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By B. H. Sage

ATTEMPTS have been made to predict the volumetric and phase behavior of naturally occurring hydrocarbon mix-tures1-5 but these methods have not been extended to the higher pressures and tem-peratures that are currently encountered in some producing formations. Furthermore, the methods of prediction at present avail-able have not been tested in a sufficient number of cases to ensure their applica-bility to all naturally occurring hydrocar-bon mixtures, even at the lower pressures and temperatures. For these reasons the behavior of a number of hydrocarbon mix-tures from a field in which the subsurface pressures are above 4500 lb. per sq. in.? and the temperatures are in the neighbor-hood of 250°F. was investigated.

Jan 1, 1940

By W. L. Zeigler

The gravity concentrator of the Heela Mining Co. was originally constructed in 1888 by the Milwaukee Mining Co., which was operating the Gem of the Mountains mine. It was purchased by the Hecla Mining Co. in 1900, and placed in operation 2 years later. At that time the capacity was only about 200 tons a day, but many additions and changes in equipment have been made so that the present capacity is about 800 tons. One of the outstanding improvements made was the substitution of Callow flotation cells for vanners, which occurred in 1915. The recent building of a flotation plant for treating jig tailings, and the construction of a modern surface plant at the mine, following the

Jan 1, 1928

By John A. S. Dow, Garry G. Lowder

Tapadaa is one of several centers of porphyry copper mineralization in northern Sulawesi. Host rocks are mainly varieties of quartz diorite porphyry. Structural control of mineralization is indicated by elongation of the sulfide system (5 x 1 km) parallel to prominent NW-trending structures, but in detail mineralization is strongly influenced by relative age and lithology. Hydrothermal alteration is characterized by widespread occurrence of advanced argillic assemblages and the presence of sodic rather than potassic alkali feldspar. Propylitic alteration surrounds the mineralized area. Phyllic and advanced argillic alteration occur in structurally controlled zones and in limited pervasive areas. Hypogene copper mineralization develops in rocks with sericite-albite alteration and comprises low total sulfide chalcopyrite-bornite or chalcopyrite-pyrite.

Jan 1, 1978

By Thomas Fraser

BECAUSE of the present interest in the subject of sulfur in coal and its removal, such information as is available in the coal-washing literature on the various factors that determine the adaptability of a coal for wash- FIG. I.-COAL-WASHING TABLES OF ONE-FOURTH COMMERCIAL SIZE. ing have been collected and are presented here together with some observations based on results of experimental work carried out in the coal-washing laboratory of the mining department of the University of Illinois, and investigative work at Illinois washeries in connection with the work on reduction of the sulfur content of coal, being carried on at the Urbana Station of the.U. S. Bureau of mines. This investigative

Jan 9, 1919

By Sam Tour

SOME years ago, the writer described heat checks or thermal cracks that occur in die-casting dies.1 The life of dies was considered in relation to the casting temperature, the material used for the die, and the heat to be absorbed by the die per unit volume of casting made. The mech-anism of the action that results in thermal failure of dies was described. In the present paper the writer proposes to describe some additional observations in regard to heat checking, make one or two suggestions as to the method or methods for further attack of the problem, and give the results obtained on some work carried out along these lines.

Jan 1, 1934

By J. Nutting, J. W. Cahn

WITH the development of thin film techniques for the direct examination of metals in the electron microscope some new problems in quantitative metallography have become apparent. In order to obtain certain contrast effects in the electron optical image when examining thin films from alloys containing dispersed phases, it is essential to use films of a thickness at least two or three times greater than that of the mean particle diameter of the dispersed phase. From micrographs of such specimens it may be desired to obtain the volume fraction of the dispersed phase and the number of particles of the phase in a unit volume of the matrix. Under these conditions the particles sectioned by

Jan 1, 1960

By D. W. Fuerstenau

A detailed study of the residence time distribution in an industrial balling circuit is presented. Using fired recycle pellets as a tracer impulse in each experiment, material was found to pass through the drum under plug flow conditions with a mean residence time of about 20 seconds. The time for a single pass through the entire circuit is about 60 seconds. Approximately three passes are required for fresh feed to report as product. Segregation of the tracer pellets in the system, according to their diameter, was observed and reasons for this are suggested. These results should be of potential use in the modeling and control of ball balling circuits in the iron ore industry.

Jan 1, 1985

By R. E. Collom

VARIOUS chapters already written in the history of development of the North Dome of Kettleman Hills are monotonously identical in the one underlying theme of conservation of oil and gas. Discovered on Oct. 4, 1928, by Milham Exploration Co. with its wildcat Elliot No. 1, the field has been subjected to practically every modern form of produc-tion restraint in the name of conservation. The record thus far developed shows that conservation was had for a time, at a price; and that unitiza-tion must he blessed by single ownership or 100 per cent participation to be effective. In fact, incomplete unitization places a heavy handicap upon its participants in the competitive development that follows.

