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Jan 1, 1946

Jan 1, 1946

Jan 1, 1946

Jan 1, 1946

Jan 1, 1946

By T. I. Harkins, J. Brian Eby

This paper outlines the geophysical investigation of the area covering the D arrow salt dome, Louisiana. Surveys with the refraction seismograph and torsion balance failed to disclose the dome, but reflection dip shooting was successful and was confirmed by later drilling. Introduction The D arrow salt dome and oil field lies in western Ascension Parish, Louisiana, on the outside of a sharp bend and on the east bank of the Mississippi River. The dome occurs about 30 miles south of Baton Rouge and 80 miles northwest of New Orleans. Its geology, shape and structure have been ably described in detail by Carroll E. Cook' and, except for the general features, will not be repeated here. The purpose of this paper is to record some of the interesting and pertinent geophysical data contributing to the discovery of the dome and eventually the oil field. The salt dome is circular in outliie and comes to within about 4625 it. of the surface. At this depth the diameter of the salt plug is approximately 4800 it. The dome has only a thin cap rock of less than 75 ft. Some oil has been found and is being produced in Miocene sands above the cap rock, but most of the field's production comes from a narrow ring of wells around the east and south flanks of the dome. Producing horizons on the flank are found at 5670 to 5840 ft. in the Miocene and 6890 to 6985 ft., 7028 to 7060 ft. and 8260 to 8270 ft. in the Oligocene. The deepest well that has been drilled is the Humble Oil and Refining Company's Community B-5, on the south flank of the structure, which reached a depth of 10,013 feet. The size and shape of the field and the area of production are indicated on Fig. I. The lie showing the area of production encloses all wells now producing and all abandoned producers, both on the top and flank of the dome. This line of production is shown on all subsequent geophysical maps as a direct means of comparing the early geophysics to later drilling development. Darrow dome occurs on the low, flat flood plain of the Mississippi River; it is protected from flood overflow by high artificial levees. The rich loamy soil supports a high degree of cultivation, principally sugar cane. Drainage is secured by many small canals and the water table of the area is at or near the surface. These particular conditions of topography, drainage and top soil greatly influenced the early geophysical picture, and the influence was always unfavorable.

Jan 1, 1946

By Donald C. Barton

OF the four papers that comprise this Technical Publication, three are case histories of individual geophysical prospects, subsequently tested by drilling. The bibliography of Dr. Barton's published scientific paperst includes investigations in physiography and surface geological mapping, as well as his geophysical papers, and from this list it is to be observed that he early recognized the place of different types of geophysical prospecting methods in the search for geological structures of economic importance. Moreover, his viewpoint was not merely that the structures should be found, but that the geophysical data should be examined quantitatively to determine the geometry of the structures. In other words, that although these data are insufficient to deduce a unique form for the structure that caused the effects measured in the data, the engineering computations should be carried out to give as much of a definite configuration to the structure as the data permitted, in order that the testing of the structures could be conducted in the most economical manner and with the idea that the experience so gained could be later incorporated in the study of structures subsequently found. Dr. Barton continually emphasized the quantitative use of geophysical observations, whereas at the time that he began his specialization in geophysics it was considered sufficient to use observations only qualitatively. He, more than any one else, was responsible for the first volume on geophysical prospecting issued by the Institute in 1929, and his three articles in that volume stressed the quantitative use of geophysical prospecting. The fourth article in this present Technical Publication is a further contribution to this branch of geophysical interpretation, and is a supplement to the paper in the 1929 volume, "Calculations in the Interpretation of Observations with the Eötvös Torsion Balance." From the successful demonstration by Dr. Barton of the usefulness of quan-

