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By V. J. Sikora, T. S. Hutchinson

This paper presents a method for making a water-rlrive ana1gsis without prior knowledge of aquifer geometry and uniformity using a standard desk calculator. Although it is necessary to know the initial oil in place to use this method, this is a minor limitation to the scope of (he method since in most reservoirs it is possible to obtain reasonably accurate volumetric oil-in-place estimates. An equation is developed which relates pressure at the water-oil contact to the water influx rate as a function of time by a factor called the resistance function. The resistance function introduces the composite effect of the aquifer geometry and flow resistance disrribution. It is pointed out that the characteristic shape of this function makes it possible to start with on approximation of the function and successively improve the approximation until the correct resistance function curve is obtained. In this fashion water-drive estimates can be made without the limitation of assuming simplifed aquifer shapes and flow distributions. This is the novel feature of this development. Methods are given for extrapolating the final curve to calculate future aquifer behavior. Equations are developed for adjusting the pressures and water influx rates where it appears that possible errors in these quantities make it difficult or impossible to obtain a useuble resistance function curve without this adjustment. Application of the pressure build-up analysis techiiique to estimate. some of the aquifer properties is also presented INTRODUCTION A great many oil pools are the result of oil accumulation in some type of trap in an otherwise large and continuous porous stratum. The void space of this stratum outside of the oil pool itself is filled with water or brine. In analyzing performance of the oil pool surrounded by this water aquifer, it is quite necessary. in most cases, to include behavior of the water. When the pressure at any point in a fluid system is lowered, such as by opening a well in an oil sand, fluids in the immediate neighborhood of this point will begin flowing towards this lower pressure sink. As pressure in this area drops due to flow towards the sink, fluids from farther out will start to flow towards the lower pressure. As more and more fluid is removed from the system, the distance from the sink or well within which flow is occurring will continually increase; that is, thc region of disturbance will grow. If some rigid boundary such as a fault is reached by the disturbance, this area will cease to grow; but if some movable boundary is reached, such as a water-oil contact, the area will grow on out into the water, although rate of growth may and almost always does change. The relation between amount of pressure drop and amount of fluid flowing at any point and at any time in an aquifer depends on such factors as compressibility and viscosity of the fluids, the porosity and permeability of the rock, geometry of the whole system and withdrawal rate or pressure drop. With these factors known, it is theoretically possible to calculate the pressure-flow behavior of the system, However, in practice true solutions to the problem are next to impossible due to complexity of reservoir systems. A number of approximate methods of solution have been developed based on various simplifying assumptions. One frequent assumption is that the water-oil contact can be located and equations defining oil reservoir and aquifer solved separately by assigning values to various parameters so as to match past pressure and production history. Usually the properties of the aquifer are not known, since few, if any, wells are drilled through the aquifer; but the water influx and the pressure at the reservoir boundary are known over some time. If it can now be assumed that the aquifer is circular, pie-shaped, or linear, and that it has uniform properties, it is possible to fit a theoretical dimensionless curve to the past aquifer performance history and therefore calculate future water drive. These theoretical curves are available in the literature,1,2,3 Of course, the assumption of uniform aquifer properties is almost always somewhat in error. Fortunately, however, moderate variations from the average have little effect on behavior of the system; and, hence, the best fit of a theoretical curve is frequently satisfactory. In other cases variations in aquifer properties and geometry are large enough that none of the available theoretical curves will give an acceptable fit of the data. In these cases, methods of fitting the data with various electrical analyzers have been developed.1,2' It is the purpose of this paper to present an approach

