Aug ust, 1946. 231 a
A BSTRACTS.
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 2 3 2 a
Geophysics a n d G eochem ical Prospecting ... ... ... 2 3 3 a
D r i l l i n g 2 3 4 A
Production ... ... . . . 2 3 7 a Oilfield D ev elo p m en t . . . . . . 2 4 2 a Tr a n s p o r ta n d St o r a g e. 2 4 5 a R e f i n e r y O p e r a t i o n s . 2 4 5 A
Refineries a n d A u x ilia ry R e finery P la n t ... ... ... 2 4 7 a Solvent R efining a n d D ow ax in g 2 4 8 A Polym erization ... ... 2 4 8 a Special P rocesses ... ... 2 4 9 a P a te n ts ... ... ... ... 2 4 9 a
p a o e Pr o d u c t s.
C h e m istry a n d P h y s ic s ... 2 5 4 a
A n a ly sis a n d T e s tin g ... ... 2 5 5 a C rude O il ... 257 a
G as ... ... 2 5 7 a
E n g in e F u e ls ... ... ... 2 5 7 a L u b ric a n ts ... ... ... 258 a B itu m e n , A s p h a lt a n d T a r ... 2 6 0 a Special H y d ro c a rb o n P r o d u c ts 261 A D e riv ed C hem ical P ro d u c ts ... 261 a C oal, Shale a n d P e a t ... ... 2 6 2 a M iscellaneous P ro d u c ts ... 2 6 3 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 . . . . . . . . . 2 6 4a Mi s c e l l a n e o u s . . . ... 2 6 6a Bo o k s Re c e i v i s d . . . . . . 2 6 7 a
A U T H O R IN D E X .
T h e n iu n b e rs re fe r to th o A b s tra c t N u m b e r.
Amott, E., 780 Anderson, J M 790 Anderson, R. H ., 751 Andrews, R. J., 790 Archibald, F. M., 790 Archibald, R. C., 79G Armistcad, G., 793 Arnold, M. R., 790 Aston, T., 751 Badcrsclier, 1). E., 79G Badertscher, D.’E., 790 Badger, R. M., 801 Baldesehweiler, E. I/., 790 Barbour, C. B., 790 Barnes, K. B.t 70S Bauer, W. G., 751 Bennett, E. O., 770 Berger, II. G., 796 Bergsteinsson, I., 796 Berry, C. E., 801 Bishop, J. II., 796 Bishop, R. B., 790 Bluiner, M., 790 Bond, D. C., 790 Boynton, A., 751 Brady, 8. C., 751 Brandon, R. C., 790 Bridgman, P. \ \ \ , 797 Briggs, S. W., 751 Britten, E. C., 790 Brophy, J. E., 812 Bullard, E. F., 796 Byrket, G. D., 790 Byms, A. C., 790 Calhoun, J . C., 709 Camp, E. Q., 790 Cantrell, T, L., 751, 790 tannody, D. It., 796 Chaney, N. K., 790 Cheney, H. A., 790 Clack, K. O. G., 796 Coleman, G. H., 796 Connolly, G. C., 796 Cooley, E. 11., 751 Cozzens, F. It., 755, 763 Crawford, C. C-, 796
K
Crowell, A. M., 752 Cummings, G. H ., 790 Curtis, It. R., 751 Curtis, W. H., 751 Cuthbertson, J . \V., 789 D ’Arcv, N. A., 765, 771 Davis,' W. J ., 7-19 Debye, P. P., 798 Dempsey, O. E., 751 Denton, W. I., 796 Doll, H . G., 751 Dotterwcieh, F. II., 770 Drennan, H . E., 790 Dunn, T. H ., 754 Edwards, C. II., 751 Eisler, 11. D., 751 EUlott, J . S., 796 Eugelkc, E. F ., 796 Ennis, G. H., 751 Evans, E. A., 796 Everdingen, A. F. van, Ewbank, W. J ., 751 753 Ewing, J . S., 788 Fagin, K. M., 759 Farris, R., 746 Fawcett, E. W. M., 796 Fenske, M. R ., 790 Findley, R. L., 751 Fitzsimmons, V. G., 811 Fletcher, J ., 751 Foster, A. L., SOD Frankc, N. WV, S20 Friedhcim, E. A. II., 796 Friedm an, M., 790 Fry, D. L., 805 Glass, E . G., 794 Goldsby, A. It., 790 Grebe, W. E., 796 Gross, L., 790 Grosse, A. V., 796 Grunsielder, B. S., 796 Hamilton, L. A., 822
H art, W. B.i 787 Haskell, N. B., 790 Hawley, J r., J . B., 751 Hayward, J . T., 751 llersberger, A. B., 790 Hertzell, E. A., 751 Hill, T. L., 802 Hillyer, J . O., 790 Hoover, J r., H ., 751 Horcczy, J. T., 790 n o w lett, J ., 807 Huber, H . E ., 790 Huznasoii, G. A., 751 n u rs t, W., 753 Ipatieff, Y., 796 Johnson, H . L-, 796 Jones, J. P., 821 Kaufman, D. S., 751 Kearly, K. K., 790 Kellog, H. B., 790 Kelly, C. I., 814 Kcniler, E. N., 761 Kersten, G. V., 714 Kevser, P. V., 822 Kiebler, M. W., 820 Kinsel, A., 796 K noth, F., 796 Krieg, A., 785, 786 Lande, W. A. L., 790 Lankelma, 11. P., 796 Laudermilk, J . J ., 762 Levy, K., 796 Lewis, E. R., 796 Licdholm, G. E., 796 Lincoln, B. H ., 796 Lipson, E., 751 Loane, C. M., 796 Lowe, R. E., 796 McAllister, S. H ., 796 McCarthy, V. J ., 751 Mack, A. W., 796 McMillan, F. M., 796 Marschner, lt. F., 796
Matthews, F. W. II., 806 Mattox, W. J ., 796 Matuszak, M. P., 796 May, R. L., 796 Menaul, P. L., 751 Meyer, P., 796 Mikcska, L. A., 796 Militz, R. O., 811, 812 Miller, It., 825 Millikan, C. V., 751 Molenari, V., 796 Moore, D. R., 751 Morgan, J . D., 790 Morris, J. E., 800 Morrow’, C. T., 800 Morwav, A. J ., 796 Mottern, H. O., 796 Murphy, D. A., 751 Mussclman, J . M., 796 N arracott, E. S., 796 Kelson, W. L., 783 Keuield, J ., 751 Nicholson, G. B., 745,772 Nofcuid, T. Tm 796 Nusbaum, It. E., 805 Nygaard, E. M., 796 Oldenburg, O., 800 Oldt, L. M., 791 O'Neill, J . J ., 796 Orr, W. P., 751 P arrott, F., 751 Patterson, 11. J ., 796 Pavlick, M. A., 796 Pcery, N. E., 796 Perkins, It. B., 796 Perrlne, J . H ., 796 Peterson, M. I)., 796 P etty, O. S., 751 Phillips, G , 790 Phillips, D. M,, 751 Pickett, D. L., 811 Pines, H-, 796 Porter, It. C., 751 Randall, H . if., 805
2 3 2 a ABSTRACTS.
Randolph, 0 . J ., 796 Read, C. L., 796 Rebarick, N. A., 750 Reiff, O. M., 796 Reynolds, H. C., 796 Rock, S. M., 804 Rogera, T. H., 796 Ross, W. E., 790 Rubenstein, D., 796 Russell, N . B., 796 Sabina, J . R., 810 Schlesman, C. H., 796 Schneider, E. G., 800 Schoeneck, W. E., 766 Schomaker, V., 801 Schubert, C. C., 799 Schutte, A. H., 796 Shankland, 1t. V., 796 Shaip, T. E., 796 Sharpe, J . A., 751
Shaw, S. F ., 760 Short-, E. H ., 773, 774 Showalter, J . 0 ., 796 Slceth, J. A., 792 Sloat, J ., 743 Smith, F., 819 Smith, H . G., 751, 796 Sommers, H. S., 800 Sproule, L. W., 796 Staley, F. It., 818 Standardization Sub-
Committee No. 11.—
Nomenclature, 831 Stewart, J . S., 778 Struth, IL J ., 830 Stuart-, A. H ., 808 Swartsfager, C., 750 Swecnery, W. J ., 796 Taggart* M. S., 796 Teter, J . W., 796
Tholl, J. F ., 751 Thomas, H. F.,741 Thomas, J . E., 779, 780,
781
Thomas, W. H ., 806 Thornton, D. P., 817 Tilton, J . A., 796 Yenditty, A., 751 Yesterdal, H . G., 796 Yroman, J . O., 751 Wndlcy, E. F., 796 Wallace, J . S., 79G Walstrom, J . E., 751 W aser, J ., 801 W ashburn, H . W M S04 W atson, C. W ., 796 W atson, R., 796 Weber, G., 756
Weil, B. H., 816 Welling, C. E., 796 Werner, K., 751 Wilcox, D. E., SOI Wilson, G. M., 747, 767 W rathall, J . R., 751 Yeddanapalli, L. it., 799 Young, H. II., 796 Young, W. S., 803 Yule, J . S., 796 Yuster, S. T., 757, 701,
769 Zech, J . D., 796 Zimmer, J . C., 796 Zisman, W. A., 811, 812 ZoBell, C. E., 740 Zublin, J . A., 751 Zuidema, H. H., 813
Oi l f i e l d E x p l o r a t i o n a n d E x p l o i t a t i o n.