Jan 1, 1946

By Henry J. Joesting

During the past year and a half, the Territorial Department of Mines in Alaska has conducted a modest experimental program for the purpose of determining the extent to which magnetic and resistivity methods can be used in interior Alaska in connection with prospecting, mining and geological studies. Since little information is available concerning previous work,l,2 and since conditions differ considerably from those in most other regions, it was considered advisable to make a general study of the possibilities and limitations of the two methods, rather than a detailed study of any single problem. Problems One of the most serious handicaps to prospecting and geological study in interior Alaska, especially in the mature regions, is a cover of unconsolidated deposits ranging in thickness from a few feet to several hundred feet. These deposits, some of which are permanently frozen, consist of silt with varying proportions of vegetation and windblown material in the valleys and of residual deposits on the hills.3'4 The problems treated here are caused by the existence of this overburden: I. Location of buried placers. 2. Determination of depth and areal distribution of permanently frozen and of thawed unconsolidated deposits. 3. Location of water-bearing beds under unconsolidated deposits. Instruments and Methods Magnetic and direct-current resistivity methods were used because they are relatively simple, rapid and inexpensive and because generally they are well suited to the study of the problems indicated. The instruments used were a vertical Schmidt-type magnetometer and a direct-current resistivity instrument similar to those used by the Geophysical Branch of the U. S. Geological Survey. For placer surveys with the magnetometer, a sensitivity of about 25 gammas per scale division was found suitable. For resistivity studies of frozen and thawed overburden and of underground water, the Lee partitioning method6 was found to be most generally suitable. In the Lee method a central potential electrode is placed midway between the two potential electrodes of the Wenner four-electrode configuration.7 Nonpolarizable electrodes were made from unglazed porcelain pots about 10 cm. high and 5 cm. in diameter. In order to retard evaporation of the electrolyte the sides of the pots were glazed, inside and out, with clear Duco lacquer. For resistivity work in cold weather, a nonfreezing electrolyte consisting of equal parts of ethylene glycol and a saturated water solution of copper sulphate proved satisfactory. Stainless steel rods of 3/4-in. diameter made excellent current electrodes because their bright finish enabled good ground contacts to be made.

Jan 1, 1946

By H. Cecil Spicer

The results described in this article are based On field work conducted during the periods April-May, I939, and May-July, 1940. The United States Potash Co. is mining potash on Government land under a permit from the Department Of the Interior and the geophysical investigation was completed under a cooperative arrangemerit made between that company and the Conservation Branch Of the Geological Survey. The writer, a member Of the SeCtion of Chemistry and Physics of the Geologic Branch, was assigned to this investigation. Four definite objectives were in mind for the geophysical work in the studies over the salt deposits. The first was to determine the measure Of success that could be attained in this type of work with the resistivity methods that were to be employed. These methods had been introduced into the work of the Conservation Branch by Benjamin E. Jones for the investigation of dam sites, and have been used under his direction by the author for such work. If the method proved to be be an effort was to be made to contour the top of the salt beds and also the other formation boundaries known to be present in this area. Salt-water aquifers were to be studied in an effort to determine their boundaries, and an attempt was to be made to delineate the potash-bearing beds. Earlier Studies Others have made, and reported, restivity studies over saliferous deposits in different areas. Friedell and Messrs. Schlumberger2 reported geophysical work performed in the discovery of the salt domes of Alsace; Carrette and Kelly? described the geology of the same area. Leonardon and Kelly' published a resistivity curve obtained over the Hettenschlag dome, and a further discussion of this same area was given by the Messrs. Schlumberger6 in a communication. Messrs. Alty6 described studies on salt deposits in which the single-probe method was used. sinerez7 mentions that electrical methods were tried over salt deposits in Spain. Geoffrey and Charrin8 show a resistivity curve obtained over marl, gypsiferous marl and salt which is similar to that obtained over the New Mexico salt deposits. Kelly9 reported resistivity work performed with the ground Comparaor of Zuschlag over the salt deposits near Syracuse, N. Y., where the Salina formation is at a depth of 700 to 800 ft. Some structural studies on the potash basin of Alsace are described by Poldini.10 Another single-probe resistivity study, made over salt deposits in New Mexico, is briefly described by Heiland,11 through the courtesy of Harry Aurand, of the Midwest Refining co, Geological Features OF Area Covered The area discussed in this paper is in Eddy County, southeastern New Mexico, a