By L. W. Holm, A. K. Csaszar

A series of laboratory experiments was conducted in which oil was displaced from a porous medium by water-driven slugs of alcohols or similar solvents. The solvents used were soluble to some degree in both oil and water and covered the range of solubilities from complete solubility in oil to complete solubility in water. Displacement experiments were conducted on 2-and 3%-in. in diameter consolidated cores and 1-and 2-in. in diameter unconsolidated sand packs. The cores and sand packs ranged in length from 1 to 30 ft, and they were saturated with brine and crude or refined oils. The solvents used included ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), tertiary butyl alcohol (TBAI, secondary butyl alcohol (SBA), n-amyl alcohol (NAA), methyl ethyl ketone, acetone and others. It was found that all of the oil present in a porous medium could be miscibly displaced by injecting a slug of mutual solvent and driving it with water. The oil-recovery efficiency was dependent upon (1) the relative solubilities of the solvent in oil and water, and (2) the distance traversed by the flood. For complete oil recovery from cores, a smaller amount of a preferentially oil-soluble solvent was required, compared to the amount of preferentially water-soluble solvent needed. The size of the solvent slug required varied inversely with the linear flooding-path length raised to the 0.65 power. Water-driven dual solvent combinations (an oil-soluble solvent slug followed by a water-soluble solvent slug) were found to effect complete oil recovery with less total solvent than any single solvent used. In these dual-solvent displacement experiments, the slug size required varied inversely with length raised to the 0.55 power. Based upon the experimental results, a theory was developed to describe the displacement of oil and water by mutual solvents, and equations are presented to predict the production history in a linear system. These equations take into account the properties of the solvents and the porous medium. INTRODUCTION Oil-recovery processes which utilize displacing fluids that are miscible with the reservoir fluids have been studied extensively in recent years. Because of the poor contact efficiency and high pressure requirements of the LPG-gas displacement process there has been considerable interest in the alcohol-water process, and a number of studies have been made on the recovery of oil through the use of solvents which are mutually soluble in oil and water. An investigation by Sievert, Dew and Conleyl indicated that the use of mutual solvents would be limited because the presence of water in a porous medium would cause a phase break in the leading edge of the displacing solvent. Their study also showed that, in consolidated cores containing. only oil, the displacement of oil by a water-driven mutual-solvent slug of tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) was affected by the viscosity ratios of the fluids involved. Gatlin and slobod3 concluded that an isopropyl alcohol (IPA) slug acts as a miscible piston, completely displacing both oil and water until the alcohol content of the mixing zone falls below the concentration necessary to maintain miscibility. Their study was conducted on uniform unconsolidated sand packs. They concluded further that IPA could be used effectively to recover oil from a watered-out sand. In a paper by Taber, Gamath and Reed4 relating an investigation on sandstone cores, it was stated that the displacement of oil by mutual solvents, particularly IPA, was not a miscible displacement and that no improvement in efficiency could be expected with increase in flooding-path length. However, their analytical analysis of the displacement mechanism using TBA is, in fact, one which indicates that the displacement is controlled by miscible mixing. They suggested that the lack of improvement in efficiency with flooding - path

By A. A. Venghiattis

This paper is discussed not because of its intrinsic value but because it has been related by its authors to the oilwell gun perforators. It is well known that conditions almost ever present in oilwell perforations are the overburden and the presence of the casing. Because of the lack of information in the paper on the dimensions or confinement of the target rocks, one is led to guess that they were not confined at all and, particularly, that no steel front plates were used on the impact face of the rocks to materialize the presence of the cemented casing. This situation, plus the fact that small steel balls have been used as projectiles instead of actual bullets, makes the whole thing unapplicable to oilwell perforation. When shooting is performed against target rocks confined (as shown on Fig. 1) in such a way as to give a fair image of the overburden applied to the formation to be perforated, as well as of the cemented casing, the following are found. 1. There is no cratering worthy of mention, even with bullets having 10 times higher impact energy per unit projected area than the steel balls mentioned in the article. This has been confirmed with sandstone as well as with other rocks (granite, limestone and chalk). See Figs. 2 and 3. 2. Penetrations vary closely as the logarithm of the impact velocity. On this matter I have established the relation

