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By W. B. Nelligam, J. Tittman

Refinements in radiation logging techniques during recent years have involved increasing usage of scintillation ditectors. These detectors produce voltage pulses whose heights are related to the energies of the gamma rays which initiate them. Analysis of the gamma-ray spectrum, as indicated by the pulse heights, yields information about the chemical elements composing the formations surveyed. Refined scintillation counter techniques can furnish chemical information concerning earth formations in situ, from a study of the gamma-ray spectra emitted by the formation either naturally or as a result of neutron bombardment."' Accompanying the rising interest in gamma-ray scintillation spectroscopy, there has been increased activity in the development of accelerator-type neutron sources (in contrast to encapsulated chemical-mixture sources). Such neutron generators are attractive for several reasons: (1) they greatly reduce radiation hazards to personnel; (2) there is a great reduction in contamination danger if they are lost in the hole; (3) they can produce larger neutron intensities than can conveniently available encapsulated sources; and (4) they are capable of being pulsed, thus permitting new techniques in logging. In the past, both accelerator and encapsulated neutron sources have been used by others in conjunction with scintillation-detector pulse-height analysis. The results have not been too encouraging, due to the interference among different gamma-ray spectral lines and to the fact that the gamma-ray peaks were not too clearly distinguishable above the large and ill-defined background "noise".'.' This paper is a status report on laboratory studies of a technique using a borehole accelerator as a neutron source, which gives an improved scintillation spectrum, thus permitting more accurate chemical analyses of the formations penetrated. The Schlumberger-accelerator neutron source' is presented; the origins of inelastic and of thermal-neutron, capture gamma rays are dis- cussed, and results are given for some laboratory measurements performed in borehole geometry. THE NEUTRON GENERATOR-TUBE ACCELERATOR In the attempt to develop an accelerator neutron source which would have the desirable properties outlined in the "Introduction" and which would operate satisfactorily under borehole logging conditions, a small-diameter, cylindrical, neutron generator tube has been developed. This tube utilizes the principle of accelerating deuterons (heavy hydrogen nuclei) by a high voltage so that they bombard a tritium (heavy, heavy hydrogen) target. The resulting reactions produce large numbers of neutrons of 14 Mev energy. Furthermore, the tube is permanently sealed and, thus, the use of pumping techniques in the sonde is avoided. The tube consists of a pressure control, an ion source in which the deuterons are stripped of their electrons, an accelerating gap down which the deuterons are sped by the high voltage, a secondary electron suppressor and a tritium-loaded target. Obviously, the tube requires auxiliary circuitry in a sonde for the control of the ion source, tube pressure, high voltage and other operating variables. Neutron yields, both continuous and pulsed, have been produced under simulated field conditions in the range between 1 and 10 times those conventionally used in neutron logging applications. For the experiments discussed in this paper, neutron-pulse repetition rates in the range between 500 and 5,000 pulses/sec are adequate. Furthermore, by making suitable adjustments in operating conditions, one can vary the pulse width from a minimum of several microseconds up to dc. As will be seen later, the present application to well logging does not require that one have available pulses of neutrons which are appreciably shorter than the time it takes for fast neutrons to slow down to thermal energy in water. As a consequence, much of our interest has been directed towards the operating characteristics of the tube with pulses longer than about 10 microseconds in duration. Our experience to date shows that tubes can be operated in this manner with reasonably constant, average neutron outputs.

