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By M. M. Slotnick

It was once aptly said that a sign of approaching senility is ceasing work on a subject and beginning to talk about it. Perhaps that explains why, after many Years in which Part of my duties has been the training of college men in various branches of petroleum exploration geophysics, I have now begun to talk about it. In making an outline of what I believe ought to be discussed under the general heading of the title, I found it almost impossible to subdivide the ideas into an ordered set of discrete subjects. Rather, the pertinent remarks seemed to interlock almost everywhere. The consequence is that it will be necessary to start with the conclusions and then try to justify them by jumping back and forth. However, based on the types of men with whom I have had to deal, the subject naturally divides itself into two parts. In the first part, I should like to deal with the case of those undergraduates whose natural bent is toward the physical sciences and who may decide to enter the geophysical fold as a career. The other part will deal with those many men, geologists and engineers for the most part, who have drifted into exploration geophysics by one means or another, and whom it is necessary to train for geophysical work while they are occupied in their routine jobs. Here it may be in point to remark that most men in exploration geophysics at Present have been developed from precisely the latter group, and that the problem of training here is of great importance even though, in this paper, it will perforce occupy the secondary place. Training oF a Geophysicist The outstanding reason for the perplexing problem on the training of a geophysi-cist is that ideas differ on the answer to the question: "what is a geophysicistp" ln any of the scientific "specialties," like physics, for example, it is relatively simple to pigeonhole a man as being qualified to call himself a physicist. That appellation applied to an individual does not mean that he has mastered only the branches of intellectual endeavor usually associated under the broad name of "physics." we expect him also to have a more than mere acquaintance with mathematics and chemist~ and some understanding of most of the other sciences. But note this important point—we expect our physicist, whom we have chosen as an example, to be intelligently trained so that, if necessary, he can and will know how and where he can get the proper information on a subject in which he is not a specialist; he will know how to absorb that information and turn it to his uses. It seems to me that this is the outstanding characteristic of a man who can truly call himself a scientist: that he is a specialist in one of the broad branches of science in that he has enough training and discipline in the scientific approach so that, when called upon to do so, he can inteugently absorb knowledge from another bordering science (and all sciences not only border upon one another to some extent, but more often, overlap One another), and

Jan 1, 1946

By R. G. Patterson

The usual procedure in determining the magnetic susceptibilities of rocks and formations has been to take samples in the field and measure their volume susceptibilities in the laboratory, using one of numerous methods available. In none of these methods is the measuring instrument suited for field use. Usually the sample is pulverized; sometimes it is machined to a desired sue and shape, and in one method1 a cast of the sample is made and the susceptibility of the rock compared with that of a material of known susceptibility of the same size and shape, made from the cast of the original sample. Some writers assert that the difference in susceptibility of a rock sample in powdered and solid forms is negligible, and while doubtless this is true in many cases there are others in which the difference becomes appreciable. Further, the susceptibility of a small specimen may differ from that of the rock from which it is taken, owing to the stresses produced by the hammering or other forces used to obtain the sample and shape it for testing. Wilson2 found that an individual specimen of granite had about the same susceptibility in the solid as in the powdered form, but that pieces from different parts of the rock varied as much as 750 per cent because of unequal distribution of magnetite. The most accurate value of susceptibility would, obviously, be obtained from averag- ing a number of tests on the undisturbed rock instead of from one or two samples. No such procedures have been published, to the writer's knowledge. It is the purpose of this paper to describe a method by which susceptibilities of rocks may be determined in place by means of a portable instrument. Method The principle involved in this new method is that there is a change in inductance of a coil due to the presence in its magnetic field of a paramagnetic or dia-magnetic medium. In this case, however, the windings of the coil do not enclose any part of the rock under test. Instead, the coil is circular, being small in cross section as compared to its radius, and consists of several hundred turns of fine wire. It is placed flat on the rock of which the susceptibility is to be measured. Thus only part of the magnetic field from the coil penetrates the rock under test. The relation between the change in field strength or inductance of the coil and the susceptibility of the medium will be developed later. To measure the change in the inductance of the coil due to the presence of a magnetic material an alternating-current inductance bridge was chosen. Description of Apparatus Of many alternating-current bridge methods applicable,3 the one shown in Fig. 1 (Owen's bridge') was adopted for its simplicity and sensitivity. In Fig. I, the test coil is indicated by PlL1. It is connected to the bridge by about

