AN ANTICLINAL FOLD NEAR BILLINGS, NOBLE COUNTY,

OKLAHOMA.

By A. E. PATH.

INTRODUCTION.

INCENTIVE FOR INVESTIGATION.

During February, 1916, gas was struck in small quantities at 

shallow depths in a well being drilled by the Mid-Co Petroleum 

Co. a few miles southeast of Billings, Noble County, Okla. As this 

discovery was made at a place more than 20 miles distant from any 

other known oil and gas development it has attracted considerable 

attention, which is justified by the presence of a large anticlinal 

fold, a type of structure that should be favorable for the accumulation of oil and gas. A description of the anticlinal fold and a 

discussion of the possibilities of developing an oil and gas field here 

are given in this brief report, which is based on a rapid examination 

of the region made late in February and early in March, 1916.

LOCATION, ACCESSIBILITY, AND CULTURE.

t

The anticlinal fold to be described lies in the northwestern part of 

Noble County, Okla. (See fig..l, p. iv.) It may extend northward 

into Kay County, but the scarcity of rock outcrops made it impossible to verify this supposition in advance of sufficient drilling to 

determine the underground structure.

The town of Billings, which is at the terminus of a branch line of 

the Chicago, Eock Island & Pacific Railway running from Enid, is 

the nearest shipping point. Bliss and Red Rock are near-by towns on 

the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, which runs a short distance east of the area shown on the accompanying map (PL IX). 

Perry, the county seat of Noble County, is 9 miles to the south, at the 

intersection of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the St. Louis 

& San Francisco railroads. The region of the anticline can be 

reached from any of these towns.

The surface of the area is in general a gently rolling prairie but 

is modified here and there by low escarpments where the more resistant beds have withstood erosion better than the adjacent softer beds. 

The region is almost devoid of timber except along the stream

43768° Bull. 641 17 9 121
122 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, 1916, PART II.

valleys. Most of it is under cultivation and it contains many good 

farms. The roads follow the section lines and most of them are 

sufficiently good for automobile travel.

METHODS OF FIELD WORK.

For lack of time a detailed map of the entire region was not made, 

but it is believed that the more important anticlinal features were 

determined with considerable accuracy. The structure contours on 

the map (PI. IX) are based on elevations and locations determined 

by means of plane table, telescopic alidade, and stadia rod. Such 

structure contours show how the rock beds lie. They usually refer to 

some particular bed and represent the elevations or altitude above 

some datum plane at which this bed may be found. Where the bed 

has been worn away they represent the elevations at which it lay before it was removed. The elevations shown on Plate IX are based 

on a bench mark established by B. F. Lewis, surveyor of Garfield 

County, at the southwest corner of sec. 19, T. 24 N., K. 2 W., and 

described as a spike in a telephone pole at the northeast corner of the 

road intersection, elevation 1,036.31 feet. This bench mark is based 

on the elevation of a United States Geological Survey bench mark 

at Enid, Okla. At several places where lack of time did not permit 

accurate plane-table determinations of strike and dip the approximate strike and dip as observed by the writer are shown on the map 

(PI. IX) by the ordinary strike and dip symbol.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

* The writer is indebted to many individuals and companies for 

information and suggestions, and desires to express especial obligations to Valerius, McNutt & Hughes, Julius Fohs, Frank B. Van 

Horn, L. E. Trout, and the drillers of the Mid-Co Petroleum 

Co.'swell.

GEOLOGY.

STRATIGRAPHY.

The surface rocks of the region have an aggregate thickness of 

more than 150 feet and are predominantly shale, but include also 

sandstone and argillaceous limestone, all of Permian age. The position of these rocks in the Permian series is roughly estimated at 500 

to 900 feet above the horizon of the Neva limestone, which is generally placed near the top of the underlying Pennsylvanian series. No 

single outcrop shows the complete succession of rocks exposed in the 

region, and hence to obtain the following stratigraphic section it was 

necessary to combine parts of the section measured at three localities.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 641 PLATE IX

, Tonkawa 7miles 

Block well / Smiles

T24N.

T.23

KAY */ COUNTY 

r-i£ 

i: /I COUNTY

6

Outcrops of key beds used 

in determining structure 

smallerdpts indicate 

location inferred

Structure contours representing elevation above sea level of 

lowest prominent outcropping 

limestone bed; dashed line indicates location not certain

Approximate direction of 

strike and dip

See description under 

heading " The anticline"

a Miles

\To iucten 10 miles >«<HUVU>«HD rr,,»T«o BYTM1I U.3.O.OUXSI&M. OUXVtY I PQrCy 9 mil

MAP OF ANTICLINAL FOLD NEAR BILLINGS, OKLAHOMA

Bliss

6 miles

Red Rock 

4- miles
AN ANTICLINAL FOLD NEAR BILLINGS, OKLA. 123

Composite section of exposed rocks measured in the Billings region.

Section exposed in the NW. J sec. 23, T. 23 N., R. 2 W.

Ft. in.

1. Sandstone, reddish brown, cross-bedded, ripple

marked; thickness variable __________ 3±

2. Shale and thin sandstones, poorly exposed, probably reddish to chocolate-brown in color_____ 19 0

3. Sandstone, reddish brown, thin bedded, poorly exposed _______________ _ ____ 1±

4. 'Shale, reddish chocolate-colored _____ 5±

5. Limestone, composed of angular limestone particles ____________ ____________ 3 

G. Shale, gray; contains four thin limy layers "in

upper 2 feet_______ 5 3 

7. Limestone, argillaceous, light gray_________ 1 

S. a. Shale, gray to reddish chocolate-colored, about- 6± 

Z>. Shale, gray; near middle contains a 4-inch layer 

of concretions as much as 2 inches in diameter_______________________ 3 9

9. Limestone, argillaceous, light gray ______ 2

10. ffl. Shale, gray__._____________:_____ 1 

&. Shale, mottled greenish gray and red, limy near

top___________ __________ 5 0

11. Limestone, argillaceous, light gray; thickness variable____________=_____________ 6-10

12. a. Shale, gray_______________________ 4 

b. Shale, chocolate-colored ______________ 2 0

13. Limestone, argillaceous, light gray________ 2±

14. a. Shale, reddish gray________________ 11 

I. Shale, reddish chocolate-colored; base not exposed .. __ 8-1- 

c. Poorly exposed; probably all shale_______ 9±

Section exposed in the NW. £ sec. 14, T. 23 N., R. 2 W.

