Search Documents

By Arthur Wade

The most important development in connection with the search for oil in Australia during 1940 was on the legislative side. Prior to 1939 legislative enactments in the various states with regard to prospecting for petroleum were such as to prohibit large-scale effort and to bar the major oil companies from operating. The preparation of the Wade Model Bill for the Commonwealth Government in 1939 and the acceptance of the Bill in principle by all States, has gone far to remove these obstacles. Amending Acts, largely based on the Alodel Bill, have now been passed by all States with the exception of New South Wales and Tasmania. In New South Wales an Amending Bill is being drafted, while the Govern-ment of Tasmania is preparing to introduce an Amending Bill provided there is any demand for it. Noteworthy developments followed immediately on the passing of these Amending Acts. The Shell Company (1)1 and the Superior Oil Company of California (2) too$ up large areas in Queensland and com-menced work during 1940. Caltex acquired a big tract of country in the Kimberley district of Western Australia (3) and has made application for an area in the Territory of Papua. An Australian company, The Phoenix Oil Extraction Co., has obtained a permit to prospect over an extensive area bordering the south coast of Western Australia (4). Other developments are foreshadowed. The Shell Company is making an intensive examination of its area in Queensland (I). Geological, geophysical and aerial surveys are in progress. Caltex has three geological parties in the held in Western Australia while Superior Oil Company of California has done some geological work in the interior of Queensland (2). None of these concerns envisages a drilling campaign in the near future. Much exploratory work is necessary. Further work has been done by the companies that were already operating in 1939, though an important Australian company - Oil Search—has abandoned the work of prospecting in Australia. This company has subleased its holdings, at North West Cape in Western Australia (;), to Caltex on a royalty basis. The company also maintains its holdings in, and connection with, the Australasian Petroleum Company Proprietary Limited, which is a combination of Standard Oil (New Jersey), Anglo-Iranian and Oil Search. This company is operating in the territories of Papua and New Guinea. Drilling Victoria.—Although a good deal of drilling was done in the LaBes Entrance Tertiary Basin of Victoria (7), no appreciable production of oil was obtained. In order to test the extent and possibilities of the oil-bearing sand in this region, the Commonwealth and State Governments jointly put down six scout boreholes to depths of between 1200 and I500 it. The results were nega tive. A deeper exploratory horehole put down by the Governments at Seacornbe, or 26

Jan 1, 1941

By James Terry Duce

The symposium on production for the year 1940 contains few papers on the foreign situation. It is probable that the foreign part of next year's symposium will be even shorter. This is due to rigid censorship in various countries, as the question of the volume of petroleum supplies has become one of great strategic importance. This is even more true than in the last war, owing to greater mechanization of armies. 'It has always been the policy of officers in charge of the symposium to refrain from publishing information that might possibly injure national or private interests. At the close of the war we hope again to publish full and accurate records of production abroad. Excerpts from Circular to Authors In order to facilitate interpretation of the data in this chapter, we print the following excerpts from the Circular to Authors. The field is the unit in this tabulation. In cases of fields extending across State boundaries, such as Rodessa, it is suggested that each State author treat the section of the field in his State as a unit, and by a footnote indicate that the field extends into an adjacent State. Each space in Table I may represent one of four possibilities; either it is not applicable to the particular field, or the proper entry is not determinable, or the proper entry may be determinable but is not determinable from data available to the author, or the proper entry is determinable. When spaces are not applicable, leave blank; in spaces where the proper entries are determinable but not de-terminable frod data available to the author, please inserty; in spaces where the proper entries are determinable by the author, make such entries. y implies a hope that in some future year a definite figure will be available. The entry of a zero is a positive declaration, and an important declaration where it is in order. Inability to determine precisely the correct entry for a particular space should not lead the author to insert merely y. Contributions of great value may be made by the author in many cases where entries are not subject to precise determination. In sucli cases the author should use his good judgment and make the best entry possible under the circumstances. For many spaces the correct entries represent the opinion of the author (for example, "Area Proved') and in such cases the entry need not be hedged to such extent as when the quantities are definite yet can be ascertained only approximately by the author. In cases under definite headings but where figures are only approximate, the author may use x. It is thought that the nearest whole numbers are sufficiently accurate for our purposes except as to percentage of sulphur in oil. If an author desires to report any other figures to tenths, he may do so. The quantity of gas produced should include, where possible, gas sold or otherwise marketed, and gas blown into the air, burned as flares or otherwise wasted. Segregation of these figures would be interesting if the authors can make such segregation. In any event, the figures should represent as nearly as possible the total quantity of gas removed from the reservoir. Under the columns on "Depth," the average depth to the top of the productive zones and to the bottom of the productive wells, when

