Search Documents

By A. W. Ambrose, C. E. Beecher

It is the purpose of this paper to summarize data on unitization projects in Oklahoma and Kansas as obtained from replies to questionnaires sent out by the A. I. M. E. committee for these states. The information received indicates that unitization is growing rapidly in this area, but has not been in operation for a sufficient length of time to develop production history. It was impossible to obtain a record of all unitization projects in the time available. The magnitude of such projects is indicated by the fact that reports were received covering a total of 171,420 acres in Kansas and 49,350 acres in Oklahoma. Most of these units have been formed during the past 2 years, the greater number having been completed in 1929. It is anticipated that even more will be formed during the present year. The following important facts have been emphasized by answers to the questionnaire and discussion with various operators: 1. Unitization is growing rapidly, as evidenced by the number of units and the large total acreage now included in units as compared with practically no acreage 2 years ago. 2. Operators are convinced that unitization is reducing development and operating cost and they anticipate greater reductions as experience is gained in unit operation. 3. Producing units have not been in operation for a sufficient length of time to give significant production history from which to estimate the ultimate recovery of oil, but the general opinion seems to be that more oil will be recovered. 4. In view of the benefits to be derived from unitization, many operators are refusing to carry on wildcat operations unless a unit has been formed. If this attitude continues to grow there will be no large pools developed in Oklahoma and Kansas in the future except under unit control. Summary The following tabulation gives a condensed summary of the information received on unit operations in Oklahoma and Kansas, but does not include all units, because many were not reported.

Jan 1, 1930

RICHARD A. CONKLING (communication to the Secretary*).-Mr. Hager says that his results on the correlation of well logs in the north Cushing field are the opposite to those of the author. Can he, then, explain why the structural dip of the formations increases with depth, as Dr. Ohern, in his criticism, sets forth that it does, and as all who have worked in these fields will admit, if the shales thicken on the crest of the anticline, as he says they do? We are willing to agree with Dr. Ohern that there is some evidence of a slight unconformity below the Bartlesville sand and think that we can prove, from a specimen in our office, that .this unconformity comes at the base of the Bartlesville sand in the south Cushing pool. On the Ingalls dome, in the southeast corner of Township 19 North, Range 4 East, however, we get results the same as those given by the author on Cushing. The Ballard well in the center of the Northeast Quarter of Section 33 is just 10 ft. higher, structurally, according to tile, surface contour, than the Ringold well -in the center of the Southwest Quarter of Section 34. The dip in the Bartlesville sand, between these wells, is 40 ft. and the dip on the top of the Mississippi lime is 75 ft. This also might be accounted for, partly by the unconformity, but the author used the interval between the top of the Oswego lime, which is about 420 ft. above the Bartlesville sand, and the oil horizon found in the lime in the Ballard well-just mentioned above-to find the depth at which the same oil should be found in a well in Section 5, Township 22 North, Range 3 East, 25 miles North. Using this interval below the Oswego in the former well, we predicted within 2 ft. where they would find the oil in the latter well. Of course, we know that it was accidental that we missed it only by 2 ft., but if there were much of an unconformity in this interval it would be more of an accident if we came within 100 ft. of the depth. Since it can be proven from most of the structures in this section that the clip continues to increase downward, below the Bartlesville at least, to the Mississippi lime, it does not seem necessary to the author to try to prove otherwise that the depth at which the shales will tend to thicken on top of a fold, has not been reached above the

Jan 6, 1917

By William Copp

THE SEAL BEACH oil field is between the Long Beach and Huntington Beach oil fields, south of Los Angeles, and about half the productive area is with-in the city limits of Long Beach. The proved area lies in portions of Sections 2, 3 and 11, T. 5 S., R. 12 W., S. B. B. & M. Seal Beach is 'an additional link in that remarkable chain, of oil fields extending from Newport to Beverly . Hills, filling in one of the few remaining gaps. It differs from other fields along this line of folding in that it is an oil field in an area of tide lands. Ocean-connected sloughs have access to this area, which ac-counts for its extensive mud flats. The surface eleva-tion of the low ground varies from 2 to 5 ft. above sea-level. This condition called for much preliminary work in building roads prior to field development. Roads are constructed with dredges and drag-line scrapers, which excavate mud from alongside the proposed road and pile it up to a grade high enough to be above high tide. The road bed is then surfaced with gravel, or decom-posed granite, which makes it serviceable in all kinds of weather. An immense amount of road material has already been hauled into this field. Well locations are staked in the mud flats, sometimes ahead of road build-ing, and material is dragged to its place on the ground by tractor. It is necessary to drive piling to support derrick foundations. The present practice is to drive 5 piles for each derrick leg, 4 under the rotary table, 2 under the draw-works, 2 under the Samson post and 4 under the pipe rack, a total of 32 piles. This pro-cedure is, of course, varied to suit special conditions, using either more or less piling.