Geology.
740. F u n ctio n s of B a cteria in th e F o rm a tio n an d A ccu m u latio n of P etro leu m . C. E.
Z oB ell. O il W kly., 18.2.4G, 120 (12), 30.— B a c te ria a rc u b iq u ito u s an d physiologically v e rsatile. E x p e rim e n t show s t h a t th e y co u ld fu n c tio n u n d e r n a tu r a l conditions, a n d u n d o u b te d ly th e y a re in s tru m e n ta l in th e m o d ificatio n a n d d iag en esis o f sedi
m e n ta ry m ate ria ls . H ence th e y m a y b e im p o rta n t in p o tro le u m fo rm atio n and accu m u la tio n .
B a c te ria h a v e been fo u n d a t a d e p th o f a b o u t 25 ft- in re c e n t sed im e n ts, a n d changes in su lp h a te an d organic m a tte r c o n te n t an d in red o x p o te n tia l su g g e st t h a t bacteria h a v e b een a c tiv e since th e se d im e n t w as d ep o sited . I t is v irtu a lly im possible to a s c e rta in w h e th e r b a c te ria fo u n d in a n c ie n t se d im e n ts a re indigenous. How ever, th e y h a v e b een fo u n d in a s u lp b u r-lim e s to n e -a n h y d rite d e p o sit a t a d e p th o f 1500 f t u n d e r c o n d itio n s w hich seem to p reclu d e c o n ta m in a tio n . T h e y w ere u n lik e k now n species, a n d fu n c tio n e d b e s t u n d e r c o n d itio n s o b ta in in g in th e fo rm atio n . More
o v er th e y w ere ab le to tra n s fo rm a n h y d rite to su lp h u r.
S u lp h a te -red u c in g b a c te ria h a v e b een fo u n d in oil-w ell brines. Som e b a cte ria in su c h b rin es a re lip o ly tic, a n d seem to b e in d igenous, o r a t le a s t c a p a b le o f developing in th e reserv o ir fluid.
T h e h ig h est te m p e ra tu re a t w hich th e g ro w th o f th erm o p h ilic b a c te ria h as been o b serv ed is 190° F . H alo p h ilie b a c te ria w hich w ill th riv e in b rin es w ith a salinity o f 1 5 -3 0 % a re q u ite com m on.
A n aero b ic b a c te ria te n d to c o n v e rt c e rta in k in d s o f organic m a tte r in to substances m o re like p e tro leu m . S u lp h a te -re d u c in g b a c te ria w-hich sy n th e size h y d ro carb o n s fro m f a tt y a cid s h a v e been re p o rte d . T h e p ro d u c t from n -cap rie acid w as p rim arily a m ix tu re o f n o rm a l p araffin s ra n g in g fro m C UH32 to CJ5H 5.. O th e r f a tt y acids g av e sim ilar re su lts, a n d co u ld th em se lv es h a v e b e en fo rm ed b y b a c te ria l decom position o f o rg an ic m a tte r .
E th a n e a n d p ro p a n e , a s well a s m e th a n e , c a n be p ro d u c e d b y an aero b ic decom p o sitio n o f o rg an ic m a tte r ; a ro m a tic h y d ro c arb o n s a n d th e ir d e riv a tiv e s m a y be p ro d u c ed b y b a c te ria l a ctio n o n p ro te in s. A naerobic b a c te ria h a v e been rep o rted fro m th e B lac k Sea, w hich b a c te ria c an tra n s fo rm a lb u m in o u s a n d f a tt y m a tte r into n a tu r a l g a s a n d d a rk -c o lo u re d oil-like p ro d u c ts w ith a b itu m in o u s odour. A lto g eth er i t seem s po ssih le t h a t b a c te ria c a n p ro d u c e p e tro le u m h y d ro c arb o n s.
H y d ro g e n form ed in re c e n t se d im en ts m a y a id in h y d ro g e n a tin g o rg an ic m a tte r to p e tro le u m h y d ro c arb o n s. S im ilarly h y d ro g e n su lp h id e m a y help in su c h reduc
tio n , a n d th is g as is w idely g e n e ra te d in sed im en ts. H y d ro g e n h as b een fo u n d in m u d gases fro m th e se a floor. M e th an e is th o u g h t to bo fo rm e d p rin cip ally b y the re d u c tio n o f c a rb o n dio x id e b y b a c te ria lly -a c tiv a te d h y d ro g en . S u lp h a te s a re reduced in a sim ila r fashion.
U n d e r c e rta in co n d itio n s b a c te ria te n d to dissolve c a rb o n a te s, a p ro cess which m a y s e t free ad so rb ed oil a n d a t th e sam e tim e p ro v id e s to ra g e sp ace fo r oil acc u m u la tio n . Som e b a c te ria p h y sic ally d isp lac e oil fro m th e su rfa ce o f s e d im e n ta ry p articles.
ABSTRACTS. 23 3 a Detergents m a y also bo fo rm ed b y b a c te ria a n d lib e ra te oil fro m surfaces. C arbon dioxide g e n era te d m a y a id in oil m ig ra tio n .
H ydrocarbon-oxidizing b a c te ria a re w id e sp rea d in n a tu re , a n d th e y seem to bo most a b u n d a n t in m arin e sed im e n ts a n d in oil-soaked soil. Som e h y d ro c a rb o n s aro attacked m o re easily th a n o th e rs . I t m a y bo sig n ifican t t h a t m o s t oil-w ell b rin e s a n d crudes c o n ta in so m e th in g in h ib ito ry to th e a c tiv ity o f h y d ro c arb o n -o x id iz e rs, su g g e st
ing th a t oil a cc u m u la te s o n ly w h en th e s e a ro p re se n t. Som e su lp h a to -re d u ce rs can assimilate c e rta in a lip h a tic h y d ro c a rb o n s. T h e y m a y te n d to increaso th e p ro p o r
tion of light h y d ro c arb o n s in oil.
I t has, been su g g ested , b u t n o t p ro v e d , t h a t su lp h a te -re d u c e rs c o n v e rt paraffin s to nap h th en ie h y d ro c arb o n s.
Lipolytic a n ae ro b ic b a c te ria o b ta in th e ir ox y g en from o rg an ic c o m p o u n d s. D e carboxylation o r d e o x y g en a tio n o f fa ts w ould form h y d ro c arb o n s. A n aero b ic b a c te ria capable o f a tta c k in g fa ts h a v e been fo u n d in re c e n t sed im en ts, in oil-w ell b rin es,
paraffin d irt, a n d t a r sa n d s. G. D . H .
741. Oil in A laska. H . F . T h o m a s. Oil W ily ., 4.2.40, 120 (10), 39 (Intern a tio n a l Section).— Oil in d ic a tio n s w ere fo u n d in th e In is k in B a y a re a o f A lask a befo re 1859.
By 1904 several wells h a d b een d rilled in each o f th re e seopago a rea s : b etw eo n Cold and P o rta g e B a y s ; betw een C h in itn a a n d In is k in B ay s ; in th e C o n tro lle r-K a ta lla Bay. T he d e ep e st well w as a b o u t 1000 ft. B y 1917 31 w ells h a d b een drilled in tho K atalla field. I n th e la te th irtie s 2 deep te s ts w ere drilled. I n th e In is k in B a y area a well -was d rilled to 8875 f t in th o J u ra s s ic , w ith o u t finding co m m ercial p ro d u c tion. I t lies o n th o a x is o f a n a n tic lin e. I n th o Cold B a y a re a a w ell w en t to 5000 f t m h ard J u ra s s ic shale, w ith o u t finding oil or gas. B o th a rea s h a v e prolific seeps a n d woll-dofinod s tru c tu re s , b u t th e re aro igneous ro ck s n e ar.
I n a re ce n t e x p ed itio n 3 s e p a ra te seep s w ere fo u n d in th e U m ia t M o u n ta in a rea . This area is b ein g core-d rilled for s tra tig ra p b ic in fo rm a tio n . Seeps w ere fo u n d also a t U ngoon P o in t, n e a r H u m p h re y P o in t a n d a b o u t 40 m iles w e st o f D e m a rc a tio n P o in t; a t M an n in g P o in t, a b o u t 2 m ilo3 so u th -e a s t o f B a rte r Is la n d ; a t F is h R iv e r, about 25 m iles so u th -w e st o f th e "m outh o f th o Colville ri%re r ; a t D easo I n le t, a b o u t 7 miles e a s t o f D o o n a k av ik Cove, in th e C ape S im pson area.
D ue to lack o f e x p o su res, geological d a ta a re lack in g , a n d g eo p h y sical w o rk a n d coro d rilling w ill bo necessary .
