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By J. Husson, R. Iffly, M. Gondouin

A systematic variation of well deliverability, as reflected from isochronal back-pressure tests performed at regular intervals, has been observed in some gas condensate wells producing at high rates. The same effects have been obtained using a numerical model of gas and condensate flow which takes into account secondary gasoline deposited in the pore space as a result of pressure reduction, and non - Darcy flow of gas in the vicinity of the wells. Matching calculated values with previous test results has been possible, and future predictions have been obtained. An application of this method to the Hassi Er R'Mel gas-condensate field in Algeria is tentatively shown. INTRODUCTION Flow capacity of gas wells is generally derived from an analysis of back-pressure tests. The empirical equation q = C (?p2)n used by Rawlins and Schellhardtl can be derived rigorously assuming that steady-state radial flow of a dry gas of constant viscosity and compressibility is established during each flow period of the well tests. Furthermore, when Darcy's law applies in the entire flow region, the theory predicts that the exponent n is equal to 1. In low-permeability reservoirs, it was soon discovered that the time required to reach a stabilized flow often exceeded the duration of the flow periods normally available for testing wells. Consequently, transient gas flow had to be considered instead of the steady-state assumption previously used. This led to the isochronal testing procedure established by Cullender2 which has largely replaced conventional back-pressure testing. For dry gas fields, this method yields definite values of C and n equivalent to those of the empirical equation. These values should remain constant for each well as long as the permeability of the formation and the characteristics of the gas (viscosity and compressibility) do not change appreciably. This is the case when reservoir pressure remains -close to the original value and when the formation near the wellbore remains free of plugging. Under those conditions, stabilized flow potential curves of gas wells can be established from a single sequence of isochronal flow and shut-in periods. An analysis of a pressure build-up following a longer production period provides additional data on the transmissivity (k h/ u) of the reservoir, and eventually on the 'drainage radius rd of the well, which can be related to the value of C so that future performance of the well can be predicted using the concepts developed by A. Houpeurt.3 At high flow rates, Darcy's law no longer applies in the vicinity of the wellbore, and inertial effects in the high velocity gas flow introduce additional pressure drops. As a consequence, exponent n of the backpressure tests becomes smaller than 1, and a slight curvature of the log-log plot of ?p2 vs q can be predicted when going from very low to high rates of flow (Elenbaas and Katz).5 The effects of variations of viscosity and compressibility with pressure on the radial flow of dry gas in an infinite reservoir were taken into account by Jenkins and Aronofsky.7 Numerical solutions of the transient flow of an ideal gas in finite radial reservoirs were presented by Bruce, Peaceman, Rachford and Rice.8 In the case of gas condensate wells, however, the presence of gasoline in the pore space as soon as reservoir pressure is reduced below the dewpoint pressure further complicates the interpretation of flow tests so that the prediction of stabilized well performance becomes very difficult. Field observation shows that both C and n derived from isochronal tests vary in time, even when reservoir pressure has not changed appreciably. Such a variation cannot be attributed to any change of the gas characteristics, and must result from the effect of a gasoline saturation on the gas flow.

By N. Parlee, V. C. Kashyap

The solubilities of nitrogen in liquid iron and liquid Fe-Ni, Fe-Mo, Fe-V, and Fe-Mo-V alloys were measured by the Sieverts method. Measurements were made at 1600° to 1800°C on binary alloys up to 20 pet Ni, 10 pet V, 10 pet Mo; and on ternary alloys containing 0 to 3 pet V with 0 to 5 pet Mo. The results on liquid iron confirm that Sieverts' law is obeyed in the range 50 to 750 mm pressure. The measured solubilities and their temperature coefficients are in general agreement with other modern authors. The logarithms of the activity coefficients of nitrogen in the binaries are approximately linear functions of the pet of alloying element. A method suggested by Wagner, Chipman, and others for predicting gas solubilities in complex alloys from solubility data on binaries was applied to the Fe-Mo-V alloys. Reasonably good agreement was obtained between calculated and experimental solubilities. NITROGEN'S solubility in liquid iron has been studied by a number of investigators. It is reasonably well established that the solubility of nitrogen follows Sieverts' law at least up to 1 atm partial pressure and that the solubility increases gradually with temperature. The solubility of nitrogen in Fe-X binary liquid systems has been investigated in only a few cases. Only the systems Fe-Cr,3-5, 7 Fe-V,3 Fe-Mn,3, 5 Fe-Ni,3, 5 Fe-Si,B, H Fe-C, L, H and Fe-P4 appear to have received any study. The only work on liquid Fe-V was done by Brick and Creevy.3 This was limited to 13.5 pet and 26.5 pet V, but no exact temperatures were recorded. No work whatsoever appears to have been done on liquid Fe-Mo alloys and even work on Fe-Ni alloys is rather scant. The work on liquid ternary systems is still more limited, and the only publication available appears to be that of Wentrup and Reif,7 who studied the Fe-Cr-Mn and Fe-Cr-Ni alloys. Rassbach, Saunders, and Harbrecht17 have reported work on the solubility of nitrogen in stainless steel but this was not a systematic study of any particular system. Commercial alloys usually contain several alloying elements. Thus, it often becomes important to be able to predict the nitrogen solubility in systems containing two or more added elements without the necessity of making measurements. Wagner,14 Chipman," Darken and Gurry," and Morris and Buehl 14 have suggested means by which this may be accomplished, and Langenberg14 has recently applied one of these methods to nitrogen solubility in complex liquid alloys. This paper reports the results of nitrogen solubility determinations on Fe-Ni, Fe-Mo, Fe-V, and Fe-Mo-V alloys and compares calculated and experimental solubilities in the ternary alloy. Attempted measurements on Fe-Cr alloys were not successful by the experimental method employed. Experimental Method The general method of solubility measurement was that of Sieverts.' The apparatus and procedure were essentially the same as used by Liang, Bever, and Floe."' The equipment consisted of a small vacuum furnace heated by a 6 kw induction unit, gas measuring apparatus, and a gas purification train. The crucibles used were Norton Alundum with alumina sand around them for insulation. The crucibles were charged with 100 to 200 g of material, about 180 g or nearly filling the crucible being found most satisfactory. Hot volumes were determined with argon and ranged from 95 to 130 cu cm (stp). Temperature measurements were made with a Leeds and Northrup optical pyrometer which was calibrated periodically against the melting point of iron in the same apparatus."-'* Good quality nitrogen, hydrogen, and argon gases were further purified and dried in standard purification trains. The sources of the high purity iron and other alloying elements used were as follows:

Jan 1, 1959

By C. Laird, C. E. Feltner

IN previous workif2 we have shown that the steady state cyclic stress response of pure copper tested in the low cycle fatigue range was determined only by the plastic strain amplitude and the test temperature. hus, copper, at any given temperature, has a unique cyclic stress-strain curve independent of prior history. Cu-7.5 wt pct Al, however, showed a stress response for a given plastic strain amplitude and temperature which depended sensitively on prior history. From this work we predicted that all wavy slip mode materials, typified by copper, would have a unique cyclic stress-strain curve; whereas all planar slip mode materials, typified by Cu-7.5 pct Al, would not. This prediction has now been tested for a number of materials of widely varying crystal structure and slip character. Wavy slip mode materials studied include: Fe. Al, Cd, disordered FeCo-V, and Cu-3 pct Co (quenched and aged). Planar slip mode materials investigated include: Fe-3 pct Si, ordered FeCo-V, disordered Ni3Mn, ordered Ni3Mn, and Zn. The treatment and properties of these materials are listed in Table I. Cyclic stress-strain curves were determined by controlled plastic strain tests (see Ref. 1 for details) at room temperature for all materials in both the initially annealed and cold worked conditions. The results obtained for iron and Fe-3 pct Si are typical of wavy and planar slip mode materials, respectively. The cyclic stress-strain curves for these materials are shown in Fig. 1 and it can be seen that iron has a unique cyclic stress strain curve while Fe-3 pct Si does not. Aluminum, Cu-3 pct Co, and disordered FeCo-V showed a behavior like that for iron, while Ni3Mn in both the disordered and ordered condition behaved in the same manner as Fe-3 pct Si. These results therefore support the general conclusion drawn in Refs. 1 and 2 that. for wavy slip mode materials, a cyclic mechanical equation of slate it =t.(hcp, i. T) is approximated in which the satura-

Jan 1, 1970

By M. C. Cheney

The active development of the vast East Texas oil field, the attendant effects of the rapidly increasing flow from its prolific wells and the efforts to bring order out of chaos precluded or dwarfed other oil development in Texas during 1931. In a paper by Dr. F. H. Lahee1 presented at the October, 1931, meeting, the early history of the East Texas oil field is described and the sequence of events in connection with its development and efforts to control its production up to Sept. 25 is narrated. At that time the Railroad Commission of the state reduced the production of the field to a maximum of 400,000 bbl. per day by restricting the allowable daily production per well to 185 bbl. By further reduction in the daily production per well to 100 bbl., the field was held below that maximum figure during the remainder of the year. Meanwhile, as a result of an injunction against the Railroad Commission, its authority in the field was superseded on Oct. 13 by the Governor of the state, and after that date production was controlled directly by his orders issued under authority of martial law. Suits to contest this authority were brought in the Federal courts and were pending at the close of the year. On March 5, 1931, as a result of the East Texas production, posted prices for Mid-Continent 40' A.P.I. crude slumped from $1.07 to $0.67. As East Texas production continued to mount, posted prices in East Texas were reduced to $0.37 on June 3 and $0.22 on July 8, although in that field most of the oil was sold for much less, bringing the producer and royalty owner as low as $0.025 per barrel. Northeast Texas To the information contained in Dr. Lahee's paper, it can now be added that the East Texas field has produced over 105,000,000 bbl. and registered about 3700 successful completions during 1931. There may be some merit to the recent prediction that a large part of the field will have passed its flowing period by the middle of 1932 unless

