Se p t e m b e r, 1946. 269a
ABSTRA CTS.
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 ... ... " 270 A
Geophysics an d Geochemical
Prospecting ... 271 A
Drilling ... 272 a
Production 276 A
Oilfield D e v e lo p m e n t... 283 a Tr a n s p o r t a n d St o r a o e. 287 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... 288 A Distillation ... ... ... 291 A
Absorption an d A dsorption ... 293 A
Solvent Refining and D ew axing 293 a
Cracking ... ... ... 2 9 4a
Hydrogenation ... 295 a
Polymerization ... ... 290 A
Alkylation ... ... ... 290 A
PA G E
Chemical an d Physical Refin
ing ... ... ... ... 296 A Special Processes ... 296 a
M etering and Control . . . . . . 297 a
Safety Precautions ... ... 298 a Pr o d u c t s.
Chem istry an d Physics ... 299 a
Analysis an d Testing ... ... 3 0 1a
Crude Oil ... 302 a
Gas ... ... ... 303 A
Engine Fuels ... ... ... 304 a
Gas Oil an d F u el Oil ... ••• 304 a
L ubricants ... ••• ... 305 a B itum en, A sphalt an d T ar ... 308 A
Special H ydrocarbon P ro d u cts 309 A
D erived Chemical P ro d u cts ... 309 a
Miscellaneous P ro d u cts ... 310 a En g i n e s a n d Au t o m o t i v e
Eq u i p m e n t . . . . . . . . . 3 1 2 a Mi s c e l l a n e o u s . . . . . . . . . 3 1 4 a B o o k s R e c e i v e d . . . . . . 310 a
A U TH O R IN D E X .
The num bers refer to th e A b stract N umber.
Alton, C. B ., 883 Altlen, It. C., 976 Alexander, M. E ., 883 Alkirc, W. W ., S83 Anderson, P . M., 883 Almistead, G., 949 As peron, P . 0 . v an , 988 Aston, J . O ., 959 Augustine, C. V., 883 Barnes, K . S39, 8 6 6,
807 Beal, C., 864 Beaver, C. E ., 915 Bell, N ., 883 B ennett, E. O., 879 Berry, T. H ., 883 Bielkowicz, P ., 1006,
1009 Bliss, H „ 932 Blohm, C. L ., 967 Boardman, H . 0 -, 910 Bosco, P . N ., 883 Boyd, D. M., 946 Brawner, J . D., S83 Brickwedde, P . G., 959 Brothers, IV. 0 ., 998 Brown, 0 . C ., 883 Brown, T . P ., 964 Bruce, W . A ., 878 B uchan, R . 0 ., 883 Burns, W. W ., 895 Burrows, L. A., 883 Cannon, E., 852 Carpenter, P. G ., 914 Carver, P . s ., 883 Chambers, n . B ., 940 Chanan, II. H ., 953 Chaney, p . K., 854, 8 74 C hapm an, T . S., 883
U
C lark, J . M., 869 C olburn, A. P ., 914 Cooper, F. E ., 883 Cornell, P . W ., 920 C ourtney, P . C., 849 C raw ford, F . W ., 883 Crossfield, A., 999 Crowell, E . V., 883 D ’A rcy, N . A ., 862 D airs, C. O ., 883 D cegan, C. J ., 865, 891 D e tte tre , J . B ., 859, 860 D eonier, C. C., 998 D odd, R . H ., 944 D odson, E ., 883 Dooley, A. B ., 855 D otterw eicb, F . H ., 879 D u n lap , W . B ., 883 E a stm an , D uB ., 926 E ck m an , D. P ., 948 E ide, P . M., 998 E ilerts, C. K ., 875 E vcrdingen, A. F . v an ,
863
F agin, K . M., 847, 870 Falcs, J . H ., 975 F in d la y , R . A., 941 F o n tan o r, M. G ., 916 F o ster, A. L ., 929 Fowle, M. J ., 926 , F reem an , W . R ., 8$3 F ried m an , N ., 971 F u q u a, F . D., 973 G aylor, P . J ., 942, 945 G ibbons, L . C., 953 G iordano, A., 920 G oodhue, L . D ., 975
G reen, M. S., 902 G ross, H . E., 880 G unning, H . E ., 900 H adekel, R ., 883 H a lb e rt, YV. E ., 883 H alste ad , W . J ., 991 H am , T . F ., 855 H ap p el, J ., 920 H arbison, D. T ., 883 Ila re , D. G. C., 883 H a rt, L . B., 1000 H azza rd , G. F ., 9^9 H e a th , R . W ., 931 H engstebeck, R . J ., 925 H erb st, n . H ., 986 H ill, P . W ., 931 H ipsher, H , F ., 953 H ow es, D. A ., 992 Howell, R . P ., 907 n o y e r , K . II . R ., 899 H um m el, F . E ., 883 J ack so n , Q ., 853 Jen so n , A ., 883 Jo h an so n , H . 0 -, 950 Jo h n so n , H . F ., 932 Jo n es, H . A ., 997 Jo n es, J . P ., 934 K aliani, F . L ., 868 K arab iu o s, J . V., 953 K assouf, S. R ., 883 K elly, C. I ., 984, 985 K elly, W. R ., 855 K elp atrick , J . E ., 957 K u rtz , S. S., 966 L a m b erti, J . M., 953 L an e, W. H ., 970 L a rin , A. Y a., 937
L e h n h a rd , P . J . , 883 Lewis, It. H ., 991 L iljcnstein, G. H ., 968 L in d q u ist, A. W ., 997 L ip k en , M. R ., 965, 966 L iverm ore, \V. T ., 883 L uce, R . L., 883 M acD onald, G. 0 ., 858 M cGovan, E . R ., 975 M adden, A. H ., 997 M artin , C. C., 965, 966 M atson, G. L ., 883 M atthvssee, J . G ., 996 M ay, J . A., 924 M ay, N . C., 954 M ayfield, 1*'. D ., 924 M etzger, C. W ., 883 Miller, B ., 908 M illington, J . W ., 883 M lnyard, I . T ., 883 M itchell, J . E ., 943 M orris, H . E ., 970 M ott, Ü. W ., 883 M ullane, J . J ., 863 N elson, W . L ., 918, 919,
979
N icholson, G. B., 851 Oberfell, G. G ., 974 O’Shei, YV. E ., 883 O xford, W. F ., 85-4 P aascb e , J . A ., 883 Page, H . E ., 883 P e tz e r, K . S., 957 P hillips, D . M., 883 P ines, H ., 955, 956 PoLk, A. C-, 876 Pontecoroo, B ., 883
P o rte r, C. A ., 926 Powell, T . M., 958 P ran g e, P . G., 9 41 P roos, C. F ., 987 P ry o r, 0 . C., 930 P ureell, YV. L ., 940 R ay , W . A., 883 R eed, P ., 882, 897 R eed, II. M., 917 R eich ard t, P . E ., 969 R eiser, 0 . 0 . , 938 Reynolds, T. YV., 953 R iesenfeld, F . C., 967 R iley, J . L ., 972 R uenrw ein, R . A., 958 Russel, YV. L ., 883 R y a n , YV. F ., 913 Sauren m an , D. F ., 876 S chabarum , R . B ., 850 Scbaufelberger, YV. M.,
968
S childw achter, H ., 982 Schoenbom , E . M., 914 S ch u tte, A. N ., 926 S co tt, F . L ., 883 S eym our, G. YV., 972 Shaw, S. F ., 871 ' Shelton, P . L ., 869 S h o rt, E . H ., 857, 951 S igm und, YV. J ., 952 S iccam a, E , L ., 899 Silverm an, D ., 883 Slothboom , J . G ., 1005 S m ith , G. N ., 980 S neddon, R ., 845, 861 S netchcr, P . R ., 883 S nyder, G. H . S., 980 Sowers, YV. H ., 883 Sponer, H ., 961 ' S tacy , T . F ., 883
S talev , F . R ., 939 S teacie, E . YV. R ., 960 S tem , M. D ., 963 S tew ard , YV. B ., 883
Stiles, R . B ., 970 S tone, F . I I ., 923 Stow e, D. YV. 0 ., 883 S tu a rt, R . YV., 856, 883 S tiickien, H ., 961 Sullins, R . S., 852 Sullivan, M. Ü ., 971 Szasz, G., 959 T a n n er, E . M., 964 T av lo r, J . B ., 931 T h o m as, R . YV., 974 T hom pson, J . F ., 953 T h o rn to n , D. P ., 996 T h o rn to n , O. F ., 863 Tobolsky, Q. U ., 962, 963 T ucker, YV. R ., 883 V ie tti, YV. Y ., 863 Voge, H . ü . , 954 YYrack h er, R . C., 955, 956 YValker, G. H ., 883
W alker, J . P ., 883 W a lter, J . T ., 936 YYTard en , YV. B „ 952 YYTa m e r, O. P ., 883 YYrarre n , J . E ., 850 YVatson, K . M.. 938, 344 W atson, M. S., 881 W eber, G ., 846, 877, 912 W eeks, R . W ., 947 YVhite, YV. L., 969 W ijk , YV. R . van, 928 W ilhelm , O., 833, 834,
835, 836 W illiam s, N ., 848 W illson, C. O., 1010 W ilson, G. M., 872 W isocup, 0 . B ., 998 W ohl, K ., 927 W oolley, H . W ., 959 YVright, J . I ., 953 YYru rster, A., 914 Z uidem a, H . ü . , 989, 990
Oi l f i e l d Ex p l o r a t i o n a n d Ex p l o i t a t i o n. G eo lo g y .
