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By W. R. Purcell

An apparatus is described whereby capillary pressure curves for porous media may be determined by a technique that involves forcing mercury under pressure into the evacuated pores of solids. The data so obtained are compared with capillary pressure curves determined by the porous diaphragm method, and the advantages of the mercury injection method are stated. Based upon a simplified working hypothesis, an equation is derived to show the relationship of the permeability of a porous medium to its porosity and capillary pressure curve, and experimental data are presented to support its validity. A procedure is outlined whereby an estimate of the permeability of drill cuttings may be made with sufficient acuracy to meet most engineering requirements. INTRODUCTION The nature of capillary pressures and the role they play in reservoir behavior have been lucidly discussed by Lev-rett', Hassler, Brunner, and Deah12, and others. As a result of these publications the value of determining capillary pressure curves for cores has come to be generally recognized within the oil industry. While considerable attention has been directed toward the subject in an effort to provide a reliable method of estimating percentages of connate water, it has been recognized that capillary pressure data may prove of value in other equally important applications. This paper describes a method and procedure for determining capillary pressure curves for porous media wherein mercury is forced under pressure into the evacuated pores of the solids. The pressure-volume relationships ob- tained are reasonably similar to capillary pressure curves determined by the generally accepted porous diaphragm method. The advantages of the method lie in the rapidity with which the experimental data can be obtained and in the fact that small, irregularly shaped samples, e.g., drill cuttings, can be handled in the same manner as larger pieces of regular shape such as cores or permeability plugs. Based upon a simplified working hypothesis, a theoretical equation will be derived which relates the capillary pressure curve to the porosity and permeability of a porous solid, and experimental data will be presented to support its validity. This relationship aplied to capillary pressure data obtained for drill cuttings by the procedure described provides a means for predicting the permeability of drill cuttings. METHODS FOR DETERMINING CAPILLARY PRESSURES Several techniques have so far been employed in determining capillary pressure curves and these fall into two principal categories: (1) Liquid is removed from, or imbibed by, the core through the medium of a high displacement pressure porous diaphragm (2) Liquid is removed from the core which is subjected to high centrifugal forces in a centrifuge4,'. There are? however, certain limitations inherent in both methods. The greatest capillary pressure which can be observed by method (I), above, is determined by the maximum displacement pressure procurable in a permeable diaphragm which at the present time appears to be less than 100 psi. An even more serious limitation of the diaphragm method is imposed hy the fact that several days may be required to reach saturation equilibrium at a given pressure; hence, the time re- quired to obtain a well-defined curve may be measured in terms of weeks. Furthermore, to date, no suitable technique for handling relatively small, irregularly shaped pieces of rock, such as drill cuttings, has been reported and, therefore, measurements must be made, in general, on cores, or portions thereof. The centrifuge method offers the distinct advantage over the porous diaphragm method of arriving at saturation equilibrium in a relatively short time by virtue of the elimination of the transfer medium for the liquid. The calculation of capillary pressures from centrifuge speeds is somewhat tediousa, however, and the equipment required is fairly elaborate. While there exists the possibility that this method might be adaptable to the determination of the capillary pressures of cuttings, this particular ramification has not been investigated, as far as is known. In view of the limitations of the two principal methods for determining capillary pressures, the apparatus described in the following sections has been devised in order that difficulties previously encountered might be circumvented. MERCURY INJECTION METHOD FOR DETERMINING CAPILLARY PRESSURES Theory The methods described above for determining capillary pressures are characterized by the fact that one of the fluids present within the pore spaces of the solid is a liquid which "wets" the solid, i.e., the contact angle which the liquid forms against the solid is less than 90" as measured through that phase. For these "wetting" liquids the action of surface forces is such that the fluid spontaneously fills the voids within the solid. These forces likewise oppose the withdrawal of the fluid from the pores of the solid.

Jan 1, 1949

By D. S. Choi, R. Stefanko

There are a number of complex factors that influence the effectiveness of anchorage to maintain tension in rock bolts. However, a plastic analysis of the anchorage site employing certain simplifying assumptions with application of the Mohr-Coulomb criterion appears to explain the observed phenomena. Such an analysis has been made and a correlation sought with field and laboratory tests. Field tests were made in an anthracite mine in eastern Pennsylvania and included pull tests and long-term tests of a variety of anchorage devices in two basic lengths, 30 and 42 in. in two widely differing seams. Performance is reviewed for wedge, expansion shell, and resin anchorage. Laboratory tests duplicated many of the field conditions but in addition compared the performance of shells with normal and reversed serrations. This performance was compared with the predicted results from the plastic analysis. One of the major problems in conducting long-term underground tests is the selection of suitable instrumentation. All installed bolts were fitted with spherical and hardened washers to insure the best possible torque wrench readings. In addition, commercially available load cells were used. Finally, the performance of a specially developed strain-gage-equipped ring cell is viewed. Rock bolting as a method of support continues to increase with applications in many other industries in addition to mining. Nevertheless, with nearly 55,000,000 roof bolts installed in coal mines alone last year, this remains as the single greatest use. While bolts have frequently supported ground where conventional timbering could not, there are relatively few design criteria; and trial-and-error procedures prevail. Furthermore, there has been a lag in development of suitable instrumentation that is simple to install and read out, sensitive, durable, reliable, safe, and economical in evaluating the effectiveness of a bolt over long periods of time. Therefore, the pull test continues to be the most popular method of evaluating the applicability of a certain type of roof bolt under specific installation conditions. At The Pennsylvania State University in the Dept. of Mining, research has been conducted for a number of years to measure bleed off in carefully controlled laboratory experiments as well as in underground investigations."-' Unfortunately, most of the instrumentation developed has been primarily suitable only for research purposes, not possessing all of the aforementioned characteristics desirable for routine underground use. Other groups also have met with restricted success. Therefore, while relatively crude, the torque wrench continues to remain as the most widely used load measuring device. While both field and laboratory tests continue to be con- ducted, analytical analyses are attempted to discover the more important design parameters in order that more efficient anchorage might be devised. Bolts are being used for a greater variety of purposes in mining. Suspending wire sideframe belt conveyors from roof bolts is a common application. The suspension of a monorail transportation system presents yet another. One such system has just been installed in a recently reopened anthracite mine and is presently being evaluated under production conditions. Preliminary studies revealed that a considerable cost reduction was possible by suspending the monorail on bolts anchored in the top. The monorail was to be installed under two widely differing conditions—a competent sandstone above the Buck Mountain seam and a softer shale top above the Skidmore. The type of anchorage device, length of bolt, and long-term performance, consistent with economy and safety, had to be established for the installation once the decision was made to suspend the system on rock bolts. This paper describes some of the testing procedures leading to a final selection. Theoretical Analysis of Expansion Shell Anchorage A detailed look at an expansion shell assembly might shed some light on the factors involved in the design of a suitable shell, Fig. 1. When a bolt is rotated, the tapered plug is forced downward, expanding the leaves laterally to grip the sides of the hole. Two friction surfaces are present: (1) the interface of the plug and leaf and (2) the interface between leaf and rock. The relationships of these friction planes, geometry of expansion shell, and properties of the rock are important in the design of an expansion shell. Therefore, an analysis assuming the rock to behave as a rigid plastic material with its yield governed by the Mohr-Coulomb criterion was made." Furthermore, the effect of friction between the leaf and rock produced by serrations was analyzed.