Jan 1, 1932

By Henry S. Mackay

The interesting paper recently submitted by Messrs. Tobelmann and Potter1 shows that chemical problems have developed which are of great interest in this new and important branch of metallurgy. Those who realize what a process of this kind really involves will agree that it deserves a better name than '(leaching process." The word leaching conveys the idea that the copper is simply leached out of the ore with acid and then precipitated on iron; the chemistry of such a process would be of little interest. As, however, during the first year's operation of this plant 24,400,532 lb. (11,067,837 kg.) or about two-thirds of the produce, was electrolytic copper, while 7,992,033 lb., or about one-third, was cement copper, it would seem more appropriate to term the process electrochemical. It further appears, from the particulars given, that efforts have been made to have the entire production in the form of electrolytic copper. This could be done if the chemistry of the problem were kept in balance, so that it would not be necessary to discard any solutions that carried copper and acid of commercial value. A process, such as that under consideration, in which the copper is precipitated from solution by electrolysis, the solvent being at the same time regenerated, is one that requires special chemical and electrochemical knowledge and experience if all the copper in solution that has been extracted from the ore is to be successfully and economically produced as electrolytic copper. The object of this paper is to discuss, from the practical and theoretical standpoints, the chemical and electrochemical problems involved in the working of a process of this kind, and which must be solved to keep it in chemical and electrochemical equilibrium. In such a process, if the chemical balance is maintained, a solution can be used alternately as a solvent for the copper in the ore and as an electrolyte of high efficiency for the precipitation of the copper. To maintain the chemical equilibrium and so attain this result, the process must be so controlled that the solu-

Jan 1, 1921

By Sandip K. Mitra, John E. Dorn

The Basinki-modified Seeger equation for deformation of metals by means of thermally activated intersection of dislocations was used to ascertain the various factors responsible for the strain hardening of poly crystalline aluminum and a series of a solid solutions of magnesium in aluminum. The analyses were based principally on the rate of change of strain rate with stress and the Cottrell-Stokes ratio. From measurements of these quantities on a series of strain-hardened states, the force displacement diagram for intersection, the density of dislocations in the entanglements, and the contributions of the athermal local stress and long-range stress interactions were deduced. Poly crystalline aluminum was observed to have the same force-displacement diagram for intersection as single aluminum crystals, and the corresponding diagram for the magnesium alloys differed in a manner that suggested that small amounts of magnesium may decrease slightly the stacking fault energy of aluminum. Although poly crystalline aluminum had about the same initial density of dislocations as the single crystals, the density of dislocations increased much more rapidly with strain in the polycrystals. This factor and the higher back stresses generated in the poly crystalline aluminum were the major factors responsible for the higher strength of the poly crystalline aluminum, As the magnesium content of the alloys was increased, the initial density of the dislocations also increased. Most of the alloy strengthening arose from this factor; alloying effects due to short-range order strengthening, Suzuki locking, Cottrell pinning, and so forth, were estimated to be quite small. The gveater rate of strain hardening in the alloys was deduced to be due primarily to the greater increase in the density of the dislocations with strain as the magnesium content was increased. It is the purpose of the present investigation to shed additional light on the average plastic behavior of a grain in a polycrystalline aggregate, by analyses, based on dislocation theory, of appropriate experimental test results. These deductions when compared with those from single-crystal data will then serve to illustrate the major items of difference between the plastic behavior of single crystals and the average behavior of a grain in a

Jan 1, 1963

By Alden B. Greninger

Although the crystallography of lattice transformations has been studied extensively during the past few years, these studies have been limited, with few exceptions1'2, to specimens in which the transformed lattice appears as a segregate phase. A realization of the technical importance of the segregation mechanism, especially in the formation of martensitic structures and in age-hardening phenomena, has undoubtedly stimulated research in this direction. In the crystallographic studies of segregation, the general problem has been to relate the orientation of the parent crystal to that of the segregate crystals. The technique has been complicated by the fact that it has been necessary to deal with the presence of as many as 24 ideal segregate orientations within one parent lattice; furthermore, the segregate lattices are invariably scattered (seldom less than ±2º, often as much as 15" or 20') about these ideal positions. It is probable that a more complete picture of phase transformations may result from a study in which complete lattice relationships between individual grains are evaluated, thereby providing an additional parameter which when it is necessary to work with multiple segregate orientations, cannot be evaluated. The present paper presents the results of such a study, ? wherein a peritectic reaction is made use of to produce the transformed lattices. Matebials and Methods Pem'tectic Reaction.—In Fig. 1 is reproduced a portion of the copper-zinc equilibrium diagram, which includes the peritectic reaction a + liq. —ß. A liquid of composition between B and D upon solidifying will