Jan 1, 1946

By R. G. Patterson

The usual procedure in determining the magnetic susceptibilities of rocks and formations has been to take samples in the field and measure their volume susceptibilities in the laboratory, using one of numerous methods available. In none of these methods is the measuring instrument suited for field use. Usually the sample is pulverized; sometimes it is machined to a desired sue and shape, and in one method1 a cast of the sample is made and the susceptibility of the rock compared with that of a material of known susceptibility of the same size and shape, made from the cast of the original sample. Some writers assert that the difference in susceptibility of a rock sample in powdered and solid forms is negligible, and while doubtless this is true in many cases there are others in which the difference becomes appreciable. Further, the susceptibility of a small specimen may differ from that of the rock from which it is taken, owing to the stresses produced by the hammering or other forces used to obtain the sample and shape it for testing. Wilson2 found that an individual specimen of granite had about the same susceptibility in the solid as in the powdered form, but that pieces from different parts of the rock varied as much as 750 per cent because of unequal distribution of magnetite. The most accurate value of susceptibility would, obviously, be obtained from averag- ing a number of tests on the undisturbed rock instead of from one or two samples. No such procedures have been published, to the writer's knowledge. It is the purpose of this paper to describe a method by which susceptibilities of rocks may be determined in place by means of a portable instrument. Method The principle involved in this new method is that there is a change in inductance of a coil due to the presence in its magnetic field of a paramagnetic or dia-magnetic medium. In this case, however, the windings of the coil do not enclose any part of the rock under test. Instead, the coil is circular, being small in cross section as compared to its radius, and consists of several hundred turns of fine wire. It is placed flat on the rock of which the susceptibility is to be measured. Thus only part of the magnetic field from the coil penetrates the rock under test. The relation between the change in field strength or inductance of the coil and the susceptibility of the medium will be developed later. To measure the change in the inductance of the coil due to the presence of a magnetic material an alternating-current inductance bridge was chosen. Description of Apparatus Of many alternating-current bridge methods applicable,3 the one shown in Fig. 1 (Owen's bridge') was adopted for its simplicity and sensitivity. In Fig. I, the test coil is indicated by PlL1. It is connected to the bridge by about

Jan 1, 1946

Key elements of open-pit design fixing the ultimate pit limits are stripping ratio, pit slope angle, and grade cutoff. Results of exploratory and development drilling should be reduced to horizontal sections corresponding to level spacing. It is advisable to interpolate the actual drillhole values to a uniformly spaced 50-ft grid system. Vertical sections can be and are used to approximate the fixing of pit limits, but horizontal sections must be used to optimize a pit design. To develop a pit design requires the establishment of the break-even stripping ratio. This ratio is applied only at the surface of the final pit and must not be confused with the over-all ratio, which is always less; otherwise there would be no profit in the operation. The break-even stripping ratio is determined by the formula: [ ]

Jan 10, 1967

By N. V. Hansell

The preparation of low-grade iron-ores by concentration, whether or not followed by an agglomeration of the concentrate, has in the United States only recently been recognized as a metallurgical process of vast economical importance for its iron indust.ry. This importance of the process lies not only in the fact that it makes possible the use of ores heretofore discarded on account of their low iron-content or their too high percentage of elements deleterious in the iron industry, but also in its produetion of a raw material for the blast-furnace that is more uniform in its physical character and chemically purer, with a higher iron-content, than the general run of natural ores. When mixed in the burden of the furnace, it lowers the amount of coke and fluxing-stone required per ton of pig-iron produced. The furnace-operations become more regular and more easily controlled. The pig-iron is of higher quality and more uniform in character. In brief, it is becoming recognized that the beneficiating of the natural iron-ore, even if it makes the furnace-ore higher in cost per unit of iron entering into the burden, may mean a lowering of the production-cost of the pig-iron and an improved product. At the present time, the Lake Superior district furnishes about 80 per cent. of all the iron-ore yearly produced in the United States. If the Southern States arc exempted the percentage runs as high as 93 per cent. These ores are showing a steady decrease in grade from year to year. For the past 10 or 15 years this falling off in the average grade has been about 0.5 per cent. a year. The lowered grade of ore means an in-

