Journal of the Institute of Petroleum, Vol. 32, Abstracts, June

J u n e , 194G. 159 a

A BSTR A C TS.

P A G E 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 ... ... ••• 160 a

G eophysics a n d G eochem ical P ro s p e c tin g ... ... 161 a

D r illin g ... ... ... ... 161 a

P ro d u c tio n ... ... ... 1 6 1a Oilfield D e v e lo p m e n t ... ... 163 a T r a n s p o r t a n d S t o r a g e . . . 167 a Re f i n e r y Op e r a t i o n s.

Refineries a n d A u x ilia ry R e ­ fin ery P l a n t ... ••• 168 a

D istilla tio n ... ... ••• 169 a

C racking ... ... - • • 170 a

A b so rp tio n a n d A d s o rp tio n ... 173 a

A lk y latio n ... ... ••• 173. a

p a g e

C hem ical a n d P h y s ic a l R e fin in g 174 a

S p ec ia l P ro cesses ... ... 174 a

M e terin g a n d C o n tro l ... 175 a Pr o d u c t s.

C h e m istry a n d P h y s ic s ... 176 a

A n aly sis a n d T e s tin g ... ... 1S2 a

C rude O ils ... ... ■ • • 184 a

G as ... 184 a

E n g in e F u e ls ... ... ... 185 a

L u b ric a n ts ... ... ... 186 a

S p ecial H y d ro c a rb o n P r o d u c ts 188 a

D eriv ed ,C h em ical P r o d u c ts ... 190 a En g i n e s a n d Au t o m o t i v e

E q u i p m e n t ... ... ••• 191 a M i s c e l l a n e o u s ... ... ... 192 a

B o o k s R e c e i v e d 194 a

A U T H O R IN D E X .

T h e n u m b e rs re fe r to th o A b s tr a c t N u m b e r.

Alden, 11. C ., 022.

Amcro, I t. C ., 577 Arralstead, G ., 065-507,

617 A ston, J . G ., 006 B eckett, IV. J ., 582 Barents, L . J ., 508 Bergstrom, F . W ., 001 Bestul, A. B ., 006 Bikerm an, J . J ., 002 Block, H . S., 590 Braggand, B. L ., 501 BrickWedde, F . G., 601 Bruce, C. S., 019 Capell, R . G ., 577 Chem ikin, V. I ., 559 Cody, M. C., 551 Cook, W. A ., 593 Cox, H . It., 037 Crawford, C. L ., 5S0 Cristol, S. J ., 611 Cushing, M. L ., 593 B ale, O. O., 510 Daskiell, J . W ., 5S0 Bouslin, D. R ., 607 B rake, N . L ., 600 B uck, J . T ., 619 Eastw ood, S. 0 ., 571 E b y , J . B ., 547 E ck m an , B . P ., 581 Ewing, J . S., 562 F aulconer, W . B. M ., 595 F aw cett, F . S., 599 Fedoseeva, O., 625 F ink, H . L., 606 Fleck, E . E ., 610 Foley, L . L ., 542

F o rziati, A. F ., 012 F rey , F . E ., 022 F ried m an n , W ., 620 F rien d , U . Z., 576 G adibusch, I I . H ., 623 G aylor, P . J ., 578 G ibbon, A., 538, 549 Gilbert-, 0 . L ., 033 G ilbert, T . H ., 557 G eorge, P ., 5S3-585 G lushnev, V. E ., 568 G odwin, J . B ., 572 Gohr, E . J ., 570 G reen, D . H ., 624 H acnsel, Y ., 579 Ila lle r, H . L ., 610, 611 H arrin g to n , P . J ., 564 H enne, A. L ., 598 H ep p , H . T ., 022 H ickeL A. E ., 614 H ill, L . R ., 509 H ill, M. A ., 592 H irsck ler, A. E ., 595, 60^

Ip atieff, Y . N ., 597 Iv an o v szk y , L ., 630 Iv es, G. 0 . , 554 Jaco b sen , E . "NY., 586 Jen se n , E . Y ., 591 K elly, 0 . 1., 629 K ennedy, R . B ., 572 K harascli, M. S., 591 K hristianovicb, S. A.,

559

K hu d y ak o v , G. N ., 587 K ilp a tric k , J . E ., 605 K ite , W . C., 541 K now lton, J . W 608

K ratze r, J . C., 624 K rieg, A ., 580 K u n , E ., 500 K unkel, J . H ., 575 Larson, C. M ., 626 Love, F . H ., 558 M cLaren, C. B ., 573 M acm illan, B ., 608 M cR eynolds, L. A ., 622 M air, B. J ., 612 M apstone, G. E ., 573 M artin, H . Z., 570 M oorman, J . W ., 569 M orton, B . B ., 561 M urphree, E . V., 570 N evzglyadov, Y . G ., 563 N isbet, H . B ., 621 Oberfcll, G. G ., 618 Ogorzaly, H . J.» 570 P ace, E . L ., 606 Pines, H ., 590, 597 P itz cr, K . S., 605 P ritz k er, C. G ., 627 P ry o r, C. C., 545 Rasm ussen, II. E ., 599 R hys, 0 . O., 564 R idden, H ., 632 R ideal, E . K ., 583 R obertson, A ., 5S3, 584 R odriguez, C., 620 Rossini, F . D ., 605, 612 R ueggeberg, W . H . C.,

593

Sckieltz, N . C., 60S Schm erling, L ., 588, 590,

594

S co tt, It. B ., 604 Seibert, R . A ., 601 S hepherd, D . G ., 638 Skim p, H . G ., 57 Shoem aker, F . G., 623 Simonsen, D. R ., 596 Sim pson, T . P ., 571 Sneddon, R ., 615 Staley, F . R ., 634 S teiner, H ., 589 S tcinitz, E . W ., 628 S tekoll, M ., 514 Streid, B. B ., 636 Sweeney, T . R ., 600 Szasz, G . J . , 606 Tecple, H . O., 576 Thom as, J . E ., 536, 537,

555

T hom as, R . W ., 618 T h o rn to n , D. P ., 616 T re b in , F . A ., 559 T y so n , C. W ., 570 U rry , W . H ., 591 Y erm illion, G., 592 Vogel, A. I ., 609 V ozzkinskaya, Z., 625 W aalkes, T . P ., 598 W agm an, D . D ., 605 W ash b u rn , E . R ., 596 W a ters, J . F ., 539 W illiams, D . B ., 624 W illson, C. O., 556 ^ W ood, W . H ., 577 m

W reddcn, J . H ., 630 ^ Zeitfuchs, E . H ., 613 Z herdeva, L . G., 625

N

160 a ABSTRACTS.

O

E

E

. Geology.

533. Petroleum Reserves of the World. A n o n . O il Qas J ., 29.12.45, 44 (34), 172.—

T h e w o rld ’s p e tro le u m reserv es a re show n g ra p h ic ally b y c o u n trie s for 1st J a n u a ry , 1944. T h e to ta l is 50,000 m illion b rl, U .S .A . h a v in g 20,000 m illio n , S o u th A m erica 6700 m illion, E u ro p e 600 m illion, R u s s ia 5900 m illion, th e M iddle E a s t 15,700 m illion a n d th e F a r E a s t 1070 m illio n b rl.

U .S . d o m estic re serv e s r e p re se n t 3 9 % o f th e to ta l, a n d U .S. foreign reserv es a re 19% ; B ritis h E m p ire re serv e s a re 2 % o f th e to ta l, a n d B ritis h fo reig n reserv es a m o u n t to 2 0 % . T h e U .S .S .R . h a s 11% o f th e re serv e s, w hile th e N e th e rla n d s co n tro l 5 % .

G. D . H . 534. Classification of the Petroleum Possibilities of the World. A non. O il Gas J ., 29.12.45, 44 (34), 174.— A sm all m a p o f th e w o rld sh ow s th e a re a s w h ich are m o st fa v o u ra b le as re g ard s oil possib ilities, th o se w h ic h a re u n fa v o u ra b le, a n d th o se w hich

m a y p o ssib ly h a v e oil reserves. G. D . H .

535. V enezuela’s 1946 Exploratory Programme Biggest in History. A non. Oil Qas J ., 2 9 .1 2 .4 5 ,44 (34), 265.— T h e V enezuelan Oil L aw d e m a n d s t h a t a t le a st h a lf o f th e conces­

sio n a ry acreag e m u s t bo relin q u ish e d to th e G o v e rn m en t a t th e e n d o f a th re e -y e a r p e rio d fro m th e d a te o n w h ich th e concessions w ore g ra n te d . T h is is larg ely re sp o n ­ sible fo r th e in te n siv e e x p lo ra to ry p ro g ram m es u n d e rta k e n in o rd e r t o select acreage.

I n 1945 27 seism o g rap h p a rtie s , 9 g ra v ity -m e te r p a rtie s a n d 14 geological p a rtie s o p e rated .

Creole p la n s to drill 30 ¿lim h oles to a n a v era g e d e p th o f 5000 f t to e v a lu a te geological a n d g eophysical w o rk on its G uarico concessions. Six geological te s ts h a v e been d rilled n o r th o f J u s e p in , a n d te s ts h a v e b e en d rilled n o r th a n d w e st o f th o d isc o v ery w ell, 1 C apacho, in n o rth e a s t A n zo ateg u i. A f u rth e r te s t is 5 k m s o u th o f Q uiriquire.

