VOLUME XXX NO. 7 - Mines Magazine - Colorado School of Mines

The factor, E, will vary and it isafFected by pipe length and diameter, entranceand discharge pressures, rate offlow, density, temperature, and viscosityof the liquid, gas density, temperature,rate of Sow and perhaps viscosity.Efficiency generally increases as submergencedeclines below 10% and decreasesas submergence rises above 65%.Snflicient data is not available for exactdetermination of the relationship.It has been observed that liftingefliciency increases as the pipe diameterincreases, assuming other factors constant.There is a diameter for a givenrate of flow that is better than any other.The three general forms of gas floware the continuous, periodic and intermittentflows. The choice of form isdetermined by the conditions and requirementsfor the individual cases.Compressor installation and costs andother factors in the selection of equipmentare discussed.Present practice in the various regionsof the world is given consideration inthe article. The dynamic state of thisphase of the industry warrants furtherstudy for those intimately concerned.—L. H. C.Geomorphofogy of the Ruby-East HumboldtRange, Nevada. By Robert P. Sharp.Bull, of the Geol. Soc. of Amer., vol. 51,no. 3, March 1, 1940, p. 338.A middle or late Pliocene open-valleystage in the Ruby-East Humboldt Rangeis recognized and described. The anomalousposition of the drainage divide Inplaces seat of the range crest is explainedin terms of the geomorphic evolution ofthe range. Pediments and terraces on therange flanks and in the adjoining basinsare described, and those on the west sideformed under a regime of through-flowingdrainage are compared with those on theeast side formed on the borders of hydrographicallyclosed basins.Seven surfaces, the two highest beingpediments and the others partial pedimentsand terraces, are recognized on thewest flank of the range. The dissectionof these surfaces is shown to be relatedto successive rejuvenations of the HumboldtRiver drainage. The exposure anddissection of surfaces on the east flank ofthe range are attributed chiefly to relativeuplift of the range between the middlePleistocene and Recent.The origin of pediments under contrastingconditions is considered, and the conclusionis reached that different geologic,climatic, and topographic conditions imposea difference in the efficacy of processesof pedimentation. In this region lateralplanation is dominant in areas ofpermanent streams and soft rocks ; and rillwash, rain wash, and weathering are dominantin areas of hard rocks, ephemeralstreams, and low mountain masses.Lateral erosion by streams accounts forapproximately 40 per cent of the retreatof the mountain front, and approximately60 per cent is due to weathering andvarious types of wash."Petroleum for Germany at War," Dr.Benjamin T. Brooks, Industrial and EngineeringChemistry, Nov. 1939.Predictions of an early end to thepresent war on account of a petroleumshortage in Germany are not justified bythe facts. Many careless statements havebeen made regarding Germany's vulnerabilityon account of lack of adequatepetroleum products such as Diesel oil,motor fuel and lubricants."The whole matter may be roughlysummarized by stating that if Germanygets all the Polish production, about 3J^million barrels, maintains her owndomestic production of 4^ million barrels,manufactures 9 million barrels fromcoal, continues to get only 25% ofRumania's production, and gets none fromRussia, then her total available oii of allkinds, including motor fuel, will amountonly to 28 million barrels or about onethirdof her present wartime requirement."However, the picture is vastly changedif Germany gets all Rumania's surplusfor export, about 33 million barrels, andan equal amount from Russia; then hertotal available oil will be about 84 miiiionbarrels, sufficient for her to maintain thewar indefinitely so far as petroleum,motor fuel, Diesel oil and aviation gasolineare concerned."It is evident that the vital factors inthis situation are altogether uncertain. Itis just as unwarranted to assume thatGermany will not get all Rumania's availablesurplus and will not get any oil whateverfrom Russia as it is to assume thatshe will be able to import all she needsor desires."Germany starts this war much betteroff with respect to petroieum and motorfuel than she was in 1914."Since the World war, Germany hasbuilt up a certain production of syntheticmotor fuel by synthesis from coal bythe Fischer and Berglus processes, andduring the last five years has importedsurplus petroleum which has been accumulatedas a war reserve. Also a largebut uncertain proportion of Rumania'soils which were closed to her in 1914 isnow available."Imports from Russia are also possibleand no one can say how much petroleumwill be imported into Germany fromRussia."