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.
Geology
Geophysics and Geochemical P rospecting ...
D rilling ...
Production
Oilfield D evelop 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.
Refineries and A uxiliary R e finery P lan t ...
Solvent E xtraction and D w axing
Cracking Polym erization Special Processes
PA G E
Pr o d u c t s.
p a g e
Chemistry and Physics 373 a
350 a A nalysis and T esting ... 373 a
Gas ... ... , . . 375 a
355 .a E ngine Fuels ... 375 a
356 a Gas and F uel Oil 376 a
359 a Lubricants 377 a
365 a D erived Chemical Products ... 378 a
370 a Coal, Shale and P ea t ... 378 a
M iscellaneous Products En g i n e s a n d Au t o m o t i v e
379 a
371 a Eq u i p m e n t . . . 379 a
371 a
372 a Mi s c e l l a n e o u s . . . 382 a
372 a
372 a Bo o k s Re c e i v e d 383 a
A U T H O R I N D E X .
The numbers refer to A bstract Num bers.
Abadie, H . G., 1396
„ A nderson, F. M., 1399 B aker, J . S., 1423 Ballande, H . M., 1531 B astiansen, O., 1493 B erret, R ., 148G B erti, V., 1506 Bleloch, W ., 1507 Boice, J . E ., 1501 Boyer, R . I ., 1414 B rise, V. H ., 1502 B row n, L. C., 1482, 1479 B urns, W. W.,1376, 1383, 1439, 1449, 1465, 1470 C alhoun, J r ., J . C., 1425 C anal, P ., 1495 C annon, G. E ., 1397 Cardwell, P . H ., 1418 C arter, H . D ., 1514 Cauley, S. P ., 1499 Clay, J . A., J r ., 1475 C obum , A. E ., 1496 Cotey, B. J ., 1408 C oultrup, J . G., 1428 Cozzens, F . R ., 1437 Crowell, A. M., 1447 D avid, H ., 1348 D e e g a n ,C .J ., 1349, 1355,
1382, 1443 Deely, C., 1391 Delgass E. B ., 1499 E dm ister, W . 0 ., 1411 Fagin, K . M., 1409 F eath erly , R . L ., 1472 Fiske, F. K ., 1380 F o rm an , H ., 1471 F o ster, G. L., 1505 F u lto n , D ., 1478
G erard, P ., 1503 Gile, R . E ., 1394 Glasgow, A. R ., J r.,
1488
Gonikberg, M. G., 1487 Gorshkov, G. V., 1395 Goulding, H . D ., 1513 H assel, O., 1493 H eald, K . C., 1347 Hemsley, H . L., 1410 H oeven, H . V an Der,
1476
H oge, A. W ., 1481 H olligan, P. T ., 1504 Howes, D. A., 1526 Hughes, R . V ., 1429 Jakovszky, J . J ., 1346 Jam es, J . R ., 1472 Jo h n so n , K . H ., 1406 Jones, P . J ., 1431, 1432 K atz, D . L., 1438 K azarnovskaya, B. E.,
1401 K elso, G., 1481 K ettering, C. F ., 1498 KimbreU, W. B ., 1398 K ling, R ., 1518 K ram p ert, E . W ., 1359 Lahee, F . H ., 1352 Langseth, A., 1493 L aw ton, H . C., 1426 Legrand, C., 1494 L iatkovskaya, N . M.,
1395
Lilley, H . S., 1505 L indblad, E. N ., 1420 Logue, L . L., 1380 Lozier, P . De, 1433 L undberg, H ., 1381
McCollum, L. F ., 1450 M cGarry, R . J ., 1411 M cK etta, J . J.,yl438 M ark, B., 1447 M arshall, D. L., 1416 Müler, E. F ., 1500 M organ, F ., 1414 M oult, E. S., 1509 Moyer, V., 1421 M uskat, M., 1414 Myers, G. D ., 1481 N elson, F . L., 1500 Nelson, W. L., 1477 N eubauer, E. T ., 1474 Nevolin, N. V., 1374 Noble, E . B., 1345 Norelius, R . G., 1423 Olds, R. H ., 1419 O’Leary, O. M ., 1392 Oliphant, S. C., 1413 Owsley, D ., 1407 P aleni, A., 1508 P anchenkov, G. M., 1480 P arsons, R. L ., 1420 Peavy, 0 . C., 1481 Pfister, R . J ., 1429 P hinney, J . A ., 1484 Pokrovskaya, E. S., 1485 P olk, A. C., 1417 R adford, H . E ., 1400 Rassemuss, J . E ., 1458 Riggs, C. H ., 1406 R oberts, G., 1484 Rogers, M. C., 1491 Rossini, F . D ., 1488 Sage, B. H ., 1419 Saito, E ., 1489 Salvi, G ., 1506
Schaefer, H ., 1415 Schweitzer, P . H ., 1517 S cott, D ., J r ., 1434 Serruys, M., 1497, 1523 Shaw, M. 0 ., 1474 Shepherd, M., 1492 S h o rt, E. H ., J r ., 1385,
1393
Sinoley, E . R ., 1479 Skogan, V. G., 1491 S m ith, R. H ., 1417 S m ith, S., 1412 Squires, F ., 1430 S tanding, M. B., 1420 S tepantzeva, T . G ., 1485 Sterne, W. P ., 1384 S terrett, E ., 1386, 1403 Stick, J . 0 ., 1423 Streiff, A. J ., 1488 Swesnik, R. M., 1358 T aylor, H ., 1354 T ears, O. F ., 1479 Terwilliger, P. L ., 1435 T h o rn to n , O. F ., 1416 Topchieva, K . V., 1480 Toussaint, J . E ., 1402 Trillat, J . J ., 1494 Trishm an, L. E ., 1389 Vereshchagin, L. F .,
1487
W ais, J ., J r ., 1388 W atts, E . V ., 1422 Weeks, L. G., 1365, 1366 W illcox, O. W., 1448 Williams, N ., 1427 W illingnam , C. B., 1488 W ilson, G. M., 1387, 1390 W interburn, R ., 1405 Y ustor, S. T ., 1425, 1435
E E
Oi l f i e l d Ex p l o r a t i o n a n d E x p l o i t a t i o n.
G eology.
1345. Geological Masks and Prejudices. E . B . N oble. B u ll. Am er. A ss. Petrol. Beol., 1947, 31, 1109-1117. (P residen tial address, 32nd A n n u al M eeting of A m er. Assoc.
Petrol. Oeol., Los Angeles, March 25, 1947.)— The Am erican petroleum ind ustry has grown trem endously in th e la st 10 years. D uring th is period, exploration has resulted in discoveries thatt have increased the n e t reserves o f crude oil b y 38% . N evertheless, during th e last h a lf o f th is period there has been a gradual d ecline in th e rate o f finding new h igh -q u ality fields.