Jan 1, 1937

By S. F. Emmons

In a report upon the geology of Ledville and vicinity, which is till in the hands of the Public Printer, I hare given, at some length, my conclusions as to the genesis of the remarkable silver-lead deposits of that region, and the data, gathered during a long and careful consideration, upon which my views were founded. In the brief abstract of this report, published in 1881, the bare conclusions are given, with but few of the facts upon which they were founded. Since that time, these conclusions have been variously criticized, and it has even beer] assumed that the views I expressed with regard to these deposits were intended as a theory of ore-deposits in general.

Jan 1, 1887

By R. L. Wiegel

The National Science Foundation, Erie Mining Co., and University of Minnesota Mineral Resources Research Center jointly sponsored a project to demonstrate the use of a small computer in the control of cyclone overflow size on one line in the Erie Mining Co. concentrator. The Erie circuit, similar to most taconite circuits, uses magnetic separators to reject tailings following each stage of grinding, resulting in additional variations in the demands made on the grinding circuit because of weight rejection fluctuation. Mathematical models were developed for rod milling, ball milling, hydrocycloning, fine screening, and five stages of magnetic separation. These models were used in concert to simulate the operation of Erie's circuit from rod milling through finisher magnetic separation.

Jan 1, 1980

By C. E. Jr. Reistle

ALL crude oils become more viscous when chilled, but the only oils that congeal and precipitate paraffin to such an extent as actually to cause production troubles are those that contain an appreciable amount of wax. In handling these oils of high wax content, three distinct problems may be encountered before the oil reaches the refinery. The first problem is the precipitation and accumulation of paraffin in the well, either in the oil string or on the face and in the pores of the sand. The second problem is the accumulation of paraffin and the congealing of oil in the transportation lines. The third problem is the precipitation of paraffin and the formation of tank bottoms.

Jan 1, 1927

By W. R. Hibbard

Pole figures, torque curves, and coercive force have been determined for the following rolled and annealed permanent magnet alloys: Cunife, Cunico, Silmanal, Vicalloy I, Vicalloy II, and Heusler's Alloy. IN the general category of precipitation-type permanent magnet alloys there is a group of ductile alloys, including Cunife, Cunico, Silmanal, Heusler's Alloy and Vicalloy, which can be extensively rolled and annealed to develop a preferred orientation in the crystals of the matrix material. The rolling and annealing textures of Cunifel and Vicalloy' have been previously investigated qualitatively, but no pole figures are available in the literature. In addition, the role of precipitation in these permanent magnet alloys is still somewhat controversial. It

Jan 1, 1957

By F. W. Bloecher, A. M. Gaudin

H. H. Kellogg—There is one point that the author has failed to emphasize sufficiently in his paper. What is commonly called the equilibrium contact-angle (the author's "maximum contact-angle") can have only one value on a smooth, flat, homogeneous surface under a given set of conditions. The equilibrium contact-angle is defined, for such a system, as the angle between the solid-liquid and liquid-gas interfaces, measured through the liquid. The value of the equilibrium contact-angle is uniquely determined by the value of the interfacial energies of the three intersecting interfaces and is independent of other forces in the system. When the liquid-gas interface intersects the solid at an edge—as was the case for all the experiments reported in this paper—the orientation of the solid-liquid interface is indeterminate or varies through 90" for a right-angle edge. Mr. Morris has called the angle between the horizontal and the liquid-gas interface for this edge condition a "static contact-angle." I feel that this term is unnecessarily misleading. In the first place, "static contact-angle" sounds too much like "equilibrium contact-angle." In the second place, the magnitude of the "static contact-angle," which I would prefer to call the "supporting angle," is determined by the forces in the system other than those derived from the interfacial energies, hence "contact angle" is misleading. If Mr. Morris had said that the "supporting-angle" is variable and depends on the weight of the particle and size of the bubble and that it has a maximum possible value equal to the equilibrium contact-angle, his discussion would have been more accurate. T. M. Morris (author's reply)—Mr. Kellogg puts forth a reasonable criticism of some of the terminology used in the paper. I agree that the term "static contact angle" may be misleading. Substitution of the term "supporting angle" or "vector angle" may be more suitable. F. X. Tartaron—In this paper the author presents a very interesting mathematical development of the forces present when a mineral particle adheres to an air bubble. Excellent concordance is obtained between mathematical formulation and experimental results. It is the writer's understanding that when the mineral surface presented to an air bubble is greater than the area of contact, the maximum contact angle is obtained. However, this contact angle represents distortion of the bubble, the normal shape of which is spherical or in cross-section, circular. This distortion produces a force that acts in opposition to the force of adhesion between the bubble and particle. Hence, at maximum contact angle, the force of adhesion between bubble and particle is at a minimum for static conditions. However, when the size of bubble is increased, the size of particle remaining the same (and all other conditions remaining the same), the contact angle decreases, the distortion of the bubble decreases and the force in opposition to adherence of bubble and particle also decreases. Thus, there is stronger attachment between bubble and particle. When this situation is applied to actual flotation conditions, it is doubtful that it has any significance. The reason is that the bubbles are normally so much larger than the particles, that in substantially all cases, it is probable that negligible distortion of the bubble takes place. In table IV, the author makes computations for bubbles from 0.50 to 2 mm diam. This is from 0.02 in. to 0.08 in. Certainly the bubbles generated in a flotation machine are far larger than this. The surfaces of the author's bubbles range from 0.79 to 12.6 sq mm. The area of contact of the glass rod (0.15 mm diam) is 0.017 sq mm. Thus, ratio of bubble surface to mineral area of contact ranges from 47 to 741 in round numbers. If we take a %-in. diam bubble and a 65-mesh (0.208 mm) particle of cubical shape, the ratio of bubble surface to mineral area of contact is 2931. Mineral particles do not readily become attached to air bubbles. Taggart has shown that in pneumatic flotation machines collector-coated particles are only temporarily attached to bubbles. They keep falling off and down in the froth but at a delayed rate as compared with gangue. Spedden and Hannan's motion pictures confirm the difficulty of attaching particles to air bubbles. In the agitation froth process, according to Taggart, air is precipitated from the water selectively on to the collector-coated particles and these

