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By R. V. Smith

The theory for unsteady radial flow of gas, as simplified by Aronofsky and Jenkins, has been reviewed and compared with actual well performance. This study indicated that the theory should be modified by the introduction of an empirical "rate of flow" function "Y(q)". The expansion of the theory on the flow of gas to include a Y(q) term bridges the gap between the theory of unsteady-state flow of gas and actual gas-well behavior. Apparently, the Y(q) term is a function only of the rate of flow for a given well. The completion factor or skin effect is associated with the Y(q) function in such a manner that at least two or more sets of drawdown or pressure build-up tests are needed to separate the Y(q) function and the completion factor. Since the Y(q) function used in this report represents an energy loss dependent on rate of flow near the well-bore of a gas well which is in addition to the loss required by Darcy's law, the Y(q) function is related to the exponent of the back-pressure curve for a gas well. Techniques and equations are presented which permit the estimation of stabilized and "short-time" deliver-abilities. INTRODUCTION The published theory of radial unsteady-state flow of gas through porous media may be divided into papers1-" which use Darcy's law as a premise and other papers4-7,16-10 which recognize that Darcy's law may not hold for flow into gas wells. Miller8 compared theory based on Darcy's law with actual gas-well behavior and concluded that flow into gas wells deviates from Darcy's law. Houpeurt4,5 in a thorough investigation of flow into gas wells concluded that the flow rate into a gas well is proportional to the difference between the squares of upstream and downstream pressures elevated to a power between 1.0 and 0.5. Houpeurt also concluded that the deviation from Darcy's law is caused by irreversible, kinetic energy exchange between the flowing gas and the porous media. Tek9 presented a complete evaluation of the flow problem in gas wells. Several investigators state that the inclusion of gas compressibility into flow equations based on Darcy's law does not begin to explain the flow problems suggested by gas-well behavior. For many years, natural-gas engineers have realized that gas wells by actual test exhibit behavior which cannot be explained entirely by Darcy's law. Many tests on gas wells have indicated that a value of 0.85 for the exponent in the back-pressure equation is a fair average for many wells. However, Darcy's law either for steady or unsteady-state conditions indicates that the exponent should be 1.0. The purpose of this paper has been to examine this deviation from Darcy's law and to present a reasonable mathematical means of evaluating the deviation. The method presented in this paper combines previous theory with an empirical function to provide a description of gas-well behavior. All equations in this report are for constant terminal-rate-of-flow conditions. While present methods of testing wells usually are not based on this concept, they are believed to approach the constant terminal-rate conditions closely in many tests. However, several gas wells were tested by holding the rates of flow constant in order to approach more closely the constant terminal rate of flow; the results confirm the concepts presented in this paper. REVIEW OF THEORY FOR UNSTEADY-STATE FLOW OF GAS The basic partial differential equation for the flow of natural gas has been given in technical literature; the equation for a cylindrical reservoir with the well in the center is

By E. E. Gardner, P. A. Schumann

A description of a new four-point probe configuration which permits measurement of epitaxial layer resistivity is given. An analytic solution to the potential distribution due to a point current source on a multilayered structure is briefly described. Typical solutions for this probe configuration are presented. Probe spacing, layer thickness, substrate resistivity, and substrate thickness enter into the calculation. Correction factors for typical cases are given. A brief description of the construction of a probe which can achieve a small spacing of 15 is presented. The prohe is constructed so that all points are adjustable by micrometers and the probe spacing and configuration can be easily altered. Measurements of layer resistivity with the four-point probe are compared with those taken with the three-Point probe and diode-capacitance techniques. TWO techniques of obtaining profiles of N/N+ epitaxial structures are given. The reproducihility of the probe spacing and resistivity measurement is discussed. The effects upon the resistivity measurement of errors in the measurement of the lager thickness, substrate resistil)itv, and substrate thickness are presented. SINCE its introduction by valdes' in 1954, the four-point probe has been the most widely used tool for determining semiconductor resistivity. Its usefulness ranges from the evaluation of bulk semiconductor ingots to the characterization of impurity profiles in diffused structures. In general the four points, two current probes and two potential probes, are placed on one surface of the material being tested either in an in-line array or in a square array. Numerous correction factors1 8 have been worked out for these configurations which are dictated by the finite geometry of the sample being tested. One method of evaluating thin wafers has been proposed which has two probesg on each side of the wafer. Further modifications have added a fifth'' and a sixth" probe. One paper1' has discussed the accuracy of the four-point probe and the precautions necessary in its use. With the exception of the method where two points are placed on opposite sides of the wafer, the four-point probe is restricted to evaluation of wafers with a homogeneous resistivity or to the case where an isolating junction exists between the substrate and the layer (epitaxial or diffused) being evaluated. Due to the relative resistivities and thickness, the resistance of the epitaxial layer is much greater than that of the substrate, and consequently a majority of the current flows through the substrate. The potential distribution at relatively large distances from the current sources is determined by the substrate resistance, and hence the AV/I value is a measure of the substrate resistivity and not that of the epitaxial-layer resistivity. In the immediate vicinity of a current source the potential distribution is determined by the layer resistivity among other factors. Consequently, if the potential probe is placed very close to the current source, then with appropriate correction factors it is possible to determine the layer resistivity. This was the theoretical basis for using two closely spaced probes on opposite sides of an epitaxial wafer. However, due to mechanical problems, it is desirable to place the four probes on the same side of the wafer. This paper discusses the potential distribution in

