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By E. C. Reed

Ninety wells were completed in Nebraska during 1941, of which 42 were producers. One of them was the discovery well of a new field. All of the production to date is in Richardson County. At the close of the year 14 wells were drilling and three more were shut down for orders, hoping for future development of production. Most of the drilling activity was in Richardson County, which had 68 operations; 10 wells were drilled in Nemaha County, 5 drilled or drilling in Gage County, 3 each in Otoe and Furnas Counties, 2 each in Cass, Harlan, Johnson and Sarpy Counties, and 10 wells were completed or drilling over the remainder of the state. The most important development of the year was the discovery in October of the Barada field, sec. 36, T. 3 N., R. 16 E.,

Jan 1, 1942

By E. C. Reed

Ninety wells were completed in Nebraska during 1941, of which 42 were producers. One of them was the discovery well of a new field. All of the production to date is in Richardson County. At the close of the year 14 wells were drilling and three more were shut down for orders, hoping for future development of production. Most of the drilling activity was in Richardson County, which had 68 operations; 10 wells were drilled in Nemaha County, 5 drilled or drilling in Gage County, 3 each in Otoe and Furnas Counties, 2 each in Cass, Harlan, Johnson and Sarpy Counties, and 10 wells were completed or drilling over the remainder of the state. The most important development of the year was the discovery in October of the Barada field, sec. 36, T. 3 N., R. 16 E.,

Jan 1, 1942

By F. K. Spragins

Growing demand for conventional crude oil in North America in the face of diminishing sup- ply is bringing about increased interest in synthetic fuels. With one commercial plant already in full production, another in the planning and engineering stage and still others being seriously considered, the Athabasca tar sands are proving to be a leading center of interest. Here, and in the closely related deposits, reserves in place total over 700 billion barrels.' When and if fully developed, Athabasca tar sands could make both Canada and the United States substantially independent of all off-shore supplies of crude for many years to come. Its product, a high-quality, low-sulfur synthetic crude, is beginning to enter the market place at a most favorable time. Oil Deposit The main body of Athabasca tar sands, about 250 miles northeast of the city of Edmonton, are centered in an area of something over 12,000 sq mi. The deposit runs as high as 250,000 bbl per acre and the average richness is placed at 100,000 bbl per acre. Of the over 700 billion bbl in place, 400 billion bbl of raw oil are considered recoverable from which 300 billion bbl of upgraded synthetic crude are expected to be produced.' In the deeper zones, thermal stimulation is considered the best approach to recovery, while in the shallow areas several surface mining techniques are deemed practical.

Jan 10, 1972

By Merlyn B. Buhle

The value of the earth resistivity method in groundwater studies in Illinois has long been recognized. Owing to the sharp electrical contrasts between sand and gravel deposits and glacial till, alluvial silt or underlying shale, much of the earth resistivity prospecting has been of a relatively elementary nature and has been highly successful. Approximately 90 pct of earth resistivity interpretations by the State Geological Survey have been accurate for practical purposes. Four studies involving fairly simple geologic situations are presented in this paper as typical cases. FOR the past 20 years electrical earth resistivity exploration has been used in Illinois in many phases of study undertaken by the State Geological Survey, chiefly in locating and outlining deposits of water-bearing sand and gravel from which to obtain ground water for municipal and industrial supplies. At least 43 municipalities in the state derive their total water supply from deposits of sand and gravel discovered by resistivity methods. These deposits occur in both Quaternary and preglacial valleys and within much of the glacial drift which covers a large portion of the state. In recent years there has been much demand from rapidly growing municipalities for help from the Illinois Geological Survey to extend existing well fields. Water supplies for many and varied industries constitute a considerable portion of the Survey's studies. The diminishing need of water supplies for railroads has 'been accompanied by an increasing demand by the oil industry for water for secondary recovery programs. The instruments used by the Illinois Geological Survey follow closely the commutated direct current circuits developed by O. H. Gish and W. J. Rooney' using the Wenner2 electrode configuration. More recently replacement of the hand-driven commutator by a synchronous vibrator has led to increased ease of operation and accuracy. Continuing improvement of equipment and technique has led to many changes in the instruments, but the operating theory remains the same. In the field operation at a selected station, four electrodes are set at equal distances in the ground 6 to 10 in. deep, in a straight line. A 16 to 20-cycle current is applied to the two outside steel electrodes