833. Classification of Petroleum Reservoirs. 0. W ilhelm . Oil Gas J ., 23.2.46, 44 (42), 171.—Typical oil-traps are due to a com bination o f tw o or m ore of a group of fa c to rs : (a) th e a ttitu d e of th e beds in th e reservoir area ; (6) convexity o f th e surface of th e reservoir bed due (1) to folding, (2) to thickness v ariation, (3) to porosity variation ; (c) lateral variation or interruption of porosity and perm eability by litho- logical changes in a bed ; (d) stratigraphic pinch-out of a b e d ; (e) stru c tu ra l interruption of a hed by faulting or piercem ent.
Reservoirs m ay be grouped as follows : (1) Convex tr a p s ; (2) P erm eability tra p ; (3) Pincli-out t r a p s ; (4) F a u lt t r a p s ; (5) Piercem ent traps.
E xam ples are given of com binations of factors, an d th ere is a ta b u la r classification.
G. D. H.
834. Permeability Trap Reservoirs. O. W ilhelm . Oil Gas J ., 9.3.46, 44 (44), 91.—
Changes of perm eability m ay cause trap p in g of oil, and a ty p ical perm eability trap has th e edgew ater lim it in terru p ted on tho up-dip side o f tho reservoir and replaced by an im perm eable barrier. Convex tra p s m ay be modified on one side by a perm eability barrier.
D iagram s show various m odifications of perm eability trap s. G. D. H- 835. Feather-edge-porosity Reservoirs. O. W ilhelm . Oil Gas J ., 16.3.46, 44 (45), 121.— Certain perm eability tra p s are duo to changes o f lithology or tex tu re, or to cem entation or solution. These reservoirs are commonly described as due to feather- edge porosity. D elta an d shoreline deposits provide feather-edge porosity con
ditions. Lim estones afford exam ples of feather-edge porosity, an d asp h alt m ay give rise to some perm eability trap s. A ccum ulations m ay occur in zones o f fracture in limestone, sandstone, chert, or siliceous shale. I n these cases th e wells are frequently
along clearly defined zones o f disturbance. G. H . D.
836. Lenticular Reservoirs. O. W ilhelm . O ilG asJ.,23.3.46,44 (45), 115.—Lenticular reservoirs are due to norm ally interbedded porous lenses, to erratic inclusions of porous rock, or to lenticularity in perm eability conditions. Their production always follows th e gas-drive depletion p a tte rn , an d th ey m ay occur on alm ost an y ty p e of stru ctu re or w here no stru ctu re is present.
The shoestring fields o f th e M id-Continent are of th is ty p e, w hich is also repre
sented in th e A ppalachian region. The erratic igneous reservoir rocks o f the
Baleones fault zone also belong to th is type. G. D. H.
837. Location, Depth, and Initial Production o£ Discovery Wells. Anon. Oil G asJ-, 26.1.46, 44 (36), 214.—B rief notes are given on th e discovery wells in th e new fields
A BSTRA C TS. 271 A;
and pays in U .S.A ., w ith tho depth, producing form ation, initial o u tp u t, an d other
data. G. D. H .
838. January Completions Gain. A non. Oil W kly, 25.2.46, 120 (13), 30.— D uring January, 1946, U.S.A. w ildpat com pletions averaged 80-4 per week. Tho D ecem ber 1945 figure was 74-8. 15-9% o f tho J a n u a ry tests were successful. 26 oilfields, 13 gas-fields, an d 2 distillate fields were found ; th ere were 7 new oil-pays, 1 gas-pay, and 3 distillate pays, and 8 oilfields extensions and 4 gas-field extensions.
Tables sum marize th e discovery results by S tates an d districts, and list th e new
discoveries together w ith b rief details. G. D . H .
839. Townsite Drilling Campaign Latest Development in Complex Cement Pool. K. B.
Barnes. Oil Gas J ., 9.3.46, 44 (44), 70.— The Cem ent pool is m arked b y a surface anticline. D evelopm ent s ta rte d 30 years ago. Tho productive area is 13,000 acres.
New activity has begun betw een tho east an d w est domes.
In Juno 1945 a 300-brl well was com pleted in tho Middle Rowo sand, and an 80,000,000-cu. ft/d a y gas-well has been drilled in tho Lower Rowe sand. 7 flowing wells and 3 pum ping wells have been completed in th e now developm ents. These wells average 4500 ft in depth. Tho predom inantly oil-bearing horizon of tho Noble-Olson sand occurs a t a b o u t 3400 ft. Betw een 3700 and 4300 f t are th e four sections of th e Rowo sa n d s; th e Y ule sand is a t 5200 ft, th e W ado sand a t 5300 ft, the U pper K istler a t 5500 ft, and tho M archand sand m ay be a t 6300 ft. Tho Medrano and M archand sands aro outstanding. The form er is a flank deposit on the south flank o f th e w est dome. I t is 5600-6000 f t deep and 127 ft thick. Several largo gas-wells have been com pleted in it. Oil has been found down-dip. The Marchand also is a flank sand, being on tho south side of the cast dome a t 6500—7200 ft.
I t is 300 ft thick. There is no gas cap. 24 wells have been com pleted in th e M archand.
G. D . II.
840. Phillips Cores Oil-Sand in First Venezuelan Well. A non. Oil Qas J ., 23.3.46, 44 (46), 61.—I n Phillips V enezuelan Oil Co.’s first Venezuelan te s t well, FT-1, oil- saturated sand has been cored a t 4675-4702 f t in th e La P ica form ation. This formation generally has oil-sands up to several hundred feet in thickness in this locality. The well is on tho M ata G rande block in Monagas. G. D. H . 841. Southern Chile Wildcat Shows 8000 Brl Daily. A non. Oil Gas J ., 23.3.46, 44 (46), 64.— Tho Spring H ill w ildcat on tho S traits of Magellan has shown a po ten tial of about 800 b rl/d ay on test. Tho oil in th is 7500-ft well is o f 33° A .P .I. gravity.
