Edgar N. Teutsch, Gulf Oil Corporation
Well completion, in the Permian Series of West Texas, is complicated in many instances because of: 1) poor knowledge of reservoir rock, 2) improper log analysis and 3) misinterpretation of core analysis. The first completions were almost exclusively from open hole sections; however, as the years went by the need for stimulation became apparent and several methods were employed
Ozzie Gonzalez and Henry Bernat, Vibration Technology, Inc.
Stuck pipe has been identified as the largest single contributor to non-productive drilling time. The use of resonant vibration as a means of freeing stuck tubulars from a well bore has been demonstrated to be effective in both Drilling and Workover environments and has the potential to provide almost immediate results in many day-to-day applications. The challenge for the future is to further explore both proven and potential applications of this technology in order to evaluate the benefits and reduce the unknown associated with the technology.
L.E. Johnson, Harbison-Fischer Manufacturing Co.
The materials and the workmanship for the present day oil well requirements have changed greatly from those 20 to 30 years ago. Both the materials and the workmanship have been improved to meet the requirements presented to us in deep well pumping.
Alan Hicks
A number of major oil companies have begun -field tests of the lightweight, non-corrosive fiberglass sucker rods, The tests were generally made using steel sucker rods in a well for a specific time period and replacing the steel rod string with one designed with fiberglass rods. Specific detailed records were kept on these "before and after" studies by most companies. Other companies employed an independent testing firm to provide test results, This paper will compare steel sucker rods with two brands of fiberglass sucker rods manufactured by Company A and Company B.
B.J. Rhoads, Jr., Odex Engineering and Equipment Co.
The practice of lifting fluid from subsurface levels with gas pressure is not new; it has been in use for many years and is now recognized as a major method of artificial lift in petroleum production. Until recent years a detailed study of gas lift operating principles was relatively unimportant because of the low value of natural gas. With increasing gas value a study of the principles became imperative. This study has led to much advancement in development of the practice, principles and equipment.
James T. Rodgers, Texas Tech College
The application of correct methods for determining the effect of pressure and temperature on the behavior of natural gas is essential in projects involving gas measurement. The gas compressibility factor may be neglected in gas calculations only at low pressures and high temperatures. This paper presents the basic equations, with example solutions, for determining the gas compressibility factor, the volumes occupied by a gas at different pressures and temperatures, and the flow of gas through pipelines as measured with an orifice meter.
H.L. Bilhartz, Production Profits, Inc.
Since the beginning of oil production, salt water handling has presented problems. However, recent years have brought about significant changes in attitudes and approaches to gathering, pumping and injecting large volumes of salt water. Political implication, landowner relations. And regulatory decrees have demanded increased controls on salt water disposal. The lack of, or inhibited use of, fresh water have forced greater dependence on salt water sources for waterflood. In combination, these factors have created new concepts. Water handling is no longer regarded as a side-line necessity.
Martin L. Wallace, Halliburton Logging Services
Recent improvements in the Borehole Televiewer logging field have enabled oil operators to determine the presence of natural fractures and their orientations in the Spraberry and Dean Formations. Running modern open hole logs over the Spraberry and Dean zones is rarely done when these zones are the primary target zone of a well. However, the need for determining the natural fracture direction is important to the oil operator so he can optimize his offset locations with respect to the trend of the natural fracture system.
James L. Rodgerson
BJ Services
The presence of natural fractures in hydraulic fracturing candidates can present an array of well completion
problems. Natural fractures can be very difficult if not impossible to model without adequate pre-job diagnostic
testing to calibrate simulation. Left undetected natural fractures can cause premature screen-out as well as gel damage. In tight gas sand formations, natural fractures can be the predominate production mechanism in the reservoir.
Haskell G. Taylor, Texas Technological College
This paper deals with the various kinds of taxes, other than income, which affect the oil industry. The material is directed to first level supervisors and engineers who are concerned with taxation problems in the industry.
Robert M. Parker, Texaco E&P
A true gas lock is really just a pocket of gas trapped between the standing valve and the traveling valve. It has enough pressure when the pump is extended (on the upstroke) to keep the standing valve from opening and admitting new fluid. But does not compress tightly enough when the pump is closed (on the downstroke) to lift the traveling valve off its seat. Since coming to the oilfield in 1975 I have seen, and dealt with a great number of sucker rod pumps that appeared to be gas-locked.
F.L. Mize, Texas Tech College
Supervisor is a vital function in the modern organization. It is the link between decision and action and both are ineffective without it. Therefore, the supervisor is the "man in the middle" with responsibilities to the management and to his men. His position and authority in the organization should be carefully defined and his duties, responsibilities and rights clearly understood. What is a supervisor and what should he do?
Charles C. Nelson, Kobe Inc.
Extensive Jet Pump field operating experience has shown that the Jet Pump is a viable method of deep well pumping. Properly applying this pump to a given well installation involves 14 factors relating to the well and its production characteristics, and involves determining the optimum pump nozzle and throat size required to do the most effective job. Since many of the production characteristics of a well are interdependent, many reiterative calculations are required to determine the proper nozzle and throat size for each producing condition.