A prolific seep h a s boon re p o rte d n e a r F o r t Y u k o n .
M aps show possible p ro d u c tiv e a re a s a n d th e site s o f seepages. G. D . H . 742. R ussians E xploit Field R egarded as Very R ich. A non. O il W U y„ 4.3.46, 121 (1), 57 (In tern a tio n a l Section).— O ver 20 w ells h a v e b een c o m p le te d in th o new
oilfield n e a r P a lv a n ta s i in U z b ek is ta n . G. D . H .
Geophysics and Geochem ical P ro sp ectin g .
743. Is th e Seism ograph S till C liam p ? J . S lo at. Oil W k ly ., 4.2.46, 120 (10), 17.—
D uring 1945 oil c o m p an ies s p e n t a b o u t S30,000,000 o n seism ic w o rk in U .S .A . T h e seism ograph h a s found m oro oil th a n a n y o th e r p ro sp e ctin g to o l. I n seism ic su rv e y s the q u a n titie s m ea su re d a re a tim e in te rv a l a n d a d ista n c e alo n g th e e a r th ’s su rface.
In o rder to c o n v e rt th is in fo rm a tio n in to u n d e rg ro u n d d ip a n d d e p th a v e lo c ity o f wavo tra v e l m u s t bo assum od. I n som e cases ex p erien ce show s t h a t reflections com e from k now n b e d s w hich c a n b e m ap p e d o v er larg e areas, b u t d rillin g show s m a n y com petent b e d s w hich do n o t give c o n siste n t reflections, a n d th e re a re m a n y reflec
tions w hich c a n n o t b e a sso c iated w ith k n o w n b eds.
I n som e cases reflections como fro m fa u lt-p lan e s, a n d a n in sta n c e h a s b een n o te d of reflections fro m a hig h riv e r b a n k . In su fficien t is k n o w n a b o u t th e b e h av io u r of reflections w h ere th e re is la te ra l v a ria tio n , p in ch -o u ts, e tc.
V elocities m a y ch an g e la te ra lly , a n d so in te rp re ta tio n s m a y b e in e rro r o n th is account w hen som e d ista n c e from th e s p o t w hero th e v e lo c ity w as m ea su re d . V elocity v ariatio n s m a y bo a sso ciated w ith s tru c tu re a n d fa u ltin g , a n d th ese m a y b e s u p e r
imposed o n re g io n al v a ria tio n s . A case is c ite d w here dow n flan k th e re is a m a rk e d velocity increase. I n th e absence o f correct ions seism ic d ip s a n d c o rre latio n s te n d to show to o m u ch re lief do w n th e reg io n al d ip , since in th e b asin s th e in crease in to ta l
2 3 4 a ABSTRACTS.
th ic k n e ss is co m m o n ly d u e to th ic k e n in g o f y o u n g m a te ria l o f re la tiv e ly low velocity, so lea d in g to a low er a v era g e v e lo c ity d o w n th e re g io n al dip.
T h e v e lo c ity in s a lt is c o m m o n ly h ig h er th a n t h a t in th o b e d s in w hich it occurs, a n d so c au tio n m u s t b e ex ercised in m a p p in g b o d s below s a lt, fo r th o high velocity, if o v er a lim ite d a re a , m a y lea d to a n inference o f a hig h w hich does n o t ex ist. I t is w ise to co m p are s tru c tu re a bovo a n d below th e s a lt, for in m o s t cases th o former m a y pro v id o som e cluo to th e la tte r . S a n d lenses in shale, o r a n h y d rite o r basalt in low -volocity b ed s c an give sim ila r errors.
I n th e R o c k y M o u n ta in a re a th o th ic k n e ss o f th o low -v elo eity T e r tia r y over the h igh-volocity o ld er b e d s is v a ria b le , a g a in p ro v id in g so u rc es o f e rro r w ith re g ard to a m o u n ts o f closure a n d p o sitio n o f th e ax is. A gain th e fo rm o f shallow beds is of v a lu e in g iv in g a c o rre c t in te rp re ta tio n .
T ho u su a l a ssu m p tio n m a d e is t h a t v e lo c ity in creases w ith d e p th a n d tr a v e l tim e, a n d so d eep er s tru c tu re s w ill bo in ferre d to h a v e g re a te r closure th a n shallow ones w ith w h ich th e y co n fo rm ; th is w ill b e th e case e v e n th o u g h th e a c tu a l tim e interval is th e sam e o n th e hig h s as on th e low s. H en co som e co m p an ies u se tim e contour m a p s only. I f th e a m o u n t o f tim e clo su re on a d eep b ed is g re a te r t h a n o n a shallow b e d th o a c tu a l closure in th e fo rm er m u s t bo th e g re a te r, re g ard less o f velocity con sid eratio n s.
S eism o g rap h sh o o tin g sh o u ld b e in closed tra v e rso s follow ing th e in ferre d regional d ip a n d s trik e . I n g e n era l th e seism o g rap h te n d s to show d ip s w h ich aro too steep to w a rd s th e o u tcro p . I t is w o rth w hile e x am in in g se c o n d ary folds n e a r th e m ain fe atu res .
A n a n aly sis o f d rillin g re su lts a n d seism ic w o rk in th o S a n J o a q u in V alley shows t h a t th e seism o g rap h h a s n o t b e e n successful in lo c a tin g p ro d u c tiv e fa u lt-tra p s (one re aso n is t h a t th e a re a s w hore fa u lt p ro d u c tio n is m o s t lik e ly a re n o t su itab lo for a c c u ra te seism ic w ork) ; t h a t it is re la tiv e ly safo to d rill a n a re a w ith o v er 1 0 0 ft.
o f seism ic closure.
I t is n ecessa ry to sh o o t a re a s d ifficult o f access to g ot a good p ictu ro . S tu d ies of seism o g ram s sh o u ld b e m a d e fo r a re a s p ro v e d b y d rillin g to bo fa u lte d . Similar stu d ies a re n eed ed fo r lo ca tin g s tra tig ra p h ic tra p s . •
T ho p re s e n t seism o g rap h lia s n o d irec tio n a l co n tro l fe a tu re , a n d th e in e rtia and ele ctrica l c h a ra c te ris tic s o f th e in s tru m e n ts p re clu d e th e d e fin itio n o f b e d s less th an a b o u t 125 ft a p a r t. I n som e cases sh allo w reflections a re p o o rly d e fin e d ; o n others d eep reflections a re a b s e n t. A bsenco o f th e reflections m a y bo o f geological signifi
cance ; p h a s e a n d freq u en c y ch an g es m a v b e a sso c iated w ith c h an g es in lithology.
G. D. H .
D rilling.
744. Oil-Base F uilds— R esu lts an d Use in D rilling an d Com pleting W ells. G. V.
K e rs te n . Oil Gas J ., 27.4.46, 44 (57), 135. P a p er Presented before A . P . I .— T ho use o f oil-base a rre a rs to im p ro v e th o in itia l a b ility o f a w ell to p ro d u c e oil. In a d e q u a te h is to ry in d ic a te s t h a t th o im p ro v e d p o sitio n o f th o well p ro d u c tiv ity in d ex is m ain ta in e d . W ell co m p letio n p ra c tic e s a re im p ro v ed . S w ab b in g , w ash in g , a n d sc ratc h in g a re seld o m n ecessary . T h e effect o f uso o f oil b a se o n d rillin g o p e ratio n s tends, in g en eral, to in crease rig tim e. P re c a u tio n s a re n e ce ssa ry to p re v e n t fires, w ater c o n ta m in a tio n , a n d u n n e ce ssa ry fluid losses. T ho effect o f oil b a se o n com pletion p ro b lem s is n o ticeab lo w here th e p ro g ram m o calls fo r m o re th a n a d rilled hole w ith a lin er. C em en t w o rk on b la n k scctiorits a n d squeeze w o rk on g u n p e rfo ra tio n s aro n o t as easy a s w ith w a te r b ase. T h e e x p en ses o f co m p letio n a re u su a lly increased fro m S 3 0 /ft o n sh allo w holes to p o ssib ly $ 3 0 /ft on d e ep holes w liero necessary sec o n d ary sh u to ffs a re m ad e . Im p ro v e m e n ts in te c h n iq u e ' a n d h a n d lin g should reduco co sts in th e fu tu re . T h e o p e ra to r first usin g oil base is a p t to expericnco excessive co sts u n til h is m en a re p ro p e rly e d u c a te d a s to te c h n iq u e o f h a n d lin g and
sa v in g th e oil b ase. A. I I . N .
