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By S. B. Christy

The fact that many millions of gold have been extracted by the cyanide process, during the last five or six years, from South African tailings which could not be profitably worked by any other method previously tried upon them, lends a peculiar practical interest to this branch' of metallurgy. Numerous writers have recently made valuable contributions on the process without exhausting the many complexities of the subject. Among the first American writers on the subject in its modern aspect were two former students of the University of California, Mr. Louis Janin, Jr., and Mr. Charles Butters. Young Janin was one of the first to enter this field, and performed much useful experimental work in the early stages of the history of the process. At about the same time, Mr. Charles Butters, who had left California to erect chlorination works for the Robinson mine at Johannesburg, became interested in the cyanide process, and, after getting the chlorination plant in working order, put up, for working the tailings from the Robinson mine, a cyanide plant which achieved the first large-scale success ever made with this process. The papers which Charles Butters, together with John E. Clennell and Edgar Smart, have contributed on the chemistry of the process, were among the first to give any adequate idea of its nature.* Another important contribution to the literature of the subject is the paper of Dr. A. Scheidell, published in 1894 as a " Bulletin of the California State Mining Bureau." This contains an admirable summary of the state of the art at the time of its publication.

Jan 1, 1897

By W. Wanjokow, H. O. Hofman

In the metallurgical treatment of most metallic sulphides it is usually necessary to carry on a roasting-operation. In some cases the raw ore will have to be roasted; in others the intermediary product, matte, produced in smelting the ore; again, both ore and matte may have to be subjected to oxidation at elevated temperatures. Most metallic sulphides, when given an oxidizing-roast, pass through the state of sulphate before they are converted into oxides. All metallic sulphates are completely decomposed by heat, with the exception of those of lead and bismuth, but the temperatures at which decompositions take place vary with the metals. Some metallic sulphates are converted directly into oxides, others first form basic salts. Alkali-earth sulphates show a behavior similar to that of metallic sulphates, while alkali sulphates do not part with their sulphur trioxide even at elevated roasting-temperatures. The older data on the decomposition of metallic sulphates by heat are only approximations. Thus Kerl' gives the order in which metallic sulphates are decomposed with increasing temperatures as (Ag2, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, Pb) SO,. More recent statenlents give definite temperatures and modify the formerly accepted order of decomposition. But the temperatures given by various observers do not agree. The reasons for this are to be found mainly in the method and manner of carrying out experiments. Four methods have been used: 1. Heating in an evacuated tube; 2, heating in a tube closed at one end, without air-cur-

Jan 1, 1913

By G. F. Loughlin, C. H. Behre

THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLASSIFICATION WHAT is the use of a classification of mineral deposits? From the days of Agricola, the founder of the science of ore deposits, successive authors on the subject have attempted classifications, none of which have attained unanimous indorsement of miners, engineers, or geologists. The miner and engineer naturally have little regard for a classification that does not help them to find ore. Mining geologists may share this feeling, and deplore the overemphasis that may be placed on classification by their academic brothers. Apparent effects of such overemphasis may be reflected by students or new graduates who have grown to think that each deposit must fit perfectly into some pigeonhole of the more or less arbitrary scheme that has been drilled into them. Diversity in mineral deposits as in other natural phenomena, however, is too great to be fully expressed in the usual tabular classification, and experience is essential for the appreciation of the value or usefulness of a classification. The succession of classifications has closely followed the growth of the science of mineral deposits and reflects that growth, as well perhaps as the limited or comprehensive viewpoint of each proponent. The earliest classifications were based on metal content, and were superseded by those based mainly on form of deposit. Source of materials also became a basis, and was followed by physical and chemical conditions and processes. In spite of this development it is interesting to note that in many of the latest reports on mining regions the authors adopt special classifications suited for their particular districts. Some of these, like the earliest classifications, are based primarily on metal content, and others are most conveniently based on form, and it may be convenient to modify these by reference to source of material or temperature of deposition. Some, including the writers, after noting these different usages, have refused to worry much over classification as an ultimate objective, but,

