and water influx estimates may often vary by a factor of two or more from results obtained at a later date. Unfortunately, by conventional methods, more reliable answers from performance usually are not available until after most significant economic decisions have been made. Furthermore, in older reservoirs, uncertainties may still exist as to original oil-in-place, recovery factors and residual oil saturations due to incomplete or inaccurate performance data. This paper outlines situations and appropriate arrangements of basic transient theory whereby well interference data can be utilized to improve the quality of estimates under certain conditions. In addition to production data on offset producers, key information required is a measured pressure drop at an observation well, corrected for any incomplete build-up due to previous production, plus a formation capacity value derived from a conventional pressure build-up plot on the observation well. The method, as outlined, is strictly applicable only to a horizontal single-layered system of uniform rock characteristics containing a homogeneous fluid of low and constant compressibility. However, under the set of test conditions devised, requirements can usually be relaxed so that it should be applicable to most low permeability gas, water and undersaturated oil reservoirs. This is an area where more reliable information is certainly needed. BASIC CONSIDERATIONS A, B, C and F as subscripts or in the text refer to producing Well A, observation Well B, a more remote producing Well C and field boundary F. Combinations such as AB refer to distances and dimensionless times in terms of distances between these points, while single letters refer to distances and dimensionless times in terms of the well-bore or field radius. Equations covering definitions of quantities and complex situations are given in the Appendix. Key equations in practical units are given in Table 2. Transient Pressure Behavior Fig. 1 illustrates pressure drop at Point B with time due to initiation of a constant rate of withdrawal from Point A. This is shown as since a quantitative under-

The State Mining Experiment Station, Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, Rolla, Mo Charles H. Fulton, Director of the School of Mines Martin H. Thornberry, Director of the Mining Experiment Station. From the State Mining Experiment Station are issued all the general and technical bulletins of the School of Mines The latest bulletin containing a complete list of publications will be sent upon application to the Director of the Station Residents of the state may obtain bulletins as issued without charge, or may ask to be placed on the mailing list. Nonresidents should write to the Director for further information concerning specific bulletins. From the long list of bulletins the following have been care¬fully selected as being most likely to interest the geologist and the mining engineer. Vol 8, No. 1 (1916), Bibliography of concentrating ores by flotation, by J Cunningham, vol 1, No 3 (1912), Some apparatus and methods for demonstrating rock drilling and the loading of drill holes in tunneling, by L E Young, vol 2, No 1 (1915), Comparative tests of piston drill bits, by C R Forbes and L M Cummings; vol 2, No 3 (1916), Cupellation losses in assaying, by H. T Mann and C. Y Clayton; vol 4, No 1 (1917), The hydrometallurgy and electrolytic precipitation of zinc, by F D. James; vol 4, No 2 (1917), The effect of additional agents in flotation, pt 1, by M. H. Thornberry and H T. Mann, vol 5, No 1 (1919), The carbonization of Missouri cannel coals, by H L. Dunlap, K. K. Kershner and V. X Smiley. Vol 5, No. 4 (1921), Coal mining methods in Missouri, by W W Weigel, vol 6, No 1 (1921), The problem of the St Peter sand¬stone, by C L Dake, 50 cents, vol 6, No. 2 (1922), Bibliography on the electrothermic metallurgy of zinc, by B M. O'Harra, vol 6, No. 4 (1923), Experiments on the distillation of zinc from complex zinc-lead-silver ores, by B M. O'Harra and E S. Wheeler, vol 7, No 3 (1924), Underground loading devices, by C. E. van Barneveld, 81; vol 7, No. 4 (1924), Briquetting of zinc ores, by B. M. O'Harra; vol. 8, No 2 (1925), A treatise of Missouri clays, by M. H. Thornberry.

Jan 1, 1933

The following have been compiled from information furnished through the courtesy of Dr. W. P. Haynes, of London, and Mr. T. V. Grigorescu of Ploesti, Rumania. Gura Ocnitzei was the most active field during the year, furnishing 40 per cent of the production and 50 per cent of the drilling activity. Extensions to the west in this field were made both by Concordia and Romana Americana. In these new extensions the bulk of the production comes from the Drader member of the Dacian, with an average depth of 1300 m.; the underlying third Meotic at 1700 m. has not been developed yet. In Gura Ocnitzei east no new drilling has been done in 1933, but here declining pressures have led to the extensive use of gas-lift and pumps. Ochiuri saw some small drilling activity, but production declined. Two good wells were brought in by Unirea and Astra at the close of the year. Boldesti continued to be developed on a general plan by the four major companies interested. Production was from the Meotic, which in this dome has been penetrated for 356 m. Reserves have been estimated at about 63,000,000 bbl. An important discovery in this area was the bringing in of Credit Minier No. 1 Harsa to the east of the main field and producing from the Meotic. This well came in during October, 1932, and is now making 1400 barrels. In the Moreni Piscuri field only routine operations have been carried on. The prolific sands are now declining rapidly. Ceptura also saw only routine operations. In the Arcesti field development of the Meotic continues. Seven new wells were brought in during the year and ten were drilling at the close of 1930. The field produced over a million barrels for the first time during 1933. In the other fields only routine operations were carried on. A considerable increase in efficiency of operations was noted during the year. The average drilling time has been reduced, coring programs have been amplified, and much care has been taken in straight hole drilling. The Schlumberger electrical coring apparatus is extensively used. Electric-driven rotaries have been introduced at Gura Ocnitzei. The Moniteur du Pétrole Rouman reports that the index cost of drilling one meter, taking 1929 as a base of 100, has been reduced to 32 in 1933.