Jan 1, 1954

By William B. Heroy

During 1932 no important changes occurred in the position of Africa as a producer of petroleum. The progress of development and production in each of the areas of interest is described below. Egypt The producing fields of Egypt are Hurghada and Gemsa, located on the west short of the Red Sea, and Abu Durba in the Sinai Peninsula. Most of the production is obtained from the Hurghada field, chiefly from beds of Cretaceous age. To the end of 1930 the Hurghada field had produced 2,831,751 tons of petroleum. The Gemsa field, discovered in 1909, reached its peak of production in 1914, when 88,000 tons were produced. Of late years the production has greatly declined. Total production of the field to the end of 1930 is 182,870 tons. The total production of Abu Durba to the end of 1930 is 7069 tons. The production of Egypt for recent years is as follows: 1928, 269,324 tons; 1929, 271,520; 1930, 281,997 (1,996,000 bbl.); 1931, 288,260 (2,038,000 bbl.); 1932, 253,182 (approximately 1,790,000 bbl.). Mozambique The operations of Inyaminga Petroleum Ltd., which was engaged in drilling in the colony, have been suspended. Angola Drilling operations in this colony, conducted by Companhia de Petroleo de Angola under a concession from the Portuguese Government, were continued. A test well drilled at Cacoba, about 60 miles southeast of Luanda, to a depth of 5651 ft. was not a commercial producer. A second well was being drilled in the vicinity at the end of 1932. Morocco Until last year the search for petroleum in Morocco was in the hands of several private companies but during 1932 the National Office of Liquid Fuels of the French Government took an active interest in the develop-

Jan 1, 1933

By G. S. Hume

Production of petroleum and natural gas increased in Canada in 1939 principally because of new wells in Ontario and Alberta. Turner Valley The Turner Valley field, Alberta, yielded 7,456,000 bbl. of petroleum in 1939 in comparison with 6,703,548 bbl. in 1938, an increase of 11 per cent. Turner Valley now supplies 96 per cent of all petroleum produced in Canada (Table 1). The Turner Valley field (Table 2) has reached a position where it call supply much larger volumes of petroleum than the Prairie market is capable of consuming. The allowable production is under the jurisdiction of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Conservation Board of Alberta and the daily rate is set from time to time as warranted by the demand. During June the allowable reached a maximum of 27,000 bbl. a day. This, however, was a temporary situation due in part to the completion of a new British American Oil Co. refinery in Calgary capable of processing 5000 bbl. a day and with a storage capacity of about 100,000 bbl. The maximum consumption was reached during the harvest season with

Jan 1, 1940

By G. S. Hume

Production of petroleum and natural gas increased in Canada in 1939 principally because of new wells in Ontario and Alberta. Turner Valley The Turner Valley field, Alberta, yielded 7,456,000 bbl. of petroleum in 1939 in comparison with 6,703,548 bbl. in 1938, an increase of 11 per cent. Turner Valley now supplies 96 per cent of all petroleum produced in Canada (Table 1). The Turner Valley field (Table 2) has reached a position where it call supply much larger volumes of petroleum than the Prairie market is capable of consuming. The allowable production is under the jurisdiction of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Conservation Board of Alberta and the daily rate is set from time to time as warranted by the demand. During June the allowable reached a maximum of 27,000 bbl. a day. This, however, was a temporary situation due in part to the completion of a new British American Oil Co. refinery in Calgary capable of processing 5000 bbl. a day and with a storage capacity of about 100,000 bbl. The maximum consumption was reached during the harvest season with

