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By W. F. Kieschnick, and W. J. McGuire&apos, Eugene Harrison

This paper concerns the induction and extension of fractures into rock formations as involved in drilling, completing, and production stimulating operations on wells. Conclusions concerning formation breakdown are derived from (I) a review and extension of published analyses relating to mechanical theories of rock stress and the state of stress in the earth's crust and (2) a correlation of field data from fracturing operations. Conclusions concerning the mechanics of fracture extension, which indicate the relationship between fracture dimensions and rock properties, depth, and volume of injected fluid, are tentative and largely establish limits of relationships. These conclusions are derived from stress calculations, limited field data, and laboratory experimental studies. The experimental work involves the study of the stresses at the fracture boundaries and the geometry of pressurized fractures by means of photo-elastic modeling methods. Results of this investigation indicate that a large majority of pressure induced wellbore fractures are vertical, particularly in deeper wells; and variations in the pressures necessary to create and extend fractures can be explained largely on a basis of established rock properties. It is also shown that variations due to tectonic forces should usually be expected to be slight. Other results indicate that during that extension of fractures rather large fracture volumes are temporarily created by the parting of the formation. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of calculations and laboratory experiments concerning the mechanics of fracture induction and extension with a view to broadening existing knowledge relating to these phenomena. It is believed that continued progress in developing knowledge of this type is important to the further development of techniques for drilling and completing wells. When a wellbore is subjected to sufficiently high pressure, fracturing of the formation surrounding the well occurs. This phenomenon is a common cause of lost circulation during drilling operations, is a deliberately planned factor in most squeeze cementing operations, and is the controlling factor in many productivity stimulation operations. The exploitation of formation fracturing in recent years has been particularly impressive in sand-viscous fluid well stimulation treatments which were first introduced to the industry by the Stanolind research group1,2,3 several years ago. The borehole fracturing phenomenon has been analyzed mathematically by application of the principles defining the elastic and inelastic behavior of thick-walled cylinders of homogeneous, isotropic, and impermeable material.1,5,6 This basic argument is re-presented in this paper along with new considerations which strengthen it. In addition to these arguments relating to fracture induction some calculations and experimental results relating to the mechanics of fracture extension are presented. Since the nature of the pressure induced fracture at distances from the well is of great importance in considerations of well stimulation procedures there appears to be a need for an integrated approach which deals with the mechanics of fracture extension as well as with wellbore rupture.

Jan 1, 1955

By H. P. Holmes

Tonnage quantities of hafnium metal have been prepared in Kroll-process equipment designed for producing zirconium. Some slight process modifications have been necessary, but overall operation is the same as for zirconium. Hafnium oxide is chlorinated in the presence of carbon and the resultant hafnium tetrachloride reduced by magnesium metal. Byproduct magnesium chloride is removed in a high-vacuum distillation step and the hafnium sponge metal crushed for further use. Arc-melted metal can be forged and rolled to sheet, but the best material produced to date would not be considered cold ductile. INTRODUCTION This investigation is part of the program for the production of pure metals from domestic and foreign ores that has been underway at the Bureau of Mines for several years. It was done in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission and the Bureau of Ships.

