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Enhanced Oil Recovery Series
CHEMICAL METHODS

Series Editor

ABDOLHOSSEIN HEMMATI-SARAPARDEH
Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
This page intentionally left blank
CHEMICAL METHODS

Edited by
ABDOLHOSSEIN HEMMATI-SARAPARDEH
Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
MAHIN SCHAFFIE
Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
MOHAMMAD RANJBAR
Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
MINGZHE DONG
University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
ZHAOMIN LI
China University of Petroleum (East China), Beijing, China
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Contents

Contributors xi
Preface xv
Acknowledgments xvii

1. Introduction to chemical enhanced oil recovery 1

Yaser Ahmadi, Majid Mohammadi, and Mehdi Sedighi
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Chemical EOR methods 3
1.3 Conclusions 23
References 26

2. Polymer flooding 33
Forough Ameli, Saber Moghadam, and Samiye Shahmarvand
2.1 Introduction 33
2.2 Classification of EOR polymers 34
2.3 Polymers features and screening criteria 36
2.4 Polymer rheology 43
2.5 Polymer as fracturing fluid in oil reservoir 50
2.6 Polymer adsorption 51
2.7 Displacement mechanisms in polymer flooding 52
2.8 Fractional flow curve analysis 56
2.9 Polymer flooding performance 60
2.10 Polymer flooding in heavy oil recovery 62
2.11 Polymer flooding design and offshore experiences 65
2.12 Modeling and simulations 68
2.13 Upscaling 74
2.14 Laboratory tests and interpretation of the results 75
2.15 Field cases 79
2.16 Injection scheme 83
2.17 Operation problems 84
2.18 Well pattern 86
2.19 Surface facilities 87
2.20 Economics and feasibility study of polymer flooding processes 89
References 92

v
vi Contents

3. Enhanced oil recovery using surfactants 95

Sabber Khandoozi, Amin Sharifi, and Masoud Riazi
3.1 Overview 95
3.2 Types of surfactants 96
3.3 Chemicals used in surfactant flooding 99
3.4 Thermal and aqueous stability 100
3.5 Optimum salinity 103
3.6 Mechanisms 107
3.7 Emulsion formation and treatment 110
3.8 Surfactant retention 111
3.9 Upscaling 128
3.10 Screening criteria 130
3.11 Field cases 133
References 136

4. Alkaline flooding 141

Ali Rahimi, Morteza Jami, Hassan Divandari, and Mehdi Safari
4.1 Introduction 141
4.2 Commonly used alkaline agents 141
4.3 Alkaline reaction 142
4.4 Mechanisms 149
4.5 Effect of reservoir condition on alkaline process 160
4.6 Geology and lithologic variation of reservoir 161
4.7 Effect of pH 162
4.8 Salinity effect on alkaline flooding 163
4.9 Effects of oil composition on alkaline flooding 166
4.10 Ternary diagram in alkaline flooding 171
4.11 Success rate and screening criteria 174
4.12 Displacement efficiency in alkaline process 175
4.13 Combined flooding processes 177
4.14 Simulation and modeling 178
4.15 Application of machine learning 188
4.16 Surveillance and monitoring of alkaline flooding 193
4.17 Application conditions of the alkaline flooding project 194
A Appendix 196
References 213

5. Alkaline-surfactant polymer (ASP) 221

Meysam Nourani and Saeid Sadeghnejad
5.1 Introduction 221
5.2 Synergy of alkaline, surfactant, and polymer constituents 221
 Contents vii

5.3 Polymer effect 223

5.4 Emulsion properties and stability 226
5.5 ASP compatibility 227
5.6 Mechanism descriptions 228
5.7 Factors that influence IFT 229
5.8 Factors that influence wettability 229
5.9 Phase separation 230
5.10 Surfactant polymer adsorption 230
5.11 Modeling and simulations 231
5.12 Application of machine learning 232
5.13 Optimization the design of ASP injection 233
5.14 Chemistry 234
5.15 Screening criteria 236
5.16 Laboratory tests 237
5.17 Field examples and performance 238
5.18 ASP flooding: Field challenges 239
References 242