Jan 1, 1933

By James Gayley

The atmosphere, which plays such an important part in the manufacture of iron and steel, is the most variable element involved in its several processes; and particularly is this true of the blast-furnace process, which consumes air in large quantitiee. At no time since the blast-furnace became an important and widely used apparatus—even when it was operated in the most crude manner—have the variations in composition of the raw materials used been as frequent and as great as the variations in humidity of the atmosphere. Important improvements have been made in the blast-furnace and its accessories, such as the hot-blast stoves, the increase in size and change in the shape of the furnace, more efficient blowing-engines, the increased protection given to the bosh-walls, and the careful preparation of the raw material, all of which have exerted a pronounced influence on the furnace-operations from a metallurgical standpoint. But during the past eight years little advance has been made in this direction; the fuel-consumption has not diminished, nor has there been any material increase in production. Within that period, however, there has been witnessed the greatest development in appliances for the economical handling of material. So complete has been the work in this direction, that, except in isolated cases, in this country at least, a further extension does not hold out much promise of a satisfactory return on the investment required. It seemed that, with the exception of the gas-engine, we had about reached the limit, for like a strong wall, the atmosphere, with its humidity as variable to-day as when first blown into a primitive blast-furnace, appeared to stand as a barrier to

Jan 1, 1905

By John Chipman

IN the manufacture of rimming steel-which constitutes the bulk of the world's production of mild steel-the factors that determine the quality of the product are very closely associated with the pouring and solidification of the steel in the ingot mold. The behavior of the metal in the mold is, on the one hand, the resultant of the complex processes through which the liquid metal has passed, and, on the other, it is an indication of the probable behavior of the ingot during subsequent rolling and finishing operations. A detailed study of the mechanism of solidifica-tion of rimming ingots ought to yield information that will be useful iii controlling the structure of the ingot and the quality of the ultimate product. The first step in such a study is to determine the rate at which the solid shell of the ingot forms from the liquid metal in the mold. A knowledge of the rate of solidification will make it possible to correlate observations of rimming action and gas evolution with studies of the structure, porosity, and segregation within the ingot. Thus, if the metal in the mold is observed to fall, let us say one minute after pouring, the portion of the structure associated with this fall will lie located in the part of the ingot that is solidifying at that particular moment. The knowledge that the ingot solidifies to a depth of ¾ in. in the first minute enables us to locate in the ingot the structural features corresponding to the observed fall. Conversely, the blowhole condition associated with a rising or growing ingot will be found in the part of the ingot that is solidifying at the time the phenomenon occurs. The time required for the complete solidification of an ingot has long been a matter of speculation. It is of considerable practical importance in connection with charging and heating in the soaking pits. Too rapid handling of the ingot through heating and rolling processes has been thought to be associated-with excessive pipe and other internal defects, so that a further object of this investigation was to attempt to estimate the time required for complete solidification, or the minimum practical time within which the subsequent operations can be performed with the minimum hazard.

Jan 1, 1937

By B. D. Cullity, A. Freda

It is well known that deformation by cold drawing or swaging produces a kind of preferred orientation called fiber texture in metal wires. Such textures have been extensively studied by means of X-ray diffraction, chiefly by techniques in which the diffracted X-rays are recorded photographically. This paper describes some results obtained with a new method, involving the use of a diffractometer. X-RAY METHOD Since the pole figure of a material having a fiber texture is symmetrical about the fiber axis, there is no need to present the entire pole figure. Instead, texture data can be summarized by means of a curve showing the variation of pole density along any meridian of the pole figure, if the north-south axis of the latter is made parallel to the fiber axis. The position of a pole on the meridian is specified by the angle 9 between the pole and the fiber axis (wire axis). The X-ray method1 used here to measure pole density as a function of 9 actually consists of two methods, referred to as A and B. In method a, X-rays are reflected from the wire surface. Pole densities can be measured by this method from O = 90 deg down to a limiting value which is dependent on the Bragg angle 8 and is typically of the order of 30 to 40 deg. Method B involves diffraction from the wire cross section and covers a range of 0 values from 0 up to an angle sufficient to overlap the measurements made by method A. By a combination of the two methods, a complete pole-density curve can be obtained. However, method A alone, which requires no specimen preparation other than etching, can often reveal enough of the pole-density curve to provide complete information about texture components. Both methods require that the measured diffracted intensities be corrected for changes in absorption and diffracting volume with changes in 9. A11 intensities I reported in this paper are corrected diffracted intensities; they are propor-