By R. T. Hukki

John F. Myers (Consulting Engineer, Greenwich, Corm.)—Since the art of comminution has lain practically dormant for many years, it is very interesting that R. T. Hukki approaches the subject with a new concept. One is reminded of the research carried on by A. W. Fahrenwald of Moscow, Idaho, a few years ago. Fahrenwald mounted a steel bowl on a vertical shaft. The balls and ore placed in the bowl were rotated at fast speeds, thus simulating the supercritical speeds used by Hukki. The rolling action of the balls against the smooth shell liner has pretty much the same effect. The action is horizontal in one case and vertical in the other. Both researchers report good grinding activity. It is also constructive that such able investigators give to the students of comminution their interpretation of their laboratory results in terms of large-scale operation. History shows that it takes a lot of time for such radically new ideas to be absorbed by the industry. Typical of this is the present-day activity of cyclone classification in primary grinding circuits. The idea of cyclone classification has been kicking around for 30 or 40 years. Certainly we all suspect that the ponderous grinding mills of today, and their accessory apparatus, large buildings, etc., will ultimately give way to small fast units, just as this has occurred in other industries over the past 50 years. At the moment there is no evidence that ball and liner wear is prohibitively high. In fact, at the time Fahrenwald was demonstrating his high-speed horizontal machine at the meeting of the American Mining Congress, several years ago, he assured this writer that the balls retained their shape much longer than they do in conventional tumbling mills. Rods and balls that slide (as some operators in uranium plants are experiencing) get flat. Apparently the balls have a rolling action. Mr. Hukki's references to the processing capacity of the Tennessee Copper Co. mills is adequate. Those studying this subject will be greatly interested in the paper presented by Richard Smith of the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co. at the annual meeting of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy in Vancouver April 24, 1958. This paper will be published during the latter part of 1958 in the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Bulletin. Hukki's pioneering spirit is to be commended. R. T. Hukki (author's reply)—It has been heartening to read the objective discussion by J. F. Myers. The sincerity of his opinions is further strengthened by the fact that the article he has discussed contradicts in a major way the parallel achievements of his life work. Myers is right in his opinion that in general it takes a long time before new ideas are accepted by the industry. On the other hand, revolutions usually take place at supercritical speeds. There are many indications at present that both the unit operation of grinding and the related subject of size control are now just about ripe for a revolution. In grinding, brute force must ultimately give way to science. Rapid progress can be anticipated in the following fields: 1) Autogenous fine grinding at supercritical speeds will be the first advance and the one that will gain recognition most easily on industrial scale. At this moment, little Finland appears to be leading the world. Crocker recently made a statement that in nine cases out of ten, your own ore can be used as grinding medium more effectively and far more economically than steel balls. This is true. The present author would like to introduce a supplementary idea: In eight cases out of the nine cited above, it can be done at the highest overall efficiency in the supercritical speed range. Fine grinding must be based on attrition, not impact. The path of attrition may be vertical, horizontal, even inclined. 2) In coarse grinding, the conventional use of rods is sound practice. However, even the rods can be replaced by autogenous chunks large enough to offer the same impact momentum as the rods. To obtain the momentum, the chunks must be provided with a free fall through a sufficient height in horizontal mills operated at supercritical speeds. Coarse grinding must be based on impact. Detailed analysis of the subject may be found in a paper entitled "All-autogenous Grinding at Supercritical Speeds" in Mine and Quarry Engineering, July 1958. 3) All conventional methods of classification, including wet and dry cyclones, are inefficient in sharpness of separation. Continuous return of huge tonnages of finished material to the grinding unit with the circulating load is senseless practice. In the near future the present methods will be either replaced or supplemented by precision sizing. These three fields are also the ones to which J. F. Myers has so admirably contributed in the past. Fine Grinding at Supercritical Speeds. By R. T. Hukki (Mining EnGineERInG, May 1958). Eq. 9, page 588, should be as follows: T , c, (a — 6') n D Ltph On page 584 of the article the captions for Figs. 4 and 5 have been placed under the wrong illustrations and should be interchanged.

Jan 1, 1959

Weston Portable Electrodynamometer The Weston Electrical Instrument Co. of Newark, N. J., believes that problems hitherto considered impossible of solution in the designing of portable electrodynamometers have been solved in its new models. The voltmeter, Model 341, is an instrument' of precision adapted to use on alterating- or direct-current circuits, guaranteed to an accuracy of 0.25 per cent. full-scale value either on direct or alternating-current circuits of any frequency to 133 cycles per second and commercial frequencies even as high as 500 cycles per second with very slight error. The polyphase electrodynamometer, Model 329, is accurate to 0.5 per cent. under the same conditions.; Double ranges are furnished in all instruments of this model. All current ranges can be used for 100 per cent. overload indefinitely without introducing error in Models 310 and 329.

Jan 12, 1915

By J. F. Abel, F. T. Lee

Subsidence is controlled by a complex com¬bination of mining and geologic factors. For example, a compilation of worldwide data shows that, as the percentage of shale in the overlying rock mass decreases and the amount of sandstone increases, the angle of draw (and the area affected by subsidence) decreases. Limestone in the over¬burden appears to cause a more than twofold decrease in the angle of draw compared to a like amount of sandstone. Increased amounts of sandstone were accompanied by a greater surface subsidence relative to the mining height. The total thickness of overburden did not appear to influence the subsidence magnitude above super-critical panels. The greater the thickness extracted, the smaller percentage of that thickness shows up at the surface as subsidence. The greater the percent of the seam extracted, the greater the subsidence reaching the surface. The maximum subsidence above room-and-pillar panels de¬pends on the pillar height and minimum width as well as the other factors listed.

