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By J. W. Marx

A method is given for predicting the complete gravity drainage characteristics of arbitrarily long columns from centrifuge drainage measurements on reconstituted core samples. Oil residuals corresponding to hundreds of years of normal gravity depletion can be obtained in a few hours on the centrifuge. The gravity flow rate at any stage of the depletion process may be determined from the time correlation derived, and experimentally checked, in this study. INTRODUCTION Apart from the original observations of Muskat et al1, research publications2,3,4 on the subject of gravity drainage have been largely concerned with establishing in detail the saturation, S as a function of the height, z, in a draining column at any given time, t. Some form of numerical integration must be employed to obtain production rates and cumulative production even when S(z, t) is known. Furthermore, the relevant experimental work has been concentrated on drainage of a single wetting liquid from unconsolidated media. Since oil production usually concerns the drainage of a partially wetting liquid from consolidated media, in the presence of connate water, and since it is unlikely that sufficient information exists to establish S(z, t) in detail for any natural reservoir, the published research work appears to be, at best, only qualitatively applicable to production problems. With this in mind, the present study was undertaken by the writer. Experiments were planned whose results would have two advantages over existing measurements: 1. Observations were to be made on specific reservoir rock, reconstituted with formation water and formation oil. This would reduce their generality, from the research viewpoint, but increase their utility for production purposes. 2. The measurements were to be self-integrating, i.e., the phenomena were to be described and interpreted in terms of cumulative results. THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENT It was commonly known that centrifuging a liquid bearing porous medium increases the drainage rates and minimizes capillary end effects. The specific problem lay in selecting an acceleration, a, such that the mean residual saturation of a model cylinder was equal to the residual saturation of an arbitrarily long prototype column when the latter was drained by earth gravity alone. The physical conditions required to permit a valid scaling of model drainage time, tm with prototype drainage time, t, may be stated as follows: (a) At t = tm = O, So = Smo; (b) At t = tm? 8 Sr. = Smr.; (c) For all intermediate values of t and dS/dt=dsm/dtm whenever S = Sm; (d) S(z) = Sm(z) = a constant when t = tm = 0. 1 Here S = T I S(z)dz, where h is the length of the « Jo cylindrical column being drained and the subscripts S,Sm, and refer to model, initial, and residual systems, respectively. The first three conditions mean, simply, that an 3 vs t plot will be numerically identical with an S, vs t, plot,

Jan 1, 1957

By H. R. Peiffer

Composite alloys of silver and alumina are shown to resist flow above the melting point of the continuous matrix. The ability to resist flow depends on the fineness of the dispersion and the oxygen content of the silver. It is believed that the oxygen influences very strongly the bond between the molten silver and the finely divided alumina. RECENT needs for materials with high strength and creep resistance at high temperatures initiated mechanical property studies on dispersed phase materials to near the melting point of the continuous matrix material. Results' of these investigations have shown that certain of these materials do have promise for high-temperature applications. Experiments performed on composite materials of silver and alumina by the author have resulted in the discovery of an interesting effect above the melting point of the silver. In these materials the silver was continuous and the alumina very finely divided (Linde B). It was observed that these materials exhibited strength and resistance to flow above the melting point of the silver matrix. The purpose of this paper will be to describe these properties. METHOD OF PREPARATION The materials were prepared by mixing the proper amount of Linde B alumina and high-purity silver oxide. The alumina content was varied from 5 to 20 wt pct alumina in silver in 5 pct steps. The materials were mixed by blending the constituents in an ordinary food blendor using ethyl alcohol as a vehicle. Enough alcohol was added to the powders to form a mixture with the consistency of a thin mud. After blending for about | hr the material was dried and the silver oxide reduced by heating to 450 OC. The material was then pressed at 25 tsi into a -in. billets 3 in. long. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The specimens were horizontally supported at either end by knife edge supports of cold-rolled steel. This holder was then placed in a "globar" furnace and a chromel-alumel thermocouple placed very close to the specimen recorded its temperature to within 10°C. Each specimen was heated rapidly to 900°C initially. The specimens were held at temperature approximately 30 min and then the temperature was raised 50 deg. The procedure was repeated until deformation was noted. Photographs were made of the specimens at various temperatures and increments of time using a Polaroid Land camera. RESULTS Fig. 1 shows the 5 pct by weight "Linde B" alumina and silver material after reaching 980 °C. Failure occurred after 15 min at this temperature. There were two points of failure and silver collected at them. No additional flow of the molten silver was noted at any other place. Fig. 2 shows a 20 pct by weight "Linde B" alumina in silver specimen. After 30 min at 1400°C, bowing of this material was observed. Other concentrations of alumina were added to

Jan 1, 1961

By Herbert D. Drechsler

The objective of this paper is to identify the components of income above that necessary to keep a mine in production and relate those components to the profits of a mining firm. This is a discussion of "Economic Rent". Economic rent is the payment to the factors of production -- capital, labour, entreprenuer and the owner of the mineral deposit -- above the minimum necessary to keep all of these factors cooperating in the production of minerals from a particular deposit. THE SOURCE OF ECONOMIC RENT IN THE MINING INDUSTRY In the mining business each mine has a unique cost of production unrelated to any other mine. The cost of production is developed from many factors such as the technical characteristics of the deposit: depth of deposit, depth of overburden, areal extent, and type of deposit. Furthermore, there are locational factors which also alter cost of production. For example, identical mineral deposits located in Zambia or in the southwest U.S.A. would have different capital and operating costs. These differences occur because of different qualities of labour, ease of acquisition of operating supplies or investment capital and other similar factors. To explain the source of rent, we shall use ideas developed by Alfred Marshall and Kenneth Boulding. Suppose a meteorite with special qualities exploded over earth and sent showers of small meteorites to the ground in various places. At some point in time, people learned of the special qualities of these meteorites and a demand arose and one mine was started. Suppose further that the cost of production to produce these meteorites was different for each deposit. Probably the lowest unit cost mine would commence production because if a higher unit cost mine started-up, eventually someone would discover a deposit that had a lower unit cost of production. The lower unit cost mine would take over the market and the high unit cost mine would cease production. The cost curve for the first mine would look like the following Figure 1. [ ] The output for the first mine is on the horizontal axis with the cost per ton on the vertical axis. The curve labelled AC I is the average total cost of production over the range of possible production that could occur at the property. The total costs are composed of variable costs, which are dependent on output and fixed costs, which are dependent on time. For example, the cost of operating supplies would be a variable cost and normal profit would be a fixed cost.1 The opportunity cost of the investment would also be part of the fixed costs. In our example, all factors of production, are receiving the minimum necessary payment that will keep the mine operating. The average total cost curve is U-shaped because at zero output, the meteorite mine has no variable costs, only fixed costs which, on a unit basis, obviously are very high. To produce a small output of meteorites, the mining firm adds