6. Improved oil recovery by gel technology: Water shutoff and

conformance control 249
Saeid Sadeghnejad, Marjan Ashrafizadeh, and Meysam Nourani
6.1 Introduction 249
6.2 Excessive water control 251
6.3 Polymer gels 254
6.4 In situ gel 262
6.5 Preformed particle gel (PPG) 273
6.6 Temperature-activated polymer gel (TAP) 288
6.7 pH-sensitive microgel 292
References 302

7. Smart water injection 313

Arastoo Abdi, Zahra Bahmani, Behnam Ranjbar, and Masoud Riazi
7.1 Basic concepts 313
7.2 Condition for smart water injection in sandstone reservoirs 313
7.3 Condition for smart water injection in carbonate reservoirs 314
7.4 Factors influencing smart water 315
7.5 Physical and chemical mechanisms of recovery 320
7.6 Injected and formation brine interaction 332
7.7 Optimum salinity 333
7.8 Zeta potential 334
viii Contents

7.9 Dynamic investigation of contact angle and interfacial tension 335

7.10 Heterogeneity and fluid diversion 337
7.11 Effect on relative permeability curve 337
7.12 Simulation 338
7.13 Machine learning 338
7.14 Upscaling 339
7.15 Screening criteria 341
7.16 Field study 342
7.17 Success rate 344
7.18 Field challenges 345
7.19 Operation problems 345
7.20 Economic and environmental feasibility 345
References 346

8. A comprehensive review on the use of eco-friendly surfactants

in oil industry 357
Hossein Mehrjoo, Mohsen Riazi, and Saeid Norouzi-Apourvari
8.1 Overview 357
8.2 Surfactant 357
8.3 Surfactant flooding 375
8.4 Surfactant EOR mechanisms 375
8.5 Effect of eco-friendly surfactants on the IFT, wettability alteration, and oil recovery 382
8.6 Other applications of surfactant 387
8.7 Future perspectives, recommendations, and challenges 388
References 390

9. Combination of chemical methods 401

Morteza Asemani and Amin Rezaei
9.1 Introduction 401
9.2 Key components of combined chemical methods 401
9.3 Combined chemical EOR methods 405
9.4 Comparison of different methods 417
9.5 Screening criteria for selecting the combined EOR methods 417
9.6 Modeling and simulations 420
9.7 Application of machine learning 420
9.8 Field applications 421
9.9 Field challenges 423
9.10 Economic and environmental feasibility 424
References 425
 Contents ix

10. Chemical enhanced oil recovery in unconventional reservoirs 433

Ali Mirzaalian Dastjerdi and Sefatallah Ashoorian
10.1 Introduction 433
10.2 Unconventional reservoirs description 435
10.3 Coalbed methane reservoirs 441
10.4 Heavy oil and tar sands 443
10.5 Shale oil and gas reservoirs 446
10.6 Field examples 453
10.7 Screening criteria/challenging 455
References 457

11. Formation damage during chemical flooding 461

Amin Rezaei and Saman Bagherpour
11.1 Introduction 461
11.2 Problems associated with different chemical methods 463
11.3 Combined CEOR processes 470
11.4 Techniques to mitigate FD during EOR processes 473
11.5 Identification of risk and opportunity of EOR projects 474
11.6 Summary and conclusions 476
References 476

Index 479
Contributors

Arastoo Abdi
Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Research Centre, IOR/EOR Research Institute, Shiraz
University, Shiraz, Iran

Yaser Ahmadi
Petroleum and Chemical Engineering Department, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

Forough Ameli
School of Chemical Engineering, Petroleum and Gas, Iran University of Science and
Technology, Tehran, Iran

Morteza Asemani
Department of Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

Sefatallah Ashoorian
Institute of Petroleum Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering,
University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Marjan Ashrafizadeh
Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran,
Iran

