2 6 9
ABSTRACTS.
Oi l f i e l d Ex p l o r a t i o n a n d Ex p l o i t a t i o n. -
G eology
G eophysics a n d G eochem ical P ro sp ec tin g
D rillin g ...
P ro d u c tio n
Oilfield D ev elo p m en t ...
Tr a n s p o r t a n d St o r a g e Re f i n e r y Op e r a t i o n s.
R efineries a n d A u x ilia ry R e finery P la n t
PAG E
269 A 280 a
280 a
282 a
288 a 289 a
290 a
PAG E S o lv en t R efining a n d D ew axing 292 a
C rack in g ... ... ... 293 a
S afety P re c a u tio n s ... ... 294 a Pr o d u c t s.
C hem istry a n d P h y sio s ... 295 A A nalysis a n d T estin g ... ... 295 a
E n g in e F u els ... ... ... 297 a L u b ric a n ts ... ... ... 297 a
Coal, Shale a n d P e a t ... ... 298 a
M iscellaneous P ro d u c ts ... 298 a Mi s c e l l a n e o u s ... ... ... 299 a
Bo o k s Re c e i v e d ... ... 300 a
A U T H O R IN D E X .
T h e n u m b ers refer to th e A b s tra c t N u m b er.
The original papers referred to in the abstracts marked with an asterisk may b e.
borrowed by members from the Institute Library.
Acree, S. F ., 955 Adams, J . E ., 881 Albert, W. 0 ., 969 Andrews, E. M., 901 Applin, E. R ., 873 Applin, P . L ., 873 Baldwin, H . L., 884 Barnes, K. B., 870, 913 Beltz, E. W ., 893 Berlin, C. J ., 925 B lodgett, R ., 956 Bolton, E. K ., 966 Bray, G. T., 961 Brace, J ., 941 Calhoun, J . C., 917, 918 Cauley,-S. P ., 947 Clark, C. L., 945 Clark, G. L., 958 Clason, 0 . E ., 912 Clifton, R. L., 861 Cooper, G. A., 874 Corrin, J . B., 914- Cram, J . H ., 867 Culmer, T. W ., 958 Dalton, S. D ., 917 Davies, R. K ., 967 De Golyer, E ., 934 , C. J ., 877
Denison, A. R ., 863 D unbar, R . O., 882 Egloff, G., 946 Ellisor, A. 0 ., 878 Fagin, K . M., 903 F ash, R . H ., 858 Finn, F . H ., 914 Freem an, J , W ., 945 Gester, G. C., 864 Gill, F . X ., 939 Gordon, M., 871 Gough, H . C., 962 H ayw ood, P. J . C., 954 H eiland, C. A., 899 Heese, 0 . J ., 879 H o rto n , 0 . W ., 880 Im lay , R . W ., 883 Jencks, P . J ., 955 JohnsoD, J . H ., 862 Johnson, F ., 910 Jones, P . J ., 919, 920 K arge, F ., 936, 937 K ay , J ., 954 K etten b u rg , R . J ., 906
K unkel, J . H ., 943 Lahee, F . H ., 866 Lawrence, J . S., 948 Lees, G. M., 890
n, D. M., 915 McGivem, P . Y., 904 M aclean, M. E ., 955 MacNeil, F. S., 865 Mellors, J . W ., 951 M errym an, L. R ., 911 Nelson, D. M., 956 Oppenheim, Y., 888 Ospina-R acines, E ., 930 P ark s, T. D ., 958 Pitzer, K . S., 949, 952 P r a tt, W- E ., 860 Prosen, E. J ., 949, 950,
952
Romanoff, M., 935 Rossini, F . D ., 949, 950,
952 R u st, W. M., 897 Sanders, Y., 964 S chm idt, J . J ., 914
Schmieder, F . R ., 906 Scott, R . B., 951 Sheppard, C. W ., 896 Showalte, H . J ., 938 Short, E. H ., 905 Stenzel, H . B ., 879 S tu art, A. H ., 942 Taylor, F. B., 923 Thom pson, P . K ., 965 Thornton, D. P ., 959 Timmis, L. B., 953 Turner, F . E ., 879 Van W ingen, H ., 910 W allace, W . E ., 875 W arthin, A. S., 874 Weil, B. H ., 968 Weller, G. M., 894, 895 Wells, N . C., 925 Willcpx, O. W ., 859 W illiams, N ., 876, 909,
922
W ithey, S. H ., 972 Wyckoff, R . D ., 898 Y uster, S. T ., 917, 918 Zim m erm an, J ., 872
Oi l f i e l d Ex p l o r a t i o n a n d Ex p l o i t a t i o n.
Geology.
858. Theory of Origin and Accumulation of Petroleum. R . H . F a sh . B u ll. A m er.
Ass. Petrol. Oeol., O ct. 1944, 28 (10), 1510-1518.— C u rren t opinion su p p o rts th e idea th a t p etro leu m is form ed fro m organic m a tte r. B o th an im a l a n d p la n t m ate ria l, w hen deposited in sedim ents u n d e r saline co nditions, is c o n v erted b y b a cte ria l actio n in to re la tiv e ly sta b le neokerogen or u n d e r slig h tly different co nditions in to th e kerogen o f oil shales. F in a l com position o f neokerogen seem s to be affected b y : (1) co m position of organic debris, (2) com position a n d co n ce n tra tio n o f salts in th e brine,
U
■which affects th e ty p e s o f b a c te ria , a n d (3) c o m p o sitio n o f se d im e n ts, w h ic h affec p a n d su rface p h e n o m e n a.
N e x t sta g e in co n v ersio n o f neo k ero g en to oil is b ro u g h t a b o u t b y c o m p a c tio n ox th e sed im en ts. T h is g e n e ra te s h e a t, w hich is p ra c tic a lly confined to s u rfa c e m olecules o f th e p a rtic le s, a n d in t u r n th is h e a t b rin g s a b o u t co n v ersio n o f n eo k ero g e n in to g as films.
T hese f i l m s o f c o n d en sed gases th e n m ig ra te in to m o re p o ro u s zones, w h e re in cre a sed v a p o u r p re ssu re o ccasioned b y in crease in d ia m e te r o f t h e c ap illaries lib e ra te s gases.
Since th e s e gases a re la rg e ly u n s a tu r a te d , a n d h e n ce re a c tiv e , t h e y m a y t h e n h e c o n v e rte d in to p e tro le u m h v c a ta ly tic effect o f su rfaces o f s e d im e n ta ry p a rticle s.
Such a p o ro u s zone m a y b e in a sy ncline, a n d so it follow s t h a t oil c a n h e fo rm ed in synclines. M oreover, th is th e o ry elim in a tes th e p ro b le m o f oil m ig ra tio n a n d suggests t h a t oil does n o t m o v e in to , b u t fo rm s in , a t r a p . W . H .
859. Souree-beds and the Search for Oil. O. TV. TVillcox, W orld P etrol., A p ril 1945, 16 (4), 50.— S u m m arized re s u lts o f a q u e stio n n a ire o n oil m ig ra tio n a n d accu m u la tio n show t h a t i t is g e n era lly a g re e d t h a t oil w a s fo rm ed fro m p la n t a n d a n im a l rem ains a cc u m u la te d in se d im e n ts. T h e se d im e n ta ry b a sin s g ra d u a lly filled u p , a n d so th e o ld er d ep o sits, n o w c o n ta in in g h y d ro c a rb o n s, w ere sq u eezed , c au sin g th e ir fluids to m o v e u p w a rd s, d o w n w ard s, o r la te ra lly in to a n y a d ja c e n t p o ro u s fo rm a tio n w hich co u ld h o ld th e m . A ll oil is n o t sq u eezed o u t o f t h e m u d , a n d som e, m o s tly o f high m o le c u la r w eig h t a n d po ssib ly lo osely co m b in ed w ith th e m u d , re m ain s a f te r squeezing, th u s fo rm in g a n oil shale. S an d s t h a t h a v e a c te d a s so u rce-h ed s c a n n o t b e squeezed, a n d in th e m c e m e n ta tio n causes th e ex p u lsio n . A g a in , som e o il m a y re m a in , indi
c a tin g t h a t t h e s a n d h a s a c te d a s a so u ree-b e d , o r h a s a t le a s t affo rd ed p assag e to m ig ra tin g oil.
Oil w ill fin d a te m p o ra ry if n o t a p e rm a n e n t p lac e in a n y u n c o n so lid a te d sa n d or p o ro u s lim esto n e n e a r a t h a n d .
L arg e-scale palseogeographic a n d palseogeologie s tu d ie s m u s t b e u n d e rta k e n to in crease k now ledge o f tim e o f o rig in a n d a c c u m u la tio n , a n d o f th e n a tu r e o f source- h e d s a n d th e ir re la tio n s t o reserv o irs. B a rre n as w ell a s p ro d u c tiv e s tru c tu re s should b e stu d ie d . R eg io n a l a s w ell a s lo cal tr e a tm e n t is e ssen tial. G. D . H . 860. Distribution of Petroleum in the Earth’s Crust. TV. E . P r a t t , B u ll. A m ur. A ss.