Jan 1, 1985

By H. H. Reamer, B. H. Sage

The formation volume and the relative volume of the liquid Phase of mixtures of Condensate and gas from five different parts of a field in the Louisiana area have been established experimentally. These studies included gas-condensate ratios as high as 25.000 cu ft/bbl at pressures up to 5,000 psi. The gravities of the tank condensates were between 53.9° and 63.9° API. The compositions of the condensate and gas samples inves-ligated are presented in tabular form. The formation volume. the relative volume of the liquid phase. and the specific volume of the mixtures are available. A rough correlation of the formation volume as a function of pressure. temperature, and gas-condensate ratio has been presented. This correlation i-considered applicable only to the range of conditions covered in this investigation for systems of similar nature and com-position. INTRODUCTION Often a knowledge of the influence of temperature. Pres sure, and relative quantities of condensate and gas upon the volumetric behavior of fluid*. from a given field has been employed in estimating the Conditions existing in the reservoir. The early work of Beecher and Parkhurst' and the more rrcent Studies of the Dominguez' and San Joaqnin Valley Field;: are examples of experimental studies of this character. Correlation of the volumetric behavior of naturally occurring hydrocarbon mixtures has Proved To be feasible' . at low gas-conden-sate ratios-; for fluids*. from a single geographic area. Progres 5 is being made in the Prediction of the volumetric behavior of distillate systems at high gas-condensate ratios and pressure.. However. the estimation of the retrograde". ' dew-point pressure still remains uncertain and probably can best be established by experiment. For this reason it appears of interest to make available experimental information about the volumetric behavior of mixtures of condensate and gas from five different part.; of a single field. This material shows a rough similarity to data for mixtures of condensate and gas from San Joaqnin ' Valley Fields. In the present paper. 110 attempt has been made to coordinate the available information on tbe volumetric behavior of fluids from condensate fields. It appears hopeful that progress can be realized by the utilization of recently developed equa-tions of state.!' However. the primary problem in any such correlation is the proper identification of the components and constituents of naturally occuring systems. Additional experimental information may be required to permit the determination of the values of the constants of the equation of state for References given at end of paper. Manuscriptt received in the office of the Petroleum Branch June 11. 1951. *For present purposes low gas- condensate ratios will he considered as those below 3,000 cu ft/bbl, and the region of high gas-condensate ratio will be limited to compositions containing more than 5,000 cu ft of pas per bbl of condensate. Mixtures Containing between 3,000 and 5.000 CII ft OF gas per bbl will be considered of intermediate gas-condensate ratio.

Jan 1, 1952

By Raymond Mancha

A test of any fan requires the determination of such data as fan pressure, air volume handled by the fan, and power input to the fen shaft. When testing operating mine fans of the centrifugal type, test methods have been employed, for the sake of convenience, that permit great latitude in detail of procedure resulting in wide variance in results by different investigators. Some controversial aspects of field fan testing are the result of past failure to define clearly the various forms of fan pressure and to a lack of understanding of the accurate procedure for the measurement thereof. Also, the anemometer for air-volume measurement, although convenient, if carelessly used and maintained is subject to a wide error range with variation in method of application and in instrument accuracy. The appearance of the axial-flow type of mine fan offers the possibility of refinements in field testing that were impractical with the centrifugal fan. First of all, the fan inlet and outlet are more sharply defined, giving closer agreement as to just where the fan begins and ends; thus there is less disagreement as to the proper location for measurements of fan pressure. The area of passage into the inlet of an axial-flow mine fan usually constricts, causing high air velocities with accompanying steadiness of flow. Thus the fan inlet offers an ideal location for accurate air-volume measurements with the pitot tube, the proper use of which is well established by code. Thereby the controversial aspects of such measurements are eliminated. Use of the Pitot tube also facilitates a more accurate measure of fan pressure, since the individual pressures measured can be properly weighted, as will be explained later. Determination of power input to the axial-flow mine fan operating in the field is subject to the same inaccuracies as with the centrifugal fan if the axial-flow fan is also belt driven. However, because of the higher rates of rotation usual with axial-flow fans, direct-driven units are more numerous and it is unnecessary to assume a drive efficiency, thus eliminating one possible source of error. It is the purpose of this paper to define and explain the various types of pressure measurements involved in a field test of an axial-flow mine fan, and to further explain the proper use of the Pitot tube when measuring pressures and volumes. DefinitioN of Fan Pressures The two fan pressures most commonly discussed are fan total and fan static pressure, each of which has the same meaning regardless of whether the fan is blowing, exhausting, or blowing and exhausting, as in the case of a fan with ducts connected to both outlet and inlet. Fan total presscre is the amount by which the total pressure of the air delivered by the fan exceeds the total pressure of the air received by the fan. This pressure is a measure of the maximum amount of the work done on the air by the fan that is available for external use.