By J. E. Drury, W. M. Byers, E. J. Lynch

Measurements made with starch ~~~~s indicate that the Presence of starch serves to depress the streaming potential of a clay mud system. Measurements with pure starch slurries show that the addition of NaCl or CaO reduces the streaming potential significantly. The addition of NaOH, however, causes only a minor reduction in potential even when there are large changes in mud resistivity. INTRODUCTION In their excellent study of the streaming potential, Hill and Anderson' proposed that the presence of conductive solids within the filter medium will reduce the generated potential. This theory was demonstrated with measurements on shaly sandstone cores having various "b" factors; the cores with the higher negative b factors showed markedly lower potentials. (The factor b was originally defined by Hill and Milburn2 in an expression relating the resistivity of a shaly sandstone to the resistivity of the interstitial water: log F, = log F,, + b (log 100R,)'. 'he factor b, therefore, is a measure of the contribution of the conductive solids to the total conductivity of the sample. It has been found experimentally to be directly related to the amount of chemically exchangeable ion per unit pore volume.) In the logical extension of this hypothesis to the streaming potential created by filtration through mud cakes, they suggested that the presence of nonconductive starch in a drilling mud would have the opposite effect; i.e., it would cause the streaming POtential to be increased. The high streaming potentials that they observed with lime muds were attributed to this cause. A cross-plot of some of their results which are relevant to this discussion is given in Fig. 1. The lime-mud curves and untreated-mud curve are taken from curves given in their paper. The gyp-mud line was estimated from their statement that the measured streaming potential for gyp muds in the range of 1.5 to 2.0 ohm-m was approximately 18 mv/1,000 psi. These gyp-mud potentials were the lowest that they reported for any of the bentonitic-clay muds, and were the only ones which were less than the untreated-mud potentials. This very low streaming potential of gyp muds has also been observed in field studies.' By way of comparison, a U. of Texas publication4 gives the approxi-ate compositions for lime and gyp muds shown in Table 1. These materials are added to a bentonitic-clay mud base. It can be seen that both of these muds contain significant amounts of calcium salts and that the gyp mud has the higher concentration of starch. It would appear from this and from the data shown in Fig. 1 that starch may well be the cause of a streaming-potential reduction, rather than a potential increase. EXPERIMENTAL A series of streaming-potential experiments has been performed using a cell of a design similar to that reported by Wyllie.5 Calomel electrodes were used in both the mud slurry and the filtrate. Pressure in the cell was generated with high-pressure nitrogen. The primary objective of the investigation was to determine the effect of starch on the potential. Five different slurries were made which ranged in composition from untreated ben-tonitic mud (Baroid Aquagel) to a pure starch suspension (Baroid Im-permex). The intermediate slurries were prepared by mixing together a 9-lb/bbl clay mud with a 12-lb/bbl starch suspension in the ratios 1:3, 1:1 and 3:1. When starch was used alone, it was necessary to use an 18-Ib/bbl mixture, since leaner mixtures would not form a suitable filter cake. The clay mud used in the experiments was aged for three months before use. In addition to this series of measurements on the starch-clay mud mixtures, other experiments were performed to determine the effect on the potential of the absolute starch and Aquagel concentration, and the effect of adding various chemicals. RESULTS The effect of starch on the streaming potential is shown clcarly in Fig 2. Increasing percentages of starch resulted in n continually decreasing

By G. H. Schnakenberg

In response to the underground mining industry's growing concern with the exposure of workers to the diesel particulate matter (DPM) component of diesel exhaust, a method was developed to estimate the average workplace concentration of DPM that could be expected from using the new lower DPMemitting engines now being approved by the US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) when these new engines are equipped with state-of-the-art exhaust-control, technology for filtering and combusting DPM. The resulting estimate uses the MSHA-reported particulate index for these engines, the prevailing rule-of-thumb ventilation rate of 150 cfm/hp and the available diesel-exhaust filter technology that has been shown to be at least 80% effective in reducing tailpipe DPM. In the estimate calculation, every engine used in an underground mine is assumed to be equipped with this control technology. Under the stated reasonable conditions, an average DPM level of 90 µg/m3 (mass) is predicted as technically feasible.

