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By J. S. Levine, M. Prats

A homogeneous and uniform cylindrical reservoir containing oil and gas is fractured vertically on completion and is produced at a constant bottom-hole pressure. The fracture has an infinite flow capacity, is of limited lateral extent and is bounded above and below by the impermeable strata defining the vertical extent of the reservoir. Results show that such a fractured reservoir can be represented by a reservoir of circular symmetry having very nearly the same production history. The well radius of this circular reservoir is about 1/4 the fracture length and is essentially the same as that obtained previously for a single fluid of constant compressibility. At the same value of cumulative oil production, gas-oil ratios of fractured reservoirs producing at constant terzinal pressure are larger than those of reservoirs having no fractures. This leads to more inefficient use of the reservoir energy in fractured wells and results in lower reservoir pressures for the same cumulative oil production. The reduction in operating life due to fracturing a reservoir is not as great as that for a slightly compressible fluid. This diflerence can be accounted for by the lower reservoir pressure in the fractured reservoir and its adverse effect on the average mobility and compressibility of the oil. As anticipated, the reduction in operating life increases czs the reservoir permeability decreases. The type of results presented in this report can be used to determine the economic attractiveness of fracture treatments per se, to setect the initial spacing to be used in developing a field, and to compare the relative merits of fracturing available wells and infill drilling. INTRODUCTION The effect of vertical fractures on a reservoir producing either an incompressible or a compressible liquid has already been discussed in the 1iterature.l,2 Those results indicate that the production history of such a reservoir is essentially the same as that of a circular reservoir having an effective well radius of approximately one-fourth the fracture length. The present work reports on the effect of a vertical fracture on a reservoir producing two compressible fluids —oil and gas—by solution gas drive. Because of the empirical nature of the PVT and relative permeability data used to obtain the performance of such reservoirs, results can only be obtained numerically and with the aid of high-speed computers. Since reservoirs lose their radial symmetry when fractured vertically, pressure and saturation can no longer be given only in terms of distance from the well. Two coordinates (such as x and y) must now be used to describe the pressure and saturation within the reservoir, and, since we are dealing with compressible fluids, time is also a variable. Thus the solution of a vertically fractured reservoir requires finding two unknowns (pressure and saturation) in two space variables (say x and y) and in time (t). Since no means are readily and generally available for solving such problems at the present time, we have used the results of previous work1,2 to approximate the effect of a vertical fracture on a reservoir producing both oil and gas by depletion. The purpose of the present wmk, then, is to investigate the possibility of using available numerical techniques (limited at the moment to one space variable) to study the two-space-variable flow behavior resulting from a vertical fracture. Results obtained in the course of this investigation are also reported and discussed. Input and output data of the numerical methods used are given in practical units: BOPD, feet, psi, cp, and md. Results are discussed fist in terms of specific reservoir and crude properties and geometries. Later, dimensionless parameters are introduced in order to extend results to different values of some of the reservoir and fracture properties. IDEALIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE FRACTURED SYSTEM It is assumed that a horizontal oil-producing layer of constant thickness and of uniform porosity and permeability is bounded above and below by impermeable strata. The reservoir has an impermeable, circular, cylindrical outer boundary of radius r,. The fracture system is represented by a single, plane, vertical fracture of limited radial extent, bounded by the impermeable matrix above and below' the producing layer (reservoir). It is assumed that there is no pressure drop in the fracture due to fluid flow. 1 indicates the general three-dimensional geometry of the fractured reservoir. Gravity effects and the effects of differential depletion resulting from variations in hydrostatic head (pressure) will be neglected. Thus, the flow behavior in the fractured reservoir is described by the

By E. W. Enqelmann

DURING January, 1933, burlap or coco matting was placed in the bottom of launders handling various products of the flotation plant of the Magna mill of the Utah Copper Co., with the hope of increasing the total recovery of gold. This was soon followed by placing various materials, such as coco matting, cotton twill, and common 10-oz. burlap on the bottom of the main tailing launder. The burlap was found to be the most economical material to use. The test was first conducted in an old wooden launder, 40 in. wide and 2000 ft. long, with 10-oz. burlap fastened