Petrol. Oeol., O ct. 1944, 28 (10), 1506—1509.— I t is g e n era lly a c c e p te d t h a t th e m ost lik e ly e n v iro n m en t fo r th e g e n e ra tio n o f p e tro le u m is a th ic k series o f se d im e n ts, rich in org an ic m a tte r , w h ich h a v e fo rm e d in sh a llo w lan d -lo c k e d seas. O th e r im p o rta n t fa c to rs in clu d e degree o f in d u ra tio n a n d te c to n ic h is to ry , w h ile su c h fa cto rs as u n c o n fo rm itie s, ov erlap s, s tr a n d lin e s, reefs, a n d b a rs a re o fte n co n cern ed .
Som e p re se n t “ m e d ite rra n e a n s ” m a r k sites o f fo rm e r u n s ta b le lan d -lo ck e d seas t h a t h a d e n v iro n m en ts fa v o u ra b le t o p e tro le u m fo rm a tio n . H e re iso s ta tic a d ju s t
m e n ts allow ed g re a t th ick n esses o f c lastic se d im e n ts to a c c u m u la te in re la tiv e ly shallow w a te r, w h ile m a rin e life w as a b u n d a n t a n d y ield e d ric h o rg a n ic re sid u es. A t tim es lo cal em ergence cau sed b a rrie rs to arise, w h ich re s tric te d tid a l flow a n d , d u rin g periods o f a rid ity , cau sed e x te n siv e desiccatio n .
T o d a y th e r e a re fo u r p rin c ip a l a rea s o f lan d -lo c k e d seas, e a c h coin cid in g w ith p ro v ed oil areas. T h ey a re th e en v iro n s o f : (1) M e d ite rran e a n , R e d , B la c k a n d C aspian Seas, a n d th e P e rs ia n G ulf, (2) G u lf o f M exico a n d C a rrib e an S ea, (3) t h e shallow isla n d -s tu d d e d seas b e tw e e n A sia a n d A u s tra lia , a n d (4) A rc tic Sea. TV. H . 861. Palececology and Environments Inferred for Some Marginal Middle Permian Marine Strata. R . L . C lifton. Bull. A m e r. A ss. Petrol. Geol,, J u l y 1944, 28 (7), 1012-1031.— E n v iro n m e n t o f an cien t seas m a y b e re c o n s tru c te d p a r tly fro m evidence still e x istin g in de p o sits, a n d p a r tly b y co m p ariso n s w ith e n v iro n m e n ts in seas o f to -d a y . T h u s u sin g b o th lith o lo g ical a n d palaeontological e vidence, co n d itio n s o f fo rm a tio n of B lain e a n d D o g C reek d e p o sits (M iddle P e rm ia n ) h a v e b e en in ferred .
T h e ro ck s in clu d e lim estones, dolom itic lim esto n es, to g e th e r w ith g y p su m an d a n h y d rite in te rb e d d e d w ith r e d shales. T h e ir o ccurrence a n d re la tio n s su g g est sed i
m e n ta tio n in p a r tly enclosed b asin s, w h ere oscillatio n s o f th e floor c a u s e d 'v a ria tio n s in sa lin ity fro m b ra c k ish to h ig h ly saline w a ters. S u ch c o n d itio n s n a tu r a lly influenced th e fauna* w h ich is re m a rk a b le fo r e x ce p tio n a l o c cu rren ce o f som e species, a n d for
271 a líPÉEsfíafl w esm ssm e, m ofem os#* « t t e t e s f w e i « . , rte&t are wwtEaaBy -jsdkag&ss.t sai t'anci-Ka .teçteffiï. l & i ? fiByaîïîWïm, I w t e f e j s t e v s t e gæstonsfSMik m e .w m œ . iwîsïfe spwssûges.
«swsfe, m l «Haostâm sas» atorara. # o il», W tor fesrasi, m a i -i§«*îfe. aff. ito « te te m %
■aaiEKK Eœapteajls « t e m a n m l b . am l.sw B sr jMjteRjspte®, wjjg@ajffc Usait it&esse aMwia».-
¡tím p t e t e í t e ¡fessa :íf*a!¿aÍ22»i IfeBtors e f «Qnàracsi«K.t. A ifca. te ÿ îjf f e S p i» o»f ilmee m im a sgirnSm » î!8^ ® s S |t e fer pnteo^w raËti® « g g r ç p te s in site fiSiiàs « sa li» .
W - H . ME. tî^ w s a a c e s s r, B e f c r c ta s « n i fee S to n fe t e QÍL ?.. E t e s t a s o . BW2, à « - . À*®.0 iÉ /n i. fiwÆ-, SteSy 2 3 l‘7i, S#¿r@ <58^|OtóÉ t|5SÉfe r e fe te y - c-tief vr5®!k ©f tase eii-®as-fs52w p t e s f e ít e a g t o toss feaee i w g É f i » s t e .&am&stéim a i «terferaraî faaps, foæt « k«7 fiisSÎ c-ii-se.sjt'.ii as fewi§Eg toarsrofe sírtegraplteaE tinsfs., i i s w m k. feas ¡sa®» m á t e t e » *® «rai® « e « t e t a » d é t e o s « » * . W to te to r ¡il¡» motos# ®f ¡tí» tesp .
■srltsfihsir Êt vemûis fiwca laa&aa^jaBátir ¡a te «vafiap «r fessa feErtâeiitor ô t e s r«r raef Swwjjiwtww testo l i t e vam »à a sste s& fei t ^ p o t e t o t e & ïm s. f c ptów adráíagást «mm
•ssarMiÿ* m i»ipnat « w ^ t e d i i E s
rfilÉfe.G&fss,Bjsa^®
«wfea» % æ $hpùi® ftiis . î ï t a r e mm S t e te â a s s ,.« « sa tfee M m am k: « i ¡tases Esssâfeesïa B te k y M aroatam regsa®, w te r e Êsassb■«re * 0 ¡asa»« a t e s a .ypiaSy pseesrste» ¡iJas* saí&ar a f e i t e s me m o i, - p M f e a t e ly .mmipcM itíb^r'dbrtbífe, a t e ga¡majsa.¡ray loggsffig.
Ss^gastáos* f e CTOreBfíEir.g i l » g ra v e p ^ f e m a î Hue s t e h U t y to & ad steEdieffit mettr
íw w rw to.feeep ¡sí.«® te fe ®»«feme¿ fsraar-sàszæ- ^pBpsssptrâsti a » m ate, -ate te îte e ; .#} .Hrânfrrâaf ■m a ««fer, twïtfer ■ -aeafe, (2i)
.ptefEÍaggreaisr «aapteaki ím.
13) cvsabaaiàag « f pnesedprss, (4) maafc rsaesnáfe, a t e (5J c& œ r ia te g p n # !» a^.îü
g re v as. • ’ W . ® .
S S 3 , A G f e a & n r e t o 0 e # e r . A . : B . © B S B i M a . B u l l , & m e r . - A s * . P m m l , G t o l . - J a l v
ÎSM ^ !7)t W ~ -® 0L— See A feat«»* M®. S i.’. 1941. W . I L
&M. W't'iM î ^ s t e n B etto tes
« n i
P rire te im S ts ë s tf e ,&. C. ¡Gastar» BrM. Amer,
¿4s-s. P e trm l. Ç a e î^ G ç& . 1 S U 2S il®}, l l S S ^ - l A staiíást&ial r e s w o í ¡tfes a& pr&- àwsifen mâ, «nrrv»».«r ifee « à ) . ï b e U cîted ^tsaifes fear snafea- fealff Sfc» fassnm wôaM peteSeuiB in e rv e s , ®ad f e f e jessîj- jm s m fess | m pratdoffiâng appxG sim stâlv ®S%.
€îîas»to#-.'©:W.S, prftdaatâaa 5s â8 feSMsai fcriL, agaiEst. ÉáJ i f l i m f e ress ®f t t e y.-.-.rlri í ü t á S s ^ s 'r f j s w y « to ta l SO M fefe feïL, ®gaafe-,$I-4o M f e p .
Jjasfeaatel w sîA i «m fe-fSlî isa e rv e s a r e »1—91 'b ife m m l.. ^¡Uh. vmæçma ^eagn^feéeal disiirîlîüiion, j8d% feafe® d fe d îm ia d fes^resn. ¡to® smâter^gâzad t m m im opposite s.iâes d f «fee TTffiiitl» î l e PaïaâsEL G u lf a a â CemÈsja. ®®hb. m ¡ti» O H W «aM , .and Wpmmtééa*
'CViíssvoí.u-s. 'Mexrm, szrú ¡tfee L.f5, m \\¿e Ívavr Woeid. Td o-rld-.vód.e úiir,trí~bv^rr¿T± ¿3
îcajîp®a vrítfe reserv e figross. \v . H .