Jan 1, 1960

By John Hays Hammond

The Transvaal comprises about 120,000 square miles (nearly • the size of the United States Territory of New Mexico). Besides the famous Witwatersrand, which will here be de scribed in detail, there are two quartz-mining districts of some importance, viz., Lydenburg and De Kaap. The Lydenburg district first attracted attention in 1876, when the alluvial deposits of that section began to be exploited. At a later period vein-rnining was started, and at the present time several companies are operating in that district. The product in 1898 of five companies, running 137 stamps, was 154,560 tons of ore, yielding 108,884 crude ounces of gold (an average of 14.09 dwt. crude gold per ton) valued at £392,378. The De Eaap gold-fields were discovered in 1884. In 1898, seven companies, running 200 stamps, produced 89,760 crude ounces of gold, valued at £314,792. I. Mining Titles in the Transvaal. The mining laws of the Tranuvaal are most excellent in char acter, and while the claims cover every square foot of land for an area of nearly 40 miles long by from 2 to 3- miles wide, there have been practically no conflicts over extra-lateral rights. Notwithstanding the change in the political status of the Transvaal likely to follow the present war, it may be coufi dently assumed that the main features of the mining law of the South African Republic will be retained, and certain op pressive featureu of monopolies, etc., bearing with special weight on the mining industry, will be abolished. The dynamite mo nopoly was one that bore most heavily on the mining industry; and, according to the Reports of the State Mining Engineer, explosives, including fuse and detonators, amounted to nearly 10 per cent. of the total working costs of the mines. Further more, it was impossible to obtain the proper quality for the most economical working, and often 80-per-cent. or 40-per-cent. gelatine had to be used- in many instances where 60-per-cent.

Jan 1, 1902

An informal discussion on the application of physical chemistry to steelmaking was held during the Annual Meeting of the Institute in February, 1929. Alexander L. Feild presided. In opening the session, Mr. Feild said: We are all familiar with the cooperative mining and metallurgical studies that were begun in 1920 by the U. S. Bureau of Mines, the Carnegie Institute of Technology, and the Mining and Metallurgical Advisory Boards, and in particular with the work on the physical chemistry of steelmaking which was launched under the technical direction of Dr. C. H. Herty, Jr., in May, 1926. It was this work at Pittsburgh more than anything else that was the immediate cause of the formation within the Institute of a committee on the physical chemistry of steelmaking. During the latter part of 1927 a small group of Institute members interested in. the general subject of the physical chemistry of steelmaking undertook the organization of a subcommittee within the Iron and Steel Committee, to foster an active interest in this comparatively new field among the Institute membership and to obtain papers for publication in the Transactions, covering the various phases of the general subject. This plan was conceived by C. E. Meissner, to whose active efforts at the outset as well as during the past year is largely due whatever measure of success the plan has thus far attained. The subcommittee, now a committee of the Iron and Steel Division, was recognized and formally made a part of the Institute's organization at the February, 1928, meeting. As originally organized and as const,it,uted during the past year the committee has been made up as follows: C. H. Herty, Jr., C. D. King, A. B. Kinzel, John Johnston, C. E. Meissner, L. F. Reinartz, R. B. Sosman, and A. L. Feild, Chairman. Dr. C. H. Herty, Jr. has just been elected chairman for the coming year and C. E. Meissner has been reelected as secretary. From the outset it has been the settled policy of the committee to make membership an annual rather than a permanent matter and to reconstitute in part the membership of the committee each year by dropping a certain number of members and adding new members. In view of the fact that the work of the committee is still in a