—F.J. B.Can Soviet OH Supply German WarNeeds? World Petroleum, October, 1939,p. 31.News of a trad,e agreement between theSoviet Union and Germany, followed bya treaty of unknown terms, has producedmuch speculation as to the results on thewar. The most widely adopted conclusionis that Germany can get foodstuffs, rawmaterials, and petroleum products.Russia has oil undoubtedly. She is secondin production and has large resourcesundeveloped. But supplying it toGermany is another matter.Russia produces 32,050,000 tons of oilper year, 90% of which is produced inthe Caucasus, To ship oil from theCaucasus to Germany entails a iong railand water trip for which facilities arelacking, unless the oil can be shipped byway of the Black Sea and the Danube.But if Russia enters the war, she willneed all her supplies herself.About 27,000,000 tons of petroleumproducts are refined each year, of whichin 1932, the peak year, 6,040,000 tonswere exported. But in 1938 the exporthad fallen to 930,050 tons.Soviet products for export are mainlyfuel oil and kerosene. Germany needsgasoline and gas oil. Fuel oil could beconverted, but neither Germany norRussia have refining facilities sufficientenough.In the past, Germany has imported littleof Russia's production. It is a questionwhether Stalin will leave his well establishedmarkets to supply a relativelytemporary desire of Germany, andwhether Germany can pay in cash.Recent reports from Russia show thatthe refining operations have declined inefficiency very strikingly. In Baku over200 breakdowns were reported in the firsthalf of the year.In September, it was reported thatGerman technicians were going to Russia.It remains to be seen if they can be moresuccessful than others have been in thatcountry.—}. B. W.Flow Tank V apors Saved by EconomicalSystem: The Oil Weekly, December11, 1939, p. 19.Operators in the Long Beach area havebecome flow tank vapor conscious. Sincethe practice of installing elevated trapsis not general in that area, sufficientpressure must be maintained on the trapsto force the oil thru the piping into theflow tank battery. This pressure is highenough to cause an appreciable quantityof gas to dissolve In the oil, which, if notsaved, would be vented to the atmosphereand lost.The systems consist mainly of providingeach tank with a self-closing, spark-proofgauge and thief hole cover, and manifoldingthe vapor space of all the flowtanks in the battery into a common vaporbalance line,Various features are embodied in thisequipment to Insure close control, suchas vacuum and pressure regulators, sensitiveautomatic valves, and internal flamesnuffers.The amount of vapors removed from abattery will vary according to conditions.One battery of four 250 barrel flow tankshandling the production from two 350bbl/day wells passed an average of60,000 cubic feet of one and one halfgallons gas per day. On this basis thesystem paid for itself In nine months.—E. B. W."Temperatures dffectiiig Crude OilProductio/i". By Michel T. Halbouty,Consulting Engineer, Oil Weekly, December25, 1939, page 15.The author describes temperaturesaffecting crude oil production and discussesthe Geothermal Gradient presentin the Gulf Coast oil fields.Two classes of chemical compoundsmay be used for the removal of paraffinand the prevention of its deposition:Namely, those that generate heat, thusraising the temperature of the oil andmelting the paraffin; also, those that actas a solvent to change the character ofthe wax so that it will not crystallizewhen the temperature is decreased belowits original melting point.A very efficient and practical method ofeliminating paraffin deposits is found inequipping wells with steam coils; and atintervals, a small portable boiler, capableof supplying super-heated steam at atemperature above 500°F. and pressureof 1000 pounds can be set up at the welland operated until the accumulation hasbeen dissolved and passed into the tanks.This method is especially applicable tolarge wells that produce through tubingand are readily plugged with paraffin.Several other methods for the removalof paraffin are also discussed.The use of bottom hole chokes in gaswells with high bottom hole temperatureshas presented a new application, sincetheir installation practically disposes offreezing difficulties by utilizing moreefficiently the high subsurface temperatures.A discussion of high pressure condensateand distillate wells is given. Apressure-—temperature chart illustratesthe procedure to be followed in designinga high pressure surface valve fordistillate wells.A short discussion of heat treatingcrude oil emulsions is given.Charts and a table are given along witha discussion of the Geothermal Gradientpresent in the Gulf Coast oil fields.—E. Y. P.