885, :O fera«» SimAsgtmií? oí Soafeasste'ni Umí®d Sfefez, F , S. ffiæîM L S-Æ
A s» » . -As-i. B eírtíL (te s t., S e p í, l.SM, 28 (Sj, 183:8—13®.!— A pialím jEairv aaesEagl o í ¡41»Gidfí©3jsj¡sKas.e, ««oíalniisg a fasr a n aw a t. ef¡EíÉEÍsgÉeal -aœjî M8;s»ij.ífflfegsfflá|
í f e a a .a s d 4 g fe t flarnsm ati m etëssm , w ím a « n f e l «acrelæ tlnk s a l t e f e aEssisisfeM.
AfeÉca&a, a s á BStsai®
T k e aaSteffir d i lf a s .sjig tó lv freo» <tí» C b e le ^ b a l S u rv e v f e t e ¡ r » f e f c t e i t e f e ® 11 Vátídliw íg gssw p 4’-ío «fee-osíiliite.part. a f - í t e 0 1 ^ g t e a h - a a ¡ ¡ ® y , S lfe ^ & s a SteB stons a t e B y rs n fe n sa.táa a. 'l i t e esK-lsítes?. ífce F « » í * HíM .-sate a t e B e d B faff |f e y ¡p jjw w Oi%s®er¿e), ateo ih e jm r m m C tetefesav íte y í f e f e s E e , to@eti.fesr t e f e f e la te ra l .eqm- vgJesjs, M p f e i B i s » f e n ^ i t e a , . a t e .S®«aæ®6 -BoMoferBe (C p p e r 'OSgoesase}. I t e
“ ü p p e r C tetfem vrfeey " r f p aesásee itoeomüts fes «¡efeátelv le g a te e d i o toe l<¡mm M ím e m on ím in a l m rM sm m , aaid feas í t e r e f e e toee® r<- <.,id P a y s e s H a m as-.e s « m a
W . .IL 886. î t e t e r e t E splara.toJî' D iü iîn g ia 1944. F . H - Lafee®, O 'û t o - X , 2 6 .4 .4 ^ 43 Í51/- 108-— 4 5 7 8 -fflspfeœefitory feotes w ere sMîfesl fe 't'-S-A . ifea 19-11 ..average .¿eplife ite fe g 121.7 -fi, 3:343 were tJiiltecî in lîM3.. te ih tm av erag e ilépife o f 3833 ft. :âL0%
®f îk e feo fe ifKsatefl -on f e f e n tte l siiwàee -were pT®dM.e@s; 38% a ï ih e o ih m s -.en?
« t o á i l -E a p le io to ry >»J1 resHÍto m ;IM 4 - a re ¡swmftazised -fef S to te s . a®si t o i f a r t a b f e g ive itfee .fessas f e iteeefing Sfee tosto. a t e 'dfeïîînîititm o í tilif e e n i ivw ss -ef
m s p fe o to ry toæto. --G.:è, H .
867. Resources and Resourcefulness. J . H. C ram . Oil Gas J 31.3.45, 43 (47), 166;
Oil WJcly, 2.4.45, 117 (5), 34.— U .S.A . oil- a n d gas-field a rea s co v er a b o u t 26,000 sq. m l,, a b o u t o n e -th ird giv in g oil. T hese fields h a v e y ield ed 29,750 m illio n b rl. o f oil, a n d a b o u t 61 m illion m illion cu. ft. o f gas. P ro v e d reserv e s a re e s tim a te d a t 20,000 m illion b rl. o f oil a n d 114 m illion m illion cu. ft. o f gas. C rude oil re serv e n o t re c o v e r
able a t p re sen t p rice s a n d w ith e x istin g p ro d u c tio n m e th o d s m a y b e 25,000 m illio n brl.
U n d isco v ered reserv es m a y lie below k n o w n fields, or in 1,600,000 sq. m l. o u tsid e p re s e n t fields. O nly s tru c tu ra lly or s tra tig ra p h ic a lly w ell-lo cated d r y holes t h a t h av e b e en d rilled th ro u g h all k n o w n p ro d u c in g fo rm a tio n s o r th ro u g h e n tire se d im e n ta ry c o lu m n o r to 15,000 ft. c a n b e co n sid ered as tr u ly sig n ifica n t ; a n d o n ly th e second c a teg o ry c an b e ta k e n as tr u ly condem ning. I n a p ro sp e ctiv e a re a o f a b o u t 150,000 sq. m l., m a in ly in th e G u lf C oast S ta te s, th e s e d im e n ta ry c o lu m n is o v er 15,000 ft.
th ic k , a n d in th is a re a o n ly five w ells h a v e exceeded 15,000 ft. I n th e a re a w ith less t h a n 15,000 ft. o f se d im en ts te s t w ells to th e b a se m e n t a re r a re e x c e p t w h ere th e co lu m n is less th a n 5000 ft. th ic k . I n a n a re a o f 850,000 sq. m l. o n ly 325 w ells h a v e re ac h ed b a se m e n t in th e d e p th ra n g e 5000-15,000 ft. ; a b o u t h a lf o f th es e a re in a few C alifo rn ian fields, tw o o f w hich p ro d u c e fro m th e b a se m e n t.
E v e n if all d ry holes re ac h in g b a se m e n t below 5000 ft. w ere w ell lo c a te d , th e tru ly c o n d em n in g te s tin g is sm all. N u m b e r o f te s t w ells re ac h in g b a s e m e n t a b o v e 5000 ft.
is in a d e q u a te in a n a re a o f a b o u t 600,000 sq. m l.
T h ere will be n o n e a rly conclusive ev id en ce t h a t th e e n d o f d isc o v ery is in sig h t u n til w ell-lo cated d ry holes h a v e b e en d rille d th ro u g h th e e n tire se d im e n ta ry colum n, or to lim its o f drillin g eq u ip m e n t, on a h ig h p e rc e n ta g e o f th e geological an o m alies t h a t could b e tr a p s , a n d on tr a p s a lre a d y p ro d u c in g fro m sh allow er d e p th s.
D u rin g p a s t 25 y e ars p recisio n o f geological in v e s tig a tio n s h a s b e en in creased by use o f new geological tools. Im m e n se a m o u n ts o f in fo rm a tio n h a v e b e e n acquired, a n d g re a t a d d itio n s a re bein g m ad e , b u t geologists h a v e b y n o m ea n s e x h a u s te d all po ssib ilities o f m a k in g b e tte r u se o f th is in fo rm a tio n in u n ra v e llin g th e geology.
T h ere is n e ed o f m o re geologists w ho c a n in te rp re t, co rre late , a n d reconcile a ll e a rth d a ta in p re p a ra tio n o f a single in te rp re ta tio n o f geology o f a g iv en a rea . C ontrolled im a g in atio n is n eed ed to b rid g e g ap s in th e in fo rm a tio n . C o n tro lled im a g in atio n is im a g in atio n te m p e re d b y experience, know ledge, a n d so u n d reaso n in g .
T h ere is n e ed o f m o re w ild ca ts in w ide o p en spaces w h ere geological in fo rm a tio n is scarce b u t w h ere m u ch -n e ed e d n e w p ro v in ces m a y b e w a itin g to b e ta p p e d . T here is also n e ed for d eep er d rillin g in p ro d u c in g pro v in ces. T h e d rill is a geological tool as w ell as a p ro d u c tio n to o l, fo r it acq u ires geological in fo rm a tio n . G. D . H . 868. Wildcat Completions and Discoveries. A no n . Oil Gas J . , 31.3.45, 43 (47), 345;
7.4.45, 43 (48), 1 35; 14.4.45, 43 (49), 1 70; 21.4.45, 43 (50), 1 6 4 ; 28.4.45, 43 (51), 1 82; 5.5.45, 43 (52), 1 45; 12.5.45, 44 (1), 1 65; 19.5.45, 44 (2), 1 8 1 ; 26.5.45, 44 (3), 193 ; 2.6.45, 44 (4), 129.
--- ?--- W eek e n d ed :
U .S . W ild c a t C om p letio n s a n d D iscoveries.
. Oil. D istilla te . Gas. T o ta l.
2 4 th M arch, 1945 . . . . 11 0 3 71
31st M arch, 1945 . . . . 8 1 • 1 57
7 th A p ril, 1945 . . . . 9 0 3 52
14th A p ril, 1945 . . . . 12 1 2 77
2 1 st A p ril, 1945 . . . . 4 1 1 67
2 8 th A p ril, 1945 . . . . 9 0 2 90
5 th M ay, 1945 . . . . 7 0 1 81
12th M ay, 1945 ... 9 0 4 72
1 9th M ay, 1945 . . . . 16 0 4 85
2 6 th M ay, 1945 . . . . 9 1 0 71
T ab les su m m arize co m p letio n re su lts b y S ta te s a n d d is tric ts for each w eek.
