Journal of the Institute of Petroleum, Vol. 31, Abstracts, March

JAUCH 1 9 4 5 . _{8 1 A}

A B S T R A C T S .

Qh a t c t.t) Ex p j l o r a t i o x a n d Es-

* PLOITATIOXL G eology...

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

D rillin g ...

P ro d u c tio n D ev elo p m en t ...

T R A N SP O R T Æ D S T O R A G E Re t t e e r x Op e r a t i o e s.

R efineries a n d A u x ilia ry R e ­ fin ery P la n t ..."

D istilla tio n

A b s o rp tio n a n d A d so rp tio n S olvent E x tr a c tio n a n d D

w a x in g C racking H y d ro g e n a tio n P o ly m eriz atio n

P A G E | ^{P A G E}

A lk y latio n 113 a

Iso m e riz atio n ... 114 a

82 4- C hem ical a n d P h y s ic a l R efining 115 A

S pecial P rocesses 116 a

SS A

$ 9 A

S a fe ty P re c a u tio n s 116 a

92 a Pr o d u c t s.

1 0 2 a C h e m istry a n d P h y s ic s 117 a

106 a A n a ly sis a n d T e s tin g ... 118 a

C rude Oils 1 2 0 a

G as 121 A

E n g in e F u e ls ... 1 2 2 a

108 a L u b ric a n ts 123 a

1 1 0 a B itu m e n , A s p h a lt a n d T a r ... 125 a 1 1 0 a S pecial H y d ro c a rb o n P ro d u c ts 125 a

Coal, Shale a n d P e a t ... 126 a

110 A m iscellaneous P ro d u c ts 126 a

111 A E n g in es a n d A u to m o tiv e E q u ip ­

1 1 2a 1 1 2 a

m e n t 129 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 e A b s tr a c t N u m b er.

The original papers referred to in the abstracts marked w ith1 an asterisk may be borrowed by Members from the Institute Library.

A bernathy, C. GL. 373 A bram ow kz, W ., 376 Adam s, E . W ., 371 A lbertson, ML M., SOS Anderson, J . G-. G., 375 Annesley, GL, 303 Arps, J.' j . , 283 Bancroft, C. C., 303 Barnes, K . B ., 295, 296 B arn h art, W. J . , 303 B am icoat, 0 . B ., 355 B asin g e r, B .. 303 B ates, J . B ., 333 B ars. C. A . 2S7 Beach. E. EL, 306 Bell, D . B ., 339 B encienstein, C. H .} 303 Blade, O. C-, 367 B lair, C. ML, 303 Bleu, EL, 292, 362 Bond, D . C., 303 B oynton, A , 303 Bradley, T . F_. 373 B ran d t, D . G., 331 B renneke, A M.. 301 Brink, EL C. Ten, 303 Brooke, A F ., 336 Brown, C. G.i 31S Brown, O. J ., 361 B nthod, P ., 327 B ym s, A C., 331 Camelford, J . A , 339 Campaigne, E ., 349 Campbell, GL A . 379 C hapm an, T. S., 303 Chenaolt, B . A . 303 Clire, J . EL. 349 Coates, GL E ., 323 Collier, G-. P ., 321 Cook, E . W ., 372 Coonrod, P.,' 303 Corwin, A H ., 350

G

Crake, W . S t. E ., 303 C ropper, F . P . , 361 D ahlgren, E . G ., 242 D am m , ¥ . W ., 326 D a ris, B-. L ., 341 D elattre, J ., 333 D oll, H . G., 303 D un lay, E . E ., 330 D ykes, BL. 362 D y k stra, H ., 292 Edw ards, A O-, 303 Egloff, G ., 333 Ellingson, B . C., 350 E fliott, L . P ., 336 E re rfn g , B . L ., 337 Fag en , X ., 337 Fercis, A T ., 303 F in ley , W . L ., 372 Fischer, F . EL, 383 F isher, C. H ., 351 F itz p atrick , J . J ., 303 Fowler, F . G., 818 F rain , J . W .. 303 F rey, F . E ., 339, 340, 333 F ritz , J . H ., 374 Fröhlich, H ., 343 Garrison, A D ., 303 G arer, EL M., 374 Gibson, J . D ., 338 Gilbert, E . E ., 369 Gold, L ., 376 Goldsby. A B ., 336 G oldsm ith, D. P . J ., 336 Goodson, L . B ., 331 Gorin, M. BL, 339 Greene, BL H ., 303 Gregersen, A , 243 Gregersen, A I ., 259 Griffiths, F . P ., 365 G rores, W ., 303

G ram m itt, C., 353 G nest, P . G., 354 G underson, B . E ., 303 Gnnness, B . C-, 329 B a ll, B . F ., 353 H assler, G. L ., o03 H a tc h , G. B ., 336 H em m inger, C. E ., 333 H en ry , B . W .9 331 H icks, J . F . G., 344 H ilto n , L . D ., 303 H ollingsw orth, G. P ., 373 H ooley, J . G., 344 H o rto n , F .. 336 H o ughton, A . A , 357 H n p p k e, W . F ., 340 H y m an , J ., 374 Ip atieff, V . FT., 338 I r e s , G. O ., 250 J a h n , E . J . , 374 Jo h n so n , H . B ., 339 E a o , J . T ., 376 E a tz , D . L ., 292, 362 E an h o fer. E . R ., 339 Eeller, B ’ A , 348 E e lio n , F . G. J r ., 303 E e m p , L. C., 336 E en n ed y , W . Q., 375 E irk , j:h., 372 E leinzeller, A , 356 Eom arew sky, V. I ., 347 E o p p ers, H~, 366 E o rp i, EL, 339 E ozacik, A P ., J r ., 374:

Danze, H . G., 303 Larsen, D. H ., 303 L ayne, L. A , 303 Dee, E . C., 333 Leffingwell, G ., 286

L ehm ann, S., J r ., 303 P eh n h ard , P . J ., 284 Lesser, M. A , 286 D e re r, C. D ., 373 Logan. E . H ., 320 Logan, L . J ., 244, 261 Loeffler, J . E ., 297 L u, C. S., 346’

McAfee, A ML, 330 McGee, D ., 246 M cTee. A R ., 275 M attox, W . J ., 334 Merrill, G. S., 373 Meyer, C. A , 383 Miller, F . L .. 371 Miller. G.. 303 Miller, O. E ., 336 Miller, W . J ., 303 Mills, E . E . , '302 M ontgomery, J . V., 331 M oriarty, F . C., 339 Morse, B . E ., 365 Moser, J ., 303 Moullin, E . B ., 342 M uskat, M., 268 E a g le, B . E ., 335, 336 E elson, W . L ., 320, 363,

364

Zsicholson, A. J . C., 360 E ig h iin g ale, D . V ., 352 Effl, E . A , 372 E o b le, W . B ., 303

O’Donnell, J . P ., 332 O’E e lly , A A , 336 Oswin, C. B ., 359 Otis, B . M., 303 P ag e, J . M., 339 P ark er, F . S., 243 F eco t, G. B ., 303 P ete rk in , A. G., 333

P evere, E. F ., 336, 340 Polly, O. L ., 331 P r a tto n , C. P ., 372 P ry o r, C. 0 ., 298 R aym ond, E . P ., 303 R ecto r, L. L ., 303 R ehberg, C. E ., 351 Reiff, O. M. 374 R ichey, J . E ., 375 R obinson, E . A ., 374 R obinson, R. C., 370 R oehner, T. G-., 370 Rom anoff, M., 320 Sandenbnrgh, 373 Sawdon, W . A ., 245, 267,

278, 299, 305, 308 S cheurm ann, L. N ., 303

S chm erling, L ., 338 , Schm idl, A. J ., 339 Schulze, W. A ., 328 Scoville, L. P ., 336 . Shaffer, D. U ., 303

S h an d , C., 347 S hort, E . H ,. J r ., 273, 380 Simons, H . P ., 269 .Skofield, L . M., 365 S m ith, A. K ., 372 Sm ith, P . A. S., 348 Snow, R. D ., 340 Spies, J . W ., 349 Standefer, R . B ., 303 S tephenson, C. C., 344 S terre tt, E ., 266 Still, J . E ., 358 S tockm an, L. P ., 258,

271, 272

S to d d ard , A. D ., 303 Stom e, J . B ., 303 Strafford, N ., 361 Stucker, J . B ., 372 Stuff, A ., 376 'Suter, C. M., 345 Swenson, R. A ., 372 Sw igart, T. E ., 519 Taylor, P. B ., 281, 285 Taylor, R . G-., 303 Thom as, C. L., 333 Thom as, W . D ., 372 T itu s, H . L ., 364 Trim , A. R ., 356 T ruce, W . E ., 345 TJngnade, H . P ., 352 Y anderbilt, B.,M ., 333

YiUiers, T. E . de, 372 W ang, S. 1ST., 346 W a rd , A. G-., 360 W eem s, G. S., 337 W elinsky, I . H ., 339 W ertheim , J ., 365 W est, T. P ., 379 W h iteley , B. W ., 327 * W h ittier, W . A ., 372 WiHiams, N ., 276, 280,

288, 289 W ilson, W . W ., 303 W orden, R ., 376 W orm er, O. W . v an , 303 Y o st, L ., 303 Z aba, J ., 279

O

E

E

. Geology.