Jan 1, 1934

Discussion of the paper of H. M. WARREN, A. S. BIESECEKER and E. J. POWELL, presented at the New York meeting, February, 1916, and printed in Bulletin No. 110, February, 1916, pp. 181 to 193. R.. V. NORRIS, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.-For many years the power requirements of breakers designed in the Anthracite. Region have been based on calculations made from indicator diagrams taken during operation, with various sections of machinery idle; these, while giving reasonably accurate figures, gave no intimation of the peak loads which have been shown so clearly in the paper. The high-speed flywheel for breaker rolls is new and shows a remarkable saving in peak power required, besides eliminating the stalling of the rolls from overload. The figures given are so far in advance of anything previously published that they will undoubtedly be used as a basis for future breaker design. It is to be hoped that the authors will continue this investigation and extend their paper by a description of the motors found best suited for this work. WILLIAM KENT, Montclair, N. J.-I notice on p. 187 reference is made to one of the difficulties being the starting torque, and it is proposed to use roller or ball bearings in order to decrease the high starting torque. I suggest that. before the roller or ball bearings are put in, an investigation be made as to the amount of the starting torque, as shown by wattmeter measurements and as to what the starting torque ought to be, theoretically, according to the energy formula; that is, how much starting torque is required to accelerate the rotating mass in a given number of seconds up to full speed. Having secured this information it may be found the amount to be saved by roller bearings is not very great. If it appears that roller bearings will not greatly decrease the starting torque, the next thing to be done is to have a special design of motor in which there is a field that can be made very strong at the start, by the use of extra poles or other means, and the next thing that may be done is to increase the speed from 10,000 r.p.m. to 25,000, which can be done with wire-wound flywheels, especially if the wires are made of vanadium steel.

Jan 5, 1916

By R. V. Norris, E. W. Parker

Edward W. Parker,* Philadelphia, Pa.—At the New York meeting of the Institute a year ago, Mr. R. V. Norris presented a paper on anthracite mining costs, in which he gave the results of an intensive study of this subject by the Engineers' Committee of the United States Fuel Administration. Within the last 30 days, the Federal Trade Commission has issued an official report on the same subject, which covers a longer period of time and comprises statistics of realization values and margins that were pot comprehended in the paper by Mr. Norris. As, however, the data utilized by Mr. Norris formed also a part of the basis for the report of the Federal Trade Commission, a brief digest of the latter may not be out of place at this meeting. The report of the Federal Trade Commission covers primarily the two calendar years 1917 and 1918, divided into five periods which furnish opportunity for the study of how the influence of certain definite factors affected either the cost of production or the price, or both, during the 24 months. The first period, January to April, 1917, which may be considered the basic period, comprised the 4 months in 1917 during which the wage agreement of May, 1916, without modification, was in effect. During this period, the labor cost on fresh-mined coal is placed by the Commission's report at $1.79 per gross ton, the total cost at $2.66, the average realization at $3.29, and the "margin" (sales realization over total f.o.b. mine cost) at $0.63. The second period covers the four months from May 1 to August 31, during which time the first of the supplemental wage agreements (supplemental to the agreement of 1916) was in effect. It was also the period during which the summer discounts were in effect and when prices were practically fixed by a voluntary agreement between the operators and the Federal Trade Commission. It was, further, the period in which the 75 cents differential on prepared sizes permitted to the individual operators by the Federal Trade Commission began; at that time, also, on account of war conditions an unusually large quantity of steam sizes were marketed at exceptionally good prices. On account of the two latter conditions, not explained in the Commission's report, the "margin"1 on operating