Jan 1, 1929

By William E. Schoeneck

This paper presents the problem of oil-well abandonment as a group of studies involving the compilation of physical well data, the use of special curves, maps, and interpretative Procedures, in order that operations can be analyzed and means for reducing costs can be effected. Methods for the calculation of the economic limit of production and resultant oil reserves are suggested in order that profitable production may be continued and premature abandonment prevented. INTRODUCTION Purpose Extensive studies have been made and much has been written on the procedures for prospecting, drilling, completion, production and repair of oil wells, but the writer has long felt the need for a study of the procedure that should be followed when considering the abandonment of a well. The production from numerous well bores of a fluid material (a circumstance peculiar to the oil industry) that is continually decreasing in quantity leads to an increasing ratio of operating cost to production. It is for this reason that oil fields are not abandoned as a whole and detailed consideration of each well is required before it can be determined whether more is being expended than will be returned On any well or lease in question. It is the purpose of this paper, therefore, to compile, correlate, and present all matters worthy of consideration in the problem of oil-well abandonment; to suggest interpretative procedures based on such compilations, to the end that reliable estimates of reserves and life may be obtained; to show, as a result of such interpretative procedures, the possibilities for corrective measures conducive to economical production, thereby extending both profitable reserves and length of life. Scope and Approach Compiling data and outlining a study having the complexity of the problem at hand are naturally subject to the personal experiences of one who undertakes the study; however, the chosen approach and grouping of the subject material may be helpful in the consideration of abandonment problems. Consideration has been given to wells that make gas and water incident with the production of oil; but consideration has not been given to either gas wells or condensate-producing wells, for wells of the latter type have sufficient problems to warrant separate investigation. The major subdivisions of this paper-— physical considerations and economic considerations—do not imply that either of these phases can be considered independently, but rather that the two are mutually dependent and are the component parts of an engineering study.

Jan 1, 1946

By Sadao Maruyama

INTRODUCTION Since the big discovery of Kuroko deposits in Kosaka mine, Akita Pref., northeastern Japan in 1959, major Japanese mining companies have been engaged in extensive exploration for the deposits expending large amounts of money. Above all their exploration activities have been particularly fruitful in discovering new deposits in northern Akita Pref. It is estimated that the total ore reserves newly found in the area are at least 50 million tons. Kuroko deposits are the most important ore source of copper, lead and zinc in Japan and have been mined since last century in the said area. Kuroko (black ore) is fine, compact aggregates with sphalerite , glena and barite as principal constituents and chalco- pyrite, pyrite and tetrahedrite as subsequent constituents. The name Kuroko comes from its appearance. It is not rare that total grade of copper, lead and zinc reaches 20 - 30% and the gold and silver content is also fairly good. Accordingly the unit value of the ore is much higher than the ore from other types of deposits. Besides the Kuroko ore, the Kuroko deposits consists of Ohko (yellow ore, massive cupriferous pyritic ore), Keikoh (silicious ore, cupriferous network ore) and gypsum ore. This type of deposit is considered to be not only an important source of base metal but also a source of gypsum and barite. Although the importance of this type of deposit had been commonly recognized, sub-surface nature of the occurrence hampered exploration work. In recent years the improved exploration techniques and increased knowledge of the Kuroko deposits have met with remarkable success in the location of new deposits. This outburst of exploration and dis-

Jan 1, 1970

[Note.—The paper of Mr. Hoffman on " Practical Results in the Magnetic Concentration of Iron-Ore " (page 602); that of Mr. Langdon on "The Use of Magnetic Concentrates in the Port Henry Blast-Furnaaces" (page 599); and those of Mr. Landis on "The Determination of Iron in the Tails from Magnetic Concentration " (page 609) and "Note on Sampling Iron-Ore" (page 611), were all prepared as contributions to this discussion.] The papers of Mr. Langdon and Mr. Hoffman were presented. W. H. Hoffman, Croton Mines, N. Y.: I will add a few remarks, by way of answer to inquiries for further details. The Croton Mines are particularly well located for cheap mining. The ore-bed is very large, and so lies in relation to the railway tracks of the Harlem and other railroads that a very large proportion of our mining for several years to come can be done above these tracks. The concentrating-mill is now 400 feet from where we are working in the quarry. In blasting we never remove less than 2500 tons at a blast,