In order to m aintain th e U n ited S ta tes’ reserves, nearly 2000 m illion brl o f new oil m ust be found each year. U n til research can provide a new m eth od o f discovery, exploration w ill consist o f reworking previou sly explored areas in greater detail.
M any new oilfields un dou btedly lie hidden under geological m ask s— th a t is to say, in sedim ents hidden b y overthrust older rocks, volcan ics, th ick deposits o f drift, m ultiple unconform ities, and shallow seas.
D rilling costs have alw ays been a m ajor problem in exploration, and th e present high cost o f w ater operations and o f prospecting in rem ote or difficult areas on land su ggests th a t we are entering an era o f m illion dollar w ildcats. T he designin g o f cheaper drilling equipm ent for deep geological investigation s should be one o f th e m ajor objectives in applied research. Increasing opp ortu nities w ill ex is t for applying geological principles in oil exploration, and more geologists w ill be needed for th is purpose. More senior geologists should be relieved o f routine d u ties and allow ed to concentrate on th e problem o f finding new oil provinces. E . N . T.
*
1346. W hither Exploration ? J. J. Jak ovsk y. B u ll. A m er. A ss. P etrol. Geol., 1947, 31, 1118-1124. (P residen tial address, Society of E xploration Geophysicists, Los Angeles, March 25, 1947.)— The author presents data show ing the relative increases during th e past decade o f lease operating costs, drilling or develop m en t costs, and exploration costs.
In th e p ast 10 years in th e U n ited S tates petroleum industry, w hich is th e second largest ind ustry in the U n ited States, th e lease operating costs have increased b y only 17%. There has been an increase o f about 70% in basic w ages and other costs during th is tim e, b u t b etter operating efficiency has held th e lease operating costs below the valu e w hich m ight be expected in view o f th e general price rises during th is period.
The developm ent costs have increased b y 80% during th e p ast decade, and th e per
centage o f dry holes has risen from 13-5 to 27% . D uring th e p ast 10 years, how ever, exploration costs have increased b y more th an 400% . The reason for th ese greatly increased exploration costs is chiefly due to th e decrease in effectiven ess’ in both geological and geophysical techniques as old areas are reworked.
E xploration activ ities have been stim ulated b y the price increases o f crude oil during th e p ast few m onths. N ew technological develop m en ts are needed and can be stim ulated b y clarifying the p atent situation, thereb y allow ing earlier pu blication o f new fundam ental and applied research. On the basis o f geologic probab ility m uch oil still ex ists to be discovered in th e subsurface. E . N . T.
1347. Highlights oi Dom estic (U.S.A.) D evelopm ent in 1946. K . C. H eald. B u ll.
A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., 1947, 31, 1125-1134.— The author review s develop m en ts in th e U n ited S tates oil industry during 1946. On January 1, 1947, th e U n ited S tates proved oil reserves am ounted to more than 21 m illion brl, a figure higher th a n a year previously. N evertheless, in some districts proved reserves declined.
More w ildcat w ells were drilled in 1946 than in an y preceding year, b u t fewer fields were found th an in 1945 or 1944. The previously know n reserves were increased by th e discovery o f exten sions to older fields and o f new p ay horizons in th ose fields.
I n L ouisiana th e w orld’s deepest oil-producing w ell w as com pleted, g ivin g 530 b rl/d ay at 13,753 ft. U nlike m any deep w ells, it gives oil o f m oderately low g ravity (33° A .P .I.).
A review o f geological and drilling progress in the different sta te s o f th e U .S .A . is
given . ~ E . N . T.
ABSTRACTS. a
1348. Discoveries : Industry Ends Greatest W ildcatting Year. H . D avid. Oil Oas J ., 25.1.47, 45 (38), 148.— The 4518 exploratory w ells drilled in U .S.A . in 1946 led to th e discovery o f 491 new oil reservoirs and new pays in existin g fields, and there were 144 extensions. 150,000,000 brl o f oil were added to the reserves, but 2 years or m ore m ay elapse before the real significance o f these discoveries can be determ ined. 247 o f T exas w ildcats were successful. Illinois had 96 successes out o f 635 tests.
Diagram s summarize the w ildcat drilling a c tiv ity and results during the past 5 years
in th e leading sta tes. G. D . H.
1349. Poorer Reserves Increase Despite Record Output. C. J. D eegan. O il Oas J ., 25.1.47, 45 (38), 154.— U n ited States oil reserves at th e beginning o f 1947 were esti
m ated to be 21,345,138,000 brl, an increase o f 267,114,000 brl during 1946. 1946 discoveries added 147,110,000 brl to reserves, and extensions and revisions 1,868,772,000 brl. The 1946 production was 1,748,772,000 brl. A table gives U n ited States reserve
data b y sta tes and districts. G. D . H.
1350. New Reserves. Anon. Oil Oas J ., 25.1.47, 45 (38), 170.— N early 500 new oil pools were found in the U .S.A . in 1946, adding about 150,000,000 brl to proved reserves.
The 1946 discoveries are listed according to states and districts, th e follow ing inform a
tion being given : nam e, county, producing form ation, proved acreage, form ation thickness, and estim ated reserves. A series o f m aps show th e locations o f th e dis
coveries, and whether th ey are new fields, n ew pays, or extensions. ' G. D . H.
1351. Field Name, County, Location, and Initial Production of Discovery W ells. Anon.
Oil Gas J ., 25.1.47, 45 (38), 200.— The U .S.A . 1946 discoveries are listed according to States, brief n otes being given in each case. ' G. D . H . 1352. W ildcat Drilling in 1946. F . H . Lahee. Oil G a sJ ., 29.3.47, 45 (47), 75.— During 1946 5752 exploratory w ells were drilled in the U .S.A . and o f these 1137 were pro
ducers. The to ta l footage w as 22,167,561 ft, the producers accounting for 5,286,711 ft.
Tables summarize the w ildcat drilling results, and give numbers, depths, and results. 3795 w ells were located on geological data, 615 on geophysics, and 470 on a com bination o f these techniques. These data also are subdivided according to States
and results. G. D. H .
1353. New K ettlem an H ills Producing Zone Found. Anon. O il Gas J ., 1.2.47, 45 (39), 27.— F low in g production o f 500-1000 brl/d ay o f 35° gravity oil has been obtained from the E ocene sands in w ell 73-30V on th e K ettlem an H ills (California) Middle
Dom e. G. D . H .
1354. Middle Ordovician Limestones in Central Kansas. H . Taylor. B u ll. Amer.
A ss. Petrol. Geol., 1947, 31, 1242—1282.— The Middle Ordovician Viola lim estones in the subsurface o f north central K ansas can be separated into six m ember zones which are lith ologieally distin ct. Num bered downwards, these zones are : (1) Upper lim e
stone ; (2) Upper cherty member ; (3) Middle lim estone ; (4) Middle cherty member ; (5) Lower lim e sto n e ; (6 ) Lower cherty or basal clastic member. The V iola is over 250 ft thick in th e north, but thins to th e south. T entative correlations indicate th at zones (1), (2), and (3) m ay be eq u ivalen t.to the Stew artville, zones (4) and (5) to the Prosser and zone (6) to the Lower Prosser or Decorah formations o f Iowa.
