O c t o b e r 1 9 4 5 . 3 2 9 a
A B ST R A C T S.
PA G E Oi l f i e l d Ex p l o r a t i o na n d Ex
p l o i t a t i o n.
G e o l o g y ... 3 2 9 a G eophysical a n d G eochem ical
P ro s p ec tin g 330 a
D r i l l i n g 3 3 1 a
P ro d u c tio n ... ... ... 333 a Oilfield D e v elo p m en t ... ... 336 a T r a n s p o r t a n d S t o r a g e . . . 338 a Re f i n e r y Op e r a t i o n s.
R efineries a n d A u x ilia ry R e finery P la n t ... ... 338 a D istilla tio n ... ... ... 340 a A b so rp tio n a n d A d so rp tio n ... 340 a Solvent R efining a n d D e w a x
in g ... ... ... ... 341 a
PA G E
C racking ... ... ... 341 a
A lk y la tio n ... ... ... 343 a
C hem ical a n d P h y sic a l R efin in g 343 A M etering a n d C ontrol ... ... 344 a
S a fe ty P re c a u tio n s ... ... 344 a Pr o d u c t s.
C h em istry a n d P h y sic s ... 345 a A naly sis a n d T estin g ... ... 345 a
G as 348 a
E n g in e F u els ... ... ... 348 a
L u b ric a n ts ... ... ... 348 a
S pecial H y d ro c a rb o n P r o
d u c ts ... ... ... 350 A
D e riv ed C hem ical P ro d u c ts ... 352 a
Coal, S hale a n d P e a t ... ... 353 a
M iscellaneous P ro d u c ts ... 353 a
355 a Mi s c e l l a n e o u s
A U T H O R IN D E X .
T he n u m b e rs re fe r to th e A b s tra c t N u m b er.
Abere, J ., 1145 , E . 0 ., 1109 Barnes, K . B., 1105, 1114 BeH, F. W ., 1159 Blaylock, P . W ., 1126 Bowden, F . P ., 1163 Bowles, V. 0 ., 1136 Brown, B. K ., 1179 Brunner, E ., 1103 Buchdakl, B ., 1188 Busvine, J . R ., 1171 Cardwell, W . T ., 1104 Olinedinst, 1097 Cremer, H . W ., 1190 Dansby, R . E ., 1093-
1095 D ittrich , E ., 1157 D unham , G. S., 1137 Exline, P . G., 1152 F agin, K . M., 1106 Fearon, B . E ., 1092 Firfch, F. G., 1158 F itt, B. L., 1190 Flesher, S. A., 1152 Foster, A. L., 1127, 1186
G anguly, P . B ., 1144 Goldfinger, G., 1145 Golyer, E. de, 1113 Gregory, J . N ., 1163 G yani, B. P ., 1144 H anson, G. H ., 1147 H ard im an , E . W ., 1165 H assler, G. L ., 1103 H ew lett, P . S., 1170 H eym ann, E ., 1146 H ickel, A. E ., 1187 H ill, W ., 1090 H o rto n , C. W ., 1102 H o w at, D. D ., 1180-1182
Jones, J . H ., 1109 K arpiński, Z., 1162 K atz, D. L ., 1111 K nipling, E . F ., 1168 K ooistra, L. F ., 1124 K unkel, J . H ., 1139 L ah iri, A ., 1162 Law rence, A. S. C., 1166
Lem m en, W. E ., 1128 Lim ar, V. K ., 1151 L in d q u ist, A. W ., 1168 Logan, L . J ., 1091
Luger, K . E ., 1125 M cCutchin, J . A ., 1110 M apstone, G. E ., 1177 M ardles, E . W. J ., 1162 M ark, H ., 1145 M endius, W ., 1140 Moore, P . H ., 1161 Mougey, H . C., 1156 N aidus, H ., 1145 N ason, PT. K ., 1154 Nelson, W. L., 1130,1131,
1148, 1155 N ew ton, R . H ., 1137 N ielsen, B. F ., 1108 N issan, A. H ., 1165 P ark in , E. A., 1170 Parsons, R. L ., 1104 P etk rick , S. R ., 1153 P etro v , A. D ., 1167 P inkevitch, Y u A ., 1150 P o tts , W . H ., 1169 ■ Power, H . H ., 1112 B endel, T. B., 1160 R eu ter, R ., 1175 Rogers, F . T ., 1102
R zasa, M. J ., 1111 Sawdon, W . A ., 1096 Schoessow, G. J ., 1124 Schroeder, H . O., 1168 S hchukin, V. I., 1167
^drS herbom e, J . E ., 1109 S hort, E . H ., 1099 Sidorov, V. G., 1151 Simpson, T. P ., 1137,
1138
Sm ith, M. L., 1147 Smoley, E . R ., 1136 i " ' , F . R ., 1142 Tabor, D ., 1163, 1164 T kim m , J . E ., 1188 T ruesdell, P ., 1128 T u ttle , R . B ., 1127 V an D riest, E . R ., 1121 V anderplank, F . L ., 1169 W alden, J . L ., 1191 W arner, A. J ., 1178 W ells, N . C., 1098 W endeln, O. B., 1189 W ilham s, N ., ,1100 Yoffe, A ., 1146 Y u ster, S. T ., 1108
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 e o lo g y .
1088. Cretaceous Producer in Old Venezuelan Field Reported. A non. Oil W k ly , 28.5.45, 117 (13), 62.— A C retaceous p ro d u c er is re p o rte d to h av e been c o m p leted in th e old N e tic k field, w est o f M aracaibo. T h is fo rm a tio n w as en co u n tere d a t 6470 ft.
in d eepening a n old shallow well. 12 km . n o rth of N etick , th e C a le n tu ra 2 w ild ca t is to be d rilled to th e C retaceous, follow ing Shell’s d iscovery o f a m a jo r C retaceous lim e
sto n e p a y in th e M ara d is tric t in Shell DM 2. G-. D . H . A A
a
1089. Shell’s Chafurray Test in Llanos may be Abandoned. A no n . Oil W k ly , 28.5.45, 117 (13), 62.— T h e C h a fu rra y te s t in th e llan o s o f s o u th e rn M eta, C olom bia, has reco v ered a g ra n ite core a t 1732 f t., a n d is e x p e c te d to b e a b a n d o n e d . G. D . H . 1090. New Field in France being Developed. W . H ill. Oil W k ly , 28.5.45, 117 (13), 46.— A n oil a n d gas a re a is b ein g d e v elo p ed in th e S a in t M arcet field o f H a u te G aronne, F ra n c e . T h e field w as o p e n ed in J u l y 1939 as a gas a rea . O il a n d gas a re o b tain e d fro m C retaceo u s lim esto n e a t a d e p th o f 5000—6000 ft. T h e re a re 10 p ro d u c in g wells, th e d a ily p ro d u c tio n n o w b ein g e s tim a te d a t 20 b rl. o f 31-g ra v ity oil a n d 8,000,000 cu. ft. o f gas. T h e gas gives 0-8 gal. o f d is tilla te /1 000 cu. ft. A 6-in. gas line ru n s to T oulouse, a n d a 5-in. line is b e in g la id to T arb es.
T h e S a in t M arcet field is a n a n tic lin e re v e a le d b y o u tcro p s. G eology a n d geophysics h a v e in d ic a te d tw elv e s tru c tu re s in th is a rea. T h e G a b ia n p ool, H e r a u lt province, gives 4—5 b rl./d a y . I t s c u m u la tiv e p ro d u c tio n since 1924 is 150,000 b rl. T h e Pechel- b ro n n p ool h a s a n a n n u a l o u tp u t o f a b o u t 70,000 to n s, fro m a d e p th o f 2000 ft.
G. D . H . 1091. Exploration Falling Short of P.A.W. 1945 Programme. L . J. L ogan. Oil
W k ly , 28.5.45, 117 (13).— 1349 e x p lo ra to ry w ells w ere c o m p le te d in U .S .A . d u rin g th e first fo u r m o n th s o f 1945, 81 m o re t h a n in th e co rre sp o n d in g p e rio d o f 1944. T hus e x p lo ra to ry drillin g is 6-4% ab o v e la s t y e a r ’s levels, w hile all d rillin g show s a 9%
increase.
T h e d e te rre n ts to w ild c a ttin g a re p rim a rily econom ic r a th e r t h a n p h y sic al. 20%
o f th is y e a r ’s e x p lo ra to ry w ells h a v e b e en successful a g a in s t 81-1% fo r th e corresponding p e rio d o f 1944. R e la tiv e ly good re s u lts h a v e b e en o b ta in e d in fin d in g n ew gas and d is tilla te as w ell as oil reserv es ; a n d fo r eac h o f th e s e th r e e ty p e s o f p ro d u c tio n th ere h a v e b e en re la tiv e ly b e tte r re s u lts in fin d in g e n tire ly n e w fields t h a n in fin d in g new p a y ho rizo n s w ith in k n o w n 'fields o r in e x te n d in g th e p ro d u c tiv e lim its o f existing fields.