(Continued from page 335)treated to some pretty scenery "including native huts. Along thecoast we saw many ships of all nations.We arrived In Durban along with a heavy rain and weresurprised with the beauty and size of the city which seemed tu bea bit smaller than Denver. The flamboyant trees were In bloomand their red flowers added much to rhe visual aspect of the city.The port of Durban is pretentious and complete in all respectsand could be easily compared with any of the large ports of theworld. In tonnage handled it is but 16th down the line, so it is abusy place. We were in Durban six days, after which we left forthe port of Lourenco Marques in Portugese East Africa, which isthe main terminus for much of South Africa's imports and exports.The American Consul in Lourenco Marques was very cordialand showed the captain and myself the town and the sights. Herewe saw cashew nuts growing much the same as English walnutsand not as ground nuts as we had imagined. The next port wasBeira, also in Portugese East Africa but under different government.In Beira the Mozambique Charter Company has control ofpractically everything, including the land, mineral rights, postoffice, police, and even the currency. The day before gettinginto Beira we saw the hulk of the "Africa Shell" which had beenshelled and put down by the "Graf Spee." It had been run ashorebefore it sank and was clearly visible in the surf.The fina! port of my journey was Dar-Es-Salaam where I disembarkedafter I had been on board for 55 days. From here Iwas to continue my trip inland to the mine but as the trains do notrun every day it was necessary for me to spend Christmas dayhere. Dar-Es-Salaam has a wonderful harbor with a very narrowentrance in which the German sank a big steel dry dock just atthe entrance during the last war and narrowly missed blockingit. The trip from Dar-Es-Salaara to Itiga, a distance of 300 mileswas rather monotonous. The last 250 miles to the mine was madeover bumpy roads by car, and so after nearly 13,000 miles and 64days of travel I finally arriveil at my destination in SouthernTanganyika, roughly between Lake Nyassa and Lake Tanganyika.It is very nice at themine but it was a biti "^'^ of a shock to have ai^mS man eating lion shoton the outskirts of thecamp within a weekafter I arrived. It tooka native boy the firstnight and returned andtook a dog off a trucknear one of the staffhouses. I visualizedlions, elephants and almosteverything elsecoming into camp everyweek but it is not as. . - , c- • L bad as that. We areMan Eater Meets H.s Finish. ^^^^ ^jj^^ ^^enearest town, two hundred and fifty miles from the railroad andninety miles from an airport.New Sa%a Mine, Chunya, Tanganyika Territory,British East Africa.NEW EQUIPMENT PAGE PROVES VALUABLEFrom WARD T. GRAHAM, EX-'26I noted on the "New Equipment" page of the March "MinesMagazine," the article about the Minnesota Mining and ManufacturingCompany's offering in this line. We are enclosing a TenDollar money order, for which we would like to receive the"Scotch Edger" and as much tape supply as possible with thisamount of money . . . please bill us for the additional amount requiredor send a C.O.D. for the balance . . . we will appreciatevery much your securing this for us or passing on our request tothe manufacturer.Note: We are glad to render this service. Ed.Gejieral Superintendent, Baguio Gold Mining Company,Baguio, Philippine Islands.ENJOYS THE MAGAZINEFrom MERLE L. GILBREATH, '33I enjoy the Mines Magazine and believe that each issue isbetter than the last, with the April issue the best. ... I likedthe questions and answers given in the "Man of Minerals," wishmore of them could have been given in the magazine.P. O. Box 17, Angleton, Texas,FOOTBALL PICTURES BRING MUCH PLEASUREFrom HARRY J. WOLF, '03 _ _Needless to say, they were viewed with great satisfaction. Itwas obvious that Mines had a good team. The photography forthe most part was excellent. The whole performance was thoroughlyenjoyed . . . obviously these pictures would be of greatestinterest to men who actually saw the games. This same interestcould be inspired if one had not seen the games, if he could beconstantly informed as to what was going on. In other words, the(Continued on page 377)for PROFITABLE DredgingGOLDPLATINUM TINOver 30 years experience designing andbuilding placer dredges and meeting varyinghard conditions found in all fourquarters of t^ie world is at your service.Dependable operation—Long LifeFewer shutdowns—Efficient recoveryHigh salvage valuevuBn nmnufiicTumni: lo.351 California St., San Francisco, CaliforniaCardTrackwork...leads straight fo "LowestCost Per Ton Mile Haul."FrogsSwitchesSwitch StandsCross-oversCrossingsTurntablesI h c C S . C aDenvOT, Colorado374 THE MINES MAGAZINE > JULY 1940THE MINES MAGAZINE -t- JULY 1940 375