The Institute was founded in 1894 as the Chemical and Metallurgical Society of South Africa. In 1904 it was reconstituted as the Chemical Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa and in 1956 it became the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. The objects of the Institute are to advance the science and practice of mining and metallurgy, to afford opportunities for the interchange and recording of knowledge of mining and metallurgy and to ensure high standards of professional conduct and competence. Membership benefits include monthly issues of the Journal of the Institute, monthly General Meetings at which papers are read, symposia, excursions to mining and industrial concerns and the use of club facilities at Kelvin House. Technical journals received on an exchange basis are available to members at the Johannesburg Public Library. The current membership of the Institute is over 1,400. Membership applications are accepted from suitably qualified persons and the requirements for entrance to the various grades of membership are summarised below. Members shall be not be less than 30 years of age, shall be university graduates in pure or applied science or shall produce evidence to the satisfaction of the Council that they have successfully completed a co-ordinated course of study in pure or applied science of at least three years' duration at an approved university or institution deemed by the Council to be of equivalent status. Members shall have been employed in senior technical positions in important mining or metallurgical undertakings for at least five years or they shall have practised as mining or metallurgical consultants for at least five years. They shall be practising their profession at the time of application. Entrance fee R4.00; Annual subscription R14.00 (town), R12.00 (country). Letters of designation: M.S.A.INST.M.M. Associate Members shall be not less than 25 years of age and shall be university graduates in pure or applied science, or shall have successfully completed co-ordinated courses of study in pure or applied science of at least three years' duration. They shall have been engaged in work of an approved technical character in the mining or metallurgical industries, of which not less than two years shall have been in positions of responsibility. A candidate shall be practising his profession at the time of his application. Entrance fee R2.00; Annual subscription R12.00 (town), R10.00 (country). Letters of designation: A.M.S.INST.M.M. Affiliates shall be not less than twenty-five years of age, and shall have been engaged in positions of responsibility in, or associated with, the mining or metallurgical industries for periods of not less than three years. If, however, the candidate for admission to the higher grade of Affiliate, is at the time of his application, already a Student member, he need satisfy the Council only that he is, at the time of his application, engaged in a position of responsibility in or associated with the mining or metallurgical industries. In all cases the applicants shall satisfy the Council that they are fit and proper persons to become Affiliates. Entrance fee R2.00; Annual subscription R12.00 (town), R10.00(country). Graduate Members shall be not less than 21 years of age and shall be university graduates in pure or applied science, or have completed co-ordinated courses of study in pure or applied science of at least three years' duration at an approved university or institution. They shall not remain Graduate members after attaining the age of 30 years without the persmission of Council. Entrance fee R1.00; Annual subscription R7.00 (town), R6.00 (country). Students shall be persons not less than 18 years of age who are being educated or trained in a manner approved by the Council, to occupy a technical position in or associated with the mining or metallurgical industries and who, furthermore, shall not have attained the qualification required for a higher grade of membership. They may remain Students until they have obtained the necessary qualifications for transfer to a higher grade of membership, but not after the end of the Institute's financial year in which the attain the age of 28 (twenty-eight) years. They shall then transfer to a higher grade to retain membership of the Institute. The Council may relax the provisions of this clause in such cases as it considers appropriate. Entrance fee nil; Annual subscription R3.00 (town), R3.00 (country). Other. The Council has the power to elect to the grade of Member or Associate Member candidates who may not fulfil all the requirements for entrance to these grades but whose status, professional achievements and practical experience in mining or metallurgy justify such election. Applications. Requests for membership application forms should be addressed to the Secretary: South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, p.a. Box 1183, Johannesburg.

By James P. Rider, Charles D. Taylor, Edward D. Thimons

Research was conducted to investigate how ventilation of a mining face is affected when scrubber flow is greater or less than intake flow. Tests were conducted in a full-scale surface test gallery built to simulate a mining entry with a continuous mining ma- chine at the face. Methane gas was released at constant flow at the mining face. Gas measurements taken at six locations near the face were used to evaluate how well the face was being ventilated. Increasing scrubber flow resulted in lower methane levels even when scrubber flow was much greater than intake flow.