Jan 1, 1951

By F. W. Bloecher, A. M. Gaudin

H. H. Kellogg—There is one point that the author has failed to emphasize sufficiently in his paper. What is commonly called the equilibrium contact-angle (the author's "maximum contact-angle") can have only one value on a smooth, flat, homogeneous surface under a given set of conditions. The equilibrium contact-angle is defined, for such a system, as the angle between the solid-liquid and liquid-gas interfaces, measured through the liquid. The value of the equilibrium contact-angle is uniquely determined by the value of the interfacial energies of the three intersecting interfaces and is independent of other forces in the system. When the liquid-gas interface intersects the solid at an edge—as was the case for all the experiments reported in this paper—the orientation of the solid-liquid interface is indeterminate or varies through 90" for a right-angle edge. Mr. Morris has called the angle between the horizontal and the liquid-gas interface for this edge condition a "static contact-angle." I feel that this term is unnecessarily misleading. In the first place, "static contact-angle" sounds too much like "equilibrium contact-angle." In the second place, the magnitude of the "static contact-angle," which I would prefer to call the "supporting angle," is determined by the forces in the system other than those derived from the interfacial energies, hence "contact angle" is misleading. If Mr. Morris had said that the "supporting-angle" is variable and depends on the weight of the particle and size of the bubble and that it has a maximum possible value equal to the equilibrium contact-angle, his discussion would have been more accurate. T. M. Morris (author's reply)—Mr. Kellogg puts forth a reasonable criticism of some of the terminology used in the paper. I agree that the term "static contact angle" may be misleading. Substitution of the term "supporting angle" or "vector angle" may be more suitable. F. X. Tartaron—In this paper the author presents a very interesting mathematical development of the forces present when a mineral particle adheres to an air bubble. Excellent concordance is obtained between mathematical formulation and experimental results. It is the writer's understanding that when the mineral surface presented to an air bubble is greater than the area of contact, the maximum contact angle is obtained. However, this contact angle represents distortion of the bubble, the normal shape of which is spherical or in cross-section, circular. This distortion produces a force that acts in opposition to the force of adhesion between the bubble and particle. Hence, at maximum contact angle, the force of adhesion between bubble and particle is at a minimum for static conditions. However, when the size of bubble is increased, the size of particle remaining the same (and all other conditions remaining the same), the contact angle decreases, the distortion of the bubble decreases and the force in opposition to adherence of bubble and particle also decreases. Thus, there is stronger attachment between bubble and particle. When this situation is applied to actual flotation conditions, it is doubtful that it has any significance. The reason is that the bubbles are normally so much larger than the particles, that in substantially all cases, it is probable that negligible distortion of the bubble takes place. In table IV, the author makes computations for bubbles from 0.50 to 2 mm diam. This is from 0.02 in. to 0.08 in. Certainly the bubbles generated in a flotation machine are far larger than this. The surfaces of the author's bubbles range from 0.79 to 12.6 sq mm. The area of contact of the glass rod (0.15 mm diam) is 0.017 sq mm. Thus, ratio of bubble surface to mineral area of contact ranges from 47 to 741 in round numbers. If we take a %-in. diam bubble and a 65-mesh (0.208 mm) particle of cubical shape, the ratio of bubble surface to mineral area of contact is 2931. Mineral particles do not readily become attached to air bubbles. Taggart has shown that in pneumatic flotation machines collector-coated particles are only temporarily attached to bubbles. They keep falling off and down in the froth but at a delayed rate as compared with gangue. Spedden and Hannan's motion pictures confirm the difficulty of attaching particles to air bubbles. In the agitation froth process, according to Taggart, air is precipitated from the water selectively on to the collector-coated particles and these