Jan 1, 1941

By James Terry Duce

In order to facilitate interpretation of the data in this chapter, we print the following excerpts from circulars to authors, compiled by Mr. Frank A. Herald when he was Vice-chairman for Production of the Petroleum Division: Generally in Table 1 the unit for presentation of data is a field. For our purposes a field is defined as the whole of a surface area wherein productive locations are continuous. Such unit commonly includes and surrounds nonproductive areas. Such unit commonly includes a great variety of geologic conditions-several units of continuous productive reservoirs of distinctly different structure and of distinctly different stratigraphy. Therefore it is hoped that our authors will subdivide "field" so as to enable students to make analyses that may have scientific and/or commercial value. As to each space in the tabulation, it is either (I) not applicable, (2) the proper entry is not determinable, (3) the proper entry is determinable, but not determinable from data available to the author, (4) the proper entry is determinable by the author. In spaces not applicable, the author will please draw horizontal lines; in spaces where the proper entries are not determinable, the author will please insert x; in spaces where the proper entries are determinable but not determinable from data available to the author, the author will please insert y; in spaces where the proper entries are determinable by the author he will, of course, make such entries. Generally, y implies a hope that in some future year a definite figure will be available. Inability to determine precisely the correct entry for a particular space should not lead the author to insert merely y. Contributions of great value may be made by the author in many cases where entries are not subject to precise determination. In such cases the author should use his good judgment and make the best entry possible under the circumstances. For many spaces, the correct entries represent the opinion of the author (for example, "Area Proved") and in such cases the entries need not be hedged to such extent as in cases where the quantities are definite yet can be ascertained only approximately by the author. In cases under definite headings but where figures are only approximate, the author may use x. For example, if the total production of a field is known to be between 1,800,000 and 1,850,000, the author may report 1,8xx,xxx; or if the production is between 1,850,000 and 1,900,000, the author may report 1,9xx,xxx. Where a numeral is immediately to the left of x or y, such numeral represents the nearest known number in that position. As to quantity of gas produced from many fields the question will arise as to whether the figures should include merely the gas marketed or should include also estimates of gas used in operations and gas wasted. Although rough approximations

Jan 1, 1938

By James Terry Duce

The symposium on production for the year 1940 contains few papers on the foreign situation. It is probable that the foreign part of next year's symposium will be even shorter. This is due to rigid censorship in various countries, as the question of the volume of petroleum supplies has become one of great strategic importance. This is even more true than in the last war, owing to greater mechanization of armies. 'It has always been the policy of officers in charge of the symposium to refrain from publishing information that might possibly injure national or private interests. At the close of the war we hope again to publish full and accurate records of production abroad. Excerpts from Circular to Authors In order to facilitate interpretation of the data in this chapter, we print the following excerpts from the Circular to Authors. The field is the unit in this tabulation. In cases of fields extending across State boundaries, such as Rodessa, it is suggested that each State author treat the section of the field in his State as a unit, and by a footnote indicate that the field extends into an adjacent State. Each space in Table I may represent one of four possibilities; either it is not applicable to the particular field, or the proper entry is not determinable, or the proper entry may be determinable but is not determinable from data available to the author, or the proper entry is determinable. When spaces are not applicable, leave blank; in spaces where the proper entries are determinable but not de-terminable frod data available to the author, please inserty; in spaces where the proper entries are determinable by the author, make such entries. y implies a hope that in some future year a definite figure will be available. The entry of a zero is a positive declaration, and an important declaration where it is in order. Inability to determine precisely the correct entry for a particular space should not lead the author to insert merely y. Contributions of great value may be made by the author in many cases where entries are not subject to precise determination. In sucli cases the author should use his good judgment and make the best entry possible under the circumstances. For many spaces the correct entries represent the opinion of the author (for example, "Area Proved') and in such cases the entry need not be hedged to such extent as when the quantities are definite yet can be ascertained only approximately by the author. In cases under definite headings but where figures are only approximate, the author may use x. It is thought that the nearest whole numbers are sufficiently accurate for our purposes except as to percentage of sulphur in oil. If an author desires to report any other figures to tenths, he may do so. The quantity of gas produced should include, where possible, gas sold or otherwise marketed, and gas blown into the air, burned as flares or otherwise wasted. Segregation of these figures would be interesting if the authors can make such segregation. In any event, the figures should represent as nearly as possible the total quantity of gas removed from the reservoir. Under the columns on "Depth," the average depth to the top of the productive zones and to the bottom of the productive wells, when

