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By James O. Lewis

Gravity drainage is the self-propulsion of oil downward in the reservoir rock. Under favorable natural and operational conditions, it has been found to effect recoveries comparable to water displacement. With modern technical knowledge, the operator can often make a choice between dissolved gas drive, water drive and gravity drainage as the principal recovery agent in a reservoir. It is desirable that the opeator be able to determine which of the three agents will be most effective under each set of conditions. So far, gravity drainage has received less consideration than the other two. In this paper. an endeavor is made to set forth some of the principles of gravity drainage, to point out the types of reservoirs favorable for it, and to show how it may be applied in them. Field examples are described and discussed. Introduction Since early in the history of the oil industry, it has been recognized that gravity is one of the three important natural forces for expelling oil from the reservoir rock. As knowledge of the technology of oil recovery progressed, ideas changed with respect to the relative importance of the three forces and with respect to the manners in which they functioned. For a time, disproportionate emphasis was placed on the importance and function of gas and the need for conserving gas pressures. More recently, disproportionate emphasis has been placed on encroaching edge water. Only lately has there been evidence that the function and importance of gravity was to receive due consideration. Study of this neglected phase of oil recovery is needed to round out our knowledge of reservoir behaviors and to gain a balanced viewpoint of the interplay of forces that may operate in varying importance in reservoirs. The purpose of this paper is to discuss mainly in a qualitative way, the functions of gravity, to present some concrete instances where it has been important and to raise some questions that should be investigated further. Oil-recovery Agents The important natural agents for effecting oil recovery that may be originally available in a reservoir are gas, both dissolved in the oil and free in gas caps, encroaching edge water and gravity. Each of these agents can act in a dual capacity—physically to overcome the surface energies that hold the oil within the pores and mechanically to overcome viscous . resistance and to propel the oil through the porous reservoir rock to the wells. Advancing edge water displaces the oil from the pores and lifts it updip to structurally lower wells. Gravity drains the oil from the pores and flows it downdip to the wells. Gas displaces oil from the pores, entrains it in the gas stream and flows it to the wells, but gas in solution also affects the physical properties of the oil and thus can influence oil recovery by the other agents, whether or not the mechanical energy in the gas is utilized. Of the two functions of these agents, the more important is the ability to dis-

Jan 1, 1944

By Walton J. Greer, System By John E. Owen

The guard electrode system measures the resistivity of formations by employing a thin disk of current which is caused to flow perpendicular to the bore hole. The control of this current disk is obtained in a brute force manner through the use of relatively long equipotential electrodes above and below the measuring electrode. The log obtained from the system is free of "lag," "plateau," "shadow," "reflection" and other distortions evident on conventional logs. The proportionate contributions of the hole size and invaded zone resistivity to the apparent resistivity reading are reduced when the mud and filtrate resistivities are lower. Thus, the guard system favors the use of conductive muds. The mathematical development of the theory is given in an appendix. Equations are derived to evaluate the effects of mud resistivity, hole size, invaded zone resistivity and depth, and the true formation resistivity. Sample logs from several provinces are reproduced and compared with conventional electric logs to illsutrate the much greater detailed lithology that can be presented by the guard electrode system. INTRODUCTION With increased ability of those in the petroleum industry to analyze formation characteristics from electrical resistivity data, there has become apparent the need for more precise measures of that parameter. The measurement of the resistivity of a homogeneous and isotropic material can be made simply when the body of the material is infinite in all dimensions and the measuring electrodes can be placed within the body. In such a case, the current leaving an electrode follows a spherical distribution and the mathematical expression for the potential level at any distance from that electrode can readily be derived.'.' If it is considered that the active electrodes are within a bore hole filled with mud of a resistivity different from that of the formation. the current does not flow in a spherical pattern near the current source or sink, and the calculations of potential levels become more difficult. The additional consideration of a section of formation invaded by mud filtrates, and thus having resistivity different from either that of the mud, the adjacent formations or of the undisturbed formation, makes the mathematical problem extremely complex. Should the vertical dimensions of the formations be considered as finite. the problem becomes so complex as to preclude reasonable solution. Yet, even these considerations have not described adequately the conditions encountered in a large proportion of the wells to be studied. In efforts to evaluate the effects of the various conditions. combinations of twn, three. and four electrode logging con- figurations of the conventional types have been used. The resulting logs have left much to be desired in some provinces. It has become apparent that the use of such configurations will not result in adequate measurements being made, particularly in cases where the formation is composed of thin sections. If all the current of a resistivity measuring circuit is made to flow through the formation opposite the exploring electrode, many of the shortcomings of the conventional measuring system are eliminated. In the guard electrode method of electrical well logging to be discussed in this paper, the current is so controlled by causing it to flow in a thin disk normal to the axis of the logging tool. EARLY HISTORY The guard electrode method of electrical well logging in its early years was a joint development by the Geophysical Research Corp. and the Amerada Petroleum Corp. The method was first experimentally investigated by means of model studies. The results of these studies indicated that current focusing systems properly applied to electrical well logging

Jan 1, 1951

By E. C. Skinner

Cardox, which consists essentially of a steel tube containing carbon dioxide compressed to the liquid state, is a trade name designating a device used principally in coal mines to break down coal. The use of Cardox to break down coal was developed in the Middle Western coal fields around 1927 or 1928. At first, a large, heavy tube was used, requiring many parts. Through experimentation and technologic improvement, the weight of the tube has been brought down from 88 lb. to 20 lb. and the new, light tube makes use of larger volumes of CO2 at lower pressures than formerly was thought possible. This blasting method is extensively used today in coal mines and probably one tenth of the bituminous coal produced in the United States is prepared with Cardox. Construction and Application As used in the coal mine, Cardox looks like a piece of steel pipe 2 to 3 in. in diameter and 3 to 5 ft. long. When it is necessary to fire a shot, the tube is wired with two leg wires that are long enough so that when the tube is pushed the desired distance into the hole the wires will protrude 5 to 6 in. It has been found that No. 18 insulated copper annunciator wire is the best material for leg wires. A two-conductor rubber-covered shot-firing cable of sufficient length is then attached to the leg wires. A 2 to 6-volt current is applied, either by means of shot-firing batteries or the standard type of shot-firing generator. Upon the application of the current, the charge in the cartridge is set off. Because the breaking action upon the coal is supplied by the relatively slow physical expansion of the carbon dioxide gas rather than by the rapid chemical formation of gases as in more familiar explosives, the result is a slow heaving action, somewhat similar to that produced by black powder, rather than a shap detonating effect. Permissible powder does its work at roughly ten times the pressures in use with Cardox. The escaped gas from a Cardox shot apparently works along the planes of weakness in the coal face, such as the coal cleats, the edges of the cut, and along the top of the seam, breaking off the coal toward the free faces and heaving the mass of coal outward. Cardox tubes are manufactured in various sizes to take care of variable conditions of seam size, undercut depth, cleatage, coal hardness, and so forth. The tubes range in diameter from 2 to 3 in. (Table I) and the normal CO2 charge is from 24 to 96 oz. For any one tube size, several sizes of shear disks are available, thus excellent control of the type of shooting desired is possible. In general, local experience and experimentation dictate the size of tube chosen for any particular job. For high coal, and deeper or wider cuts, a larger size is chosen to start with, and the opposite is true for low coal, softer coal, or small cuts. After the tube size has been experimentally selected, tests are run in the mine to determine how many shot holes are needed and where the holes should be placed. The size of the disk,