G. D. H . 842. Joya Mair Tests Await Construction of Storage. A non. Oil W kly, 11.3.46, 121 (2), 78.—Two wells a t J o y a Mair have each indicated a production of 9000
brl/day of heavy oil on sh o rt tests. G. D. H .
843. Resumption of Drilling in Philippines Soon. Anon. Oil W kly, 11.3.46, 121 (2), 78.— Before th e w ar encouraging oil indications wore found in n orthern Cebu in a well taken to 8330 ft. D rilling in th e Philippines m ay soon be restarted.
G. D. H . 844. Atlantic Deepening W ell on its Haiti Concession. A non. Oil W kly, 11.3.46, 121 (2), 78.—Ju rin e t 1 was originally abandoned in A ugust 1944 a t 7005 ft in the Lower Oligocene. D rilling has now been re-started, an d is below 7300 ft. The well
is 50 miles n o rth east o f Port-au-P rince. G. D . H .
G eophysics and G eochem ical P rosp ecting.
845. Submarine Prospecting. R . Sneddon. Petrol. Engr, M ay 1946,17(8), 222.—A new bathysphere has recently been tested. I t is intended to perm it a n operator to take gravim eter readings from a perm anently level surface ra th e r th a n from th e rising and falling surface o f a b o at deck. I t is 3 f t in diam eter and 5 f t high, an d capable of standing im mersion to 100 ft. Portholes aro provided for exam ining th e sea floor
ABSTRACTS.
when it is illum inated by a spotlight. I f necessary th e cham ber can be released from tho heav y base, and it will th en rise to th e surface.
Tho internal fittings include oxygen supply, air purifier, and telephone.
I t is n o t intended th a t th e bathysphere shall be lifted on board a t every m ove, b u t th at
it can be m ade fast and towed. . G. I). H.
D rillin g.
846. Engineering Refinements Feature New Heavy Rig. G. W eber. Oil Gas J., 11.5.46, 45 (1), 95.—The rig is powered w ith 3 engines totalling 975 h.p. Designers of th e rig have centralized all control levers an d instrum ents in one panel located at tho driller's position. Small h an d levers ac tu a te th e air-valves th a t operate all clutches in th e draw -w orks transm ission, on th e compound drive, hydrom atic brake, ro tary pum ps, an d sand reel. H a n d th ro ttles in th e panel control th e engines singly or in compound, and th e control m ay bo transferred to a foot pedal for use in hoist
ing. In stru m en ts showing air pressure, engine vacuum , transm ission-shaft speed, and oil pressure aro also installed in th is panel. A n auxiliary instrum ent panel installed in front of th e draw -w orks shows pum p an d b it pressures an d ro ta ry speed.
Two additional foot pedals a t th e driller’s panel ac tu a te th e air-operated friction clutches to the ro ta ry and autom atic rotary-side cathead. Complete pneum atic operation o f th e rig is m ade safe and dependable by adequate compressor capacity.
Three compressors, driven individually by th e threo prim e m overs, afford an imme
diate pressure build-up on startin g any engine. Since tw o compressors are capable of m aintaining sufficient air pressure, th e th ird is available as a v irtu a l standby. The large-duel-type air reservoir is m ounted on th e compound drive, an d is equipped with safety valves an d w ater tra p s to remove all condensate from air lines. Tho pneum atic system operates b est a t 125 p.s.i. I n case o f emergency, clutches on compound transm ission, an d pum p con be operated m anually. Engine an d low-speed clrum clutches can be locked in position allowing tho rig to bo operated w ithout air. The hoisting an d other im p o rtan t units of th e rig are described. A. H . N.
847. Large Rig Pneumatically Controlled. K . M. Fagin. Petrol. Engr, M ay 1940, 17 (8), 51-54.—D etails of a new large pow er-type ro ta ry drilling rig m anufactured by Oil W ell Supply Co. are given. Tho rig has been used on drilling dow n to 9200 ft and was designed for 16,000 f t depths. P neum atic controls for the clutches aro
used. A. H . N.
848. Hydraulic Hoisting Used In Proposed Rotary Rig. N . Williams. Oil Gas J ., 18.5.46, 45 (2), 148.—A w orking model of ro ta ry rig which is equipped w ith hydraulic jacks is described. A radical d eparture from conventional equipm ent, tho hydraulic hoisting system as applied to th e w orking model has as its essential elements three high-pressure cylinders w ith their reciprocating lifting plungers, a centrifugal pum p to circulate th e activating fluid, fluid transm ission lines to an d from tho cylinders, a control-valve arrangem ent, a p rim ary pow er source for tho pump, and a fluid supply tan k . The hoisting assembly is built into an d forms an integral p a rt of th e derrick m ast. In this, tw o o f the hydraulic cylinders w ith th eir tubular supports comprise th e two front legs of th e m ast. U se is m ade o f th e tu b u la r supports for transm ission o f activating fluid to an d from tho cylinders. T he th ird cylinder is suspended by a differential-joint connection, allowing free m ovem ent, from the centre of a horizontal crosshead connecting th e tops o f th e lifting piston rods which extend upw ard from the hydraulic cylinders forming tho m ast leg membors. A ttached by a hinge-pin connection to th e bottom end o f th e piston which extends downward from the centre cylinder is a hook o f more or less conventional ty p e, from which the swivel, kelly, an d drilling-string load is suspended in conventional m anner. The
operation o f th e rig is described. , A. H . N.
849. Portable Mast Takes to Water. P . C. C ourtney. Oil Gas ./., 20.4.46, 44 (50), 141.—F rom the discussion in th e p ap er it appears th a t economic advantages obtain
able from use of portable m asts a n d derricks on land m ay be expected also from their use on w ater locations. In corporated into th e design of th e portablo m asts operating in coastal w aters aro tw o features w hich have contributed greatly to safety and efficiency. One involves th e elim ination o f extensive interior bracing so th a t the driller can have a clear, unobstructed view to th e derrick m an. T he o th er feature
A BSTRACTS. 273 a
enables th e driller to erect th e derrick w ithout having a slack line during the process.
Tho interior bracing, essential to support th e fro n t legs in all open-face m asts, has been eliminated by lacing all four sides. This, o f course, necessitates racking th e drill pipe inside instead o f outside th e base. Since th e space occupied by racked pipe is as great a t th e top of th e stan d s as it is on th e derrick floor, it w as necessary to design the m ast so th a t th e inside area a t th e w orking-board level w ould n o t only provide for free m ovem ent of th e travelling block, b u t would also accom m odate th e working boards and th e full pipe setback. This results in a bulge in th e m ast.
In conventional m asts a safety hazard is encountered during erection due to the hoisting line becoming slack w hen th e centre of g rav ity of th e stru ctu re passes over the supporting pin. This condition is avoided in th e bulge-type m ast by a base design which causes th e centre of ro tatio n to sh ift autom atically from tho front to the rear legs ju s t before th a t critical po in t is reached. This elim inates th e possibility of the m ast falling back into tho ginpolo during erection and obviates th e necessity of
pulling it over centro w hen lowering. A. H . N.