Jan 1, 1941

By C. P. Watson

It is perhaps significant that a few years ago the sessions held here were chiefly occupied with production. In the last two years these sessions have been concerned with production curtailment, unitization and conservation, notwithstanding that production in the United States in 1929 reached a total in excess of 1,000,000,000 barrels. A study of the leading producing units in the United States shows that Oklahoma, Texas and California in 1929 yielded 84 per cent. of the total production from 33.5 per cent. of the total number of producing wells. Production in the United States in 1929 showed an increase of 107,000,000 bbl. over the 1928 figures. This increase in itself perhaps is not enough to have caused the serious situation that is now confronting the industry. However, taking into account the gradual encroachment on the consumption of fuel oil through the greater utilization of natural gas, probably we have reached the point in the United States where prices will determine to a large extent,' in 1930, the amount that will be produced. In the states of Texas, Oklahoma and California, the most significant developmcnt of 1929 has been the desire of operators to reach some agreement to bring production more or less in control with the estimated demand. In November, production in California, particularly in the Santa Fe Springs field, was drastically cut to meet a certain requirement. Similarly, in Texas, the Yates field has been developed and has been producing under an agreement on the part of the operators; and more recently in Oklahoma City, serious efforts have been made to keep produetion in line with consumption. For the year 1930 we can see nothing in sight except drastic curtailment. This is a matter that I am sure is occupying the attention of all the leaders of the industry.

Jan 1, 1930

By P. C. Hodges

While there is very little romance connected with the operation of a stone quarry, yet to those who have participated in the growth and development of a business that has been a pioneer in its field and that has been in continual operation two-thirds of a century there is bound to be a background of experience, which if properly capitalized, brings progress as well as satisfaction in its accomplishment. The simple methods of drilling and blasting limestone and loading on to railroad cars everything that remained on a stone fork and leaving

Jan 1, 1936

By P. C. Hodges

While there is very little romance connected with the operation of a stone quarry, yet to those who have participated in the growth and development of a business that has been a pioneer in its field and that has been in continual operation two-thirds of a century there is bound to be a background of experience, which if properly capitalized, brings progress as well as satisfaction in its accomplishment. The simple methods of drilling and blasting limestone and loading on to railroad cars everything that remained on a stone fork and leaving

Jan 1, 1936

By Max Y. Seaton

The scope of this paper will be limited to finished materials that contain a large preponderance (around 80 per cent or more) of magnesium oxide. The large and commercially important production of refractory dolomite and modified dolomites is not discussed here, and the production of magnesium basic carbonate for use as a heat insulator is barely mentioned. The discussion is confined mainly to magnesias produced in comparatively great quantity by direct processing of naturally occurring raw materials and hence excludes secondary or highly purified products such as pharmaceutical products or U.S.P. light and heavy calcined magnesias of commerce. Nomenclature The nomenclature of the magnesia products that will be discussed is somewhat confusing, in that it is customary in the trade to designate as "calcined magnesite" the materials that result from the calcining of magnesite to temperatures that remove the contained carbon dioxide. The finished product, therefore, is not magnesite at ali but simply a more or less pure magnesium oxide or magnesia. Furthermore, partly for statistical .and partly for commercial reasons, it has been customary, during recent years, to classify as "calcined magnesite" products that result from the heat-treatmerit of magnesium hydroxide precipitated from magnesium-containing brines; prod- ucts that, obviously, have no relationship whatever to magnesite. In the listing of magnesia-containing materials, tonnages of which are regularly reported by the Bureau of Mines, reports ordinarily are made under two headings: "caustic calcined" magnesite, in which all of the varieties of products treated at relatively low temperatures are lumped; and "dead-burned" magnesite, in which are included both high-purity and low-purity, and particularly both high-iron and irow-iron, materials that have been so heat-treated that the magnesium oxide occurs predominantly as crystalline periclase— materials used almost entirely for refractory purposes. In 1940 the apparent domestic consumption of "caustic calcined" magnesite was approximatcly 17,000 tons, "bout 95 Per cent of which was produced in this country. The apparent consumption of "dead-burned" magnesite was approximately 172,000 tons, some 82 per cent of which was domestically produced. In both total quantity and percentage of material produced within the United States, these figures are record highs for manY Years past. Utilization As indicated by these figures, the major tonnage outlet for magnesia is the refractories industry, in which magnesia is employed principally in three ways: (1) as dead-burned grain magnesite for the construction and maintenance of the hearths Or bottomS of basic open-hearth furnaces; (2) in the form of refractory magnesite bricks and shapes; and (3) as a chemical