Jan 1, 1984

By Lloyal O. Bacon

In the spring of 1952 Calumet and Hecla Inc. began a geophysical program near Shullsburg, Wis., in the Wisconsin-Illinois lead-zinc district, to assist the geological and drilling exploration programs. Sphalerite, the ore mineral in this area, occurs with a considerable amount of marcasite. In general the higher the percentage of sphalerite in the ore, the higher the percentage of marcasite; however, there may be mineralized zones high in marcasite but low in sphalerite. Orebodies in general are relatively narrow and elongated.

Feb 1, 1956

By Donald L. Katz, Leo B. Bicher

A correlation is presented for predicting the viscosities of light paraffin hydrocarbon mixtures such as natural gases for temperatures from o° to 4o0°F. and for pressures fro1 atmospheric to I0,000 lb. per sq. in. The correlation is based on the viscosity data for the methane-propane system and requires only a knowledge of the molecular weight of the naturaI gas. The viscosities of natural gases reported in the literature up to 2500 lb. were reproduced by the correlation with an average deviation of 5.8 per cent. Introduction The viscosity of a natural gas is required whenever calculations are made of the pressure drop that occurs while the gas flows through pipes or porous media. Methods of predicting the viscosities of gases at the present operating pressures are not available. This paper presents a simple method of predicting the viscosity of a natural gas in the single-phase region from its molecular weight, temperature, and pressure. Viscosity oF Methane-propane Mixtures The viscosity of methane, propane, and four of their binary mixtures, 20,40, 60, and 80 mol per cent, have been determined for pressures from 400 to 5000 lb. per sq. in. and temperatures from 77" to 437 F., with an experimental accuracy of 3.2 per cent.2 The apparatus used in the investigation was a modification of that employed in previous studiesaJ4 on the viscosity of normal paraffin hydrocarbons. It consists of a viscosimeter of the rolling-ball, inclined-tube type,5>k7 with auxiliary equipment for making up and charging binary mixtures into the viscosimeter.~ The viscosity data on the methane-propane mixtures have been plotted as a function of molecular weight with lines of constant pressure, charts of constant temperature in Figs. I to 3. These charts are extrapolated at temperatures below 77°F. and at pressures above 5000 lb. per sq. inch. Prediction OF Viscosity from Molecular Weight of a NaturaI. Gas At atmospheric pressure the viscosity of light hydrocarbon gases increased with increased temperature, contrary to the change of viscosity of liquids with temperature. The atmospheric viscosities of the normal paraffin hydrocarbons have been determincd by several investiga-tors 3,4,9,10,12,15,16,17,19 and are plotted in Fig. 4 as a function of molecular weight, with extrapolation to 896'F. and to 220 molecular weight. Data for isopentane and normal pentane show less than 2 per cent difference in viscosity, indicating that Fig. 4 can be used for isomeric parafin hydrocarbons with an accuracy of approximately 2 per cent. Trautz and Sorg'7 determined the atmospheric viscosities 01 methane-propane mixtures and showed that they are proportional to the molecular weight. The viscosities of these mixtures

