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By F. C. Bond

Since the Third Theory of Comminution was presented eight years ago (I) it has found increasing use in crushing and grinding problems. The practical utility of its wok index equation is quite generally acknowledged (2). However, its theoretical basis has been questioned in at least three technical articles (3) (4) ('). The purpose of this paper is to present experimental proof that it is scientifically correct. Particles under compressive stress are strained and deformed. They absorb strain energy, and when this locally exceeds the breaking strength, a crack tip forms. The surrounding strain energy flows to the crack tip, which rapidly extends and splits the rock, releasing the strain energy as heat. The initial energy flow causes additional crack tips in highly strained areas. If the compression is rapidly applied by impact, crack tips may form before the strain energy has reached equilibrium in the particle, thus decreasing the total work input required for breakage. The energy necessary to break is essentially the energy necessary to produce crack tips, since the energy necessary to extend the cracks to breakage is already present as strain energy in the deformed particles. After breakage nearly all of this energy appears as heat. The crack length cannot be measured directly. However, in particles of regular and similar shape the crack tip length is considered as equal to the crack depth, or crack extension necessary to break, so that the crack length equals the square root of one-half of the surface area. The Third Theory states that the useful work done in crushing and grinding is directly proportional to the total length of the new cracks formed. It can be confirmed by showing that a constant work input produces a constant length of new cracks when reducing the same material to different product sizes. This is done in the present paper on a wide variety of material. The constant work input was supplied by one revolution of the 12" x 12" laboratory ball mill used in making grindability tests by the Allis-Chalmers method (12) (13) The new crack lengths produced per mill revolution were measured from all available grindability test results at 28, 35, 48, 65, and 100 mesh on fifteen different ores, and were found to remain substantially constant for each ore at all mesh sizes. A new technique is used for the measurement of crack lengths. Size distribution plots of the mill feed and product are made by the Third Theory method (9) and the crack lengths are obtained from these plots by the procedure described in the present paper. The energy input required to produce a unit length is of fundamental importance in the size reduction of brittle solids. The crack length Cr is expressed in centimeters per cubic centimeter of solid material. It bears a definite relationship to the external surface area of the crushed or ground solid. A uniform particle shape must be assumed before the surface area and crack length can be evaluated. In this paper it is assumed that the relationship between the surface area and the particle volume of a particle d microns in diameter is the same as that of cube d microns on a side. The external surface areas of particles with a cubical breakage probably agree approximately with this rule, and correction factors can be applied when physical measurements of the surface areas are available for comparison. However, the assumption of equivalent cubes has been found satisfactory for most calculation purposes. Assuming equivalent cubes, one cubic centimeter of particles d microns in diameter will have a crack length Cr of v30.000/d centimeters, and a surface area of 60,000/d square centimeters. The specific crack length is thus equal to the square root of one-half the specific surface area. Where Sa is the surface area in square centimeters per gram and Sg is the specific gravity of the ground solid, then Cr = vSg . Sa/2 = 173.2/ vd (1)

Jan 1, 1961

By A. W. Henderson

The growing importance of halide metallurgy for preparing high-purity metals has stimulated research to extend halogenation reactions to the direct extraction of metals from low-grade sources. This Bureau of Mines investigation involves a pioneering study of chlorination reactions in the presence of a fluorine donor. Tin slags containing tantalum and columbium and a zircon concentrate containing a relatively high ratio of hafnium to zirconium were studied. Direct chlorination of these materials at 500° C. yields only a 5-percent conversion of tantalum and columbium or zirconium and hafnium to anhydrous chlorides. This investigation showed that small additions of calcium fluoride to the reaction increased the recovery of tantalum and columbium to 95 percent and the recovery of zirconium and hafnium to 27 percent. These results were achieved with ratios of calcium fluoride to mineral or slag of only 0.2. Silica, the major impurity in the materials studied, was found to be converted to silicon tetrafluoride during chlorination in direct proportion to the quantity calcium fluoride added to the charge. However, large additions of calcium fluoride decreased the volatility of the resulting halides of tantalum, zirconium, and hafnium. Smaller amounts of calcium fluoride also favored recovering minor metal constituents in the zircon concentrate (uranium, thorium, and rare earths).