Jan 1, 1946

By F. McIntosh Galbraith

This paper describes the use of the magnetometer, under geological direction, in exploration of the Sudbury nickel district. The writer's experience at Falconbridge has led him to the belief that only through detailed work, and by careful correlation of both geological and geophysical results, can geophysical prospecting methods be applied successfully to mining exploration problems. It is hoped that the basic technique described in the paper will be found to have general application. Introduction Within the past 20 years, geophysical methods of prospecting have become solidly established in the field of petroleum exploration. They have not, however, been similarly adopted by the mining industry, although mining is a far older craft and should be the more advanced in its technique. While, therefore, it is almost a routine matter to have geophysical surveys performed in a new area being tested for oil, a new metal-mining district is usually teeming with prospectors and promoters long before the technical man appears on the scene. Even then, only the more primitive engineering methods are customary in the early stages of exploration. Three factors are chiefly responsible for this situation, The first is the difference between oil pools and ore deposits in their geological modes of occurrence. While most of the known metallic ore bodies have been found outcropping at the surface, petroleum deposits are characteristically buried. This does not mean that all ore deposits outcrop, but neither does it mean that we should rely on "wildcatting" to discover blind ore bodies. The second factor is the relative scale of metallic lodes and accumulations of petroleum. In areal extent, a metal-bearing vein deposit is typically a much smaller geological feature than an oil pool. Presenting a narrower target, it requires closer shooting to score a direct hit. And finally, there is the need, in mining work, for close correlation of the known local geology with geophysical observations. This becomes of increasing importance as the size of the objective diminishes. A geophysical disturbance on a large enough scale will be detected under almost any circumstances and by almost any technique; without benefit of geology, however, the significance of a local anomaly may easily be misread. Campaign at Sudbury In the Sudbury nickel district of Canada, new deposits of nickel and copper have been discovered recently by magnetic methods, under geological supervision. A campaign of exploration, designed to encompass the district eventually, was set in motion in the spring of 1935. After six years, a new and important Ore body has been discovered and its continuity established to 1000 ft. in depth; several areas have been eliminated; and a number of possibilities remain to be tested. This has been accomplished with the expenditure of less than $$I50,000-—including the cost of all diamond drilling. The responsibility for carrying out this campaign was entrusted by the company to its Geological Department, and the under

Jan 1, 1946

By M. B. Ramachandra Rao

The spontaneous polarization surveys dealt with in this paper were carried out near Guddadarangavvanahalli (lat. 14° 17' N.; long. 76° 24' E.) in Chitaldrug district, which forms part of the Chitaldrug schist belt. The occurrence of gold, copper, lead and antimony ores has been noticed for several years but efforts to exploit them have been unsuccessful, therefore some spontaneous polarization surveys were made in the hope of finding indications of workable ore bodies. The country examined has a rugged topography, with numerous hills on which there is little vegetation. The climate is generally dry, the average annual rainfall of the tract being about 25 in., of which 17 in. occurs during the southwest monsoon. The geological formations of the area pertain to an ancient schistose series known as the Dharwar system (Archean). Locally, the rock formations have been divided into three series1—the chloritic series (or the Chitaldrug formation), the clay series (or the G.R. formation) and the trap series (or the Jogimardi trap). The chloritic series includes a complex of altered ancient traps and volcanic agglomerates intermixed with some schists of sedimentary origin, all of which are highly metamorphosed. The lithological types of this series are mostly distinguishable as greenstone schists, calc-chloritic schists, slaty schists, ochery and calcareous mica-chlorite schists, with subordinate bands of secondary limestone. The clay series (G.R. formation) is made up of shaly and argillistic schists, litho-margic clays, sandstones and brecciated ferruginous quartzites. The Jogimardi trap is mostly of the nature of an epidiorite (hornblende diabase), which is distinctly intrusive in the form of large laccolithic and narrower dikelike masses. In addition to this trap, there are other minor intrusives such as the chalybitic trap, quartz porphyry and quartz reefs. The topographical and geological features of the area are noted on the map of Fig. I. The locations of some of the spontaneous polarization centers determined by the geophysical survey are indicated also. Method of Survey and Apparatus Employed The spontaneous polarization surveys were carried out in the manner recommended by the Imperial Geophysical Experimental Survey.2 Preliminary reconnaissance was first carried out along a series of parallel traverse lines that were laid out over the area. The Potential profiles obtained in these traverses were plotted* on a suitable scale and when any