Jan 6, 1927

By H. K. Shearer

Oil production in north Louisianat in 1939 was 25,249,640 bbl., a decrease of 11.2 per cent from 1938. The only important increases in production were in the Cotton Valley and Shreveport fields, but Caddo, Homer, Sligo and Zwolle also made slight gains. Greatest decreases were in the Lisbon and Rodessa fields. Xatural gas production of 313,333 million cu. ft. was an increase of 5.6 per cent over 1938. The increase was accounted for in the Monroe field, while all other fields showed only minor variations from the production of the previous year. Well completions in 1939, as compared with 1938, were as follows: The decline in number of completions was due entirely to lack of proved areas for drilling, and would have been greater except for a revival of interest in the old Caddo shallow field. A majority of the wells completed during the year were in various old, shallow fields, so the average depth of drilling was much less than in several preceding years, notwithstanding a few very deep tests. No new fields were discovered, the only wildcat well reported as a producer being a very small oil well in northwestern De Soto Parish, which is of no apparent commercial importance. Deep gas-distillate production in the Cotton Valley formation was opened at Lake Bistineau and Lisbon, and oil at Shongaloo, but all these wells were too small to encourage additional drilling. Extensions and Developments Caddo Field.—More active drilling was donc in the 36-year old Caddo field in 1939 than in any of the newer fields, with completion of 133 oil

Jan 1, 1940

By H. K. Shearer

Oil production in north Louisianat in 1939 was 25,249,640 bbl., a decrease of 11.2 per cent from 1938. The only important increases in production were in the Cotton Valley and Shreveport fields, but Caddo, Homer, Sligo and Zwolle also made slight gains. Greatest decreases were in the Lisbon and Rodessa fields. Xatural gas production of 313,333 million cu. ft. was an increase of 5.6 per cent over 1938. The increase was accounted for in the Monroe field, while all other fields showed only minor variations from the production of the previous year. Well completions in 1939, as compared with 1938, were as follows: The decline in number of completions was due entirely to lack of proved areas for drilling, and would have been greater except for a revival of interest in the old Caddo shallow field. A majority of the wells completed during the year were in various old, shallow fields, so the average depth of drilling was much less than in several preceding years, notwithstanding a few very deep tests. No new fields were discovered, the only wildcat well reported as a producer being a very small oil well in northwestern De Soto Parish, which is of no apparent commercial importance. Deep gas-distillate production in the Cotton Valley formation was opened at Lake Bistineau and Lisbon, and oil at Shongaloo, but all these wells were too small to encourage additional drilling. Extensions and Developments Caddo Field.—More active drilling was donc in the 36-year old Caddo field in 1939 than in any of the newer fields, with completion of 133 oil

Jan 1, 1940

By John J. Stokes

Literature on the electrolysis of aluminum from cryolite melts and on the structure of these melts is surveyed critically. Data on density, freezing point, and other properties are reviewed. Theories of the electrolysis are examined in the light of these data. Two theories are presented which account equally well for the observations. * * * * In the early days, the process was thought of as a simple one. The actual mechanisms must be tremendously more complex. This paper is devoted to a rather narrow part of the whole subject, namely, what ions are present in the bath, and by what mechanism the current is carried.