Jan 1, 1962

By D. J. McAdam, R. W. Mebs

THE technical cohesive strength of a metal means, not the interatomic forces, but the technically estimated resistance to fracture. An example of such resistance to fracture is the so-called "true" breaking stress of a tension-test specimen, the breaking load divided by the sectional area at fracture, According to the prevalent view,8 the technical cohesive strength of a metal, in any particular state as regards prior mechanical treatment and heat-treatment, is determined by a limiting value of the algebraically greatest principal stress.? In two previous papers by one of the authors,14,15 evidence was presented to indicate that the technical cohesive strength of a metal cannot be represented by a single stress value, but that it comprises an infinite number of values corresponding to the infinite number of possible combinations of the principal stresses. The technical cohesive strength thus comprises an infinite number of technical cohesion limits, each representing a specific stress combination at fracture. In the same papers, evidence was presented that plastic extension causes a continuous increase in the technical cohesive strength. Such a variation is not in accordance with the prevalent view that plastic extension first increases, then decreases, the technical cohesive strength.8 In this paper, as in the previous papers,14,15 the algebraically greatest principal stress will be designated S1, the least principal stress will be designated S3, and the intermediate principal stress will be designated S2. The technical cohesion limit under polarsymmetric tension (S1 = S2 = S3) will be termed the "disruptive stress," and the cohesion limit under unidirectional tension (S2 and S3 = o) will be termed the "severing stress." 14,15 The yield strength of a metal, according to the generally accepted theory, may be represented by a constant value of the shearing-strain energy, and hence by a constant value of the sum of the squares of the three principal stress differences. In the second of the previous papers,"' however, evidence was presented that the limiting yield stress decreases with increase in the volume stress, the algebraic average of the three principal stresses.* This influence of the volume stress becomes prominent only in the field of triaxial tension. In the two previous papers, 14,15 diagrams were presented to show the variation of the technical cohesion limit, yield stress, and ultimate stress with the combination of principal stresses and with plastic extension. Those diagrams and the resultant conclusions are derived from experimental data obtained by other investigators. They are based chiefly on results of tension tests

Jan 1, 1943

By AIME AIME

AN unusual interest in the question of orienting the young college man in the mineral industry was shown in a well-attended session* of the Engineering Education Committee on Monday afternoon. About seventy-five employers and educators of mining engineers were present and took part in the discussions.

Jan 1, 1929

Leinster Nickel Operations, located in Western Australia, consists of an underground and three open pit mines in relatively adverse ground conditions. This paper reviews our ground control practices in the open pits, covering aspects of ground support, wall control and monitoring. These methods have been effective in allowing mining operations to continue beneath unstable slopes. In particular, the use of Ground probe?s slope stability radar has enabled the Harmony open pit to safely operate for months following indication of failure from traditional methods. This case study highlights the benefits of investing in appropriate slope stability monitoring systems.

Jan 1, 2006

By Jean Robitaille

La découverte du gisement du puits Penna a nécessité une révision complète de tous les circuits du concentrateur Laronde pour permettre, premièrement, l?adaptation du procédé à la nouvelle minéralogie et deuxièmement, l'accroissement du tonnage de 1800* à 4500 t/j. Aux circuits existants de broyage, de flottation du cuivre, de cyanuration et du charbon en pulpe, les circuits suivants furent greffés : broyage semi-autogène, flottation du zinc, manutention des concentrés (épaississage, filtration, entreposage et chargement automatisé), décantation à contrecourant et précipitation au zinc, destruction des cyanures et remblai en pâte. Cet article se veut une revue des différentes étapes du projet d'agrandissement du concentrateur qui se sont effectuées par phases progressives de 1997 à 2000. De plus, une description des nouvelles technologies sélectionnées et implantées est présentée.