Jan 1, 1944

By Leo B. Bicher, Donald L. Katz

A correlation is presented for predicting the viscosities of light paraffin hydrocarbon mixtures such as natural gases for temperatures from o° to 4o0°F. and for pressures fro1 atmospheric to I0,000 lb. per sq. in. The correlation is based on the viscosity data for the methane-propane system and requires only a knowledge of the molecular weight of the naturaI gas. The viscosities of natural gases reported in the literature up to 2500 lb. were reproduced by the correlation with an average deviation of 5.8 per cent. Introduction The viscosity of a natural gas is required whenever calculations are made of the pressure drop that occurs while the gas flows through pipes or porous media. Methods of predicting the viscosities of gases at the present operating pressures are not available. This paper presents a simple method of predicting the viscosity of a natural gas in the single-phase region from its molecular weight, temperature, and pressure. Viscosity oF Methane-propane Mixtures The viscosity of methane, propane, and four of their binary mixtures, 20,40, 60, and 80 mol per cent, have been determined for pressures from 400 to 5000 lb. per sq. in. and temperatures from 77" to 437 F., with an experimental accuracy of 3.2 per cent.2 The apparatus used in the investigation was a modification of that employed in previous studiesaJ4 on the viscosity of normal paraffin hydrocarbons. It consists of a viscosimeter of the rolling-ball, inclined-tube type,5>k7 with auxiliary equipment for making up and charging binary mixtures into the viscosimeter.~ The viscosity data on the methane-propane mixtures have been plotted as a function of molecular weight with lines of constant pressure, charts of constant temperature in Figs. I to 3. These charts are extrapolated at temperatures below 77°F. and at pressures above 5000 lb. per sq. inch. Prediction OF Viscosity from Molecular Weight of a NaturaI. Gas At atmospheric pressure the viscosity of light hydrocarbon gases increased with increased temperature, contrary to the change of viscosity of liquids with temperature. The atmospheric viscosities of the normal paraffin hydrocarbons have been determincd by several investiga-tors 3,4,9,10,12,15,16,17,19 and are plotted in Fig. 4 as a function of molecular weight, with extrapolation to 896'F. and to 220 molecular weight. Data for isopentane and normal pentane show less than 2 per cent difference in viscosity, indicating that Fig. 4 can be used for isomeric parafin hydrocarbons with an accuracy of approximately 2 per cent. Trautz and Sorg'7 determined the atmospheric viscosities 01 methane-propane mixtures and showed that they are proportional to the molecular weight. The viscosities of these mixtures

Jan 1, 1944

By G. M. Wells

A view of the map of Floridat shows the phosphate-deposits to lie on the western side of the State, extending southward over

Jan 1, 1896

By Persifor Frazer

From the easternmost point reached by the Ural excursion of the VIIth International Geological Congress (the city of Tschéliabinsk, a little more than 30' of longitude east of St.

Jan 1, 1899

By Don Simon

In the late 1960s the mining industry was in an apparent slump due to a combination of factors. Enrollment dropped significantly at schools offering mining engineering degrees, resulting in a shortage today of experienced mining graduates to staff middle management positions. How has this limited supply affected salaries? Does the shortage impair the mining industry's ability to respond to national energy needs?

Jan 12, 1979

By Arnt Solbu, Jomar Thonstad

The reaction between CO, and aluminum in cryolite-alumina melts in contact with aluminum has been studied by passing CO2 over the melt. In unstirred melts a homogeneous reaction between dissolved metal and dissolved CO2 was observed. In stirred melts in which convection was induced by bubbling argon through the melt, the dissolved metal apparently reacted mainly with gaseous CO2. The rate of formation of CO increased slightly with increasing depth of the melt, and it did not depend on whether CO2 was passed over or bubbled through the melt. The rate of formation of CO increased with increasing area of the metal/melt interface and with the application of anodic current to the metal. It is concluded that the dissolution of metal into the melt is the rate-determining reaction. THE current efficiency in aluminum electrolysis is determined by the rate of the recombination reaction between the anode gas and the metal: 2A1 + 3CO2—A12O3 + 3CO [1] as originally stated by Pearson and waddington.1 The occurrence of this reaction in cryolite-alumina melts in contact with aluminum was first verified experimentally by Schadinger.2 Thonstad3 has shown that the reaction may proceed further to give free carbon: 2A1 + 3CO— A12O3 + 3C [2] Normally only a few percent of the CO formed undergoes such reduction. The mechanism of these reactions has not yet been clarified. Aluminum, as well as CO,, is soluble in the melt. The solubility of aluminum in cryolite-alumina melts at around 1000°C corresponds to 75 x 10- 6 mole A1 per cu cm,4 while that of CO2 is only 3 x 10-6 mole CO, per cu cm.5 Taking into account the stoichiometry of Reaction [I], the ratio between dissolved aluminum and dissolved CO2 available for the reaction in a saturated melt is about 40. Therefore, as will be shown in the following, the reaction probably mainly occurs between gaseous COa and dissolved aluminum. The dissolved aluminum presumably consists of subvalent ions of aluminum and sodium.4'6 Since the interpretation of the present results is not dependent upon the nature of this solution, the dissolved metal will be designated solely as Al+ in the following. The reaction can then be divided into four steps: A) dissolution of metal, e.g., 2A1 + Al3 — 3A1+ [3] B) diffusion of dissolved metal through a boundary layer; C) transport of dissolved metal through the bulk of the melt; D) Reaction [1]. If dissolved CO, takes part in the reaction, three additional steps embodying the dissolution and transport of CO2 must be added. schadinger2 observed, when bubbling CO2 through the melt, that the rate of formation of CO (in the following designated rfco) did not depend on the distance from the metal surface. The results also indicate that the rate of bubbling did not affect the rfco. When passing CO, over the melt, Revazyan7 found that the loss of metal did not depend on the depth of the melt above the metal or on the flow rate of CO2, and concluded that Step A is rate-determining. In an unstirred melt, however, Gjerstad and welch8 found that the rfCo decreased with increasing depth of the melt, indicating that step C was rate-determining. It thus appears that the rate control of the process depends on the experimental conditions, particularly on the convection. In the present measurements the reaction has been studied in unstirred as well as in stirred melts. EXPERIMENTAL AND RESULTS The experiments were carried out at 1000°C in a Kanthal furnace with a 10-cm uniform temperature zone (±0.l°C). The melts were made up of "super purity" aluminum (99.998 pct), hand-picked natural cryolite, and reagent-grade alumina. In experiments where alumina crucibles were used, the alumina content in the melt was close to saturation (13.5 wt pct9); otherwise it was 4 wt pct. Pure Co2 (99.85 pct) was passed over the melt, and the exit gas was analyzed for CO2 and CO by the conventional absorption method.3 From the weighed amount of CO (as CO2) the rfco was calculated as the number of moles of CO formed per min per sq cm of the surface area of the melt. The amount of carbon formed by Reaction [2] was not determined. As already indicated the rfco is much higher than the rfC, by Reaction [2]. Since the rfC probably is proportional to the rfco, the measured rfco should then the proportional to, but slightly lower than, the total rate of Reactions [I] and 121. In general the scatter of results obtained in duplicate measurements was ±5 to 10 pct, while within a given run a precision of ±3 to 5 pct was obtained. The various crucible assemblies that were used will be described below. Measurements in Unstirred Melts. When carrying out aluminum electrolysis in small alumina crucibles. Tuset10 observed that after solidification the lower part of the electrolyte was gray and contained free metal, while the upper part near the anode was white and contained no metal. One may test for the presence of free metal by treating with dilute hydrochlorid acid.