Jan 1, 1892

By M. W. Bartley, Hugh M. Roberts

SUBSTANTIAL deposits of Bessemer hematite have been found recently by drilling beneath Steep Rock Lake, Ontario, which is situated in the northern part of the Lake Superior Region. It will be practicable to divert the waters flowing into this lake and develop open pits on the upper part of two large ore bodies by damming off and pumping out the water in the part of the lake in which they occur. Ultimately, the bulk of the ore will be mined by underground methods. Owing to the generally massive nature of the rocks in the area, no underground flows of major consequence are anticipated after diversion of the lake. The Steep Rock deposits are attributed in origin to hydrothermal replacement. They were formed, for the most part, along an unconformable, brecciated contact between the Steep Rock limestone and an overlying younger volcanic series. The replacing solutions came in as igneous after-effects, following upon the intrusion of basic igneous rocks that invaded the hanging-wall volcanics. It is believed that this took place in a geological period roughly equivalent to late Middle Huronian, which was the period when the most extensive iron-bearing rocks of the Lake Superior Region were formed. Comparison is made with other deep-seated iron-ore bodies in the Lake Superior Region, the origins of which are ascribed in the discussion to hydrothermal replacement.

Jan 1, 1943

By H. L. Bridgman

The correct sampling of ores is a subject of far greater importance than is usually conceded to it. Of the little which has been published on this subject, the recent paper by Mr. Glenn, with the accompanying discussion by Dr. Raymond (Trans., xx., 155), is the latest and best, and well worthy the careful perusal of all interested in accurate sampling, whether by hand or by machine. It is doubtless true that thorough hand-sampling gives as good average results as can be obtained; but all hand-sampling is subject to the possible incompetency, carelessness, or dishonesty of the workmen employed. It is, moreover, tedious and expensive, requires large space, and usually entails considerable delay, both in unloading and in sampling. For these and other reasons, machine-sampling is now regarded with more favor than ever before. So-called machine-sampling may be accomplished in two radically different ways: 1. Part of the stream of material is taken for the whole time. 2. The whole stream of material is taken for part of the time. Under the first case the stream, as it issrles from the deliveryspout of the crusher, is cut continuously in any given proportion, such as one-tenth, one-fourth, or one-half, by some fixed apparatus, which, as it contains no moving parts, is strictly speaking not a machine at all, but may be termed an appliance. The principle under which these appliances operate is now pretty generally conceded to be wrong, becanse of the practical impossibility of' cutting such a

Jan 1, 1892

By Arthur Taggart

A GENERAL awakening of interest among mill men concerning the mechanical efficiencies of their crushing machines is evident from a perusal of the recent files of mining publications. Considering the large part of the power bill which must be debited to the crushing department, such. interest is natural. When, however, the articles on the subject are read, the only statement upon which the writers agree is that fine grinding consumes a large amount of power, and that the machine which, from a concentration standpoint, offends as a slime producer is, for that reason, a serious offender in wasting power. When the mill man attempts to find a method for measuring the power wasted, or to compare the efficiency of one machine with that of another for the same work, he is confronted with a choice of methods which lead to conflicting results. There are two reasons why the work of crushing is not more generally understood. In the first place, experimental data are difficult to obtain; and in the second place, before these data can be put in general form certain assumptions must be made. A difference in these assumptions by different investigators has led to conflicting conclusions. This conflict has resulted in the proposal of two laws. The first of these is the so-called Rittinger's law, which is variously stated as follows: . "The work of crushing is proportional to the reduction in diameter."-R. H. Richards: Ore Dressing, p. 304 (1903). "The Work required to crush rock is very nearly proportional to the reciprocals of .the diameters crushed to."-A. Del Mar: Engineering and Mining Journal, vol. xciv, No. 24, p. 1129 (Dec. 14, 1912). "The Work done in crushing is proportional to the surface exposed by the operation, or better expressed for this purpose, the Work done on a given mass of rock is proportional to the reciprocal of the diameter of the final product, assuming that all the mass has been reduced to one exact size, which is only theoretically possible."- A. 0. Gates: Engineering and Mining Journal, vol. xcv, No. 21, p. 1039 (May 24, 1913).