May 1, 2001

By Joo Hyun Park, Soo Sang Park

The distribution behavior of Pb between molten copper and FetO-SiO2 (-CaO, Al2O3) slags was investigated at 1473 K (1200 oC) and p(O2)=10-10 atm in view of the reaction mechanism of Pb dissolution into the slag. The distribution ratio of Pb (LPb) decreases with increasing CaO content (~6 mass pct) irrespective of Fe/SiO2 ratio (1.4~1.7). However, the addition of alumina into a slag with Fe/SiO2=1.5 linearly decreases the LPb, whereas a minimum value is observed at about 4 mass pct Al2O3 at Fe/SiO2=1.3. The log LPb continuously decreases with increasing Fe/SiO2 ratio, and the addition of Al2O3 (5 to 15 mass pct) into the silica-saturated iron silicate slag (Fe/SiO2 < 1.0) yields the highest Pb distribution ratio. The log LPb linearly decreases by increasing the log (Fe3+/Fe2+) value. The Pb distribution ratio increases and the excess free energy of PbO decreases with increasing Cu2O content in the slag. However, from the viewpoint of copper loss into the slag, the silica-saturated system containing small amounts of alumina is strongly recommended to stabilize PbO in the slag phase at a low Cu2O content.

Jan 1, 2014

By Jorge Alberto Soares Tenório, Victor Bridi Telles, Denise Crocce Romano Espinosa, Felipe Fardin Grillo, Vicente de Paulo Ferreira Marques Sobrinho, José Roberto de Oliveira

"This research aims to study the process of incorporation of the metal iron in electric arc furnace dust (EAFD), from a steel mill producing long steel by liquid iron in addition to the changing temperature of 1400 degree Celsius altering experimental conditions such as how to add the EAFD (as received and in the form of briquettes), the percentage of EAFD to be added (10, 20 and 30% of initial weight of sample pig iron) and the time of withdrawal of the sample of pig iron and slag (30 minutes after the addition of EAFD). Previously, the EAFD will be characterized using the following techniques: chemical analysis, particle size analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) microanalysis. After characterization, the eletric arc furnace dust to be added to the bath of liquid iron, will be divided into 2 types: the first order of addition will be in the form ""as received"" from the plant and the second is through the agglomeration of EAFD in the form of briquettes. The achievement of fusion experiments in laboratory scale, will take place in a vertical tubular furnace with temperature control. The fusion experiments to assess the incorporation of the metal iron will use graphite crucibles. A flow of inert gas (argon) will be maintained inside the furnace during the experiments. It is expected that the results obtained at the end of the research allow the evaluation of the iron metal incorporation of eletric arc furnace dust in hot metal bath.IntroductionThe steel industry generates a variety of solid wastes, liquid effluents and gaseous emissions at various stages of processing. The electric furnace dust (EAFD), generated in electric arc furnaces, represents a major problem for their content of chemical elements such as zinc, iron, chromium, cadmium, among others, issued to the atmosphere during the manufacture of steel[1]."

Jan 1, 2012

By Richard Stayner

Suspended seats perform two functions: Reduce effect of occasional large bumps; Reduce more continuous vibration at a lower level. The former needs high damping. The latter needs low damping. For most mobile work machines the inevitable compromise is generally better than a simple cushion seat, because that amplifies vibration at around 4 Hz which is a sensitive frequency for human vertical WBV. Why have standard tests for seat suspensions? • Seat suspensions are non-linear so any measure of performance depends on operating conditions. For comparison these need to be defined. • Seat manufacturers need benchmarks for product development; • Machine makers choose dynamic characteristics appropriate to their products; • Occupational health specialists wish to control operator exposure to Standard tests should be representative, repeatable and reproducible. These requirements are reviewed in relation to the history of seat test standards and the current position. Current position and history The current position is that we have standard tests for seats for agricultural tractors, earthmoving machinery, industrial (fork-lift) trucks. These tests comprise measurement of vibration transmission and of the rate of damping. Current standards developed as the technology developed, starting around 1960: 1. Test on machine driven over standard surface1. 2. Test on shaker reproducing standard surface. 3. Shaker input replaced by representative spectrum2. 4. Human subject replaced by dynamic dummy. (Not yet settled). Are standard tests representative? The development process has gradually moved seat tests further from reality. 4 hr samples of work exposure suggest that seats do not on average provide large reductions of vertical WBV3. For specific magnitudes of vibration they can work well. For low vibration, performance is reduced by friction and for severe vibration by length of travel. Recent work has led to a new test to quantify how a suspension controls over-travel 9.

