J u l y , 1 9 4 6 . 1 9 5 a
A B S T R A C T S .
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 ... ... ... 196 a
Geophysics an d Geochemical Prospecting ... ... ... 197 a
D rilling... ... ... ... 198 a
Production ... ... ... 199 a
Oilfield D evelopm ent ... ... 204 a Re f i n e r y Op e r a t i o n s.
Refineries an d A uxiliary R e finery P la n t ... ... ... 206 A
D istillation ... ... ... 208 a
Absorption an d A dsorption ... 208 a
Solvent Refining an d Dewaxing 209 a
Cracking ... ... ... 2 1 1 a
H ydrogenation... ... ... 2 13a
Polym erization ... ... 213 a
A lkylation
Chemical a n d Physical Refining M etering an d C o n tro l...
Pr o d u c t s.
Chem istry an d Physics Analysis an d T esting ...
Gas L ubricants
Special H ydrocarbon P roducts M iscollaneous P roducts
En g i n e s a n d Eq u i p m e n t. . . . Mi s c e l l a n e o u s... ..
Bo o k s Re c e i v e d.
Au t o m o t i v e p a g e
214 a
215 a
2 1 6a
216 a 218 a
220a 220a 222a 222a
2 2 2 a
225 a
226 a
A U TH O R IN D E X .
The num bers refer to th e A bstract N umber.
Adams, N. G., 713 Adams, N. R ., 689 Aiken, C. B., G67 Alexander, T. I., 667 Allard, P. J-M. T., 607 Andrew, T. A., 667 Bandy, A. M., 667 Barnes, K. B., 663 Barnett, J . A., 664 Barton, P. D., 667 Bates, R. L., 644 Bays, G. S., 667 Bccth, 0 .1 )., 667 Bcnard, J . L., 667 Bielkowicz, P., 731 Birch, S. T., 685 Bishop, E. J., 728 Bolt, J. A., 719 Burnett, R. N., 667 Burns, W. WM 729 Byrus, A. 0 ., 667 Carlson, C. S., 714 Carter, W. G., 730 Chaitrin, S. W., 717 Chapman, T. S., 667 Chun, M. E., G67 Clarksou, R. M., 730 Deegan, C. J ., 736 De Groote, M., 667 Dickinson, J . T., 689 Dougherty, P. P., 667 Driest, E. R. Van, 703 Duce, J. T., 668 Dunn, T. II., 667 Eaton, J . F., 667 Eddins, W. N., 667 Egloff, G., 701 Evans, L. P., 691
Evans, P., 650 Evans, T. W., 728 Evans, U. R ., 683 Farmer, E. IT., 710 Fcaron, R. E., 667 Fenske, M. R ., 714 Fisher, F. L., 720 Forziatl, A. F ., 709 Gabriel, V. G., 619 Galey, J . F., 652 Glasgow, A. R., 709 Giammaria, J . J ., 718 Gibbs, L. F., 661 Gooding, R. M., 713 Graham, A. M., 667 Granner, R. C., 684 Groves, W., 667
nail, J . E., 667 Harris, W. E., 716 Ilaj-s, R. R ., 667 Heath, R. W., 637 Hill, P . W., 687 Hobbs, A. P., 715 Iloeppel, R. W., 667 Honig, R. E., 707, 703 Hooher, S. G., 730 Hooser, D. E., 607 Ilouwink, R., 699 ITowell, L. G., 667 Hulla, G., 701 Irwin, J . L., 672 Ivanovsky, L., 727 Johnson, A. E., CC7 Johnston, M. O., 067 Jones, P. J . t 656 Kauppl, T. A., 722
Kciser, B., 667 Kelly, 0 . 1., 690, 691, 698 Kolthoil, I. M., 716 Kraemer, 0 . W., 688 Krasc, H . J ., 667 Kreig, A., 678 Ladd, G. T., 733 Larsen, D. H ., 667 Lu, K. 0., 676 McAllister, E. W ., 665 McGalfey, E. W., 667 McMillan, F. M., 728 McWhorter, 0 . J ., 667 Maier, A. B., 667 Marple, K. E., 728 Meinert, S. E., 667 Mene, P. S., 711 Moore, D. R ., 667 Nebcch, H. J ., 700 Newitt, D. M., 711 Nicholson, G. B., 659 Nisbct, II. B., 712 Otis, H. C., 667 Padgett, J. C., 660 Partridge, E. P ., 667 Pederson, W. W., 722 Pirson, S. J ., 648 Pritzkcr, G. G., 723 Proeil, W. A., 719 Rail, H . T., 713 Rankine, A. O., 650 Read, D., 693 Records, C. E., 667 Rector, H. R., 715 Redmond, J . F., 651
Reed, R. M., 702 Ricardo, H. R ., 730 Ross, J . P., 667 Rossini, F. D., 709 . Rossraan, A. M., 667 Rowe, M. R., 733 Rubly, W ., 667 Shanlcy, W. B., 700 Sheppard, C. W., 707,
708
Short, E. H ., 653, 658, 662
Shubert, A. E., 714 Smith, W. G. L., 667 Scholovsky, W. W., 706 Soy9ter, M. H ., 664 Steinetz, E. W ., 72G Streid, D. M., 732 Sutton, D. A., 710 Taylor, J . B., 687 Thomas, R. WM 721 Thompson, G. W., 706 Thurman, 0 . C., 667 Tuttle, R. B., 695, 696 Vaider, J . W „ 720 Yogel, A. I., 70-1 Walton, R. O., 667 Wayne, T. B., 667 West, H . L., 724 Westbrook, M. A., 651 Williams, N., 657, 666
"Willingham, C. B., 709 Wilson, G. E ., 712 Wilson, G. M., 654 Wilson, J . H., 679 Wredden, J . H ., 727 Wright, K. A., 667
1 9 6 a ABSTRACTS.
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.
641. Petroleum Reservoirs th a t Consist of Convex Traps. Anon. Oil Gas J ., 2.3.46, 44 (43), 93.— Simple convex tr a p reservoirs m ay be duo to stru c tu ra l deformation, or to variation in thickness of tho porous zone, or to a com bination of tlio tw o factors.
Differential porosity m ay bo duo to thickness v ariation in doposition, to differential cem ontation or to lateral variation.
Composite convex tra p reservoirs ex ten d across several stru c tu ra l u n its, while complex convex tra p reservoirs have productive intervals composed of separate
productive units. G. D. H.
642. Experim ental W ell on A tlantic Coast. Anon. Petrol. Eng., April 1946, 17 (7), 144.—No. 1 H a tte ra s in N o rth Carolina has reached a d ep th o f 6500 ft. W ater was
encountered in th e Tuscaloosa. G. D . H .
643. December W ildcat Completions Drop but Year Sets New High. Anon. Oil Wkly, 28.1.46, 120 (9), 40.— The U .S. w ildcat com pletions in Decem ber averaged 74-8 per weok, com pared w ith 93-5 per week in Novem ber. 23% of tho N ovem ber completions were successful.
D uring 1945 th ere were 473 now oil discoveries. 315 of these were now fields.
Thoro wore 154 oilfield extensions. 4337 w ildcats were com pleted in 1945. This was a now record, b u t well below th e P.A .W . goal of 5000.
Tables sum m arize th e results o f exploratory drilling in D ecem ber and during the whole of 1945, according to types an d to S tates and districts.
T he D ecem ber discoveries are listed w ith b rief details. G. D. II.
644. Future Oil Possibilities of New Mexico. R . L. B ates. Oil G a sJ., 2.2.46, 44 (39), 52.—New Mexico produces over 100,000 b rl/d a y m ainly from an area in th e southeast of tho Stato, w ith a sm aller am ount from th e northw est. R oughly three-quarters of New Mexico has moro or less prom ising future oil possibilities.
