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By Linn M. Farish

The estimated production of petroleum in the Dominion of Canada for 1931 was 1,582,000 bbl., an increase of 60,000 bbl. over 1930. Nearly all of the production came from Alberta, with a small quantity from Ontario, and a very minor amount reported from New Brunswick. At the beginning of 1931 it was hoped, and predicted, that a substantial increase in production would be shown for that year, but such was not the case, since Alberta did not show the anticipated gain. The production from Ontario and New Brunswick has not varied more than a few thousand barrels during the past 10 years and aggregated 124,000 bbl. in 1930, with 126,600 bbl. estimated for 1931. Unless new fields are discovered, production in 1932 will decline, with Ontario and New Brunswick showing little change and Alberta declining appreciably. Canadian production by provinces during the past 10 years is given in Table 1. Furnished by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. a Barrels of 35 Imperial gallons or 42 U. S. gallons. c Figures for Ontario and New Brunswick are estimated. The production of natural gas in Canada reached the record figure of 29,377,000,000 cu. ft. in 1930 and it is estimated at 26,874,600,000

Jan 1, 1932

By L. C. Snider

NO important discoveries of petroleum during 1932 are reported from Canada. New Brunswick, which has a small production from one field, was inactive, and the production showed a decline from 6600 bbl. in 1931 to about 6300 bbl. for the year 1932. The old fields in Ontario increased from 123,000 to about 131,000 bbl. Alberta showed a decline of more than one-third, from 1,413,631 bbl. in 1931 to about 913,000 bbl. in 1932. This decline was due principally to the restrictions placed on the flow of gas wells in the Turner Valley field, from which the crude naphtha is obtained that accounted for more than 93 per cent of the production of Alberta and for more than 80 per cent of the production of all Canada in 1932. The starting of new wells to the limestone that produces the naphtha-bearing gas was prohibited late in 1931, and only wells started before that time were finished during 1932. One well was drilled in the Turner Valley field to a depth of 7555 ft., establishing a depth record for Canada. It passed out of the Madison limestone at 5560 ft., and encountered showings of oil in the underlying formations, probably of Devonian age. Commercial production had not been established by the end of the year. Commercial oil wells were brought in in two areas in Ontario which had previously been considered as productive of gas only— in the Dawn gas field, Lambton County, and in Raleigh Township, Kent County. The discovery wells had initial productions of about 50 bbl. per day, but no production of major importance is indicated. In Alberta, outside the Turner Valley district, two wildcats were drilled northwest. of Lethbridge in the Keho Lake vicinity. Both failed to make commercial producers in the Madison limestone, but one was testing upper sands at the close of the year. Good showings of oil are reported. A very small production was found in the Madison limestone in a wildcat well on the Twin River structure southeast of Lethbridge and another well has been started near by on what is considered on geophysical evidence to be a better location structurally. About 15 locations were made on the Canadian side of the border north of the Cut Bank development in Montana.

Jan 1, 1933

By W. B. Heroy

The rapid development of transportation routes on the African continent in recent years has greatly stimulated the demand for motor fuels and this in turn has led to more extensive exploration of such limited portions of the continent as seem to give promise of commercial oil production. In 1930, however, only two countries were classed as producers of petroleum and only one, Egypt, attained any importance. Egypt The petroleum production of Egypt is derived from the Gemsah and Hurghada fields on the west coast of the Red Sea and the Abu Durba, on its eastern shore in the Sinai peninsula. The Gemsah field, which began to produce commercially in 1912, has now practically ceased production, owing to the invasion of salt water. The Hurghada field has been producing since October, 1914. It now has about 60 producing wells. During 1929, a deeper sand with flowing produition was discovered in the eastern part of the field, producing oil of lighter gravity and free from water. The Abu Durba field was discovered by the exploration work of the Egyptian Government in 1918, oil having been found at a depth of 172 ft. This field has now 15 producing wells but a very small production. The production of these Egyptian fields over the last five years, is as follows: Metric Tons Metric Tons 1926......................... 172,881 1929....................... 271,520 1927......................... 184,557 1930....................... 277,146 1928......................... 269,324 This oil was all produced by the Anglo-Egyptian Oilfields Ltd., a constituent corporation of the Royal Dutch Shell group. During the year 1930 the Egyptian Government was engaged in geophysical prospecting of reserved areas along the Red Sea coast. Other Countries Soma1iland.—A geological survey of Somaliland was undertaken by the Somaliland Petroleum Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Royal Dutch

Jan 1, 1931

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 Mario L. Villa

During the year 1941, there was another increase in the production of oil in Argentina, to which the fields in the Comodoro Rivadavia zone in the Territory of Chubut and those of the Provinces of Salta and Mendoza all contributed. The total production for this period reached 22,013,472 bbl., which represents an increase of 6.8 per cent over that of 20,609,538 bbl. in the preceding year. This result is again attributable to the Government oil company, the Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales, which had a total production of 14,006,559 bbl. representing an increase of 1,531,904 bbl., or 12.3 per cent over that of the 12,474,655 bbl. of the year before. The other companies