Jan 1, 1935

By BLABIEY STEVENS

THE object of this paper is to present a theory of the formation of fissures which seems to be supported by all available data. The investigation is, in the main, an exact one, and irregularities of the rock-structure are generalized. From the conclusions drawn a general classification of fissures is made, and this should be of practical use in the comparison of mineral deposits. The theory also throws some light on the equilibrium of the earth's crust and the depth of action of surface-waters. Incidentally, additions are made to the theory of earthquake-slips. Former Theory. It has been previously pointed out that the '"jointing" of homogeneous rocks occurs in two sets of planes, at right angles to one another, and making angles of 45° with the directions of greatest and least principal stress.' The theory by which this fact is explained does not, however, account for fissures and faults, because normal faults are usually more vertically, and reverse faults more horizontally, inclined than 45°. The "jointing law" is based on the following axiom: "In a homogeneous mass under pressure, rupture must take place on the lines of maximum tangential stress." 2 This law applies, with fair approximation, to the tests on jointing which can be made in the laboratory, and as nearly as can be expected to the natural jointing-planes in rock-masses, where the stresses are not very great; but it entirely fails to account for fissure-fractures.

Aug 1, 1909

By Walter Larsh

The Ruth orebody, so far developed, is roughly oval in plan, major and minor axes about 1600 ft. (487 m.) and 1200 ft. (365 m.) respectively, average thickness about 120 ft. (36 m.), and with a general dip of about 15° to the northwest. According to the generally accepted theory, the ore is a secondary enrichment of the porphyry due to leaching in situ by meteoric waters. Copper occurs as chalcocite, chalcocite coating pyrite, and a little chalcopyrite. The leached zone, or capping, covering the ore varies in thickness from 110 to 540 ft. (33 to 164 m.), average about 410 ft. (124 m.). The ore is blue gray in color, and the capping, light yellow to brown. Ore was first discovered in quantity in the workings from the Ruth shaft, now caved. Further development work was done by churn drills, and the outline of the orebody, as stated above, determined in this manner. Drilling is still being carried on. The porphyry area is entirely surrounded by sedimentaries, lime-stones and shales; and, in so far as the underground workings have shown, the porphyry' itself, the sedimentaries near the contact, and the country underlying the ore (igneous or sedimentary) is very soft, heavy, and in places swelling ground. All openings have to be carefully and stoutly timbered, and, after once driven, they have to be constantly eased off and repaired. The mine is at present served by two shafts, the Star Pointer, the main working shaft; a vertical, and the Ingersoll, an incline used for waste and material. The two shafts are about 2600 ft. (792 m.) apart, connected on the 500 level; a connection is now being driven on the 600 level. (Dec., 1917. This connection is now completed.) The 300 level, which is finished, and the 400 level which is nearly completed, are accessible only from the Ingersoll and connections with the 500 level.

Jan 1, 1918

By R. C. Mahon

During the early history of the Lake Superior district, tamarack timber was used almost exclusively in the wines. It had the strength and lasting qualities necessary for a satisfactory mining timber. But about fifteen years ago the tamarack trees were attacked by a blight which killed nearly all of them so today no tamarack timber is available. Hemlock, spruce, and poplar have neither the necessary strength nor the lasting qualities for mining timber, but a large supply of maple and birch is available. These have ample strength but, when placed underground, fail by decay in about three years. This means that, instead of replacing the timber sets once in fifteen years, it must be done five or more times in the same space of time which involves not only incraesed timber costs but more important, an increased labor cost.

Jan 1, 1949

By J. C. McHardy

During 1980-2000, the Florida phosphate industry will deplete its central Florida Polk County reserves. As a result, new mines will be built in the so-called southern Florida reserve areas. These mines will require new mining, beneficiation, and tailings disposal technologies since southern reserves have different characteristics than have been encountered in the central Florida deposits. Furthermore, government regulations will necessitate development of new tailings and clay disposal methods. This paper reviews these challenges for the Phosphate industry and how these opportunities can be expected to effect plant design and plant operating practices.