Jan 1, 1942

By Ernest N. Patty, Sherwin F. Kelly

The present case history deals with the examination of an almost forgotten nickel prospect, near Winesap, Chelan County, Washington. Although the final results yielded no ore body of commercial importance, the integration of surface and underground exploration, geophysical survey and diamond drilling endow the story with interest. The program is significant because it is illustrative of how the most disappointing expenditures in mining exploration, the "not-finding" costs, could have been reduced had geophysical methods been applied at an appropriate stage in the prospecting work. The Chelan nickel deposit was discovered about 1900, on a sage-brush-covered hillside with a southerly slope, adjacent to Winesap Canyon; the paved highway now extending from Wenatchee northward, up the Columbia River and into Okanogan Valley, is only a mile away. After the deposit was found, three short prospect tunnels were driven into it, and the prospect then remained dormant for 40 years. No. x tunnel was 80 ft. long, running north into the hillside. For the first 35 ft. this adit exposed a typical, iron-stained gossan with streaks and stains of malachite, and small seams of water-soluble nickel sulphate. Beyond this, it encountered a relatively fresh peridotite, well mineralized with blebs of pentlandite. Systematic sampling yielded an average assay of 1.5 per cent nickel and 0.3 per cent copper. Down the hillside to the south and 35 ft. lower in elevation, No. 2 tunnel was driven under No. I and in the same direction, traversing 50 ft. of gneiss before it reached the peridotite. At this point the latter formation showed only scattered blebs of sulphides, not of commercial grade. To the west, on the same contour line as No. I tunnel, and 800 ft. around the hillside from it, No. 3 tunnel was driven 50 ft. into the hill to explore a strong gossan outcrop that assayed 0.5 per cent nickel (Fig. I). From the geological exposures on the hillside and in the tunnels, it appears that the main mass of the hill is formed of an ancient and altered gneiss complex. Into this, a sill-like injection of amphibolite (altered peridotite) was intruded, which, at least in some places, contains commercial quantities of nickel sulphide. Its structure is obscure, but it appears to dip into the hill at an angle of about 15°. In the vicinity of No. 3 tunnel a large dike of quartz diorite cuts the peridotite or amphibolite; about 140 ft. north of the portal of the tunnel, a dike of andesite 00 ft. wide cuts boldly up the hillside to break the continuity of the peridotite in that direction. The geological evidence available was not adequate to decide whether the peridotite forms a continuous sill, or occurs as isolated bodies in the gneiss. Not all of this peridotite carries commercial amounts of pentlandite, but if the mineral-

Jan 1, 1946

By Phillip Crowson

INTRODUCTION This discusses some of the economic risks and uncertainties which face any company investing in new mineral ventures. These differ mainly in degree rather than kind from other large capital intensive projects, except that economic risks are compounded with technical risks. Mines face a wide variety of physical risks, and in addition the ore reserves may not prove as ample, nor as amenable to treatment as the feasibility studies indicate. On the economic front, mineral projects are subject to risks of fluctuating prices and sales volumes, no matter where they are located, or how they are financed. Typically, they are heavy users of capital compared with their owners' internally generated funds. Long term debt of various types is still the favoured form of finance. A project's currencies and cost often differ from each other and from those of the parent company. Facing up to the various risks associated with fluctuating and uncertain revenues, interest rates and exchange rates are amongst the hardest tasks for natural resource companies. ATTITUDES TO THE MINING INDUSTRY Some have questioned whether the game itself is now worth playing. They have argued that the mining industry's mediocre rewards in the past decade have been insufficient, compared with the risks involved. They can see no prospect of dramatic improvement in the next decade. Demand is highly cyclical and tends to grow less rapidly than economic activity, as a whole. Barriers to entry are low in most mineral markets, but impediments to exit can be substantial. Exit is especially problematic in those minerals where there are large state shareholdings and/or where less developed countries are major producers. The consequence is claimed to be an endemic tendency to excess capacity, and prices barely adequate to cover marginal cash costs. Many of the petroleum companies that moved into mining with such high expectations in the late 1970s have retreated, often bearing the scars of heavy losses. Individual shareholders, taken collectively, place low valuations on their investments in mining companies. The price/earnings ratios of the major mineral producing companies are low compared with their historical averages and with those of other industries. PRICE: EARNINGS RATIOS (October 1988) [UK Industrials 12.0 RTZ 8.4 Cons Gold 12.2 US Industrials 13 - 13.4 Alcan Alcoa Amax Asarco Cyprus Minerals Freeport Copper Inco Inspiration Magma Copper Newmont Mining Nord Resources Phelps Dodge Reynolds Metal Canada TSE 300 10.6 Cominco 8.7 Falconbridge 5.3 Noranda 7.0 Rio Algom 7.2 Teck Corporation 17.] NOTE: Mining companies' p/e based on prospective 1988 earnings, from Kleinwort Benson Securities' weekly Mining World, October 1988. Until 1987, it was argued that share prices correctly reflected the companies' poor earnings potential. Subsequently, the argument has been that earnings have been unnaturally boosted by cyclically high metal prices. The stock market valuations, therefore, correctly reflect future earnings, or at least expected earnings. This seems to be a case of Heads, I win; Tails, you lose. The underlying analysis of metal markets appears