In southeast New Mexico there are a b o u t 10,000 ft of sedim ents, m ainly m arine, and n o t m etam orphosed. A notable feature is th e buried C apitan limestono (Permian) reef, on or n ear which lie m any of tho g reat oil accum ulations. Oil occurs in sand
stones, bedded lim estones an d m assive reef limestones. Tho form ations are T ertiary, Triassic, Perm ian, P ennsylvanian an d pre-Pennsylvanian. Tho first tw o are non- m arine an d lack o il; th e P erm ian has produced over 400,000,000 brl o f oil, and the older beds aro being prospected, prom ising production having been obtained. There are wedgo bolts o f porosity, as on th e m argin of th e D elaware Basin, from southeast L ea C ounty nearly to Carlsbad.
I n th e area to th e w est of tho above th ere are several thousand feet of sedim ents, except possibly in th e m esa country an d in p a rts o f th e Sacram ento Rongo. A com
bination of factors seems to rule out m uch of tho P erm ian as regards oil possibilities.
TheJLower P erm ian seems to m erit some consideration, an d there aro signs th a t tho older reefs are fa rth e r o u t in tho basin. I t is possible th a t reefs occur in pre-Capitan beds. P ennsylvanian, Mississippian, D evonian, Silurian an d O rdovician bods are present. They seem to be m arine, b u t little is know n about them . Mississippian reefs are known in th e Sacram ento M ountains.
Some of th e few w ildcats havo h a d slight oil shows.
The th ird area in southw est Now Mexico has a cover of alluvium , and la%ra flows over a b o u t four-fifths of its surface. The sedim ents th in to th e west. All tho Palaeo
zoic, except possibly tho Cam brian, is represented. There are Cretaceous beds in th e east. Most of th e beds arc m arine. T here is m uch evidence of alteration. Signs of oil and gas are restricted to the eastern p a rt o f th e area. On th e whole it appears th a t tho oil possibilities of this area are slight.
The northw estern p a rt o f th e S tate is underlain by p a rt of th e San J u a n basin. A deep te s t on th e R attlesnako anticline found 7400 f t o f beds ranging from U pper Cretaceous to Cam brian. Tho basin h as freshw ater T ertiary , m arine an d non-m arine Cretocoous, continental Jurassic, Triassic an d P erm ian, m arine Pennsylvanian,
ABSTRACTS. 1 9 7 a
Mississippian and D evonian. There are a b u n d a n t evidences of oil an d gas, production having been obtained a t tw elve localities, from U pper Cretaceous sandstones and Palaeozoic limestones. Tho R attlesn ak e pool lies w ithin 3 miles of an igneous intrusion; it obtains oil from tho D ak o ta sandstone (76° A .P .I.) an d tho H erm osa limestone, an d helium -bearing gas from tho O uray—Leadville limestone. Productive stratigraphic trap s occur in tho U pper Cretaceous. There aro undoubtedly wedge belts of porosity in tho Pennsylvanian and older beds. Forty-five stru ctu res Have been recognized, an d 30 have been drilled, a t least to tho D akota. I t is believed th a t oil has beon flushed from m any structures.
The fifth area is in n o rth east New Mexico. Pennsylvanian to R ecent beds occur.
8000—9000 f t of sedim ents m ay bo presont in some places, tho thickness being d e te r
mined by th e form o f tho pre-Cam brian beds. M arine, lagoonal and continental deposits are know n, a n d th ere are num erous evidences of oil. There are seeps, and wells have h ad oil shows. Several unconform ities are known, and somo aro associated with pre-Cam brian highs. A P ennsylvanian lim estone appears to have good oil prospects, and th e sam e is tru e of tho granito wash (U pper Pennsylvanian an d Lower Permian) and the D ak o ta sandstone. I n areas o f th is typo tests on th e crests of highs may fail because th e producing beds wedge out on the flanks. G. D. II.
645. South D akota Test has Oil and Gas Showings. Anon. Oil W kly, 28.1.46, 120 (9), 29.—The Hollingsw orth 1 w ildcat, n ear E dgom ont, South D akota, has encountered good oil and gas shows in tho th ird Leo sand. The Morrison sand occurred a t 530 ft, tho Sundance sand a t 790 ft, tho Converse sand (Pennsylvanian) a t 1710-1840 ft, w ith a small oil show, tho F irst Leo sand, w ith some oil, a t 2195—2223 ft, tho Second Leo sand, w ith oil and gas, a t 2295-2330 ft, and th e T hird Leo sand w as topped a t 2396 ft.
G. D. H . 646. Discovery of Oil in N icaragua Denied. Anon. Oil G a sJ., 16.2.46, 44 (41), 86.—
In 1945 a deep well was drilled in N icaragua for stratigraphical inform ation, and seismic work is u nder way, b u t it is denied th a t oil has been found. G. D. H.
647. Socony-Vacuum’s B arinas W ildcat Down 2900 F t. Anon. Oil Gas J 9.2.46, 44 (40), 62.—Floresanto 4 an d 5 o f th e Sinu area of Colombia have been abandoned as dry holes a t 1504 an d 1330 f t respectively. I n Floresanto 6, tho aim is to obtain oil from shallow sands. -1 P ed ral has reached 8330 ft, an d Socony has a w ildcat a t 8045 ft in tho M agdalena Valley.
Guico 20 has been com pleted as an oil well a t 6927 ft, and 1 T ascabana is being completed as a sm all gas well. A B arinas w ildcat is drilling a t 9536 ft, while Socony’s
Barinas te s t is a t 2900 ft. G. D. H.
G eophysics and G eochem ical P rosp ectin g,
648. Em anom etric Oil and Gas Prospecting. S. J . Pirson. Petrol. Eng., J a n . 1946, 17 (4), 132.— The em anom etric prospecting technique endeavours to m easure the absolute em anation p er u n it area of tho e a rth ’s cru st for one or more gases of diagnostic value, in order to detec t commercial oil or gas accum ulations. Various pieces of evidence point to tho existence of micro-seepages, b u t objections h ave been raised.
I t is possible th a t oil generation is still going on.
Since m ethane is formed from decaying vegetation i t can n o t be used as a reliable indicator of th e occurrence of su bterranean oil and gas accum ulations. E th a n e is believed to be a satisfactory indicator. H igher hydrocarbons could also be employed, b u t their rates o f diffusion are lower. Tho observed rates o f em anation o f ethane are of th e sam e order as those predicted on th e assum ption th a t tho form ations show an overall perm eability of 10-7 darcy.
In th e field tho em anations aro collected b y adsorber tubes, which aro th en taken to a laboratory for degassing, and fractionation an d identification of tho diagnostic gases.
I t appears th a t th ere is a uniform hydrocarbon diffusion field due to present-day generation o f oil and gas, possibly directly in life processes, bacterially, b y radio
activity or electrolytic synthesis. Thero is also a possibility of artificial high leakage areas which m ight bo ta k e n for indications of an oil or gas pool. Such artificial highs
1 9 8 a ABSTRACTS.
m ay bo duo to topography and ground-w ater m ovem ent. T he m easurem ents must bo corrected for these tw o factors in order to give th e anom aly m ap, w hich is duo to confined pressure sources of oil an d gas accum ulations. F u rth e r corrections are required for soil types, and deep geological effects resulting from stru ctu re w ith a consequent possibility of lateral shift of tho anom aly relative to th e accum ulation.
g. r>. h. 649. Present Status o£ Electrical Prospecting. V. G. Gabriel. Petrol. Eng., Jan . 1946, 17 (4), 66.—E loctrical prospecting m ethods use (a) n a tu ra l currents, or (6) a rti
ficial currents. T he la tte r are subdivided into (1) conductive m eth o d s; (2) direct- cu rren t m easurem ents ; (3) altern atin g -cu rren t m easurem ents ; (4) inductive m ethods ; (5) tran sien t m ethods. R esistivity, tra n sie n t and radio-frequency m ethods have been em ployed in searching for oil.
R esistivity m ethods h ave been successfully applied in stru c tu ra l studies o f shallow a n d m edium deep horizons, w ith claim s o f effective depths o f 5000-6000 ft. Some are sta te d to detect oil directly u n d er favourable conditions. R adio-frequency methods h ave been applied in stru c tu ra l studies, b u t are still in tho experim ental stage.
_ Tables give exam ples of th e application o f tho different m ethods (taken from
published descriptions). G. D. H .