Jan 1, 1946

By G. Carman Ridland

In conjunction with a geological investigation of the silver-bearing veins at Contact Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada, a survey was made with a Geiger-Miiller counter of the gamma-ray emissions from the rocks in the vicinity of the mine workings. Discontinuous pitchblende veins have been encountered occasionally in the silver-bearing fissures, and the geophysical survey was undertaken with the hope that abnormally high gamma-ray intensities, if detected, might lead to larger and more continuous pitchblende discoveries. Before the instrument was used at Contact Lake, preliminary tests were made, first with laboratory specimens at Princeton University, and later over known pitchblende deposits at the Eldorado property, LaBine Point, N.W.T. The Geiger-Müller counter, as adapted for field use, is described; the technique of transporting and operating the instrument is outlined; and the general precautions to be observed are discussed. The results obtained at Great Bear Lake show that the instrument is capable of detecting not only a pitchblende ore shoot in a shear zone, but also the mildly radioactive "host rock" at a considerable distance from the ore body. Hence, use of the Geiger-Müller counter is urged, not just for the detailed search for an ore body in a shear zone, but for the detection of possible radioactive "host rocks" in large-scale reconnaissance surveys of unexplored regions made by prospectors and members of federal geological survey parties. Location.—Along the rocky eastern shores of Great Bear Lake, in the Northwest Territories of Canada, lies one of the world's great radium-producing areas. The Eldorado mine, owned and operated by the Eldorado Gold Mines, Ltd., is at LaBine Point; while the Contact Lake mine, operated by Bear Exploration and Radium, Ltd. (B.E.A.R.), lies 9 miles to the southeast of LaBine Point and 2 miles south of Echo Bay, an indentation in the eastern shore line of Great Bear Lake. Geology.—The Eldorado company obtains its radium by the mining of the mineral pitchblende, which is found associated with a complex variety of metallic and nonmetallic minerals1 in quartz-carbonate veins occurring in metamorphosed pre-Cambrian sediment aries. Most of the pitchblende is intimately associated with a brown quartz and belongs to an early hydrothermal stage of mineralization during which safflorite-rammelsbergite and minor cobalt-nickel minerals were also deposited. Some pitchblende occurs with a group of minerals belonging to a later stage of mineralization in which the gangue is mainly dolomite and sometimes ferruginous rhodochrosite. Associated with this group are native silver and lead-zinc-copper sulphide minerals. The Contact Lake property owes its existence to the mining of rich, native silver ore shoots, which are

Jan 1, 1946

By H. J. R. Way

The work to be described was undertaken at various periods from 1937 to 1939 on the Busia gold field, in the eastern province of Uganda. It was decided to examine the possibility of reef prospection by the resistivity method, for it was not known how far the usually disintegrated nature of most reefs in the ubiquitous laterite near the surface would obscure indications obtained by resistivity traverses. The work at the commencement was therefore largely experimental, but the results obtained thereby were satisfactory, and a survey was started at the Government closed area at Amonikakine. With the limited time and resources at the writer's disposal, it was not possible to complete the survey to his satisfaction or to follow up exhaustively all the geophysical indications, but some of the results of the experimental work and the survey were of sufficient interest to be worth recording; in particular the relation between the width of reef, electrode separation and shape of the curve, and the interference effect of constant separation curves over zones of float are significant and useful. Three new veins were located, but only one contained sufficient gold to warrant detailed prospection. This was called the Geophysical reef, and was uncovered over a strike distance of 1140 ft., and there are indications that it extends over a distance of 1990 ft. These results and the recom- mendations consequent therefrom were embodied in a special report to the Uganda Geological Survey. History OF the Field The Busia field is in the southeastern corner of Uganda near the Kenya-Uganda border, and is about 17 miles north of the northeastern corner of Lake Victoria. Gold was first discovered in the area in the stream beds by Davies1,2 in 1932. Subsequently numerous small alluvial claims were worked by prospectors and the area was prospected for reef by a company for periods varying from three to nine months, but was finally abandoned, as the results were considered unfavorable. Further prospecting by the Geological Survey in 1935-1936 under Davies8 and later under the writer4 uncovered three reefs with sufficient gold values to be of economic interest. These were finally taken over by a company known as Borderland Syndicate, which still owns the area, and from September 1937 to the end of 1941 about 13,000 oz. of gold was extracted from reefs of the area proved by the Geological Survey. Opencast mining operations are still proceeding (February 1943). The Amonikakine area lies to the immediate north of that of Borderland Syndicate. A certain amount of prospecting had been done when the writer started work there. As a result of his report, this area was taken over by another syndicate, but little further work was accomplished before it ceased operating because of difficulties of wartime working.