Jan 1, 1990

By John W. Crutchfield, Emil F. Bowers

This paper presents the initial results of a pressure maintenance by water return project in the Lower Pawelek reservoir of the Falls City Field, Karnes County, Southwest Texas. Production is from the Lower Wilcox section at an average depth of 6,030 ft on the downthrown side of a "down to the coast" fault. Of particular interest is that the reservoir oil is high gravity and low viscosity but far undersaturated with gas at the original reservoir pressure and temperature. The early pressure and production history indicated only a partial or limited water drive, and this fact, coupled with the characteristics of the reservoir fluid and artificial lifting problem.. made advisable the water injection program to maintain reservoir pressure. The paper includes a description of the reservoir and reservoir fluids, the pressure and production history, a description of the water injection facilities, and the results of reservoir calculations involving Hurst's unsteady state flow and the material balance equations for calculation of water influx and prediction of the pressure-production relationship at various rates of withdrawal. The reservoir calculations and initial field results indicate that reservoir pressures in excess of 85 per cent of original pressure can be maintained by control of water injection even at very high rates of production. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this paper is to report the initial results of a pressure maintenance by water return program in the Lower Pawelek reservoir, Falls City Field, Karnes County. Texas, and to calculate an empirical relationship between pressure and production in this limited or partial water drive reservoir. Location The Falls City Field (Fig. 1) is located two miles north of the town of Falls City in Karnes County, Texas, and is approximately 50 miles south-southeast of San Antonio on U. S. Highway 181. Discovery and Development The initial block of leases was taken after a surface geological survey identified a major east-west fault and closure on the south or downthrown section. The discovery well, Southern Minerals Corporation's Joe F. Bartosch 1; was completed at 4,650 ft in the Lower Bartosch sand in December, 1944. Drilling was continuous until December, 1946, and resulted in the discovery of 12 oil reservoirs between 4,600 and 6,050 ft in the Middle and Lower Wilcox formations. These are shown on the cross-section (Fig. 2). As of the current date there are 64 oil wells completed as follows: Southern Gulfshore Magnolia Minerals Oil Petroleum Reservoir Corp. Co. Corp. Total Upper Bartosch 0 0 0 0 Lower Bartosch 16 0 0 16 Shulze 7 0 1 8 Upper Faires 2 0 0 2 Lower Faires 4 0 0 4 Upper Moczygemba 0 0 0 0 Lower Moczygemha 2 0 0 2 Olinick 2 0 0 2 Upper Martinez 0 0 0 0 Lower Martinez 5 0 0 5 Upper Pawelek 0 0 1 Lower Pawelek 27 1 3 31 Total 65 2 4 71

Jan 1, 1950

By J. S. Marsh

JOSEPH PRIESTLEY prepared oxygen on Aug. 1, 1774, and noted with great surprise "that a candle burned in this air with a remarkable brilliant flame." On Aug. 2, 1774, some ironmaker possibly began to wonder if this substance could be used to increase his rate of production; at any rate, there is no disputing the fact that the notion of using oxygen for steelmaking in concentrations greater than that available in great abundance-as air-has been in existence for years. Action was delayed by the lack of enough oxygen at a cost within reach of the steelmaker. Within the last several years enough has been available to permit large-scale tests of its use for both combustion, with which this paper is concerned, and for decarburization. The literature is now enormous and easily available; it is sufficient here to cite three items of historic- importance in that all are about 25 years old and in that all are remarkably consistent as far as they go, with what is known today.1,2,3 SIGNIFICANCE OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE HEAT The principal 'function of the open-hearth furnace is to supply sufficient, high-temperature heat to melt the charge and then to increase its temperature to a range suitable for tapping, ordinarily in the neighborhood of 2900°F. That heat is required to make steel everybody; however, there seems to be some confusion now and then about the significance of high-temperature heat. Transfer of energy-and heat is energy is always from a point of higher potential to a point of lower potential and, other things being equal, the greater the potential difference, the greater is the rate of transfer of energy. In the open hearth the flame, of course, is the high-potential source. Perhaps the most satisfactory approach is through the notion of theoretical flame temperature; which is the ratio of heat input to the heat content of the combustion products,* the former is composed mainly of heat of combustion of the fuel plus sensible heat of the fuel plus sensible heat of the combustion air. Thus, flame temperature can be increased by increasing the value of the numerator, by decreasing the value of the denominator, or both. The first method is as old as the open-hearth process and, of course, makes use of preheated air; its possibilities have been by no means exhausted. The second method can be put into effect only by changing the composition of the combustion air, since the combustion of a given quantity of fuel produces a definite quantity of product, and since the denominator includes the non-reactive fraction of the air, principally nitrogen. In other words, the denominator consists of the volume of exit gas multiplied by its heat capacity and that volume consists of carbon l is understood by dioxide and water vapor as reaction

Jan 1, 1948

SEC. 1. The membership of the Institute shall comprise six classes, namely: 1. Members; 2. Honorary Members; 3. Senior Members; 4. Associates; 5. Junior Members; 6, Rocky Mountain Members. All shall be equally entitled to the privileges of membership, excepting that no member of any class whose residence shall be outside of the United States of America, except those residing in Mexico and Canada, shall be entitled to vote. SEC. 2. Members: A person to be eligible for election or transfer into the class of Member must be at least 27 years of age and must have had at least six years' employment in the practice of engineering, mining, geology, metallurgy, or chemistry, during at least three years of which he must have held positions of responsibility in one or more of these fields. This shall not apply to Rocky Mountain members. SEC. 3. Honorary Members: Each candidate for Honorary Membership must be recommended by at least ten Members and must be elected by ballot at a meeting of the Board of Directors by the unanimous vote of the Directors present; provided, however, that the number of Honorary Members shall at no time exceed twenty. Such election shall automatically act as a transfer of such member from any other class of membership to which he may belong. SEC. 4. Senior Members: The Directors may in their discretion place on the Honor Roll of Senior Members and transfer from any other class of membership other than Honorary Membership the name of any Member or Associate who has reached the age of seventy years and who has paid dues for thirty years, and for good reasons in • special cases may vary the age or number of years. SEC. 5. Junior Members: A person to be eligible for election to the class of Junior Member must be qualified through education or experience to hold a subordinate position in engineering, mining, metallurgical, geological or chemical work. He shall be not more than twenty-seven years of age at the time of election. The rights of the present Junior Associates shall continue until the same expire by limitation of time. SEC. 6. Associates: A person eligible for election or transfer into the class of Associate shall be one, who, in the opinion of the Committee on Admissions and the Board of Directors, is suitable for such election or transfer by reason of his interest in or connection with mining, geology, metallurgy, or chemistry. SEC. 7. Rocky Mountain Members: Membership in a special class of life memberships without annual or other dues and without right to receive the printed literature distributed to other members or the right and privilege of wearing the official badge of technical members, is given to all members of the Rocky Mountain Club at the time of consolidation. These special Rocky Mountain memberships shall be claimable by any member of the Rocky Mountain Club, not already a member of the Institute,