Jan 6, 2006

By J. H. Starkey

Large differences between macro and micro grindability relationships have been discovered for mill design measurements using the patented SAGDesign(TM) test. Crushing, Rod and Ball Mill Wi tests, and breakage parameter measurements have previously been used to design SAG mills but have not revealed the true magnitude of these differences. A SAGDesign(TM) test measures the SAG/Bond Wi Ratio (defined below) for every sample tested and gives a good design result because the F80 of the SAG stage test feed is 19 mm and because the test includes a Bond Ball Mill Work Index on SAG ground ore. Good flotation operation demands properly sized grinding mills and steady feed to the flotation circuit.

Jan 1, 2009

By N. P. Haran

A detailed study was undertaken to beneficiate sub-grade iron ore sample from Kenojhar District, Orissa, India containing 57% Fe (T), 7.7% SiO2, 4.8% Al2O3, 4 % L.O.I. 0.4% TiO2,1.3 % Mn and traces of S(T) to make it suitable for the user industry. The mineralogical study indicated that it predominantly consists of haematite with subordinate amounts of goethite and clay. Quartz, Cryptomelane / Psilomelane, Pyrolusite, Gibbsite, Feldspar and Muscovite mica were present in very minor to trace amounts. The Denver grind ability tests indicated, that the sample could be categorized as ?medium soft to medium.? The Bond ball mill work index was determined to be 14.19 kwh per short ton. The beneficiation process involved classification followed by tabling of the classified sand, ground to minus 48 mesh size. The table slimes were subjected to Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separator (WHIMS). The developed process yielded a composite concentrate from tabling and WHIMS operations assaying 65% Fe(T), 2% SiO2, 1.8% Al2O3, 2% Mn and 0.9% LOI with a recovery of 60.1% Fe (T), amounting to 52.5 wt.% yield. To meet the size specifications for pellet making, it was further ground. Dewatering studies were also carried out on the ground combined concentrate and rejects. The thickener area of ground combined concentrate using 0.02 kg/t of Sufloc A 1115 flocculant was 0.02 m2/tonne of dry solids per 24 h. And for the combined rejects using 0.12 kg/t of flocculant, it was 0.035 m2/tonne of dry solids per 24 h. The moisture content, in the pressure filtration cake, in the ground combined concentrate product was 10.0%, and productivity was 506.7 kg/m2h. Thus, by thickening and filtration of process products, 90% of water used in the process could be recovered. The study highlights the development of a simple and cost effective flowsheet with almost complete water recovery for a subgrade iron ore sample. Keywords: tabling, WHIMS, thickener, filtration