Jan 1, 1984

By Sir Lowthian Bell

WITH the exception of air and water, it is open to question whether there is any form of matter which the human race could less easily spare than iron. Short of going the length of asserting that, without this metal for an anchor or steel for the compass, the adventurous navigator could never have crossed the wide Atlantic, we may credit the locomotive' and the steamer, and hence iron, for that sequence of events which has peopled North America with the

Jan 1, 1891

By Nicholas J. Grant, Chih-Chung Wang

TO phase of the Ti-0 system has the structure of NaCl and has a wide range of solid solubility.' In the course of studying the Ti-Cr-0 ternary system, binary alloys were made of iodide titanium and high purity TiO,. It was found from X-ray studies of the binary alloys that a transformation of the TiO appears to take place at a temperature near 925°C. Evidence of this phase change is best seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 1A shows the X-ray spectrometer pattern (CUKa radiation) of an alloy of 25 wt pct 0 corresponding to the stoichiometric composition of TiO.

Jan 1, 1957

By Mark Malamphy

THE occurrence of outcrops of bituminous schists and sandstones impregnated with heavy asphaltic petroleum first directed attention to the Sao Pedro area as a possible source of commercial production of petroleum. Since 1920, more than 20 wells have been drilled in this area. The discovery of oil shows and small quantities of natural gas in some of the early wells led to the continuation of drilling in the hope that more important findings would result. During the early part of 1934, detailed magnetometer observations were made in this area, and a con-siderable number of torsion balance stations were occupied. The results of these geophysical observations help considerably to clarify the structure of the area and the very considerable amount of geologic information available makes possible a much more exact interpretation of geo-physical anomalies. In presenting the results of these observations, and interpretation of the geophysical data, certain actual case problems are included; i.e., geophysical anomalies due to anomalous masses of which the forms and positions are more or less known. Although anomalies due to igneous intrusions are probably more important to geophysicists in Brazil than in other countries, these data have a certain interest for all geophysicists, particularly because they were obtained in the south magnetic hemisphere, where the lines of magnetic force are directed upward, and in a region of moderately low inclination. This is considered as a geological-geophysical problem, and only passing mention will be given to the petroleum possibilities of the area.

Jan 1, 1936

By J. M. W. Mackenzie

The interactions between oil drops and mineral surfaces have been examined for the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-quartz and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-hematite systems. The results have been interpreted using a electrical double layer interaction model, a "sweeping-penetration" model based on steric interactions and a free energy of adhesion model. The adsorption of long-chain ions at the mineral interface was also studied and found to follow a Fuerstenau-Modi model of combined Coulombic and chain-chain interaction forces. The basis of the emulsion flotation process and the feature which makes it differ from conventional flotation is: encounter, followed by adhesion, between oil drops and mineral particles which are suspended in an aqueous environment. The manner in which the adhesion between these two phases contributes to the flotation process may be through the formation of min-eral-oil drop-mineral linkages, mineral-oil drop-air bubble linkages, or a combination of both. Possible flotation mechanisms derived from these adhesion processes are shown schematically in Fig. 2 while Fig. 1 shows an example of the first mechanism for quartz particles which have been floated using a cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB)-Nujol emulsion as collector. In Fig. 2 the three phases, mineral, oil, and air, for convenience have been shown as having approximately equal size. This would not always be the case in an actual emulsion flotation operation. For the flotation of sand-sized particles of approximately 0.5 mm diam, the mineral particles would be at least ten times the size of the largest emulsion drops present in the system, while in the flotation of —10u slime particles, the mineral phase may be of the same order of size as the oil phase. The air bubbles in a flotation cell are normally about 1 to 2 mm in diam and therefore, in general, would be larger than the oil drops. Although the relative size of the three phases does not alter the basic adhesion processes between oil drops, mineral particles, and air bubbles, which depend on the physical and chemical properties of the interfaces involved rather than on the extent of these interfaces, it does alter the degree of deformation of the oil drops and air bubbles which will occur on adhesion. For mechanisms 1 and 2 to take place, the oil-water and mineral-water interfaces must be partially replaced by a mineral-oil interface while in mechanism 2 there is the additional requirement that the oil-water and air-water interfaces must be replaced by an oil-air interface. In view of the importance of the oil drop-mineral particle encounter and subsequent adhesion stages to both of the emulsion flotation mechanisms discussed, a study has been made of some physicochemical factors which control these processes for Nujol-cetytri-methylammonium bromide (CTAB)-quartz and Nujol-sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) -hematite systems. Experimental Electrokinetic Measurements.—The zeta potential of mineral particles was measured using a streaming potential technique similar to that described by Fuerste-nau.1 The streaming potential was measured using a multirange electrometer while the plug conductivity was measured using a 50 cycle sec1 bridge. Measurements were made on 28 x 65 mesh particles. Contact Angle Measurements.—A captive bubble technique was used to measure the contact angles for air bubbles and oil drops. The angles were measured on fracture faces of unmounted minerals which proved easier to clean than polished mounted specimens and should more closely represent a flotation system. Reagents: These have been described in a previous publication.0 Minerals: Rock crystal quartz from the New England district, N.S.W., was used for contact angle and streaming potential measurements. The quartz was hand