By M. J. Deats

INTRODUCTION To prepare the reader adequately, reference should be made to the paper 'The Pioneering of Fully Mechanized Longwall Coal Mining in South Africa' by R. T. Naude and M. J. Deats, published in the February, 1967, edition of the Journal. At the time mechanized longwalling had been proved operationally feasible with encouraging results since its inception in South Africa in mid 1965. Subsequently, further top seam panels were successfully extracted with improved productivity and with some modification to equipment. In 1968, after an overseas visit by mine officials, equipment specific to suit local conditions was acquired and lower seam trials commenced. Despite initial obstacles and difficulties the first panel was successfully mined. Modification and improvements to equipment and techniques resulted in the second lower seam panel being extracted economically during 1969-1970 and with productivity exceeding even that of top seam faces. During extraction of the second lower seam panel, gradual and complete surface subsidence occurred over the panel without affecting face operations. Rock mechanics investigations had originally indicated some uncertainty regarding adverse dolerite sill behaviour which could have caused longwall mining to be hazardous. All such doubts have now been removed. RESUMÉ AS AT FEBRUARY, 1967 Mechanized longwalling was introduced in 1965 on an experimental basis in an effort to improve productivity in the newer area of the mine and to increase the quality of the comparatively dirty run of mine feed to the washing plant. In addition advantages could be predicted in the long term by better utilizing reserves of straight coking coal and increasing the life of the mine. The top seam unit was obtained on a rental basis and by the beginning of 1967, two panels, the first having a face length of 215 m, a panel length of 345 m, seam section of 1 219 mm, and the second the same face length, a panel length of 453 m and a seam section of 1 067 mm had been successfully longwalled. At this stage a best month of 24 602 metric tons with an average of 17 364 metric tons per full working month could be reported. Results were sufficiently encouraging for the company to exercise its right to acquire the equipment as its own asset and from 1967 onward, the unit has operated on this basis. From the point of view of rock mechanics, the dolerite sill over the first two panels was known to have 'bridged', only the material below the base of the sill having truly 'goafed'. No adverse pressure effects had significantly affected face operations except for two 'bumps' towards the end of operations in each panel. Gate road maintenance presented no problem. The strong inflows of water experienced on the first face were now known to be associated with an isolated water bearing fault plane and were not experienced on the second face. TOP SEAM EXPERIENCE - MAY, 1966, TO DATE Panel 2 (February, 1966, to November, 1966) The operations in panel 2 (see Fig. 1 for location of panels) continued uneventfully until the final month in this panel. At this stage, the chocks behaved most inconsistently often lowering under the weight of the canopies alone. Roof trouble became so severe that the unit was unable to produce adequately and blasting of chocks became a daily occurrence. Finally 24 m short of the planned limit it was decided that a complete overhaul was the only solution and the extraction operations commenced. At this time, the only fatal accident associated with longwalling occurred when a Non-White inadvertently fell into the panzer conveyor transfer point at the main gate. Some gate road difficulties in this panel were overcome by bolting tapes to the roof as decking and allowing them to pass over the gate chocks and collapse into the goaf. Two cribbed roof falls were also negotiated by the gate chocks at the face ends without undue difficulties. It was decided in the light of maintenance problems encountered on this face that the best solution would be to appoint a foreman solely in charge of face maintenance crews. This step has to a large extent contributed to success achieved subsequently. Panel 2-face length 213 m panel length 456 m cutting height 1 092 mm average monthly output 16 443 t best month 19 130 t Panel 3 (December, 1966, to June, 1967) By the end of 1966 results were sufficiently encouraging for the company to exercise its right to acquire the equipment. This was negotiated and the unit has operated as such to the present date. Prior to installation in panel 3, all face equipment was thoroughly overhauled underground and the chocks boost-tested to yield-load. The costs of overhauling, including almost complete hose replacement, were much higher than anticipated. Advice had been received that complete hose replacement was common practice after +/- 18 months' operation. Shortly after commencement of operations in panel 3 the chocks again failed as they had towards the end of panel 2. At this stage, the suppliers advised that the valve gear should have been repaired during the overhaul as the needle and seat seals could no longer be relied upon. This operation was impossible to carry out on the face and would have been e1ttremely time consuming. Fortunately a new type of valve gear was then available from the suppliers, termed the capsule-type valve, and a complete change over could be made on the face. The encapsulated valve has a delrin pad sealing over a raised

By Howard E. Parkinson

Since 1969, the Department of Interior, Bureau of Mines, has carried out communications research. Research has been directed toward developing emergency and nonemergency mine communications. This paper gives an overview of the progress made in the last two years. Particular emphasis is given to the overall program, noise and signal measurements, systems studies, guidelines, products, and demonstrations now being carried on in operating mines.

By Hiroshi Yamazaki

The paper describes prediction, control and validation of face pressures, and special TBM features for the bored tunnels of the New Metro Rail City Project, Perth, Australia. The selected EPB-TBM passed below a heritage bridge and the operational Perth Railway station in ground conditions consisting of fully saturated uniform sand combined with shallow overburden and a horizontal alignment radius of only 135m. Therefore, strict control of volume loss, TBM operations and ground movements was vital requiring continuous evaluation and adjustments to TBM operation parameters. The paper discusses the effectiveness of applied TBM face pressures and the used foam/polymer soil conditioning which was measured against achieved volume loss and the predicted range of ground settlements.