850. Penetration Rates in Hard Formation Drilling. J . E . W arren and R . B.
Schabarum. Oil Gas J ., 8.6.46, 45 (5), 82. Paper Presented before A . P . l .—To find out w hether th e b it in a ro tary drilling rig grinds th e cuttings to fine dim ensions, a basket was placed above th e bit. C uttings collected from th e b ask et aro very large compared w ith those appearing a t tho surface. I t is concluded th a t th e large cuttings are ground up in th e annulus by th e drill-pipe collars and tool joints against tho wells of the well.
The economics of drilling as affected b y hole size are discussed. A. H. N . 851. Drilling Tower for Continental Shelf Use. G. B. Nicholson. Oil W kly, 20.5.46, 121 (13), 34.—A n octagonal tow er b u ilt in sections of tu b u la r com ponents is proposed for continental shelf drilling. A model of th e tow er is described in th e paper as th e full scale pro to ty p e has n o t been built as y et. Tho tow er has a buoyancy ta n k a t its bottom and an o th er in its fourth section (tho tow er m ay bo m ade o f an y num ber up to six sections). I t can be floated and tow ed to th e location when by flooding th e chambers it is m ade to sink an d settle on th e bottom of th e sea for drilling.
852. Problems Encountered in Drilling Abnormal Pressure Formations. E . Cannon and R . S. Sullins. Oil Gas J ., 25.5.46, 45 (3), 120. Paper Presented before A . P . l .—
The most im p o rtan t problem in connection w ith tho drilling o f abnorm ally high formation pressures is tho prevention o f lost returns. Methods th a t can be successfully employed in one a re a w a y not be applicable in ano th er ; however, several possible solu
tions to th e problem are presented w hich are : ( 1 ) Careful control of the circulating rate.
This also involves careful control of m ud w eight ; (2) Tho use of very deep protective strings of casing; (3) Cementing zones of local w eakness; (4) U se of sealing agents.
Controlling th e physical an d chemical properties o f a relatively high w eight m ud is complicated an d m ore expensive th a n w hen dealing w ith norm al m ud w eights.
Methods aro available for obtaining alm ost an y desirable m ud property. Careful planning of th e m ud program m e and tho use of every available m eans for conserving materials will result in a considerable reduction in m ud costs, as well as more efficient
operations. A. H . N .
853. Improved Techniques and Methods in Controlled Directional Drilling. G. Jaekson.
Petrol, Engr, May 1946, 17 (8), 84.— The tw o m ain reasons for drilling directionally are : (1) to reach oil in places difficult to reach v ertically ; an d (2) to p u t o u t fires in oil wells by m eans o f relief wells. D irectional drilling was used extensively in H untington Beach. Production figures of directional wells in this field during th e years 1941-44, inclusive, are as follows :
A. H . N .
1941 1942 1945 1944
4,329,359 brl 4,500,870 „ 5,389,934 „ 9,026,794 „ T otal 23,246,948 „
Among th e applications of controlled directional drilling are : (1) deflecting from accessible locations to inaccessiblo lo c a tio n s; (2) deflecting around an d under solt- domo overhangs th a t aro difficult to drill th r o u g h ; (3) deflecting out of salt-dome cores to adjacent oil-sands; (4) deflecting relief wells into wild, burning, or cratored wells to bring them under c o n tro l; (5) deflecting a holo from an unproductive to a productive portion of a le a s e ; (6) deflecting an old depleted well to a new location in producing te r rito ry ; (7) deflecting across faults or o u t o f fault zones into a pro
ductive a re a ; (8) deflecting a hold back into th e lease a fte r it has deviated over a lease lin e ; (9) deflecting a plurality of wells from one location, or from a physically restricted area such as an islan d ; (10) deflecting a series of holes for sub-surface geological ex p lo ratio n ; (11) doflecting a hole so a sand can bo cored after it was first drilled through w ithout coring; (12) sidetracking fish or obstructions in tho w ell; (13) doflecting a well back into a holo th a t has caved and w as lo s t; and (14) deflecting off a t an angle in oil form ations to give greater penetration. Tho methods
adopted aro very briefly described. A. H . N.
854. The Chemical Treatment o£ Drilling Fluids. P . E . Chaney and W . F . Oxford, J r . Petrol. Engr, Ju n o 1946, 17 (9), 158.— The chem istry of th e colloidal systems of clay in w ater dispersions is discussed in some detail followed by a stu d y of tho effects o f cem ent contam ination of m u d an d tho steps to bo tak en in curing th e troubles.
A long appendix gives in outline form m ud troubles and their treatm en t.
A. H . N.
855. Water-Base Mud Developments. W . R . Kelley, T. F . H am , an d A. B. Dooley.
Oil Qas J ., 11.5.46, 45 (1), 117. Paper Presented before A .P .l .—A n abridged form is presented of n comprehensive review o f w ater-base m uds. Tho conclusions drawn aro : (1) L aboratory d a ta an d scattered field evidence indicate th a t m ud filtrates, m ud cakes, and m ud particles decrease optim um well p roductivity in varying degrees;
(2) (a) B y p rudent application o f th e knowledge gained from accum ulated data, operators are trying to reduce th e detrim ental effects of m uds on tho oil-zones.
W here high form ation pressures, high perm eabilities, an d low fluid viscosities aro anticipated, efforts to achiove optim um p roductivity indices become loss im p o rta n t;
(6) Tho various m uds described have im p o rtan t applications in the mechanics of drilling, casing, an d com pleting wells. Long intervals of open holo, troublesome form ations, low clearances for tools or casing, an d long periods of suspended circula
tion require expert m ud supervision; (3) F u rth e r laboratory ond field experim ents aro justified on the basis o f present inform ation ; (4) I t is difficult in m ost cases to make good qualitative com pletion comparisons, an d still more difficult to m ake quantitative studies because o f varying individual well conditions, w hich m ay m ask results of a specific procedure used ; (5) There are m any factors which need to bo know n in order to determ ine tho effect o f drilling fluids on productive intervals. Some aro listed as follow s: (a) R epresentative sand perm eability d a ta ; (b) form ation pressures;
(c) viscosity of tho oil in p la c e ; (d) gas-oil ra tio s ; (e) w ater c u t ; (/) productivity index d a ta over a period of tim e after well com pletion; (g) relative influence o f mud filtrates, form ation w ater, salino w ater, or fresh w ater on representative formation sam ples. L aboratory experim ents on th e effects of th e various w aters should duplicate field conditions as nearly as possible ; (h) ty p e and description of com pletion methods u s e d ; (t) degree o f sand consolidation; (j) complete characteristics of tho drilling fluid u s e d ; (£) length of tim e the productive interval is exposed to drilling fluid, ond (i) com pletion d ate in relation to field history.
There is evidence to support th e basic concepts presented in this paper. However, in m any cases only inferences are possible. B y drilling a carefully selected well with th e best drilling fluid available an d th en killing th e well w ith less desirable fluids, we should obtain results which would odd m aterially to tho knowledge o f the reactions o f a productive sand to th e various types o f m uds and treatm en t. P ertin en t data such as productivity indices could th en be obtained a t specific tim es a fter different fluids aro employed in the well, leading to more q u an titativ e conclusions on mud
behaviour in well completions. A. H . N.