Jan 1, 1929

By Ernest N. Patty, Sherwin F. Kelly

The present case history deals with the examination of an almost forgotten nickel prospect, near Winesap, Chelan County, Washington. Although the final results yielded no ore body of commercial importance, the integration of surface and underground exploration, geophysical survey and diamond drilling endow the story with interest. The program is significant because it is illustrative of how the most disappointing expenditures in mining exploration, the "not-finding" costs, could have been reduced had geophysical methods been applied at an appropriate stage in the prospecting work. The Chelan nickel deposit was discovered about 1900, on a sage-brush-covered hillside with a southerly slope, adjacent to Winesap Canyon; the paved highway now extending from Wenatchee northward, up the Columbia River and into Okanogan Valley, is only a mile away. After the deposit was found, three short prospect tunnels were driven into it, and the prospect then remained dormant for 40 years. No. x tunnel was 80 ft. long, running north into the hillside. For the first 35 ft. this adit exposed a typical, iron-stained gossan with streaks and stains of malachite, and small seams of water-soluble nickel sulphate. Beyond this, it encountered a relatively fresh peridotite, well mineralized with blebs of pentlandite. Systematic sampling yielded an average assay of 1.5 per cent nickel and 0.3 per cent copper. Down the hillside to the south and 35 ft. lower in elevation, No. 2 tunnel was driven under No. I and in the same direction, traversing 50 ft. of gneiss before it reached the peridotite. At this point the latter formation showed only scattered blebs of sulphides, not of commercial grade. To the west, on the same contour line as No. I tunnel, and 800 ft. around the hillside from it, No. 3 tunnel was driven 50 ft. into the hill to explore a strong gossan outcrop that assayed 0.5 per cent nickel (Fig. I). From the geological exposures on the hillside and in the tunnels, it appears that the main mass of the hill is formed of an ancient and altered gneiss complex. Into this, a sill-like injection of amphibolite (altered peridotite) was intruded, which, at least in some places, contains commercial quantities of nickel sulphide. Its structure is obscure, but it appears to dip into the hill at an angle of about 15°. In the vicinity of No. 3 tunnel a large dike of quartz diorite cuts the peridotite or amphibolite; about 140 ft. north of the portal of the tunnel, a dike of andesite 00 ft. wide cuts boldly up the hillside to break the continuity of the peridotite in that direction. The geological evidence available was not adequate to decide whether the peridotite forms a continuous sill, or occurs as isolated bodies in the gneiss. Not all of this peridotite carries commercial amounts of pentlandite, but if the mineral-

Jan 1, 1946

By Raymond Mancha

A test of any fan requires the determination of such data as fan pressure, air volume handled by the fan, and power input to the fen shaft. When testing operating mine fans of the centrifugal type, test methods have been employed, for the sake of convenience, that permit great latitude in detail of procedure resulting in wide variance in results by different investigators. Some controversial aspects of field fan testing are the result of past failure to define clearly the various forms of fan pressure and to a lack of understanding of the accurate procedure for the measurement thereof. Also, the anemometer for air-volume measurement, although convenient, if carelessly used and maintained is subject to a wide error range with variation in method of application and in instrument accuracy. The appearance of the axial-flow type of mine fan offers the possibility of refinements in field testing that were impractical with the centrifugal fan. First of all, the fan inlet and outlet are more sharply defined, giving closer agreement as to just where the fan begins and ends; thus there is less disagreement as to the proper location for measurements of fan pressure. The area of passage into the inlet of an axial-flow mine fan usually constricts, causing high air velocities with accompanying steadiness of flow. Thus the fan inlet offers an ideal location for accurate air-volume measurements with the pitot tube, the proper use of which is well established by code. Thereby the controversial aspects of such measurements are eliminated. Use of the Pitot tube also facilitates a more accurate measure of fan pressure, since the individual pressures measured can be properly weighted, as will be explained later. Determination of power input to the axial-flow mine fan operating in the field is subject to the same inaccuracies as with the centrifugal fan if the axial-flow fan is also belt driven. However, because of the higher rates of rotation usual with axial-flow fans, direct-driven units are more numerous and it is unnecessary to assume a drive efficiency, thus eliminating one possible source of error. It is the purpose of this paper to define and explain the various types of pressure measurements involved in a field test of an axial-flow mine fan, and to further explain the proper use of the Pitot tube when measuring pressures and volumes. DefinitioN of Fan Pressures The two fan pressures most commonly discussed are fan total and fan static pressure, each of which has the same meaning regardless of whether the fan is blowing, exhausting, or blowing and exhausting, as in the case of a fan with ducts connected to both outlet and inlet. Fan total presscre is the amount by which the total pressure of the air delivered by the fan exceeds the total pressure of the air received by the fan. This pressure is a measure of the maximum amount of the work done on the air by the fan that is available for external use.