Jan 1, 1914

By John V. Beall, William F. Haddon

A long the mighty Andean Cordillera, there is splendor beyond imagination-in the natural beauty of the mountains and in daring engineering and lavish investment in the mines. This is the story of the great copper mines of Chile and Peru. Each mine has a special quality which has tested the physical and spiritual resources of the founder. In the early days of the older mines, the mining engineer of song and story was more the rule than the exception. He was physically tough, ingenious and a leader of men. In the current political and social environment of Chile and Peru, the foreign contract mining engineer is still needed; but he must be a different type of man. To John J. Selters at Cerro's Rio Blanco, the principal ingredient is still "toughness," but it is "toughness of mind" that is needed. "He probably should be a teacher." The copper mines are not new. They were, almost without exception, worked by Indians (La Exotica might prove the rule), and later by the intrepid Spaniards. Modern mining began after the turn of the century. In Chile, the first of the big ones was the Braden Copper Co. founded on the El Teniente deposit. This development was followed by Chile Exploration Co. at Chuquicamata and Andes Copper at Potrerillos. These properties have been developed over the years by vast expenditures of money and a monumental amount of labor. None was free of technical problems-metallurgy at Chuqui, marginal grade of the old mine at Andes, avalanches and the great fire at El Teniente. The evolution which has brought the established mines of Chile, and the new ones coming on stream, to their present state of development is in reality the work of wonders of input-money, engineering and responsible management in an atmosphere of political stability. Without any one of these, the result would have been failure.

Jan 11, 1969

By Research Staff ? Verde Copper Mines

FLOTATION is now commonly practiced in alkaline ore pulps, yet little is known regarding the action of the alkaline solutions on the ore particles beyond the fact that films of oxidized material form. We wish to chronicle our discovery of the presence of soluble reducing agents in alkaline ore pulps of the United Verde, and present some data on lime consumption. During the grinding and flotation of a pyritic ore containing small amounts of ferrous sulfate and other soluble salts, an excess of lime was added to precipitate the salts, and filtered samples of the solution were titrated with standard permanganate solution. Even in pulps of high causticity an appreciable permanganate titration was always obtained, in spite of the fact that the solutions were shown to contain little iron. Investigation of the cause brought about the discovery of several previously unsuspected compounds in flotation pulps made from pyritic ore. Not only the reducing agents present had to be identified, but also the amount of dissolved oxygen, and a survey was finally made of the free oxygen content and reducing agents of the mill pulp in the concentrating mill at Clarkdale. A great many. compounds might form, caused by oxidation of pyrite or other metal sulfides or by reaction between a lime solution and pyrite. The most probable compounds considered were calcium sulfides, polysulfides, thiosulfates, and polythionates. Later it was discovered in the literature that in alkaline pulp polythionates do not exist and if introduced are decomposed into sulfites and thiosulfates.1 Any precipitated sulfur is changed by alkali into thiosulfate and polysulfide. Sulfites and sulfides react to form thiosulfate, so that in the end it is possible to have in an alkaline solution only thiosulfate and an excess either of sulfide or sulfite. Confirmatory tests were made and it was finally established that the alkaline mill pulps made from the United Verde ore contained

Jan 1, 1929

By Jesse O. Betterton, Y. E. Lebedeff

AS a matter of the most widespread interest to lead-refining metallurgists, the process of desilverizing lead originated by Parkes is the most fundamental step in lead refining. While this basic operation, in addition to effecting a practically complete recovery of gold and silver, is also a great purifying operation and a governor on the purity and uniformity of the final refined lead, it has the important deficiency that no bismuth is removed in the operation. The problem of finding a satisfactory, inexpensive method for removal of bismuth that would fit in with the basic desilverization step has been one of enticing interest for lead-refinery metallurgists for many years. Of late it has become one of imperative interest, and while many attempts and much progress have been made, it is probably fair to say that metallurgical progress thus far is only catching up with commercial requirements. The Pattinson process, an original competitor of the Parkes process for desilverization, has received much attention for its possibilities for bismuth removal. Bismuth concentrations in the Pattinson process fall far short of the silver concentrations and as a result too many operations are required and a crawl in grade in the kettle units is experienced which requires periodic correction. Altogether, it has proved too expensive a remedy, from the cost standpoint of both installation and operation. The Betts electrolytic process is a fully satisfactory remedy but its present status in the field of lead refining is more a matter of bismuth removal than preference as a refining system, except, of course, in instances particularly favorable to the basic requirements of the process. The Betts process, of course, is essentially different from the Parkes process, and very difficult to associate therewith to any economy except in minor ways. Accordingly, where economy dictates the Parkes process, and this is true of far the greater portion of the world's tonnage, the adoption of the Betts process primarily for bismuth removal is apt to prove an expensive remedy on account of its normally higher cost of operation, inelasticity of the equipment for variable tonnages, and high per ton cost of installation.