856. Use oi Oil-Base Mud at Elk Hills Naval Reserve No. 1. R . W . S tu a rt. Oil Gas J ., 25.5.46, 45 (3), 12S. Paper Presented before A .P .l .—I t is believed th a t tho use
ABSTRACTS. 275a of oil-base m ud in these wells proved th a t this m ud has a definite place in drilling, coring, and com pleting certain wells. D uring tho drilling operations it is found that, w ith careful supervision, oil-base m u d is no more trouble an d does not present any greater problem th a n tho use o f n a tu ra l m ud in tho sam e area. Oil-base m ud in conjunction w ith certain plastic tracers soluble in oil b u t n o t in w ater, such as have been developed in Shell Oil Co. Inc., will probably give th e m ost accurate core analysis date obtainable a t th e present tim e. I n low-pressure, or low -perm eability sands, and sands containing bentonitic m aterial, th e uso o f oil-base m ud in com ple
tions will bo a definite benefit. A lthough it was necossary to drill an d com plete tho wells a t Elk H ills during th e w ar-tim e emergency in a m inim um of tim e, an d w ith a minimum of testing, it is believed t h a t th e core-analysis d a ta obtained from these wells using oil-base m ud m ade possible a m ore thorough and accurate knowledge if reserves and reservoir characteristics necessary for the b83t future ro3orvoir control.
Stanolind Oil & Gas Co’s producing d ep artm en t has m ade a thorough stu d y of oil-base m ud drilling. A well in th e N o rth K a ty field, Texas, has ju s t boon com pleted, coring through tw o oii-sands w ith oil-baso m ud. Electric logs were m ade by tho two well-known services. G am m a ra y an d neutron logs wore also run, bo th before and after cem enting. Caliper logs an d tem peraturo surveys were m ade. Tho hole-caliper survey showed n o t more th a n 1-in. over gauge a t an y p o in t an d tho various other logs correlated closely w ith tho core d a ta , to show form ational breaks with a doubtful fluid definition. Some flushing w as found in th e cores, b u t tho water satu ratio n values determ ined b y core analysis correlated surprisingly well with capillary' pressure-saturation tests, indicating accurate connato w ater figures
in the oil zone. A. H . N.
857. Oil-Base Mud, Available in Forms which can be Built Up into a Wide Range oi Specifications. E. H . Short, J r . Oil Oas J ., 1.6.46, 45 (4), 64-65.—T he use o f oil- base m uds in th e G ulf Coast area is briefly discussed. T hey are p articularly useful in low-pressure completions where w ater-base m uds w ould p en etrate th e pay form a
tions. Sections of heaving shalo have been drilled in a num ber of G ulf Coast wells with oil-base m ud, an d caliper surveys h ave shown th a t bit-sized holes were m ain
tained throughout th e sections. I t is unnecessary to discard oil-baso m ud after being used in one well. I t can be placed in a storage ta n k and used in drilling other wells. In some cases it m ay bo necessary to change th e character of th e usod m ud to m eet viscosity an d w eight requirem ents. O perators who have used oil-base m ud state th a t it lias rem arkable qualities for jell forming which porm its retention of cuttings.
Only a few ex tra equipm ent—e.g., covered storage— are necessary. A. H . N . 858. Varying Mud Power Pump Speeds. G. C. M acDonald. Oil W kly, 20.5.46, 121 (12), 44.—N orm ally tho pum p is connected to th e internal-com bustion ongino through a singlo-speed transm ission gear, an d th e only w ay o f changing speed is to change th a t o f th e engine. A dvantages of changing tho speed of th e pum p w ithout th a t of th e engine are discussed, and cost reduction an d o th er advantages accruing during drilling an d coring operations when flexibility o f m ud velocity is allowed are
illustrated. A. H . N .
859. Casing Landing Practice. J . B. D ettotro. Petrol. World, Ju n o 1946, 43 (6), 39-43. Paper Presented before A . P . l .—Tho advancem ent of casing program m e design technique is pointed o u t in co n trast to a lack of corresponding im provem ent in landing practice. I t is suggested th a t individual a tte n tio n be given to each well in a new field u n til enough inform ation is available to w arran t the adoption of standard proceduro. Long oil strings an d long interm ediate protective strings aro presented as being th e m ost hazardous, and p articu lar a tte n tio n is directed to the necessity o f keeping th eir landing w eight to a m inim um consistent w ith th e other factors involved. Several common landing m ethods are discussed, showing their weaknesses under certain conditions. A ch art is presented to show a m ethod of determ ining th e d ep th to the freeze point. A nother c h art shows a m ethod of e v a lu a t
ing th e effect on th e load a t th e landing head of pressure and tem perature changes.
An exam ple procedure is worked out to show th e noed o f engineering consideration of tho landing problem . Tho conclusion th a t th e landing w eight of long strings
should be held to a minim um is em phasized by reference to A .P .l. d a ta on bi-axial loading which shows a substantial reduction of tho resistance of casing to burst and collapse when tensile loads aro more th an h alf th e yield stren g th of tho pipe.
A. H . N.
860. Deeper Completions Emphasize Need lor Improved Casing-Landing Practices.
J . P. D ettetre. Oil Gas J ., 18.5.46, 45 (2), 139. Paper Presented before A .P .l.—The stresses imposed upon casings on landing are calculated and shown to be largo in m agnitude. A n exam ple is worked out to illustrate th e m ethods o f landing. I t is noted th a t several operators have sta te d th a t th ey intond to install strain-gaugos equipped w ith recording ap p aratu s on th e landing jo in t o f casing so th a t d a ta can be developed as to tho actual variation of tho load a t th e landing head. I t is believed th a t an experim ent of th is typo will bring to light reasons for some of th e troubles th a t have occurred in casing after it has been landed. Reference to tho d a ta on biaxial loading in th e A .P .l. p aper on “ S etting D epths for Casing ” will show th at large tensile loads have a su b stan tial reducing effect on th e resistance of casing to b u rst an d collapse, especially w hen th e tensile loads exceed 50% o f th e yield strength.
T aking th is into consideration, th e reasons se t forth in th is paper for keeping the landing w eight to a m inim um w ithout placing an y pipe in compression take on
added significance. A. H . N.
861. New Multi-Stage Cementing Technique. R . Sneddon. Petrol. Engr, Ju n e 1946, 17 (9), 152.—A m ulti-stage cem enting operation is described in detail. Quantities, depths, pressures, an d o th er d a ta for th e operation are given. A. H . N.
862. Deep Test at Signal Hill. N . A. D ’A rcy, J r . Petrol. Engr, M ay 1946, 17 (8), 74.—The equipm ent technique an d results a tta in e d in tlio Shell well A lam itos 48 A, in its 14,950 f t depth, are given. Analysis is m ade o f tho drilling b its and of other
d a ta obtained in drilling. A. H . N.
Production.
863. The Relation between W ell Spacing and Recovery. W . V. V ietti, J . J . Mullane, O. F . Thornton, an d A. F . V an Everdingen. Oil Gas J ., 1.6.46, 45 (4), 77. Paper Presented before A .P .l .—T he au th o rs conclude th a t no correlation exists between well spacing an d recovery for th e Mexia-Powell fault-line fields, an d th a t recoveries obtained by open-flow production from areas w ithin a reservoir cannot be used to derive or su b stan tiate a m athem atical relationship betw een spacing and recovery for th e reservoir. T here exists a difference of opinion as to th e effect of spacing on recovery. Some authors contend th a t there is a m athem atical relationship between tho two. Such a relationship was recently proposed, based on recovery from the Mexia-Powell fault-line fields. A critical review of th e inform ation on these fields by the authors shows th a t tho d a ta cannot be used to derive such a formula. The differences in u n it recoveries are small, and are a ttrib u ta b le to factors other than spacing. Recoveries from areas of different spacing w ithin a field heretofore have been used to derive or su b stan tiate formulas relating spacing an d to ta l recovery. This procedure is incorrect, as th e difference in recovery exist because per well-producing rates are n o t related to th e volume of pay or to th e recoverable oil attrib u tab le to th e well. The am ount o f the resulting drainage cannot be calculated easily, b u t in some cases m ay be approxim ated by assum ing equal recovery/well. T he choico of well locations (spacing) should bo based on th e principles w hich govern reservoir per
form ance, and n o t on em pirical formulas proposed in th e early days of th e petroleum
in d u stry . A. H . N.
