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By J. T. Peters, N. Schapiro, R. J. Gray

Petrographic studies of coal have resulted in a better understanding of the origin and composition of coal and have added to the knowledge of how and why coals differ in their response to various prepamtion and utilization processes. Petrographic methods can now be used in scientific economic exploitation of coals. Because the United States Steel Corp. is one of the largest consumers of coal and coke, there is a continuing interest in the corporation in perfecting a better understanding of coal so that it can be utilized more effectively. Coal is a heterogeneous substance composed principally of plant material that has been altered by a complex geochemical process to form rock. The science of coal is anthracology. The ultimate aim of anthracology is determining the relationships and differences among coals. The fundamental aim is finding out why coals differ. The practical application is determining how the differences in coals affect their utilization properties. Coal, like other sedimentary rocks, consists of more than one material. Fig. 1, a photograph of a natural fracture and a polished surface of a lump of coal, displays heterogeneity in terms of the banded ingredients present. The earliest attempts to describe coal were based on its hardness and appearance. ' Thus, coal has been described as hard or soft, bright or dull, and banded or nonbanded. The variations in the hardness and physical appearance of the coal reflect differences in materials that constitute the coal. The banded nature, lustre, and texture depend upon the relative proportions of the various constituent materials. Even the earliest petrographic investigations of coal produced evidence of of the heterogeneity of the coal substance and shoul have destroyed the concept of the unit coal molecule. Coals (Fig. 2) that appear the same frequently consist of different microscopic materials and may behave differently during mining, pulverization, washing, or coking. In Fig. 3, the upper photograph shows a bright at-trital medium-volatile coal, and the micrograph at the right shows some of the materials that constitute the coal. The lower photograph shows a bright attrital low-volatile coal and the corresponding micrograph shows material of similar origin to those from the medium-volatile coal. Any petrographic description of a coal that has meaning in terms of its utilization begins with a microscopic examination. Numerous attempts have been made to describe coal on the basis of the materials that constitute the coal.2*3 Initial petrographic studies were directed towards the question of the origin of coals without any true basis for studying the metamorphic changes in the

Jan 1, 1962

By J. F. Butler

The degree and type of carbide dispersion resulting from changes in the cooling rate from austenite determine the amount of carbon remaining in solution after slow cooling- from a subsequent subcritical annealing treatment. A difjusion model has been proposecl to explain the effect of carbide dispersion on the amount of carbon retained in solution and the amount of carbon in solution has been related to the degree of carbon strain aging. COTTRELL and Leak' have shown that the rate of strain aging in low-carbon steels is dependent upon the amount of carbon and nitrogen in solution. Carbon can be effectively removed from solution as Fe , C by quench aging at temperatures of 200" C or lower; however, the relatively higher solubility of nitrogen at these temperatures prevents sufficient removal of nitrogen as iron nitrides. For this reason, nitrogen in solution has been considered the major cause of strain aging in rimming grades of commercial low-carbon steels. Nitrogen can be effectively removed from solution and nonaging steel produced through the addition of aluminum to form the stable nitride, AlN; however, the aluminum also causes deoxidation resulting in a killed steel. III an attempt to produce a rimmed steel which was also nonaging, Morgan and Shyne 2 investigated tile strain-aging properties of low-carban steels containing boron and found that strain aging was suplx-essed in steels containing as little as 0.007 pet B. The original purpose of this investigation was to determine the mechanism of strain-aging suppression by boron. Early in the study, the function of boron was discovered to be much like that of aluminum in that the formation of a nitride, BN, removed the nitrogen from solution.' However, during the course of the investigation, an effect of heat treatment upon the strain-aging properties and the amount of carbon in solution was found which could be related to the microstructure of the steel. The purpose of this paper is to examine these relationships among heat treatment, microstructure, carbon in solution, and strain aging in steels where nondetectable amounts of nitrogen are present in solution. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The investigation was carried out using 0.030 in. by 12. in wire specimens which had been cold swaged and drawn to the final diameter. Table I lists the compositions of the low-carbon steels used. Those with 'V' designations were vacuum melted and cast; the alloys designated 'AISI' were prepared from high-purity iron obtained from the American

Jan 1, 1962

By Carl F. Floe, Michael B. Bever

he possibility that carbon may be soluble in copper to a limited extent has bten recognized for over a century. The quantitative investigation of this problem, however, requires more sensitive techniques than have formerly been available. Three recent developments have made possible more accurate determinations: the vacuum-fusion method of analysis, the production of copper of high purity and the availability of high-purity refractories, particularly graphite. In addition to its obvious theoretical interest, the problem of carbon solubility in copper is of practical importance. In the production of copper and of high-copper alloys, carbonaceous covers are freauerltlv used. If even minute amounts of carbon are dissolved, insoluble carbon oxide gases will be formed when such metals are poured under oxidizing conditions. A mechanism of this kind could well be one of the principal causes of gas porosity in casting copper-base products. Review of Literature In 1823 Vivian1 raised the question as to whether copper by overpoling becomes "combined with a minute portion of carbon." Karsten2 asserted, in 1832, that carbon reduces the high-temperature strength of pure copper, so that when the carbon content has reached 0.2 per cent the metal will be brittle at a dark red heat. According to Karsten, carbon contents of 0.05 per cent make it difficult to hot-work copper. He also reported that the specific gravity of copper is 8.8969 and that it increases to 8.9258 if the copper is cemented with carbon and then melted. He emphasized the difficulty of determining analytically the small amounts of carbon present in copper. The metal was removed by wet methods and the residue considered as carbon. At Percy's request, Dick,3 in 1856, carried out various working tests on copper that had been ill prolonged contact with carbon, and found that the working properties of the metal had not been affected. He also attempted to determine the presence of carbon analytically. In one experiment the copper was dissolved and the residue was fused with litharge, and in another essentially a combustion analysis was made on a copper sample. In a final experiment, a sample was dissolved and the residue subsequently subjected to a combustion analysis. Indications of as much as 0.005 per cent carbon were found, but Dick considered his work inconclusive largely because of the possible interference of sulphur. Percy4 concluded, from Dick's experiments and from some experimental work of his own, that the solubility of carbon in copper had not been established with

