UNITED STATES 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

]. A. KRUG, Secretary 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. E. WRATHER, Director 

CIRCULAR 14 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY'S STUDIES 

AND POTENTIAL RESERVES 

OF NATURAL GAS 

By 

HUGH D. MISER 

WASHINGTON 

1946 
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12706 

GPpt.Qi~·CAL SURVEYis .S'!UDIES AND POrnNTIAL RESE!l'VES .OF NATURAL QAS!/ •. • .-_, • 'I. 

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I . the; drilling, ot;. ~ '!o~~ .. ~atural gas in': ~~e uttl.t~,d: Bt~tes, b49gan·in 1821 and 

the Q.r~lling of wela; .for crude· petrolewn ,in 1859. Sitlc~ these· pioneer dates 

1,1501 900 wells nave ~tu.l~ dri.lled for .. oil.and ,gas and.· th~y .~ve ·produced 31 .. 5. 

·billion barrels of oil. in 2~ State.s and-.possi:bly. 100 trill~~ cubic feet ot gas 

in 30 States. The aggregate.area.covered by the oil and gas fields is about 

' ... ~.9~900 sq~rfl. miles •. I:n .... ~~~· o~l fie.~ds, which. oover.a~~t·o~.-third this area, 

:. : t,he,.'proved reserves of. oil; ,;r~i~ng. to be produced are. abou~.)20 billiiOn barrelS. 

·· . 'i'b.eh proved reserves of natural· gas are pl.S.ced at 140 trillion cubic feet. The.-

potential gas reserves yet to be discovered lie in deeper zones in the producing 

:fielgs, in exte~sions of the;)l~·esen~. ,rields; j;n~,pe~:areas 'between.~· the fields of 

·· the. J>resen~ producing regions.,:- ap~:~·in .. :regions :t;hat a:re now net·.producing ·gas. 

About half the area .or .the .. t1ni.t~d .. States. appe~rs. favorable for..· furt~aer=-te=st:tng 

for natural gas; . ~h-~ reserves reinai.ning to be Qi$COVered. in. the fututll will 

·.probabiy be found .. for the most part,_ ~S in ~e paSj;.t ill ;CQnnectiOll· ltlth the search 

~ ·for petroleilm~ ·. The. magnitude of ·the.' undiscov~:red reserves~ ex~sse.cL:in OtJbic 

· .f~et o,r year's suppJ.Y, will not be. ·liliown ~n adyance. of their d.iscover.y:.by the 

.. d.rill but geologic 9011ditiona .indicate tha~ they will: pr9babl.Y;. be. large. Jo:" i "!' - Ao 0. '' ' 

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· Develop100nt o.f Natural gas industry .in United States::.:·._;.··· 

The marketing of natural-g~s- in. the UniteQ. State~ •s starte,Q: .irl. l82l"·in 

Fredonia, N. Y., where gas sUpplied by a 27~foot well was COf\Veyed. -throu8h =WOOden 

tubes, replaced later by a lead pipe, to 30 light-burners in homes in the ·village. 

Earlier we:tls, drilled by_ ~~l:}. .PJS:.~a.ct~~~-, in the Appal.aehian reg~ on, discovered 

natural gas as earl_y ~~. ~Q) J~. Ohi.~.:S;n~ )8),$ in West Virginia, but the first us~ 

made of it was as -~·~e.l,.;t~\:·~y·a;l~-Pr~~e, PP.-:~):ll::l~41. in West Virginia. _. 

. · ... , ........................ :.-~··, , .. ·~:~~: .... ~- · .. :." ~ . 

The next ~~f .~~J?.~~ey .~:f)e.r. ·.the.:~·:l:>e~ng.' .o-f> the sale of natural gas in 

Fredonia, N. Y.,;:m.~~~~~esi .f!. ~9WJ.ng. b~t,.m~~st use of gas as a fuel and illumi-

. nant in New York~ ~!lBYl:Ya.~~'·. Ohio, . a.n¢ .W~:t .vir81nia. The gas was conveyed 

through pipes, spme_ o.~ _:th~m. wgoc;le:p., and o~e ~5 much as 2f miles long. In 18721 a 

25-mile pine-l~g:.pi_pe,_J.;n~ wa.~ pu~~t fro~ a W4.9l.l p.ear West Bloomfield, N. Y., to 

Rochester. I~:·the same ~a1; a 5-J!d;te .. ca~~irol}. p~pe was laid into Titusville, Pa. • ~ , , ' ; : • 1 I 

The development C?f the . na t~ral.'.g_~s i~~ustcy.:;Was accelerated by the completion 

in 1878 of the first big gas produce~ in the Unite~ States, the Haymaker well at 

¥utTleville,. P~ •. The completion of .t~i.s :well was .:f<>ll~d ·bt the .:.commercial produc~fon ~~= ~rke~ing :· o£ gas ~gi_~~~ .. in. Ohio __ and.~ Vi~~t :Jirgima~·:tn·l8S4, Illinois 

.:'~n 1885, ~¥~~ _f:n: f:~86,. .:~nd Kentucky:_,_:i..n-, .. 1~9 .•. ~ · : .. ; · · ... ·.· .. ~·: ·.- .. :; · • • • • ·, • ·: p • • • • •• ~ : • • • • • ~ • : • 

; ••• .. .t.'t .: •. 

!/ faper deliver~d at a hearing of the Federal Power Commission in Washington, 

D. c., on June 19, 1946. 
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12706 

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covei-~~;,a1~~ie!~~ll~=!~ ~s~1s~~~1:~*J!t!Ka~S!~~~!i!~ .::-

was first used l.n Kansas as an illumi..na-' in a sanitarium at Iola in 1873, at¥1 was 

sold for domestic /purposes at Iola in .lS82'j Fort Scott in, 18871 Coffe~lle in. 

1892, and Cherryvale and Independence in 1893. The first industrial use in that 

State was as a fuel in zinc smelters at Cherryvale in 1898. The gas industry 

_,\spread· into~ Oklahoma .8ftd ·Arkansas. in 1902,. .and Lou$sial'la5.tn 19~·•:; i)fe:. ftfit ps 

proeuction in··l'e~s:~n 187.2 was fallowed- by ·-tae .discovery ot new res..VuJUd:.:;lt 

the. devel.opne:rit _ ot ·increaaed:.marketlt,,:;am:-by ,1906 ·-the ·gas in4Uatx?._atJ\a.tifetl)aa~! 

impor~nt rank among tbe .. State!s indllstrtea.: · - · ·. · -· ··\ -·_, ·: :o:.l.i:.:·L: ~ :'r- ~.. f .i· ~ • ~ ~ ~ ;j. ,_-z. 