650. Geophysical Prospecting for Oil in India. A. O. R ankino an d P . E vans. Petrol.
Tim es, 27.4.46, 50 (1272), 432.—A b rief sum m ary o f th e v a st w ork in itiated by the B u rm a Oil Co. to survey In d ia and B urm a by th e grav itatio n al m ethod, in order to explore for oil under the alluvial deposits w hich prevented geological exploration, is given, together w ith tho effect of tho w ar in stopping these surveys an d a b rief glimpse
into th e future. A. H . N.
D rillin g.
651. Porosity of Drill Cuttings Tested by New Method. M. A. W estbrook an d J . F.
R edm ond. Oil Gas J ., 6.4*40, 44 (48), 127.—The well sam ples containing th e cuttings representative of th e p articu lar intervals are first w ashed through a No. 6 gauge screen. T he cuttings rem aining on th e screen are large enough to use for th e porosity m easurem ents. F rom th e sized sam ple, th e cuttings to be exam ined are separated from tho shalo an d other extraneous particles. I t is recom m ended t h a t 10 to 15 c.c.
of tho selected cuttings be used for m easurem ents, although only 4 to 5 c.c. wore used to m ake th e com parative te s ts described later in th e article. These cu ttin g s are ex tracted and dried b y th e sam e m ethods used for preparing core sam ples for porosity an d other m easurem ents. The clean d ry cu ttin g s are weighed, placed in a weighed and volum ctrically calibrated graduate, evacuated for approxim ately 20 m in, an d then sa tu ra te d by allowing w ater to flow into th e evacuated system . Tho system is next opened to th e atm osphere an d allowed to sta n d for 5 to 10 m in, so th a t th e w ater will com pletely p en etrate th e pores. Longer timbs m ay be required for cuttings having very- low perm eabilities. W ate r is added until th e g rad u ate is filled to th e calibration m ark. The g rad u ate and contents are reweiglied so th a t th e w eight of w ater added m ay be determ ined. This w eight is converted to volum e b y knowing th e density of tho w ater a t th e tem perature existing a t tho tim e the flask was filled to th e calibration m ark. Tho re su lta n t volum e su b tracte d from th e flask’s calibrated volum e equals th e volum e occupied b y th e d ry grains. T his volum e is later referred to as grain volume. Tho sa tu ra te cuttings are th e n spread on a n alundum disc, which is satu rate d an d in co n tact w ith a colum n of w ater, being sealed to a funnel, th e funnel in hydraulic co n tact w ith a reservoir which can bo raised or lowered. B y lowering th e reservoir to a judicious distance, vacuum is created -which is ju s t sufficient to drain tho excess w ater w ith o u t draw ing off tho w ater from tho pores. Tho volumo o f tho satu rate d cu ttin g s is th e n found b y displacem ent o f w ater from a calibrated cylinder, an d th u s th e bu lk volum e. A ddition of 1 gr of am m onium o le a te /l of w ater prevents air bubbles adhering.
- - * % - ( ■ - s g s s ) ; * - -
A. H . N.
ABSTRACTS. 1 9 9 a
652. W orld’s Deepest Cable-Tool Test is Completed. J . T. Galey. Oil Gas J ., 30.3.40, 44 (47), 206.—Tho deepest oable-tool hole in th e world, so fa r as can be ascertained, has recently been com pleted by M anufacturers L ight & H e a t Co., on th e Jesse G. Hockcn- berry farm , Morcer Tow nship, B u tler County, Pennsylvania. This w ildcat was abandoned, after it showed considerable sa lt w ater, a t 10,006 ft in w h at is considered to bo an U pper C am brian sand. S tratigraphically, th e te s t is th e deepest y e t drilled in W estern P ennsylvania, E a ste rn Ohio or W est Virginia. The geology an d drilling of the well aro described. Tho rig, tools and lines are described an d some of tho drilling difficulties are given, such as gas pockets w hich were encountered w ith various degrees
of explosiveness. A. H . N.
653. W orld’s Largest D errick “ W alked ” Across W est Texas Sand Dunes. E . H.
Short, J r . Oil Gas J ., 9.3.46, 44 (44), 60-62.—The derrick an d its equipm ent weigh approxim ately 125 tons. W ith th e derrick free from all connections, it w as jacked up and wooden shoes placed under each corner of tho substructure. These shoes, approxi
m ately 2J-ft in w idth an d 5 f t in length, were bolted to th e u pper half o f the grillage.
Movement of tho derrick w as th e n begun (by m eans of a winch on a 31-ton truck) on rollors over a plank road. This p lan k road w as carried forw ard as th e derrick was moved. F rom th e tim e th e derrick was jacked up a t 7 Sealy Sm ith to th e tim e it w as jacked down a t 10 Sealy Sm ith required only 2 days. I t is estim ated th a t th e skidding of this derrick saved approxim ately 14 days over th e m ethod of tearing dow n tho derrick and rebuilding it a t tho now location. A. H . N.
654. Big Rig Features U nitization and Easy Operation. G. M. Wilson. Oil W kly, 18.3.46, 121 (3), 32-36.— Tho rig described is one o f th e largest gas-powered u n its in California an d is designed to drill to 15,000 ft. O utstanding features include m axim um unitization for easy hauling on highw ays ; convenient stair-step design which m akes it adaptablo to any height or ty p e of sub-structure ; direct air-operated friction clutches for both draw w orks and ro ta ry d riv e s; an d unusually convenient, com pactly arranged driller’s controls. I t is driven b y three butane-pow ered engines compounded into a single transm ission, a n e x tra sh a ft being supplied a t tho rear of th e case for driving one of tho two m ud pum ps. Two unitized engines driving to a comm on V-bolt pum p sheavo power and other pum p. M atching th e draw works and pum p assemblies in portability an d accessibility aro th e efficient an d internally strengthened m u d tanks, designed for th is rig. T hey m ay be quickly an d easily broken dow n for transporting, w ith hinged w alkw ays folding inw ard to lay on to p tho open tan k s. Among tho o p erat
ing advantages of th is ta n k system are a simplified ty p e of pum p suction cut-off which greatly facilitates th e job of closing off and opening up suction lines. T he entire rig was designed prim arily for intornal-com bustion engines and consists o f tho draw works, a selective 3-specd forw ard and reverse transmission, a three-engine com pound
ing transm ission, tw o slush pum ps and tho stru ctu ral steel m ounting mem bers. A t 900 r.p.m ., tho th ree butane-pow ered engines deliver 1000 hp, although this pow er rig hos a nom inal ratin g of 1250 hp. Tho present installation is a b o u t 80% powered, it being possible to ad d still an o th er engine to th e u n it if necessary. I t has six hoisting speeds—th e th ree ro ta ry speeds, tw o reverse speeds to tho drum sh aft and one for tho rotary table. Whilo the draw w orks in itself has b u t two hoisting speeds, th e additional flexibility is gained through th e three-speed transm ission. Illu strativ e of th e a b u n d ance of power availablo is the fact th a t on th e previous well drilled, some 9510 f t of
■ft-fr-inch drill pipe w as carried easily w ith only th e four upper speeds of its available six being utilized. The p resent well is th e second job for th is u n it in California.
Details of tho rig and its perform ance are given and illustrated. A. H . N.
655. Byron Jackson New A utom atic Drill Pipe and Casing Slips. Anon. Petrol.
Times, 27.4.46, 50 (1272), 40.—A new design of drill pipe and casing slips, m ounted on an arm which is autom atically lifted by air, steam or hydraulic power, is described.
A. H . N.
Production.
656. The Optimum R ate of Production for U niform Producing and Variable Depletion Rates. P art 24. P . J . Jones. Oil Gas J ., 9.2.46, 44 (40), 88.—Declining ra te s of production m ay be accom panied b y uniform or variable rates o f depletion. A pro-
2 0 0 a ABSTRACTS.
cedure for estim ating tho optim um ra te of production for a reserve, a fraction o f which is recoverable before production sta rts declining an d a fraction a t uniform rates of depletion, was considered in P a rt 23 o f th is series. I n tho present article, variable ratos of depletion are considered. A procedure for estim atin g optim um rates of production for increasing ra te s of deplotion is illustrated b y a n exam plo on a natural- gas reservoir having w ater encroachm ent and one on a cycling project. A procedure for estim ating optim um ra te s of production for decreasing ra te s of depletion is illustrated b y exam ples on oil reservoirs having m arginal reserves. A. H . N.