'G . D . H . 869. U.S. Reserves Gained 389,000,000 Barrels in 1944. A non. W orld P etrol., A pril
1945, 16 (4), 58.—A.P.I. c o m m itte e o n reserv es e s tim a te s t h a t n ew po o ls found
511.308.000 b rl. o f oil in 1944, w hile exten sio n s a n d revisions to ex istin g fields a d d ed 1.556.192.000 b rl. 1944 p ro d u c tio n is e s tim a te d a t 1,678,421,000 b rl. A t en d o f 1944 to ta l reserv es w ere 20,453,231,000 brl.
T exas a d d e d 747,790,000 brl. to reserves, M ississippi discoveries acc o u n te d for 179.533.000 b rl., L o u isia n a discoveries 112,055,000 b rl., C alifornia 76,925,000 b rl., an d T exas 58,103,000 b rl. T exas h as 55-6% of th e reserves an d , to g e th e r w ith C alifornia, L ouisiana, O klahom a, K a n sa s, W yom ing, a n d N ew M exico, a cc o u n ts for 90% o f to ta l reserve. T ables give e stim a te d reserv es b y S ta te s a t e n d o f 1943 a n d 1944 w ith m ak e-u p o f th e changes. S im ilar y e arly d a ta are p re sen te d for U .S.A . as a w hole
from 1936. G. D . H .
870. Arkansas is Proving Ground for Many New Practices over Past Eight Years.
K . B. B arnes. Oil Gas J ., 21.4.45, 43 (50), 102.— A n im pressive a m o u n t of oil, con- 'densate, a n d gas reserv es h as b een fo u n d in th e L ow er C retaceous a n d J u ra s s ic o f th e four so u th e rn m o st co u n ties o f A rk an sas. D u rin g th e p a s t eig h t y ears a b o u t 325,000,000 b rl. o f reserves h as been p roved.
E l D o rad o pool was fo u n d in 1920 a n d h as p ro d u c ed 49,346,784 b rl. fro m th e N a ca to ch (U pper C retaceous). I n 1922 S m ackover w as opened, also in U p p e r C re
taceous. I t h as p ro d u ced 402,638,352 brl. T en o th e r pools, m a in ly in U p p e r C retaceous, w ere developed u p to 1937. S ta rtin g in 1937, th e C o tto n V alley a n d S m ackover p a y s h a v e p ro v id ed th e p a y s o f new er discoveries.
I n so u th e rn A rk an sas th e L ow er C retaceous a n d Ju ra ss ic d ip so u th a n d so u th w est, w ith local u p lifts on th e g en eral m onocline. M ost u p lifts h av e b een lo ca ted b y seism ograph. F o rm a tio n s are n e ar-sh o re sh allo w -w ater d eposits. M agnolia a n d M idw ay a re m ain S m ackover lim estone pools, w hile p rin cip al C o tto n V alley sa n d p ro d u c tio n is a t Schuler, D o rcheat-M acedonia, a n d N ew L ondon.
G as-cap in je c tio n h a s b een c arried o u t a t Schuler, w here p rio r to th is tre a tm e n t pressure declined 1950 Ib./sq. in. fo r a p ro d u c tio n o f 19,000,000 b rl., b u t in 1944 u n d e r th is tr e a tm e n t th e p ressu re fell o nly 4 lb ./sq . in. for a p ro d u c tio n o f 3,567,489 brl.
U n d er gas re tu rn th e re co v e ry is e x p ec te d to be 54,000,000 b rl., 20,000,000 b rl. m ore th a n e x p e c ta tio n u n d e r p rim a ry p ro d u c tio n m eth o d s.
A t M idw ay p ressu re h a s b e en m a in ta in e d b y fresh -w ater in jectio n . W ith o u t in je c tio n reco v ery w as e x p ec te d to be 28,000,000 b r l.,b u t w ith in je c tio n it m ay be 67,000,000 b rl. All S m ackover lim e-pools show ed g e-w ater a d v an ce, a lth o u g h th e re is no kn o w n o utcro p o f th is fo rm atio n . W a te r in je c tio n is to ta k e place a t M agnolia also.
D a ta are ta b u la te d c oncerning su b su rface con d itio n s, reserv o ir c h a ra c te r, a n d perform ance for A rk an sas fields, a n d c o m p u te d w a te r influxes a re given for S m ackover lim estone pools. P ressu re -p ro d u c tio n d a ta are show n for several pools. G. D. H . 871. Moorefield Formation and Ruddell Shale, Batesville District, Arkansas.
M. G ordon, J r . B u ll. A m er. Mss. Petrol. Geol., N ov. 1944, 28 (11), 1626-1634.— I n th e B atesville d is tric t th e re is a considerable sequence o f b lack calcareous shale, lim estone, an d fissile cla y shale, o v erlying B oone fo rm atio n a n d u n d e rly in g B atesv ille S andstone.
O riginally th is c o n s titu te d th e M oorefield fo rm atio n , th e calcareous m em bers b ein g called th e S pring C reek L im estone. I t is now p roposed to re s tric t th e n a m e M oorefield fo rm atio n to th e low er calcareous m em b er, a n d to call th e u p p e r cla y m em b er th e R u d d e ll shale.
M oorefield fo rm atio n is lo cally v e ry fossiliferous, a n d is e q u iv a len t to th e B ritish P I (G l) or Goniatites crenistria zone. A lth o u g h th e re is no d irec t evidence, it m a y be th e sam e age as th e S t. L ouis lim estone. R u d d e ll shale is r a th e r sp arsely fossiliferous, b u t locally in d iv id u als a re a b u n d a n t, th o u g h species a re few. T o g eth er w ith, overlying B atesv ille sa n d sto n e it c an b e c o rre la te d w ith th e B ritish P 2 (G2) or Goniatites striatus zone. T e n ta tiv e ly th e R u d d e ll shale is co rre late d w ith Ste. G enevieve lim estone o f
th e M ississippi v alley . W . H .
872. Tumey Sandstone (Tertiary), Fresno County, California. J . Z im m erm an, J r . B u ll. A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., J u ly 1944, 28 (7), 953-976.— A fte r a b rie f h isto ric al review , th e a u th o r gives a lith ological a n d palaeontological d esc rip tio n of th e K rey en - h ag en fo rm atio n , w ith p a rtic u la r reference to th e T u m ey S an d sto n e. T h is san d sto n e occurs as a larg e lens in th e shale o f th e low er a n d u p p e r K rey en h a g en fo rm atio n . I ts c o n ta c t w ith th e u p p e r K re y e n h a g e n shale is g ra d atio n a l, an d th erefo re conform able,
b u t its b a sa l re la tio n s a re n o t so sim ple. Som e geologists fa v o u r a n u n c o n fo rm ity , b ecau se o f th e u n e v e n ju n c tio n a n d presence o f a c o n g lo m era te n e a r th e b a se o f th e sa n d sto n e , b u t n e v erth eless th e re are sev eral fe a tu re s t h a t m ilita te a g a in s t th is . F o r in stan c e, in som e p laces ju n c tio n is g ra d a tio n a l, a n d w h a t m ig h t b e c o n sid ered as a n a n g u la r u n c o n fo rm ity m a y b e e x p la in e d as s a n d sto n e dykes.
T h e sa n d sto n e is c o nsidered to b e a d e p o sit fo rm ed in a n a rro w s tr a it c o n n ec tin g th e o p en sea w ith a larg e in la n d b o d y o f w a te r, a n alo g o u s to th e p r e s e n t G olden G ate.
H e a v y a n d lig h t m in e ral e x a m in a tio n su ggests t h a t source is in th e S ie rra N e v a d a , w hile ra in fa ll m u s t h a v e b een p le n tifu l to h a v e su p p lied th e n e ce ssa ry riv e r t r a n s p o rta tio n o f th e coarse d e tritu s . B iological ev id en ce fa v o u rs m a rin e d e p o sitio n in th e n e ritic zone, d u rin g R e fu g ia n tim e (E ocene-O ligocene). W . H . 873. Regional Subsurface Stratigraphy and Structure of Florida and Southern Georgia.
P . L . A p p lin a n d E . R . A p p lin . B u ll. A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., D ec. 1944, 28 (12),
1673-1753.— See A b s tra c t N o. 857, 1944. W . H .
874. Middle Devonian Subsurface Formations in Illinois. A. S. W a rth in , J r . , an d G. A. Cooper. B u ll. A m e r. A ss. Petrol Geol., O ct. 1944, 28 (10), 1519-1527.— S u b su rface M iddle D ev o n ian in Illin o is is c o rre la te d a n d illu s tra te d b y 14 w ell log sections.