Jan 1, 1920

By Leonard B. Gulbransen, John R. Lewis, W. Martin Fassell, J. Hugh Hamilton

T. E. Leontis (The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich.)—This paper is of particular interest to me because of my own work with F. N. Rhines on the oxidation of magnesium and magnesium alloys a few years ago. The authors are to be complimented on their development of an accurate and reproducible technique for measuring ignition temperatures and on their comprehensive study of the many variables that affect the ignition temperature of magnesium. It is indeed gratifying to see that they have obtained a good correlation between ignition temperatures and the oxidation rates reported by us. The correlation is valid not only with composition within one alloy system but also between alloy systems; that is, alloying elements which effect the greatest increase in oxidation rate also produce the greatest decrease in ignition temperature. There are a few points upon which I would like to comment. In attempting to correlate ignition-temperature data, one must be sure that the same definition of this quantity is used by all investigators. It does not appear to me that such is the case in the authors' comparison of their data with the theoretically calculated values of Eyring and Zwolinski. The equation derived by these investigators defines the ignition temperature, To, as the temperature at the gadoxide interface, whereas the present authors use the metal temperature as the criterion for ignition. The contradiction in the effect of oxide-scale thickness on ignition temperature between the predictions of the Eyring-Zwolinski equation and the observations reported in this paper indicate that some variable has not been taken into consideration. Could that be the geometry and size of the specimen? There is a marked difference in the type of specimen used in this investigation and that used in our work which formed the basis of Eyring and Zwol-inski's theoretical treatment. Another factor which plays an important role in ignition is the vapor pressure or the rate of vaporization. Combustion can safely be assumed to take place in the vapor phase by the reaction between vaporized magnesium and oxygen. Thus, a more accurate theoretical analysis may be made on the basis of the rate of vaporization which may be the controlling rate of the process. The effect of a large number of alloying elements on the ignition temperature has been reported in this paper, but beryllium was not included. Practical experience dictates that beryllium markedly decreases the burning tendency of magnesium. I was wondering if the authors plan to study the effect of beryllium in their future work. The authors predict that concentrations of sulphur dioxide in the furnace atmosphere greater than 5.8 pct would be expected to increase the ignition temperature to values still higher than those they measured. I would like to mention that large concentrations of sulphur dioxide markedly increase the rate of combustion of magnesium once ignition has started. Although it has been shown in the paper that the ignition temperature of magnesium in oxygen increases with increasing sulphur dioxide content up to about 1 to 2 pct, in practice relatively low-melting commercial cast alloys (AZ63A and AZ92A) are being continuously heat treated at temperatures just below the melting point in air containing 0.5 to 0.75 pct SO*. In regard to the change in color of the oxide scale observed on magnesium and magnesium alloys just prior to ignition, I would like to mention that in our work alloying elements were found to color the usually white magnesium oxide even though ignition did not occur. For example, the oxide formed on Mg-A1 alloys was gray, increasing in intensity with aluminum content in the alloy. Finally, I might suggest that the authors indicate their source of the value of 0.8 g per cc for the density of MgO as it is formed on magnesium upon oxidation at elevated temperatures. W. M. Fassell, Jr. (authors' reply)—The comments by Dr. Leontis are very excellent ones and I will attempt to answer them in order. First, the problem of ignition of magnesium is a rather difficult one since many factors are involved. Concerning the comparison of the To in the Eyring-Zwolinski equation, eq 4, with the experimentally determined values, it will be noted that the calculated and experimental values of the ignition temperature in Table I are not self-consistent. In the case of the 1.78 pct A1-Mg alloy the calculated value is 49°C below the experimental value; for the 3.81 pct A1-Mg alloy, 122°C below the experimental value; for Mg with 5x10-' cm film, 19°C above the experimental value; for Mg with 2x10-I cm film, 28 °C below the experimental value. Thus, if it were merely a matter of difference of location of temperature measurement the calculated ignition temperature would always be below the experimental value, the difference being due to the thermal gradient through the oxide film. The possibility of a thermal gradient in the magnesium metal must be considered. From Carslaw and Jaeger,'Y t can be shown that the maximum temperature gradient that could exist between the oxide-metal interface and the center of the sample is of the order of O.Ol°C. The geometry and size of the specimen could certainly have some effect on the ignition temperature. The equation for ignition that has been proposed in reference 14 is of the following type containing terms to account for this and other factors: M dT AHv(T) =Cp--------------\-J(.T—TB) + ZAHl-M A dx where AH is the heat of reaction, v(T) is the velocity of the reaction at temperature, Cp is the heat capacity of sample, M is the mass of sample, A is the area of sample, t is time, J is the total coefficient of heat transfer outward from the reaction zone, TR is the temperature of the bath or furnace, and AH,, is the heat associated with any phase change involved. Prior to the instant of ignition, the vapor pressure of magnesium is of no special significance. After ignition, neither eq 4 nor the above equation is applicable. The actual combination of magnesium cannot safely be assumed to take place in the vapor phase. While experimental data is lacking to support a hypothesis that ignition does or does not occur in the vapor phase, some observation on the pressure ignition experiments may be of interest. At high oxygen pressures, once ignition has occurred, the reaction of magnesium with oxygen approaches near explosive violence, the entire sample being consumed in probably less than 1 sec. At atmospheric pressure it usually requires 15 to 20 sec. Thus it appears that the oxygen concentration becomes the rate determining factor. Further, if burning magnesium is observed through darkened glass (Lincoln Super-visibility Shade No. 12) the magnesium sample is very much hotter than the "smoke" and the outline of the sample is retained perfectly. No "flame" is visible above the metal. No work was done on Mg-Be alloys. We do, however, intend to study this problem in the near future.