Jan 1, 1971

By K. H. Hiller

A rotational viscometer has been designed which perrnits the measurement of the rheological properties of drilling muds and other non-Newtonian fluids under conditions equivalent to those in a deep borehole (350F, 10,000 psi). The important mechanical features of this instrument are described, and its design criteria are discussed. The flow equations for the novel configuration of the viscometer are derived and the calibration procedures are described. The data and their interpretation, resulting from measurement of the flow properties and static gel strengths of homoionic montmorillonite suspensiom at high temperatures and pressures, are presented. Data are also presented for the flow behavier of typical drilling fluids at high temperatures and pressures. The pressure losses in the drill pipe and the annulus depend critically upon the flow parameters of the drilling fluid. This work demonstrates the need to measure these parameters under bottom-hole conditions in order to obtain a reliable estimate of the pressure losses in the mud system. INTRODUCTION The rheological properties of drilling fluids are affected by temperature and pressure, but the extent of these effects on the dynamic flow properties is not well known. Measurements of changes of the flow properties of clay-water drilling muds with temperature have been reported by Srini-Vasan and Gatlin.1 The temperatures reported did not exceed 200F, a limitation imposed by the apparatus used by these authors. The rheological properties of clay suspensions were measured at temperatures up to 100C by Gurdzhinian.' Neither the nature of the exchange ions in the clay suspensions nor the degree of purity were defined in his work, nor were the measurements extended to currently used drilling fluids. The lack of systematic measurements of dynamic flow properties at high temperatures and pressures seems the more surprising since during the last decade the importance of the control of the hydraulic properties of drilling fluids has come to be widely recognized. Very good mathematical treatments of the friction losses in drill pipe and annulus have been developed.3 4 These treatments are based on the assumption that drilling fluids behave as Bingham plastic fluids. Quite often this assumption is justified, while in other cases a power law equation pro- duces better fit than the Bingham model does. For convenience in applying viscometer data to pressure-drop calculations, the Bingham plastic flow equation is preferable and, therefore, has been applied to the data reported in this paper, although other equations may fit these data more accurately. In a Bingham plastic fluid the relationship between the shearing stress 7 and the rate of shear D is given by the following equation: where is the plastic viscosity and 4 the yield point. If 4 = 0, the equation for simple Newtonian flow, 7 = pD, is obtained. Two empirical constants are required for the description of laminar flow of a Bingham plastic fluid, and calculations of the flow behavior at high temperatures and pressures cannot be better than is permitted by the accuracy with which these constants are known. For this reason a high-pressure, high-temperature rhe-ometer has been designed to measure the plastic viscosity the yield point +, and the static gel strength S, at pressures up to 10,000 psi and temperatures up to 350F. The important features of its design will be described. The results of measurements on homoionic clay slurries will be discussed insofar as they are relevant to an understanding of the general flow behavior of clay-water drilling fluids. The results of measurements on some typical drilling fluids will be presented also, and their practical implications will be briefly discussed. DESCRIPTION OF EQUIPMENT MECHANICAL FEATURES A viscometer designed to measure the plastic viscosity, yield point and gel strength of non-Newtonian fluids must permit the measurement of the shearing stress t at any given rate of shear D. This is possible only if t and D are approximately uniform throughout the entire sheared sample. A Couette apparatus is the most convenient method of realizing this condition, as has been pointed out by Grodde." The "high-pressure, high-temperature rheometer" described in this paper is basically a rotational Couette viscometer that is immersed in a cell in which pressure and temperature can be controlled over the range of interest. Fig. 1 shows schematically the important features of the pressure cell and associated equipment. The heart of the instrument is the rotating cup. It is shown more clearly in Fie. 2. which revresents the lower one-third of the pressure cell (below the input drive shaft shown in Fig. 1), and it is shown in detail in Fig. 3. For measurements of dynamic flow properties, the rotating cup is driven by a 1/2-hp electric motor, which operates through a Vickers