Jan 4, 1958

By J. E. Lawver, R. R. Beebe, J. L. Wright

This paper describes a separation coefficient Ks useful as a "measure of goodness" to be used in factorial and response surface methodology. The use and limitations of the separation coefficient is discussed, and a computer program for calculating the coefficient is presented (in Fortran). The application of the coefficient is illustrated in terms of electro-dynamic separation of Mesabi semitaconites. Present Mesabi wash ores and gravity concentrates with an iron to silica ratio of only 5 or 6 to 1 are no longer readily salable, for the steel industry now demands concentrates with an iron to silica ratio of at least 10 to 1 and a structure comparable to pellets. THE ELECTRODYNAMIC-FLOTATION PROCESS Wash ores and gravity concentrates consist largely of hematite, goethite, and quartz. Several methods of beneficiation are being tested at the University of Minnesota Mines Experiment Station with a view to improving the salability of these materials. A process that looks particularly promising from an economic view is the combination electrodynamic-flotation process shown in Fig. 1. This process is designed to upgrade gravity concentrates to a 5% silica content and to provide fines — from the flotation circuit —to permit agglomeration. Although electrodynamic concentration of specularite is an established and well-understood process, the electrodynamic concentration of Mesabi goethite-hematite gravity concentrates presents interesting and enigmatic problems. The gravity concentrates are by no means assemblages of clean, free mineral particles. Instead, the concentrates to be retreated consist of a great variety of middlings. More or less complete liberation would require grinding to minus 325 mesh, at which size only flotation could be expected to function, and even then grades and especially recoveries would not be satisfactory. A close examination of the gravity concentrates shows that grinding to 100% minus 48 mesh will produce a product which is approximately 70 weight % plus 325 mesh (see Fig. 1). The remaining 30 weight % can be deslimed and floated by conventional methods, but the resulting iron concentrate is

Jan 1, 1964

Jan 1, 1933

By Thomas B. Dellinger

Since 1950, rotary-drilled, large-diameter holes, "big holes", with depths to over 300 ft and diameters of over 30 in., have become numerous and widespread. 50 such holes have been drilled for access shafts to LPG mined caverns. Over 70 holes have been drilled for various other commercial activities. Over 150 holes have been drilled by the AEC for atomic testing purposes. These holes have ranged up to 300-in. diam with 1600-ft depths, 120- in. diam with 570-ft depths, and 72-in. diam with 4800-ft depths. Equipment is now available to drill a wide range of big holes for varied requirements. At least a dozen drilling contractors are participating or have participated in the drilling of big holes. The accompanying tables show pertinent historical, technical and economic data on over 250 holes. The purpose of this paper is to present a review of the big hole drilling equipment available, a compilation of the available data on large-diameter holes, to show the experience obtained to date and to show that big hole drilling is feasible and available to the industry.

Jan 12, 1965

By Waldemar Lindgren

CONTENTS. [ ] THE following pages are a resun16 of some of the conclusions reached during a study of the copper-deposits near Clifton The field-work was finished in 1902 and a complete report is now in the press. A preliminary description of the district was published in 1903, in Bulletin U. S. Geological Survey, No. 213. pp. 133-140

Jan 1, 1913

By B. C. Johnson, K. L. Sublette, F. L. Prestridge

A problem common to the petroleum and mining industries is the resolution into its component phases of mixtures composed of a polar liquid dispersed in an immiscible, continuous nonpolar liquid. In the petroleum industry the polar liquid is water or brine and the nonpolar liquid is crude oil. The source of the entrained aqueous phase is connate water and/or condensed steam used in secondary and tertiary recovery methods. In the mining industry dispersions of polar liquids in immiscible, nonpolar liquids are created in solvent extraction (SX) systems. In these systems the polar, dispersed liquid is leachate or stripping solution while the nonpolar, continuous liquid is the extraction solvent.