Jan 1, 1951

By D. G. Wilder

D.G. Wilder I found the suggestion that the amount of displacement of a fault can be numerically related to the thickness of gouge or breccia to be both intuitively satisfying and intriguing. I have long agreed that there is some type of relationship between the amount of gouge and the amount of displacement of faults. I congratulate the author for developing a numerical relationship between them. However, I am concerned that the limits for applying this relationship be fully understood. An underlying assumption in this approach is that there is either a uniform thickness of gouge or breccia along a given fault or the thickness does not vary widely. Since it is not always possible to confirm this, the displacements derived by this method should be viewed with caution unless significant fault extent can be observed. At the Nevada Test Site, in drifts constructed in granite for test emplacement of spent nuclear reactor fuel, we found a fault with 0.3 to 0.4 m (12 to 16 in.) of clay gouge. Within a few meters of this location, the fault had no clay gouge, but rather consisted of a highly fractured zone with significantly altered rock and some slickensides. Based on Fig. 1, the 0.3 to 0.4 m (12 to 16 in.) thickness of gouge would indicate a displacement in excess of 30 m (98 ft). However, no gouge thickness would indicate essentially no displacement. Based on a quartz vein that terminated on the fault, and is not identified nearby, an estimated displacement of more than a few meters was made. This estimate is consistent with that obtained using the regression line proposed in the paper if the 0.3 to 0.4 m (12 to 16 in.) thickness for the gouge is used. However, using the regression curves with zero thickness would not yield results consistent with what was observed in the field. Therefore, it is important to recognize that the suggested procedure would properly yield a range of probable displacements. ? *Work performed under the auspices of the US Department of Energy by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract W-7405-Eng-48. Reply by E.C. Robertson It is certainly true that the t (thickness) of gg-bx (gouge and breccia) on a fault does vary along the fault. My observations have been that near the termination of a fault, the displacement d is small and the t is also small, whereas the maximum d and t will usually be found in the central part of the fault. The information on gg-bx and t of the fault found in granite in the NTS tunnel by Mr. Wilder could be interpreted somewhat differently than he does. He speaks of the fault changing within a few meters from 0.3 to 0.4 m (12 to 16 in.) of clay gg to "a highly fractured zone with significantly altered rock and some slickensides," but no gg. The highly fractured rock may be taken to be bx, rock not so finely ground as gg but still crushed by the fault movement, equivalent to the gg in my usage, and probably occupying about the same t. Mr. Wilder's estimates for the fault in the NTS tunnel for t of 0.3 to 0.4 m (12 to 16 in.) and for d of a quartz vein, in excess of "a few meters," would place the point on the low side of the central trend line in my Fig. 1, at the lower limit. There is, of course, a problem with determining d using displacement of only one planar surface. It would be greater or lesser depending on the rake of the movement. Finally, estimating the d of a fault from its t should be made with awareness of our present uncertainties, as pointed out by Mr. Wilder. Although the central trend line in my Fig. 1 has a ratio of d/t of 100, I have put the limiting ratios at 10 and 1000. Understanding of the values of the ratio will be improved only with collection of more data, for which the discussion of Mr. Wilder is much appreciated. ? G.C. Waterman E.C. Robertson's paper provides significant information to a geologist attempting to deduce fault offset by noting the products of structural dislocation. However, considerable mapping in underground and open-pit mines, and examination of structures produced in different geological settings, have convinced me that gouge and breccia thickness are controlled by geological conditions and fault movement. The following paragraphs suggest geological variables that control them. 1. Depth of Loading A near-surface fault resulting from tensional stress has more breccia/gouge than is produced by a similar stress at considerable depth. A deep-loaded compressional stress may produce a linear zone of schist, or structural dislocation may occur along an earlier formed belt of schist. Such "shear zones" are common in Canadian mines in precambrian rocks. In neither case can offset be directly deduced by an analysis of the minimal gouge/breccia in the shistose rocks. At greater depth, stress may be partially to wholly relieved by flowage. I vividly recall first noting the regional "Midas Thrust" in the Lark mine, Bingham Mining District, UT (where we called the structure the North Fault). My recorded notes, as I remember them, showed a narrow gouge streak separated the "Jordan" and "Commercial" limestone units from impure, muddy limestone beds of uncertain stratigraphic position. The visible structure did not indicate the great importance of this premineral fault