E . N . T.
1355. Sohio D iscloses Oklahoma Wildcat Flowing 33 brl per hour. C. J. D eegan. Oil Gas J ., 1.1.47, 45 (39), 32.— 1 H oward, SE. SE NVV 17-ln-2w , near E ola has flowed 33 brl/hr through & -in choke on 2£-in tubing from a sand in the Basal Bromide (Ordovician). The tubing pressure is 1100 p.s.i. and th e G.O.R. 800 cu. ft./b rl. The
’ top o f th e Basal Brom ide is at 10,060 ft, and the formation is 140 ft thick. There are thin oil-bearing stringers above th e Basal Bromide. A te st o f the Pennsylvanian at 6018-6040 ft gave gas-cut m ud and oil, and the H unton at 8545-8598 ft gave similar
results. G. D . H .
ABSTRACTS.
1356. Lindsay Play Gets Good W ells. Anon. O il G a s J ., 15.3.47, 45 (45), 125.— E a st o f th e Lindsay pool in southw estern McClain C ounty, Oklahoma, Carlock e t al 1 H arri
son, N /2 S.E . 25-5n-4w has flowed 100 brl/hr o f 44° oil from th e Ordovician Brom ide form ation at 10,430-10,440 ft and 10,445-10,485 ft. R . L. B aum an 1 A in s
worth N E N W SE 26-5n-4w gave 662 b rl/d ay from th e H u n ton a t 9892—9940 ft.
Magnolia Petroleum Co. 1 Martin, N W N E l-4n-5w had a com m ercial show a t 7 655- 7690 ft.
The area east from L indsay towards Pauls V alley is gradually filling up w ith o il
fields. ' Gt. D . H .
1357. Major Pool Looms in Oklahoma. Anon. O il Gas J ., 22.3.47, 45 (46), 311.—
A n derson-Prichard et al 1 Seaton, SE SE N W 14-2n-2w, in Garvin C ounty,O k lah om a, has flowed 5 0-100 brl/hr o f 42° oil from a P en nsylvan ian sand a t 6411-6418 ft. The w ell lies 3J m iles sou theast o f the S outhw est A n tioch pool and 4 J m iles northw est o f th e K atie pool, both o f w hich produce from th e P en nsylvan ian a t abou t th e sam e horizon. Thus there is a prospect o f these tw o pools being connected. The P auls V alley u p lift gives a northw est nose on th e flanks o f w hich is a b e lt o f oil-bearing P en nsylvan ian sand. The w idth o f th is b elt m ay be sm all, b u t it m ay continue for 10-12 m iles in length. . The oils o f th e tw o fields show som e difference, b u t th is m ay not preclude con tin u ity o f th e stratigraphic ty p e oil belt. G. D . H . 1358. Southwest A ntioch-N ew Oklahoma Pool. R . M. Sw esnik. O il G a s J ., 19.4.47, 45 (50), 82.— Sou thw est A n tioch is in southw estern Garvin C ounty, on th e w est flank o f th e P auls V alley u p lift in th e sou theastern exten sion o f th e Anadarko basin. Leasing w as based on th e presence o f a w estw ard plunging an ticlin al nose and som e seism ic and m agnetic data. A well drilled in th e centre o f th e SE N W 30-3n-2w found saturated sandstone at 6525-6541 ft, and was continued to th e Brom ide w hich contained water.
The w ell was later com pleted in the P en nsylvanian sand zone givin g abou t 60 brl/hr.
W ithin a year 41 w ells had been drilled, o n ly one being dry.
The Perm ian and Pen nsylvan ian beds include red shales w ith occasional san d lenses and lim eston es w hich grade laterally into sandstones and shales. The producing sand, know n as th e Gibson, is m edium grained and h igh ly porous and perm eable. Towards th e base o f the series is a conglom erate w ith pebbles possib ly o f A rbuckle, H u n ton , and V iola lim eston es, and cores have show n good oil saturation in places.
Below th e P en nsylvan ian w ells have found beds o f M ississippian “ M ayes ” to S ylvan age. On th e w est side o f th e fau lt th e W oodford is frequently m et. In m ost cases th e H u n ton has low porosity, bu t bears gas.
The pre-Pennsylvanian structure is m onoclinal to th e w est, and cu t b y a n o r th w est- sou th east fau lt dow nthrown b y 450 ft to th e w est. On th e e a st is a 100-ft fau lt dow nthrown to the east. The beds dip a t about 560 ft/m ile and th e un con form ity at 218 ft/m ile. The Pennsylvan ian and younger beds dip w est a t about 170 ft/m ile and are also faulted. The Gibson sand m u st wedge ou t to th e east.
The producing sand has a porosity o f 15-7% and its perm eab ility averages 300 m D . The connate w ater is under 15%. G as/oil ratios are 700-1400 and’ th e shrinkage factor is 1-6. W ells have in itia l p oten tials o f 3 0 -100 brl/hr. . G. D . H . 1359. Developm ents in Rocky Mountain Region in 1946. E. W . K ram pert. B u ll.
Am er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., 1947, 31, 1283-1288.— The to ta l w ell footage drilled in th e R ock y M ountain region increased in 1946 as com pared w ith 1945, due to th e a ctiv e developm ent o f th e R an gely field in northw estern Colorado. E ootage drilled in W yom ing and M ontana in 1946 w as less th an th a t drilled in 1945.
Oil production increased in M ontana, W yom ing, and Colorado in 1946 as com pared w ith 1945. The production increase in Colorado w as 235% due to th e rapid d ev elo p m ent in th e R an gely field.
There were more discoveries in 1946 th an in 1945 and several o f th em were o f
considerable im portance. E . N . T.
1360. New East Texas Condensate Discovery. A non. O il Gas J ., 3.5.47, 45 (52), 121.— An im portant gas-condensate strike has been m ade 8 m iles sou thw est o f Jackson , in Cherokee County, T exas. The open-flow p oten tial is 147,000,000-170,000,000
ABSTRACTS.
cu. ft./d a y w ith 500 brl o f condensate. Production is from the Rodessa zone o f the Glenrose a t 8608-8630 ft. The top s o f the P e ttit and Travis Peak were respectively 8783 ft and 9128 ft subsea. T ests o f possible pays in the Jam es and P e ttit lim estones, and th e Travis P eak sands gave no oil or gas. The closed-in b ottom hole pressure is
4223 p .s.i. G. D. H .