S hell’s 1945 e x p lo ra tio n p ro g ra m m e w a s g re a te r t h a n t h a t o f a n y o th e r c o m p a n y in V enezuela. S tru c tu ra l drillin g h a s b een d o n e in th o G re a te r O ficina a rea . G eo­

p h y sic al w ork w ill bo in cre ased in 1946.

I n th e G uico a re a S ocony h a s d rille d 23 geological te s ts to a n a v erag e d e p th o f 2700 ft.

T ab les g iv e th e ty p e s o f e x p lo ra tio n p a rtie s o p e ra te d b y th e d iffere n t c o m p an ies in e a s te rn a n d w e ste rn V enezuela in 1945, w hile n o tes a d d som e d e ta ils . G. D . H . 536. Exploration in Eastern Ecuador. J . E . T h o m a s. Oil W k ly , 7.1.46, 120 (6), 41 (.In tern a tio n a l Section).— S hell’s 25-m ilIion-acro concession in E a s te r n E c u a d o r stre tc h e s fro m a p o in t 50 m l fro m Q u ito to 200 m l f a rth e r e a s t. F ie ld w o rk b e g a n in 1939. T h o b e st goological ex p o su res a re in th e fo o th ill b e lt. G eological re c o n n a is­

san ce fro m th e air, a n d d e ta ile d g ro u n d w o rk su p p le m e n te d b y seism ic w o rk soon disclosed som e s tru c tu re s . T h e first te s t lo ca tio n w as m a d e o n th e V u an o a n tic lin e . V u an o 1 is a b o u t 5 m l n o r th e a s t o f A ra ju n o . I t h a s b een a b an d o n e d a fte r a series o f unsu ccessfu l c o m p letio n a tte m p ts in b o th th e U p p e r a n d L o w er C retaceous. T ho to ta l d e p th is 5187 ft. P e rfo ra tio n s w ere m a d e a t 5000-5035 ft, a n d a t th e b a se o f th e H o llin sa n d a t 5175 ft. B o th se ts o f p e rfo ra tio n s te s te d fresh w a te r w ith som e oil. T e s ts id th e N a p o lim esto n e, a fte r p lu g g in g b a c k , also failed.

T ho N a p o lim esto n e a n d a d ja c e n t fo rm a tio n s h a v e seeps in th is a rea.

N o. 2 V u an o w ill b e 6 m l n o r th o f N o .l, w h ile N o. 3 w ill b e 12 m l s o u th w e st o f th e A ra ju n o la n d in g strip .

T h e tra n s p o r t difficulties a re d esc rib ed . G. D . H .

537. Chile’s “ Farthest South ” Exploration. J . E . T h o m as. O il W k ly , 7 .1 .4 6 ,120 (6),

¿ In te r n a tio n a l Section).— T w o te s t w ells a re now b e in g d rille d b y th e G o v e rn m en t o f C hile n e a r P u n t a A renas.

M o st o f th e e x p lo ra to ry w o rk w as geological on th o B ru n sw ic k P e n in s u la ; i t w as p u re ly g eo p h y sical o n th e I s la G ra n d e o f T ie rra del F u eg o , w h ich is co v ered b y glacial d rift. N u m ero u s g as a n d som e oil seeps h a v e long b een k n o w n in th is a rea . W ells d rille d o n th e B ru n sw ick P e n in su la a n d n e a r P u n t a A ren as som e 15 y e a rs ago gave

ABSTRACTS.

n eg ativ e re su lts, a lth o u g h sev eral re p o rte d gas-show s a n d ono h a d oil-show ings a t several horizons, fro m ono o f w hich 30 b rl o f oil w a s recovered

T en closed s tru c tu re s h a v e b een w o rk ed o u t since 1941. T ho S p rin g H ill well h a s passed 6800 ft, a n d m a y b e c arrie d to 11,000 ft. P ro d u c tio n is h o p ed fo r in th o T e rtia ry o r C retaceous. T h is is a p u re ly seism ic lo catio n . A littlo to th o s o u th a lo catio n h a s been m ad e on th o L ittlo S p rin g H ill s tru c tu re . 50 m l s o u th e a s t is th e lo ca tio n o n th o Seven L ak es s tru c tu re .

O n th e B ru n sw ick P e n in s u la th e well o n th o M ina R ic a s tr u c tu r e h a s p a sse d 1900 ft.

This s tru c tu re , to g e th e r w ith C anelo, R io G ra n d e, E nglefield, a n d P u n t a P r a ta , a re geological finds. S u p p le m e n ta ry geo p h y sical w ork h a s b een d o n e on R io G anso, R io P a to s, a n d th e L a g u n a B lan c a s tru c tu re s .

B rief n o tes a re g iv en on th e o rg a n iz a tio n re sp o n sib le fo r d ev elo p in g oil in Chile. ,

Geophysics and G eochem ical Prospecting.

538. Electronic Principles Used in the Discovery of Oil. A. G ib b o n . O il W kly, 14.1.46, 120 (7), 33.— F . S. C rav er h a s dev ised a n in s tru m e n t w hich is s ta te d to d e te c t subsurface oil b y re co rd in g electro n ic e m a n a tio n s o n a sories o f se n sitiv e screens. Tho locations o f 145 oil-pools a re sa id th e re b y to h a v e b e en p re d ic te d b efo re drillin g th e discovery wells.

T he dovice is claim ed to show th e a re a o f s a tu ra tio n , th o a p p ro x im a te d o p th o f one or m ore p ro d u c in g h o rizo n s, th e re la tiv e reco v ery o f oil p e r acre, a n d w h e th e r th e oil is of h ig h o r low g ra v ity .

O f 1569 w ild ca t p ro sp e c ts su rv o y ed a n d la te r d rilled , 1333 w ere c o rre c tly p re d ic te d as show ing n o n -co m m ercial s a tu ra tio n , a n d th e re wore 5 erro rs, w hile 148 w ere c o rro c tly p red icted to h a v e co m m ercial s a tu ra tio n , a n d th o re wero 83 errors.

I t is a ssu m ed t h a t all su b s ta n c e s give off o m an atio n s, a n d a screen h a s b een co n ­ stru c te d to re co rd th e s e e m a n a tio n s. T ho m a in e m a n a tio n s a p p e a r to diffuse a lm o st v e rtica lly , w hilo th o sec o n d ary diffusion is in a ll d irectio n s. D e p th s a re d e te rm in a b le only a t th e edge o f th e d ep o sit.

Tho e m a n a tio n in te n sitie s a sso c iate d w ith co m m ercial a c c u m u la tio n s v a ry in d iffer­

e n t areas. N a tu r a l g as gives n o re c o rd in g , b u t a h ig h ly g a s -s a tu ra te d oil gives a h ig h er

recording t h a n one w ith less gas. G. D . H .

D rilling.

539. Some Problems Encountered during W ell Shooting Operations in the Nottingham ­ shire Oilfields. J . F . W aters . J . In s t. Petrol, M arch 1946, 32 (267), 119-132.— T ho p rin cip al p ro d u c in g sa n d sto n e s o f th e fields w ere m illsto n e g rit o f v e ry v a ria b le n a tu re as fa r a s p o ro sity a n d p e rm e a b ility a re co n cern ed , a n d w ere sh o t to increaso p e r­

m eab ility . T h e p a p e r d escribes th e ch arg es u sed a n d , in full d e ta il, th o tim in g m e c h a n ­ ism a d o p te d . T h e fin al fo rm o f th o tim in g m ech an ism u se d in c o rp o ra te d a sm all cylindrical piece o f load u n d e r te n s io n w hich flow ed p la s tic a lly to fa ilu re a n d c au sed a

sw itch to close, th u s e x p lo d in g th e ch arg e. A. H . N .

540. Review of Oil-W ell Cementing Practices in California. O. O. D ale. P etrol.

W orld, F e b . 1946, 43 (2), 41.— A g e n era l discussion o f c em en tin g b y th e o ld er m eth o d s o f m ix in g a n d th e m o re m o d e m b u lk m eth o d s is g iven, to g e th e r w ith a d esc rip tio n o f th e tw o -p lu g m e th o d o f c em en tin g a n d o f squeeze cem en tin g . M ud co m p ressio n u n d e r tho h ig h p ressu res u se d u p to 3 % is c o m m o n ly m e t, a n d in ra re occasions com pressions o f 2 0 % a re reco rd ed . T h is com pression is d u e to occlu d ed g as in th e m u d o r oil fluid w hich is used . M ethods o f m e a su rin g c om pression a re o u tlin e d . T h e p re p a ra tio n o f o rd in ary a n d o f gel c em en t is review ed. C e m en tin g e q u ip m e n t a n d use o f p las tic s

are v e ry b riefly m en tio n ed . A . H . N .

Production.