By M. E. Shank, J. Wulff

At the present time, the designer of dies for metal powder pressing is handicapped by relative ignorance of stress distribution and frictional effects at the interior surface of the die. Unckell was the first to develop a method for the study of wall friction. He used three Brinell balls on which the die rested during pressing. The total frictional wall force was determined by the size of impression these balls left on a soft metal plate. Since the method does not give radial pressures, or distribution of such pressures, coefficients of friction could not be determined. Although Unckel measured density distribution, he was not able to determine radial or shear stresses. Shaler2 has proposed theoretical expressions for the stress and density distribution within cylindrical compacts during pressing, in accordance with the experimental results of Kamm, Steinberg, and Wulff.3 By application of Siebel's method,4 Kamm et a13 plotted stress trajectories for two compacts. From the stress trajectories they calculated coefficients of friction from point to point along the die wall. As pointed out by Shaler in the discussion of Ref. 3, these values are based on progressive point-to-point calculations on finite size grid squares across the compact. In the region of the die wall such calculated values may therefore have considerable cumulative error. The purpose of the present paper is to develop an experimental method by which the nonhydrostatic pressures and shears acting on the interior wall of a cylindrical die can be measured. Such measurements can then he correlated with existing data to aid in the explanation of the pressing process. The method used is based on the elastic: properties of the thick-walled tube used as the die. The principle of super-position of force systems on an elastic body is assumed to hold. Electric strain gauges were mounted in adjacent positions on the exterior die wall in order to get an exact measurement of the variation of tangential strain over the length of the die during pressing. While in this paper, measurements in terms of only tangential strains are considered, it is well to note that similar calculations may be set up for axial strains. The latter are not preferred, since they tend to be smaller than the tangential strains and therefore permit less sensitive measurements. Discussion in this work is restricted to compacts pressed from both ends, since the elastic deformation of the die is then more amenable to analysis. Before choosing the electric strain gauge method, a more direct line of attack was considered and discarded. The discarded idea was the insertion of a pressure gauge through a hole in the die wall.* The gauge would have been in the form of a small piston. If pressure were exerted against such a gauge, it would move outward along a radius of the die. One disadvantage of the scheme is its inability to measure shears along the die wall. Another more serious disadvantage is the disturbance caused by the device itself. It would serve to change the forces it was designed to measure. No matter how small the movement of the gauge, when pressure is applied a discontinuity would exist in the wall surface at that point. Due to the stress concentration caused by the hole, abnormal deflections of the die wall would occur around the gauge. During pressing, powder would be forced into the resulting depression. The depression would then become larger with increasing compacting pressure. Powder, not being a fluid, is capable of supporting shear. The ease with which it would flow into the die wall depression to further move the piston is an indication, not of the radial pressure at that point, but of the state of shear retarding the movement. Thus the "pressure" gauge is really a criterion of flowability, and of the capability of the powder to support shear. For these reasons, it was decided that the electric strain method, herein employed, was more reliable, if more indirect. The gauges and lead wires, mounted on the external die wall do not in any way affect the behavior of the metal powder or the die during pressing. Theory of the Method THE EFFECT OF RADIAL PRESSURE ON THE DIE WALL Effect of a Single Small Band of Hydrostatic Pressure Consider a die which is a thick-walled cylinder of outer radius R. and inner radius Ri. If over a small finite length L there is a normal pressure P, a tangential strain distribution at the outer wall results. This is shown schematically in Fig 1. The exact shape of the curve may he predicted by an extension of the theory of a semi-infinite beam on an elastic foundation.6 This

Jan 1, 1950

By P. O. Rag, Daniel E. Walsh

"Gravity concentrators are evaluated either in closed or open circuit. The process developed by MIRL employs the use of neutron activated gold (/98Au) and radiation detection circuits which monitor the concentrator's product pulp streams. Concentrator recovery is determined from the ratio of the number of gold particles detected as passing into the concentrate to the total number of gold particles detected over all monitored pulp streams. This system eliminates the experimental errors introduced by sampling, sample reduction, and assaying and allows recovery to be evaluated for gold particles of specific sizes, shapes, and flatness. In addition to allowing for a more accurate and detailed recovery analysis, this process significantly reduces the time and cost required for unit evaluation when compared to other gold recovery analysis procedures. This system enjoys its greatest utility where a large number of tests are to be run in order to evaluate a concentrator over a variety of operational settings, i.e. factorial designs, and allows accurate testing of concentrators operated in closed circuit systems.IntroductionThe surge in gold prices of the late 1970s and early 1980s was followed closely by a renewed interest in gravity concentration processes, especially in concentrators claiming efficient recovery of fine placer gold. Cones, spirals, spinning bowls, jigs and cyclones are all considered potential fine gold concentrators. Fine gold, in this context, is defined as not only that gold finer than 250 um (60 mesh""), but also coarser gold, whose low shape factor may decrease its recovery by conventional, large-scale sluicing operations.Adoption of fine gold concentrators by the Alaskan placer milling industry was retarded by the lack of reliable, accurate, and reproducible data on concentrator efficiency with respect to fine placer gold recovery. In most cases, concentrator performance was based on a limited number of tests run on placer material, about which only slight knowledge of gold size and shape characteristics existed. In order to be prepared for the resurgence of interest in fine gold concentrators, which will follow the next upturn in gold prices, a detailed study of the fine gold recovery characteristics of gravity concentrators needs to be conducted."

Jan 1, 1986

By A. Warczokand

The cleaning of copper smelting slag requires magnetite and cuprous oxide reduction. The slag reduction with coke, injected coal powder or bunker oil is strongly endothermic and requires heat generation by fuel combustion or the use of electric energy. The reduction of fayalitic slag with calcium carbide is slightly exothermic and the formed calcium silicate modifies the slag. Thus, the additional energy is required only for covering furnace heat losses. Results of crucible scale tests showed the rate of slag reduction approximately five times higher in comparison of the slag reduction with coke under the same conditions. It seems that the effect of exothermic reaction and slag modification with CaO at the reaction interface results in very high rate of slag reduction. Industrial scale tests carried out in the Anglo-American Chagres Smelter demonstrated the possibilities of effective reduction and cleaning of the slags from a flash smelter and Peirce-Smith converters in a Teniente Slag Cleaning Furnace. The slag reduction was carried out without any reductant or stirring gas injection, simply by calcium carbide charging through a furnace mouth, and was very fast.

Jan 1, 2007

By Flávio Túlio Busatto, João Bosco Mendes, Marcio de Souza Lana, Raphael Dias de Medeiros, Gabriel Nazareth G. Alcoforado

The sintering process begins at the ignition stage of the surface layer of the mixture to be sintered. This ignition is performed through the heat supplied by a furnace, called "Ignition Furnace", and this burn must have sufficient heat potential to start the agglomeration process. As a result of the horizontal movement and the flow of air passing through the material, this surface firing front is transported until reaching the lower zones of the bed, thus producing the sinter. The higher the calorific value of the fuel used, the more efficient (lower fuel consumption and higher temperature) is the surface burning, thus raising the mechanical strength of the product during the process. Due to variations in fuel quality, keeping the ignition temperature controlled becomes a challenge, so, in this work, a study on the combustion of coke oven gas (COG) was carried out, evaluating not only its stoichiometric but also the most adequate control strategy, in order to maintain the working temperature and still optimize the yield and quality of the sinter produced. Mathematical knowledge, automation, control and industrial combustion were used in order to achieve the expected results.

