Search Documents

By S. F. Shaw

The principles involved in lifting oil in wells flowing naturally are identical with those underlying the flowing of wells by means of the air-gas lift, and information of a dependable nature obtained in the study of the air-lift can be applied to wells with natural flow. A well flowing naturally is one in which the lifting is done by means of the gas-lift, for which the gas is supplied entirely by the formation from which the oil is derived. In air-gas lift operations, there is insufficient gas supplied by the formation to lift the oil to the surface in an efficient manner, therefore additional gas for this purpose must be furnished from an outside source. There may, at times, be conditions obtaining in natural flowing wells different from those in wells flowed by gas-lift, but these differences do not at all conflict with the main principles of gas-lift work. One such condition is met with in wells in which the gas supplied by the formation is in considerable excess of that required to lift the oil to surface; this excess may be so great as to reduce the quantity of oil that can be lifted through the particular diameter of casing or tubing that has been lowered into the well. This same condition can be brought about, however, by supplying a large excess of gas from an outside source to an artificial gas-lift well, and a study of the effects obtained from injecting a large excess into the well can be applied directly to handling wells flowing naturally which have a large excess of gas supplied by the underground reservoir. Conditions for Lifting Oil The main factors to be considered in flowing wells are as follows: 1. Submergence, or pressure at the bottom of the tubing or casing. 2. Lift; the height to which the liquid must be raised. 3. Diameter of the flow tubing or casing. 4. Quantity of liquid to be lifted. 5. Pressure at the discharge end of the flow tubing, or back-pressure, as it is sometimes called.

Jan 1, 1930

By Julian Glasser, Arthur Fleischer

THIS country was faced with the possible necessity of utilizing nonbauxitic ores for producing aluminum during World War 11. Construction of four experimental plants to treat such ores by four different processes was authorized1-4 including one at Salt Lake City, for the conversion of Marysvale alunite to metal-grade alumina and potassium sulphate by the Kalunite process.' An aluminum reduction plant in Tacoma, Wash., with a capacity of 50 tons of aluminum per day, was constructed to handle the Kalunite alumina produced at the Salt Lake City plant. The alumina and aluminum plants were Defense Plant Corp. projects operated by Kalunite, Inc. and Olin Industries, Inc., respectively. Kalunite alumina differs from Bayer alumina in several respects, particularly in that the former contains potash instead of soda. The presence of potassium in the alumina feed to the cryolite bath was stated by aluminum technologists to be undesirable under the usual operating conditions of aluminum furnaces. In 1940, about 20 tons of Kalunite alumina produced in the Kalunite pilot plant, were reduced electrolytically in a 10,000 amp furnace at Battelle Memorial Institute and at the aluminum reduction plant at Neuhausen, Switzerland. These relatively small scale tests indicated that satisfactory commercial aluminum could be produced in a practical manner. The Tacoma plant reduced about 2,500,000 lb of Kalunite alumina to produce more than 1,200,000 lb of aluminum, in accordance with the accepted gractice for reducing Bayer alumina. It was desired to determine whether commercial aluminum could be produced on a large scale and to establish the technological differences in commercial reduction practice between Kalunite and Bayer alumina. In the course of collecting data, the effects of the abnormal chemical composition and physical properties of Kalunite alumina were observed wherever possible. Tacoma Reduction Plant The reduction plant had two pot lines, each with 120 cells in series, operated at approximately 32,000 amp. Each cell was provided with a single rectangular Soederberg continuous anode, with side-pin electrical contacts. Each cell was hooded and ventilated through a stack connected to 14 other cells, with 25,000 cfm blower. When the plant started operation in 1942, all of the cathode linings were of block construction. Rebuilt cells were of rammed paste construction.