Saman Bagherpour
Separation Processes & Nanotechnology Lab, Faculty of Caspian, College of Engineering,
University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Zahra Bahmani
Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Research Centre, IOR/EOR Research Institute, Shiraz
University, Shiraz, Iran

Ali Mirzaalian Dastjerdi

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran,
Iran

Hassan Divandari
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

Morteza Jami
School of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei,
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

xi
xii Contributors

Sabber Khandoozi
Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Research Centre, IOR/EOR Research Institute; Petroleum
Engineering Department, School of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Shiraz University,
Shiraz, Iran

Hossein Mehrjoo
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

Saber Moghadam
School of Chemical Engineering, Petroleum and Gas, Iran University of Science and
Technology, Tehran, Iran

Majid Mohammadi
Department of Energy Engineering, Qom University of Technology, Qom, Iran

Saeid Norouzi-Apourvari
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

Meysam Nourani
Ugelstad Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science
and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway

Ali Rahimi
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht,
Iran

Behnam Ranjbar
Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Research Centre, IOR/EOR Research Institute, Shiraz
University, Shiraz, Iran

Amin Rezaei
Department of Petroleum Engineering, School of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Shiraz
University, Shiraz, Iran

Masoud Riazi
Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Research Centre, IOR/EOR Research Institute; Petroleum
Engineering Department, School of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Shiraz University,
Shiraz, Iran

Mohsen Riazi
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman;
Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Research Center, IOR/EOR Research Institute, Shiraz
University, Shiraz, Iran

Saeid Sadeghnejad
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares
University, Tehran, Iran
 Contributors xiii

Mehdi Safari
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University, Miri, Malaysia

Mehdi Sedighi
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Qom, Qom, Iran

Samiye Shahmarvand
School of Chemical Engineering, Petroleum and Gas, Iran University of Science and
Technology, Tehran, Iran

Amin Sharifi
Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Research Centre, IOR/EOR Research Institute; Petroleum
Engineering Department, School of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Shiraz University,
Shiraz, Iran
Preface

Oil production is generally divided into three stages, namely primary, secondary, and
tertiary [enhanced oil recovery (EOR)]. After the primary and secondary stages, only part
of the oil is produced and the remaining hydrocarbons should be produced by EOR.
Generally, EOR can produce up to 75% oil. EOR techniques are also applicable to
unconventional reservoirs such as tight gas, oil sands, coal bed methane, and shale oil res-
ervoirs. EOR methods are generally classified into thermal recovery, gas injection, chem-
ical injection, and new emerging technologies such as microbial, electrical, mechanical,
and chemical leaching.
Chemical Methods, the first book in the Enhanced Oil Recovery Series, helps engineers
to focus on the latest developments in one of the fast-growing areas of EOR. The book
presents the latest research and practical applications specific to chemical EOR methods.
Chapter 1 focuses on the fundamentals and applications of chemical EOR methods. In
Chapters 2–5, the main chemical methods, namely polymer flooding, use of surfactants,
alkaline flooding, and alkaline surfactant polymers, are described. Chapter 6 presents the
technique of improved oil recovery by gel technology for water shutoff and conformance
control. Chapters 7–9 describe new emerging chemical methods such as smart water
flooding, natural surfactant flooding, and hybrid chemical methods. Chemical EOR
methods in unconventional reservoirs are covered in Chapter 10. The last chapter,
Chapter 11, explains formation damage during chemical flooding.
All the chapters have been peer reviewed by the editors and have been accepted after
considering the editors’ comments and suggestions. The book will be helpful for all sci-
entists/researchers involved in petroleum engineering, EOR, and reservoir engineering.
It will also help graduates, postgraduates, and PhD candidates to understand the funda-
mentals and applications of chemical methods.
Abdolhossein Hemmati-Sarapardeh
Editor of Enhanced Oil Recovery Series