Oct 1, 2019

By Roger D. Plouffe

In today's mining industry, it is possible to retrieve, from small-diameter holes, geophysical data for qualitative interpretation in exploration and quantitative interpretation in the development of orebodies. The primary objectives in the exploration stage are to identify where, within a hole, economic minerals are, and to help in lithological interpretations. Other aspects, which are more quantitative, are the interpretation of downhole logs for parameters which can be used in surface geophysical methods (i.e. density for gravity surveys, acoustic velocities for seismic surveys, and magnetic susceptibility for airborne and ground magnetic surveys). Recent advances in equipment design, portability and durability have made downhole logging in exploration more inexpensive and reliable. This new equipment is being used to generate very precise quantitative results. This is especially true on uranium development projects. The interpretation of gamma logs for eUJOS values has finally become precise enough that they have begun to replace chemical values in reserve calculations. Another part of development data is density and equilibrium information, which, with today's technology, is being derived from downhole probing. In the years to come, the trends for many metals are toward neutron activation techniques, or "in-situ assaying", and the use of multiple logs for better lithological and physical rock property determinations.

Jan 1, 1981

By K Dagdelen

A vehicle proximity warning system is being developed using GPS and wireless local area networks to improve safety of off-highway trucks in open pit mines. After two an a half years of research, software development, and laboratory testing, field tests were carried out at operating limestone quarries and open pit mining operations to evaluate GPS accuracy and overall system effectiveness under rugged operating conditions. This article describes the progress made on this NIOSH funded project and discusses the GPS accuracy tests and overall system tests that were carried out during 2001 at the Morenci open pit copper mine in Arizona.

Jan 1, 2003

By J Czerwinski, M Kasper, M Wyser, N Heeb

The VERT project 1993 - 1998 laid the technical foundation for curtailing the emission of fine particles from diesel engines at Swiss underground workplaces. The targeted maximum was 100 ¦g/m3 EC. Extensive laboratory and field investigations demonstrated that this specification is only attainable with modern diesel particulate filter (DPF) systems that almost eliminate particles in the entire lung penetrating size range from 20 nm to 2.5 ¦m. In January 2000, Switzerland mandated compulsory particle filters in underground workplaces, particularly in tunnelling, irrespective of engine age, size and type. After the implementation, the particle concentration in the respiratory air was below 40 ¦g/m3 EC, compared to earlier values of up to 750 ¦g/m3 EC. Deployed DPFs have proven filtration rates of 99 per cent in the entire size range of alveoli intruding particles. The DPFs are as durable as the engine, suffer no ageing and require minimal maintenance. The failure rate is below three per cent annually. Of the 6000 retrofitted construction machines in Switzerland, about 400 are deployed underground. Prerequisites for this quality are a sophisticated certification procedure, electronic monitoring of DPF operation and meticulous periodic exhaust gas inspection of the engines.

Jan 1, 2005

By L. A. Panek

During the past three years, USBM has developed an apparatus and technique for direct measurement of existing pressure and change of pressure in mine rock. This relatively simple and inexpensive monitor is reliable for months after being installed. It is used to determine shift of ground pressure created by different sequences of mining, to ascertain the cause of rock failures, and to evaluate the need for artificial support. The technique has been employed to measure pressures in limestone, greywacke, concrete, diabase, and soft iron ore. When rock is subjected to a load it is deformed. Ordinarily this is observed in a mine as the displacement of one point with respect to another—the deflection of the roof, which may be observed as a convergence between roof and floor; or the extrusion of material from the rib, which may be observed as a decrease of the distance between the rib and the post of a timber set. The effect of excessive pressure may be a rockburst if the rock is strong, or it may be squeezing ground if the rock is soft. Some desirable effects of high stress (high in relation to strength) are the caving of roof in a longwall mining operation, the caving of ore in block caving, and the decrease in mechanical energy required to break down the mineral seam in a retreating pillar-robbing operation. In any case, whether the observable effect of rock load is desirable or undesirable, it is a displacement, and depends on the following four factors: 1) The structure—the size and shape of openings, pillars, and linings, the geologic bedding and jointing. 2) The mechanical properties of the rock—prin-cipally the strength, modulus of elasticity, and flow characteristics. 3) The load or applied stress—primary sources are the weight of superincumbent rock, which increases with depth, and unrelieved tectonic stresses; secondary sources are redistributed pressures caused by other nearby openings, especially large mined out zones (rock pressure depends partly on the rock structure created by mining). 4) Duration of load, related to the length of time the opening is exposed. CONTROL OF ROCK DISPLACEMENT Rock displacement can be controlled by control of these four factors. Consider now the means of exercising such control over these factors. Control of the structural features is obviously possible to a great extent, as such control is exercised largely by choosing the method of mining and the methods of natural and artificial support. Rock properties vary, even within a particular mine, but they are controllable only in the limited sense that control may be exercised by choosing the beds or zones to be mined so that rocks with undesirable properties will not occupy critical positions within the rock structure created by mining. Rock pressure is the most complex of the four factors through which ground control can be achieved because it is invisible, difficult to measure, and poorly understood. Rock pressure is controllable only to the extent that control is exercised on the rock structure created by mining. Considering openings within a particular mine, time of exposure varies, and is readily controllable because it is easily measured and easily understood — the longer an opening stands, the greater the likelihood of failure or excessive convergence. Control is exercised by choice of an appropriate sequence of driving openings of different classes, such as haul-ageways and rooms, which are required to remain well supported for different lengths of time under different conditions. Again, control is exercised through the method of mining. All controllable factors can be controlled by proper design of the mining method. The orientation and relative positions of the mine workings and the sequence of their excavation are likely to be much more important to ground control than is the design of artificial support. This implies that the major decisions in regard to ground control are made, knowingly or not, at the time the mining method is chosen. WHY MEASURE ROCK PRESSURE In addition to restrictions on the several factors, control implies the measurement of these factors in some sense, whether only qualitatively by visual observation, or by actual quantitative determination with a measuring instrument. Rock pressure is the most difficult of these factors to measure, largely because of the interaction between the measuring device and the rock. Nevertheless, the quantitative