242. West Edmond Opens Big Area for Hunton. E . G. D a h lg ren . O il W k ly , 18.9.44, 115 (3), 31.— T h e W e s t E d m o n d field of c e n tra l O k lah o m a p ro v id es th e first im p o rta n t p ro d u c tio n on th e w e st flan k of th e N e m a h a g ra n ite rid g e. I t h a s th e d e ep e st a n d m o st w este rly k n o w n H u n to n lim esto n e oil p ro d u c tio n . T h e m o st n o r th e r ly a n d m o st so u th e rly p ro d u c in g w ells a re 9 m l. a p a r t. P a r ts of th e field h a v e b e en defined on th e e a s t a n d w est. O n th e e a s t, th e B ois d ’A rc p ro d u c in g sectio n is m issing. 126 wells h a v e b een c o m p le te d o n 40-acre sp ac in g in th e B ois d A r c se c tio n of th e H u n to n (D ev o n ian ). T w o w ells p ro d u c e fro m th e B a rtle sv ille , a n d one fro m t h e Oswego.

T h e re a re six d ry holes.

T h e d rillin g d e p th is 6700-7200 f t., a n d th e a v era g e d rillin g tim e is a b o u t 70 days.

C o n tra c t drillin g p rices ra n g e $6-75-7-50 p e r fo o t. D e ta ils of d rillin g a n d co m p letio n p ra c tic e s a re giv en . 3,208,000 b rl. of oil h a d b e en p ro d u c e d to 2 0 th A u g u s t.

T h e field w as d isco v ered in A p ril 1943. T h e d isc o v ery w ell fo u n d th e first a n d second W ilco x sa n d s a t 7508 a n d 7640 ft., re sp ec tiv e ly , a n d b o th w ere u n p ro d u c tiv e . T h e H u n to n w as te s te d a t 6938-6956 ft. T h e b o tto m -h o le p re ssu re w a s 3130 lb ./s q . in.

T h e field m a y b e 24 m l. long a n d 5 m l. w ide.

T h e p o st-M ississip p ian erosion re m o v e d som e of th e W o o d fo rd sh ale a n d c h e rt (D ev o n ian o r M ississippian), a n d m u c h of th e M ississippi lim esto n e. T h e B ois d ’A rc lim esto n e of th e H u n to n a v era g es 70 ft. in th ic k n e ss, a n d is 150 f t. th ic k in p a rts . P o rtio n s of it a re do lo m itic a n d c ry stallin e . E s tim a te s p lac e th e p o ro s ity a t 1 0 -1 5 % , a n d th e s a tu r a tio n a t 5 0 % . A n ero sio n al c h an n e l h a s re m o v e d m u c h of th e Bois d ’A rc sectio n in one p lac e. T h ere is a sim ilar gu lley in th e n o rth e rn p a r t of th e old E d m o n d field. N o w ells h a v e re a c h ed th e A rb u ck le.

T h e p re ssu re d ro p a p p e a rs to b e 1 lb. p e r 16,848 b rl. of oil w ith d ra w n . N a tu ra l flow m a y co n tin u e u n til th e p re ssu re falls to 1000 lb ./s q . in. o r less. N o ev id en ce of a w a te r d riv e h a s b e en n o te d . T h e gas seem s to b e co m in g o u t o f solu tio n .

B a rro w h a s e s tim a te d W e s t E d m o n d ’s re serv e a s 117,000,000 b rl. in A u g u s t 1944.

A n o th e r e s tim a te gav e 144,000,000 brl.

A geological m a p , iso p ach m ap , a n d c ro ss-sec tio n a re in clu d e d . G. D . H . 243. Prospects Favourable for Deeper California Production. A . G regersen a n d F . S.

P a rk e r. Oil W k ly , 25.9.44, 115 (4), 34.— T h e risk s in v o lv e d in d e ep e r zone e x p lo ra tio n a re less t h a n in w ild c a ttin g fo r a new field, since th e s tr u c tu r a l h a z a rd is m a te ria lly red u ced . T h e m a in p ro b le m s co n cern source a n d re serv o ir rocks.

E o cen e fo rm a tio n s a p p e a r to offer m o st of th e u n te s te d p ro s p e c ts fo r d e ep e r zone p ro d u c tio n in C alifornia. C om m ercial p ro d u c tio n h a s b een o b ta in e d fro m th e E o cen e in th e S an J o a q u in a n d S a c ram en to V alleys, a n d in th e V e n tu ra B asin , w h ile th e r e h a v e b e en show ings in th e S a n ta M aria a n d Los A ngeles B a sin s. G as h a s b e en p ro d u c e d co m m ercially fro m th e C retaceous in th e S a n J o a q u in a n d S a c ram en to V alleys, w hile oil h a s b e en o b ta in e d a t C oalinga. T h e “ b a se m e n t ” ro ck s also offer possib ilities.

A n u m b e r of fields in th e L os A ngeles B a sin h a v e n o t c o m p le te ly p e n e tr a te d th e

ABSTRACTS. 8 3 a

M iocene Section. T h e b u lk of th e p ro d u c tio n is fro m th e u p p e rm o s t M iocene. I n tw o in sta n c e s p ro d u c tio n is fro m th e M iddle M iocene. T h e n o rth -e a s te rn p a r t of th e L os A ngeles B a sin seem s b e s t fo r E ocene p ro sp e cts.

O n th e e a s t side of th e S an J o a q u in V alley th e b a se m e n t h a s been reach ed In m o st fields. O n th e w est side th e re c e n t d iscovery of E ocene p ro d u c tio n in th e A n telo p e field h a s en h an c ed th e deeper p ro sp e cts for E ocene p ro d u c tio n in o th e r fields on th e w e st side.

I n th e V e n tu ra B asin one of th e m o st p ro m in e n t u n te s te d p o ssibilities is t h a t of accu m u la tio n below th e m a jo r th r u s t fa u lts b o rd e rin g th e S a n ta C lara R iv e r V alley.

D eeper p o ssibilities in th e S a n ta M aria B a sin fields are larg ely concerned w ith a cc u m u ­ la tio n below th e M o n terey (U p p er M iocene), w h ere oil fro m M iocene shales h a s h a d a chance to m ig ra te in to su c h older rocks.

M ost of th e gas fields in th e N o rth e rn D is tric t h a v e p e n e tra te d a n d te s te d beds of U p p e r C retaceous age. I n som e of th ese fields o nly th e u p p e rm o s t C retaceous sands h a v e been fo u n d p ro d u c tiv e.

T he possib ilities of th e v a rio u s fields a re briefly discussed, a n d tab le s give th e p ro ­ ducing h orizons a n d th e g re a te s t d e p th s a tta in e d in th e differen t fields. A series of

m ap s a re inclu d ed . G. D . H .

244. Exploration Increased; August Record Good. L. J . L ogan. Oil W kly, 25.9.44, 115 (4), 52.#yD uring A u g u st, e x p lo ra to ry c om pletions a v e ra g ed 97 p e r w eek in U .S.A ., a n d th e re w ere 91 successful e x p lo ra to ry wells, a t le a st a dozen of w hich a re of special in te rest. T h e E y la u field of E a s t T ex as (Bowie C ounty) p ro v id ed th e S ta te ’s first Sm ackover lim estone p ro d u c tio n . I n W est T ex as, th e C ro ssett field w as o pened b y th e S ta te ’s first D ev o n ian p ro d u c er. T h e C h a rlo tte field of A tasco sa C ounty, S outh C en tral T ex as, o p en ed a new region of E d w a rd s lim estone p ro d u c tio n . T h e S o u th T y ler field of S m ith C ou n ty , E a s t T exas, a p p ea rs to be a m a jo r find. O il is o b tain e d from th e R odessa a t 9919—9929 ft., a n d th e re a re fo u r p ro sp ectiv e p a y zones b etw een 9556 a n d 9961 f t. T h e F u lle rto n field of W es t T ex a s h a d a l |- m l . e x tension, a n d a new deeper p a y .

A n im p o rta n t gas a re a w as o pened in B arlo w C ou n ty , K a n sa s. N ew oilfields in Clay a n d R ich la n d C ounties w ere am o n g Illin o is’ dozen discoveries a n d extensions.

T he F o rk field of M ecosta C ou n ty , M ichigan, w as e x te n d ed co nsiderably. A gas discovery w as m ad e in Solano C ou n ty , C alifornia, a n d a rich new zone w as opened in th e R io V ista field.

A n a v erag e of 81 w ild cats p e r w eek h a v e b een c o m p leted in U .S.A . d u rin g th e first eig h t m o n th s of 1944. I n th e corresp o n d in g p e rio d of 1943 th e figure w as 67.

18-5% of th is y e a r ’s com pletions h a v e b een successful, co m p ared w ith 17-9% in th e sam e p erio d of 1943, b u t th e in crease in oil discoveries h a s b een less th a n for gas a n d d istillate discoveries.