Sep 1, 2012

By Walter White

THE measurement of the reading of a thermoelement is the measurement of an electromotive force extraordinarily small compared to those generally used in commercial work. Of the various possible methods of measuring such a quantity, the most advantageous is always a delicate galvanometer. Since a galvanometer measures current, it is necessary to adopt some scheme by which its current reading shall indicate electromotive force. There are two general methods of doing this. One is to use the delicate galvanometer as a "direct reader," that is, to let the electromotive force of the thermoelement furnish the power and produce the current measured. If the resistance is constant the reading will, after a suitable calibration, give the electromotive force of the thermoelement which, by means of a table or of a suitable scale in the galvanometer itself, will FIG. 1.-SIMPLIFIED POTENTIOMETER. POTENTIAL DROP ACROSS THE PART PIN or CIRCUIT OF BULL CELL BALANCES THAT OF THERMOELEMENT TC WHEN GALVANOMETER G READS ZERO. give the temperature. The other method, that of the potentiometer, is to balance the electromotive force of the thermoelement by means of another electromotive force, using the galvanometer to tell when the balance is made. The usual way of getting this other electromotive force is to have a battery, the "bull" cell, send a current through a series of resistances, which &apos;may in a special case be the resistance of a single wire. The fall of potential along this circuit will then, by Ohm&apos;s Law, be proportional to the resistance; the potential difference between any two points, proportional to the resistance between the two points. This is represented in Fig. 1, where M and N are the two points in the circuit AZ of the battery. If M or N, or both, is movable so that the resistance

Jan 9, 1919

By EL HANAF

The exploratory program initiated in Egypt in 1937 by four major oil companies was well under way early in 1939. Extensive gravity-meter surveys were carried out in the Sinai Peninsula and the Eastern and Western Deserts. Seismic and magnetometer work vas conducted on a restricted scale. The data collected justified wildcat drilling on structures located geophysically and/or geologically.

Jan 1, 1946

By W. F. Holbrook, C. E. Wood, E. P. Barrett

The high-frequency laboratory induction furnace with a rotating liquid crucible enables research workers to conduct certain investigations heretofore very difficult or impossible to realize because vessels are not obtainable that are capable of resisting the physical conditions or the chemical actions to which they are subjected. Applications for patents covering commercial uses of centrifugal liquid crucibles were filed in the United States in 1919,&apos; in France in 1925, in the United States and Germany in 1926,2 and in France in 1927.3 In 1928, Schuette and Maier,4 of the Bureau of Mines, reported the construction of a whirling table beneath a high-frequency induction furnace. Shape and Size of Centrifugal Liquid Crucibles When a vessel containing a liquid is rotated, the inner surface of the liquid takes the shape of a paraboloid under the simultaneous action of centrifugal force and gravity. The internal dimensions of the paraboloid rotating liquid crucible are governed by the diameter of the container and its speed of rotation. Melted Wood&apos;s metal was poured into cylinders 2 1/2 in. in diameter, which were rotated at 180, 300, and 468 r.p.m. When the metal was solid, a slurry of plaster of Paris was added, and rotation continued until the plaster had set. Fig. 1, a photograph of sections of the cylinders, shows the effect of speed of rotation of the containers upon the shape of the inner surface of the rotating liquid crucibles. Types of Furnaces Three types of high-frequency induction laboratory furnaces using liquid-metal crucibles were designed and constructed by the Blast

Jan 1, 1939

By W. F. Holbrook, C. E. Wood, E. P. Barrett

The high-frequency laboratory induction furnace with a rotating liquid crucible enables research workers to conduct certain investigations heretofore very difficult or impossible to realize because vessels are not obtainable that are capable of resisting the physical conditions or the chemical actions to which they are subjected. Applications for patents covering commercial uses of centrifugal liquid crucibles were filed in the United States in 1919,&apos; in France in 1925, in the United States and Germany in 1926,2 and in France in 1927.3 In 1928, Schuette and Maier,4 of the Bureau of Mines, reported the construction of a whirling table beneath a high-frequency induction furnace. Shape and Size of Centrifugal Liquid Crucibles When a vessel containing a liquid is rotated, the inner surface of the liquid takes the shape of a paraboloid under the simultaneous action of centrifugal force and gravity. The internal dimensions of the paraboloid rotating liquid crucible are governed by the diameter of the container and its speed of rotation. Melted Wood&apos;s metal was poured into cylinders 2 1/2 in. in diameter, which were rotated at 180, 300, and 468 r.p.m. When the metal was solid, a slurry of plaster of Paris was added, and rotation continued until the plaster had set. Fig. 1, a photograph of sections of the cylinders, shows the effect of speed of rotation of the containers upon the shape of the inner surface of the rotating liquid crucibles. Types of Furnaces Three types of high-frequency induction laboratory furnaces using liquid-metal crucibles were designed and constructed by the Blast