Jan 1, 1913

By Ronald F. Ayers

The basic research for this study was conducted by Battelle's Columbus Laboratories in 1974. The high-sulfur content of coal threatens to erode its competitive position in the future. The impact of sulfur removal on final costs of eastern interior coal lies at the very heart of this market analysis. An extensive market survey was conducted that considered both traditional coal markets as well as anticipated future markets. Competition for coal from this province considers low-sulfur Western coal, nu- clear power, international oil and coal trade, as well as Appalachian coal producers. Based on projections of future energy consumption under several scenarios, a comprehensive market forecast for eastern interior coal was made to 2040. The study upon which this paper is based was completed by Battelle's Columbus Laboratories for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1974. It is but part of an overall effort by the Corps to evaluate the costs and benefits to the nation of waterway improvements. This study is primarily concerned with future coal markets for production from those counties near the Wabash River in the heart of the Eastern Interior Province. An objective here is to consider a most pessimistic energy (and hence, coal) demand for planning purposes.

Jan 1, 1978

By A. Ahmadieh, J. E. Dorn, Jack Mitchell

A detailed investigation of the disloccrtion mechanisms controlling prismatic, slip in a solid solutions of magnesium containing up to 15.9 at. pel Li revealed that low-temperature prismatic slip is controlled by the Peicrl's mechanism for all alloy compositions. At higher temperatures slip in the 7.9 at. pet Li alloy was found to follow the diclates of the cross-slip mechanism from basal to prism planes, while the higlier-lilhium alloys exhibited an athermal dejormation process which might be due COARSE-GRAINED polycrystalline aggregates of distilled magnesium exhibit very limited ductility at low temperatures.' The ductility of polycrystalline magnesium, however, is much improved by solid-solution additions in excess of about 8 at. pct to shot-range ordering. The major effect of lithium additions on the low-temperature Shear] stress. for prismatic slip appears to be due to its efftct in lowering the Peierl's stress whereas (1 increase in the shear stress with increased lithium conlent at higher temperatures might he due to short-range order strengthening. Additions rip to 7.9 (at. pel Li appear to have only minor effects on the slackiug-jaidt energy. Li.2 Although the relative amounts of basal slip and twinning are not materially altered by such alloying, a substantial change takes place in the relative amounts of prismatic slip. Whereas prismatic slip is negligible and limited to regions of high stress concentrations in the vicinity of the grain boundaries in pure magnesium, extensive prismatic slip over entire grains occurs in the higher lithium content alloys. Furthermore, as the lithium content is increased above 8 at. pct, the flow stress for polycrystalline aggregates decreases. Comparison of the single-crystal data on pure magnesium for basal slip by Sheely and Nash3 and those for prismatic slip by Flynn, Mote, and Dorn4 indicates that the critical resolved shear stress for prismatic slip is much above that for basal slip.

Jan 1, 1965

By Gen-Hua Shi, William Boyle, Richard E. Goodman

This keynote paper calls attention to two critically important issues relating to selecting supports for excavations in hard rock. The first is the proportion of the ultimate sliding volume that needs to be stabilized by the support system. Some excavations can be imagined to liberate very large rock volumes, whose weight can not be assigned to supports without severe economic penalty. Using the keyblock principle, it is argued that only the most critically oriented and finite blocks right on the periphery of the opening have to be supported; if these are retained by the support system, or by self resistance due to friction on the sliding faces, then the blocks behind will remain in place. As all concepts, this one has bounds and limits. Since the keyblock analysis for rock engineering is very new, these limits are not yet understood ... The second issue is the degree to which possibly stabilizing forces associated with the in-situ stress field ought to be accepted as support for potential keyblocks. It is shown that the initial stress can be effective in stabilizing rock wedges whose faces are nearly perpendicular to the excavation surface. It is too early to decide this issue but important to consider it.