745. D irectio n al D rilling fro m M an-M ade Islan d s. G. B . N icholson. Oil W kly-, 29.4.46, 121 (9), IS .— I n d ev elo p in g B a y o u des Glaiso field, Ib e rv ille P a rish , L ousiana, H u m b le O il a n d R efin in g Co. h a s c om m enced a n ex te n siv e p ro g ram m o w hich includes th o c o n s tru c tio n o f islan d s e le v ate d a b o v e h ig h -w a te r level, ea c h d esig n ed for direction- filly d rillin g 4 to 6 w ells. T h e islan d s offer th e m o s t s a tis fa c to ry sites y e t discovered
ABSTRACTS. 2 3 5 A for assuring co n tin u o u s o p e ra tio n s a b o v e flo o d -w ater levels o f th e A tc h afn lay a R iv er, and cen traliza tio n o f se v e ra l w ells on e ac h islan d b y m ea n s o f d irec tio n a l drillin g minimizes isla n d c o n stru c tio n a n d d re d g in g o f in d iv id u a l c an als. O riginal p lan s did n o t in clu d e d ire c tio n a l w ells o r islan d s, b u t c irc u m stan c es w h ich aro se d u rin g th e exploration before a n d a f te r th e first w ell w as c o m p leted b ro u g h t c h an g e s o f technique to cope w ith th e se v ere a n d fre q u e n t ch an g es o f w a te r level p e cu liar to the A tc h afa la y a R iv e r B asin . E v e ry well now p ro d u c in g oil a t B a y o u des G laise was drilled fro m a n islan d , a n d th e o n ly v e rtic a l hole is th e d isc o v ery w ell. O th e r wells now drilling, a lre a d y co m p le te d , a n d pro p o sed , a re sc h ed u led to be d rilled directionally fro m islan d s, w ith t h e su rfa ce lo ca tio n s s itu a te d close to g e th e r in a n sw e r to the d e m a n d s o f th e sw am p la n d . Is la n d s aro also b u ilt for ta n k b a tte rie s , C h ristm a s trees, a n d o th e r p ro d u c tio n in s ta lla tio n s , a n d a re sufficiently e le v ate d to assu re im m unity from flo o d -w aters. T h e riv e r co n d itio n s o f level, th e a rra n g e m e n ts m ad e , and building o f th o islan d s a n d r e ta in in g w alls aro d escrib ed . A. H . N.
746. M ethod io r D eterm in in g M inim um W aitin g -o n -C em en t T im e. R . F a rris . Petrol.
Tech. (A . I . M . M . E .), J a n ., 1946, 9 (1), T ech . P u b . N o. 1968, 1-1 4 .— W aitin g -o n - cem ent tim e h a s g e n era lly b e e n o f a le n g th d ic ta te d b y ex p erien ce a n d com m on p ra c tic e ; it h a s v a rie d from one a re a to a n o th e r, a n d also w ith th e d e p th o f cem entation.
L ab o ra to ry te s ts in d ic a te d t h a t a m in im u m ce m en t s tre n g th o f 8 lb /s q . in . w as desirable, a n d it w as show n t h a t th e tim e re q u ire d for s e t to th is s tr e n g th co u ld bo expressed as a fu n c tio n on c o n sisto m o ter s tirrin g tim e to 1 0 0 “ p o ises,” bein g a p p ro x i
m ately th re e tim e s th e l a t t e r tim e . T h e tim e o f m ax im u m te m p e ra tu re d e v elo p m en t in cem ent slu rries, d u e to h e a t o f h y d ra tio n , is also re la te d to th e sam e c o n sisto m eter tim e, being a b o u t tw ice t h a t tim e . I t w as also show n t h a t th e s h u t-in casin g p re ssu re will build u p a f te r cem en t is p lac ed a n d w ill re g is te r a m a x im u m a t a b o u t th e sam e tim e as th e s lu rry d o w n th o hole a tta in s its m ax im u m to m p e ra tu ro . F ro m th e s e observations th e g en eral ru le w as fo rm u la te d t h a t m in im u m w a itin g -o n -cc m en t tim e a fte r casing, c em en t jo b s in a n y well is e q u a l to th e tim e w h en th e s h u t-in c asin g pressure reach es a m a x im u m , as m e a su re d fro m th e in itia l m ix in g o f c em en t, tim e s a facto r o f 1-5. C em en t p lu g s d rille d in acc o rd an c e w ith th is ru le w ero fo u n d to d rill
“ firm to h a r d .”
I t is c o n clu d ed t h a t m a n y o f th e p re s e n t re g u la tio n s fo r w a itin g o n c em e n t re q u ire a longer tim e t h a n is a b so lu te ly n e ce ssary . T ho u se o f th o m in im u m tim e m a y lea d
to tho sa v in g o f S1200 p e r well. G. D. H .
747. U nitized, P o rtab le F looring an d R ack s Cut P u llin g Costs. G. M. W ilson. Oil W kly., 25.3.46, 121 (4), 41.— S ta n d a rd p a r ts fo r m a k in g floors a n d d e m o u n ta b le tu b in g ra ck s a re d e scrib ed a n d illu stra te d . A. I I . N.
748. New D rilling R ig In c o rp o ra tes L ate Im p ro v em en ts. A non. Oil 117%., 25.3.46, 121 (4), 34.— A now d rillin g rig re c e n tly p lac ed in o p e ra tio n b y M agnolia P e tro le u m Co. lias se v e ra l in te re s tin g fe a tiu e s . T h o rig h a s in s u la te d crew ch an g e room s, a clothes-w ashing m ach in e, a m u d -ch eck in g lab o ra to ry , a n office w ith ad jo in in g b u n k - room , a n d co v ered ste e l m u d ta n k s . E v e ry th in g a b o u t th e rig h a s been m o u n te d on steel sk id s a n d steel s tru c tu re s , a n d a n a b u n d a n t uso h a s b e en m a d e o f folding ste e l catw alks. A d ire c t h y d ra u lic w eight in d ic a to r a n d a c o n n ec tin g lin k t h a t p ro v id es for ra p id s h ift fro m d rillin g to h o istin g o p e ratio n s a re included in th e rig ’s m ech an ical features. P h o to g ra p h s illu s tra te d iffere n t p a r ts o f th o rigs. A. II. N . 749. A n Im proved L ay o u t io r S team D rilling R ig. W . J . D a v is. Petrol. E n g r., M arch 1946, 17 (6), 104.— I n o rd e r to conserve tim e a n d m an p o w er a n d to sim p lify rigging u p , one c o m p a n y w orked o u t a schem e fo r its steam -d rillin g rig u tiliz in g m an y n ovel fe atu res . T ho first th re e p ro b lem s a tta c k e d w ero sim p lificatio n o f rig lay o u t, u n itiz a tio n o f slu sh p u m p s a n d th e ir m anifolding, a n d u n itiz a tio n o f boiler feed-pum ps a n d th e ir m an ifo ld in g . A fte r bein g u se d o n seven lo catio n s, d rillin g records show t h a t rig g in g -u p tim e for th is s te a m rig h a s been re d u ce d 5 0 % a n d drilling tim e a c o n se rv a tiv e 3 0 % , w hich h a s m o re t h a n re tu rn e d th e o rig in al co st o f co n stru ctio n . I t w as also a sse rte d t h a t n o t so m u ch a s a u n io n o r n ip p le w as c h an g ed in rigging-up each tim o fro m th o orig in al la y o u t, so sim ple a n d flexible w as th e
2 3 6 a ABSTRACTS.
e n tire s e t-u p . T h is long p a p e r d e scrib e d in som o d e ta il th o rig la y o u t, th e slush- p u m p u n it a n d m an ifo ld in g a n d o th e r a ccesso ry u n its u tilized , a n d th o m an n e r of
th e ir d isp o sitio n s. A. H . N.
750. S h rin k -T h read D rill Pipe a n d Tool Jo in ts. N . A. R e b a ric k a n d C. Sw artsfager.
Petrol. E n g r., M arch 1946, 17 (6), 8 6.— T h e o p e ratio n s o f re m o v in g old sh rin k -th rea d to o l jo in ts, b y flam e c u ttin g , a n d a p p ly in g new jo in ts a f te r h e a tin g th e jo in t b y a sp ecially designed fu rn ace u sin g e ith e r n a tu ra l o r b o ttle d g a s, a re p h o to g rap h ically
illu s tra te d in d e ta il a n d briefly describ ed . A. H . N.
751. D rilling an d P ro d u ctio n P a te n ts . S. W . B rig g s, W . C. B a u er, W . J . E w b an k , R . C. P o rte r, a ssrs to B rig g s C larifier Co. U .S .P . 2,393,965, 5.2.46. A ppl. 26.6.42.
D e h y d ra tio n o f oil.
J . C. V ro m a n . U .S .P . 2,394,123, 5.2.46. A ppl. 17.1.45. V alve p u lle r for oil wells.
J . R . W ra th a ll, R . L . F in d ley , a ssrs to W estin g h o u se E le c tric C orpn. U .S.P.
2,394,131, 5.2.46. A ppl. 26.4.43. D y n a m o m e te r.
W . H . C u rtis, R . R . C u rtis, a ssrs to C u rtis P u m p Co. U .S .P . 2,394,154, 5.2.46.
A ppl. 27.5.42. B o o ste r p u m p .
D . S. K a u fm a n , a s s r to T ex aco D e v elo p m en t C orpn. U .S .P . 2,394,189, 5.2.46.
A p p l. 6.10.42. C o n tro l o f paraffin d eposition.
V . J . M cC arth y , a s s r to T h e S alem . T ool Co. U .S .P . 2,394,194, 5.2.46. Appl.
