bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Properties and Treatment of Rotary Mud
Authors: Marsh Hallan N. 
Published: June 2014

The subject of mud sounds so simple, uninteresting and unimportant that ithas failed to receive the attention that it deserves, at least as applied tothe drilling of oil wells. As a matter of fact, it is one of the mostcomplicated, technical, important and interesting subjects in connection withrotary drilling. In 1923, R. E. Collom said "It should be possible toestablish certain physical standards for mud fluid," but while considerablework has probably been done on the subject before and since that time, andnumerous articles have been written, the progress of general knowledge of thesubject and the application of better practices have not kept pace with otherdevelopments in rotary drilling, and physical standards cannot be considered asestablished.
Mud is apt to be thought of as an accessible and cheap material, but itscost is likely to be an important factor in the total cost of drilling a well.Some wells "make" most of their own mud out of the formations drilled, but in most cases a great deal of mud-making material has to be supplied frommore or less distant sources. Expenditures for mud materials by one Californiacompany totaled practically one-quarter million dollars during 1929 andaveraged about $13 per rig per drilling day, or about $2000 per well. Underunfavorable conditions, mud cost may reach many times this figure. Parker2 saysthat in the Hobbs, N. M., field "as much as $75,000 has been spent on onewell alone for mud and mud-weighting compounds." Presumably this is anexceptional case. Unit cost of mud fluid will range from 10 c. per barrel, where suitable material is close at hand, to $1 where crude material isavailable at moderate price but must be hauled long distances, and on up to asmuch as $11 per barrel where high gas pressure requires the use of specialprocessed weighting material.
The cost of mud pales into insignificance, however, when the results ofusing improper mud are considered. Blow-outs and lost circulation are obviouslythe result of inadequate mud. Stuck drill pipe, whether or not twisted off, inmany if not most cases probably is caused by cuttings settling out of the mudor the mud itself precipitating.
Proration in Texas in 1932
Authors: Donoghue David , Baker E. 
Published: June 2014

Legal and legislative matters constituted the outstanding features ofproration in Texas in 1932. From East Texas emanated most of the political, legal, technical and industrial activity. Conroe and Thompson developed intofields of major importance. Proration orders were issued by the RailroadCommission on many of the producing fields of the Gulf Coast and West Texas notcovered in previous years. In Yates, Penn Pool, Winkler, Van, the Panhandle, North Texas and West Central Texas there were no changes of importance, exceptin allowables. New proration schemes were introduced in East Texas, Conroe, Thompson, Saranosa, Government Wells, Tuleta and Howard-Glasscock. Littleprogress was made in administration or technical development.

Legal And Legislative Matters
Proration first began in Texas in 1927 as a voluntary attempt to divide themarket outlet of a field on an equitable basis. The statutes then in existencewere considered somewhat archaic and the Railroad Commission's authority waslimited. Subsequent efforts to strengthen the laws were not wholly successful. The 1929 Conservation Act made no mention of market demand but declared thatthe term "waste" did not mean "economic waste." With thepassage of the Pipe Line Act of 1930, providing for ratable purchasing, it wasthe opinion of many lawyer that a legal means of proration had been found. The1931 law had the same provision as that of 1929 with respect to economic wastebut specifically prohibited limiting of production to market demand. The lawpassed Nov. 12, 1932, omitted reference to economic waste and specificallyprovided for limitation of production to reasonable market demand.
Vigorous attacks were being made in State and Federal Courts on theconstitutionality of the laws and the validity of the Commission'sorders.
In Peoples Petroleum Producers, Inc. et al. vs. Lon A. Smith et al., which hadbeen heard before a three-judge U. S. District Court in Houston on May 28, 1932 and again on Sept. 19, the Court's decision for plaintiffs, released Oct. 2, influenced in a large measure the calling of the Legislature and the passage ofthe Market Demand Law on Nov. 12.
Effects of Temperature on the Viscosity of Some Gulf Coast Drilling Muds
Authors: Craft B.C. , Exner J.D. 
Published: June 2014