T he A u g u st new discoveries a n d exten sio n s a re lis te d w ith p e rtin e n t d a ta . T ables sum m arize th e ex p lo ra to ry d r illing re su lts b y S ta te s a n d d istric ts for A u g u st, a n d for th e first eig h t m o n th s of 1944, a n d give som e co m p a rativ e to ta ls fo r 1943.

G. D . H . 245. Colombia Is Active both in Development and Exploration. W . A. Saw don.

Petrol. Engr, O cto b er 1944, 16 (1), 78.— D esp ite eq u ip m e n t sh o rtag es, w ild ca t drilling h a s gone on in C olom bia, a n d w h en th e situ a tio n becom es easier e x p lo ra to ry w o rk will increase. P ro d u c tio n is o b ta in e d fro m L a C ira, I n fa n ta s , P e tro le a, T res B ocas, Socuavo, R io de Oro, C asabe, E l Dificil, a n d A g u as Claras.

S hortage of ta n k e rs h a s cau sed th e C olom bian p ro d u c tio n to be seriously re s tric te d during th e p a s t tw o y ears, b u t th e o u tp u t is rising, a n d w as 13,000,000 b rl. d u rin g th e first h alf of 1944. T h e p re se n t p o te n tia l of th e p ro d u c in g fields exceeds ex p o rt facilities. Two pipe-lines w ith a to ta l c a p a c ity of n e a rly 30,000,000 b rl. /y ea r serve th e tw o m ain p ro d u cin g areas. A refinery a t B a rra n c a B e rm e ja h a s a c a p a c ity of 14,000 b rl. /day.

I f oil is discovered in th e L lan o s region a co n sid erab le tra n s p o rta tio n p ro b lem w ill arise.

N o rth of P e tro le a, drilling is proceeding in th e T res B ocas a n d Socuavo pools.

T he s tru c tu ra l co n ditions a re n o t k n o w n w ith c e rta in ty , a n d th e re m a y only be one stru c tu re , w ith p ro d u cin g zones a t 4500-5000 f t. a n d 8500-9000 ft. T h e T ib u a rea

also p ro d u ces. A t present-fchere is no a c tiv ity a t R io de O ro. T w e n ty w ells h a v e been co m p le te d a t C asabe a t d e p th s of 4000-7000 f t., a n d d e v elo p m en t is p ro cee d in g . T h ree w ells h a v e b e en d rilled a t E l D ificil to d e p th s of 5500-6000 ft. A w ell to th e so u th o b ta in e d a little oil a n d gas. A little oil h a s b e en fo u n d in one of th r e e w ells d rilled o n th e L a s M onas s tru c tu re , e a s t of A g u a s C laras. A p ro d u c er, w hose d e p th w as a b o u t 6000 f t., h a s b e e n c o m p le te d on th e C an tag allo concession, n e a r P u e rto W ilches. Shallow show ings a re re p o rte d in a w ild c a t n e a r th e S in u R iv e r, 50—60 m l.

fro m its m o u th . _ G. D . H .

246. The West Edmond Oilfield. D . M cGee. Petrol. E n g r, O c to b e r 1944, 16 (1), 227.— T h e W e s t E d m o n d field lies on th e w e st fla n k of th e G ra n ite R id g e, w e st of th e O k lah o m a C ity , B ritto n , a n d E d m o n d fields. T h e d isco v ery w ell w a s b r o u g h t in in A p ril 1943, flow ing 522 b rl./d a y fro m th e H u n to n . T h e b o tto m -h o le p re ssu re w as 3110 lb ./in. 2

T h e su rface b ed s a re of L ow er P e rm ia n age. T h e P e n n s y lv a n ia n h a s sev eral p e rs is te n t lim esto n es a n d a few th ic k sa n d b o d ies in -a g re y sh a le series. T h e p o st- M ississippian erosion d id n o t rem o v e th e w h o le of th e M ississip p ian b e d s a t W est E d m o n d , a n d M ississippian lim esto n e is fo u n d . T h e C h a tta n o o g a sh a le is d a rk a n d b itu m in o u s. P ro d u c tio n is fo u n d chiefly in th e B ois d ’A rc m em b e r of th e H u n to n . T his, th e to p m o s t p a r t of th e H u n to n , w edges o u t to th e e a s t. F e w w ells h a v e gone r ig h t th ro u g h th e H u n to n . B e n e a th a re th e S y lv a n sh ale, V iola lim esto n e, Sim pson dolom ite, a n d W ilcox sand.

T h e oil a n d gas a re tr a p p e d b y th in n in g of th e p ro d u c in g zone to th e e a s t, w ith slig h t n o r th - s o u th arch in g . T h e d ip is a b o u t 150 ft./m l.

T h e geological h is to ry of th e a re a is b riefly d e sc rib e d a n d illu s tr a te d b y a series of d iag ram s. A n o ld s tre a m c h an n e l c u t th ro u g h th e B ois d ’A rc m e m b e r in p a r t of th e a rea .

A p a rt fro m th e w ells g iv in g oil fro m th e B ois d ’A rc, th r e e p ro d u c e fro m ^ P e n n s y l­

v a n ia n sa n d , a n d tw o fro m th e lo w est p a r t of th e H u n to n .

A fte r a c id tr e a tm e n t th e a v era g e in itia l p ro d u c tio n of th e B ois d ’A rc w ells is 1200 b r l./d a y . A ll e x ce p t tw o of th e 164 w ells flow n a tu r a lly . R e c e n t c o m p letio n s h a v e h a d g a s-o il ra tio s ra n g in g 515-1400 cu. f t./b r l.

T h e B ois d ’A rc h a s p o ro u s stre ak s.

T h e p ro d u c tio n p ra c tic e s a re d escrib ed , as a re d rillin g p ra c tic e s , h a z a rd s , a n d c o n ­ s e rv a tio n p ra ctic e s.

T h e p rin c ip a l source of en erg y fo r oil p ro d u c tio n seem s to b e d issolved gas, n o t w a te r a d v an c e .

6560 acres h a v e b e en d e v elo p ed to d a t e ; p ro v e d a creag e a m o u n ts to 20,700 acres, a n d th e re is 8300 acres of possible p ro d u c tio n . I t is e x p e c te d t h a t reserv es w ill exceed 100,000,000 b rl., a n d m a y p o ssib ly re a c h 175,000,000 b rl.

T h e W es t E d m o n d d isco v ery m a y le a d to f u r th e r e x a m in a tio n of th e e a s t a n d n o r th rim s of th e w e s te rn O k la h o m a b a sin , w h e re th e H u n to n is sim ila rly p a r tly o r w holly

tr u n c a te d . G. D . H .

247.* Prospective Colombian Discovery Is Reaming. A n o n . O il Gas J ., 28.10.44, 43 (25), 51.— T h e C olom bian w ild ca t, 1 F lo re sa n to , h a s h a d a sh a llo w oil show ing, a n d w as re am in g a t 2218 ft. 5 C an ta g allo , in th e M ag d alen a V alley, w as a b an d o n e d a t 7059 ft.

O n th e B arco concession 10 S ocuavo is te s tin g a t 5384 ft.

I n V enezuela 8 G uario, in th e S an J o a q u in a re a , is te s tin g a t 10,735 ft.

A te s t on P rin c e E d w a rd Is la n d , C an ad a, is d rillin g a t. 9775 ft. G. D . H . 248.* Prince Edward Island Test Drilling at 10,000 ft. A n o n . O il Gas J . , 28.10.44, 43 (25), 58.— T h e o b jec tiv e of th e w ild c a t b e in g d rille d in H ills b o ro u g h B a y , off P rin c e E d w a rd Is la n d , is th e M ississippian, e x p e c te d a t 12,000 ft. T h e w ell h a s now

re a c h e d a p p ro x im a te ly 1 0 , 0 0 0 ft. (j, j ) . j j ,

249.* Wildcat Completions and Discoveries. A no n . Oil Gas J . , 28.10.44, 43 (25), 131.— 73 w ild ca ts, 8 giv in g oil a n d 1 giv in g d istilla te , w ere c o m p le te d in U .S .A . d u rin g th e w eek e n d ed 2 1 st O cto b er, 1944. T h e c o m p le tio n re s u lts a re s u m m a riz e d b y

S ta te s a n d d is tric ts . G. D . H .

ABSTRACTS. 85^a 250. Willamar Field Becomes Major Development. G. O. Iv es. Oil W k ly, 30.10.44, 115 (9), 20.— T h e W illam ar field of W illacy C ou n ty , S o u th -w est T ex as, is on a n a n tic lin e, a n d will p ro b a b ly h a v e a p ro d u c in g a re a of 1 0 , 0 0 0 acres. P ro d u c tio n is from th e u p p e r 200 ft. of th e F rio . T h e o il-sand is in te rb e d d e d w ith shale, th e effective s a n d to ta llin g 5 0 -6 0 ft. T h e g a s-o il c o n ta c t is a t a d e p th of 7845 ft., a n d th e o il- w a te r c o n ta c t a t 7954 ft. T h e p re s e n t k n o w n reserv e is e stim a te d to be 70,000,000 b rl. 56 p ro d u c in g w ells a n d a d ry hole h a d b e en co m p le te d up to th e en d of S ep tem b er.