Jan 1, 1982

By T. L. Loucks, E. T. Guerrero

Pressure drop characteristics in a system composed of two adjacent concentric regions of different permeability were studied. The differential equations for continuity of mass flow in the two regions were solved using the Laplace transformation and the necessary boundary conditions to give the pressure distribution in the composite reservoir, the resulting equation for pressure drop at the inner boundary was evaluated for a variety of composite reservoirs and compared with the results for a uniform reservoir. From this study it was found that under certain conditions the permeability in both zones, as well as the size of the inner zone, can be determined from the pressure drop curve. INTRODUCTION The theory for the pressure distribution and pressure build-up behavior of a well producing a single, slightly compressible fluid from infinite and finite homogeneous reservoirs was presented by Hornerl and Miller, Dyes and Hutchinson.2 Extensions on this original work to provide improved and extended interpretations and better agreement between theory and observed results have been made by Matthews, et a1,3 van Everdingen,4 Gladfelter, et al5 Stegemeierand Matthews,6 Hurst and Guerrero,7 and Perrine.8 More recently Lefkovits, et al,9 studied pressure build-up behavior in bounded reservoirs composed of stratified layers. Houpeurtl0 has suggested various approaches to the general problem of variable permeability and porosity but presented no analytic solutions for particular permeability variations. Albert, Jaisson and Marionll studied the finite composite reservoir and presented numerical solutions to the unsteady-state case and an analytical solution valid only for large times. They also studied the so-called pseudo-steady state for several examples of radial permeability variations. Very similar examples have been treated in the unsteady state with application to pressure build-up by Loucks in an unpublished manuscript. More recently Hurst12 has presented the complete point-sink solution (valid for all times) for the infinite composite reservoir. He applied these solutions to interference between oil fields along with an even more elegant application of his explicit solution to the material-balance equation including water influx. Mortada 13 approaches the same application by avoiding the point-source limitation but gives the solution for the aquifer region which is valid only for large times. Hopkinson, Natanson and Temple14 have treated both the finite and infinite composite reservoir obtaining the pressure distribution for the inner zone valid for large times. This paper presents a theoretical study of the pressure distribution in an infinite composite reservoir composed of two adjacent concentric regions of different permeability. The object was to determine the manner in which pressure drop at the inner boundary of a composite reservoir depends upon time, the permeability of each zone and the size of the inner zone. Expressions for the pressure distribution in both zones are developed which take into account the radius of the sink and are valid for small times as well as large times. It was felt that an understanding of the pressure drop behavior in various composite reservoirs would be of assistance in the interpretation of some pressure build-up curves which do not behave according to the theory derived for uniform systems. Often the region surrounding the wellbore is either more permeable or less permeable than the reservoir because of the various drilling and completion practices. The effects of reduced permeability due to drilling-fluid invasion and of increased permeability due to fracturing or acidizing need to be more carefully defined. Therefore, an equation for the pressure drop in a composite reservoir was developed, and the effects of both the permeability in each zone and the size of the inner zone were studied. STATEMENT AND SOLUTION OF PROBLEM BOUNDARY CONDITIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS The physical system studied was a composite

By Edgar Bain

SUMMARY THE results of an enquiry into the structural nature of some 70 iron alloys containing both nickel and chromium over a considerable range of concentration 'are briefly described in this paper. This study is a part of a comprehensive program of investigation into alloys involving chromium in progress at the Union Carbide and Carbon Research Laboratories. All the compositions studied contained carbon in amount comparable to commercial alloys.