Exposure to airborne respirable crystalline silica dust can lead to silicosis, a debilitating lung disease. On surface coal mining and construction sites, blast hole drills are notorious sources of airborne respirable dust that may contain significant amounts of silica. The drill operator and drill helper usually receive the greatest silica exposure compared with other occupations. As a result, many drilling operations have been, and still are, on more stringent dust standards. Drilling through various rock formations naturally presents a strong potential for silica dust generation for several reasons. First, drilling is a pulverizing process that generates large amounts of very small dust particles. Second, the bailing air used to flush cuttings from the hole leaves the hole at a very high velocity and can be difficult to contain. Third, many fixed shrouds used to enclose the area beneath the drill deck have a significant amount of leakage due to 1) gaps between the shroud and ground created by raising/leveling the drill, 2) gaps in the corner seams, and 3) tom deck shrouds. CONTROLS A dry dust collection system is typically connected to the drill deck to collect dust as the bailing airflow transports the cuttings (and significant amounts of airborne respirable dust) out of the drill hole. Deck shrouds are installed in an attempt to enclose the volume around the drill steel and prevent dust escaping. However, most deck shrouds are rectangular and constructed of four separate pieces of rubber belting attached to the deck. Because of this design, there is usually a significant amount of dust escaping from the open seams as well as the open area between the shroud and the ground. This dust can be a significant source of silica exposure to drill operators as well as other personnel downwind of the drill.

Notices THE FEDERATION OF SOCIETIES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS It is expected that the National Institute of Personnel Research will be conducting a project, at the request of the Federation, to establish the relationship, if any, between the academic and professional achievements of engineers. co-operate with the researchers. INFACON 74 The National Institute for Metallurgy, the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and the Ferro Alloy Producers' Association of South Africa will hold an International Ferro-alloys Congress in Johannesburg from 22nd to 26th April, 1974. INTERNATIONAL PLATINUM SYMPOSIUM OF THE SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGISTS The above symposium is to be held at the U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado, from 13th to 17th October, 1975. Papers up to 40 doublespaced THIRD MEETING-CANADIAN HYDROMETALLURGYGROUP The Hydrometallurgy Group of the Metallurgical Society, Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, will hold its Third Annual Meeting, October 1 and 2, 1973, at Edmonton Alberta. COLLOQUIUM ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF SLIMES DAMS The Institute has arranged a two day colloquium on the above topic, to be held on November 14th and 15th, 1973, at Kelvin House. The following Programme has been arranged:

By Stephen M. Smading

Unique onsite assembly of a 12.43 m Main Beam TBM and back-up system was completed on September 18, 2008 in the remote mountains of the Sichuan province of China. The equipment was assembled onsite, without previously having been assembled and tested in a factory, utilizing a method called Onsite First Time Assembly (OFTA). The Jinping-II hydroelectric project features four parallel headrace tunnels approximately 18 km long, two of which will be excavated by TBMs and two by drill and blast. A nearby fifth tunnel is being excavated by a 7.2 m TBM to draw down ground water in advance of excavating the headrace tunnels. This paper addresses the following topics: ¦Project description including geology and terrain; ¦The decision process leading to onsite first time assembly, the assembly process and logistics, and lessons learned; ¦Design features of the TBM and back-up system; and ¦Operational history from startup to the writing of the paper.

The comments by Mr Chaston were constructive and much appreciated. Considering firstly the recovery of cassiterite from fine deslimed material. A size distribution analysis shows that 58 per cent of cassiterite in Union Tin flotation concentrate reports in the minus 15 micron (quartz) size range. This is achieved at a recovery of 67 per cent and concentrate grade of 42,6 per cent. It is of interest to note that at Altenberg in East Germany 85 per cent of the tin in deslimed minus 43 micron material is recovered into a 14 to 16 per cent Sn concentrate using para-tolyl arsonic acid as collector. Reconcentration of this material is then carried out using two shaking table stages which recover 53 per cent of the tin in a 50 per cent Sn concentrate. Flotation was resorted to after recovery rates of 35 per cent and concentrate grade of 30 per cent had been achieved in a 275 ton per day plant comprising 130 tables. Tests on tabling of deslimed minus 43 micron material have not been carried out at Union Tin. The cost of equipment actually associated with cassiterite flotation amounts to about R60 000. The

By Gabriel Esterhuizen, Tom Goodwin, Scott Schilling, Anthony T. Iannacchione

The Roof Fall Risk Index (RFRI) is a new method introduced by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to assist the underground stone mine operator in 1) assessing defects the mine strata and 2) rating the relative roof fall risk these defects pose. The RFRI utilizes observational techniques to identify defects in the roof strata caused by local geologic, stress, and mining conditions. Assessment values for ten defined defect categories provides the foundation for estimating a range of risk conditions between 0 and 100 that define the potential for a roof fall. This paper examines how the defect information is collected using two field verification sites and proposes methods to analyze the RFRI data. These examples provide information on how well the method replicates observed conditions and how it might be applied in practice.