T h e s tru c tu re w as w o rk ed o u t b y th e reflection seism ograph in 1935, a n d th e d is­

co v ery w ell w as c o m p leted in N o v e m b er 1940, a f te r d rilling to 9002 ft. C om pletion w as a t 7620—7678 ft., a fte r th e w ell h a d alm o st b een a b an d o n e d as useless.

T h e early oil o u tle t w as b y tru c k s , th e n b y ta n k -c a r, a n d la te r b y pipe-line.

O ne of th e m ain difficulties in d e v elo p m en t h a s been t h a t of su itab le w a te r supplies.

S te am r o ta r y rig s a re em ployed. W ells ta k e 40-45 d a y s to d rill a n d cost a b o u t

$56,000 each. T h e e n tire sa n d sectio n is p e rfo ra te d because p e rm eab ilities a re low . D ev elo p m en t is o n a sta g g ere d 40-acre p a tte rn , to allow 20-acre sp acin g if fu tu re p erfo rm an ce re q u ire s it. T h e d a ily o u tp u t allow ed is a b o u t 5600 brl.

T h e L ow er F rio h a s n o t really b een te s te d , b u t 7 m l. to th e w est a w ild c a t fo u n d

sa n d y b ed s a t 4600 ft. in th e F rio . G. D . H .

251. Jarahueca Field Studied by American Companies. A non. Oil W kly. 30.10.44, 115 (9), 58.— T w elve p ro d u c in g wells h a v e b e en c o m p leted in th e J a ra h u e c a field of e a s t-c e n tra l S a n ta C lara P ro v in c e, C uba, since its discovery in O cto b er 1943. T he well logs show a n alm o st c o n tin u o u s section of se rp en tin e dow n to th e p ro d u cin g zone, w h ere oil is in a fra c tu re d se rp en tin e. T h e oil is essen tially of d istillate q u a lity , a n d can b e u sed asd o w -g rad e m o to r fuel w ith o u t special processing. G. D . H . 252. Pando Wildcat Abandoned. A non. Oil W kly, 30.10.44, 115 (9), 58.— P a n d o 1, in c e n tra l A n zo ateg u i, h a s b een a b an d o n e d a t 6900 ft. I t is 8 m l. from th e m ain

Oficina field a n d th e u n d ev elo p ed Areo discovery. G. D . H .

253. Russians Negotiating for Iran Exploration Rights. A non. Oil W kly, 30.10.44, 115 (9), 58.— R u ssia is n e g o tia tin g for ex p lo ra tio n rig h ts in I r a n n e a r th e C aspian.

T h e S a in an a re a e as t of T e h e ran is of special in te re s t, fo r a R u ss ia n c o m p an y c om pleted a d iscovery w ell th e re b efore th e R e v o lu tio n , b u t no f u rth e r drillin g h a s b e en done.

T h e n e a re st co m m ercial p ro d u c tio n is a t C hikishlar, 150 m l. to th e n o rth , in R u ssia.

A w ild ca t s tru c k oil n e a r A s te ra b a d , on th e R u ss ia n side of th e b o rd e r, several y ears

la te r, b u t th is also w as n o t developed. G. D. H .

254.* Wildcat Completions and Discoveries. A non. Oil Gas J ., 4.11.44, 43 (26), 147.—

S ev en ty -six w ild ca ts w ere c o m p leted in U .S .A . in th e w eek en d ed 2 8 th O ctober, 1944 ; 11 of th e m fo u n d oil a n d 4 fo u n d gas.

T he co m p letio n re su lts a re su m m arized b y S ta te s a n d d istric ts. G. D. H . 255*. Postwar Section: Supply. A non. Oil Gas J ., 18.11.44, 43 (29), 58.— I t is e stim a te d t h a t th e w o rld crude-oil o u tp u t w ill to ta l 2,504,525,000 b rl. in 1944, n e arly 200,000,000 b rl. m ore t h a n in 1943.

V enezuela’s o u tp u t m a y b e a b o u t 925,000 b r l./d a y a t th e en d of 1944, if th e d em an d continues, a n d i t c an be ex p an d e d to 1,000,000 b rl./d a y . C olom bia’s p ro d u c tio n h as increased to 6 6 , 0 0 0 b rl./d a y , a n d c a n b e ra is ed to 80,000 b rl./d a y w h e n pipe-line facilities are com pleted.

I ra q is delivering 84,000 b rl./d a y b y th e p ipe-line sy stem , a n d p lan s a re b ein g considered fo r doubling th e pipe-line c a p a c ity a fte r th e w ar. I r a n is e stim a te d to be HA pro d u cin g 285,000 b rl./d a y . C o n stru ctio n is u n d e r w a y w h ich w ill increase th e , & refinery cap a city to 400,000 b rl./d a y . B a h rein refines 20,000 b r l./d a y fro m th e island,

a n d a little im p o rte d from A ra b ia. T h e refinery c a p a c ity is to b e e x p an d e d to 55,000 E b rl./d a y . T h e a d d itio n a l cru d e w ill be o b tain e d fro m S audi A ra b ia. A larg e new

refinery is b ein g b u ilt a t R a s T a n a ru , S audi A ra b ia, a n d w hen th is is c o m p leted th e (25), o u tp u t of B a h rein a n d S audi A rab ia w ill b e ra ised to 100,000 b rl./d a y .

iriag K u w ait a n d Q a ta r h a v e larg e oil reserves, b u t a re n o t p ro d u c in g co m m ercially a t

by present.

[, T he U .S .S .R . o u tp u t is generally e stim a te d to be 600,000 b rl./d a y . N ew fields are

a ABSTRACTS.

k n o w n to h a v e b e en d isco v ered in re c e n t y e ars. R u m a n ia n p ro d u c tio n h a s ra n g e d 100,000-140,000 b rl./d a y in re c e n t y ears, a n d is u n lik e ly to b e in cre as ed u n til th e r e h a s b een a n o p p o rtu n ity fo r e x p lo ra tio n a n d d e v elo p m en t in n ew area s.

T h e D u tc h a n d B ritis h E a s t In d ie s m a y n o w b e p ro d u c in g o n ly a th ir d of th®ir 1942 o u tp u t of 175,000 b r l./d a y a n d a c o n sid era b le tim e w ill b e re q u ire d fo r r e h a b ili­

ta tin g th e ir fields a f te r th e w ar.

A u s tria is c re d ite d w ith 30,000 b rl./d a y , a n d H u n g a ry w ith 15,000 b rl./d a y . M exico re q u ire s e x p lo ra tio n a n d d e v elo p m en t befo re th e p ro d u c tio n c a n b e m a te ria lly in creased . P o z a R ic a p ro v id es a larg e p a r t of th e p re s e n t o u tp u t. T r in id a d ’s o u tp u t of a b o u t 60,000 b r l./d a y c a n n o t b e ra is e d w ith o u t th e d isc o v ery of n e w fields. A sim ilar s ta te of affairs ex ists in C an ad a, e x c e p t fo r th e F o r t N o rm a n a rea.

G. D . H . 258.* Postwar Section: Reserves. A n o n . O il Gas J ., 18.11.44, 43 (28), 61.— T he w o rld ’s p ro v e n oil reserv e s a re e s tim a te d to b e a little o v er 50,000,000,000 b rl. R a th e r m o re th a n h a lf of th is is a llo tte d to th e W e s te rn H e m isp h ere . R e c e n t d iscoveries in V enezuela h a v e ra is ed th e reserv es fro m 5,600,000,000 b rl. to 8,000,000,000 b rl. T h e P e rs ia n G ulf reserv es a re e s tim a te d a t 15,500,000,000 b rl., w ith a n e q u al q u a n tity in d ic a te d in fields n o t y e t fu lly ex p lo red . R u s s ia ’s re serv es a re p la c e d a t 5,700,000,000 b rl., b u t a re lik ely to b e tw o o r th re e tim e s th is a m o u n t.

In th e P e rs ia n G ulf a re a th e r a te of w ith d ra w a l is 1 b rl. to 134-6 b rl. of p ro v en re se rv e s; in N o rth A m erica th e ra tio is 1 b rl. to 11 b rl. of reserv es, a n d in S o u th A m erica 1 b rl. to 25 b rl. of reserves.

I n th e p o st-w a r p e rio d m u c h refin ery c o n s tru c tio n w ill ta k e p lac e in V enezuela.

M uch re h a b ilita tio n w ill b e n e ce ssary in c e n tra l E u ro p e a n d in som e A siatic areas.

G. D . H . 257.* Postwar Section: Exploration. A n o n . O il Gas J . , .18.11.44, 43 (28), 6 6.—

14,000,000,000 b rl. of oil m u s t b e fo u n d b y e x p lo ra tio n in U .S .A . b e fo re th e e n d of 1950 if th e ra tio of reserv es to c u rre n t p ro d u c tio n is to b e m a in ta in e d . T h is r a te of d isco v ery h a s b e e n a tta in e d in th e p a s t.