Jan 3, 1927

By E. J. Yoder, N. B. Aughenbaugh, R. B. Johnson

Mineral aggregates experience degradation during field and laboratory compaction. Reduction in the aggregate size is accomplished by abrasion of the particle edges and fracturing of individual pieces which have become overstressed. Little is known of the factors that govern the amount of breakdown experienced for a given situation. A field study was made of the factors affecting aggregate breakdown under compaction using three carbonate aggregates of different physical properties. The preliminary results indicate that rock type, compactive effort, gradation, and thickness of compactive layer are factors which exert the greatest influence. Mineral aggregates experience a mechanical breakdown of some of the aggregate pieces into smaller fragments during any compaction process, whether in the field or laboratory. This phenomenon occurs as abrasion of the sharp edges during movement and reorientation of the particles in densifying and/or as granulation and fracturing of those pieces which have become overstressed. Two types of aggregate breakdown occur in the field. These may be classed in a general category of aggregate degradation.* One occurs during the con- * Aggregate degradation has been defined in many different ways. For this paper it is considered as any breakdown of larger particles into smaller ones, whether mechanical or chemical. struction period and is related to the densification of the aggregate body from a loose state to a relatively dense mass by heavy compaction equipment. This type is almost entirely a mechanical action. The other occurs after the construction period when the roadway has been put into use. This in-service breakdown is; a different phenomenon from the breakdown during construction in the sense that it combines mechanical with chemical changes. Time becomes an important consideration that may cause subordinate factors in construction degradation to develop into principal ones for in-service breakdown. Breakdown of aggregates in service has been extensively studied by investigators from the northwestern

Jan 1, 1962

By R. W. Smith. Discussion by D. Watson, R. M. Manser

D. Wotson, R. M. Monser (Watten Spring Laboratory, Stevenage, Herts., U. K.) - This is a valuable and interesting paper and will make an important contribution to the development of a general theory of silicate flotation. In particular the dominance of surface reactions which produce fluosilicic acid and its ions has been convincingly demonstrated. In a paper to be published shortly, however, we offer some evidence which is not consistent with the feldspar activation theory proposed by Prof. Smith. This theory, given in Eqs. 17-20, suggests that activation takes place through the exchange of SiF6 ions for OH- at aluminum sites. This results in a negatively charged site facilitating adsorption of RNH3 Firstly, we have determined the flotation response (using the vacuum flotation technique) and the adsorption of dodecylamine on a natural feldspar (albite) and on the same feldspar after washing with perchloric acid at pH3. This pre-treatment was shown to remove surface adjacent aluminum atoms. It was found that although the acid washed feldspar floated much less easily than the untreated sample, the function of fluoride ion - giving activation over the pH range 4-6.5-was preserved. Moreover, the amount of dodecylamine adsorbed either with or without fluoride present is little affected by acid-washing, despite the depression caused by this treatment. This suggests that surface aluminum atoms can be of little importance in the fluoride activation mechanism. Secondly, we have determined the changes in solution concentration of F- and H+ (or OH-) accompanying reaction of the surface with fluoride ion. The ratio of H+ lost from solution to F- lost is high, ranging from 6.9 at pH4 to 1.0 at pH 7.5. This is consistent with reaction of HF (6 molecules for every Si removed) at the surface, producing SiFi-ions, but not with the re-adsorption of these ions.

Jan 1, 1967

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 J. P. Carson

THE Croton water-shed furnishes the source and storage of watersupply to both the old and the new aqueduct. The Croton river rises in the southern part of Dutchess county, about 68 miles from the lower end of New York city. Its three main branches, called the East, Middle and West branches, flow southward across Putnam county, joining, near its southern boundary, to form the Croton, which continues thence in a general southwest direction across Westchester county to the Hudson river at Croton Point, about 35 miles north of the city. The water-shed above the proposed site of the Quaker Bridge dam extends about 33 miles north and south, with an average width of 11 miles, making in all about 362 square miles, from which, by complete storage, an average daily supply of 250,000,000 gallons may be collected—sufficient for the needs of the city, probably, for the next fifteen years. The water-shed above the Croton dam is 23 square miles smaller, and furnishes the present daily supply of 100,000,000 gallons. By referring to the map it will be seen that the shortest approximately straight line between the proposed site of Quaker Bridge