G ra n d T ow er lim esto n e a n d D u tc h C reek s a n d sto n e a re to g e th e r c o n sid ere d th e e q u iv a le n t o f th e G en ev a dolo m ite. L im esto n es o f H a m ilto n age a re o n ly e q u iv a len t to p a r t o f th e N ew Y o rk S ta te H a m ilto n fo rm atio n s, fo r th e M oscow a n d u p p e r p a r t o f th e L u d low ville is a b se n t. T h e A lto fo rm a tio n is th o u g h t to b e p o s t-H a m ilto n in age, a n d p a r tly e q u iv a le n t to , b u t chiefly y o u n g e r th a n , th e C e d ar V alley lim esto n e in
Illin o is. W . H .
875. Structure of South Louisiana Deep-Seated Domes. W . E . W allace. B u ll. Am er.
A s s . Petrol. Geol., S ep t. 1944, 28 (9), 1249-1312.— A ll th e s tru c tu re s m e n tio n ed lie w ith in a 75 m l. w ide c o asta l b e lt, a n d a re p a r t o f th e n o r th fla n k o f th e G u lf Coast geosyncline. T h e y occur a t v a ry in g d e p th s , b u t p a r tic u la r referen ce is m a d e to deep- s e a te d dom es in w h ich s a lt h a s n o t b e en re ac h ed . E x a m p le s a re c ite d fro m 14 oilfields, a n d each is fu lly illu s tra te d w ith a s tru c tio n a l m a p a n d electric log sections.
T h e dom es a re seen to c o n ta in one o r m o re n o rm a l fa u lts w ith d ip s ra n g in g from 45° to 63°, a n d th ro w s u p to m o re t h a n 900 ft. T h ese fa u lts c h ara c te ris tic a lly form g ra b en s, a n d p ro b a b ly in e v e ry case a g ra b e n overlies a s a lt p lu g . I n a few cases, how ev er, s trik e s a n d d ip s a re a ll sim ilar, g iv in g a n offset dom e, b u t f u r th e r e x p lo ra tio n w ill p ro b a b ly re v ea l o th e r fa u lts w ith opp o sin g dips, to c o m p lete a g ra b en .
D e ep -sea ted dom es a re th e d irec t re s u lt o f th e u p w a rd m o v e m e n t o f a s a lt p lug. A t first g e n tle d o m in g occurs, a n d th e n , w ith c o n tin u e d u p rise o f th e p lu g , fa u lts are d e v elo p ed in a d efinite sequence.
P re s e n t d is trib u tio n o f oil a n d gas h a s a tw o -fo ld cause, r e la te d to th e v a rio u s stages o f fo rm atio n o f th e dom e, a n d g en eral lo ca tio n o f oil a n d gas d e p en d s on p o sitio n of o rig in al g e n tle dom e, w hile specific lo ca tio n is d e p e n d e n t o n se g m e n ta tio n o f th e dome
b y fa u ltin g . W . H .
876. Mississippi Drilling Activity at New High with 80 Rigs now Running in State.
N . W illiam s. Oil Gas J ., 21.4.45, 43 (50), 92.— 80 rig s a re n o w ru n n in g in M ississippi, 30 b ein g in so fa r u n p ro d u c tiv e a rea s s c a tte re d o v er 22 co u n tie s. 200 w ells were d rilled in 1944; 85 h a v e b e en c o m p leted th is y e a r, 45 b e in g p ro d u c ers. 18 fields h a v e b e en discovered, in clu d in g 3 d ry gas area s. T h ere a re 26 sh allow a n d m edium - d e p th p ie rc e m e n t-ty p e s a lt dom es. G eophysics h a s in d ic a te d th e p resen c e o f fu rth e r s a lt dom es. A lth o u g h a lm o st all th e p re s e n t fields a re b eliev ed to b e a sso c iated w ith s a lt dom es, o nly one o f th e k n o w n dom es (B ru in sb u rg , C laiborne C o u n ty ) h a s so far p ro v e d p ro d u c tiv e. T h is gives gas, w hile o th e rs h a v e h a d oil a n d g as show ings, b u t no ex te n siv e d rillin g h a s b e e n d o n e ro u n d th em .
E x c e p tin g A m o ry , all k n o w n fields a n d d om es a re in a b e lt e x te n d in g acro ss th e c e n tra l a n d so u th e rn p a r t o f th e S ta te . A ll b u t tw o fields a n d tw o s a lt d o m es h av e b e en d iscovered since 1939, a n d 13 fields a n d 18 dom es h a v e b e en fo u n d in th e la s t tw o y ears. M ost o f th e fields w hich h a v e b e en a p p re c ia b ly d ev elo p ed show h ig h ly com plex fa u ltin g . P ro d u c in g ho rizo n s g en erally c o n ta in n u m e ro u s th in , irre g u la r s trin g ers
o f san d . D rill-stem te s tin g is m o st im p o rta n t. Core a n d electrical log evidence is freq u e n tly m isleading.
T insley a p p ears to b e th e larg e st field so fa r developed. I t h a s p ro d u ced 77,000,000 b rl. a n d h as a n e s tim a te d re m ain in g reserve o f 35,000,000-40,000,000 b rl. A deep te s t is now being d rilled a t T insley. T h e P ickens field also is d rilled u p in its p re se n t pro d u cin g sands. I t s u ltim a te reco v ery is ex p ected to b e a b o u t 16,000,000 brl.
C ranfield, H eid elb u rg , a n d E u c u tta are th e only o th e r fields w hich h av e been a p p re c iab ly developed. Cranfield seem s to be th e m o st im p o rta n t fro m p o in t o f view o f p ro d u c tiv ity . T he o th e r tw o are o f re la tiv e ly large a real e x te n t, b u t wells a re co m p a ra tiv e ly sm all a n d give lo w -g rav ity oil u n d e r low p ressu re conditions. Gas-con- d e n sa te p ro d u c tio n h as been fo u n d in several areas (C ranfield, G w inville, B a x te rv ille, C arthage, H u b , Soso).
T he fields are listed, w ith discovery d a te , p ro d u cin g fo rm atio n , d e p th , n u m b e r o f wells, a n d cu m u la tiv e p ro d u ctio n . A m a p show s fields a n d sa lt dom es. G. D. H . 877. Electrical Logging Widely Employed in Rocky Mountain Exploratory Tests.
C. J . D eegan. Oil Gas J ., 7.4.45, 43 (48), 60.— N e arly all wells now drilled in R o ck y M o u n tain a rea are electrically logged for purposes o f c o rre latio n a n d in te rp re ta tio n of fluid co n te n t. Log p a tte rn s are u n u su a l, d u e to fresh fo rm atio n w aters, low p e rm e a b ility , a n d ra p id lithological changes. T he first fe atu re leads to sm all self-p o ten tials unless m u d w a te r is v e ry fresh. O n th e o th e r h a n d , fresh w a te r in fo rm atio n s o ften gives high resistiv ities, a n d low p o ro sity leads to v e ry large resistiv ities, especially in th e Palaeozoic beds. T h u s p ro d u cin g fo rm atio n s give a low er re sistiv ity th a n a d ja c e n t low -porosity beds. C o m p u ta tio n a l m eth o d s h a v e been d eveloped for e v alu atin g w a te r - s a tu ra tio n o f th e beds, a n d such m eth o d s are w idely used.
Low p erm eab ilities give co m p a rativ ely h ig h w a te r-sa tu ra tio n s, ev en in p ro d u cin g horizons, a n d th u s th e re m a y be no sh a rp line o f d e m a rca tio n b etw een oil- a n d w a te r
b earin g zones. Low p e rm e a b ility a n d h e av y oils give fairly th ic k o il-w a te r tra n s itio n zones from w hich w ells p ro d u c e b o th oil a n d w ater, for a w a te r sh u t-o ff is im possible.
Some geologists m a in ta in t h a t th e p re sen t tecto n ic p ic tu re is larg ely p o st-C retaceous d e v elo p m en t; o nly b y going b a c k to th e m ajo r po sitiv es o f Palaeozoic tim e can th e general p a tte r n of fa v o u rab le stru c tu re s be discerned. S tru c tu re s form ed in sh elf a rea o f re la tiv e ly shallow Palaeozoic seas could c o n ta in Palaeozoic oil. I t is also claim ed t h a t chances o f finding Ju ra ss ic , C retaceous, a n d possibly T e rtia ry oil are m u ch b e tte r in stru c tu re s form ed in Palaeozoic tim es.
A m ap show s th e m a jo r Palaeozoic p o sitiv e areas, a n d sh elf areas. G. D. II.
878. Anahuac Formation. A. C. E llisor. B u ll. A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., S ept. 1944, 28 (9), 1355-1375.— S ubsurface M iddle Oligocene o f T exas, consisting o f th re e zones, Discorbis, H e tero ste g in a , a n d M arginula, h a s now been d esig n ated as th e A n ah u ac fo rm atio n . D iagnostic fo ram in ifera o f th e A n ah u ac a re listed a n d illu s tra te d b y seven full-page p lates.
H isto ry of th e e lu cid atio n of th e s tra tig ra p h y is discussed, beginning w ith th e first finding o f c h ara cte ris tic fossils in 1921. E m p h asis is laid on v ario u s in te rp re ta tio n s o f palaeontological evidence w ith reference to la te ra l correlatio n s. A sh o rt lithological d escrip tio n is s u p p o rte d b y a n eleetric log o f th e ty p e section, a n d a v e rtic a l section
across T exas. W . H .