15. Sandstone, dark red, cross-bedded; contains plant

remains; thickness variable _________ 1-5 0 

1C. a. Shale, gray______________________ 5± 

&. Shale, maroon_________:__________ 1 0 

c. Shale, gray_______ ___________ 5 0 

17. Limestone, argillaceous, light gray, thin bedded;

weathers out in small angular fragments__ _ " 8 

IS. Shale, gray, limy near top_______________ 9

19. Limestone, argillaceous, light gray_________ 3

20. Shale, gray ________________________ 3

21. Limestone, argillaceous, light gray_________ 3

22. Shale, gray ______________________ 6

23. Limestone, argillaceous, light gray, rather massive ; contains mud cracks_____________ 8

24. a. Shale, limy, and argillaceous limestone; in beds 

I inch to 3 inches thick; limestone light gray 

and shale dark gray_______________ 2 0 

&. Shale, not well exposed but probably gray_L. 6 8
124 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, 1916, PART II.

Ft. iu.

25. Limestone, argillaceous, light gray; contains thin 

lenses of gray shale; lowest bed 2$ inches thick 

and contains many shells of the bivalved crustacean (Estherea cf. E. minuta). At some 

localities this bed is sandy____________ 6

26. a. Shale, gray to greenish gray____.. ____..__ ._ 1 9

&. Shale, dark gray, almost black__________ 9

c. Shale, gray to yellowish gray__________ 7 0

27. Limestone, argillaceous, thin bedded; weathers 

out in small fragments; contains thin lenses of 

gray shale______.,__ ____________ 1 2

28. a. Shale, dark gray_________________ 1 1 

6. Shale, gray, more resistant near bottom and top

than in middle_______________'__ 2 6 

c. Shale, gray to greenish gray_____ ________ 5 3

29. Limestone, light gray, thin bedded, weathers out 

as small slabs or plates; shows some cross and 

wavy bedding; contains thin lenses of gray shale_ 1 6

Section exposed in the NW. \ sec. 22, T. 23 N., R. 2 W.

30. a. Shale, yellowish gray __ __ _ 5 0 

&. Shale, mottled gray and reddish gray_____ 2 0 

c. Shale, bluish gray_ ___ _________ 3 0 

d. Shale, very limy__________..______ 1 

e. Shale, gray___ ____ ______ 5 6

/. Shale, mottled greenish gray and reddish brown_ 2 6 

g. Shale, gray, contains three thin limy layers, one 

7 inches, another 13 inches, and the other 18 

inches below the top___^___________ 6 0 

h. Shale, reddish chocolate-colored _______ 1 10 

i. Shale, gray____________________ 3 2

/. Shale, very limy, light gray____________ 2 

fc. Shale, gray, contains one thin limy layer 3

inches above bottom__: _______ ___ 2 9 

1. Shale, reddish brown _ __ 5 6 

in. Shale, gray, base not shown _ 3+

154 6+

The three most conspicuous of these strata were used as key beds in 

determining the details of the structure. These key beds are No. 29 

of the section, which is the lowest limestone bed; No. 15, which is 

the sandstone bed near the middle of the section; and Nos. 1,2, and 3, 

the group of sandstones at the top. The structure contours on the 

map show the position and elevation of bed No. 29, the lowermost 

limestone, which is generally very thin bedded and weathers out as 

thin plates or slabs. Where these characteristics are not pronounced 

or the outcrop is poor the bed can usually be identified -by the presence of the less prominent but fossiliferous limestone bed (No. 25) 

about 20 feet above it. The sandstone be'ds of the section usually 

form prominent ledges and can generally be distinguished from one
AN ANTICLINAL FOLD NEAR BILLINGS, OKLA. 125

another. The lowermost bed of sandstone (No. 15) ranges in thickness from a few inches to 5 feet and can be distinguished from the 

upper bed by its association with the thin limestones beneath rather 

than by any inherent characteristics of its own. The upper sandstones can be identified by the presence immediately beneath them of 

a considerable thickness of associated chocolate-colored shale. These 

associations are not uniformly persistent, but by a study of the section in the field the beds can usually be discriminated.

STEUCTUEE.

GENERAL FEATURES.

The rock beds of northeastern and north-central Oklahoma generally dip to the west or the northwest, and in north-central Oklahoma the average dip at different places ranges from 25 to 50 feet 

to the mile. Wherever the dip to the west is typically developed the 

place is unfavorable for finding oil and gas. Oil and gas are more 

likely to be found at places where the rocks have been warped or 

folded and the beds either lie flat or dip to the east. The size and 

value of the more productive oil fields of Oklahoma depend almost 

directly on the areal extent of the folds and the amount of their dip 

to the east, and if these are here the controlling features, the anticlinal fold herein described, which resembles that of the developed 

oil fields in Oklahoma, should be favorable to the accumulation of 

oil and gas in this region.

The anticlinal fold in this area trends in general northeastward 

and occupies parts of at least Tps. 23 and 24 N., Ks. 1 and 2 W. 

As there are few outcrops its exact magnitude and extent can not 

be fully determined, but sufficient data are at hand to indicate its 

general shape and size. The, scattered rock outcrops show that 

the anticlinal fold has at least two parts, an elongated dome to the 

southwest and a broad anticline to the northeast.

THE DOME.

Near the center of T. 23 N., E. 2 W., the anticlinal fold is narrower and its sides are steeper than elsewhere, as is shown by the 

rock beds, which are excellently exposed here. This local feature is 

oval and may be called a short anticline or, preferably, an elongated 

dome.