A m ong 66 te s ts t h a t opened new fields o r p a y s or e x te n d e d fields in A pril, v ery few if a n y w ere o f in d ic a te d m aj or im p o rta n ce . T h e R a n g e ly field o f C olorado w as extended, as w as th e E lk B a sin field o f W yo m in g . N ew p a y h o rizo n s w ere p ro v e d in th e E gan, W e s t T e p e ta te , V e lA e, a n d S t. M a rtin v ille fields o f S o u th L o u isia n a . K a n s a s yielded new oil a n d gas reserv es in 10 area s. O k la h o m a h a d se v e ra l fa irly p ro m isin g strikes, in clu d in g a g a s-d istillate w ell in G ra d y C o u n ty , a t a d e p th o f 10,879-10,882 ft. Cali
fo rn ia h a d a n ew p a y a t N e w h a ll-P o tre ro , a n d e x te n sio n s in tw o o th e r fields.
T ab les su m m arize th e e x p lo ra to ry d rillin g re s u lts in J a n u a r y - A p r il 1945, and a n aly se th e re su lts b y S ta te s a n d d is tric ts fo r A p ril a n d th e first fo u r m o n th s o f 1945.
T h e n ew oil- a n d gas-fields, a n d n e w p a y h o rizo n s d isco v ered in U .S .A . in A p ril 1945
a re lis te d w ith d e ta ils. G. D . H .
Geophysical and Geochem ical Prospecting.
1092. Radio-activity Well-logging. R . E . F e a ro n . O il W k ly , 4.6.45, 118 (1), 33;
11.6.45, 118 (2), 38 .— G am m a-ray M ea su rem en ts.— R a d io a c tiv ity is e ssen tially a p ro p e rty o f th e a to m ic n u cleu s, w h ich e x h ib its in s ta b ility a n d e je c ts a n ele ctro n or a h eliu m n u cleu s, th e re b y beco m in g a d ifferen t elem en t. T h e h e liu m n u clei give the so-called a lp h a ra y s, a n d th e electro n s th e b e ta ra y s . T h ird ly , th e r e a re gam m a ra y s, w h ich a re o f th e X -ra y ty p e , b u t m o re p e n e tra tiv e .
T h ere a re n u m ero u s ra d io a c tiv e e lem en ts in th e e a rth , a n d differences in th e gam m a r a y s a re to b e e x p ec te d , so p ro d u c in g a g a m m a -ra y sp e c tru m .
U ra n iu m , th o riu m , a n d p o ta s siu m a re th e o n ly ra d io a c tiv e e le m en ts sufficiently s ta b le to e x is t in q u a n titie s th ro u g h geological tim e , a n d eac h is effectiv ely a group o f e lem en ts w h ich a re d e riv e d successively fro m th e first m em b e r. P o ta s s iu m em its a single k in d o f g a m m a ra d ia tio n , w hich is o f a b o u t th e sam e p e n e tra tiv e po w er as th e m ix tu re o f ra d ia tio n s fro m th e u ra n iu m g ro u p . T h e th o riu m -g a m m a ra d ia tio n s h a v e m o re p e n e tra tiv e co m p o n en ts.
G a m m a ra d ia tio n s m a k e m a n y gaseous su b s ta n c e s ele ctrica lly c o n d u c tin g , a n d th is p ro p e rty is u sed in th e ir d e te ctio n . A n io n iz a tio n c h am b er is u se d w h ic h co n tain s a n in e rt gas u n d e r p ressu re. T h e c u rre n t fro m th is c h am b er is am plified. I n som e cases tw o d e te c to rs a re u se d w h ich a re se n sitiv e to d ifferen t p a r ts o f th e g a m m a -ra y s p e c tru m .
ABSTRACTS. 3 3 1 a
I n w ell-logging, th e g a m m a -ra y in te n s ity is p lo tte d a g a in st th e d e p th . B ecause o f th e flu c tu a t ions in th e ra d ia tio n i t is n ecessary t o sm o o th th e o u tp u t o f th e m ea su rin g sy stem , oth erw ise th e c u rv e re co rd e d a t th e su rface w ould be to o e rra tic . T his sm o o th in g p ro cess red u ces th e p e a k s o f th e log fo r som e o f th e th in n e r ra d io a ctiv e s tr a ta if th e logging sp eed (ra te o f raisin g th e io n isatio n c h am b er) is to o h igh. H ig h speed also d isp laces th e p eak s, d u e to lag in tro d u c e d in th e sm o o th in g .
Som e ra d io a c tiv e m a te ria l m a y b e tr a n s p o rte d in c irc u la tin g fluid. T h e effective zone o f in v e s tig a tio n is in th e n e ig h b o u rh o o d o f th e Well, a n d im m e d ia tely b e h in d a n y casin g w h ich m a y b e p re s e n t .
P re se n t in d ic a tio n s a re t h a t th e re is no d irec t re la tio n s h ip b e tw ee n th e v a ria tio n s in ra d io a c tiv ity a n d th e p resen ce o f liq u id p e tro leu m . T he ra d ia tio n s are, how ever, useful in s tu d y in g th e ro c k c o m p o n e n ts o f th e fo rm atio n , a n d so a id in geological co rrelatio n .
N eu tro n Bom bardm ent o f F o rm ations.— I n th is m e th o d th e ro c k fo rm atio n s are exposed to a source o f p rim a ry ra d ia tio n , a n d th e se c o n d ary ra d ia tio n s g e n e ra te d a re m easured. T h is m e th o d is especially v a lu a b le in lim esto n e formations, a n d in all eases m a y co m p lem en t th e g a m m a -ra y log.
N e u tro n s fo r w ell logging a re o b ta in e d b y b o m b a rd in g b e ry lliu m w ith a lp h a ra y s from ra d io a c tiv e elem en ts. T h e fa s t n e u tro n s strik e h y d ro g e n a to m s or u n d erg o in elastic collisions w ith o th e r a to m s giv in g se c o n d ary or slow n e u tro n s . T h e slow n e u tro n s a re c a p tu re d b y th e n u clei o f elem en ts in th e rocks, a n d g am m a ra y s are p ro d u ced , th e s e bein g d e te c te d as w ith g a m m a -ra y logging.
I n m a n y w a y s the^ n e u tro n log is a log o f th e c o n te n t o f th e elem en t h y d ro g en , w h e th er i t b e in oil, m b rin e, in w a te r a d so rb ed in shale, or ch em ically co m b in ed in
som e m in e ral. G. D . H .
Drilling.
1093. Mud Programmes Aid in Economical and Efficient Drilling. R . E . D a n sb y . Oil Oas J 9.6.45, 44 (5), SO.— H u d p ro g ram m es c a n b e d iv id ed in to tw o g e n era l classifications : first, th o se fo r d e v elo p m en t a n d w o rk o v er w ells, a n d , second, th o se fo r w ild ca t wells. I n p re p a rin g a m u d p ro g ram m e fo r a d ev elo p m en t w ell o r fo r a w ild cat w ell it is ad v isab le to in clu d e m u d c h a ra c te ris tic s b a se d on a s tu d y o f th e av ailab le d a ta fo r v a rio u s d e p th s or, p re fe ra b ly , fo r v a rio u s geological sections e x p ected , in o rd er t h a t th e p la n b e slig h tly flexible. I t is n ecessary to allow fo r a slig h t flu c tu a tio n in th e m u d c h ara cte ris tics se t u p fo r v a rio u s sections o f th e hole. A s a n exam ple, it is u su a lly im possible to keep th e d e n sity o f th e m u d th e sam e a t a ll tim es, a lth o u g h th is w ou ld b e n ecessary fo r m ax im u m efficiency. I t is u su a lly possible to k e ep m u d d e n sity w ith in a ra n g e o f 0-4 lb. gal.— i.e., 0-2 above or 0-2 below th e d esired d e n sity — b u t in m a n y eases it is possible w ith v e ry little effort to keep th is w ith in +0-1 lb ./g al.
range. I n m ak in g m u d p ro g ram m es, a b r u p t changes in m u d c h ara cte ris tics should n ev er b e p r o p o s e d ; fo r e x am p le, if 12-lb. /gal. m u d is desired a t 7000 ft. th e m u d p ro gram m e sh o u ld call fo r a g ra d u a l in crease fro m n a tu r a l m u d o f a p p ro x im a te ly 10—11 lb. gal. b etw een 6000 a n d 6500 f t., a n d in cre ased g ra d u a lly fro m 11 to 12 lb ./g a l.
b etw een 6500 a n d 7000 f t. B asin g m u d d e n s ity on d e p th is o ften m islead in g , b ecau se th e well m a y b e ru n n in g m u c h h ig h er or low er th a n e x p e c te d fro m basic in fo rm a tio n . T herefore i t is n ecessary in m a n y cases to o b ta in p ro m p t p alaeo n to lo g ica l in fo rm a tio n as th e w ell is d r illing in o rd e r to c o rre late th e tw o wells.