Jan 1, 1971

By Herman Van Fleet, Frederick W. Neil, O&apos

The object of this paper is to describe the present status and possil~ilities of liquid oxygen as an explosive based upon the investigations, research and practical work of the Ingersoll-Rand Co., and of the Air Reduction Co., from early in 1922 to date. The following work was done. 1. A study of the history and physical theory of L. 0. X. as an explosive. (No attempt will be made in this paper to give the history or theory, as this has already been covered by the literature on the subject.) 2. An investigation of the use and the practice with L. 0. X. in the iron mines of Lorraine where L. 0. X. has its largest application in Europe. Although L. 0. X. is extensively employed in the iron mines of Lorraine, many of the mines using it exclusively, and blasting with it a total of approximately three million tons of iron ore per year, the fact that the mining practice in Lorraine1 is to drill comparatively shallow holes and blast only a few holes at a time, renders the data obtained there of very little value in estimating the possibility of replacing dynamite with L. 0. X. in American mining methods. In fact, in the iron mines in Lorraine, L. 0. X. replaced black powder, or its equivalent. 3. Laboratory research work on properties of absorbent materials. 4. Work in the Bureau of Mines explosive laboratory at Pittsburgh, Pa., on the properties of L. 0. 3. cartridges. 5. Practical work underground with L. 0. X. cartridges in the Kitherbee-Sherman iron mines at Mineville, N. Y. 6. Practical work in the quarries of the Calcite Quarry Co., Myers-town, Pa. 7. Practical blasting in several quarries and open-pit mines.

Jan 1, 1927

By Frederic E. Carter

THERE have been many attempts to prove that platinum was known to the ancients, but since no traces of the metal have been found in the relics of early times, it must be concluded that it was not known to them. As far as records go, it was actually first discovered in the 16th century in a Spanish mine on the Pinto River in South America; from which source it received its name of Platina del Pinto (little silver from the Pinto). It was more or less of a rarity and was a subject of interest to a few chemists only, until the year 1822 when the metal was first discovered in Russia. In 1819 there were noticed in the washings of the gold sands of the southern part of the Ural Mountains, grains of a heavy white substance, but it was not until three years later that this substance was found to contain platinum. While at first the amounts of platinum brought from the Urals were meager, prospecting soon disclosed rich deposits extending over a considerable area, and nuggets from 10 to 20 lb. were by no means rare. This discovery assured to chemists an ample supply of platinum for their crucibles, etc. The ore is now found in various parts of the world but the richest deposits are still found in the Ural Mountains. The platinum of commerce is obtained entirely from alluvial deposits at depths varying from 6 to 40 ft. The sand and gravel of former river beds are subjected to a series of screenings and washings to effect the separation of the ore. Actually, probably all gold-bearing gravel beds of the world contain platinum, and it is more than likely that large quantities of platinum ore have been thrown away with the black sand washings from gold placer deposits. This is especially true of the alluvial deposits of the Pacific Coast in California and Oregon. Platinum ore is usually found in the form of rounded or flattened grains of "sand," and occasionally in irregular lumps of the size of peas. Large nuggets are very rare. The ore has a metallic luster and is distinguished by its steel gray color, but shows light gray streak when rubbed on a hard white surface; it has a high specific gravity, 16 to 19; is infusible in the hottest blast furnaces, and insoluble in any single acid. Platinum ore is a complex body consisting of the metal in combination with varying proportions of the other members of the platinum group; iridium,