Jan 1, 1946

By B. D. Thomas

GRAVITY concentration is a general term designating processes for separating and sorting granular material by means of forces that depend on the density, size and shape of the particles. When these forces are applied to the particles the latter are caused to move, those of a given density along one path and those of a different density along another, until ultimately they are sufficiently separated to be removed from the operation of the process. The forces producing this separation are in general complex and, unfortunately, no completely rigorous analysis of them has as yet been devised. The science of the hydrodynamics of viscous fluids deals with the little that is known about the problem. Every observer of nature is familiar with the fact that an object moving in a fluid encounters a force of resistance. We have only to walk against a brisk wind or stir a cup of coffee, or observe the slow fall of a grain of sand in water, to experience directly the fact that such forces exist. The exchange of force between an object and a fluid in which it is moving operates on the fluid as well as on the object. Thus a sailboat may be set in motion by the force exerted by the wind on the sail; but the sail also deflects the wind-furthermore, the water in which the boat floats is set in motion by the force exerted by the boat as it cleaves through the water. The wind is thus enabled to do work on the water through the intermediary of the boat. In general, an object moving through a fluid encounters a force that opposes the motion and also acts to change the motion of the fluid. In gravity concentration we are dealing with this force of resistance acting - on the granular particles that are to be separated. Furthermore, the motion induced in the fluid by a particle will in turn affect the motion of a neighboring particle. This effect will be reciprocated and in consequence there will be an exchange of forces between all the particles in the material. These effects are complex and the most that can be expected is that we may be able to determine in a qualitative way how they operate. In gravity concentration, then, the following types of forces may be distinguished as acting on the particles: 1. The force of gravity, which acts on every particle in the system in proportion to its mass. 2. Buoyant forces, which arise from the force of gravity acting on the fluid.

Jan 1, 1950

By W. Rostoker

The process of diffusion alloying of mixed powders offers attractive possibilities both commercially and experimentally. It avoids the fabrication difficulties arising from high alloy contents. Indeed, the process is facilitated by larger alloy additions. The direct formation of the part or test piece and the opportunlity to perform machining operations under more favorable conditions are of no small importance. However, it is necessary to make only brief mention of the interesting features. As yet there have been few attempts to study this process in detail and to carry it to completion, if such is possible. It was intended not only to measure the intermediate and optimum magnetic properties of sintered alloys but to use magnetic testing itself as a means of following the progress of alloying under various condi-tions. Having established that alloys could be successfully synthesized by this tech. nique, the opportunity was taken to study the magnetic properties of several alloys of iron and silicon which had hitherto been too difficult to prepare in suitable test piece form. While avoiding some of the difficulties inherent in the fabrication of alloys by orthodox methods, the diffusion alloying process introduces a few of its own. The first of these is the evaluation of the approach to homogenization. In recent years some notable contributions have been made to this question, but considerable uncertainty remains in its definition and evaluation. This work has concerned itself with further study of this problem and it is hoped that more light has been shed on it. The second of these difficulties arises from the presence of porosity. It is inevitable that in the consolidation of a loose bulk of powder, there should remain some voids unless extremely high pressures are repeatedly applied. It was therefore of importance to investigate their effect on magnetic properties. Recently this effect has been studied and certain predictions made of its behavior. It is believed that the experimental results presented here provide a sound substantiation of the theoretical treatment. The attempt has been made to synthesize five alloys of the iron-silicon system and three each of the iron-nickel and iron-cobalt systems. A series of experiments was also conducted on some of these alloys to test their susceptibility to heat treatment. Some unfortunate experiences have provided opportunity to report data on the deleterious effects of nitrogen on magnetic properties when present as a a in protective atmospheres. MateRIALS, PREPARATION OF SAMPLES and Testing The purest materials available were em. ployed for this work. A specially purified,