1361. Seeligson May Extend Across Fault. Anon. Oil Gas J ., 24.5.47, 46 (3), 133.—
Magnolia Petroleum Co. 1 D avid Clark, Section 62, R . P. H aldem an Subdivision o f Seeligson R anch (South Texas) has been com pleted at 4502-4510 ft in th e equivalent o f Zone 16 o f the Seeligson field. A second well 1320 ft north m issed th is zone, bu t obtained production in Zone 22 at 5563-5572 ft. Production is 900-1000 ft higher than at the equivalent horizons in the m ain field to the east, and a large fault intervenes. The fault trends n ortheast-southw est. A further fault occurs 2 miles w est o f the first, possibly givin g a horst. A third fault exists still farther w est. Cross faults m ay ex ist in the horst.
Production is alm ost continuous from Agua D ulce in the north to La Gloria in the south. R ecently a new p a y w as found at 6598 ft in the La Gloria field. G. D. H . 1362. Discovery of Rich Bitum en Deposit in Northern Canada Reported. Anon. Oil Gas J ., 25.1.47, 45 (38), 130.— The M ildred-R uth Lakes area, opposite the m outh o f th e Steepbank River, is reported to have bitum inous sands possibly containing 500,000,000 brl o f liquid bitum en. The bitum en saturation ranges 12-18% by weight. The sands vary in richness, and there is inter-fingering o f clay and shale bands w ith thb sands. Thicknesses range up to 220 ft. 2 square m iles o f territory has been drilled on f-J -m ile spacing, and a larger area on ¿-mile spacing. Beds o f liquid
bitum en up to 21 ft thick have been m et. G. D . H .
1363. Important Canadian Discovery. Anon. O il Gas J ., 22.2.47, 45 (42), 190.—
Im perial-L educ N o. 1, LSD 5, 22-50-6w4 has flowed about 40 brl/hr from a porous zone at 5029-5066 ft in D evonian lim estone. The w ell is about 20 m iles sou th o f Edm onton. Previous production in east-central Alberta has been from the Cretaceous at depths^pf about 2000 ft. The te st is about 200 m iles northw est o f th e S tev ev ille- Princess field where there is shallower D evonian production. There w as also a gas flow and oil showings at 4000-4400 ft, and Leduc No. 2 in LSD 1, 16-50-26w4 is to be
drilled because o f these. G. D. H .
1364. Canada's Leduc Field Looks Good. Anon. O il Gas J ., 7.6.47, 46 (5), 121.—
The third w ell in th e Leduc field, 20 m iles south o f E dm onton, is about to be com pleted. I t is I f m iles north and 1J m iles east o f th e discovery well. The three w ells embrace an area 21 m iles from north to south, and I f m iles from east to w est. 39°
oil is obtained from a D evonian lim estone at 5000-5400 ft, and the w ells have open- flow capacities o f about 1000 brl/day.
A w ell on the Jum ping Pound structure is to be deepened to te s t th e D evonian.
Madison distillate production occurs at 10,000-11,000 ft on th is structure.
Leduc is the m ost im portant discovery in th e Alberta syncline, and the first area in th e northern plains where the D evonian has been tested. 200 m iles to the southeast the D evonian produces in the Steveville-P rincess area a t m uch shallower depths.
The D evonian seem s to have at least tw o porous horizons at Leduc ; the discovery well produces from the shallower and th e other tw o from the deeper zone.
G. D. H . 1365. Highlights of Developm ents in Foreign Petroleum Fields. L. G. W eeks. B ull.
A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., 1947, 31, 1135-1193.— This paper consists o f a report to the annual m eeting o f the Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. on the more im portant recent d evelop m ents in each foreign petroleum field. The account o f recent developm ents in m ost countries is prefaced b y a brief statem en t o f historic background interest.
A c tiv ity in th e search for and developm ent o f petroleum has been carried on in no less than seven ty countries outside the U n ited States w ithin recent years. The scale o f these activities ranges from th a t o f Venezuela w ith her more th an 1,000,000 brl of d aily production in 1946, to th a t o f countries like Sjveden where in a programme of
a ABSTRACTS.
oil search in the southern part o f th e country, th e G overnm ent com pleted 2 w ells in th e p a st 2 years, in one o f w hich a show ing o f oil w as reported.
A set o f m aps is given show ing th e sedim entary areas and th e more im p ortan t fields ; and there are appended tables o f cum ulative world oil production b y countries, th e average daily yield for each country for 1946 and 1939, and th e num ber o f geop h ysical
crews in operation in 1946 b y countries. E . N . T.
1366. Palaeogeography of South America. L. G. W eeks. B u ll. A m er. A ss. Petrol.
Geol., 1947, 31, 1194-1241.— The m ajor features o f th e geological framework are o u t
lined. A tten tion is called to th e m an y sim ilarities in th e continental framework and geological history o f South and N orth Am erica. The change in palaeogeography and facies from Cambrian to Pliocene tim es inclu sive is pictured on fifteen palseogeographic facies m aps, selected to show th e principal sedim entary overlaps. In terven in g changes and conditions, th e progress o f transgressions and th e fun dam ental transitions in th e architecture o f the continent th a t caused or conditioned th e palseogeographic
afld facies changes are briefly review ed. E . N . T.
1367. Fourth Spring Hill Test Gets Negative Results. Anon. O il Gas J ., 15.2.47, 45 (41), 61.— The fourth Spring H ill, Chile, te st has been drilled to 7500 ft, 60 ft deeper th an the d iscovery well. The results are said to be n egative, although th e electric log
ind ication s were good. G. D . H .
1368. Chile’s Fifth Spring H ill Field Test Nears Completion. A non. O il Gas J ., 5.4.47, 45 (48), 42.— The Spring H ill producing horizon is a m edium grained Cretaceous or Jurassic sand, 6 0 -100 ft thick and lyin g 7350-7500 ft deep. The paraffin base oil has a g ravity o f 43° A .P .I. B ottom -hole pressures are 3200-3400 p .s.i.
The fifth te st is expected to be com pleted shortly. G. D . H . 1369. Chile’s Fifth Test is Big W et-Gas Producer. Anon. O il Gas J ., 12.4.47, 45 (49), 61.— The fifth Spring H ill w ell has been com pleted w ith a large production of w et gas. I t is on the northeastern side o f th e structure and at a higher lev el structurally
th an th e other w ells. G. D . H .
1370. Sixth Spring H ill Test D ow n to About 5000 ft. A non. O il Gas J ., 24.5.47, 46 (3), 65.— Spring H ill, Chile, N o. 6 lies about 1200 ft sou th o f N o. 3, w hich gave high-
grade oil after first givin g gas alone. G. D . H .
1371. Sixth Spring H ill Test Completed as Producer. A non. O il Gas J ., 21.6.47, 46 (7), 65.— Chile’s six th w ell at Spring H ill is reported to be a producer a t abou t 7500 ft.