Jan 1, 1940

By Walter Miller

During no similar period in the development of petroleum refining technology has so much progress been made in methods and equipment for the economical utilization of heat. Drastically severe commercial and economical conditions controlling the refining industry during 1927 gave a great impetus to improved efficiency and more economical operation in all departments. I think it is fair to say, however, that more progress has been made in the department of heat utilization than in other branches. I use the word utilization advisedly in the dual sense of better primary generation and application of heat and of saving by recovery methods. It was because of this trend that the subject, "Economical Application of Heat," was made the keynote of the refinery engineering sessions just completed. No new, outstanding elemental discoveries can be claimed for the year along this line. Some of the progress made has been in the development of better furnaces and distilling equipment embodying the more modern principles of boiler practice in obtaining complete combustion of the fuel, low excess air requirements and high transfer rates through the heating surface. Transfer rates of 3000 to 6000 B. t. u. per sq. ft. per hr. were considered good some time ago in the older type of equipment. Today a transfer rate of 25,000 to 35,000 B. t. u. is an actual accomplishment in commercial installations and engineers are talking of the feasibility of 50,000, 75,000, even 100,000 R. t. u. per sq. ft. per hr. Contributing most to bringing this about have been the rational use of the velocity factor on both the oil and firing side of the heating surface, and the study and application of the principles of radiant heat in furnace design. Vapor Heat Economy The principle of heat exchange, especially against oil vapors, has been applied to a greater extent than ever before. The recovery of heat from oil vapors is not new. This was practiced 20 years ago or more in Europe,

Jan 1, 1928

By H. Sherman

The general curtailment of activities, so marked in 1931, was continued and intensified in 1932 and although production was maintained at approximately the level of the previous year, 1932 was chiefly characterized by the virtual cessation of drilling in many of the proven fields, a further decline in wildcatting activities, particularly in the Maracaibo Basin, and the relinquishment of large blocks of unfavorably located acreage. A total of only 60 wells was completed during the year of which six were wildcats, while at the same time concessions aggregating approximately. 3,222,000 acres were renounced and reverted to the National Government. The maintenance of production at the previously established level was made possible through the large potential built up by drilling in previous years and by a gradual increase in pumping and gas-lift installations. Towards the end of the year there was a slight but perceptible tendency towards increased drilling in certain of the proven fields. Total production for the year came to 118,076,000 as compared to 118,418,000 bbl. for 1931, while exports amounted to 114,758,000 as against 116,683,000 bbl. in 1931. Table 1 shows production and exports and the average rate per day for the first half of 1932 as compared to the second half. Table 1.—Petroleum Production and Exports in 1932, Venezuela (Barrels of 42 Gallons) Production Rate per Day Export Rate per Day I January-June............ 61,943,000 1 390, 347 July-December.......... 56,133,000 305,071 50,788,000 276,022 Total.........,....... 118,076,000 322,612 114,758,000 313,546 During 1932 the number of active vessels comprising the Lake Maracaibo fleet of shallow-draft tankers was still further reduced, some being temporarily laid up and some transferred to service in other coun-

Jan 1, 1933

By Bruce A. Kennedy

This is an opportune time to examine the disposition of practical rock mechanics in the mining industry. The rock mechanics world has put on steam with publication of a number of books and the organization of a large number of symposia and teaching seminars. SME has just published Stability ill Open Pit Mining. proceedings of a conference held In November 1970 in Vancouver, R.C. R book entitled Planning Open Pit Mines covering the entire range of open pit mining with emphasis on slope stability has just been published by the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. The Thirteenth Symposium on Rock Mechanics was held at the University of Illinois. Urbana-Champaign, during the last week of August. The University of British Columbia's Division of Continuing Education is holding a symposium and specialty seminars on stability in open pit mining during the first week in November. A tremendous planning effort has started to organize the Tl3ii.d Congress of the International Society of Rock Mechanics in Denver in 1974. This meeting is held every four years in the country of origin of the president of the Society. This third congress comes to the U.S.A. with Leonard Obert of the 17. S Bureau of Mines as president of the Society. The previous two were held in Lisbon. Portugal and Belgrade. Yugoslavia.