Jan 1, 1955

By C. S. Matthews, P. Hazebroek, F. Brons

A method has been developed for calculating the average pressure in a bounded reservoir. The reservoir is first divided into the individual drainage volumes of each well, by using the criterion that at steady state each individual drainage volume is proportional to a well's production rate. The average pressure in each drainage volume is then calculated by a method developed in the report. By volumetrically averaging these individual drainage volume pressures, the average pressure in the entire reservoir is obtained. To calculate the average pressure in each drainage volume, a correction is applied to the ordinary extrapolated pressure, i.e., the pressure obtained by extrapolating to infinite time the linear portion of the graph of closed-in pressure versus log[?t/(t + ?t)], where At is the closed-in time and t the production time. The correction, which is a function of the production time, is presented in graphical form for different shapes of the drainage area (horizontal cross section of the drainage volume). INTRODUCTION It is important to be able to find the volumetric average pressure in a reservoir so that the size of the reservoir may be determined from material balance calculations. It is also desirable to be able to find the approximate distribution of pressure within a reservoir for detection of fluid movement. 'The purpose of this paper is to present a method for calculating both the average reservoir pressure and the approximate distribution of pressure within a bounded reservoir — that is, a reservoir with no water drive. In reservoirs where the pressure builds up rapidly after wells are shut in, the determination of average pressure generally poses little problem, for one often need only average the final buildup pressures. It is when pressure buildup is slow that difficulties arise. For practical and economical reasons, the time allowable for closing in wells is limited. If at the maximum allowable closed-in time the pressure has not reached a con- stant value (and this is more often the case than is generally realized), calculation of average pressure presents difficulties. One method which has been used in the past for obtaining an "average" pressure involves the extrapolation to infinite closed-in time of curves of pressure as a function of closed-in time. Contour maps of these extrapolated pressures are used in arriving at an average pressure. In some cases wells are shut in for arbitrary Lengths of time, and contours of these arbitrary shut-in pressures are used for calculation. All these methods are somewhat arbitrary and suffer from lack of fundamental theoretical basis. For example, no precise meaning can be given either to the extrapolated or to the arbitrary shut-in pressure. Furthermore, there seems to be no reason why either set of pressures should be contourable. It was because of the vagueness of these old methods and their lack of a sound theoretical basis that, the present method for determining average reservoir pressure was developed. SYMBOLS A = drainage area of a well, cm' A, = drainage area of well j, cm2 A , = total drainage area of all wells in a reservoir, cm2 c = coefficient of compressibility of fluid at reservoir temperature, atm-1 f = hydrocarbin-filled porosity, fraction h = net thickness of formation, cm k = permeability of formation, darcy p = pressure at a well, atm p0 = initial reservoir pressure, atm p* = pressure obtained by straight-line extrapolation of linear portion of plot of p versus log [At/(t+ At)] p = volumetric average pressure inside drainage volume of a well q = volume flow rate at a well, cc/sec a: prevailing reservoir conditions q, = total volumetric flow rate from a reservoir, cc/sec at prevailing reservoir conditions rw = radius of well bore, cm T = kt/fµcA t = corrected time of production of a well, seconds, defined by

Jan 1, 1955

By T. T. Campbell

A survey of the literature eras made covering the use of aqueous non-aqueous, and fused-welt systems for the electrowinning or electroplating of molybdenum metal. The survey was prepared in order to provide background for further investigations directed toward the electrodeposition of pure molybdenum metal from either aqueous or nonaqueous mediums. While a thorough effort was made to cover all available references, a critical review was not attempted nor does this survey pretend to be exhaustive in nature.

Jan 1, 1955

By J. L. Eakin

Systematic flooding was introduced into Nowata County, Okla., in May 1931. The results of this means of stimulating the nearly depleted Bartlesville reservoir in the county has been the subject of four Bureau of Mines Reports of Investigations.2-5/ This report presents a discussion of four full-scale water-flooding projects in the Delaware-Childers field and 1 pilot project in the Curl Creek field (fig. 1). All five plants have been in operation for only a few months. Although substantial increases in the rates of oil production have been obtained 1 by the injection of water, the projects are of particular interest at this time because of the novel methods of operation and new equipment that are being employed. One project utilizes a portable "package" plant designed for a pilot operation. All of the controls for this project are centrally located. The design makes it possible to remove the test plant to another location if the project is unsuccessful or if the unit is to be replaced by a larger plant. This project also utilizes diatomaceous-earth filters successfully for the first time and makes use of plastic pipe. Another novel feature of the operation is the aeration of Arbuckle limestone water through an airlift in the supply well.

Jan 1, 1955

By E. E. Harton

Bureau of Mines Information Circular 16, Bibliography of Investment and Operating Costs for Chemical and Petroleum Plants, was published in October 1949 as an aid in making estimates of investment and operating costs of processes for manufacturing synthetic liquid fuels. Development of such processes by the Bureau of Mines was authorized by Public Law 290, 78th Congress. This bibliography included refer¬ences to and abstracts of publications appearing from 1930 to September 1948 on all processes in general use in the petroleum refining and chemical industries. Publications in this field have been numerous since compilation of the above bibliography, and the present report was prepared to cover the field from September 1948 through June 1952.3/