xv
Acknowledgments

I express my sincere thanks to all the editors and authors for their timely contribu-
tions. The successful completion of this book is the result of the cooperation of many
individuals, and I express my gratitude to all of them, especially the editors of this
book—Prof. Mahin Schaffie, Prof. Mohammad Ranjbar, Prof. Mingzhe Dong, and
Zhaomin Li.
I also acknowledge the support provided by Timothy Bennett, Ali Afzal-Khan, Katie
Hammon, and Kamesh Ramajogi from Elsevier in completing the publication process. I
express my profound gratitude and thanks to Amin Rezaei from Shiraz University for
designing the cover image for this book.
Abdolhossein Hemmati-Sarapardeh
Editor of Enhanced Oil Recovery Series

xvii
CHAPTER 1

Introduction to chemical enhanced

oil recovery
Yaser
a
Ahmadia, Majid Mohammadib, and Mehdi Sedighic
Petroleum and Chemical Engineering Department, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran
b
Department of Energy Engineering, Qom University of Technology, Qom, Iran
c
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Qom, Qom, Iran

1.1 Introduction
With the rapid industrialization of economies, the necessity for natural resources has
grown rapidly. The easy-to-develop oilfields have long been identified. Finding new
economically viable fields, however, is becoming increasingly difficult [1]. Therefore,
the essential goal of oil industries is to improve the recovery factor of mature oilfields
by using EOR technologies [2, 3]. Fig. 1.1 shows that the yearly oil and gas demand
is on the rise; therefore, petroleum-related countries should boost oil exploitation.
Fig. 1.2 depicts three phases of oil recovery. Almost two-thirds of the original oil in place
(OOIP) remains before the EOR phase [6]. There are several reasons for the remaining
oil, including heterogeneities, capillary forces, and unfavorable mobility ratios [7].
Table 1.1 shows the substantial amounts of oil that have been recovered after two stages
of recovery.
To improve overall displacement efficiency (macroscopic and microscopic) and
recover remaining oil in a reservoir, two main EOR techniques need to be applied,
which can be either thermal or nonthermal [16–19]. It has been established that nonther-
mal methods are more effective than thermal methods to recover trapped oil. Figs. 1.3
and 1.4 illustrate the classification of EOR methods with additional details.
In comparison to all nonthermal methods, chemical methods have been shown to
have higher efficiency and lower cost. This is likely a consequence of lowering the
IFT, altering wettability, and enhancing viscosity by the best possible method [20].
Fig. 1.5 shows common chemical EOR methods, along with a combination of those
methods that will be discussed further. In the severe situations, such as elevated pressure
and temperature and high salinity, the alkaline-surfactant-polymer combination has more
efficacy [22].
The primary goal of chemical EOR is to act on one or more of the following aspects:
mobility (application of water-polymer solutions to increase viscosity), wettability of the
rock, and interfacial tension. Consequently, factors that affect recovery should be

Chemical Methods Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc.

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-821931-7.00002-X All rights reserved. 1
2 Chemical methods

100%
Other renewables
Wind/Solar
80% Nuclear

60% Natural Gas

40%
Oil

20%
Coal
0%
2016 2040
Fig. 1.1 World crude oil demand [4].
Producon

2ary Recovery /
Pressure
Maintenance
3ary Recovery
(EOR)

1ary Recovery Abandonment/

Natural Decommissioning
Depleon

Time

Fig. 1.2 Production framework for the different recovery stages [5].

Table 1.1 Recovery factors after primary and secondary stages.

Oil recovery factor (%) Reference
30–40 Sengupta et al. [8]
40–50 Mujahidin et al. [9]

