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Mining companies around the world are seeking methods to coordinate operations between the mine and the concentrator to achieve an overall improvement in enterprise performance. In several instances very significant increases in productivity (more than 20 per cent) and profitability (more than $US 10M per annum) have resulted from such efforts. The key to realising these large benefits has for the most part arisen from improved communication between mining operations and plant operations personnel and the judicious use of new tools to evaluate alternatives for improvement and to minimise the risk of implementation. This paper presents a systematic approach to mine-to-mill optimisation . The importance of systemic thinking and systems optimisation methodologies is emphasised. New tools for evaluating operational performance are discussed. Recently reported benefits are summarised. Finally current research is discussed and projections for the future are given.

Jan 1, 2000

By Cyril Smith

IN the study of the structure or the properties of a series of alloys or nonmetallic compounds, it is often advantageous to express the com-position not as percentage by weight, according to which the material is always made up and analyzed, but as the atomic percentage of the two constituents. The conversion from the one to the other is repre-sented by the formulas: 100A 100x or 1 x/A+100-x/B B(100-x) _ 100yA 100y [2] X. yA + (100 - y)B or y (100 - y) where x and y are the weight and atomic percentages respectively of the element of atomic weight A, and (100 - x) and (100 - y) are the per-centages by weight and by atoms respectively of the element of atomic weight B. While calculations according to these formulas are simple, they are time consuming if several conversions have to be made. In 1931 Water-man1 constructed a nomograph for performing the conversion, but this did not permit an accuracy greater than about 1 per cent to be obtained in the neighborhood of 50 per cent. Ölander2 has proposed a graphic method simpler than Waterman's and one that gives a uniform precision throughout the entire scale. The possible accuracy is about 0.5 per cent of the whole, depending on the size and accuracy of the coordinate paper used. Recently, Hermann3 has described a slide rule for making the calculations. These devices make use of the simple rearranged equation

Jan 1, 1933

By John E. Wiegand

"We will attempt to explain the basic workings of a modern seismograph and how the recorded data can be interpreted, not only for determining compliance to the regulations, but also in determining whether or not a seismograph record is accurate and valid. We will discuss some parameters that should be included in all seismographic recordings. We will give examples and use overhead slidesto show examples of both accurate and valid recordings, and tampered and inaccurate seismograph recordings. Much of the information presented will be basic in nature, and will reflect the opinions and personal experiences of the author. We ho'pe the listener will gain valuable information concerning the use and interpretation of seismographic data, as well as find interest and sometimes humor in the examples shown."

Jan 1, 1992

By Patrick J. Ryan, Johann F. Kerl, Angelos N. Findikakis

Introduction Tailings disposal methods used by the mining industry include the use of on-land impoundments, surface and underground mine backfill and marine disposal. The latter method, where applicable and under certain circumstances, can be the most economical and best environmental option. The term marine disposal is used to describe deposition of tailings in the open ocean, coastal waters, fjords and inland lakes. A major element in planning and designing a marine outfall is the assessment of its potential environmental impacts. The nature of the disposed tailings, and the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the receiving water body must be carefully assessed prior to deciding whether marine disposal is an acceptable option for a particular project. During the last decade, the North American mining industry has demonstrated a commitment to studying potential adverse environmental impacts of marine tailings disposal and to continue monitoring of the receiving waters. Extensive monitoring programs have been undertaken by Canadian mines. Marine tailings disposal is not used in the United States today. One of the largest U.S. mines proposing to use this option is the Quartz Hill mine of U.S. Borax in Southeastern Alaska. To assure the regulatory agencies and the public of the viability and acceptability of this option, U.S. Borax undertook an extensive program of environmental studies aimed at assessing the impact of marine tailings disposal. This program was part of the feasibility and environmental permitting studies conducted by Bechtel Civil & Minerals, Inc, on behalf of U.S. Borax. Due to the unique nature of the proposed tailings disposal system, a Board of Consultants was established. The Board assisted in planning the modeling and field program and reviewed ongoing work. This paper outlines the basic elements of the marine tailings disposal study program which can be viewed as a prototype for similar studies elsewhere. Background The Quartz Hill molybdenum deposit is located on a knoll in an elevated valley in a mountainous region of southeast Alaska, about 45 miles east of Ketchikan (Figure 1).