Jan 1, 1965

By J. H. Scaff, J. E. Kunzler

The measurement of the electrical, thermal, and magnetic properties of metals at low temperatures, primarily in the range of liquid helium below 4.2°K, is a powerful tool for investigating many of the fundamental properties of the metallic state. Such measurements also have many practical applications, particularly as an analytical tool. One example of the practical utility of such measurements is illustrated by a short study we have made of the low-temperature resistance of copper used in preparing varistors. Copper-oxide varistors are prepared by the thermal oxidation of copper. This results in the

Jan 1, 1959

By J. L. Foster, G. R. Gray, T. S. Chapman

The wall-building properties of salt-water drilling muds can be improved markedly by the addition of: (I) natural gums, such as traga-canth, karaya, and ghatti; (2) seaweeds, such as Irish moss; or (3) gelatinized starch. Results of laboratory tests have been confirmed by field trials. For drilling operations in which the mud becomes contaminated by salt, either through penetrating salt-bearing rocks or by addition of sea water to the mud, the added cost resulting from the use of one of the substances listed above is more than offset by freedom from stuck drill pipe and ease in running casing. Introduction It has been recognized for many years that oil production might be seriously hampered by infiltration of water from the drilling mud.l-4 As knowledge of the mechanism of the wall-building process advanced, methods were developed for evaluating the filtration characteristics of muds.5-ll The wall-building properties of freshwater muds are commonly regulated by the addition of bentonitic clays, or of agents to promote the dispersion of the natural mud solids. When strata bearing soluble salts are encountered in the course of drilling, the salts are incorporated in the mud; the clay solids are flocculated and water loss is increased tremendously. Methods gen-crally used in controlling filtration of freshwater muds are no longer applicable. The problem of reducing water loss from salt-water muds is not confined to any particular area, but is acute in parts of West Texas. Salt beds several hundred feet thick must be penetrated before the oil-bearing formation is reached. Since the formation drilled does not provide mud-making material, it is necessary to use large quantities of commercial clays, and even the best commercial clay does not afford relief from the problem of high filtration. A laboratory study has been made of methods of improving the filtration characteristics of salt-water muds, and some of the methods have been used in field practice. Laboratory Investigations Procedure Inasmuch as the immediate object of the investigation was the development of means of improving the wall-building properties of muds used in West Texas, an attempt was made to employ muds in the laboratory study comparable to those in field use. Samples of muds used in drilling the producing formations in six wells were secured. The properties of these samples are summarized in Table I, which lists the densities, viscosities, filtrations, and analyses of the filtrates for calcium, chloride, and sulphate. Viscosity was measured in the Stormer viscosimeter at 600 r.p.m. Water loss was determined at 80°F. with the Baroid low-pressure wall-building tester8 at a pressure of 100 lb. per sq. in. Filtration rates are considerably higher than those of usual fresh-water muds, which amount to about 20 C.C. in 30 min. Water loss was so rapid in samples 4, 5 and 6 that filtration was complete in less than 10 min. and the values for 30 min. were extrapolated from the rates at shorter