879. Brackish and Non-Marine Miocene in Texas. II. B. S tenzel, F . E . T u rn er, a n d C. J . Hesse. B u ll. A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., J u ly 1944, 28 (7), 977-1011.— S ubsurface zone o f P o ta m id e s m a tso n i reaches th e surface n e a r B urkeville, N ew to n C ounty, T exas, an d h ere fossil assem blage is o f g re a t in te rest. I n a d d itio n to zonal fossil an d several o th e r in v e rte b ra te s , th e re are also v e rte b ra te rem ain s, w hich include b eav er, cam el, horse, a n d rhinoceros. T h u s it is possible to c o rrelate b o th surface a n d s u b surface s tr a ta , a n d m oreover to d eterm in e th e ir age as u n d o u b te d Miocene.
As th e beds a re ch ara cte ristica lly h ig h ly irreg u la r or len ticu lar, it is n o t possible to trac e a n y one b ed th ro u g h o u t all exposures. T h eir lith o lo g y is described, a n d illu s tra te d w ith several m easu re d sections. E sse n tia lly th e y consist o f light-coloured, g reenish-grey shales a n d silts, w ith th in lay ers of ro u n d ish calcareous concretions, a n d occasional lay ers o f conglom erates, a p p a re n tly d eriv ed from earlier form ed c o n c re tio n a ry clay beds. M uch ra re r, how ever, are som e large, fiat, calcareous nodules,
2 7 6
a n d a lth o u g h m o stly unfossiliferous, th e y h a v e y ield ed v e r te b r a te rem ain s. A t one lo c a lity th e silts, w hich are fre q u e n tly cro ss-b ed d ed , show ev id en ce o f s u b a q u e o u s slip p in g d u rin g M iocene tim es.
A d e ta ile d s tu d y is th e n m a d e o f th e m ix e d assem blage o f fossils. T o g e th e r w ith lith o lo g ical evidence, it is co n clu d ed t h a t th e b ed s w ere d e p o site d n e a r th e m o u th o f a riv e r sy stem , e m p ty in g in to a b ra c k ish -w a te r lagoon, alo n g th e M iocene c o as t o f T exas.
880. Salt Diffusion in Woodbine Sand Waters, East Texas. C. W . H o rto n . B u ll.
A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., N ov. 1944, 28 (11), 1635-1641.— A m a th e m a tic a l tr e a tm e n t of th e p ro b lem w ith re su lts s ta te d sim p ly in w o rd s a n d illu s tra te d w ith a n iso salin ity c o n to u r m ap o f th e a rea . I t a p p e a rs t h a t s a lt d is trib u tio n in W o o d b in e s a n d w a ters w est o f M exia fa u lt-zo n e m a y b e ex p la in ed b y diffusion, if effective coefficient of diffusion is 250-300 tim es its n o rm al v a lu e . E lsew h ere in th is fo rm a tio n co n v ectio n c u rre n ts h a v e b een d e m o n s tra te d , a n d in th is case th e ir p resen ce w o u ld e x p la in th e g re a tly in creased r a te of d istrib u tio n . A lth o u g h w a te r a n aly sis d a ta a re s c a n ty , it a p p e a rs t h a t th e B oggy C reek salt-d o m e figures can b e e x p la in ed on th e basis of
diffusion fro m a c y lin d rica l source. W . H .
881. Upper Permian Ochoa Series of Delaware Basin, West Texas; and Southeastern New Mexico. J . E . A dam s. B u ll. A m e r. A s s . Petrol. Geol., N o v . 1944, 28 (11), 1596-1625.— P e rm ia n ro ck s o f th e D elaw are b a sin a n d its b o rd e rin g u p lifts h a v e been selected as th e s ta n d a r d se ctio n fo r N o rth A m erica. T h e sy ste m is d iv id e d in to four series— n am ely , W olfcam p, L e o n a rd , G u ad alu p e , a n d O choa. T h e O choa c o n tra sts s tro n g ly w ith th e o th e rs in b ein g v e ry p o o rly exposed, a n d p ra c tic a lly non-fossili- ferous, in consequence o f w hich it h a s b e e n in a d e q u a te ly d escrib ed . F o r th e s e reasons th e su b su rface sectio n h a s b e e n ta k e n as th e ty p e , a n d th is p a p e r gives a com prehensive a c c o u n t o f av ailab le in fo rm a tio n ; illu s tra te d w ith d ia g ra m m a tic sections.
E a r ly O choa sed im e n ts a re lim ite d to th e D elaw are b a s in d epression, b u t la te r beds a re m o re w id esp rea d a n d re s t u n c o n fo rm a b ly on th e G u a d alu p e . C onsisting of lig h t-co lo u red e v ap o rite s, th e y c o n tra s t stro n g ly w ith th e m a rin e san d s, d a rk shales, a n d lim esto n es o f th e u n d e rly in g series, a n d c o n s titu te th e m o st easily recognized s tra tig ra p h ic b re a k in th e P e rm ia n section.
T h e series is d ivisible in to fo u r fo rm a tio n s : C astile, S alado, R u s tle r, a n d Dewey L ak e. F le tc h e r a n h y d rite is ta k e n as b a s a l m e m b e r o f S alad o , a n d so re s tric ts Castile to th e D elaw are b asin , b u t u n fo rtu n a te ly th is d iv id in g h o rizo n c a n n o t everyw here b e recognized.
C astile h a s a n av erag e th ic k n e ss o f 1500—1850 f t., b ein g m a in ly com posed o f calcite- b a n d e d a n h y d rite , s a lt, a n d lim e sto n e, b u t no p o ta s h s a lts h a v e b e en re co rd ed . The c h a ra c te ris tic c a lcite-b a n d ed a n h y d rite show s m a n y v a ria tio n s in n a tu r e o f banding, a n d th es e a re d iscussed w ith co n sid era tio n o f th e ir origin. As in all o th e r P erm ian fo rm a tio n s o f th e a re a , th e calciu m s u lp h a te o f o u tcro p s a n d o f su b su rface sections to a d e p th o f a b o u t 500 ft. te n d s to b e g y p su m , w hile in d eep er b e d s it is a lm o st everyw here a n h y d rite .
S alad o is a th ic k fo rm a tio n t h a t follow s u n c o n fo rm a b ly , ac c o m p a n ied b y m ark e d ch an g es in d is trib u tio n a n d lith o lo g y . I n sp ite o f th e s e differences, it is o fte n a m a tte r o f d ifficulty to d e te rm in e its base. S a lt is m o re a b u n d a n t t h a n g y p su m , w hile p o tash m in e rals increase to w a rd s th e to p . R e d a n d g re y sa n d s a n d silts a re e n co u n tere d in m a n y p a r ts o f th e S alado, b u t one sa n d sto n e , called th e V a c a T ris te , is a u se fu l stra ti- g ra p h ic al m a rk e r. O u tsid e th e s a lt areas, d o lo m ite b eco m es m o re p ro m in e n t, and som e b e d s c a n b e c o rre late d fro m w ell to well.
R u s tle r, w h ich co nsists larg e ly o f e v a p o rite s, w as la id d o w n a f te r a p e rio d o f u p lift a n d erosion. O ldest d ep o sits a re elastics, co n sistin g o f co arse siliceous conglom erates, co arse g rey san d sto n e s, coarse d o lo m ite c o n g lo m e ra tes, a n d b e d d e d g re y a n d buff d o lo m ite. A long th e s o u th w e ste rn lim its o f R u s tle r area, th e low er a n h y d rite s grade in to do lo m ites a n d th e d o lom ites in to lim estones, w hile to w a rd s th e n o r th e a s t edge of th e b a sin m u c h o f th e a n h y d rite g ra d es in to s a lt. U n lik e S alad o , th e R u s tle r crops o u t o v er w idely sc a tte re d areas, a n d a m ea su re d se c tio n is giv en fo r a lo c a lity e a s t of P o c o s R iv er.
C o n ta c t o f R u s tle r a n d o v e rly in g ' D ew ey L ak e a p p e a rs to b e c o n fo rm ab le. I t s red b ed s, w hich reach a m a x im u m th ic k n e ss o f a b o u t 350 f t., c o n tra s t s tro n g ly w ith
ABSTRACTS.
u n d e rly in g O choa ev ap o rite s. T h e y a re d istin g u ish ed from o v erlying T ria s b y such c h a ra c te rs as th e ir less re d colour, sm all g y p su m c o n te n t, a n d r a th e r g re a te r com pactness.
O rigin o f th e v ario u s ev ap o rite s in th e O choa series is discussed. W . H . 882. Como Bluff Anticline, Albany and Carbon Counties, Wyoming. R o b e rt O. D u n b a r.
