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By A. T. Shurick

THE NRA Administrator's casual reference to the coal code as the next "pineapple" to be fixed was a conservative estimate of his job. This thorny and adamantine morsel now looms as a critical test of NRA. A failure in coal supplies would have the gravest potentialities in the Administration's program at this time. And the loss of prestige from a breakdown of the enforcement machinery in this initial large-scale test of strength would accentuate the incipient indications of insurrection in other directions. General Johnson has had a difficult task. It involves problems festering for a quarter of a century. A succes¬sion of Presidents have been glad to tide over their respective regimens with inconclusive expedients; they have been baffled by the complexities of the technical angles and hopelessly irreconcilable concepts of powerful conflicting interests with large issues at stake.

Jan 1, 1933

Jan 1, 1968

By J. D. A. Morrow

TO my mind the National Bituminous Coal Act so far has proved one of the unhappiest experiences that has ever befallen the bituminous coal operators of the United States. Viewed in the light of its ugly consequences everyone should recognize this measure for what it is -a weird thing as unreal as a page from "Alice in Wonderland." Indeed it might be another stanza to the tale of the Walrus and the Carpenter, with the coal operators in the role of the unfortunate oysters who were taken on that memorable ramble. It is time that coal producers open their eyes, jerk themselves out of any lingering hypnotic optimism about the price-fixing provisions of this law, demand the repeal of these corroding clauses, and then set about remedying as best they can the disastrous effects of this retromingent scheme to regulate the coal business.

Jan 1, 1939

By John A. Gann

WITHIN a very few years magnesium has sprung from oblivion, from classification as a technically unknown, little appreciated, and expensive material to front-page importance in many fields of engineering. Bunsen may be considered the real founder of our present magnesium industry. In 1852; he prepared this metal by the electrolysis of fused magnesium chloride in a porcelain crucible. In the following years the electro¬lytic process became recognized as superior to chemical reduction methods and Germany became the world's chief producer, installing the first electrolytic magnesium plant in 1886. ' Thirty years later, national defense requirements, occasioned by the outbreak of the World War and the cutting off of imports, caused France, England, and the United States to begin production. Most of this magnesium was used for military purposes so the close of the war resulted in a large curtailment in production. A few companies, however, encouraged by the early success of the Germans and by the rapid developments taking place in aeronautics, and confident in the certain future and ultimate value of this metal, undertook extensive re¬searches in its production and utilization. A variety of production methods, both chemical and electrochemical, were investigated and some of them operated on a commercial scale. Reduction of the oxide with carbon at high temperatures and the electrolysis of the oxide in a fluoride

Jan 1, 1932

By C. Chiou, D. P. Seraphim

The effect of clustering on the superconducting properties of Al-Zn alloys has been studied by the ballistic induction techniques. The superconducting critical temperature, T,, changes when zinc-rich clusters are formed. The change in T, depends on the concentration and may be positive or negative, but always correlates with an effective decrease in the solute concentration of the alloy. Reversion after clustering effectively returns a 5 at. pct Zn alloy to the quenched state. These methods might be use&lly extended to the Al-Mg system, where X-ray data are difficult to obtain. In very dilute Al-Zn alloys, as in other tin,' indium, aluminum,2 or tantalums base solid solutions, there is a decrease in the superconducting critical temperature, Tc, roughly proportional to the temperature independent resistivity, i.e., -0.2°K per pS2cm. With increasing solute concentration, the T, generally reaches a minimum and then increases4 to a value well above that for the pure solvent. The change of T, with solute concentration follows an empirical formulation involving two constants which correlate with the scattering cross section of the impurities. As will be shown below, the Al-Zn alloys more concentrated than 1or2at. pct do not follow the empiricism, probably because they are unstable even when rapidly quenched.5 However, it seems possible to study at least the later stages of solute clustering by precise measurements of the 1', following various thermal treatments. A few experiments on quenched alloys, aged alloys, and tests on reversion are reported here. The heat treatments selected for obtaining the quenched and aged states were mainly deduced from the work of Dash and Fine.6 For the quenched state, specimens were homogenized at 480°C, quenched to -160°C, and immediately transferred and mounted in liquid nitrogen. Measurements on the superconducting properties and residual resistivities were then made at helium temperatures, after which the specimens were aged at room temperature for 3 to 5 hr, i.e., much longer than the time required for clustering to be essentially completed. The superconducting properties and residual resistivities were once again examined. To reach the reverted state of the A1-5at. pct Zn alloy, the aged specimen was heated for 5 min at 200°C and then tested as above.