Jan 1, 1952

THE Institute assembled on Tuesday evening, October 24th, in the hall of the Franklin Institute, Mr. Frank Firmstone, VicePresident, in the chair. Mr. J. Price Wetherill, of Tremont, Pa., read a paper on An Outline of Anthracite Coal Mining in Schuylkill County, Pa. The paper was discussed by Messrs. Coxe, Rothwell, Heinrich, Harden, and Symons. The second session was held on Thursday evening. Mr. A. L. Holley, Chairman of the International Committee, appointed by the Institute to consider the nomenclature of iron and steel, offered the following report of the committee, signed by all the members: WHEREAS, The recent production of soft, cast, malleable compounds of iron by the Bessemer, the Siemens-Martin, and the crucible steel processes appears to demand a new nomenclature of iron compounds, for the following reasons: 1st. The term "steel," by which these soft products are commercially and professionally designated in England and in the United States, does not completely distinguish them from previously existing "steel which would harden and temper. 2d. A nomenclature recognized in all languages seems desirable, as well for commercial as for scientific purposes, especially as lawsuits, already commenced, depend on the meaning of the term " steel." 3d. Although homogeneity, due to fusion, is usually recognized, and is by this committee recognized as the most definite characteristic of both hard and soft steel, this quality may be equally well expressed in other terms, thus leaving the old term, " steel," to define the malleable compounds of iron, which will harden and temper. Therefore, resolved, That this committee recommends the following nomenclature : 1. That all malleable compounds of iron with its ordinary ingredients, which are aggregated from pasty masses, or from piles, or from any forms of iron not in a fluid state, and which will not sensibly harden and temper, and which generally resemble what is called " wrought iron," shall be called Weld Iron (German, Schweisseisen; French, fer soudé). 2. That such compounds, when they will from any cause harden and temper, and which resemble what is now called puddled steel," shall be called Weld Steel (German, Schweiss stahl; French, acier soudé).

THE Institute assembled on Tuesday evening, October 24th, in the hall of the Franklin Institute, Mr. Frank Firmstone, Vice-President, in the chair. Mr.. J. Price Wetherill, of Tremont, Pa., read a paper on An Outline of Anthracite Coal Mining in Schuylkill County, Pa. The paper was discussed by Messrs. Coxe, Rothwell, Heinrich, Harden, and Symons. The second session was held on Thursday evening. Mr. A. L. Holley, Chairman of the International Committee, appointed by the Institute to consider the nomenclature of iron and steel, offered the following report of the committee, signed by all the members: WHEREAS, The recent production of soft, cast, malleable compounds of iron by the Bessemer, the Siemens-Martin, and the crucible steel processes appears to demand a new nomenclature of iron compounds, for the following reasons : 1st. The term "steel," by which these soft products are commercially and professionally designated in England and in the United States, does not completely distinguish them from previously existing "steel" which would harden and temper. 2d. A nomenclature recognized in all languages seems desirable, as well for commercial as for scientific purposes, especially as lawsuits, already commenced, depend on the meaning of the term "steel." 3d. Although homogeneity, due to fusion, is usually recognized, and is by this committee recognized as the most definite characteristic of both bard and soft steel, this quality may be equally well expressed in other terms, thus leaving the old term, "steel," to define the malleable compounds of iron, which will harden and temper. Therefore, resolved, That this committee recommends the following nomenclature : 1. That all malleable compounds of iron with its ordinary ingredients, which are aggregated from pasty masses, or from piles, or from any forms of iron not in a fluid state, and which will not sensibly harden and temper, and which generally resemble what is called " wrought iron," shall be called WELD IRON (German, Sehweisseisen; French, fer soudé) 2. That such compounds, when they will from any cause harden and temper, and which resemble what is now called "puddled steel," shall be called WELD STEEL (German, Schweiss stahl; French, acier soudé).

Jan 1, 1877

By William P. Blake

This camp is just now startled by the alarming suggestion that unless there shall speedily be an appreciation in the value of silver, and a decrease in the cost of salt, it will be prudent business policy to close the Alice mines and mills until the conditions of production are more favorable. Such an event would be a great blow to the prosperity of Butte. It would throw some hundreds of men out of employment, and it might lead to the adoption of the same policy by other companies, which, like the Alice, have not been able to pay dividends to their shareholders for a long time. The question arises, and becomes emphatic: If, under the present adverse conditions, the mines and mills cannot be made to pay a proper profit, why should they continue to be worked ? The owners mentally ask: Shall we go on exhausting our mines, pouring out a stream of silver for the maintenance of the community, and the support of the rail ways, or shall we husband our reserves, withdraw the miners from our slopes, and wait for more favorable conditions ? This is the impending question, and all concerned dread to meet and answer it. Let us briefly review the situation and forecast, if possible, what the solution of' the problem will be. It must be understood that the discussion does not include, or refer to, the immense copper-producing interests of the camp, which may or may not be upon a very much more satisfactory basis. It will be confined chiefly to the operations of the Alice company, sta tistics of which are at hand, without involving the other silver com panies in the conclusions beyond those inevitable from well-known facts, patent to all. There are at present in Butte and in its vicinity in the principal mills an aggregate of 290 stamps dropping upon silver-ores: Alice,...........80 stamps. Moulton,. .........40 " Lexington,...50 " Silver Bow,.........30 " Blue Bird,..........90 " The Alice mills at present, with their 80 stamps, devour, in round numbers, from 100 to 120 tons a day. The actual amount