Jan 1, 1942

By Raymond Mancha

A TEST of any fan requires the determination of such data as fan pressure, air volume handled by the fan, and power input to the fan shaft. When testing operating mine fans of the centrifugal type, test methods have been employed, for the sake of convenience, that permit great latitude in detail of procedure resulting in wide variance in results by different investigators. Some controversial aspects of field fan testing are the result of past failure to define dearly the various forms of fan pressure and to a lack of understanding of the accurate procedure for the measurement thereof. Also, the anemometer for air-volume measurement, although convenient, if carelessly used and maintained is subject to a wide error range with variation in method of application and in instrument accuracy. The appearance of the axial-flow type of mine fan offers the possibility of refinements in field testing that were impractical with the centrifugal fan. First of all, the fan inlet and outlet are more sharply defined, giving loser agreement as to just where the fan begins and ends; thus there is less disagreement as to the proper location for measurements of fan pressure. The area of passage into the inlet of an axial-flow mine fan usually constricts, causing high air velocities with accompanying steadiness of flow. Thus the fan inlet offers an ideal location for accurate air-volume measurements with the Pitot tube, the proper use of which is well established by code. Thereby the controversial aspects of such measurements are eliminated. Use of the Pitot tube also facilitates a more accurate measure of fan pressure, since the individual pressures measured can be properly weighted, as will be explained later. Determination of power input to the axial-flow mine fan operating in the field is subject to the same inaccuracies as with the centrifugal fan if the axial-flow fan is also belt driven. However, because of the higher rates of rotation usual with axial-flow fans, direct-driven units are more numerous and it is unnecessary to assume a drive efficiency, thus eliminating one possible source of error. It is the purpose of this paper to define and explain the various types of pressure measurements involved in a field test of an axial-flow mine fan, and to further explain the proper use of the Pitot tube when measuring pressures and volumes. DEFINITION OF FAN PRESSURES The two fan pressures most commonly discussed are fan total and fan static pressure, each of which has the same meaning regardless of whether the fan is blowing, exhausting, or blowing and exhausting, as in the case of a fan with ducts connected to both outlet and inlet. Fan total pressure is the amount by which the total pressure of the air delivered by the fan exceeds the total pressure of the air received by the fan. This pressure is a measure of the maximum amount of the work done on the air by the fan that is available for external use.

Jan 1, 1942

By Howard R. Keil

Prior to World War 11, approximately 500 tons per day, or one-third of the ore being shipped to the Golden Cycle Mill at Colorado Springs, Colo., from the Cripple Creek district, was being treated in the flotation plant. The remaining 1000 tons, along with the flotation concentrates, received the usual roasting and cyanide treatment. Since it was not possible to make a disposable tailing on the general run of Cripple Creek ores by flotation alone, it was necessary to treat the flotation tailings by cyanidation, along with the roasted ore. By this treatment, an overall economical tailing could be made. The gold ores from the cripple creek district are the highly siliceous sulphotel-lurides with approximately 3 pet total sulphides. In the lower grade ores most of the values are found in very finely disseminated pyrite. In some of the higher grade ores the tellurides, calaverite and sylvanite, can be recognized. After several years of floating cripple Creek gold ores, having a very low mineral content, it was concluded that this type of ore required a type of flotation machine that would give a rather violent aeration and agitation. This action produced a fairly deep froth column which contained not only the free mineral, principally pyrite, but also most of the middling product; this was most essential in producing a low grade tailing by flotation alone that could be discarded to waste. After investigating most of the current types of flotation machines, it was decided to convert to the Fagergren type. During World War 11, the flotation plant was modified to handle lead and zinc ores. The treatment of these ores was carried on until April 1946. At this time the flotation plant was again reconverted to handle the Cripple Creek ores. Selecting Ores for Flotation During the period of reconversion a considerable amount of experimental work was carried on in the laboratory to determine if a disposable tailing could be made by flotation alone, on certain selected Ores from the Cripple Creek district. It was found that most of the dump Ores and a few of the low grade mine ores could be treated by this method with very satisfactory results. After the preliminary test work in the laboratory, it was decided to carry on further work On a plant-size scale to see if similar results could be obtained. On April 15, 1946, a part of the plant was put into operation as a pilot plant. The various ores that had been found suitable for treatment by this method in the laboratory, were run through the pilot plant at the rate of 200 tons per day for a period of several months. Results were so encouraging that it was decided to put the plant in full-scale operation. Since that time plant capacity has been the from 500 to 1000 tons per day. This has been done not by the installation of more machinery but by (I) crush-

Jan 1, 1949

By G. R. Rubly, H. J. Steele

The San Manuel property is in town&ips 8S and 9S, range 16E, Gila and salt River Base and Meridan, State of Arizona. This area is in the Old Hat mining district, southern pinal county, and is about 31/25 miles southwest of the town of Mammoth on the San Pedro River And one mile south of the Mammoth mine at Tiger, Arizona, The property consists of over 150 contiguous lode claims. The old Hat district was prospected prior to the civil war, but there was little or no production until 1881.1 The chief producers have been the Mammoth and Mohawk mines, now consolidated and operating as the st. Anthony Mining and Development Co., Ltd. Production to 1936 was $5,200,000, of which 83 pet was gold.2 Since 1940 the production has been chiefly lead and zinc, and some molybdenum and vanadium. There are a few small properties in the vicinity that have produced very minor tonnages of copper ore. In the San Manuel group there are claims which have been held continuously from 1906 to the present time, and at least two churn-drill holes were put down on or near the outcrop in 1917. No logs for these holes are available, but it is assumed that the grade of copper encountered was not sufficient to encourage further exploration. A small amount of ore has been shipped from open cuts on the San Manuel outcrop area, but there is no record of the tonnage Or grade. It is estimated that not more than 50 tons were mined. These cuts, plus a few shallow shafts and some short adits indicate limited and unenthusiastic prospecting at San Manuel. In 1942, through the efforts of James M. Douglas, R. B. Giffin, Victor Erickson, and Henry W. Nichols, owners of the Sari Manuel group, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and War Production Board authorized the United States Geological Survey to investigate the property, and by their recommendation, the United States Bureau of Mines was authorized to put down a limited number of churn-drill holes. The Bureau of Mines carried On drilling from November 1943 to February 1945 Seventeen holes were drilled, varying from 305 to 1990 ft in depth. The property was brought to the attention of Magma Copper Co. in June 1944, and an option agreement was made with the Owners. Subsequently, a group of claims lying north of the original group and held by the Apex Lead Vanadium Mining Corp, and a group to the east held by the Quarelli family, were optioned. A drilling program was laid out to conform to the Bureau of Mines pattern, and drilling started in December 1944 Sari Manue1 Copper Corp. was incorporated September 1945, and has carried on the exploration program to the present time. Geology General The mineralized outcrop, chief copper mineral of which is chrysocolla, is a tri-