Jan 1, 1984

By Harry Warren

THE Geology Department of the. University of British Columbia has undertaken the task of examining the ores from as many as possible of the gold mines of British Columbia. The object of this work is two-fold. First, it is known that detailed mineralographic studies are useful in attacking ore-dressing problems, and these studies are intended to be helpful to mill operators. Second, it is hoped that mineralogical and mineralographical studies will prove useful adjuncts to those of lithology and structure in throwing more light on problems related to the origin of the deposits. The paper shows that gold, for all practical purposes, is not present in an ore mineral in solid solution nor as a eutectic with any mineral; if the latter were true the gold particles would be distributed equally throughout that mineral. The gold occurs either as native gold or as a gold-silver telluride and is not distributed regularly through any mineral or minerals: The relationship between the gold or gold-bearing telluride and the associated minerals affords a means of classification that is not only simple but also appears to be directly related to the geological nature of the deposit, which may be summarized as follows: 1. Disseminated Gold Type. ;-Precious minerals in extremely small grains, which are distributed without regard to grain size, fractures or grain boundaries: (1) Hedley variety-gold in native form; (2) Surf Point variety-gold predominantly as telluride. 2. Veining Gold Type.-Precious minerals in grains of various sizes, which occur mainly along fractures and grain boundaries: (1) Cariboo gold quartz-gold in native form. (2) Waneta variety-gold as telluride.

Jan 1, 1937

By W. M. McCardell, W. O. Winsauer

The abnormal conductivity found in shaly reservoir rocks containing an electrolyte is shown to be a consequence of the electrical double layer in the solution adjacent to charged clay surfaces. This increased conductivity results from a higher concentration of ions in the double layer than in the solution in equilibrium with the double layer. It is shown that the magnitude of the increased conductivity of a shaly reservoir material is influenced by the concentration and type of ions in the equilibrium solution as well as by the colloidal nature of the rock. INTRODUCTION An important factor in the quantitative interpretation of the electric log is the resistivity factor of reservoir rock. The resistivity factor is defined as the resistivity of the rock when completely saturated with an electrolyte divided by the resistivity of the electrolyte itself.' In the normal case, the resistivity factor for a particular rock sample is independent of the resistivity of the electrolyte and reflects the pore geometry of the rock.' In 1949. Patnode and Wyllie' showed that in some cases the resistivity factor is not constant, but instead varies with the resistivity of the electrolytic solution. It was shown that clean sands behave normally—i.e., that the resistivity factor does not vary with resistivity of the electrolyte — but that sands con- taining shale and clay may exhibit abnormally low resistivity factors when the solution used to saturate them is of fairly high resistivity. At low resistivities of the electrolyte, the resistivity factor for a shaly sand appeared to approach a normal behavior. It is evident that the resistivity factor of a shaly sand is dependent upon factors other than pore geometry when the solution used to saturate it is of high resistivity. Patnode and Wyllie, and later de Witte,' assumed that the conductivity of a shaly sand saturated with an electrolyte could be represented as the sum of two quantities. One of these was assumed, in effect, to be the conductivity which would be expected if the sample were a clean sand. and the other was assumed to be a conductivity inherent in the sample itself. The latter was supposed to be constant for a given rock sample regardless of the solution used to saturate it. The source of this added conductivity was ascribed to "conductive solids." In actual practice: the effect of the abnormal behavior of shaly sands is of minor importance except when the resistivity of a formation such as a sand is high. Thus the effect is more important when the sand is saturated with a dilute brine than when it contains a more concentrated electrolyte. The effect is also more important when the sample contains oil or gas than when it contains only saline water. Recently it has been suggested that the porosity of a stratum may be estimated from the electric log by use of the resistivity of the invaded zone." This is the zone flushed with the filtrate from mud used in drilling the well. which is ordinarily very dilute brine. When the method is applied to shaly sands, the effect of abnormal conductivity becomes of importance. This report describes an investigation of the mechanism responsible for the abnormal behavior of the resistivity of shaly rock saturated with conducting solutions. The investigation

Jan 1, 1953

Jan 1, 1926

By W. J. Kennedy, J. D. Gardner

A systematic method is presented for analyzing and improving energy costs in surface mines. Each mine is divided into drilling and blasting, overburden haulage, ore haulage, crushing and grinding, and lighting system. Specific methods of improving the energy costs of each system are discussed. Contributions of simulation and queueing to energy cost reduction are also discussed.