Jan 1, 1888

By David Donoghue

The efforts towards curtailment in Texas have been successful, despite the great area covered and the wide variety of oils offered. There are, of course, examples of noncooperation, perhaps of absolute indifference, but of such it can at least be said that they have benefited from the restrictions imposed elsewhere. The prevention of waste is the legal background for proration in Texas. The legislature in 1899 passed the first laws to prevent waste of oil and gas. Subsequent legislatures, especially those of 1905, 1913 and 1917, undertook to regulate the development and transportation of oil and gas to the end that waste would not occur. In 1917 a constitutional amendment was submitted to the people, providing that natural resources of the state should be conserved and requiring that the legislature pass appropriate laws. This amendment was adopted, and the Acts of 1919 and 1929 have been passed, and these have had the effect of making a rather elaborate plan for the conservation of oil and gas and their protection against waste. In 1930 the new pipe line act, designed to provide for ratable purchases, was passed. The administration of these laws has been placed under the Oil and Gas Division of the Railroad Commission of Texas. The Commission can only consider actual waste, not economic waste. The various proration plans in use in the state, while differing in efficiency, are based on engineering principles. In the proration of flush fields, the limiting of drilling and the steady production of oil under restriction are the principal points involved, and these methods are entirely different from those which prevailed until recently in the Oklahoma City Pool, where apparently nothing beyond the restriction of production on a time basis was attempted. There is little to say in defense of proration in the older and smaller producing areas in Texas, except that, inasmuch as the market outlet has been reduced, proration distributes the market ratably among the producers. Work of Central ProRation Committee In the early part of 1930 the overproduction situation became acute, and, at the request of the Railroad Commission, a committee was formed composed of representatives of the Texas Division of the Mid-Continent

Jan 1, 1931

By C. K. Leith

AT the outset I would like to make it clear that I do not enter this discussion in a controversial spirit, but in an attempt to contribute something helpful to an understanding of a difficult problem. I have too high regard for the sterling quality of the work of the men who have studied this subject in detail to offer anything in the way of essential contradiction to their statements of fact. Difference of opinion arises from differing valuation of the possible alternative hypothesis which these facts suggest. Some degree of recrystallization in limestone contact zones has been recognized by many investigators. Earlier investigators, for the most part, assigned an important, if not the most important, role to recrystallization in development of these zones. With the growing recognition, of introduction of ores and gangue materials into the contact zone from igneous rocks through the medium of primary magmatic solutions, there has been a tendency to ascribe to this process most, if not all, of the chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the contact zone. This has involved a correspondingly diminished emphasis on recrystallization of substances already there as a factor in the process, and in some cases even the complete elimination of this hypothesis. From detailed study of a few contacts, casual observation of others, and a general familiarity with the literature, some of us have been led in recent years to raise the question whether the pendulum has not swung too far away from recrystallization toward direct introduction from igneous sources, and to argue for more recognition of the part played by recrystallization.1 The inevitable sequence has been that those of us who have taken this view have been charged, at least by inference, with emphasizing recrys-tallization to, the total exclusion of the alternative process. Scientists, like other men, like to classify and pigeon-hole views under simple and definite designations, leaving out qualifications which would tend to make the classification more difficult to state. This has made the problem seem more definite and simple, but has tended to obscure the fact that the disagreement is primarily not one relating to essential facts, but one of