Jan 1, 1891

By Maurice Ewing, J. A. Peoples, J. W. Peoples, A. P. Craby

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of the application of the earth-resistivity method of subsurface investigation to the problem of locating seams of anthracite coal beneath a mantle of soil and subsoil. Details are given of the successful use of this method in locating the outcrops of anthracite seams in actual prospecting. The presence of the outcrop of an anthracite seam is indicated at points where electrical resistivity tests showed relatively low readings. The reason for this is that in some localities the resistivity of anthracite was found to be about 0.0001 megohm-cm. compared to 1 to 200 megohm-cm. for shales and sandstones. For two reasons it is believed that the data summarized in this paper should be of particular interest. In the first place, most of the interpretations of the resistivity survey have been checked by subsequent drilling and some by the removal of the overburden and the exposing of the anthracite seams. It is infrequent that the opportunity for checking results so thoroughly is given. In the second place, the fact that recent commentatorsl,2,3 on the application of geophysical methods to mining have concluded that direct prospecting for anthracite and other types of coal is not promising makes the good results obtained more significant. So far as the authors can learn, the only previous experiment with electrical methods in the Pennsylvania anthracite field was one made by Sherwin F. Kelly in 1921, when he used the self-potential method at Wilkes-Barre4. The profile he made does not show a very marked correlation with the geologic cross section. Kelly points out that stray currents from electric motors in the mines undoubtedly affected 'his results, but the experience of the present authors with stray currents from mining machinery suggests the possibility that the potentials measured by Kelly were due almost entirely to this effect.

Jan 1, 1936

By Maurice Ewing, A. P. Craby, J. W. Peoples, J. A. Peoples

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of the application of the earth-resistivity method of subsurface investigation to the problem of locating seams of anthracite coal beneath a mantle of soil and subsoil. Details are given of the successful use of this method in locating the outcrops of anthracite seams in actual prospecting. The presence of the outcrop of an anthracite seam is indicated at points where electrical resistivity tests showed relatively low readings. The reason for this is that in some localities the resistivity of anthracite was found to be about 0.0001 megohm-cm. compared to 1 to 200 megohm-cm. for shales and sandstones. For two reasons it is believed that the data summarized in this paper should be of particular interest. In the first place, most of the interpretations of the resistivity survey have been checked by subsequent drilling and some by the removal of the overburden and the exposing of the anthracite seams. It is infrequent that the opportunity for checking results so thoroughly is given. In the second place, the fact that recent commentatorsl,2,3 on the application of geophysical methods to mining have concluded that direct prospecting for anthracite and other types of coal is not promising makes the good results obtained more significant. So far as the authors can learn, the only previous experiment with electrical methods in the Pennsylvania anthracite field was one made by Sherwin F. Kelly in 1921, when he used the self-potential method at Wilkes-Barre4. The profile he made does not show a very marked correlation with the geologic cross section. Kelly points out that stray currents from electric motors in the mines undoubtedly affected 'his results, but the experience of the present authors with stray currents from mining machinery suggests the possibility that the potentials measured by Kelly were due almost entirely to this effect.

Jan 1, 1936

By George S. Koch

We have devised a multivariate statistical model useful to interpret data from exploration geochemistry and also pertinent for the analysis of data from petrology, paleontology, and other geological fields. The model is applied to several simulated cases in order to compare anomaly recognition by inspection and by quadratic regression.