" ·~-In thEt Rooky·)'Mouriata regio~ natural gaa. -.a .. tirtt. pt~d.N4kti0Mff"tai~tfh . ~V11omi~ in ·1889, u.t&h ·in 18921 Montana in 1'915; aU4··Coloraao 8l'ld.'-le'Wllatlltf-{~_ftd.; 1944. ' !~·~. - < :~:-·:~,-r#~ , .. -•-. 

.:' :1,~.! !'!€~ J ~~~ 

In calit'ornia. natural ''dJ?" ~s ,near· St~ton and Sacr .. nto~- ·utili~&•elln the .e~ly nineties. About 1903 gas was developed in ':the Sal;b ·tatce·neldf:aa ...WS . \ dis:~ributed !or local use• ·, COJtflleroial prod'tlCtion ;·wa$1 obtained ·in BUena iftsta:·'·." ·.· 

fli:lis in, 1~, and -the constru.otion ·.of a pipe .-1J1ne from .this· .. tield ·1;0 Ufe'1Mig.letis 

.~~ 1913 marked the beginning . of large-scale utili~zation of natu:a.l gas inJQH!~:.~ 

forni4• . The major development of ·numerous oil. fields in that State ·Wgim!ltg 'lif - 1908 established aeces·sd.ble· reseNeft of ''wet"' gas in eii~awt'.quahtity•~\ ~~.:r.'J 

these fiel&,s~ the .Nop.th Dome :of.-·Kettleman Hills, diseowrEfd ~~n I928}··:m-e·ihe 1··r:. 

quadrupled th~. proved natural gas resources of California. Another notable increment was added to· the State's gas resources by .the discovery in 1936 of the Rio 

Vista "dry" gaa:. ~ield. · ' ·' 

. · · $Qtn4l.~o.f::the ~large ·:aas fields)·~· ·tlie Ufttteti ~W:f4tlifi.~E!,~~:~~ t,~r d~s-

-'~ &ref';; . ·. ; ·' .•• . • ·.· .. ·. . -- . . . . . . ••• · .. , i ,: '. :.~' ·;·':~~;: 

·::. · :ill.onr~, a. io!!: - ._· ........ - .- .. - :.;,: .· l~l6!':.: ' .. ' >; .:. 'l'l ~!"~ Lt·u; . .: 

.f~e, Tex.. - - - . ...-: .... ·. • ... - ''"1918. . . . ., .. '2·'·t~.t:;f£ 

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_.:·. 

Hugoton, Kana.. , Okla• and ·'l'ex··-· 1922· ~ · ·''~·:.' 

Pledger, ·Tex. - - - ... - ~ - - :.: 1925:· 

North nome~. Ql.lif\- -.~.- •' ~· .- .. 'l9ltt ., Old Ocean, Tex. -.. - ....... ~· -~ -. -~ - ·l.~.' : ·... -. ·, l; .: :.·:·: ./'! ·:. 

Kat.'tt' . Tray..· - .. . l~··t:·~ ·- ~.f' ,._~ • i~ _J;·;J.jf~ . .. fl J• . p,n;.,il- ._: "'!' - """ ·- .,.. ~· - ~,,~.,.. . T;·:~~~~l--·'. · . ~.· 

·Carthage,: Tex ... - .... ..... :.:.- ~, w.i·i---. * 19-36 ".'i "' ·- •• · ;:·,kf-";·H'J'J 

Rio: Vista, Cali£. •· .. - - ·~ · - ~. . 193,6. 

Seeligson$ Tex. - ·~ -• - ,.,. .,; - -· 1937· 

La Gloria, Tex. - - - - - ~ - - 1939 

.Sberidail,. Tex.- .... - -· :- - •..;. - l94~ 

~ .. r. ·~ ,A.lt~§~r, JQ S.1iates ttow· !Jroduee aatual ;gas· •. Teas· abd~ ba1ffo~-~·tii9i"Hi~J r:\.s~tt to ,:t!lP raqk~.~ ·the 1as~oWcing statea itf.tlle pas:t; .2£l'yeare afid bin· ,\f;) 

passed Pennsylvania, originally the.~ top prod:U.M',: and~',lila' have p8HMt~tlel~~·,.\. t!i' 

.,Y:l;.rginia. and Qlio. , ~...,.....,.. .. · .. ,.:..; ......... ~ ........ , ••. 

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- }. 12706 

• '':. ~-· .,_ Al:totetA\et-i: JJ Statas· coiltAltYt1UWS' ofrJ nataJn~r aU ,X ib.iU :iellllapp;lild' to them 

thr~b·:~e,uo ~~ea:~Gf.1~p1pei~nee aad· •Lt-.·:, !lie e~e~-~-·~ tae·a&st ,\,t~Of,..f!ti.}of4~~oDtJ.dUtaftert· ptpe-•'at1lea·tt~~~'n.~~t.O dt.S'tilltlt_.~-.:rir, .. 

greatlt;lftt~:~ t;eJ .. ~lt!la'U.oi:>'d~{~D&1iiiNJ. P*•£ f~ftet lo~t1dilf:e*«Rdl~ · ' · · from the· Southwest; thq ·ran from gas f1eUaA!:1fi·C~I":6~Jri...,.da.xteciji:":_~;: · .... ·: 

Texas, Louisiana;· ·and Arialnsas ·to States as tar away as Arizona;' ·Colorado I · SOutli · :·. ·- .·: 

.Dak~ •tirltfl80'taf'.!DU'Mi-=; Mlc:ht~~:.~lwllt81f.i:WwtYf~~&ft·, 8riO ·.: · .... Flwia.' --~ , :··~ '.· -~ ~- · : ;; ;.-, ·:. ~ t~ .f>} .: .. ;· ·~ -~. _,. 

~};~' ~(~J~.·~i·.~·:·'~.~-)~·::t: ~··t .. z~;~;.i\>~~~~ 0 -l~,,~.~·J'·~·· 'i~': '~\~·:} !;r ·;·:~·~~c. ',_,~·1 _c;~t·~·41~~·#;~~it~ ... ~.;~~--~>·.,..:~·-·o 

.:..·•J\:f. '>" . L<···~: ~~·-':~·o-::.:~·· · · ··· --.. ~-:i~~ ·.~,.f;·, -~\.;.;)~.{ :-u: (:rh -~·-~~N!..,·<·Js~;;··~"~···.: 

1 :'""' ., .. _.,., .... { ·~-i··!. ~'t '"-'* _;:·H~~l-na'll·••::...,c_.,*"..,;..~,;-fz·•• ...... ~1 .. ~-•··'· t . ,,,,"<~-· -t:,.iv>i ..... i~< .'--"'-.~ ~-··: ". .. ~ . -t""· _ ... ,. - ....... "+~ ·~""'· ~ ~~V\ii ....... ~~-v~ ... ._...,..."UU-~-~.,..., .... -- -· ( ... , \"*~·~-.oJ , __ . t···~, c, 

• i ... -~ · ., •· ~ : J~·-r~ ~ill::·:.:; '--~:( ···. t-n!'J '' _\ ,f"f:~;:..; IJf!; t·~P~<rt :.·· > 

Natural gas or co--.rce is a mixture or hydroearbone and gaseous iiapur1 ties~-= ··. ?_ 

The prt.-i,alt -~i" ·'~~lid! ~; t!J·;~l t1rtt,.. ~e~<te1 p~q~raieH'earbOn: · · ·. · ·: 

di\Dlc:W'.-l- ftltrogewj. t~Jw&~qa: sa'lplidai .. beliu~ · -~-- Gas-·wethf: •r.*'t~g·~ . , :ld:gh piBR,eettates··at. carbonidtoxlde., M.ath.:as---S .. ~,J>e.r·'·,'-t;!Mv.el~,(/lri!;)j~_ta :. · . 