Jan 6, 1914

By C. K. Leith

At the outset I would like to make it clear that I do not enter this discussion in a controversial spirit, but in an attempt to contribute something helpful to an understanding of a difficult problem. I have too high regard for the- sterling quality of the work of the men who have studied this subject in detail to offer anything in the way of essential contradiction to their statements of fact. Difference of opinion arises from differing valuation of the possible alternative hypothesis which these facts suggest. Some degree of recrystallization in limestone contact zones has been recognized by many investigators. Earlier investigators, for the most part, assigned an important, if not the most important, ro1e to recrystallization in development of these zones. With the growing recognition of introduction of ores and gangue materials into the contact zone from igneous rocks through the medium of primary magmatic solutions, there has been a tendency to ascribe to this process most, if not all, of the chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the contact zonc. This has involved a correspondingly diminished emphasis on recrystallization of substances already there as a factor in the process, and in some cases even the complete elimination of this hypothesis. From detailed study of a few contacts, casual observation of others, and a general familiarity with the literature, some of us have been led in recent years to raisc the question whether the pendulum has not swung too far away from recrystallization toward direct introduction from igneous sources, and to argue for more recognition of the part played by recrysta11ization.l The inevitable sequence has been that those of us who have .taken this view have been charged, at least by inference, with emphasizing recrystallization to the total exclusion of the alternative process. Scientists, like other men, like to classify and pigeon-hole views under simple and definite designations, leaving out qualifications which would tend to make the classification more difficult to state. This has made the problem seem more definite and simple, but has tended to obscure the fact that the disagreement is primarily not one relating to essential facts, but one of

Jan 1, 1915

By C. Baldwin Sawyer

J. S. Vanick,* Washington, D. C. (written discussion).—To those who have been confronted with the study of the gas-metal reactions, this paper is a most welcome contribution. My personal interest in work bearing upon this general problem, stimulated by an appreciation of the difficulties inherent to problems of this type, prompts a few words of discussion. Table 2 of the paper shows a gradual increase in the nitrogen content with an increase in pressure, and an interpretation follows in which nitrogcn is used as the compressed medium when the conditions admit that cyanogen gas could be active as a contaminating ingredient. Fusions of electrolytic iron made in the induction furnace in an atmosphere of deoxidized nitrogen and out of contact with contaminating materials have shown no microscopic evidence of -a nitrogen increase; using a refractory-lined graphite crucible in the furnace under the same conditions or admitting air often resulted in the occurrence of nitride needles in the solidified melt. These results suggested that a nitrogenous compound served as a vehicle for the introduction of nitrogen and that such compound was not available when the pure gas and carbon-free refractory were used. The fusion of pure iron in pure nitrogen is perhaps a matter of theoretical interest. The author's work serves a more practical purpose when applied to steels rather than iron. Table 2 reports the absence of nitride needles in melts made under pressure of one atmosphere, although the quantity of nitrogen present would seem to exceed microscopically detectable percentages. In some recent work29 on carburized iron, nitride needles have been observed in areas analyzing as low as 0.015 per cent. nitrogen. This low percentage of nitrogen would indicate that the solubility limit is less than 0.030 per cent. for hypoeutectoid steels. There is the possibility that the areas of pearlite which exist in a hypoeutectoid steel restrict the distribution of nitrogen and limit its presence to the ferritie fields. In view of this work and the references quoted by the author, I am led to expect that the value for the solubility of nitrogen in solidified iron may approach

Jan 1, 1924

By M. S. King

A series of cross-hole acoustic measurements have been performed in a columnar-jointed basaltic rock mass around an underground opening mined by the drill-and-blast method. The purposes of the test program were: to evaluate the rock mass characteristics around the opening; to determine the zone of blast damage; and to evaluate seismic methods for anomaly detection ahead of mining in this type of rock. The cross-hole measurements were made between four 76-mm diameter horizon- tal boreholes diamond-drilled 12 m into a wall of the underground opening. Repetitive pulses of compressional (P) and shear (S) waves of frequencies in the range 3 kHz-100 kHz were propagated from a transmitter sonde through the rock mass to a receiver sonde, both of which were clamped hydraulically to the borehole wall. After amplification the received P- and S-wave signals were digitized at the surface by a digital oscilloscope and stored on floppy discs. The results indicate considerable reductions in P- and S-wave velocities at distances less than 2 m from the face. Clearly these low values are associated with blast damage. Beyond 2 m, the velocities in a vertical direction indicate almost constant values. The velocities in the horizontal direction beyond 2 m appeared erratic, but showed a general tendency to increase as a function of distance from the face. Their maximum values remained, however, still lower in value than the corresponding velocities in the vertical direction. Near the face, the differences in velocities were considerably greater: with horizontal velocities considerably lower in value than those vertical. Results of the spectral analyses of the received signals indicated that Q-values were strongly influenced by the vertically- oriented sets of joints. Only for waves travelling in the vertical direction was the effect observed of the blast-damaged zone immediately around the opening. The acoustic data obtained are clearly indicative of an anisotropic jointed rock mass, with a greater intensity of jointing for travel paths in the horizontal than the vertical direction. The vertical, columnar joints are probably less tightly closed than those oriented in the horizontal plane.