14.4.44. E a r t h d rillin g m ach in e.
A. V e n d itty , a s s r to T h o m p so n P ro d u c ts . U .S .P . 2,394,276, 5.2.46. A ppl. 17.3.43.
Sw ivel jo in t.
K . W ern er, v e ste d in th e A lien P ro p e rty C u sto d ian . U .S .P . 2,394,345, 5.2.46.
A ppl. 5.3.41. H ig h p re ssu re closing device.
E . L ipson. U .S .P . 2,394,703, 12.2.46. A p p l. 6.7.42. Soil a n aly sis b y ra d ia n t energy.
C. R . E d w a rd s . U .S .P . 2,394,759, 12.2.46. A p p l. 13.5.40. M eth o d o f recovering e lem en ts fro m well bores.
D . A. M u rp h y , a s s r to T ho N a tio n a l S u p p ly Co. U .S .P . 2,394,800, 12.2.46. A ppl.
2.6.41. R o ta r y sw ivel.
A. B o y n to n . U .S .P . 2,394,977, 19.2.46. A ppl. 17.9.41. B o tto m hole reg u lato r a n d choke.
H , D . B isler, J . A. S h arp e, a ssrs b y m esn e a ssig n m en ts to S ta n o lin d Oil & G as Co.
U .S .P . 2,394,990, 19.2.46. A ppl. 30.10.37. R e c o rd in g sy s te m in seism ic surveying.
J . B . H aw ley , J r . U .S .P . 2,395,119, 19.2.46. A ppl. 10.4.44. A p p a ra tu s for blow ing oil wells.
C. V . M illikan, a s s r to G e ophysical R e se a rc h C orpn. U .S .P . 2,395,137, 19.2.46.
A p p l. 7.11.44. Oil w ell te s tin g device.
J . N eufeld, a s s r to E n g in e erin g L ab o ra to rie s. U .S .P - 2,395,289, 19.2.46. A ppl.
27.5.43. M eth o d a n d a p p a r a tu s fo r seism ic p ro sp e ctin g .
J . T . H a y w a rd . U .S .P . 2,395,407, 26.2.46. A ppl. 10.1.42. M echanism for m ea su rin g th e m o v em e n ts o f d rillin g to o ls a n d pip e.
0 . S. P o tty . U .S .P . 2,395,427, 26.2.46. A ppl. 7.4.41. Seism ic su rv ey in g . H . H o o v e r J r . , a s s r b y m esne a ssig n m en ts to U n ite d G eophysical Co. U .S .P . 2,395,4S1, 26.2.46. A p p l. 24.7.39. Seism ic e x p lo ra tio n sy ste m .
H . G. D oll, a ssr to S chlu m b erg o r W ell S u rv e y in g C orpn. U .S .P . 2,395,617, 26.2.46.
A ppl. 24.3.42. M eth o d for d e te rm in in g th o oil c o n te n t o f su b te rra n e a n fo rm atio n s.
J . F le tc h e r, a s s r to T h e B ab co ck & W ilcox Co. U .S .P . 2,395,855, 5.3.46. A ppl.
30.7.40. F lu id se p a ra to r.
D . M. P h illip s, a ssr to C h ik san T ool Co. U .S .P . 2,396,123, 5.3.46. A ppl. 16.3.42.
F lu id co n d u ctin g sw ivel jo in t.
ABSTRACTS. 2 37 a 0 . E . D em p sey . U .S .P . 2,396,102, 6.3.46. A ppl. 24.S.42. M eans for flowing wells.
T. A ston. U .S .P . 2,396,226, 12.3.46. A p p l. 5.9.44. F lo a ta b le s u b s tru e tu ra l caissons a n d th e like.
D. R . M oore. U .S .P . 2,396,336, 12.3.46. A p p l. 7.10.43. R o ta r y drillin g m u d separator.
J . T. H a y w a rd a n d E . H . Cooley, sa id Cooley a ssig n o r to E n g in e erin g L ab o ra to rie s, In c. U .S .P . 2,396,420, 12.3.46. A p p l. 10.4.40. W ell su rv e y a p p a ra tu s .
E . A. H e rtze ll, R . H . A n d erso n , a ssrs to T h e R o b in so n C lay P ro d u c t Co. U .S .P . 2,396,509, 12.3.46. A ppl. 12.11.43. A cid p ro o f cem ents.
J . F . T holl, a s s r to A m erican T ool & M achine Co. U .S .P . 2,396,622, 12.3.46.
Appl. 1.5.42. C e n trifu g al s e p a ra to r.
F . P a r r o tt. U .S .P . 2,396,747, 19.3.46. A ppl. 21.6.44. R o c k drill.
S. C. B ra d y . U .S .P . 2,396,817, 19.3.46. A p p l. 12.9.44. F lu id lift.
J . E . W alstro m , a s s r to S ch lu m b o rg er W ell S u rv e y in g C orpn. U .S .P . 2,396,935, 19.3.46. A ppl. 5.11.42. A coustic logging.
J . A. Z u b lin . U .S .P . 2,397,070, 19.3.46. A ppl. 10.9.44. W ell casin g for la te ra l bores.
W . P . O rr. a s s r to S ta n d a rd Oil D e v e lo p m en t Co. U .S .P . 2,397,199, 26.3.46. A p p l.
5.10.42. A p p a ra tu s for clean in g w ells.
G. H . E n n is, a ssr o f o n e -h alf to R o b e rt V. F u n k . U .S .P . 2,397,254, 26.3.46. A ppl.
28.0.35. M eth o d a n d a p p a r a tu s for e le ctrica lly co rin g in cased boreholes.
G. H . E n n is , a s s r o f o n e -h alf to R o b e rt V . F u n k . U .S .P . 2,397,255, 26.3.46. A p p l.
4.8.36. M eth o d o f a n d a p p a r a tu s fo r e le ctrica lly d e te rm in in g th e fo rm a tio n in w ells.
H . G. S m ith , T . L. C an trell, assrs to G u lf Oil C orpn. U .S .P . 2,397,377, 26.3.46.
A ppl. 3.8.42. M in eral oil co m positions a n d m eth o d s o f su p p ressin g foam in g in oils.
H . G. S m ith , T . L . C an trell, a ssrs to G u lf Oil C orpn. U .S .P . 2,397,378, 26.3.46.
A ppl. 11.8.42. M ineral oil com p o sitio n s a n d m eth o d s o f su p p re ssin g fo am in g in oils.
H . G. S m ith , T . L . C an trell, a ssrs to G u lf Oil C orpn. U .S .P . 2,397,379, 26.3.46.
Appl. 21.9.42. M in eral oil c o m p o sitio n r e s is ta n t to foam ing.
H . G. S m ith , T . L . C an tre ll, assrs to G u lf O il C orpn. U .S .P . 2,397,3S0, 26.3.46.
A ppl. 21.9.42. M in eral oil c o m p o sitio n r e s is ta n t to foam ing.
H. G. S m ith , T . L . C an trell, a ssrs to G u lf Oil C orpn. U .S.P. 2,3 9 i,3 8 1 , 26.3.46, A ppl. 19.3.43. M ineral oil com p o sitio n s a n d m o th o d s o f su p p re ssin g foam ing in oils.
G. A. H u m a so n , a ssr o f 10% to L. C. C h ristian , 11% to T . T. h a v e r. U .S .P - 2 .397.419.26.3.46. A ppl. 20.3.43. P ro d u c tio n lift device. R . B . S.
P roduction.
752. O peration a n d Cost oi E n g in eerin g Co-operative. A . M. Crowell. O il W kly., 8.4.46. 1 2 1 (6), 48.— A g ro u p o f co -o p erativ e a n d p rogressive oil a n d gas o p e ra to rs in M ississippi h a v e p ro v e d t h a t th e m o st com m on co m p la in t o f th e o ld er oil a n d gas- producing S ta te s— “ lac k o f re q u is ite d a ta p re v e n te d th e e v a lu a tio n , o f p e tro leu m reservoir b e h a v io u r ” — c a n b e a v e rte d sim p ly a n d inexpensively. A t a n av erag e cost o f S 4 .7 5 /w o ll/m o n th a n e n gineering co -o p erativ e re p re se n tin g 75% o f th e w ells an d 6 8% o f th e p ro d u c tio n o f o il a n d g as in M ississippi h as b ro u g h t o n u n d e rsta n d in g , n o t only b etw een o p e ra to rs, b u t also betw een S ta te a n d o p e rato r, t .c it is u n iq u e in th e h isto ry o f th e p e tro le u m in d u s try . C on tin u o u s pool stu d ie s reflectin g th e co m p lete p h y sical a sp e cts o f e ac h oil a n d gas reserv o ir o f M ississippi m ak e possible a n e v alu atio n o f econom ic c o n d itio n s t h a t is alw ay s c u rre n t. C o-operative servieo h a s lig h ten ed th e b u rd e n o f th o tec h n ic a l staffs o f its o p e rato r-m e m b ers, w ith re su ltin g econom ies. U n lik o th o first c o -o p era tiv e form ed som e tw e n ty y e a rs ago, th e w o rk o f th e M ississippi co m m itte e is confined to a geological s ta tis tic a l a n d fa ctu al- engineering p ro g ram m e. N o a g ree m e n t o r u n d e rs ta n d in g e x p ressed o r im plied,
2 3 8 a ABSTRACTS.
w ith re sp e c t to th e e x p lo ra to ry a n d d e v e lo p m en t policy to b e p u rsu e d , e x ists between m em b ers, a n d n o re stric tio n s a re p lac ed o n c o m p e titio n in oil a n d g as operations.