Jan 1, 1942

By Max Y. Seaton

The scope of this paper will be limited to finished materials that contain a large preponderance (around 80 per cent or more) of magnesium oxide. The large and commercially important production of refractory dolomite and modified dolomites is not discussed here, and the production of magnesium basic carbonate for use as a heat insulator is barely mentioned. The discussion is confined mainly to magnesias produced in comparatively great quantity by direct processing of naturally occurring raw materials and hence excludes secondary or highly purified products such as pharmaceutical products or U.S.P. light and heavy calcined magnesias of commerce. Nomenclature The nomenclature of the magnesia products that will be discussed is somewhat confusing, in that it is customary in the trade to designate as "calcined magnesite" the materials that result from the calcining of magnesite to temperatures that remove the contained carbon dioxide. The finished product, therefore, is not magnesite at ali but simply a more or less pure magnesium oxide or magnesia. Furthermore, partly for statistical .and partly for commercial reasons, it has been customary, during recent years, to classify as "calcined magnesite" products that result from the heat-treatmerit of magnesium hydroxide precipitated from magnesium-containing brines; prod- ucts that, obviously, have no relationship whatever to magnesite. In the listing of magnesia-containing materials, tonnages of which are regularly reported by the Bureau of Mines, reports ordinarily are made under two headings: "caustic calcined" magnesite, in which all of the varieties of products treated at relatively low temperatures are lumped; and "dead-burned" magnesite, in which are included both high-purity and low-purity, and particularly both high-iron and irow-iron, materials that have been so heat-treated that the magnesium oxide occurs predominantly as crystalline periclase— materials used almost entirely for refractory purposes. In 1940 the apparent domestic consumption of "caustic calcined" magnesite was approximatcly 17,000 tons, "bout 95 Per cent of which was produced in this country. The apparent consumption of "dead-burned" magnesite was approximately 172,000 tons, some 82 per cent of which was domestically produced. In both total quantity and percentage of material produced within the United States, these figures are record highs for manY Years past. Utilization As indicated by these figures, the major tonnage outlet for magnesia is the refractories industry, in which magnesia is employed principally in three ways: (1) as dead-burned grain magnesite for the construction and maintenance of the hearths Or bottomS of basic open-hearth furnaces; (2) in the form of refractory magnesite bricks and shapes; and (3) as a chemical

Jan 1, 1942

By J. D. Shaw, E. B. Gebert, D. O. Noel

It is, of course, expected that manufacture of the various metal powders should involve numerous methods adapted to the specific characteristics of the metals themselves. Several methods for powdering a particular metal may be available, but the physical characteristics of the powder as produced by the several methods may be quite different. In the final analysis, the application of the metal powder dictates the physical properties that the metal powder must possess, and this, to a very large extent, will determine which of several possible methods of manufacture is adopted. Sometimes powder of the same metal is produced by more than one method, each powder having specific characteristics that make it particularly suitable for its application. For purposes of classification, the various methods of powdering metals can be grouped as follows: 1. Machining. 2. Milling (by ball mills, stamps, attrition mills, etc.). 3. Shotting (pouring molten metal into water, air, etc.). 4. Granulation (by stirring molten metal while solidifying). 5. Atomizing (disintegrating by steam, compressed air, etc.). 6. Condensation of metal vapor. 7. Reduction of oxide powders. 8. Chemical precipitation. 9. Electrolytic deposition. 10. Sintering (for producing alloy powders). 11. Formation of an alloy followed by dissolving or otherwise removing one of the alloying constituents. Machining Turnings, cuttings, filings, etc., are, of course, produced as by-products in machine work of various kinds, and find certain applications as metal powders. For example, iron powder so produced is used extensively as a reducing or precipitating agent and as a constituent in certain hard-finish cements.

Jan 1, 1938

By D. O. Noel, E. B. Gebert, J. D. Shaw

It is, of course, expected that manufacture of the various metal powders should involve numerous methods adapted to the specific characteristics of the metals themselves. Several methods for powdering a particular metal may be available, but the physical characteristics of the powder as produced by the several methods may be quite different. In the final analysis, the application of the metal powder dictates the physical properties that the metal powder must possess, and this, to a very large extent, will determine which of several possible methods of manufacture is adopted. Sometimes powder of the same metal is produced by more than one method, each powder having specific characteristics that make it particularly suitable for its application. For purposes of classification, the various methods of powdering metals can be grouped as follows: 1. Machining. 2. Milling (by ball mills, stamps, attrition mills, etc.). 3. Shotting (pouring molten metal into water, air, etc.). 4. Granulation (by stirring molten metal while solidifying). 5. Atomizing (disintegrating by steam, compressed air, etc.). 6. Condensation of metal vapor. 7. Reduction of oxide powders. 8. Chemical precipitation. 9. Electrolytic deposition. 10. Sintering (for producing alloy powders). 11. Formation of an alloy followed by dissolving or otherwise removing one of the alloying constituents. Machining Turnings, cuttings, filings, etc., are, of course, produced as by-products in machine work of various kinds, and find certain applications as metal powders. For example, iron powder so produced is used extensively as a reducing or precipitating agent and as a constituent in certain hard-finish cements.

