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By G. S. Hume

The largest development program in the history of Alberta was undertaken in 1941 in an effort to increase oil production. The drilling record is as follows: In Alberta there was the largest exploratory campaign for oil in the history of the Province, although drilling of wildcat wells was somewhat less than in the previous year. A great deal of geophysical work was done. This included three gravimetric and five seismic parties as well as a number of geological survey parties by the major oil companies and by the Geological Survey of Canada. Seismic work was done by one party in southern Saskatchewan. The production of petroleum in Canada is shown in Table I. About 98 per cent of the total production comes from Alberta and the yield of the various fields is shown in Table 2. The greatest developments in Turner Valley have been in the north end. In 1941 about two miles of new productive area was proved by drilling, extending the field to a length of 20 miles. The wells at the

Jan 1, 1942

By G. S. Hume

The largest development program in the history of Alberta was undertaken in 1941 in an effort to increase oil production. The drilling record is as follows: In Alberta there was the largest exploratory campaign for oil in the history of the Province, although drilling of wildcat wells was somewhat less than in the previous year. A great deal of geophysical work was done. This included three gravimetric and five seismic parties as well as a number of geological survey parties by the major oil companies and by the Geological Survey of Canada. Seismic work was done by one party in southern Saskatchewan. The production of petroleum in Canada is shown in Table I. About 98 per cent of the total production comes from Alberta and the yield of the various fields is shown in Table 2. The greatest developments in Turner Valley have been in the north end. In 1941 about two miles of new productive area was proved by drilling, extending the field to a length of 20 miles. The wells at the

Jan 1, 1942

By Kendall E. Born

Production of crude oil in Tennessee during 5945 was slightly more than 6000 bbl., the lowest figure since 1916. Approximately 5500 bbl. was produced from the "Mississippi lime" in Scott and Morgan Counties. The remainder was from two wells each in Clay and Fentress Counties. Thirty million cubic feet of gas was marketed off the lease in Morgan County and about 10 million cubic feet was produced in the Jamestown field in Fentress County. The production of oil by counties is shown in Table 1.

Jan 1, 1946

By Fred H. Kan

The production of petroleum in Venezuela during 1931 was approximately 118,767,000 bbl., a decrease of 18,904,000 bbl., or 13.7 per cent, compared with the previous year. This is the first break in production, which has risen steadily since 1920, and is attributable to restriction of output and drilling operations, in harmony with lessened demand, rather than to any real decline in potential production. Venezuela ranked third among the world's producers, having lost second place to Russia. The Bolivar coastal fields, which were extended approximately 14 miles southward during the year, continued to supply most of the oil. La Concepcion, Los Manueles and Quiriquire all showed marked increases. A new field of light oil was discovered on the north coast near Puerto Cumarebo, State of Falcon. Exports declined 15.7 per cent, from 137,377,000 bbl. in 1930 to about 115,800,000 bbl. in 1931. Crude oil in storage at the end of the year amounted to 7,450,000 bbl., a decrease of 2,150,000 as compared with 1930. Tankage utilized is about 40 per cent of the available space. A drastic decline in drilling activity reduced the number of wells completed in producing areas from 401 in 1930 to 116 in 1931. Only three wells were drilled in the Lagunillas field proper, but, the amount of closed-in production and proven acreage gave assurance of a satisfactory potential output. Of the 1580 wells drilled to the close of 1931 in the producing areas of the Bolivar Coast, 631 were active and 853 were closed in; 96 had been abandoned. The status of the active wells at the end of 1931 was as follows: flowing, 331; pumping, 99; gas-air lift, 201. Producing wells closed in numbered 452; workovers, 8; totally inactive, 393. Lago Petroleum Corp. and Venezuela Gulf Oil Co. placed in operation the first units of their electric power plants, the former at Punta Gorda and the latter at Las Morochas, and are replacing steam power in their operations as rapidly as possible. Compressor stations were also installed for use in connection with air-gas lift operations. A considerable volume of gas was treated in gasoline extraction plants, the tail gas being recom-pressed and utilized together with natural high-pressure gas, for stimulation of production.

Jan 1, 1932

By E. C. Reed

Drilling operations in Nebraska during 1943 were reduced to approximately two thirds of the 1942 number. Twenty-seven wells were completed during 1943 and five wells were drilling at the close of the year. Eight of the completions, in provcn fields, were producers. The operations were distributed throughout the state as follows: eleven in Richardson County, four each in Buffalo and Harlan Counties, three in Furnas County, and single operations in Antelope, Butler, Dakota, Dawes, Gage, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Scotts Bluff and Sherman Counties. Thc principal feature of exploration drilling in the state during the year was the more extensive testing in the central Nebraska Basin region, principally in Buffalo and Harlan Counties, where

Jan 1, 1944

By E. C. Reed

Drilling operations in Nebraska during 1943 were reduced to approximately two thirds of the 1942 number. Twenty-seven wells were completed during 1943 and five wells were drilling at the close of the year. Eight of the completions, in provcn fields, were producers. The operations were distributed throughout the state as follows: eleven in Richardson County, four each in Buffalo and Harlan Counties, three in Furnas County, and single operations in Antelope, Butler, Dakota, Dawes, Gage, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Scotts Bluff and Sherman Counties. Thc principal feature of exploration drilling in the state during the year was the more extensive testing in the central Nebraska Basin region, principally in Buffalo and Harlan Counties, where