Jan 1, 1969

CONTENTS PAGE Bronze Bearing Metals. By G. H. CLAMER 1729 Pennsylvania Railroad Anti-friction and Bell Metals. By F. M. WARING . . 1733 The Tin-plate Industry. By D. M. BUCK. Discussed by G. H. CLAMER, J. W. RICHARDS 1735 The Aluminum Bronze Industry. By W. M. CORSE 1738 Bronzes, Bearing Metals, and Solders. By G. K. BURGESS and R. W. WOODWARD. Discussed by G. H. CLAMER, R. T. ROBERTS 1742 Babbitts and Solder. By G. W. THOMPSON 1751 The Cadmium Supply Of the United States. By C. E. SIEBENTHAL. Discussed by M. L. LISSBERGER, C. W. HILL, F.- F. COLCORD . . .. . . . . 1752 Solder, Its Use and Abuse. By M. L. LISSBERGER 1759

Jan 12, 1918

By J. R. Hunter

Current trends in mining practices within the United Kingdom, with particular reference to longwall retreating systems in thick and steeply pitched coal seams at depth, are explained. Various successful mining layouts are considered with their associated machinery and operation, together with the future trends in mining practices to obtain higher outputs. Environmental difficulties are tabled and discussed, including strata control, methane emmision, and dust prevention, together with some modified systems and techniques to overcome them. The problems associated with developing and maintaining a continuance of longwall panels are outlined. The constraints on technical designs and output achievement imposed by noncommercial factors are also considered.

Jan 1, 1978

By H. A. Keller

After an absence of over two years, the writer returned to Leadville in March, 1890. The change which had taken place in the conditions of smelting during so short a time seemed almost incredible. Lead-carbonates had been still further replaced by refractory sulphides, and clean dry ores had been crowded out, to a large extent, by magnesian " fines."