I n areas w here ab n o rm a l or su b n o rm a l p ressu re s a re in d ic a te d b y som e p rev io u s drilling experience, m u ch m a te ria l a n d tim e c an b e sa v e d if th e m u d p ro g ram m e calls for a m u d t h a t w ill co n tro l th is a b n o rm a l c h a ra c te ris tic befo re th e fo rm a tio n is e n co u n tered . T h is is especially tru e w here a b n o rm a l-p re ssu re s a lt-w a te r san d s a re en co u n tered . S a lt w a te r h e ld in th e fo rm atio n does n o t affect th e m u d w h e n th ese fo rm atio n s a re p e n e tra te d . M ud h a v in g a d e n sity o f 1—11 lb. /gal. m o re t h a n is r e q u ired to b a la n ce th e fo rm atio n p ressu re u su a lly keep s th e w a te r in th e fo rm atio n , a n d th e m u d is n o t flo ccu lated . T y p ical p ro b lem s a re fu lly w o rk ed o u t. A. H . N.
1094. Drilling-Mad Problems, with Suggested Solutions for Several Types. R . E . D an sb y . Oil Gas J ., 16.6.45, 44 (6), 135.— I n p re p arin g a m u d for surface drilling it is im p o rta n t to h a v e a m u d w ith good p ro p e rtie s i f a good surface-casing cem en t jo b is t o b e o b tain e d . T h e surface c em en t jo b is im p o rta n t fo r sev e ral reaso n s, b u t especially b ecau se all th e flo w -o u t-p rev en tin g eq u ip m e n t w ill h a v e to d ep en d on th e
3 3 2 a
su rface p ip e if th e well trie s to blow o u t. To p ro v id e a good su rfa ce -d rillin g m u d i t is first n ecessary to o b ta in a n a b u n d a n t s u p p ly o f p u re w a te r, a n d seco n d , t o u se a good b e n to n ite -ty p e cla y w h ic h w ill p ro v id e th e low est po ssib le d e n s ity a n d a g o o d w all- b u ild in g m u d . I t is v e ry im p o r ta n t t o h y d r a te th e c la y a s m u c h a s p ossible. I f s te a m is a v ailab le m o re co m p lete a n d q u ick e r h y d r a tio n c a n b e effected b y stirrin g a n d h e a tin g th e c la y su sp en sio n w ith liv e ste a m , b u t c are m u s t b e ta k e n n o t t o g e t th e m u d to o h o t if ru b b e r p isto n s a re b e in g u se d in th e m u d p u m p s . In c re a s e d te m p e ra tu r e a p p a re n tly d isperses c la y m o re c o m p le te ly t h a n c a n b e d o n e in co ld w a te r. I t sh o u ld b e re m e m b e re d t h a t in d rillin g su rfa ce fo rm a tio n th e m u d w ill n o t b e s u b je c te d to th e a g ita tio n a n d te m p e ra tu re s t h a t i t is in d eep er d rillin g , w h ic h a ssists in disp ersin g th e clay . 9 lb ./g al. m u d is g en erally acc ep ta b le , b u t th e d e n sity sh o u ld n e v e r exceed 9-5 lb ./g a l., unless surface fo rm atio n s h a v e b e e n ch arg e d b y p re v io u s blow -outs.
Since su rface fo rm a tio n s fre q u e n tly c o n sist o f fre s h -w a te r sa n d s, a m u d h a v in g a d e n s ity o f o n ly 10 lb ./g al. is o ften sufficient to p ro d u c e lo s t circ u la tio n .
Specific p ro b lem s o f su rfa ce sa n d s a re d iscussed, follow ed b y th o s e c o n n e c te d w ith d rillin g fro m th e su rfa ce p ip e to th e p ro d u c in g se c tio n . T h e p a p e r e n d s w ith a d e ta ile d in s tr u c tio n fo r p re p a rin g a low v isc o sity , lo w w a ter-lo ss m u d , fo r d rillin g th e
p ro d u c in g se c tio n . - A . H . N .
1095. Drilling-Mud Problems, with Suggested Solutions for Several Types. R. E.
D a n s b y . O il Gas J ., 23.6.45, 44 (7), 115.—W h e n th e p ro b le m o f g a s-c u t m u d is e n c o u n te re d i t is a d v isa b le t o m a in ta in a lo w -v isc o sity a n d lo w -g e l-s tre n g th m u d a n d to ra is e th e m u d w e ig h t su fficien tly to p r e v e n t e n tra n c e o f g as in to th e ho le, a g ita ting t h e m u d a n d tr e a tin g i t to re d u ce th e gel s tr e n g th to p e rm it th e g a s t o b re a k o u t of t h e m u d . . Signs o f th is c o n d itio n a re u s u a lly a s follow s : (1) In c re a s e o f th e flow fro m th e w ell, o r in th e v o lu m e o f m u d in t h e p it. ( I f v e ry la rg e v o lu m e s o f m u d or g as a re com ing o u t, i t m a y n o t b e n o tic e d u n til th e m u d b e g in s t o k ic k o v e r th e b lo w -o u t p re v e n te r, b u t th is s h o u ld n e v e r h a p p e n , b e ca u se i t sh o u ld h a v e b e e n n o ted b y a n in crease o f th e flu id in th e p i t ; (2) O n close e x a m in a tio n m in u te g as b u b b les w h ich do n o t b r e a k o u t re a d ily show u p in th e m u d ; (3) A n o d o u r o f g as a t th e flow l i n e ; (4) U n e v e n flow o f m u d fro m w ell (gas p o c k e ts cau se m u d t o flow b y h e a d s ) ; (5) D is tilla te fo rm s e m u lsio n w ith t h e m u d , a n d w ill b e sh o w n b y ineffectiveness of ch em ical tr e a tm e n t. M eth o d s o f tr e a tm e n t a re fu lly d e ta ile d . C o n ta m in a tio n w ith s a lt, h e a v in g sh ale, c em en t, e tc ., a re sim ila rly d escrib ed , b o th fro m th e v iew p o in t of
d iagnose a n d tr e a tm e n t. ,A . H . N.
1096. Mud Pump Manifold Facilitates Drilling. W . A . S aw d o n . P etrol. Engr, J u n e 1945, 16 (9), 89.— T h e sa v in g s g a in e d th r o u g h th e u se o f s ta n d a rd is e d m anifolds fo r m u d p u m p s a re d is c u s s e d ; one su c h m a n ifo ld u n it is d e sc rib e d in d e ta il. F ro m t h e o p e ra tin g s ta n d p o in t m a n y a d v a n ta g e s h a v e b e e n o b se rv ed b y u se o f th e s ta n d a r d ised m an ifo ld . W h en a w ell is b e in g rig g e d u p , th e n e c e ssa ry lin e s t o a n d fro m th e p u m p s w ill b e laid . T h e n o th e r lin es w ill b e fo u n d n ecessary , a n d a s tim e goes on c o n d itio n s m a y re q u ire a c o m p le x ity o f lin es t h a t w ill re s u lt in p o ss ib ly o n ly one m an k n o w in g ju s t w h ich lines go w h e re a n d w h a t v a lv e s c o n tro l c e r ta in flow s o f fluid.
I n c o n tra s t t o th is , th e m a n ifo ld h ere sh o w n h a s b e e n s ta n d a rd is e d a n d th e sam e design u se d on all rigs. R o u g h n e ck s, once th e y le a rn i ts o p e ra tio n , c a n go to a n y rig an d k n o w e x a c tly w h a t t o do. T h e o rig in al m a n ifo ld w a s ste n cille d w ith flow directio n s, b u t th es e w ere fo u n d to b e u n n e c e ssa ry a f te r th e m e n b e ca m e fa m ilia r w ith th e
m an ifo ld . «
P h o to g ra p h s illu s tra te t h e u n it. A . H . N .
1097. Collapse Safety Factors for Tapered Casing Strings. W . O. C lin ed in st. Oil W k ly , 25.6.45, 116 (3), 50.— T a p e re d s trin g s a re defin ed a s th o s e co n sistin g o f tw o or m o re w e ig h ts o r g ra d e s. S a fe ty fa c to rs ra n g in g fro m 1 J t o 1J b a s e d on m in im u m c ollapse re sistan c e o f casing, o r 14—2 o n a verage, h a v e been u se d w ith a p p a r e n t success fo r s tr a ig h t strin g s b y c asin g desig n ers o v er a p e rio d o f y e ars. W ith th e a d v e n t o f th e t a p e r e d strin g , c o n sid e ra tio n h a s b e e n g iv en t o re d u c tio n o f collap se re sistan c e u n d e r b ia x ia l lo ad in g e n co u n te re d a t ch an g e-o v er p o in ts . B ia x ia l lo a d in g h a s b een allo w ed fo r b y v a rio u s m ea n s, m u c h a s t h e s tr a in - e n e r g y th e o rie s o f y ield in g . C on
s id e ra tio n sh o u ld also b e g iv e n to th e f a c t t h a t a ta p e r e d s trin g h a s m o re m a te ria l s u b je c te d to t h e lo ad in g p e r m itte d b y th e d esig n s a fe ty f a c to r t h a n a s tr a ig h t strin g .