657. O klahom a’s First Triple-Zone Completion. N . W illiams. Oil Gas J ., 6.4;46, 44 (48), 104-106.— So far, only a relatively few wells, m o st o f them in South Texas, have been comploted as triple-zone completions. Tho com plications arising in segregating three horizons in th e sam e well boro have been such u n til recently as to prev en t more general com pletions o f th is kind. T he triple com pletion described in th is article n o t only in th e first for Oklahom a, b u t reflects the developm ents in equip
m en t an d technique ad ap tab le for th is work. M ethods em ployed ensured th e com
pletion of tho well w ith ease and safety. D im ensional details (too m any to quote) of th e tubings an d casings used are given. A fter setting tubings, packers, etc., each zone w as cleaned. W ith all zones separated, deadw eight pressure gauges were tak en on each zone for 10 days to m ako certain all packers were holding. A fter tho te n days, th ere was 1527 psi pressure on th e Glover zone, 1309 p si pressure on tho Charlson zone and 1950 psi pressure on tho Mona zone, w ith no ap p aren t leakage. Tho Charlson (middlo zone) was th en opened to tho atm osphere and th e pressure of th e other two zones w as carefully checked for a n y drop. Pressure rem ained constant, proving no leakago existed. The hook up is illustrated diagram m atically. A. H . N.
658. Selective Control Featured in Recent Choke Installations. E . H . S hort, J r.
Oil Gas J ., 6.4.46, 44 (48), 102.—The usual chokes used in well controls v a ry in size increm ents o f inch. T he v ariatio n in production rates resulting from a ^V-inch increase in choke size m ay be extrem ely g reat. F o r exam ple, consider th a t a well flows 135-brl through a ¿ - in c h choke. Tho well’s allowed production m ay bo only 95 b rl/d ay . H owever, if tho n ex t size sm aller fractional choke (A -inch) is used, tho production, based upon decrease in choke area, w ould am ount to only 67 brl/day.
Thus, the well w ould probably be produced for a tim e on tho lower ra te and for tho rest of th e m o n th on tho higher rate. Tho sudden increaso in tho ra te m ay h arm th e well.
Therefore, a series of chokes were designed to give increm ents of 10%. A c h art gives full detail of th e characteristics of these chokes. A. H . N.
659. Automatic Expulsion o£ W ater irom Wells Aids Flow. G. B. Nicholson. Oil W kly, 1.4.46,121 (5), 33.—To postpone arrival of th e inevitable artificial life stage with th e corresponding increased lifting costs incurred, several operators in fields on tho G ulf Coast instal autom atic purgors as p a r t o f th e surface equipm ent to in term itten tly expel th e head of w ater which builds u p in tho tu b in g of m any wells. Tho mechanical devices, designed to open autom atically for releasing accum ulated w ater when it begins to affect tho flow characteristics of a well, are growing increasingly popular, replacing m anual m anipulation of valves or frequent readjustm ents is choke size, which requires considerable atten tio n .
A universal operating practice includes tho use of a surface choke which applies a back pressure to th e form ation an d tho tubing, and retard s tho velocity o f fluids m oving through th e tu b in g tow ards th e surface. O ften, a fter w ater appears in tho production, th e velocity of fluids is so slow th a t w ater separates from th e oil and has oppo rtu n ity to drop back into th e tu b in g w ith th e oil and only m inor portions o f tho w ater being produced. A ccum ulation of w ater w hich forms in th is m anner is reflected by a drop in tubing pressure ap p aren t to the surface, an d continuance o f producing under the sam e conditions often aggravates th e grievance, w ith tho result th a t increas
ing am ounts o f w ater accum ulate in th e b o tto m of th e tubing, w ith pressure dropping, accordingly. I n m any wells, th e tu b in g pressure declines to a negligible factor, and often a well ceases to flow entirely. If, when w ater first begins to settle, th e ra te of flow is increased u n til th e w ater is em ptied, m an y wells will continue to flow longer.
To elim inate th e obvious operational disadvantages o f having personnel present to a d ju s t valves on th e C hristm as trees as a m eans of expelling th e accum ulation o f w ater,
ABSTRACTS. 2 0 1 A a well purger containing a spring-loaded valve is attach ed to th e flow lino and, m o tiv ated by variations in tho tubing pressure, autom atically controls movom ont of fluid from tho well as prevention of form ing a w ator column. Tho valvo is placed in tho off- tubing wing of th e C hristm as tree, or in a bypass around th e choice. A fter th e tu b in g pressure drops to a predeterm ined value, th e spring forces th e valve to open, allowing a rapid evacuation o f fluid from tho tubing, during which period tho well produces through bo th tho bypass valve an d th e regular choko. W ith em ptying of w ater from the tubing, tho pressure rises to norm al as volumo o f gas begins to increase, and tho pressure servos as the force to close th e valve against tho spring pressure.
A. H . N.
660. New Type Plug-Back M aterial Tried in Oil Wells. J . C. P ad g ett. Oil W kly, 1.4.46, 121 (0), 30-31.—A now ty p e of w aterproof plastic cem ont is being applied on remedial w ork in producing oil wells, and results havo proved gratifying, although full significance o f application m ay n o t be know n u n til after a num ber of treatm en ts have
“ aged ” for a year or two. K now n as oil-woll hydrom ite, tho new com pound is composed of a pulverized cem entitious filler and a powdered resin. B oth m aterials are activated b y th e addition o f a n accelerator an d m ade into a slu rry b y m ixing w ith water. The setting tim e of the slurry of plastic cem ent can be controlled to very closo limits. Field te s ts have proved th a t an initial sotting tim e w ithin the range o f 60 to 100 m in is m ost practical to uso in a well and m ost economical to th e well owner in lieu of rig tim e an d o th er variable costs. Tho now plastic cem ent possesses a n added feature n o t usually found in ordinary plastics. I t has a linear expansion of approxi
m ately 0-3% a t tho tim e it tak es its initial sot. This proporty has proved very valuable in rem edial work w here a good tig h t bond, to either tho walls of th e casing or th e exposed surfaces of a form ation, is necessary to ensure adequate protection to tho well boing worked over. I n a m anner sim ilar to P o rtlan d cem ent, the m aterial continues to strengthen as it ages for a few hours. R esults of an experim ental plugging job aro
given in somo dotail. A. H . N.
661. Curves Summarize Investm ent and Operating Costs ior W ater-Injection Plants.
L. T. Gibbs. Oil Gas J ., 2.3.46, 44 (43), 74.— A graph presents curves w hich can be used to evaluate th e cost in cen ts/b rl from ra te o f flow in b rl/d ay an d th e hp o f triplex or quintuplex pum ps. The basis an d use of th e curves are explained. A. H . N.
662. Repressuring Operations in W est Texas Pool. E . H . Short, J r . Oil Gas J ., 9.2.46, 44 (40), 85.—The developm ent an d characteristics of th e pool are given, followed by a brief stu d y o f th e repressuring operations u ndertaken by th e operators.