Jan 1, 1893

By E. P. Polushkin

This work has for its purpose the establishment of a new method for determining the structural composition of alloys. The area occupied by a constituent on a few representative photomicrographs of the alloy is measured, by a planimeter, especially designed for metallographic work, and the volume and proportional weight of the constituent calculated. Experiments have shown that the results are accurate enough to justify the application of the method to many problems in metallographic research instead of chemical analysis. The advantage of the method is the possibility of determining the amount of the constituents without separating them from the alloy; their composition may also be determined if the ultimate chemical analysis of the alloy is known. Suppose Fig. 1 represents a part of a photomicrograph on which the total area of the black figures is to be found. By a system of parallel lines drawn short equal distances apart all figures may be divided into trapezoids. As the area of a trapezoid is equal to its median multiplied by its altitude, the relation between the total areas of the black and the white figures comprised within each strip is equal to the relation between the sums of medians for these figures respectively. This is also true for the whole area of the photomicrograph. Therefore, to determine the total areas of the black and white figures we must first find the proportion between the sums of the medians and then divide the area of the whole photomicrograph in the same proportion.

Jan 1, 1925

By Robert Berggren

THE hot-milling process for reconditioning rock-drill bits is not new. It has been employed by a few mines for years and in the past decade it has been widely adopted, as its advantages have become better known. Because of the extensive commercial development in England and Canada of machines to operate on this principle, general acceptance has been largely in the British possessions and until recently has been chiefly in the field of conventional steel. In the past two years there has been a definite trend toward hot-milling of detachable bits in Canada, t but only in the past year has any considerable attempt been made to build special machines for this type of work. Generally a machine designed for con-ventional steel has been used and special holders employed to manipulate the bit. As early as 1934 at least one operator in the United States had adapted hot-milling to conventional steel with a substantial saving in resharpening costs. Several other operators have taken it up but there has been no widespread adoption of the method in this country by users of conventional steel. This may be partly explained by the fact that until recently no American manufacturer produced this equipment and operators have been obliged to build their own hot-millers or import them. Several years ago a few machines were built in Seattle, Wash-ington, and operated in some mines in the northwest, but, for reasons not generally known, the effort was abandoned.

Jan 1, 1940

By Walter Crafts, W. D. Forging, John J. Egan

Although many elements reduce the tendency to porosity in steel castings, manganese, silicon, aluminum, calcium, titanium and zirconium appear to be most generally suitable for the purpose. The manganese and silicon contents are usually maintained in a fairly constant range. Silicon-killed castings often are made to be sound with little or no addition of the stronger degasifiers. In many cases, however, it is more practical to utilize the stronger degasifying elements, aluminum, calcium, titanium and zirconium. Since they greatly modify the composition, shape, and distribution of the nonmetallic inclusions, and thereby the ductility, the strong deoxidizers must be used in such a way as to form the least harmful types of inclusions. As the reasons for failure always to obtain good results have not been obvious, an effort has been made to determine the mechanism of solidification of steels deoxidized to produce certain types of inclusions. Diagrams representsing the mechanism of their formation have been constructed from the appearance of the nonmetallic constituents and have not only illustrated the limiting features of specific deoxidizing treatments with respect to inclusion formation and ductility, but have also indicated a relation between inclusions and resistance to hot tearing. Three different types of deoxidation treatment have been used for obtaining sound castings with relatively high ductility. The first method is to make and cast the steel under such conditions that deoxidation with silicon and a small addition of a strong deoxidizer assures soundness. The effective addition that will promote soundness without causing the formation of intergranular inclusions varies with the furnace practice and composition, but may be limitled to about 0.025 per cent Al, Zr or Ti. Up to 8.10 per cent Ca and 0.15 per cent V are also used for this purpose. The inclusions in these steels are characteristically glassy silicates and round or irregular sulphides. As pointed out by Sims and Lillieqvist,1 the formation of fine intergranular inclusions, which are detrimental to ductility, limits the amount of strong deoxidizers that may be added.