I n th e p o st-w a r p e rio d w ild c a ttin g in U .S .A . is e x p e c te d to a v era g e 8% less th a n in 1944. A s u b s ta n tia l in cre ase in w ild c a ttin g is p re d ic te d elsew here.

A co n sid erab le e x p an sio n in th e p ra c tic a l a p p lic a tio n s of th e th eo ries of reserv o ir c o n tro l is ex p ected .

T h e use of geophysics w ill b e e x p a n d e d a f te r th e w a r a n d g e o p h y sical d a ta w ill be m o re c o m p letely c o rre la te d w ith geological d a ta . T h e reflectio n seism o g rap h a n d g ra v im e te r w ill c o n tin u e to b e th e m o st w id ely u se d g e o p h y sica l in s tru m e n ts . T h e b e s t re su lts w ill b e o b ta in e d if th e y a re em p lo y ed in th e ir re sp ec tiv e fields of o p tim u m service, d e ta il, a n d reco n n aissan ce. I n b o th cases b e tte r in te r p r e ta tio n r a th e r th a n b e tte r in s tru m e n ta tio n is re q u ire d . I n b o th fields th e w a r h a s r e ta r d e d n o rm al p ro g ress. I f th e c o st of su rface su rv ey s c an b e re d u ce d g ra v im e tric w o rk w ill b e m u ch cheaper.

T h e m obile m u d-logging u n it w ill p ro b a b ly b e m o re w id ely u se d a f te r th e w ar.

I t is claim ed t h a t th is w ill d e te c t one p a r t of oil in 100,000 p a r ts of m u d , a n d gas in q u a n titie s as little as xvrr cu. ft. p e r h o u r released fro m th e m u d . R a d io a c tiv ity well logging w ill b e v a lu a b le in re w o rk in g o ld a rea s a n d in d e te c tin g p a y s in th ic k lim e­

sto n es w h ere o rd in a ry e le ctrical logging is n o t p a rtic u la rly s a tis fa c to ry .

I t is g en erally ag reed t h a t a ll geological a n d g eo p h y sical d a ta m u s t b e co m b in ed a n d in te n siv e ly stu d ie d to fa c ilita te th e d isco v ery of s tra tig ra p h ic tra p s . T h ere m u s t be im a g in ativ e th in k in g a n d a w illingness to risk m a n y d ry holes. G. D . H . 258.* Centre of Production Shifting from U.S., Geologists Told. L. P . S to c k m a n . O il Gas J ., 18.11.44, 43 (28), 190.— T h e c e n tre of oil p ro d u c tio n is s h iftin g fro m U .S .A . to th e F a r a n d M iddle E a s t, a cco rd in g to M o rtim e r K lin e. W ith w a te r tr a n s p o r ta tio n c harges a t 40—60 c e n ts /b rl., cru d e, refined oils co u ld b e d e liv e re d in U .S .A . fro m th e s e regions a t a b o u t $1-75/b rl. T h ese d is ta n t re serv es w ill b e a ll im p o r ta n t in th e e v e n t of a n o th e r w ar.

C olom bia h a s a t le a st six p e tro life ro u s p ro v in ces : M ag d ale n a V alley ; so u th -w e st of L ak e M aracaib o ; th e L la n o s of th e s o u th - e a s t; th e C a rib b e a n c o a s ta l a r e a ; th e G o ajira P e n in su la, a n d th e Pacific C oast region. A t p re s e n t th e first tw o a re th e m o st

ABSTRACTS. 87 ^a im p o rta n t. C retaceous lim esto n es a n d shales a re e x ten siv ely developed e ast of th e C e n tra l C ordillera, a n d a re h ig h ly p etro lifero u s. Oil seepages a n d m u d volcanoes"

a re co m m o n in th e G o ajira a n d Pacific C oast areas, b u t little is k n o w n of th e stru c tu re . T h e E o cen e a n d O ligocene a re p ro d u c tiv e in th e M iddle M agdalena V alley. T h e Oligocene p ro d u c es in th e L ow er M agdalena V alley a rea. T h e C retaceous a n d T e rtia ry y ield oil fro m fa u lte d a n ticlin es so u th -w e st of L ak e M aracaibo. G. D. H . 259.* Exploratory Activity, and Oil and Gas Discoveries in California 1944. A. I . G regersen. Oil Gas J ., 18.11.44, 43 (28), 193.—-D uring th e first n in e m o n th s of 1944 C alifornia h a d 24 w ild c a t discoveries of oil, a n d 31 successful n ew pool te s ts a n d o u tp o sts. T h ere w ere 6 w ild c a t gas discoveries, a n d a new d eep er p a y w as fo u n d a t R io V ista. H o w ev er, th e a m o u n t of oil disco v ered w as n o t im pressive, a n d a t p re se n t C alifornia is d ra w in g on oil reserv es a t a r a te five tim es as fa s t as new reserves a re being discovered.

A t J a e a lito s N o rth -w e st, F resn o C o u n ty , a n oil-w ell h a s b een co m p leted in th e T em blor. I n K e rn C o u n ty , a 1000-brl. w ell h a s b e en b ro u g h t in in th e C am ero s sa n d (M iddle Miocene) a t 3456-3485 ft. O nly 8 of th e re m a in in g 22 discoveries seem to be of com m ercial im p o rta n c e a t p re se n t. T hese a re en u m e rate d .

A n ew p ool h a s b e en o p en ed in th e S an M iguelito field of V e n tu ra C o u n ty , in Pliocene sa n d s a t 7225-7700 ft.

T h e 6 w ild c a t gas discoveries a re of co m m ercial im p o rta n ce , a n d 4 m a y becom e m a jo r gas-fields. T h ese discoveries a re briefly described.

188 w ild ca ts h a v e b een c o m p leted in C alifornia d u rin g th e first n in e m o n th s of 1944, w hereas in th e w hole of 1943 186 w ild cats w ere co m p leted . D u rin g 1944 th e new reserv es discovered a re e s tim a te d to b e a b o u t 7,500,000 b rl., w hile n ew pool te s ts a n d exten sio n s m a y h a v e p ro v e d five o r six tim es th e a m o u n t of reserves a d d ed b y w ild cats.

G. D . H . 260.* Wildcat Completions and Discoveiies. A non. Oil Gas J ., 18.11.44, 43 (28), 285.— D u rin g th e w eek e n d ed 11th N o v em b er, 1944, 79 w ild cats w ere co m p leted in U .S .A ., 11 fo u n d oil, 2 fo u n d d istillate , a n d 2 fo u n d gas. T h e co m p letio n re su lts are

ta b u la te d b y S ta te s a n d d istric ts. G. D . H .

281. Wildcatting Falls Short of Indicated Need. L. J . L ogan. Oil W kly, 2 7 .1 1 .4 4 ,115 (13), 58.— T h ere a re in d ica tio n s t h a t 4850 ex p lo ra to ry wells will be com pleted in U .S.A . d u rin g 1944, b u t th e o b jectiv e w as 5000. D rilling generally is going according to p lan , a n d 24,000 w ells of a ll ty p e s should b e com pleted. I n th e first ten m o n th s of 1944 th e av erag e of 83 w ild ca t com pletions p e r w eek w as 18-5% above th e 1943 le v e l; fo r all d rilling th e increase w as 27-5% .

E conom ic a n d p h y sic al fa c to rs h a v e w o rk ed a g a in st th e co m p letio n of th e re q u ire d a m o u n t of e x p lo ra to ry d rilling. In su fficien t in cen tiv e h a s h a d its effect, a n d th e lack of new reserves is now forcing excessive, uneconom ic, w a stefu l o p e ratio n of m a n y wells.

T h e deficiency of e x p lo ra tio n seem s lik ely to c o n tin u e in 1945. P .A .W . h a s called for 5000 w ild cats in 1945, a n d a to ta l of 27,000 com pletions, a g a in st 24,000 in 1944.

5000 w ild cats in 1945 m ay n o t b e a d e q u a te to p ro v id e th e re q u ire d reserves.

T o ta l oil discoveries in 1944 h a v e b een o nly 10-9% h ig h er t h a n in th e sam e p e rio d of 1943, a n d oil-field exten sio n s h a v e risen b y less t h a n 1% . T h ere a re signs t h a t i t is becom ing increasingly n ecessary to re so rt to th e m ore risk y a n d m ore expensive d rilling of en tirely new areas.

D u rin g O ctober, 1944, one of th e m ore im p o rta n t strik es w as in P r a t t C ounty, K an sas. T h is possible m a jo r strik e is along th e C oats a n d S u n C ity tre n d .

Clear F o rk p ro d u c tio n h a s n o w b e e n discovered in N ew M exico, in L ea C ounty.

T h ere a re p o ssibilities t h a t th is p a y w ill p ro v id e deeper p ro d u c tio n in o r n e a r o th e r fields. O klahom a h a d n e a rly a dozen discoveries a n d extensions. A n ew field in L incoln C o u n ty m a y cover 1800 acres. H u n to n lim e p ro d u c tio n h a s b e en fo u n d in th e shallow G ra h a m field of C a rte r C ou n ty , a n d th is m ay lea d to deeper d rilling in o th e r fields of so u th e rn O klahom a. W es t E d m o n d w as e x te n d ed 1 m l. so u th , a n d th e H ugo- to n gas-field w as e x te n d e d 4 m l. n o rth .