Jan 1, 1985

By M. M. Wong, D. E. Couch, G. M. Martinez

The Bureau of Mines electrowon hafnium metal with an average oxygen content of' 150 ppm at 700°C from an electrolyte containing 27 wt pct LiCl, 62 wt pct RbCl, and 11 wt pct HfC14. The average anode and cathode current efficiencies were 90 pct at anode and initial cathode current densities of 86 amp per sq ft. Haf-nium metal with an average oxygen content of 440 ppm was electrowon at 800oC from an electrolyte containing 90 wt pct KC1 and 10 wt pct HfCl4. The average anode and cathode current efficiencies were similar to those obtained in the LiCL-RbCl-HfCl, electrolyte. The chlorine gas given off at the graphite anode was vented through either a silica or a graphite tube to prevent cell corrosion. THE current method for the commercial production of high-purity hafnium is the thermal decomposition of Hfl4.1 The iodide method is not adaptable to continuous process techniques. Nettle, Hiegel, and Baker2 studied the electrorefining of hafnium from hafnium sponge containing 800 ppm oxygen. They failed to obtain hafnium with 600 ppm oxygen in their initial deposits and obtained AEC specification for oxygen only after 75 pct of the soluble hafnium had been removed from the electrolyte. Calculations using their data indicated this was approximately 4 lb of hafnium. The electrolyte was then used to produce approximately 3 lb of hafnium with a low oxygen content. However, no data are shown concerning the amount of anode material initially used or what percent of it was dissolved, therefore, results are not suitable for evaluation of a continuous operation. In general, it was not possible to consistently obtain low oxygen content metal with the electrolytes described by Nettle, Hiegel, and Baker. Wong, Hiegel, and Martinez3 investigated the electrorefining process for hafnium and showed that even by strict control of electrolyte composition only relatively low oxygen reduction could be obtained. The oxygen contained in the hafnium anode material tended to transfer to the cathode deposit and only a limited purification was possible. Both the "iodide" and the "electrorefining" processes depend upon hafnium sponge as a starting material. The sponge is normally produced by magnesium reduction of HfC14 ' and does not meet AEC specifications for hafnium metal. Since only 30 pct of the anode feed could be utilized3 in the electrorefining cells, the Bureau of Mines developed an electrowinning process. HfC14 was used as the feed material for the electro-winning process described in this report. Many of the electrolytes used in the electrorefining studies3 ap- peared to be suitable carrier-electrolytes for HfC14. However, in the initial studies on electrowinning, it was desirable to use electrolytes that had low solidus temperatures and could be operated over a wide temperature range to investigate parameters of the process. Therefore, electrolytes containing LiC1, NaC1, KC1, RbC1, CsC1, and HfC14, in various combinations were explored. EQUIPMENT Chlorinator. Hafnium carbide was chlorinated to produce HfC14 in the batch-type chlorination shown in Fig. 1. Chlorination temperatures were measured with a thermocouple placed in the center of the HfC charge. A flow meter was used to monitor the helium and chlorine. The exhaust side of the silica chlorina-tor tube was equipped with a flask for collecting organic material released during the initial heating of the HfC. The temperature of an internal heater, which extended from the HfC14 condensing flask to the hot end of the chlorinator, was adjusted to prevent the HfC14 from condensing before entering the collection flask. Helium and excess chlorine were exhausted through the lid of the collection flask to an aqueous NaOH solution. Sublimer. Initial studies were conducted using a sublimer, Fig. 2, made by placing a 13/8-in. OD nickel thimble 11 in. long, inside a 11/2-in. ID nickel bell 12 in. long, and locking it in place. This unit was loaded with HfC14 and partially immersed in the molten electrolyte for sublimation directly into the electrolyte. In another sublimer shown in Fig. 3, the HfC14 was contained in a "resin reaction flask". Quartz wool, previously heated to 600aC, secured between two nickel wire screens, was placed just above the HfC14 powder. The lid contained a vacuum outlet, a gage, an argon inlet, and an air-cooled pipe for condensing the HfC14. This sublimer was evacuated and heated. The sublimation temperature was not critical and the sublimer operated satisfactorily at all temperatures between 250" and 350°C. Electrolytic Cell. The electrolyte chamber, Fig. 4, was made of mild steel 8-in. schedule 20 pipe, 30 in. long. The exterior was metallized with a Ni-Cr alloy. The electrolytes were contained in a 16 gage nickel or iron liner with a nickel heat shield on top. The cell was heated by a resistance furnace. A 21/2-in. ID by 25 in. long air lock was connected to one port of a two-port cell cover assembly through a slide valve. The cover assembly of the air lock was electrically insulated from the cell and was equipped with a rubber sleeve that provided for the passage of the cathode lead. This allowed the cathode deposits to be removed and a new nickel cathode to be introduced without allowing air to enter the cell. A tube-rod assembly was bolted to the other port on the cell cover assembly and was sealed by a packing seal. The tube-rod assembly consists of a graphite