541. W ell Spacing and Oil Recovery. W . C. K ite . Oil W k ly , 11.3.46, 121 (2), 50.—

Several g ra p h s a re p re s e n te d sho w in g th e econom ical a d v a n ta g e s o f usin g close w ell spaeings for oil reco v ery . P ro d u c tio n figures show t h a t in cre ased w ell d e n s ity re su lts

1 6 2 a ABSTRACTS.

in in creased reco v ery . W ith in p ra c tic a l lim its th e re is a d e fin ite m a th e m a tic a l re la tio n ­ sh ip b e tw ee n sp acin g a n d reco v ery . A n a n a ly sis o f th e v a rio u s ite m s o f c o st o f p ro ­ d u cin g oil in th e M id -C o n tin en t in d ic a te s t h a t sp a c in g o f a ro u n d 10 a cres p ro b ab ly g e ts m a x im u m p ro fit /d o lla r ex p en d e d . S tu d ie s o f th o re la tio n s h ip b o tw een spacing a n d a c tu a l re co v e ry show t h a t w e m a y e x p e c t tw ico a s m u c h oil fro m a field i f a p a tte rn o f 4 w ells to a 40-acro t r a c t is u se d in s te a d o f ono w ell to 40 acres. I f 4 w ells a re drilled on 80 acres th e reco v ery sh o u ld bo a b o u t 24 tim e s as m u c h a s o n ly 1 w ell. A gain, 4 w ells on a 100-acre t r a c t will p ro d u c e 3 (to 3 p lu s) tim e s as m u c h a s o n ly 1 w ell on tho 100 acres. I t is claim ed t h a t w ide sp a c in g w ill do littlo to in cre ase p ro fits fo r deep

drilling. A. H . N.

542. Graph for E stim ating Recoverable Oil by Volum etric Method. L . L . Foley.

O il W k ly , 25.2.46, 120 (13), 40.— A g ra p h is p re s e n te d fo r e s tim a tin g th o reservoir

c a p a c ity fro m p o ro s ity d a ta . A . H . N .

543. Proper Flood Injection Pressures. A n o n . O il W k ly , 25.2.46, 120 (13), .38.—

T h o p h en o m e n o n o f a s u d d e n c ritic a l p ressu ro in flooding o p e ratio n s b e y o n d w hich a p p e a rs a ra p id rise in th o ra to o f flow is d e scrib ed a n d illu s tra te d g ra p h ic a lly . Two th eo ries a re p u t fo rw a rd to e x p la in w h a t ta k e s p lace. Ono school o f th o u g h t h o ld s t h a t th e o v e rb u rd e n botw een th o oil-san d a n d th e su rface is a c tu a lly lifte d o r s h e a re d above th e sa n d , wliilo th o o th e r th in k s t h a t a ra d ia l fra c tu rin g o r sh e a rin g o f th e s a n d itself re su lts . T ho fo rm er g ro u p is b a c k e d b y th o q u ite o b v io u s fa c t t h a t th o o v o r-b u rd en o n a n y o il-san d w eighs o n ly so m u c h /s q u a re in ch o n th o s a n d to p , d e p e n d e n t o n tho o v e rb u rd e n d e n sity , a n d t h a t w h e n th is w e ig h t /sq u a re in ch is exceeded b y w a te r pressu ro in th e s a n d p lu s a c e rta in fa c to r fo r th e sh e a rin g a c tio n th e o v e rb u rd e n m a y be lifted . T h e l a t t e r g ro u p is b a se d in th o b e lief t h a t a sh e a rin g o f th e s a n d ta k e s place w h en th e c ritica l p re ssu re is re ac h ed b y th o o b se rv a tio n in field o p e ra tio n s t h a t w ells in th o sam e field w ith a b o u t th e sam o a m o u n t a n d n a tu r e o f o v e rb u rd e n h a v e w idely v a r ia n t critica l p ressu res. B o th g ro u p s a re a w are o f th e fa c t t h a t m a n y in p u t w ells h a v e d iffere n t c ritic a l p re ssu re s a t v a rio u s tim e s d u rin g tlio ir life, a n d t h a t n o d a ta are av ailab le fo r d e fin itely p re d ic tin g c ritic a l p re ssu re s in a co rtain .w e ll. T h e d efin itio n of c ritic a l p ressu ro is lacking, b u t it u s u a lly a p p ro x im a te s 1 l b /f t o f w ell d e p th o n tho su rface. F o r e x am p le a 900-ft well sh o u ld h a v e a c ritic a l p ressu ro a p p ro x im a tin g 900 lb s on th e surfaco. T h is figure is a c c u ra te en o u g h to uso in d esig n in g surface e q u ip m e n t a n d e stim a tin g c o rre sp o n d in g in p u t a n d re co v e ry ra te s . A . H . N . 544. Complete By-passing of Oil in W ater-Flooding Operations. M. S tek o ll. Oil W kly, 1 1 .3 .4 6 ,121 (2), 39.— C om plete b y -p a ssin g o f b re a k t h ro u g h in w ater-flo o d in g o p e ratio n s re fe rs to a c o n d itio n w here th e in je c te d w a te r does n o t force a n y oil to th e p ro d u cers a n d w hore th o oil c o n se q u e n tly is b y -p a sse d b y th is w a te r. D a ta a re p re s e n te d on b y -p a ssin g c o n d itio n s in tw o fields o f S .E . K a n sa s. I n th e s e tw o fields in je c tio n ra to r a th e r t h a n p ressu ro a p p e a rs to d e te rm in e b y -p a ssin g a c tio n . E a c h in je c tio n w ell in th e s e tw o fields is fo u n d to h a v e a c e rta in r a to abovo w h ic h b y -p a ssin g w ill c o n siste n tly occur. I n a d d itio n , th e m a x im u m r a to o f in je c tio n /fo o t o f p e rm e ab le s a n d fo r each field is fa irly u n ifo rm . T h e b y -p a ssin g o r b re a k th ro u g h r a te in a s a n d d e te rm in e s econom ic w ell sp acin g , a n d is a m a jo r fa c to r fo r c o n sid e ra tio n in w ater-flo o d d e v elo p ­ m e n t. T h e d a ta a s g iv en in th is p a p e r a re o b ta in e d fro m tw o fields in S .E . K a n s a s , one field p ro d u c in g fro m th o B a rtle sv ille sa n d a n d th e o th e r fro m th o W ay s id e san d . T h e c o n d itio n s os fo u n d in th e s e tw o fields a re n o t n e ce ssa rily a p p lic ab le to o th e r area s. I t is su g g ested t h a t th o p re s s u re -in ta k e c u rv es as o b ta in e d fro m o th e r a re a s be rev iew ed w ith th e p o ssib ility o f d isc o v erin g w h e th e r o r n o t r a te is a sig n ifican t fa c to r in d e te rm in in g b y -p a ssin g a ctio n . I t is also su g g este d t h a t th e b y -p a ssin g c u rv es are m o s t im p o r ta n t fo r a n efficient flooding o p e ra tio n , a n d t h a t th e s e c u rv e s sh o u ld be o b ta in e d fo r in je c tio n w ells to d e te rm in e th e m a x im u m r a te a t w h ic h th e field m a y b e flooded a n d to p re v e n t-o p e ra tio n a t a n inefficiently h ig h o r low in je c tio n ra te .

A . H . N . 545. Casinghead Gas Conservation. C. C. P ry o r. Oil W k ly , 11.3.46, 121 (2), 56.—

H u m b le O il a n d R efin in g Co’s in te n d e d p o lic y fo r co n serv in g c asin g h e ad v e n te d gas a rc d escrib ed . T h is p o lic y in clu d es th e p rin cip les o f : (1) co m p le tin g a n d o p e ra tin g oil w ells a n d oil reserv o irs in su c h a m a n n e r a s to re s u lt in a m in im u m p ro d u c tio n o f c asin g h e ad g as a n d m a x im u m efficient oil reco v ery ; a n d (2) m ark e tin g , co n su m in g , o r

re tu rn in g to th o p ro d u c in g re serv o ir th e p ro d u c e d c asin g h e ad g as w h e rev e r su ch d is ­ p o sitio n is eco n o m ically feasible. H u m b lo h a s m a d e d e fin ite p la n s fo r co n serv in g th o v e n ted c asin g h e ad g as in 11 fields a m o u n tin g to 00,822,000 c u .ft/d a y . T h is figure re p resen ts 70-1% o f th o to ta l 79,526,000 c u .f t/d a y o f g as v e n te d on H u m b le leases in D istrict 3. T h e m e th o d s a d o p te d in th e d ifferen t fields o f th o c o m p a n y a re briefly

described. A. H . N .

Oilfield Developm ent.

546. World Crude-oil Production. A non. O il Gas J ., 29.12.45, 44 (34), 170.— A tab le gives th o d a ily a v era g e p ro d u c tio n o f th e principal- c o u n tries, s ta r tin g in 1943

(R ussia a n d th o A x is-co n tro lled a re a s a re excluded).

D a ta are also g iv en o n th o e s tim a te d p o s tw a r re fin e ry c ru d e ru n s in co m p a riso n w ith w ar-tim e ru n s , a n d e s tim a te d p o st-w a r p ro d u c tio n in co m p ariso n w ith w a r-tim e p ro d u c ­

tion (again th o R u s s ia n a rea s a re ex clu d ed ). G. D . H .

547. Oilfields o£ England. J . B . E b y . O il W k ly , 7.1.46, 120 (0), 3 (In tern a tio n a l Section).— E a k rin g a n d D u k e ’s W o o d a re th o m o s t im p o rta n t o f E n g la n d ’s 5 oilfields.

Both a re on th e sam e g en eral s tru c tu re . K e lh a m H ills is sev eral m iles to th o s o u th e a s t.