I n M ontague C ou n ty , N o rth T exas, p ro d u c tio n h a s b e en fo u n d in th e V iola a t 6715-6730 ft. A discovery in W a rd C ounty, W est T exas, is ex p ected to develop in to a good field.

a

A ta b le su m m arizes th e e x p lo ra to ry c o m p letio n re su lts in th e first te n m o n th s of 1944, a n d th e n ew oil- a n d gas-fields, n e w p a y h o rizo n s a n d ex te n sio n s d isco v ered in O cto b er, 1944, a re listed , w ith lo catio n , p ro d u c in g fo rm a tio n , d e p th , m e th o d of d is ­ c o v ery , a n d o th e r d a ta .

262. Texas Halts Operations on Venezuelan Wildcat. A n o n . O il W h ly, 27.11.44, 115 (13), 64.— T h e w ild c a t o n a local s tru c tu re alo n g th e T e m b la d o r-C a rito s tre n d , n o rth -e a s t of T u c u p ita , in D e lta A m acu ro , h a s b e en sto p p e d a t 9244 ft.

1 • G. D . H .

263. Wells on Qatar Peninsula Planned by Iraq Company. A n o n . Oil W h ly, 27.11.44, 115 (13), 64.— T ests a re to b e d rilled n e a r th e w e st side of th e Q a ta r P e n in su la . T h e p rin c ip a l s tru c tu re alo n g th e w est c o ast is d ire c tly in line w ith th e p ro d u c in g s tru c tu re

o n B a h re in Is la n d . *-*• -*-*• ®-.

264.* Wildcat Completions and Discoveries. A non. Oil Gas 2.12.44, 43 (30), 113.— 61 w ild ca ts ( 8 finding oil a n d 1 fin d in g gas) w ere c o m p le te d in U .S .A . d u rin g th e w eek e n d ed 2 5 th N o v em b er, 1944. T h e c o m p letio n re s u lts a re su m m ariz ed b y S ta te s

a n d d istric ts. E . H .

265. Colombia Floresanto Wildcat is Below 3600 feet. A non. O il W h ly, 4.12.44, 116 (1), 62.— F lo re sa n to 1 in w e ste rn B o liv a r P ro v in c e, C olom bia, h a s n o w re a c h e d a d e p th of o v er 3600 f t., a f te r sev eral u n su c cessfu l fishing jo b s. G. D . H .

Geophysics and Geochemical Prospecting.

268. Radon Emations Outline Formations. E . S te r r e tt. O il W h ly, 25.9.44, 115 (4), 29.— A ra d io a c tiv ity su rv e y p rio r to d rillin g p o te n tia l e x te n sio n w ells in sho g strin g fields m a y d e te rm in e th e lim its of th e s a n d w ith in th e allo w ab le sp acin g b y crossing th e sh o e strin g ev ery 330 f t., a n d fin d in g th e ra d io a c tiv ity v a lu e s acro ss th e sand.

W ith in th e p ro d u c in g a re a th e v a lu e s a re u n ifo rm , b u t a t th e edge th e v a lu e s increase, o fte n d o u b lin g . W a v e rin g or te rm in a tio n of th e s a n d m a y th u s b e discovered.

I f basic d a ta c an b e o b ta in e d fro m p ro d u c in g w ells, ra d io a c tiv ity d e te rm in a tio n s c a n b e u se d to lo ca te th e o il-w a te r c o n ta c t, since th e v a lu e s in crease ra p id ly once th e oil—w a te r c o n ta c t is crossed.

T h e W ilco x of O k lah o m a h a s m a n y “ p im p le s,” n e a rly a ll of w h ic h c o n ta in w a ter.

R a d io a c tiv ity m ea su re m e n ts h a v e p ro v e d s a tis fa c to ry in selectin g th e m o s t fa v o u ra b le

“ p im p le s ” fo r d rill-ste m te s ts . U n ifo rm ity of v a lu e s acro ss a “ p im p le ” is evidence a g a in s t drillin g . If. a ch an g e in v a lu e is o b serv ed , tw o h oles sh o u ld b e drilled , one on each side, to t e s t th e significance of th e change.

R a d io a c tiv ity m ea su re m e n ts m a y b e em p lo y e d to fin d th e t r e n d of a f a u lt a f te r it h as b e en c u t b y a w ell. W h e n th e f a u lt h a s b e en d e lin e a te d b y a ra d io a c tiv ity su rv ey , a seism ic lin e p a ra lle l to th e f a u lt w ill show a n y closure a g a in s t th e fa u lt, w ith a m in im u m of effort.

W h ile ra d io a c tiv ity su rv e y s do n o t fin d oil, th e y a re u sefu l fo r d elim in itin g w ork, a n d fo r e lim in a tin g d rillin g fo r d e te rm in in g tre n d s , fa u lts , e tc . G. D . H . 267. Geophysics—Vanguard of South America’s Future Oil Production. W. A.

S aw don. Petrol. E n g r, O cto b er 1944, 16 (1), 120.— S u rface c o n d itio n s v a r y w id ely in S o u th A m erica. T h e seism o g rap h is m o re w id ely u se d t h a n a n y o th e r in s tru m e n t for geo p h y sical o p e ratio n s, b u t th e g ra v ity m e te r a n d th e m a g n e to m e te r a re b ein g a p p lie d in sev eral area s. M ost of th e w o rk aim s a t d e lin e atin g larg e fe atu res .

I n V enezuela, f u r th e r e x p lo ra to ry w o rk is b e in g c a rrie d o u t in th e p ro d u c in g a re a of th e e a s t, a n d to th e w e st a n d so u th in th e O rinoco b asin .

C olom bia is p ro b a b ly th e m o st a c tiv e c o u n try fro m th e p o in t of v iew of g eophysical p ro sp e c tin g , th e seism ograph, g ra v ity m e te r, a n d m a g n e to m e te r b e in g u se d . M uch w o rk is p ro ceed in g in th e M iddle a n d L ow er M a g d alen a area s, a n d in o th e r valley s e x te n d in g fro m th e co ast. W o rk is also going on n e a r th e E c u a d o r b o u n d a ry .

I n th e la s t few y e a rs ex te n siv e g eo p h y sical p ro sp e c tin g h a s b e en c a rrie d o u t in th e a re a s of B ra zil w ith th e m o re fa v o u ra b le oil p ro sp e c ts. O ne of th e b e s t a re a s is in th e

ABSTRACTS. 8 9 a

e x tre m e w est n e a r th e A g u as C alientes field of E a s te rn P e ru . T ra n s p o rta tio n is one of th e m a jo r p ro b lem s of th is area. Som e w ells are being d rilled n e a r B ogota. E x te n ­ sive g eophysical su rv ey s a re b ein g m ad e, a n d e x p lo ra to ry wells a re being drilled aro u n d B a h ia a n d M aceio, alo n g th e A tla n tic co ast. T h ere is also geophysical a c tiv ity in th e P a r a n a a rea , so u th a n d w est of th e A m azon d e lta , a n d along th e n o rth -e a s t coast.

G eophysical w o rk is being done in Chile, a n d som e y e ars ago w o rk w as c arried o u t in th e G uianas. G eophysical w ork is p roceeding in A rg en tin a. G. D. H . 268.* The Interpretation of Earth-Resistivity Measurements. M. M usk at. Petrol.

Tech, N o v em b er 1944, A .I.M .M .E . T ech. P u b . No. 1761, 1-7.— R . W . M oore’s m eth o d for d e te rm in in g su b su rface in te rfa c ia l d e p th s b y m ea n s of in te g ra te d curves of a p p a re n t re sistiv ity is a n aly se d th eo re tic ally . I t is fo u n d t h a t th e o nly u n iq u e ta n g e n ts t h a t c an b e d ra w n to such c u rv es a re th e a sy m p to te s a t infinite electrode spacing, a n d th e ta n g e n ts th ro u g h th e o rig in a t v a n ish in g electro d e spacing. E x p lic it expressions are d eriv ed fo r th e re la tio n s h ip b e tw ee n th e electro d e sp acin g a t th e p o in ts of in te rse ctio n of th ese ta n g e n ts a n d th e th ic k n e ss of th e su rface s tr a ta as a fu n c tio n of th e c o n ­ d u c tiv ity p a ra m e te rs fo r th e tw o -lay e r a n d th re e -la y e r e a rth s. I t is fo u n d t h a t in all cases th e electrode sp acing a t th e p o in ts of in te rse ctio n will exceed § of th e th ic k n e ss of th e surface lay er, a n d m a y even becom e in d efin itely large as th e re sistiv ity of th e deep est lay e rs increases as co m p ared w ith t h a t of th e surface lay er. T hese re su lts do n o t agree w ith th e em p irical findings of M oore t h a t th e in te rse ctio n s of th e ta n g e n t lines fall a t a n electro d e sp acin g v e ry a p p ro x im a te ly eq u al to th e th ick n ess of th e

surface lay er. G. D . H .