Jan 1, 1971

By G. C. Bateman

THE Workmen's Compensation Act of Ontario was passed in 1915 and Miners' Phthisis was added to the list of compensable industrial diseases in 1916. Under this provision of the Act only about two cases were compensated per year. In 1924, The Department of Public Health made a survey of miners in the four principal camps-Sudbury, Porcupine, Kirkland Lake and Cobalt-and the survey indicated that an alarming proportion of the men exposed to dust had silicosis in one or other of its several stages. A number of conferences were held between representatives of the Department of Mines, the Department of Public Health, the Compensa-tion Board and the mine operators. The operators were advised that in the earliest stages of silicosis there was no physical disability and if men in that stage were removed froni underground there would be little danger of permanent disability. They were further advised that if active steps were taken at once to compensate men that had some real disability and remove from the mines men in the early stages of silicosis, the first cost would be the greatest and thereafter their liability should decrease. As a result of this advice, and having at that time no reason to doubt the findings of the survey, the operators agreed to do all that was asked of them and cooperate with the Government in the steps believed neces-sary to meet the situation, and to provide compensation for the men affected.

Jan 1, 1937

By O. B. Hopkins

Activity in the oil industry in Peru during 1930 was confined almost entirely to the three old producing fields in the northern coastal area. In the eastern part of Peru, in the valleys of the Maranon, Ueayali and Huallaga rivers, additional geologic work was carried on, but no drilling was undertaken. The Peruvian Government granted a concession on June 27, 1930, to W. R. Davis and associates for the building of a railroad from the west coast at Bayovar to Yurimaguas on the Huallaga River. This concession contemplates the construction of 800 to 900 km. of railroad across the Andes and carries with it a grant to the concessionaire of 12,500,000 acres of land with oil and mineral rights. A similar concession was granted in 1926 but after several extensions was rescinded in July, 1929, on the grounds that the concessionaire had failed to begin work on the railroad within the time limits of the contract and its extensions. The production in barrels from the three coastal fields of Peru has been as follows: 1929 1930 International Petroleum Co.......................... 10,821,117 9,766,922 Lobitos Oilfields, Ltd................................ 2,508,091 2,613,511 Zorritos........................................... 75,000a 78,000a 13,404,208 12,459,060 a Estimated. No definite figures available. Although not large, the Peruvian production has been steady during the past years. The reduction of approximately 8 per cent. in 1930 as compared with 1929 is the result of the world's overproduction and the attempt on the part of the International to restrict the output to conform with the available market. International Petroleum Company International Petroleum Co. owns the oldest producing property in Peru. The first well was drilled there in 1872. The cumulative production from the property from 1900 to 1930 inclusive has been over 92,000,-000 bbl. from an area of 15,000 acres. The recovery per acre has varied

Jan 1, 1931

By S. Froes

Official daily output of the Reconcavo (Bahia) oil fields, which amounted to 300 bbl., increased by the end of 1944 to 500 bbl. The new productive wells are in the district of Candeias. This figure is expected to further increase during 1945. The Itatig Company, which had drilled five wildcats in the state of Sergipe, stopped in 1944, but intends to resume work during the current year, or as soon as the war is over, in order to try the Cretaceous areas around its salt deposits. Several concessions applied for in the states of Sao Paulo, Parana arid Santa Catarina were favorably considered by the Conselho Nacional de Yetroleo, which is interested in fostering prospecting activities in the country. Several national groups are interested in exploring the federal gas field of Aratu (Bahia), a proposal having been made to use the gas in the manufacture of Portland cement. Undoubtedly the most important fact in the 1944 activities was the visit by two outstanding petroleum geologists, who had the opportunity to examine some of the principal areas and reported their opinions to the Brazilian Government. By special courtesy of the U. S. Government, Mr. E. DeGolyer spent a few weeks inspecting the gas and oil fields of the so-called "Reconcavo" of Bahia (a large tract surrounding All Saints Bay, on whose shore lies the city of Salvador) Later he exchanged ideas with Colonel Joao Carlos Barreto, President of the Conselho Nacional de Petrolco, as to the most adequate measures to develop production. Considering the oil problem in the southern part of Brazil, in the sedimentary belt including formations from the Devonian to the Triajsic, Mr. DeGolyer suggested a visit there by Mr. Lemis MacNaughton. The latter traveled during the months of June, July and August, accompanied by Brazilian geologists Avelino de Oliveira, Vice-president of the Conselho Nacionial de Pctroleo, Pedro Moura, Annibal Bastos, Burdot Dutra and J. Felicissimo, and verified the actual possibilities of the region, thus confirming the opinion of Pedro Moura, Avelino de Oliveira and Froes Abreu as to the advisability of thoroughly prospecting the south of Brazil. It is to be hoped that on the recommendation of these proficient American experts the Brazilian Government will take the necessary measurcs to carry out a complete search 01 such areas, which hitherto have been unsuccessfully drilled because knowledge of the structure was not adequate. The old Government policy of monopolistic essence has now given way to the more enlightened tendency of reconciling official action with private enterprise, which should in no way be curbed but rather encouraged. Such trend is heartily welcomed by financiers and technicians alike, who realize how indispensable is the cooperation of private capital, both national and foreign, in