Jan 1, 1937

By B. Otto Pixler

Mud-analysis logging provides identification of the fluid content of formations drilled by the rotary method and permits the accurate correlation of oil and gas shows with the depth. Mud-analysis logging eliminates much coring and has an especially important application in drilling programs when coring is particularly hazardous or the electric log is difficult to interpret correctly. An appreciation of the factors that influence the results of the mud analysis, such as rate of penetration, mud properties, coring, and characteristics of reservoir rock as related to the "flushing effect," permits a better understanding of the mud-analysis log. Recent studies of the relationship of the two gas readings obtained by the gas-detector instrument have proved significant. The difference between the total combustible gas reading and the higher molecular weight gas reading indicates the presence of methane. With few exceptions, zones not showing an increase of methane probably can be condemned. Mud-analysis logging furnishes valuable information, which generally cannot be obtained by other methods. Introduction Logging by mud analysis of wells drilled with rotary tools is a direct method of locating oil-and-gas-bearing formations. The use of this method of logging has increased each year until now more than 20 field units are being used in 13 oil-producing states and in some foreign countries. Several papers1-9 have been published in the petroleum trade journals describing in detail the equipment and the application of mud-analysis logging. This paper will discuss briefly the method and review its application and some of the late developments. Method As the drilling of a well progresses, the drilling bit dislodges and disintegrates a cylindrical section of the formation. If oil or gas is contained in the pore spaces of the cylinder, some of the contents of these porous spaces will be entrained in the drilling fluid. In wall logging by mud analysis, the mud is continuously examined for oil and gas on its return to the surface, and the results are correlated back to the actual depth of the hole at the time the mud was clearing the eyes of the bit. The test for gas is made by diverting a portion of the circulating mud from the flow line to a separator or gas trap, where the mud is thoroughly mixed with air and a portion of the gas entrained in the mud is removed. A stream of air is drawn coun-tercurrent to the flow of mud in the gas trap, thus materially assisting the separation of the gas from the mud. The air-gas mixture is then drawn into a "hot-wire" gas-detector instrument where the percentage of the combustible gas is determined. The presence of oil in the formation drilled is detected by a physical examination of the drilling mud under ultraviolet light. A sample of the mud is treated to reduce the surface tension and gel strength, after which it is placed in a viewing box. This box is so constructed that all external light is excluded and so that the sample may be subjected selectively to either ultra-

Jan 1, 1946

By B. Otto Pixler

Mud-analysis logging provides identification of the fluid content of formations drilled by the rotary method and permits the accurate correlation of oil and gas shows with the depth. Mud-analysis logging eliminates much coring and has an especially important application in drilling programs when coring is particularly hazardous or the electric log is difficult to interpret correctly. An appreciation of the factors that influence the results of the mud analysis, such as rate of penetration, mud properties, coring, and characteristics of reservoir rock as related to the "flushing effect," permits a better understanding of the mud-analysis log. Recent studies of the relationship of the two gas readings obtained by the gas-detector instrument have proved significant. The difference between the total combustible gas reading and the higher molecular weight gas reading indicates the presence of methane. With few exceptions, zones not showing an increase of methane probably can be condemned. Mud-analysis logging furnishes valuable information, which generally cannot be obtained by other methods. Introduction Logging by mud analysis of wells drilled with rotary tools is a direct method of locating oil-and-gas-bearing formations. The use of this method of logging has increased each year until now more than 20 field units are being used in 13 oil-producing states and in some foreign countries. Several papers1-9 have been published in the petroleum trade journals describing in detail the equipment and the application of mud-analysis logging. This paper will discuss briefly the method and review its application and some of the late developments. Method As the drilling of a well progresses, the drilling bit dislodges and disintegrates a cylindrical section of the formation. If oil or gas is contained in the pore spaces of the cylinder, some of the contents of these porous spaces will be entrained in the drilling fluid. In wall logging by mud analysis, the mud is continuously examined for oil and gas on its return to the surface, and the results are correlated back to the actual depth of the hole at the time the mud was clearing the eyes of the bit. The test for gas is made by diverting a portion of the circulating mud from the flow line to a separator or gas trap, where the mud is thoroughly mixed with air and a portion of the gas entrained in the mud is removed. A stream of air is drawn coun-tercurrent to the flow of mud in the gas trap, thus materially assisting the separation of the gas from the mud. The air-gas mixture is then drawn into a "hot-wire" gas-detector instrument where the percentage of the combustible gas is determined. The presence of oil in the formation drilled is detected by a physical examination of the drilling mud under ultraviolet light. A sample of the mud is treated to reduce the surface tension and gel strength, after which it is placed in a viewing box. This box is so constructed that all external light is excluded and so that the sample may be subjected selectively to either ultra-

