IC 7643 Petroleum And Natural-Gas Research Program, Bureau Of Mines, Fiscal Year 1951 - Summary And Introduction

The peacetime activities of the Bureau's petroleum and natural-gas program have been reoriented to serve the needs of a national-defense program. When the United Nations sent troops to Korea after the North Korean Army crossed the 38th parallel in the latter part of June 1950, the Bureau's coordinated national program on petroleum and natural gas, with each major project forming an essential member of its framework, was carefully reviewed by those in charge of the work. As a matter of fact, the era of normalcy in which the petroleum and natural-gas research of the Bureau of Mines prospered during the fiscal year 19502/ was no sedative to the need for alertness on a national-defense front. The program, although conducted along peacetime lines in general, was scanned critically and repeatedly during that period to see where - if the need should arise -the emphasis could be shifted from peace to defense or war. Judging from the experience of two wars, it would not be long before the Bureau would be asked to use its trained technical personnel in applying techniques already learned in peacetime research to the requirements of munition and fuel needs of national defense. Near the end of January 1951, petroleum and natural-gas engineers of the Bureau of Mines began a comprehensive study of reservoir conditions in the Canyon Reef fields of Scurry, Borden, and Kent Counties, Tex. This work was preceded by published analyses of crude oils from Scurry County as early as April 1950. Well-informed persons in industry have estimated that these fields hold reserves that will yield 3 to 6 billion barrels of stock-tank oil. Although generally accepted good operating practices have been followed, engineering tests have shown that the natural energy, except in some favorable parts of the reservoir, will not be adequate for obtaining a high percentage of recovery. Correct information regarding the extent and availability of this vast reservoir of hydrocarbons is therefore of great concern to the Petroleum Administration for Defense in carrying out its responsibilities under the Defense Production Act.