Drilling.

269.* Heater is Essential Part of Butane Fuel System on Drilling Rigs. H. F. Sim ons.

Oil Gas J ., 25.5.44, 43 (3), 77.— T h is a rticle describes th e fe atu res of th e design of a sa tis fac to ry b u ta n e fuel sy ste m fo r th e drilling rig. I t p o in ts o u t t h a t b y p ro v id in g b u ta n e h e a te rs fo r each engine, am p le h e a tin g of th e fuel is assu red w lien one or m ore of th e engines is s h u t dow n. T hese h e a te rs m ay b e p e rm a n e n tly in stalled on th e skids

of th e in d iv id u a l engines. • A. H . N .

270.* Cementing Method Developed to Seal Perforations in Deep Wells. A non. Oil Gas J ., 5.8.44, 43 (13), 53.— T h e m eth o d developed for cem en tin g p e rfo ra tio n s is n o t d irect. T y p ic al is th e h isto ry of one w ell in w hich casing w as ru n th ro u g h a n irre g u ­ larly s a tu r a te d sectio n of th e E lle n b u rg er. I n th is w ell a series of p e rfo ra tio n s w as m ad e in th e s a tu r a te d section, b u t on te s t th e re w as a n excessive volum e of w a je r w ith th e oil. I t w as decid ed to squeeze th ese p e rfo ra tio n s a n d re -p e rfo rate h ig h er in th e well for f u rth e r te s tin g . A fte r k illing th e well, a cem en t re ta in e r, p e rm ittin g th e well to be te s te d p rio r to ru n n in g th e cem ent, w as se t b etw een 20 a n d 30 ft. ab o v e th e p erfo ratio n s. T h e m u d in th e tu b in g w as displaced w ith w a te r a n d th e well sw abbed b a ck in. I t w as th e n allow ed to flow, m ak in g w h a tev e r it w ould, for 18-24 h o u rs. B y th is m e th o d th e fo rm atio n fluids clean th e drillin g m u d fro m th e p a y a rea s exposed by p erfo ratio n s. A fte r th e well h a s been allow ed to flow, a b a tc h of 250-500 gal. of m u d is lu b ric a te d to th e re ta in e r a n d in to th e fo rm atio n . T h e a c tio n of th e acid is to enlarge th e av en u es in th e fo rm atio n a lre a d y cleaned of m u d a n d c u ttin g s a n d to p ro v id e an en larg ed v oid space fo r th e cem en t. N o rm al a cid h a s b een u sed in som e of these o perations, b u t b e st re su lts a p p e a r to be w ith m u d -acid ty p e . W a te r is u sed to chase th e m u d -acid , displacing it in to th e fo rm atio n . F ollow ing th is a slu rry of 50-100 sacks of cem en t is squeezed. N o rm a lly a p ressu re exceeding 6000 lb. is re q u ire d . D rilling m u d is u sed ab o v e th e c em en t fo r a d d in g w eig h t. B y usin g w eig h ted m u d in ste a d of w ater, a n a d d itio n a l p ressu re is e x e rte d a g a in st th e c em en t w ith o u t c h an g in g th e p ressure to th e d e p th of th e fo rm atio n . T h is is u su a lly a b o u t 2000 lb. o ver n o rm al h y d ro sta tic p ressu re, w ith w a te r w eighing 8-3 lb ./g allo n . T h e p ro c ed u re reduces th e

dem an d s m ad e on su rface e q u ip m e n t. A. H . N .

271.* Horizontal Drilling from Vertical Hole Pioneered in California. L. P. S to ck m an . Oil Gas J ., 12.8.44, 43 (14), 58-59.— T he Z ublin m eth o d of drilling side holes in a n y directio n from a v e rtic a l hole is described. T h e d rilling of side-hole wells is acco m ­ plished b y th e use of a 6^-in. h y d rau lically d riv en g y ra to ry b it, one o r m ore lengths

ABSTRACTS.

of h elically slo tte d , flexible, re silie n t d rill-p ip e, a lim ite d a m o u n t of a u x ilia ry e q u ip m e n t, a co n v en tio n al strin g of drill-p ip e, a n d su rface p o w er e q u ip m e n t. T h e h e lic ally slo tte d m em b ers co n sist of 4 J-in . o.d. d rill-p ip e of s tr a ig h t a n d c u rv e d sectio n s. T h e d rill-p ip e is o rie n ta te d in to th e hole, a n d th e in v e n to r sees no re aso n w h y in c lin a tio n re ad in g s c a n n o t b e ta k e n , if so desired. C ircu latio n is m a in ta in e d th ro u g h th is sp ira lly slo tte d p ip e b y th e use of a n in te rn a l ru b b e r m em b e r. U se of th e ru b b e r m em b e r is n ecessary , a s th e b it is a c tu a te d b y a h y d ra u lic tu rb in e w o rk in g o n p re ssu re a p p lie d a g a in s t th e drilling-fluid c o lu m n a t th e su rface, a n d also b ecau se of th e n e ce ssity o’f j e ttin g drillin g fluid a t th e p o in t of B it c o n ta c t w ith "the fo rm atio n . T h e tu rb in e , sh a n k s, a n d b it assem b ly a re c o m p act, a s th e p e cu liar c u ttin g a c tio n of th e h ig h -sp e ed b it p e rm its th e use of a s h o rt tu rb in e . T h e in te rn a l ru b b e r m em b e r is in s e rte d in th e flexible sectio n of th e d rillin g s trin g a n d secu rely a n ch o re d . I n o rd e r to in s e rt th is m em b er, b o th e n d s of th e d rill-p ip e a re c u t o u t a n d s u b s e q u e n tly stre a m lin e d a n d w elded. T h e ru b b e r in te rn a l sectio n is a d e q u a te ly a n c h o re d in sid e th e w eld ed sections c o n ta in in g th e m ale a n d fem ale ends. O ne se c tio n of d rill-p ip e th r e a d s d ire c tly in to a n o th e r. T h e flexible se ctio n of th e d rillin g s trin g is fa b ric a te d o u t of c o n v en tio n a l d rill-p ip e b y c u ttin g a sp ira l slo t alo n g th e le n g th of eac h sectio n . T h e n u m b e r of sp ira ls m ad e in a giv en 2 0-ft. sec tio n of d rill-p ip e d e te rm in e s th e degree of flex ib ility : th e g re a te r th e n u m b e r of sp ira l slo ts, th e g re a te r th e a m o u n t of flex ib ility a n d re sili­

ency. S ev eral degrees of flex ib ility a re n e ce ssary in a single o p e ra tio n if a c o m b in atio n s tr a ig h t a n d c u rv e d hole is desired. I n o rd e r to e n ab le th e b it assem b ly a n d tu rb in e to d rill la te ra lly fro m a v e rtic a l hole, or g e t th ro u g h a w in d o w in a cased w all, a cu rv ed s ectio n of flexible s lo tte d p ip e is u se d . T h is section, w h ic h h a s b e e n b e n t a n d slo tte d a f te r h e a t tr e a tm e n t, a n d is th ere fo re n o t u n d e r ten s io n , is in tro d u c e d in to th e w ell a s a s tra ig h t sectio n b y use of a m an d re l. W h e n th e p o in t is re a c h e d a t w h ic h th e side-hole drillin g is to b e s ta rte d , th e m a n d re l is re m o v e d w ith a n o v e rsh o t r u n in sid e th e drill- p ip e on a line. W h e n th e m a n d re l is rem o v ed , t h a t p o rtio n of t h e flexible p ip e r e ­ sum es its n o rm a l c u rv ed c o n d itio n . I t is th is c u rv a tu re in th e flexible p ip e t h a t p e rm its th e b i t a n d tu rb in e a ssem b ly to d e p a rt fro m th e v e rtic a l ho le in a n arc.

A n e x p e rim e n t w as m a d e in w h ic h a ra t-h o le c o n tin u e d in a n a rc so t h a t th e b it a p p e a re d a t th e su rface ag ain , 60 ft. a w a y a n d w ith in 1 0 ft. fro m a p re d e te rm in e d p o in t.

A . H . N.

272.* Use of Cylinders in Directional Drilling Important Contribution to Technique.

L . P . S to ck m an . O il Gas J . , 16.9.44, 43 (19), 77.— T h e m e th o d d e scrib ed co n sists of d rillin g w ith in an im a g in a ry c y lin d e r p ro je c te d fro m th e su rface to th e. fin al p re d e ­ te rm in e d su b su rface p o in t. T h is m e th o d h a s tw o .p a rtic u la r a d v a n ta g e s w h ic h are beco m in g m ore p e r tin e n t w ith each n ew deflected w ell in a rea s of c o n c e n tra te d drillin g . (1) B y c o n tro llin g th e d irec tio n a lly d rille d h ole w ith in a p re sc rib e d c y lin d ric a l ra d iu s, th e o p e ra to r ru n s little ris k of d a m a g in g n e ig h b o u rin g w ells. (2) C onfinem ent of th e d irec tio n a lly d rilled ho le w ith in a p ro je c te d c y lin d e r c re a te s a p e rm a n e n t re c o rd for f u tu re g u id an ce, sh o w in g o p e ra to rs th e su b su rfa c e zones of d a n g e r to b e a v o id e d in o rd e r to p re v e n t d am ag e to o r fro m p re v io u s ly c o m p le te d w ells.