Jan 1, 1961

By R. W. Kraft

A back- reflection precession-type X-yay camera for determining the crystallographic orientation of the crystallites of both phases in small areas of thick specimens of polyphase alloys is described ad the geometry, advantages, and limitations of the apparatus are discussed. Metallographic obseg-vations of interfacial angles (or habit planes or growth direction are made on the same specimen so that the crystallographic and metallographzc orientation data call be directly correlated. An example of the application of tile technique to a unidi-~~ectionally solidified CuA12-A1 eutectic specimen is presented. The interfacial planes ad growth directions of each phase were established, and the orientation relationship between the phases was observed and found to be approximately intermediate between two previously reported relationships. The crystallographic interfacial relationship between two solid phases is an important parameter in a variety of metallurgical phenomena because of the energy associated with the interface and because this energy is at least partly associated with the way in which the two space lattices are in contact along the interface. In order to describe the interfacial planes in the crystallites of both phases it is necessary to determine the crystallographic orientation of each phase in a specimen relative to each other, and to directly correlate these data with met-allographic measurements from which the interfacial planes can be determined on the same specimen. The back-reflection Laue technique is the easiest way to determine the orientation of thick single crystals or large grains and the method can be combined with metallographic techniques to provide the necessary data, provided the reflections from each phase can be distinguished from one another. However, if the crystallites are small or of varying orientation or if one or both phases has a unit cell with less than the maximum symmetry, many overlapping and complex Laue patterns are recorded simultaneously and it becomes impractical if not impossible to interpret the photographs. All of these complexities were present in a unidirectionally so- lidified A1-CuA12 eutectic alloy1 for which a crystallographic analysis was desired. Consequently the method described here was developed since no known X-ray or electron diffraction technique had all of the following attributes which were required. 1) Method should yield data from which the crys-tallographic orientation of every crystallite or diffracting unit in the irradiated area can be determined. 2) Method should be adaptable to the study of small areas. Depending upon the degree of preferred orientation in the specimens, it should be possible to obtain reliable data in a reasonable length of time on irradiated areas as small as 1.0 or even 0.1 mm in diam. 3) Method should permit direct correlation of crystallographic data with microscopic orientation data pertaining to crystallite axes, habit, morphology, and growth directions as determined by optical microscopy. 4) method should be such that selected areas of large specimens can be easily studied. Trepanning of a small specimen (such as an electron microscope specimen) from larger specimens was undesirable since it would greatly increase the problem of correlating the crystallographic and microscopic directional data. Requirements 3 and 4 dictated that an X-ray back-reflection pinhole technique should be used on large samples, such as metallographic specimens which had previously been examined and analyzed for their microscopic characteristics. Similarly, requirement 2 could be satisfied by choosing a collimator of appropriately small diameter. Exposure times would not be excessive provided the detector were close enough to the specimen. Because of space limitations film was chosen in preference to a Geiger counter. Requirement 1 was fulfilled by using monochromatic radiation and providing enough additional degrees of freedom in specimen rotation to compensate for Bragg law restrictions on diffracted beams. DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 consists of a pin-hole collimator, (a), projecting through a rotatable circular film in a holder, (b), which records X-ray reflections in the back-reflection region. The specimen, (c), is mounted on the end of a shaft, (d), which is provided with an adjustment, (e), so that the specimen surface can be placed accurately on

Jan 1, 1962

By J. N. Sicking, F. H. Brinkman

A new method for obtaining equilibrium vaporization ratios (K-values) for reservoir fluids has been developed and tested. By application of the method, complex experimental measurements of liquid and vapor phase compositions are eliminated. This simplified technique reduces the cost of experimental equilibrium-ratio data for reservoir studies of condensates and volatile crude-oil systems. The method is designed for systems of constant composition and, therefore, is best suited for depletion studies where compositional changes at high pressures are minor. The basic data required, in addition to the composition of the initial reservoir fluid, are the relative vapor-liquid volumes and densities at reservoir temperature and variom reservoir pressures. Tests demonstrated that the method predicts equilibrium ratios accurately for condensates. A single test on a crude oil was not conclusive; further testing will be necessary before the accuracy of the method can be determined for crude-oil systems. In addition to determining equilibrium ratios, the calculation method provides information on the physical properties of the "plus" component in the vapor and liquid phases. The "plus" component is that mixture of components heavier than the least volatile fraction analyzed. This information is useful in studies of both natural depletion and cycling operations for condensate reservoirs where the heptanes-plus component in the gas phase is produced from the reservoir. INTRODUCTION As more volatile oil and condensate reservoirs are found, the use of phase behavior techniques to predict their performance is increasing in importance. These techniques have long been used for condensate fields and have more recently been applied to crude-oil fields containing oils of medium-to-high volatility. In these phase behavior methods, equilibrium ratios (K-values) are used to predict compositional changes in the reservoir fluids—thereby accounting for the recoverable oil that exists in the gas phase. The reliability of the predictions depends to a large extent on the equilibrium ratios used. These values must be obtained for each component for the entire pressure range being investigated. Unfortunately, because of the complex nature of hydrocarbon mixtures, accurate K-values are hard to obtain. The equilibrium ratios for a particular component will vary not only with the temperature and pressure, but also with over-all composition of the system. The importance of composition is quite critical at elevated pressures, but becomes negligible at pressures below about 300 psia. Therefore, because most phase behavior problems involve the high-pressure region, each fluid system becomes a special case. Experimental programs to determine characteristic K-values are quite difficult and time-consuming. Thus, it is often necessary to resort to approximations of the K-value data. Charts giving K-values for various mixtures and classes of mixtures are available in the literature. However, there are two major difficulties in using them: (1) the K-values of the "plus" component (that mixture of components heavier than the last one analyzed) must be obtained by extrapolation from the K-values of the other components; and (2) the K-values obtained must finally be adjusted by trial and error to agree with observed volumetric data. To eliminate these difficulties, a new method of determining equilibrium ratios was developed. Briefly, after the composition of the system as a whole has been analyzed, the method uses empirical correlations and the gross fluid properties of the system (relative vapor-liquid volumes and densities) to calculate K-values. Because the calculative procedure is long, it is best solved on a digital computer. About one hour of machine time on an IBM 650 computer is required to develop a K-chart for the fluid being examined. DEVELOPMENT OF THE METHOD OF OBTAINING K-VALUES Equilibrium ratios are defined as the ratio of the mole fraction of a component in the vapor phase to its mole fraction in the liquid phase. This statement is expressed in Eq. 1. A typical plot of equilibrium ratios for a particular system is shown in Fig. 1. It should be noted that, at pressures near the saturation pressure, the K-values appear to converge to a common point. This apparent convergence point is called the convergence pressure and is a characteristic of the system involved. Various empirical correlations of K-values have been noted. It has been observed that an isothermal plot of