Jan 1, 1955

By G. A. Pinsky, Pickard M. K

"IntroductionTWO METHODS of mucking have been used in sinking C shaft, the five-compartment production shaft of the Yellowknife property of Giant Yellowknife Gold Mines, Limited:(a) Band mucking during the original sinking in 1949 and 1950 (l); and(b) Mechanical mucking with the Cryderman shaft mucker during the recent deepening in 1954.This paper briefly describes the recent deepening and compares the performance figures of the two sinking operations.PlanningProduction planning in 1952 showed that it would be advisable to deepen C shaft in 1954 to provide for three new production levels and the installation of an underground crusher. To complete the required shaft work it would be necessary for a shaft crew to deepen the shaft about 500 feet, to partly excavate three level stations and a crusher station, and to cut a station for the loading pocket. Figure 1, a vertical section of the lower part of the shaft, shows the details of the deepening programme.During the planning period, Giant had a rather small supervisory staff and at the same time was experiencing a heavy labour turnover. As it was obvious that production would suffer if the sinking crew were recruited at the mine, it was decided that the merits of contracting-the shaft sinking to an independent contractor should be investigated."

Jan 1, 1955

By Elmer R. Kaiser

G. A. Vissac (Consulting Engineer, Vancouver, B. C.) —Some of the data presented in this paper, in connection with cost studies of washed coals, should be clarified and qualified. Washing a raw coal down to a low ash content may mean higher losses in refuse, but the cost of the operation may be more than compensated by the increased value of the resultant product. However, careful engineering and accurate machinery are required to insure maximum profits. Washing at a low gravity separation demands a very accurate automatic process, chiefly when the small sizes of coal are being handled. Coal consumers today are buying mostly on a Btu basis, cognizant of the fact that low ash contents result in lower installation costs and in savings in handling and transportation charges. The attached Table X gives the actual balance sheets of the various cleaning operations corresponding to various ash contents for the two coals presented in the paper, using the old technique of a two-products separation. or the new technique, now commonly used in Europe, of a three-way separation made possible by new methods and new equipment. Savings in capital costs, handling, and transportation have been calculated on the basis of a delivered cost f.O.b. plant of $10.00 per ton of coal at 16.5 pct ash (actual 1953 average price reported by Consolidated Edison, N. Y.), and of $3.50 at the mine also for 16.5 pct ash coal. In both cases this corresponds to values of 126 and 4.26 per 1 pct of combustible and per ton, respectively, on delivered and on at the mine prices. As an example, the middle western coal at 16.5 pct ash, raw, washed down to 4 pct ash in a two-way process will give 53.75 pct of clean coal at 4 pct ash and 46.25 pct of refuse at 31 pct ash. The value of the losses will be 0.4625x(100—31)x0.042 = $1.34. Add the cost of washing, capital, and operation, which is $0.35. The total cost will then be $1.69. But with a three-ways separation we will have 53.75 pct of first-grade coal at 4 pct ash, 37.25 pct second-