Jan 1, 1944

By M. Muskat, M. O. Taylor

Theoretical calculations have been made on the performance to be expected of gas-drive reservoirs for various characteristics of the oil and gas and the producing rock. Such performante has been expressed graphically as curves for the reservoir pressure and gas-oil ratios of the production as functions of the cumulative oil recovery. The latter has been expressed in terms of percentage of pore space of the reservoir rock. Such curves automatically give values for the ultimate physical recovery, if the latter is interpreted as the recovery obtained when the reservoir pressure has declined to atmospheric, or to any other pressure chosen as defining the state of practical complete depletion. Calculations of these pressure and gas-oil ratio histories have been made for conditions in which the oil viscosity, the gas solubility and shrinkage, the size of an overlying gas cap, if present, the permeability-saturation characteristics of the rock, and the amount of connate water, have been individually varied, The results serve to show the extent to which the ultimate recoveries are sensitive to the important physical parameters characterizing the oil reservoir. As is to be expected, the ultimate recoveries are found to decrease with increasing oil viscosity. Because of the predominant effect of the oil shrinkage associated with the liberation of the gas in solution, the ultimate recovery will decrease with increasing gas solubility. Increasing gas-cap volumes lead to higher recoveries, although the contribution made by the gas-cap gas is small as compared with the oil expulsion by the equivalent amount of solution gas. As a whole, the oil recovery when expressed in percentage of the pore space is not very sensitive to the details of the permeability-saturation relationship. However, if the rocks possess an equilibrium free-gas saturation, the rise in gas-oil ratio will be retarded, and the 'ultimate recovery somewhat increased' The oil shrinkage associated with the liberation of the dissolved gas also leads to the result that as long as the connate water is immobile and the permeability ratio curve for the rock is a function only of the total liquid saturation, the stock-tank oil recovery will be less for a sand containing no connate water than for One with an Original water content as high as 3' per cent. The space voidage in the former case will be somewhat greater, but the effect of oil shrinkage will lead to smaller values for the equivalent stock-tank recovery. These calculations also give data showing how the productivity indexes for the producing wells will vary during the reservoir history. Because of decreasing Permeability to the oil and increasing oil viscosity, the productivity index will fall continuously as Production proceeds, and may finally reach values as low as 10 per cent of the initial productivity index. Introduction In a previous paper1 was developed the basic theory for the prediction of the production histories of gas-drive reservoirs. The data required for the application of this theory included the characteristics of the petroleum fluids, such as the viscosity of the Oil and gas phases, the solubility of the gas in the oil, and the oil shrinkage— all expressed as functions of the reservoir pressure—and the permeability-saturation characteristics of the producing rock, as

Jan 1, 1946

By M. Prats, D. G. Russell

The performance of a well in a bounded, layered reservoir with interlayer crossflow has been investigated mathematically. The system studied comprises a centrally located well in a bounded cylindrical reservoir composed of two layers of contrasting physical properties. The reservoir contains a single fluid of small and constant compressibility. In the case of a well producing at constant pressure, the production rate of the crossflow system declines exponentially after the early transient behavior dies out. For wells which produce with constant rate, the pressure-time relationship is linear following the transient. For very early production time, the production rate of the two-layer crossflow system behaves as that of the two-layer stratified system (the case in which the layers are in communication at the well only). Except for early time, in most practical cases the performance of a two-layer reservoir with cross-flow can be duplicated by that of a single-layer reservoir. The equivalent single-layer reservoir must have the same pore volume and the same drainage and wellbore radii as in the two-layer case. In addition, the equivalent reservoir must have a "kh" (permeability x thickness) product equal to the sum of the "kh" products of the respective layers in the crossflow system. If the porosity and permeability distributions are known, the production and pressure behavior of a well with and without crossflow can be predicted. From a comparison of the observed pressure or production performance of a well and the theoretical behavior, the occurrence of interlayer crossflow can be detected. INTRODUCTION When flow is possible across the bedding plane from a low-permeability layer into an adjacent layer of moderate or high permeability, the earlier depletion of the more permeable layer will cause such flow to occur. If this situation exists, the oil recovery from tight layers can be appreciable; thus, the economic ramifications of interlayer crossflow are apparent. The possible importance and extent of flow between adjacent and connected layers — whether resulting from capillary, gravitational, or viscous forces — have been the subject of considerable speculation for many years. Jacquard1 presented a rigorous analysis of the crossflow due to single-fluid expansion occurring between two adjacent and connected layers when the well produces at constant rate. His presentation was entirely mathematical, however, and no numerical results from evaluation of the mathematical solutions were presented. Our objectives in the preparation and presentation of the present paper are essentially twofold— (1) to analyze the behavior of a well which produces a single compressible fluid from a bounded, layered reservoir with interlayer crossflow, and (2) to present practical numerical results and simplified formulas to facilitate engineering analysis of reservoirs with crossflow. The constant-terminal-pressure case was analyzed rigorously, whereas the constant-terminal-rate case was treated only for semisteady-state conditions. DESCRIPTION OF THE IDEALIZED TWO-LAYER RESERVOIR The reservoir to be studied is assumed to be bounded and cylindrical in shape, with a completely penetrating well at its center. The reservoir is composed of two adjacent horizontal layers between which fluid is free to flow. Each layer is assumed to be homogeneous, isotropic and completely filled with a fluid of small and constant compressibility. The total thickness of the reservoir is small enough