Jan 1, 1939

By S. Yuan

A large-scale work scheduling algorithm has been developed in the Mine Management Support System (MMSS) for assigning workers to prioritized jobs on a shift basis. This study basically concerned the formulation of a reliable mathematical programming model to handle the problem, the achievement of an efficient solution of the model, and the implementation of the algorithm to the worker assignment problems of a large underground coal mine. The results showed that the work scheduling algorithm can make optimal assignments efficiently. It is believed it has potential significance in improving manpower utilization and can offer great help to coal mine managers in making efficient manpower allocations.

Jan 1, 1994

By Irwin R. Higgins, Richard S. Dennis

Acid recovery employs ion exchange resin as an adsorption media for the separation of inorganic acids from mixtures of acids and their metallic salts. This technology has been used to treat spent pickling and plating liquors to recover acid for reuse in the bath and to reduce waste acid neutralization costs. Acid recovery can also be used for electrolyte treatment to facilitate valuable metal recovery and to improve product quality. Conventional fixed bed ion exchange (I-X) systems are impractical for acid recovery because of complex control design and large resin inventories needed to process strong acid concentrations. TETRA&apos;S CCIX™ continuous I-X contactor has been used successfully in a simple, continuous operating mode to separate acid from its salt. Efficient separation is enhanced by refluxing which allows acid to be produced as a salt-free product at nearly its original strength. Continuous treatment also recovers heat to the bath and improves metal quality due to consistent acid quality.

Jan 1, 1995

By Shantanu Patel, C. Derek Martin

"The objective of this work is to develop a practical numerical approach for applying the confining pressure to discrete element cylindrical triaxial tests. A layer of membrane particles with very low stiffness and extremely high contact bond strength was created around the lateral boundary of the cylindrical numerical specimen. To prevent the membrane particles from penetrating into the rock specimen on application of confining forces and to provide a smooth boundary surface, the space between the membrane and rock particles was filled using small-diameter packing particles. The results of this method were compared with those of rigid boundary method with confining pressure of 20MPa. The results obtained show that new approach gives both peak strength and post peak response that are in closer agreement with laboratory findings. BACKGROUNDThe discrete element method (DEM) has become the cornerstone for simulating both intact material and discrete fractures for low porosity strong rocks (ISRM Classes R3 to R6). Despite the advances in its application, simulating realistic behaviour of intact rock using the DEM remains a challenge. The bonded particle model was introduced as a potential solution for simulating the complex mineral grains in strong rock and other granular materials (Potyondy and Cundall, 2004; Utili and Nova, 2008; Salot et al., 2009). While some issues were resolved, a remaining challenge is the lack of the bonded particle model to simulate the brittle response commonly observed in strong rocks during the triaxial compressive test. Such behaviour is shown in Fig. 1 for Lac du Bonnet Granite at a confining pressure of 20MPa."

Jan 1, 2015

By Phelan JM

Poor selectivity in the separation of two sulphides generally arises because the flotation characteristics of the coarse sizes of the valuable mineral and finer sizes of non-valuable minerals are identical. Separat- ing the pulp into two size fractions at a specifically determined cut size and conditioning each size fraction with its own optimum reagent addi- tion is known to be helpful in improving such selectivity problems. The performance of the zinc section of the complex ore circuit at Wood- lawn Mines has been analysed in detail. The selective recovery of zinc was found to be a problem in zinc/pyrite separation. However, atypi- cally, the separation problem was between coarse zinc and coarse, not finer, pyrite. In spite of this the use of separate conditioning has effected significant improvements in rougher concentrate. Selectivity (and hence grade), overall recovery and flotation rate have all been enhanced. Dis- appointingly, coarse zinc recovery was not increased but, with careful optimization, this might be achieved without sacrificing the gains already realized. The technique of separate conditioning clearly has general application in other circuits where selectivity is a significant problem.