Jan 1, 1963

Jan 1, 1967

Jan 1, 1966

By F. H. McDowell

The increasing interest in the subject of electrical separation warrants the addition to what has already been written of a few lines covering the practical workings of the Tilly Foster mill under the direction of Mr. E. S. Moffat, General Manager. Since my last paper was presented to the Institute, Mr. S. P. Tomkins, the superintendent, has had thrust upon him for solution several problems complicated by the introduction of new conditions. 1. The richer portion of the lean ore dump, and that nearest the railroad track, having been worked up in 1890, the handling of the balance, including a largely increased amount of rock, could only be accomplished at an increased cost. 2. The tailings had accumulated close about the mill to such an extent that arrangements had to be perfected to move them further away.

Jan 1, 1893

By S. Warren Hobbs

The section of the Northwestern United States that includes the northern Rocky Mountains and adjacent areas to the west and east is one of large mineral production and important mineral potential. The metallic ore deposits vary widely in age and type and their geologic settings are similarly diverse. A brief resume of the region's physiographic characteristics and geology sets the framework for the selected ore districts that are described in following papers and makes it possible to place these ore deposits in their proper reference to space and time.

Jan 1, 1968

A comprehensive, systematically structured mineral evaluation system is a prime requirement for objectively assessing mineral supply impacts on the economy. The Minerals Availability System developed by the US Bureau of Mines is a step in the right direction-a well-organized unraveling of the mineral supply network, structured in format to allow quick retrieval for rapid listing, supply analysis, and other uses.

Jan 9, 1977

By L. V. Wade

Abstract-US Bureau of Mines efforts under longwall research programs to develop the capability to predict support requirements for longwall/shortwall support systems are discussed. Ground control studies are being conducted in conjunction with several longwall/shortwall demonstration projects. Geologic, support performance, and strata behavior are being documented on these projects. A hypothesis is presented for the prediction of support requirements.

Jan 11, 1978

By F. W. Lake

The ultimate production from a natural reservoir of petroleum is inversely proportional to the gas-oil ratios existing during the producing life of the reservoir whenever gas is the major expulsive force in the recovery. In other words, in the period during which gas is the major expulsive force the ultimate production will be increased if the gas-oil ratio is decreased, and vice versa. This condition prevails in the greater number of the present producing districts. While this relation is difficult to prove from actual operation, on account of the present paucity of detailed observations, it must be admitted after a study of the forces and conditions governing the recovery of petroleum from natural reservoirs. Where gas and oil exist under pressure in sand interstices and water movement is not freely possible, the force expended in moving the oil to the well is the expansion and movement of the gas through the pressure differential existing between the interior of the reservoir and the well. If pressure and solution conditions in the untapped reservoir are such that the relation between gas and oil volumes at atmospheric conditions is as 100:1; and if during the producing period, until the gas is exhausted, the relation between the gas and oil volumes produced is 300:1, it follows that only one-third of the oil has been produced and the remaining two-thirds cannot be recovered unless some extraneous force is introduced into the reservoir. This serves to illustrate the importance of gas-oil ratio control during normal producing operations. Gas-oil Ratio Control Eliminating natural conditions in a reservoir, which govern gas-oil ratios, such as the physical properties of the oil and gas, the physical characteristics of the reservoir strata and the original pressure and solution conditions in the reservoir, which cannot be controlled by operation practice; and also eliminating operating conditions that apply to the reservoir as a whole, such as well spacing, well locations, relative completion dates, various penetrations and drilling practice; there remains but one condition in each well that influences the gas-oil ratio and that is