Jan 1, 1942

By G. R. Gray, T. S. Chapman, J. L. Foster

The wall-building properties of salt-water drilling muds can be improved markedly by the addition of: (I) natural gums, such as traga-canth, karaya, and ghatti; (2) seaweeds, such as Irish moss; or (3) gelatinized starch. Results of laboratory tests have been confirmed by field trials. For drilling operations in which the mud becomes contaminated by salt, either through penetrating salt-bearing rocks or by addition of sea water to the mud, the added cost resulting from the use of one of the substances listed above is more than offset by freedom from stuck drill pipe and ease in running casing. Introduction It has been recognized for many years that oil production might be seriously hampered by infiltration of water from the drilling mud.l-4 As knowledge of the mechanism of the wall-building process advanced, methods were developed for evaluating the filtration characteristics of muds.5-ll The wall-building properties of freshwater muds are commonly regulated by the addition of bentonitic clays, or of agents to promote the dispersion of the natural mud solids. When strata bearing soluble salts are encountered in the course of drilling, the salts are incorporated in the mud; the clay solids are flocculated and water loss is increased tremendously. Methods gen-crally used in controlling filtration of freshwater muds are no longer applicable. The problem of reducing water loss from salt-water muds is not confined to any particular area, but is acute in parts of West Texas. Salt beds several hundred feet thick must be penetrated before the oil-bearing formation is reached. Since the formation drilled does not provide mud-making material, it is necessary to use large quantities of commercial clays, and even the best commercial clay does not afford relief from the problem of high filtration. A laboratory study has been made of methods of improving the filtration characteristics of salt-water muds, and some of the methods have been used in field practice. Laboratory Investigations Procedure Inasmuch as the immediate object of the investigation was the development of means of improving the wall-building properties of muds used in West Texas, an attempt was made to employ muds in the laboratory study comparable to those in field use. Samples of muds used in drilling the producing formations in six wells were secured. The properties of these samples are summarized in Table I, which lists the densities, viscosities, filtrations, and analyses of the filtrates for calcium, chloride, and sulphate. Viscosity was measured in the Stormer viscosimeter at 600 r.p.m. Water loss was determined at 80°F. with the Baroid low-pressure wall-building tester8 at a pressure of 100 lb. per sq. in. Filtration rates are considerably higher than those of usual fresh-water muds, which amount to about 20 C.C. in 30 min. Water loss was so rapid in samples 4, 5 and 6 that filtration was complete in less than 10 min. and the values for 30 min. were extrapolated from the rates at shorter

Jan 1, 1942

By G. R. Gray, T. S. Chapman, J. L. Foster

THE wall-building properties of salt-water drilling muds can be improved markedly by the addition of: (I) natural gums, such as tragacanth, karaya, and ghatti; (2) seaweeds, such as Irish moss; or (3) gelatinized starch. Results of laboratory tests have been confirmed by field trials. For drilling operations in which the mud becomes contaminated by salt, either through penetrating salt-bearing rocks or by addition of sea water to the mud, the added cost resulting from the use of one of the substances listed above is more than offset by freedom from stuck drill pipe and ease in running casing. INTRODUCTION It has been recognized for many years that oil production might be seriously hampered by infiltration of water from the drilling mud.1-4 As knowledge of the mechanism of the wall-building process advanced, methods were developed for evaluating the filtration characteristics of muds.5-11 The wall-building properties of fresh-water muds are commonly regulated by the addition of bentonitic clays, or of agents to promote the dispersion of the natural mud solids. When strata bearing soluble salts are encountered in the course of drilling, the salts are incorporated in the mud; the clay solids are flocculated and water loss is increased tremendously. Methods generally used in controlling filtration of fresh-water muds are no longer applicable. The problem of reducing water loss from salt-water muds is not confined to any particular area, but is acute in parts of West Texas. Salt beds several hundred feet thick must be penetrated before the oil-bearing formation is reached. Since the formation drilled does not provide mud-making material, it is necessary to use large quantities of commercial clays, and even the best commercial clay does not afford relief from the problem of high filtration. A laboratory study has been made of methods of improving the filtration characteristics of salt-water muds, and some of the methods have been used in field practice. LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS Procedure Inasmuch as the immediate object of the investigation was the development of means of improving the wall-building properties of muds used in West Texas, an attempt was made to employ muds in the laboratory study comparable to those in field use. Samples of muds used in drilling the producing formations in six wells were secured. The properties of these samples are summarized in Table I, which lists the densities, viscosities, filtrations, and analyses of the filtrates for calcium, chloride, and sulphate. Viscosity was measured in the Stormer viscosimeter at 600 r.p.m. Water loss was determined at 80°F. with the Baroid low-pressure wall-building tester' at a pressure of 10o lb. per sq. in. Filtration rates are considerably higher than those of usual fresh-water muds, which amount to about 20 c.c. in 30 min. Water loss was so rapid in samples 4, 5 and 6 that filtration was complete in less than 10 min. and the values for 30 min. were extrapolated from the rates at shorter