Jan 1, 1949

By Walter Rose

It is the purpose of this note to call attention to the circumstance complicating the attainment of uniform gas-liquid distributions in multi-phase flow systems, and especially in those of the so-called Hassler type.' Although the complication arises directly as a consequence of gas compressibility and the dependence of fluid distributions on interfacial curvature phenomena, little reference to the problem has yet appeared in the literature.' In fact, it is only the paper of Geffen et al.3 which gives any experimental evidence that a problem exists. On the other hand, previous authorsl,4,5 have made the tacit, albeit fallaceous assumption that uniform gas-liquid distributions automatically are established in linear flow systems by the expedient of maintaining the pressure gradients equal in the flowing gas and liquid phases. Such a device, it can be shown, will succeed only if the immiscible fluids are both equally compressible or both essentially non-compressible. Another necessary condition required before uniform fluid-fluid distributions can be achieved is that the porous matrix is isotropic. Uniform fluid saturation distribution conditions obtain in isotropic media only when the curvature of each interface of contact between wetting and non-wetting fluids is everywhere the same throughout the interspaces. This is a necessary condition which follows from the consideration that variation in interfacial curvature gives rise to finite capillary pressure gradients and therefore to variation in the saturation distribution. That this is not a sufficient condition follows from the consideration that hysteric possibilities allow for different saturations even though the capillary pressure gradient is zero. In any event, it will- be recalled that it is the intent in the Hassler scheme of relative permeability determination' to obtain initially (by the capillary pressure drainage or imhibition process) uniform conditions of fluid distribution in the core sample, and then to maintain this uniformity during mixture flow so that the resultant fluid mobilities which are calculated will refer to steady-state transfer under fixed conditions of uniform saturation. If the flowing fluids are incompressible, it is recognized that employment of the same value of the pressure gradient in each fluid will result in maintenance of the initially obtained condition of zero capillary pressure gradient. On the other hand, the consequence of gas compressibility is that the gradient in the gas pressure varies from point to point in the flowing stream. and since the pressure gradient in an incompressible liquid is constant it is thus impossible to maintain zero capillary pressure gradient during the simultaneous flow of gas-liquid mixtures. Therefore, one would expect to observe a variation in the gas-liquid saturation in the directions of the capillary pressure gradients, depending in magnitude on the particular way saturation changed with capillary pressure. In order to formulate the manner gas compressibility effects prevent the attainment of uniform gas-liquid distributions during mixture flow, consider a linear flow system of unit length. As noted, it is necessary to assume an isotropic medium (viz. one where permeability is independent of position and direction). One then can arbitrarily set the pressure

Jan 1, 1951

By D. H. Polonis, M. B. Kasen

AN unusual thermal etching phenomenon has been observed on the surface of a Cu-Si alloy. The observations were made during studies of vacancy condensation pit formation which were reported in previous papers.1,2 Figs. 1 and 2 are photomicrographs of the surface of a Cu-4.8 pct Si alloy after heating in vacuo (3 x X mm Hg) to 525°C and subsequently holding at that temperature for 16 hr in an impure (air-contaminated) argon atmosphere. Under these conditions preferential removal of silicon from the matrix by oxidation results in a surface which is entirely a phase overlying an a plus y structure. The light areas of Fig. 1 are regions in which very little thermal etching has occurred, while the majority of the surface has experienced severe etching. Similar regions in Fig. 2 are seen as plateaus above contours produced by net transfer of material from the specimen surface. Twin boundaries are also visible in Fig. 2. The difference in matrix mi-crostructure between Figs. l and 2 reflects the par- ticular orientation of low-index planes with respect to the surface of observation. Thermal etching contours of this type have been studied in detail by Hondros and Moore Both of the photomicrographs show that one or more dark spots are located approximately at the center of every protected area; where two spots are in close proximity, the protected areas have merged. The microstructures indicate that the anomalous resistance to thermal etching is related to the presence of these spots. Williams and Hayfield have shown that local regions of unusually high oxidation resistance can be caused by a surface monolayer of atoms with a work function higher than that of the base material. The result is an inhibition of the rate of electron removal from the base material and a decrease in the oxidation rate. The source of the protected layer may be either surface diffusion from contaminants on the specimen surface or pipe diffusion of solute atoms followed by migration across the surface. In the latter case the driving force is a difference in chemical potential resulting in a Gibbs adsorption phenomenon. In the present case, chemical polishing of the specimen surface precluded contaminants of a strictly surface nature. Consequently, diffusion of impurity atoms from within the lattice appears to be the most tenable explanation of the observed phenomena. The authors propose that the structures of Figs. 1 and 2 reflect the diffusion of impurity atoms along extended dislocations within the individual a phase grains prior to surface oxidation. The central spots within the protected regions are seen as sites of dislocation emergence which have become locally decorated with oxide in the manner discussed in Ref. 1. Williams and Hayfield observed protected regions adjacent to the grain boundaries of iron-contaminated copper which they attributed to the segregation of iron to the grain boundaries coupled with high dif-fusivity along the complex dislocation array at such boundaries. No evidence of such grain boundary protection was observed in the Cu-Si alloy; this

Jan 1, 1964

By Walter Rose

It is the purpose of this note to call attention to the circumstance complicating the attainment of uniform gas-liquid distributions in multi-phase flow systems, and especially in those of the so-called Hassler type.' Although the complication arises directly as a consequence of gas compressibility and the dependence of fluid distributions on interfacial curvature phenomena, little reference to the problem has yet appeared in the literature.' In fact, it is only the paper of Geffen et al.3 which gives any experimental evidence that a problem exists. On the other hand, previous authorsl,4,5 have made the tacit, albeit fallaceous assumption that uniform gas-liquid distributions automatically are established in linear flow systems by the expedient of maintaining the pressure gradients equal in the flowing gas and liquid phases. Such a device, it can be shown, will succeed only if the immiscible fluids are both equally compressible or both essentially non-compressible. Another necessary condition required before uniform fluid-fluid distributions can be achieved is that the porous matrix is isotropic. Uniform fluid saturation distribution conditions obtain in isotropic media only when the curvature of each interface of contact between wetting and non-wetting fluids is everywhere the same throughout the interspaces. This is a necessary condition which follows from the consideration that variation in interfacial curvature gives rise to finite capillary pressure gradients and therefore to variation in the saturation distribution. That this is not a sufficient condition follows from the consideration that hysteric possibilities allow for different saturations even though the capillary pressure gradient is zero. In any event, it will- be recalled that it is the intent in the Hassler scheme of relative permeability determination' to obtain initially (by the capillary pressure drainage or imhibition process) uniform conditions of fluid distribution in the core sample, and then to maintain this uniformity during mixture flow so that the resultant fluid mobilities which are calculated will refer to steady-state transfer under fixed conditions of uniform saturation. If the flowing fluids are incompressible, it is recognized that employment of the same value of the pressure gradient in each fluid will result in maintenance of the initially obtained condition of zero capillary pressure gradient. On the other hand, the consequence of gas compressibility is that the gradient in the gas pressure varies from point to point in the flowing stream. and since the pressure gradient in an incompressible liquid is constant it is thus impossible to maintain zero capillary pressure gradient during the simultaneous flow of gas-liquid mixtures. Therefore, one would expect to observe a variation in the gas-liquid saturation in the directions of the capillary pressure gradients, depending in magnitude on the particular way saturation changed with capillary pressure. In order to formulate the manner gas compressibility effects prevent the attainment of uniform gas-liquid distributions during mixture flow, consider a linear flow system of unit length. As noted, it is necessary to assume an isotropic medium (viz. one where permeability is independent of position and direction). One then can arbitrarily set the pressure