· -:-..-•rfo.S.••cao, Ulill,~~·Nft..tledlro,··1 aart ... i·Cdi~.t .. t-lfb8tiP~f'I'Oil ~·~~-"' -·~ · ·_, 

New Mexico, and Califomia aL'lMliiJr.ClMd·-im ·.ttte,~~t,uraNof\tsolt1hea~iJ ... 1~·, _ ·. 

dioxide, 'known eenera!J:y· as. dey ice~ Natural ·gaL~ containing helium iri 8Uf'f~efent · · 

'IUirbi:tteSJ !>~9tpe.r--.~ tb a~:~~··cen.t..t·:tt•r'-i.ts ncowry.-·on·a'lbrg&·aca1e is; 

"f011ftti in .-~.fields 11\)Kansu,<!exas, :aor~te~rn ._Muiocw Cf>l.~~db, _and Utah. · Bellnntrc~itrl918·when~..e~-t!.ntnftper.Uaen\al·fJI,.p.s'-"•··.eKtifa~olr?pla&tl~·,._. . OC)I).s'tructed bt the>~. Qt-rMI:I'lU, :tutltiinJ:hi.&t·t~Mait ~e:l.rnai~ ·e;o~·-.· . ~-

br tlmt:BllMau,. .-fbt-:,lft:l.dun J)t~iltlb ._.,Mac:hed .in::1forl<t~ WAI' =~- ~_, ·.· 

_.., obti.taea;·at ·'fiv-e Ct\ra.uoa~;:'plliM2Jiilii.~nti:b:M.J.t'~ma"'"~ ap~at.:.timlfl:U. .. -:,titx.·; · ;·. 

afld·,he·~~,_dun:ng··~ ••·\a·t1~· ter.l.·St.!iprro~t•· .. •~ ·Mira.'j .. _f&ntt:ta-= ota:iJT~-.·. · :·: euaat~ ~-- . · :, :. · ~: · ·· ~:::,.-'~ ::~-;;~>~.a , ·~ !: ;ih~· ~~ !,.t,<:: ·, ·· ;~~ ~~1LtJ:~":-:~ :~;:::~~-~~;;.~:.' >' .. _··.· 

t~atural: gas is a comp&nion to crude petrole!\ilb. ·The tllo were; formed -by ·Similar~ ··. -~ geolotte i?IIOCeases--)·aa.d :·are;·. pl'OCiuced~ lrom~stiralar.,,.and~a~fi&AT)plaoas cp,OilDUilde.r- • · 

groaad,nsf!tv01n •. nte~·taa tn4t:al:c.ate~:aater'f!-...ur&.;iniUOCftpt:~-- ,_.~ . 

. :or .. :~tiiP·:ru·:tJ.e:::riNftoU"rroca• .. ~··!he~ ps. ~.aJ~~---· aiOJllowideiOtttiiCMIM•·ons; · · 'in·a ,. .. _. w: it -~"oecat-alone·"'1fiiAOGt eti~.l[~;·-~ae~ ·Oftlfl1l4·:JaWJ~ba.tMter, .. -ue· .JdbiJA• aid· ill.u 'ti!te.Teat··,,~fM!Cifl~ ,.cr&'ri·t£es~,~ theiafJP.:oeeaeh ofcuol&Diil&ttell·· ~n · - ~the.:':preaeit,·riHrvtdre·;ps.,1mJ't)l'8e~;thetitttl~= ·tlif6ufih.~~ih~.,.-.-~-:: · .- .... .,. tq tbe.tops:·.of.antaetiaea u:rotbi.ut'!l\wcturalfe4iWrea·~h;,~"~titil.M1bfl~._.: · 

lying impervious rock.:auata. ~· IQ ·lllres~ir: Whee ·.~l!-1 aD! ·p;r~ire'lf)res4d, · · · ... _ .. · 

much or all of the. gas nsy be': d1Ss6lved in the l'>il.t'. or a gas z~e or . q&J? ~i occ~ .. above the oil in the upper part of ·the reservoir. · · :Thus ·gas is prOduced in gas' · 

fields that do.not: proc:luc;e oi.l;-.. it. ia p%'0Glucad. .. frQII ... ta4f·.gaa;10&p·~;.above ~ oil in 

some fieldsJ and it is produced with .. oil in some _fields. The _proportiol) of .the . 

coutrJ'aaa~ralpa prod.&QtiOD bam gas·:weus·ou-:tn...ecusnJ:niiDI•14ira- t~:51t·-.PC'·oent in ,lt'J8:t4 about"'·6S:per·~eat~aU.;preseat. • . ':- ~.: JJ··:a:: r.._l·~"~ ... ::·?:t._ 'e .. -t~. - .. .~:-,,1:.:.·: ·;;·-. ·: • .·'- .,··~ .. , ., _ · : ·'· if:.-··: .·"c:.· ~$:~ t:·:t ~~:'··',·I."Ji!::.:~; .ir·· :·~·~,:Y~tr·· _ .. 

·,·;:· ·.-oea .tes«woirs-· ot<tl\e·nsondensate t»e have been rainliltn!::tncteatni;utm'-H · ·b:p, ~· c&ri.lktng·4in :~Meot..:.,eua •.. 'fh.e1 a.N wttie·J:y-~diet~~ibut ao;, . .,.~t~Wm·; · .- haverbeen~t4Url4 ilL~tbe ·CGa$1al.aJteas ·;Of· Ta&s aa~:~aa..:~.;··lil .. ~tli8 ie~•s ·=( ,.,. :· 

~tl:tolewG -.OCO'dt'.i.~i.Jt· 4:.~gasedue ffarm but-··a '1"4rdu.titi!on,·1ri::priiNUre~~ ~-r~~- i.-ot~; :I.: ::' .. i 

its production ·£rom the wells result.s·:.in·:tlie ·eancierirition·;o.f'··•o*lor· W. -"-':lrit;o ·: · . a liquid kno'Wll as .condensate. · · · -' · · : · · ·. · ·· .: , .-:: ·: · :. ·'·: -~ :: ~-- '~: ·./ 

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12?06 

Gas produced in oil. fields may be. cons·idereG. to serve two W?•fuL ·pUrposes. 