Jan 1, 1952

By K. E. Brown, G. H. Fancher

An 8,000-ft experimental field well was utilized to conduct flowing pressure gradient tests under conditions of continuous, multiphase flow through 2 3/8-in. OD tubing. The well was equipped with 10 gas-lift valves and 10 Maihak electronic pressure recorders, as well as instruments to accurately measure the surface pressure, temperature, volume of injected gas and fluid production. These tests were conducted for flow rates ranging from 75 to 936 B/D at various gas-liquid ratios from 105 to 9,433 scf/bbl. An expanding-orifice gas-lift valve allowed each flow rate to be produced with a range of controlled gas-liquid ratios. From these data an accurate pressure traverse has been constructed for various flow rates and for various gas-liquid ratios. A comparison of these tests to Poettmann and Carpenter's correlation indicates that deviations occur for certain ranges of flow rates and gas-liquid ratios. Numerous curves are presented illustrating the comparison of this correlation with the field data. Poettmann and Carpenter's correlation deviates some for low flow rates and, in particular, for gas-liquid ratios in excess of 3,000 scf/bbl. These deviations me believed to be mainly due to the friction-factor correlation. However, Poettmann and Carpenter's correlation gives excellent agreement in those ranges of higher density. This was as expected and predicted by Poettmann. He pointed out that their method was not intended to be extended to those ranges of low densities whereby an extreme reversal in curvature occurs.l As a result of these experimental tests, correlations using Poettmann and Carpenter's method were established between the friction factors and mass flow rates which are applicable for all gas-liquid ratios and flow rates. Definite changing flow patterns do not allow any one correlation to be accurate for all ranges of flow. INTRODUCTION The ability to analytically predict the pressure at any point in a flow string is essential in determining optimum production string dimensions and in the design of gas-lift installations. This information is also invaluable in predicting bottom-hole pressures in flowing wells. Although this problem is not new to industry, it has by no means been solved completely for all types of flow conditions. Versluys,2 Uren, et al, 3 Gosline,4 May,5 and Moore, et al,6,7 were all early investigators of multiphase flow through vertical conduits. However, all of these investigations and proposed methods were very limited as to their range of application. Likewise, many are extremely complicated and therefore not very useful in the field. Only in the last decade have any significant methods been proposed which are generally applicable. The most widely accepted procedure in industry at the present time is a semi-empirical method developed from an energy balance, proposed by Poettmann and Carpenter8 in 1952. Their correlation is based on actual pressure measurements from field wells. Accurate predictions from this correlation are limited to high flow rates and low gas-liquid ratios. Although this method will be discussed in detail later, it should be pointed out that two important parameters, namely the gas-liquid ratio and the viscosity, were omitted in their correlation. The viscosity was justifiably omitted since their data was in the highly turbulent flow region for both phases, and most wells fall in this category. The gas-liquid ratio was incorporated to some extent in the gas-density term. In 1954, Gilbert9 presented numerous pressure gradient curves obtained from field data for various flow rates and gas-liquid ratios for the determination of optimum flow strings. However, no method is presented for predicting pressure gradients except by comparison to these curves. Baxendell, et al,10 proposed a method based on Poettmann and Carpenter's procedure

By John M. Lovejoy

CURRENT production of petroleum on such a vast scale presents many interesting problems- the solutions of which are important not only to those directly interested in the business, but to the nation as a whole. The industry is relatively young. Until the discovers of the Lucas gusher at Spindletop in 1901 petroleum production had not exceeded 60,000,000 bbl. per year compared with 1,100,000,000 bbl. in 1936. In 36 years then, the modern oil business, production, transportation, refining, and marketing has developed. I will first present a brief history. of oil production as a background for consideration of the present situation.

Jan 1, 1937

By R. E. Cuthbertson

AN early appreciation by the management that Climax ore presented a challenging problem of economic concentration was responsible for the establishment, in June 1926, of an ore-testing department at the experimental plant of the Colorado School of Mines at Golden, some ninety miles from Climax. An engineering office was later organized in the same community for the design of all ore-treatment units erected at Climax during the period of rapid growth. Work of the ore-testing and design staffs was effectively co-ordinated under a common head. The primary reason for having the ore-testing and plant design departments in Golden, was to place these activities under the able supervision of A. J. Weinig, consultant for the Climax Molybdenum Co., and director of the experimental plant. A secondary consideration was the availability of excellent facilities for research in ore dressing in a highly favorable environment. Concentration of molybdenite by flotation from an ore of simple mineral composition does not appear, superficially, to present a serious problem in ore dressing but experience belies this apparent simplicity. The molybdenite content of average Climax ore is low and it is finely