Jan 1, 1988

By Harry A. Wahl

Precent fracture design procedures are bared on the total fracture area created. A method to distinguish beI,,.ecn total area and [he propped or effective fracture area has not been available. This paper presents a solution to this problem, applicable to horizontal fractures. The difierences between effective fracture area and torn] area are demonstrared in example calculations. This work is hayed on experimentally determined transport efficiencier of solids in sand-liquid slurries. Newtonian and non-Ne~vtoninn systems are considered. INTRODUCTION Fifteen years after commercial introduction, hydraulic fracturing remains the most successful stimulation technique in the oil field. This success is primarily due to ability of induced fractures to penetrate and alter permeabilities deep within formations. Many fields producing today could not have been developed without the hydraulic fracturing process. Because of wide usage, fracture-treatment design has received a great deal of engineering and research effort. This work, resulting in improved equipment and materials, has increased the benefits from fracture treatments as well as the applicability of the process. A major contribution was the development of fluid-loss additives. Necessarily, the number of parameters to be considered in treatment design has steadily increased, resulting in more complicated design techniques. Almost all present design procedures are based on the precepts set forth by Howard and Fast. Relating the fluid volume lost into the formation, the volume required in extending the fracture, and the total slurry volume injected, they developed an expression for the total fracture area created in terms of pertinent treatment parameters. Fluid loss during treatment was expressed as a function of time for three flow mechanisms. Although modifications of fluid loss equations have been made, the total fracture area concept has remained unaltered. A vast amount of field data indicate that induced fractures must be propped and held open to be effective. A notable exception is the Mesa Verde formation in the San Juan basin. However, analysis of these treatments shows that improved well productivities are obtained when propping agents are incorporated in the treating fluid. Although propped fracture area has been recognized as an important design parameter, a method to distinguish between total area and effective fracture area has not been available. The necessary information on slurry-sand transport in fractures has been lacking. Interest in the propped region of induced fractures is not restricted to areal extent alone. The distribution of sand within fractures is important from the standpoint of fracture flow capacities. Flow capacity affects the increase in well productivity after stimulation. The work of Huitt and Darin4 hows that partial monolayers of sand have large flow capacities compared to thick* dense sand packs. It has been postulated that gelled fluids have the ability to transport sand within the fractures at the deired low concentrations. An early contribution in the area of sand placement in fractures was made by Kern et al.&apos; They studied sand movement in a transparent vertical fracture model. It was observed that the sand tended to settle out in the bottom of the model before moving very far. When the fluid velocity exceeded a certain critical value, all of the sand injected began moving through the crack even though it settled to the bottom. This critical velocity was determined under several flow conditions. Some work on sand movement in horizontal fractures has been reported in Russian publications. Sand movement was studied by Izyumova and Shan&apos;gin&apos; using a transparent "pie-shaped" flow model to simulate a horizontal radial flow system. However, the data were limited, especially in a quantitative sense. Dorozhkin, Zheltov and Zheltow studied the behavior of sand-liquid slurries in a horizontal linear flow model. The quantitative data were restricted primarily to the thickness of sand deposits formed at the bottom of the fracture. An earlier paper provided basic data on the flow of sand in horizontal fractures. This study was designed to yield specific quantitative information on rate of advance of sand particles and pressure behavior under various flow conditions. A comprehensive photographic study was undertaken in a 10-ft windowed flow cell to provide the necessary qualitative and quantitative data. Since the number of potential variables far exceeded the capacity of the initial study, emphasis was placed on the effects of sand concentration, oil viscosity and oil flow rate. A detailed description of these experiments and the results are described in Ref. 9. However. the implications of this work on the fracture design calculations were not discussed. An analysis of these data as well as new data is provided in the following sections. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS The primary objective of the experimental investigation was to provide information on the rate of advance of the solids in sand-liquid sturries. A 10%-ft long transparent

Jan 1, 1966