Jan 1, 1977

By C. S. Matthews, J. L. Mahaffey, W. M. Rutherford

This paper gives results of an experimental study of the sweep efficiency of a miscible displacement in a five-spot. The study was carried out in a parallel-plate glass model in which effects of diffusion were scaled at or near the molecular diffusion level. The experiments show that very early breakthrough (25 to 35 per cent of pore volume (PV) injected) may be expected in miscible floods because of the unfavorable viscosity ratio. However after 1 PV of displacing fluid is injected, the sweep rises to a reasonable value (50 to 60 per cent). Photographs show that small slugs of less than 10 per cent of PV tend to dissipate before breakthrough. A minimum slug size of 15 per cent of PV would appear to be necessary even in a relatively homogeneous formation. Presence of a slug whose viscosity is inter-mediate between that of oil and gas increases the sweep efficiency of the oil-gas system. In a typical system the sweep at breakthrough rose from 26 to 37 per cent of PV for a 25 per cent slug. The increase in sweep brought about by use of a large slug could well pay for the extra deferment cost of the additional slug material. INTRODUCTION Most miscible displacement processes involve the displacement of oil with fluids of much lower viscosity and density. The displacement process at these adverse viscosity and density ratios is dominated by instability phenomena, i.e., viscous fingers and gravity tongues. These phenomena have highly adverse effects on oil recovery. Although a number of laboratory studies have been made to determine the effect of adverse viscosity ratios on five-spot sweep patterns,l,2 the scaling of diffusion effects is uncertain. In the series of scaled model studies reported herein, an attempt was made to scale diffusion. Model studies of miscible displacements in which molecular diffusion predominates are per-mitted by controlling the parallel plate spacing which reduces convective mixing to arbitrarily small levels. To decide how this scaling relates to any particular Geld displacement necessitates an estimation of diffusion effects for the natural rock being considered and conditions under which displacement will be conducted. The approach normally taken is to extrapolate data obtained from stable miscible displacements performed in the laboratory, such as those presented by Brigham et al.3 The validity with which such an extrapolation can be applied to an unstable flow system has yet to be established. If this approach is accepted, a family of oil recovery curves can be generated for a single viscosity ratio based on Brigham's observation that the magnitude of the dispersion coefficient is dependent, among other things, upon specific rock properties. Objective of our test was to define the lower limit of this range by presenting the case where dispersion effects were reduced to the molecular diffusion level in both the transverse and longitudinal directions.