· ()ne of. :t)leae is ·tQ aid :the re.'cov~y of petrol-eum by·;•ringin& .ttte .. o1.1. ifi"OJt\-'·~:;;:-< 

!mde.rgr01.1tld reservoir- to. ths:r· · aurf~oe, -an~ "the-, other purpose· ·1~. ~~) p..~ ~;~lee.nd 

as 8.: sour.ee of. T8W~materi.al for··liquefie4 t>e.tJ'ole;um.,prottae~,- ~~blA'*»·: .~1w ~ . 

. s~thetic rubb.er;·. ·and :chemtcal prpduct&• · T· · · i.· '' · · · ... ;, ........ 

The" ps-be~ring: roc'ks in th~- ur4:t~d. ~ta_tes are sedimentf,ry ;~ •• -.~~~--~~~---~! many different ages., ranging fro~ -C~bria,n to Pleistocene. Tpese rocks i~-mlUEie 

both marine--those formed on the floor of an ancient sea--and nonmarine--those 

.formed by rivers and in lakes. The kinds of gas-bearing rocks are rrany and in~lud 

sand,. sandstone, limestone, dolOJilite, abele, arkose (ttgrani te wash"), conglomerate 

fractured chert ("chat"), cha~, · gx-av.el, and cc;>al. .--·::;.::..; 

·. ·-.-: :. 9i:l;- and. gas_ have been sought- for many years in.:~tittliftea ·:bu~~r~~-~, .. · 

q knowledg~ of· the qcct1rrence of oi·l:. .. ar.r,t g~ bas/ }?~en< increased br · dri.~nt•" ~Y 

·. : .. ~~~· nQt fip~ght i.n. many _othe_r types· ._qt .trapp,. -~uch .as .. lenti.cul;ar sap.ds~ .salt d.o~tes, 

_,:traps _age~p$t f'av.lts,, noses on·:a~"-e~~ne&.; reefs;, ~uried. ti-lls,; u~p---~~~s" 

.:. of: the ·~$ervoir,_ rocks, anq zo~.s· o.r. ~conf.onr.d.ties • .- ;> ·· .• :.· ... -- · .. ·. r·:"' :f· ~;· 

:-. . · Th~ s:e~rch for- ~il and. gas ·in _the· United .States is a- :~o~~i6~i ~~~r~ri~;, .. .. and the .e..ffecti ve ·@lid extensi v.e · appli~tii.Pn of· the. know+e.clge of geol;ogy 1.~ · ~~ 

.,SPQIWib_le fpr the discovery c;>f":~«<t o(.out.>known A~ou-rces.:~ oil tnd:gft.:S•· .t:Jur· ~~-~-»~v;lt}~~ .. or the -g$,qlogy ·9~- .th~ Uni~~A3~tes is. very incotft)l,te' ar:d most of :the 

:._~.:~-~-nt17-_retnains ·to .be mapped and s_-tudi.ed.' -ip. detail._ As ~eal:ed a:~ tbecsurf~~~ 

. :-g~o.l~gy,.:l.·s Qb.sex:ve4. essent.ially -in but two,-dimensions. ···Its. third -dimension-ha~ 

been apq~ by th~. oil a_nd ·gas ~ndu_s~r.J.es. t)'lrou:&h ·the drilfing: o-f 1,15-o,ooo,~lli 

.. to depths- rangins ,up .to 16,000 f.~~ ~n t.~e· s.earch !~r oil.~pd gas in tAte.,_Jlnt:t.ed 

States. · · · . . .. :_. · : · 

; ·-_;_-. _. ~plou is aJ.s9 a proved and va~u~ _tool in _th~ develoP,nen:t an~ qperation of 

~--.9.~~ and: gcu.t;f'i~lds.-: .. ·: It is concerned. .Wi:t:h:··_tll~ shape;;· reiations .-J.tl'\tet.UZ~t? .¥abt:::, 

~ .:phy;·sica~.-o.Aara,cter. of .. the n.$tural ga:s·: resttrvoire. nte a-cquiftl~·on or g.eoloai~~ ·and 

·:~: .:·: -eDgi·~e.eri~r ciata····froll! producing gas well.~ ha!!J,. bec-anec.··incr.-.singly impo.r.~I$: trr the 

. :.Y: .PAJ.s.·:t JO ;reapJ 1.-, .be~ use the da~ therefrom: at,"e_ .~ess~ry not only £or t~ Wise. de-

.-~.· . : v~l,opaent· :ah4_:· op~ntt~on. g_f t~e: g~_s;- Ci.e).q~·,, ~ut ~lso:,.·.fP.r use ~- conn~cti:<?n wi-th-. .-the 

.~eder.a.l.:~ lavr). apd ths- esta.~-~i-on .of 1:1nde~g~d _gas .reserves for..,~if(~nt. purposes._ iqo·;t:u41:pg.- -:t;.he .f;iru,ancing· of. new:· ~pi-pe_ .;IJ..n~. proj_eetS'• _ . . . . .. , 7

_, 

... '";,"· .,'- . ': ' . . ' . . ~ 

• <# ·, j ., • • ;, :~ •• ::: ~ • ; f • • • ; •' :' • • \ ... ' • 4 • • ,. • • • .; ... 

. ·- .. : :·. ~plogic ._st~die .. s, :9;f. ~~~:ural;._gf~-, by Geo~ogioal_Su:rv:ey· 

:~:· .:.·. ·. ,._. t'.',· .... ··!; ·.": .. _· ' ; . ~ ..... ·,;,:· ··: ":::: ·: ·:·. :···· .. :· .. ', 

:·:·.: .- ,~ 'r~ Bep~Qgic~r.$uz:v~y~s studie~: of th~. o;il :and. gas .resourc•. ot -the U~M4 

_states date -rack ~Q- ~he .. ~te_ eight~N ant;~ early. qtrietl.es wh8n _.:r-eports 11fU"8;·.pu.b..; 

lished on petroleum anp .na:tur~l- .gas -in Ohio·~~nq. India_na. A ;continu~d and inten- · si ve program of ail and gas work was begun by the Survey aliout ·1906. ·This work · 

· .. -~s s~r~d:_.ip re~po~~: 1>9 the. growing_ ~emand,.fqr,_gasoli.r.le. £ar:. the e-ver~iQONasing 