Jan 1, 1942

By Mario L. Villa

During the year 1941, there was another increase in the production of oil in Argentina, to which the fields in the Comodoro Rivadavia zone in the Territory of Chubut and those of the Provinces of Salta and Mendoza all contributed. The total production for this period reached 22,013,472 bbl., which represents an increase of 6.8 per cent over that of 20,609,538 bbl. in the preceding year. This result is again attributable to the Government oil company, the Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales, which had a total production of 14,006,559 bbl. representing an increase of 1,531,904 bbl., or 12.3 per cent over that of the 12,474,655 bbl. of the year before. The other companies

Jan 1, 1942

By Mario L. Villa

Oil activities and the petroleum industry in general have suffered severely in this country as a result of present war conditions. War has imposed a very heavy and unpleasant burden on the shoulders of those whose duty it is to keep .Argentina supplied with the necessary oil to meet industry's growing demands. Since 1940, imports of manufactured products from Europe and the United States have fallen to a minimum, making it necessary to manufacture as many of them as possible locally. This has brought about the establishment of many new industries and the enlargement of already existing plants, creating new demands for fuel that drain heavily the country's stocks, which already were overtaxed because of the diminished supply imported. To cope with this problem, a plan for an intensification of oil-field activities was drawn up by Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales (Argentine Government Oil Fields) which included the drilling of many new

Jan 1, 1943

By Mario L. Villa

Oil activities and the petroleum industry in general have suffered severely in this country as a result of present war conditions. War has imposed a very heavy and unpleasant burden on the shoulders of those whose duty it is to keep .Argentina supplied with the necessary oil to meet industry's growing demands. Since 1940, imports of manufactured products from Europe and the United States have fallen to a minimum, making it necessary to manufacture as many of them as possible locally. This has brought about the establishment of many new industries and the enlargement of already existing plants, creating new demands for fuel that drain heavily the country's stocks, which already were overtaxed because of the diminished supply imported. To cope with this problem, a plan for an intensification of oil-field activities was drawn up by Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales (Argentine Government Oil Fields) which included the drilling of many new

Jan 1, 1943

By Gilbert P. Moore

The production of petroleum in Argentina during 1932 was greater than in any preceding year. The total amount produced was 13,012,-756 bbl. This figure represents a decided increase in the production of oil in Argentina and can be attributed largely to the increased activities of the Royal Dutch operations at Kilometer 27 in the Comodoro Rivadavia district and those of the Standard Oil Co. of Argentina in the Salta region. Production from the Royal Dutch wells amounted to considerably more than 10,000 bbl. per day over quite a long period during the year. Of the 13,012,756 bbl. of oil produced during 1932, the Government Agency (Y. P. F.) was responsible for some 5,578,954 bbl., while 7,433,-802 bbl. were produced by private companies. Although in 1930 the Y. P. F. produced about 55 per cent of the total production and in 1930 50 per cent of the total, in 1932 its production had fallen to about 42 1/2 per cent of the total. This decrease in the proportion produced by the Y. P. F. was not due to a decrease in its production but to the decided increase in the production of private companies, particularly those two whose names are given above. One new discovery was recorded during the year. This was a well drilled by the Y. P. F. at Cacheuta in the province of Mendoza which came in pumping 80 bbl. of 15" gravity oil from a depth of 673 meters. This well was completed at approximately the same time that the provincial government of Mendoza granted a concession to the Y. P. F. and declared the whole province as a reserve in which no concessions may be granted for a period of 10 years. Under these conditions, the federally operated Y. P. F. will have no competition in the Cacheuta area from private companies such as they have in the other three fields of the republic. The Y. P. F. wildcat west of Comodoro Rivadavia at Pampa Maria Santissima on the Rio Senguerr was completed as a dry hole during 1932. This we11 was reported as a producer in 1930 by persons returning to this country from Argentina but it appears that they had been misinformed. The site of this test has been abandoned and a new location made north of the Rio Senguerr.