Jan 1, 1955

By J. Fageant, W. C. Ellis

All major regions in a progressively solidified germanium ingot were related through successive orders of octahedral twinning. The occurrence of lineage structure and the generation and survival of orientations are discussed. WHEN metals solidify in a temperature gradient a preferred orientation, or casting texture, usually develops. For example, in face-centered and body-centered cubic metals, most of the solidifying crystals have a cube axis, <loo>, aligned approximately in the freezing direction.&apos; In the solidification of diamond cubic metals this is not the case, since there is a natural tendency to form twin orientations.&apos; . In this paper, twinning relationships in cast germanium are described; some conclusions with respect to nucleation and survival of new orientations are discussed. In the first experiment, an ingot of high purity germanium, % in. in diameter and 1 % in. in length, was formed by progressive solidification4 from the bottom. The ingot was cut into 21 slices, each circular and about 0.030 in. thick. The top surface of each slice was polished and etched to reveal the regions of different orientations. Orientations were determined by the Laue X-ray back-reflection method. The uncertainty in the determined orientation relationships was l" or 2" when separate slices and films were involved. Frequently, however, advantage was taken of illuminating across a boundary when the patterns of the two orientations were recorded on the same film. The uncertainty then was less than 1". Often the twin relation was evident from common zones or individual reflections. Twin relationships were recognized through comparison of the values of the nine angles between cube poles of the two orientations with those calculated for successive orders of octahedral twinning. The birth and survival of each region can be reconstructed by visual examination of the etched slices shown in Fig. 1. In slice 21, where solidification began, many regions are present; these regions were found to be twin-related. Solidification appears to have started from one nucleus formed probably at the wall of the crucible.* Subsequent ori- entations were developed by nucleation on existing solid surfaces, and only in the twin relationship. This is an example of a general process of nucleation on a surface of existing solid and may be descriptively termed oriented nuc1eation.t In germanium, and other diamond cubic substances, the orienting habit is that of twinning on an octahedral plane.&apos; " The prevalence of straight traces in the polished surfaces of succeeding slices (Fig. 1) suggests that the twinning observed in the first slice persisted throughout solidification. This was confirmed by X-ray determinations. The schematic diagram of Fig. 2 shows the twinning relationships of the major regions throughout the ingot. Since all observed relationships are describable as twinning, it is reasonable to conclude that no random nucleation occurred in the freezing of the ingot. An alternative possibility would be that nucleation of a random nature occurred, but only those nuclei in twin orientations survived in subsequent growth. This is unlikely for there would be as good a reason for the growth of randomly oriented nuclei as for the growth of the many different orientations present after several orders of twinning. The many twin components contain a wide distribution of orientations, and did grow. In fact, they are the only ones found in the solid. The conditions of solidification of this ingot were such as to discourage nucleation of crystals wholly in the liquid. The rate of solidification was 0.125 in. per min. This slow rate of heat removal afforded but small opportunity for supercooling within the liquid —a condition needed to provide enough decrease in free energy for such nucleation. When nucleation occurs on an existing solid surface, the interfacial energy between the existing and forming regions is important in determining the new stable orientation. The new orientation is expected to be one which minimizes this energy. In the diamond cubic structure, the interface for the

Jan 1, 1955

By Frank Doxley

"FIRST OF ALL I should like to express to the members my sincere thanks for having had the privilege of serving them as President during the year now ending, to the Council for their guidance, and to the Secretary-Treasurer for his untiring efforts on both the Society's and my behalf during my year of office.During the .past five years the Canadian •Coal picture has changed considerably. In the West, production has been almost halved and many mines have been closed, due to the development and expansion of oil and natural gas industries, which, with some imported residual oil -on the Pacific coast -have provided competition which has been impossible to meet. The two major railway companies have embarked on an oil-burning and dieselization .programme and with this has .been lost one of the largest available markets for coal. Natural gas pipe-line installations still further threaten the remaining outlets for Western coal.In the East, retention of markets has also been a •problem, due to the intense competition provided by imported American •coal and the importation of residual oil.Because of cost it is impossible for central industrial Canada to be supplied with .coal from the Maritimes and markets are, therefore, restricted to fringe areas in Ontario and Quebec, and the Maritime Provinces.The dieselization programme of the Canadian National Rail ways has meant the loss of a large market for Nova Scotian coal and it is fair to assume that within a comparatively short time the market will be completely lost."

Jan 1, 1955

By R. W. Bruce, K. W. Downes

"IntroductionSULPHUR production in Canada from all sources for the year 1953 amounted to about 375,000 tons. Except for 16,000 tons of elemental sulphur derived from natural gas, this production was in the form of by-product pyrites, liquid sulphur dioxide, and sulphuric acid. In the same year, Canadian industry imported 359,000 tons of elemental sulphur from the United States. The cost, including transportation charges, to Canadian consuming plants ranged from $35.00 to $45.00 per long ton, depending upon location.Although most of the sulphur consumed is used in the oxidized form it is often most convenient to buy sulphur in the elemental form, and convert it to sulphur dioxide or sulphuric acid in situ as required. This is because elemental sulphur is easily shipped and stored, weighs only half as much as an equivalent quantity of sulphur dioxide and one-third as much as the corresponding quantity of sulphuric acid, and is readily converted to these forms in a sulphur burner. A process, therefore, which could economically recover elemental sulphur from sulphide ores would be most attractive.Since the turn of the century, notable improvements have been made in extractive metallurgy, but until recently only limited attention has been paid to the possibilities of elemental sulphur recovery. This has been due to the plentiful supplies of cheaply mined Frasch sulphur which have been available on the world markets."