~r: of ~erican,-.~~tom,ob:tl,~~- .th~t:.!Vel:'~. firP::b·:.intr~-~~ .-~li 189.2•··"-.Although -~· 

g~ology. q_~. ~t1~;1ze5f: 1'-o· a:.~mited ~x:tent!,in th~ s~leQition.c.()f dtiU~- si~.ea f~r--. 

oil and .g~$, _.yr~~ls: pzi.or ~q. ~999~' .the drllli,ng-.. Q~~nies·--.~<l not.-in genera1 adQpt 

the guidance. of geologists .. ¥nti~ 1915 •... The ~d:'ption;_ :.Of thi~ guiqance was based on 
... '-

12706 

' · ..- • .. •" , ·· .. J•-· (~,'\'., ... ~·I· •• ~,.· : :'··~: ... : • ~'"' .' ',, 

the reports· of ~the u~- ·s.: -Geologica:t .~ei-puolit:ihed.between 1900. and_l9l5-;$nd on:_~ 

the ·repprts. .. of t~~ (tn\r geo1ogist'S·::ill·'~ .·anplo)ment.· · The .repor.ts of ·the G;~·:. 

logical St:U"vey, as-' w¢"1 as- those:: of. ;t~,.:.caripaey- e;eol~sts,. dEillonstratecL clear:t;.v ... for many areaa the relation cf oil and.:~-- accumu.J.ations t·o anti.cli~ a~ructux;~; .: 

As a consequence the . early part of the present centurY witnessed the begi_nning Qf 

an_; int~sive ·search for anticlines as drilling sites for oil and ga.s·. wells •.. 'rbi·s· 

search is -still ·.111 progM in· the United States end has spread to other petroleum - regi. ons af .. t~e W'Prld~·· -- · · · . · · -· . 

· Ai~~ ·-iri. the p~ri.Oa. i9os.;2~ 'the GeoJ.ogtcal Surv~ mad~ a·,notable. cont~rib!ltlon .. to the deveiopnent of the ·~11 and gas i.nd.ust~es ··throue.ll the ·training ... at petroleum 

geologists Who resigned fran the Survey to jo~n.. the large·geologtc staffs t\tl.ich . 

were then being organized. by the oil ~es·. ·!lhese geologi.Jts,·-'Nbo :we~ thus· Geologi..~ :Survey greduatsa, became a significant proporti-on- of;~ l_eadera· in .. the 

i·ntans.i.ve wrld-w.i.de s.earch·. for petro~~· · · · · .. : ,. ~ . . . . 

ihe Oil am gas inves tie;a,tions :of, . ~e Geological Survey· have ·b~en cendn~:ted .. on an expanded scale during the past three years for the purpose of -~dl.bg th~ '.;; 

discovery of . supplies of petroleum and natural gas wch are urgently neeid.et\,~'to. 

m~et current unprecenQ.ented:requirern~ts.. · ,, . . ' ' .. ~ . 

The. p\trposes of_.the Surveyts.·present lnveJJti'g~tions do not differ :f'roin those 

that have guided sj.milar;~rk by the.:Geologic~ Survey for almost 50 years. --On · the other hand, as ~.th$ methOde-. 8XLd techriitpes of industry -ba.v:e changed dUring this 

period,. the nature of the Surv-er• s work has charlgedo·. ' .. .• 

An 'important' new'technique,. recently announced, ls an·airborne magnetometer 

which can be used for rapid geophysical surveys of potential oil and. .. gas areae. · During the past two Y.ears the Geological Survey has enployed the instrument,. .. · :· 

.-chiefly in cooperat:lon with the Offic~ of 1-faval. P~trolellll Reserves, in making· test 

surveys in areas fran.· the northern coast of .Alaska. to the Gulf of Mexico. In all 

.:.:. fligJ:l:ts. aOd under l\1.~ ?ondi ti~ns the airbOrne magrietaneter has proved i ts_elt, tp be 

unsurpassed as a mearis of tnaking.:rapid magnetic r~CO'nnaissance ·surveys. . .... ·· 

~e mapping of local stmctural features has been stressed-less and less by 

the Geological Surv~~ .. and greater emphasis has been placed on regional -geolOgic 

problems, although ·some effort is· neqessarily b~i~ dir~ted specifically .to the 

acquisition ·of infonnation essential for the administration of:~ la'Wfa:-·relating to 

the leasing of public l~ds f~r· oil and -~ <lf'velopnent. · · · 

~. · In ~onnuJ.ating plaris. for the 'c~~t progr~, the Geologi~cal Survey has, 

sought and received the active collaboration o( .. the oil ·and .gaa ir.dustry and of 

public organizations, such as State geoJ.Ogical.surveys, in ·order that the 'Wo,rk ma.Y• 

··, insofar as pra~ticable,: ·supplement and not dup~tcate the· :.work of o.thers an4 ma;r· 

provide ~ta of maximum and timely us~Ulpess ~n the exploration f.or oil and. gas. . - . . . .. . , . . ~ . ,• ,. 

·The type of \\10rk that. is b~irrg ~ized ~s regional· geology rinvolvi~ both 

subsurface and surface stratigrapey in lartje ~~ such as basins ()'r similar geologic provinces. Studies are being devoted prlniarily to the accunulation ·.Of· data 

.. ~:; 
12706 

for the pr~tion·of maps and_ stratigraphic sections showing such features as 

the thickneila · of oil-producing _fozmations, change in facies. of oil-producing formations, margJ_ns· of. producing or J?.OSSible prodo.cing 'zones, ·an.d ~elations alld extent 

of lenticular·:-sands. ·.These studi··e$ ·ba.ve as their ·objective the 'delimitation of .. 

broad areas that .are f'avorab~~ for· exploration. ·~e determinat.ion .of local ,st~ 

tural features,. \\hether by' su.d'aee~, subsu.r.face, .. 9r geopcysical methods, -is .not 

being .st·ressed~ · . .. . . .. 

T.he different parts of the United States 'Where work has been under WEf¥ .4.~~ :· 

the past three years -~~elude .California, Oregon, the Rocky Mountain region f~ 

New Mexico to ·Montana,. -~ States in the mid-Continent :,region fran .. Texaa to Michigan, the Southeastern. States !rem Mississippi to Florida,· .and the·· Appalachian 

region from Tennessee arid.V~rgima· ·to Cbio .an4 Peru.'lSylvania. These areas .cover a 

considerable proportion of ~he. parts of"· the· countey· that prod~ce :nattll"Q. fi3,S or.· 

are favorable for natural gas· prod.uction~! : . . .· · . . : _. J .... . .-

Because the current program is on an expanded sCale, exceeding ·any ·oil. .~ 

gas lJOrk heretofore o.odertaken ·by· the Geolcgiaal Survey d:urlng any year pri.or t,o 

194.3, the magnitude· of the· resultant effort. is: mu.ch greater· than any .. similar 

effort. · . · · · · ,.. 