Jan 1, 1941

By William Fink

THE investigation of the phase relations of high-purity aluminum-base alloys is a part of the fundamental research program of the laboratories of the Aluminum Company of America. The results of a number of binary and ternary systems have previously been published in the transactions of this society. The aluminum end of the binary aluminum-titanium system has been studied. This system has received relatively little attention. To the authors' knowledge, there are two previous papers on this subject. E. van Erckelens1 determined the constitutional diagram reproduced in Fig. 1. .According, to this diagram, the liquids represents the separation of TiAl4 (Ti = 30.7 per cent.). He concluded that this is the composition of the compound, because in his work the eutectic horizontal terminated at 30.7 per cent. titanium and the metallographic examination of a sample of this composition revealed only one phase. According to the constitutional diagram developed by W. Manchot and A. Leber,2 reproduced in Fig. 2 from data given in their article, the liquidus represents the separation of the compound TiAl3 (Ti = 37.2 per cent. ). The composition of the compound was derived in a manner similar to that utilized by van Erckelens. Moreover, Manchot and Leber confirmed the composition of the compound by analysis of the constituent left as a residue after dissolving the alloys in weak sodium hydroxide solution. Although these are the only publications describing the constitution of the system, other investigators have studied the composition of the titanium compound. L. Wöhler3 says that there is a compound TiAl3 which was later confirmed by W. Manchot and P. Richter4 and by

Jan 1, 1931

By P. M. Budge, William L. Fink, Kent R. Van Horn

The investigation of the phase relations of high-purity aluminum-base alloys is a part of the fundamental research program of the laboratories of the Aluminum Company of America. The results of a number of binary and ternary systems have previously been published in the Transactions of this society. The aluminum end of the binary aluminum-titanium system has been studied. This system has received relatively little attention. To the authors' knowledge, there are two previous papers on this subject. E. van Erckelensl determined the constitutional diagram reproduced in Fig. 1. According to this diagram, the liquidus represents the separation of TiA14, (Ti = 30.7 per cent.). He concluded that this is the composition of the compound, because in his work the eutectic horizontal terminated at 30.7 per cent. titanium and the metallographic examinalion of a sample of this composition revealed only one phase. According to the constitutional diagram developed by W. Manchot and A. Leber,² reproduced in Fig. 2 from data given in their article, the liquidus represents the separation of the compound TiA13 (Ti = 37.2 per cent. ). The composition of the compound was derived in a manner similar to that utilized by van Erckelens. Moreover, Manchot and Leber confirmed the composition of the compound by analysis of the constituent left as a residue after dissolving the alloys in weak sodium hydroxide solution. Although these are the only publications describing the constitution of the system, other investigators have studied the composition of the titanium compound. L. WÖhler3 says that there is a compound TiA13 which was later confirmed by W. Manchot and P. Richter4 and by

Jan 1, 1931

By Claudio Guarnaschelli

Alteration of the electronic distribution of mineral surfaces by light irradiation has been used to modify the adsorption characteristics of flotation reagents. Energy of a few electron volts is suficient to cause the necessary transitions that either enhance or retard the adsorption phenomenon. The adsorption characteristics of potassium ethyl xanthate on galena and marmatite are presented as functions of the energy of illumination, type of semiconductor, and surface oxidation. In dilute solutions, the adsorption differences are readily detected by controlled kinetic measurements. The correlation between the electronic distribution and the adsorption and desorption phenomena at the solid surface is gaining more attention and acceptance. These interrelations have found a practical application in mineral processing since all of the sulfide minerals display semiconducting properties. By varying the ratio of free electron to electron vacancies, the separation of ilmenite from rutilel and zircon from pyrochlore" has been executed successfully. Plaksin et al.' indicate three possible ways of utilizing the semiconductor properties of a mineral. The first one involves the control of the oxidation-reduction potential of the liquid phase, the second one consists of allowing selected additives to diffuse through the mineral surface, while the third one entails a change in the adsorption and chemical activity of minerals by irradiating their surface. The aim of the present work is to consider the effect of irradiation on the adsorption-desorption characteristics of natural minerals. Since the effect of irradiation is to change the electronic distribution at the surface:

Jan 1, 1971

By R. Costantini

Long-distance transportation of solids by hydraulic pipelines holds promise of great economic benefits. In most mineral processing plants today, moving of solids in slurry-form by pipeline is commonplace. Yet in spite of this, the method is slow in being adopted on a broad scale for moving solids over distances of many miles. This is especially surprising in view of the successful realization of two daring ventures in long-distance solids pipelines in this nation within the last five years. One is the 72-mile long, 6-in. diam. pipeline of the American Gilsonite Co. which has been satisfactorily transporting 700 tpd of gilsonite from the mine at Bonanza, Utah, to the processing plant at Grand Junction, Colo., since April 1957. The other is the 108-mile long, 10-in. pipeline of the Pittsburgh Consolidation Coal Co., which has been transporting about 4000 tpd of finely crushed coal from the mine at Cadiz, Ohio, to the Eastlake Power Plant of the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. since January 1958.