Jan 1, 1928

From the cold Pacific waters in June rolls a blanket of white clouds that tucks up around the mountains at around 8000 or 9000 ft. This is the way it happens in southern Peru and so the mining operations and daily living at Toquepala have an ethereal quality not often encountered. Besides looking down on the clouds from the brightly sunlit mountain tops, one can discern the trace of a different era in the brown barren mountain slopes. This trace is like a delicate net laid over the surface of the earth-a criss-crossing of innumerable trails that are so omnipresent, yet faint, that the local people have long since ceased to notice them. It is difficult at first to ask about them because no one understands what you are talking about. It finally comes out though, that the markings are indeed trails, but fossil trails made by animals in times when they were in abundance in a countryside that was green in some bygone century. In a way Toquepala is still pristine, it is the way the engineers planned it-from the ground up. There are no additions or expansions- those tackings-on that spoil the symmetry of design while increasing the profit. This does not deny that annual production has gone up over the years. Daily mill throughput has been increased from 30,000 to 42,000 tpd. Initial design of the concentrator was for 30,000 tpd but in 1964-65 milling capacity was increased to 36,000 tpd at a cost of $3 million.

Jan 11, 1969

By H. E. Wrigley

The boundaries of the oil region in Pennsylvania and New York, as determined by the drill, embrace a much larger extent of territory than is generally supposed, being nearly 200 miles in length from north to south, with an average width of 25 miles, covering an area, within somewhat irregular lines, of about 4250 square miles. After twenty years of development we find these lines practically the same as those laid down by McClure in his geological map of the United States, published in 1817, and denominated and colored by him as the "line of salt," which was found in quantity long before petroleum. The eastern line of the entire oil region lies in a northeast and southwest direction, parallel to and some distance west of the Allegheny Mountains; the south line is substantially one drawn between the western boundary of Butler County and the town of Kittanning in Armstrong County; the west line passes just outside of Butler County, cutting off a small corner of Mercer, west of the towns of Franklin, Titusville, and Warren, into New York State, where it rounds off the end of this long strip in the counties of Allegheny and Cattarangus, and joins the eastern line, near Olean, New York, north of the city of Bradford. (See map.) The eastern line, starting from Kittanning, passes through the northeast corner of Clarion County, the southeast corner of Warren, cutting Forest County through the centre, and reaching the beforementioned extreme northeastern developments near Olean. These lines have been taken broadly to include all territory that could ever possibly come into the question as oil-producing. These lines having been proved by the drill may be considered