Jan 1, 1986

By Richard J. Mainiero, James H. Rowland III, Marcia L. Harris

This paper reviews the potential hazards posed by the toxic fumes produced by detonating explosives in surface mining and construction operations. Blasting operations produce both toxic and nontoxic gaseous products; the toxic being mainly carbon monoxide (CO) and the oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The quantity of toxic gases produced by an explosive is affected by formulation, confinement, age of the explosive, and contamination of the explosive with water or drill cuttings, among others. Techniques to protect workers and the public from the potential hazards of explosive-related toxic fumes are discussed. These include: • Minimizing the quantity of toxic fumes produced. • Determining where the fumes may go so workers and neighbors can be moved out of harm’s way. • Preventing the fumes from moving towards workers and neighbors. • Monitoring the air near workers and neighbors so they can be relocated if fumes appear. • Ventilating structures or confined spaces until CO falls below a hazardous concentration.

By d&apos, John C. Entremont

Pure iron was inductively melted in small refractory crucibles and optical pyrometer and immersion thermocouple readings were simultmzeously taken. The resulting emissivities of the liquid iron surface obtained were found to be greatly affected by both the gaseous atmosphere and geometrical changes in the physical setup. Quantitative values for these effects are indicated. FOR many applications in both the laboratory and plant, optical pyrometry is still the best means of measuring temperatures in the incandescent range. A prerequisite in evaluating the correct temperature is a good value of the emissivity of the surface. To obtain the emissivity from the tabulated values of the literature can be very confusing and often far from correct. There are many reasons for these difficulties, and it is not within the scope of this paper either to enumerate or to discuss them all. Its purpose is to show quantitatively how several factors affect the apparent emissivities obtained from experimental measurements on liquid iron surfaces. The black body is the reference state for the quantitative values of emissivities and is defined1 as a body which absorbs all radiation incident on it, reflecting none; such a surface emits more radiation per unit area per unit time than any surface which reflects any radiation, and is given a value of unit emissivity. All bodies having reflective power thus have emissivities less than unity and are considered nonblack or grey bodies. The ratio of the radiant energy emitted by the flat, nonblack surface to that of a perfectly black surface of equal area and temperature is the emissivity of the surface. The above definitions are applied to flat, polished, opaque surfaces, very seldom encountered in actual measurements, and for this reason many authors have suggested that the word "emittance" be used for real bodies rather than emissivity. The emittance has reference to the material and its configuration rather than to its properties in the idealized state. Recent observations of molten iron in a small refractory crucible indicate that not only the configuration of its surface but the geometrical arrangement of its surrounding and the nature of the surrounding atmosphere have a pronounced effect on the emittance. Neglect of changes in such conditions may lead to errors as large as 40°C at 1600°C. Thus it is suggested that the term "apparent emissivity" be used and that it be recognized that its value pertains to a particular experimental arrangement only. As a result of not recognizing these differences in emissivities, which are obtainable from changes in the physical setup of an observation, many investigators have incorrectly quoted their values as those of the emissivities of particular materials rather than as an apparent emissivity for their particular arrangements. As a consequence, values of the emissivity of liquid iron ranging from 0.3 up to 0.55 are found in the literature. In an effort to establish an accurate optical temperature scale for liquid iron solutions in which de-oxidation studies were to be carried out, it was observed that the temperature relationship, obtained by simultaneously taking immersion thermocouple