Jan 1, 1951

By R. M. Brick, F. L. Vogel

THE elementary mechanism of deformation in the body-centered cubic metals has been a subject of dispute for many years. If the problem were merely that of designating the crystallographic plane or planes of slip, the solution would have appeared long ago. However, there must be greater differences in the deformation behaviors of the body-centered and face-centered types than the differences in their lattices would suggest. The lines of slip formed on the polished surface of a strained face-centered cubic metal conform to glide over a single plane of the crystal. Slip in body-centered cubic iron, however, is frequently observed as curved and forked lines which could not possibly define a single plane of atoms. This alone is sufficient reason to expect different modes of deformation to operate in the two lattice types. The literature in this field now has generally accepted the proposition that {110), {112), or (1231 planes will act as slip planes in iron. It is essential that the experimental evidence supposedly supporting this proposition be critically examined. Taylor and Elam1 in 1926, using relatively small single crystals, determined the operative slip systems by measurements of the distortion of a grid engraved on the specimens prior to deformation. Their results indicated that shearing had taken place in the close-packed direction on a plane adjacent to or coinciding with the plane of maximum shear which contained the slip direction. This led the authors to propose a theory of noncrystallographic or banal slip. The authors considered an alternate rationalization of banal glide. Slip on two (1101 planes or possibly two {112} planes containing the same <1ll> direction could produce the wavy slip lines. By employing plane segments of varying widths, the integrated plane could take any position in the <111> zone. They rejected this explanation, however, feeling that the preponderance of evidence was against it. Taylor&apos; continued the investigation of the plasticity of the body-centered cubic lattice on ß brass. He reasoned that the resistance to shearing of a given plane in the zone of the slip direction was a function of the angle between the glide plane and the closest (110),: P F=—cose sine cos(X —?) [1] where F is the resistance to shear; P, the axial load at yielding; A, the cross sectional area; e, the angle between slip direction and load axis; x, the angle between plane of maximum shear containing the slip direction and the (101) pole; and ?, the angle between observed glide plane and the (101) pole. Differentiating Eq. 1 and rearranging, dF — = tan(x-?) d? [2] F which expresses the variation of the shear resistance with the angle $. Integrating this equation between the limits 0 and ? yields In F/F0 = ?0?tan(x— ?) d? [3] Here, F, is the resistance to shear of the (110) plane and F is the resistance to shear of a plane $ degrees from the (110). Thus, the variation of shear resistance with $ can be calculated from an experimentally measured x vs $ relationship. Fahrenhorst and Schmid8 sed several methods, none of them involving direct observation, to determine the glide system in ferrite. They determined the variation of critical resolved shear stress with

Jan 1, 1954

By M. C. Leverett, W. B. Lewis

The dynamic behavior of a multiple fluid system is completely describable in terms of driving forces and resistances to flow. The latter are proportional to the viscosity of the fluid under consideration and inversely proportional to a property of the system termed the " effective permeability " to that fluid, a property therefore defined by this relation. Since three phases are usually present in oil reservoirs, it is essential to know the effective permeabilities to the several fluid phases, and the relationship between the composition of the fluid in the pore space and that of the flowing stream, in order to handle satisfactorily certain problems of oil production. In this regard, there are many unknown factors and parameters, and many that can be evaluated only indirectly. However, it is expected that work along lines similar to this present undertaking will help materially in solving these problems. .. . . Previous workers in this field have investigated the two-phase systems, water-gas,&apos; water-oil2 in unconsolidated sands, and water-gasg in consolidated sands. The extension of the study of the flow of heterogeneous fluid systems from two to three phases involved only slight changes in technique. The apparatus used in the present work, except for slight changes to be described, was that used by Leverett in his water-oil experiments.~ Correlation and interpretation of data were made by methods analogous to those used in two- phase work. The relative permeability to a phase—the effective permeability divided by the permeability of the system to a homogeneous fluid—was employed throughout in correlating the rate of flow of that phase with the composition of the pore space. Quantitative measurements of two independent physical properties of the system were required to determine the composition of the pore space. As in the two-phase work, the fraction of water was determined electrically, The gas fraction was determined by measuring changes in volume accompanying measured pressure changes. Suitable account was taken of the solubility of the gas in the liquid phases, and of the vapor pressure of the water phase. Since this work was exploratory in nature, no attempt was made to obtain highly accurate numerical results. Reasonable precision and reproducibility were sought. Experimental Procedure variables Considered.—Of the properties of the fluids, the oil viscosity is most likely in practice to vary widely. Variations in oil viscosity were therefore included in this work, but variations in other properties of the fluids are as yet unexplored. It appears unlikely that the normally encountered variations will produce significant changes. ~h~ observations were made at fairly high pressure gradients, no attempt being made to detect a variation of the relative permeabilities with pressure gradient. It should be pointed out also that since most of the data were taken on one sand size only, it call Only be assumed at present that changes in