Those th re e p ro v id e th e b u lk o f th o a n n u a l o u tp u t o f 490,000 b rl.

E n g la n d ’s first oil-w ell w as a t H a r d s to f t. F ro m 1937 to 1939 seism ic reflectio n w o rk was c arried o u t in th e e a s t M idlands a rea. R e fra c tio n w o rk follow ed, a n d p ro v e d more s a tis fa c to ry . T h o surfaco ro ck s a rc T riassie. O il occurs in th o C arb o n ifero u s in small, low -relief a n ticlin es, o n th e g e n tly d ip p in g flan k o f th e P en n m o an ticlin e.

E ak rin g h a s 54 w ells, D u k o ’s W ood 112, K e lh a m H ills 54, a n d C a u n to n 10. A ll th o stru c tu re s a re fa u lte d dom es. W ell d e p th s ra n g e 1800-2680 f t. T h e oil-san d s a re som etim es le n tic u la r. A t E a k rin g th o m a in p ro d u c tio n is fro m th o R o u g h R ock.

Porosities ra n g e 0 -2 0 % , a n d p e rm e ab ilitie s 2 -1 0 0 0 m d . W ell sp a c in g is one well to 2 J-3 acres. I n itia l o u tp u ts h a v e ra n g e d 7 -3 7 5 b rl/d a y . G as/o il ra tio s a re low , b ein g 10-20 v o lu m es o f g as p o r v o lu m e o f oil. T h e oils a re co n sid e ra b ly u n d e r-s a tu ra te d , and p ro d u c tio n d eclines ra p id ly u n til th o s a tu r a tio n p re ssu re is re ac h ed . T h e la to r decline is slow. T ho o rig in a l reserv o ir p re ssu re a t E a k rin g w as 990 lb /s q . in. in a t 1700 f t su b -sea le v e l; th e s a tu r a tio n p re ssu re w as 390 lb /s q . in. T ho in itia l p re ssu re a t K e lh am H ills w as 1200 lb /s q . in a t 2000 f t su b -sea level, a n d th e s a tu r a tio n p ressu re 90 lb /sq . in . E a c h s a n d is u n d e r w a te r drive.

Tho cru d o is v e ry w a x y , a n d w ax a n d o il-w ater p ro d u c tio n cause tro u b lo . S h o o tin g has p ro v e d beneficial. T ho d rillin g a n d co m p le tio n te c h n iq u e s a re d escrib e d . T ab les givo d e ta ils a b o u t th o p ro d u c in g h orizons, w ells, p ro d u c tio n , o il-w ate r levels, th e oil com position, a n d a lis t o f w ild cats.

T he F o rm b y shallow d rillin g in a seepage a re a h a s giv en som o p ro d u c tio n . 45,000 b rl h a s b een o b ta in e d fro m 12 p u m p in g w ells. T h e oil com es fro m th o T ria s, b u t seem ingly h as a deep er source. A d e ep w ell h a s re ac h ed 6380 f t w ith o u t fin d in g th e source.

Tho H a r d s to f t w ell h a s b e e n clean ed a n d tr e a te d w ith a cid . D u rin g th o w a r i t g av e 8700 b rl o f oil, a n d it is s till p u m p in g a little oil w ith m u c h w a to r. G. D . H . 548. N ation’s 25,840 Completions F all Short of 1945 P .A .W . Goal. A non. O il W kly, 21.1.46, 120 (8), 50.— I n 1944 24,455 now w ells w ere d rille d in U .S .A .; th e 1945 figure w as 25,840. I n 1945 T e x a s h a d 7410 now w ells, 18-8% m o re t h a n in 1944. P e n n ­ sy lv a n ia h a d 2929 n ew w ells in 194 5 ; th e 1944 figure w as 3060.

T h e 1945 c o m p letio n s in clu d e d 13,737 oil w ells, 2587 gas-w ells, 7129 d r y w ells, 492 d e ep en ed -wells, a n d 1895 in p u t a n d d isp o sal wells.

A ta b le su m m arizes th e D e ce m b er 1945 c o m p letio n s b y S ta te s a n d d is tric ts , a n d

gives sim ila r figures fo r th o w hole o f 1945. G. D . H .

549. W estern Oklahom a’s Prospects Bright. A . G ibbon. Oil W k ly , 21.1.45, 120 (8), 40.— W ith one o r tw o e x ce p tio n s a c tiv e d rillin g in w-ildcat a re a s h a s b e e n confinod m o stly to th e e a s te rn fringes o f w e ste rn O k lah o m a. T ho p o ssib ilities o f d ev elo p in g now oilfields alo n g th e w e ste rn rim o f th e N e m a h a R id g e a re b y n o m ea n s e x h a u s te d . I n th e first 10 m o n th s o f 1945 a b o u t 40 new oil- a n d gas-fields, new p a y s, a n d e x te n sio n s

1 6 4 a ABSTRACTS.

w ere fo u n d w e st o f th e I n d ia n M erid ian . T h e W ic h ita M o u n ta in s a n d th e N em ah a R id g e h a v e influenced n e a rly h a lf o f th e n ew discoveries.

E x p lo ra tio n a n d d e v elo p m e n t in W e s te rn O k la h o m a w ill b e in flu en ced larg ely by th e re su lts o f geological a n d g eo p h y sical stu d ie s in th e A n a d a rk o B asin .

I n n o rth w e s t O k lah o m a a n d a d ja c e n t a re a s th o ro is a re g io n al m on o clin e dipping s o u th . T h e oil o f th e T ex a s P a n h a n d le fields m a y h a v e m ig ra te d fro m th e A n a d ark o B asin . T h e geological p ic tu re in W e s t O k la h o m a is n o t c lear, a n d a t tim e s th e seism ic w o rk is u n c e rta in . W ith few e x ce p tio n s a ll th e p ro d u c in g sa n d s fo u n d in e a s te rn O k lah o m a a re e x p ec te d to o ccu r in th o W es t, a n d th e y w ill b e th ic k e r a n d m o re p ro ­ lific, th o u g h d eep er. T ho P e n n s y lv a n ia sa n d s a re esp ecially a ttr a c tiv e , a n d tho O rd o v ician sa n d s m a y b e well d ev elo p ed a n d deep .

Oil h a s b een fo u n d in C im a rro n C o u n ty , in th e P a n h a n d le . P ro d u c tio n is from th o C im arro n sa n d a t 4786-4790 f t. A b o u t a m ile s o u th a n d w e st th e C herokee sa n d h a s b een fo u n d to bo s a tu r a te d a t 4846—4861 ft.

D rillin g in B e av e r C o u n ty m a y b e influenced b y th o re c e n t g as d isc o v ery in s o u th ­ w e st M eade C o u n ty , K an sa s.

I t is e x p e c te d t h a t w h en th e geological p a tt e r n o f W e s te rn O k la h o m a is w o rk ed o u t le n tic u la rity a n d s tra tig ra p h ic tr a p s w ill b e fo u n d to h o ld m u ch , i f n o t m o st, o f th e oil fo u n d in th e region. O n th e w e ste rn edge o f th o N e m a h a R id g e c o n d itio n s are fa v o u ra b le fo r H u n to n lim e a n d s tra tig ra p h ic tra p s .

T ho M a rlo w -D u n c an a re a o f n o rth w e s t S te p h en s C o u n ty h a s d is tilla te p ro d u c tio n . T h e L a m o n t p o o l o f G ra n t C o u n ty yields oil a n d w a te r fro m th e W ilco x . W ells in W o o d s C o u n ty h a v e g iv en fa irly good show s iri th o P e n n sy lv a n ia n . R in g w o o d p r o ­ v id e d M ajor C o u n ty w ith its first co m m ercial p ro d u c tio n . T h is a re a is in th e h e a r t o f th e A n a d a rk o B asin , w h ere p ro d u c in g sa n d s a re e x p ec te d to bo th ic k , a n d w here th o P e n n sy lv a n ia n , M ississippian, a n d p o ssib ly th e O rd o v ician w ill b e te s te d .

A now g a s-p ay a t 6786-6810 f t h a s b een o p en ed in th e old E r ic k gas-pool o f B eck h am C o u n ty . T h e o rig in al p ro d u c tio n w as in th e P e rm ia n a t 2400 ft. T h e new p a y is a n ark o sic lim esto n e o f th e L ow er P e n n s y lv a n ia n . T h e C hitw ood pool o f G ra d y C o u n ty w as o p en ed b y a well g iv in g 95 m illion cu b . f t o f g as a n d 250 b rl o f d is tilla te /d a y fro m th e L ow er P e n n s y lv a n ia n a t 10,879-10,889 ft.

A m a p show s th e discoveries m a d e in th e first 10 m o n th s o f 1945. G . D . H .