John F. Metz, National Oilwell
Printed technical references to jet pumps can be traced as far back as 1852 England. However, consistent mathematical formulas were not published until 1933, when J. E. Gosline and M. P. O"Brien of the University of California at Berkley published The Water Jet Pump. In the same time period, the Jacuzzi Company received a patent for a jet pumping system that was successfully used to lift shallow water wells.
Alan D. Peters, Penetrators, Inc.
This paper discusses the new, patented Penetrator Tool System which utilizes the principle of high pressure jet cutting to produce clean tunnels up to 10 ft. into formation rocks. Both the downhole system and the surface pumping equipment are described. The theory of jet cutting of rocks is discussed and some empirical data are provided on penetrating hydrocarbon reservoir rocks. The effects of by-passing near wellbore formation damage and providing short, unobstructed drainage channels from the reservoir are reviewed.
E.V. Garrett, J.M. Huber Corporation
The proper and economical operation of pumping wells is highly desirable, for the basic objective of any oil producing company is to recover the maximum amount of oil at a minimum cost. In these days of high taxes and low profits, it I mandatory that the efficient producing of pumping wells be maintained. This is growing in importance since a constantly increasing number of wells are being put on the pump. A formula for arriving at the cost of lifting oil will vary with the producer.
C.H. Lietzow, Pelton Division, Baldwin-Lima-Hamiton Corp.
The history of the successful long stroke hydraulic pumping unit is, when compared to the oil industry, a relatively short one. Attempts to build an hydraulic pumping unit were made as early as 1932 but without too much success. In 1939, two of the present day long stroke hydraulic pumping units were first brought out on the market to be offered to the oil industry. Since 1945 two more manufacturers of long stroke hydraulic pumping units have presented their equipment to the oil fields.
W.H. Sargent. Sargent Engineering Corp.
The problem of finding, refining, transporting and producing oil are each one in themselves a separate phase of the oil industry. Today in this discussion, we are interested in but one of these phases, that of producing oil. Our subject has been further narrowed to the discussion of the advantages of the long stroking, sub-surface hydraulic pumping.
Eugene F. Herbeck and Joe R. Hastings
Atlantic Richfield Company
Over the past few years, the oil industry has taken a very active interest in the use of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery.
have been started. Many CO2 injection projects Other fields are being studied for CO2 flooding with future projects being planned. On the other side of the picture, making all this possible, has been the finding and developing of large sources of CO?. Most of the CO2 has been found in naturally occurring underground reservoirs which are capable of producing the quantities needed for oil field application.
Harold O. Ebeling, Latoka Engineering Co.
It is difficult to completely describe this dehydration system in one sentence. The variables effecting the design are many and must be given full consideration. To start outlining the criteria probably the first concern in the design is the volume of gas to be processed. This leads into the pressure and temperature. The governing control of the design is the sales specification for the maximum water content. In this simplistic form the unit can be sized and applied to the job. However, there are other questions that should be considered. What is the life of the production?
A.A. Hardy, W.C. Norris Division, Dover Corp.
Presents the revision of API Standard 11-B on sucker rod joint design, the reasons for this change, and the expected performance of this new joint when properly used.
B.P. Loughnane, Petroleum & Minerals Group, Dresser Industries, Inc.
The U.S. society of today bears only a slight resemblance to our society of a decade ago. In our quest of efficiency and new scientific servants for mankind, technology has leaped forward at a dizzying pace. The median age of our society had dropped drastically, bringing youthful perceptions and new concern for basic values. Increased numbers of people have spawned more companies and bigger companies marketing more lines of products and services to more complex sets of markets.
D.D. Smith, High Plains Water District
Fights at the water hole were a part of the recorded history of settlement in the west. Windmills, well drilling machinery, and other innovative technology helped make water available at the point of need. Surface water limitations were rapidly forgotten as the arid areas enjoyed the magic and widespread abundance of underground water. Forty years of increasing demand coupled with serious depletion of the reserves again presents substantial opportunity for conflict and competition among classes of users.
Donald M. Nelson, Power-Plus Corporation
The end of WWII marked the entrance into a new era in domestic oil production. Full capacity production gave way to curtailment and pro-ration. The necessity for drastic economies resulted in close scrutiny of all costs and practices. The Gas Engine which has long been the "work horse" in the oilfields began to feel the inroads of electrification. Wider availability of electric power and the obvious ease of automating electric motors were compelling reasons that led to wholesale electrification.
Rocky Seale & Greg Nairn, Sii Smith Services
Converging technologies this decade have provided alternative field development, depletion and drilling practices. These include horizontal drilling, geosteering and casing exit technologies. During the 1990"s, the benefit of horizontal drilling was becoming evident, while milling and geosteering systems were advancing. These technologies together made sidetracking a viable remedial method. Historically, sidetracking was used as a last resort to get around debris stuck in the wellbore or depart from a lower unproductive completion.