Jan 1, 1970

By T. E. Watkins, M. D. Nelson

INTRODUCTION Deeper drilling for oil is becoming more and more the rule rather than the exception. With deeper drilling come additional problems, perhaps the greatest being those brought on by the higher temperatures encountered down the hole. particularly in the Gulf Coast region of Texas and Louisiana. Temperature gradients of the order of 1.8° to 2.0°F/100 ft are not unusual, and a gradient of 2.3"F.'100 ft is found in some areas of Texas. With a mean surface temperature of 74oF, the following temperatures could be expected for a geothermal gradient of 2.0°F; 100 ft: at 10,000 it. 271°F. 12,000 ft, 314°F: 14,000 ft, 354,oF; and 16.000 ft. 394°F. Severe gelation of lime-base drilling fluid in wells that have high bottom hole temperatures has become perhaps the most serious difficulty enconntered in drilling under such conditions. Lime-base drilling fluids have been very succesefully and widely used in the drilling of wells in the Gulf Coast region because of their inherent stability toward contaminants. their ability to suppress the swelling dispersion of bentonitic shales, and their ease of maintainance. The gradual recognition: during the past few years, that these muds were. in themselve. the cause of many difficulties experienced in drilling has led to wide-pread efforts by the drilling industry. to determine the reasons for the failure of these mud systems and to develop mud systems capable of performing satisfactorily under high-temperature conditios. MANIFESTATIONS OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE GELATION it is generally possible to recognize the symptons of high-temperature gelation early enough that advance predictions can be made of serious difficulties. in mud control, and the useful life of the drilling fluids can be extended by proper treatment. Following i.; a list of the manifestations of high-temperature gelation: (1) The drill string 'takes weight' while going in the hole after a trip. In early stages of high-temperature gelation it is possible to notice a slight reduction in drill string weight as the drill pipe is lowred near the bottom of the hole. (2) Excessive pump pressure is required to .tart the circulation of drilling fluid at or near the bottom of the hole when going hack to bottom after a trip. As the severity of the gelation increases it may be necessary to break circulation a number of times when going in the hole. (3) The drilling fluid from the bottom of the hole is thick and often granular or lumpy when pumped up after making a round trip. In a severely gelled drilling fluid system such a condition may be irreversible; that is, it cannot be stirred or chemically treated to produce a satisfactory drilling fluid. (4) Completion tool.. such as logging tools or perforating guns will not sink to the bottom of the hole. On some occasions completion tools will become stuck and require a fishing job to retrieve them if the wire line attached to them is broken. It is often difficult to determine whether the condition of the drilling fluid is responsible for sticking the tool or whether the wire line becomes key seated in a crooked hole and causes the allow difficulty. When there are 110 other symptoms of high-temperature gelation. then the difficulty may usually be attributed to the latter cause. (5) In extreme cases of high-temperature gelation it is necessary to "wash" and "ream" when going back to bottom after coming out of the hole. (6) In many -instance. it has been found to be extremely difficult and expensive to 1111 production packers 2nd tubing in moderately deep oil wells which had been drilled with a lime-base drilling fluid. In such instances-the original mud had apparently "set" to a consistency approaching that of a weak cement. CAUSES OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE GELATION Extensive test; have indicated that a lime-base mud does not develop a highly gelled condition at temperatures below 250°F. whereas above that temperature such condition often develops rapidly. (Fig. 1) concurrently. the following changes are evident ill the mud: (1) The alkalinity of the mud decreases to a very low value. with both caustic soda and lime being consumed. (2) The quartz content of the mud decreases sharply. (3) The bentonitic content of the mud decreases or di-appears, with concurrent decrease or loss of base exchange capacity of mud solids. (4) New compounds formed in the mud have been found to be cal-cium silicate, calcium aluminum silicate, and calcium sodium aluminum silicate. (5) The mud loses the ability to form a filter cake of low permeability. The above characteristics have been discussed, in part. by other authors