Jan 1, 1946

By A. A. Smith

The application of indium to bearings was first advocated by C. F. Smsrtl in 1938, for the purpose of inhibiting corrosion of certain bearing alloys. He found that a thin layer of indium plated on the bearing surface and subsequently diffused at elevated temperatures markedly decreased the rate of corrosion in lubricating oils containing organic? acids. Most of his work was done on cadmium-base alloys, although he showed that the treatment was also effective for copper-lead and other; alloys. Since their introduction, indium-treated bearings have found considerable use, particularly in connection with airplane motors.2 Undoubtedly the effectiveness of the indium plate in resisting corrosion depends upon its relative concentration on the bearing surface after the diffusion treatment and after prolonged use at operating temperatures. Some diffusion experiments were made on a number of base metals that had been indium plated, to determine the depth of penetration after heating for reasonably long periods of time. As only the practical aspects were desired, no attempt was made to determine actual diffusion constants. Method Two different series of experiments were carried out to study the diffusion of indium into several base metals. Cast cylinders about one-inch diameter were machined to 0.750-in. diameter, so as to remove all surface imperfections, and final finishing was done with oo sandpaper. The original diameters were very carefully measured with micrometers and then a layer of indium was electrolytically deposited on the cylinders from a sulphate bath.3 In the first series of experiments, about 0.002 in. of indium' was deposited and diffusion, was carried out at 150°C. for a period of 500 hr. in a thermostatically controlled electric oven. After the diffusion period, successive layers were machined from the specimens and analyzed spectro-graphically and chemically—the spectro-graphic examination serving as a guide to determine which layers should be chemically analyzed. Apparently there was some surface oxidation of the indium plate due to the long heat-treatment, which may have had some effect on the diffusion. A1so, the cadmium alloy showed some incipient melting, which probably was caused by the formation of a low-melting eutectic. To eliminate these factors, another series of experiments was carried out by heating in an electrically heated, automatically controlled, oil bath at lower temperature. The preparation of the specimens was the same as before except that a layer of indium 0.0001 in. thick, an amount commonly used commercially on bearings, was deposited on each of the cylinders. Diffusion was carried out at 120°C. for a period of 200

Jan 1, 1944

By A. A. Smith

The application of indium to bearings was first advocated by C. F. Smsrtl in 1938, for the purpose of inhibiting corrosion of certain bearing alloys. He found that a thin layer of indium plated on the bearing surface and subsequently diffused at elevated temperatures markedly decreased the rate of corrosion in lubricating oils containing organic? acids. Most of his work was done on cadmium-base alloys, although he showed that the treatment was also effective for copper-lead and other; alloys. Since their introduction, indium-treated bearings have found considerable use, particularly in connection with airplane motors.2 Undoubtedly the effectiveness of the indium plate in resisting corrosion depends upon its relative concentration on the bearing surface after the diffusion treatment and after prolonged use at operating temperatures. Some diffusion experiments were made on a number of base metals that had been indium plated, to determine the depth of penetration after heating for reasonably long periods of time. As only the practical aspects were desired, no attempt was made to determine actual diffusion constants. Method Two different series of experiments were carried out to study the diffusion of indium into several base metals. Cast cylinders about one-inch diameter were machined to 0.750-in. diameter, so as to remove all surface imperfections, and final finishing was done with oo sandpaper. The original diameters were very carefully measured with micrometers and then a layer of indium was electrolytically deposited on the cylinders from a sulphate bath.3 In the first series of experiments, about 0.002 in. of indium' was deposited and diffusion, was carried out at 150°C. for a period of 500 hr. in a thermostatically controlled electric oven. After the diffusion period, successive layers were machined from the specimens and analyzed spectro-graphically and chemically—the spectro-graphic examination serving as a guide to determine which layers should be chemically analyzed. Apparently there was some surface oxidation of the indium plate due to the long heat-treatment, which may have had some effect on the diffusion. A1so, the cadmium alloy showed some incipient melting, which probably was caused by the formation of a low-melting eutectic. To eliminate these factors, another series of experiments was carried out by heating in an electrically heated, automatically controlled, oil bath at lower temperature. The preparation of the specimens was the same as before except that a layer of indium 0.0001 in. thick, an amount commonly used commercially on bearings, was deposited on each of the cylinders. Diffusion was carried out at 120°C. for a period of 200