864. Viscosity o£ Air, Water, Natural Gas, Crude Oil, and its Associated Gases at Oil
field Temperatures and Pressures. C. Beal. Petrol. Tech. (A.I.M.M .E.), M arch 1946, 9 (2); Tech. P u b . N o. 201S, 1-22.— The viscosity of oilfield fluids is of im portance, since it controls th e flow of th e fluids in porous m edia an d in pipes. »4ir is used in secondary recovery projects, and so m ust bo included. The viscosity of gas-saturated crude a t reservoir pressures an d tem peratures is of valuo in m aking estim ates of oil reserves an d ra te of oil recovery from flush-pools when production decline d a ta are lim ited.
A BSTRACTS. 277a Charts are presented for converging various viscom eter u n its into centipoises, and there are graphical sum m aries of published d a ta on th e viscosity of air, w ater, and natural gas a t high tem peratures an d pressures. As far as possible, th e charts have been constructed to cover th e ranges 60° to 300° F , an d 14*7 lb/sq. in to 8000 lb/sq. in.
Bicher and K a tz ’ correlation is presented for predicting th e viscosity of n a tu ra l gas with an average deviation of 5-8%.
Correlation charts have been constructed for predicting th e viscosity o f crudes under various conditions by employing 1215 viscosity observations from 836 crude samples taken in 630 fields, 459 of which were in U.S.A. and 75 in California^ 786 values for gas-free crude were u se d ; 351 were for gas-saturated crude an d /8 for under-saturated crude. R esults show th a t crude oil viscosity under various reservoir conditions can be predicted w ith average deviations ranging from 24*2% for gas-free crude to 2*7% for under-satu rated crude above th e bubble point. The viscosity of gas-saturated crude could be predicted w ith an average deviation of 13-4%, using only tho viscosity o f gas-free crude an d th e am o u n t of gas in solution. The gas solubility in crude oil a t various pressures, tem peratures, an d oil gravities can be estim ated from a correlation o f 351 viscosity observations, w ith an average deviation o f 22% . The crude-oil viscosity a t reservoir pressure an d tem p eratu re m ay be predicted w ith a 19*8% deviation from a kno w led g e'o f th e oil g ravity, original gas/oil ratio, and reservoir pressure an d tem perature. This is w ithin th e accuracy of m ost reservoir
computations. G. D. H .
865. Vapour-Phase Equilibrium Cell Aids Condensafce-Field Studies. C. J . Deegan.
Oil Gas J . , 18.5.46, 45 (2), 128.— G raphs are presented showing phase equilibrium data for condensate-field products, an d a b rief explanation o f th eir use to predict the extent of production of th e different com ponents under varying reservoir conditions
are presented. A* H . N .
866.’W ell-Interference Effects. P a r t 2. K . B. B arnes. Oil Gas J ., 20.4.46, 44 (50), 136.—F o r the purpose of assigning acreage and allowables for wells in K ansas interference te s ts were m ade. Also presented a t th e hearings were interference d a ta of the “ reverse-pattern ty p e ” tak en b y a m ajor com pany in another producing area.
Summaries of these tests, which altogether involve 83 wells in six producing areas, are given in diagram form in th is article. The general procedure used was to shut in the pool, usually for 7 days, and during th e shut-in period observe th e rise in fluid levels of all wells in th e selected area. D epths to th e fluid level of each of th e wells were obtained by sonic m easurem ents a t 72, 96, 120, and 168 hours after th e field was shut in. The num ber of tubing collar reflections to th e fluid-level point, in a measurement, were converted into th e num ber of feet from th e casing head to th e fluid level. Correction for ground elevation w as th en m ade, to express th e fluid levels as feet above a uniform subsea elevation across th e producing area. A t Boyd this subsea elevation w as — 1475 ft, a t R ichardson — 1725, a t South Silica 1500.
A centrally located well in th e selected area th en was pum ped a t a constant rate, usually for 5 days. W hile th e pum ping of tho central well continued, fluid-level measurements of th e wells were m ade a t 24, 48, 72, 96, an d 120 hours after pum ping started. F luid level in th e producing well also w as obtained a t th e sam e tim e. E ach
pool tested is briefly discussed. A*
867. W ell Interference and Reservoir Drainage. P a rt 4. K . B. B arnes. Oil Gas J . r 18.5.46, 45 (2), 120 (this p a r t concludes th e series).— Previously established pressures are altered w hen fluid flow occurs w ithin a productive area. This simple n atu ral law is the basis o f well-interference tests. A well is produced. I f the pressure drops in adjacent wells, it is p roof th a t th ere is continuous perm eability and form ational interconnection betw een th e wells. More im portant, though, is th e corollary th a t the pressure declines or interference d a ta so established are prim a facie evidence th a t oil present in th e form ation is flowing from th e location of th e one wrell to th e other well. W hen flow occurs, drainage occurs. Such tests th u s can help to prove or disprove w hether drainage o f th e particu lar area can be accomplished—and by w hat wells and over w hat distances. Several well-interference tests in difficult fields are described. In some of th e illustrations given, th e d a ta prove t h a t continuous
ABSTRACTS.
perm eability and form ation interconnection exists for distances of 1, 2, 3, and even m ore miles. On th e oth er hand, sim ply because these things have been found in certain pools is, o f course, n o t evidence th a t faults, im perm eable barriers, and form ational discontinuities do not exist in som e other pools, betw een comparatively short distances. F o r th is very reason, interference te3ts are helpful tools to use in studying spacing and drainage problems. In these problem s, if interference data show fluid flow to be possible over a certain distance, it w ould seem th a t reasons for advocating well spacings on lesser footages should be based on considerations other th a n those of fluid-flow relationships in th e physical sense— an d vice versa.
A. H . N.
868. Unitized Portable Compressor Plant as Used ior Pressure Maintenance. F- L.
K allam . Petrol. Engr, May 1946, 17 (8), 70.—I t is claimed th a t th e present avorage cost of discovering, developing, a n d producing new reserves in th e U.S.A. is greater th a n tho selling price o f the resulting now crude oil. Obviously, a barrel of extra oil, even a t a relatively high production cost, is m ore profitable th a n th a t which m ay be discovered after a string of dry holes. Thus secondary recovery efforts to obtain additional oil from established reserves is of u tm o st im portance. P robably the m ost im p o rtan t o f all such m ethods are th e gas-injoction processes to formations where the prim ary recovery forces are fast being depleted. O ther reasons are given for pressure m aintenance. U nitized compressors are described in general term s and
illustrations are presented. A. H . N.
889. Selective Acidizing Increases W ell Capacity. P . L. Shelton an d J . M. Clark.
Petrol. Engr, May 1946, 17 (8), 235.— R ecent p o ten tial tests conducted on several wells located in tho Carthago gas-field of P anola County, Texas, have shown th a t selective acidizing of certain wells increases the to ta l p ro d u ctiv ity as m uch as 50 to 75%. In th e wells th ere are tw o distin ct sections in addition to th e regular pay section, and th is fa c t presented difficulties in com pletion. P a st experience had shown th a t treatin g individual sections b y killing th e well a n d m udding off each acidized section does n o t increase th e to ta l volum e when th e well is finally brought in for production. Once a section has been acidized a n d th en m uddod off, tho effects o f the treatm en t are reduced to such a n ex te n t th a t no m aterial benefits are realized.