ABSTRACTS. 3 3 3 a
I t seem s a p p a re n t t h a t th e likelihood o f failu re in a th ree -se ctio n ta p e re d strin g could b e th e sam e as th re e s tr a ig h t strin g s h a v in g th e sam e sa fe ty fa cto rs. I f th is is th e case, it w ou ld a p p e a r t h a t ta p e re d strin g s should be designed w ith so m ew h at h ig h er sa fe ty fa cto rs th a n s tra ig h t strin g s. N o rm al law o f p ro b a b ility is assu m ed for th e d is trib u tio n fu n c tio n o f casing collapse, a n d calcu la tio n s show t h a t th e fa c to r of s a fe ty fo r ta p e re d strin g s sh o u ld be a b o u t 10 % h igher th a n for a corresponding stra ig h t
strin g . . A. H . N .
1098. Casing Design. N . C. W ells. Petrol. E n g r, J u n e 1945, 16 (9), 140.—T he p rinciples o f designing casing to w ith s ta n d collapse, b u rstin g , a n d te n s io n stresses
safely are o u tlin e d . A . H . N .
1099. Problems Encountered in Cutting and Fishing Below 13,000 it. E . H . S h o rt, J r . Oil Oas J ., 30.6.45, 44 (8), 98.— T he use o f a n inside a n d outside c u tte r in releasing stu c k drill-p ip es a t a d e p th o f 13,000 ft. is d escribed in som e d e ta il. T h e inside c u ttin g to o l is com posed o f frictio n blocks t h a t a re in c o n s ta n t c o n ta c t w ith th e inside w alls of th e fish, slips t h a t e x p a n d on a ta p e re d m a n d re l w h en released b y a ro ta tio n , a n d k n iv es t h a t a re fo rced in to th e fish th ro u g h th e a c tio n o f a w edge. T h is to o l is capable o f o p e ratin g a t a n y d esired p lace in th e strin g . W ith th e to o l a t th e d e p th selected, ro ta tio n o f th e o p e ra tin g p ip e causes : (1) the. friction-blocks to fu n c tio n b y ten d in g to p re v e n t th e o u te r sleeve, w h ich c o n ta in s th e blocks a n d slips, from tu rn in g ; (2) it ten d s to unscrew th e b o tto m , or nose-piece, w hich is a tta c h e d to th e stem o f th e tool. A fte r 'no m ore th a n th re e o r fo u r re v o lu tio n s o f th e ro ta ry , th e slip a n d frictio n block-sleeve is free fro m th e ste m , a n d a d o w n w ard m o v em e n t o f th e o p e ra tin g pip e allows th e slips to e x p a n d on th e ta p e re d m an d re l. T h is a c tio n forces th e te e th o f th e slips to b ite in to th e w alls o f th e fish, th e re b y s e ttin g th e to o l. C u ttin g o p e ratio n begins b y low ering th e o p e ra tin g p ip e still fu rth e r, u n til th e w edge a rm s force th e c u ttin g k n iv es in to th e w alls o f th e pip e. T h is is a v e ry d elicate o p e ratio n , a n d req u ires g en tle ap p lic atio n o f w e ig h t to p re v e n t fra c tu re o f th e k n ife-p o in ts. A fte r th e c u ttin g to o l begins to ta k e w eig h t, ro ta tio n accom plishes th e c u t. A. H . N . 1100. Preparing Swamp Locations in Coastal Louisiana. N . W illiam s. Oil Gas J ., 9.6.45, 44 (5), 93.— T h e s h o rt p a p e r discusses som e p ro b lem s ra is e d in sw am p y lo ca tio n s w hen drillin g is co n te m p la te d . . T y p ic al o f th e in g e n u ity o ften called fo r in such in stan ces w as t h a t show n b y a m a jo r c o m p a n y in u n d e rta k in g a deep w ild ca t te s t in one o f c o astal «Louisiana's re m o te cy p ress a n d gum -sw am p areas. D en sely w ooded, an d h a v in g fro m u p to 4 ft. o f w a te r a n d d e ca y ed v e g etab le refuse o v erly in g a m ore or less u n sta b le clay b o tto m w ith a th ic k ta n g le o f su b m e rg ed tim b e r, th is sw am p p re sen te d a n u m b er o f u n u su a l difficulties a n d com p licatio n s in th e w ay o f access to a n d p r e p a r a tio n s o f drillin g sites. 1 T he w ay th ese difficulties w ere overcom e is described.
A. H . N . 1101. Wells Completed in the United States. A non. Oil W kly, 15.6.45, 118 (2), 9 3 ; 25.6.45, 118 (3), 7 3 ; 2.7.45, 118 (4), 6 1 ; 9.7.45, 118 (5), 6 3 ; 16.7.45, 118 (6), 77 ; 23.7.45, 118 (7), 69.
F ie ld W ild cat.
W eek en d ed 16th J u n e , 1945 23rd J u n e , 1945 3 0th J u n e , 1945 7 th J u ly , 1945 . 14th J u ly , 1945 21st J u ly , 1945
(—----
-A _ --- —
> (— --- —,Oil Gas T o ta l Oil G as T o ta l
252 31 404 11 2 86
291 29 424 4 3 81
273 53 420 10 2 92
268 48 417 4 3 77
259 45 397 20 0 90
329 39 450 18 3
G. D 83 . H .
Production.
1102. Convection Currents in a Porous Medium. C. W . H o rto n a n d F . T. R ogers, J r . J . A p p l. P h y s ., J u n e 1945, 16 (6), 367-370.— T he problem is considered of th e c o n v e ctio n o f a fluid th ro u g h a p e rm e ab le m ed iu m as th e re su lt o f a v e rtic a l te m p e ra tu re - g ra d ie n t, th e m ed iu m being in th e sh ap e o f a flat lay e r b o u n d ed above a n d below b y
a
p e rfe c tly co n d u ctin g m ed ia . I t a p p e a rs t h a t th e m in im u m te m p e ra tu re -g ra d ie n t fo r w hich c o n v ectio n c an occur is a p p ro x im a te ly ¡x ¡kgp0D 2, w here A2 is th e th e rm a l d iffu siv ity , g is th e .accelera tio n o f g ra v ity , p. is th e visco sity , k is th e p e rm e a b ility , a is th e coefficient o f cu b ic al ex p an sio n , p0 is th e d e n s ity a t zero te m p e ra tu re , a n d D is th e th ic k n e ss o f th e la y e r ; th is exceeds th e lim itin g g ra d ie n t fo u n d b y R a y le ig h fo r a sim ple fluid b y a fa c to r o f 16D 2/2lTr2kp0. A n u m erica l c o m p u ta tio n o f th is g ra d ie n t, b a se d on th e d a ta n o w a v ailab le, in d ic a te s t h a t c o n v e c tio n c u rre n ts should n o t o ccu r in su ch a geological fo rm a tio n as th e W o o d b in e s a n d o f E a s t T ex a s (west o f th e M exia F a u lt z o n e ) ; in view o f th e fa c t, h o w ev er, t h a t th e d is trib u tio n o f N aCl in th is fo rm a tio n seem s to re q u ire th e e x iste n ce o f co n v e c tio n c u rre n ts, a n d in view of th e a p p ro x im a tio n s in v o lv e d in a p p ly in g th e p re s e n t th e o ry , it seem s safe te n ta tiv e ly to conclude t h a t c o n v ectio n c u rre n ts do e x ist in th is fo rm a tio n , a n d t h a t th e expression g iv en ab o v e p re d ic ts excessive m in im u m g ra d ie n ts w h en a p p lie d to su c h a fo rm atio n .
A . H . N .
1103. Measurement of Capillary Pressures in Small Core Samples. G. L . H a ss le r an d E . B ru n n e r. P etrol. Tech., M arch 1945, 8 (2); A .I.M .M .E . T ech .^ P u b . N o. 1817, 1- 10.— I n stu d y in g cap illary p ressu re a n d th e w e ttin g o f oilfield rocks th e capillary d ia p h ra g m m e th o d h a s b e en used, b u t its u tility is sev erely lim ite d b y th e low d is
p la c e m e n t p ressu res o f re a so n a b ly p e rm e ab le d ia p h ra g m s . T h erefo re a cen trifu g e m e th o d h a s b e en d ev elo p ed fo r m ak in g th is ty p e o f s tu d y .
T h e in itia lly s a tu r a te d core is c en trifu g e d a t in creasin g ra te s , a n d th e average s a tu r a tio n is m ea su re d a t each r a te w ith th e aid o f a stro b o sc o p ic device. T h e th eo ry a n d c alcu la tio n p ro c ed u re a re g iv en w h e reb y a cc e le ratio n s a n d s a tu r a tio n v alu es can b e c o n v e rte d in to a tr u e c u rv e o f c a p illa ry p re ssu re versus s a tu ra tio n . T h e re la tio n sh ip b e tw ee n s a tu r a tio n a n d c a p illa ry p re ssu re u n d e r d ecreasin g s a tu r a tio n c an be q u ick ly d e te rm in e d fo r sm all-core sam p les. T h e sam p le is c e n trifu g e d alone, in th is re sp e c t differing fro m p re v io u sly d escrib ed tec h n iq u e s, a n d th u s th e w hole ra n g e of s a tu ra tio n s re q u ire d b y th e p ro p e rtie s of th e sa m p le a n d th e ra d ia lly v a ry in g c e n tri
fu g a l force occurs w ith in th e sam p le. N e v erth e le ss th e c a lc u la tio n p ro c ed u re a d o p te d secures c o rre c t re su lts fro m sim p ly o b ta in e d v a lu e s o f th e a v era g e s a tu ra tio n . The te c h n iq u e c a n b e a p p lied w ith tw o im m iscible liq u id s, as w ell as w ith a g as a n d a liquid.