Basie· geologic data that are obtained by the ·Geological· Survey in the course·.· 

of its ~9rk are being made av~lable promptly· through pub~icati_9ns .. to tho~e 

directly .. concerned with 'the drilling of ltells and the testing of ·new. areas. 'lhe 

oil and gas investigations are so planned that· useful ~ tilnely results are being 

published promptly. Most of the results are being embOdied in a series of. prelimi~ 

nary maps and ·~~s. on ~ch are printed brief explanatory texts.·. These maps and c~ts are usually p.~n~ed·wJ.tbin a few months after t~e manu.s¢pt· reports of the· 

field parties _B.;re ·received i.n Washingtono· Thei'r tate of rel~e ha:s been .3 to 4 · each month. · · · · ' . · .. , . . ( .. 

· ·The Geological·~~~' h8.s pxj.nted 80 such,~ and Charts in its current ~ series and now ba.s-·12 .in.·press. Of such maps and. charts more than ~7,000 copies 

have been sold. .Also, more·· than ;; a.rti·Cles and :reports have been ·subnitted . during tJ:.e past .3 years to -~tra.d.e and scientific journals· and caoperatif)g agencies , for publl cati ono . : ... . . . 

• • .J ..... •• 

Geological Survey's admi:riistra.tion of·~ De:velopnent ~n Public Lan.d.S 

The.GeQlogiqal Survey's administr~tion of oil and gas· development on the ~b­ lic lands 'is per.formed ·by its Q)nservation Brandl. Such administration includeS 

tha··,:e.xamination and classifi·da;tion of the .min~Tal resources of ·the -pu:blic darai.n, 

the furnishing of technical infonnation end. advice to administrative agenci·ea,. arxl 

the supervision of actuaJ..~!ne_ral-lea$e operations in the interests of conserVation and with a view ·to pro·tecting the interests of t~e United States, inclUdiDg .. 

the. detezminati~n ~·royalty. liability. By administrative a.rmngenent, t)le ·Ge9- lo~Cal SU)Vey maintains supervisiQn .t:Jver. oil and gas operations and detexmines 

roYalty liability on all restticted Indian .lands, exc~t the OSage Nation, a.nd for 

certain naval petroleum :reserve lands. · .. . • .. ·. 
12706 

The fiel.d of the Conservation :Branch \\Ork is coextensive with the ·public 

domain of the, United States, including Alaska. and with the .principal minetalJ>roducing Indian reservations, Its ·duties ineltld.e the cla.ssifi~tion of the public lands according to their .highest- use, the ·protection ·.of the public int~rest in 

undeveloped mineral and -.ter-pawer .resourees,·· .. and ~he p~otion of econanical and 

efficient dev-elOJ?Dlent of zrii.o.e~ deposi.t$ on .. :pu'Plic and ·I~an.land. . · · . • • - . f • . ~ : 

The Mineral Classification and the Oil and Gas Leasing Divisions of the Conservation Branch are directly concerned with oil and gas operations on the public 

domain. · .· -· .. . . . · , · · · · 

.·. 

·The . acti vi tie~ of the Mineral Classification Dlvi.sio~, through its si~ field 

offices, are concerned with appraising the publio-lsnd holdings of the··Unlted ~··:~ ··.:_;·.;. 

States and are fundamental in the procedures of public-lard administratio~. With 

respect to such holdings.,. they incl.ude tb~ detenninations .of tbe minerAl value of 

sped.fic·la.nds applied fo1-" ur.der the vari:QUS n.on-mineral--lB.nd:laws and of the 

structural si tllation and inhe~ent. va1ue of.· lands applied for .tinder :the mineral". 

leasing la~. particularly their oil and gas provisions, aDd also include::the 

conversion of available geologic infonnation into forms susceptible of administrative use, such as aereal clasBifications of miner~ and nonmineral lands, 

definitions of the "kno'Wll geologic structure"- of producing oil aild gas fields, 

and deter.minations of areas logically subject to unitization for purposes of oil 

and gas eXploration an1 devel·opnent. . . · · · · · . ~~ ~ .. 

-~,In all, 1J.0?9 cases were ... .acted on dur:i.ng·l945, an. increase or. 20 per cent· 

over 1944. Initial or revised deflni tions of the ·known geologi~ structure of 7 ,. producing. oil.· or ga~. fields ··1r1ere· prepared and -promulgated; geologie ·'appraisal _. made of 80 Utli t-plan subni s$ions:; . ·ani · 5.3 special reports were rendered to the 

General Land Office on new tU,scoveries of oil or gas on or.· adjacent to Federal :. 

lands, including_,22 appli~t!oqs ·for the royalty benefits accorded ~Y ~e.act_ :~ ·\ 

approved Decenber 24, 19l.J2 (~ Stat. 1080), for the discovery. of new 011 a:r.d ~ ... · fields or deposits· ·during ~e national war 'energency; the geologic ¢,ieeld.f.lg ahd :.~.·-:· .. >"::.·. 

endorsanent of several thousand .assi~ents of aereage or other- intereata in··t'ltl.t-- : · standing leases, and q£ leases en route to i~S:uance; and the geologic adjudiCS,ti.on 

of many thousands of original applications for prospecting or developnent ngbts 

for oil and gas pursuant to the provisions of said laws. ·- .. . 

For the mos~ part the results of these investigations serve to expedite 

administrative action. H.owev.er-, many .are of sufficient general i'ntere&t to be 

made available ~n rrianuscrl.pt- or. ma;P ~o:rm for public· inspection ·in· the originating 

field offices, and a few more are published and made ~vaila.ble· tor gene~ distribution. ... · . · , ·· · · -- .. ,.. ... 

The Oil a.nd_Gas .. ·L.eaaing b,ivision maintains 15 tield offic~··staffed: Wi_~·· trained teehr.:ical' ·a.cco~ting~ ·and ·clerical personnel and supervises.' the dri.lling 

and developnent operations and detennines the royalty liability of lessees. I_t 

maintains records of operations.~ in the puPl.ic-land; states, .. furnishes technicaL·.·.-.. 

advice and sta~istical~ ipfozwation. _to ope.rat:ors. aDd the general public.· It · . 

furnishes valuable analyt~cal infonnation to its lessees· through its laboratory ' · 

7. .~ 
12706 

facilities· at Caspar, Wyo., including. the·,analyses of oil, g~, ·ana..~ water, the . 

· tl.ete~~nati9n Of. penneabili ty, .. pbr6si ty, oil ·saturation and· connate 'WB.~er content · of. well co :res, 84d .the pr~raiion of engineering r~ports. on the··.possibilities .. of 

. eecondary recovery in aeti ve pi-oduci~ fieldS:~. Scxne ideS of . the· magm:tude . o! ·.the 

job· entru~ted to_: the Conservati9b. Branch:· is had: .. fran the total royalty value :Of · the oil, gas,· gasoline, and butane ·accounted for in the calendar year 194S~ ··· · · 

namely, $7,.563,974 on p~blic lands and $1,861,98~ on Indian lands •. :.·. 