By M. S. Burton, G. V. Smith, A. Rosen

The kinetics of re crystallization and the effect of recovery on recrystallization of pure iron were investigated within the temperature range of 517" to 632 OC. Grain growth and activation energies were also studied. Two stages can be distinguished during recrystallization; the first is gvowth-controlled and the second is nucleation-controlled. The extent to which the first stage succeeds before the second stage begins depends on both temperature of recrystallization and temperature of recovery. The softening of cold-worked metals and alloys due to transformation of the deformed crystals to strain-free equiaxed grains during annealing is well-known, and early inestiators established that recrystallization kinetics is strongly influenced by minute quantities of impurities. Generally, it is believed that impurities decrease the rate of recrystallization and the rate of grain growth. To understand the basic phenomena of recrystallization, investigations should be on pure materials. Most of the research on high-purity materials has been on metals having the fee Bcc materials, and especially high-purity iron, have been studied only in recent years. It is known that recovery may influence recrystalliation;" however, no general description of the influence, applicable to all materials, has been presented. This paper presents results of a study of the recrystallization kinetics of high-purity iron, after 60 pct cold deformation by drawing, with particular reference to the influence of recovery on the rates of recrystallization and grain growth. From observations of these rates, conclusions are drawn concerning nucleation. MATERIAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Preparation of Material. High-purity iron, prepared by zone refining of vacuum-melted electroiytic iron at Battelle Memorial Institute under sponsorship of the American Iron and Steel Institute, was used in this study. Table I gives the reported chemical analysis of the material, taken at a point near the last molten zone and thereby rep- resenting the maximum impurity level for the entire bar. Prismatic specimens, approximately 10 x 10 X 50 mm, were sawed from the 50-mm-diam bar, perpendicular to the zone-refining direction, and turned to cylindrical shape. These specimens were sealed in quartz capsules under vacuum, approximately 10"e mm Hg, austenitized at 930° C for 15 min, slowly cooled, removed from the capsules, and cold-worked in air by swaging to approximately 20-pct reduction of area. The encapsulating, austenitizing, and swaging operations were repeated two additional times, after which the samples were encapsulated, austenitized, and cold-drawn to 60-pct reduction of area. A further vacuum anneal at 630°C for 120 min and cold drawing to 60-pct reduction of area produced wire 2.8 mm in diameter. The drawn wire was electropolished to remove deformed material on the surface, after which it was sawed into 4-mm-long specimens for the recrystallization study. Microscopical examination before the final cold reduction revealed equiaxed grain structure with very fine grains in a thin layer near the surfaces of the specimen and nearly uniform ASTM 3-4 grain size in the center. Recrystallization Heat Treatment. a) Direct Recrystallization of Cold-Worked The 60 pct cold drawn iron specimens were recrystallized at five temperatures, 517, 556, 590°, 612, and 632C, in a lead bath covered with graphite (the temperature was controlled to 1°C). Specimens were treated for twelve different times at each temperature, and all were water-quenched after heat &eatment. b) Recrystallization Following Preliminary Recovery Heat Treatment. After cold working, specimens were sealed into quartz capsules under vacuum, 105 mm Hg, and recovery-annealed at 362", 400", and 440°C for 20 hr prior to recrystallization. No evidence of recrystallization was found

Jan 1, 1964

By G. W. P. Rengstorff, R. B. Fischer

A study was made of the effect of impurities on the bend ductility of cast molybdenum. High purity molybdenum was repared by re-melting under high vacuum. The ductility of "transverse-grain" specimens indicated that intergranular brittleness decreased with an increase in purity of the metal. THE production of as-cast molybdenum with high ductility at room temperature would make working of the metal easier and increase the usefulness of the as-cast metal. Furthermore, a .knowledge of the factors that influence the ductility of as-cast molybdenum might be applied to the problem of making fusion weldments having satisfactory room-temperature ductility. Individual grains of commercial as-cast molybdenum are slightly ductile at room temperature. However, the presence of carbides at the grain boundaries may cause the metal to fracture in a brittle manner. This behavior has been discussed.' The amount and distribution of the impurities in as-cast molybdenum would be expected, from previous research on the metal, to have considerable influence on its ductility. Some effects of oxygen and carbon on the mechanical behavior of the metal were discussed by Parke and Ham,2 Woodside,3 and Zappfe. Landgraf, and Worden.4 Parke and Ham2 found that, if a sufficient number of molybdenum oxide particles were present at the grain boundaries, the intergranular cohesion was reduced to the extent that arc-melted molybdenum would rupture intergranularly during hot forging. They also found that if the oxygen content was less than 0.003 pct, the cast molybdenum was hot forgeable. It is suspected, however, that forgeable molybdenum may contain a small amount of oxide that could reduce the ductility of the as-cast metal at room temperature. Also, there is the possibility of the unfavorable distribution of other impurities having a detrimental effect on the ductility of cast molybdenum. The results of a study of the influence of purity on the room-temperature ductility of cast molybdenum are presented here. Vacuum Arc-Melting to Produce High Purity Mo One way of determining the effect of impurities on the ductility of molybdenum is to prepare and test metal as free of all impurities as possible. Accordingly, the present investigation was undertaken with this in view. Arc melting in high vacuum (less than 0.1 micron of mercury) was chosen as the method for reducing the impurities below the concentrations occurring in commercial molybdenum. Commercial arc melting of molybdenum is carried out at about 50 microns pressure. During the arc melting, carbon and oxygen in the metal react to form carbon monoxide. By virtue of the vacuum process, the partial pressure of carbon monoxide is maintained at such a low value that the reaction greatly lowers oxygen and carbon contents. An excess of at least 0.03 pct C is used in commercial arc melting to insure that the oxygen content will be below 0.003 pct. The excess carbon remaining after the deoxidation step forms carbides on freezing. Some of the carbides precipitate at the grain boundaries and, as will be shown, have an unfavorable effect on the room-temperature ductility. In the present work, only the small amount of carbon (0.003 pct) contained in the commercial powder-metallurgy molybdenum used for melting stock was present. Partial removal of oxygen from the melt probably occurred as the result of the volatilization of molybdenum oxides, or by distillation of oxygen at the high melting tem-

Jan 1, 1953

By E. C. Skinner

Cardox, which consists essentially of a steel tube containing carbon dioxide compressed to the liquid state, is a trade name designating a device used principally in coal mines to break down coal. The use of Cardox to break down coal was developed in the Middle Western coal fields around 1927 or 1928. At first, a large, heavy tube was used, requiring many parts. Through experimentation and technologic improvement, the weight of the tube has been brought down from 88 lb. to 20 lb. and the new, light tube makes use of larger volumes of CO2 at lower pressures than formerly was thought possible. This blasting method is extensively used today in coal mines and probably one tenth of the bituminous coal produced in the United States is prepared with Cardox. Construction and Application As used in the coal mine, Cardox looks like a piece of steel pipe 2 to 3 in. in diameter and 3 to 5 ft. long. When it is necessary to fire a shot, the tube is wired with two leg wires that are long enough so that when the tube is pushed the desired distance into the hole the wires will protrude 5 to 6 in. It has been found that No. 18 insulated copper annunciator wire is the best material for leg wires. A two-conductor rubber-covered shot-firing cable of sufficient length is then attached to the leg wires. A 2 to 6-volt current is applied, either by means of shot-firing batteries or the standard type of shot-firing generator. Upon the application of the current, the charge in the cartridge is set off. Because the breaking action upon the coal is supplied by the relatively slow physical expansion of the carbon dioxide gas rather than by the rapid chemical formation of gases as in more familiar explosives, the result is a slow heaving action, somewhat similar to that produced by black powder, rather than a shap detonating effect. Permissible powder does its work at roughly ten times the pressures in use with Cardox. The escaped gas from a Cardox shot apparently works along the planes of weakness in the coal face, such as the coal cleats, the edges of the cut, and along the top of the seam, breaking off the coal toward the free faces and heaving the mass of coal outward. Cardox tubes are manufactured in various sizes to take care of variable conditions of seam size, undercut depth, cleatage, coal hardness, and so forth. The tubes range in diameter from 2 to 3 in. (Table I) and the normal CO2 charge is from 24 to 96 oz. For any one tube size, several sizes of shear disks are available, thus excellent control of the type of shooting desired is possible. In general, local experience and experimentation dictate the size of tube chosen for any particular job. For high coal, and deeper or wider cuts, a larger size is chosen to start with, and the opposite is true for low coal, softer coal, or small cuts. After the tube size has been experimentally selected, tests are run in the mine to determine how many shot holes are needed and where the holes should be placed. The size of the disk,