Jan 1, 1882

By J. B. Newkirk

ABOUT twenty-seven years ago W. bergl discovered that interesting detail could be seen in an X-ray diffraction spot made with a rock-salt crystal if the recording photographic film were held very close to the reflecting crystal. He also showed that much of this detail could be explained in terms of the deformation structure of the specimen. In the same year, 1931, Fox and parr2 reported that X-ray reflections from a quartz crystal were much more intense while the crystal was undergoing piezoelectric oscillation than when it was at rest. This observation was soon confirmed (and explained in terms of X-ray extinction) by Barrett3 in the United States and by Nishikawa et a1.,4 in Japan. During the next few years Barrett refined Berg's method for making X-ray diffraction micrographs and applied it to the study of metallic crystals. He reported this work in the 1945 annual lecture of the AIME.5 Since 1945 relatively little use has been made of the Berg-Barrett (B-B) method for making diffraction micrographs, though considerable interest in investigating subcrystal structures by other methods has developed. Some of these methods depend upon evaporation6 or chemical etching7 and, therefore, suffer from the occasional intrusion of subtle artifacts such as those recently reported by Hooker for leada and Welsh for aluminum.9 Other methods require the introduction of foreign elements which "decorate" the substructure in some way, thereby rendering it detectable by direct" or indirect1'. visual examination. Still others depend upon complex and often highly questionable analyses of X-ray diffraction line profiles. There have also been a number of related X-ray techniques, such as the Lambot,12 Schulz13 and Merlini and Guinier,14 which have proved to be quite useful for specific applications. Some of these methods give a picture of the substructure which is more or less directly related to the shape and the topography of the specimen. The Berg-Barrett method carries this desirable feature to the limit. Closely related to the B-B method are three photographic X-ray techniques recently described by Lang.15 These methods give beautiful pictures of the internal structure of crystals but are limited by the facts that the required apparatus is rather complex, exposure times are long, and the specimen crystals must be thin. An experimental appraisal which I have recently made of the original B-B method has shown that this simple technique is not only inexpensive and convenient, but can give more information than was apparently realized by its inventors. For example, first-order subgrains in iron-silicon crystals were clearly delineated and their relative orientation subject to description. Also defect structures could be seen within the subgrains and in some materials slip bands could be clearly seen with respect to the topography of the rest of the specimen. This much had already been described by Barrett. However, in the present study it was found that the actual sites of individual dislocations which emerge upon the crystal surface could be located. Furthermore, by a simple procedure, the direction (but not sign) of the dislocation Burgers' vector could be defined as well.

Jan 1, 1960

By C. D. Hall, F. E. Dollarhide

Conventional static tests of fluid-loss agents do not realistically simulate conditions in a fracturing treatment. The dynamic tests reported here show that fluid-loss volume is better represented as proportional to time, rather than as the square root of time. This leads to a different equation for fracture area. The leak-off rate increases with increasing shear rate at the fracture wall, but appears to approach a limiting value. Pressure effects are minor. Spurt loss ordinarily is not affected by the flow velocity in the fracture and is inversely proportional to concentration of agent. The filter cake, once it is well established, is resistant to damage by the flow of plain fracturing liquid (without fluid-loss agent). The latter two findings indicate that a treatment employing a high-concentration spearhead followed by plain fluid can offer a more economical treatment under suitable conditions. INTRODUCTION The successful design of hydraulic fracturing treatments depends on accurate knowledge of the fluid-loss properties of the fracturing fluid. Howard and Fast,' in giving the basic equation relating fracture area to fluid and treating parameters, described three mechanisms which might control the rate of fluid leak-off from the fracture. One mechanism usually is dominant in a given well treatment. For each mechanism, the leak-off velocity is inversely proportional to the square root of time, and the proportionality constant is designated as the fracturing-fluid coefficient. For the wall-building type of fluid-loss agent, the coefficient is determined by a filtration test in a pressure cell, usually with a rock wafer or core as the filter medium. In these static tests, the cumulative volume generally is proportional to the square root of time, after an initial spurt volume. The static-fluid-loss test is not representative of the con,-&tions under which a fluid-loss agent performs in a fratturing treatment. The marked difference between the dynamic- and static-fluid-loss behavior of drilling fluids reported in the literature2,3 implies that dynamic testing is also needed with fracturing fluids. We have therefore undertaken a study of the dynamic-fluid-loss behavior of fracturing fluids. The testing apparatus has also afforded opportunity to evaluate the resistance of the filter cake to removal or damage by flowing fluid containing no fluid-loss agent, with and without sand. The results of these studies offer a means for more accurate evaluation of fluid-loss agent performance, and point the way to a "spearhead" fracturing technique which may offer more economical treatment for some wells. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS The dynamic-fluid-loss testing method is applicable to any type of wall-building fracturing fluid. The present study aimed first at finding what phenomena are involved, and therefore has been limited in the number of materials tested. All of the results specifically reported herein are for kerosene containing a commercial solid fluid-loss agent, which is commonly used at 50 lb/1,000 gal of oil. Another agent in liquid form, used usually at 20 ga1/1,000 gal oil, has shown all the same phenomena in dynamic tests, and generally the same level of fluid-loss control as the solid agent. The dynamic-fluid-loss core cell used in all tests is shown in Fig. 1. The fracture was simulated by the an-nulus between a 2.03 in. OD sandstone core and the surrounding pipe. Annulus widths of 0.234 and 0.117 in. were used, and the core was 3.5 in. long. The annular geometry provides a uniform fluid velocity and a well-defined shear rate over the entire filtering surface, and permits a large filter area (144 sq cm) in a reasonably compact cell. The leak-off fluid passed into a 0.5 in. diameter axial hole in the core. A hollow steel rod through this hole was threaded into a rounded "streamliner" upstream of the core, and into a mounting stud downstream. The streamliner and the stud had the same outside diameter as the core. In all tests except those where sand was circulated, the mounting stud had protruding rings which constricted the annulus, to minimize any tendency for channeling of the fluid to the side exit port. The ends of the core were sealed by Neoprene, steel and Teflon washers. The leak-off fluid was conducted from the hollow rod to an exit tube, through a metering valve (a fine-pitched needle valve) and a quick-opening toggle valve in series, and into graduated cylinders for volume measurement; Two separate circulating systems were used in the experimental program. The extensive initial testing was done at 50 to 150 Psi. The fluid was circulated by a variable speed Moyno pump, and the flow rate was read by a rota-meter flow meter. The filtration Pressure was supplied by holding a back-pressure with a throttling valve. The discharge streamcould be diverted into any of four sections