Jan 1, 1944

By A. B. Cook

Gas cycling is generally considered a much less efficient oil recovery mechanism than water flooding. HOWever, recoveries from some fields have been exceptionally high as a result of gas cycling. Recovery from the Pick-ton field, for example, was calculated to be 73.5 perceni of the stock-tank oil originally in place. In evaluating pressure maintenance projects, determining how much of the recovery is due to displacement by gas and determining how much is due to vaporization of the imrnohile oil in the flow path of the cycled gas is very difficrilt. Even though most of the oil is recovered by displacetr~ent, the success of a project may depend on the amount of oil vaporized. A limited number of experiments have heen performed with a rotating model oil reservoir that simulates gas cycling operations and allows a separation of the oil from, tile free gas flowing into the laboratory wellbore at reservoir conditions, thus revealing which is displaced oil and which is vaporized oil. It Iras been determined that the amount of varporizatio'n is .significant if proper conditions exist These experiments show that oil vaporization depends on pressure, temperature, volatility of the oil and amount of gas cycled. Increases in each of these conditions increase the volume of oil vaporized. Data from six experiments affecting vaporization are presented to illustrate reservoir condition that range from favorable to unfavorable. 111 these eaperitnenis recovery by vaporization ranged from 73.6 to 15.3 percent of /he immobile oil (oil not produced by gas displacerrlt). INTRODUCTION Between 1930 and 1950, gas cycling was a popular. oil recovery practice. especially for the deeper reservoirs. Later, with many case history-type studies published for both gas cycling and waterflooding, it was generally believed that waterflooding was far superior to gas cycling, even when gas cycling was conducted as a primary production procedure by complete pressure maintenance. A good example illustrating the advantage of water-flooding over gas cycling is given in a paper by Matthews' on the South Burbank unit where gas injection was followed by waterflooding. The author concluded in part that "Early application of water injection, without the intervening period of gas injection, would have recovered as much total oil as ultimately will be recovered by waterflooding following the gas injection, and total operating life would have been shortened". This appears to be a logical conclusion. However, it should not be applied to all fields. Pressure maintenance with gas in the Pickton field, as reported by McGraw and Lohec;' will result in a much larger percentage of oil recovery than was obtained in the South Burbank unit. The great success in the Pickton field resulted partly from vaporization of the immobile oil in the flow path of the cycled gas. The amount of vaporization is related to the following conditions: volatility of the oil as reflected by the APT gravity of the stock-tank oil; reservoir temperature; reservoir pressure during gas cycling; and the amount of gas cycled. Therefore, the U. S. Bureau of Mines is investigating these effects on vaporization in a research project using a model oil reservoir. Three different stock-tank oils having 22, 35 and 45" API gravities are being used as base stock to synthesize reservoir oils. Experiments are being performcd to determine vaporization at 100, 175 and 250F and at 1,100, 2,600 and 4,100 psia. This is a progress report showing the results from six experiments. Other Bureau of Mines reports"- concerning vaporization are listed. LABORATORY EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES The equipment ' consists of an internally chromium-plated steel tube packed with finely sifted Wilcox sand. The tube is approximately 44 in. long and has an ID of 13/4 in. The sand section contains approximately 570 ml of voids, has a porosity of 32 percent, and a permeability to air of 4.3 darcies. A unique feature of the laboratory reservoir (Fig. 1) permits the tube part to rotate at 1 rpm while the outlet and inlet heads are held stationary. The outlet end contains diametrically opposed windows to permit observatlon of the flowing fluids, and two valves, one on the top and the other at the bottom. Oil and free gas. when being produced simultaneously, can be separated by manipulating the two valves to keep a gas-oil interface in view through the windows. Thus, only gas is produced through the top valve and only oil flows through the bottom valve. The laboratory equipment was designed to study vaporization. Therefore, a uniform reservoir was made using dry sifted sand as opposcd to using a consolidated sand core with interstitial water. Furthermore. the reservoir was tilted to minimize fingering of gas. This tilting also in-

By R. H. Moore

The data for diffusion in dilute binary alloys with the Solvents Ag, Cu, Ni, Fe. Al. and Pb hare been correlated as a function of atomic volume. Linear equations of the form: Q = b - a log V are obtained with constants "a" and "b" ciuirac-teristic of each solvent metal. In most cases. 3-d In recent years measurements of diffusion coefficients in solid binary alloys. using small concentrations of radioactive isotopes. have resulted in accumulation of highly reproducible data. Such and 4-d transition elements correlate on separate straight lines from those which serve to correlate the non/ransition elements. The data for the uon-transilion elements diffusing in silver and copper liave been fitted by least-squares analysis. It is concluded that the size and charge effects which determine the magnitude of the activation energy for diffusion are a function of atomic volume. systems represent the simplest possible examples of chemical diffusion since solute interaction effects can be neglected and Kirkendall-like phenomena do not occur. Generally it is found that thc diffusion rate of the solute is within an order of magnitude of the diffusion rate of the solvent. The differences have been attributed to the effect of size and to electrostatic interactions between the solute and solvent atoms.