Jan 1, 1928

By Arthur Zentner

THE essentials of the electrolytic zinc process, as now used in commercial plants, date back to work done by Letrange in 1881. He used sulfuric acid to leach roasted sulfide and ,oxide ores, purified his solution very much as we do now, and electrolyzed the purified zinc sulfate solution. Ten years later Hoepfner developed a process using chloride solutions, and built three plants. One in England operated until 1924 in one of the works now merged in the Imperial Chemical , Industries, Ltd. Ashcroft built a plant in 1898 in the Broken Hill district of Australia. He used both chloride and sulfate solutions.. While his work failed, the aid his published results have been to later workers has made him an outstanding contributor to the de- velopment of the electrolytic zinc process. A good deal of work was done in the following years, aiming to electrolyze zinc chloride solutions and fused zinc chloride. Quite a bit of work on sulfate solutions was also done in the last years before the war. With the outbreak of the war, metal demand and rise in metal prices provided the stimulus which resulted in the remarkably rapid commercial development of electrolytic zinc. In this last period of development, all the work brought to commercial fruition has been with sulfate solutions. The high-density process, or the Tainton process, is used, as you know, in the Sullivan electrolytic zinc plant at Kellogg, Idaho, and will be used in the Evans- Wallower plant now being built at East St. Louis. The low-density process is used by the other plants now operating in the United States and other countries. There are now in operation and under construction four electrolytic zinc plants in the United States, two in Canada, two in Italy and one each in Australia, Rhodesia, Poland, Norway and Germany.

Jan 1, 1929

By F. Ernest Brackett

Much new data on the flow of gases have been discovered by recent experiments by the United States Bureau of Mines and others. Although additional investigation is still desirable, the information now collected seems sufficient to attempt a tentative coördination of the friction factors. This study is confined entirely to fluid friction when the density throughout the duct is so nearly constant that it may be so considered. In the subsequent discussion the following notation is used: v = mean velocity of fluid in duct, feet per second. v' = mean velocity of fluid in duct, meters per second. R = hydraulic radius of duct, feet. R' = hydraulic radius of duct, meters. S = the hydraulic slope. P = pressure absorbed by friction, pounds per square foot. p = pressure absorbed by friction, pounds per square inch. p' = pressure absorbed by friction, kilograms per square centimeter. A = sectional area of duct, square feet. O = perimeter of duct, feet. L = total length of duct, feet. L' = total length of duct, meters. d = diameter of a cylindrical duct, inches. w = density of the fluid, pounda per cubic foot. g = specific gravity of the fluid compared with water = w % 62.4. C, k and B, coefficients for formulas using English measures. C' = metric coefficient, v' = C'R'S. n = coefficient of roughness for English or metric units. The basic formula for the flow of all fluids at constant density appears in the three following forms, which may be denominated: (a) The slope formula, v = CRS (b) The ventilation formula, " n = (c) The pipe formula, C is Kutter's coefficient, which is extensively applied to the flow of water in ducts and channels of all kinds; E is Atkinson's coefficient, used principally with air in ventilation problems; B is a coefficient conveniently adapted to studying the flow of water, gases and vapors in pipes. 312

Jan 1, 1927

By James J. Halbouty, Michel T. Halbouty

Drilling activity in the South Texas area, which includes the South Corpus Christi and Laredo districts, showed a marked decline during 1941 from that of the preceding year. The rate of new discoveries, however, 'compared favorably with exploratory results of 1940 because of the many new productive sands opened in existing fields. South Texas completions for 1941 were about 12.3 per cent below the 1940 figure, compared with an increase of approximately 5.5 per cent in the total number of completions in the United States during 1941 over the 1940 total. During the year, 1452 wells were drilled in this area; of these, 1205 were drilled in or as extensions to the proven fields, and 247 were rank wildcats drilled in search of new producing pools. The comparable 1940 figures were: 1320 field or extension wells and 336 rank wildcats, a total of 1656 completions. This represents a decline in 1941 of approximately 8.7 per cent in proven-area wells, and of about 26.5 per cent in rank wildcats. It must be stressed that wells that were considered rank wildcats at the beginning of operations, but which opened production later classified as additions to existing fields, are not regarded as rank wildcats in this and previous annual reports on this same area. These wells are classified as semiwildcats (Table 2). There were 13 new oil or distillate fields and 4 new gas areas opened during the year, as listed in the next column. This listing represents a decline of 32 per cent from the 25 new areas found during the previous year, and to a great extent can be attributed to the 26.5 per cent decline in wildcatting. The rate of new discoveries based on the 247 wildcats was 14.5 to I, which compares somewhat unfavorably with the 13.4 to I ratio obtained in 1940 (Table 5). Dry wildcats totaled 230. The proof of the prolific character of the South Texas area as a source of petroleum reservoirs is to be found in the fact that of the 1205 field or extension (semiwildcat) wells completed during the past year 61 opened production from new sands or found crude in formerly distillate-producing sands. The 1940 total of 1320 such wells accounted for 50 horizons that provided either new production or crude in distillate sands, and in this respect the 1941 rate of discovery shows to greater advantage, the ratios for new sands being 19.7 to I for 1941 and 26.4 to I for 1940. The 1205 field or semiwildcat wells completed in 1941 resulted in 926 oil or dis-