Jan 1, 1965

By B. H. Caudle, L. G. Davies, I. H. Silberberg

This paper presents a method of predicting the recovery and performance of a five-spot steam injection project, in which a realistic approach to pattern sweepout efficiencies is made. Published methods for radial systems were modified for the five-spot pattern by approximating the stream lines with straight lines radiating from the injection well and then converging to the producing well. In each radial segment, the position of the steam front and the temperature profile ahead of the steam front were determined by heat balance equations, which included an estimation of heat losses to surrounding formations. The location of the saturations behind the cold water front was determined from a Buckley-Leverett solution to the material balance equation. Results from this program show steamflood recovery in a five-spot pattern to be considerably less than that predicted for true linear or radial flow systems. For a specific reservoir containing 900-cp oil, a steamflood in a purely radial flow system was predicted to recover more than 75 percent of the original oil in place when 2 PV of water had been injected as steam. A five-spot steamflood with otherwise identical properties was predicted to recover 10 percent of the original oil in place when 0.15 PV of water had been injected as steam and to recover almost no oil thereafter. A cold water five-spot flood in this system was predicted to recover approximately W percent of the oil in place with I PV of water injected. For a five-spot pattern in an example reservoir with 10-cp oil, steam injection similarly showed lower ultimate recovery than water injection but no improvement in recovery rule. Introduction The thermal recovery method considered in this study is steam injection in a five-spot pattern. Pattern steam injection has been given little attention in the past, possibly because of some rather obvious disadvantages. Unless steam temperature is maintained throughout the entire swept area, the process will revert to simple waterflood with all heat being lost prior to reaching the oil bank. Also, the oil viscosity reduction takes place near the steam front and not around the producing wellbore, so that low producing rates must still be endured. This is the reason for the success of the steam stimulation, or cyclic injection, in which the fluids are produced from the same well used for injection. On the other hand, steamflooding can offer some advantages. Oil displacement is by four methods: (1) mechanical displacement by the condensed water, (2) viscosity reduction of the crude oil, (3) swelling of the crude oil, and (4) distillation of the crude oil in the steam zone. Although dependent upon the crude, laboratory experiments have shown displacements up to 80 percent by steamflooding. In addition, steam is a good heat transport medium, since it is cheap and has a high heat content. Previous Investigations Previous publications have reported methods for predicting recovery in a steamflood for linear and radial systems. Since no pattern sweep efficiency is taken into consideration, the recovery even from a radial system must be greater than from more realistic geometries such as the very common five-spot patterns. Probably the broadest coverage is given by Willman who reported experimental results and offered a method of predicting recovery for a radial flow system. They concluded that both hot water and steam injection recover more oil than an ordinary waterflood, and that steam injection could yield recoveries "as much as 100 percent greater than by water flood." They also concluded that both the heat requirements for a reservoir and the residual oil remaining in the reservoir after steam injection were independent of the amount of oil originally in place, that short exploitation times were desirable, and that a high percentage of net sand in the reservoir with a high initial oil saturation was desirable. The method assumes that the flood occurs in three concentric cylindrical zones: (1) an inner steam zone, (2) a central hot water zone, and (3) an outer cold waterflood zone. Displacement in the steam zone is based on laboratory-determined residual oil saturations while the hot water and cold water zones use the conventional Buckley-Leverett equations. Although the results shown by Willman et al. are for a radial system flowing out from the well to an assumed external circular boundary, their equations did