30 Kumar and Mandal [10]
<50 Ahmadi et al. [11]
20–30 Maurya et al. [12]
30–50 Riazi and Golkari [13]
30–50 Kok [14]

50 Ali et al. [15]
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 And now we will finish by saying a few words concerning the
plump chubby-cheeked one.
His name was Santiago Morcillo. He was a native of Leon, had no
parents, and was one of those quiet beings whom it is difficult to
rouse, either through anger or pleasure. When anything unpleasant
happened, he said only, “God’s will be done,” and if he had reason to
feel pleased, showed it only by a smile or by going to church to thank
God for the favors which he bestowed on him. His father’s conduct
had been disorderly, and he left but few unencumbered possessions,
his affairs being in confusion, but the good-natured Santiago did not
mind this. He was quite the opposite of his father and, by force of
work, economy and shrewdness, he recovered what was lost, and
even improved his condition so far that finally he was free from debt
and in easy circumstances. Until then he had never thought of
women, and when he did, he said,
“I shall take a rest now. It would be folly to begin a dangerous
experiment immediately. My mother was a very virtuous woman, but
all women are not alike.”
The good Morcillo was not only economical, but somewhat
avaricious, and it occurred to him to use the influence of his relatives
to obtain some sort of office, and with this object in view he had
come to the court at Madrid. One morning he went to mass at St.
Joseph’s Church, and standing near the entrance, and turning aside
to let a caballero pass, he saw Doña Estrella, who was kneeling in
prayer, her virgin lips moving in religious fervor, and her eyes raised
to Heaven with a most sweet and tender expression. For the first
time Señor Santiago felt a vivid impression, and involuntarily he
made a somewhat impious comparison between the sublime young
girl and an angel. He was always timid in the presence of women,
but this being was not a woman, she was a cherub. Being a good
Catholic, the hidalgo instantly repented of his sinful attention to
worldly affairs, and turning his back upon the young lady, began to
repeat his prayers; but he was unable to forget the cherub with the
blue eyes, and ten minutes later, moved by an irresistible attraction,
he turned and looked again. He saw her a second time, and felt his
heart beating. When the mass was over, the good Morcillo could
contain himself no longer. He turned quickly round and looked for
her. The mother was very near her daughter, and in front, one behind
the other, were her two sisters. However, in the crowd it was not
easy to see that the four belonged together, and besides, the hidalgo
had no eyes for any except the fair one. He tried to get nearer to her,
but every one rose at the same moment, and he again lost sight of
her for a few moments. He tried his best to force a way for himself
through the crowd, but, being quite confused, he paid no attention as
to where he planted his feet, and many of the faithful accosted him
roughly, while others threw themselves against him and prevented
his getting out. The poor fellow was almost suffocated, crushed and
choking. He could hardly breathe, and perspired freely, while his face
became livid. His stoutness was his great misfortune, and he missed
the lady.
“Is it possible that I have fallen in love?” he asked himself when he
got into the street.
He could not forget the fair face, and began to think the matter
over with as much calmness as he could muster in his
embarrassment. Having met such an angel of a woman, why should
he not marry her? A bachelor’s life was very nice, but only up to a
certain age. He went to mass the next day, and again he saw
Estrella, and lost her in leaving the church. At last, on the day when
our story begins, Morcillo, like the others, discovered by accident the
residence of the charming maiden. He saw her on the balcony.
Nothing else happened, but, feeling sure that he was in love, and
that his will power was not strong enough to resist his passion, he
made up his mind to go on with his wooing, and not to stop, unless
this marvelous being with the face of an angel should prove to be a
demon, which was, of course, impossible.

Now we know the three hidalgos, who did not resemble each other
in the slightest degree.
(To be continued.)
 QUATRAIN.
To dash irradiant on the barren shore
The wave is born; the lark to sing and soar;
To traffic with the sun upsprings the tree—
Man only has no certain destiny.

—H. C. H.
 EXTRACTS FROM THE LOG OF THE
“RITA”
BEING A DISCONNECTED ACCOUNT OF THE DOINGS OF SOME
ARTISTS ON A SUMMER CRUISE....

“First day out. We can scarcely realize we have left behind the heat, the noise,
and the dust of the city for three weeks. Far to the north, overhung by clouds
of noisome smoke, our late prison is gradually sinking from sight. Only the
tallest spires and houses can be seen. As the distance grows greater our
hearts grow lighter, and dance in unison with the leaping waves. The day is a
miracle of light and color,—
and
we’re
a happy
 crew!”