Jan 1, 1937

Jan 1, 1892

By Owen F. Devereux

Two discrete types of microstructure me seen in cermets formed by the reaction: 4Al (liquid) + 3SiO2 (glass) — 2A12O3(a) + 3Si (solid) Relatively coarse-grained macroscopically isotropic specimens resulted from reaction with aluminum containing appreciable silicon, while macroscopically anisotropic fine-grained specimens were formed by reaction with aluminum low in silicon. Optical microscopy, electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction suggest that the anisotropic material contains gross areas in which submicroscopic grains of a A12O3 are oriented along radial lines drawn from the specimen surface. These lines are presumed to originate at defects in an otherwise protecting surface layer. A unique cermet is formed by the reduction of high-silica glass by molten aluminum according to the reaction: 4A1 (liquid) + 3SiO2 (glass) — 2A12O3 (a) + 3Si (solid) The free-energy change accompanying this reaction is -150 kcal at 800°C; the volume change (volume of A12O3 and silicon minus volume of SiO2) is +6 pct. The reaction product, however, contains aluminum metal as well as Al2O3 and silicon because some of the product silicon is dissolved in the aluminum bath and is replaced by aluminum in the structure. The product is a hard gray solid that retains the external dimensions of the original silica article. The system has been studied in the past, the investigations culminating in patents to George1, 2 and Saw-chuk., The former emphasize that this reaction is but one of a relatively broad class of such systems, while the latter demonstrates that a marked improvement in the gross physical properties of the cermet can be obtained by dissolving appreciable quantities of silicon in the aluminum reactant. The system has also been studied by workers at Rolls Royce Ltd.,4-6 who have patented the addition of small quantities of arsenic, antimony, bismuth, or phosphorus to the reactant bath to SO impede the reaction that glass fibers may be metal-coated by immersion in molten aluminum.

Jan 1, 1969

By William E. Schoeneck

This paper presents the problem of oil-well abandonment as a group of studies involving the compilation of physical well data, the use of special curves, maps, and interpretative Procedures, in order that operations can be analyzed and means for reducing costs can be effected. Methods for the calculation of the economic limit of production and resultant oil reserves are suggested in order that profitable production may be continued and premature abandonment prevented. INTRODUCTION Purpose Extensive studies have been made and much has been written on the procedures for prospecting, drilling, completion, production and repair of oil wells, but the writer has long felt the need for a study of the procedure that should be followed when considering the abandonment of a well. The production from numerous well bores of a fluid material (a circumstance peculiar to the oil industry) that is continually decreasing in quantity leads to an increasing ratio of operating cost to production. It is for this reason that oil fields are not abandoned as a whole and detailed consideration of each well is required before it can be determined whether more is being expended than will be returned On any well or lease in question. It is the purpose of this paper, therefore, to compile, correlate, and present all matters worthy of consideration in the problem of oil-well abandonment; to suggest interpretative procedures based on such compilations, to the end that reliable estimates of reserves and life may be obtained; to show, as a result of such interpretative procedures, the possibilities for corrective measures conducive to economical production, thereby extending both profitable reserves and length of life. Scope and Approach Compiling data and outlining a study having the complexity of the problem at hand are naturally subject to the personal experiences of one who undertakes the study; however, the chosen approach and grouping of the subject material may be helpful in the consideration of abandonment problems. Consideration has been given to wells that make gas and water incident with the production of oil; but consideration has not been given to either gas wells or condensate-producing wells, for wells of the latter type have sufficient problems to warrant separate investigation. The major subdivisions of this paper-— physical considerations and economic considerations—do not imply that either of these phases can be considered independently, but rather that the two are mutually dependent and are the component parts of an engineering study.

Jan 1, 1946