Jan 1, 1963

By P. van Meurs

This paper describes a technique which permits visual observation of oil displacement processes througlrout the interior of a porous structure as thick as 2 in. A model having glass walls is filled with finely powdered glass. Such a model becomes completely transparent if the powdered glass pack is saturated with an oil having the same refractive index as the glass. When water or gar, with a refractive index different from that of the oil (glass) is injected, the model becomes opaque in the space occupied by the water (gar). visual observation and photography of these displacement processes are thus rendered possible. The following processes have been studied: (I) displacement of oil by water (linear drive) in a homo-geneous formation and in a stratified formation, (2) water flooding (five-spot well pattern), (3) solution gas-drive process, and (4) oil-bank formation. INTRODUCTION Most of the scaled model experiments heretofore carried out in the Koninklijke/Shell Laboratorium, Amsterdam, have been done in steel containers, in which oil-saturated sand packs represented the oil-bearing formation. In such experiments, for instance those on the displacement of oil by water, the cumulative oil production was measured as a function of the cumulative water injection. In order to interpret the measured production data, a need has for some time been felt for a means of observing visually what happens in the course of such experiments. Some information of this kind was obtained earlier by observing the water-oil distribution in various cross sections of the sand after the conclusion of the experiment.' However, the technique used did not guarantee that the fluid distribution remained undisturbed. Moreover, the procedure was somewhat elaborate and the information obtained limited. Therefore a new technique has been developed, which is described below. DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUE AND APPARATUS Glass models simulating part of an oil reservoir are filled with ground Pyrex glass of a specific grain size, representing the porous structure of the prototype. Before an experiment is started, the porous formation has to be saturated completely with an oil having exactly the same refractive index as the Pyrex glass powder. All light-scattering surfaces of the glass grains become invisible and the formation is then transparent. If the oil is displaced by another fluid (e.g. by water in a water-drive experiment, or by gas liberated from the oil in a solution gas-drive experiment) the formation becomes opaque in the region where the oil is expelled from the rock.* The back of the apparatus is painted black and illumination is from the front; therefore, in the photographs of the experiments, the oil-bearing formation appears black, whereas the water- or gas-invaded areas are white.

Jan 1, 1958

By E. H. R. Schumann

The local stratigraphy and composition of the coal measures, including competent dolerite sill and massive sandstone lavers is shown to have a restricting influence on the development and magnitude of surface subsidence above total extraction panels in South Africa. The critical panel width necessary to induce nonviolent failure of a dolerite sill is quantified. Small subsidence due to the deflection of a 70 metre thick dolerite above subcritical panels is shown by example. Maximum surface subsidence tilt an; ground strain is compared to the NCB model. An exponential subsidence profile curve, SPC, describes a trough half-profile. A parabolic relationship between horizontal displacement and tilt, which has been discovered to exist can be substituted in the first derivative of the SPC in order to generate transverse displacement and strain profiles.

Jan 1, 1988

By P. V. Faragher

A metal or alloy finds its place in commerce in proportion to its ability to serve certain purposes better and more economically than other materials. While there is some overlapping of the fields of application of the various metals under discussion in this symposium, each one has its uses for which it is especially adapted. While aluminum is the most recent of the metals to enter the field, the development of the industry has been based on its peculiar properties, by virtue of which new uses for non-ferrous metals have been created. There has been substitution of this new metal for other members of the group but there has been a far greater development in entirely new fields. In common with the other non-ferrous metals, aluminum is resistant to atmospheric corrosion. It also withstands the action of many of the common chemical reagents, strongly alkaline substances being the notable exceptions. The outstanding properties on which the application of aluminum is based are its low specific gravity and its ease of fabrication into the forms in which it is used. It is noteworthy that this property of specific lightness is retained in all the commercial aluminum-base alloys. This statement does not apply to aluminum bronze; this is more properly a copper-base alloy, since aluminum enters into its composition to the extent of only about 10 per cent. None of the commercial casting alloys of aluminum has a density exceeding that of the parent metal by more than about 10 per cent., and some are actually lighter. In the so-called "strong alloys" of aluminum in which strengths comparable to that of mild steel are developed by heat treatment, the greatest increase in density is only slightly more than 3 per cent., and one of these, also, is lighter than aluminum. This property of lightness combined with the desirable mechanical properties of the alloys, makes aluminum especially suited for parts of moving assemblies where saving in power, as well as a decrease in stresses resulting from inertia and vibration, are of importance.