Jan 1, 1953

By Clarence O. Babcock

Model pillars of limestone, marble, sandstone, and granite, with length-to-diameter (LID) ratios of 3, 2, 1, 0.5, and 0.25 (0.286 for granite), were broken in axial compression to determine to what extent an increase in end constraint increased compressive strength. Radial end constraints of 13 to 23% of the average axial stress in the pillar, produced by solid steel rings bonded with epoxy to the ends of dogbone-shaped specimens, increased compressive strength somewhat above that of cylindrical pillars without ring constraint. However, when the results were compared with those obtained by other investigators for straight specimens of several rock types taken collectively, with LID ratios greater than 0.5, the resulting strengths were not significantly different. Thus, the amount of end constraint produced by the solid steel rings was about the same as that produced by the friction from the steel end plates. In other tests, a radial prestress of 3000 or 5000 psi was applied prior to axial loading by adjustable hardened steel rings to increase the constraint above that obtained for the solid rings. The average radial constraint stress, expressed as a percentage of the average axial pillar stress at failure for the 3000 psi prestress, was 54.3% for limestone, 40.3% for marble, 44.7% for sandstone, and 23.4% for granite. The average radial constraint stress, expressed as a percentage of the average axial pillar stress at failure for the 5000 psi prestress, was 74.2% for limestone, 51.2% for marble, 61.6% for sandstone, and 29.7% for granite. These constraints increased the compressive strength significantly above the strength of straight specimens and solid-ring constrained specimens. These results suggest that large horizontal stresses in orebodies mined by the room-and-pillar method should increase the strength of the pillars and allow an increase in ore recovery by a reduction of pillar size when major structural defects are absent. One important objective of the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) mining research program is the rational design of mining systems. In the design of room-and-pillar mining operations, pillar strength is a fundamental variable. It is customary to estimate this strength from uniaxial compression tests of rock samples and to correct this value for the length-to-diameter (LID) ratio of the in-situ pillar. This method of estimating pillar strength corrects for pillar shape but does not consider the effect of a large horizontal in-situ stress field that sometimes exists in underground formations. The purpose of the work covered in this report was to determine to what extent the compressive strengths of model pillars of relatively brittle rock loaded in axial compression were affected by lateral end constraint. In previous work, Obert l used solid steel rings bonded to the ends of dogbone-shaped specimens to study the creep behavior of three quasi-plastic rocks -salt, trona, and potash ore - during a test period of 1000 hr. These rings provided radial constraint during the loading cycle of 20 to 50% of the axial stress for specimens with LID ratios of 2, 0.5, and 0.25. He concluded that (1) "for a quasi-plastic material the end constraint strongly affects the specimen strength, and (2) as D/L increases (length-to-diameter decreases), the specimens lose their brittle characteristics and tend to flow rather than fracture." He also concluded that model pillars constrained by rings were better for use in predicting the strength of mine pillars than either cylindrical or prismatic specimens. This conclusion appears to be valid where mine pillars, roof, and floor are a single structural element. In the present study, 460 specimens of four relatively brittle rocks — limestone, marble, sandstone, and granite - were tested to failure. The study consisted of two parts: (1) the effect on the compressive strength of end constraint produced during the axial loading cycle by solid steel rings bonded with epoxy to the ends of the specimens, and (2) the effect on the compressive strength of increased end constraint produced in part by a prestress applied prior to axial loading and in part by lateral expansion of the specimen during the loading cycle. The first part of this study was reported in some detail earlier.2 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE AND EQUIPMENT Model rock pillars of the sizes and shapes shown in Fig. 1 were broken in axial compression when the ends were constrained as shown in Fig. 2. he straight specimens were broken without ring constraint. The specimens of dogbone shape were broken with (1) solid

Jan 1, 1970

By J. C. Trantham, J. W. Marx

From 1955 to 1958 the Phillips Petroleum Co. conducted a series of small scale counterflow combustion field tests in a tar sand about 60-ft deep and 6 to 12-ft thick near Bellamy, Mo. A total of seven different well patterns, including conventional five-spots and seven-spots plus a 15-well line drive pattern and a 10-well radial pattern, were employed. Electric heaters, gas burners and wellbore fuel packs were tested as counterflow ignition devices. Direct drive ignition followed by reversal to counterflow operation was not possible in this case because of formation plugging by the semi-solid tar during the direct drive phase. Sustained counterflow burning was achieved with wellbore fuel packs under conirolled conditions which permitted close correlation of fire front velocity, air velocity, air-oil ratios and yields for a wide variation in process parameters. The tar in place was about 10' APl with a reservoir viscosity greater than 500,000 cp. The composite oil prodlcct was 26' API with a viscosity in the range of 5 to 15 cp. Vertical sweep efficiency in the line drive pattern was essentially 100 per cent, with no evidence of gravity segregation. Original tar in place ranged between 800 and 1,000 bbllacre-ft, specific rock permeability averaged about 800 md before burning and effective air pemeability with residual oil and water in place (at the time of ignition) averaged 250 md. The volume of oil recovered during stabilized line drive counterflow burning represented about 67 per cent of the volume of tar originally in place in the burned out zones. A minimum was found when air-oil ratios were plotted against formation air velocities, and a limiting air velocity existed below which the counterflow fire front reversed and burned back over its own trajectory, using the residual coke left behind. INTRODUCTION Early in 1955 the Phillips Petroleum Co. began preparations to field test counterflow underground combustion as a method for producing oil from high viscosity hydrocarbon deposits, such as bituminous (tar) sands. At that time all published information on the use of underground burning io increase oil recovery was based on the direct drive process, in which the fire front moved through the formatim in the same direction as the injected air stream. Such direct burning is not applicable to many heavy oil sands or to most tar sands because the heat-thinned native hydrocarbon congeals in the cold rock ahead of the fire front forming a gas permeability block which smothers the combustion. Laboratory experiments first demonstrated that this permeability blocking would not occur if the fire front and the air stream moved in opposite directions. In this counterflow (reverse) burning process the heated heavy oil or tar is driven back through the combustion zone. Here thermal cracking produces relatively light hydrocarbon products which pass through the heated rock behind the fire front (largely in the vapor phase) and are incapable of causing a gas permeability block.' Exploratory wring revealed that consolidated bituminous sandstones with a combination of tar saturation, permeability, thickness and depth favorable for experimental field testing existed at several points in western Missouri. By the fall of 1955, a test site for determining technical feasibility of the counterflow process under field conditions had been selected near Bellamy, Vernon County, Mo. — about fifty miles north of Joplin. The pay zone was too thin and too shallow to constitute a commercial prospect, but these same factors permitted controlled experimental operation with a small compressor installation and with a large number of monitor wells. These were needed for adequate observation of the underground phenomena at reasonable cost. RESERVOIR CHARACTERISTICS The reservoir chosen for the experimental field tests was a 124 thick section of tar sand extending from 49 to 61 ft subsurface, with shale and siltstone laminations sealing the top and bottom. This section was part of a larger 30-ft thick tar sand deposit which extended both above and below the test zone. Core analyses showed that the 12-ft sand was effectively subdivided into two approximately equal sections, with the lower zone being consistently more permeable than the upper zone. The most significant laboratory core data are summarized in Table 1. The line drive test which is the principal subject of this report utilized only the lower 6-ft thick zone, with the upper zone regarded as part of the 55-ft overburden. WELL PATTERNS The over-all field test program involved a total of seven different well patterns, including conventional five-spots and seven-spots plus a 15-well line drive pattern and a 10-well radial pattern. In some of the tests the full 12-ft zone was employed; in other cases only the more perme-