Jan 1, 1941

By H. H. Stout

In the early fall of 1925, the writer was conducting, in the Ledoux and Co. laboratory, New York, experiments directed toward ascertaining the effect on its impurity content when cathode copper was subjected to a current of various gases at an elevated temperature below the melting point. The apparatus consisted of a vertical I-in. dia. silica tube about 12 in. long, heated on the outside. The cathodes were broken to pass 3/8-in. mesh, and a current of various different gases was passed up through a 4-in. long column of these loose cathode particles in the vertical tube furnace. Temperature was maintained to 1500º to 1600ºF. and the gas treatments lasted from 3 to 6 hr. The writer observed that whenever reducing gas (H2 or CO) was used, these cathode particles stuck together at points of contact with each other. The cohesion was so marked and tenacious that an examination was made of the fractured surfaces, when cathode particles were broken from the cluster. Crystal growth was always found to have taken place across the surfaces where separate particles were in contact, but only after all oxides, sulphates, etc., had been completely removed. The idea of a possible new process was then conceived and was disclosed to A. M. Smoot (V. P. Ledoux and Co.) with intent to obtain his views. The first conception as given Smoot was "to gas-clean broken cathodes, put them in an extrusion press, solidify and extrude them at around 1500ºF." Smoot&apos;s reaction, after a few moments considera- tion, was, "It looks perfectly all right to me.&apos;&apos; The writer and his assistants, W. H. Osborn and H. H. Stout, Jr., after conferring as to ways and means, decided to go ahead with preliminary laboratory experiments, which, it was thought, would move the new process from the possible to the probable. This program followed a course indicated by three basic considerations: 1. Since brittle cathodes were often unintentionally produced, it seemed probable that the laws controlling this type of deposition could be ascertained. 2. We had already proved the gas-cleaning feature. 3. There remained to prove: whether a sound, homogeneous metal billet could be produced with crystal growth established over the entire surface of each individual particle in the billet; and, if so, what would be the physical properties? Osborn arranged with Columbia University for conducting experiments in its research laboratory to prove or disprove the third item; Columbia assigned C. A. Phillipi, Jr. to assist in the project. A press with a cylinder 2 in. high and of I-in. dia. was used. It was surrouilded and heated by a resistance coil 01 Nichrome wire. Broken tough cathodes were used. Experimental Procedure The first run took place March 18, 1926. The resistance wire gave out when temperature of 1000ºF. was obtained. Pressure was immediately applied: perceptible ram movement stopped when 39,000 lb. per sq. in. on the copper was reached, with a maxi-

Jan 1, 1941

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 John W. Bell

In the introduction to an excellent pamphlet, John Gross&apos; makes the following statements: Although marked progress has been made along mechanical lines, the theory and conception of underlying principles have not advanced so rapidly. This lack of advance in theory may be attributed to the unfortunate situation resulting from the controversy as to whether the Rittinger or Kick law is applicable to crushing. Many pages of the technical literature are burdened with theoretical discussions in favor of one or the other of these laws, which have tended to cloud rather than to clear the atmosphere. Realizing the situation, the Milling Committee of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, through its secretary, E. A. Hersam, studied the milling industry and, because of the apparently hopeless lack of agreement in the Kick versus Rittinger dispute (5, 13, 14, 16, 18. 19. 21, 22, 23, 24, 30, 34). concluded that a foundation lor the theory of crushing was of primary importance. The numbers in the paragraph quoted refer to papers listed by Mr. Gross in his Bibliography on Crushing and Grinding.I One is obliged to infer that these papers show "hopeless lack of agreement in the Kick versus Rittinger dispute." No. 22 is a paper by Arthur 0. Gates2 and No. 23 is one by the writer.3 Employing the subject matter contained in papers Nos. 22 and 232,3 the writer will show that their authors formulated identical conclusions, based solely on experimental evidence. Exactly the same defect in the Stadler hypothesis was described in each of the two papers, although entirely different experimental methods were employed in uncovering it. Both of the authors, independently, formulated the conclusion that Rittinger&apos;s was a true hypothesis and Stadler&apos;s false. The evidence in a third paper4 will be employed to prove that Stadler&apos;s hypothesis, when examined experimentally, is worthless. Stadler&apos;s Hypothesis Worthless It is the writer&apos;s opinion that the evidence available in 1915 and the corroborating evidence in 1916 was amply sufficient to eliminate the need for any further consideration of Stadler&apos;s hypothesis. Certainly the evidence produced in 1918 dealt this hypothesis its coup de grace. It follows, therefore, that in the year 1918 there was only one credible hypothesis left—the Rittinger hypothesis. Gates&apos; Opinion What information is available in Mr. Gates&apos; paper?2 His conclusions are not consecutively summarized, none the less they are perfectly clear. On page 876, Gates says, and it is a very significant utterance: But my results show, among other things. that many more of Stadler&apos;s energy units are obtained per foot-pound-applied in coarse than in finc crushing. This suggests a doubt as to the correctness of his unit, since one would expect a foot-pound-applied to produce the same number of "energy units," whether the feed and resulting product were coarse or fine. When Rittinger&apos;s theory is applied, the number of mesh-tons (my unit of surface produced) is