By R. J. Arsenault

The yield drop that occurs in tantalum, Cu-AZ. and Ag-Al was investigated as a function of strain rate and at several temperatures. From the strain-rate dependence of the yield drop an activation volume was calculated and found to agree with that obtained from differential strain-mte tests. The temperature dependence of the yield drop can he explained in terms of the parameter temperature divided by activation volume. The yield drop is attributed to the rapid multiplication of dislocations during their motion. THE yield-point or yield-drop (upper yield stress minus the lower yield stress) phenomenon has been the subject of numerous investigations1-9 in both bcc and fcc metals. Also, there is no dearth of theoretical explanations10-20 to account for the yield-point phenomenon. The present explanations can be divided into two categories: the concept of dislocation locking and subsequent unlocking and the concept of multiplication of dislocations due to their motion. The Vottrell10,11mechanism of locking and unlocking, as applied to bcc metals, is the best known of the three proposed locking mechanisms. The two additional mechanisms, short-range order (SRO)7,16,17 and Suzuki-type locking,14,15 have been employed to account for the existence of yield points in fcc metals. The experimental evidence supporting the locking of dislocations, especially in bcc metals, is well-established. The dependence of the yield point on interstitial concentrations,' the kinetics of strain aging,2 and the observations by electron-transmission microscopy18 are some of these experimental results. The number of experimental observations supporting dislocation locking in fcc metals is not as extensive as in bcc metals. The unlocking of dislocations, which actually is supposed to account for the yield drop, is by no means well-established by experimental results for either bcc or fcc metals. The similar temperature dependence6 of the yielding and plastic flow is one of the experimental factors that cannot be explained in terms of the unlocking of dislocations. The mechanism based on the rapid multiplication of dislocations has been proposed by several investigators. 18-20 Johnston and Gilman19 have proposed a detailed model of yielding, which was later employed by Hahn21 to predict quantitatively the yield drop in iron. This mechanism was discussed in a previous paper22 and several limitations were pointed out. In the same paper it was shown that an activation volume could be obtained from the strain-rate dependence of the yield drop and that a correlation existed between the activation volumes obtained from the yield-drop tests and from differen-

Jan 1, 1964

By A. B. Parsons

Perhaps this Index is the most useful volume the Institute has ever published. At least, it is likely to be referred to more frequently and by more people than any other single volume. It covers the contents of 27,058 pages of TRANSACTIONS in addition to special volumes, MINING AND METALLURGY and sundry pamphlets (T.P.'s) that were not subsequently included in the TRANSACTIONS. In the 54 years from 1871 to 1925 the Institute published 72 volumes; in the following ten-year period covered by this index it published 57 volumes, including TRANSACTIONS and special publications sponsored by the Rocky Mountain and Seeley Mudd Memorial Funds. These include the complete series for the Institute of Metals, Iron and Steel, and Coal Divisions, and all of the volumes on Petroleum Development and Technology. Indexing is an exacting task at best; it is something of an art. And a composite index like this, covering a wide range of subjects contained in volumes appearing over a period of ten years, presents added problems. Miss Katharine Lovell developed the system of indexing as the years went along, and did most of the original work. Mrs. Harriet K. Broughton, under Miss Lovell's direction, sorted and organized the accumulation of 33,000 cards on which the entries were made. For five years the Institute has needed a cumulative index badly; but until this year the Directors have not felt justified in authorizing publication. The delay has caused much inconvenience in the past; but to some extent this will be compensated by the great advantage of being able to find items covering the entire ten-year period in a single volume.