By B. G. White

NIOSH researchers have identified a pattern of fracture zone development that suggests an explanation for fracture formation around rectangular openings in underground mines. This pattern is characterized by shearing and dilation that result in either faults or in the repeated formation and propagation of en echelon fractures from sites of tension. Two computer modeling codes, Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua (FLAC) and Particle Flow Code (PFC), were used to model different aspects of this pattern. Use of very small elements with FLAC enabled the identification of sites of initial tension near the skin of square-cornered rectangular openings, while PFC allowed the initiation and progressive development of fractures from these sites to be followed as the fractures evolved. Such studies can lead to a greater understanding of how roof support can be better selected and installed for specific conditions in underground mines prone to roof falls and rock bursts. These studies may also lead to modifications of corner and opening shapes that could be incorporated into mine designs to produce more stable mine openings and reduce the risks of rock falls and rock bursts.

By K. H. Coats

In tnany oil and gas fields, significant investments are required in piping networks for collection, injection and disposal of various fluids. This paper treats the problem of optimally locating the trunkline(s) for a given systet to nlinimize both the total length of piping connecting the individual wells or lease batteries to the trunkline and the length of the latter. Single and multiple trunklines, varying line sizes, and grouping of wells are considered. Some attention is paid to the case of a curved trunkline. A field case is treated and conclusions are that the problem of locating a single trunkline is relatively straightforward while the location of multiple trunklines requires further research. INTRODUCTION la many oil and gas fields, significant investments are required in piping networks for collection, injection and disposal of various fluids. A single field may concurrently require piping systems for gathering of oil, gathering of gas, injection of water or gas and disposal of salt water. Two problems arise in the consideration of any one of these networks. The first involves the sizing of the various segments of the network to minimize piping and compression costs. The second problem, treated herein, is that of optimally locating the trunkline(s) for a given piping system to minimize the total length of pipe connecting the individual wells or lease batteries to the trunkline. This minimization problem may arise in field automation if it involves replacement of individual lease batteries by a central field battery which will require trunklines and connecting pipelines to individual wells. The problem also arises in connecting a gas pipeline through a subsidiary trunkline to wells in a gas storage field. The first analysis given below treats the case of a single trunkline and of separate connecting lines for all field units.* The analysis is then extended to consider multiple trunklines and common connecting lines for groups of field units. Varying sizes, and therefore costs, of the connecting lines are taken into account. A simplified development is given to illustrate the manner in which line sizing calculations may be integrated with the line placement problem. This study is primarily directed toward the placement of straight trunklines, although for certain field shapes or well distributions curved trunk-lines might be preferable. Some mathematical consideration is therefore given to the placement of a curved trunk-line in a field. The determination of optimal locations for two or more trunklines involves some difficulties which are discussed below. The need for further research in this area is emphasized. The problem of a single trunkline is solved in relation to an actual oil field. The problem of optimally locating two trunklines in the same field is also treated and the results are compared to the single-trunkline case. All calculations reported were performed on an IBM 7072 digital compker. The importance of right-of-way, roads and terrain in locating trunklines and connecting lines is realized. The present analysis is advanced on the premise that in planning piping networks one should start with the optimal conditions whenever possible and proceed therefrom.

By J. Shawn Peterson, David S. Yantek, Adam K. Smith

Occupational noise-induced hearing loss continues to be one of the most pervasive health problems in the mining industry, despite over 25 years of regulation. One of the loudest pieces of equipment used in underground mining is the continuous mining machine. Noise sample data collected by the Mine Safety and Health Administration indicate that 42% of noise overexposures between 2000 and 2005 involved continuous mining machine operators. Previously conducted field and laboratory tests have determined that the continuous mining machine conveyor system is a dominant noise source. Loud impacts occur as the conveyor chain flight bars, used to move the mined aggregate, traverse their path from the top to the underside of the conveyor deck. Various noise control treatments have been applied to abate noise caused by the conveyor system. A durable polyurethane coating has been developed for the conveyor flight bars, resulting in a time-weighted average reduction of 3 dB(A) for an eight-hour work shift. In an attempt to further reduce continuous mining machine operator overexposures, a similar urethane coating has been applied to the tail roller component of the conveyor system. Laboratory results showed a 2 dB(A) reduction in sound power levels, but the component failed during underground durability testing. An outer steel sleeve has been added to the urethane coating of the tail roller to enhance wear resistance during mining. The urethane jacketed tail roller is the latest effort, combined with previous noise treatments, to bring the continuous mining machine into compliance with federal noise regulations.