·· · Most ·of the oil and. gas· .from public-land leases is produced. in OOifo~, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming, and small amounts are produced "in:. . . I,touisiana, Michig~, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Utah.. Oklahoma, Montana, and · ··wyoint.ng produce ·:most .of the· oil from Indian-land leas·es, and· Sll oil· fran naval · 

. p:etroleum· reserve_ l~~es· is. ·produced in California at this time. . . . .. ·. ·-~ · · · • • • I ' ~' • ' _.. 

·- . The supervision extends tto 6~ .584 publl~land leaSes, aggregating 4,-149, d6p .. ~cres .i"n 20 States and .Alaska~ The public lands aJ_one, have produced ~fran ·1.220 to 

1945,. inclusive, 8~,151, 958 'barrels' of oil, l,JltQ, 69.:3,;.294, ooq. cubic feet of. gast 

and 1,·589,427,845 ~loriS_ of ·gasoli'rie and bu.tane. . . .... . .·~~ 

... __ ! 

.. 

• .,"I • 

Pr~v~ ~tuial ~as. ~eserves ' . ; 

Our natural gas resources have been discovered in the course of· the int~i ve 

searCh for crude petroleum and relatively li~~le effort has be~ devot~ to prospectirig for nattiral gas except in California: .and the Jppalachi'~ area. 'l'he.,.:search 

.for oil has· :r:esulted in discovery after disc6veey of new gas f~elds arid deeper gas 

-zones al'l4 has led to ·a constantly increasing ·volume of· proved underground r~.erves 

of natural gas in Spite of the moUnting production. The estimates of such r~ . s-erves range upward· front:15 trillion cubic feet in 1919 to 14o triU~Qn in ~9~5.-

A continued high-discovery rate '"Of natural gas in the post war period' is precucted 

by the Petroleum _.Admini-stration· for War in a recently pu.blished .. rep(;r~ (James. ·.J. . Pew, "Natural Gas·· and its 'products during the \var" in Petroleum ln.' War -~ ~eace;: 

papers presented by t~e Petroleum ~inist~t·i'on for War before. t~e Sena,t;e ~ial · 

·committee to investigate petroleum resources.; .. Bon. Joseph C. O'Mahoney, Chai:nnan, Nov.· 28-Jo, · 1945.) .. · ·. · · · · .· ·· · 

Sane of the inc~ease in gas reserves is attn butable to t~chnologic .advances. l · 

One of these is the drilling to greater ·depths in re,cent yea.rs anP. the r~sult.ing 

discovecy wi. th depth of a greater proportion of gas t.o oil. · The deepest -.~ls· 

drilled in recent yea;rs include .one ih Calif or¢ a to a d~th _of 16, 246 .. feet: .ap,d. / 

one· in Texas to a depth of 16,655 feet. Our deepest €!JJS as well as ·Oil :P~~ing 

zone lies at a depth of 1.3, 76.3-13,778 feet in Louisiana. The increase in the 

natural gas reserves is als9 d!le in part to the accelerated search for o~~ in 

recent years. ~n this search: the number of geopb~sical creWs· in .the fiel~· ~· 

·the number of wildcat wells have reached new high levels. .. • \ ' o I .... •' 

. :The' proved reserves· 0!' natural gps were discussed t>Y E. L. DeGolyer at.·~ .. ·.: . 

hearing .of the Federal Po-yrer Commission· in Kansas·. City, ~1o. , in ~eptember .. l945, · and they are, l wxierstand, ·the. subject of a: detailed statement .to be presentei 

8. 
12706 

~ ~ . 

'. 

by him later at ··th·~;present hearings ~"Washington. · This· subject is thus discussed br_iefly in ·this pap~, by mk~€;'Teference to published statements;:.·· one by 

Mi'. -.Def:olyer \I:D.vestigation of petroleUm resourc~s ''New, sources, 9f: petJ'olewxL"in 

the ·um ted States"; Hearings before a speCial. committee invtttttigating petroleuJD 

resour.ces, u. s:;· Senate, 79th Congress. let Sess. pUr~t.· to s. B.es. 36. ·.1946 

and Oil and: Gas' Journat, May 4,. 1946) giVing an estimate: of_l4o trUlion ~ie 

feet as of th'S· first of 1945, an9,. the other by James E. Pew of .. the Petrol~·: 

.Admi;nj:stration for War giVing. an estimate of at least 135 triUit)n.~io:fet:t.:as 

of the same .date. (James E. Pew "Natural gas and ·i.ts· pr.O~ta ·.~ .the )J;ar". in 

Petrolew:n 1n War and Peace; papers.:presented by. the Petroleum AQmimetrat~o~ for . War before t~e :·Senate speci~ 90imni ttee to invE>stigate pe~.x;o~ reseurces.·. Bon~ 

Joseph c. 0'Mahoney, Chairman, Nov.· 28-30, 1945~) .·· · · ---~· ., ·.·. · · .:· : · : • • •'.. '. • • ~ • ill> • ' • .. 

• # ) \""' • • 

In· arriVing at the ~1.1-<r.-~lli&n :estimate ·bY"iu-:. 'DeGOl~r;· ~- ~.ee fi~lda having incU:VidiiSl reserves. .. of 20 .. billion cubic feet· or: mre ~·: lne1UdeAi t.'~~t - for the .b.pp<acbi.mi area. If tbe~;ba· added to this es~itna.te: the:: •. i~QO~l ilm8lJ.~~ · fields not ·incl~ therein ~d if· allowance is made for. ~e~. p~:()t?.abl•··Jj~eJi~~ .. of present .fi'el~: not yet. fully ~lored·he concludes· .that "Y,e~ara.-·~~lt1J!Jd~~.:· 

considering the:p~esent gas reservea .to be something o.f ~e -~~-+Of· 200-~·.· .... 

trillion ~bi¢ feet. n· · ~ top-J"~ng States, *each possess~·~ p~::eebt):or 110~~ . 

of the ·1~trillioh r-eserve -are.!" · ·· · . . . ., -, ·. · .. · · ~:: · · ·: , .. :\ : ·. 

.... . '· . 

·•. 

Teas·.· 

LoUisiana 

. Cal.ifomia. 