T h is S ta te -w id e p e tro leu m en g in eerin g co m m itte e h a s p ro v e d a d v a n ta g e s over the in d iv id u a l field en gineering co m m itte e w h e rein m em b ersh ip is confined to actual o p e ra tin g in te res ts. C o n serv atio n o f oil a n d gas, ra p id a cc ep ta n ce a n d assim ilation o f good o p e ra tin g p ra c tic e a n d sy s te m s is bein g b ro u g h t a b o u t a t a co st o f only 1/5 c e n t/b a rre l o f oil a n d eo n d en sato p ro d u c ed , a n d th is c o st is d ed u ctib lo from S ta te a n d fed eral incom e ta x .
D e tails o f th o co stin g a n d b e n efits o f th e co -o p erativ e sy s te m s a re given.
A. H . N.
753. P erfo rm an ce of D istillate R eservoirs in Gas Cycling. W . H u r s t a n d A. F . van E v erd in g en . P etrol. Tech. (A . l . M . M . E .), J a n . 1940, T ech. P u b . N o. 1969, 1-15.—
A d istilla te -b e a rin g s a n d com plex is o fte n m a d e u p o f s trin g e rs o f d ifferen t perm e
ab ilities. C onsidering each p e rm e ab le sec tio n t h a t c a n be tra c e d o v e r a stru ctu re a s a u n it in a p a ralle l a rra n g e m e n t o f s a n d lay e rs, a n d assu m in g th e sam e p o ten tial d is trib u tio n in each sectio n , th e re w ill b e flow p a ra lle l to th e b ed d in g . T h e recovery efficiency o f recy clin g in su c h a s a n d com plex is c o m p u te d o n th e b a s is o f th is assu m p tio n . I n th e first in sta n c e lin e a r flow is co n sid ered a cro ss a re ctan g le b y m ak in g the in p u t well a lino source a n d tho o u tp u t well a lino sin k .
I n o rd e r to c o m p u te th e effect o n th e reco v ery efficiency o f th e p o sitio n o f the w ells, th e a re a o f a field is con sid ered to b e m ad e u p o f re ctan g le s, e ac h rectangle c o n ta in in g one in p u t well in th e cen tro a n d tw o p ro d u c e rs lo ca te d sy m m etrically w ith re sp ec t to th e in p u t well. Form ulas aro d ev elo p ed to give tho p ressu re and stre a m lin e s in s te a d y -s ta te flow. F u rth e rm o re , a m e th o d is giv en for ra p id ly com p u tin g th e successive p o sitio n s o f th e d r y g as fro n t.
I f th e field is irreg u lar in sh ap e, p re ssu re a n d stre a m lin e s c a n bo o b ta in e d b y a p o te n tio m e tric electrical m odel s tu d y . B y u sin g th e c o n ce p t o f “ p a ralle l flow ” a n d th e re su lts o b ta in e d b y m a th e m a tic a l a n a ly sis o r b y e le ctrica l m o d el stu d ies for a hom ogeneous fo rm atio n , th e effects o f d iffere n t p e rm e ab ilities a n d o f th e location o f th e w ells c a n b e estab lish ed . F ro m th ese stu d ie s it is c le ar t h a t th e efficiency of recy clin g c an b e p ro fo u n d ly influenced b y differences in p e rm e a b ility a m o n g the v a rio u s p a ralle l s tr a ta . T ho sim ila rity b etw een th o d isp lac em e n t o f w e t b y d r y gas in cycling a n d th e d isp lac em e n t o f oil b y w a te r in sec o n d ary re co v e ry su g g ests th a t th e “ parallel-fiow ” m e th o d o f a n aly sis c a n bo u se d to refine e s tim a te s o f th e over-all
re co v e ry efficiency o f w ater-flooding. G. D . H .
754. F o rm aldehyde as a n In h ib ito r of Corrosion by H ydrogen Sulphide. P . L. Menaul a n d T . H . D u n n . P etrol. Tech. { A .l .M . M .E .) , J a n . 1946, 9 (1), T ech. P u b . No.
1970, 1 -9 .— H y d ro g e n su lp h id e in th e p resen ce o f oilfield b rin e is h ig h ly corrosive, a n d so lead s to m a n y tro u b le s. S pecial alloys a n d c o atin g e q u ip m e n t h a v e, in the m ain , been u n s a tis fa c to ry o r to o ex p en siv e, a n d a lk a li tr e a tm e n t g en erally causes ob jectio n ab lo p re c ip ita te s.
T es ts w ith a v a r ie ty o f ch em icals show ed fo rm ald eh y d e to bo th e b e st in hibitor, re d u cin g th e co rro sio n r a te to a b o u t o n e -n in th o f t h a t in th e ab sen ce o f a n y inhibitor.
I t s m o d e o f a c t io n is n o t k n o w n , b u t it a p p e a rs t h a t i t m a y fo rm a t h in h ig h ly p ro te c tiv e film o n th e m eta l.
I n w ells b a tc h in je c tio n o f 4 0 % a q u eo u s fo rm ald eh y d e w as u sed , th e general a m o u n t u se d b ein g 1 q u a r t to 100 b rl o f su lp h id o w a te r p ro d u ced . I n som e cases th o fo rm ald eh y d e effected a n o ta b le re d u c tio n in c o rro s io n ; in o th e rs th ero was d ecid ed im p ro v e m en t w h en s tr a y electric c u rre n ts w ero e lim in a ted . A fte r a y e ar’s t r ia l e x a m in a tio n o f e q u ip m e n t show ed t h a t th e tr e a tm e n t h a d v irtu a lly sto p p ed su lp h id e corrosion. T hero w as a sig n ifican t decrease in th e n u m b e r o f pu llin g jobs o n th e te s t w ells, a n d a sa v in g in p u llin g a n d re p la ce m en t ex p en ses. G. D. H . 755. D ry-H ole K now ledge N ecessary in S econdary Oil R ecovery. F . R . Cozzens.
O il W k ly ., S .4 .4 6 ,121 (6), 47.— T h e use o f th e h is to ry o f d ry holes to a v o id unnecessary, d u p lic a t ion o f fa ilu re in consid erin g sec o n d ary oil reco v ery is discussed. A. H . N.
756. E lectrification of S m ackover W ells Low ers L ifting Costs 3 6 % . G. W eb er. Oil Gas J ., 27.4.46, 44 (51), 115.— S m ack o v er w ells a re in th e " h e a v y w a te r p ro d u c tio n -
ABSTRACTS. 2 39 a stripper class,” w ith m a n y o f th e m m a k in g a b o u t 9 5 % w a ter. P u m p in g costs h a d been eq u al to a larg e p ro p o rtio n o f to ta l rev en u e. E le ctrifie d p u m p in g u n its h av e yielded s u b s ta n tia l sav in g s. P rio r to c o nversion, each w ell w as s tu d ie d in d iv id u a lly and th e size a n d p o w e r re q u ire m e n t o f each in s ta lla tio n w ere c o m p u te d a cc o rd in g to the em pirical formulae :
S tro k e X S P M - ) P e a k polished ro d lo a d = (w t. ro d s -f- w t. flu id )(l H--- 7Ô~4ÔÔ--- , n - n /S tr o k e \ P eak to rq u e = (P e a k polish ed ro d lo ad — (w t. ro d s - f $ w t. fluid) i — - — ) These formulae h a v o b een fou n d a d a p ta b le to su c h in stallatio n s. C o n tin u ed s tu d y of wells a f te r c o n v ersio n h a s a id e d in im p ro v in g th e ir p ro d u c tio n a n d b e tte r e q u ip ping a d d itio n al w ells. I n som e cases, horsepow 'er re q u ire m e n ts h av e b een red u ced by o n e-th ird b y c h an g in g ty p e s o f p u m p s. C om m on p ra c tic e w ith old e q u ip m e n t was to p u m p a t g re a te s t possible sp eed s, re g ard less o f p o u n d in g , to reco v er m a x im u m production. I n new in sta lla tio n s c o n s ta n t s tu d y b y engineers a n d p u m p e rs h as resulted in im p ro v ed p ro d u c tio n b y a d a p tin g le n g th o f stro k e a n d p u m p in g speed to conditions cau sin g le a s t p o u n d in g , th e re b y red u cin g m a in ten a n ce , re p air, dow n time, a n d k ilow 'att h o u rs u s e d /b a rre l o f fluid lifte d . A. I I . X . 757. G raphical P red ictio n of W ater-F lo o d in g In ta k e s. S. T . Y u sto r. Oil W khj., 22.4.46, 121 (8), 36.— A g ra p h ic a l m e th o d fo r p re d ic tin g th e b eh av io u r o f a w a te r inp u t well in a w ator-flood h a s b e en d ev elo p ed b a sed u p o n c e rta in th e o re tic a l e q u a tions a n d in v o lv in g c e rta in a ssu m p tio n s reg ard in g th e flow o f th e in v o lv ed fluids.