Jan 1, 1946

By C. A. Heiland, Tripp R. M., Dart Wantland

This paper serves to illustrate the application of geophysics to a virtually abandoned mine properly, an application that led to the discovery of an ore body and thus afforded an Opportunity to cOmpare subsequent geologic findings with geophysical data. The work herein described represents, however: more than mere ''case history." It demonstrates that it is possible to obtain satisfactory results by simple means and relatively inexpericnced personnel. The geophysical surveys were made by students as a part of their field assignments in the course of their regular training, and were supervised by Dart Wantland, J. E. Hawkins and R. Maurice 'Tripp. In the course of several seasons an appreciable amount of material was accumulated, which gave graduate students an opportunity for special studies. In this connection, the contributions by L. Massé, R. C. Hyslop, and J. E. Hawkins deserve special mention. The property owners cooperated wholeheartedly in the work, and special thanks are due messrs. J. F. Johnson and S. E. Zelenkov, of the American Smelting and Refining Co., for their interest and for permission to utilize the results of their development work for this publication. Location and Geology The Malachite mine is situated on the northcrn slope of Bear Creek Canyon, 4 miles northeast of Evergreen, I½ miles northwest of Idledale, and 4% miles west northwest of Morrison, in Jefferson County, Colorado. The location (Fig. I) is north of the center of set. 30, T. 45, R. 70 W., at an elevation of about 7500 ft, above sea level, Near the mine the terrain slopes rather uniformly southward at an angle of about 180 pigs. 3 and 7). The geology of the Malachite mine area has been described by J, underhill,' W, Lindgren,2 and J. Boyd.3,4 A map showing surface outcrops and mine workings appears in Fig, 2. the Malachite mine is in an amphibolite belt enclosed in gneisses and schists of the Idaho-Springs formation (probably early Algonkian age). The highly contorted beds are nearly vertical and strike slightly north of west. A series of granite-pegmatite dikes have been intruded almost at right angles into the gneisses and schists and doubtedless are postmineral. While most of the formations are exposed at the surface, a part of the 'lope is covered by slide rock and float, and in the eastern portion by alluvium and creek fill. A quartz-diorite dike cuts through the amphibolite schists at a small angle with nearly vertical dip. The copper sulphides, developed in this dike by magmatic segregation, occur in lenticular form. As far as the mine workings have revealed, the ore lenses are often discontinuous in depth and