Jan 1, 1949

By J. S. Marsh

Joseph Priestley prepared oxygen on Aug. I, 1774, and noted with great surprise "that a candle burned in this air with a remarkable brilliant flame." On Aug. 2, 1774, some ironmaker possibly began to wonder if this substance could be used to increase his rate of production; at any rate, there is no disputing the fact that the notion of using oxygen for steelmaking in concentrations greater than that available in great abundance—as air—has been in existence for years. Action was delayed by the lack of enough oxygen at a cost within reach of the steelmaker. Within the last several years enough has been available to permit large-scale tests of its use for both combustion, with which this paper is concerned, and for decarburization. The literature is now enormous and easily available; it is sufficient here to cite three items of historic importance in that all are about 25 years old and in that all are remarkably consistent as far as they go, with what is known today.1,2,3 Significance of High-temperature Heat The principal function of the open-hearth furnace is to supply sufficient high-temperature heat to melt the charge and then to increase its temperature to a range suitable for tapping, ordinarily in the neighborhood of 2900°F. That heat is required to make steel is understood by everybody; however, there seems to be some confusion now and then about the significance of high-temperature heat. Transfer of energy—and heat is energy— is always from a point of higher potential to a point of lower potential and, other things being equal, the greater the potential difference, the greater is the rate of transfer of energy. In the open hearth the flame, of course, is the high-potential source. Perhaps the most satisfactory approach is through the notion of theoretical flame temperature, which is the ratio of heat input to the heat content of the combustion products,* the former is composed mainly of heat of combustion of the fuel plus sensible heat of the fuel plus sensible heat of the combustion air. Thus, flame temperature can be increased by increasing the value of the numerator, by decreasing the value of the denominator, or both. The first method is as old as the open-hearth process and, of course, makes use of preheated air; its possibilities have been by no means exhausted. The second method can be put into effect only by changing the composition of the combustion air, since the combustion of a given quantity of fuel produces a definite quantity of product, and since the denominator includes the non-reactive fraction of the air, principally nitrogen. In other words, the denominator consists of the volume of exit gas multiplied by its heat capacity and that volume consists of carbon dioxide and water vapor as reaction

Jan 1, 1949

By J. S. Marsh

Joseph Priestley prepared oxygen on Aug. I, 1774, and noted with great surprise "that a candle burned in this air with a remarkable brilliant flame." On Aug. 2, 1774, some ironmaker possibly began to wonder if this substance could be used to increase his rate of production; at any rate, there is no disputing the fact that the notion of using oxygen for steelmaking in concentrations greater than that available in great abundance—as air—has been in existence for years. Action was delayed by the lack of enough oxygen at a cost within reach of the steelmaker. Within the last several years enough has been available to permit large-scale tests of its use for both combustion, with which this paper is concerned, and for decarburization. The literature is now enormous and easily available; it is sufficient here to cite three items of historic importance in that all are about 25 years old and in that all are remarkably consistent as far as they go, with what is known today.1,2,3 Significance of High-temperature Heat The principal function of the open-hearth furnace is to supply sufficient high-temperature heat to melt the charge and then to increase its temperature to a range suitable for tapping, ordinarily in the neighborhood of 2900°F. That heat is required to make steel is understood by everybody; however, there seems to be some confusion now and then about the significance of high-temperature heat. Transfer of energy—and heat is energy— is always from a point of higher potential to a point of lower potential and, other things being equal, the greater the potential difference, the greater is the rate of transfer of energy. In the open hearth the flame, of course, is the high-potential source. Perhaps the most satisfactory approach is through the notion of theoretical flame temperature, which is the ratio of heat input to the heat content of the combustion products,* the former is composed mainly of heat of combustion of the fuel plus sensible heat of the fuel plus sensible heat of the combustion air. Thus, flame temperature can be increased by increasing the value of the numerator, by decreasing the value of the denominator, or both. The first method is as old as the open-hearth process and, of course, makes use of preheated air; its possibilities have been by no means exhausted. The second method can be put into effect only by changing the composition of the combustion air, since the combustion of a given quantity of fuel produces a definite quantity of product, and since the denominator includes the non-reactive fraction of the air, principally nitrogen. In other words, the denominator consists of the volume of exit gas multiplied by its heat capacity and that volume consists of carbon dioxide and water vapor as reaction

Jan 1, 1949

By Howard R. Keil

PRIOR to World War II, approximately 500 tons per day, or one-third of the ore being shipped to the Golden Cycle Mill at Colorado Springs, Colo., from the Cripple Creek district, was being treated in the flotation plant. The remaining 1000 tons, along with the flotation concentrates, received the usual roasting and cyanide treatment. Since it was not possible to make a disposable tailing on the general run of Cripple Creek ores by flotation alone, it was necessary to treat the flotation tailings by cyanidation, along with the roasted ore. By this treatment, an overall economical tailing could be made. The gold ores from the Cripple Creek district are the highly siliceous sulphotellurides with approximately 3 pct total sulphides. In the lower grade ores most of the values are found in very finely disseminated pyrite. In some of the higher grade ores the tellurides, calaverite and sylvanite, can be recognized. After several years of floating Cripple Creek gold ores, having a very low mineral content, it was concluded that this type of ore required a Type of flotation machine that would give a rather violent aeration and agitation. This action produced a fairly deep froth column which contained not only the free mineral, principally pyrite, but also most of the middling product; this was most essential in producing a low grade tailing by flotation alone that could be discarded to waste. After investigating most of the current types of flotation machines, it was decided to convert to the Fagergren type. During World War II, the flotation plant was modified to handle lead and zinc ores. The treatment of these ores was carried on until April 1946. At this time the flotation plant was again reconverted to handle the Cripple Creek ores. SELECTING ORES FOR FLOTATION During the period of reconversion a considerable amount of experimental work was carried on in the laboratory to determine if a disposable tailing could be made by flotation alone, on certain selected ores from the Cripple Creek district. It was found that most of the dump ores and a few of the low grade mine ores could be treated by this method with very satisfactory results. After the preliminary test work in the laboratory, it was decided to carry on further work on a plant-size scale to see if similar results could be obtained. On April 15, 1946, a part of the plant was put into operation as a pilot plant. The various ores that had been found suitable for treatment by this method in the laboratory, were run through the pilot plant at the rate of 200 tons per day for a period of several months. Results were so encouraging that it was decided to put the plant in full-scale operation. Since that time plant capacity has been increased from 500 to 1000 tons per day. This has been done not by the installation of more machinery but by (I) crush-