Jan 1, 1965

By W. A. Tiller, J. P. McHugh

THE phase diagram of the Ge-Te system was first investigated by Klemm and Frischmuth.' They arrived at the phase diagram shown in Fig. 1 indicating the presence of a peritectic phase boundary at the 50 at. pct Ge composition. Later, Schubert and Fricke2 obtained data which suggested to them the possible existence of a eutectic at about 55 at. pct Ge. In order to resolve these differences, we have carefully studied this system in the region 40 to 60 at. pct Ge using both the conventional thermal analysis technique and a new solidification technique.3y4 The alloys were prepared from semiconductor grade germanium and 99.999+ Te by reacting the elements in evacuated, graphite coated, vycor tubes. The samples were placed in a thermal analysis apparatus described elsewhere4 and cooling curves were taken of each alloy to determine the liquidus surface. The cooling curve for a 50 at. pct alloy shows two distinct arrests about 1°C apart which

Jan 1, 1961

By G. E. Archie

The usefulness of the electrical resistivity log in determining reservoir characteristics is governed largely by: (I) the accuracy with which the true resistivity of the formation can be determined; (2) the scope of detailed data concerning the relation of resistivity measurements to formation characteristics; (3) the available information concerning the conductivity of connate or formation waters; (4) the extent of geologic knowledge regarding probable changes in facies within given horizons, both vertically and laterally, particularly in relation to the resultant effect on the electrical properties of the reservoir. Simple examples are given in the following pages to illustrate the use of resistivity logs in the solution of some problems dealing with oil and gas reservoirs. From the available information, it is apparent that much care must be exercised in applying to more complicated cases the methods suggested. It should be remembered that the equations given are not precise and represent only approximate relationships. It is believed, however, that under favorable conditions their application falls within useful limits of accuracy. Introduction The electrical log has been used extensively in a qualitative way to correlate formations penetrated by the drill in the exploitation of oil and gas reservoirs and to provide some indication of reservoir content. However, its use in a quantitative way has been limited because of various factors that tend to obscure the significance of the electrical readings obtained. Some of these factors are the borehole size, . the resistivity of the mud in the borehole, the effect of invasion of the mud filtrate into the formation, the relation of the recorded thickness of beds to electrode spacing, the heterogeneity of geologic formations, the salinity or conductivity of connate water, and, perhaps of greatest importance, the lack of data indicating the relationship of the resistivity of a formation in situ to its character and fluid content. On the Gulf Coast it is found that the effects of the size of the borehole and the mud resistivity are generally of little importance, except when dealing with high formational resistivities or extremely low mud resistivities. Fortunately, little practical significance need be attached to the exact values of the higher resistivities recorded. Low mud resistivities are not common, but when this condition is encountered it may be corrected by replacing the mud column. With the present advanced knowledge of mud control, invasion of mud filtrate into sands can be minimized, thereby increasing the dependability of the electrical log. The effect of electrode spacing on the recorded thickness of a bed is often subject to compensation or can be sufficiently accounted for to provide an acceptable approximation of the true resistivity of the formation. As development of a field or area progressively enhances the knowledge of the lithologic section, the resistivity values of the electrical log take on greater significance, ultimately affording acceptable interpretations. The salinity, and

Jan 1, 1942

By G. E. Archie

The usefulness of the electrical resistivity log in determining reservoir characteristics is governed largely by: (I) the accuracy with which the true resistivity of the formation can be determined; (2) the scope of detailed data concerning the relation of resistivity measurements to formation characteristics; (3) the available information concerning the conductivity of connate or formation waters; (4) the extent of geologic knowledge regarding probable changes in facies within given horizons, both vertically and laterally, particularly in relation to the resultant effect on the electrical properties of the reservoir. Simple examples are given in the following pages to illustrate the use of resistivity logs in the solution of some problems dealing with oil and gas reservoirs. From the available information, it is apparent that much care must be exercised in applying to more complicated cases the methods suggested. It should be remembered that the equations given are not precise and represent only approximate relationships. It is believed, however, that under favorable conditions their application falls within useful limits of accuracy. Introduction The electrical log has been used extensively in a qualitative way to correlate formations penetrated by the drill in the exploitation of oil and gas reservoirs and to provide some indication of reservoir content. However, its use in a quantitative way has been limited because of various factors that tend to obscure the significance of the electrical readings obtained. Some of these factors are the borehole size, . the resistivity of the mud in the borehole, the effect of invasion of the mud filtrate into the formation, the relation of the recorded thickness of beds to electrode spacing, the heterogeneity of geologic formations, the salinity or conductivity of connate water, and, perhaps of greatest importance, the lack of data indicating the relationship of the resistivity of a formation in situ to its character and fluid content. On the Gulf Coast it is found that the effects of the size of the borehole and the mud resistivity are generally of little importance, except when dealing with high formational resistivities or extremely low mud resistivities. Fortunately, little practical significance need be attached to the exact values of the higher resistivities recorded. Low mud resistivities are not common, but when this condition is encountered it may be corrected by replacing the mud column. With the present advanced knowledge of mud control, invasion of mud filtrate into sands can be minimized, thereby increasing the dependability of the electrical log. The effect of electrode spacing on the recorded thickness of a bed is often subject to compensation or can be sufficiently accounted for to provide an acceptable approximation of the true resistivity of the formation. As development of a field or area progressively enhances the knowledge of the lithologic section, the resistivity values of the electrical log take on greater significance, ultimately affording acceptable interpretations. The salinity, and