T h e o u tlin e of th e cy lin d er, w h ich m a y h a v e a n y re aso n a b le ra d iu s , is p lo tte d from th e su rface to th e co m p letio n p o in t befo re d rillin g is s ta r te d . T h ese cy lin d ers o u tlin e th e course of th e p ro je c te d hole w ith in a g iv en ra d iu s , u s u a lly 1 0 0 f t., a n d o p e rato rs re q u ire t h a t drillers o r c o n tra c to rs keep th e hole w ith in th e lim its of th e cy lin d e r.

T h u s th e d rift, d irectio n , a n d degree of in c lin a tio n a re defin ed a n d r e g u la te d w ith in p re scrib e d lim its. I n a d d itio n to th e o u tlin e of th e cy lin d e r fro m a v e rtic a l a n d h o ri­

z o n ta l s ta n d p o in t, som e o p e ra to rs o u tlin e th e p e rip h e ry of th e c y lin d e r a n d check closely to see if th e d r if t is in a n y special d irec tio n . W h e n th e ho le is s u rv e y ed , th e re a d in g is p la c e d a t th e p ro p e r p o in t in th e p re -p lo tte d c y lin d e r. T h u s , o p e ra to rs m a y d e te rm in e w h e th e r th e hole is follow ing th e p re d e te rm in e d co u rse a s drillin g progresses. A re co rd re c e n tly e sta b lish e d b y a C alifornia p ro s p e c to r is in d ic a tiv e of th e a d v an c e in d irec tio n a l drillin g a n d th e a lm o st u n lim ite d p o ssib ilities of a p p ly in g th is tec h n iq u e to e x p lo ra to ry o p e ratio n s. T h is re co rd w as e sta b lish e d in a w ild c a t w ell w h ic h show ed a deflection of 5072 ft. in a m e a su re d d e p th of 7027 ft. a n d a v e rtic a l d e p th of 4327 ft. T h e d rift an g le w as a p p ro x im a te ly 60°. I t is b e lie v ed t h a t th is is th e first ho le to show a deflection in excess of 5000 ft. D eflection w a s s ta r te d a t 300 f t., w h ere th e first w h ip sto c k w as em ployed. A second w h ip sto c k w a s u se d a t 870 ft., a n d th e th ir d a n d la s t w as se t a t 1221 ft. A b rie f s tu d y of th e m e th o d o f co n tro llin g

ABSTRACTS. 9 1 A

th e d e v ia tio n of d irec tio n a lly d rilled wells is given. T h e p ra ctic e s of o p e rato rs a n d c o n tra c to rs in specifying cy lin d ers fo r drillin g a re ou tlin ed . A. H . N.

273.* Abnormal Pressures Create Drilling and Completion Problems in Deep Test.

E . H . S h o rt, J r . Oil G a s J ., 30.9.44, 43 (21), 70.— T h e re c e n t d rilling of I. A. H . G ray in W e b s te r P a ris h , L o u isia n a, b y th e C o tto n V alley O p e ra to rs C o m m ittee p re se n te d a n u m b e r of difficult p ro b lem s w h ich re q u ire d co n sid erab le engineering in g en u ity to s u rm o u n t. D rillin g of th e w ell to a d e p th of 7600 ft. w as of a ro u tin e n a tu re . H o w ­ ever, fro m th is p o in t on to to ta l d e p th of 10,681 ft., th e fre q u e n t loss of circu la tio n , com bined w ith a b n o rm a l gas pressu res, p re s e n t h a z a rd s w h ich , a t tim es, th re a te n e d successful co m p letio n . T h e p a p e r describes th e p re c a u tio n s ta k e n a n d p ra ctic e s

a d o p te d to overcom e th ese tro u b le s. A. H . N.

274.* Modern Drilling. Salient Features oi Wilson Super Titan Rotary Rig. A non.

Oil Gas J ., 30.9.44, 43 (21), 8 4-85.— T h is is a new series in th e Oil ¿s Gas Jo u rn a l, w hich deals w ith th e new est d ev elo p m en ts in ro ta r y rigs. T h is p a p e r gives p h o to g ra p h s a n d specifications of th e T ita n a n d S u p er T ita n m ech an ical ro ta r y rigs. A. H . N.

275. Plastics Promise More Aid to Oil Industry. A. R . M cTee. Oil W hly, 2.10.44, 115 (5), 30-32.— T h e m o st d irec t a p p lic atio n of p lastics in th e oil in d u s try is in its use in p lu g -b ack w o rk (see p a p e r b y E . B. M iller, Oil W hly, 19.6.44). T h e p lastic s u se d fo r plug-backs c an b e c o n tro lled in te m p e ra tu re s ra n g in g fro m 80° F . to 280° F . C a ta ly sts co n tro l th e s e ttin g tim e . Q u a lities of n e a t ce m en t a re a p p ro a c h e d b y th e p lastic s w hich h a s a ten sile s tre n g th of 240 lb ./sq . in. a n d a com pressive s tre n g th of 1900 lb.

T he solid p lastic is also chem ically in e rt a n d insoluble in cru d e oil, b rin e, fresh w a ter, a n d o th e r m ate ria ls u su a lly fo u n d in oil-wells. I t is sug g ested t h a t fu tu re uses m a y include selective plug g in g in lim e-fields fo r acidizing, usin g th e electric p i l o t ; selective plugging fo r g a s-o il ra tio c o n tr o l; sh u t-o ff fo r w a ter-sa n d s in cab le-to o l area s to elim in ate e x tr a strin g s of p ip e ; ta m p fo r n itro -g ly cerin e sh o ts ; sealing b rid g e p lu g s ; sealing an n u lu s b etw een tw o casing strin g s to p ro te c t fro m corrosive w a t e r s ; place p lastic a ro u n d sh o e-jo in t w h en c em en tin g c a s in g ; s e ttin g b la n k liners ; re p a ir leaks in c a s in g ; selective co n tro l of in je c tio n zones.

O th e r p re se n t-d a y uses of p lastic s a re discussed, in c o nnection w ith pipes, valves, etc.,

w h ere lin ers m a y b e of a d v a n ta g e . A . H . N.

276.* Independent Electric Rotary Drive for Steam Drilling Rig. N. W illiam s. Oil Gas J ., 7.10.44, 43 (22), 63-65.— E le c tric a l e q u ip m e n t is described w h ich possesses th e follow ing a d v a n ta g e s : (1) T h e d riv e b u sh in g on th e ro ta r y n e v er bounces. T h is su b s ta n tia lly red u ces w ear a n d te a r on b o th th e b u sh in g a n d th e kelly as c o m p ared w ith th e bo u n cin g u su a lly o ccu rrin g w h en th e ro ta r y is d riv en b y a n engine a n d chain.

(2) T h e p ip e c an b e tu rn e d a t a n y speed t h a t th e condition of th e pip e a n d kelly will p e rm it w ith o u t th e u su a l e x tre m e v ib ra tio n p re se n t w h en th e ro ta r y is d riv en b y a re cip ro ca tin g engine. (3) W h ere fuel is a n item , considerable saving is effected b y th e low er w a te r r a te on th e tu rb in e s as c o m p ared w ith t h a t of a recip ro catin g engine.

T h e tu rb in e o p e rates w ith 29 lb. ste am pressu re /h o rse-p o w er h o u r, or 40 lb ./k ilo w a tt h o u r. (4) C hain a n d sp ro c k et w e ar o n th e draw -w orks is sav ed as th e d riv e fro m th e draw -w orks to th e ro ta r y is e lim in ated . (5) T h e m e n ta l h a z a rd to th e d rilling crew s caused b y th e ex tre m e noise of c h ain a n d sp ro c k ets is rem oved.

D isa d v a n ta g es of th is ty p e of e q u ip m e n t a re : (1) I n itia l in v e s tm e n t is g re a te r th a n w ith a n engine o r engine a n d c h ain d riv e. (2) A d d itio n a l tra n s p o rta tio n is in v o lv ed in m oves ow ing to th e tw o rm its, a n d also th e e x tr a a u x iliary e q u ip m en t, such as th e v e n tila tin g du’c ts a n d c o n d u cto r a n d w iring. (3) S lightly in creased tim e also is re q u ired

fo r in sta lla tio n . A. H . N.

277.* Modern Drilling. Emsco J-1000 Drilling Rig. A non. Oil Gas J ., 14.10.44, 43 (23), 84.— T h e rig specifications a re given, follow ed b y a s h o rt d e sc rip tio n a n d

illu stra tio n . A . H . N.

278. New World’s Depth Record Spotlights Efficiency of Drilling Technique.

W . A. Saw don. Petrol. E ngr, N o v em b er 1944, 16 (2) 87.— T he th ir d well to b e drilled