Jan 1, 1945

By I. J. Gardescu

The production of petroleum in Rumania in 1932 totaled 52,560,000 bbl., an increase of 6.8 per cent over 1931. The average daily production rose from 123,000 bbl. at the beginning of the year to 173,000 bbl. at the end of the year, the production in the Gura-Ocnitzei field rising from 38,800 to 80,700 bbl. per day. This increase was due to competitive development during which time the percentage of total production of the various operating companies remained practically unchanged. Chief producers were: Concordia, 30.3 per cent; Unirea, 21.6; Romano-Americana, 13.5; Steaua Romana, 8.3. Boldesti, where production of the previous year was practically doubled, would have produced far greater quantities were it not for the fact that both Astra Romana and Romano-Americana curtailed drilling operations. Of the total daily production of 21,800 bbl. a day, the Astra Romana, Steaua Romana and Romana Americana, produced respectively 67, 25 and 8 per cent. The Moreni field showed a sudden drop in production from the preceding year, due primarily to reduced drilling activities. Its production of only 21,000 bbl. a day removes it from first position for the first time in many years. All the other fields showed a decrease in production, except Ochiuri, 3 miles west of Gura-Ocnitzei, and Ceptura, 12 miles east of Boldesti. Drilling1 During the first nine months of 1932, 116 wells were completed, 8 of which were dry holes. The Meotian (lower Pliocene) is the producing horizon in 73, the Dacian (upper Pliocene) in 31, and the Oligocene in 4 of the completed wells. Three of the Oligocene wells were drilled in the Bacau district and one at Grausor, near Campina. In addition, 47 wells were drilling on Oct. 1,1932. Of the total completions and drilling wells, 92 per cent employed rotary for a footage of 98.5 per cent of the total drilled. Power for rotary drilling was furnished to 105 wells by steam, to 38 by electricity, and to one by gasoline.

Jan 1, 1933

By B. H. Sage

VARIATIONS in the composition of the liquid phase of natural reservoirs which are continuous through significant ranges in elevation have been noted by petroleum technologists. In general, there is a greater gas-oil ratio and the gravity of the oil is higher in production from the upper parts of the formation. In the present paper the possible changes in composition with elevation which would result from the attainment of thermodynamic equilibrium in a uniform gravitational field have been evaluated for a naturally occurring hydrocarbon liquid, a binary hydro-carbon liquid phase and a binary hydrocarbon gas. The results indicate a progressive decrease in the mole fraction of the components from methane through the butanes with increasing depth, accompanied by a corresponding increase in the amount of the heavier components making up the system. The magnitude of these variations is perhaps insufficient to explain completely the variations in the properties of the liquid phase that are encountered at various elevations within a particular producing horizon. However, the changes are significant and the treatment presents an example of the application of thermodynamic data to the evaluation of the properties of hydrocarbon fluids under the conditions approaching those encountered in natural reservoirs.