G. D . H . 1372. Junta Petroleum Tests Deeper Sands in W ildcat. Anon. O il Gas J ., 7.6.47, 46 (5), 43.— 180 m iles south o f Barranquila, Colombia, on th e w est side o f th e M ag
dalena, J u n ta Petroleum Co’s w ildcat has given gas at th e rate o f 18,000 M.o.f. Deeper sands are being tested , and a further w ell is planned. G. D . H . 1373. U nion Oil Stepping Up Exploration W ork in Paraguay’s Chaco. A non. Oil Gas J ., 4.1.47, 45 (35), 32.— U n ion Oil Co. 1 San ta R osa is drilling below 7348 ft in beds te n ta tiv ely identified as D evonian. This w ell lies 255 m iles w est o f Puerto Casada on th e Paraguayan R iver. The site for a second w ell is under consideration.
A considerable am ount o f geophysical work has been carried out. G. D . H . 1374. On the Problem of the Geological Structure and Oil Possibilities of the Near- Caspian Depression. N . V. N evolin . Compt. Rend. (D o k la d y ) A cad. S ci. U R S S , 1947, 55, 739-741 (in E nglish).— A n analysis o f new seism ic data and a revision o f th e older geological and geophysical inform ation are used to derive new concep tion s o f th e geological structure and oil-bearing possibilities o f th e near-Caspian depression. The m ost prom ising areas for oil production are considered to be th e salt-dom es and th e underlying structures. A m ap o f th e region, w hich includes Long. 45-55° E ., L at.
50° N ., and contains Stalingrad, Astrakhan, th e Caspian Sea, Orsk, U ralsk, and Saratow , is given w ith th e salt dom es indicated. G. H . B.
ABSTRACTS. a
1375. Deep Test to be Spudded Soon in Northeastern Spain. Anon. Oil G a sJ ., 19.4.47, 45 (50), 69.— A w ell is expected to be drilled on the Oliana structure, 15 m iles east of Solsona in northeastern Spain. Eocene beds outcrop on this anticline. G. D. H . 1376. Three Companies Press Widespread Search for Oil in Egypt. W. W . Burns.
Oil Gas J ., 8.2.47, 45 (4), 46.— Oil exploration in E g y p t began in 1885, but only three com m ercially im portant fields have been found. Of these R as Gharib, w ith reserves o f about 100,000,000 brl, is th e m ost im portant.
A nglo-E gyp tian Oilfields L td. obtains 24,000 brl/d ay from Ras Gharib and 1000 brl/d ay from H urghada. R as Gharib has produced 55,000,000 brl o f 25-26° oil from basal Miocene lim estone and pre-Miocene sands a t depths o f 1500-2400 ft. I t lies on an easterly-dipping m onocline broken b y faults in th e w est and below an unconform ity.
H urghada has given about 40,000,000 brl o f 22-24° oil from N ubian sands unconform- ably underlying th e M iocene a t depths o f 1700-2200 ft.
Gemsah, discovered in 1908, has given a little oil from a basal Miocene lim estone at depths o f 1240-1310 ft.
The S.U .D .R . w ildcat on th e east coast o f th e Sinai Peninsula has a potential of 275 brl/d ay o f 22° oil. I t was drilled join tly b y A n glo-E gyptian Oilfields and Socony- Vacuum . Oil is in a basal Miocene sandstone at 2675-2826 ft. There is a surface structure, A test at W adi B aba w as abandoned in schist at 4538 ft. The R as Abu R adeis w ildcat w as in th e Miocene a t 6425 ft. A well is under w ay at Hamra, 20 m iles northeast o f Suez. E gyp tian Standard’s 1 E l Khabra has reached a depth o f 9981 ft.
Northern Sinai is characterized b y the presence o f Jurassic beds, and large asy m m etric anticlines. In th e G ulf o f Suez area there are asym m etrical fault blocks.
In th e W estern D esert the Abu Roash w ildcat, 4 m iles w est o f the Pyram ids, entered granite a t 6250 ft. 2 Abu R oash was in lim estone at a depth o f 2430 ft. There are exten sive outcrops o f Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene beds. Near th e Pyram ids Lower E ocene, Upper Cretaceous, and Cretaceous N ubian beds com e to the surface.
In th e desert geophysical work is necessary.
718 exploration perm its each covering 100 sq. km . have been issued. G. D . H . 1377. Results Thus Far Slight in Egyptian Standard Test. Anon. Oik Gas J ., 12.4.47, 45 (49), 61.— The W adi Baba te st has yielded only a barrel o f 8-10° oil in a drill-stem test. The w ell started on th e downthrown side o f a fault, b u t has unfortunately gone
through th e fault. G. D . H .
1378. Drilling to Begin Soon on Gaza W ell, First Test in Palestine. Anon. O il Gas J ., 15.3.47, 45 (45), 58.— The first w ell in P alestine w ill be drilled near Iraq Suweidan in th e com m unity o f H uleiquat, 15 m iles northeast o f Gaza. Torsion balance and gravity m eter surveys indicated a subsurface structure and th is w as confirmed b y a seism ic survey in 1946. The possibility o f drilling to 10,000 ft is visualized.
A second well w ill be drilled in the Kurnub area in the N egev, 20 m iles w est o f the southern end o f th e D ead Sea. There is a well-defined surface structure w ith older
beds than at H uleiquat. G. D. H.
1379. New Guinea Exploration Programmes Under W ay. Anon. O il Gas J ., 22.2.47, 45 (42), 105.— A ustralian P etroleum Co. L td., is said to have a test in Papua which has
reached 5000 ft. G. D . H .
G eophysics and G eochem ical P rosp ecting.
1380. Exploration and the Gravity Meter. L. L. Logue and F . K . Fisk. O il Gas J ,, 22.2 .47, 45 (42), 122.— The application o f the gravity m eter in the search for possible oil bearing structures is illustrated b y a series o f diagrams together w ith some descrip
tiv e te x t. * G. D . H.
1381. Magnetic Surveys with Helicopters. H . Lundberg. B u ll. In st. M in . M et., J u ly 1947, 2 1 -2 7 .— The U .S. N a v y ’s m agnetic airborne detector is usually tow ed 100-200 ft from th e aeroplane. The equipm ent is rather elaborate and w eighs some 600 lb. I ts sen sitivity is ± 1-2 gamma, and the to ta l in ten sity is measured. I f the
ABSTRACTS.
airborne m agnetom eter is to duplicate as closely as possible results obtained on th e ground, the instrum ent m ust be near th e ground.
In th e present work the m agnetom eter w as flown b y helicopter over know n ore- bodies in the Sudbury area w hich had been m agn etically surveyed on th e ground. The m agnetic detector consisted o f a.rotor, a stationary coil, and a com pensating u n it.
The com pensating u n it neutralizes m ost o f th e earth ’s field and serves as a datum . T he m agnetic in ten sity variations are recorded continuously. In strum ent orientation w as m anual, and sufficiently accurate for th e experim ental survey. Ground correla
tion w as b y a fully autom atic tim in g device. The vertical in te n sity w as m easured, since this occurs directly over th e m agnetic bod y. The flying h eight w as 150-200 ft above the ground. 28 m iles o f line were flown and recorded in 1 hr ; th e ground survey took 70 days to prepare and execute.