Jan 1, 1985

Jan 1, 1949

By M. King Hubbert

In 1856 Henry Darcy described in an appendix to his book, Les Fontaines Publiques de la Ville de Dijon, a series of experiments on the downward flow of water through filter sands, whereby it was established that the rate of flow is given by the equation: q= - K(h2- h2)/I1 in which q is the volume of water crossing unit area in unit time, I is the thickness of the sand, h1 and h2 the heights above a reference level of the water in manometers terminated above and below the sand, respectively, and K a factor of proportionality. This relationship, appropriately, soon became known as Darcy's law. Subsequently many separate attempts have been made to give Darcy's empirical expression a more general physical fornzulation, with the result that .so many mutually inconsistent expressions of what is purported to he Darcy's law have appeared in published literature that sight has often been lost of Darcy's own work and of its significance. In the present paper, therefore, it shall be our purpose to reinform ourselves upon what Darcy himself did, and then to determine the meaning of his results when expressed explicitly in terms of the pertinent physical variables involved. This will be done first by the empirical method used by Darcy himself, and then by direct derivation from the Navier-Stokes equation of motion of viscous fluids. We find in this manner that: q = (N4(p/p)[g - (l/p) gradPI = WE, is a physical expression for Darcy's law, which is valid for liquids generally, and for gases at pressures higher than about 20 atmospheres. Here N is a shape factor and d a characteristic length of the pore structure of the solid, p and IL are the density and viscosity of the fluid, a = (Nd2)(pip) is the volume conductivity of the system, and E = [g - (l/p) grad p] is the impelling force per unit mass acting upon the fluid. It is found also that Darcy's law is valid only for flow velocities such that the inertial forces are negligible as compared with those arising from viscosity. In general, three-dimensional space there exist two superposed physical fields: a field of force of charucteristic vector E, and a field of flow of vector q. The force field is more general than the flow field since it has values in all space capable of being occupied by the fluid. So long as the fluid density is constant or is a function of the pressure only, curl E = 0, E = - grad F where F = gz + dp/p The field of flow, independently of the force field, must satisfy the conservation of mom, leading to the equation of continuity div pq = — f ap/at , where f is the porosity, und t is the time. For steady rnotion ap/at = 0. and div pq = 0 .

Jan 1, 1957

By J. E. Burke, C. S. Barrett

The fine lines shown in Fig I are typical of markings that ma): be detected after polishing and etching deformed specimens of alpha brass and other alloys. Although they have long been the subject of discussion by metallurgists their nature is still uncertain and the names that have been applied: to them, such as deformation line4 or strain markinas, indicate this uncertainky. In this paper which repotts the results of a furthcr investigatinn of their nature, they will be called strain mxrkings. Introduction Mathewson and Phillips1 described strain markinps in 1 916 and concluded that they appear only after 20 pet deformation. They objected to the markings being called slip tines believing this term should be sewrved for surface markings protluced by plastic deformntion. In 1921. vogel² described similar striations which appeared after polishing and etching the roughly ground surface of numerous alloys. He reported that the markings were crystallo-graphic in nature, and since they resemble Seumann hands in iron, at least superficially, he assumed them to be mechanical twins. In 1928, Matherwson reported work by Phillips which indicated that the lines were more readily produced by impact than by slow deformation and that in many cases the twins inside recrystallized grains were parallel to strain markings in the original deformed grains. This was taken as cvirlence that the markings coalesce into anncaling twins. and hence that they themselves are mechanical twins. Many attempts have been made to demonstrate directly that the markings are mechanical twins. In 1934, Samans described the results of X ray studies of two defomed crystals of alpha brass. Evidence was obtained which could be interpreted to indicate that the strain markings arc mechanical twins, and this remains the only direct evidence to this effect. Several other attempts to obtain similar evidence by X ray diffraction have failed5.8.7 although in no Ease was the original method of Samans employed. An