Jan 1, 1940

By John J. Egan, W. D. Forging, Walter Crafts

Although many elements reduce the tendency to porosity in steel castings, manganese, silicon, aluminum, calcium, titanium and zirconium appear to be most generally suitable for the purpose. The manganese and silicon contents are usually maintained in a fairly constant range. Silicon-killed castings often are made to be sound with little or no addition of the stronger degasifiers. In many cases, however, it is more practical to utilize the stronger degasifying elements, aluminum, calcium, titanium and zirconium. Since they greatly modify the composition, shape, and distribution of the nonmetallic inclusions, and thereby the ductility, the strong deoxidizers must be used in such a way as to form the least harmful types of inclusions. As the reasons for failure always to obtain good results have not been obvious, an effort has been made to determine the mechanism of solidification of steels deoxidized to produce certain types of inclusions. Diagrams representsing the mechanism of their formation have been constructed from the appearance of the nonmetallic constituents and have not only illustrated the limiting features of specific deoxidizing treatments with respect to inclusion formation and ductility, but have also indicated a relation between inclusions and resistance to hot tearing. Three different types of deoxidation treatment have been used for obtaining sound castings with relatively high ductility. The first method is to make and cast the steel under such conditions that deoxidation with silicon and a small addition of a strong deoxidizer assures soundness. The effective addition that will promote soundness without causing the formation of intergranular inclusions varies with the furnace practice and composition, but may be limitled to about 0.025 per cent Al, Zr or Ti. Up to 8.10 per cent Ca and 0.15 per cent V are also used for this purpose. The inclusions in these steels are characteristically glassy silicates and round or irregular sulphides. As pointed out by Sims and Lillieqvist,1 the formation of fine intergranular inclusions, which are detrimental to ductility, limits the amount of strong deoxidizers that may be added.

Jan 1, 1940

By Franklyn W. Oatman

In order that the conditions which obtain in an oil well may be readily understood, a brief description of a typical California well and a number of the phenomena accompanying same will be given. That the necessity for the exclusion of water be realized, the effects of water intrusion, a description of methods of prevention, .and a discussion of causes of failure will be presented, followed by a summary and recommendations. Fig. 1 shows a section of a typical well which illustrates the relation of oil sands to overlying strata. It indicates a deep water sand separated from the oil sand by shale, and the proper place for the final shutting off of water. In this well a comparatively thick stratum of compact shale protected the oil from overlying water so that the operation of landing the water string was a simple matter. In some wells the protecting stratum may be only from 3 to 5 ft. thick and very careful operation is necessary in order to land the water string of casing properly and not puncture through to the oil sand. The cases just cited are common, but occasionally, after excluding overlying water, productive oil sands are drilled through in the expectation of finding more productive underlying sand, and a water-bearing stratum is tapped. In this case the problem is the reverse of the normal; water must be prevented from ascending rather than descending. A discussion of well-drilling methods is not within the scope of this paper, except such operations as pertain to shutting off of water. A brief outline of the several conditions which may accompany drilling follows. Some or all may be present in any particular case. The direct relation of these to prevention of intrusion will be discussed in detail further on. In drilling, the hole becomes more or less irregular in shape, and rough, and as the casing follows the bit into the well it does not fit snugly against the walls. As a result, water may descend between the casing and walls of the well. If a circulation pump is not used during drilling, the hole is simply punched through and the pulverized material removed from the well by means of a bailer. If circulation is maintained there is a continual flow of water down inside the casing and up around the outside between the pipe and the walls of hole. This keeps an open space around the pipe.

Jan 1, 1915

By Franklyn Oatman

IN order that the conditions which obtain in an oil well may be readily understood, a brief description of a typical California well and. a number of the phenomena accompanying same will be given. That the necessity for the exclusion of water be realized, the effects of water intrusion, a description of methods of prevention, and a discussion of causes of failure will be presented, followed by a summary and recommendations. Fig. 1 shows a section of a typical well which illustrates the relation of oil sands to overlying strata. It indicates a deep water sand separated from the oil sand by shale, and the proper place for the final shutting off of water. In this well a comparatively thick stratum of compact shale protected the oil from overlying water so that the operation of landing the water string was a simple matter. In some wells the protecting stratum may be only from 3 to 5 ft. thick and very careful operation is necessary in order to land the water string of casing properly and not puncture through to the oil sand. The cases just cited are common, but occasionally, after excluding overlying water, productive oil sands are drilled through in the expectation of finding more productive underlying sand, and a water-bearing stratum is tapped. In this case the problem is the reverse of the normal; water must be prevented from ascending rather than descending. A discussion of well-drilling methods is not within the scope of this paper, except such operations as pertain to shutting off of water. A brief outline of the several conditions which may accompany drilling follows. Some or all may be present in any particular case. The direct relation of these to prevention of intrusion will he discussed in detail further on. In drilling, the hole. becomes more or less irregular in shape, and rough, and as the casing follows the bit into the well it does not fit snugly against the walls. As a result, water may descend between the casing and walls of the well. If a circulation pump is not used during drilling, the hole is simply punched through and the pulverized material removed from the well by means of a bailer. If circulation is maintained there is a continual flow of water down inside the casing and up around the outside between the pipe and the walls of hole. This keeps an open. space around the pipe.

Jan 3, 1914