Comparison w ith th e ground survey show s th e sam e features w ith rather less detail, b u t th e flying d ata are a satisfactory guide for exploration.
I f the helicopter is taken to th e point o f m axim um in ten sity and th en m oved sid e
w ays to a p oin t where the in te n sity has fallen to a given value, a marker can be dropped at th e latter point. The procedure can be repeated in th e opp osite direction and another marker dropped. A fter rising to 2000 ft above th e poin t o f m axim um in ten s ity a vertical photograph is taken show ing th e markers and ground features, and on th is photograph the m agnetic d ata can be p lotted.
Maps and profiles show th e m agnetic d ata obtained in th e ground and aerial surveys
in Clermont Township, Quebec. G. D . H .
1382. Helicopter Aids Oil Search. C. J. D eegan. O il G a s J ., 7.6.47, 46 (5), 61.— Gravity- m eter work is being successfully executed b y a helicopter in m arshy areas in Louisiana, because m arsh buggies were forbidden. I t is believed th a t 600 sta tio n s per m onth could be covered for 815,000. Average costs per station w ith a m arsh b u ggy m igh t be $65—75.
Photographs show th e helicopter in use, and th e m eth od o f surveying is described.
G. D . H . 1383. Airborne M agnetometer Surveys of Baham as Soon to Start. W . W . Burns.
O il Gas J ., 26.4.47, 45 (51), 92.— The 50,000-80,000 square m iles airborne m agneto
m eter survey o f th e Baham as w ill cost about $650,000. F ly in g lin es a t 2 m ile inter
vals, th e survey w ill occupy 6 -8 m onths. A b out fifty people w ill be a c tiv e ly engaged.
A series o f photographs and diagram s show som e o f th e features o f th e airborne
m agnetom eter. G. D . H.
D rillin g.
1384. Discovery W ell Improvement Justifies High Testing Costs. W . P . Sterne. Oil W kly, 2.6.47, 126 (1), 50.— The com pletion o f th e Carter Oil C om pany’s Eskridge N o. 1 W ell in Garvin County, Oklahoma, is briefly described. T he data obtained by testin g th is w ell is outlined, and the im portance o f te stin g w ells, especially discovery
w ells, is stressed. R . R. S.
1385. W orkover Barges. E . H . Short, Jr. O il G a s J ., 10.5.47, 46 (1), 62.— The layou t and construction o f sp ecially designed workover barges for m arine operations is described. These barges are being used for : (1) fishing ou t and resettin g lin ers;
(2) squeezing ; (3) plugging back ; (4) cleaning ou t and recom pleting ; and (5) placing
w ells on artificial lift. R . r g
1386. Rebuilding Worn Drag Bits. E . Sterrett. Oil W kly, 12.5.47, 125 (11), 55.__
Two m ethods o f reconditioning drag b it cutting edges and th e hard facing o f b its are
briefly discussed. r . r g
1387. Locating the Critical Point of Stuck Pipe or Casing. G. M. W ilson. O il W kly, 2.6.47, 126 (1), 39.— A brief description is given o f a new instrum ent for locating th e p oin t at w hich a drill-pipe or casing string is stu ck . The instrum ent em p loys an electronic device called a M agna-Tector, w hich gives an accurate ind ication o f th e am ount o f stretch at an y p oin t in a string o f pipe. I f the instrum ent is located above th e stuck point, the elongation o f th e pipe, caused b y a strain being tak en on th e
ABSTRACTS. a
string from th e surface, w ill be indicated b y th e instrum ent and vice versa. The * com plete set-up is designed so th a t th e elongation can be read directly at th e surface and as m any settings or tests as desired can be m ade w ithou t bringing the instrum ent
out o f th e hole. ' R . B . S.
1388. Casing Standards and Design. J. W ais, Jr. O il W kly, 9.6.47, 125 (2), 37;
Petrol. Engr, June 1947, 18 (9), 106. (P aper presented before Pacific Coast D istrict D ivisio n of Production, A .P .I ., Los Angeles, Spring 1947.)— The developm ent o f new standards and th e possible effect o f these on casing and coupling thread design is discussed. The prim ary objectives o f th e changes under consideration b y the A .P.I.
are : (1) to provide more effective resistance to joint leakage at higher pressures;
and (2) to obtain higher join t strength. Owing to the increasing prevalence o f w ash
outs and thread leaks in deep w ells it has been proposed th a t three turns o f thread m ay be specified instead o f the nom inal tw o to tw o and a h a lf turns, and th a t tools and procedure be changed to perm it this increase. The additional stresses involved as a result o f th e increased m ake-up and suggested im provem ents in the m ethods of testing are also discussed in this connexion. Various formulae applicable to casing design are appended and tw o references are given. R . B. S.
1389. Combating Corrosion Fatigue by Plastic Coating of Drill-Pipe. L. E . Trishman.
W orld P etrol., 1947, 18 (6), 56-59.— I t has been established th a t corrosion fatigue o f drill-pipes usually starts at th e inside surface. A theory is advanced to explain th is ; plastic coatings have been developed to reduce such corrosion. Experim ental work on corrosion fatigue is described, and illustrated b y photographs. F . S. A.
1390. Muffled Derricks for Residential Areas. G. M. W ilson. Oil W kly, 19.5.47, 125 (12), 37.— A m ethod o f muffling derricks by th e use o f portable m ulti-layer panels
is described. R . B. S.
1391. Diamond Core Drilling Methods and Problems. C. D eely. Petrol. Engr, June 1947, 18 (9), 98.— The developm ent o f diam ond drilling m ethods and their adaptation to coring operations is reviewed. Two references are appended. R . B. S.
1392. Torque Converter Drives for Oil W ell Drilling Rigs. Part II. C. M. O’Leary.
O il W kly, 28.4.47, 125 (9), 40.— The proper gear ratios for use in connexion w ith torque converters are discussed : th ey should be so chosen th a t all operations can be kept w ithin the 80% efficiency range o f the converter. A utom atic shifting, w hich can be accom plished b y using a differential drive betw een the input and output shafts o f the converter, is being developed to autom atically select the proper gear ratios w ithin the 80% efficiency range as th e torque loads on th e converter vary.
Overheating o f the torque converter fluid gives rise to m any troubles owing to gasi
fication o f the liquid : th e operating efficiency o f the converter, how ever, increases .with tem perature o f th e converter fluid u n til th is begins to gasify, at which poin t the efficiency suddenly decreases. Cooling is usually achieved b y radiators and cooling fans, and various com binations o f these are being developed to provide autom atically variable cooling in order to m aintain m axim um efficiency.