“Came
very
near
being
wrecked
last night. Even the moon was full—but that fact saved the lives of all on
board. Spike made a sketch this morning that will explain better than words.”
 “The fashionable portrait painter’s man and girl flirting on the shore turned
out to be rather clever devices for frightening crows. He has been advised to
consult an oculist.”

“Fuzzie-Wuzzie and the Languid Aquarellist got together in the forecastle to

hatch a scheme to get possession of the champagne. Nick, the Nipper, woke
up and heard the conversation. He called to Mock-a-Hi. Hi took in the situation
at a glance, and skewered Fuzzie and the Aquarellist with his prize finger-nail
(with which he does his etchings), and thus the villains were balked. The
conspirators had been eating Anti-Puncture, so that when Hi withdrew his nail,
none of the wind came out of their tires. There was little blood and much wine
spilled over this affair. The Skipper instantly had the schemers put in irons,
and Nick, the Nipper, was allowed to torture them in their helpless condition
with a few of his songs and imitations, as a reward for his vigilance.”
 “To-day we took on board a small party of guests, several ladies being
among the number. The finished style in which our fashionable portrait painter
received the latter excited general admiration. There is very little doubt but
that he will be promoted to be Assistant Skipper, with a cook’s pay.”

“The Skipper complained this evening of “feeling queer in the head,” and
the Duke made unkindly reference to the moon (which is known to have a
peculiar influence in certain cases), but got “sat on” for his inopportune display
of wit. Fuzzie’s allusion to the banquet in the cabin last night was perhaps
more truly explanatory.”
 “Sailing
close to
shore,
—and enjoying the
beautiful glimpses of
field and wood seen
through the golden
haze of a summer
afternoon.
What a
glorious
land!”

“The Languid Aquarellist is singing the national anthem. Perhaps he is

being unconsciously stirred by all these
wondrous
beauties of
nature.”
“Here
Truthful
Freddie
—sits by the hour, in
the golden evening
glow, dreaming of—what ?”
 “Salad
day.
Before seven o’clock this morning Curly and the Duke had caught enough
crabs to supply the mess of a man-of-war. The salad—prepared by the Duke,
of course—was pronounced excellent in technique, although somewhat after
the manner of Bouguereau, being extremely smooth and delicate.
But this
can be
forgiven
in a
salad.”
 “Late this afternoon we passed a sailing party homeward-bound. As they
passed, quite close, Spike, with his ever-ready pencil, transferred several of
the most conspicuous members to paper.”

“For his marvelous success in mixing salads, the Duke, who studied the
culinary art in Paris and Rome, has been made Second Mate.”

“Three days out. The Languid Aquarellist insisted this morning on going
ashore and shooting ducks—wild ones. After he had almost decimated a
farmer’s prize flock of pekins (without noticing their barnyard confidence in
man)—he was promoted by the Captain for excellent gunnery, and the
addition to the yacht’s stores.”

“Tomson, (of the Barber’s-Own School), spent the entire afternoon trying to
convince Miss ⸺ that his own peculiar method of painting is the acme of art.
Miss ⸺ seemed delighted with his efforts, and thinks his pictures are “just
lovely.” She wants him to attempt an imaginary portrait of the sea serpent.