Jan 1, 1946

By Ernest N. Patty, Sherwin F. Kelly

The present case history deals with the examination of an almost forgotten nickel prospect, near Winesap, Chelan County, Washington. Although the final results yielded no ore body of commercial importance, the integration of surface and underground exploration, geophysical survey and diamond drilling endow the story with interest. The program is significant because it is illustrative of how the most disappointing expenditures in mining exploration, the "not-finding" costs, could have been reduced had geophysical methods been applied at an appropriate stage in the prospecting work. The Chelan nickel deposit was discovered about 1900, on a sage-brush-covered hillside with a southerly slope, adjacent to Winesap Canyon; the paved highway now extending from Wenatchee northward, up the Columbia River and into Okanogan Valley, is only a mile away. After the deposit was found, three short prospect tunnels were driven into it, and the prospect then remained dormant for 40 years. No. x tunnel was 80 ft. long, running north into the hillside. For the first 35 ft. this adit exposed a typical, iron-stained gossan with streaks and stains of malachite, and small seams of water-soluble nickel sulphate. Beyond this, it encountered a relatively fresh peridotite, well mineralized with blebs of pentlandite. Systematic sampling yielded an average assay of 1.5 per cent nickel and 0.3 per cent copper. Down the hillside to the south and 35 ft. lower in elevation, No. 2 tunnel was driven under No. I and in the same direction, traversing 50 ft. of gneiss before it reached the peridotite. At this point the latter formation showed only scattered blebs of sulphides, not of commercial grade. To the west, on the same contour line as No. I tunnel, and 800 ft. around the hillside from it, No. 3 tunnel was driven 50 ft. into the hill to explore a strong gossan outcrop that assayed 0.5 per cent nickel (Fig. I). From the geological exposures on the hillside and in the tunnels, it appears that the main mass of the hill is formed of an ancient and altered gneiss complex. Into this, a sill-like injection of amphibolite (altered peridotite) was intruded, which, at least in some places, contains commercial quantities of nickel sulphide. Its structure is obscure, but it appears to dip into the hill at an angle of about 15°. In the vicinity of No. 3 tunnel a large dike of quartz diorite cuts the peridotite or amphibolite; about 140 ft. north of the portal of the tunnel, a dike of andesite 00 ft. wide cuts boldly up the hillside to break the continuity of the peridotite in that direction. The geological evidence available was not adequate to decide whether the peridotite forms a continuous sill, or occurs as isolated bodies in the gneiss. Not all of this peridotite carries commercial amounts of pentlandite, but if the mineral-

Jan 1, 1946

By Gifford E. White

Explanations of the basic procedure for making earth-conductivity studies by the Eltran method have already appeared in several placeS. 1,2,3 In its essentials, this method consists of applying step functions of voltage to one pair of earth grounds and measuring the transient potential resulting at a separate pair of ground points. As previously pointed out,' the transient potential resulting from a suddenly applied steady voltage is the indicia1 transfer function of Carson1 6 which has been extensively studied in network theory. The discussion here, with one special exception, will ignore the problem of how the physical configuration of the earth affects the transient response voltage; it appears that this phase of the problem has been solved in only a few special cases having any direct bearing on the prospecting problem. Entirely distinct from the potential-theory aspect of the conductivity problem is the interesting material that can be had from studying the well-known network relations between cause and effect in linear circuits, and thus deducing criteria for the application of the several experimental methods available. To do this, only one assumption need be made about the nature of the earth. The earth is to be considered a linear conductor within the tolerance of ordinary measurements. The discussion will be restricted to collinear electrode configuration like that of Fig. I, since this is the only type of spread practical for use with driving currents that vary with time. Here one pair of grounds carries the driving current, and in line with these and external to them is a RECORDING Fair of potential probes. The problem will be to consider the relation between the different voltages appearing between the potential circuit terminals when various types of driving voltage sources are inserted in the current circuit. Suppose that the grounding points G, and G2 make good contact with the earth, and that a battery of sufficient voltage to produce one ampere of direct current is introduced into the current circuit by the closing of a switch. The potential transient response to such a voltage can be measured by taking an oscillogram at the potential Directors terminals, giving the time function that has been called A(l).4 This time function has been solved for analytically in the case of a homogeneous earth,"' and the

Jan 1, 1946

By William A. Longacre

In a previous paper the author discussed the problem described by the title of this paper, outlining and reviewing the Gish-Rooney method, with comparison and brief analysis of the interpretation techniques of Roman2 and Tagg.3 Some aspects of the simple type of two-layer system were reviewed from various sources.4, 5, 6 The Two-layer Problem For the configuration shown in Fig. I, and for any electrode separation A, the SurfAce of earth p, DepthH i P2 Infinite depth Fig. i.—Two-Layer system. apparent resistivity is a function of the relative depth the overburden resistivity pl, and a factor K defined by the equation P2 + P1 where p, is the resistivity of the lower bed. Thus, by the known theory of electrical images, p = pi [1+ */(*-7)] where The Multilayer Problem As the number of isotropic, homogeneous, horizontal layers increases, the difficulties of interpretation multiply. The theory becomes much more involved, and in view of the state of our knowledge, the general problem is virtually impossible of exact solution. However, certain types of multilayer problems can be worked out in terms of two-layer theory. Humme1,7 Pirson,8 Tagg,3 Watson,9 and others have pointed out the possibility of building up approximations of multilayer resistivity curves with suitable combinations of two-layer curves. Many three-layer curves can be constructed in this way to a good degree of accuracy, and special types of four-layer curves can be approximated. It is very likely that as the number of layers increases, the method of combination will not give good approximations except in very special cases. In the analysis of actual field data, the author has found that many obviously multilayer curves can be solved partially with a good degree of accuracy, using the theory that thin adjacent beds may be considered as one layer or zone, and applying two-layer theory to the extremities of the field curve. Modified Tagg Method of Interpretation Tagg's second method, though superior to his first, necessitates a large number