With the introduction of rotary drilling in the Gulf Coast area, somethirty-two years ago, and its subsequent spread to other producing localitiesin the United States, there has been a constant change in the design ofequipment. Only the general features remain, namely the rotating drill stem andthe circulating mud. Only recently have the properties of mud and theirbehavior received attention from petroleum engineers, but circulating problemsin present deep drilling demand further study and understanding.
It is the purpose of this investigation to determine the relative changes inthe apparent viscosity of muds with changes in temperature and to discoverother physical effects due to heat.
Very little information has been published regarding the effects of temperatureon the viscosity of drilling muds. Maust states: "The viscosity of mostmuds is decreased on heating, but the interesting thing is that the degree offlocculation is also increased on heating. There will be a greater tendency toseal off formations at high temperatures than at low temperatures." Withregard to the effect of temperature on viscosity and yield point, Herrickstates: "The variation of yield point and viscosity of mud with temperature….. is not very clearly brought out by the data available. Both appear todecrease slightly with increasing temperature up to 2000 F." Theexperimental results presented in this paper further emphasize thispoint.
Two types of viscosimeters are available for measuring the apparent viscositiesof drilling muds: the efflux tube type as used by Herrick and Marsh, and thetorsional type such as the McMichael or the Stormer viscosimeters.
Instrument and Equipment for Recording Subsurface Pressures
Authors: Parks Ernest K. , Gibbs C.W. 
Published: June 2014

In 1929 the Standard Oil Company of California commenced the development ofa device for obtaining temperatures and pressures in flowing and shut-in wellsand of suitable running equipment for such a recorder. Although simple inprinciple, the recorder has required much experimental work in its development.The various problems have now been solved to such an extent that it is believedthat the apparatus affords a sturdy and reliable means for obtaininginformation regarding depth pressures,-apparatus that may be turned over to awell gang for routine operation.
As an example of the rough usage the device will withstand a recent incidentmay be cited. Owing to failure of the lowering line at the conclusion of a runa recorder was dropped some 6300 ft. through 2~-in. tubing filled with gassyoil. The device was fished out undamaged and with the pressure record intact, although the instrument had been subjected to a, pressure greater than 2300 lb.per sq. in. for some 24 hr. after impact at bottom.

Description of Recorder
The instrument is of the continuous recording loaded spring type (Fig. 1).Temperature is not recorded continuously but is obtained by maximum recordingthermometers in an auxiliary thermometer well. The entire instrument assembly, from bottom of the recorder to top of the socket, is 6~ ft. long and weighsless than 25 lb. The maximum outside diameter of the recorder shell is U:4:in., and all attachments need be no larger. This permits lowering the deviceinside 2-in. tubing.
The operating principle is simple. The well pressure acts upon a piston Aresisted by the extension of spring B. The spring deflection is recorded by astylus C upon paper within the recording drum D.
Springs.-To improve accuracy at lower maximum well pressures fiveinterchangeable spring assemblies are used. These have maximum pressure rangesof from 250 to 5000 lb. per sq. in.
A New Method for Measuring Vented Gas
Authors: Rader C.M. , Feemster R.A. 
Published: June 2014