Jan 1, 1943

By E. H. Burdick

The difficulties inherent in table concentration operations as applied to gold, silver, lead and zinc ores, are accentuated in the scheelite mill, which has a flowsheet that is similar in general principles. The narrow "spread" in the specific gravity between scheelite and the usual gangue in which it occurs often makes its clean separation extremely difficult and in some cases impracticable. The problem is further complicated by the extreme friability of the mineral and its inordinate tendency to "slime," particularly where fine grinding is necessary and wet grinding methods are employed. The physical aspect of the occurrence of scheelite in the ores, the kind and character of the rock in which the mineral is present, its hardness, friability and the specific gravity of its constituents, as well as like characteristics of the associated minerals— pyrite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite, and others, all have a bearing on the successful milling of crude ores and the production of a concentrate that is marketable with minimum price penalty or none at all. Most tungsten deposits are considered low grade when the limiting factor of low percentage recovery by gravity methods is borne in mind. The great majority of deposits developed or in process of development carry from 0.4 to 1.0 per cent tungstic oxide. Ore carrying I per cent is considered good grade; 0.7 to 0.8 per cent, fair, and below that figure, low grade. Steady mill feed averaging upward of I .o per cent WO3 is exceptional. Inasmuch as buying specifications demand a 60 per cent W03 content, the mineral content of the ores as mined must be concentrated to at least that degree. A few companies have constructed chemical plants for the treatment of their complex concentrates and low-grade flotation product, but the smaller operator must rely on table concentration, borrowing the tools and to a large extent the methods of his predecessors in the gold, silver, lead and zinc mills. Whether these are the best tools and methods that can be devised is an open question. Except in rare instances, table concentration, however carefully conducted, does not yield a satisfactory final recovery of the mineral content in headings as indicated by chemical determinations of tungstic oxide content. A saving of 60 to 65 per cent is considered fair, and an average 80 per cent recovery, exceptional. Each scheelite ore body is a separate problem. Details of handling that give best results in one case may not be successfully operative at a property on the same contact zone and but a short distance removed. Supplementary treatment of tailings by flotation may be successful in producing a low-grade concentrate of around 15 per cent W03, which is adapted to further treatment chemically at a given property and entirely unsuccessful at another. This problem constitutes another of the unanswered questions. The following paragraphs relate solely to the beneficiation of scheelite ores by table concentration and supplementary methods.

Jan 1, 1943

By Edward Sampson, Allan B. Griggs

Surveying of many holes drilled by the U. S. Bureau of Mines in the Metaline district has shown surprising deviations. The holes start in the Ledbetter slate (Ordovician) and pass into the underlying gently dipping Metaline limestone (Cambrian) at varying depths, locally in excess of 1000 it. All holes start vertical, but one had deflected as much as 35° at a depth of only 300 it. One hole was found to be deflected 70&apos; at a depth of 1000 ft. These deviations were not indicated to the drillers by any action of the rods or machines. Analysis of the survey data in the light of the observed geology indicates that the holes deviate most in the Ledbetter slate and scarcely at all in the Metaline limestone. The upper part of the "limestone&apos;" in most holes is a massive rock strongly altered by hydrothermal action and essentially homogeneous. The slate is only obscurely bedded but has a cleavage, varying from slight to strong, which is unrelated to bedding. Drill holes have deflected to become nearly perpendicular to the cleavage. Several plans and cross sections are submitted showing the behavior of various holes. Introduction The Metaline district of northeastern Washington has received much attention recently and has promise of becoming even more important as a source of zinc than at present. Exploration has been conducted largely by deep diamond drilling, and in the course of this work it was found that holes became seriously deflected. This paper deals with the nature and causes of these deflections. The district lies along the Pend Oreille River in the northeastern corner of Washington, about loo miles north of Spokane, 9 miles from British Columbia, and 15 miles from Idaho. Three mines are now in operation and for a number of years have furnished a considerable production of zinc and lead. The ore contains zinc and lead in a ratio of about 31/2 to I, and occurs in the upper part of the Metaline limestone of Cambrian age, the upper member of which, where unaltered, is a rather pure limestone. This is overlain by Ledbetter slate of Ordovician age. Ore has formed by replacement of limestone, commonly 100 to 200 ft. below the slate, in areas of gentle dip, resulting in extensive tabular ore bodies. In and near ore, limestone has been intensely altered to granular dolomite and fine-grained quartz, which, where it predominates, forms "jasperoid." As part of their war program, the Geological survey and Bureau of Mines of the U. S. Department of Interior have been cooperating in an investigation of the district. The exploration by the Bureau of Mines in 1943 and 1944 was conducted largely by deep diamond drilling in which as much as 1000 ft. or more of Ledbetter slate was penetrated before the ore-bearing Metalin-2 limestone was reached. During the course of this drilling it was found that holes were seriously deflected while traversing the Ledbetter slate.