Jan 1, 1969

By Chas. A. Ashburner

The occurrence of oil- and gas-springs in the State of New York has been a fact of historical record since 1627, when the existence of the Cuba oil-spring was first recorded. The utilization of natural gas at Fredonia in 1821 attracted the attention of the public to the possibility of obtaining an illuminating gas by digging and drilling into the rocks. No active search was made, however, for oil or gas by the drilling of wells until after the discovery of commercial oil in Pennsylvania in 1859. In 1862 a well was drilled at Bradford, McKean County, Pennsylvania, but a few miles south of the New York state line, to the depth of 200 feet, in search of the oil-sand which had been found at Titusville, Oil City, and at other points in Western Pennsylvania. Immediately subsequent to this, other wells were drilled in search

Jan 1, 1888

By Lyall, Zickrick

As a result of the studies on recrystallization and crystal growth made in this laboratory, certain theories have been developed. These are expressed briefly in a paper by Dean and Hudson.' One of the principal points brought out in that paper is that in the deformation of a crystal, the energy supplied is distributed to the atoms of the lattice, probably by the forced formation of molecules. It is found that a Maxwellian distribution of the energy among these atoms will account for the grain growth at various temperatures. According to such a distribution the number of atoms with energy above a certain critical value, E, necessary for recrystallization at the absolute temperature T is given by n = Ne-E/kT where N is the total number of atoms. It is apparent that if this line of reasoning is correct, a metal which has been cold-worked and reheated to a temperature below that of complete annealing will have the atoms with the higher energy recrystallized, that is, reduced to normal energy and there will remain only atoms below a certain energy. If this metal is again cold-worked the peak in the number-energy distribution curve will, as compaied with its position after the first cold-working, be displaced toward the regions of lower energies, that is, the temperature of recrystallization will be higher. By a repetition of this process the position of this maximum and hence the recrystallization temperature of the metal could be raised considerably. In order to check this theory, experiments have been made on copper wire. The wire was drawn from 1/4-in. rod to 22 B & S gage and then sample lots were annealed at 400 and 220° C., respectively. The wire annealed at 400° C. gave an elongation of 34 per cent., whereas that annealed at 220° C. gave only 23 per cent. These wires were then drawn by identical practice to 34 B & S gage and the elongation determined after an anneal of 3 min. in an oil bath held at various temperatures. The figures obtained have been plotted in Fig. 1. It will be seen that the

Jan 1, 1927

By H. S. Munroe

The dressing-works of the St. Joseph Lead Company were destroyed by fire, February 26th, 1883. Within about four months, or on July 5th, 1883, the new mill, with a capacity of 500 tons per day, was built and in active operation. The capacity of the new mill has since been increased to 800 tons per day. The old mill was built in 1867, by Mr. C. B. Parsons, the present superintendent. It was a curious rambling old structure, which had grown with the demands of the business; a few jigs having been added in one place, a table or two in another and wings and sheds added to the main buildings, from time to time, as it was found necessary to increase the efficiency or the capacity of the mill. The old mill was, moreover, a most interesting place to the student, a perfect "museum of ore-dressing." Nearly every form of dressing apparatus known to the art had, at one time or another, found a place under its roof, jigs of many kinds, concave, convex, side-bump and stationary tables, tyes, buddles, dolly-tubs, etc., etc. The method of dressing followed in the main the lines of English practice, but with many modifications, both in the machinery and the methods of working, due to the inventive genius of Mr. Parsons. Different forms of crushing apparatus were tried, and the best method of handling the ore and the different products of

Jan 1, 1889