Jan 8, 1961

By Allen H. Rogers

It has always seemed to me that there is a certain similarity between the work of the mining engineer and that of the doctor of medicine — each has very often to be governed in his actions by conditions which he cannot see. It is not necessary to detail the unseen conditions with which the mining engineer or geologist has to deal—the further extension of ore-bodies, the existence of new ones, the throw of a fault, the probable change in grade' or character of the ore with advance of the workings, are a few of the conditions which the mining engineer has to determine as well as he can from the deductions he is able to make from what he can observe. Just so the physician is often confronted with conditions that he can not observe. Probably less than half of human ills make a manifestation at the surface of the body from which definite and certain conclusions can be drawn. The diagnostician must observe various things and, from these observations in combination, conclude what his course should he to bring about the cure of the trouble. Both professions would be assisted immensely by any agency that would permit them to look below the surface, something that would make more certain the diagnosis which each is called upon to make. The physician has had such an agency since 1895, when Röntgen discovered the X-ray; which, by making possible shadowgraphs of the osseous portion of the human body, advanced immensely the diagnosis of bone lesions Later, with improvement in the technique and more understanding in the interpretation of what the photographic plate shows, other portions of the human anatomy could be examined and at the present time there is hardly an instance of internal disorder to which the aid of the X-ray is not called. Some organs are made opaque by administering mineral substances; in other cases, conclusions are drawn from barely perceptible shadows on the photographic plate. Generally the surgeon's knife is directcd with exactitude to the seat of the trouble and so not only is the difficulty revealed but the necessity for an exploratory operation is averted. What the X-ray is to medicine and surgery, geophysical prospecting methods are to the mineral industry. They give the mining engineer and geologist information regarding subsurface conditions which otherwise

Jan 1, 1929

By Henry Louis

The work performed by the Royal Commission on Mining Subsidence is likely to prove of permancnt value, less perhaps for the conclusions it has reached and for the recommendations it has based upon these than for the admirable exposition which it affords of the law concerning mining subsidence and of the legal status of the person who has suffered damage by reason of such subsidence, as also of him whose working has caused the damage. The Commission was appointed by Royal Warrant in the middle of 1925 and delivered its final report in the middle of 1927. The terms of reference to the Commission were as follows: "To consider the operation of the law relating to the support of the surface of the land, and of buildings or works on or under the surface, by underlying or adjacent minerals; to enquire into the extent and gravity of the damage caused by subsidence owing to the extraction of minerals and the incidence of the resulting liability; and to report what steps should be taken, by legislation or otherwise, to remedy, equitably to all persons concerned, any defects or hardships that may be found to arise in existing conditions." Report on the Doncaster Area The Commission submitted an interim report at the end of 1925, which referred solely to one area, usually spoken of as the Doncaster area, and recommended that a Commission of a more technical character be appointed to investigate this particular case. This recommendation was acted upon, and the Commission thus appointed reported early in 1928. Here it is necessary only to indicate the nature of the special problem that had to be solved, the proposed solution being mainly of local interest. The Doncaster area consists of about 330 sq. miles of low-lying land in the southeasterly portion of Yorkshire and adjoining parts of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. No less than 78 per cent, of this land lies below the 25-ft. contour line, and a good deal is even below high-water level. It includes a large tract of land known as Hatfield Chase, swampy ground which has always been a source of trouble on that account, so much so that in 1626 a Dutchman, Cornelius Vermuyden, was called in by King Charles I to devise and execute schemes of drainage for its reclamation. The entire Doncaster area is