Jan 1, 1944

By M. D. Hassialis

[Surface Areas of Concentrates and Collector Coatings (T.P. 2002, by A. M. GAUDIN and G. S. PRELLER, Min. Tech., May. Discussion by M. D. HASSIALIS and the authors) . I Activation of Minerals and Adsorption of Collectors (T.P. 2082 by J. ROGERS and K. 1'. SUTHERLAND, Min. Tech., Nov. Discussion by A. F. TAGGART and the authors). . . . 3 Correlation between Mineral Behavior in Cataphoresis and in Flotation (T.P. 2005 by A. If. GAUDIN and S. C. SUN, Min. Tech., May. Discussion by M. D. HASSIALIS). . . . . . 8] Surface Areas of Concentrates and Collector Coatings M. D. HASSIALIS.*-In the current flotation theories there exists a common gap spanned by a common assumption pertaining to the arrangement and orientation of the collector ions at the solid surface. Also common is the belief that contact angle and flotation performance are dependent upon the arrangement and orientation of collector ions. This stimulating and informative paper sheds some light upon this general problem. One of the indices of arrangement is the area available per collector ion; in this connection, Gaudin and Preller have applied the B.E.T. method for surface determinations. In a surprising number of cases, their results show a greater specific surface for tailing than for concentrate. This cannot be accounted for by the differences in specific gravity and is attributed to the presence of clay minerals of "primary" sluices in the tailing. This is not a satisfactory explanation, for experience shows that when free slimed clay minerals are present in a flotation cell they will be carried mechanically into the concentrate. A part of the answer to the decreased specific surface of the concentrate would appear to be its usual flocculated condition, yet this should not entirely account for the large spreads reported. The possibility occurs that the nitrogen adsorption isotherms for clean mineral and collector-coated mineral are different. If that were true, and if the coated mineral surface exhibited decreased adsorptive powers, the discrepancy might vanish. In discussing the disposition of collector ions at mineral surfaces, the authors adopt the more consistent viewpoint that there exists some agreement between the ions of the substrate and those of the superstrate. In the case of xanthate ions on galena, a possible arrangement is shown in Fig. 2. This arrangement shows every xanthate ion being shared by two lead ions, whereas the chemical composition calls for two xanthate ions for each lead ion (p. g). This whole discussion is misleading. In the first place, it is known that xanthate ions are not abstracted by unoxidized galena, hence Fig. 2 should show as the substrate not Pbs but PbS„ Om. It would be equally erroneous to use the lattice arrangement of PGSO4, since the surface properties of xanthate-conditioned anglesite differ from those of xanthated galena. It is highly probable that the state of the galena surface exploited in its flotation is ephemeral, since weathered galena is only poorly, if at all, collected by xanthate. Just how a substrate of oxidized galena is to be pictured depends upon one's conception of the transformation from galena to anglesite. This writer is inclined to the following sequence of events. Surface sulphide ions undergo progressive oxidation. As more oxygen is taken up by the sulphide ions they become displaced from their equilibrium positions in the galena lattice, thus accommodating for the larger volume of the S„ Om ions. Concomittant with this change the forces acting on the lead ions

Jan 1, 1946

By Kefton H. Teague

Olivine is a mineral containing a mixture of forsterite (Mg2SiO4) and fayalite (Fe2SiO4) in solid solution. The name olivine was first applied by Werner in 1790 (Hunter, 1941) because of the olive-green color of the mineral. Olivine is the principal component of the rock dunite, which itself is a member of the peridotite group of ultrabasic igneous rocks. European uses of the terms olivine and dunite are somewhat different than US usage. In commerce European usage defines dunite as containing 36 to 42% MgO, 36 to 39% SiO2, and loss on ignition of approximately 10%. The term olivine is used to designate a material containing approximately 85% forsterite, with a chemical composition of approximately 45 to 50% MgO, 40 to 43% Si02, 5 to 8% Fe2O3, and ignition loss of 1 to 2%. Uses The principal use of olivine is in various applications involving hot metal. Table I shows the best estimate available as to the amount of olivine consumed by various industries worldwide. In excess of 90% of world uses involve hot metal, with approximately 75% as a slag conditioner in the blast furnace production of pig iron. Approximately 15% of total olivine usage is as a special foundry sand in mold making for the brass, aluminum, magnesium, and manganese steel foundries (Schaller, 1957, 1958; Snyder, 1957; Anon., 1977). Olivine was first used as an industrial mineral in the early 1930s for a refractory material (Anon., 1970; Hunter, 1941). As a refractory raw material, olivine was first introduced in the United States as hand-cobbed, selected, shaped blocks of crude olivine. This use met with limited success. More recently, finely ground olivine blended with MgO and pressed into bricks, which are then fired, has found use in glass tank furnaces and open-hearth furnaces. Ramming or gunning mixes for basic furnace linings also utilize olivine. Olivine has been used in ladle linings with varied success. In Europe, substantial tonnages of olivine are utilized in refractory brick for night storage heaters (Anon., 1970). A limited amount of olivine has been used in the past as a fertilizer (magnesium source) and has been fused with rock phosphate to produce a magnesium phosphate as a plant food. The relatively high magnesia (MgO) content of olivine also attracted attention to it as a potential source of both magnesium compounds and as a source of metallic magnesium (Bengston, 1956; Hunter, 1941). The use of olivine as an additive in the blast furnace is relatively new, having been developed during the last decade. J.W. Currier (Private communication, 1978) describes the behavior of olivine in the blast furnace as follows: Olivine (Mg, Fe2, Si04) represents a unique lime-free source of magnesia and silica as a blast furnace charge component. Only recently has the magnesia-rich mineral been recognized as beneficial cleaner for blast furnace experiencing the problems associated with excessive alkali inputs and/or low coke stabilities. For some time it has been known that alkalis tend to recycle and accumulate in blast furnaces. In the high temperature region of volatilization the elemental alkalis formed attack the integrity of the graphite structure. This alkali attachment is enhanced when poor coke is used. Higher in the furnace stack volatile alkali cyanides condense and oxidize. This accumulation of alkalis tends to agglomerate the burden materials, producing scabs and scaffolds. These structures not only inhibit the downward movement of burden materials and the upward passage of wind, but also lead to erratic furnace performance