B u ll. A m er. A s s . Petrol. Geol., 1944, 28, 1196-1216.— Como B lu ff a n tic lin e is a w e s t
w ard-plunging tra n s v e rse fold in c e n tra l p a r t o f L aram ie b asin . I t is stro n g ly a sy m m etric, being fo rm ed b y a n a p p ro x im a te n o rth w e st-so u th e a st com pression, a n d is fa u lted on its steep n o rth e rn flan k b y th e N o rth Como th r u s t. /
S tra tig ra p h y o f th e L ara m ie b a sin is discussed w ith a n acc o m p a n y in g m ap a n d tw o sections o f th e an ticlin e. S tr a ta exposed ra n g e from C h u g w ater fo rm atio n (P erm ian) to F ro n tier fo rm atio n (C re ta ce o u s); o f th ese M orrison fo rm atio n is th e m o st in te restin g ,
as it has y ielded m a n y re p tilia n rem ains. W . H .
883. Cretaceous Formations of Central America and Mexico. R a lp h W . Im la y . B u ll.
A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., 1944, 28, 1077-1195.— C orrelates ex istin g know ledge co n cern ing th e C retaceous o f C en tra l A m erica a n d M exico, w ith a d d itio n o f s tra ig ra p h y of S a n ta E le n a a re a o f E . C h ih u ah u a, w hich is d escribed for th e first tim e . I t em phasizes spacial ra th e r th a n tim e relatio n s, tre a tin g m u ch o f th e in fo rm a tio n in sections u n d e r lo cality headings. N ev erth e le ss th e re is a clear su m m a ry o f s tra tig ra p h y o f th e a re a as a u n it, illu s tra te d b y sev e ra l p alseogeographical m ap s, a n d a b ib lio g rap h y w ith over 150 references.
Geology of th e S a n ta E le n a a re a is illu s tra te d b y a h o rizo n tal sectio n re p resen tin g 11,063 ft. o f s tr a ta . I t is n o te w o rth y fo r trem en d o u s th ick n ess of th e la te C oum ache, a n d for considerable lithological differences fro m th e section in S ierra de M ojado only
50 m l. so u th . r W . H .
884. Tupungato Oil Field, Mendoza, Argentina. H . L . B aldw in. B u ll. A m er. A ss.
Petrol. Geol., O ct. 1944, 28 (10), 1455-1484.— F ir s t well on T u p u n g a to oilfield w as begun in 1934 a n d stru c k oil in a sa n d a t 250 m etres. 17 wells w ere la te r d rilled to d e p th s b etw een 400 a n d 550 m etres, n e a rly all o f w hich fo u n d oil w ith stro n g flows o f sa lt w a te r a t v a ry in g stra tig ra p h ic a l levels. To th e m id d le o f 1941, 63,000 b rl. h a d been pro d u ced . Oil w as sim ilar to t h a t o f th e C ach eu ta field, w ith a n average sp. gr.
of 0-88 (29-5° A .P .I.), a n d a v e ry h ig h visco sity a t a v erag e atm o sp h eric pressure.
I t w as soon recognized t h a t th e ch ief p ro sp ects la y in possibilities o f d eep er p ro d u c tio n from san d s o f th e P o tre rillo s fo rm atio n . A fte r several tec h n ica l b o rin g difficulties h a d been overcom e, th e discovery well o f th e V icto r zone o f U p p e r T riassic age w as com pleted in 1938 a t a d e p th o f 1796 m etres. T his zone gave a p e a k p ro d u c tio n of 9400 b rl. p e r d a y in O ct. 1941 fro m 17 wells. B y Aug. 1942 26 wells h a d b e en drilled to th is zone, o f w hich 24 w ere p ro d u ctiv e.
S tra tig ra p h y is exem plified b y a sm all-scale geological m ap , to g e th e r w ith a c o rrela tio n ta b le o f p re -T e rtia ry sections o f 6 oilfields in n o rth e rn M endoza. Q u a te rn a ry d eposits, w hich in clu d e loess, re s t w ith a m a rk e d an g u la r u n c o n fo rm ity o f g re a t m ag n itu d e on T e rtia ry deposits. T hese la tte r, w h ich p o ssibly in clu d e som e P le is to cene, reach a th ick n ess o f a t le a st 3000 m etres, a n d a re ch ara cte riz ed b y v e ry p o o r so rtin g a n d stra tifica tio n . C onglom erates co n tain in g pebbles a n d b o u ld ers o f earlier T e rtia ry an d esites a re com m on, as well as a larg e p e rcen ta g e o f tuffs, ashes, a n d lapilli. A n u m b e r o f u n co n fo rm ities h av e b e en re p o rte d , b u t th e ir n a tu r e is n o t alw ays clear.
B elow th e T e rtia ry is a second g re a t u n co n fo rm ity , for th e n e x t sy ste m is th e T rias, o r possibly early Ju ra ss ic . T rias lith o lo g y is v a rie d , a n d includes a re d conglom erate, base o f w hich is a useful m ark e r, san d sto n es, b itu m in o u s shales, a n d a v a rie ty of volcanic m ate ria l.
O f p a rtic u la r in te re s t is th e oil-producing D a rk V icto r, w hich consists o f a b o u t 300 m etres o f h ig h ly a lte re d a n d in ten sely fra c tu re d tu ffs w ith in te rb e d d e d shales.
P o tre rillo s san d sto n es, alth o u g h o f low av erag e p e rm e ab ility d u e to th e ir tuffaceous c h ara cte r, h a v e p ro d u c ed som e oil, b u t th e ir im p o rta n ce h a s n o t y e t b een definitely p ro v ed . E x is te n c e of o th e r oil-bearing fo rm atio n s a t g re a te r d e p th s is considered possible.
P rin c ip a l tec to n ic fe atu res o f th e region a re low -angle th r u s t fau lts, u n d o u b te d ly
fo rm ed b y com pressive stresses fro m th e w est d u rin g la te T e rtia ry or e a rly Q u a te rn a ry . Tw o m a jo r lines o f folding a re p re se n t, a n d th e T u p u n g a to field is lo c a te d o n th e m o re w esterly . S tru c tu re o f th e T u p u n g a to field is d iscussed w ith se v eral c o n to u re d m ap s a n d a cross sectio n , a n d is show n to b e a closed d om e w ith a fa u lte d w est flank.
W . H . 885.* Northern Ecuador Wildcat Abandoned at 5118 Feet. A n o n . Oil W k ly , 9.4.45, 117 (6), 82.— C am arones 1 w ild c a t so u th w e st o f E sm e ra ld a s w as a b a n d o n e d a t 5118 ft.
N o show s w ere e n co u n tere d . Gr. D . H .
886.* Colombian Firm has Three Tests Under Way in Barco. A no n . Oil W kly, 26.3.45, 117 (4), 62.— Tw o C retaceous w ells h a v e b een d rilled in th e T ib u field, 1 on th e Socuavo s tru c tu re a n d 1 on th e T res B o cas s tru c tu re . B o th blew in as d istilla te p ro d u c ers a n d a re s h u t in. A ll com m ercial p ro d u c tio n a t T ib u so fa r is fro m th e E o cen e. A m o re conclusive te s t o f th e C retaceo u s is u n d e r w ay . G. D . H . 887.* Shell Mara Strike Revives Interest in Northwestern Zulia, Venezuela. A non.
Oil W kly, 23.4.45, 117 (8), 82.— I n M arch 1945 a w ild c a t w as successfully co m p leted 23 m l. n o r th o f th e L a P a z field, D is tric t o f M ara, Z ulia. O u tp u t o f 2 8 -g rav ity oil is sa id to be a b o u t 10,000 b rl./d a y . T h is is classed as a m a jo r s trik e a n d is first im p o rta n t d isco v ery since th e L a P a z a n d C oncepcion fields w ere o p en ed in 1925. P ro d u c tio n is fro m C retaceous, w h ich rises to th e w est, a n d m a y b e th e source o f m a n y seeps a n d a s p h a lt lak es w h ich in sp ired e a rly e x p lo ra tio n in w e ste rn M ara. 6 k m . to th e s o u th e a s t, o n a p a ra lle l s tru c tu re , a gas-w ell w as c o m p le te d in a sh allo w er h o riz o n in 1944.
G. D . H . 888.* Brazil’s Oil. V . O p p en h eim . Oil W k ly , 9.4.45, 117 (6), 60.— B ra z il’s oil co n s u m p tio n is a b o u t 10,000,000 b rl. /y ear.