Unlike many other anticlines and domes in Oklahoma, whose 

forms can be determined only by painstaking work or by doubtful 

correlation of beds, this dome is so well exposed that it can be readily 

seen even by the layman. The structure can be observed to the best 

advantage by looking south and west from the northeastern part
126 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, 1916, PART H.

of sec. 15, T. 23 N., E. 2 W.; and by looking west, north, and east 

from the top of the escarpment near the center of the northern part 

of sec. 22 of the same township. From the first point of observation 

the crest of the fold may be seen near the north quarter corner of 

sec. 22, where the beds in the escarpment are practically flat. The 

dip to the east may be seen in the escarpment east of this crest and 

can be followed into the west side of sec. 14. From the second point 

of observation the thin limestone beds can readily be seen descending 

both to the east and the west from the crest of the dome.

The highest part of the dome is in the south-central part of sec. 15. 

As before mentioned, the dome is oval and appears to extend southwestward into the SE. £ sec. 21 and northeastward into the SE. £ 

sec. 10. The southeast dip on the dome persists for at least a mile, 

and in this distance the beds descend in elevation more than 130 

feet. Exactly how far this dip to the southeast persists is not known, 

for the rock outcrops are insufficient to permit its determination 

farther.

On the northwest side of the dome the beds dip away steeply for 

a mile or more before they resume the normally gentle westward 

dip of the region.

The southwestern termination of the dome appears to be in the 

NE. | sec. 28, although this assumption could not be definitely proved. 

It seems probable that the sandstone which crops out in the road 

about a quarter of a mile east of the southwest corner of sec. 22 is 

the lowest sandstone bed (No. 15 of the section on pp. 123-124). The 

sandstone exposed a few hundred feet north of the south quarter 

corner of sec. 22 is almost certainly the highest sandstone bed (No. 1) 

of the section. Less certainly, but probably, the sandstone exposed 

in the center of the SW. £ NW. £ sec. 27 and the residual sandstone near the center of the NE. £ sec. 28 are from this same bed. 

Whether or not the slope of the surface in the SW. £ sec. 22 and the 

SE. £ sec. 21 represents roughly the position in which the underground rock beds lie (dip slopes) can not be certainly determined, but 

the position of the few scattered outcrops just mentioned seems to 

lend some basis for this assumption.

The dip of the beds in the NW. £ sec. 15 is almost north and indicates that the dome is lower in the northern part of this section than 

farther south. The structure here could not be exactly determined 

for lack of outcrops, but it is probable that a " low " or " saddle " in 

the anticlinal axis in this locality marks the northeastern termination of the dome.

THE ANTICLINE.

The northern and apparently the larger part of the Billings anticlinal fold can not be so fully nor so readily distinguished because of insufficient rock outcrops. It is a broad fold at least 5 miles
AN ANTICLINAL FOLD NEAR BILLINGS, OKLA. 127

wide and can be traced with certainty northeastward for about 7 

miles. It narrows abruptly at its southern extremity, where it is 

connected with the dome to the southwest by a " low " or " saddle." 

Its sidep are poorly outlined by two belts of scattered outcrops an 

eastern belt, in which the beds dip to the southeast and which extends 

from the SW. £ sec. 23, T. 24 N., R. 1 W., to the NW. | sec. 16, T. 

23 1ST., R. 1 W., and a western belt, in which the beds dip to the west 

and which extends from the SW. £ sec. 31, T. 25 N., R. 2 W., to the 

NW. i sec. 3, T. 23 N., R. 2 W. The eastern limit of the eastwarddipping beds was determined at but one place in the SE. £ sec. 22, 

T. 24 K, R. 1 W. On the northeast there are no outcrops that indicate the character and location of that end of the anticline. The axis 

of the fold is indistinctly indicated at one place; it appears to cross 

sees. 30 and 31, T. 24 N., R. 1 W., in a northeasterly direction.

In the belts of outcrops mentioned above, the beds exposed are 

the same as those in the dome to the southwest, and they can be 

recognized with comparative ease. The almost complete absence of 

rock outcrops in the northern part of T. 24 N., R. 1 W., leaves the 

attitude of the northeast end of the anticline a matter of conjecture 

only. Whether the beds north of sees. 22 and 23, T. 24 N., rise rapidly and resume the normal westward dip, thereby terminating the 

anticline within this township, or whether they continue to strike 

northeastward and thereby extend the anticline to the township and 

county to the north can not be determined. The presence of the 

broad, silt-covered valley of Salt Fork River would appear to preclude any possibility of finding the northeast end of the anticline in 

the township on the north, as even the upland on the south contains 

practically no outcrops.

In the area embraced by the two belts of outcrops that outline 

the southeastern and northwestern flanks of the anticline there are 

a few scattered outcrops that expose beds of shale and thin beds of 

sandstone. These were not traced from place to place, and their 

exact position with reference to the beds of the measured section on 

pages 123-124 is not known, but they lie below the limestone-bearing 

series shown in the section. The strike and dip at several of these 

outcrops are more or less apparent, and the writer's observations 

are shown on the map (PI. IX) by strike and dip symbols. An accurate determination of the^strike and dip was made instrumentally 

in the SE. £ sec. 31, T. 24 N., R. 1 W., and these are shown on the 

map by a few short contours. A dip of 18 feet in 500 feet, or at an 

angle of about 2°, was measured by hand level and pacing in a 

"wash" in the SW. £ sec. 32, T. 24 N., R. 1 W. The direction of 

this dip was measured on a line trending S. 72° E. The exact strike 

of the beds was not determined. These observations, together with 

the attitude of the beds in the southeastern belt of outcrops men-
128 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, 1916, PAET II.

tioned above, indicate a dip to the southeast in a zone that averages 

more than three-quarters of a mile in width. This southeastward 

dip doubtless extends in both directions, but how far can not be 

determined. The amount of dip can also not be determined with 

any certainty. Estimates of the amount of dip to the southeast by 

different geologists would probably differ considerably. To the 

writer, 100 feet would be a low estimate; he would rather consider it 

equal to or even greater than that of the east dip on the dome, which, 

measured at one place, was about 130 feet.