G. D . H .
1104. Average Permeabilities of Heterogeneous Oil-Sands. W . T . C ardw ell a n d R . L . P a rso n s. Petrol. Tech., M a rch 1945, 8 (2 ); A .I.M .M .E . T ech. P ub.’ N o. 1852, 1 -9 .— Oil reserv o irs h a v e co m p lica te d sh ap es, a n d n o n -u n ifo rm p e rm e a b ilitie s an d p o ro sities. I n p ra c tic a l a p p lic a tio n s o f th e th e o r y o f fluid-flow in p o ro u s m ed ia for p re d ic tin g re serv o ir b e h a v io u r, it m a y b e u sefu l to a p p ly a single e q u iv a le n t p e rm e a b ility . T h is e q u iv a le n t p e rm e a b ility w ou ld give th e sam e flu x u n d e r th e sam e p re ssu re d ro p in a seg m en t o f th e sam e dim en sio n s as th e a c tu a l reserv o ir.
T h e e q u iv a le n t p e rm e a b ility o f a h etero g en eo u s o il-san d lies b e tw ee n a h arm onic v o lu m e a v era g e a n d a n a rith m e tic v o lu m e a v era g e o f th e a c tu a l p e rm e ab ilities, th e v o lu m e e lem en ts in th e s e av erag es b e in g w e ig h te d a cc o rd in g to th e in v erse squares (or h ig h er pow ers) o f th e ir d ista n c es fro m th e well. F o r p ra c tic a l p u rp o se s w h en th e p e rm e a b ility v a ria tio n s a w ay fro m a w ell a re u n k n o w n , it' is re aso n a b le to assu m e th a t th e e q u iv a le n t p e rm e a b ility o f a h e te ro g en e o u s o il-san d lies betw een, th e harm o n ic d e p th a v era g e a n d th e a rith m e tic d e p th a v era g e o f th e co re-sam p le p erm e ab ilities.
Q u a lita tiv e reaso n in g , b a se d on k n o w n re serv o ir c h a ra c te ris tic s , in d ic a te s t h a t th e e q u iv a le n t p e rm e a b ility lies n e a r to th e u p p e r, a rith m e tic , lim it t h a n to th e lower
h a rm o n ic, lim it. G. D . H .
1105. Multistage Acidization Increases Recovery and Productivity From Multizone Wells. K . B. B arn es. Oil O a s J ., 9.6.45, 44 (5), 99.— A cidizing c an p a y off h an d so m ely in in creasin g well p ro d u c tiv ity a n d , v e ry o ften , in o b ta in in g m o re re co v e ry . T h is is p a rtic u la rly tr u e in m u ltizo n e fo rm a tio n s. A s to th e c h a ra c te r o f lim e sto n es an d d o lo m ites, th e p o ro u s m ak e -u p is h ere b riefly review ed, w h e th e r fo ra m e n u la r, in te r m e d ia te , o r in te rg ra n u la r. O n th e p ra c tic a l side, tw o jo b s on C lear F o r k w ells a t F u lle rto n a re d escrib e d in d e ta il : th e first w h ere th r e e zones w ere acid ized , in five stag es, w ith a to ta l o f 24,000 g a l . ; th e second, also a m u ltizo n e p ro d u c er, w ith fo u r sta g es to ta llin g 16,000 gal., b y E le c tric P ilo t co n tro l. A. H . N .
ABSTRACTS. 3 3 5 a
1106. Automatic Scrapers Used in West Edmond Oil Wells. K . M. F a g in . Petrol.
E ngr, J u n e 1945, 16 (9), 105-106.— T h e sc rap e r is designed to fit loosely in th e tu b in g an d to w eigh en o u g h to d ro p freely th ro u g h th e fluid w h en th e w ell is closed in. T he larg est d ia m e te r o f th e sc rap e r sh o u ld be a n av erag e of th e inside a n d d rift d iam e te rs o f th e tu b in g in w hich it is to b e used. T he th re e w ash er-sh ap ed fins are slip p ed on a ro d a n d w elded in place. T h ree angle braces a re w elded to th e to p a n d b o tto m fins, and fo u r angle b ra ce s a re w elded to th e cen tre fin for re in fo rcem en t. A fishing-neck is p ro v id ed on th e u p p e r e n d o f th e device to p e rm it rem o v al fro m th e well in ease it becom es s tu c k o r th e well p re ssu re becom es insufficient to flow it b a c k to th e C h ristm a s tree. T he fishing-neck o n |- in . ro d u sed fo r 2-in. tu b in g scrap ers sh o u ld b e u p s e t to f-in . to insure a n a d e q u a te grip. P re c a u tio n s to b e ta k e n w ith th e sc ra p e r a n d its m eth o d
of o p e ratio n a re discussed in som e d e ta il. A. H . N .
1107. Salt-Water Disposal in East Texas. Part 9. A non. P etrol. E n g r, J u n e 1945, 16 (9), 125.— T h e c h em istry o f th e closed a n d open sy stem s of tre a tin g s a lt w a te r before disposal is o u tlin e d . T h e p u rp o ses a n d fu n c tio n s o f a e ra tio n a re g iv en in som e
d etail. A. H . N.
1108. Explosive Mixtures in Air-Drive Operation. R . F . N ielsen a n d S. T . Y u s te r.
Petrol. Engr, J u n e 1945, 16 (9), 96.— T h e p o ssib ility t h a t th e gases p ro d u c ed along w ith th e oil in a ir-d riv e o p e ratio n s m a y b e w ith in th e explosive ra n g e is discussed.
The m eth o d of calcu la tin g th e explosive ra n g e fro m th e chem ical a n aly sis is illu s tra te d w ith th re e differen t sam ples o f casin g h ead gas, one of w hich w as v e ry n e a r th e explosive lim it. A sim ple field a p p a ra tu s , m ad e from easily a v ailab le m a te ria ls , for d e te rm in in g th e explosive lim its is d escribed, a n d th e m ea su re d lim its a re show n to agree reaso n ab ly
well w ith th e c alcu la te d values. A. H . N.
1109. Experimental Water-flood in a California Oilfield. E . C. B ab so n , J . E . S h e r
borne, a n d P . H . Jo n e s. Petrol. Tech., M arch 1945, 8 (2); A .I.M .M .E . Tech. P u b . No. 1816, 1 -9 .— S tu d ies of th e C h a p m a n zone o f th e R ichfield field, O range C ounty, California, show t h a t th e oil reco v ery to d a te is a b o u t 19% o f th e oil in place, a n d co n tin u a tio n of th e p re se n t m e th o d s o f p ro d u c tio n m ig h t b e ex p ected to give a n u l ti m a te yield of 2 1 -2 2 % . T he p rin cip al re co v e ry m ech an ism h as a p p a re n tly b een expansion of dissolved gas. A verage p o ro sity o f th e reserv o ir is a b o u t 31% , its a ir p e rm e ab ility is a p p ro x im a te ly 1100 m d., while th e in te rstitia l w a te r c o n te n t is believed to be 37% .
I n o rd er to d e te rm in e w h e th er w ater-flooding offers p rom ise o f becom ing a n eco n o m i
cal m eth o d o f reco v erin g som e o f th e larg e p ro p o rtio n o f re sid u al oil believed to be p resen t, a n e x p erim e n tal w a ter-flooding o p e ratio n w as in s titu te d . A n a re a w as chosen w here th e w ells w ere ap p ro ac h in g a n u n p ro fitab le r a te o f p ro d u c tio n , w here n a tu ra l w a te r e n cro a ch m e n t w as a b se n t, a n d w here th e sa n d w as th in , so as to reduce dam age if th e e x p erim e n t failed. A single in je c tio n w ell w as d rilled b etw een old p ro d u cin g wells, a n d a w a te r-tre a tin g p la n t using alu m flocculation a n d ch lo rin atio n was designed a n d b u ilt. T h is p la n t is d escribed in som e d e ta il.
W a te r h as b een in je c te d in to th e in p u t well for six m o n th s a t ra te s in excess o f 100 b rl./d a y . P ro d u c tio n fro m one o f th e n e ig h b o u rin g wells h as increased m ate ria lly , th e oil h a v in g risen fro m 7 to 30 b rl., a n d th e w a te r fro m 1 to 40 b rl./d a y . T h is well has p ro d u ced n e a rly 3000 b rl. o f oil ab o v e t h a t w hich it w ould n o rm ally h a v e p ro d u ced .