By C. Gatlin, N. E. Garner, A. Podio

Experimental data from single chisel blows on Leuders limestone are presented. A pressure chamber, similar in design to well known microbit drilling chambers, was utilized to impose variorcs stress states on the sample. Confining pressure of zero to 10,000 psi and borehole pressures from zero to 5,000 psi have been used in the studies. Pore pressure was zero and the rock samples dry in all instances. Force-displacement records and visual examination of the craters indicate that the mode of failure depends on both confining and borehole pressure in certain ranges, ranging from brittle, through a transition, to near plastic. The mode of failure is reflected in the observed blow force and energy data, as well as the shape of force-penetration curves. INTRODUCTION A previous paper' presented initial data from the project on which this paper is the second report. While the first paper dealt with impact studies on synthetic rocks, the literature cited there is also pertinent to this paper, but will not be listed again in order to avoid needless repetition. This paper presents experimental data from single chisel impacts on limestone at certain simulated wellbore stress states. Specific variables investigated were combinations of borehole and confining pressure, crater geometry, a narrow range of impact velocity and the forces required to drive the chisel into the specimens under the varying conditions. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The same basic apparatus described in our earlier paper, except for the pressure vessel, was used in this study. Fig. 1 shows the complete experimental system. Fig. 2 shows details of the pressure cell, which is quite similar to the well known microbit drilling chamber. The confining (overburden) pressure system provides independent pressure control over the sample except for two, 21/4 in. diameter areas located on the sample ends. These two areas provide a pore pressure entrance on the bottom and a striking surface on the top where borehole pressure can be controlled. The ends are isolated from the confining pressure by O-ring seals. The borehole and pore pressures are related through the striking surface; they will be the same unless a seal is deposited on the borehole surface, either a mud cake or some other impermeable membrane. In these studies pore pressure control was not used, as the rocks were dry and unsaturated in all cases. Rock samples were prepared from 4-in. cubes as illustrated by Fig. 3. The circular disks of adhesive vinyl plastic protected the impact surface from the resin coating (Scotchcast No. 2) and were removed just prior to each test. This procedure insured a fresh uncontaminated surface for the impact. Fig. 4 shows the dimensions and loading of the sample, including the concentrations around the "borehole" periphery (O-ring seal). The rock used in this study was Leuders limestone, of Permian age (Leonard), quarried near Leuders, Tex. Geologically, Leuders limestone is a light gray, fossili-ferous limestone (oolitic foraminifera1 biosporite). Its fossil content is 80 to 90 per cent and consists primarily of calcitornellid, ostracods, pelecypods and oolites with the remaining part intraclasts. There are hematite or limo-nite rims on some of the intraclasts. The porosity is approximately 20 per cent, but the permeability is less than 1 md. There is no apparent orientation in the structure. Triaxial tests have been conducted to determine the variation of the physical properties of Leuders limestone in three orthogonal directions', and it is known to be unusually isotropic and uniform. Physical parameters for this rock are: uniaxial compressive strength = 9,700 psi; F = 32 and C = 2,700 psi; where + and C are Coulomb equation values (t = C+u tan +). Impact tests were run under the combinations of confining and borehole pressures shown in Table 1. Samples were dry with atmospheric pore pressure in all cases. Tests, in which elevated borehole pressures were applied, used a single layer of household Saran-Wrap to prevent horehole fluid invasion into the sample. This proved to be simple and reliable. The blunt wedge used in all the tests was 0.75 in. long and had an included angle of 60" with a 0.05-in. flat. In addition, a sharp 60" wedge was used for all confining pressures at zero borehole pressure. The chipper speed

By D. G. Russell

A simple method has been developed with which flowing bottom-hole pressure data from two-rate flow tests in oil or gas wells can be analyzed to estimate the formation permeability, skin factor and average reservoir pressure. The required pressure data are obtained by observation of the transient bottom-hole pressure behavior after the stabilized producing rate of the well is changed to another, higher or lower, rate. The new method yields the same information as a conventional pressure buildup analysis, but eliminates the need for closing in the well. The analysis of a two-rate flow test is of the same degree of difficulty and requires about the same engineering time for application as a conventional pressure buildup analysrs. The extended closed-in periods experienced with conventional buildups because of long, low-rate afterproduc-tion periods are eliminated by fIow tests. Other anomalous pressure buildup effects, such as "humping" due to weli-bore phase segregation, can be successfully eliminated with the new method. Generally, flow tests of about 24 hours' duration run with conventional pressure measurement equipment are sufficient for interpretation purposes. Field testing of the two-rate flow test method has established that it is a reliable and economical method which can be used in many instances to complement or even replace conventional pressure buildup methods. INTRODUCTION The principal method for estimating formation permeability and well damage, or skin factor, in a producing oil or gas well is the analysis of shut-in bottom-hole pressure buildup data.' This familiar method has been used quite successfully by reservoir engineers for many years. It is based on the solution of the radial flow equation for constant rate conditions, and requires that the well be closed in for a sufficient period of time to obtain a clearly defined linear portion on the plot of observed t + ?t bottomhole pressure vs log t + ?/?t(where At is shut-in A? time, and t is producing time to the instant of shut-in). From the slope of the plot and other normally obtainable data, the permeability, skin factor, and reservoir pressure at infinite shut-in time (if the reservoir were infinite) can be estimated. Over the years several drawbacks have become apparent in the use of conventional shut-in pressure buildups for determining permeability and skin factor. The conventional pressure buildup interpretation theory assumes that a well is closed in at the sand face and that no production into the well occurs after shut-in. In practice, of course, the well is closed in at the surface, and inflow into the well continues until the well fills sufficiently to transmit the effect of closing in to the formation. This adjustment period is commonly referred to as the "after-production" portion of the pressure buildup. In the tight reservoirs, long, low-rate after-production periods frequently occur, and the well must be shut in for several days or, in some instances, even weeks to obtain an interpretable buildup curve.' Obviously, such long shut-in times can cause loss in current income, both from reduced oil production and from the fact that personnel and pressure measurement equipment are occupied with a single well for too long a time. In other cases, even long shut-in periods do not seem to be of much aid in obtaining an interpretable buildup." If there is considerable phase redistribution (liquid fallout or bubble rise) after a well is shut in, then curves with no interpretable portion are often obtained during the buildup. In addition to instances in which wellbore effects cause trouble, there are also cases in which the major objection to use of the closed-in pressure buildup is simply the fact that the well must be shut in. When there is no proration and when the well has limited producing capacity. closing in the well means loss of income. From the foregoing discussion it is apparent that it ib desirable to have an alternative method of obtaining the same information as that derived from a conventional buildup without the need of closing in the well. One possible solution which has been offered for this problem is the use of a bottom-hole shut-in tool' which isolates the major portion of the flow string from the formation face during the buildup. In this paper an alternative method which is frequently successful in avoiding wellbore effects and which does not require the use of special equipment is presented. A new, simple method has been developed with which the flowing bottom-hole pressure data from flow tests in oil or gas wells can be used to estimate permeability, skin factor and the average reservoir pressure. The required pressure data are obtained by observation of the transient bottom-hole pressure behavior after the stabilized production rate of the well is changed to another, higher or lower rate. The need for closing in the well is eliminated, and pressure measurement periods of only 18 to 24 hours arc usually sufficient, even in tight reservoirs. Thus, the new