Jan 1, 1967

By J. S. Rinehart, W. C. Maurer

The mechanics of impact crater formation in rock, particularly sandstone, has been sutdied, the velocity range being approximately that normally associated with oilwell gun perforators. The bullets were small steel spheres having diameters of 3/16, 9/32 and 7/16 in; impact velocities ranged from 300 to 7,000 ft/sec. The craters have two distinct parts — a cylindrical hole (or burrow) with a diameter the same as that of the impacting sphere, and a wide-angle cup comprising most of the volume of the crater. The burrow is fornred as material in front of the projectile is crushed and pushed aside, forming a cylindrical hole surrounded by a high-density zone. The clip forms as fractures are initiated in front of the projectile and propagate along logarithmic spirals, approximaling maximum shear trajectories, to the free surface of the rock. A most significant observation (made for the first time) was that, below the base of the cup in one type of sandstone, there are a group of similar fractures, not extending to the surface, which are spaced uniformly a few millimeters apart. Each fracture follows roughly the contour of the base of the cup and appears to require a certain threshold impulse to initiate it. These fractures comprise a relatively high fraction of the total, newly exposed surface area. The volume of the material removed by crushing varies as the first power of the impact velocity and the volume removed by fracturing, as the second power of the impact velocity. Penetration varies linearly with the impact velocity and is inversely proportional to the specific acoustic resistance of the target material, the proportionality constant being dependent upon the shape of the projectile. INTRODUCTION Yield of oil from a producing well is frequently enhanced by firing bullets and shaped charges through the well casing into the oil-bearing rock, forming craters and fractures from which oil can flow more readily. The purpose of this investigation has been to develop a better understanding of the mechanics of impact crater formation in rock, particularly sandstone, the velocity range being approximately that normally associated with oilwell gun perforators. FORCES OPERATIVE DURING IMPACT When a projectile moving at considerable velocity strikes a- massive target such as oil-bearing sandstone, intense and complex transient stress situations develop within both the projectile and the rock or sandstone against which it is striking. Usually the struck rock fails, the missile or projectile penetrating into the rock to some depth where it comes to rest or is forcibly ejected from its burrow by expansion of a plug of target material compressed in front of it. When the impact velocity is very high, the projectile itself may fail, breaking apart or becoming distorted; this situation is not considered here, the discussion being limited to nondeforming projectiles. Many experimental studies'.' have been carried out to determine the nature of the mechanics of crater formation and the salient features of the forces coming into play, some of the earliest studies being the French Army experiments performed at Metz between 1835 and 1845.' The stratagem in most instances has been to make a post-mortem examination of the crater, measuring volume and depth of penetration and deducing force relationships from these observations rather than performing the more difficult (usually almost impossible) feat of measuring stresses during penetration. In many materials, the force acting during penetration of the projectile is found to be the sum of two components—(1) a constant force, independent of the velocity, representing some inherent strength of the target material; and (2) a component, proportional to the square of the velocity, representing inertial forces. For such materials, the average force per unit area acting on the projectile at any instant while it is in motion and being decelerated may be written F/A = a + bv2 . . . (1) where v is the velocity of the projectile at that instant, A is the cross-sectional area of the penetrating projectile taken normal to its trajectory, and a and b are constants which are dependent upon the target material and the shape of the projectile. It follows that the total penetration s is given by .........(2) where v, is the velocity of the projectile when it just strikes the target. Values of a and b for spherical projectiles impacting in a loose sand-gravel mixture and compacted earth were obtained in the Metz experiments. For sand-gravel, a and b are 620 psi and 0.0115 (psi) (ft/sec)', respectively; and for compacted earthworks, a and b are 432 psi and 0.0008 (psi) (ft/sec)'. Figs 1 and 2

By M. Takeda, H. Majima

Pyrite has been subjected to xanthate adsorption experiments in order to determine the nature of adsorption. The identification of adsorbed species by means of IR spectroscopy, as well as UV, shows that the dixanthogen adsorption is undoubtedly predominant on pyrite surface. The rest potential measured in a xanthate solution coincides with the redox potential of the xanthate-dixanthogen couple. Considering all the factors together, the adsorption mechanism of dixanthogen on pyrite has been proposed as This mechanism is consistent with the "passive" character of pyrite. From the measurement of the redox potential of the xanthate-dixanthogen couple in the homologous series, a rule similar to that for surface tensions proposed by Traube is also applicable. The polarization experiments were conducted on pyrite in a solution containing xanthate. In the anodic polarization, xanthate is observed to oxidize to dix- anthogen, which depresses oxygen evolution on py rite at higher potential levels. In spite of the importance of the presence of pyrite in the flotation of sulfide minerals, not many studies have been made on the xanthate-pyrite system in the absence of an activator or a depressant. In an early study by Gaudin and Wilkinson,' it was pointed out that no ferric xanthate was formed on a pyrite surface, while in another study Gaudin and his collaborators2 proved the formation of a very small amount of ferric xanthate. Afterwards, Gaudin et al.3 studied the pyrite-xanthate system with a radiometric technique and found indications of the presence of adsorbed dixanthogen on pyrite surfaces. Mamiya4 studied the flotation behavior of the pyrite-xanthate system and also suggested the possibility of dixanthogen. Recently, Fuerstenau and his coworkers at The Colorado School of Mines5 studied the role of dixanthogen in the xanthate flotation of pyrite and discussed the problem in terms of such properties as oxidation potential, zeta potential, flotation recovery, pH of solution, etc. However, the mechanism of dixanthogen adsorption at the pyrite-water interface is not yet understood. This paper is concerned with an electrochemical in-vestigation through which the mechanism of dixanthogen adsorption on pyrite is interpreted. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Pure potassium xanthates were synthesized by an

Jan 1, 1969