Jan 1, 1946

By C. E. Brukl, E. Rudy, St. Windisch

The ternary-alloy system Nb-Mo-C was investigated by means of X-ray, melting point, DTA, and metallo-graphic techniques; a complete phase diagram for temperatures above 1500°C was established. Above 1960°C, niobium monocarbide and the cubic (Bl) high-tenzperature phase in the Mo-C system form an uninterrupted series of solid solutions. The ternary range of the pseudocubic q MoCl-, is very restricted. Dimolyb-denum carbide dissolves up to 44 mol pct Nb2C (2240°C), whereas the maximum solid solubility of MO2C in Nb2C does not exceed 5 mol pct. The order-disorder transformation temperatures in Mo2C and Nb2C are lowered by the mutual metal exchanges. Six invariant (p = const) reactzons occur in the ternary system; three correspond to class 11-type four-phase reactions involving a liquid phase, one to a class I (eutectoid)-type, and two further isotherms are associated with limiting tie lines. The results of the Phase diagram investigation are discussed, and the thermodynamic interpretation identifies the low relative stability of the binary sub-carbides in conjunction with the large stability diflerences between niobium and molybdenum carbides as the cause for the formation of a stable equilibrium between the monocarbide and the metal phase in the ternary reson. Due to their refractoriness, the carbides of the high-melting transition metals have received increased interest in recent years as base materials in composite structures for aerospace applications at high temperatures and for the development of self-bonded cutting tool materials; other novel fields of application include power reactors, where operation at high temperatures becomes essential for attaining high power efficiencies. In these applications, the increased reaction rates at high temperatures require a close consideration of the chemical interactions between the alloy constituents. As a consequence, a detailed knowledge of the phase relationships in the alloy systems is required in order to provide a sound basis for developmental -type work. Partly as a result of the considerable experimental difficulties associated with the investigation of this high-melting alloy class, no complete studies of ternary metal-carbon systems have been performed until recently. Even the high-temperature phase relationships in the binary transition metal-carbon systems have been delineated only during the past few years to a degree of accuracy required for a more detailed study of ternary or higher-order alloys. In recent investigations of binary and ternary systems of refractory transition metals with carbon, boron, and silicon,&apos; alloys from the ternary systems Nb-Mo-C became of interest because of the demonstrated possibility2,3 of obtaining compatible composites based on metal + monocarbide combinations. In the meantime, however, studies in other, but related, ternary metal-carbon systems, such as Ta-W-C, have shown that the solid-state equilibria may change significantly toward higher temperatures (>2000°C), and that extrapolations based on low-temperature equilibrium data are, in general, not very reliable. Although the lower-temperature (<2000°C) phase relationships in the Nb-Mo-C system are similar to those found in Ta-W-C, a cursory thermodynamic analysis of the equilibria indicated4 that complete solid-solution formation between Mo2C and Nb2C should not occur at higher temperatures. The present work was conducted in order to experimentally verify these expectations and, in addition, to provide phase equilibrium data in the melting range of the alloys. In the boundary systems, niobium and molybdenum are known to form a continuous series of solid solutions.576 The continuous solubility was also confirmed by Kornilov and Polyakova,7,8 who also observed a minimum melting point at 22 at. pct Mo and 2345°C. The phase diagram investigations of the Nb-C system by Storms and Krikorian9 and Kimura and Sasaki10 were recently supplemented by Rudy et al.11,12 The system contains a high-melting monocarbide with the B1 structure, Table I, and a subcarbide, Nb2C, which exists in at least two different states of sublattice order at low temperatures47"-&apos;3 and a disordered state above approximately 2500°C.11,12 The melting-point measurements by Rudy et al .11,14 are in close confirmation of the data by Kimura and Sasaki.10 The rather complex phase relationships in the Mo-C system were only recently Clarified.15,18 The system is characterized by three congruently melting, intermediate phases, MozC, ? MoC1-x and a Mol-,, Table I, of which only Mo2C is stable at temperatures below 1650°C. Substoichiometric MozC exists in several states of sublattice order which interconvert in homogeneous phase transitions. Hyperstoichiometric compositions cannot exist in the ordered state. Upon cooling through a critical temperature range, the