By K. E. Brown, F. W. Jessen

By utilizing an 8,000-ft experimental field well equipped with 10 gas-lift valves and 10 Maihak pressure recorders, gas-lift tests were conducted with port sizes ranging from 5/16 through I in. The well was equipped to provide accurate means of measuring surface pressures, temperatures, quantity of injection gas and fluid production. The tests were conducted in 2%-in. OD tubing, and the well was making 95 per cent water. A complete evaluation of gas-lift-valve port sizes shows the relationship of per cent recovery, gas-liquid ratios, minimum pressure created at the operating valve and horsepower requirements for each port. The length of time necessary for the fluid in the tubing to reach equilib.rium conditions after each cycle was recorded. Fallback of fluid at depths of 477, 969, 1,685, 2,493 and 4,290 ft was noted. For each port size, pressure loads of 2.50, 300, 350, 400 and 450 psi were lifted with a valve operating at approximately 550 psi at 6,000 ft. Gas-liquid ratios for each load were varied from excess gas to a gas volume per cycle whereby the load failed to reach the surface. Numerous curves are presented in evaluating the accumulated dara. The results show a 1-in. port to be the most efficient under all conditions. The production of intermittent liquid slugs against different-sized surface chokes was evaluated. These tests were conducted from a 7/16-in. ported valve at 4,072 ft. Tests indicate that, when possible, a %-in. in diameter choke or larger should be used at the surface. In the past few years most of the advancement in gas-lift operations has been made in continuous-flow operations. Yet, it is estimated that at least 70 per cent of the wells on gas lift in the United States are of the intermittent type. Since the term "slug flow" is sometimes used in both intermittent- and continuous-flow operations, it would be well to distinguish between the two types of flow. Continuous-flow gas lift is defined as a method whereby the fluids are produced at a continuous rate at the surface. This generally requires a continuous injection of gas through a surface choke; however, various other control devices sometimes are installed to eliminate freezing, to shut-off gas during natural flow periods, etc. The actual flow of fluids in the tubing may be of the slug type (one of many flow patterns known to exist in continuous flow). Intermittent flow is defined as a method of gas lift whereby the liquid is produced in separate piston-type slugs. Perhaps this type of flow could best be thought of as a ballistic-type flow where the liquid leaves bottom as a piston, propelled by a slug of expanding gas. Gas generally is injected through some type of control at the surface at predetermined intervals. However, the valve may have characteristics whereby gas can be injected through a small choke and still result in a ballistic-type flow. The purpose of the experimental work was to evaluate the most efficient port size to be used on the operating valve for the ballistic type of lift and, in addition, to establish the importance of utilizing a surface choke large enough to allow slugs to be produced without detrimental effects. This work is part of a compre- hensive study of both intermittent-and continuous-flow gas lift, representing a joint project conducted by the Ohio Oil Co., the Sun Oil Co., Otis Engineering Corp, and The U. of Texas. The problem of evaluating port sizes has been given little previous attention. Some work undoubtedly has been done which has not been published to date. Some tests were conducted when the wireline, mechanically-opened valve (Nixon) first came on the market. This valve was capable of utilizing full tubing area as its port size. It is known that this was a very efficient valve, but to the authors' knowledge the results of tests have never been published. EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENT These tests were conducted on an actual field well, the Ohio-Sun Unit Well No. 2-E, in the North Markham-North Bay City field, Matagorda County, Tex. The well incorporated 23/8-in. OD tubing and produced 95 per cent water. Since the running of equipment was to be quite elaborate and expensive, a well was selected in which both intermittent- and continuous-flow tests could be conducted. This particular well was capable of producing in excess of 1,000 B/D of liquid (95 per cent salt water), yet with a 3/64-in. in diameter bottom-hole choke, production was controlled to 82 B/D. Most of the intermittent tests were conducted at this low rate. Figs. 1 and 2 show all the surface and down-hole equipment. As can be seen, every attempt was made to insure that ample equipment was available for reliable testing procedures. Fig. 1 shows the surface testing equipment. The input gas was controlled first by a regulator, then