Jan 1, 1930

By H. T. Clark

Within the last twenty years at least three sets of lattice constants for the room temperature (alpha, hexagonal close packed) phase of titanium have been reported in the literature. These values, summarized in Table 1, differ one from another by amounts far greater than can be explained on the basis of inaccuracies in parameter measurements. This paper presents new values determined for high purity titanium. It also details the effect of two elements, oxygen and nitrogen, on these parameters and shows that two of the previously reported values are probably in error because of the presence of one or both of these elements in the material used for examination. Preparation of Samples The titanium+ used for this study was prepared by the thermal decomposition of titanium tetraiodide7 on a hot titanium filament. This titanium rod was prepared for X ray examination by melting about 10 g in purified argon in an electric arc furnace on a cold hearth. This cast button was cold rolled to 0.040 in. thick sheet, cleaned, annealed in vacuum at 1000°C and cold rolled to 0.020 in. thickness. About 0.003 in. of surface material was then removed by hand grinding on papers to remove any contamination caused by the rolls and the sample was bent to the radius of the focusing camera. The sample was then vacuum annealed at 600°C, a temperature just high enough to cause recrystallization, producing a fine grained structure. Such a structure is essential in sheet specimens prepared for focusing cameras in order to have a sufficient quantity of grains to develop continuous diffraction lines. The use of sheet specimens rather than powder samples appears to be essential for the X ray examination of titanium. This is because of titanium's exceptionally high gettering power and its rapid absorption of adsorbed gases, water -vapor, and the like at annealing temperatures. While the effect of this contamination may be neglected for sheet specimens, its effect on 200-300 mesh powder is appreciable. Titanium alloys of oxygen and nitrogen were prepared by a technique simi- lar to that described above except that the required amount of the highest purity titanium oxide or nitride available was added prior to melting in the arc furnace. These materials were added by placing them in holes drilled in the titanium. A small weight loss invariably occurs during the melting of these oxygen and nitrogen alloys. This is believed to be due entirely to the loss of some of the powdered compound in the blast of the electric arc, an assumption which is justified on the basis that there is no weight loss during the melting of titanium metal and that wet analyses for nitrogen on representative samples have checked with the calculated analyses when it was assumed that the entire loss during melting was due to the loss of titanium nitride powder. These alloy buttons were reduced to sheet in the same manner as used for the unalloyed titanium. Experimental Procedure A North American Phillips 12 cm diam symmetrical precision focusing vacuum camera and copper radiation

Jan 1, 1950

R. B. BRINSMADE, Ixmiquilpan, Hgo, Mexico* (written discussion). As the discussion of Mr. Graton's paper by Messrs. Norris, Patterson, and Crane has been from the standpoint of the mineral land-value owners, a few remarks in the interest of the "under dog"-the average taxpayer and citizen-may prove timely. In my discussion of Doctor Raymond's Paper1 and of the papers of Messrs. Gibson2 and Godson, 3 have endeavored to demonstrate, from both political economy and history, that our existing system of unrestricted private ownership of land is incompatible with equality of economic opportunity and, therefore, subversive of our democratic political institutions. In Mr. Graton's paper, the same land problem is important, though camouflaged by the failure of the Federal income tax laws to distinguish between land and capital, in the requirements for valuation, or between earned and unearned incomes in the levying of taxes. I disagree with Mr. Graton's statement, on p. 2967, as follows: The immense majority of mining ventures are failures. A multitude of disappointments is relieved by occasional success. Were it not for the chance of great rewards, all the vitally necessary but mainly unremunerative work of exploration would not be undertaken. In contrast with nearly all other fields of endeavor, it is altogether unlikely that, on the whole, the gains in the successful mining ventures suffice to offset the losses in the unsuccessful.

Jan 3, 1920

By H. H. West

Modern mining is vitally concerned with the prompt, efficient movement of great quantities of bulk materials. It is not surprising, therefore, that intensive efforts are being directed toward improving effectiveness and reducing costs of materials handling systems. Historically, the operation of removing bulk material from a moving conveyor and depositing it in utilization or storage areas has been a high cost segment of the materials handling system. Since this operation is often performed by belt trippers, considerable attention has been focused on improvement of these devices. Frequently, the greatest opportunity for improving performance of these devices is the incorporation of remote or automatic control systems. This article describes tripper control systems developed by Kennecott Copper Corp. and explains the control philosophies used in designing these systems.