Jan 1, 1984

By Valentin Garfias

ALTHOUGH Mexico still ranks second in importance as produce for petroleum, the output in 1924 was 7 ½ per cent. less than in 1923 and 30 per cent. less than the peak production of 1921. The decrease may be partly accounted for by labor troubles and revolutionary activities early in the year, although undoubtedly the main factor was the continuous rise of the salt-water level in the South Fields, causing a decline of 24,000,000 bbl. in the production of light oil. Since the middle of 1923, the production of heavy crude has been greater than that of the lighter grade and, in 1924, the output of heavy crude was 2 ½ times that-of the light oil. DEVELOPMENT Drilling operations in the Mexican fields were probably more active in 1924 than in any other year, the greatest activity taking place in the Cacalilao and neighboring fields; toward the end of the year there was an added number of wells drilling in wildcat areas. The number of wells drilled in proved territory was almost twice that of the previous year, the increase taking place in the heavy-oil fields north of Panuco, as only 78 of the 710 wells completed were drilled in the Southern Fields. The percentage of successful completions decreased from 45 per cent., during 1923, to about 38 per cent., during 1924; there was also a noticeable decrease in the average flush production of the new wells. It is interesting to note that notwithstanding the increased drilling activity, the total production declined over 10,000,000 barrels. In the heavy-oil district, 632 wells were completed but only 231, or 36 ½ per cent., were commercially productive. The develop-ment in the Cacalilao area reached its peak in April and May, or about the time the first serious salt-water encroachments took place. Development in the old Panuco and Topila fields was more active than during the previous year, although the salt-water level continued to rise, the high price of crude making such development advisable especially for companies having to protect large-investments.

Jan 3, 1925

By Edwin A. Sperry

The use of steam-stamps in the crushing of ore for the purpose of amalgamation has been very limited, and little has been written on the subject. As the writer has been operating a mill of this kind during the past year, it is possible that he may be able to present a few points in regard to mill-practice in this line which will be of interest. The mill herein referred to contains two Tremain steamstamps, a more detailed description of which will be given below. A bond and lease had been taken on a property on Cross mountain, Gunnison county, Colo., and the parties operating wished to prospect it thoroughly and did not wish to ship out the ore, owing to high freight-rates. They looked around to find some mill that would answer the purpose and not be too expensive. The steam-stamp in question was finally decided on, and the writer was employed to erect and operate it. The economy of construction was demonstrated at the outset. The stamps were dropping within ten days from the time that the machinery was unloaded on the ground. A large portion of this period was consumed in waiting for supplies and fittings which should have been on the ground at the Hame time with the machinery. Ore.—The ore to be treated was a mixture of white, porous quartz, with the decomposed and undecomposed oxides of iron and manganese in varying proportions, from the pure white quartz to solid pieces of the oxides. It appeared to be the product of replacement in a soft dolomite at or near the line of contact with a dike of porphyry. On careful examination with the aid of a microscope it was found that the gold was in the form of an extremely thin film over the surfaces of the quartz, making only a bronzy-yellow coating, quite readily distinguished from the film of iron oxide, which was also present. Mill.—The mill was constructed on the usual plan, with the ore-bin above and against the hill, which was cut into for the