By H. H. Kaveler, Z. Z. Hunter

Variation of the horizontal permeability (parallel to the bedding plane) in the vertical section of reservoir rocks has long been observed as a characteristic of a normally heterogeneous system which reservoir rock represent. The use of a recently developed water injection profile device offered opportunity to measure with a high degree of reliability the rate of inflow of water into Burbank sandstone in wells previously cored. Water injection profiles were not correlative with core permeability profiles in such wells. Apparently the vertical permeability substantially influences the flow between strata in a formation in a manner as to void the usual conclusions that have been drawn from consideration of the horizontal permeability measurements alone. The results obtained in comparing water injection profiles with horizontal permeability profiles suggest that many of the usual production operations based upon "selective" behavior or treatment of rock exposed in well bores need to he re-valuated and re-examined. INTRODUCTION Petroleum reservoir rock are heterogeneous systems. Heterogeneity exists in respect to lithologic character insofar as such rock are composed of distinguishable solid phases. Heterogeneity also exists in respect to certain properties, such as porosity and permeability, that vary due to variation of the physi-cal structure of the rock. Except in exceptional cases, both the horizontal permeability (measured parallel to the bedding planes) and the vertical permeability (measured perpendirularly to the bedding planes) exhibit significant variation in any common source of supply. The variation in horizontal permeability. as reflected by con. analyses. has drawn the greatest attention of petroleum technologists probably out of the general notion that the mass movement of fluids in a reservoir is predimonantly in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, in the usual case, the rock permeability measured in the horizontal direction is greater than that in the vertical. The variation of horizontal permeability of reservoir rock has been the basis for developing a number of operating practices and procedures intended to improve the petroleum production operation. Many such procedures are referred to as "selective" in the sense that the practice is intended to control the flow to a more. or less. permeable interval within the common source of Supply. It is often said that such practices are "tailored" to the permeability profile. The practices referred to involve, among others, the following: selective perforation of casing; selective shooting, acidizing and plugging: plugging back to intervals of low permeability; and, regulation of flow to prevent coning of water or gas, or irregular encroachment of water or gas. Certain expressed notions involving a concept of "by-passing," or "trappingl" that are held to be particularly harmful in causing the avoidable loss of recoverable petroleum have grown from observed variations in the horizontal permeability. Oftentimes estimates of the reserve of a common source of supply are tempered by conclusions relating variation in horizontal permeability to recover-ability of the oil-in-place. Certain conclusions attributed to the significance of the variation of the horizontal Permeabilitv often extend to the design and operation of pressure-maintenance projects involving both water flooding and gas-injection. Many advocate increasing the number of injection wells, advocate maintaining uniform and equidistant input-output well patterns, or advocate so-called "dispersed" gas-drive techniques rather than gas-cap injection because the permeability profile of cored wells is supposed to indicate that "by-passing" or "trapping" would otherwise exist. It is important, therefore, to have an opportunity to test whether the variation in the horizontal permeability found through core analyses of a typical reservoir rock is sufficient to establish the paths of fluid flow in a reservoir. It is particularly important to have an opportunity to determine whether flow at the sand face of a well conforms to the permeability profile as established by core analyses. In that manner, the merit of certain 50-called "selective" operating procedures and other notions may be evaluated. The purpose of this paper is to compare horizontal permeability profiles of wells in the Bartlesville (Bur-bank) sandstone with water injection profiles, for the purpose of showing that there is no correlation between the horizontal permeability of a core and the water intake characteristics of a typical sandstone. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BARTLESVILLE (BURBANK) SANDSTONE The Bartlesville sandstones of Northeastern Oklahoma are off-shore bar deposits.' Although other reservoirs had different processes associated with their deposition or with the formation of their porous, permeable structure, the l!artlesville sandstones on which these field Fields were made are, in every respect. typical petroleum reservoir rock. The permeability of the Bartlesville sandstones shows a typical variation in both the horizontal and vertical direction. Furthermore, the permeability profile logs of wells in any pool are not correlative, even as between wells as close as 660 ft and 330 ft apart.'. The same condition exists in such sand-tones as the Jones Sand at Shuler' and is the ordinary and usual characteristic of reservoir rock. THE FIELD DATA The data reported herein are those obtained from coring of nine wells on the center of ten-acre locations for the purpose of providing water-injection wells in the Bartlesville (Burbank)

Jan 1, 1952

By L. C. IlsLey

"Nearly every piece of electrical equipment used in mines ""breathes."" In other words, motors, controllers, rheostats, switches, and other similar equipment, even though encased in seemingly tight compartments, breathe in the atmosphere that surrounds them.As the apparatus is used, the temperature of metallic parts is changed generally in positive direction through the heat by friction and the heat due to the electric current. When the apparatus is idle it gradually cools down to the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere.This increase of temperature during operation and return to normal temperature when operation stops alternately raises and lowers the temperature of the atmosphere within the compartments which, in strict accordance with Charles' law -will expand or contract in proportion to any given temperature change.As compartments are not gas-tight, such expansion and contraction will force the atmosphere out of the compartment =on expansion and suck the surround¬ing atmosphere into the compartment during contraction, hence the term ""breathing.""Investigators2 of explosion-proof equipment have recognized that such an interchange would take place and have designed their equipment to safeguard possible explosions within the compartments."

Jun 1, 1927

By J. L. Dion

"A study of the techniques to integrally cast copper tubes in copper tuyeres for use in blast furnaces has been carried out. The work has been performed in support of current efforts to produce two-compartment tuyeres having improved water-cooling capacity. A test pattern corresponding to a vertical section of a two-compartment tuyere, and including a cast-in-place copper tube, was used to investigate such variables as tube preparation, tube coolant, pouring temperature, pouring rate and gating design. Successful castings, either with a good metalfurgical bond or good intimate contact between the tube and the casting, were produced, with all combinations of gating system and position of the tube tried. However, the pouring temperature, the pouring rate and the effectiveness of the coolant are interrelated and must be controlled to produce a good metallurgical bond.IntroductionAs part of its contribution to, and in collaboration with, the Copper Casting for the Steel Industry Committee, CANMET has undertaken research into the methods and techniques needed for the integral casting of copper tubes into high-conductivity copper castings.The objective was to produce two-compartment copper blast furnace tuyeres in which the water-cooled nose compartment consists of a copper tube metallurgically bonded to the wall of the high-conductivity copper casting. This design, developed in the UK, has demonstrated a much extended service life with attendant economies; unscheduled shutdown of blast furnaces due to tuyere failure is a significant problem in the steel industry. The Canadian steel industry believes that this design will replace the currently used single-compartment tuyere in blast furnaces within a few years.The technology to produce these tuyeres does not exist in Canada. One of the main features is the inclusion of a smooth-walled cooling channel in the nose, which permits high velocity cooling water to be employed. A second compartment acts as a reservoir backup, should failure in the nose occur. This would allow continued use of the tuyere for a period of time, permitting a scheduled shutdown for repair s. To assist the Canadian producers of tuyeres to maintain their market, and the Canadian steel industry to have a reliable domestic supply, it is important that the necessary technology for the production of two-compartment tuyeres be developed and transferred to industry."

Jan 1, 1982

By Daniel R. Hack

This paper point out the development of optimized routines for the processing and analysis of field data, continually building a framework for further software development. It also describes the possibilities for future development in the realm of 2D variography for surface water heat flow systems using existing proprietary and academic software packages.

Jul 17, 2000