Jan 1, 1946

By Maynard H. Jameson

Earlier investigations of the potential-drop-ratio method of electrical prospecting have indicated that under suitable conditions this method is well adapted to the location of formation boundaries in stratified ground. A description of this development was given several years ago by H. Lundberg and Th. Zuschlag.l The curves published by these authors for the potential-drop-ratio variation above a horizontal contact indicated a definite relation of the position of the curve peak to the depth of the interface. The theory underlying this relation was subsequently studied by Z. Mitera in greater detail,' and the theoretical deductions were compared with the results of tank experiments. The investigations available at this writing were confined to studies of horizontal formation boundaries. It is the purpose of this paper to extend the scope of the previous work to the problem of dipping layers. Theory Consider the case of three media of different resistivities, whose interfaces are not parallel. If a point-source is located in one of these interfaces, its images do not lie in a straight line, but on the circumference of a circle whose center is at the hypothetical junction of the interfaces. R. F. Aldredgea determined the relation that exists between the degrees of dip of the two interfaces and the distances between the various images and the point for which the potential is to be found. As seen in Fig. I, three media of resistivities PO, p1, and p2 are involved, and the source I is located at the interface of the media Coo) and (p1). The perpendicular depth of the lower interface is h, 0 is the dip, R is the distance between source I and potential point P, and r is the distance between the images and that point. To distinguish between images lying above the ground interface and those below, the notation "odd" and "even" images will be employed; images below the ground interface will be termed "odd" and those above "even." The following relations govern the distances between either kind of images and the potential point: EvEn Odd Ta — R r1 - [rl] - [RS + 4h(h + R sin 01½ r, = [r] =. [R1 + 4h cos 0)2(h + -R sin 0)1½ ri - [r3] ={r3} [R* + 4h(4 cos2 0 - i)1 (h + R sin 0)l½ r4 = [r4] = [R2 + 4h(4 cos $ cos 30)1 (h + R sin 0)]½ r, — [r4] - [R2 + 4h(4 cos9 R cos 20 + cos 48)2 (h + R sin 01½ I RI + 4h[2 cos 30(4 cos2 0 - I)12 (h + R sin 8)1 ½ rn - [r4] - [R2 + 4hlf(cOs 0)18(h + R sin R)l½ As previously pointed out, the images of the source are on the circumference of a circle. If the angle of dip is 0, the angle measured from the horizontal to the first image is 28; to the second image it is 48, and so on. Since the limit of the reflecting interface is at its outcrop, the last possible