The strong dip to the southeast observed in the SW. £ sec. 32, the 

dip to the south measured in sec. 31, and the probable dip to the west 

observed in the east-central part of sec. 36 and the NE. £ sec. 25, 

T. 24 N., E. 2 W., indicate that the crest of the anticline probably 

crosses sees. 30 and 31.

The eastern limit of the easterly dip was determined at one place, 

in the southeastern part of sec. 22, T. 24 N., E. 1 W., for in sec. 23 

of the same township the dip is to the west. The axis of the syncline 

thus formed by the convergence of eastward and westward dipping 

beds can probably be followed southward, but the poor outcrops in 

this locality would necessarily make the work slow and uncertain.

A study of the structure contours shows that the anticline pitches 

to the southwest. The rise of the anticline to the northeast may 

produce either a broadening or a flattening of the structure in this 

direction. If it flattens, the northern extension of the dip to the 

east may terminate in T. 24 N., E. 1 "W., and the beds may there 

resume their normal dip to the west. If the anticline does not flatten 

but continues northeastward, it probably extends northward to T. 25 

N., E. 1 W. The drill will no doubt at some time furnish much 

of the information which is now lacking because of the absence of 

rock exposures.

DEVELOPMENT.

0

The well in which the original discovery of gas in the Billings 

region was made was drilled by the Mid-Co Petroleum Co. It is 

on the W. Hoover farm, near the center of the north line of the 

SW. i sec. 22, T. 23 N., E. 2 W., and is high on the dome. The 

mouth of the well is about at the horizon of bed 24 of the stratigraphic section given on pages 123-124. -Up to May 8,1916, drilling 

had reached a depth of about 1,570 feet.

After the discovery of gas in the dome, the Humphreys Petroleum 

Co., according to press reports, started two wells 1 on the anticline. 

One of these is located on the Fred Murray farm, in sec. 17, T. 24 

N., E, 1 W., and the other is in sec. 20, T. 24 N., E. 1 W. A depth of 

about 500 feet has been reported for the one in sec. 17.

1 The reported locations of these wells were received too late to be incorporated ou 

Plate IX.
AN ANTICLINAL FOLD NEAR BILLINGS, OKLA. o 129

OIL AND GAS SANDS.

.The Mid-Co Petroleum Co.'s well, which is on the dome, has encountered seven gas sands (see log on p. 133) at depths of 570-582, 

740-755, 830-842, 860-870, 880-905, 1,027-1,047, and 1,476-1,545 feet. 

Each sand encountered increased the production, and, according to 

the trade journals, the well is now capable of producing several 

million cubic feet of gas a day.

The Humphreys Petroleum Co.'s well in sec. 17, T. 24 N., E. 1 W., 

is reported to have struck a gas sand at a depth of 470 feet. Whether 

or not this gas sand is the same as the highest sand in the Mid-Co 

Petroleum Co.'s well is not known.

The finding of gas sands in the Mid-Co well shows that the dome 

is favorable for the accumulation of gas, even at shallow depths. 

The quantity of gas found in the Humphreys test on the anticline 

was not reported. Its presence, however, is encouraging, and would 

seem to indicate that the anticline also contains paying quantities 

of gas.

In any further discussion of the possibilities for .finding additional 

oil and gas sands in this or any other region the relation of the area 

to all the near-by oil and gas producing regions should be considered. 

Three such regions must be considered in relation to the Billings 

anticlinal fold. Located with reference to the Mid-Co Petroleum 

Co.'s well, they are the Blackwell oil and gas field, about 30 miles 

to the north; the Ponca City oil and gas field, about 21 miles to the 

northeast; and the area in which the Watchorn & Fortuna Oil Co.'s 

gas wells were recently drilled, 23 miles to the east.

The Watchorn & Fortuna Oil Co.'s first well, in so far as the well 

record (see p. 134) shows, encountered no oil and gas sands until it 

reached a depth of 1,990 feet. Twenty-five feet below this depth 

that is, at a depth of 2,015 feet it encountered its main flow, which 

yielded an initial production of over 35,000,000.cubic feet of gas a 

day. If this prolific gas sand extends northwestward it should have 

been penetrated by all the deep wells in the Ponca City field. As far 

as the writer is aware no prolific gas sand has been reported at Ponca 

City at a depth of 2,000 to 2,300 feet, where this sand should be 

found.

In the Ponca City field, northeast of the Mid-Co Petroleum Co.'s 

well, there are several shallow gas sands and three deeper oil sands, 

at depths of about 975, 1,330, and 1,550 feet. The two lower are the 

only productive oil sands.1 These oil sands or closely related sands 

are either barren or absent in the region of the Watchorn & Fortuna 

Oil Co.'s wells. Eecords of two Ponca City wells are given on 

pages 134-136.

1 Ohern, D. W., and Garrett, R. E., The Ponca City oil and gas field: Oklahoma GeoU 

Survey Bull. 16, pp. 28-29, 1912.
130 ^CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, 1916, PART II.

In 1911 a dry hole was drilled on the 101 Kanch, in sec. 25, T. 25 N., 

R. 1 E., which is 3 miles nearer to the Mid-Co Petroleum Co.'s well 

than the Ponca City field. The log of the drilling is given on 

page 136.

In the Blackwell field, in Kay County, north of the area here 

discussed, there are many gas sands, both shallow and deep, and one 

deep producing oil sand, from which some wells have had initial 

productions of over 1,000 barrels a day. Logs of two wells in this 

field are given on pages 137-138. The Blackwell field is 13 miles distant from the Ponca City field. The two fields are similar in respect 

to the presence of numerous shallow gas sands. The oil sands of the 

Ponca City field are either gas bearing, barren, or absent at Blackwell, where it might be expected that they would be found 100 to 

400 feet lower than at Ponca City. Similarly, the deep oil and gas 

sand at Blackwell is either absent or nonproductive in the wells that 

penetrate its horizon at Ponca City.