The four v a ria b le s— effective p e rm e ab ility , tim e , c u m u la tiv e volu m e, a n d w a te r injection ra te — w h en co n sid ered in a u n ifo rm p e rm e ab ility sa n d , a n y tw o m a y b e com puted b y use o f th e n o m o g rap h if th e o th e r tw o aro fixed. T h e g ra p h s m a y be a d ap ted to a sa n d h a v in g a h e te ro g en e o u s p e rm e a b ility profile w ith c e rta in re s tric tions b y ta k in g a s u m m a tio n o f th e b e h av io u r o f th o d ifferen t p e rm e a b ility b ra ck e ts . The n o m o g rap h scale m a y b e c h an g ed b y m o d ify in g th e v a ria b le s w ith a p p ro p ria te factors. T h is in creases th e usefu ln ess a n d flex ib ility o f th e m eth o d . V a ria tio n in well spacing a n d shot-wrell ra d ii c a n n o t bo c o rre c te d o r c h an g ed in th o g ra p h s c o n tained in th is re p o rt. N ew g ra p h s m u s t b e drawrn if su c h v a ria tio n s occur. H o w ever, th e g ra p h s can b e co rrecte d fo r th e o th e r v a ria b le s in v o lv ed in w ater-flooding.
A. H . N . 758. G eneral F eatu res of W ater-F lo o d System s. A non. Oil W k ly ., 13.5.46, 121 (11), 39-40.— T ho e lem en ts o f wrater-flo o d in g sy s te m s a re briefly discussed. P a rtic u la r a tte n tio n is p a id to source a n d tr e a tm e n t o f th e w a ter. A. H . X . 759. W hy W ell T ests M ust he M ade A ccurately. K . M. F a g in . Petrol. E n g r.y M arch
1946, 17 (6), 75-76.— T ho reaso n s for m ak in g a c c u ra te te s ts on w ells aro discussed.
I m p o rta n t te s ts a r e : (1) C oring te s ts a n d core a n a ly s is ; (2) D rillstem t e s ts ; (3) E lectric logging ; (4) R a d io a c tiv ity logging ; (5) C aliper logging ; (6) ‘ S tra ig h t- h o le ” t e s ts ; (7) P re ss u re t e s t o f c a s in g ; (8) T e m p e ra tu re su rv e y for c em en tin g te s t ; (9) I n itia l p ro d u c tio n (p o ten tial) t e s t ; (10) I n itia l b o tto m -h o le p ressu re a n d tem p e ra tu re t e s t ; (11) P erio d ic gas-oil ra tio t e s ts ; (12) P erio d ic p o te n tia l t e s ts ; (13) Periodic w a ter-o il ra tio o r “ sh a k e -o u t ” te s ts ; (14) P e rio d ic b o tto m -h o le p ressu re te s ts ; (15) P e rio d ic p ro d u c tio n efficiency o r p ro d u c tiv ity in d ex t e s ts ; (16) B o tto m - hole fluid sam p lin g te s ts a n d a n a ly s is ; (17) P erio d ic w ellh ead p re ssu re te s ts . T h e significance o f th o p re v ailin g c o n d itio n s a t th e tim e o f th e te s ts , in th e ir in te rp re ta tio n , is briefly in d icated .
760. A cre-F oot R ecoveries F ro m Oilfields. P a rt 2. S. F . S haw . Petrol, h n g r .y M arch 1946, 17 (6), 254.— S ta tis tic a l d a ta o n p ro d u c tio n fro m a largo n u m b e r o f fields in th e d ifferen t S ta te s o f A m erica aro p re sen te d a n d th e n co m b in ed in to one com prehensive ta b le . T h e c u m u la tiv e reco v ery is 8629 m illion b rl o r 10,320 b rl/a c re , or 144 b rl/a cre -fo o t. U ltim a te reco v ery fro m 800,215 acres av era g in g 73-5 f t in thickness, is 10,967 m illion b rl, o r 13,700 b rl/a c re , o r 187 b rl/a cre -fo o t. T ho a re a of 2800 fields in th e U n ite d S ta te s , w hich in clu d es n e a rly all fields e x c e p t th o se in K entucky, N e b ra s k a , N ew Y o rk , Ohio, P e n n sy lv a n ia , W e s t V irginia, a n d th e P a n
2 4 0 a ABSTRACTS.
h a n d le o f T ex a s, fo r w hich figures on acreag e a re n o t a v a ilab le, a g g reg ates 5,262,600 a cres fro m w hich c u m u la tiv e p ro d u c tio n lias a m o u n te d to 25,157 m illion b rl, or 4770 b rls/a c re . U ltim a te re co v e ry from th e s e fields is e s tim a te d a t 44,268 m illion brl o r 8400 brl/acro .
I n v iew o f th e g en eral a v erag e o f 187 b rl/a c re -fo o t sh o w n fo r fields in all p a rts of t h e U n ite d S ta te s, it is su rm ise d t h a t th o m u ch h ig h e r figures u se d for acre-foot recoveries for m a n y o f th e n ew er a n d p rin cip al fields o f th e U n ite d S ta te s m a y be o p tim istic . I f such is th e case, th e an sw er will b e sh o w n in d o w n w ard revisions of u ltim a te reco v ery in th e s e fields a s th e y b ecom e d e p le ted . A lread y som e estim ates h a v e b e e n re v ised d o w n w ard , b u t i t re m a in s to b e se en w h e th e r th is w ill ap p ly to m a n y o f th e la rg e r fields w here, b y re a so n o f c ircu m stan ces, i t w as n e ce ssa ry to make e s tim a te s b y u se o f th e v o lu m e tric m e th o d . A. H . N.
761. Oil W ell C ounterbalancing. E . NT. K em ler. O il W kly., 6 .5 .4 6 ,1 2 1 (10), 17-19.—
T h e reaso n s for u sin g c o u n te rb a la n c e — i.e., to re d u ce th e size a n d p o w er o f th e prime m o v er a n d to len g th e n th o life o f th e eq u ip m e n t— a re d iscussed a n d follow ed by d e sc rip tio n s a n d illu stra tio n s o f se v e ra l ty p e s . T o ch eek fo r c o rre c t b a la n c e B a rre tt’s m e th o d o f slip p in g th o c lu tc h m a y bo used . B riefly it is a s follow s : (1) S et the th r o ttle on th e engine a t a fixed p o s itio n ; (2) R e le ase th e c lu tc h v e ry slow ly to the p o in t w here i t w ill p u ll th e p e a k lo ad . A n y f u r th e r release w ill re s u lt in th e clutch slip p in g o n som e p a r t o f th e cycle. I f th e w ell is p ro p e rly b a la n ce d , th e clutch will slip e q u a lly o n th e u p a n d d o w n s tro k e ; (3) O n f u rth e r release o f th e c lu tc h a well o u t o f b a la n ce w ill slow u p a n d slip o n th o sido w hich is u n d e r-b a lan c ed , a n d speed up on th e side w hich is o v er-b alan ced . A little ex p erien ce in d ev elo p in g a technique w ill soon show w h e th e r th o well is n o tic e a b ly o u t o f b a la n ce . A. H . X.
762. G raphical M echanics of C ounterbalancing M ultiple W ell P u m p in g Assemblies.
J . J . L au d e rm ilk . Oil W k ly ., 8.4.46, 121 (6), 32.— T h e p rin cip les o f balancing a n u m b e r o f w ells o n th e p u m p b y b a c k -c ra n k p u m p in g a re e x p la in ed b y solving in d e ta il a p ro b lem in w hich i t is assu m e d t h a t one w ell w ill b e p ro d u c ed in th e norm al m a n n e r o f su c k e r-ro d p u m p in g , w h ilst tw o o th e r w ells w ill be p ro d u c ed b y back- c ra n k in g from th e first well. D e ta ile d e n gineering d a ta a re p re s e n te d a n d th o solu
tio n , u sin g a m e th o d o f g ra p h ic al b a la n cin g o f forces, is g iv en in full. A. H . N.
763. R esearch an d th e “ Shoe-String ” P ro d u cer. F . R . Cozzens. Petrol. Enyr., M arch 1946, 17 (6), 248.— A b rie f resum e o f th o p re s e n t tr e n d s in re sea rc h o n problem s o f sh o e-strin g s a n d p ro d u c tio n is g iv en , b u t n o references to p a p e rs aro ap p en d e d .