Jan 1, 1936

By H. W. Morse

MANY of our largest copper deposits contain both sulfide and oxidized copper minerals. The large porphyry mines, with a total copper content of from 1.3 to 2.0 per cent., send to their mills ore with an oxide content of from 0.2 to 0.4 per cent. While the recoveries of the sulfide minerals are considered satisfactory, using modern flotation practice, the recovery of the oxi- dized portion of the copper is small; better recoveries of oxidized copper were made before flotation methods were adopted. Beside the ores containing copper mainly as sulfide, with a small amount of oxidized copper,, many of the large porphyry mines have oxide orebodies, in which the propor-tion of non-sulfide minerals is so high that 2 present methods of treatment are ineffi-cient. In some of the well-known ore-bodies in the Miami-Inspiration district the copper occurs about equally in sulfide and oxidized forms; and the mixing of minerals is complete throughout the ore-body. There is no possibility of mining the sulfides and the oxides selectively. At the New Cornelia mine, however, the oxide, and sulfide ores are sharply separated, per-haps by an ancient water level, so that the oxide ore may be mined and treated in a plant built for that purpose, and the under-lying sulfide ore may be left for treatment in another plant. If copper is to be made from an ore having a total content of 1.5 per cent., it must be concentrated or removed from the ore by some. hydrometallurgical method. Flotation is generally successful for the sulfide minerals and flotation after filming with sulfide seems to work in many cases on the pure carbonate minerals. Callow has given an extensive report on the results of "sulfidizing" flotation on the ores of the. Magma mine.1 Where such ?a 'method can be applied, it ?may be, the best

Jan 9, 1922

By Wayne Burmeister, Danie Benade, Louis Meyer, Hugo Joubert

What is not measured cannot be managed. This is true of most things, including a furnace lining. This paper describes a Lining Management System used for this purpose. It provides the operations staff with a management tool to predict long term lining life and acts as a process optimisation tool. It alarms and records upset furnace conditions. Outputs from the system are described as presented through a specially developed software package and interface. It includes vertical and horizontal furnace sections showing estimated isotherms through the lining as well as the furnace bath. It also shows calculated heat flux values, estimated lining wear and the freeze layer profile. A novel three-dimensional display is described which provides the operator with a big picture view of the furnace crucible profile under real time operating conditions. The powerful trending facility for analysing both measured and calculated values is discussed. The required instrumentation hardware as well as the installation thereof is described, with special reference to an electrically insulating thermocouple socket design. Finally feedback is provided on the first year?s performance of the system installed on an open ferrochrome furnace at Assmang Chrome, Machadodorp, South Africa.

Jan 1, 2007

By G. F. Jenkins

The word asbestos is a broad term that has been accepted and applied to a number of fibrous mineral silicates found in nature. They are incombustible and can be separated by mechanical means into fibers of various lengths and thicknesses, but differ in chemical composition and other properties. It is generally recognized that there are six varieties of asbestos; the finely fibrous form of serpentine known as chrysotile, and five minerals of the amphibole group, i.e., amosite (not fully recognized as a mineral species name but accepted in asbestos terminology), anthophyllite, crocidolite, tremolite and actinolite. (Figs 1-4.) Physical and Other Properties The structures of asbestos fibers have been studied intensely in recent years. X-ray diffraction patterns 1 to 15 have been used as a means of identification and classification. The amphibole group structures have been fairly well established while the serpentine group has been the subject of many investigations during the past six years. Low-angle X-ray scattering techniques5 have shown that the chrysotile fibrils are "hexagonally close packed" and parallel to each other, having cross-sectional diameters varying from 180Å* units to 300Å units, while the amphibole fibers are many times larger in cross section. The electron micrographs of chrysotile asbestos (Figs 1-4) have also indicated that the fibrils might be in the form of a hollow tube. This point has been the subject of considerable controversy by a number of investigators.7 to 16 Density measurements17 made on a sample of high quality Arizona fiber did not indicate that the fiber had a hollow tube structure; however, the so-called "sheet structure" of the fibril could be distorted in such a way that it gives the appearance of a hollow tube in the electron microscope. It is of interest to quote one investigator, F. L. Pundsack,17 in this connection: Although the empirical composition of chrysotile is 3MgO.2SiO2.2H20, the true unit cell[#] composition is best represented as Mg12(OH)16Si8O20. This cell has dimensions of a= 5.3Å, b = 9.2 Å, and c = 14.6 Å where the "a" direction is the fiber axis. The calculated density of this unit is 2.56 g/cc, a value in close agreement with experimentally determined density values for chrysotile. The exact manner in which the unit cells of asbestos are stacked together to build up a single fiber of chrysotile is not known, but from various