Jan 1, 1946

By I. W. Walling, F. B. Plummer

Bastin and others have demonstrated the presence of sulphate-reducing bacteria in oil wells producing salt water. Analyses show that at 125°F. bacteria alone reduce sulphates in East Texas salt water by only 3 per cent in 30 days, forming principally hydrogen sulphide and sodium or calcium hydroxide. The hydrogen sulphide reacts with soluble iron compounds to produce iron sulphide in the absence of oxygen, and ferric hydroxide where oxygen and air are present. Where iron or other metals and iron sulphide are already in the water containing bacteria, I00 per cent reduction of the sulphates is complete in 30 days or less; where magnesium is present, reduction is complete in 15 days. The effects of changes in temperature, of different bactericides, and of concentration of bactericides on sulphate reduction are described in detail and illustrated by tables and curves. The significance of sulphate reduction on corrosive properties of oil-field water is briefly discussed. Chemistry of East Texas Oil-field Water The chemical composition of the water in the East Texas field salt-water disposal pits is shown in Table I. This salt water corrodes pipes, pumps, and steel tanks excessively, principally because of its content of oxygen, hydrogen, sulphide, and carbonic acid. The carbonates in the water when exposed to air tend to give up carbon dioxide and to precipitate calcium carbonate in large quantities. This forms coatings in tanks, settling pits, and ditches, and soon, unless removed by acid treatment, will effectively clog an injection well and reduce the flow of water back into the ground. The iron compounds in the water, most of which are dissolved from tanks and pipes, are in the ferrous form, and when exposed to the air are oxidized from soluble ferrous carbonate to insoluble ferric hydroxide, resulting in the precipitation of a gelatinous precipitate that will clog oil-field sands effectively: 2Fe(HCO3)2 + O + H2O -> 2Fe(OH)3 + 4CO2 The sulphates in strong sulphate-bearing water may be attacked by swarms of sulphate-reducing bacteria and more hydrogen sulphide may be produced. The hydrogen sulphide reacts with soluble minerals in the water to form black sludges. A knowledge of the chemistry of each reaction in oil-field water is important to the oil-field engineer, since means must be devised to prevent the formation of harmful precipitates that clog injection wells and to prevent corrosion of tanks by harmful products of biochemical processes. Methods of Treating Water before Injection into Ground* The open system of handling the waste salt water in the East Texas field consists of aerating and chemically treating the water to precipitate the unstable iron,

Jan 1, 1946

By M. Muskat, M. O. Taylor

Theoretical calculations have been made on the performance to be expected of gas-drive reservoirs for various characteristics of the oil and gas and the producing rock. Such performante has been expressed graphically as curves for the reservoir pressure and gas-oil ratios of the production as functions of the cumulative oil recovery. The latter has been expressed in terms of percentage of pore space of the reservoir rock. Such curves automatically give values for the ultimate physical recovery, if the latter is interpreted as the recovery obtained when the reservoir pressure has declined to atmospheric, or to any other pressure chosen as defining the state of practical complete depletion. Calculations of these pressure and gas-oil ratio histories have been made for conditions in which the oil viscosity, the gas solubility and shrinkage, the size of an overlying gas cap, if present, the permeability-saturation characteristics of the rock, and the amount of connate water, have been individually varied, The results serve to show the extent to which the ultimate recoveries are sensitive to the important physical parameters characterizing the oil reservoir. As is to be expected, the ultimate recoveries are found to decrease with increasing oil viscosity. Because of the predominant effect of the oil shrinkage associated with the liberation of the gas in solution, the ultimate recovery will decrease with increasing gas solubility. Increasing gas-cap volumes lead to higher recoveries, although the contribution made by the gas-cap gas is small as compared with the oil expulsion by the equivalent amount of solution gas. As a whole, the oil recovery when expressed in percentage of the pore space is not very sensitive to the details of the permeability-saturation relationship. However, if the rocks possess an equilibrium free-gas saturation, the rise in gas-oil ratio will be retarded, and the 'ultimate recovery somewhat increased' The oil shrinkage associated with the liberation of the dissolved gas also leads to the result that as long as the connate water is immobile and the permeability ratio curve for the rock is a function only of the total liquid saturation, the stock-tank oil recovery will be less for a sand containing no connate water than for One with an Original water content as high as 3' per cent. The space voidage in the former case will be somewhat greater, but the effect of oil shrinkage will lead to smaller values for the equivalent stock-tank recovery. These calculations also give data showing how the productivity indexes for the producing wells will vary during the reservoir history. Because of decreasing Permeability to the oil and increasing oil viscosity, the productivity index will fall continuously as Production proceeds, and may finally reach values as low as 10 per cent of the initial productivity index. Introduction In a previous paper1 was developed the basic theory for the prediction of the production histories of gas-drive reservoirs. The data required for the application of this theory included the characteristics of the petroleum fluids, such as the viscosity of the Oil and gas phases, the solubility of the gas in the oil, and the oil shrinkage— all expressed as functions of the reservoir pressure—and the permeability-saturation characteristics of the producing rock, as

Jan 1, 1946