D efinite conclusions re g ard in g th e econom ic success of w ater-flooding in th e C h a p m an zone a re n o t y e t ju stified , b u t th e ex p e rim e n t show s t h a t w a te r c an be in je c te d c o n tin u o u sly in to th e zone, a n d t h a t th is w a te r will displace ap p reciab le a m o u n ts of
oil fro m th e sa n d . CL D . H .
1110. Turner Valley Field Gets First Gas-Repressuring Programme. J . A. M cC utchin.
Oil G a s J ., 9.6.45, 44 (5), 89.— T h e B ritish A m ercian re p ressu rin g a n d g as-co n serv atio n
p ro g ram m es a re briefly discussed. ' A .-H . N .
1111. Calculation of Static Pressure Gradients in Gas Wells. M. J . R z asa an d D. L.
K a tz. P etrol. Tech., M arch 1945, 8 (2); A .I.M .M .E . Tech. P u b . No. 1814, 1-14.—
F o r m a n y y e a rs reserv o ir p re ssu res h a v e b een c o m p u te d from th e w ell-head pressures o f gas-w ells. T h ree m eth o d s o f c o m p u tin g th e s ta tic p re ssu re g ra d ie n ts in n a tu ra l
a
gas w ells a re p re s e n te d in d e ta il to show th e a ssu m p tio n s m ad e . A series o f c h a rts a re d ev elo p ed fro m w h ich th e p re ssu re g ra d ie n ts m a y b e re a d w h en t h e w ell-head p ressu re, th e w ell-fluid g ra v ity , d e p th , a n d a v era g e w ell te m p e ra tu r e a re know n.
T h ere is also a c h a r t fo r e s tim a tin g th e w ell-fluid g r a v ity fro m th e c o n d e n s a te c o n te n t a n d th e s e p a ra to r gas g ra v ity . E x a m p le s o f th e a p p lic a tio n o f th e d iffere n t form ulae a n d c h a rts a re given.
D u rin g flow th e w ell-bore a n d su rro u n d in g e a r th g ra d u a lly in crease in te m p e ra tu re o v er th e n o rm a l e a r th te m p e ra tu re g ra d ie n t. H e n ce a w ell w h ic h h a s b e e n flowing p rio r to m e a su re m e n t o f th e w ell-h ead p re ssu re w ill h a v e a h ig h e r a v era g e w ell tem p e ra t u r e th a n a t th e rm a l e q u ilib riu m . T here fo re f u r th e r re fin e m e n ts in th e c o m p u ta tio n o f p re ssu re g ra d ie n ts in gas-w ells t h a t h a v e b e en flow ing ju s t b e fo re th e m ea su re m e n t o f th e w ell-h ead p re ssu re will in v o lv e som e allo w an ce fo r th is fa c to r. A fte r a lapse o f a d a y a fte r flow th e r e m a y s till b e in a ccu racies if n o allow ance is m a d e fo r th is
fa c to r. Gt. D . H .
Oilfield Developm ent.
1112. Petroleum Engineering Education and the Quantitative Approach. H . H . P ow er. Petrol. Tech., M arch 1945, 8 (2), A .I.M .M .E . T ech. P u b . N o. 1815, 1-8.—- T h e s tu d e n t in p e tro le u m e n g in eerin g m u s t h a v e a so u n d p r e p a r a tio n in basic fu n d a m e n ta ls . H e m u s t b e ab le to a n a ly ze h is p ro b lem s q u a n tita tiv e ly a n d recognize s e p a ra te ly th e v a rio u s e le m en ts in v o lv e d . H e m u s t k n o w w h a t q u a litie s go to m ake u p en g in eerin g ju d g m e n t— t h a t is, skill in re ac h in g th e b e s t p o ssib le conclu sio n under t h e lim ita tio n s o f a llo tte d tim e a n d re q u ire d acc u rac y . H e m u s t a p p re c ia te th e im p o rta n c e o f co st a n d o f p ra c tic a l econom ics. H e m u s t b e a b le to organize his th o u g h ts a n d to ex p ress th e m c le arly in Speech a n d in w ritin g . H e m u s t b e willing a n d a b le to a d ju s t h is p e rs o n a lity t o h is e n v iro n m e n t. F in a lly , h e m u s t h av e a d ecid ed in te re s t in c o n tin u e d p ro fessio n al d e v elo p m e n t, a n d a so u n d p h ilo so p h y of
social v alu es. G. D . H .
1113. The Nation’s [U.S.A.] Reserves of Natural Gas. E . d e G olyer. O il Gas J ., 23.6.45, 44 (7), 76.— I n th e n e a r f u tu r e i t is lik e ly t h a t 10,000 cu. ft. o f gas m ay be re g a rd e d a s a p o te n tia l b a rre l o f gasoline. H e n ce gas c o n s e rv a tio n is o f im m ediate im p o rta n c e .
U .S .A . h a s a p ro v e d gas re se rv e exceed in g 140 m illio n m illio n cu b ic fe et, 91% of w h ich is free g as-cap gas. T hese reserv es a re a t 16-4 lb ./s q . in. a n d 60° E . The reserv es a re d is trib u te d a s follow s : D is tric t 1, 5,000,000 m illio n cu. f t . ; D istric t 2,
17.000.000 m illio n cu. f t . ; D is tric t 3, n e a rly 104,000,000 m illio n cu. f t . ; D is tric t 4, 2.000.000 m illio n cu. ft. ; D is tric t 5, 13,000,000 m illio n cu . ft.
I n 1944 th e t o ta l p ro d u c tio n o f n a tu r a l gas, in clu d in g t h a t flare d o r w a ste d , was a b o u t 4,000,000,000,000 cu. ft.
I t is o n ly re aso n a b le to e x p e c t t h a t w ith in creasin g d e p th th e r a tio o f gas to oil d isco v ered w ill in crease. A d d itio n a l gas c a n b e fo u n d if th e r e is n e e d fo r it. R a th e r t h a n o b s tru c t o r a id in th e o b s tru c tio n o f th e e x p a n s io n o f g as m a rk e ts , su p p ly , and th e fin d in g a n d develo p in g o f a d d itio n a l su p p lies o f n a tu r a l gas, a ll fe d era l agencies a n d all th e S ta te re g u la to ry b o d ies sh o u ld a id th e n a tu r a l g as p ro d u c e rs to g e t all a v ailab le n a tu r a l gas in to pipe-lines, so as to in cre ase th e n a tu r a l w e a lth o f th e in d iv i
d u a l S ta te s a n d th e n a tio n as a w hole. A d e q u a te p ric e is th e g re a te s t conserving ag en t.
M an y S ta te s p e rm it oil p ro d u c tio n w ith g a s -o il ra tio s u p to 2000 cu . f t./b r l., a lth o u g h cases o f fields w ith m o re th a n 1000 cu. f t./b r l. dissolved a re ra re , a n d th e general a v era g e is 500-600 cu. f t./b r l. T h e re is th e erro n e o u s n o tio n t h a t i t is n o t w a ste fu l to b u r n so lu tio n gas, since i t h a s b e en effective in b rin g in g oil to th e su rface.
M a rk ets a n d su ita b le p rices w ill re d u c e w aste . I n C alifo rn ia less t h a n 1 % o f th e to ta l gas p ro d u c e d in 1944 w as w a ste d , b ecau se th e g as sells a t 6 -1 2 c e n ts./1 0 0 0 cu. ft.
G . D . H . 1114. Fullerton Pool is Guide-tfost in Developing Clear Fork and Devonian Reserves.
K . B . B arn es. Oil Gas J . , 2.6.45, 44 (4), 69.— C lear F o rk p ro d u c tio n w as o p en ed a t F u lle rto n in F e b ru a ry 1945, a n d D e v o n ian p ro d u c tio n in A u g u s t 1944. T o th e n o r th C lear F o rk p ro d u c tio n o ccurs a t L u b b o ck , L u b b o c k C o u n ty , S m y er, H o c k le y C o u n ty , R u ssell, E u b o c k a n d W asso n , G aines C o u n ty , to th e s o u th in E c to r, W in k le r, W a rd ,
ABSTRACTS. 3 3 7 a
C rane a n d P ecos C ounties. I n A ndrew s C o u n ty th e re are th e U n io n (W ichita-A lbany) a n d th e E m b a r (Clear F o rk ) fields. D ev o n ian p ro d u c tio n h as b een fo u n d in th e T X L p ool of E c to r C o u n ty , a n d b etw ee n T X L a n d F u llerto n .
F u lle rto n h a s a b o u t 200 C lear F o rk wells. I t s reserves a re e s tim a te d a t 250-300 m illion b a rre ls. T he C lear F o rk p a y s occur a t 6800-7300 ft. W ells ta k e 40-50 d ay s to drill. Special m u d s a re n e ed e d fo r th e Salado sa lt fo rm atio n . A ll b u t 4 o f th e w ells flow.
G eological, p ro d u c tio n , a n d reserv o ir d a ta are being collected, a n d a re being s tu d ied w ith re g a rd to th e p o ssib ility o f p re ssu re m ain ten a n ce . S tra te g ica lly selected wells hav e b een cored.