Therefore a new technique w as adopted. The well was com pleted so th a t each section w ith a definite break could be acidized and tested separately w ithout killing the well. Two packers an d tw o side-door chokes were used for this purpose. Thus each zone would be acidized separately and independently o f th e others by manipu
lating tho chokes. D etails are given of th e m ethod. A. H . N.
870. Effect of Well Spacing on Water Flood Operations and Economics. K . M. Fagm.
Petrol, Engr, Ju n o 1946, 17 (9), 64.—Tho project of w ater flooding th e Woodson field, Texas, is described in some detail. The geology and h istory o f th e sand are described, followed by a core analysis of th e form ation ond of the probable reserves of the pool. Two schemes o f well spacing have been adopted : T he Tannehill sand was originally developed w ith oil-wells drilled 300 ft a p a rt (one well to about two acres). The D avis flood was developed w ith new in p u t water-wells drilled on 300-ft centres betw een th e original wells. I n th is 2-acre flood p a tte rn th e in p u t wells are abour 212 ft from th e oil-wells. The Odell and H ughes flood, however, was developed, in general, by converting every oth er well to a w ater-input well, an d resulted in having one w ater-input well to every 8 acres w ith th e oil-producing wells situ ated either 300 or 424 ft from th e in p u t wells. The details o f preparing the in p u t wells aro given.
The D avid flood was begun in F eb ru ary 1941, w ith a n average injection ra te of about 40 brl/w ell/day. T his ra te w as stepped up to 65 brl/w ell/day during th e next 4 m onths, and reached a peak of a b o u t 100 brl/w ell 14 m onths after the beginning.
The input ra te was reduced gradually from th is peak to the current rate of 45 brl/w ell/day. The Odell and H ughes flood has followed tho sam e average input rate/w ell, b u t th is flood is still a t th e p eak ra te o f 90 to 100 brl/w ell/day, and the oil
production is still a t th e peak. A. H . N.
871. Producing Oil with Quantities of Water. S. F . Shaw. Petrol. Engr, J u n e 1946, 17 (9), 100.—The production of oil w ith a large proportion o f w ater by means of
ABSTRA C TS. 279a gas-lift is discussed in some detail. In order th a t a n operator m ay arrive a t some conclusion as to w hether it would bo profitable to instal a compressor p lan t for p ro ducing oil from wells m aking large qu an tities of w ater, it is desirable to ascertain con
ditions and trends th a t would lead tow ards a definite conclusion considerably in advance of the tim e when action m u st bo tak en . D a ta th a t should be observed while the well is flowing n atu rally are as follow s: (1) Consideration of th e size of casing, and its influence on tho possible daily ra te o f liquid e x tra c tio n ; (2) P e r
centage of wTate r accom panying th e oil a t different periods, and construction of graphs indicating tho increase in percentage o f w ater content in a given period of tim e ; (3) Anticipate so far as possible the q u a n tity o f gas required to lift a barrel of liquid under given conditions o f submergence, percentage of w ater, and q u a n tity o f liquid that will be lifted, when it becomes desirable to employ g a s-lift; (4) D eterm ine the manner in which disposal of salt w ater can be handled. The retention from abandon
ment of a well or wells dow n th e flank of th e stru ctu re should be considered ; (5) D e
termine th e cost of treatin g the fluid. I t is usual, however, when producing large quantities of liquid w ith high percentage o f w ater, th a t th e tem perature of tho w ater is so high th a t tre a tm e n t costs are quite low.
If the life of th e p lan t, w hen employing gas-lift, promises to be more th a n 2 or 3 years, the possibility of building a p la n t to handle all tho gas required should bo given serious consideration; if th e life is to bo less th a n 2 years, it would probably be advisable to instal a p la n t of size sufficient only to m aintain th e in p u t ratio a t some
figure below 10,000 cu ft/b rl o f oil. A. H . N .
872. Paraffin Control of Pumping Wells by Hydraulic Power. G. M. W ilson. Oil Wkly, 20.5.46, 121 (12), 36.—Tho process consists o f pum ping an oil-soluble plug through the tu b in g or production lead line. Tho plug, m ade of m aterials which cause it to dissolve after being subm erged in oil for several hours, will retain its shape long enough to perm it it to be pum ped through tho pipe, pushing accum ulated paraffin ahead of it. I t is designed to conform itself to a b ru p t changes in pipe direction.
The equipm ent required is simple an d inexpensive, operates easily, an d has now been applied to a sufficiently large group o f wells in diversified fields to determ ine its feasibility. In ano th er application of fluid power, an d utilizing th e sam e power on tho lease as used for plug ty p e of cleaning, paraffin is quickly and easily scraped off the inside of the production tubing by hydraulically raising tho inner string. Spring type scrapers, positioned a t one-joint intervals on the inner string throughout th e length of the paraffin zone interval, aro pulled through th e paraffin deposits, effectively scraping loose th e m aterial. P rincipal advantages of th is new procedure are th a t paraffin control can be handled by th e lease pum per merely by turning several valves, requiring no e x tra labour, or pulling equipm ent. A. H . N.
873. Pumping Directionally Drilled Wells. Anon. Petrol. Engr, Juno 1946, 17 (9), 230.—In a very short rep o rt it is sta te d th a t exceptionally good perform ance o f sucker rods has been obtained on w hipstocked wells. W hen directional drilling first m ade its appearance, 90 d ays was considered a reasonable length of tim e for sucker rods, and not more th a n 6 m onths for th e life of tubing. A lthough th e life of sucker rods and tubing is not definitely established under present operating conditions, it is a known fact th a t m an y wells will pum p for m onths w ithout the rods parting.
A. H . N.
874. Internal Tubing Caliper Measures Extent amd Location oi Corrosion. P. E.
Chaney. Oil Gas J . f 20.4.46, 44 (50), 115— Tho Chaney-Barnes tubing caliper m ay be calibrated to m easure th e d ep th of corrosion pits, as well as th e internal diam eter of the tubing jo in t w ith a n accuracy o f ^ 0*01 in. Three wells surveyed w ith the caliper have been worked over because of corrosion dam age indicated by th e caliper survey. A visual inspection of th e tubing from these wells was in close agreem ent with the caliper survey record in each case. Calipering is accomplished by m eans of six or more independently operating lever arm s, to the o u ter end of which are attach ed small wheels or rollers to contact th e tubing wall. E ach lever arm is provided w ith a spring to urge th e feeler wheel outw ardly against th e tu b in g wall. The inner arm s of the six levers contact a polished steel plate on tho end of th e stylus rod, and it m ay be seen th a t th e stylus is driven dow nw ard w henever any one of th e feeler
wheels moves outw ardly into a p it. In event there are several pita of varying depth about a single cross-section of th e tubing wall, th e stylus will be actu a ted by the one feeler arm corresponding to th e deepest p en etratio n of th e tubing wall and will be lifted free of the other five arm s. The caliper m ight be considered pessimistic in this respect, as it shows th e m inim um wall thickness a t a n y p o in t traversed rather th a n th e average w all thickness a t th a t point. H owever, th is is an advantage rather th a n a disadvantage, because th e safety of th e tu b in g w ith respect to pressure is determ ined by tho m inim um wall thickness, and n o t b y th e average wall thickness o f th e pipe. Tho instrum ent is accurately centred autom atically. A. H . N.
875. Sodium Chromate Effective in Combating Corrosion in Gas Wells. C. K . Eilerts.
Oil Gas J ., 18.5.46, 45 (2), 124. Paper Presented before N .G .A .A .— Sticks o f sodium chrom ate dropped into a gas well subject to corrosion m aintained inhibiting con
centrations for more th a n 2 hours. The sticks can be injected into tubing against the fluid flow when tho m ean fluid velocity is n o t greater th a n 11 f t per second. Many im provem ents in th e m ethod are necessary before th e tre a tm e n t becomes practical.