Jan 1, 1955

By Murray Greyson

A number of tests were made with various methanation catalysts in fixed-bed, conventional fluidized-bed, and multiple-feed, fluidized-bed equipment to develop catalysts and processes for methanation of synthesis gas. The results show: 1. Methanation reactions may be carried out in 1-inch, bench-scale equipment at high synthesis-gas throughputs with good temperature control of the reactions if a multiple-feed type of fluidized-bed design is used. 2. Nickel is superior to iron as a catalyst for the methanation of synthesis gas, unless the process is considered in terms of a combined operation that produces both gaseous and liquid products. 3. Techniques of catalyst preparation determine, to a large extent, the process life of nickel catalysts, and these techniques must be thoroughly investigated before any conclusions can be reached. 4. Enough data are available to indicate that the sulfur concentrations in synthesis gas that is used for methanation are extremely critical, and maximum process limits should be carefully evaluated.

Jan 1, 1955

By C. Wagner

When an alloy solidifies and the composition of the solid differs from the composition of the liquid, atoms of the alloying elements rejected at the solid-liquid interface have to diffuse toward the bulk liquid. Diffusion may be supported by convection. Theoretical calculations have been made for a liquid without convection, for a liquid involving natural convection, and for solidification of a liquid alloy at the surface of a rotating disk as an example of forced convection. WHEN an alloy solidifies, the equilibrium composition of the originating solid phase differs in general from the composition of the liquid phase. Thus, segregation may take place, i.e., the composition of the solid phase formed at different times differs from the bulk composition. The degree of segregation depends on several factors such as the partition ratio of the alloying elements between the liquid and the solid phase, the rate of solidification, and convection. To clarify, a theoretical analysis has been worked out. The following presuppositions are made: 1—Calculations are confined to the solidification of binary alloys in which the concentration of component A (solvent) is much greater than that of component B (solute). 2—The equilibrium concentration of the alloying element B is assumed to be lower in the solid phase than in the coexisting liquid phase. 3—At the solid-liquid interface, partition equilibrium is assumed. 4—The dependence of the partition ratio of the solute between the liquid and the solid phase on concentration and temperature is disregarded since only small concentrations of the solute are considered. 5—The concentration of the alloying element B in the solid phase is supposed to be lower than the saturation concentration for the formation of a second solid phase. 6—diffusion in the solid phase is disregarded, since diffusion rates in the solid state are comparatively low. When the partition ratio of the solute between the liquid and the solid phase is greater than unity, a part of the solute is rejected at the solid-liquid inter- face and has to diffuse toward the bulk liquid. Thus there is necessarily a concentration difference in the liquid between the solid-liquid interface and the bulk liquid as has been pointed out by Hayes and Chipman,&apos; Rutter and Chalmers,&apos; Tiller, Jackson, Rutter, and Chalmers, and others (see Fig. 1). In view of the concentration gradient in the liquid phase, the ratio of the concentration of the solute in the solid phase to that in the bulk liquid differs from the equilibrium ratio, although at the solid-liquid interface, partition equilibrium is assumed. Under certain limiting conditions, the solid may even have virtually the composition of the bulk liquid as is shown below. General Equations Let u be the linear crystallization velocity in cm per sec, D the diffusion coefficient of component B in the liquid phase in cm2 sec-&apos;, c&apos;,, and c", the concentrations of component B in the liquid and the solid phase, respectively, in mol per cm", and s the distance from the solid-liquid interface toward the bulk liquid at a given time t. The partition ratio is assumed to be equal to a partition constant K. Thus. The difference in the specific volume between the liquid and the solid phase may be disregarded. In view of the discontinuity of the concentration of the solute at the interface according to Eq. 1, u(c&apos;, — c",), , , = tic&apos;, (S = 0)(1 — K) gram-atoms B per unit area per unit time are rejected at the interface and have to diffuse toward the bulk liquid. From Fick&apos;s first law it follows that uc&apos;,,(s = 0) (1 ~K) == - D(dc&apos;,,/?>s). _-„. [2] The concentration profile in the liquid near the interface depends on the interplay of diffusion and convection as is discussed in the following sections. A schematic concentration profile is shown in Fig. 1. The "effective thickness of the diffusion boundary