A. H . N.
663. W ell-Interference Studies Are Im portant in Spacing, Drainage Problems. K . B.
Barnes. Oil Gas J ., 13.4.46, 44 (49), 92-94.—F o r m any years tho accepted sta n d a rd spacing was one well to 10 acres. F o r about the p a s t 10 years a great m any pools have been developed on 40-acre spacing—an d virtually altogether so during tho w ar period 1942-45. The presont m ajo rity practice of 40-acre spacing, however, currently is under review in m any areas, an d for several reasons. One is th a t w ar restrictions aro now off and those th a t wish to drill closer m ay do so. I n the o th er direction, deeper pools are being found, w ith physical an d economic conditions such th a t som e operators desire to space wells fu rth er a p a rt th a n 1 to 40. Tho question is discussed in th is paper from tho view point of interference. Reference is m ade to M uskat's work, which showed th a t, due to interference, increasing tho num ber o f wells in a field does n o t increase proportionately th e rato of production. The ideal conditions of uniform thickness, perm eability, circular resorvoir w ith constant influx, complete well p en etratio n and single-phase flow apply. The productive capacity of th e first well (6-inch bore) drilled in this ideal field is 1000 b rl/d ay . I f a second well is drilled 400 ft aw ay, th e combined productivity capacity is n o t 2000 b rl/d ay , as perhaps m ight bo surm ised on first glance, b u t only 1509 b rl/d ay —duo to interference. F o r three wells so spaced, th e to ta l capacity is 1818 b rl/d ay . I t is 2061 for a to ta l o f four wells, 2132 for fivo wells, and but 2778 for nino wells. F o r 16 wells th e to ta l productive capacity is n o t 16,000 brl/day, b u t only 3333. I t is suggested th a t interference effects can be obtained b y shutting in a field or large producing area and, after equilibrium is established or closely
2 0 2 a ABSTRACTS.
approached, producing one well. The effect on tho bottoin-holo pressure or fluid levels o f th e other wells is observed. Or the reverse procedure can be followed, with all wells being produced except tho one whore th e com bined interference effects are to bo noted. T h a t well, of course, is sh u t in an d pressure or fluid-level tests are made
on it. 1 A. H . N.
664. How to In ject Gas In to Limestone-Dolomite Reservoirs. J . A. B a rn e tt and M. H . Soyster. Oil Gas J ., 23.2.46, 44 (42), 161.— Tho subject is discussed not in general b u t w ith reference to tho practices omployed in tho G rayburg u n it area in New Mexico. Tho developm ent, drilling and production m ethods an d th e production data of tho field aro presented. Oil analysis an d oil to gas ratios are presented, followed by th e principles used in selecting in p u t wells and injection practice. A. H . N.
665. Application of Laboratory D ata on Phase Behaviour to Condensate-Reserves Evaluation. E . W . McAllister. Oil Gas J ., 9.2.46, 44 (40), 92.—Paper presented before California N atural Gasoline Association.—Typical experim ental results on retrograde condensation of n a tu ra l gas u nder high pressures are reproduced. Tho significance of these curves in the calculations o f reserves, assum ing different modes of production, is discussed, showing when production b y cycling is to be preferred to
production by pressure depletion. A. H . N.
666. Completions in Rangely Field are Complicated by Tight Form ations. N. Williams.
Oil G a sJ., 9.2.46, 44 (40), 77.—Tho field discussed is in n o rth ern Colorado. N aturally slow to givo up oil, th e form ation necessitates unusual care in com pletion o f wells to p ro tect th e sand face from outside contam ination and th a t moans bo taken to induce greater porosity if m axim um p roductivity is to be a tta in e d . Technically, th e separa
tio n o f well com pletion begins w ith tho actu a l drilling of th e form ation, since tho m ethods em ployed in p en etratin g th e section have a direct bearing on how clean the sand is kept. I n view of its “ tightness,” th e sand is p articularly susceptible to being sealed off w ith drilling m u d or “ logged ” w ith w ater infiltration from tho m ud. A factor in th is is th e hardness of tho form ation which substantially re ta rd s drilling and lengthens th e tim e th e sand face is exposed to th e drilling fluid. The production easing string is sot a n d cem ented before drilling th e producing form ation. D etails are
given. A. H . N.
667. Drilling and Production Patents. P ierre Jean-M ario Theodore Allard. V ested in th e Alien P ro p erty C ustodian. U .S.P. 2,390,047, 4.12.1945. Appl. 24.4.1941. Grab used for boring wells.
Melvin D e Groote, B ernhard Keiser, W ebster Groves, assrs. to P etro lite Corpn, L td.
U .S.P. 2,390,078, 4.12.1945. Appl, 26.0.1944. Process for breaking petroleum emulsions.
Melvin De Groote, B ernhard Keiser, W ebster Groves, assrs to Potrolito Corpn, L td.
U .S.P. 2,390,079, 4.12.1945. Appl. 26.6.1944. Process for breaking petroleum emulsions.
Melvin De Groote, B ernhard Keiser, W ebster Groves, assrs to P etro lite Corpn, L td.
U .S.P. 2,390,080, 4.12.1945. Appl. 26.6.1944. Process for breaking petroleum emulsions.
Melvin De Groote, assr to P etrolito Corpn, L td. U .S.P. 2,390,081, 4.12.1945.
Appl. 26.6.1944. Process for breaking petroleum emulsions.
Melvin Do Groote, assr to P etrolite Corpn, L td . U .S.P. 2,390,0S2, 4.12.1945. Appl.
26.6.1944, Process for breaking petroleum emulsions.
Melvin D e Groote, assr to P etro lite Corpn, L td . U .S.P. 2,390,083, 4.12.1945.
Appl. 26.6.1944. Process for breaking petroleum emulsions.
E d g ar W . McGaffey, assr of 45% to Claude C. Taylor, Long Beach, an d 10% to D. W. W ard, H u n tin g to n P ark , Calif. U .S.P. 2,390,112, 4.12.1945. Appl. 29.4.1940.
W ell packer.
J a m e s F .R o s s . U .S.P. 2,390,124, 4.12.1945. Appl. 27.6.1938, System o f pum ping wells.
Allen M. Rossm an. U .S.P. 2,390,177, 4.12.1945. Appl. 30.10.1942. P ull rod carrier.
Mordica 0 . Jo h n sto n , Thom as A. A ndrew, A delbert M. G raham , W alter G. L. Sm ith.
U.S.P. 2,390,372, 4.12.1945. Appl. 18.6.1941. Open hole sleeve packer.
William R ubly. U .S.P. 2,390,393, 4.12.1945. Appl. 22.3.1944. Woll casing cap.
Charles B. Aiken, assr to Schlum berger W ell Surveying Corpn. U .S.P. 2,390,409, 4.12.1945. Appl. 4.2.1942. E lectrical logging.
R obert E arl Fcaron, assr to Woll Surveys. U .S.P. 2,390,433, 4.12.1945. Appl.
29.7.1944. Woll survey m ethod an d ap p aratu s.
August R . Maicr, assr to Oil W ell Supply Co. U .S.P. 2,390,601, 11.12.1945. Appl.
26.8.1943. Blowout seal for well drilling rotaries.
Russell R . H ays. U .S.P. 2,390,646, 11.12.1945. Appl. 10.5.1943. W ell drilling apparatus.
Ford I. A lexander. U .S.P. 2,390,676, 11.12.1945. Appl., 25.8.1942. System for dotonating explosives in deep wells or tho like.
A rthur E . Johnson. U .S.P. 2,390,714, 11.12.1945. Appl. 8.10.1945. R o ta ry tool booster.
Paul D. B arto n P atrick F. D ougherty, assrs to Sun Oil Co. U .S.P. 2,390,770, 11.12.1945. Appl. 10.10.1942. M ethod of producing petroloum .
R obert E arl Fearon, assr to W ell Surveys. U .S.P. 2,390,931, 11.12.1945. Appl.
6.1.1941. W ell logging m ethod.
Lynn G. Howell, assr to S tan d ard Oil D evelopm ent Co. U .S.P. 2,391,093, 18.12.1945.
Appl. 12.8.1938. R adioactivity well-logging.
J a n L am bertus B enard. U .S.P. 2,391,542, 25.12.1945. Appl. 3.2.1944. Gas lift pumping apparatus.
William N. E ddins, Carl C. T hurm an. U .S.P. 2,391,556, 25.12.1945. Appl.
8.10.1943. F luid pressure pum p.
R obert O. W alton, assr to Merla Tool Corpn. U .S.P. 2,391,605, 25.12.1945. Appl.
21.10.1944. W ell flow device.
K enneth A. W right. U .S.P. 2,391,609, 25.12.1945. Appl. 27.5.1944. Oil well screen.
Thomas H . D unn, assr to Stanolind Oil & Gas Co. U .S.P. 2,391,622, 25.12.1945.
Appl. 29.2.1944. Drilling m ud.
Alvin M. B andy. U .S.P. 2,391,869, 1.1.1946. Appl. 13.6.1940. Side-wall produc
tion tester.