Jan 3, 1963

By Joseph Pogue

PRORATION in the petroleum industry has come to mean a method for curtailing the production of crude petroleum by artificial effort, and it is in this sense that the term is employed throughout this paper. Although a contrived curb on supply has been invoked at various times in the past in particular fields and to meet specific situations, it is not until the past few years that this procedure has become general and assumed a dominant role in the oil business. In the sense that we now understand it, proration had its inception in the Seminole area of Okla-homa in 1927, from which time and place the practice spread to include practically all the flush oil fields of the country, especially those of California, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. At present there is perhaps no phase of the oil business that commands more attention than proration, nor one that engages more time and effort on the part of executives in the business. The practice of proration, indeed, has not only become an integral part of the policy of most companies and operators, but it has also taken on the aspects of a "movement" involving two schools of thought with considerable feeling, and at times some bitterness, on both sides. In this atmosphere it is difficult to find calm, dispassionate consideration of proration, for most discussions are either vigorous exhortations by its proponents, or else sharp condemnations by its opponents; although it appears that the majority of the industry is clearly "in favor of" proration. It is hoped that this analysis will be taken as an attempt to appraise the movement as an economic force, without bias and without regard to the incidence of the conclusions upon any preconceptions that the industry may entertain.

Jan 1, 1932

JOHN B. HASTINGS, Los Angeles, Cal. (written discussion *).-This, paper is so admirable for its brevity that one hesitates to enter into discussion. The cycle of eruptives makes one wonder, "Where's the basalt?" and the youthfulness of the Idaho flows suggests they may yet come. Veins and Dikes.-Veins and dikes seem to be closely aligned in the minds of some authors, while to me they appear quite distinct, the first representing quiet, long-continued action, typified by metasomatic replacement, far removed from volcanic action; the latter, sudden and cyclonic, emanating from the heart of vulcanism. The rock openings occupied by both types were formed by kindred forces, but in the one they were closed for indefinite periods before invasion by the solfataric solutions, and in the other their formation and occupation were simultaneous. Open Fissures.-I do not believe in the existence of open spaces of discission that may be occupied by veins. Occasionally they occur; I found one with. a machine drill 350 ft. below surface, fortunately in an adit; the water spouted for 12 ft. in a 6-in stream for nearly 24 hr. It was only a flattish fissure, 6 in. wide, crossing the perpendicular vein, and indicating how tabular veins of ore might be formed. The practical absence of open fissures should be a joy to miners. We all know the misgivings with which we feel about for an old winze having only 30 ft. of water in it, in an unsurveyed and inaccessible part of a mine. It is said that veins are sometimes formed in open spaces left by Protuberances of the walls, which meet after having been displaced; but I believe that in such circumstances there would be sufficient attrition and brecciated material to fill the fissure, though perhaps loosely. Parts of veins may possibly have been formed in originally open spaces, but if so, the spaces were made by solution shortly preceding the deposition of the veins. That total solution of rock adjacent to a fissure may occur under favorable conditions is proved by the existence of large bodies of sulphide which contain only a few per cent. of silica; while on the same level, and in other levels above and below, all being within the same ore shoot, assays may show as much as 50 to 60 per cent. of silica, although the gold, silver and copper assays may be almost identical in all the

Jan 1, 1918

By Lawrence A. Shepard, Richard H. Krock

A series of ductile, two phase W-Ni-Fe composites, sintered in the presence of a liquid phase, were tested in tension. Identical room temperature stress-strain curves were obtained for specimens containing from 80 to 92 wt pct W (58 to 75 vol pct W particles). The composites exhibited a maximum elongation of 29pct at room temperature, and 10.7 pct at 77 °K. The tungsten particles in the composite elongated by the same amount at these temperatures. Single-phase alloy specimens matching the composition of the composite matrix showed about one half the flow stress of the composites. The test results demonstrated that the mechanical properties of W-Ni-Fe composites are determined by the tungsten particles alone and are independent of matrix volume fraction or mean free path over the composition range studied. A general prediction of the plastic behavior of two-phase alloys or composites from a knowledge of the properties, size, shape, and dispersion of the individual components is not, at present, possible. The excellent theoretical and experimental exposition of the dispersion-strengthening problem applies only to cases where the stronger phase is present as fine particles and in volume fractions of a few percent. Materials in which the stronger phase constitutes a significant fraction of the volume, although of broad engineering interest, have received comparatively little analytical attention. This important group of materials is the concern of the present study. The degree of deformation of each phase during the plastic working of a ductile two-phase alloy has been established by Boas and Honeycombe,1 Clare-brough,2 and Clarebrough and berger.3 These workers empirically correlated the recrystallization temperature of the individual phases with the degree of cold work sustained by each. It was shown that the deformations of both phases are equal and therefore the same as that sustained by the composite whole when the volume fraction of the stronger phase exceeds 35 pct. At yielding, however, deformation begins in the weaker phase. A direct correlation of composite strength, as a function of deformation, with the strength of the individual components cannot be made. In the presence of stronger phase particles, the flow stress of the weaker matrix phase is enhanced by an additional hydrostatic component. The development and potential magnitude of matrix strength promotion upon straining has not even been experimentally established. Quantitative work in this field has been confined to ceramic-metal composites. These materials fracture at strains considerably below 1 pct by cracking of the ceramic particles.4-6 An indication of the potential constrained matrix strength capacity is given by the observation by Nishimatsu and Gur-land4 that the maximum tensile strength of a WC-Co composite is almost double the bulk strength of the cobalt matrix. The relationship between composite strength and geometry is ordinarily expressed in terms of the mean-free matrix path (referred to subsequently as MFP) between the stronger particles.* This factor takes into account both the volume fraction of matrix phase and the average size of the particles. unke17 concluded that composite strength varied directly with the decreasing log MFP, following the Gen-samer8 relationship. However, Gurland and ~radzil~ reported a strength maximum at an MFP of the order of 1 p in WC-Co composites. A ductile two phase metallic composite was chosen for the present investigation of composite mechanical properties with the view of avoiding the difficulties and ambiguities noted above. The W-Ni-Fe heavy alloy of Green, Jones, and pitkin9 contains 80 to 94 wt pct W, and nickel and iron in a weight ratio