Jan 1, 1949

By J. C. McDonald

A DDITIONAL experimental data are presented in this note on a phenomenon which has been touched on but lightly in the literature. The common magnesium base rolling alloy (AZ31B) contains about 3 pet A1 and 1 pet Zn. When cold rolled, it hardens until it starts to break up in the rolls at 30 to 50 pet reduction. When it is heated after rolling to full hardness, it softens. However, other magnesium alloys have shown themselves capable of being cold rolled indefinitely, provided the ratio of roll diameter to starting gage is sufficiently high. As measured by the tensile test, these alloys actually soften when the reduction becomes large (60 to 90 pct). A subsequent heating at 300&apos; to 500°F can produce hardening of this metal. Heating at higher temperatures (600&apos; to 800°F) causes recrystalliza-tion and softening. Menzen&apos; has shown that a magnesium base alloy can be cold rolled without intermediate anneals as much as 90 pet. The alloy studied, Mg-1.5 pet Mn, softened considerably between 20 and 90 pet reduction, as measured by tensile properties; a decrease in yield strength of 30 pet, and an increase in elongation from 3.2 to 16.7 pet (longitudinal direction of the sheet). However, Menzen gives no data on the reaction of this metal. to heating. Ansel and Betterton2 and Hurst and Hatch3 report a similar effect in Mg-1.5 pet Mn-0.1 pet Ca. Their data show an initial hardening, followed by softening. The former authors also show that the alloy softened by cold rolling will harden when heated at low temperatures, and that these effects are absent in Mg-3 pet Al-1 pet Zn. In the course of work4, 5 some years ago, the author observed similar effects with alloys containing cerium, thorium, or zirconium; but not with elements like aluminum, silver, or zinc. Table IA contains the results of an experiment which shows these effects rather well. A binary alloy with 0.3 pet total rare earths (Mischmetal* added) was rolled hot to 1/16 in. and then annealed to full softness by heating 30 min at 800°F. Rolling was continued at 1.5 pet per pass to 80 pet total reduction on 8 in. diam rolls. The metal was harder after 20 pet work than initially but, at 80 pet reduction, properties were back to their original values. Heating for 1 hr at 450°F produced about the same hardness whether the reduction was 20 or 80 pet. At intermediate reductions, the metal hardened, but not to as high values. Extensive cold rolling may also be carried out on metal hot rolled at temperatures sufficiently low to produce a semihard temper. Mg-0.6 pet Zr was rolled to 0.1 in. at 700° to 800°F, 30 pet per pass. As shown in Table IB, a further cold reduction of 85 pet, at 1.5 pet per pass, definitely softened the metal.

Jan 1, 1959

By A. J. Miles, A. D. Topping

in this paper, the theory of elasticity has been applied to the rock about a deep well, It is assumed that the rock has a modulus of . elasticity and a Poisson&apos;s ratio and that the theory of elasticity applies. It is necessary to know or assume the state of stress existing in the rock before it is penetrated by the well drill. The application of this theory indicates that stress concentration of shear, tensions, and compressions about the bore hole are of a high order. This is particularly true when a horizontal compressive stress exists in one direction only in the formation before drilling. If such an initial state of stress exists before drilling, then the rock will have stress concentrations of both tension and compression at the same elevation and of such magnitude that failure of the rock is likely. Accompanying these is a shearing stress of large proportion which is likely to produce spalling of the well walls. Internal pressure applied to the well bore will relieve the extreme compression but not the tension and has little effect upon the shear. Plastic deformation of the rock through a geological time tends to mitigate the stress concentrations. IntroductioN It has long been known that the stresses about holes and re-entrant corners of elastic solids under the influence of loads are different and generally more intense than those imposed upon the body else- where. Stress concentration at a re-entrant corner can be reduced by increasing the radius of the fillet at the corner. Stress concentration at the end of a crack in a plate undergoing either tension or compression Can be relieved appreciably by drilling a hole at the very end of the crack. Also, stresses can be increased in an elastic body in tension or compression by making a hole in it. The stress concentration is greatest at the edge of the hole. Considerable knowledge of the stresses which exist about the bore hole of a deep well may be had by applying our knowledge of engineering mechanics; or more particularly the theory of elasticity. It is, of course, necessary to make the assumption that the rock is elastic and behaves as an elastic solid, that is, that it obeys Hooke&apos;s law, has a modulus of elasticity, and a Poisson&apos;s ratio. It is also necessary to know, Or assume, the state of stress which exists in the rock prior to the penetration of the drill. With this knowledge it is possible to compute the stresses about the bore hole. The problem can be simplified by considering several simple cases separately and then by applying the principle of superposition to solve the more complex cases which are made up of the simpler ones. Case i—Rock Strata in Compression Penetrated by a Hole This case was first worked out by G. Kirsch* for structural material, but applies equally well to a horizontal rock strata in a state of in in one direction

Jan 1, 1949

By W. M. Mobley

The coal industry in Alabama, centered in Birmingham, has pioneered coal-bene-ficiation practice in the United States. The nature of the coal seams and mining methods employed have necessitated use of equipment and methods best adapted to the local conditions. Although all of the 30 or more coal seams now being mined in the state receive beneficiation, only the three most important producers of coking coals, the Pratt, Mary Lee and Black Creek, are discussed in detail. Nature of the seams, washability characteristics and equipment used are given as examples of the extent of work and progress in this field. The coal seams in Alabama are relatively thin and pitching, making mining difficult and expensive. Most of them are characterized by thin partings of rock or shale in the seam itself, as well as laminations of bone and rash. Mechanical mining methods have increased the occlusions from roof and floor to such an extent that nearly all the coal mined in the state must receive some treatment before it can be put on the market. During the year ending Sept. 30, 1943,&apos; 18,129,792 tons of coal were mined in the state and 14,364,177 tons, or 79.2 per cent, received treatment. Excluding from the total the 1,223,014 tons produced by small wagon mines and the hand-picked lump coal, the amount re- ceiving beneficiation would be more than 90.00 per cent. This is, by far, greater than in any other coal-producing state. The earliest record of coal beneficiation in Alabama was the installation in 1890 of an experimental Lurig washer by Alexander Cunningham, for the Sloss Iron and Steel Co. at its blast furnace in Birmingham.2 In 1894 the Jeffrey Manufacturing Co. introduced the English Robinson washer, a combination of a hydraulic classifier and centrifugal machine. Erskine Ramsay, who has contributed so much to the coal industry, saw its possibilities as well as its mechanical defects and soon had his inventive mind at work. He added a sludge tank of his own design, and many Robinson-Ramsay washers were installed in Alabama and other states. The Stewart jig appeared in 1900, followed by the Montgomery jig in 1910 and both have found extensive use. Increased interest in this field led to new designs, such as the American, Elmore, Burke and Faust. The first Baum-type Norton jig was operated in 1930 and within the last five years six large installations of this type have been made by the McNally-Pitts-burg, Jeffrey and Link-Belt Companies. Wet-washing tables were introduced in 1922 but not extensively used until recently. The two most popular types are the Deister-Overstrom and Deister Plat-O. The coal-cleaning equipment used in Alabama has been relatively simple, yet efficient, but as the amount of impurities in the raw coal has been increased by mechanical mining and labor costs have become higher, much interest has been shown in sand cones, froth flotation and