A 12,500 M. cu. f t./d a y n a tu r a l gasoline p la n t h a s b een b u ilt.
P ressu re m ain te n a n c e m a y increase th e re co v e ry to 60 m illion brl.
S tru c tu ra lly F u lle rto n is a b ro a d n o r th - s o u th high. T he h ig h est a n d edge wells differ in ele v atio n b y 400 ft. in th e C lear F o rk . T h e m a in s tru c tu re h as n u m ero u s local highs. O v er m u ch o f F u lle rto n th e re a re 3 Clear F o rk pay-zones. I n th e c e n tra l area th e U p p e r zone to ta ls 70 ft. in th ic k n e s s ; th e second zone 10-50 ft. low er is 200 ft. th ic k a t its m a x im u m ; th e th ir d zone averages 150 ft. in th ick n ess. M ost of th e to p a n d b o tto m p ay -zo n es a re dolom ite. T he b e tte r p ay -sectio n s h a v e p e r m eabilities o f 1-10 m d ., b u t m u ch o f th e p e rm e a b ility is u n d e r 1 m d . T h e p o ro sity is 8 -1 0 % . T he m id d le p ay -zo n e h a s a p o ro sity o f 15% a n d a h ig h er p e rm e a b ility (generally u n d e r 50 m d .).
T he pro v e d a re a in th e U p p e r C lear F o rk oil-zone m a y b e 30,000 acres. T he original b o tto m -h o le p ressu re w as 3000 lb ./sq . in. C lear F o rk p ro d u c tio n a t th e beg in n in g of 1945 to ta lle d 3,233,258 b rl. T h e D ev o n ian h a d p ro d u c ed 27,785 brl. a t th e sam e d ate.
T he w ells receive acid tr e a tm e n t w hich s u b s ta n tia lly increases th e p ro d u c tiv ity
index. G. D . H .
1115. Argentina’s Oil Production Registers Slight Drop. A non. Oil Gas J ., 9.6.45, 44 (5), 76.— I n 1944 A rg e n tin a p ro d u c ed 3*852,088 cu. m . of oil, 96,324 cu. m . less th a n in 1943. T he S ta te fields p ro d u c ed 2,576,369 cu. m . in 1944. I t w as n ecessary to im p o rt crude a n d refined oils, a n d ra tio n in g h a d to be in s titu te d . G. D . H . 1116. First-quarter Oil Output in Bolivia 75,680 Brl. A non. Oil Gas J ., 9.6.45, 44 (5), 76.— B olivia p ro d u c ed 75,680 b rl. o f crude in th e first q u a rte r o f 1945, a n d 40,985 brl. o f oil w as p ro cessed a t C am iri a n d S a n a n d ita . G. D . H . 1117. Venezuela Production up 36-2 Per Cent. A non. Oil Gas J ., 9.6.45, 44 (5), 76.— I n th e first q u a rte r o f 1945 V enezuela p ro d u c ed a n av erag e of 771,252 b rl./d a y , 36-2% m ore t h a n in th e corresp o n d in g p e rio d o f 1944. 50-5% o f th e oil w as p ro v id ed b y Creole.
T he c o u n try ’s p o te n tia l is e stim a te d to be 900,000 b rl./d a y a n d m a y be 1,000,000
b rl./d a y a t th e b eg in n in g o f 1946. G. D . H .
1118. Cuba’s Newest Field Contains 14 Producers. A non. Oil Gas J ., 9.6.45, 44 (5), 76.— T he J a ra h u e c a field o f S a n ta C lara P ro v in ce, C uba, is c u rre n tly p ro d u cin g 4 0 0 - 500 b r l./d a y fro m serp en tin e a t d e p th s ran g in g do w n to 1800 ft. T h e M otem bo field
is being ra p id ly d ep leted . G. D. H .
1119. Ecuador’s Crude Output for Quarter 27,393,324 gal. A non. Oil Gas J ., 16.6.45, 44 (6), 98.— I n th e first q u a rte r o f 1945 E cu a d o r p ro d u ced 27,393,324 gal. o f crude.
T he figure fo r th e first q u a rte r o f 1944 w as 26,834,472 gal., a n d fo r th e la s t q u a rte r 30,261,084 gal. 618,235,000 cu. ft. o f n a tu r a l gas w as p ro cessed y ield in g 403,177 gal.
o f n a tu r a l gasoline in th e first q u a rte r o f 1945. G. D . H .
1120. Valuable East Indian Oilfields Wrested from Japanese Army. A non. Oil Gas J ., 7.7.45, 44 (9), 64.— I t is re p o rte d t h a t th e Ja p a n e s e h a d n o t b e en able to raise th e B orneo oil p ro d u c tio n to m ore t h a n 245,000 b rl./m o n th , a b o u t o n e -th ird o f th e p re-w ar o u tp u t, in sp ite o f drilling 200 new wells.
I n 1940 T a ra k a n gav e 4,374,000 b rl. o f cru d e fro m 500 wells. T he B a lik p a p a n a n d S a m a rin d a a rea s y ield ed 9,476,000 b rl. o f cru d e in 1940, fro m 400 wells, 1500- 3300 ft. deep.
T h ere a re possib ilities of new fields in th e B a rito e stu a rie s o f D u tc h B o rn e o , in th e m a rs h y reg io n ro u n d B a n d je rm asin . T h e M iri fields gav e 1,314,000 b rl. o f oil in 1940, a n d th e S eria field y ield e d 5,732,559 b rl. fro m w ells 1800-6000 ft. deep. T h ere are p ro sp e c ts o f new fields a t M u k a in S a ra w a k a t L a b i in c e n tra l B ru n e i, a n d a t L a h a d D a tu a n d T aw au in B ritis h N o rth B o rn eo , ju s t n o r th o f T a ra k a n . G. D . H .
Tr a n s p o r t a n d St o r a g e.
1121. Experimental Investigation of Turbulence Diffusion— A Factor in Transportation of Sediment in Open-Channel Flow. B . R . V a n D rie st. J . A p p l. M ech., J u n e 1945, 12 (2), A 91-A 100.— A n e x p e rim e n t w as c o n d u c te d fo r th e p u rp o se o f m easu rin g c e rta in diffusion p ro p e rtie s o f w a te r flow ing in a n o p en c h an n e l. B y m ea su rin g th e d isp lac em e n ts o f im m iscible globules, m ea n -sq u a re d e v ia tio n d a ta w ere o b ta in e d a t v a rio u s d e p th s fo r th re e ra te s o f flow in a sm o o th c h an n e l, a n d fo r one r a te in an artificially ro u g h e n ed ch an n el, all flows h a v in g th e sam e to ta l d e p th . T h eo ry w as rev iew ed to p ro v id e th e re a d e r w ith th e n e ce ssa ry b a c k g ro u n d fo r a n aly sis o f th e d a ta . I t w as seen t h a t it w as possible to fit e ith e r one o f tw o ty p e s o f c u rv e to th e d a ta p re s e n te d in th is p a p e r, one co rre sp o n d in g to a p o w e r-co rre latio n law a n d th e oth er to a n e x p o n en tial-co rre la tio n law . Since th e tw o c u rv es differed w id ely in th e ir c h a ra c te ris tic s , it w as c o n clu d ed t h a t th e e x p e rim e n ta l d a ta , in sp ite o f th e fa c t t h a t a b o u t 400 o b se rv atio n s w ere ta k e n for e ac h m ea n -sq u a re d e v ia tio n p o in t, w ere n o t of sufficient p recisio n to w a r r a n t th e c o m p u ta tio n o f seco n d d e riv a tiv e s a n d , co n seq u en tly , th e d e te rm in a tio n o f th e sh a p e o f th e c o rre la tio n cu rv e. O f th e tw o c u rv es suggested, th e one co rresp o n d in g to th e e x p o n e n tia l-c o rre la tio n law is o f m o re in te re s t because o f its close co n fo rm ity to th e e x p ec te d n a tu r e o f th e c o rre la tio n c u rv e — i.e., a t a tim e in te rv a l o f zero th e v a lu e o f th e c o rre la tio n coefficient is u n ity , a n d a t a tim e in terv al larg e c o m p a red to T 0 th e v a lu e o f th e defin ite in te g ra l o f th e c o rre la tio n fu nction
ap p ro ac h es a finite q u a n tity . A. H . N.
1122. Operation “ Pluto.” A non. P et. T im e s, 1945, 49, 433.— B y th e successful acc o m p lish m en t o f o p e ra tio n “ P lu to ” (P ip e-L in es U n d e r T h e O cean) th e 1000-mile p ip e-lin e sy s te m in B rita in w as e x te n d e d b y th e la y in g o f som e 20 p ip e-lin es u n d e r the E n g lish C hannel fro m th e Isle o f W ig h t a n d D u n g e n ess to C h erb o u rg a n d Boulogne, re sp ec tiv e ly . Tw o ty p e s o f p ip e w ere laid : (1) th e H a is cable, w h ich in co n stru ctio n resem b led th e su b m a rin e electric p o w er cable, b u t w ith th e core a n d in s u la tio n absent.