Jan 1, 1960

By P. Foster, A. Burton

Over the past decade there has been a great deal of research into the use of virtual reality (VR) and computer graphics in the mining industry. Much of this has led to developed applications including training simulators and accident re-construction. One other area where there is considerable potential for virtual reality is that of mining ergonomics. This paper identifies those common ergonomic limitations associated with mining equipment that can be effectively modelled using VR techniques. From this, two simple models have been developed namely (i)remote control continuous miner operation and (ii) free steered vehicle sightlines, which demonstrate the practical use of VR in this area.

Jan 1, 2003

By L. R. Duncan, O. M. Wicken

Magnesium, the eighth most abundant element in the earth's crust, is found widely distributed in a variety of minerals. Among the more commercially important ones are magnesite (MgCO,), brucite (Mg[OH],) , dolomite (CaMg[CO,],), and the salts magnesium sulfate and chloride often found in natural brines. Among other commercially important magnesium-containing minerals are olivine ([MgFe],- SiO,) , talc (H,Mg,[SiO,],) , and serpentine (H,Mg,Si,O,) . These are valuable because of desirable characteristics given them by the magnesium content and its placement in the particular crystal structure. These minerals are the raw materials for a host of products including magnesium metal and several grades of magnesia or magnesia- containing materials for refractories, fluxes, fillers, insulation, cements, decolorants, fertilizers, and chemicals. Considering only those minerals valued for their magnesia or magnesium content, over 85% of the material tonnages are processed to be used as refractories. Dolomite, which is used in enormous tonnages for its physical properties in construction, has an important use as a refractory raw material in its own right and, after calcination, as a precipitant for magnesium hydroxide, which is an intermediate for the production of magnesia or magnesium metal. Magnesia from the reaction of calcined dolomite (or limestone) with sea-water or magnesium-containing brines has supplanted much of the production of magnesia from mined magnesite, particularly in the United States. The best known of the minerals directly and widely exploited for magnesia content is magnesite, one of the calcite group of rhombo- hedral carbonates which includes calcite (Ca- CO,) , siderite (FeCO,) , and rhodocrosite (MnCO,) among others. The members of this group enter into a wide range of substitutional solid solutions when the positive ions have similar radii. The radii of magnesium and iron ions are within 6% of each other; hence, magnesite and siderite form a complete series of which breunnerite (ferroan magnesite) is a well-known end member. However, the radius of calcium ion is 36% larger than that of magnesium ion, and only limited substitution exists at each end of the MgC0,-Cam, series. Dolomite is not a member of the calcite group, but results when calcium and magnesium ions alternate in equal number in an ordered structure among carbonate ions. The result of these relationships is that calcite and dolomite, often found intermixed with magnesite, occur commonly as identifiable crystal entities which can often be separated to a varying degree from the magnesite by various beneficiation techniques. Magnesite, when pure, contains 47.8% MgO and 52.2% CO,. The pure mineral is sometimes, but rarely, found as transparent crystals resembling calcite, but, preponderantly, magnesite contains variable amounts of the carbonates, oxides, and silicates of iron, calcium, manganese, and aluminum. Magnesite may be either crystalline or "amorphous" (cryptocrystalline). The crystalline form has a hardness of 3.5 to 4.0. The color may range from white to black with shades of yellqw, blue, red, or gray. The color is not a fundamentally significant indicator of purity, but in a given deposit, an experienced person can often roughly grade magnesite by assessing color and crystallinity. The crystalline form of magnesite occurs in