The Institute assembled in the room of the Board of Trade, Mercantile Library Building, on Tuesday evening, May 20th, at 8 o'clock P.M, Hon. W. D. Kelley made an address of welcome to the Institute, which was responded to by President Raymond. The Council reported, through the President, that the Institute had during' the past year, held three meetings, in New York, Pittsburgh, and Boston. Thirty-nine papers of great professional value had been read, and sixty-nine members and twenty-four associates added to the Institute. The finances of the Institute were in good condition, the report of the Treasurer, Mr. T. D. Rand, showing a balance on hand of $1569.74. The report was accepted. Prof. L. Gruner, of Paris, France, and Prof. Peter von Tunner, of Leoben, Austria, having been proposed by ten members of the Institute, and approved by the Council, were unanimously elected honorary members. The Council reported the names of the following gentlemen, with recommendation for election as members or associates. They were unanimously elected. *Barker, Prof. G. F.,.....Philadelphia, Pa. Chalfant, John W.,.....Pittsburgh, Pa. *Crawford, John J.,.....Philadelphia, Pa. *Crusius, O. H.,.Columbus, Ohio. Dibble, Theo. Hoyt,.....Pottsville, Pa. Everson, John,. Pittsburgh, Pa. Field, Robt. P.,.Philadelphia, Pa. *Fisher, F. A.,.Bristol, Tenn. *Fleming, W. E.,.Pioche, Nev. *Harden, E. B ,..Philadelphia, Pa. *Harding, G. E.,.New York. Hartshorne, J.,..'Philadelphia, Pa. Haupt, H., Jr.,.Philadelphia, Pa.

By R. F. Hinds

A pressurizing system was designed and built to apply a radial pressure of 5.000 psi to rock samples. Samples of the Bradford, Weir and Kirkwood sandstones were subjected to radial pressures parallel and perpendicular to the bedding in the system and the changes in conductivity, porosity and permeability were deter-mined. Asymptotic decreases in conductivity, porosity and Klinkenberg permeability were observed over the 0- to 3,500-psi range. From these data, the increase of formation factor over the same range was calculated. The cementation exponent expressed in the Archie equation was found to increase with pressu,re. The rate of change varied from formation to formation. Only small differences were observed for samples taken parallel to the bedding as comnared to those taken perpendicular to it except for the Bradford sand. Above 3,500 psi the data are not good enough to tell if the properties continue to fall-off asymptotically or in a different manner. A possible explanation for the probable litnit of the asymptotic rate around 3,500 to 4,500 psi is that this represents the maximum pressure which the formations have unrdergone during their geological life as a result of burial. INTRODUCTION For many years measurements have been made in the laboratory of the properties of oil-bearing sandstones with little consideration being given to whether these properties had been changed when the samples were moved from their original position in the ground to the laboratory. Relatively little has been reported in the literature on the effect of pressure on the properties of sandstones. The changes in permeability for eight typical consolidated oil-bearing sandstone samples with overburden pressure (0- to 15,000-psi range) was presented by Fatt and Davis' in graphical form. In 1953 Fatt' also reported the relationship between porosity and overburden pressure for four typical consolidated oil-bearing sandstone samples (0- to 5,000-psi range). Fatt later described the changes of formation factor and porosity of 20 typical oil-bearing sandstone samples with overburden pressure changes (0- to 5,000-psi range) giving the values of the coefficients and exponents in the Archie' equation, and the more general Winsauer equation', where C, k and m are empirical constants, F is the formation factor, and + is the porosity. During the experiments of this investigation the core was contained in a neoprene rubber sleeve as shown in Fig. 1. It was held between two steel end members which were mounted in a steel cylinder. The unassembled pressure cylinder with its component parts is shown in Fig. 2. The core was insulated from the two steel end members by a Teflon sleeve with a small hole in the