Jan 1, 1955

By T. R. A. Davey

IN 1947 the author became interested in the fundamental aspects of the desilverizing of lead by zinc, conducted some experimental work, and searched the technical literature for all available fundamental data. Since then a revival of interest in the subject in Europe resulted in the appearance of quite a number of papers. It became evident that it would be more profitable to collect together and examine thoroughly the results of various workers, than to attempt to duplicate the experimental determinations. There are many inconsistencies in the various publications, and it is opportune to review at this time the present status of knowledge on the Ag-Pb-Zn system. There is also a need for a clear description, in fundamental terms, of the various desilverizing procedures. This paper is presented in four sections: 1—There is an historical review of the origins of the Parkes process, of the results of many attempts to find a satisfactory fundamental explanation for the phenomena, and of the modifications proposed to date. 2—A diagram of the Ag-Pb-Zn system is presented. This is believed to be free of obvious inconsistencies or theoretical impossibilities, although thermodynamic analysis subsequently may reveal errors. 3—The fundamental bases of the various desilverizing procedures, which have been used up to the present day, are described; and a new method is suggested for desilverizing a continuous flow of softened bullion in which the bullion is stirred at a low temperature in two stages producing desilverized lead at least as low in silver as that from the Williams continuous process and a crust which, on liquation, yields a very high-silver Ag-Zn alloy. 4—A suggestion is made for the revival of de-golding practice, following a recently published account which does not seem to have attracted the attention it deserves. The terms "eutectic trough" and "peritectic fold" as used in this paper are synonymous with "line of binary eutectic crystallization" and "line of binary peritectic crystallization" as used by Masing.&apos; The German literature on ternary and higher systems is rather extensive and a fairly general system of nomenclature has arisen, whereas in English usage the corresponding terms are not as well established. For this reason the meanings of terms used in this paper, together with the equivalent German terms, are given as follows: 1—Eutectic trough—eutektische rinne: line at which a liquid precipitates two solids S1 and S2 simultaneously. If the composition of a liquid which is cooling reaches this line, it then follows the course of this line until a eutectic point is reached, or until all the liquid is exhausted. The tangent to the eutec-tic trough cuts the line joining S1S2. 2—Peritectic fold—peritektische rinne: line at which a solid S1 and a liquid L transform into another solid S2. If the composition of a liquid which is precipitating S1 reaches the line, on further cooling only S2 is precipitated. The liquid composition moves from one phase region (L + S1) into the other (L + S2), and does not follow the course of the boundary. The tangent to the peritectic fold cuts the line S1S2 produced nearer S,. 3—Liquid miscibility gap, or conjugate solution region—mischungslucke: the region within which two liquid phases coexist in equilibrium over a certain range of temperature. A system whose composition is represented by a point in this region comprises one liquid at high temperature; then as the temperature is progressively reduced, two liquids, one liquid and one solid, one liquid and two solids, and finally three solids. 4—Liquid miscibility gap boundary—begrenzung der flussigen mischungsliicke: the line along which the surface of the miscibility gap dome, considered as a solid model, intersects the surrounding liquidus surfaces. 5—Tie lines—konoden: lines joining points representing the compositions of two liquids, a liquid and a solid, or two solids, in equilibrium. In binary systems the only tie lines customarily drawn are those through invariant points, e.g., through the eutectics of the Pb-Zn and Ag-Pb systems, or the various peritectics of the Ag-Zn system, as in Figs. 1 to 3. In ternary systems it is desirable to draw sufficient tie lines to indicate the slopes of all possible tie lines. 6—Ternary eutectic point—ternares eutektikum: point at which liquid transforms isothermally to three solids, S1, S2, and S Such a point can lie only within the triangle 7—Invariant peritectic (transformation) point— nonvariante peritektische umsetzungspunkt: (a) — On the miscibility gap boundary, the point at which two liquids and two solids react isothermally so that L, + S, + L, + S2. (b)—On the eutectic trough, the point at which a liquid and three solids react iso-thermally so that L + S, + S2 + S3. Such a point must lie on that side of the line joining S,S which is further from S,. (c)—A further possibility, not found in this ternary system, is that the point is at the intersection of two peritectic folds when the reaction concerned is L + S, + S, + S Historical Introduction Karsten discovered in 1842 that silver and gold may be separated from lead by the addition of zinc.2 Ten years later Parkes used this fact to develop the well known desilverizing process which bears his