Jan 1, 1983

By H. Warlimont

Precipitation of cementite plates from carbon-rich austenite gives rise to localized formation of martensite in the matrix next to the precipitate upon quenching. The growth of this martensite is urmsually restricted. A distinct lattice relationship is found between this martensite and the cementite phase. It is concluded that the martensite is nacleated in the region of lowest carbon concentration at the austenite-cementite integace, with low-energy matching to the cementite lattice. The restriction of the growth of the martensite phase to the vicinity of the cementite plates can be explained by misfit in the austenite -martensite glissile interface and the uphill carbon gradient in the austenite. The investigation was carried out by light- and electron-microscopy and by electron-diffraction of thin foils. THE precipitation of cementite from carbon-rich austenite gives rise to a localized formation of martensite in the matrix next to the precipitate upon quenching. This behavior has been described previously by A. B. Greninger and A. R. Troiano1 for a 1.78 pct C steel ("pseudomorphic martensite"), and by A. Hultgren2 for a Fe-0.99 pct C—5.20 pct Mn steel. By measuring the axial ratio of the martensite phase,' it was found that the carbon content of this martensite was lower than that of the martensite which formed without prior partial transformation to cementite. Therefore, it was concluded that lowering of the carbon concentration in the matrix next to the precipitate raised the M, temperature locally and thus led to nucleation of martensite at the ce-mentite-austenite interface. However, the restriction of the growth of the martensite phase to the vicinity of the cementite plates cannot be explained by localized carbon impoverishment alone. Under ordinary conditions a martensite plate which has been nucleated in a favorable site can continue to grow until it encounters a physical barrier, or until it encounters a compositional barrier in the matrix, where the total free-energy change for the reaction is not negative, since it has been shown by numerous experiments that the activation energy for growth of ordinary martensite is virtually zero.' An investigation was conducted by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction to study this extraordinary martensite. It was expected that crystallographic in addition to compo- sitional conditions caused this abnormal mode of martensite formation. MATERIAL AND PROCEDURE An Fe-C-Mn alloy containing 1.15 pct C and 5.1 pct Mn was used for most of the experiments. For metallographic work, specimens 15 by 15 by 3 mm were used. For preparation of thin films, the initial specimen size was 15 by 15 by 0.7 mm. The heat treatment of each specimen consisted of austenitizing for 1/2hr at 1100'~ in an argon atmosphere, subsequent isothermal holding in a lead bath at one of a series of different temperatures, and, finally, quenching into brine at room temperature. For metallographic examination, the specimens were mounted in bakelite (slight tempering effects resulted from the heat in the mounting press) ground, polished, and etched in nital. Thin films for transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction were obtained by grinding the specimens to approximately 0.2 mm thickness and subsequent electrolytical thinning. The orientation relationships were evaluated from sets of electron micrographs and selected-area electron diffraction patterns of single units of the transformation products and the adjacent matrix. RESULTS In the alloy which was used for the experiments, proeutectoid carbide precipitates over a wide tem-

Jan 1, 1962

By F. F. Craig

A series of both welter and gas puttern Hoods was made in the laboratory to study the oil recovery performances of .such operations. These tests were contlrrctt~tl on consolidated sandstone models, using oil. water, and gas. The model floods were scaled to reprotlrrce field performance under gas arid water five-spot injection. X-ray shadowgraphs permitted observation of the gross fluid movement within the models. A method was developed for applying the mobility ratio concept to water flooding and dispersed gas drives in a five-spot well pattern. The area1 sweep efficiency. tit breakthrough for dispersed gas drives is much higher than previorsly expected, Iying in the range of 50 to 100 per cent. A method is presented for predictitig the water-oil ratio performance of five-spot pattern water flood., in uniform sands. This method is verified experimentally for the cotidition of 120 free gas initially present and for va1ues of gas saturation normally encountered in fields following depletion operations. Prodrrction perfort?zut~cc for pattern gas injection is also predictable by this method. INTRODUCTION In field pattern hater flooding or dispersed gas injection operations, the displacing fluid (water or gas) is injected and oil is produced through wells which are, area-wise. small openings in a large container or rescrwir of oil. As a result, not all of the area between the injection and producing wells is necessarily contacted by the injected fluid by the time it first reaches the producing wells. The question arises in predicting oil recovery. as to what traction of the pattern area involved is contacted by either the injected water or gas due to the relative position of the injection and producing wells. This is the areal sweep efficiency. It is also desirable to know how well arrangement affects the oil production performance. A solution to this problem has been attempted by many means. Mathematical analysis¹,²,³, and electrolytic models', have been used to establish a breakthrough areal sweep efficiency of 73 per cent for a five-spot pattern in which the ability of the oil to flow ahead of the invading fluid is equal to the ability of the invading fluid to flow in the invaded zone. All of these studies simulate only one of many field conditions. Improved studies of areal sweep efficiency at breakthrough were made using the fluid mapper5, poten-tiometric models" and X-ray shadowgraph techniques. In these it was possible to study the effect of variations in mobility of the injected and displaced fluids, and so to cover a wide range of field conditions. The limitation of these studies is that, with these models, it was not possible to simulate the saturation gradient behind the flood front when oil is displaced by gas or water. In the most recent published technical paperS on the subject, a method was presented for predicting the oil recovery performance after breakthrough in a five-spot pattern water flood. The method involved correlations which were obtained experimentally using miscible fluids. One limitation of this work was that a saturation gradient, usually found in immiscible fluid displacement, was absent in these studies. Also the laboratory studies did not cover the situation of a water flood following oil recovery by depletion drive. as is the situation in most field water floods. The tests reported in this paper were made using oil. water, and gas, thus eliminating the simplifications of former studies. Also reported are laboratory studies on

Jan 1, 1956

By Noel Jarrett, Allen S. Russell, Bernard M. Starner, Stanley C. Jacobs

A process has been developed to refine high-grade commercial aluminum to 99.99 pct purity. This enzploys precipitating titanium, vanadium, and zirconiu~ as borides. The upgraded liquid is partially crystallized under conditions that prevent massive freezing. The resulting crystals are compacted and washed free of adhernig impure liquid aluminum by melting the top crystals while draining off the liquid. Finally, the bottorn portion of the crystal bed is melted and removed as the pure product. Leakage from the crystallizat~on vessel is prevented by a layer of alumina granules that are not wetted by the aluminum. ALUMINUM of 99.99 pct purity is desired in a variety of applications. These include electrolytic capacitors, catalyst carriers, decorative trim for automobiles, aluminum powder, and high-strength alloys. This market was for many years filled by refining commercial-purity aluminum in a three-liquid-layer electrolytic cell of the type originally proposed by Hoopes. To meet the expanding need for lower-cost high-purity aluminum, a refining process based on chemical precipitation and fractional crystallization was developed. The availability of this super-purity metal was announced in November 1961, and three patents1-3 relating to the process were issued in 1965. An alternate process, comprising continuous fractional crystallization of a portion of a liquid-aluminum feed stream under conditions of strong agitation at the surface of the growing crystals, was published by Dewey4 in 1965. Earlier proposals by Larsen 5 and by Regner6 also emphasized the advantage of rapid agitation of the melt in the region of the crystallization zone. johnson 7 more recently proposed extracting purified aluminum from an alloy by mixing crystals of pure aluminum into the molten alloy, allowing them to grow, and removing the pure aluminum as by casting. Aamot's 8 recent patent describes a freeze refining process that involves controlled partial freezing against cooled moving retort walls. The Alcoa process to produce high-purity aluminum is schematically described in Fig. 1. Relatively pure aluminum is treated with boron in a furnace (a) to precipitate high melting point impurities, the supernatant liquid is transferred to a crystallization vessel (b), the liquid is partially crystallized with mechanized "tamping" (c), the remaining impure liquid is tapped out and the crystal bed partially and directionally re-melted to wash the underlying crystals (d), and the balance of the crystals is melted and withdrawn as high-purity aluminum (e). PRINCIPLES OF FRACTIONAL CRYSTALLIZATION Commonly encountered impurity elements form two types of systems with aluminum. Titanium, vanadium, and some other transition elements in periodic groups IV, V, and VI are the high melting point impurities. Initial solidification of aluminum containing small percentages of these elements will produce solid markedly enriched in them at temperatures slightly above the freezing point of high-purity aluminum. Most other elements, such as silicon and iron, produce eutectic type reactions with aluminum. In this case the first solid formed on initial solidification at temperatures slightly below the freezing point for high-purity aluminum is markedly depleted while the remaining liquid is enriched in these elements. The equilibrium change in composition during solidification of aluminum contaminated with silicon, iron, or titanium is illustrated in Fig. 2. Here, for clarity, the temperature scale is expanded beyond the