Jan 1, 1897

By H. C. Hardison

The Yates pool, Pccos County, Texas, has greater potential capacities than any other field in the United States. This field is notable for the large return it yields on capital invested, for low production costs and for the orderly and conservative manner in which it was developed and continues to be operated. The proven area is 20,000 acres and there are 392 producing wells, or approximately 1 well to 50 acres. The theoretical daily potential is 5,250,000 bbl. as determined by l-hr. open-flow gages. Individual well gages vary from a few barrels to 8500 bbl. per hour, and well depths range from 1000 to 1800 ft. The greater part of the production is from a very porous limestone, and by agreement no productive well has penetrated the lime more than 225 ft. The forces driving the oil from the formation to the surface are hydrostatic head, expanding gas or a combination of the two. The degree of effectiveness of either depends upon the structural position of, and porosity encountered in, the individual wells. Approximately 95 per cent. of the wells in the field flow naturally. The pipe line outlet of the field at the present time is 100,000 bbl. per day, which is less than 2 per cent. of the daily potential. Difficulties and Principles of Probation It became evident during the first year of the development of this field that operators would have to devise a scheme to allocate pipe line runs equitably among their different properties. When the idea of proration was first inaugerated, the matter of spacing wells was given consideration. This was given up through fear of legal difficulties. Storage was also a question that was given considerable thought, and a plan was finally developed which went into effect Oct. 1, 1927. It was decided that the oil runs should be prorated according to the total potential capacity of all the wells which the several operators had in the field. The potential capacity of the wells was measured by a l-hr. open-flow gage. All runs to storage by an operator were deducted from his daily allowance.

Jan 1, 1931

By John C. Smock

The question of the proper valuation of mines of iron ore was suggested to me by the difficulties experienced in getting answers for the United States Census Office, while I was engaged in the work of collecting the statistics of mines in New Jersey and New York. The answers to the questions relating to values of real estate of mine properties varied so greatly that it was necessary to revise them according to some general principles of valuation. Generally the returns of mine proprietors seemed to be too low. There were, however, examples of what would be termed excessive valuation. The subject appeared to be of practical importance, and led to the paper here presented. The following table of selected mine statistics is given, prefacing the discussion of the principles of valuation. It is in part made up of census returns and partly of data obtained directly from mine owners and managers. The mines which were selected for the several groups and mining districts include nearly all of those from which the more full and carefully filled returns were received, and are also representative of their respective districts. Hence the averages obtained from them become good types of these groups or districts. The mines of New Jersey appear in six groups, each containing from three to eleven mines, or, in all, thirty-four mines. The magnetic iron ores of New York are in four well-marked groups, and there are twenty-six mines in them. Then follow the red hematite mines of St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties; and, lastly, the brown hematite groups of Dutchess and Columbia counties, and those of the adjacent parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The whole number of mines represented by the table is eighty-eight, of which twenty-eight are hematite mines. The first column gives the value of the real estate; the second that of the plant; the third is the sum of these two, or the capital invested. Then follow the number of men employed, the amount of wages paid during the census year, and the value of materials used in mining and preparing the ores for market." The seventh column gives the total expendi-

Jan 1, 1882

By Eugene McAuliffe

THE mining press, as well as certain federal and state bulletins, refer from tine to time to. the relative hazards that attach to loading bituminous coal by hand when compared with the so-called "mechanical loading" process. Much of the coal coming under the head. of hand-loaded coal is won in part by the use of machinery; the coal-cutting machine is in general use, the electric power drill employed to a lesser extent. Therefore it may be said that the principal difference in the process employed, mechanical loading versus hand loading, lies in the fact that some type of loading machine is employed in the mechanical loading process to lift the coal from the face of the room, place or entry, after it is mined, placing it in the pit cars for transport to the tipple. It is a common practice to compute accident records on the basis of tons mined per fatal and per nonfatal accident, disregarding the fact that it is possible to produce by the aid of coal-loading machines the same daily, monthly and annual tonnage with a much smaller force than is required where the coal is all shoveled by hand. Inasmuch as the men who are released by the substitution of machinery for hand labor must find employment elsewhere, suffering some measure of hazard in their new occupation, we are of the opinion that the true relative hazard that attaches to the processes of mechanical loading and hand loading can be determined only by using as the basis of comparison "man shifts worked" or "hours of exposure" experienced per accident. The Union Pacific Coal Co., beginning with the year 1929, undertook to maintain a true record of man shifts worked per compensable accident, giving equal weight to fatal and nonfatal accidents. Accidents lacking sufficient severity to come under the compensable terms of the Workmen's Compensation Act were not included in the compilation, the Act providing that "no compensation, except the expense of medical attention, shall be allowed for the first seven (7) days of disability, unless the incapacity runs beyond the period of twenty-one (21) days,' in which case the compensation shall run from the time of the injury."