Jo h n F . E ato n , assr to B ethlehem Steel Co. U .S.P. 2,392,033, 1.1.1946. Appl.
1 11.1941. Sucker rod coupling w ith zinc inserts.
Jesse E . H all. U .S.P. 2,392,145, 1.1.1946. Appl. 29.5.1043. Cement basket.
Jesse E . H all. U .S.P. 2,392,146, 1.1.1946. Appl. 24.6.1943. Drill pipe wiper.
Donald E . Hooser, assr to Tho Guiborson Corpn. U .S.P. 2,392,244, 1.1.1946. Appl.
15.7.1942. W ell tool.
Chester E . Records. U .S.P. 2,392,f J, 1.1.1946. Appl. 8.7.1942. M ethod of constructing well screens.
K enneth A. W right. U .S.P. 2,392,352, 8.1.1946. Appl. 6.8.1941. M ethod of placing cem ent plugs in well bores.
George S. B ays, assr to Stanolind Oil & Gas Co. U .S.P. 2,392,357, 8.1.1946. Appl.
8.6.1942. W ell logging.
Cullen J . M cW horter, assr to Lano-W ells Co. U .S.P. 2,392,683, 8.1.1946. Appl.
28.6.1943. Side wall sam pling tool.
Alva C. B yrns, assr to U nion Oil Co. U .S.P. 2,392,971, 15.1.1946. Appl. 4.10.1943.
Secondary recovery.
ABSTRACTS. 2 0 3 A
2 0 4 a ABSTRACTS.
M elvin E . Chun, assr to Lano-W ells Co. U .S.P. 2,393,009, 15.1.1946. Appl.
3.11.1942. E lectrical well logging m ethod and ap p aratu s.
H erb ert J . ICraso, assr to M onsanto Chemical Co. U .S.P. 2,393,047, 15.1.1946.
Appl. 10.9.1941. A rt of drilling oil or gas wells.
Dowoy R . Moore. U .S.P. 2,393,053, 15.1.1946. A ppl. 19.4.1944. W eight indicator.
Thom as S. Chapm an, assr to S tan d ard Oil D evelopm ent Co. U .S.P. 2,393,145, 15.1.1946. A ppl., 1.7.1940. D rilling m ethod an d fluid for uso therein.
R aym ond W . H ocppel, assr to N ational L ead Co. U .S.P. 2,393,165, 15.1.1946.
Appl. 7.4.1943. T reatm en t of well drilling fluids.
R aym ond W . Hocppel, assr to N ational Lead Co. U .S.P. 2,393,166, 15.1.1946.
Appl. 7.4.1943. T reatm en t o f drilling fluids.
D elm ar H . Larsen, assr to N ational Load Co. U .S.P. 2,393,173, 15.1.1946. Appl.
7.4.1943. Process of com pacting or sealing form ations.
D elm ar H . Larsen, assr to N ational Lead Co. U .S.P. 2,393,174, 15.1.1946. Appl.
12.8.1942. W ell drilling fluid m aterial an d process of preparing tho same.
T rum an B. W ayne. U .S.P. 2,393,273, 22.1.1946. A ppl. 31.3.1943. T reatm en t of m ud-laden drilling fluids.
H erb ert C. Otis. U .S.P. 2,393,404, 22.1.1946. A ppl. 13.11.1941. M ethod and m eans for flowing wells.
R o b ert N. B u rn ett, deceased. U .S.P. 2,393,457, 22.1.1946. Appl. 12.7.1941.
F lo at collar a n d cem enting shoo.
Sylvester E . M oinert. U .S.P. 2,393,550, 22.1.1946. Appl. 8.11.1943. Drill.
E v e re tt P . P artridge, assr to H all Laboratories. U .S.P. 2,393,560, 22.1.1946. Appl.
18.2.1944. W ell drilling m ud an d process.
Clarence Donald B eeth. U .S.P. 2,393,603, 29.1.1946. Appl. 1.2.1943. Pulldown
device. R . B. S.
Oilfield D evelopm ent.
668. Post-W ar Oil Supply Areas. J . T. Duco. Petrol. Tim es, 13.4.46, 50 (1271), 382.
—P roved reserves an d potentialities of tho w orld in general an d o f tho following countries are given :—Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Venezuela, E cuador, P eru, Bolivia, Chile, U ruguay, P araguay an d tho G uianas, Brazil, A rgentine, W est Indies, A ustralia and New Zealand, Africa, E g y p t, R oum ania, H ungary, Ger
m an y an d A ustria, France, Spain an d Portugal, D enm ark, Poland, A lbania, Italy , E ngland an d Ireland, B altic R epublics, Sweden, N orway, Finland, Yugoslavia, B ul
garia, Greece and Sw itzerland, Belgium and H olland, R ussia, China, Ja p a n , Phillipines, E a st Indies, In d ia and B urm a, A fghanistan an d P ersian G ulf Area. Most of these are
tre a te d very briefly. A. H . N.
669. Proven .Reserves Estim ated a t 20,826,813,000 brl by A.P.I. Anon, Oil Gas J ., 2.3.46, 44 (43), 43.— A t th e beginning o f 1946 th e proven U.S. crude oil reserves were estim ated to bo 20,826,813,000 brl, a rise o f 373,582,000 brl during tho year. Tho 1945 production of 1,736,717,000 brl w as a record. New pools accounted for 419,984,000 brl of tho reserves discovered in 1945. 111,250,000 brl of n a tu ra l gasolino was produced in 1945, an d 4,820,000,000,000 cu f t of n a tu ra l gas, m aking th e to ta l barrel equivalent of petroleum products in 1945 2,650,000,000 brl. G. D . H.
670. Oil R ush on in Northwest Colorado. Anon. Petrol. E ng., Jan. 1946, 17 (4), 224.
— Developm ents are tak in g place around R angely, in th e Brook p lateau region of northw est Colorado. The productive W eber sand, 6000 f t deep, w as first pen etrated in 1933, b u t isolation precluded fu rth er developm ent u n til 1945. Reserves are esti
m ated a t 418 million brl, w ith th e field lim its n o t y e t defined. A 150-mile 10-inch pipeline has been built to W ansutter, W yoming, where there are trunk-line connections.
G. D. H .
ABSTRACTS. 2 0 5 a
671. Second Test is Planned in Chile’s New Oil Field. Anon. Oil W kly, 18.2.4G, 120 (12), 44.—The discovery well of th e oil field in th e D istrict of Majellanes flowed 200 brl/day through a ¿-inch choke, from 7419—7438 ft. A second well is to bo drilled
J mile to the n orth. G. G. H .
672. Alberta Production Decline Continues in 1945. J . L. Irw in. Petrol. T im es, 30.3.46, 50 (1270), 328.— S tatistical stu d y o f A lberta oilfields is presented which shows a general declino in to ta l production, in th e daily average an d tho overall value of the crude. O utside T urner Valley, however, tho overall change is tow ards an increase in production. T urner Valley is nevertheless tho m ost im p o rtan t source of petroleum for Canada, as it supplied 92-13% o f A lberta’s to ta l production, w hich production
forms 94-01% o f C anada’s to ta l for 1945. A. H . N.
673. K uwait Oil Shipments to Start W ithin 90 Days. A non. Oil Gas J ., 16.2.46, 44 (41), 86.— Crude oil shipm ents from th e B urgan field are expected to s ta r t in May.
Tho productive capacity is 30,000 b rl/d ay . All tho wells were plugged in 1942, and tho nine wells aro being ro-comploted. I t is hoped to bring in all wells as dual-zone producers, an d th ey are expected to give 2500 b rl/d ay from each zone. The wells are drilled to th e U pper Cretaceous, th e m axim um d ep th being 4750 it . Tho oil is of 32-36-4° A .P .I. g ravity, and has 1-9% of free sulphur. The reserves aro conservatively
estim ated a t 5,000,000,000 brl. G. D. H .
674. Crude Runs Start from Second A rabian Field. Anon. Oil Gas J ., 16.2.46, 44 (41), 86.—A 40-mile 12-inch pipeline from A bqaiq to D h ahran has begun to deliver oil, and a 40-milo 12-inch lino from D h ah ran to R as T anura, parallel w ith th e existing line, is under construction.