550. Triple-zone Completions in Eastern Venezuela. A non. O il Gas J ., 29.12.45, 44 (34), 227.— T h e G re a te r O ficina a re a h a s b e en u n d e r d e v elo p m en t fo r a b o u t e ig h t y e ars. I t h a s sev era l c o m p a ra tiv e ly larg e fields, a s w ell os sm a lle r ones, n o n e of w hich h a s b e en c o m p le te ly dev elo p ed . M ost w ells h a v e 2 to 6 d is tin c t a n d s e p a ra te p ro d u c tiv e san d s. T h ere h a v e b e en as m a n y a s 30 d is tin c t p ro d u c tiv e sa n d s in one field. M ost o f th o sa n d s aro th in , a n d o fte n th e y a re n o t ex te n siv e. A t W e s t G u ara, h ow ever, th e sa n d s a re th ic k e r a n d m o re e x ten siv e. W e s t G u a ra h a s 29 trip lo -zo n e c o m p letio n s, a n d E a s t G u a ra 5. T h is tec h n iq u e sav es ste el. A single o r a d u a l c o m ­ p le tio n co sts a b o u t $65,000, w hile a trip le c o m p letio n co sts $70,000, a n d gives a f u rth e r 400 b rl/d a y .

T h e te c h n iq u e o f m ak in g a trip le -zo n e c o m p letio n is describ ed . I t seem s lik ely t h a t th e o b lig a to ry u se o f sm all a n n u li w ill k eep th e w ell o n flow ing p ro d u c tio n longer th a n

w ith a larg e a n n u lu s . G. D . H .

551. Dem and for Venezuelan Oil in 1945 is Supplied Despite som e Complications.

M. C. C ody. O il Gas J . , 29.12.45, 44 (34), 215.— I n 1944 V enezuela p ro d u c ed 256,953,960 b rl o f oil. T h e o u tp u t in th e first te n m o n th s o f 1945 w as 262,013,064 brl.

I n th e e a rly p a r t o f N o v em b er t h e o u tp u t e xceeded a m illion b a rre ls p e r d a y , c o m p a red w ith a d a ily a v erag e o f 770,617 b rl in th e first q u a r te r o f 1945.

V enezuela c an n o w su p p ly m ed iu m a n d lig h t, as well a s h e a v y , crudes.

I n th e first te n m o n th s o f 1945 Creole d rilled 193 d e v e lo p m en t wells, 90 bein g a t Ju s e p in . C apacho 1 o p en ed th e C apacho field, b u t h a s b e en follow ed b y 3 d r y wells.

S hell h a s d rilled 6 C retaceo u s p ro d u cers a t L a P a z , ra is in g th e p ro d u c tio n fro m 14,000 to 28,000 b r l/d a y . I n th e C abim as field V en ezu e la ’s d e ep e st w ell is su s p en d e d a t 13,034 ft. T h e M ara field h a s one p ro d u cer.

T h e G u a ra field h a s b e e n e x te n d e d w estw a rd s, b u t th e S a n ta B a r b a r a field h as p ro v e d d isa p p o in tin g in g iv in g sm a lle r w ells t h a n ex p e c te d . T h e w ild ea t 8 L aguiri,

in th e P u e b lo V iejo a rea , s o u th o f th e L ag u n illa s field, w as co m p lo ted in M ay a t 3050 f t, for 2390 b rl/d a y .

Socony-V acuum h a s d rilled 13 p ro d u c ers a t G uico d u rin g 1945. C o n so lid ad a d rilled 52 p ro d u cers in th e S a n ta B a rb a ra a n d M uri fields d u rin g th e first te n m o n th s o f 1945.

T ex as co m p leted D e lta A m acu ro 1 in th o v icin ity o f T u c u p ita in M ay. D a ta o n th o findings o f N os. 3, 4, a n d 5 h a v e n o t b e en rev ealed . S .A .P . L a s M ercedes c o m m en ced drilling G rico 1 a n d C arnaz 2, a n d h a s d rilled 12 d e v elo p m en t w ells in th e L a s M ercedes field. V en ezu elan A tla n tic is d rillin g 3 w ild ca ts in th o v ic in ity o f S a n ta B a rb a ra , M uri, a n d M u lata. T h ree o th e r w ild c a ts a n d 2 M orichito a n d 1 P u n t a G o rd a in th e sam e g en eral a re a hav o b een a b a n d o n e d as d r y holes. A v ip a 1 in th o P ir ita l a re a w as com pleted as a sm all p ro d u c e r a t 4818 ft.

N o tes a re g iv en o n th o d e v e lo p m e n t a n d w ild ca t d rillin g a c tiv itie s o f th e v a rio u s com panies. T ab les give th e ir o u tp u ts b y m o n th s d u rin g 1945, a n d m o n th ly o u tp u ts aro given for th o m o re im p o rta n t fields. M aps show th e lo catio n s o f th e w ild ca ts

drilled d u rin g 1945. G. D . H .

552. Deep Potentialities to be Tested at Am ana, Venezuela. A non. O il Oas J ., 29.12.45, 44 (34), 293.— I n 1939 p ro d u c tio n s ta r te d fro m th o T R a n d T R N fields (T em b lad o r); in 1940 sh ip m e n ts b e g a n fro m th e E l R o b le field, a n d in 1943 fro m th o A m ana (M ulata) field. I n th e first to n m o n th s o f 1945 th e s e p ro p e rtie s a v era g ed 35,216 b rl/d a y , c o m p a red w ith 22,106 b r l/d a y in 1944.

Two w ells h a v e b e en c o m p le te d o n th o P ir ita l blo ck b y A tla n tic u n d e r th e A tla n tic - P an tep ec a g ree m e n t. A v ip a N o. 1 w as a 150 b rl w ell, a n d M o richito N o. 1 w as aban d o n ed because o f m ech an ical difficulties. P u n t a G o rd a N o. 1 w as a b a n d o n e d below 6000 ft. O b lig ato ry w ells, 1 S a n P e d ro a n d 1 H u eso , a re to b e ta k e n to a m in im u m d e p th o f 8000 ft, a n d T o n o ro N o. 1 is bein g d rilled b ecau se o f fa v o u ra b le in d ic a tio n s and to m ak e u p fo o tag e re q u ire m e n ts.

43 w ells w ere c o m p le te d in th o first te n m o n th s o f 1945 a t A m a n a (M ulata), g iv in g a to ta l o f 128 oil-w ells, 6 gas-w olls, a n d 8 d r y holos. T h e a im is to m a in ta in a p o te n tia l of 30,000 b rl/d a y . T h e c u m u la tiv e o u tp u t is 14,676,005 b rl. W ells in th e M u la ta field ra n g e 4500-6500 f t in d e p th . T h e d e ep er p ro d u c tiv e po ssib ilities o f A m a n a aro to be ex p lo red .

A t E l R o b le th e well d e p th a v erag es 9000-10,000 ft. A t th o e n d o f A u g u st th o c u m u ­ lativ e p ro d u c tio n w as 9,836,877 b rl. Special p ro b le m s h a v e b een e n co u n tere d in drilling, c o m p letin g , a n d o p e ra tin g th o wells.

S even w ells a t T e m b lad o r w ere reo p en ed for p ro d u c tio n in M arch 1945.

E l R o b le, a cco rd in g to th o D o d g e -B e n n o tt re p o rt, h a d a dev elo p ed resorve o f 27,970,000 b rl, w ith a f u r th e r 103,500,000 b rl o f p ro v e n b u t u n d e v elo p e d reserves, a n d p ro sp ectiv e re serv e s o f 393,530,000 b rl, on th e b asis o f e n g in eerin g a n d geological d a ta . M u lata’s reserv es a re sa id to ex ceed th e p ro v e n reserv e s a t E l R oblo. T h e reserv es o f T ab asco , T R , a n d T R N a re n o t considered to bo e x te n siv e. G. D . H . 553. International w ill Increase Drilling in Peru, Chile, and Ecuador. A non. Oil Gas J ., 29.12.45, 44 (34), 236.— T ho p ro v e n oil a re a o f th e L a B r e a - P a r in a s E s ta to covers 20,000 acres. 3500 w ells h a v e b een d rilled a n d 1200 a b an d o n e d . M any o f th o wells aro o v er tw e n ty y e a rs old, a n d now give less th a n 10 b rl/d a y . A t p re s e n t 5 2 % o f th e o u tp u t is fro m flow ing wells. T h e re aro 5 p ro d u c in g h orizons, th e P a rin a s now giving a lm o st all o f th e flow ing p ro d u c tio n , a n d b ein g s u b je c t to co m p le te p re ssu re m ain ten a n ce . A n e x p e rim e n ta l w ater-flo o d h a s b e en in itia te d in one o f th o V e rd u n fo rm atio n pools. T h e poo ls a re n a tu r a lly so lu tio n -g as d riv e pools. T h e E s t a t e ’s o u tp u t is d eclining in sp ite o f in cre ased d rillin g a c tiv ity .

T h e o u tp u t o f th e D o M ares concession o f C olom bia is likew ise declining. G alan N o. 1 h a s b een successfully co m p leted , across th o riv e r fro m S hell’s C asabe field, w hich gives h e a v y oil.

I n E c u a d o r th e In te r n a tio n a l E cu a d o re a n P e tro le u m Co. h a s d rilled 12 w ild c a ts w ith o u t m a k in g a co m m ercial discovery.

T h ree o f P e r u ’s p ro d u c in g a re a s aro q u ite old a n d h a v e h a d re la tiv e ly s ta b le p r o ­ d u c tio n fo r th o p a s t te n y e ars. I t is u n lik ely t h a t a n y s u b s ta n tia l a d d itio n s to reserv es will b e m ad e in th ese areas.

N o tes a re g iv en on th e p e tro le u m in d u s try in P e ru a n d C olom bia, fro m th e p o in t o f

view o f L aw s, p erso n n el, e tc. G. D . H .