Jan 1, 1968

By A. Lawley S. Schuster

The tensile behavior of copper foils prepared from rolled bulk material has been studied over the thickness range 2 to 53 , and for a range of pain sizes. For foils of comparable grain size, having the cube texture and tested along (100), yield strength increases with decreasing foil thickness t below -26p, with a corresponding decrease in ductility. Deformation occurs in the form of localized slip clusters distributed throughout the gage section. To the extent that the tensile strength (10 to 18 kg mm-) is unaffected by foil thickness, and that the foils possess fair ductility, the stress-strain behavior resembles that of bulk material rather than that of whiskers or evaporated films of comparable dimensions. The dependence of yield strength o on foil thickness t below -26p is of the form: oy = oo + kt-1/2. Possible explanations for the stress increase are considered based on 1) the dependence of active dislocation source length on foil dimensions, 2) the locking of surface sources, or the blocking of mobile sources at the surface due to surface film. It is now well-established that filamentary whiskers of many materials show exceptionally high strength compared with bulk crystals.'-11 As the diameter of the whiskers decreases to -1, the observed fracture strength approaches, and in certain cases exceeds, the calculated shear stress for the nucleation of slip in a perfect crystal.' In general, the stress-strain curve is entirely elastic, with strains at fracture approaching 1 pct. Similarly, thin films12-24 of evaporated or electrodeposi-ted material have been shown to possess tensile strengths three to seven times that of bulk material, with total strains at fracture -1 to 2 pct. In the present study, attention has been directed to the room-temperature tensile behavior of thin foils of copper over the thickness range 2 to 53, prepared from rolled bulk material. Yield stress, ultimate tensile strength, elongation to fracture, and work-hardening behavior are measured as a function of grain size and foil thickness. Structurally such foils are superior to either evaporated or electrodeposited films, and in the recrystallized condition exhibit considerable ductility. Apart from preliminary work by Sumino and Yamamoto25 on the work-hardening behavior of rolled and recrystallized copper foils, no systematic tensile studies have been carried out on material of this form. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Tensile specimens were prepared from 99.995 pct purity rolled copper foils of thickness 2, 6, 12, 26, and 53, obtained from the Hamilton Watch Co., Lancaster, Pa. Irrespective of specimen shape, it is necessary to use tensile foils with edges free from notches or tears. To this end, any form of cutting operation was excluded, and the tensile foils prepared using a photoengraving process, the details of which are described elsewhere.26 Since tensile data are required under conditions of uni-axial stress, the specimen shape is extremely important. Ideally, the foil should be infinitely long, allowing a gradual taper from the grip area to the gage section; however, from a practical standpoint, long foils are easily damaged during testing. A modified tensile specimen was therefore selected having a parallel gage section 1.25 by 0.20 in. with a tapered shoulder section increasing to 0.5 in. at the grips, and an over-all length between grips of 4 in., Fig. 1. In practically all tests, these foils fractured within the parallel gage section. By approximating the foil contour (Fig. 1) to a hyperbola it is possible to analyze the stress distribution in the tensile foil using two-dimensional elasticity

Jan 1, 1964

By H. R. Brannon, F. M. Perkins, Weldon O. Winsauer

Both the abnormal resistivity exhibited by shaly reservoir materials and their potential are due to adsorption of ions. Interrelationships between the two have been derived and verified by laboratory results. These relations which have resulted from this work may be used in a qualitative manner to estimate whether or not a particular shaly reservoir contains hydrocarbons, and also to estimate the porosity of shaly sands. INTRODUCTION In spite of the progress which has been made in the last decade toward a better understanding and utilization of the electric log, there remain a number of problems in the interpretation of the log. One of these which is often troublesome is that of divining the nature of the fluids in sandstones or carbonate rocks which contain appreciable amounts of shale. It was shown by Patnode and Wylliel in 1949 that shaly rocks exhibit an abnormally low resistivity when saturated with solutions of low ionic concentrations. This phenomenon has been demonstrated to be due to the adsorptive properties of shale or clay in the rock.' In estimating the fluid content of shaly sands or carbonates from the electric log, it is desirable and sometimes necessary to correct for the abnormally low resistivity. A similar correction is likewise often necessary if attempts are made to estimate the porosity of a stratum from resistivity measurements. The correction may be made from data obtained on core samples and from information on salinity of interstitial water. Cores, however, are not always available. Moreover, even if cores are at hand, their examination is time-consuming. It would be most desirable, therefore, to make corrections of this nature from the log itself. Since both the abnormal resistivity and the potential' are consequences of the adsorption of ions on shale, it should be possible to utilize the potential curve to give better interpretation of resistivity data obtained in logging shaly materials. The work described in following sections was directed toward this end. THEORY Relation of Resistivity of Shaly Reservoir Rock to Adsorpttve Properties In discussing the effect which the presence of shale or clay exerts on the resistivity of a reservoir rock, it is convenient to make use of the resistivity factor.4,5 This quantity has been defined as the ratio of the resistivity of the rock when it is completely saturated with an electrolyte to the resistivity of the electrolyte itself. When the rock, such as a clean sand or carbonate, is free of shale the resistivity factor is virtually independent of the ionic concentration of the electrolyte used to saturate the sample, so that F = R0/Rw = constant for a clean rock . . (1) where F is the resistivity factor, R0 is the resistivity of the rock saturated with electrolyte, and Rw is the resistivity of the electrolyte. When the rock contains argillaceous material, the resistivity factor as defined above is no longer independent of the concentration of the electrolyte used to saturate the rock, but decreases as the ionic concentration of the electrolyte decreases. In explanation of this behavior, it is instructive to consider a sample of shaly porous rock placed in contact with a large volume of a dilute electrolyte. The sample is considered to become saturated with the electrolyte, and to attain equilibrium with it. As a result of adsorption by the shale surfaces within the rock, there is a greater concentration of ions in the solution adjacent to the shale particles in the interstices of the sample than there is in the external solution with which the