Jan 1, 1968

By J. B. Cheatham, C. E. Murphey

Presently, computer control of Borobolic direction cannot be obtained during drilling, and most straight-holc drilling methods attempt to resist hole deviation rather than control direction. Many of the theories advanced as possible explanations of the cause of hole deviation are Summarized berein. A new correlation of physical partables is introduced to indicate bow factors such iis drill collar stiffness clearance and hit weight influence borehole deviation, .A methord is proposed for predicting the rate of change of hole angle when drilling conditions are changed. INTRODUCTION Control of borehole direction during drilling can be difficult and costly. Unintentional crooked holes are often lrilleti in dipping formations and many times directional drilling is required when the surface location is not directly above the target area —- for example, at offshore and mountainous locations. Prilllng progress can be greatly hindered in either air or liquid drilling when it be comes necessary to use low bit weight to prevent excessive hole angle build-up. If hole inclination becomes too great, drill pipe drag becomes excessive and fishing risks are increased, logging is more difficult and problems of differential sticking, key seating and fatigue failures may be encountered. Dog-legs and key seats are more serious problems than steep inclination angles: therefore, reducing rate of direction change is preferred to attempting to maintain absolutely vertical holes. Consequently, a straight inclineti hole is preferable to a nearly vertical crooked hole containing numerous dog-legs. In this paper, theories of the cause of hole deviation and analyses of drill string behavior under down-hole conclitions are summarized. Methods for computing hole deviation are presented und systems for resisting deviation as well as neans for provic!ing control of holt- direction are iliscusseI. A new correlation of physical variables is introduced tu indicate how factors such as drill collar stiffness, clearance and bit weight influence borehole deviation. A method is oroposeti for predicting the rate of change of hole anFrle when drilling conditions are clianged. IIEVIEU&apos; OF PREVIOUS WORK ON HOIaE DEVIATION Significant progress in the theoretical analysis of hole deviation problems has been made in the past 1 5 years. The pioneering work has been primarily a result of the efforts of Lubinski and Woods.l-5 In 1950, Lubinski 1 considered the buckling of a drill string in a straig:rt vertical hole, a problem also considered by Willers6 in 1941. It wns concluded that very low bit weights must be used to prevent hole deviation resulting from drill collar buckling. The use of conventional stabilizers was proposed2 in 1951 by Mac Donald and Lubinski as a method for permitting greater Sit weights to he carried without drill collar buckling. These authors pointed out that a 2° nearly vertical spiral hole can cause severe key seatinp, and drill pine near, wilereas n 3 straight inclined hole with deviation all in one direction, while not vertical, will not result in serious drillirig or producing problems. Studies were continued with an investigation of straight inclined holes by Lubinski and Woods3 in 1953. In this paper they concluded that perfectlv vertical holes cannot be drilled even in isotropic forriations unless extremely low bit P-eights are used. .l&apos;l~ey postulated that constant drilling conditions produce holes of constant inclination angle and varying conditions cause the hole to drill at a neiv equilibrium angle. This analysis was not concerned with drill string buckling since it was based on an equilibrium solution in which the ~irill string Was presumed to lie along the lower side of the hole abcrve the point of tangency. Weight of the drill collars below the point of tangency tends to force the hole toyard the vertical, whereas the weight on hit tends to force the hole aurav from the vertica l. The concept of an anisotropic formation Lvas introduced as an empirical method for explaining actual drilling data and as a means for extrapolating known deviation data to otiier conditions of hit

Jan 1, 1967

By A. Berghezan, E. Bull Simonsen

A simple and general method is described for melting and zone refining refractory metals by induction heating on a specially shaped water-cooled copper crucible. The crucible is the essential part of the apparatus and is placed horizontally. It consists of either a copper plate, or a flattened tube, or of several parallel small diameter tubes all water cooled. The charge lies on the crucible, or whenever possible, is suspended above it. This assembly goes into a transparent quartz tube and the whole is passed through the coil of a radio frequency generator. Vaarious atmospheres can be used. No contamination is detected from the copper crucible. purification is obtained both by selective evaporation of impurities and by zone refining. METHODS of melting and refining relatively large ingots of all reactive and refractory metals as well as some semiconductor materials have been developed in this laboratory during the past several years using induction heating and cold crucibles. These methods are simple and permit the use of a variety of starting materials in preparing ingots of suitable shapes. Among these methods, two are of particular interest. One deals only with the problem of melting without contamination. In this method the induction coil has a specially designed shape and acts simultaneously as heating element and crucible. The second goes one step further, being designed for both melting and further purification of the refractory metals. The aim of this paper is to describe the second method which is of more general interest and of greater applicability to metallurgical problems. A) THE PRINCIPLE OF THE MELTING AND PURIFICATION METHOD As originally proposed by one of us1 the method consists of heating a charge of any refractory metal or semiconductor material to the melting point on a water-cooled copper crucible by passing both the charge and the crucible through the induction coil of a radiofrequency generator. Although both are subjected to the same induction field, one achieves the melting of a refractory metal on a copper crucible even when the refractory metal has a melting point of more than 2000°C above that of the crucible. This seemingly "odd" method works effectively for the following reasons. Because of its high electrical and thermal conductivity as compared with the material being melted, copper can be used as the crucible and kept at a low temperature while the material is heated by induction to its melting point. With water Silver and other highly conducting materials can also be used. If a nonconducting material is contemplated, e.g. SiO or a high polymer, a very thin wall should provide efficient cooling. cooling through ducts in the crucible its temperature can be kept between 40" to 70°C; thus its electrical resistivity is kept low, while the resistivity of the charge increases rapidly as its temperature is increased. B) APPARATUS The crucible is the essential part of the apparatus. It has been designed in various shapes depending on the atmosphere used, whether vacuum or an inert gas or hydrogen. In all crucible designs an effort was made to reduce its volume to "nothing but the cooling water" in order to avoid shielding the ingot from the induction field. In practice it is either a