Owing to the ceaseless motion of the boat, Tomson’s pictures are decidedly
impressionistic.”
 —“And then Bill Weatherbones gave us his version of the great naval
combat at Santiago, in which he took a very prominent part. ‘I tole yer how it
wuz,’ Bill began; ‘it wuz dis way, sur. I wuz a-settin’ on de aft hatch a-smokin’ a
cigar Bill Sampson giv’ me, an’ Bill an’ Winnie Schley wuz a-workin’ out a little
game wid de cards. Bill t’rowed down his papes an’ sed,—
“I
aint
got
no
luck,
I got to shake yuse fellers. Mc. he’s sent me de wire to go over an’ chin dat
man Shafter, wot’s runnin’ de army push, an’ make him git a move on hisself.”
“Don’t go, Bill,” sez I, “send one o’ de gang, it’s too hot fer yer, wot’s de good
yer workin’?” “Dem aint me orders,” sez Bill, den turnin’ to Winnie Schley, he
giv’ him de stern look, an’ sed, “Winnie, yer do de stunts here till I gets back
wid meself, an’ if de Spaniels tries ter get out de bottle squirt de guns on ’em.”
“I’m on,” sez Winnie, an’ he giv’ me de wink, “if de farmers shows up I shoots.”
Den de Admiral he gits in his little ya’t an’ sails off. Winnie den piped up de
grog all eround, an’ de game went on ag’in. I aint much stuck on de game de
navy push puts up, it’s on de squar’, an’ so I set dere gappin’ an’ feedin’ me
face, while de boys plays. All of a sudding I seen over dere where de guy
Hobson sinked de Merrymac some smoke. I wunk t’ meself, but didden say
nothin’ to break de boys up, but soon Winnie Schley looked up an’ seen it.
“Hully gee!” he yelled, “de blokes is a-chasin’ out,” an’ he grabbed a bunch o’
flags an’ did de signal act o’ his life. He worked dose flags till he looked like a
skirt dancer. De udder ships looked like a back yard wid de clothes-line full of
red-flannel shirts from de wavin’ de guys put up. “Git dem guns loaded,” yelled
Schley, “yuse blokes look lively, dere.” Boom! busted out one o’ de big guns,
an’ de noise it knock de win’ outten me works. It hit de Spaniel an’ turned him
bottom upwards; when he come up ag’in he shot his gun at us, but it wuz half
a mile too high. Schley he rung out de joyous laugh. “Dere optics aint no
good,” sez he, den he lets anudder ball go at him dat went clean t’rough him
an’ hit anudder ship two miles off an’ sunk it in a minnit. Den up comes
anudder Spaniel, an’ I seen⸺’”

“The steering gear is a little rattled: a puff of wind blew a lock of Mate
Fuzzie-Wuzzie’s hair into the wheels, and instantly the vessel swung round.
The engine was stopped, and in the excitement that ensued, a case of
champagne was almost lost overboard. We had to run backward for a mile
and a-half to disengage Fuzzie’s hair from the machinery. Fuzzie has been
reduced.”
 “Spike’s interest in the war has grown to be a matter of serious
inconvenience to all on board. He has literally covered the yacht with
Military
and
Naval
cartoons.
The boat will certainly have to be re-painted. This morning he came on deck
with a drawing he did sometime during the night, which represents Uncle Sam
admonishing Spain to stop kicking the “yaller dorg”—Cuba. It’s not half bad,
but his claim of it’s being the best yet made on the war is a little strong. He
has been so busy admiring it all day he has not thought to make any others—
and we have had time to breathe.”
 “We
came
to
anchor
this evening near the wreck of the “Two Sisters,” in the vicinity of which—on
the shore—was situated a dog-pound, containing some two hundred canines
awaiting execution.... We enjoyed a night of delightful rest.”
“The Skipper went out on his bicycle gig to take a survey of the harbor, but the
roadway was running so high he found it difficult to make any headway,
and had to return to the yacht.”

“Curly has been pronounced unfit for the duties of an able-bodied seaman,
and has been handed over to the Duke for treatment. It is suspected he is
afflicted with some curious, and hitherto unknown, form of love. Yesterday the
Duke administered a very carefully prepared shrimp salad, but it failed utterly
to bring about the desired results. He’s still very pensive, and seems to wish to
be alone. Grave symptoms indeed. Ever since our last visit ashore, when he
was seen walking through the fields with a tall, willowy creature of undeniable
attractiveness, he has been very dejected and apathetic.

We shall
try
keel-hauling
as a
last resort,
—but trust it will not be necessary.”
 “The last glimpse of the glorious old Bay, and the last day afloat. The cruise
has been one of continuous delight, but we can not but regret the end has
come, and we must tread the bricks of uninteresting streets instead of the
swaying deck of the Rita. But, as Bill Weatherbones would say, “Wot’s de
use? Man aint born to be happy,
—an’
dats
straight.”

THE END