Jan 1, 1947

By G. R. Rubly, H. J. Steele

The San Manuel property is in town&ips 8S and 9S, range 16E, Gila and salt River Base and Meridan, State of Arizona. This area is in the Old Hat mining district, southern pinal county, and is about 31/25 miles southwest of the town of Mammoth on the San Pedro River And one mile south of the Mammoth mine at Tiger, Arizona, The property consists of over 150 contiguous lode claims. The old Hat district was prospected prior to the civil war, but there was little or no production until 1881.1 The chief producers have been the Mammoth and Mohawk mines, now consolidated and operating as the st. Anthony Mining and Development Co., Ltd. Production to 1936 was $5,200,000, of which 83 pet was gold.2 Since 1940 the production has been chiefly lead and zinc, and some molybdenum and vanadium. There are a few small properties in the vicinity that have produced very minor tonnages of copper ore. In the San Manuel group there are claims which have been held continuously from 1906 to the present time, and at least two churn-drill holes were put down on or near the outcrop in 1917. No logs for these holes are available, but it is assumed that the grade of copper encountered was not sufficient to encourage further exploration. A small amount of ore has been shipped from open cuts on the San Manuel outcrop area, but there is no record of the tonnage Or grade. It is estimated that not more than 50 tons were mined. These cuts, plus a few shallow shafts and some short adits indicate limited and unenthusiastic prospecting at San Manuel. In 1942, through the efforts of James M. Douglas, R. B. Giffin, Victor Erickson, and Henry W. Nichols, owners of the Sari Manuel group, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and War Production Board authorized the United States Geological Survey to investigate the property, and by their recommendation, the United States Bureau of Mines was authorized to put down a limited number of churn-drill holes. The Bureau of Mines carried On drilling from November 1943 to February 1945 Seventeen holes were drilled, varying from 305 to 1990 ft in depth. The property was brought to the attention of Magma Copper Co. in June 1944, and an option agreement was made with the Owners. Subsequently, a group of claims lying north of the original group and held by the Apex Lead Vanadium Mining Corp, and a group to the east held by the Quarelli family, were optioned. A drilling program was laid out to conform to the Bureau of Mines pattern, and drilling started in December 1944 Sari Manue1 Copper Corp. was incorporated September 1945, and has carried on the exploration program to the present time. Geology General The mineralized outcrop, chief copper mineral of which is chrysocolla, is a tri-

Jan 1, 1949

By Henry J. Welge

The approximate methods which are now in use for calculating oil displacement from reservoirs by gas-cycling or gravity-drainage at constant gas pressure, or by water flooding, make use of fundamental relationships derived by Leverett' and Buckley and Leverett.2 The mathematical equations needed are derived by applying Darcy's law to the flowing phases, and by material balance considerations. ln general, any treatment of this type gives. for any particular exploitation time considered, a plot of oil saturation against distance in the reser-voir. The oil recovery must then be obtained by integrating in some manner the area under the plot. A useful analytical method has been derived for computing the average saturation, and hence the oil recovery. Use of this method simplifies the calculations because it makes unnecessary any numerical integrations. and even the saturation distribution plots are not needed. A further advantage of the method is that knowledge of the relative permeabilities is required only for a limited and intermediate saturation range. In both the Buckley and Leverett method and the method discussed here, a linear sand section is assumed, and in the case of gas drive the gas pressure is assumed sufficiently constant both with respect to reservoir position and time so that changes in gas density. solubility, or reservoir volume factor are negligiklle. Thus, the exploitation contemplates oil displacement as by an immiscible phase. Examples are given to illustrate how the new method can be used. INTRODUCTION AND THEORETICAL BACKGROUND This paper treats a simplified method for computing oil recovery when the oil is displaced, from the reservoir sand by a fluid which, within the limits of accuracy desired, can be assumed to be incompressible and immiscible with the oil. The method makes use of two basic relations originally developed for the case of water displacing oil. However, the case of gas displacing oil saturated with gas at a constant (or nearly constant) pressure may also be considered a displacement by an immiscible fluid. This is possible for the reason that the concentration of the gas in the oil never changes if tile pressure is fixed. consequently, any additional free gas must remain undissolved in the oil, and so must act essentially as an immiscible phase. For convenience, the cape of gas drive will be considered first. Both of the two basic relations needed refer to a linear reservoir, or one which may be somewhat idealized so that a constant cross-section is exposed to fluid flow. Further, the displacing phase is injected at one end, or face; of the reservoir, while the produced fluids are understood to emerge at one point only. which is the opposite face of the reservoir. As indicated in Fig. 1, the reservoir may he inclined by some angle 8. The first of the required equations may be derived by applying Darcy's law to both displacing and displaced phases, and subtracting the two equations. The result for water drive has been given previously, as Equation (13) of the reference by

Jan 1, 1952