Because of the necessity for taking regularly occurring open-flow tests inprorated high-pressure oil fields, much gas is turned to atmosphere by way ofvertical vent lines leading away from the oil and gas separator. In the past, measurement of such gas has been accomplished by several methods, usually byuse of the open-flow Pitot tube. The use of the closed-flow Pitot tube has beenavoided apparently chiefly because the ordinary vent-line hook-up makes itnecessary to apply the instrument closer to a bend, valve, or obstruction inthe pipe than is recommended by rules of good practice.
The many advantages that would result from the application of the closed-flowPitot tube prompted investigation of the actual effect upon quantity rate offlow measurements computed from data obtained with the tube in a normal workingposition, which is closer to the tee at the base of the vent riser than isusually considered as giving highly accurate results. An effort was first madeto compare the results thus obtained to those under ideal conditions and athigh velocities.
To make this comparison, knowledge of the characteristics of gas flowing atvery high velocities is essential. Research for such information indicated thatlittle or no work had been done that would give data necessary for such acomparison, therefore the problem was changed to a test designed to determinethe relationship between quantity rates of flow as measured by an orifice meterand a Pitot tube placed at the center of a pipe eight diameters from a tee orell at the base of a vent riser, through which gas is flowing under lowpressures at very high velocities.
To determine this relationship, a series of tests was run on a number of 8-in.iron-pipe vent risers in which the Pitot tube data were taken at the positionas stated above. Gas from a wet-gas gathering system was passed through anorifice meter setting and thence to atmosphere by way of the vents.
Data were taken simultaneously from the orifice meter and Pitot tube from whichcomputations for comparisons were made. The actual method of comparison isdiscussed later in this paper.
Estimation of Petroleum Reserves in Prorated Fields
Authors: Judson Sidney A. , Easton H.D. , Schaeffer W.A. 
Published: June 2014

Restriction and proration of petroleum production have increased materiallythe difficulties attendant upon the estimation of reserves, particularly inlarge, "flush" fields. Such practices preclude the use of decline orother curves, from which, under capacity production conditions formerlyprevalent, much could be learned as to the ultimate recovery to be expectedfrom a given field or lease therein. In restricted fields that would produce atmany times the low rate allowed by the regulations in force if allowed to flowwithout restraint, one is forced to use other information than productionperformance to predict the volume of oil recoverable. Examples are: atKettleman Hills, California; the Conroe, Van and East Texas fields, Texas; theIowa field, Louisiana.
It is beyond the scope of this paper to apply a definite method to thedetermination of the reserves in any actual field, therefore the discussionwill be limited to a consideration of available methods and an enumeration ofimportant factors governing the accuracy of such estimates. The problem is todetermine not only oil in place but recoverable oil in place, for a given fieldor tract, which is complex and depends not only on the characteristics of thereservoir but also on the plan of development, the production allocationscheme, the rate of production and many other factors. Many data mustnecessarily be considered, weighed as to importance, and assigned quantitativevalues. Estimates of recovery in prorated fields have been discussed by Brace, Shaw, Snider and others.
Estimation of Developed Petroleum Reserves
Authors: Albertson M. 
Published: June 2014

The purposes of this statement are to define a problem that exists in regardto the estimation of developed petroleum reserves, to analyze the problem in anabstract manner, and to discuss it as an introduction to certain papers thatfollow. The problem is to devise and develop a suitable procedure to permitmore accurate estimates of developed petroleum reserves. Part of the problem isto make such estimates available earlier in the life of any particularpool.
The problem of securing more accurate estimates of developed petroleum reservesexisted prior to curtailment of production. With curtailment, however, theproblem became acute, some of the more prominent reasons being asfollows:The standard method of estimation depended on production decline curves.This method is inapplicable while curtailment prevails and available methodsare insufficient.The retarding influence imposed by wide open flow conditions uponoverdevelopment is absent. Great losses of capital by overdevelopment can nowoccur before realization of the true situation occurs, or before effectivesteps can be taken to stop such wastage. This increases the need for early, accurate estimates.Above-ground stocks have diminished and the equivalent of such supply tendsmore and more to be retained underground in the natural reservoirs. It becomesincreasingly necessary to know accurately the amount of these stocks.
To direct attention to an additional point of different nature: improvedaccuracy of reserve estimation can be obtained. only by closer scrutiny of thefactors that determine recovery. This examination and the resulting efforts tomeasure the effect of these factors in terms of ultimate recovery must tend toimprove ultimate recovery.
The statements regarding the acute nature of the problem also indicate to someextent the importance of the problem and the necessity of finding asolution.
Use of Data Oil the Build-up of Bottom-hole Pressures
Authors: Muskat Morris 
Published: June 2014