T h e g re a te r p a r t o f B ra z il com prises a n o ld shield co v ered b y m a in ly flat-ly in g or m eta m o rp h o s e d sed im e n ts o f e a rly Palaeozoic to M esozoic age. T h ere a re 4 pro sp e ctiv e o il-b e arin g areas. T h e P a r a n a b a sin lies w est o f th e sh ield a n d is th e e a s te rn ex tension o f th e g re a t Chaco depression. I t c o n ta in s P e rm o -T riassic se d im e n ts. T h ere are p a tc h e s o f c o n tin e n ta l T e rtia ry in th e w est. B e n e a th th e P e rm ia n o r P erm o-C arboni- fero u s th e re a re a rea s o f L ow er D e v o n ian sa n d sto n e s a n d shales. G en erally th e sed im e n ts o f th e P a r a n it b a s in a re c o n tin e n ta l. T h ere a re m a n y ign eo u s in tru sio n s a n d flows. T h e b a sin is e x te n siv ely fa u lte d . T h ere a re n u m ero u s o u tc ro p s o f th e h ig h ly b itu m in o u s I r a t y shales, a n d th e T riassic B o tu c a tu sa n d sto n e s a re oil-im preg
n a te d , b u t no activ e oil-seep is k n o w n in s o u th e rn B ra zil. O il-show s fo u n d in borings o rig in a ted in th e I r a t y fo rm atio n . As a w hole th e c o n d itio n s a re n o t fav o u rab le.
T h e c o a s ta l s trip o f se d im e n ts fro m V ic to ria to M a ran a o a re m o s tly c o n tin e n ta l T e rtia ry a n d C retaceous d eposits. T h e s trip is n a rro w , a n d flat-ly in g o n th e edge of th e shield. S e d im e n ta ry cover is th ic k e r a n d w id er in th e B a h ia a n d A lagoas basins, w h ere seeps a n d oil-shales a re kno w n . B a h ia b a s in h a s T e r tia r y b e d s re stin g on C retaceous. A t le a s t 8000 ft. o f b e d s occur, th e T e r tia r y b ein g c o n tin e n ta l, an d C retaceo u s m o stly m arin e . A no n -co m m ercial a c c u m u la tio n o f h e a v y p arafflnic oil w as fo u n d n e a r B a h ia in 1939. U p to m id d le o f 1944 a b o u t 60 w ells w ere d rilled in th e b asin , a n d 16 p ro d u ce sm all a m o u n ts o f oil. P ro s p e c ts do n o t seem v e ry fa v o u ra b le.
O il-shales o ccu r in A lagoas a rea , p ro b a b ly in E o cen e ro ck s. O il-show s h a v e b e e n found in borings.
I n th e L ow er A m azon b a sin b o rin g s n o t exceed in g 500 ft. in d e p th h a v e b e en m ad e, a n d tra c e s o f oil a n d gas h a v e b een fo u n d . F o rm a tio n s d rilled w ere L o w er D ev o n ian shales a n d lim estones.
I n th e U p p e r A m azo n b a sin a n d A cre th e re is a b la n k e t o f U p p e r T e r tia r y a n d Q u a te rn a ry fo rm atio n s. D rillin g o r g eophysical w o rk w ill b e n e ed e d to d e te rm in e d e p th o f th e b asin . Som e borin g s h a v e b e en m ad e in u n su ita b le lo calities. I t is a p p a re n t t h a t th e A n d e an folding h a s affected th e w e ste rn edge o f th e A cre T e rrito ry a n d m a y h a v e c re a te d fav o u ra b le s tru c tu re s . F u r th e r field w o rk is n eed ed .
G. D . H . 889.* Haitian and Dominican Tests are Abandoned. A no n . O il W k ly , 9.4.45, 117 (6), 82.— C o m m en d ad o r w ild ca t o f th e D o m in ican R e p u b lic h a s b e en ab an d o n ed ',
ABSTRACTS.
a n d second M aissade te s t, 30 m l. n o rth e a s t o f P o r t a u P rin ce H a iti, is to be
ab an d o n ed . G. D . H .
890.* Oilfields in Great Britain. G. M. Lees. N a tu re, 1945, 155, 567.— D u rin g th e la s t te n y e ars in ten siv e geological a n d geophysical p ro sp ectin g b y d ’A rcy E x p lo ra tio n Co. h as yield ed over 300,000 to n s of g o o d -q u ality 'crude oil. S tru c tu re a n d lo catio n o f th e B ritish fields a re described. D rilling of n e arly 100 ex p lo ra tio n borings a n d use o f seismic arc su rv ey s h a v e also revealed s u b s ta n tia l coal-seam s a n d d ep o sits o f p o ta s h sa lts in c e rta in areas. R u ra l spoliatio n h a s b e en negligible. S. J . L.
891.* Russian Turkestan has New Gas-distillate Field. A non. Oil W kly, 23.4.45, 117 (8), 82.— A t P a lv a n T ash, n e a r T a s h k en t, a new g a s-d istillate field h as been discovered. P ro d u c tio n is from a T riassic p a y corresp o n d in g w ith t h a t w hich p ro duced b u t w as ab an d o n ed a t W u Su, S ink ian g P ro v in ce, C hina. 130 m l. e as t o f T a s h k e n t a sim ilar h ig h -g rav ity field w as o pened a t A n d ija n in 1942, a n d now h a s
12 p ro d u cin g wells. G. D . H .
892.* Second Producer Complete in Punjab, India, Field. A non. Oil W k ly , 23.4.45, 117 (8), 82.— A second well h as b e en co m p leted in th e J o y a M air field. B o th wells are s h u t in p e n d in g special a rra n g e m e n ts b ein g m ad e fo r refining th e h e a v y b lack oil.
G. D . H . 898. Principal Sedimentary Basins in the East Indies. E . W . B eltz. B u ll. A m er. A ss.
Petrol. Geol., O ct. 1944, 28 (10), 1440-1454.— In te r p r e ta tio n of th e g en eral geology of th e E a s t In d ies to aid oil discovery is n o t easy because o f large gaps in a real geology betw een th e islands. To som e e x te n t th e p ro b lem is sim plified because th e oil p o ssi
bilities lie alm o st en tirely in th e T ertiary .
A n u m b er o f islands, p a rtic u la rly th o se along th e islan d arc, a re g eoanticlines w ith exposed cores o f p re -T e rtia ry rocks, a n d are flan k ed by T e rtia ry geosynelines. T e rtia ry is n e arly everyw here u n eo n fo rm ab le on old er rocks, w ith b a sa l s tr a ta ra n g in g in age from E ocene to P liocene. L ocally th e succession is alm o st com plete, a n d reach es a th ick n ess o f 10,000—12,000 m etres, b u t w here o nly M iocene a n d P liocene are p re se n t it is red u ced to b etw een 5000 a n d 9000 m etres.
G eosynelines reach ed th e ir g re a te s t e x te n t in la te Oligocene a n d low er Miocene, w hen m arin e s e d im e n tatio n w as w id esp read , b u t in u p p e r M iocene tim es g en tle w arp in g a n d erosion affected som e areas, a n d in o th e r areas th e re w as a n in term in g lin g o f m arin e, b rack ish -w ater, a n d fresh -w a te r deposits. I n Pliocene tim es th e geosynelines w ere b ro k en in to a n u m b er o f local b asin s in w hich, o ver m u ch o f S u m a tra , B orneo, New G uinea, a n d p a r t o f J a v a , te rre s tria l s e d im e n ta tio n w as p re d o m in an t, w hile elsew here m arin e sed im en ts, including fo ram in ife ral m arls a n d clays, w ith som e lim e
stones, w ere la id dow n. A la te Pliocene orogeny th e n affected som e areas, b u t w as follow ed b y a la te P leistocene tran sg ressio n , especially a ro u n d th e old lan d m asses o f A sia a n d A u stralia.
Oil p ro d u c tio n in th e E a s t In d ies to 1940 to ta lle d n e a rly 1 b illion b rl., a n d is ta b u la te d w ith age o f p ro d u c in g fo rm atio n s. M ost likely a n d m ore accessible s tru c tu re s in th e M iocene a n d P liocene h a v e been te s te d , e x ce p t in N ew G uinea, a n d re m a in in g s tr u c tu r a l p ro sp ects lie in less a ttr a c tiv e , co m p licated s tru c tu re s. I n B orneo th e E ocene yielded o ver 30,000 b rl. in 1939, so all areas w here th is sy stem is w ith in easy reach of th e d rill sh o u ld b e explored. T he T riassic o f T im o r a n d B o e to n a n d C retaceous o f N ew G uinea h a v e som e oil in d ica tio n s, b u t th is is o nly o f s u b o rd in a te in te re s t a t p resen t.
S tra tig ra p h ic tr a p s a re p re sen t, p a rtic u la rly a t th e s u b -T e rtia ry u n co n fo rm ity , b u t th e y h av e received a tte n tio n o nly in S u m a tra a n d B orneo. W . H . 894. Outline Of Chinese Geology. J . M. W eller. B u ll. A m er. Mss. Petrol. Geol., O ct.
1944, 28 (10), 1417-1429.— See A b s tra c t N o. 924, 1944. W . H .
895. Petroleum Possibilities of Red Basin of Szechuan Province, China. J . M. W eller.
B u ll. A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., O ct. 1944, 28 (10), 1430-1439.— See A b s tra c t 927,
1944. W . H .