Jan 1, 1931

By Howard Eavenson

THE eleven mines of the United States Coal and Coke Co. in the Pocahontas coal field are situated in McDowell County, W. Va., which is a mountainous region. The valleys rarely exceed 200 ft. (60 m.) is width, the hill sides slope from 25° to 33°, and the tops, from 600, to 900 ft. above the valleys, carry practically no level land. At least 80 per cent. of the area is covered with timber. All the workings are drift mines; and while the average grades of the seams worked are ample for drainage, local dips and swamps necessitate, the use of a large number of local pumps or of numerous drainage ditches to keep the mine free from water during heavy rains. The water handled in any mine is not great, compared with the coal output, and usually causes little trouble except during extremely wet periods. In hew workings, the water encountered, except in rare cases, is trifling; it is only after rib drawing has started and the surface has been broken that water troubles begin. The strata overlying the coal are sandstone, shales, and slates; as the soil is thin and sandy, it does not tend to puddle and stop the cracks, which remain open for a long time. As mining progresses and the robbed area increases, the broken area becomes larger, increasing the openings into the mined territory. The cover over the robbed portions of the mines varies from 30 to 750 ft. (9 to 228 m.). When the ground is saturated, considerable water finds its way into the mines the day after a heavy rainfall and for three or four days it tends to fill the low places, wash the tracks, etc. and. unless from three to four times as many pumps are installed as are normally needed, considerable', output is lost. In most cases the water will .flow from the mines, so the obvious solution is to provide drainage .ditches of ample size to carry the maximum flow expected, so that the inflow will have no opportunity to flood the working places.

Jan 1, 1921

By James Bowron

Considering the importance of the steel trade and the strategic position occupied in it by the Birmingham district, it may be surprising to many to learn that the first pig iron smelted with coke was made in Alabama on Feb. 28, 1876, although merchant pig iron had been produced in Rockwood, Tenn., in 1867 -a plant that is still in operation The heavy deposit of Clinton ore, extending from Pennsylvania into Alabama, varies greatly in accessibility, on account of geological changes such as erosion or anticlinal upthrow; it varies equally as much in thickness and in quality. The brown ores extensively scattered through the South also vary materially in quality—some are relatively low in phosphorus and high in manganese, and vice versa. The red ore varies materially in phosphorus, but the iron produced from this ore was always considered too high in phosphorus for treatment by the acid bessemer or open-hearth process and did not contain sufficient phosphorus for the basic bessemer process. Under these conditions there remained only the basic open hearth as a possible process; and for many years it appeared impossible to use this, because, with coke smelted iron, the silicon was too high to permit its use in basic lined furnaces. Various attempts were made, from time to time, to produce a low-silicon iron, by carrying high lime burdens together with harder blowing, but the blast furnaces of the South were not equipped with the blowing power of today and from 31/2to 5-lb. pressure was the normal working condition. The result of these experiments, therefore, was that a furnace would get a lime set or be hastily changed to avoid scaffolding, and engineers and superintendents were careful not to renew the experiments. After the development of the beds of dolomitic stone in East Birmingham, the carrying of sufficient lime to bring down the silicon in the blast furnace to the permissible open-hearth limit was successfully done at the Alice furnace in Birmingham, commencing July 22, 1895. In a very short time the entire output of that furnace was being sold to different Northern steel manufacturers, with a guarantee that silicon and phosphorus should run below 1 per cent.

Jan 1, 1925

By N. A. Zeigler, T. D. Yensen

Aging is a term that connotes a slow change in properties under ordinary operating conditions. It can be accelerated by increasing the temperature and by mechanical straining. The magnetic properties of iron and some of its alloys have for many years been known to be subject to such a change. But the cause of the change was not recognized until a few years ago after mechanical age-hardening in non-ferrous alloys of the "duralumin" type had been definitely shown, by means of solid solubility curves, changes in electrical resistance and microanalysis, to be caused by slow precipitation of one or more constituents from the solid solution. The similarity between the solid solubility curves of such alloys (Fig. 1) and those for iron-nitrogen (Fig. 2) and iron-carbon alloys (Fig. 3) below the A1 transformation point suggested at once that magnetic aging of iron might be caused by a similar process; namely, by the slow precipitation of carbon and nitrogen in the form of Fe4N and Fe3C at ordinary temperatures because of a cooling rate that had been too rapid to permit complete precipitation according to equilibrium conditions. This suggestion has since been amply confirmed, particularly by the comprehensive work of Köster1 on the effect of nitrogen and carbon. Typical curves are shown in Fig. 4 for the relationship between aging temperature and coercive force. Previous to the establishment of the precipitation-hardening theory it was thought that the effect of nonmetallic elements like C, N, O, etc., on the magnetic properties of iron was greatest when these elements were retained in solid solution, atomically dispersed throughout the interstitial spaces of the iron lattice2. Based on the theory that magnetic properties are intimately connected with the regularity of the lattice, it now follows quite logically that a greater effect on this regularity may be obtained when the above impurities are precipitated as very fine particles of Fe3C, Fe4N, FeO, etc., more or less uniformly dispersed within the grains. But if this is the case, it follows also that there must exist a relationship between the size