T h is h a d a c a p a c ity o f 30,000-40,000 gal. p e r d a y . F ir s t te s ts w ere c a rrie d o u t on cables laid across th e B risto l C hannel, a n d fro m th e re s u lts o b ta in e d th e d ia m e te r of th e cable w as in creased to 3 in. ; (2) T h e H a m el p ip e-lin e, m a d e u p o f 20-ft. len g th s of 2 in. (la te r 3 in.) d ia m e te r steel pip e, w elded to g e th e r to th e re q u ire d le n g th . The re s u lta n t p ip e w as w o u n d o n d ru m s o f 30 ft. o r m o re d ia m e te r, fro m w h ich it was u n w o u n d re la tiv e ly s tra ig h t. F ir s t successful p ip e-lay in g tr ia ls to o k p lac e in th e T h am es E s tu a r y a n d in th e S olent. T h e c o n stru c tio n o f th e H a is cab le a n d th e H ais cable coupling, th e m a n u fa c tu re o f th e H a m e l steel p ip e, as w ell as th e m eth o d s of la y in g each across th e C hannel, a re d escrib ed in d e ta il. R e fere n ce is m a d e to th e p erso n n el a n d th e firm s c o n cern ed in th e p ro je c t. L . B.
1123. Johnson Coupling. A non. P et. T im es, 1945, 49, 346.—T h e c o n s tru c tio n o f th e J o h n s o n coupling, som e 200,000 o f w h ich w ere u se d as th e p ip e -jo in ts in th e 1000-mile p ipelines fo r B r ita in ’s u n d e rg ro u n d p e tro l g rid , is d e sc rib ed w ith illu stra tio n s. O ther a p p lic a tio n s o f th e c o u p lin g a re re fe rre d to . L . B.
Re f i n e r y Op e r a t i o n s.
Refineries and Auxiliary Refinery Plant.
1124. Stresses in a Cylindrical Shell Due to Nozzle or Pipe Connections. G. J . Schoes- sow a n d L . F . K o o istra . J . A p p l. M ech., J u n e 1945, 12 (2), A 107-A 112.— R e s u lts are re p o rte d o f a stra in -g u a g e te s t c o n d u c te d o n a 54-in. d iam . c y lin d rica l shell to w hich
ABSTRACTS. 3 3 9 a
w as a tta c h e d tw o 12-in. d iam . pipes. T h e p ip es w ere su b je c te d to d irec t ax ial-ten sio n loading, d ire c t ax ial-co m p ressio n loading, a n d tra n s v e rse b e n d in g m o m en ts. T his c o n stru ctio n sim u la tes th e c o n d itio n s ex istin g in b oiler dru m s, p ressu re piping, h y d ra u lic pen sto ck s, e tc ., w here p ip e con n ectio n s are s u b je c t to forces a n d m o m en ts t h a t develop stra in s in th e shell to w h ich th e p ipes a re a tta c h e d . M o d erate load in g a p p lie d to th e pipes re su lte d in 20,000-p.s.i. b e n d in g stresses in th e shell. T hese stresses a re o f a m ag n itu d e t h a t d e m a n d s th e re sp ec t a n d a tte n tio n o f th e designers. B y p u b lic a tio n of th ese d a ta th e a u th o rs h o p e to s tim u la te in te re s t in f u rth e r e x p erim e n tal a n d a n aly tical in v es tig a tio n s o f th e p ro b lem , w hich will e v e n tu ally estab lish a basis for pred ictin g th e m a g n itu d e o f stresses in cy lin d rical shells. Such d a ta a re n o t now
available. / A. H . N
1125. Method for Field Lining Vessel Heads with Stainless-Steel Strip. K. E . L u g er.
Oil Gas J ., 12.5.45, 44 (1), 92.— T he h e a d a n d p a r ts of th e vessel a re lin ed w ith a series of sh o rt len g th , n a rro w -w id th strip s, or p arallel-ed g e s trip s in h errin g b o n e p a tte rn . I t is claim ed t h a t th is m e th o d is sim ple, does n o t re q u ire e la b o rate d eta ilin g in th e d raftin g room , ta k e s less tim e since sm all pieces allow fit-u p flex ib ility , av oids w aste from scrap, a n d th e sam e sto c k is u se d for lining side w alls a n d heads.
A scale p r in t o f th e to w e r show ing a p p ro x im a te dim ensions o f th e h e ad is p re p are d , an d from sim ple fo rm u lae th e size o f w edges is d e te rm in e d . I n w elding p ro ced u re th e pieces m u s t n o t o v erlap , a n d a figure is g iv en for sequence fo r w elding th e strip s
in th e h errin g b o n e p a tte rn . G. A. C.
1128. Heat Transfer Equipment. Principles and Constructional Details of Typical Tubular Units are Reviewed to Aid a Better Understanding of Maintenance and Repair of Exchangers. P . W . B laylock. N a t. Petrol. N ew s, Tech. Sect., 3.1.45, 37 (1), R .1 6 .—
B riefly describes a n d illu stra te s v a rio u s ty p e s o f h e a t-tra n s fe r e q u ip m e n t u se d in in d u stry , p a rtic u la rly o f sh e ll-a n d -tu b e c o n stru c tio n w ith ty p e s o f flo atin g h e ad s or flexible ex p an sio n jo in ts. T h eir design a n d c o n stru c tio n a re discussed, a n d th e accepted codes, specifications, a n d to le ran c es a re given. T u b e len g th s, d iam eters, thicknesses, spacing a rra n g e m e n ts, tu b e -s h e e t m a te ria ls , a n d th e tools for, a n d m eth o d s of, ex p an d in g th e tu b e s , baffling, g a sk ets, a n d b o lts a n d p ressu re te s ts a re discussed.
W . H . C.
1127. Refining Mixtures of Kansas-West Texas Crude Oil Proves Practicable. A . L.
F o s te r a n d R . B . T u ttle . Oil Gas J ., 20.1.45, 43 (37), 58.— A p re lim in a ry re p o rt is p re sen te d o f th e exp erien ce o f one refin ery w hich h as b een processing a corrosive crude m ix tu re fo r a b o u t six m o n th s. T h e m ix tu re is com posed o f a p p ro x im a te ly 90% of a K a n sa s crude a n d 10% o f th e S la u g h te r so u r crude o f W est T exas. T he S lau g h ter cru d e oil c o n ta in s 325 lb./lOOO b rl. o f s a lt, 2-7 Ib./lOOO b rl. free a c id ity a n d p o ten tial a c id ity 22-7 lb./.lOOO b rl. ; i t h a s a su lp h u r c o n te n t o f 1-92% . T h e a m o u n t of S la u g h te r crude u se d in th e m ix tu re is co n tro lled b y th e follow ing fa cto rs : w hen kerosine is being m ad e conform ing to a m ax im u m su lp h u r c o n te n t of 0-10 % , n o t m ore th a n 10% c an b e m ix e d . I f kerosine is n o t bein g m ad e , it is possible to use up to 15% o f th e S la u g h te r cru d e a n d o b ta in a gasoline conform ing to specification.
W ith such m ix tu re s m a x im u m corrosion occurs b etw een 650° a n d 800° F . T h e m ix tu re of th e tw o crudes is d e sa lte d b y m ix in g w ith 3 % o f alk alin e w a te r a n d p assin g it th ro u g h a h e a t ex ch an g er to e n te r th e b o tto m o f a to w e r a t 250° F ., th e m ix tu re flowing o u t a t th e to p to a s e ttlin g receiver. T h is p ro ced u re rem oves 9 0% o f th e sa lt an d a larg e p ro p o rtio n o f th e H2S. T he desalted m ix tu re is th e n p re h ea te d b y passage th ro u g h a n e x ch an g er receiving h e a t fro m th e v a p o u rs fro m th e m a in crack in g u n its . As corrosion is first en co u n tere d h ere, th e ex ch an g er tu b e s a re m ad e of 11 -1 3 % Cr, an d th e shell is lin ed w ith th e sam e alloy, strip w elded. T h e s tre a m th e n flows to a tow er for d eb u ta n izin g , a n d th en c e th ro u g h a v a p o u r h e at-ex c h a n g er, w here it is h e a te d to 600° F . a g a in st crack ed v a p o u rs, befo re en te rin g th e s tra ig h t-ru n tow er.
T his v a p o u r h e at-ex c h a n g er is s itu a te d in th e u p p e r sec tio n o f th e v a p o u r se p a ra to r of th e larg e c rac k in g p la n t, a n d is e q u ip p ed w ith 5 % Cr tu b es, 7% Cr h ead ers, a n d 11- 13% Cr baffles. T h e shell side is lin ed w ith 11-13 Cr s trip . A sm all a m o u n t o f lim e s lu rry is in je c te d in to th e e x ch a n g er in le t stre am . C orrosion in th e s tra ig h t-ru n tow er is fo u n d o nly a t th e h o t c rude in let, so th is sectio n is lin ed w ith 11-13 % Cr. A d m ir
a lty m e ta l tu b e s a re u sed in th e condensers, a n d w a te r is in je c te d w ith th e v a p o u rs