The D am m am field of th e D h ahran area was h ith erto Saudi A rabia’s only producing field, giving 95,000 b rl/d ay .
Abqaiq is 40 miles southw est of D hahran. Tho discovery well was com pleted in 1941 a t 6180 ft, giving oil from tho D m em ber of tho A rab zone. F ive wells have been completed, proving an area about 7 miles long and 3 miles wide, w ith o u t delim iting tho stru ctu re in any direction. The stru ctu re m ay bo one o f th e largest in tho Middle
E ast. G. D . H .
675. Zistersdorf Production Receives Sharp Cutback. Anon. Oil W kly, 18.2.46, 120 (12), 44.—Tho p resent production a t Zistersdorf is a t tho rato of 3,226,600 brl/year, but in 1944 it is reported to have produced 9,758,536 brl. G. D. II.
676. W ar’s End Brings Accelerated Activity in Yumen, China’s Only Oilfield. K . C. Lu.
Oil Gas J ., 29.12.45, 44 (34), 253.—The Y um en field of K ansu Province w as opened in 1939. I t is on th e n o rth ern flank o f tho Chihlienshan Range. Tho initial well was completed as a pum per a t 500 ft. A flowing well was com pleted in 1941 a t 1430 ft.
Development was slow because of supply difficulties, b u t since the w ar ended expansion of tho production and refining capacity has been begun.
Production is from tw o Cretaceous sands, bo th m edium grained and of high porosity, and about 150 f t thick. A ctive seeps occur where tho Shihyouho R iver cuts across the structure, and a t an outcrop 2 miles to tho east. L ittle is know n ab o u t th e su b surface stru ctu re w hich seems sym m etrical.
Seven wells woro drilled betw een 1939 and 1941, tho average depths of these pum pers being 550 ft. Since th en 18 flowing wells have been drilled by ro tary . Several oil sands have been found b eneath th e lower producing sand.
Drilling and production practices are briefly described. O u tp u t is 1500-2200 brl/day. Several topping batteries an d a pipe-still have been built, and a therm al cracking p lan t is being erected. The crude gives ab o u t 21% of straig h t-ru n high- octane gasoline.
677. Chinese Reserves Still a Mystery. Anon. Petrol. Eng., Nov. 1946, 17 (2), 184.
—Oil has been discovered an d some reserves proved in K ansu, Shensi, Sinkiang and Szechuan Provinces. There aro less substantial oilfields in Chekiang, Kweichow and Sikang. Oil shalo occurs in K w angtung, Shensi, Szechuan, Kwangsi, C hahar, Jehol and Liaoning.
2 0 6 a ABSTRACTS.
I n 1934 th ere w as estim ated to be 1376 million b rl o f oil reserves in Shensi and Szechuan, 2110 million brl in th e four n o rthern provinces an d 852 million brl of shale oil reserves in Shensi. U.S. Geological Survey estim ates wero 1375 million brl o f crude
an d 1899 million brl of shale oil. G. D. H.
R e f i n e r y Op e r a t i o n s.
R efineries and A u xiliary Refinery P lan t.
678. Selection and Application oi Refinery Instrum ents. P art I. A. Iire ig . Petrol.
Engr, J a n . 1946, 17 (4), 120.—Tho m ajor factors which m u st bo considered in the selection o f a pressure in stru m en t for a specific application are ::—safety, accuracy, flexibility, sim plicity, service facilities an d standardization. These also apply to in stru m en ts for tem perature, liquid level or flow. P neum atic control action is most com m only used, an d is classified in three groups :— (a) On-off or fixed sen sitiv ity ; (6) proportional or adjustable se n s itiv ity ; (c) proportional re-sot or adjustable sensi
tiv ity w ith autom atic re-sct. The application o f instrum ents an d accessories for indicating, recording, regulating o r control of pressure are shown in diagram s, described an d discussed u nder th e following sections :—self-acting regulator, pilot-oporated pressure regulator, sum p level control, hydraulic coupling scoop control, tow er and receiver pressure control. P neum atic transm ission as practised a t tho Paulsboro
refinery is discussed. W . H . C.
679. Metals and Alloys in the Petroleum Industry. J . H . W ilson. J . In st. Petrol., A pril 1946, 32 (268), 230-240.—Tho m etallurgy of ferrous a n d non-ferrous alloys and th eir use, especially in the petroleum ind u stry , is briefly studied. “ Safety ” tools used for non-sparlcing applications are discussed, w ith special w arnings against using cast
“ safety ” tools and against using th em when th ey pick up silica d u st against steel, as
th e y m ay spark. A. H . N.
680. Corrosion Protection oi Steel Pipe by Resin Baking Coating. Anon. N a t. Petrol.
News, Tech. Sect., 5.12.45, 57 (49), R992.—A p ap er on resin baked coatings b y induc
tion heating by R . J . Moore, read before th e F ederation of P a in t a n d V arnish P roduc
tion Clubs, is reviewed. Tho phenol-aldehyde resins possess ideal properties for the p ro tectiv e coating of m etals an d o th er m aterials, an d during th e w ar th eir application h as been enorm ously extended. Their m any uses are described. Tho baked resin finishes aro plastic coatings which result from th e polym erization of th e phenol- aldehyde reaction resins on heating (therm osetting), w hich transform s th e alcohol soluble phenol-aldehyde resin p roduct into an alcohol insoluble a n d infusible m aterial, tho so-called C-stage of the process. Because o f tho polym erization conversion these baked coatings harden to a glass-like surface which w ithstands shock and high tem pera
tu res an d pressures w ithout deterioration, an d are very resistan t to corrosive m aterials.
These therm osetting resins are discussed in com parison w ith th e oxidation films from p ain ts a n d varnishes an d th e im provem ents th e y afford when used in association w ith them . G reat im provem ent in th e film properties has resulted from th e use of induction heating, b y w hich h e a t is induced in th e m etal object b y passing th e coated m etal through an electrom agnetic field actu a ted by high or low frequency altern atin g current.
B y th is m eans continuous production cycles for transform ing th e resin coating m ay be obtained, giving uniform cures in a few m inutes, as com pared w ith conventional and infra-red ovens, w hich ta k e 20-60 min. A nother advantage is th a t, by th is m ethod of heating, th e film n e x t to th e m etal is first heated, an d th e possibility of “ case-harden
ing ” does not occur. A diagram of a laboratory continuous induction pipe coating ap p a ra tu s is shown. The applications o f th e baked resin coatings in th e petroleum in d u stry are discussed.
Coated pipelines buried in various types of corrosive soils rem ained practically unaffected after 4-6 years.
Low pressure boiler tubes w ith b aked phenolic resin coatings have rem ained in use for four years w ithout a failure under th e sam e conditions in which uncoated tubes failed in th ree m onths, i.e., on tho outside w ater containing m ineral salts a t 220° F and flame and flue gases through th e inside a t 675° F.
ABSTRACTS. 2 0 7 a
Adm iralty m etal tu b es in h e a t exchangers w ith gasoline or oil outside a t 215° F and brackish to sa lt w ater a t 180-212° F inside, failed in 4 m onths. Steel tubes coated with baked plionol resin, h ave been in use tw o years under th e sam o conditions.
Baked rosin coated equipm ent, in which m ixed benzene, steam alcohol and acetic acid is used, is in excellont condition after four m onths’ operation.
Large refinery te s ts h ave shown th a t such coatings w ith stan d tho corrosion and pressure conditions in n a tu ra l gas lines a t 720 psi. These tests also involved resistance to lubricating oil an d to 30% CaCL solution. Sim ilar protective tre a tm e n t for boiler
and condenser is increasing. W . H . C.
681. New Design oi Downspout for Bubble Trays Separates Liquid from Foam and Vapours. Anon. N a t. Petrol. N ews, Tech, Sect., 5.12.45, 37 (49), R.990.— A radically new design of dow n-spout for bubble-cap tray s in fractionating colum ns is described in tho U .S.P. 2,385,355, g ran ted on 24.9.45 to C. G. Gcrhold and th e U .O .P. Co.