166 a ABSTRACTS.

554. The De Mares Concession o£ Colombia. G. O. Iv e s. O il W k ly , 7.1.46, 120 (6), 30 (In tern a tio n a l Section).— I n 1044: C olom bia p ro d u c e d 22,387,508 b rl o f oil, all from th o D o M ares a n d B arco concessions. T ho c u m u la tiv e o u tp u t w as 346,763,80S brl, 9 5 % o f th is oil h a d com e fro m th e D e M ares concession.

T h e first C olom bian p ro d u c tio n w as o b ta in e d in 1918 a t I n f a n ta s on th e D o M arcs concession. 200 b r l/d a y w as o b ta in e d fro m th o E o ce n e. T h e I n f a n ta s field is on a faulted! a n tic lin o , w ith th o p ro d u c tiv e a re a ru n n in g fo r 7 m l s lig h tly e a s t o f n o r th an d h a v in g a w id th o f 1 m l. T w o f u r th e r p ro d u c in g s a n d s w ere fo u n d in th o Oligocone, b u t th e s e a re c o m p a ra tiv e ly u n im p o rta n t. 452 p ro d u c e rs a n d 20 d r y holes h a v e been d rilled ; 10 h a v e b een a b an d o n e d , 1 is flow ing, 275 a re p u m p in g , a n d t h e r e s t a re closed in . T h ere is a m a in o v e rth ru s t o n th o e a s te rn b o u n d a ry o f th o field, a n d th e re aro m in o r east—w e st cro ss-fa u lts b re a k in g u p th o p ro d u c in g a rea . T h e a v era g e th ic k n e ss o f th e p ro d u c in g zone is a b o u t 400 ft.

I n 1926 th e L a C ira field w a s fo u n d to th e n o rth w e st. I t s p ro d u c tiv e a re a is a b o u t 5200 acres. I t also is a n an ticlin o w ith a n o v e rth ru s t o n th e e a s t, b u t th is t h r u s t is to w a rd s th e w est. T h e sam e th re e p ro d u c in g zones occur. 809 w ells h a v e been d rilled . 697 w ero p ro d u c ers. P ro d u c tio n ra n g es 500-4500 f t in d e p th . T h e to p sa n d o ccurs in p a r ts o n ly o f th e tw o s tru c tu re s . T h e tw o s tru c tu re s a re o p e ra te d to g e th e r.

T h e to p zones gives 800 b rl/d a y , th e seco n d zone 2000 b rl/d a y , a n d th e b o tto m zone 42,000 b rl/d a y .

T ho p ip e-lin e o u tle t ru n s to M am o n al n e a r C a rta g en a .

S ev eral fau lt-b lo ck s a re b e in g re p re ss u re d w ith en co u rag in g re su lts.

T ro p ic al’s a u x ilia ry a c tiv itie s a re describ ed , in clu d in g th e w ay s in w h ich th e y care for th e ir em ployees.

I n A u g u s t T ro p ic al c o m p le te d G a lan 1 on th e e a s t b a n k o f th e M ag d alen a. T his w ell is sa id to h a v e a p o te n tia l o f 1500 b rl/d a y , a n d is s h u t in. T h o oil resem b les t h a t o f S hell’s C asabe field o n th o Y o n d o concession, d ire c tly acro ss th e riv er. I t is o n th e

s a m e s tru c tu re a s C asabe. G. D . H .

555. B olivia’s Oil Situation. J . E . T h o m as, O il W k ly , 7 .1 .4 6 ,1 2 0 (6), 45'(International S ection).— I n 1937 B o liv ia m ad e th e oil in d u s try a S ta te m o n o p o ly . T h e e arly e x p lo ra tio n h a d b e en in so u th e rn B o liv ia b y th e S ta n d a rd O il Co. (N .J.). T h e d eveloped fields a re in th e e x tre m e s o u th , a d ja c e n t to th o A rg e n tin e fields o f th o S a lta d is tric t.

T h e la rg e st field, B erm ejo , e x te n d s in to A rg e n tin a , w here i t is called A g u a B lan ca.

S a n a n d ita a n d C am iri a re th e o th e r a c tiv e fields. T h re e o th e r fields a re m a rk e d b y single s h u t-in w ells (C aigua, C a m a ti^ d i, a n d B u e n a V ista). A w ell a t S a ip u ru w as p lu g g ed b ecau se o f a lac k o f m a rk e t.

B o liv ia is lan d -lo ck ed , sp a rse ly p o p u la te d , a n d w ith o u t s u b s ta n tia l in d u stry . D o m e stic m a rk e ts fo r oil aro s m a ll ; a n y s u b s ta n tia l p ro d u c tio n w ould req u iro a p ip e ­ line acro ss n o rth e rn P a ra g u a y to g iv e a n o u tle t.

C am iri a n d S a n a n d ita h a v e sm a ll sk im m in g p la n ts o f 630-750 b r l/d a y c a p a c ity . M ost o f th e B erm ejo c ru d e m oves to A rg e n tin a . I n 1944 th o a v era g e d a ily o u tp u ts o f B erm ejo , S a n a n d ita , a n d C am iri w ere, re sp ec tiv e ly , 321, 280, a n d 257 b rl. I n 1945 th e o u tp u t h a s increased, a n d in S e p tem b e r th e co rre sp o n d in g figures w ero 618, 310, a n d 412 b rl. C am iri h a s 5 o r 6 w ells, S a n a n d ita a b o u t 15, a n d B erm ejo 12. A 30-well p ro g ram m e h a s b een p la n n e d fo r C am iri.

T h ere a re n u m ero u s s tru c tu re s a n d oil seepages e x te n d in g n o rth w e s t to th e P e ru v ia n fro n tie r. T h ey lio in a n a rro w b e lt— th o S u b -A n d ea n T ro u g h . A ll th o seepages seem to b e r e la te d to v e ry ste ep folds, u su a lly o v e rth ru s t. P ro d u c tio n is fro m th e D ev o n ian , P erm o -C arb o n ifero u s, a n d T e rtia ry . T h e D e v o n ia n is co m m o n ly co n sid ered to b e th e source. R ic h looks fa v o u ra b ly o n th o a re a e a s t a n d s o u th e a s t o f th is b o lt, a n d e x te n d in g e a s tw a rd s a lm o st to th e B ra z ilia n b o rd e r a n d s o u th in to P a ra g u a y . H o e x p e c ts s tra tig ra p h ic tr a p s o n th e e a s te rn flan k o f th is g re a t geosyncline. D rillin g is a b o u t to b e b e g u n in n o r th P a ra g u a y , a n d th is m a y tliro w lig h t on th e se p ro sp e cts.

S om e p ro d u c tio n a n d refining s ta tis tic s a re g iven. G. D . H . 556. The Middle E ast— its Present and Future. G. O. W illson. O il Gas J ., 29.12.45, 44 (34), 183.— G en eral c o n d itio n s in th e M iddle E a s t a re d esc rib ed , a n d th e o p e ra tin g c o m p an ies a re liste d . P ro v e n re serv e s a re e s tim a te d a t 16,000 m illion b rl, a n d in d ic a te d reserv es a t 29,250 m illio n b rl. E x c e p t .in K u w a it p ro d u c tio n is fro m lim esto n e reserv o irs. K u w a it p ro d u c es fro m U p p e r C retaceo u s sa n d s, K irk u k a n d th e fields of

ABSTRACTS.

so u th w est I r a n aro c h a ra c te riz e d b y o x ten siv o jo in tin g w hich p e rm its u n ifo rm d ra in a g e w ith v e ry few wells. T ho K irk u k s tr u c tu r e is 65 m l long a n d 2 J -3 m l wido. I t p r o ­ duces 90,000 b r l/d a y fro m 10 w ells in a n a re a o f 8 sq m l a t one e n d o f th e s tru c tu ro .

I n these lim estono fields o b se rv a tio n w ells a re d rilled to follow th e b e h a v io u r o f th o o il-w a te r a n d g a s-o il levels.

M asjid-i-S ulaiinan h a s p ro d u c e d o v e r 750 m illion b rl o f c ru d e, a n d still gives 75,000 b rl/d a y . T ho re sid u e a f te r to p p in g th e c ru d e is n o w ro tu rn e d to th e fo rm atio n .

R efinery c a p a c ity o f th e M iddle E a s t to ta ls 635,000 b rl/d a y , A b a d a n p ro v id in g 385.000 b rl/d a y . A ll th o c ru d es h av o a re la tiv e ly h ig h s u lp h u r c o n te n t. D u rin g th o w ar th o refineries hav o b een o p e ra te d to g iv e th e la rg e s t po ssib le y ield s o f A sphalt, residual, fuel oils, diesel oils, a n d o th e r in te rm e d ia te p ro d u c ts . A t A b a d a n larg e q u a n titie s o f 110-octane gasoline w ore p ro d u c ed . R e fo rm in g o p e ra tio n s ex ceed ed

100.000 b rl/d a y .

A pipeline o u tle t is re q u ire d for th o A b q a iq field o f S a u d i A ra b ia. A 16-in lino is planned to p a ra lle l th e 12-in lines fro m K irk u k to H a ifa a n d T rip o li.