Jan 1, 1942

By James J. Halbouty, Michel T. Halbouty

Drilling activity in the South Texas area, which includes the South Corpus Christi and Laredo districts, showed a marked decline during 1941 from that of the preceding year. The rate of new discoveries, however, 'compared favorably with exploratory results of 1940 because of the many new productive sands opened in existing fields. South Texas completions for 1941 were about 12.3 per cent below the 1940 figure, compared with an increase of approximately 5.5 per cent in the total number of completions in the United States during 1941 over the 1940 total. During the year, 1452 wells were drilled in this area; of these, 1205 were drilled in or as extensions to the proven fields, and 247 were rank wildcats drilled in search of new producing pools. The comparable 1940 figures were: 1320 field or extension wells and 336 rank wildcats, a total of 1656 completions. This represents a decline in 1941 of approximately 8.7 per cent in proven-area wells, and of about 26.5 per cent in rank wildcats. It must be stressed that wells that were considered rank wildcats at the beginning of operations, but which opened production later classified as additions to existing fields, are not regarded as rank wildcats in this and previous annual reports on this same area. These wells are classified as semiwildcats (Table 2). There were 13 new oil or distillate fields and 4 new gas areas opened during the year, as listed in the next column. This listing represents a decline of 32 per cent from the 25 new areas found during the previous year, and to a great extent can be attributed to the 26.5 per cent decline in wildcatting. The rate of new discoveries based on the 247 wildcats was 14.5 to I, which compares somewhat unfavorably with the 13.4 to I ratio obtained in 1940 (Table 5). Dry wildcats totaled 230. The proof of the prolific character of the South Texas area as a source of petroleum reservoirs is to be found in the fact that of the 1205 field or extension (semiwildcat) wells completed during the past year 61 opened production from new sands or found crude in formerly distillate-producing sands. The 1940 total of 1320 such wells accounted for 50 horizons that provided either new production or crude in distillate sands, and in this respect the 1941 rate of discovery shows to greater advantage, the ratios for new sands being 19.7 to I for 1941 and 26.4 to I for 1940. The 1205 field or semiwildcat wells completed in 1941 resulted in 926 oil or dis-

Jan 1, 1942

By Herty, C. H.

Iron oxide (FeO) plays an extremely important part in the manufacture of iron and steel. In the three major processes- blast-furnace, open-hearth, and Bessemer converter-iron oxide is the chemically predominant compound and controls to a large ex- tent the operation of the furnaces and the composition and quality of their respective products. In order to emphasize the importance of iron oxide in each process, they will be considered individually in some detail. THE OPEN-HEARTH FURNACE. Iron oxide is introduced into the open-hearth furnace in four ways : 1. The scrap charged into the open hearth is oxidized by the furnace gases, the amount of oxide formed depending primarily on the amount and type of scrap charged. It has been found' that with large scrap, 1.7 Ib. of FeO is formed per 100 Ib. of scrap charged, whereas with scrap of medium size about 5.3 Ib. of FeO is formed per 100 Ib. of scrap charged, when the period between the charging of the scrap and the addition of hot metal is 3 hours. 2. The decomposition of the limestone sets free CO, by the reaction