Jan 1, 1942

By M. E. Steidlitz

FABRICATION of semiconductor devices.requires the formation of electrical contacts, often involving the use of lead, tin, and lead-tin solders. In several recent instances when germanium had been bonded to nickel with lead, a new metallic phase appeared, unattached to either germanium or nickel, but rather suspended as a continuous foil wholly contained within the lead matrix. Since such metallic structures do not form in nickel-lead or lead-germanium systems under identical conditions, a brief study was made of the characteristics and possible formation mechanisms of this material. EXPERIMENTAL Specimens were prepared by placing single crystal, transistor-grade germanium discs, 30-mils in diam by 6-mils thick, into a depression in a graphite boat. =A* nickel washers, 125 mils in diam by 5-mils thick, containing a center hole of 10-mils diam, and coined into a soup bowl shape, were loaded on top of the discs, so that the bottom of the

Jan 1, 1959

By H. Biloni, G. F. Bolling

The microsegregation in tin specimens containing 0.2, 0.5. or 1 wt pct Pb has been studied m detail. The specimens were grown from the melt in a controlled fashion and exhibited a well-developed cellular substructure. In general, a severe microsegre-gation can be observed in all the photomicrographs presented. Some observations of special interest are: the distribution of a second phase, the presence of a eutectic in several forms, the evidence for dif- THE Smialowski or cellular substructure which forms during solidification has been extensively studied during the past decade.'* Many of the im- *Most references to the cellular substructure except for the last 2 years are reviewed by Winegard.' portant characteristics of this substructure, such as its occurrence and variability with growth conditions, its association with the phenomenon of constitutional supercooling, and its effect on dislocation production and mobility, have received quantitative fusion of solute in the solid, and the enhancement of segregation at a dislocation subboundary network ("striations"). On the basis of the metallographic observations, it can be deduced that the segregation observed is representative of the solute segregation produced during crystal growth. Some deductions are also made about the interplay of the two substructures, cells and striations, and about the mode of cellular growth. investigation both experimentally and theoretically. However, the concentration profile of the solute segregated during crystal growth has not been examined in detail. Tin crystals grown from melts containing various concentrations of lead have been most extensively studied. In a recent investigation of Sn-Pb alloys, Kramer et a1.2 were able to measure the effective solute distribution coefficient, k,, at the most advanced points of the solid-liquid interface, over a large range of growth conditions, finding it to approach the value of k,, the equilibrium distribution coefficient. As will be shown, this must lead to drastic segregation. Another recent study of several Sn-Pb alloys was made by Plaskett and winegard3 who investigated the variation of growth conditions

Jan 1, 1963

By C. G. Dunn, E. F. Koch, K. T. Aust

Strain-induced grain boundary migration was studied in a series of silicon-iron (3% pct Si) bicrystals of controlled orientations. Each bicrystal was given a 7 pct cold-rolling strain rind annealed at 1100°C. The direction of boundary migration was found to depend on orientation; results for several orientations related by a common [110] axis are given. Analysis of the micrographic and X-ray data is made in terms of the residual strain-energy densities within the crystals (energy per unit volurne) and a driving force on the boundary due to an energy density difference across the boundary. Relative strain energies were obtained for the various orientations investigated. A CHROME-acetic acid electroetching method for revealing dislocation sites in silicon iron was previously applied to clarify the structural features and the energetics involved in strain-induced grain boundary migration.',' The present paper is a continuation of this study, but is primarily concerned with the influence of crystal orientation. Sperry, as reported by Beck,3 attempted to determine the factors that influence the preferred growth of one grain over another in aluminum due to strain-induced boundary migration. He found that the particular grain of a pair which work hardened more was invaded, although exceptions to this correlation were noted. The index of work hardening was determined from microhardness measurements of each grain before and after cold-rolling. In the present study, orientation itself was taken as a useful variable for studying the behavior of individual grains in a bicrystal and the direction of boundary migration, since the extent of work hardening is orientation dePendent." The effect of strain on boundary migration is evident from a consideration of driving forces. Thus, in the absence of inclusions, the driving force (per unit area of boundary) for growth of grain A into grain B when a bicrystal is strained and annealed may be expressed as follows:2

Jan 1, 1960

By Randolph Specht

A two year study was made of the waste disposal of the pebble rock phosphate industry. Solid slimes are impounded in large settling areas and the process water is re-used. Clear effluent was not found to be toxic to fish or animal life in field tests or in controlled experiments.

Jan 7, 1950