NOTES FROM THE U. S. BUREA’U OF MINES.*

CO-OPERATIVE PETROLEUM WORK, WYOMING.

By T. B. Tough and B. H. Scott.

THE ROCKY RIoun-TAIX PETROLEUM ASSOCMTION was formed to raise a fund to be placed at the disposal of members of the staff of the Bureau of Mines for giving advice and assist- ance in regard to the drilling of wells in the Wyoming oil fields, since preliminary examination indicated that operations on gov- ernment lands were resulting in considerable waste in both oil and gas production. In this way $30,000 was made available, and work was started on Buck Creek Well No. 4, in the Lance Creek field, which had been invaded by water. Between Septem- l)er 16 and November 13, IgIg, the water was successfully shut off and the well began flowing at the rate of 700 barrels per day. The value of the output of this well for the subsequent month alone ITill more than repay the cost of such work in the entire Rocky Mountain region for a year. In California, where similar work has been carried on, the result has been such an improve- ment in general practice that companies that formerly completed only 30 per cent. of their wells in good condition now complete So to 90 per cent. Another result of such work is that produc- tion in California has been maintained steadily from year to vear without the help of phenomenally large wells to maintain 2 the output.

REMOVAL OF LIGHTER HYDROCARBONS FROM PETROLEUM.

By J. M. Wadsworth.

CALWORNIA practice has developed the desirability of sub- jecting petroleum to a preliminary refining to, remove the lighter hydrocarbons. When the crude oil is to be burned, it is obviously wasteful not to first remove the valuable light constituents. As a safety precaution it is also desirable to remove the lighter frac- tions from oil before storage to prevent losses from evaporation.

* Communicated by the Director.

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