Jan 1, 1947

By W. M. Mobley

The coal industry in Alabama, centered in Birmingham, has pioneered coal-bene-ficiation practice in the United States. The nature of the coal seams and mining methods employed have necessitated use of equipment and methods best adapted to the local conditions. Although all of the 30 or more coal seams now being mined in the state receive beneficiation, only the three most important producers of coking coals, the Pratt, Mary Lee and Black Creek, are discussed in detail. Nature of the seams, washability characteristics and equipment used are given as examples of the extent of work and progress in this field. The coal seams in Alabama are relatively thin and pitching, making mining difficult and expensive. Most of them are characterized by thin partings of rock or shale in the seam itself, as well as laminations of bone and rash. Mechanical mining methods have increased the occlusions from roof and floor to such an extent that nearly all the coal mined in the state must receive some treatment before it can be put on the market. During the year ending Sept. 30, 1943,1 18,129,792 tons of coal were mined in the state and 14,364,177 tons, or 79.2 per cent, received treatment. Excluding from the total the 1,223,014 tons produced by small wagon mines and the hand-picked lump coal, the amount re- ceiving beneficiation would be more than 90.00 per cent. This is, by far, greater than in any other coal-producing state. The earliest record of coal beneficiation in Alabama was the installation in 1890 of an experimental rig washer by Alexander Cunningham, for the Sloss Iron and Steel Co. at its blast furnace in Birmingham.* In 1894 the Jeffrey Manufacturing Co. introduced the English Robinson washer, a combination of a hydraulic classifier and centrifugal machine. Erskine Ramsay, who has contributed so much to the coal industry, saw its possibilities as well as its mechanical defects and soon had his inventive mind at work. He added a sludge tank of his own design, and many Robinson-Ramsay washers were installed in Alabama and other states. The Stewart jig appeared in 1900, followed by the Montgomery jig in 1910 and both have found extensive use. Increased interest in this field led to new designs, such as the American, Elmore, Burke and Faust. The first Baum-type Norton jig was operated in 1930 and within the last five years six large installations of this type have been made by the McNally-Pitts-burg, Jeffrey and Link-Belt Companies. Wet-washing tables were introduced in 1922 but not extensively used until recently. The two most popular types are the Deister-Overstrom and Deister Plat-O. The coal-cleaning equipment used in Alabama has been relatively simple, yet efficient, but as the amount of impurities in the raw coal has been increased by mechanical mining and labor costs have become higher, much interest has been shown in sand cones, froth flotation and

Jan 1, 1947

By W. B. Lewis, M. C. Leverett

The dynamic behavior of a multiple fluid system is completely describable in terms of driving forces and resistances to flow. The latter are proportional to the viscosity of the fluid under consideration and inversely proportional to a property of the system termed the " effective permeability " to that fluid, a property therefore defined by this relation. Since three phases are usually present in oil reservoirs, it is essential to know the effective permeabilities to the several fluid phases, and the relationship between the composition of the fluid in the pore space and that of the flowing stream, in order to handle satisfactorily certain problems of oil production. In this regard, there are many unknown factors and parameters, and many that can be evaluated only indirectly. However, it is expected that work along lines similar to this present undertaking will help materially in solving these problems. .. . . Previous workers in this field have investigated the two-phase systems, water-gas,&apos; water-oil2 in unconsolidated sands, and water-gasg in consolidated sands. The extension of the study of the flow of heterogeneous fluid systems from two to three phases involved only slight changes in technique. The apparatus used in the present work, except for slight changes to be described, was that used by Leverett in his water-oil experiments.~ Correlation and interpretation of data were made by methods analogous to those used in two- phase work. The relative permeability to a phase—the effective permeability divided by the permeability of the system to a homogeneous fluid—was employed throughout in correlating the rate of flow of that phase with the composition of the pore space. Quantitative measurements of two independent physical properties of the system were required to determine the composition of the pore space. As in the two-phase work, the fraction of water was determined electrically, The gas fraction was determined by measuring changes in volume accompanying measured pressure changes. Suitable account was taken of the solubility of the gas in the liquid phases, and of the vapor pressure of the water phase. Since this work was exploratory in nature, no attempt was made to obtain highly accurate numerical results. Reasonable precision and reproducibility were sought. Experimental Procedure variables Considered.—Of the properties of the fluids, the oil viscosity is most likely in practice to vary widely. Variations in oil viscosity were therefore included in this work, but variations in other properties of the fluids are as yet unexplored. It appears unlikely that the normally encountered variations will produce significant changes. ~h~ observations were made at fairly high pressure gradients, no attempt being made to detect a variation of the relative permeabilities with pressure gradient. It should be pointed out also that since most of the data were taken on one sand size only, it call Only be assumed at present that changes in

Jan 1, 1941