As far as it has been developed, the dome in the Billings region 

is similar to the Ponca City and Blackwell fields in respect to the 

presence of numerous shallow gas sands. It appears, however, that 

the producing sands at Blackwell, at Ponca City, or in the Watchorn 

& Fortuna Oil Co.'s wells, in sec. 33, T. 23 N., R. 3 E., and sec. 4, 

T. 22 N"., R. 3 E., are not of the persistent type, such as the Bartlesville and other sands found farther east in the State. Because of 

this apparent nonpersistency, especially of the more prolific oil sands, 

the probability that these particular sands will be productive in the 

Billings region seems small. However, the fact that the oil sands 

are more or less local in extent gives hope that local oil sands will 

also be found in the Billings region.

If any of the producing sands at Blackwell persist southward into 

the Billings region and are there capable of producing either oil or 

gas, it is the writer's opinion, which, however, is not based on field 

work done between the two areas, that, unless there is a considerable 

change in the thickness of the beds in the intervening area, the 

sands should be found at practically the same depth with reference 

to sea level in the two fields, which appear to be almost in line with 

the regional strike of the rocks. In like manner the producing 

sands of the Ponca City field should lie 200 to 500 feet lower in the 

Billings region than at Ponca City, and the gas sand of the Watchorn & Fortuna Oil Co.'s wells should lie 300 to 600 feet lower.

The value of a commercial oil or gas pool depends directly on the 

areal extent and richness of the pay sands and inversely on the 

depth at which the oil or gas is found. The deeper the sands the 

richer must the production be to put the wells on a commercial basis. 

The deepest known producing sands in north-central Oklahoma are
AN ANTICLINAL FOLD NEAR BILLINGS, OKLA. 131

in the Blackwell field, at a deptli of about 3,300 feet. There is no 

apparent reason why oil or gas bearing sands may not exist in the 

Billings region at the same or even greater depths than at Blackwell, 

and for this reason a favorably located 'deep test well should be 

drilled.there at some future time. If highly productive sands are 

found at shallow depths such a deep test will naturally be deferred 

until it seems advisable to look for additional producing sands.

RELATIVE VALUES OF THE PROSPECTIVE OIL AND GAS

LANDS.

The region discussed in this report is probably all under lease by 

oil and gas companies, and it is therefore believed that the dome and 

anticline will be thoroughly tested. The insertion here of any statement as to the value of different parts of the region for drilling 

will probably not seriously influence any plans for development, 

but inasmuch as this report is for the benefit, not only of geologists 

and oil and gas producers, but also of the general public and those 

unfamiliar with the interpretation of geologic structure with reference to oil and gas, a few notes are given. It is a generally accepted 

fact that only the drill can determine the exact oil and gas value of 

any piece of land. For this reason the following discussion of land 

values must be tentative and suggestive only. It is based entirely 

on geologic structure and the fact that the rocks underlying the 

region are yielding commercial quantities of oil and gas in localities 

near by, these being the only factors governing the occurrence of 

ioil and gas that can be determined by a study of the surface of the 

region. It must also be understood that other geologists may arrive 

at different conclusions from those here presented, and inasmuch 

as any such conclusions are more or less theoretical, all of them may 

carry equal weight.

Until drilling has definitely demonstrated the relative value for 

oil and gas of the different land units in the field, the crests of the 

dome and the anticline must be assumed to be the most valuable. 

The land lying immediately adjacent to the crests ranks next to 

them in value. Farther from the crests, however, the value decreases rapidly, being governed by the rate of dip and the distance 

from the crests. The greater the dip the greater is the corresponding decrease in value with increasing distance, and in 'the troughs 

of the neighboring synclines the lands theoretically have no oil and 

gas value.

On applying the principles above given to the dome, it would appear that the most valuable land on this structure is included in the 

NW. | sec. 22, the E. £ NE. £ sec. 21, the southeastern part of the 

SE. i sec. 16, and the SW. J and W. \ SE. £ sec. 15. The rest of 

sec. 15, the northwest half of sec. 22, the northeast half of sec. 21,
132 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, 1916, PART II.

the southeast half of sec. 16, the SE. f sec. 10, the southwestern part 

of sec. 11, and a small area in the western and northwestern parts of 

sec. 14 are to be considered as next in value. Outside of these areas 

the probable value of the land decreases rapidly as its distance from 

the central area increases. As the dip is greater on the southeast 

side of the dome, the value of the land in this direction decreases 

more rapidly than it does on the west and northwest flanks.

The valuation of the land on the anticline is much more difficult 

than of that on the dome, because the rock outcrops on which the 

determination of structure depends are much fewer in number. If 

the dip of the rocks on the anticline corresponds to the dip of 

the rocks on the dome, the steeper dips should be found on the 

southeast side, a relation which places the crest nearer the eastern 

than the western margin of the anticline. The crest appears to be 

twice as far from the belt of rocks outlining the western margin of 

the fold (see p. 127) as from the similar belt on the east and probably 

crosses sees. 30 and 31, T. 24 N., K. 1 W., as indicated by dips in a 

few rock outcrops in that vicinity. The highest land values would 

probably be included in a strip about a mile wide extending from 

sec. 1, T. 23 N., R. 2 W., northeastward to sec. 16, T. 24 K, R. 1 W. 

This strip would include parts or all of sec. 1, T. 23 K, E. 2 W.; 

sec. 6, T. 23 N., R. 1 W.; sec. 36, T. 24 N., R. 2 W., and sees. 31, 32, 

30, 29, 19, 20, 21, 17, and 16, T. 24 N., R, 1 W. Land adjacent to 

this strip is promising territory, although not of equal value with the 

strip. Because of the greater dip on the southeast side of the anticline, land values decrease more rapidly in that direction than on the 

northwest side. To the northeast, where practically nothing can be 

determined as to the structure of the rocks, the values may also 

decrease.

CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE POSSIBILITIES OF THE 

FIRST THREE TEST WELLS.

In view of the fact that the original test well in this region is being 

drilled on the dome, interest naturally centers on this local structure. 