Jan 1, 1944

By Alfred H. Bell

IN 1945, Illinois produced 75,210,000 bid. of oil, or 4.4 percent of the total for the United States, and ranked sixth in the nation in oil production for the third consecutive year. Production decreased about 3 per cent from that of 1944, when the total Illinois production was 77,413,000 bbl. This is the smallest percentage of decrease in production in the state for any year since a peak was reached in 1940. Daily average production for 1945 was approximately 206,000 bbl. Daily averages by months were as follows:

Jan 1, 1946

By CHARLES F. DEISS

The total pipe-line runs of petroleum in Indiana during 1945 were 4,114,000 bbl., a decline of nearly 17 per cent below the estimated 4,950,000 bbl. produced in 1944. Drilling activity during the year was centered in Posey and Gibson Counties, where seven new pools were discovered in the state. Four of the pools are in Posey County-Crunk, Farmersville, Jeffries and St. Wendells East-and the other three are in Gibson County-Johnson West, Lysle and Mt. Carmel East.

Jan 1, 1946

By E. C. Reed

Drilling activity in Nebraska continued to decline during 1944. Nine tests for oil and gas were completed during the year and four wells were drilling at the close of the year. Four wells were drilled in Richardson County, three in Hitchcock County and single wells were drilled or drilling in Butler, Gage, Holt, Nemaha and Scottsbluff Counties. Only one of the completions resulted in commercial pro- duction, the others being abandoned as dry holes. A number of stratigraphic test holes were drilled in the state by the Stanolind Oil and Gas Co. and the Sinclair-Prairie Oil Co., in Johnson, Otoe, Chase, Dundy and Garden Counties. No new fields were discovered during 1944 but the limits of the Barada field, Richardson County, was extended a short distance southward. Oil production continued to drop and about two thirds as much oil was produced in 1944 as in 1943.

Jan 1, 1945

By E. R. Borcherdt

METHODS and equipment are subject to study in the Butte district at all times in order that advantage may be taken of any new developments that might serve to increase efficiency and lower costs. Detailed time studies of each operation involved in the entire mining process have been of invaluable assistance in analyzing the individual operation for possible improvement. In other words, the fact that a practice has been in vogue for many years does not exempt it from change provided an easier and cheaper method can be found. EXPLORATION Ore occurs in the Butte district in such manner that structures must be drifted on, no matter how small or unimportant they appear when intersected by a crosscut. Parallel structures also add to the crosscut requirements. This prospecting work, which formerly was done entirely by drifting and crosscutting, is now being supplemented by diamond drilling, to aid in greatly decreasing the amount of waste. In long-shot prospecting, or in second or third class prospecting, where the chances of developing commercial ore are not very great, diamond drilling is of particular value. In prospecting where chances of encountering commercial ore are certain or where crosscuts can be used later for haulage or ventilation, drilling obviously is not applicable. Improvement in drilling machines and bits has contributed greatly to the present success of diamond drilling. STOPING For many years square-set filled sloping was the principal mining method used in the Butte district. Later timbered and untimbered rill stopes were used, also some horizontal cut-and-fill sloping where both ore and walls were particularly strong. Because of the amount of timber required for square-set stoping, and the relatively low production per scope unit, experiments with horizontal cut-and-fill scopes were begun in ore bodies of which many had fairly weak walls. It was felt that increase in the speed of the stoping operation, followed closely by filling, to avoid weight being produced by permitting ore and walls to remain insufficiently supported over comparatively long periods, would maintain the walls and backs in safe condition without the use of timber and without ore dilution from wall slough. Cycles of drilling, scraping ore, and filling were devised, which have materially increased stope production and decreased timber consumption, so that both stope labor and supply costs were lowered appreciably without materially affecting grade control. In the larger mines of the district, where wide veins favor this stoping method, half of the total production is now being mined by horizontal cut-and-fill stopes (Fig. I). The increase of the filling rate demanded by the increased stoping rate was the greatest obstacle encountered in the accelerated stoping operations. Finally this problem was solved by replacing the time-honored method of transferring filling waste by small cars, which were hoisted or lowered in the auxiliary shaft, by a transfer

Jan 1, 1941

By W. E. STOKES

SOME extension of flying service to the mining industry occurred in 1938, particularly in Canada, where freighting activity radiated from Edmonton into the new northern mining districts. Again the airplane demonstrated its usefulness in getting new equipment rapidly into the field and in decreasing shutdown time while waiting for repairs. An 18-ton Caterpillar tractor with shovel attachment was disassembled, brought in by plane, and placed in operation at Berens River, Ont., within seven days after its de- livery at Winnipeg. At Central Patricia a mill breakdown required the replacement of a full mill head and trunnion with ball bearings, weighing 2700 lb. The Canadian Airways Junkers, termed the "flying boxcar," was called in from Yellowknife, 1300 mi. away, and the new installation was completed three days later.

Jan 1, 1939

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 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 D. K. MACKAY

The production of oil and gas in Arkansas is confined to two distinct and widely separated regions of the state; namely: (1) South Arkansas in the Gulf coastal plain, where 49 fields-many containing two or more reservoirs or pools-yield oil, condensate and gas from beds in the Cretaceous and Jurassic, and (2) Northwest Arkansas, a part of the Arkansas Valley, where only dry gas is produced in 21 fields from sandstones of Pennsylvanian age. Exploration during the year 1945 centered largely in these two producing regions, but some of the geophysical surveys were made and wildcat drilling was done a considerable distance outside these regions.

Jan 1, 1946