Jan 1, 1938

By Heber Cole

THE gypsum industry of Canada, like all others connected with the construction business, has felt the full effect of the depression during the past few years, and sales of its products have been greatly curtailed. The year 1934, however, saw a decided turn for the better and a gradual but steady improvement is noticeable in all its branches. In many ways the depression has been a blessing in disguise to the gypsum industry; during the years from 1926 to 1930, demand increased so rapidly that companies were forced to expand and often new apparatus and machinery were placed in operation regardless of expense, or plants already existing were taxed to their limit and forced to keep running with the minimum amount of repairs. The depression, therefore, has really given the industry what might be called a breathing spell, in which it has had time to take stock of its position, to reduce its costs of production, to devote more serious attention to the quality of its products, and to con-solidate its operations into a smooth working whole, which as conditions improve will enable it to meet the demands of the trade with more varied products of a quality hitherto unattained. Progress in the gypsum industry, however, has not been confined to the years of the depression, for some of the greatest advances occurred under the spur of increased demand for its products by the building trade. The purpose of this paper is to review briefly some of the out-standing trends in the development of the gypsum industry in Canada during the past 10 or 12 years.

Jan 1, 1935

By G. S. Hume

TuRneR Valley, on the eastern edge of the foothills of Alberta, 35 miles southwest of Calgary, continues to be the major oil field in Canada. This field began production of gas and naphtha from the Mississipian (Madison) limestone in 1924, and until 1936 all wells were drilled for these products. At the end of 1938 there were 104 gas wells. In 1936 proof was found of a crude oil zone in the same horizon but lower on the west flank of the structure, which is a large fold cut off on the east side by an overthrust fault of great displacement. Since 1936 drilling has been done for the development of crude oil and at the end of 1938 there were 64 crude oil wells. On test through a 1-in. choke these flowed at the rate of 50,000 to 60,000 bbl. a day, but on production would not be expected to make this volume. The output has been prorated according to the capacity of the Prairie market. During the harvest season, when the demand for oil and oil products was at its maximum, the allowable production of Turner Valley was 28,363 bbl. per day. With the arrival of winter, this was cut to 11,500 bbl. per day but later was raised to 12,500 bbl. Production in 1937 from Turner Valley was 2,767,221 bbl., which was more than double that of the previous year. Production in 1938 was 6,691,075 bbl., which is considerably more than double that of 1937.

Jan 1, 1939

By G. S. Hume

TuRneR Valley, on the eastern edge of the foothills of Alberta, 35 miles southwest of Calgary, continues to be the major oil field in Canada. This field began production of gas and naphtha from the Mississipian (Madison) limestone in 1924, and until 1936 all wells were drilled for these products. At the end of 1938 there were 104 gas wells. In 1936 proof was found of a crude oil zone in the same horizon but lower on the west flank of the structure, which is a large fold cut off on the east side by an overthrust fault of great displacement. Since 1936 drilling has been done for the development of crude oil and at the end of 1938 there were 64 crude oil wells. On test through a 1-in. choke these flowed at the rate of 50,000 to 60,000 bbl. a day, but on production would not be expected to make this volume. The output has been prorated according to the capacity of the Prairie market. During the harvest season, when the demand for oil and oil products was at its maximum, the allowable production of Turner Valley was 28,363 bbl. per day. With the arrival of winter, this was cut to 11,500 bbl. per day but later was raised to 12,500 bbl. Production in 1937 from Turner Valley was 2,767,221 bbl., which was more than double that of the previous year. Production in 1938 was 6,691,075 bbl., which is considerably more than double that of 1937.

Jan 1, 1939

By E. C. Reed

Drilling operations in Nebraska during 1942 were reduced to approximately 50 per cent of the previous year's record. Forty- No new fields were discovered, but the Barada field was extended and developed. Deeper drilling in the Dawson field was disappointing in view of the high expectstions held for the Viola, but some small Viola production did result, the first from

Jan 1, 1943

By E. C. Reed

Drilling operations in Nebraska during 1942 were reduced to approximately 50 per cent of the previous year's record. Forty- No new fields were discovered, but the Barada field was extended and developed. Deeper drilling in the Dawson field was disappointing in view of the high expectstions held for the Viola, but some small Viola production did result, the first from

Jan 1, 1943