In preparing a well for pumping, observations are often made of the fluidlevel in the well bore or bottom-hole pressures at various times beforeequilibrium has set in. From a qualitative point of view one may immediatelyinfer that if the rise in the bottom-hole pressure or fluid level is rapid thepermeability of the sand about the well bore is large, and converse conclusionmay be drawn if the rise is slow. However, a more quantitative estimate willgive additional information of value, as will be shown in this paper.
To derive such an estimate we may proceed as follows. Let h be the fluidheight, above the sand face, at time t, and let "Yo be the average densityof the fluid that enters the bore. The bottom-hole pressure, for a fluid heighth will therefore be p = "Yogh, neglecting, of course, the friction drop inthe well bore, while the fluid is rising, as may be justifiably done for mostpumping wells.
If a is the free area of the open-flow string-assumed to be uniform-the rate ofproduction from the sand during the rise of fluid will be:ah a apQ = a- = - - = f(p)at "Yog dt
where the last part of the equation merely indicates that, in general, theproduction rate Q must be considered as a function of the back pressure, and isdetermined by it alone. In fact, equation 1 shows that if the rate of rise ofthe pressure or fluid level is determined as a function of the height of rise, or p, for a number of values of the latter, this functional relation between Qand p will be immediately given.
Conversely, if we know this functional relation, the rate of increase of p or hmay be predicted, or, by observing the rate of rise of p or h some of theconstants of the sand may be determined.
Spacing of Oil Wells
Authors: Foley Lyndon L. 
Published: June 2014

The proper spacing of oil wells is a problem of vital importance to the oilindustry. Conservation demands a maximum recovery, while economicconsiderations attach primary importance to profitable extraction of oil.Formulas have been evolved, which attempt to solve the spacing problemmathematically, using reservoir characteristics as factors. Comparisons havebeen made of fields producing from supposedly similar sands, which have beendrilled to varying densities, and also of different leases in the same field.Intermediate wells have been drilled in old, depleted fields to test theefficiency of drainage by the original operation. Intermediate wells have beendrilled also to obtain cores of the depleted sand for analysis, from which tolearn the degree of efficiency of extraction. The problem is being attacked bymany students, and along several different lines.
Unfortunately, the fields now depleted were produced generally withoutrestriction, and conclusions drawn from them may not apply to fields operatedunder restricted production. Reservoir conditions in a restricted field, especially reservoir pressures and pressure gradients within the reservoir, arequite different from those in a field produced to capacity.
Many people have held the idea that the closer the spacing, the greater therecovery. This general statement is not always true, as other factors than wellspacing enter into the recovery problem. Cutler, 5 who has been quotedfrequently by advocates of close spacing, limited his conclusions to gas-drivefields, and to the particular fields and spacings that he investigated. Hilland Sutton 7 analyzed four tracts in the Powell field; the tract most closely drilled had the third largest recovery peracre-foot, and the tract with the widest spacing had the second largestrecovery per acre-foot. A search of the references to well spacing in thepublications of the U. S. Bureau of Mines discloses repeated condemnations ofthe wastefulness of the practice of town-lot drilling.
A Method for Determining the Water Content of Sands
Authors: Botset H.G. 
Published: June 2014