The new dow nspout design consists o f two conduits of th e sam e length b u t differing diameters, one concentric to th e other, th e outer dips beneath th e liquid in th e lower tray and extends about ono q u arter of its length above th e higher bubble-cap tr a y and ends in a cap through which th e inner pipe extends a b o u t ono q u arter o f its length.
Tho cap top is provided w ith a num ber of concentrically disposed ports. On tho peripliory of th e outer pipe (dow ntake) a t a p o in t im m ediately abovo th e bubble-cap tray is also a scries of concentrically arranged ports whose area is insufficient to allow the passing of liquid from th e tr a y beyond tho level required by th e bubble caps. Tho functions of tho design are described in detail and diagram m atic sketches are shown of it and a slightly different arrangem ent o f th e cap head ports.
By such m eans it is claim ed th a t “ a portion of th e liquid is utilized as an effectivo head to induce tho flow of liquid from th e tr a y into th e dow nspout w henever th e height of the liquid level upon tho tra y rises above a certain predeterm ined point. W hen tho liquid upon th e tr a y is below th is predeterm ined p o in t only th e height of liquid above tho tra y is effective as h ead for inducing flow to tho dow nspout. Tho increased head effected b y tho arrangem ent m akes possible tho use of sm aller dow nspouts, thereby releasing more tr a y area for bubble caps.” A ccum ulation of sedim ent on tho tra y s is
also elim inated. W . H . C.
682. North American Operating Refineries. Their Capacities and Locations. Anon.
Oil G asJ., 30.3.46, 44 (47), 254.— A sum m ary is given of th e location an d capacities of active p lants in th e U nited S tates and C anada as a t 1946.
Tho type of refinery w hether for lubricating oils, asphalt, or gasoline, for example, is stated, together w ith tho crude oil an d cracking capacity. The list includes U.S.
Government owned synthetic rubber plants, also refineries in Mexico aro noted. D a ta on catalytic an d associated units include typo, capacity, alkylation and isom erization
production. G. A. C.
683. Recent W ork on Corrosion and Oxidation. U. R . E vans. J . chem. Soc., 1946, 207.—A review of recont w ork on the “ w et ” and “ dry ” corrosion of m etals is given with particu lar reference to tho oxidation of iron an d zinc. A n electrom etrio stu d y of oxidative filming reactions a t high tem peratures has shown th a t tho effect of tem p era
ture on tho variation of film thickness w ith tim e is parabolic or exponential, according to the tem perature. B y a stu d y of th e effect of im purities on tho electrical con- ductivity, it has been found th a t selective oxidation tre a tm e n t of alum inium in a Cu-Al alloy will render th e copper highly resistan t to high tem perature oxidation.
The mechanism o f corrosion of iron an d o th er m etals in oxygen-containing salt solutions is described an d shows th a t, w hereas a discontinuous co at of m etal w hich is cathodic to iron is highly corrosive, a m etal (e.g., Zn) which is anodic to iron is very protective and, when applied as p a in t to a ru s ty surface, will even prev en t fu rth er corrosion. A discussion of inhibitors shows th a t anodic inhibitors, although m ore efficient th a n cathodic inhibitors, are dangerous if added in insufficient am o u n t owing
to intensified corrosion. U H . K .
684. Measuring M aterial Characteristics by the Penetron. R . C. Grarmer. Petrol.
Times, 27.4.46, 50 (1272), 438.—Tho Penetron is an instrum ent utilizing p en etratin g gamma rays which rapidly and accurately provides inspection d a ta on lines, vcsscLs
2 0 8 a ABSTRACTS.
a n d tlicir contents w ithout injury to tho m aterial being inspected. I t also determines density o f liquids an d locates liquid levels or tho interface betw een tw o immiscible liquids, w ith o u t access to th e interior o f th e containing vessel. The principle of the operation briefly is th is :—th e radiation detector is placed against tho w all o f the line or vessel upon which m easurem ent is to be tak en . The gam m a rays, which aro co n stan tly em itted from tho radium source, im pinge upon th e vessel w all and actually p en etrate th is wall. A portion of these ray s is scattered in all directions by the electrons of th e atom s w hich m ake tip tho wall. Some of those scattered ray s emerge on tho sam e side of th e w all from w hich th ey originally entered. I t is th is particular portion of th e radiation, term ed back-scattored radiation, w hich is utilized in the P cn etro n ’s Conventional D etector, for m easuring w all thickness. B y m easuring tho in ten sity of th e back-scattered rad iatio n b y m eans o f tho detector, it is possiblo to determ ine th e thickness o f th e wall, since for a w all o f an y given com position the in ten sity of th e back-scattered radiation increases as a direct function of th e wall thickness. Calibration curves for various m etals and m aterials are supplied w ith the in stru m en t. P hotographs illu strate th e in stru m en t an d its use. A. H . N.
D istillation.
685. Process Development and Production o£ Isohexane and Isoheptane as Aviation Fuel Components. S. F . Birch, P. D ocksey a n d J . H . Dove. J . In st. Petrol., April 1946, 32 (268), 167-205.— E arly in 1940 th e m ain com ponents of 100-octane fuel were either hydrocarbon fractions isolated from crude by physical m eans, such as distillation o r solvent extraction, or, altern ativ ely , were hydrocarbon fractions produced by sy n th etic processes, such as pyrolysis, alkylation an d catalytic polym erization followed by hydrogenation. Com ponents such as these were th en blended w ith a suitable baso stock an d T .E .L . to give th e final 100-octane fuel, a n d it w as duo to tho difficulty experienced in th e production o f a suitable base stock th a t a program m e of w ork was in stitu te d which culm inated in 1944 in the production of 315,000 g al/d ay o f refined isohexane an d isoheptane fractions, representing a b o u t 35% o f tho daily o u tp u t of 100-octane aviation fuel from th e A n g lo -Iran ian Oil Com pany R efinery a t A badan.
The o u tp u t of those tw o com ponents is obtained from eight fractionating units, each 12 ft in diam eter, four being fitted w ith 50 bubble-trays, tw o w ith 70- an d 100-plate u n its were b u ilt as double columns, so th a t th ere are tw elve columns in all, varying betw een 120 an d 140 ft in height. The com plete super-fractionation installation, including staging, exchangers, pum ps, an d pipew ork, represents 6300 sh o rt tons of steel, which is equivalent of 0-7 to n steel/b rl/d ay o f useful p roduct. A. H . N.
686. Toluole Recovery. A non. Chem. T r .J ., 118 (3077), 593.— A report of a m eeting o f tho Coke-Oven M anagers A ssociation a t w hich a n azeotropic distillation process for th e production o f high g rav ity n itra tio n toluole from low -gravity benzole, w as described.
W ith a crude toluole, distillation w ith m ethyl alcohol as an entraining agent brings over in succession, non-arom atic hydrocarbons o f increasing boiling p o in t u p to 125° C, th en toluene plus hydrocarbons boiling ca 125° C an d finally hydrocarbons of still higher boiling point, each fraction containing m othanol. F o r th e production of high-gravity n itra tio n toluole from such a raw m aterial, i t is unnecessary to rem ove the higher boiling im purities b y m eans o f th e e n train er since, if th e y are left behind w ith th e toluene, it can readily be separated from them by norm al fractionation a fter an acid w ash to removo sa tu ra te d hydrocarbons an d sulphur compounds.
U sing th e sam e m ethod, non-arom atic hydrocarbons can be separated from benzene,
from xylene and from higher hydrocarbons. T . M. B. M.
Absorption and Adsorption.
687. Practical Refrigeration for N atural Gasoline Plants. R . W . H eath , J . B. Taylor, J r ., an d P. W . Hill. Oil G a sJ ., 23.2.46, 44 (42), 128.— Consideration is lim ited to the use o f propane as a refrigerant a n d to tho application in low-pressure absorption p lan ts w ith absorber pressures of less th a n 100 psi.
T he advantages o f refrigeration lie in tho b e tte r separation of tho fixed gases from th e fat-oil ta n k and wherever colder tem peratures are developed. Tho cost o f installing such a u n it is sm all, an d tho benefits are easily appreciated in existing p lan ts w here it