Though the well is not on the highest point' of the dome, which is in 

the south-central part of sec. 15, yet it is believed that if it is drilled 

deep enough it will make a fair test of the dome.

The anticline, because of its larger areal extent and possible 

greater dip to the east, may be more promising than the dome. 

The two wells being drilled by the Humphreys Petroleum Co. appear to be located on a favorable part of the anticline. Whether 

they are on the highest part of the anticline can not be determined 

because of the doubt as to the location and configuration of the anticlinal crest. At the time this report was written these wells were 

not deep enough to base any definite conclusions on their findings.
 AN ANTICLINAL FOLD NEAB BILLINGS, OKLA. 

WELL RECORDS.

The following detailed records of wells were obtained in the course 

of the investigation: '

Log of Mid-Co. Petroleum Co.'s No. 1 well in the N. $ SW. % sec. 22, T. 23 N., 

R. 2 W., near Billings, Okla.

Sand.........................

Whifn chain

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Softslate.....................

White slate..... ..............

Thickness.

Feet. ' 

6

24

4

16

10

37

13

5

20

105

10

15

4

46

10

5

8

17

10

15

8

7

25

15

15

42

28

15

25

10

12

38

5

Depth.

Feet. 

6

30

34

50

60

97

110

115

135

240

250

265

269

315

325

330

338

355

365

380

388

395

420

435

450

492

520

535

560

670

582

620

625

Hard slate. ....................

Red rock .....................

Gas sand .....................

Slate.........................

Red rock .....................

Blue slate. . ..................

Red rock. ........:....:......

Lime .........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Thickness.

Feet. 

15

56

19

25

15

10

42

9^

12

18

10

14

21

10

112

20

2

17

64

6

14

20

91

23

52

30

15

71

5

5

76

fiQ

25

Depth.

Feet. Rdn

696

715

740

755

765

8fi7

QOn

JUO

Qfift

C7ft

884

905

015

1,027 1 fid?

1 fUQ

1,066

1,130

1,136 1 lin

1,170

1,195

1 91 8

1,270 i v\n

.1,315

1

OQA

1 VK

i dnn

1,476

1,545

1,570
134 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, 1916, PART II.

Log of the Watchorn & Fortuna Oil Co.'s 101 Ranch well No. 1, in the SW.

33, T. 23 N., R. 3 E.

sec.

Red bed. .....................

Bed bed. .....................

Bed bed. .....................

Bedbed.......... ............

Bed bed............ ..........

Water sand (hole filled with 

water). .....................

Bed mud. ....................

Bedbed......................

Bed bed. .....................

Bed bed. .....................

Blue shale. ...................

Lime.........................

Blue shale. ...........:.......

Bed bed. .....................

Water sand.. . ................

Bed bed. .....................

Blue shale. ...................

Bed bed. .....................

Water sand.. .................

Water sand. ..................

Blue shale. ...................

Thickness.

Feet. 

40

5

5

20

190

28

c

10

10

35

18

5

62

10

10

20

9*

6

14

10

70

10

10

10 IQ<;

T;

oc

5

70

10

35

65

10

5

20

30

4

26

Depth.

Feet. 

40

45

50

70

260

262

290 XK

305

315

350

368

373 AV;

445

455 47p;

f>nn

 VMS

520

530

Ron

610

620

630 so*;

0 sun

865

S7O

940 <Kn

 QRf>

1,040

1,050

1,055

1,075

1.105

1,109

1.135

Sand.........................

Blue shale (streak water sand 

1,555).......................

Bedbed......................

Sand (shelly).................

Shell.........................

Thickness.

Feet. 

5

50

5

90

on

4

16

9*;

oe

120

5

105

10

15

15

K

5

9^

oc

10

5

15

^n

5

10

20

20

20

oc

OA

5

5

12

3

5

20

Depth.

Feet. 

1,140

1 10(1

11 or

1

OQC

I

Qi e

1 91 Q

1 90*

1,400

1 49<5

1,450

1,570

1 W,

1,690

1,705

1,720

1 70K

1 v?n

I

fjnf

I

cnA

1,810

1,815 i mn

1,860

1,865

1 ft7*

1

QQE

1 01*

1 QQK

1,960

I

QQn

1 QQfi

2,000

2 fi19

2,015

9 f>9(1

2,040

Casing record: 15J-mch, 373 feet; 12Hnch, 859 feet; 10-inch. 1,561 feet; Scinch, 2,016 feet; Gf-inch, 2,041 

feet.

Log of 101 Ranch Oil Co.'s Flossie Running After Arrow well No. 16, in the 

W. % NE. i sec. 11, T, 25 N., R. 2 E.

Bed rock

Bed rock

Lime.........................

Thickness.

Feet. 

.. 34

56

10

120

13

14

53

10

26

31

63

14

34

4

63

30

25

73

10

22

10

50

15

72

10

43

7

Depth.

Feet. 

34

90

100

220

233

247

300

310

336

367

430

444

478

482

545

575

600

673

683

705

715

765

780

852

862

905

912

Sand (oil) ....................

Thickness.

Feet. 

13

45

24

41

15

50

50

86

14

30

7

13

20

20

10

13

22

10

14

36

30

33

22

17

17

14

Depth

Feet.

Q9"5

970

994

1,035

1,050

1,100

1 1 ^ft

1 97fi

1 O^ft

i 9sn

1 9G7

i inn

1,320

1,340 1 Q^n

1,363

1,385

1 W?

1,409

1,445

1,475

1,508

1,530

1,547

1,554

l;568

Casing record: SJ-rnch, 1,035 feet; 68-inch, 1,320 feet; 4|-inch, 1,445 feet; packer, 1,520 feet.
AN ANTICLINAL FOLD NEAR BILLINGS, OKLA. 135 

Log of Margaret Primeaux No. 7 well in sec. 4, T. 25 N., R. 2 E.

Soil. .........................

Red rock

Sand (13,000,000 feet of gas) . . .

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate..........:..............

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Thickness.

Feet. 