Jan 1, 1955

By M. Muskat, M. O. Taylor

Theoretical calculations have been made on the performance to be expected of gas-drive reservoirs for various characteristics of the oil and gas and the producing rock. Such performante has been expressed graphically as curves for the reservoir pressure and gas-oil ratios of the production as functions of the cumulative oil recovery. The latter has been expressed in terms of percentage of pore space of the reservoir rock. Such curves automatically give values for the ultimate physical recovery, if the latter is interpreted as the recovery obtained when the reservoir pressure has declined to atmospheric, or to any other pressure chosen as defining the state of practical complete depletion. Calculations of these pressure and gas-oil ratio histories have been made for conditions in which the oil viscosity, the gas solubility and shrinkage, the size of an overlying gas cap, if present, the permeability-saturation characteristics of the rock, and the amount of connate water, have been individually varied, The results serve to show the extent to which the ultimate recoveries are sensitive to the important physical parameters characterizing the oil reservoir. As is to be expected, the ultimate recoveries are found to decrease with increasing oil viscosity. Because of the predominant effect of the oil shrinkage associated with the liberation of the gas in solution, the ultimate recovery will decrease with increasing gas solubility. Increasing gas-cap volumes lead to higher recoveries, although the contribution made by the gas-cap gas is small as compared with the oil expulsion by the equivalent amount of solution gas. As a whole, the oil recovery when expressed in percentage of the pore space is not very sensitive to the details of the permeability-saturation relationship. However, if the rocks possess an equilibrium free-gas saturation, the rise in gas-oil ratio will be retarded, and the 'ultimate recovery somewhat increased' The oil shrinkage associated with the liberation of the dissolved gas also leads to the result that as long as the connate water is immobile and the permeability ratio curve for the rock is a function only of the total liquid saturation, the stock-tank oil recovery will be less for a sand containing no connate water than for One with an Original water content as high as 3' per cent. The space voidage in the former case will be somewhat greater, but the effect of oil shrinkage will lead to smaller values for the equivalent stock-tank recovery. These calculations also give data showing how the productivity indexes for the producing wells will vary during the reservoir history. Because of decreasing Permeability to the oil and increasing oil viscosity, the productivity index will fall continuously as Production proceeds, and may finally reach values as low as 10 per cent of the initial productivity index. Introduction In a previous paper1 was developed the basic theory for the prediction of the production histories of gas-drive reservoirs. The data required for the application of this theory included the characteristics of the petroleum fluids, such as the viscosity of the Oil and gas phases, the solubility of the gas in the oil, and the oil shrinkage— all expressed as functions of the reservoir pressure—and the permeability-saturation characteristics of the producing rock, as

Jan 1, 1946

By E. L. Dougherty, J. W. Sheldon

Using the numerical techniques shown in this paper it is possible to compute the simultaneous dynamical behavior of multiple fluid-fluid interfaces in two dimensions. Hence, fluid-fluid inter face models of several oil recovery processes can be constructed which allow prediction of the effect of fluid flow in two dimensions on the behavior of these processes while taking into account various physical effects, such as saturation gradients, phase changes and thermal stimulation. Techniques for constructing fluid-fluid interface approximations for several oil recovery processes are reuiewed. The validity of these techniques is established by comparison to experimental results. The availability of a computer program for computing the behavior of multiple fluid-fluid interface problems makes the use of potentiometric models uneconomic. The results indicate the areal sweep efficiencies obtained from potentiometric model studies at high mobility ratios may be somewhat optimistic. The results also indicate that the areal sweep efficiency curves obtained at high viscosity ratios 2—4 using miscible fluids in porous media are misleading and that considerable care must be taken in defining the mobility ratio for a displacement process, especially for miscible fluids. INTRODUCTION Many of the methods used to estimate areal sweep efficiency assume that the oil recovery process can be represented by one or more fluid-fluid interfaces. When the mobilities of the displaced and displacing phases are assumed equal, this quantity can be computed using analytical mathematical methods.l.2 For non-unit mobility ratio, experimental methods based upon the fluid-fluid interface concept include potentiometric and electrolytic blotter models. Scaled models of porous media have also been used to study this problem. Fay and Prats3 and Aronofsky4 used numerical techniques to compute breakthrough sweep efficiency, but neither of these studies were extended beyond breakthrough. Numerical techniques which have been developed for solving a general fluid-fluid interface problem are presented in a companion paper.5 These techniques have been incorporated into a program for a large-scale digital computer which can treat simultaneously the dynamical behavior of as many as six fluid-fluid interfaces. Thus it is possible to simulate the behavior of several oil recovery processes taking into account such effects as saturation gradients. Techniques for representing several oil recovery processes by fluid-fluid interfaces are presented. Processes considered are conventional water flooding with and without a mobile gas phase, hot water flooding, miscible flooding and enriched gas drive. Other processes, whose effects could be studied by this technique, but are not considered in detail here, are underground combustion and steam injection processes and various slug processes such as gas-water injection and alcohol-solvent processes. Theoretical results obtained with single interfaces for mobility ratios of 0.25, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 in a repeated five-spot are compared to experimental results for this geometrical configuration obtained using miscible fluids and conductive analogs. Predicted recovery curves for water flooding in a repeated five-spot are compared to experimental results reported in the literature. Example calculations are shown for a conventional water flood in the presence of a free gas phase and for a hot-water flood. MATHEMATICAL PRELIMINARIES We assume that the rock matrix is homogeneous with constant thickness, absolute permeability and porosity. The fluids are incompressible. We also neglect the effects of gravity.