A knowledge of the water content of producing sands is becoming ofincreasing importance to the petroleum industry. It is now a generally acceptedfact that practically all oil sands contain some free water. Recent experimentshave shown that an appreciable fraction of the pore space of a sand may befilled with water while oil production from this sand is water-free. Crowtherand Haines, in experiments on electroendosmosis in soils, reported that therewas no endosmotic flow of water when the moisture content of the soil was 14per cent or less, indicating that the moisture content of the soil below 14 percent was held by different forces than the water content above this value. Thisresult is confirmed qualitatively by Dunlap, who found that "as the volumeof water in the voids exceeds approximately 15 per cent of the pore volume, thepermeability of the core to kerosene is markedly reduced." The author hasalso found in other experiments that the gas flow through a water-saturatedsand reaches essentially 100 per cent when the pores of the sand still containfrom 10 to 15 per cent water. The velocities of the flowing fluid in theexperiments cited were comparatively high, so that in practice one may expect, at lower fluid velocities, an even higher moisture content of the sands withwater-free oil or gas production. Thus a knowledge of the water content ofoil-field sands becomes of considerable importance in estimating petroleum andgas reserves, and efficiency of fluid recoveries from depleted reservoirs.
Rapid and reasonably accurate methods of measuring the water content of sandcores have not been described so far in any literature that has come to ourattention. The method described below is developed from methods that have beenused for some time to measure the water content of alcohols. It is anapplication of the fact that in the presence of certain organic liquids such askerosene, carbon tetrachloride, xylol, etc., water and alcohol are only partlymiscible.
T.P. 972
Apparatus for Study of Pressure-volume-temperature Relations of Liquids and Gases
Authors: Sage B.H. , Lacey W.N. 
Published: June 2014

An apparatus is described for the measurement of thepressure-volume-temperature relations of pure substances, simple mixtures andcomplex mixtures with an over-all absolute uncertainty, which is usually notmore than 0.2 per cent. The equipment is suitable for studies in the gaseous, two-phase, and liquid regions. The behavior of such systems may be investigatedat pressures as high as 10,000 lb. per sq. in. for temperatures between 700 and 6000 F. The methods of measurement and the construction of the apparatus aredescribed in some detail.
The measurement of the volumetric behavior of multicomponent systems requiresthe simultaneous measurement of the pressure, volume, temperature and weight ofeach component of the system. In the present apparatus a sample having constantweight is investigated at a number of independently controlled pressures andtemperatures, therefore it is necessary only to establish the weight of eachcomponent added before a given set of measurements. This method is indistinction to that in which the total volume remains constant and the pressureis varied by addition or removal of material, the system having variableweight. An objective in the design of the apparatus to be described was todevelop equipment that would yield results involving no uncertainties largerthan 0.25 per cent throughout the range of pressures from 150 to 10,000 lb. persq. in. at temperatures between 700 and 6000 F. Although this over-all absoluteuncertainty of measurement may not appear to be small, it necessitated care inthe plans for control and measurement of each of the fundamental variables. Ingeneral, any uncertainty greater than 0.05 per cent in the pressure, volume, absolute temperature or weight of each component was considered undesirable;therefore the attempt was made to obtain a precision of measurement in eachcase such that the absolute uncertainty would be only half this amount exceptin certain regions near the ends of the experimental range of the variableunder consideration.
T.P. 1127
Petroleum Engineering Education
Authors: Power Harry H. 
Published: June 2014

While the attention of all engineering branches is focused today on changesand improvements in the several curricula, we are concerned here with the manyquestions arising in industry and college concerning the preparation for thepetroleum engineering profession. The succession of problems confronting thepetroleum engineer demands a degree of versatility not ordinarily encounteredin other professions. As a consequence, the student cannot acquire mastery ofall the several engineering branches represented in field practice, and as analternative, he has learned to appreciate the value of thorough training in thebasic or fundamental sciences as a preliminary foundation for professionalwork.
While our attention is directed primarily to the training of engineers ineducational institutions, it is necessary that the ultimate education of theprofessional engineer be kept in mind. It is apparent that his success as anengineer is limited not only by his educational and job experience, but by hisnative endowments: mentality, personality and health. The engineer's lack ofjob experiences often proves as much a handicap as the lack of adequate collegetraining. If the final product proves to be satisfactory, both industry andtechnical institutions are to be congratulated. However, if the product isfound wanting, the one most responsible should be apprehended.
Fitness for Profession
For the most part, students of engineering colleges have had their interestsin applied science awakened at a relatively early age. Many of them enteredcollege as a convenient means of acquiring a technical education, butundoubtedly would have had better prospects in a shorter program offered byinstitutions of noncollege grade. The activating motive of practical interestis also strong in students suitable for college training, but in many cases anintellectual interest must be awakened in order that it may survivegraduation.
T.P. 1312