A lthough torque converters are often used for braking th ey are n ot usually designed for th is purpose. For successful use as a brake, the converters should be o f heavier construction and be provided w ith greater cooling capacity. Som e system s have been developed for using converters • to control the w eight on the b it and for autom atic drilling co n tr o l: these system s have m et w ith varying degrees o f success.
A num eral exam ple is given and th e calculations necessary for selectin g torque converter drives are shown. The use o f torque converters in com pounding pum ps w ith m axim um efficiency o f operation is also discussed. R . B. S.
1393. Fishing and Cutting Technique. E. H . Short, Jr. Oil Oas J ., 17.5.47, 46 (2), 80.— The technique used in cutting and fishing drill-pipe from the Superior Oil Com
p a n y ’s 51-11 W eller W ell (at present the deepest w ell in the world) is described.
R. B. S.
A BSTRACTS.
1394. Formation Logging. R. E . Gile. P etrol. Engr, Jun e 1947, 18 (9), 93.— N ew m ethods o f determ ining gas, oil, and w ater saturations in form ation sam ples filtered from th e m ud stream are briefly described. This inform ation can be con tin u ally logged, and in com bination w ith (1) m icroscopic exam in ation s o f lith o lo g y and porosity, (2) records o f drilling rate, (3) correlation o f form ation sam ples w ith d epth drilled, (4) titration o f solubles in th e drilling fluid filtrate, and (5) routine m ud tests, the nature o f th e form ations being drilled through can be continuou sly studied. T he use
o f th is inform ation is briefly discussed. R- B . S.
1395. On Neutron W ell Logging by Gamma-Rays. G. V. G orshkov and N . M. Liat- kovskaya. Compt. Rend. (D oklady) A cad. Sci. U R S S , 1947, 55, 601-6 0 4 (in English).
— Continuing previous theoretical work on th is subject, th e p o ssib ility o f detecting and m easuring gam m a-rays produced in rock form ations b y neutrons e m itted from a well-logging device has been stu died experim en tally. The results o f work w ith gamma- ray and m ixed neutron plus gam m a-ray sources in an artificial bore-hole show th a t it is practically feasible to d etect th e gam m a-rays generated in rocks b y a neutron source w ith ou t serious interference from scattered gam m a-rays direct from th e neutron source and th e gam m a-ray background arising from the natural ra d ioactivity o f granite-type rocks. The characteristics o f th e Geiger counter used, its response to lead screening and equations givin g its response to various sources o f gam m a-rays in volved in the
present application, are described. G. H . B.
1396. Thermal Surveys Applied to Oilfield Problems. H . G. A badie. Petrol. Engr, Jun e 1947, 18 (9), 47.— Two applications o f therm al logging m eth od s are briefly described. T hey are : (1) a m eans o f locating leaks in casing or tub in g in a well, and (2) a m eans o f determ ining a poin t o f lo st circulation in a drilling w ell. R . B . S.
1397. Developm ents in Drilling Mud Control. G. E . Cannon. O il Gas J ., 3.5.47, 45 (52), 101.— Some recent developm ents in th e filtration control o f drilling m uds are
review ed. R . B. S.
1398. Controlled Mud Programme at R angely. W . B. K im brell. O il W kly, 2.6.47, 126 (1), 35.— The m ud problem s encountered in drilling in the R an gely field in Colorado are review ed and th e m ud treatm en t program me selected to com bat th em is outlined.
R . B . S.
1399. Oil-Base iDrilling Fluid. F . M. Anderson. O il W kly, 30.6.47, 126 (5), 43.— The con stitu tion and applications o f both oil-base m uds and em ulsion drilling fluids are described.
Most oil-base m uds consist essen tially o f diesel oil and asp halt blended togeth er and com pounded w ith a soap. The com position o f th e soap can be m ade to control the v is c o s ity o f th e m ud. The m ost su itab le soap is formed b y reacting sod iu m hydroxide, sodium silicate, and ta ll oil (which is a by-product obtained in th e sodium sulphate process o f m anufacturing kraft paper from the jack pine) w ith in th e diesel oil-asp h alt m edium . The m ud v isco sity can be lowered b y increasing th e am ount o f ta ll oil, and can be raised b y increasing the am ount o f sodium silicate. Oil-base m uds are especially advantageous for com pleting low pressure or high ly im perm eable sands and in o b tain ing b etter core data ow ing to its zero w ater con ten t. In m an y cases th e y prevent h eaving shale from entering th e hole and aid in im proving cem ent jobs. A lso th e y are n ot seriously affected b y drilling salt sections and zones where h o t sa lt w ater is en countered.
E m ulsion drilling fluids, w hich are an em ulsion o f an oil-base m ud and an ordinary bentonic water-base drilling fluid, are being increasingly used. T his ty p e o f drilling fluid has sim ilar applications to th e oil-base m uds w ith th e excep tion o f drilling salt sections. In add ition it is electrically condu ctive and good electric logs can be ob tained when using ordinary electric logging instrum ents in em ulsion drilling fluid.
R . B. S.
1400. Selection of Mud Fluid for Completion of W ells. H . E . Radford. Petrol. Engr, Jun e 1947, 18 (9), 72. (P a p er presented before Pacific Coast D istrict, D iv isio n of Production A .P .I ., Los Angeles, May 1947.)— The selection o f a drilling m ud for com
ABSTRACTS. a
pletion work is based on considerations to obtain the m axim um produ ctivity for the particular w ell. E ach o f th e several special m uds available have certain advantages th a t m ay result in their selection for a particular w ell com pletion. The characteristic advantages o f several ty p es o f muds are reviewed, and exam ples are given o f their use under appropriate circum stances.
E igh t references are appended. It. B . S.
1401. M ovement of W ater-O il Interface and W ater Encroachment into W ells under Hydrostatic Head. B. E. K azarnovskaya. Compt. Rend. (D oklady) A cad. Sci.
U R S S , 1947, 55, 689-692 (in E nglish).— This paper is a theoretical treatm ent o f the hydrodynam ics o f a system comprising an oil reservoir exten ding ribbon-wise to a great length w ith arrays o f w ells follow ing the same direction and w ith a parallel supply boundary. The oil-bearing stratum is supposed to be plane, sligh tly inclined to the horizon and the w ells drilled at right angles to it. E ach w ell is supposed to have its production rate distributed uniform ly along its height. E quations are derived which describe th e encroachm ent o f an o il-w a ter interface into th e array o f w ells from below the reservoir, th e rate o f watey production, and th e shape o f th e oil-w ater
boundary. G. H . B.
Production.
1402. Organization Elem ents : Their R elation to Oil and Gas-Producing Operations.
J. E . Toussaint. O il W k ly, 9.6.47, 126 (2), 41. (P aper presented before Pacific Coast D istrict D ivision of Production A .P .I ., Los Angeles, May 1947.)— The fundam entals o f organization o f oil- and gas-producing operations are discussed. R . B. S.
