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Evaporation of crude petroleum
I34
U.S.
BUREAU OF MINES NOTES.
[J.F.I.
some instances the casing must be perforated after it has been inserted into the well. This calls for great care, in order to secure the maximum possible freedom of flow. Sometimes the casing has been so badly damaged by faulty perforating work that it has been necessary to redrill the well, at great expense, in other cases casing that was supposed to have been perforated has been found to be merely dented. A really satisfactory j o b requires the use of proper tools and considerable skill; details as to these tools and their use are given in Technical Paper 247 of the Bureau of Mines. Shop-perforated pipe is better wherever conditions permit its use. When the flow brings in much sand it is better to. use sci-een pipe, which, though more expensive, is able to keep out the sand by means of its fine perforations. Th.e size of the screen depends on the conditions to be met, as an economic balance must be struck between the amount of sand that may be handled and the resistance to free flow. A number of commercial types of screens are described in the paper mentioned above, and the effect of underground waters on these screens is discussed. W h e n mudladen fluid has been used in drilling, it is necessary to wash t h e mud out of the well before finally setting the casing. The details of procedure in carrying out this operation are given in the publication mentioned. EVAPORATION
OF C R U D E P E T R O L E U M .
By J. H. Wiggins.
THE evaporation of the volatile portions of crude petroleum causes the most serious loss to which it is subjected after it issues from the ground. The portion which thus escapes is not only the gasoline, but is the lighter, more valuable fraction of the gasoline, which is three times as valuable as an equal volume of the crude. An investigation made in the Mid-Continent field indicates that th.e yearly loss from this source amounts to 3 per cent. of the total amount of gasoline produced in the United States with an estimated value of over $25,ooo,ooo. Two-thirds to four-fifths of this loss can be prevented by protecting oil from free contact •with air. The procedure to be followed and equipment needed to prevent exposure of the crude to the air varies according to the conditions existing at an individual well, and each operator of a lease or pipe line needs to study his individual problem.
U.S.
BUREAU OF MINES NOTES.
[J.F.I.
some instances the casing must be perforated after it has been inserted into the well. This calls for great care, in order to secure the maximum possible freedom of flow. Sometimes the casing has been so badly damaged by faulty perforating work that it has been necessary to redrill the well, at great expense, in other cases casing that was supposed to have been perforated has been found to be merely dented. A really satisfactory j o b requires the use of proper tools and considerable skill; details as to these tools and their use are given in Technical Paper 247 of the Bureau of Mines. Shop-perforated pipe is better wherever conditions permit its use. When the flow brings in much sand it is better to. use sci-een pipe, which, though more expensive, is able to keep out the sand by means of its fine perforations. Th.e size of the screen depends on the conditions to be met, as an economic balance must be struck between the amount of sand that may be handled and the resistance to free flow. A number of commercial types of screens are described in the paper mentioned above, and the effect of underground waters on these screens is discussed. W h e n mudladen fluid has been used in drilling, it is necessary to wash t h e mud out of the well before finally setting the casing. The details of procedure in carrying out this operation are given in the publication mentioned. EVAPORATION
OF C R U D E P E T R O L E U M .
By J. H. Wiggins.
THE evaporation of the volatile portions of crude petroleum causes the most serious loss to which it is subjected after it issues from the ground. The portion which thus escapes is not only the gasoline, but is the lighter, more valuable fraction of the gasoline, which is three times as valuable as an equal volume of the crude. An investigation made in the Mid-Continent field indicates that th.e yearly loss from this source amounts to 3 per cent. of the total amount of gasoline produced in the United States with an estimated value of over $25,ooo,ooo. Two-thirds to four-fifths of this loss can be prevented by protecting oil from free contact •with air. The procedure to be followed and equipment needed to prevent exposure of the crude to the air varies according to the conditions existing at an individual well, and each operator of a lease or pipe line needs to study his individual problem.