Jan 1, 1967

By M. G. Benz

The superconducting performmce of diffusion-processed Nb3Sn is influenced by its micro structure. High isotropic transverse current density may be achieved in this material by a process which forms a precipitate of ZrO, within the Nb3Sn. FOR an ideal type-I1 superconductor, little or no transport current can be carried in the mixed state; i.e., little or no transport current can be carried above the lower critical field H,,, where the field penetrates abruptly in the form of current vortices or fluxoids, even though full transition to the normal state does not occur until the upper critical field H,,.' Fortunately, nonideal type-I1 superconductors can be readily obtained and these carry large transport currents up to the upper critical field H. Both theoretical and experimental investigations have attributed this current-carrying capability for nonideal type-I1 superconductors to pinning of the fluxoid lattice by heterogeneities in the microstructure of the superconducting material. These heterogeneities may take the form of dislocations or dislocation clusters,2"5 grain boundaries: structural imperfections introduced by phase transformations; radiation damage,8"10 or precipitates.11"15 Nb3Sn formed by diffusion processing is a type-I1 superconductor. Heterogeneities are needed for high superconducting critical currents above H,,. This paper will cover: a) what the microstructure of diffusion-processed NbSn looks like; b) what changes in the microstructure take place when the system is doped with precipitates, and c) how these changes in microstructure influence the superconducting critical currents. EXPERIMENTAL Preparation of Samples. Diffusion processing was used to form the Nb3Sn. The procedure used was as follows: a) coat the surface of a niobium tape with tin; b) heat-treat this tape at a temperature above 930°C to form a layer of Nb3Sn at the Sn-Nb interface. Such a layer of NbsSn is shown in Fig. 1 The thickness of the NbsSn layer formed was controlled by the time and temperature of the heat treatment. The same general procedure was used for preparation of both undoped samples and samples doped with a precipitate. An additional step was included in the preparation of the doped samples which consisted of internal oxidation of zirconium to form ZrOn. The details of the doping process will be reported in a later paper. Sample Testing. The Nb3Sn tape samples were soldered to a copper or brass shunt. Current and voltage leads were then attached to the sample in the usual four-probe resistance measurement configuration. The sample was cooled to 42°K. In some cases it was cooled in the presence of a high magnetic field and in other cases with the field turned off. The results were the same for both cases. The samples were oriented in a configuration with field transverse to current but could be rotated such that the angle between the field vector and the wide side of the tape sample could be changed. Measurements up to 100 kG were done in a superconducting solenoid and measurements above 100 kG in a water-cooled copper magnet at the MIT National Magnet Laboratory. Once the test field was reached, the current in the sample was increased until voltage was detected across the sample. The critical current was taken as the current at which voltage was first detected in excess of background noise. In most cases this was 1 to 2 x 10~6 v for a— in.-wide sample carrying several hundred amperes with a in. separation between voltage leads and with a 10 "-ohm shunt resistance. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Microstructure. Examination of the microstructure of the undoped Nb3Sn shows rather large-diameter (1 to 2 columnar grains growing outward from the niobium surface toward the tin surface. As the layer is made thicker by longer diffusion times, these grains grow longer. Few new grains are started. Transmission electron microscopy shows little or no second-phase material within the bulk of the Nb3Sn layer. The microstructure of a diffusion-processed NbsSn layer changes quite drastically when the system is doped so as to form a precipitate within the NbsSn layer. Instead of large-diameter columnar grains of NbaSn forming, smaller-diameter (0.5 to 1 ) equiaxed grains of Nb3Sn decorated with the precipitate form. Fig. 2 shows a transmission electron micrograph of a Nb3Sn layer doped with zirconium oxide. This layer has been etched so that one may look between the grains

Jan 1, 1969