Jan 1, 1938

By Kenneth M. Bravinder, Jonathan E. Koogle, Dean H. Sheldon

The solution of subsurface geological problems requires an analysis of vertical and horizontal dimensional relationships. For many, the ability to visualize structures in three dimensions is not easily acquired, and for areas where the structural conditions are complicated by faulting the need arises for illustrative models. This has led to the many forms of peg models, in which the usual course of construction includes a peg for the well bore, and the suspension of strings from peg to peg to illustrate the formation correlation between wells, thus developing the usual folds and flexures. Such models proved unsatisfactory for the analysis of fault problems. Consideration was then given to the use of transparent materials. A model of the Dominguez oil field was constructed in 1935, which consisted of a series of glass panels irom well to well on which the formations were shown in color. This model, though serving its purpose at the time, proved to be impractical from the standpoints of cost, breakage hazard, and extreme difficulty in maintenance. The cost of materials was estimated to be approxi-mately $300, and the construction required the services of one man for a period of from 10 to 12 months. Maintenance after actual construction was an additional expense. Consideration was then given to the use of celluloid, and aiter some experimental work it was found that the advantages in its use were: (I) a short construction time, (2) ease of handling the material, (3) sec-tions are easily reworked, (4) low cost. Construction It would be of little value to recount here the difficulties encountered in the building of the first celluloid model. The conclusions drawn, however, suggest the following pro-cedure for those who contemplate the construction of such a model: 1. Determilzatiolz of the Scale.—Accurate geological interpretation requires the use of the same scale horizontally and vertically. It should be emphasized that the limited size of the celluloid sheets (20 by 48 in. maximum dimensions), the area to be studied, the maximum depths to be plotted, and area of possible future development are the controlling factors in adopting a scale to he used. 2. Construction of the Base.—A satisfac-tory base may be constructed by using two pieces of three-ply wood separated by strips of I by 2-in. material. This type of construction prevents warping of the base. The size of the base is determined by the dimensions of the area to be studied plus 5 in. on all sides. A map of the same scale as that adopted for the model, indicating the lines of section to be used, should be fastened to the base. 3. Constructiolt of the Frame (Fig. I).—In the construction of the frame the use of %-in. 0.d. pipe welded in a box shape is suggested, with two horizontal rods on each of the four sides, top and bottom. The top rod should be at least r in. higher than the

Jan 1, 1941

By Kenneth M. Bravinder, Jonathan E. Koogle, Dean H. Sheldon

The solution of subsurface geological problems requires an analysis of vertical and horizontal dimensional relationships. For many, the ability to visualize structures in three dimensions is not easily acquired, and for areas where the structural conditions are complicated by faulting the need arises for illustrative models. This has led to the many forms of peg models, in which the usual course of construction includes a peg for the well bore, and the suspension of strings from peg to peg to illustrate the formation correlation between wells, thus developing the usual folds and flexures. Such models proved unsatisfactory for the analysis of fault problems. Consideration was then given to the use of transparent materials. A model of the Dominguez oil field was constructed in 1935, which consisted of a series of glass panels irom well to well on which the formations were shown in color. This model, though serving its purpose at the time, proved to be impractical from the standpoints of cost, breakage hazard, and extreme difficulty in maintenance. The cost of materials was estimated to be approxi-mately $300, and the construction required the services of one man for a period of from 10 to 12 months. Maintenance after actual construction was an additional expense. Consideration was then given to the use of celluloid, and aiter some experimental work it was found that the advantages in its use were: (I) a short construction time, (2) ease of handling the material, (3) sec-tions are easily reworked, (4) low cost. Construction It would be of little value to recount here the difficulties encountered in the building of the first celluloid model. The conclusions drawn, however, suggest the following pro-cedure for those who contemplate the construction of such a model: 1. Determilzatiolz of the Scale.—Accurate geological interpretation requires the use of the same scale horizontally and vertically. It should be emphasized that the limited size of the celluloid sheets (20 by 48 in. maximum dimensions), the area to be studied, the maximum depths to be plotted, and area of possible future development are the controlling factors in adopting a scale to he used. 2. Construction of the Base.—A satisfac-tory base may be constructed by using two pieces of three-ply wood separated by strips of I by 2-in. material. This type of construction prevents warping of the base. The size of the base is determined by the dimensions of the area to be studied plus 5 in. on all sides. A map of the same scale as that adopted for the model, indicating the lines of section to be used, should be fastened to the base. 3. Constructiolt of the Frame (Fig. I).—In the construction of the frame the use of %-in. 0.d. pipe welded in a box shape is suggested, with two horizontal rods on each of the four sides, top and bottom. The top rod should be at least r in. higher than the