2

4Q

6

10

5

10

EA

65

4

1Q

11

4

1°.

on

19

1°Q

4

10

11

5

49

25

40

40

5

15

10

40

5

75

10

OK

15

70

5

60

17

5

qe

1°.

99

20

15

10

oc

20

OK

10

10

OK

5

13

14

10

4

1Q

24

20

10

4

1

10

9*

o

5

10

15

35

10

10

15

Depth.

Feet. 

2

50

58

64

74

170

175

185

235

300

302

306

309

322

333

337

350

440

452

590

594

607

618

623

665

1 690

730

770

775

790

800

840

845

Q9fl

930

955

Q7fl

1,040

1.045

1,105

1,108

1

1OC

1 l°.fi

1,165

1,178

1,200

1,220 i 9^1;

1 9d5

1,270

1.290

I one

1 qqe

1,345

1

Q7C

1,400

1,405

1.418

1,421

1.435 ' 1. 448

1,452

1,460

1 466

l',490

1,510

1,520

I

eoo

1,532

1,536

1,539

1.541

1 549

1,552

1,577

1,580

1,585

1,595

1,610

1,645

1,655

1,665

1.680

Sand.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Lime.........................

Slate....................'.....

Lime (3 feet below water). . . . .

Sand (3,000,000 feet of gas at

2,150 feet)..................

Lime and sand. ..............

Sand.........................

Sand.........................

Slate.........................

Lime.........................

Brown shale. .................

Lime.........................

Brown shale. .................

Lime.........................

Brown sand ..................

Light sand. ..................

Slate.........................

Sand.........................

Coarse sand. . ................

Light sand. . .................

White sand (3 bailers water)..

Blue lime (very hard) ........

Black slate. . .................

Sandy shale. .................

Black slate. ..................

Lime.........................

Brown shale. .................

Blue slate....................

Gray slate. . ..................

Lime. ........................

Sand and lime ...............

Lime.........................

Lime.........................

Black shale.. . ................

Black shale. ..................

Lime.........................

Black shale. ..................

Shale......:?.................

Sandy lime. ..................

Thickness.

Feet. 

5

15

OK

19

10

5

70

44

11

13

7

41

5

4

91

qo

q

7

15

19

32

10

14

10

11

1

75

120

10

47

o

1 oc

82

4

11

15

1 9

16

94

15

15

10

25

no

35

65

7

4

14

22

oq

20

iq

27

43

19

11

2

9

16

15

6

fi9

5

10

2

11

7

7

18

8

10

7

30

3

5

10

10

2

Depth.

Feet.

I

fiQC

1,700

1 715

1,748

1 7Kfi

1,770 i aid

1

007

1,840

1,847

1,890

1,895 i soa

1,912

2,003

2,035 9 ma

2,044

2 flfin

2 fl79

2,104

2,114

9 190

2

iqo

2,149

9 15f»

2,225

9 W\

2

qnc

2,412

9 41 5

2,540

2,548

2,630

2,634

2,665

9 R71

9 KKK

9 7fin

2 716

2*740

2,755

2,770

2,780

2,805

2,895

9 oin

2 995

i nfi9

3 006

3! 020

3,042

3,085

3

noQ

9. 195^

3,168

Q 187

3,202

3 211

3' 227

3,242

3 248

3^310

*> qi c

3,325

3, 327

3,340

3,347

3 QKA

3,372

3,380

3,390

3,397

3,427

3 -JO A

3,435

3,445

3

4cc

3,457
136 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, 1916, PART II.

Log of Margaret Primeaux No. 7 well in sec. 4, T. 25 N., R. 2 E. Continued.

"RlapV cTialft

Thickness.

Feet. 

11

2

2

10

14

14

15

3

7

5

15

5

5

Depth.

Feet. 

3,468

3,470

3,472

3,482

3,496

3,510

3,525

3,528

3,535

3,540

3,555

3,560

3,565

Sand, little oil................

Sand, very hard, showing of

Thickness.

Feet. 

5

5

5

11

7

. 27

8

15

4

73

29

Depth.

Feet. 

3,570

9 VJ<\

3,580

^ 101

3,598

3,625

3,633

3,648

3,652

3,725

3,754

Casing record: 12J-inch, 73 feet; 10-inch, 610 feet; 8^-inch, 1,260 feet; 6|-inch, 2,038 feet; 5^-inch, 

2,632 feet.

Log of 101 Ranch Oil Co.'s 101 Ranch well No. 1, in the NE. J sec. 25, T. 25 N.,

R. 1 E.

Red rock .....................

Brownish lime. ...............

Grittyslate...................

Whitft ctialA

Lime shell. ...................

Whiteslate............. ......

Black slate. . .................

Soft slate. ....................

Lime.........................

Whitesand..................

Thickness.

Feet. 

19

40

10

12

8

21

42

9

44

26

3

60

4

28

24

35

20

22

8

8

22

35

12

58

23'5

27

35

42

34

6

38

50

24

18

24

6

21

37

45

12

45

4

85

4

75

6

24

12

43

19

33

18

10

23

15

17

Depth.

Feet. 

19

59

69

81

89

110

152

161

205

231

234

294

298

326

350

385

405

427

435

443

465

500

512

570

393

598

625

660

702

736

742

780

830

854

872

896

902

923

960

1,005

1,017

1,062

1,066

1,151

1,155

1,230

1,236

1,260

1,272

1,315

1,334

1,367

1,385

1,395

1,418

1,433

1,450

Gritty lime. ..................

Red shale. ...................

"Rlnplr ^latft

Slate and shell. ...............

Soft black shale. ..............

White lime...................

Soft black shale. .............

Soft red shale. ................

White lime ...................

Hard gray lime. ..............

White sand... ................

Whitesand..................

Black slate. ..................

Red brown shale. ............

Whiteslate...................

White shale..................

White sand.. . ................

Thickness.

Feet. 

10

56

6

7

20

28

3

5

53

25

22

5

15

28

20

7

36

39

4

10

6

22

5

7

30

13

15

28

22

15

3

19

3

5

13

30

20

6

49

3

. 14

10

4

5

43

26

11

3

18

3

59

43

6

54

20

35

66

Depth.