Jan 1, 1975

By A. S. C. Owili-eger

An efficient state-of-the-art dynamic model to simulate and predict the rate of water production in longwall coal mining operations was developed as a tool for mine planning purposes. The model can also provide an estimate of any potential resultant hydrogeological impacts of an operation via an array of element-specific single-valued parameters referred to as the field rating indices. The computational procedure was designed to fully exploit the benefits of hydrogeotechnology and use a combination of conceptual, physical, empirical, and numerical approaches to define, characterize, analyze, and evaluate flow controlling properties of fractured rock systems. The model presented here provides a dynamic prediction method for highly fractured flow; a practical tool in mine and water control planning; and a cost-effective means of assessing, based on the best available technology, the impacts of mining on the water resources within a mining environment to satisfy local and federal regulatory requirements. Unique features include consideration of laminar and non-darcian flow domains in double-porosity-pressure hydrogeological media.

Jan 1, 1990

By Tracy L. Atherton

The mapping of slant-hole oil fields is complicated by the fact that relationships between wells are subject to variations in three dimensions and are not readily adaptable to representation on a plane surface. Formalized perspectives usually expand into an undecipherable maze of lines and peg models with the necessary supporting dividers serve only to awe the beholder with their perplexity. The usual compromise arrived at is a plotting of the projection of the courses of all of the wells in the field onto a horizontal plane (Fig. I). These complicated plots, when used in conjunction with the individual vertical projections of the wells, heretofore have been the most practical foundation for the study of general field problems. This method has many shortcomings, however, which arc not found in the recently developed straight-hole equivalent projec-tion method. The new method supplies a series of maps similar to the type now in common use in straight-hole fields. It is remarkably simple to use and supplies a ready check on clearances between wells. Perhaps the method can best be understood if the steps that led to its development are described. Common practice of oil-well surveyors is to supply the owner with a tabling of the survey and a plan view plotted against the true meridian. If a vertical projection is plotted, it is usually plotted separately and shows vertical depths against the projection of the stations along a section line joining the top and bottom of the hole on the plan view. A more practical method would be to plot the section line of the plan parallel to the abscissa of the vertical projection (Fig. 2). If this is done, any line parallel to the "base line1' will pass through the points on each projection that represent a single point in the hole. Another very useful graph, which the well surveyor could provide, would be plotting of vertical depths against measured depths. Fig. 3 illustrates the next step facilitated by this form of plotting. The lines designated "well A" represent the proposed course of a hole to be drilled. Superimposed on the drawing, in its proper relative position, is the plan view and a portion of the vertical projection of a present producer, well B." From an inspection of the plan view we arrive at the correct conclusion that the only indicated possibility of collision is at the point of crossing of the wells on the plan view. Referring to the vertical projection, note that the vertical depths of stations on B, in the vicinity of the crossing, are plotted on the same plane of projection as A. The clearance is the indicated distance between the two vertical sections measured along the parallel to the "base line," which passes through the point of intersection of the plan view. Repeat this process for the other wells crossing the proposed course of A on the plan view and you have a preliminary check of clearance for the proposed course. A similar comparison of crossings on the vertical projections of all >