Jan 1, 1935

By S. Grinsfelder

Although wildcatting was hampered by the general overproduction and low price of crude, several developments, worthy of note in the history of the petroleum industry in the Rocky Mountain region, were made in 1927. This district records production from six new fields, two of these having been heretofore productive of gas. Deeper pay horizons were found in two other oil fields. In order to facilitate transportation from fields, six new oil pipe lines were completed or in the course of construction at the end of the year, and one line is proposed for 1928. Four gas lines were completed, one was under construction, and one was proposed for 1928. The total production in 1927 in the Rocky Mountain district was 29,591,379 bbl.,' a decrease of 7,771,991 bbl., or 21 per cent., fro111 the previous year. This was occasioned by natural decline and the general curtailment of production and drilling. A review of the development by states follows. Colorado Production from horizons in the Morrison and Sundance at Craig and at Ilrs Dome, and the bringing in of the deepest producing well in the Rocky Mountain district on North McCalluin anticline (Waltlrn) in Jackson County are the outstanding developments for the year in Colorado. In March the Midwest Refining Co.'s Parkinson 21 SD, SW SE, Sec. 22 T p. 4 N R 92 W, Iles Domr, Moffat County Colorado, found gas in sands in the Morrison estimated at 15,000,000 cu. ft., and at 3242 ft. an oil sand was encountered in the Sundance. Initial production from this horizon was 2575 bbl. in this well. This structure previously was only productive of water in the sands of the Dakota group but has been producing shale oil from horizons in the Benton. The second well completed by the Midwest Refining Co., No. 18 SD in Sec. 23 was also productive of gas in the Morrison and made an initial of 300 bbl. from sands in the Sundance. By the end of the year three other wells wrrc nearing the completion stage but none of them indicate that they will be as big producers as the discovery. To date the productive area has

Jan 1, 1928

By A. A. Mathews

During the past year (1967-68), there have been many instances of either partial or complete failure of a tunnel-support system. It looks like the art is in a pretty sad state, but as long as we permit the field of tunnel design to remain basically an art, that's about what we can expect. The application of scientific principles to tunnel design involves much more than assigning values to a series of factors in an equation. I am reminded of the case where the engineer calculated that steel ribs with struts were required to support a horseshoe-shaped tunnel in firm ground. The contractor had driven several hundred feet without installing the struts when the engineer visited the job. When he was informed that the struts had been left out, he fled the tunnel in alarm. As one authority has so aptly put it, "There is far too much calculating and too little observing." Initially, one might think of a tunnel support as a structural member, such as a strut or arch which is installed in order to support some definite load. Similarly, a tunnel lining might be considered as a treatment of the interior surface of the tunnel in order to produce desired aesthetic, hydraulic, or architectural results, or to serve a protective function. Actually, many linings, such as a concrete lining, serve a dual purpose and support a load as well as satisfy other requirements. Not too many years ago a tunnel, during the driving or excavating stage, was considered to be either supported or unsupported. In recent years, however, several techniques have been developed, which by helping the tunnel to support itself, permit the elimination of separate structural support. Since these techniques in many cases actually become a substitute for the conventional types of supports and linings, a state-of-the-art review would hardly be complete without including them for consideration. Thus, for the purpose of this discussion, we shall define tunnel supports as any system or technique which effectively maintains the integrity of the tunnel opening. In their chapters, both Jacobs (No. 6) and Lippold (No. 7) pointed out how support systems have advanced from timber supports to steel supports

Jan 1, 1970