T ables su m m ariz e th o M iddle E a s t field o p e ratio n s , lis t th o refineries, a n d givo th e

c h ara cte ristics o f th e cru d es. G. D . H .

T

S

.

557. Soil Corrosion and Pipe Protection. T . H . G ilb ert. Petrol. E n g r, N o v . 1945, 17 (2), 82.— A g en eral discussion is p re se n te d o n th e s u b je c t o f b u ried p ipelines, th e ir corrosion in th e soil, a n d th e v a rio u s m e th o d s e m p lo y ed to sh ield th e m fro m d eterio ratio n .

M ost soil corrosion is belioved to b e electrical in c h a ra c te r a n d corrosion on b u ried m etal pipelin es is acco m p an ied b y a n e le ctric c u rre n t lea v in g th e p ip e a n d flow ing in to the soil. T ho m ain causes b rin g in g a b o u t electrica l d isch arg e a re c o n sid ered to bo :—

(a) S tra y c u rre n ts fro m d ire c t c u rre n t ra ilw a y s o r tra m w a y s ru n n in g n e a r th e p ip e lin e s ;

(b) N a tu ra l differences in soil p o to n tia l m a y cause c u rre n ts to flow in th e p ip e.

T hese c u rre n ts m a y bo v e ry sm all a n d tra v e l o n ly a fra c tio n o f a n inch, o r th e y m a y tra v e l fo r sev eral m ile s ;

(c) G alv an ic p o te n tia ls duo to sm all differences in p o te n tia l b etw een a d ja c e n t p a rtic le s o f iro n or m ill scalo, o r b e tw ee n a b ra ss o r c o p p er fittin g a n d i r o n ;

{d) C o n c en tratio n cells duo to differences in p o te n tia l in th e soil re su ltin g fro m v a ria tio n s in th e c o n c e n tra tio n s o f gases o r salts.

T ho te s tin g o f soil fo r corrosivo p ro p e rtie s is discussed a n d th o v a rio u s av ailab le m eth o d s a re co m p ared . T ho q u e stio n o f p ip elin e p ro te c tio n b y th e use o f v a rio u s co atin g a g en ts su c h as a s p h a lt, coal ta r , a n d p e tro le u m w ax es in solid form a n d a p p lie d h o t is in clu d ed , a n d th e s e a re c o m p a red w ith th o efficiency o f v a rio u s w ra p p in g m aterials. M eth o d s o f electrical in sp ectio n o f p ip elin e co atin g s a re also discussed.

F in a lly , th o q u e stio n o f c a th o d ic p ro te c tio n is covered, a n d full d e ta ils o f th e b e st m eth o d s o f e n su rin g th is a re given.

N u m ero u s d iag ra m s a n d sk e tch e s a re in clu d ed , a n d a s h o rt b ib lio g ra p h y is a p p en d e d . T . M. B . M.

558. Reconditioning Pipeline under Pressure. F . H . L ove. Petrol. E ngr, N o v . 1945, 17 (2), 186.— A d esc rip tio n o f th e re c o n d itio n in g o f p a r t o f a 10-in p ip elin e a f te r te n y e ars service in th o co u n tie s o f R e ag a n , U p to n , a n d C ro c k ett, T ex as. T h e w o rk w as c arried o u t b y a c o n tra c tin g firm fo r th e Shell P ip e L in e Co. T h e e a r th c o v erin g th e b u ried lin e is first re m o v e d b y a c o n v en tio n al d itc h in g m ach in e e q u ip p e d w ith a shoo fittin g th e p ip e c o n to u r. A fte r u n co v erin g th e lino, 6 X 4-in. m e ta l s tr a p s w ere w elded to th e to p sid e o f e ac h w eld ed jo in t fo r reinforcing. I n ro c k y regions a n y ro ck re m ain in g is re m o v e d .by a tra c to r-d riv e n p lo u g h w hich h a s a shoe t h a t fits th e to p h a lf o f th o line a n d ro o te rs w hich dislodge th o ro ck . T h e lino is th e n ra ised fro m th o tre n c h b y tw o sid eb o o m tra c to rs , a n d s u p p o rte d o n sk id s a b o v e th e d itc h . T h ree trav e llin g clean ers aro used n e x t ; th o first h a s c u ttin g k n iv es a n d rem o v es m o s t o f th e old c o atin g , th e line is th e n in sp e cte d a n d re p airs n o ted , a n d rein fo rcin g s tr a p s a re w elded o n th o b o tto m sido o f e ac h w elded jo in t. T ho second c lean er th e n rem o v es th e

1 6 8 a ABSTRACTS.

re m a in in g c o atin g a n d m o st o f th o scalo, a n d th e n w ashes th e pipo w ith a clean in g fluid.

T ho th ir d m ach in e cleans th e line w ith ste el b ru sh e s a n d ap p lies a p rim o r p a in t. A tra v e llin g -ty p o c o atin g a n d w ra p p in g m achino th e n a p p lies a c o a l-ta r e n am el, an d sp ira lly w ra p s th e line w ith a sb e sto s felt. T h o d itc h is p a d d e d w ith e a r th in rocky regions, a n d th o line low ered a n d co v ered w ith a 24-in. e a r th lay e r. S even p h o to ­ g ra p h s aro show n o f th e m ach in es in o p e ratio n . W . H . C.

559. Isotherm al Flow oi Gases in Fipes. S. A. IC hristianovich, F . A. T ro b in , a n d V. I.

C h ern ik in . B u ll. A ca d . S ci. U .B .S .S ., Cl. S c i. Tech., 1945, 8 4 5-856.— T h e in creasin g uso o f larg e-d iam o to r g as tran s m iss io n lines, em p lo y in g h ig h p ressu res, w ith a conse­

q u e n t h ig h R e y n o ld s n u m b e r o f th e g a s p a ssin g th ro u g h , h a s sh o w n th e n e ed fo r an ex p ressio n , d e n o tin g th o flow o f gas u n d e r su c h co n d itio n s, t h a t sh a ll b e m o re acc u ra to th a n t h a t o f W e y m o u th (T ra n s. A m . Soc. M ech. E n g ., 1912, 34, 1090) larg ely em ployed h ith e rto . T h e ex p ressio n d e riv e d , e x p ressin g th o g a s flow •gravim otrically (kg/sec), ta k e s in to a c c o u n t th e d e v ia tio n o f h y d ro c a rb o n gases fro m B oylo’s law a n d also irreg u laritie s in th o pip o s tru c tu re . T ho g as th ro u g h p u t, a n d re q u ire d d istan c e b e tw ee n p u m p in g s ta tio n s , y ie ld e d b y th e new fo rm u la , a re less t h a n th e co rresp o n d in g figures o b ta in e d b y uso o f th o W e y m o u th calcu la tio n . V . B .

R

O

. Refineries and A uxiliary Refinery Plant.

560. Motor Voltage Considerations in Oil Refineries. E . K u n . R efiner, F e b . 1946, 25 (2), 6 5 -6 6 .— A n econom ical e v a lu a tio n o f th o v o lta g e to bo u se d in refineries, in A m e ric an p ra c tic e a n d te rm s, is m a d e . H ig h e r v o lta g es a re p re fe rre d fo r h ig h h o rse ­

p o w er m o to rs. A. H . N .

561. Developm ent W ork to Prevent Corrosion. B . B . M o rto n . Petrol. E ngr, N ov.

1 9 4 5 ,17 (2), 134.— T h e p la n n in g o f d e v e lo p m en t w o rk to p re v e n t co rro sio n is d iscussed, a n d a cu rv e in d ic a tiv e o f p ro g ress in d e v e lo p m e n t w o rk is giv en show ing th e re la tio n ­ sh ip s tim e /p o rc e n ta g e o f p ro g ress to w a rd s a n o b jec tiv e , a n d is a p p lie d in th e cases con sid ered . I t show s t h a t th e evidenco o f pro g ress occurs som e tim o a fte r th o p ro je c t is lau n c h ed . T h is p o in t is con sid ered im p o rta n t to th o se w ho m u s t show r e tu rn s from e x p en siv e v e n tu re s. T ho sea rch fo r su p e rio r su c k e r-ro d m a te ria ls is describ ed . L in in g s fo r refin ery vessels a n d p la n t a re discussed, a n d th e n e c e ssity fo r carefu lly p la n n e d econom ic s tu d y is stressed . A t e s t spo o l fo r in se rtio n a t p la n t p o in ts is d escrib ed a n d illu s tra te d . E m p h a s is is p lac ed on th e in su la tio n o f te s t circles a g a in s t steel, p a rtic u la rly w here o p e ra tio n s a re a t te m p e ra tu re s a t w hich w a te r m a y condense, so as to av o id ele ctrica l couples. B rie f m e n tio n is m ad e o f th e effects o f c ru d es c o n ­ ta in in g su lp h u r a n d n a p h th e n ic acids. P re lim in a ry spool te s ts show ed t h a t n o rm al sta in le ss steels w ere d e stro y e d a t a r a te h ig h er t h a n fo r c a rb o n steel, a n d in d ic a te d t h a t a m o ly b d e n u m v a rie ty o f 18-Cr, 8-N i alloy, o r In c o n e l c o n ta in in g 80-N i, 13-Cr, w ould h av o to b e used , th e In c o n el is a v a ilab le a s seam less ste el tu b e s . M onel is u se d fo r H F ,

a n d H a ste llo y B (M o-Ni) for HC1. W . H . C.