Jan 1, 1957

By Vaughn Moyer

A method for incorporating well drawdown effect into reservoir calculations is presented in detail, together with examples of its use for widely divergent conditions that could be normally encountered in oil reservoir sands. Tentative conclusions as to the effect such factors as permeability, producing interval, well spacing, or well damage caused by completion or repair practice could have upon economic ultimate recovery are reached. It is carefully pointed out that the conclusions reached are subject to limitations indicated in the text, and placed upon all calculations made in the paper. Introduction Papers have been presentedl-3 in which theoretical depletion histories for reservoirs under equilibrium conditions and no appreciable well-bore drawdown pressure are determined. However, except for a limited number of cases, appreciable drawdown Pressures in a well bore exist, and Pressure and saturation gradients consequently vary throughout a reservoir. This Paper is an attempt to incorporate well-pressure drawdown into reservoir history, and to analyze certain factors, such as those involving recovery, well spacing, and productivity index, from the standpoint of permeability and drainage radius. BY incorporation of drawdown into reservoir history, it is believed that theoretical considerations will more closely approxi- mate actual reservoir behavior experienced in an oil field. For purposes of simplification, a solution gas-drive type field1 without primary gas cap, has been selected. Basic Data and Assumptions Details of equilibrium saturation conditions for no drawdown production for various pressures in a reservoir are deter-minable by methods described by several are permitting the construction of a curve of oil saturation vs Pressure for any selected combination of initial interstitial water and hydrocarbon saturation (Fig I). This curve is then a description of equilibrium saturation conditions at any given pressure in a reservoir. Developing the above, details of saturation and flow permeability may thus be determined for any increment or portion of a well drainage area or reservoir. In this manner the effect of pressure differential (drawdown) may be incorporated into reservoir and well drainage considerations. It is pointed out that this method thus makes use of no-drawdown equilibrium production data, superimposing a draw-hwn effect upon them. It also assumes that net flow conditions in any considered increment of reservoir are not materially altered by the entrance of fluids from other increments into them, but approach equilibrium for the existing pressure and saturation (i.e., each increment behaves in more or less independent fashion, dependent largely upon the equilibrium considerations mentioned above)

Jan 1, 1948

By Vaughn Moyer

A method for incorporating well drawdown effect into reservoir calculations is presented in detail, together with examples of its use for widely divergent conditions that could be normally encountered in oil reservoir sands. Tentative conclusions as to the effect such factors as permeability, producing interval, well spacing, or well damage caused by completion or repair practice could have upon economic ultimate recovery are reached. It is carefully pointed out that the conclusions reached are subject to limitations indicated in the text, and placed upon all calculations made in the paper. Introduction Papers have been presentedl-3 in which theoretical depletion histories for reservoirs under equilibrium conditions and no appreciable well-bore drawdown pressure are determined. However, except for a limited number of cases, appreciable drawdown Pressures in a well bore exist, and Pressure and saturation gradients consequently vary throughout a reservoir. This Paper is an attempt to incorporate well-pressure drawdown into reservoir history, and to analyze certain factors, such as those involving recovery, well spacing, and productivity index, from the standpoint of permeability and drainage radius. BY incorporation of drawdown into reservoir history, it is believed that theoretical considerations will more closely approxi- mate actual reservoir behavior experienced in an oil field. For purposes of simplification, a solution gas-drive type field1 without primary gas cap, has been selected. Basic Data and Assumptions Details of equilibrium saturation conditions for no drawdown production for various pressures in a reservoir are deter-minable by methods described by several are permitting the construction of a curve of oil saturation vs Pressure for any selected combination of initial interstitial water and hydrocarbon saturation (Fig I). This curve is then a description of equilibrium saturation conditions at any given pressure in a reservoir. Developing the above, details of saturation and flow permeability may thus be determined for any increment or portion of a well drainage area or reservoir. In this manner the effect of pressure differential (drawdown) may be incorporated into reservoir and well drainage considerations. It is pointed out that this method thus makes use of no-drawdown equilibrium production data, superimposing a draw-hwn effect upon them. It also assumes that net flow conditions in any considered increment of reservoir are not materially altered by the entrance of fluids from other increments into them, but approach equilibrium for the existing pressure and saturation (i.e., each increment behaves in more or less independent fashion, dependent largely upon the equilibrium considerations mentioned above)

Jan 1, 1948