Jan 1, 1949

By C. S. Barrett, J. E. Burke

The fine lines shown in Fig I are typical of markings that ma): be detected after polishing and etching deformed specimens of alpha brass and other alloys. Although they have long been the subject of discussion by metallurgists their nature is still uncertain and the names that have been applied: to them, such as deformation line4 or strain markinas, indicate this uncertainky. In this paper which repotts the results of a furthcr investigatinn of their nature, they will be called strain mxrkings. Introduction Mathewson and Phillips1 described strain markinps in 1 916 and concluded that they appear only after 20 pet deformation. They objected to the markings being called slip tines believing this term should be sewrved for surface markings protluced by plastic deformntion. In 1921. vogel² described similar striations which appeared after polishing and etching the roughly ground surface of numerous alloys. He reported that the markings were crystallo-graphic in nature, and since they resemble Seumann hands in iron, at least superficially, he assumed them to be mechanical twins. In 1928, Matherwson reported work by Phillips which indicated that the lines were more readily produced by impact than by slow deformation and that in many cases the twins inside recrystallized grains were parallel to strain markings in the original deformed grains. This was taken as cvirlence that the markings coalesce into anncaling twins. and hence that they themselves are mechanical twins. Many attempts have been made to demonstrate directly that the markings are mechanical twins. In 1934, Samans described the results of X ray studies of two defomed crystals of alpha brass. Evidence was obtained which could be interpreted to indicate that the strain markings arc mechanical twins, and this remains the only direct evidence to this effect. Several other attempts to obtain similar evidence by X ray diffraction have failed5.8.7 although in no Ease was the original method of Samans employed. An

Jan 1, 1949

By S. S. Marsden, S. H. Raza

An experimental study of the flow of line-textured. aqueous foams through Pyrex tubes is described. The foams range in quality F (ratio of gas volume to total volume) from 0.70 to 0.96 and behave like pseudoplastic fluids. At lower flow rates they exhibit laminar flow ad have apparent viscosities which increase with quality, and which cover a range of 15 cp to 255 poise for tubes of 0.25- to 1.50-mm radius rj. At higher flow rates a plug-like type of flow is developed, the extent of which increases with both T and ri. When the same foams flow through either open or packed Pyrex tubes, remarkably high streaming potentials ?E are often generated. These can easily reach 50v if nonionic foaming agents are used, but are at least an order of magnitude less for ionic foaming agents. A linear relationship between ?E and the pressure differential ?p is observed; this usually extrapolates to positive values of ?p at ?E of zero. The slope of the line increases with both F and ri. An equation was derived to describe the streaming potential of non- Newtonian fluids in circular tubes and was used to correlate experimental results. The calculated < potentials are of the right order of magnitude. INTRODUCTION Foams are both unusual and inniguing in their physical properties, and have been the subject of many scientific studies. However, present knowledge of foams is still fragmentary, specific and often contradictory. Apparent viscosity of foam is the physical property of greatest interest to both rheo1ogists and engineers. sibreel reported that the apparent viscosity decreased with increasing shear rate in a manner similar to some non-Newtonian fluids. Penny and Blackman2 reported that fire-fighting foams had both a limiting shear stress and a tensile yield stress. There is little doubt that some foams at least behave like non-Newtonian fluids, and have apparent viscosities considerably higher than those of either constituent phase. The high apparent viscosity of foam with its concomittant effect on mobility ratio and sweep efficiency no doubt prompted several attempts by research groups to use foam as a displacing agent in porous media. Based on recent experience, most of these groups probably succeeded in completely blocking fluid flow in the porous media and then abandoned their efforts. Two groups apparently found the successful combination of experimental parameters at about the same time.3,7 Others have recently added to our knowledge of foam flow in porous media and its use as a displacing agent.8-13 An experimental problem encountered by Fried3 was a transient blockage of foam flow in porous media when distilled water was used to prepare the foam-producing solution. Fried surmised that this was due to an electrokinetic effect and he eliminated it by using electrolytes in preparing foaming solutions. He also measured the streaming potential of a number of foams in capillary tubes which he found to be appreciably higher than those obtained when the constituent liquid flowed under comparable conditions. This paper presents results of a more comprehensive study of the streaming potential generated by aqueous foam flowing in both open and packed Pyrex tubes. It also adds to knowledge of the rheology of these foams as deduced from their flow behavior in open tubes. APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE A diagram of the apparatus used is shown in Fig. 1. Details of its construction, testing and use are described elsewhere.14 Careful selection of materials, extreme cleanliness and rather elaborate electrical insulation and shielding were necessary to obtain reproducible results (±5 percent). Both streaming potential and streaming current were measured with an electrometer. The design of the foam generator developed for this work is novel (Fig. 2). It will produce uniform fine-textured foams at pressures sufficiently