Feet. 

1,460

1,516

1,522

1,529

1,549

1,577

1,580

1,585

1,638

1,663

1,685

1,690

1,705

1,708

1,736

1,756

1,763

1 790

1,838

1,842

1,852

1,858

1,880

1,885

1

QQ9

1,922

1,933

1,950

1,978

2 nnn

2,015

2,018

2,037

2 fufl

2,045

2,058

2,088

2,108

2,114

2,163

2,166

2,180

2,190

2, 194

2,199

2,242

2.268

2,279

 2,282

2,300

2,303

2.362

2,405

2,411

2,465

2,485

2,520

2.576
AN ANTICLINAL FOLD NEAR BILLINGS, OKLA. 137 

Log of H. F. Wolf well No. 1, SW. $ sec. 6, T. 28 N., R. 1 E.

Soil...........................

Clay..........................

Clay..........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Lime.........................

Slate.........................

Lime.........................

Shale. ........................

Slate.........................

Red rock .....................

Shale.........................

Shale.........................

Shale........................

Shale........................

Thickness.

Feet. 5

55

17

2

17

14

15

5

5

20

8

7

45

10

20

25

25

10

10

5

25

40

10

5

20

20

5

15

25

10

10

10

10

15

5

25

15

5

10

30

10

5

15

20

. 17

23

5

90

45

5

17

33

50

215

40

10

Depth.

Feet. 5

60

77

7Q

96

no

125

130

135

155

163

170

215

225

245

270

295

305

315

320

345

385

395

400

420

440

445

460

485

495

505

515

525

540

545

570

585

590

600

630

640

645

660

680

697

720

725

815

860

865

882

915

965

1,180

1,220

1,230

Shale.........................

Shale.........................

Sand.........................

Shale.........................

Sand.........................

"R Af\ rnnlr

Shale.........................

Shale. ........................

Sand (6',000,000 feet of gas) . . .

Slate.........................

Sand.........................

Shale.........................

Sand.........................

Shale.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Lime .........................

Shale.........................

Sandy shale (very hard) ......

Sand (30,000,000 feet of gas) . .

Thickness.

Feet. 

25

70

15

70

. 45

in

40

17^

5

90

85

55

5

45

15

1 ^

7

5

13

5

5

8

6

SA

50 19>;

is

35

15

20

50

265

c

10

20

7

8

65

30

25

135

10

20

50

20

10

5

20

5

35

10

65

5

65

10

20

Depth.

Feet. 

1,255

1,325

1,340

1,410

1,455

1,485

1 Z9^

1,700

1,705

1,725

1,810

1,865

1,870

1,915

1,930

1,945

1,952

1,957

1,970

1,975

1 980

1

QQQ

1 994 t) nin

2,080

2,205

9 99fl

2,255

2 970

2,290

2

o4n

2. 605

2.610

2,630

2,650

2,657

2,665

2,730

2,760

2,785

2,920

2,930

2,950

3,000

3,020

3,030

3,035

3,055

3,060

3,095

3,105

3,170

3,175

3,240

3,250

3,270

Casing record: 15J-inch, 135 feet; 12J-inch, 

2,360 feet; 5&-inch, 2,734 feet.

feet; 10-inch, 1,040 feet; 8J-inch, 2,080 feet; 6|-inch,

43768° Bull. 641 17- -10
138 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, 1916, PAET II. 

Log of Gus Sivenson ^vell No. 1, NE. i sec. 82, T. 29 N., R. 1 E.

Son..........................

Shale.........................

Shale.........................

Shale.........................

Shale.........................

Shale.........................

Shale.........................

Shale.........................

Slate.........................

fihalo

Slate...............-.-.....:.

Shale.........................

SlatA

Shale.........................

Sand.........................

Shale.........................

Shale.............. .......... .

Shale.........................

Thickness.

Feet. 

5

9

19

4

16

8

25

3

19

4

18

140

34

30

5

14

4

20

65

7

15

41

3

26

10

20

33

22

7

21

21

6

2

5

41

27

28

26

80

9

17

18

22

3

55

30

70

15

95

foot- Sl.i

Depth.

Feet. 

5

14

26

30

46

54

7Q

82

101

105

123

263

297

327

332

346

350

370

. 435

442

457

498

501

527

537

557

590

612

' 619

640

661

667

669

674

715

742

770

796

876

885

902

920

942

945

1,000

1,030

1,100

1,115

1,210

Lime .........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Shale.........................

Lime.........................

Shale.........................

Shale.........................

Sand (gas). ...................

Shale.........................

Sand (water) .................

Shale.........................

.Red rock.. ...................

Lime.........................

Shale.........................

Slate.........................

Slate.........................

Lime.........................

Slate.........................

Sand (oil, good showing) .....

Slate...................:.....

Slate.........................

Sand (oil)...... ..............

Sand.........................

Slate.........................

Shale.........'................

Sand (oil, fair showing). ......

Shale, slate...................

Slate.........................

Oil sand (still in -sand). .......

foot- fiS-inr>Vi 9 4(18 font: 5A-i

Thickness.

Feet. 

20

60

10

120

94

36

9fi

110

20

10

3

97

10

25

15

10

25

15

60

40

20

95

2

13

7

83

10

10

105

63

15

5

12

345

32

73

5

10

15

220

50

20

130

100

30

25

10

20

rir.h 9 SIM

Depth.

Feet. 

1,230

1,290

1,300

1,420

1,444

 1,480

1,500

1,610

1,630

1,640

1,643

1,740

1,750

1,775

1,790

1,800

1,825

1,840

1,900

1,940

1,960

1,985

1,987

2,000

2,007

2,090

2,100

2,110

2,215

2,278

2.293

2,298

2,310

2,655

2,687

2,750

2,755

2,765

2,780

3.000

3,050

3,070

3,200

3,300

3, 330

3,355

3,365

3,385

foot ar\f\

underreamed to 3,337 feet.