Jan 1, 1965

By R. J. Sandrea, S. M. Farouq Ali

The results of an experimental and theoretical study of the effects of rectilinear impermeable barriers and highly permeable channels on the sweep efficiency and conductivity of a five-spot network are presented. The study was carried out using Hele-Shaw, and conductive sheet analogs for both. normal and inverted flood patterns. A functional relationship was developed which provides quantitative prediction of the above parameters; i.e., sweep efficiency and conductivity, for the nonhomogeneous system. To evaluate this, it is necessary only to measure the interference modulus of the obstacle using a simple expression. The results indicate that impermeable barriers, with an interference modulus greater than zero, always cause a decrease in the conductivity and the sweep efficiency of the pattern. On the other hand, permeability channels do not have a significant effect on these parameters, unless they are located along the streamlines. The study also discusses a method of formulating the difference equations pertaining to the two-dimensional Laplacian in a system containing rectilinear barriers. In addition, a technique is described for tracing the progress of a free surface, using marked particles, in a stream containing discontinuities SuCh as those occurring at the extremities of barriers. The above computational scheme was used in a digital computer program to simulate results of the Hele-Shaw analog. The computed values of sweep efficiency mere in good agreement with the experimental values. INTRODUCTION At the present time waterflooding remains the most widely used technique for the secondary recovery of oil. Among the numerous factors that affect the performance of a waterflood, the areal sweep efficiency constitutes one of the most critical parameters. It is a function only of the geometric distribution of the wells for a homogeneous medium and unit mobility ratio. Geological considerations, however, such as the presence of sealing faults or solution channels in the rock matrix, would generally exert an adverse effect on the areal sweep efficiency of a waterflood network. Surprisingly little information is presently available on the quantitative implications of such permeability interferences. It was the object of this investigation to consider the presence of rectilinear, impermeable and highly permeable interferences in an otherwise homogeneous five-spot pattern, and to analyze their effects on the resulting sweep efficiency and pattern conductivity. The experimental phase of the study was conducted using two different models: the Hele-Shaw flow cell and the field plotter. For experimental convenience, the geometric boundaries of the five-spot were assumed to constitute streamlines even in the case where the interference was asymmetrically placed with respect to a repeated five-spot pattern. A second object of the study was to develop a computational scheme for numerically calculating the pressure distribution in a five-spot flow pattern containing rectilinear, impermeable barriers, and to use this distribution to compute the sweep efficiency. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE HELE-SHAW ANALOG The Hele-Shaw analog was used both as a visual model and for determining the sweep efficiency for systems involving impermeable barriers. The physical limitations of this model as a means of experimentally studying the motion of a fluid in porous medium have been adequately discussed elsewhere.2,7 Likewise, it can be easily verified that the analogy remains valid when a portion of the region between the plates contains an obstacle of the same thickness as the distance between the plates. The model used in this study was composed of

By R. E. Holmes, T. W. Leland

The solution to the unsteady-state mass- and heat-transfer equations describing the adsorption of a dilute component from a gas stream flowing through a packed bed is readily applicable to the design of hydrocarbon recovery units. The solution to these equations depends on the assumption of a linear equilibrium equation to relate concentrations on the surface to concentrations in the gas. This assumption is shown to be justifiable for components which are very dilute in the gas stream. This approach permits the prediction of the effects of bed shape and size, cycle time, and gas mass velocity on the recovery of each component. It also allows the time and gas flow rate needed for regeneration to be determined. The equations involve a constant for each component and another constant characterized by the type of adsorbent. These constants must be evaluated from operating data. Values of these constants determined for silica gel are presented. This paper points out the type of experitrrental data needed for a thorough design of hydrocarbon adsorption units. INTRODUCTION The growing importance of adsorption processes to recover hydrocarbons from natural-gas streams has created an urgent need for better methods to design and predict the performance of these processes. Since the original use of solid adsorbents in natural-gas processing was for dehydration, most of the current design methods for hydrocarbon recovery re extensions of those developed earlier for dehydration. These methods are based on an adsorptivity or bed loading factor defined as the amount of a particular component adsorbed per unit weight or per unit volume of the packed bed. The recovery of a given component is then expressed as an empirical function of its adsorptivity on a given adsorbent. In spite of the simplicity and initial utility of these methods, they are not completely satisfactory in that they do not predict the effect of the dimensions of the bed in relation to flow rate and cycle time, and do not predict the distribution of various components along the length of the bed. It is possible, however, to make a considerable improvement in the design of these processes by applying the basic equations of mass and heat transfer applicable to gases containing small concentrations of adsorbing components flowing through granular beds. These equations have been developed and solved by Anzelius,' Furnas,% nd Hougen and Marshall." where G = mass velocity of the inert constituents (assumed to be methane), lb/hr-sq ft, y = weight of an adsorbing component in the gas per unit weight of inert, lb of a given constituent per lb of methane, x = bed length, ft, p, = packed bed density, lb/cu ft, P, = gas density, Ib/cu ft, f = void fraction in the bed, t = time, hours, and w = weight of a given component adsorbed per unit weight of adsorbate free solid, Ib/lb pure adsorbent. The term on the left side of Eq. 1 represents the flow rate per unit bed volume of a component entering less the flow rate per unit bed volume of that component leaving the differential bed length. The terms on the right side represent, respectively, the accumulation rates per unit bed volume on the solid and in the gas phase within the differential bed section. The last term is negligible for this application since pgfv is quite small in comparison with p, and G. The partial differential is determined by the mass-transfer rate between gas and solid in the differential section.

By System By John E. Owen, Walton J. Greer

The guard electrode system measures the resistivity of formations by employing a thin disk of current which is caused to flow perpendicular to the bore hole. The control of this current disk is obtained in a brute force manner through the use of relatively long equipotential electrodes above and below the measuring electrode. The log obtained from the system is free of "lag," "plateau," "shadow," "reflection" and other distortions evident on conventional logs. The proportionate contributions of the hole size and invaded zone resistivity to the apparent resistivity reading are reduced when the mud and filtrate resistivities are lower. Thus, the guard system favors the use of conductive muds. The mathematical development of the theory is given in an appendix. Equations are derived to evaluate the effects of mud resistivity, hole size, invaded zone resistivity and depth, and the true formation resistivity. Sample logs from several provinces are reproduced and compared with conventional electric logs to illsutrate the much greater detailed lithology that can be presented by the guard electrode system. INTRODUCTION With increased ability of those in the petroleum industry to analyze formation characteristics from electrical resistivity data, there has become apparent the need for more precise measures of that parameter. The measurement of the resistivity of a homogeneous and isotropic material can be made simply when the body of the material is infinite in all dimensions and the measuring electrodes can be placed within the body. In such a case, the current leaving an electrode follows a spherical distribution and the mathematical expression for the potential level at any distance from that electrode can readily be derived.'.' If it is considered that the active electrodes are within a bore hole filled with mud of a resistivity different from that of the formation. the current does not flow in a spherical pattern near the current source or sink, and the calculations of potential levels become more difficult. The additional consideration of a section of formation invaded by mud filtrates, and thus having resistivity different from either that of the mud, the adjacent formations or of the undisturbed formation, makes the mathematical problem extremely complex. Should the vertical dimensions of the formations be considered as finite. the problem becomes so complex as to preclude reasonable solution. Yet, even these considerations have not described adequately the conditions encountered in a large proportion of the wells to be studied. In efforts to evaluate the effects of the various conditions. combinations of twn, three. and four electrode logging con- figurations of the conventional types have been used. The resulting logs have left much to be desired in some provinces. It has become apparent that the use of such configurations will not result in adequate measurements being made, particularly in cases where the formation is composed of thin sections. If all the current of a resistivity measuring circuit is made to flow through the formation opposite the exploring electrode, many of the shortcomings of the conventional measuring system are eliminated. In the guard electrode method of electrical well logging to be discussed in this paper, the current is so controlled by causing it to flow in a thin disk normal to the axis of the logging tool. EARLY HISTORY The guard electrode method of electrical well logging in its early years was a joint development by the Geophysical Research Corp. and the Amerada Petroleum Corp. The method was first experimentally investigated by means of model studies. The results of these studies indicated that current focusing systems properly applied to electrical well logging

Jan 1, 1951