Jan 1, 1955

By L. H. Banning

In the fall of 1953 the Philippine Bureau of Mines, under a Foreign Operations Administration Technical Assistance (FOA-TA) program, began a systematic investigation of the nickel content of the well-known Surigao laterite areas, on the island of Nonoc northeast of Mindanao, to determine the occurrence, distribution, and grade of nickel contained in the laterite and in the subjacent serpentine. At the same time, a technical review of the possibility of producing commercial ferronickel from the nickeliferous materials in the Philippine Islands was made, and a smelting process was suggested. The proposed process would be similar to that developed by the Federal Bureau of Mines for the reduction of the nickeliferous serpentine occurring in the Nickel Mountain ?deposit at Riddle, Oreg. The potential avail-ability of electric power from the Maria Cristina facilities at 3 mils per kw.-hr. would enhance the economic possibility of this program. Development of an economically feasible process for recovering nickel from the nickeliferous serpentines and laterites should lead to the establishment of a new industry in the Philippines, to the development of a source of nickel in the Far East, of which at present there is none, and to partial solution of the problem of supplying the free world with nickel. Enough preliminary reconnaissance had been completed by early 1954 to permit sampling of the deposit for metallurgical investigations. The FOA then requested the Federal Bureau of Mines Northwest Electrodevelopment Laboratory, Albany, Oreg., to conduct preliminary electric smelting studies on nickeliferous serpentine and laterite samples.

Jan 1, 1955

By W. B. Agocs

"AbstractThe airborne magnetometer data of the Marmora iron ore deposit at Marmora, Ontario, have been used as an example to show the mapped results obtained by the use of line spacings of from 1 mile to 14 mile. The maps are illustrative of the results which could be obtained from such line spacings for any type of geophysical survey, and they show the probability of 'missing' a feature of economic value if the line spacing is too coarse.The probability equations are given for the crossing of randomly oriented features whose maximum dimension is less than the spacing of the control lines for circular, elongate, and rectangular outlines. The equations are P = D/S; P = 2L/S; P = 2(L+W)/,.S; P = A/,.S; P = (2L(S+T)-L2),.ST; and P (D(S+T-,.D)) ST, respectively; where P is the probability; D is the diameter; L is the length; W is the width; and S and T are line spacings.IntroductionTHE EFFECT of station spacing, and the effect of the distance between the plane of observation and the plane of the source of the potential field anomalies, have been studied by geophysicists in the past.The purpose of this paper, however, is to illustrate the effect of line spacing •on the resultant mapped magnetic anomaly for a known magnetite mass, and to present the elementary probability equations for determining the optimum control spacing for detecting a particular type of feature. The effect of line spacing which is illustrated by the magnetic maps presented herewith would be comparable to results which would be obtained by any geophysical survey, since the contours between lines are of necessity interpolated."