Jan 1, 1941

By H. W. Hindry

This paper presents the ingredients com-~osing a type of oil-base mud that has been successfully used in drilling oil horizons in California, the effect of ingredient concentrations on physical properties, methods of handling at the well and possible advantages of a waterless drilling fluid with excellent plastering properties. Introduction An oil-base mud is a rotary drilling fluid in which oil has been substituted for water as the principal liquid ingredient. In recent years such a mud has been developed and used successfully for drilling the oil horizons of wells in various Calilornia fields. There are several types of oil-base mud, but only the type that is currently used to any appreciable extent will be considered at this time. The oil-base drilling-mud compositions used by Shell Oil Company, Incorporated have been covered by several patent applications on which patents are expected to issue at an early date. The purpose of this paper is to present data on the fundamental design of the mud; the ingredients used and their specifications; the effect of ingredient concentration on physical properties; the selection of the proper mud; the facilities needed for handling the mud; and a general discussion on drilling with oil-base mud. In view of the early stage of development of oil-base mud, the great number of vari- ables, and the almost unlimited possible combinations of these. variables, which in turn require extensive laboratory study, there are certain irregularities and omis. sions in the data presented here. However, it is believed that sufficient data are at hand to permit a fairly complete analysis of the characteristics of oil-base muds. In view of the excellent plastering properties of oil-base mud when properly proportioned, its use should: (I) minimize the possibility of impairing the natural flow potentialities of the producing horizon such as that resulting from infiltration of water from water-base muds; (2) permit smaller clearances for setting liners, since the mud sheath has no appreciable thickness; (3) eliminate the possibility of clogging the perforations of the liner with thick mud sheath; (4) facilitate the removal of the mud sheath from the walls of the hole, for its mud sheath has no appreciable strength; (5) assist in drilling through formations, such as "heaving shale," where water wetting appears to be a source of difficulty. (6) permit cores to be obtained without contamination from drilling water. Fundamental Design of an Oil-base Mud In the design of any rotary drilling mud it is necessary to select materials that will fulfill the following requirements: (I) act as the liquid medium and regulate the viscosity; (2) impart initial and final plastering properties; (3) give gel strength and structure in order to prevent settling; (4) serve as a weighting material. The

Jan 1, 1941

By H. W. Hindry

This paper presents the ingredients com-~osing a type of oil-base mud that has been successfully used in drilling oil horizons in California, the effect of ingredient concentrations on physical properties, methods of handling at the well and possible advantages of a waterless drilling fluid with excellent plastering properties. Introduction An oil-base mud is a rotary drilling fluid in which oil has been substituted for water as the principal liquid ingredient. In recent years such a mud has been developed and used successfully for drilling the oil horizons of wells in various Calilornia fields. There are several types of oil-base mud, but only the type that is currently used to any appreciable extent will be considered at this time. The oil-base drilling-mud compositions used by Shell Oil Company, Incorporated have been covered by several patent applications on which patents are expected to issue at an early date. The purpose of this paper is to present data on the fundamental design of the mud; the ingredients used and their specifications; the effect of ingredient concentration on physical properties; the selection of the proper mud; the facilities needed for handling the mud; and a general discussion on drilling with oil-base mud. In view of the early stage of development of oil-base mud, the great number of vari- ables, and the almost unlimited possible combinations of these. variables, which in turn require extensive laboratory study, there are certain irregularities and omis. sions in the data presented here. However, it is believed that sufficient data are at hand to permit a fairly complete analysis of the characteristics of oil-base muds. In view of the excellent plastering properties of oil-base mud when properly proportioned, its use should: (I) minimize the possibility of impairing the natural flow potentialities of the producing horizon such as that resulting from infiltration of water from water-base muds; (2) permit smaller clearances for setting liners, since the mud sheath has no appreciable thickness; (3) eliminate the possibility of clogging the perforations of the liner with thick mud sheath; (4) facilitate the removal of the mud sheath from the walls of the hole, for its mud sheath has no appreciable strength; (5) assist in drilling through formations, such as "heaving shale," where water wetting appears to be a source of difficulty. (6) permit cores to be obtained without contamination from drilling water. Fundamental Design of an Oil-base Mud In the design of any rotary drilling mud it is necessary to select materials that will fulfill the following requirements: (I) act as the liquid medium and regulate the viscosity; (2) impart initial and final plastering properties; (3) give gel strength and structure in order to prevent settling; (4) serve as a weighting material. The