Jan 1, 1962

By Ralph H. Sweetser

C. H. Herty, Jr.,* Pittsburgh, Pa.—The procedure of the Open-hearth Committee in studying pig iron and its effects in the open hearth has been influenced by the discussions at a number of meetings of the Committee. Those discussions have brought out very clearly that, as far as the pig iron affects the quality, interference with quality should be studied for three definite types of pig iron: (1) low-silicon pig iron; (2) very high-silicon pig iron, and (3) pig iron in which the silicon varies over a wide range in short periods, such as 1 to 3 casts. If a blast furnace is running steadily at 1 per cent. silicon iron, practically no trouble, apparently, can be traced to the pig iron, but if the furnace is running from 0.60 up to 1.50 and then down to 0.60 per cent., trouble in the finished steel is liable to occur, which apparently cannot be corrected by open-hearth practice. The open-hearth discussions have shown fairly definitely that with low-silicon iron, one type of trouble arises on the finished product and with the high-silicon iron, another. Our experience with the high-silicon is that any non-metallic matter that may form, does so when the pig iron is put into the furnace; that is, silicates immediately form which are more liable to be high in silica than would happen with low-silicon iron. I think Mr. Sweetser will agree with mc that if a blast furnace is very irregular, different points in the furnace may be working irregularly, in other words, the temperature gradient all over the furnace is not uniform. We have made many determinations on that point which indicate that a varying blast furnace causes hot spots and cold spots around the periphery. If some of those spots are hot and others are cold, although the analysis of the iron may be constant, then unreduced oxide, going through on one side, and good iron, going through on the other, may mix and the average temperature of the iron is not high enough to get completely rid of the oxides. So our method of attack is directly on that point; it is our first objective. Our procedure is to make a number of consecutive tests at a blast furnace, making a detailed study of the blast-furnace operation. We follow the iron through the open-hearth heat, being sure that we know just how much of each kind of iron gets into the open hearth, and take out specified samples at certain times during the process, working on steel where no finishing additions are made in the furnace. We are following one type of iron through the billet mills and into the finished product and are obtaining complete data on open-hearth operation. Besides the ordinary chemical analyses on the samples of slag and metal, we are running samples of the plg iron, the steel in the open hearth and the finished steel, for oxygen and silicates. We are going to find out whether or not oxygen, as silicates or oxides, has some connection with this trouble. If not, we may be able to locate some other factor. I am inclined to think that the silicates are responsible, judging from the indications in some other work that the Bureau of Mines is doing in Pittsburgh. We have laid out a very definite method of testing to which we will adhere at the different plants where we are now working and at others in the future. Our aim is to

Jan 1, 1927

By Sherwin F. Kelly

THIS is intended as a simple review of the principles and practice of geophysics, so will not be of interest to the geophysicist, who is hereby warned of its elementary character. The engineers for whom it is written are those who, having glimpsed the formidable formulas and discussions of the geophysicists, give all publications on the subject a wide berth. For a few years now the geo-physicists have had a tendency to be ingrowing at their meetings, going deeper and deeper into theory and instrument construction, and forgetting to present the topics that would interest the practicing engineer who desires merely to know how geophysics can help him, not why.

Jan 1, 1934

By R. A. Swalin, L. A. Neimark

The research work presented in this paper had initially a two-fold goal. First, further data concerning the low-temperature recovery of cold work was desired. Recovery phenomena have been extensively studied in face-centered-cubic metals but at the time of initiation of this research, no investigation concerning the low-temperature recovery in body-centered-cubic metals had been made. During the course of the investigation a paper by Martin on the recovery of point defects in molybdenum appeared.&apos; Comparison of our results on tungsten with Martin&apos;s results on molybdenum will be made. Secondly, knowledge concerning the influence of a particular type of impurity addition on the recovery kinetics was desired. It has been known for a long time that extremely small amounts of certain impurity additions exert a profound influence on the recrystallization behavior and the resulting microstructure of tungsten. Small amounts of potassium silicate and aluminum chloride added prior to the reduction of tungsten oxide to the metal have been found by Smithells to raise the recrystallization temperature markedly,2 and yield an ultimate microstructure in which grains several millimeters long are produced in fine wires of say 10 mil diam. If the impurities are added singly, ordinary secondary recrystallization results with none of the spectacular properties of the wire to which special additions were made. Swalin and Geisler3 and Rieck4 have studied the recrystallization behavior of such doped wire in some detail. The former workers found that small amounts of these impurities raised the recrystallization temperature over 400°C and electron microscopic examination revealed no obvious inclusions in the microstructures. In fact. chemical analysis showed that there was <0.001 pct K, <0.002 pct Al, trace of Si, and <0.0003 pct 0 in the wire studied. The possibility that the role of the special impurities is to keep the structure open by void formation and that submicroscopic porosity acts as the inhibiting agent has been discussed.2&apos;3 Meijering and Rieck5 have suggested that the impurities are strung out as second-phase particles in a direction parallel to the drawing direction. It was thought that a kinetic study of recovery could perhaps elucidate the role of the impurities to some extent. When a metal is deformed by cold work three basic types of defects are thought to be introduced into the crystal lattice, namely, interstitials, vacancies, and dislocations. Van Bueren6 has proposed that recovery of cold-worked metal is a four-stage process, each step being the result of the annealing of a primary defect or a combination of defects and having a unique activation energy. The steps in order of increasing activation energy are attributed to a) the diffusion of interstitials recombining with vacancies, b) diffusion of vacancy pairs, c) the diffusion of single vacancies, and d) climb of dislocations. In metals with relatively low- or medium-range melting points the temperatures for recovery are low enough so that the first three steps may occur during room-temperature deformation. For tungsten, because of the high melting point and subsequently high recovery temperature, it was calculated, using Nowick&apos;s approach7 that this recovery would occur in the temperature range 200" to 600°C. It is also known that recovery of X-ray line broadening, presumably due to dislocation climb, occurs at about 600°C.8 EXPERIMENTAL METHOD Two types of cold-rolled 10-mil-diam tungsten wire were used in the investigation; a) pure tungsten, (called undoped) and b) G. E. No. 218 wire (called