A. H . N.
764. F ield Effective P erm eab ilities an d S hot-W ell R adii. S. T. Y u s te r. O il W kly., 29.4.46, 121 (9), 24. P a p er Presented a t N in th Technical Conference cm Petroleum P roduction, P en n sylva n ia State College.— F ro m c e rta in th e o re tic a l d e d u ctio n s a n equa
tio n h a s b een d e riv e d w h ic h sh ow s t h a t th o lo g a rith m o f th o c u m u la tiv e volum e of w a te r in je c te d in a w ater-flo o d d u rin g th e ra d ia l e n cro a c h m e n t p e rio d is a linear fu n ctio n o f th e re cip ro cal o f th e in je c tio n ra te . T h e slope o f th e line m en tio n ed will y ield th e effective p e rm e a b ility o f th e fo rm a tio n to th e fiood-w aters. T h e theoretical y -in te rc e p t o f th is sam e line w ill give th e effective sh o t-w ell ra d iu s . C ertain field d a ta h a v e b e en a n a ly se d a n d a ra n g e o f re la tiv e w a te r p e rm e ab ilities fro m a b o u t 0-4 to a ro u n d 0-001 h a s b e en found. T h e v a ria tio n in re la tiv e p e rm e a b ility indicated p o in ts to w a rd s a possible re a c tio n b etw een th e fiood-w aters a n d th o fo rm a tio n to g iv e a p lu g g in g a c tio n . T h e effective shot-w ell ra d ii also sh o w a w ide v a ria tio n in v alu e. T h is difference in s h o t resp o n siv en ess in d ic a te s a n e ed fo r f u rth e r experi
m e n ta tio n in w ell-shooting tec h n iq u es. A. H . X.
765. Cable Tools U sed to O verhaul Old W ells. N . A. D ’A rcy , J r . Petrol. World, M arch 1946, 43 (3), 4 7 -4 8 .— I t is fo u n d econom ical to u se cablo to o ls in clean in g and o v erh au lin g old m arg in al w ells to C alifornia. O ne o f th e p ro b lem s e n co u n tere d is th e s c a rc ity o f ex p erien ced cable-tool d rillers in th e a re a . A. I I . X.
766. E n gineering
oi
Oil W ell A ban d o n m en ts. W . E . S choeneck. Oil W k ly ., 15.4.46, 121 (7), 44.— T h e p a p e r d eals specifically w ith oil w ells— n o t w ith g as well n o r cond e n s a te wells, w h ich n e ed a se p a ra te in v estig a tio n — a n d o u tlin e s th e tw o m ajor,
ABSTRACTS. 2 4 1a interdependent c o n sid era tio n s w hich h a v e to bo ta k e n in to a c c o u n t in th e a b a n d o n ments of wells : p h y sic al a n d econom ical co n sid eratio n s. T h e ty p e o f c u m u la tiv e production cu rv es o b ta in a b le w ith a w ell a re d iscu ssed a n d in te rp re te d . O th e r characteristics o f th e w ells, gas-oil ra tio s, w a te r p ro d u c tio n , etc-., a re ex am in ed . A ll these are com bined w ith c o st s tu d ie d before th e a p p ro p ria te m easu res in a b an d o n in g
the well can be d ecid ed on. A. H . N .
767. Test F low Cham ber. G. M. W ilson. O il W k ly ., 15.4.46. 121 (7), 43.— O ne drilling c o n tra c to r dev elo p ed a sim plified sy ste m o f c o n d u ctin g d rill-ste m te s ts w hich enables him to ob serv e flow re su lts , b u t w h ich a t th o sa m e tim e p ra c tic a lly elim in a tes possibility o f oil escap in g to s e ttle o v e r a w ide a re a a n d cause d a m a g e to n e a rb y installations. T h e 2-inch lino com ing o u t o f th e w ell-cellar c o n n ectio n s w as e x te n d e d out to one sid e o f th e lo catio n , w here i t w as c o n n ec te d in to a sm all h ig h -p ressu ro separator. A 2-inch g as e x h a u s t lino som e 200 f t long, a n d s u ita b ly a n ch o red , b ra n ch e s off a t th a t p o in t to e x h a u s t to a tm o sp h e re w ell o u t o f d a n g e r o f rig in sta lla tio n s. Oil then flows on th ro u g h ar^ in cre asin g ly g re a te r size pip e, th e la s t jo in t o f w h ich h a s perforations for d isc h arg in g fluid in to th e su m p d ire c tly b e n e a th . Som e 75 f t do w n stream from th o tr a p , th e 2-inch oil lino is e n la rg ed to 6| in ch , th o l a t t e r boing a /5 -ft length o f salv ag ed casin g w hich is m o u n te d .o n pipo-leg s u p p o rts. T h is p ip e reach es well over to w ith in th e confines o f th o w alled t e s t su m p . A t th is p o in t th o line swages o u t a n d is flange co n n ec te d in to a 15-ft le n g th o f sp ec ia lly p re p a re d 15-inch casing, th e l a tte r sp a n n in g th o su m p a n d re stin g on a n e le v a te d s u p p o rt m ad e o f truncated A -fram es m ad e o f 2-inch p ip e. T h is piece o f la rg e -d ia m eter casing is w elded closed a t th e d is ta n t en d , a n d a ro u n d th o low er a p p ro x im a te ly J o f its p e rip h e ry a re cut o u t n u m ero u s largo-size p e rfo ra tio n s , th e p e rfo ra te d in te rv a l e x te n d in g th e le n g th
of the cham ber. H . N.
768. In terp re ta tio n of In terfe ren c e T ests in T erm s of P erm eab ility . P a r t 3. K . B . Barnes. Oil Gas J ., 4.5.46, 44 (52), 107.— T h e fa c t t h a t in c o re-p e rm c ab ility m ea su re m ent an a re a o f 3-inch d ia m e te r is ta k e n a s re p re s e n ta tiv e sam p le for, s a y , 2 0 acres in th e field is stre sse d . I n in terferen c e te s ts th e w hole field, o r a t le a s t m a jo r p o rtio n s of it, a re u n d e r te s t. In te rfe re n c e te s ts , b y defin itio n , m u s t a lw ay s in clu d e a t le a s t two wells. T ho d ro p in p re ssu re occasioned b y p ro d u c in g a w ell a t a c e rta in p o in t is observed a t a n o th e r well o r w ells w hich a re s h u t in. T h e v a ria b le s c o n ta in e d in such a fluid-flow sy s te m include th e d ista n c e s b etw een th e s h u t-in w ells a n d th e producing well a n d th e th ic k n e ss a n d av erag o p e rm e a b ility o f th e acreag e u n its represented b y each o f th e closed-in w ells. T h e significance o f th e v a rio u s v a ria b le s and th e in te rp re ta tio n o f in terferen ce te s ts a re discussed. A. H . N . 769. W ax S a tu ratio n s in Oil Sands. J . C. C alhoun a n d S. T . Y u s te r. Oil W k ly ., 13.5.46, 121 (11), 42.— S an d sam p le s from th e G aines p o o l o f P e n n sy lv a n ia w ere ex tracted , a n d wore fo u n d to c o n ta in solid p araffin w ax . A m e th o d w as dev elo p ed to calcu late th o tr u e oil a n d w a x s a tu ra tio n s . B y th is m e th o d th e w ax s a tu ra tio n s were calcu lated as h ig h a s 6% . C onsiderations in d ic a te t h a t th is figuro is still too low. I t is su g g ested t h a t th is a m o u n t o f w ax w o u ld n o t o n ly h in d e r th e co rrect determ in atio n o f oil s a tu ra tio n , b u t w ould also affect th e p ro d u c tio n m ech an ism .
D e term in a tio n o f p araffin p o in t o f G aines cru d e oil a n d o f th e fo rm a tio n te m p e ra ture show th e m to bo id en tica l w ith in e rro r o f d e te rm in a tio n . T h is fa c t in d icates the reservoir c ru d e to b e w ax s a tu ra te d . P araffin p o in ts on five o th e r P e n n sy lv a n ia crude oils w ere d e te rm in e d a n d co m p a red w ith th e fo rm a tio n te m p e ra tu re s . I n two instances-^—th e F ir s t a n d Second V enango sa n d s— th ero is ev id en ce t h a t th o crude oil m ig h t b e s a tu r a te d a t th e fo rm atio n te m p e ra tu re , in w hich e v e n t solid paraffin m ig h t b e p re se n t. I t is suggested t h a t th e sim p le st m ean s b y w h ich th e presence o f w ax in th ese fo rm atio n s co u ld b e e x p lain ed w ould be b y erosion to b rin g the pro d u cin g h o rizo n to a d e p th w here th e te m p e ra tu re fell below th e s a tu ra tio n tem p eratu re. I t is f u r th e r su g g e sted t h a t in view o f th e h is to ry o f th e G aines pool th e wax w as p re s e n t a t th e tim e w h en i t w as a v irg in reserv o ir. A. H . X.
770. Trends in Processing Gas C ondensate R eservoirs. F . H . D o tterw eich a n d E . O.
B ennett. Oil W k ly ., 6.5.46, 121 (10), 25. P aper Presented before N a tu ra l Gasoline Association o f A m erica.— T h e p ro p e rtie s , pro cessin g a n d p ro d u c ts of c o n d en s ate gas
are stu d ied . A ‘ N -