Jan 1, 1933

By Gilbert P. Moore

Petroleum operations in Bolivia are still limited to those of the subsidiaries of the Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey. Development work is being carried on at Sanandita and at Bermejo and testing operations in the north. Five wells have been completed at Sanandita. Wells 1 and 2 are producers, 3 and 5, which are north of 1 and 2, are poor wells, and well 4, to the south, was dry. In the Bermejo field, well 5 has just been completed. No information as to the production is obtainable. In the north one string was operated at each of the following locations: Machareti, Camatindi and Camiri. The well completed at Machareti during the year was a failure. The result of the others is not known. It is reported on good authority that a pipe line will be completed in 1931 to connect the Sanandita field with the Lomitas field in the Argentine. This will place Bolivia among the ranks of the producing countries of South America for the first time. This development indicates that some arrangement has been arrived at with the Argentine Government for the importation of Bolivian oil. During 1930 the Bolivian Government declared in effect the new Petroleum Law which had been expected for such a long time. One of the first acts of the military junta, which rose to power through a coup d'état, was to cancel this law, so that Bolivian oil operations are still under the old law of 1921. One new local company was formed to exploit 1,500,000 hectares near the town of Cochabamba. The Bolivia Concessions, Ltd., which had a concession permitting the selection of 17,000,000 acres in eastern Bolivia, is reported to have failed in 1930 and is now being liquidated. Chile During 1930 the Chilean Government entered into a contract with an individual to explore in five distinct zones of the Republic. According to the contract, geologists must be at work there by May 1 of this year and a well must be started by the end of 1931. If the operations are

Jan 1, 1931

By O. C. Wheeler

There was a marked increase in the investigation of undeveloped areas in Colombia during 1936. The Shell company commenced geological and geophysical investigations on an intensive scale in the Upper Magdalena Valley and at the end of the year had several geological and geophysical parties working in that area. These investigations were supplemented by aerial photography and it is understood that negotiations are under way for having this work continued. The Shell is reported to have acquired some options and leases on private properties in the Upper Valley region and in the western part of Cundinamarca. The Socony Vacuum was making preparations to begin seismograph work on its property north of the Sogamoso River, acquired in 1934 from Sefior Luciano Restrepo. This company will probably start drilling on the property during 1937. The Richmond Petroleum Co. (Standard of California) is said to have renewed geological investigations in the Upper Magdalena Valley above Honda. Local Colombian interests took an active part in applying for concessions on nationally owned lands in the area between the Carare and Magdalena Rivers. The application of the Sociedad National del Carare for a concession in this area was granted during the year. Subsequently an agreement was reached between this

Jan 1, 1937

By Robert H. Palmer

Sacuranao Field.—Bacuranao field is about 12 miles east of Havana, along the contact between Cretaceous sediments and a serpentine intrusion. The zone lies within an extensive anticlinorium. The field had no developments during the year 1939. The production of 9½ bbl. per day is distilled and the gasoline and kerosene are extracted. The asphalt residue. is sold for road construction. The gas is compressed and

Jan 1, 1940

By Robert H. Palmer

Sacuranao Field.—Bacuranao field is about 12 miles east of Havana, along the contact between Cretaceous sediments and a serpentine intrusion. The zone lies within an extensive anticlinorium. The field had no developments during the year 1939. The production of 9½ bbl. per day is distilled and the gasoline and kerosene are extracted. The asphalt residue. is sold for road construction. The gas is compressed and

Jan 1, 1940

By W. Kauenhowen

The production of petroleum in Germany during 1932 totaled about 1,608,558 bbl., a slight increase over the 1, 602,517 bbl. produced in 1931. A decline, as shown in Table 1, occurred chiefly in the Volkenroda (Thuringia) field. The total production of the other fields (salt domes), however. reached a new record, about 21 per cent above 1931. Table 1.—Oil Production of Germany by Fields and Oil Provinces, 1928-1932 (Barrels of 42 Gallons)" Salt Dome Province __________________________________________________|_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1928 274,323 322,742 679 46,319 644,021 644,315 1929 310,891 337,582 10,535 67,578 719,901 720,069 1930 586,404 427,539 100,716 72,485 1,186,969 29,806 1,220,296 1931 506,548 403,634 213,549 116,088 1,242,598 360,885 1,602,517 1932 769,405 366,982 230 979 130,711 1,498,077 110,481 1,608,558 " Official figures published in Germany are given in metric tons. For the above conversion into barrels a factor of 1 metric ton equaling 7 barrels has been used. Includes a very small production from Hcide, Holstein. c Includes a very small production from Tegernsee, Bavaria, and Bruchsal, Baden. Nienhagen-Hanigsen Field In 1932 the Nienhagen-Hanigsen yielded about 51 per cent of the production from the four German salt dome fields. During 1932 the productive area was again extended, chiefly towards the northwest in the so-called north district, to which the present drilling activity is confined almost entirely. Since the discovery of the north district in 1928, about 45 wells have been drilled in it, of which only two were

Jan 1, 1933

By Walter Kauenhowen

GeRmany's crude-oil production during 1936 totaled 3,112,494 bbl., an increase of 5.2 per cent over the 3,007,711 bbl. produced in 1935. The official monthly production figures published in 1936 report only the individual production figures of the three old established fields, whereas since 1936 official reports combine the production of all other fields into one figure. According to these published data, and using a conversion factor of 1 metric ton equaling 7 bbl., the oil production of Germany in 1936 was as follows:

Jan 1, 1937

By Walter Kauenhowen

The crude-oil production of Germany without Austria during 1938 amounted to 3,864,518 bbl., representing an increase of 21.7 per cent over the 3,173,373 bbl. produced in 1937. Adding the Austrian production, the crude-oil production of the new German Reich totaled 4,259,717 bbl. during 1938, representing an increase of 25.3 per cent compared with the respective figures of the previous year. According to published official data, and using a conversion factor of 1 metric ton equaling 7 bbl., the oil production of Germany in 1938 was as shown in Table 1. A semiofficial publication1 states that the program of the crude-oil industry for the second year (1938) of the four-year plan was successfully accomplished. According to the same source, new drilling developments at the following localities were promising: Reitbrook near Hamburg, Heide in Holstein, Eicklingen-Sandlingen near Celle, Steimbke near Nienburg, Worms in the Rhine Valley, Gifhorn near Braunschweig, Mölme near Oberg, and at other places. The drilling activity for oil is illustrated by the figures in Table 2.

Jan 1, 1939

By Walter Kauenhowen

The crude-oil production of Germany without Austria during 1938 amounted to 3,864,518 bbl., representing an increase of 21.7 per cent over the 3,173,373 bbl. produced in 1937. Adding the Austrian production, the crude-oil production of the new German Reich totaled 4,259,717 bbl. during 1938, representing an increase of 25.3 per cent compared with the respective figures of the previous year. According to published official data, and using a conversion factor of 1 metric ton equaling 7 bbl., the oil production of Germany in 1938 was as shown in Table 1. A semiofficial publication1 states that the program of the crude-oil industry for the second year (1938) of the four-year plan was successfully accomplished. According to the same source, new drilling developments at the following localities were promising: Reitbrook near Hamburg, Heide in Holstein, Eicklingen-Sandlingen near Celle, Steimbke near Nienburg, Worms in the Rhine Valley, Gifhorn near Braunschweig, Mölme near Oberg, and at other places. The drilling activity for oil is illustrated by the figures in Table 2.

Jan 1, 1939

By R. V. Whetsel, V. R. Garfias

Production of crude petroleum in Mexico during 1936 totaled approximately 40,309,000 bbl., showing a negligible increase over the previous year. While only four producing wells were completed in the Poza Rica area in 1936, its production increased from 9,468,000 bbl. in 1935 to 13,417,000, making it the ranking producing field in Mexico. This gain in output, however, was offset by abnormal losses due to artificial curtailment mainly the result of strikes and other disturbances in the heavy-oil district of the Northern fields, which declined 2,500,000 bbl., and in the South fields (Golden Lane), where output decreased 1,500,-000 bbl., while production in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec fields remained practically stationary. Production of natural gasoline for 1936 is estimated at 800,000 bbl., or 200,000 bbl. greater than in 1935. Crude run to stills in local refineries increased about 1,000,000 bbl., totaling 31,000,000 bbl. for 1936. Exports of crude and refined products were approximately 24,400,000 bbl., or over 2,000,000 bbl. greater than in 1935, the increase representing withdrawals from storage in Mexico. Exclusive of ships' bunkers, domestic consumption increased about 1,000,000 bbl. during the year, reaching an estimated total of 15,200,000 bbl. The Mexican domestic demand for gasoline is estimated at 2,540,000 bbl. for the year, an increase of 310,000 bbl. over 1935. In all, 70 wells were completed in Mexico during 1936, as compared to 74 in 1935 and 148 in 1934. In proven areas 59 completions resulted in 31 producers and 28 failures. Unusual results were obtained during the year over a scattered area in northeastern Mexico near the United States border, where out of eight completions six were fair-sized gas wells. A wildcat dry hole was completed in Chocoy in an attempt to extend the Northern fields to the northeast, and another in Quebrache, to the southeast of the heavy-oil district. A deep test (10,168 ft.) through the Cretaceous lime into the Jurassic was completed as a dry hole in Metlal-toyuca, 9 miles southwest of the Old Alamo field on the Golden Lane.

Jan 1, 1937

By V. R. Garfias

After a series of fruitless negotiations, the Mexican Government, on March 18, 1938, decreed the expropriation of several oil companies, and took possession of the properties, offices and records not only of the expropriated companies but of others not legally expropriated. This condition prevails to date.

Jan 1, 1939

By V. R. Garfias

After a series of fruitless negotiations, the Mexican Government, on March 18, 1938, decreed the expropriation of several oil companies, and took possession of the properties, offices and records not only of the expropriated companies but of others not legally expropriated. This condition prevails to date.

Jan 1, 1939