Jan 1, 1941

By Edwin F. Nelson, Charles Wirth, Gustav Egloff, C. D. Maxutov

The treatment of emulsified crude oils has been a problem for years in the petroleum industry. Until comparatively recently various methods of settling with and without chemicals have been used with indifferent success. Since wells have been acidized, emulsified crudes have been produced, which add considerably to the need for improved methods of treatment. The presence of large quantities of salts in the oils from acidized wells has presented several new problems to the industry. The use of hydrochloric acid in well treatments has caused the formation of sodium, magnesium, and calcium chlorides by interaction with the dolomitic limestones. These salts dissolve readily in the water normally present in the oil, and they are therefore incorporated in the emulsified oil. The crystalline salts have also been found in the oil, prevented from settling by protective films such as asphalt, resins and petrolatum. In some instances, free hydrochloric acid has been found. The salts may be present in crude oil in amounts ranging from a few pounds to over 1000 lb. per 1000 bbl. of oil. The transportation of these crude oils through pipe lines has led to erosive and corrosive effects, which are a tremendous cost to the petroleum industry. During 1937, more than 1,200,000,000 bbl. of crude oil was transported through pipe lines. Of this quantity approximately 10,000,-000 bbl. was water, and considerably more than 50,000,000 lb. was salts. If the crude oils were treated at the producing wells to remove the salts and water, an appreciable saving would be possible. The treatment would not be difficult, since it has been found that these oils are more easily treated at the time they are produced than after the aging and more stable emulsification that occur before they reach the refinery. Since great costs are involved in the use of these salty crudes at the refinery, treated oils essentially free of salts would naturally command a premium. The real added costs lie in refining salt-containing crude oils. Severe corrosion of refinery equipment in both topping and cracking installations has appeared in many refineries. Chemicals such as ammonia, lime and

Jan 1, 1938

By E. W. McAllister

The decision of the California Oil Umpire's' office to accept well potentials established from subsurface-pressure data has brought to the attention of many operators for the first time the application of such data to production problems. This paper reviews the development and application of subsurface-pressure data in kettleman Hills, where these data have been used in production work since 1932. The Kettleman Hills field was discovered in October 1928. The first subsurface-pressure surveys were made early in 1932 and by the middle of 1933 the two major operators in the field were making routine pressure runs in thcir respective wells. Shortly therefter, these companies agreed to exchange pressure data, and later a third company entered into the agreement. This made it possible to analyze the effects upon the reservoir pressure of past production practices, which are discussed in the latter part of the report. It is interesting that many of the applications of subsurface-pressure data discussed herein were anticipated by C. L. Clark and C. B. Kimberlint in a report2 dated March 1933. PRODUCTIVITY Index In the majority of individual well problems involving the use of subsurface- pressure data, it is necessary to use a factor known as the "productivity index," which indicates the ability of a well to produce and represents the number of barrels of oil or oil and water per day that will enter the well bore for each pound per square inch pressure drop made opposite the producing interval of the well. The productivity index may be determined from pressure and production data for one or more rates of flow and a static or shut-in pressure survey or from production and pressure data for two or more rates of flow. Productivity indices may be based upon either net oil or total fluid production. All indices referred to in this report are based upon net oil. The value of the productivity index for Kettlcman Hills wells decreases generally with time and it is not uncommon for the index to vary in value at any specific time fur various rates of flow. The decline of the productivity index may be attributed partly to the loss of reservoir pressure. As the reservoir pressure decreases, gas originally in solution is released from the oil, congesting the flow of fluids through the formation and increasing the viscosity and surface tension of the oil; thus the flow resistance of the fluids through the formation is increased, resulting in a decrease of the productivity index. For convenient reference, the productivity indices for each well are plotted against time and a curve is drawn through the points showing the trend of the average index value. Plotted on Fig. I are index values for five