Jan 1, 1955

By Ralph V. Higgins

This paper concerns the magnitude of the amount of supersaturation that occurs in an underground reservoir during the flow of oil and gas to wells and to the amount of undersaturation that occurs during repres-suring of an oil reservoir where some effective permeability to gas exists. The study is based on earlier laboratory findings of other investigators on the rate of diffusion of gas in oil as a function of the depth of oil. Utilizing these relationships and the principles of reservoir mechanics, a quantitative estimate of undersaturation and super-saturation was calculated. The results showed that the diffusion of the gas is rapid enough that for all practical purposes no supersaturation exists during the flow of oil to wells or undersaturation during repressuring in reservoir sands having some effective permeability to gas. The reason diffusion of the gas virtually keeps the oil saturated is the long time required in radial flow for oil to reach the well and the slow rate at which pressure in reservoirs is increased during repressuring. INTRODUCTION Knowledge of the phase relationships during flow of gas and oil in an underground reservoir is essential to operating the reservoir in the most efficient manner. In material-balance calculations and in fluid-flow studies, the oil is assumed to contain all the gas that it will dissolve at given temperature and pressure. Pressure-volume-temperature relationships are normally obtained in the laboratory using "bottom-hole" or combined samples of the reservoir fluids. In such laboratory determinations equilibrium is obtained between the oil and gas in the pressure cells by mechanical agitation. During the flow of oil and gas in reservoirs, however, no comparable agitation occurs to mix thoroughly these fluids to aid in effecting equilibrium between the two phases. During repressuring of a partly depleted underground reservoir, the gas is usually injected into the reservoir faster than the oil can absorb it; consequently, the oil is undersaturated. On the other hand, as the oil flows through the reservoir to the wells during producing operations the pressure decreases faster than the gas in solution can diffuse through the oil to the gas phase. The oil therefore is supersaturated with gas. Where the oil is undersaturated, gas diffuses away from the gas-oil interface, and where it is supersaturated the gas diffuses toward the interface. In either case the gas moves from a higher to a lower saturation. This report contains the results of a study of the factors influencing the degree of nonequilibrium of the phase relations of oil and gas in porous mediums during the flow of oil through reservoirs to wells and also during the injection of gas into partially depleted sands. Data from an underground reservoir are presented and the degree of supersaturation during the flow of the oil through the reservoir to the well is approximated. Also data from another reservoir are used and the degree of undersaturation during the repressuring operation is calculated. In addition, the flow rates of oil in laboratory experiments and in underground reservoirs are compared, as data from the laboratory are often used to interpret events in the reservoir, and the rates of flow influence appreciably the degree of nonequilibrium. Much of the contents of this report was prepared in 1943; but, because of other activities during and since the war, the manuscript was left untouched until 1952, when it was decided to include an estimate of the amount of undersaturation during repressuring as well as supersaturation during flow.

Jan 1, 1955

By S. H. Ash

NINE-TENTHS of the total anthracite deposits of North America are in Pennsylvania. Corrosion of pumping equipment by acid mine waters has been experienced at tremendous cost by mining companies in the anthracite region of Pennsylvania, for many years in many ways. The design and specifications of the large centrifugal pumps as provided in the proposed mine-drainage system (7-35, 45, 46, 48, 54, 64, 70, 71)° make it imperative that a metal or alloy be recommended that has the highest corrosion resistance and, at the same time, acceptable properties suitable for general workability (welding and machining). This report presents data on the corrosive and erosive effects of acid mine waters in the anthracite region on metals and alloys for pumping equipment and drainage facilities necessary to remove or control this water.

Jan 1, 1955

By Wm. Snow, J. R. Wallace, E. P. Duchemin

"GeneralA NOT INCONSIDERABLE proportion of the Canadian economy is dependent on the coal mining industry. This is particularly true of the eastern portion of Canada and especially so of the ( authors') province of Nova Scotia. Much has been said about the trying economic straits of the coal industry in Nova Scotia ( 1), faced, as it is, with difficult mining problems, with considerable distance from large markets, and with •competition from other (and usually foreign) fuels. It is of particular interest, at this time, therefore, to discuss one of the larger outlets for coal -that of the production of metallurgical coke.Scope of PaperWhile the title of this paper indicates that it deals with Metallurgical Coke in Canada, the authors beg leave to treat the Canadian industry very briefly and to deal specifically with coal, •coke, and smelting problems with which they are familiar, namely, the operation of the Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation in the Sydney, N.S., area. No mention is made of metallurgical coke for use in the •many foundries in Canada or in the non-ferrons metallurgical industries.Coal and Coke StatisticsA few statistics of the total output of .Canadian coal, production of metallurgical coke, and similar figures for the Dosco holdings (Sydney area only) are shown in Table I."

Jan 1, 1955

By Robert D. Thomson

Sheet mica is an important material in the manufacture of electronic and electrical equipment. Large quantities are consumed each year as an essential component in generators, transformers, radios, television sets, radar, electric lighting equipment, and electrical appliances. The nature, structural imperfections, and impurities determine to a great degree the usefulness of sheet mica. Proper processing and classification add greatly to its market value. This report is designed to assist producers in understanding the complexities of marketing muscovite sheet mica. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Special acknowledgment is due S. A. Montague, of Spruce Pine Mica Co. and G. A. Purcell, mica consultant, General Services Administration, for their critical review and many helpful suggestions in the preparation of thin report. Assistance from other industry and Government representatives is acknowledged with thanks.

Jan 1, 1955