Jan 1, 1963

By M. C. Fuerstenau

Enrollment in the mineral engineering departments at many of our universities has decreased substantially over the past few years, a fact that is due to a number of reasons. Some of the more obvious reasons are: (l) lack of student stimulation in the classroom, (2) absence or lack of salesmanship by the mineral industry faculty, (3) minimal financial support of academic programs by industry (some companies have been very generous, while others have given nothing), (4) failure of some companies to utilize the engineering backgrounds of personnel, (5) salary in some instances, and (6) job location in some in- stances. As some of these problems have been recognized, appropriate steps have been taken to correct them. Only one of the reasons listed is not subject to change, and that is job location. One university' that found itself in the position of reduced enrollment in the mineral industries is the University of Utah. Since the author was in the Department of Metallurgical Engineering at that university, and since data on enrollment and scholarship support have been published by that department, that department will be used for illustrative purposes to show the effect that active scholarship incentive can have on undergraduate enrollment. As Fig. I shows, there were approximately 35 total undergraduates in the department in 1966. Extrapolation of the freshman line from 1965 to 1966 (and previous years) suggested that no freshmen would be enrolled in metallurgical engineering by 1969 unless something drastic were done to alter the trend. In the Spring of 1966, 20 scholarships were offered to high school seniors as an incentive to enroll in metallurgical engineering. These scholarships were financed from a private endowment to the department, but at the present time industry is also contributing to the program. With these incentives, the department essentially doubled its total enrollment in three years, as shown in Fig. 1. Cornparison of this figure with the number of students on scholarships (Fig. 2) shows a direct correlation between undergraduate enrollment and the number of students on scholarship support.

Jan 1, 1970

By W. H. Adams

Virginia, a store-house of metals, is more and more a surprise to the present generation. With her enormous available mineral wealth, worked upon steadily for over a century, exploited SUEciently to demonstrate beyond question costs and values, reported upon by our most eminent scientists, written up by thoroughly earnest correspondents, we yet find her little understood by capitalists or practical men, and until very lately overlooked by the advanceguard of pioneers in metallurgy, whose restless energy conquered the wilderness of Northern Michigan years ago, and has written a new and startling history for almost impenetrable Western territories. The world is learning through the mouths of giant furnaces lately put in blast at Lowmoor, Goshen, and Roanoke, more of this wondcrful State. It is becoming plain that nearer home, amid all the surroundings of civilization, under an equable climate and with the advantage of a minimum cost for fuel and labor, there are stores of mineral, varied in character and deposited over a wide area, which exceed all ordinary calcnlations. Principal among these minerals, iron ores have been, and will probably continue to be, the leading product and the source of greatest revenue. My attention has been called during the past year to one particular section of the iron-belt, where for forty years charcoal-furnaces were successfully operated, the ores being mined in open pits, as can so frequently be seen from the Connecticut line southward into Georgia. There is, however, a significant peculiarity in the character of these deposits of Louisa county warranting special mention, as it is thought that nowhere on the earth's surface, within so moderate a distance of tidewater, can their like be fouad. Probably half a million tons of lump and wash-material have been taken from pits

Jan 1, 1884