Jan 1, 1941

By Tracy L. Atherton

THE mapping of slant-hole oil fields is complicated by the fact that relationships between wells are subject to variations in three dimensions and are not readily adaptable to representation on a plane surface. Formalized perspectives usually expand into an undecipherable maze of lines and peg models with the necessary supporting dividers serve only to awe the beholder with their perplexity. The usual compromise arrived at is a plotting of the projection of the courses of all of the wells in the field onto a horizontal plane (Fig. I). These complicated plots, when used in conjunction with the individual vertical projections of the wells, heretofore have been the most practical foundation for the study of general field problems. This method has many shortcomings, however, which are not found in the recently developed straight-hole equivalent projection method. The new method supplies a series of maps similar to the type now in common use in straight-hole fields. It is remarkably simple to use and supplies a ready check on clearances between wells. Perhaps the method can best be understood if the steps that led to its development are described. Common practice of oil-well surveyors is to supply the owner with a tabling of the survey and a plan view plotted against the true meridian. If a vertical projection is plotted, it is usually plotted separately and shows vertical depths against the projection of the stations along a section line joining the top and bottom of the hole on the plan view. A more practical method would be to plot the section line of the plan parallel to the abscissa of the vertical projection (Fig. 2). If this is done, any line parallel to the "base line" will pass through the points on each projection that represent a single point in the hole. Another very useful graph, which the well surveyor could provide, would be plotting of vertical depths against measured depths. Fig. 3 illustrates the next step facilitated by this form of plotting. The lines designated "well A" represent the proposed course of a hole to be drilled. Superimposed on the drawing, in its proper relative position, is the plan view and a portion of the vertical projection of a present producer, "well B." From an inspection of the plan view we arrive at the correct conclusion that the only indicated possibility of collision is at the point of crossing of the wells on the plan view. Referring to the vertical projection, note that the vertical depths of stations on B, in the vicinity of the crossing, are plotted on the same plane of projection as A. The clearance is the indicated distance between the two vertical sections measured along the parallel to the "base line," which passes through the point of intersection of the plan view. Repeat this process for the other wells crossing the proposed course of A on the plan view and you have a preliminary check of clearance for the proposed course. A similar comparison of crossings on the vertical projections of all

Jan 1, 1941

By Tracy L. Atherton

The mapping of slant-hole oil fields is complicated by the fact that relationships between wells are subject to variations in three dimensions and are not readily adaptable to representation on a plane surface. Formalized perspectives usually expand into an undecipherable maze of lines and peg models with the necessary supporting dividers serve only to awe the beholder with their perplexity. The usual compromise arrived at is a plotting of the projection of the courses of all of the wells in the field onto a horizontal plane (Fig. I). These complicated plots, when used in conjunction with the individual vertical projections of the wells, heretofore have been the most practical foundation for the study of general field problems. This method has many shortcomings, however, which arc not found in the recently developed straight-hole equivalent projec-tion method. The new method supplies a series of maps similar to the type now in common use in straight-hole fields. It is remarkably simple to use and supplies a ready check on clearances between wells. Perhaps the method can best be understood if the steps that led to its development are described. Common practice of oil-well surveyors is to supply the owner with a tabling of the survey and a plan view plotted against the true meridian. If a vertical projection is plotted, it is usually plotted separately and shows vertical depths against the projection of the stations along a section line joining the top and bottom of the hole on the plan view. A more practical method would be to plot the section line of the plan parallel to the abscissa of the vertical projection (Fig. 2). If this is done, any line parallel to the "base line1' will pass through the points on each projection that represent a single point in the hole. Another very useful graph, which the well surveyor could provide, would be plotting of vertical depths against measured depths. Fig. 3 illustrates the next step facilitated by this form of plotting. The lines designated "well A" represent the proposed course of a hole to be drilled. Superimposed on the drawing, in its proper relative position, is the plan view and a portion of the vertical projection of a present producer, well B." From an inspection of the plan view we arrive at the correct conclusion that the only indicated possibility of collision is at the point of crossing of the wells on the plan view. Referring to the vertical projection, note that the vertical depths of stations on B, in the vicinity of the crossing, are plotted on the same plane of projection as A. The clearance is the indicated distance between the two vertical sections measured along the parallel to the "base line," which passes through the point of intersection of the plan view. Repeat this process for the other wells crossing the proposed course of A on the plan view and you have a preliminary check of clearance for the proposed course. A similar comparison of crossings on the vertical projections of all >

Jan 1, 1941