翻譯：crude petroleum is not an equilibrium mixture, and on a geological time scale its composition is slowly changing. S.R.silverman found that heating at 121C for two weeks caused detectable changes, the low-molecular-weight components formed being isotopically lighter so far as the carbon was concerned, than the original.

翻譯：A major oil company usually initiates the sequence of events that leads to the drilling of oil and gas wells in foreign fields, but independent oil operators pay for most of the wells in the United States. In fact, about 80% of all wells drilled in the U.S. today are financed by independents.

翻譯：The application of physics to the study of rocks (geophysics)is very important in petroleum geology. In its broadest application geophysics makes a major contribution to understanding the earths crust and, especially through the application of modern plate tectonic(板塊構(gòu)造)theory, the genesis and petroleum potential of sedimentary basins. More specially, physical concepts are required to understand folds（褶皺）, faults（斷層）, and diapers（底辟）, and hence their roles in petroleum entrapment.

翻譯：Meanahile ,steel pipes that would carry the oil were being developed . These were the first oil pipelines which take the advantage of the fact the oil is a liqnid. The ideas of a pipeline were not new , water has been transported through pipes for handreds of year ,The oil pipeline were not accepted without a struggle, hower.

翻譯：Practically every rig uses internal-combustion engines as its prime power source, or its prime mover.

翻譯：The first step in planning a well should be the gathering of all available data on past wells. In this respect it is important to be completely familiar with all sources of information, the availability of the sources, and the information normally associated with each source.

翻譯：Gas lift is particularly applicable for lifting wells where high-pressure gas is available.Gas compressors may have been installed for gas injection, or high-pressure gas wells may be nearby. Since the cost of compression far exceeds the cost of down hole gas lift equipment, gas lift always should be considered when an adequate volume of high-pressure gas is available for wells requiring artificial lift. Most wells can be depleted by gas lift,which is particularly true since the implementation of reservoir pressure maintenance programs in most major oil fields.

翻譯：If Colonel Drake, Uncle Billy smith , Anthony Lucas , and the untold thousands of other members of the fraternity of drilling pioneers were alive today , they would no doubt be fascinated and amazed by the proliferation of drilling tools and techniques that have been developed since those primitive days in Pennsylvania and Texas . Undoubltly , they would also be impress by the great numbers of drilling rigs at work today-------over two thousand in the USA alone.

翻譯：The primary limitations for gas lift operations are the lack of formation gas of an outside source of gas, wide well spacing, and available space for compressors on off-shore plat forms. Generally, gas lift is not applicable to single-well installations and widely spaced wells that are not suited for a centrally located power system.

翻譯：For example ,the determination of the pump-setting depth and size of plunger that will lead to the maximum pumping rate in a particular well is a problem of considerable difficulty, which even today has not been fully or saris factorial solved; another interesting problem is that of gas anchors(bottom-hole separators); yet another is the interpretation of the results obtained form devices for determining the depth of the fluid level in the annulus during pumping.