1403. Doubling Shaft Operating Life by M etallizing and Truing. E . Sterrett. Oil W kly, 19.5.47, 125 (12), 44.— The procedure to be follow ed in m etallizing and truing compressor shafts for repressuring and recycling plan ts is outlined. R . B. S.
1404. Case Histories of Mud Acidization. (Engineering F undam entals N o. 284.) Anon. O il Gas J ., 3.5.47, 48 (52), 109.— D etails are given o f m ud acidization opera
tions in : (1) a gas injection w ell in the Slick sand, South T exas, (2) a pum ping w ell in th e Miocene sand, South T exas, and (3) a sa lt w ater disposal well in th e G ulf Coast area.
T his article concludes a series o f seven instalm ents on “ Mud A cidizing ” (see A bstracts N os. 1016, 1029, 1027, 1265, 1266, and 1267 (1947)). R . B. S.
1405. Control of Unconsolidated Sands in W ilm ington Oilfield. R . W interburn.
P etrol. Engr, Jun e 1947, 18 (9), 80. (P a p er presented before Pacific Coast D istrict D ivision of Production, A .P .I ., Los Angeles, May 1947.)— D etails are given o f the per
formance and econom ics o f several w ells in th e Tar, Ranger, and Upper Terminal Zones in th e W ilm ington field, w hich were com pleted in various w ays. The com parative advantages and disadvantages o f these various com pletion m ethods are also
discussed. Six references are appended. R . B . S.
1406. Secondary Recovery in the Delaware Childers Area. K . H . Johnston and C. H.
Riggs. O il W kly, 12.5.47, 125 (11), 57. (Abridged version of U .S. B ur. M in es, Rep.
Invest. N o. 4019.)— The discovery and developm ent o f the D elaware-Childers field in N ow ata County, Oklahoma, is briefly reviewed. The air and gas injection practices and the production m ethods em ployed are also discussed. R . B . S.
1407. New Deep W ell Cementing U nit. W. D. Owsley. O il W kly, 9.6.47, 126 (2), 31.— A description is given o f a new oil w ell cem enting u n it which is specially designed so as to ob tain greater pum ping pressures and quicker m ixing and displacem ent o f the
cem ent slurry. R. B. S.
*
1408. Corrosion. B . J. Cotey. Oil Oas J ., 10.5.47, 46 (1), 6 8 .— The use o f a new chem ical m ethod o f treating w ells for corrosion inhibition is described. The inhibitor builds up a p rotective film on the surfaces w ith which it com es in c o n ta c t; after this
film is once established th e inhibitor can be used in term itten tly, once every few days.
Three exam ples are given o f w ells in w hich th e m eth od was used successfully.
R . B . S.
1409. Econom ics of Dual W ells in W askom Field. K . M. F agin. Petrol. Engr, June 1947, 18 (9), 120.— D a ta are presented on th e develop m en t and production o f the W askom gas field in H arrison C ounty, T exas. T he m eth od o f m aking th e dual com pletions and th e advan tages gained thereb y are also discussed. R . B . S.
1410. Application to Cycling of Gas Injection B elow Normal Gas W ater Contact. H . L.
H en sley. O il Gas J ., 3.5.47, 45 (52), 84.— D eta ils are given o f several cycling projects in w hich recycled gas is injected through edge w ells com pleted below th e norm al g a s - w ater contact. The m eth od has been found eq u ally successful for sands o f varying
perm eab ility. R . B . S.
1411. Thermodynamics of Gas-Lift Oil Production. W . C. E dm ister and R. J. Mc- Garry. O il W kly, 30.6.47, 126 (5), 61.— The fundam ental concep ts o f gas-lift produc
tio n are discussed and exam ples are given o f calculations for th e design o f gas-lift
equipm ent. . R . B. S.
1412. Carthage Field Gas Proration. S. Sm ith. O il W k ly, 2.6.47, 126 (1), 42.—
Proration in th e Carthage F ield, T exas, is discussed. R . B. S.
1413. A Study of Some Factors Affecting Gun Perforating. S. C. O liphant. Petrol.
Tech., Jan. 1947, 10 (1); A .I .M .M .E . Tech. P ub. N o. 2115, 1-13.— In th e subsurface te sts 65 ft o f 5-in casing centred inside 7-in casing and cem efited w ith n ea t cem ent was lowered to 6000 ft on 5 j -in casing, th e hole being filled w ith drilling m ud. Perforating com panies were asked to check the to ta l depth to cross-pins a t th e b ottom o f th e test section, and to place shots a t given distances above th is poin t. A ppreciable errors in th e am ount o f pick-up were found, even thou gh th e g reatest pick-up distan ce was on ly 50 ft. The to ta l depths m easured ranged 6593-5 ft to 6599 ft, th e casing tally being 6600 ft. The te st section after recovery w as also exam in ed for penetration.
F ew o f th e standard sh ots penetrated b oth strings. Sim ilar results w ere obtained at th e surface when perforating guns were used on blank portions o f th e te s t section taken from the well.
In laboratory te sts the effects o f the follow ing factors were stu d ied : pow der charge, w et powder, gun size, th e use o f shear discs, b u llet shape and size, gun wear, and bullet sleeves or bushings. The b est penetrations were obtained w ith th e largest gun that could be safely run inside the pipe to be perforated. The optim um bu llet size was usually 0-3-0-5 in diam eter, b u t penetration depended on th e ty p e o f formation.
Standard conical and ogival b u llets had sim ilar p enetration s. W orn gun barrels gave lower penetrations th an new barrels.
I t is n o t certain th a t all bullets fired b y ex istin g perforating services w ill com pletely penetrate even one string o f casing and the surrounding cem ent. Those fired through casing and neat cem ent into various form ations show ed deep striation s on b oth nose and base. B u llets givin g reduced casing burring seem to sacrifice penetration. It appears th a t m ost cases o f sp lit casing in perforating m ay be due to poor cem ent jobs, perforating under fluid, and using large b u llets.
Cement perforated too soon gives a large hole, and th a t perforated after prolonged ageing suffers m uch cracking and shattering. Mineral grains adjacent to th e b u llet’s p ath are crushed and com pacted, and th e perm eab ility w as reduced b y 4 0-80% of its original value, th e greater reduction taking place in th e less perm eable form ations.
G. D . H .
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1414. New Method ior Measurement of Oil Saturation in Cores. R . L. B oyer, F . Mor
gan, and M. Muskat. Petrol. Tech., Jan. 1947, 10 (1), A .I .M .M .E . Tech. Pub.
N o. 21J14, 1-19.— A technique is described for m easuring th e oil satu ration in cores through w hich tw o fluids are flowing. A substance, such as iodobenzene, is dissolved in th e oil, and th is substance causes appreciable absorption o f X -rays passing through th e core. The experim ental arrangem ent m akes use o f an X -ra y source and a satu rated