Jan 1, 1941

By E. W. McAllister

The decision of the California Oil Umpire's' office to accept well potentials established from subsurface-pressure data has brought to the attention of many operators for the first time the application of such data to production problems. This paper reviews the development and application of subsurface-pressure data in kettleman Hills, where these data have been used in production work since 1932. The Kettleman Hills field was discovered in October 1928. The first subsurface-pressure surveys were made early in 1932 and by the middle of 1933 the two major operators in the field were making routine pressure runs in thcir respective wells. Shortly therefter, these companies agreed to exchange pressure data, and later a third company entered into the agreement. This made it possible to analyze the effects upon the reservoir pressure of past production practices, which are discussed in the latter part of the report. It is interesting that many of the applications of subsurface-pressure data discussed herein were anticipated by C. L. Clark and C. B. Kimberlint in a report2 dated March 1933. PRODUCTIVITY Index In the majority of individual well problems involving the use of subsurface- pressure data, it is necessary to use a factor known as the "productivity index," which indicates the ability of a well to produce and represents the number of barrels of oil or oil and water per day that will enter the well bore for each pound per square inch pressure drop made opposite the producing interval of the well. The productivity index may be determined from pressure and production data for one or more rates of flow and a static or shut-in pressure survey or from production and pressure data for two or more rates of flow. Productivity indices may be based upon either net oil or total fluid production. All indices referred to in this report are based upon net oil. The value of the productivity index for Kettlcman Hills wells decreases generally with time and it is not uncommon for the index to vary in value at any specific time fur various rates of flow. The decline of the productivity index may be attributed partly to the loss of reservoir pressure. As the reservoir pressure decreases, gas originally in solution is released from the oil, congesting the flow of fluids through the formation and increasing the viscosity and surface tension of the oil; thus the flow resistance of the fluids through the formation is increased, resulting in a decrease of the productivity index. For convenient reference, the productivity indices for each well are plotted against time and a curve is drawn through the points showing the trend of the average index value. Plotted on Fig. I are index values for five

Jan 1, 1941

By C. E. Cannon, R. C. Craze

This paper discusses the results of a study of reservoir pressures in the Gulf Coast area of Texas and Louisiana, showing the general relation of the reservoir pressure to its subsea depth, as well as excessive reservoir pressures that have been encountered. The latter are particularly important in mud-control work, and the data show why it is necessary to use muds having a relatively high density in many of the deeper wells drilled in this area. Only a comparatively few of the wells drilled in the Gulf Coast that have encountered excessive pressures are discussed, but as far as is known those omitted fall within the range of pressure observed by the writers. Measurement of Pressures The following methods were used to determine the values of the original pressures: 1. Estimation of original pressure from subsequent pressure behavior of fields. This method is not precise, and was used only in a few of the older fields in which better methods of obtaining original pressures were not available. Only normal pressures were determined by this method. 2. Measurement of shut-in pressures soon after completion of the first producing well. With one exception, all pressures measured by this method were normal, this well having a pressure slightly higher than normal. 3. Measurements of pressure in connection with drill-stem tests. 4. Estimates from the maximum hydrostatic head of mud that failed to prevent flow from the high-pressure formations into the hole. This method is not exact, tending generally to indicate low pressures. Normal Pressures All pressure measurements available are plotted in Fig. 1, with original pressure at the water-oil contact as abscissa and subsea depth as ordinate. All producing fields fall close to the solid line, which passes through the origin and has a slope of 0.465 lb. per sq. in. per ft. By way of compari-

Jan 1, 1938

By P. P. Gregory

Natural petroleum gas occurring in the oil-bearing reservoirs is found to exist either as free gas associated with the oil and/or in solution in the oil. In some virgin fields practically no free gas is encountered under the reservoir conditions of pressure and temperature, although in other fields a considerable section of the "pay" horizon is occupied by free gas. In other words, a given oil field may or may not have a gas cap before the exploitation takes place. However, when the reservoir pressure is reduced to a point below the critical saturation pressure by withdrawals of fluids from the producing formation, the gas dissolved in the oil inevitably begins to come out of solution and becomes free gas. Under the controlled methods of production and drilling, a portion of this gas is produced with the oil to the surface and a portion of it remains within the reservoir to accumulate at higher structural levels toward which it migrates by virtue of its low specific gravity. The rate of growth of a gas cap in a given structure depends primarily upon the rate of decline in the reservoir pressure. If the rate of pressure decline is rapid, the gas cap likewise will grow rapidly. On the other hand, shrinkage in the gas-cap area was noted in some fields in which reservoir pressures wereincreasing. Determination of Gas-oil Contact and Thickness of Gas Cap The gas-oil contact can be conveniently located in the process of drilling a well and by electrical logging. However, very little can be found in the petroleum literature concerning methods of predetermining gas-oil contacts in producing reservoirs. Therefore, the writer feels justified in describing briefly a simple, workable, and inexpensive method of determining gas-oil contacts and outlining the limits of gas-cap areas in a field where such knowledge may be essential for efficient production and development operations. The method involves the determination of the following data: (I) Structural data, such as the depth or elevation of the top' of "pay" horizon; (2) reservoir pressures; (3) tubing and casing pressures at the well head; (4) static oil-pressure gradient; (5) static gas-pressure gradient. These data can be secured with a minimum of expense, inasmuch as the

Jan 1, 1938