562. Stainless and H eat-R esisting Steels. J . S. E w in g . Petrol. E ngr, F e b . 1946, 17, (5), 124.— S tain less a n d h e a t-re s is tin g ste els a re review ed fro m th o a sp e cts o f th e ir a p p lic a tio n in th e p e tro le u m in d u s try . B ro a d ly , in crease o f re sistan c e to co rro sio n o f c h ro m iu m steel alloys is giv en b y alloys c o n ta in in g 6 -8 % , 12% , a n d 2 3 % c h ro m iu m ; a n d re sistan c e to o x id a tio n o r sca lin g a t h ig h te m p e ra tu re s d e p en d s m a in ly on th e c h ro m iu m c o n te n t, a lth o u g h th o a d d itio n o f n ickel, a n d in som e cases sm all a m o u n ts o f silicon, tita n iu m , a n d c o lu m b iu m , w ill p ro v id e g re a te r p ro te c tio n a g a in s t th is ty p e o f actio n . F o r s till tu b e s , tra n s fe r lines, v a p o u r lines, h e a t-o x ch a n g e r tu b e s w hich re q u ire s tre n g th a t e le v a te d te m p e ra tu re s , th e allo y m u s t b e also d u c tile fo r fa b ric a ­ tio n p u rp o ses ; 18-8 sta in le ss ste e l w ith sm all a m o u n ts o f m o ly b d e n u m , tita n iu m , o r c o lu m b iu m a re n o rm a lly s u i t a b l e ; fo r v e ry sev e re o p e ra tin g c o n d itio n s steels w ith 2 5 % c h ro m iu m a n d 2 0 % n ick e l m u s t be u se d . C orrosion o f refin ery e q u ip m e n t is d iscu ssed fro m th o a sp e cts o f ty p e s o f p rocesses, d e le terio u s m a te ria ls in th o c ru d es o r p ro d u c ts , o r e le m en tal gases lib e ra te d th ere fro m , o r tu rb u le n c e th ro u g h p ip es a n d o f

h o t-en d a p p lic atio n s . A s n o g e n e ra l reco m m e n d a tio n s c a n bo m ad o fo r th e v a rio u s a p p licatio n s, ty p e s o f co rro sio n a n d h e a t re sistin g steels a re d iscu ssed u n d e r th e follow ­ ing sections : b u b b le cap s, b u b b le tr a y s , liners, v a lv e p u m p s, w eld o v erlay s, m iscel­

laneous h o t- a n d co ld -en d a p p lic a tio n s , in w h ich th e ty p e s o f stool alloys su itab lo fo r th o

co nditions o f o p e ra tio n a re discussed. W . H . C.

563. Turbulent M ovement of Liquids in Round Pipes. V . G. N ev zg ly a d o v , B u ll. A cad.

Sci. U .R .S .S ., Cl. S c i. Tech., 1945, 857-874.— T h e p a p e r is a th e o re tic a l a n d m a th e ­ m atical c o n sid era tio n o f th e s ta tio n a r y flow o f a n in co m p ressib le viscous liq u id in a sm ooth-w alled s tr a ig h t p ip o o f c irc u la r cross-section. V. B .

D istillation.

564. No Peace for Fractionators. P . J . H a rrin g to n , B. L. B ra g g an d , a n d C. O. R h y s . 011 O a s J ., 24.11.45, 44 (29), 135.— F ra c tio n a tin g to w e r stu d ie s b y th e S ta n d a rd O il Co.

are described a n d e x te n siv ely discussed. T h e y w ero com m enced ow ing to difficulties arising in tw o cru d e-o il p ip e-stills a t th e B a y w a y refin ery in 1941. T h o m a in colum ns wero 12} a n d 16} f t in d ia m e te r, th o u n its b e in g d e sig n ed fo r p ro cessin g 28,000 b /d E a s t T ex a s c ru d e to 2 0 % b o tto m s a n d 32,000 b /d , W est T ex a s c ru d e to 3 0 % resid u e, and req u ire d reflu x a n d p u m p -ro u n d flow r a te s u p to 115,000 g /h r o f h o t liq u id s across th e p la te s. G ap s o f 5 to 25° F , b a se d o n th e 95 a n d 5 % p o in ts o f a d ja c e n t c u ts , wore expected. T ho h y d ra u lic s o f th e to w e r p la te s wero in v e s tig a te d , a n d a re d escrib ed . F ro m th ese a n d o th e r stu d ie s , in clu d in g m o v in g p ic tu re s , v a lu a b le in fo rm a tio n w as o b tain ed in re sp ec t o f n o rm a l a n d a b n o rm a l flow acro ss th e p la te s w hich lea d to th e m ea n s for th e ir co rrectio n . V e ry sim ple c h an g es woro possible w hich p e rm itte d in crease o f th ro u g h p u t u p to 45,000 b / d w ith g a p s o f 20-35° F co n tin u o u s c u ts , w ith 100%

efficiency. T ho difficulties e n co u n te re d a re fu lly described. B riefly th e y a m o u n te d to a resistan ce to th e flow o v e r th o p la te s c au sin g th e p h o n o m en a te rm e d “ d u m p in g ,”

which is d u e to (a) to o long a liq u id p a th , (6) low c ap -p re ssu re d ro p , (c) excessive resistance to liq u id flow acro ss th e p la te s.

D u m p in g differs fro m flooding. A d u m p in g to w e r m a y give no evidenco o f th e p h en o m en a, especially if n o larg e s id e stre a m is ta k e n off, a n d m a y ev en g iv e to le ra b ly good fra c tio n a tio n . T ho m a n y m eth o d s o f co rre c tin g th o cap p la to s to e lim in a te d u m p in g a re describ ed . A t a la te r d a te , in a n o th e r largo p ip e-still, n ew ly in stalled , a now tro u b le w as fo u n d . A t h ig h th ro u g h p u ts a cyclic su rg in g w as h e a rd w hich th e early s tu d ie s co u ld n o t solve. T o in v e s tig a te th is , p y re x o b se rv a tio n p la te s w ere fitte d in tho sections, a n d scales wore fixed in side to ob serv e liq u id levels a n d s p ra y h e ig h ts ; m oving p ic tu re s w ero also ta k e n . T h e in v e s tig a tio n a n d re su lts aro d escrib ed , a n d a d iag ram show s th e c o u n te r-c u rre n t v a p o u r cross flow o v e r p la te s a n d th e liq u id h o ld ­ u p on th o p la te in le t side, responsible fo r th e su rg in g . < I n th is case, b y b lan k in g caps so as to elim in a te c o u n te r-c u rre n t cross flow a n d a rra n g in g th e cap s so a s 't o red u ce sp ra y h e ig h ts, th e p la te s wore m ad o c ap a b le o f o p e ra tin g w ith o u t su rg in g a t a th ro u g h ­ p u t g re a te r th a n desig n ed c a p a c ity . T ho know ledge g ain ed w as u sed in desig n in g new stills fo r p ro cessin g 30,000 b /d to 16% residue, w hich w hon in stalled co u ld b e o p e ra te d a t 50,000 b / d fo r 18% b o tto m s , w ith a d ja c e n t c u ts o f 10-15° F b e tte r th a n th e design figure. Som e d e ta ils aro giv en o f in v estig a tio n s in re sp e c t o f iso b u tan o to w ers, 10-ft- d iam e te r 50 sing le-p ass p la te co lu m n designed for 7500 b /d o f a lk y la te s a n d b u ta n e s , p ro d u cin g 5000 b / d o f 8 0 % iso b u ta n e o v erh ead , w ith a b o u t 1% o f iso b u ta n e le ft in th e b u ta n e s b o tto m s. R eflu x m o to rs in d ic a te d 25-30,000 b /d . b u t h e a t a n d m a te ria l balances p ro v e d t h a t m u ch o f th e p u m p b a c k w as b ein g c arried o v er fro m th e to w e r as liq u id . D e sp ite th is , th e to w e r ra n sm o o th ly a n d h a d a n ov er-all p la te efficiency a s u su a lly defined o f 8 0% . T h e stu d ie s re v ea le d th e to w e r to b e b a d ly flooded. H ig h liq u id - flow r a te s h a d c au sed g ra d ie n ts acro ss th o p la te s w hich u p s e t v a p o u r flow a n d re su lte d in c o u n te r-c u rre n t v a p o u r cross-flow a s o u tlin e d above. I n th is case, h ow ever, d u e p a r tly to a co n sid erab le n u m b e r o f tra n s v e rs e p la te s u p p o rt b eam s, v a p o u r cross-flow v e lo c ity w as so h ig h o v e r m u c h o f th e p la te as to e n tra in liq u id s p ra y u p s tre a m . S urg in g d id n o t occur, a s in th o re -ru n still, th e b u ild -u p o f liq u id w as o n ly lim ite d b y filled d ow n-com ers. I n th e 27-in p la te sp acin g it w as o b serv ed t h a t liq u id h e ig h ts w ere 12 in o v er w eirs a n d 25 in o n th e liq u id in le t side, y e t sm o o th o p e ra tio n a n d fa ir fra c ­ tio n a tio n w ere o b ta in e d . W h en th o m o difications p re v io u sly d escrib ed w ere m ad e ,