A. H . N.
876. Plastics in Well-Remedial Work—How an Actual Job is Designed. A. C. Polk, J r ., an d D. F . Saurenm an. Oil Gas J ., 18.5.46, 45 (2), 154.— Properties of the plastic used are given and a hypothetical—b u t typical— exam ple is discussed to illustrate how a seal m ay be effected to isolate a producing horizon from the rest of
th e s tra ta . A. H. if.
877. Plastics Demonstrate Value in Plugging Back East Texas Wells. G. Weber.
Oil Gas J ., 8.6.46, 45 (5), 80.— A nalyses are m ade of th e types o f E a s t Texas wells which have been re-w orked w ith th e new plastics m ethods to' sh u t off w ater. They show th e results for th e period 1943—46, and tell how th e treatm en ts are made.
M ethods of squeeze-setting blank a n d slotted liners w ith plastics are diagram m ed.
A. H . N.
878. Oil-Fool Analyzer. W . A. Bruce. Oil Gas J ., 11.5.46, 45 (1), 90-92.—An electric system w hich sim ulates th e behaviour of oil wells in a reservoir is described.
The basic theory o f this analyzer rests upon : first, the analogy betw een the con
d u ctiv ity of an electrical conductor and th e conductivity of a porous m e d iu m ; and second, th e analogy betw een th e ability o f a porous m edium to produce stored fluid by v irtu e of tho com pressibility of the fluid and th e ability of a condenser to release stored electrical charge. A lthough it is well know n th a t petroleum reservoirs and th e associated aquifers are characterized by lithological complexities, it has been found th a t local variations in th e perm eability a n d porosity o f porous m edia average out in cases involving th e m ovem ent of a large volum e o f fluid through a large cross section of porous stratu m . I t has been found th a t, w ith suitable adjustm ents of the analyzer, w idespread variations can be ta k e n care o f in th e analysis w ith accuracy com parable to th e accuracy of th e knowledge concerning these discontinuities. By setting th e instrum ent to duplicate electrically th e fluid behaviour in th e p ast of the oil reser%Toir, future behaviour u n d er different conditions can be predicted accurately.
A. H . N.
879. Trends in Processing Gas-Condensate Reservoirs. F . H . D otterw eich and E. 0 . B ennett. Oil Gas J ., 11.5.46, 45 (1), 111. Paper Presented before N .G .A .A .—A te n ta tiv e m ethod to evaluate b e tte r retrograde losses occurring in condensate reser
voirs are suggested showing trends which m ay m ake available, to post-w ar industry, a greater q u a n tity of the lighter hydrocarbon fractions, by effecting greater economies in th e extraction of these fractions from n a tu re ’s reservoirs. I t is shown th a t it is som etimes b e tte r n o t to recycle gas u n til a later d ate in the developm ent o f the reservoir an d then to cycle back w ater gas. A rem ote possibility is suggested of using th e reservoir as a reaction vessel to react th e gases and produce o th er and more
profitable m aterials in place. A. H . N.
8S0. Method of Locating a Leak in Casing. H . E . Gross. Petrol. Engr, May 1946, 17 (S), 93.— The principle involved in th is m ethod o f locating a leak in a casing is
simply to determ ine th e am o u n t o f w ater th a t is displaced in th e annulus above th e leak between tho inner casing and tho ou ter casing, or surface string. The m ethod can bo applied to wells th a t begin to leak betw een casing strings, b u t th e position of leaks th a t occur elsewhere cannot be determ ined by th is m ethod. Coloured w ater is used to displace tho clear w ater in th e annulus. A. H . N.
881. Proposed Design for Field-Testing Unit. M. S. W atson, J r . Petrol. Engr, Juno 1946, 17 (9), 84.— Tho factors involved in designing a vehicle carrying several in s tru ments necessary for testing wells for pro d u ctiv ity indices, pressures, bottom -hole
samples, tem peratures, tec., are discussed. A. H . N.
882. Oficina Field is Scene of Venezuela’s First Water-Flooding Experiment. P. Roed.
Oil Gas J ., 18.5.46, 45 (2), 137.—A b rief description o f w ater-injection p la n t is given.
A. H . N.
883. Drilling and Production Patents. E rd . V. Crowell. U .S.P. 2,397,472, 2.4.46.
Appl. 17.12.37. Oil well device.
Erd. V. Crowell. U .S.P. 2,397,473, 2.4.46. Appl. 15.11.38. Means for testing formations in wells.
William E dw ard O’Shei. U .S.P. 2,397,621, 2.4.46. Appl. 8.4.43. F luid pressure motor.
Weyman B. D unlap, J r . U .S.P. 2,397,652, 2.4.46. Appl. 3.2.44. U nderream er.
Roy L. Luce, assr to H ydro B last Corpn. U .S.P. 2,397,675, 2.4.46. Appl. 19.8.46.
Sand slurry valve.
Xra T. M inyard. U .S.P. 2,397,679, 2.4.46. Appl. 12.3.45. Paraffin scrapor.
Ruben H adekel, assr to A eronautical & M echanical Investm ents, L td . U .S.P.
2,397,763, 2.4.46. Appl. 30.11.43. H ydraulic control system .
Fred. E . Cooper. U .S.P. 2,397,778, 2.4.46. Appl. 14.4.44. Fluid-pressure m otor.
W alter R . Freem an, assr to W agner Electric Corpn. U .S.P. 2,398,090, 9.4.46.
Appl. 21.5.43. Oil separator.
Wesley H . Sowers, assr to Tho P ure Oil Co. U .S.P. 2,398,123, 9.4.46. Appl.
8.1.42. Control of pH of w ater from e a rth bores.
Do W itt C. Stowe. U .S.P. 2,398,124, 9.4.46. Appl. 23.10.44. H ydraulic tr a n s mission.
George H en ry W alker, assr to H eenan & Froude, L td. U .S.P. 2,398,167, 9.4.46.
Appl. 25.10.44. Transm ission dynam om eter.
Rudolph C. B uchan, assr to S tandard Oil D evelopm ent Co. U .S.P. 2,398,204.
9-4.46. Appl. 21.9.40. Method and ap p aratu s for handling oilfield emulsions.
Samuel R . K assouf. U .S.P. 2,398,229, 9.4.46. Appl. 16.8.43. F luid pressure- operated servo-motor.
Dixon T. H arbison. U .S.P. 2,398,305, 9.4.46. Appl. 20.9.45. V alve puller.
Aago Jensen. U .S.P. 2,398,313, 9.4.46. Appl. 15.5.42. H ydraulic transm ission.
Bruno Pontecorvo, assr to W ell Surveys. U .S.P. 2,398,323, 9.4.46. Appl. 10.8.43.
Well surveying.
Ja y P. W alker, assr o f 40% to G uy O. M erchant an d 6% to C. G. Wells. U .S.P.
2,398,338, 9.4.46. Appl. 1.8.40. Com bination heater and w ater knockout ap p aratu s for treating oil well stream s.
Francis M. Anderson, assr to H alliburton Oil W ell Cementing Co. U .S.P. 2,398,347, 16.4.46. Appl. 17.6.44. M aterial for sealing off porous form ations in wells.
H erbert E . Page. U .S.P. 2,398,392, 16.4.46. Appl. 22.1.45. H ydraulic torque wrench.
Millard E . Alexander. U .S.P. 2,398,399, 16.4.46. Appl. 3.2.43. P ipe joint.
Nicholas Bell. U .S.P. 2,398,491, 16.4.46. Appl. 18.12.42. Boring head.
ABSTRA CTS. 281 A