Jan 1, 1961

By R. J. Lutton

Empirical data from 91 rock excavations have been used to construct a family of slope curves on a chart relating excavation height and inclination. The highest and steepest slopes from each excavation are plotted and connected by a line. The 31 1ines appear to establish one or two geometrical slope fields through which the curves are projected. The curves apparently represent a lumped eflect of many factors too complex to be considered individually. Important factors such as geological structure or ground-water conditions can dominate the picture, but where these factors do not overshadow others, the slope chart should be useful for estimating or checking optimum inclination. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAE) has been engaged since 1962 with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission in a joint research program to develop nuclear excavation technology. The Corps is responsible for collecting the requisite data on engineering and construction problems associated with nuclear excavation. The ultimate objective is to develop a capability to use nuclear explosives as a construction tool on public works projects such as harbors and canals. The present study on empirical inclination-height curves for conventionally excavated slopes is an outgrowth of an investigation&apos; sponsored by the USAE Nuclear Cratering Group on applicability of data from existing excavations in establishing guides for engineering judgment in crater excavation. Data were generously contributed by over 50 mining companies among other organizations. Inasmuch as several companies preferred that their contribution be anonymous, all data are treated so here. Some Factors Affecting Stability Many factors affect or are suspected of affecting the stability of excavated slopes, e.g., adverse structural orientation, degree of structural ordering, ground water, climatic conditions, mechanics of excavation, and plan-profile configuration. Such factors are lumped together in developing a slope chart. Obviously geological structure and ground water can overshadow all other factors. Where such is the case, the simplification of slope charts may give an erroneous picture (not conservative enough). A further complication results from the fact that the concept of stability may vary according to the use of the excavations. For example, slope adjustments that would be regarded as failure in a powerhouse excavation, might be tolerable in a mining operation. Mine slopes are continually being modified by further excavation, and instability that would develop in a similar permanent excavation slope over a period of years might not have time to develop in a mine. Inclination vs. Height Charts Charts of inclination vs. height for particular formations or conditions have been used in the past as an aid for designing excavation slopes. Some of these have been based upon empirical analyses of collections of data and experience. MacDonald" and Lane have presented slope tables and charts for excavated and natural slopes in relatively weak sandstone and shale. Coates&apos; has shown an inclination-height chart for slopes in incompetent rock. Most organizations have developed slope design criteria which relate bench widths, heights, and inclinations to use in various rocks. Slope data collected in present studies can be similarly used to develop inclination-height charts; however, a plot of all slopes on such a chart shows very little because of the wide spread of the data. Reasons for the dispersion of points are: (1) many slopes are not carried at optimum inclination, particularly in mines where maintaining roadways and following irregularities of ore bodies are more important than achieving steep inclinations; (2) many engineers and geologists with varied backgrounds and viewpoints have been involved in designing these slopes; and (3) each slope is characterized by a unique combination of factors affecting stability and in turn optimum inclination. Significant curves can sometimes be constructed where the points can be grouped into related clusters from the same excavation. The essence of this approach appears when only two slopes from each excavation are considered—the highest slope and the steepest slope, connected by a line segment (Fig. 1). This reduces considerably the usable data because in many cases only one of these two slopes is available. Nevertheless, the concession seems justified. Construction of Slope Curves Ninety-one pairs of points and connecting line segments were assembled in this study. The line segments were assumed to approximate a geometrical slope field (Fig. 2), and a family of curves has been visually projected through to represent the slope field. It should be

Jan 1, 1971