Kansas 

Oklaho~ ·.· 

58~ 2 per cerit .. 12.2 1f Jf 

9.2 -~ " . 7·~ 7 .. tt 1f 

4 . .3 " " 

Coneerning the '1)5~trlll~I). eetima.te. Mr •. Pew comn~t~ as follows: . ,- ·' '. ~ .. '" 

UfJhe figUre of 135 trillion. is based. on esti~tea'. Cont>ilGd ·by-~~-·: .. committees and is <»tl·siQ.ereQ.. .. "t9:·.be. one· of the mst collpr8hens:tve end:relU&ble-. :-, . estimates of recoverable na~a:J. ·gas ·reserves .tb&t baa betm. ~ to: .. date~ It · · includes only the natural gas reserves now known and reeQve~abJ.e·''Under-presentr .... : ~, 

economi~ ~ndition~; it does not repre·sent the ~tal quari.~itY .. rJf .. gaa ~bat.~ be 

recovered. 1f the f1.elds are emausted to lower pressures thah·· those ,aasu.nsd:. If 

all fi eld.s were calculated to a comr.on pressure. and.-if al..l:aWance ·were~ made for 

future extensions of known fields, the estimate would be 60nsi'cle'.rably · hi@Jl.er. " 

!the present proved :r~·s~e;s of ~ru.ral gas:·~~o~e .-~:itud.e has .th~s set a 

new hi~, occupy for the first time a ·posi tion,..bo~. il:l-· weigh.~ .~and heat .value 

alongside the proved rese:tves of petroleum (G. G. Oberfell, Utilization of BaturaJ.. 

Gas, American Gas·-Associatlon Mo.-ttj.ly, January 1946, .pp. 7-1.3, -~}:. .~e . .,l1leent 

developments in the utilization o'f natural gas--its 6JCP8ll_~·~et~& $nd inportance as a source of energ.r and varied products-lead to the qu:estion of the .~l.ze 

of our undergro1md· .gas a:Jpply that .remains: to, be· pr.oduced. Our,~~· gas 

supply includes two categpries of reserves, one. the proved reserves just dis:-:·· 

cussed, and the otner, the potential·rese:rVes. that:·remain to "P• diaco~ecL. 
' .. • 

12706 

.~otentiar··.ga.s reseri'es ·awa.tting discovery.· .. : .. - ... 

_·. ibe.poteti~ial·.reserva·s:·yet to·b~ diseovered.fuclu.&, .. itie SUpplie_s.of·~~~­ ~ to be found by deeper drilliiig in·present .:p'l'Oducing·:fields·; ·to. be fouac\Jllf: . exteri.sion_s· ·ar·:.the pre(?en~ ;ftelds,· and tQ be::f'ollilci' in new· fieldS. in"regioatt·.~· .~ 

pro'ducing_·.~ ~~l.as in regto~~not ~-producing.- ·.. . · .. ·· ... , ... . . .. ~ . . . . . .. . 'f.: . . . -. . :> .. • 

. · ~~~Sry :rocks ~ha.t ·are favorable fo~: the. pro_d:u.ctton of: natur.at gSatcoV_er ~ of.;_th~ ·area of ~he :Vnited·.·sta~es, as abowrl"bY' the·.fact that .produc:tive·ge.s ,. f!e.ld.s. hav.e 'b~:4eveloped.in.30 States.·. ~e:·se 1ticks ~rlie attogether. ~t . hslf the area ·of the-United States. . · · ~ · . .: · 

-,_'· . '·.i .. Tn~::~ re~ ~~:.areas that. are~ not yet;· f~y e~lored by the ~~1. In .· geQ.eral·,, ~loration·: 1s ~dertaken· first. in·: the·liOst f.avorable ·areas·· as indicated 

by. geologie· e\tiderice. These areas inv.i t·e:.filrther -or. new· drilling· frt>tn· .time tQ; 

time' in. respo~se·to· incraaSed knowledge' of their geolog •. ··!]hey includ.Q .proclu.oUlg 

fields that warrant: deeper drilling. and other. areas that warrant addit.i.onal·ve:Us. 

some. drilled to ~~ter ·depths.··· ·Future eJr;Ploration thus' bas two frontiers •. one · .'. t -~he_. extension of· t.~~t~ in to new· undrilled areas,. and the other the drilling . to_ 

greater depths. Althou@,b: inproveJients ~i.tf drilling tecbniep.e haVe.·. made po,@sib~e 

the drilling of wells to greater an~ .greater. dsptba, there is a limit. below whicb 

petroleum and natural gas will not be found. In many areas this limit is clearly 

marked by the floor or baaen+ent of crystalli~e ro.eks~ ·. In other areas the oil- and 

gas-bearing rocks rf.1!J3 be less clearly limited 'in: their downward extension by sedinentary rocks whose metaztl:)rphism ~·low p&rosit,'::and low permeability preclude 

their containing oil and ~ rei:?etvoirs. · · · · . 

. .. ..,.\. 

The _producing. regions that. invite the testing of deeper zones and new nearby 

areas include· those -of: the Appalachi-ans, those· in the. Cent.ral S~ates fJ'O~.·. the . Gulf of Mexico to· the Great Lakes, and those in California. and the Rocky Mountain _region: •. · 1~ these producing ·regions· and E;)lsewhar& ther~· a:re . -~ · l:~ge 

areas outside ~e ·developed fields that warrant ad.ditionaJ.·.-e.xplorati01l. &~ .. of 

these· areas ~e: . ,., ·.·, : ·. ·. . .. , . · . ... .. 

Cali~orni~ Coast·aJ. areas ne~ Humboldt ·:sau: Point .A;ren~. and··~o:,_nt ... : . ·. <Reyes; Salin~ Basin. 'Sacramento :Basin. San Joacpin _Valley, an.cl< . .. ~~ia;L.Valley .. ·. · : .. '· ·· · . ·... .. .. _,_·.: . ..... \.·. . . 

qoastal region of Was.W:ngton and Oregon • . . 

'l':tans-Pecos region· .of we~t -Texas • 

·· · Nox-thexn Llano Est acado of northwest-certtrai .. Texas azid · nort\leqtern· New Mexico. ·· .:. · . 

' · · .. , . -~· BUin ~f _;uestem Oklahoma.~ of b ~xas J?.dJ.e. 

McAlester :Basin ·of·'~theaste~-oki~ .. 

Arkansas River Valley of Arkansas, 

10 
12706 

. . . ,·, • ''t.::'i ... -..;.··. 

Sout~cu .. tern rn: ~ ·· .... , .. ;, ... (,, · ug,g . u "w.a. ........ , . 

Uinta B~~ ·of ~tem Utah ~d northwestern Colorado. • . . •. . ~. . l .. : . . ' . . . 

N&J!th aid Mi¢$._P~e~ of·Oolorado.: •. 

. (' ~~--- Color8do. · .. 

"·-

_: ··, .· '_.~ .-~w;Jdt1g.: . ~e folloWing int~nrotitane basiris: 

·· . ·. · · "BrWw;er and. W81ilakie. . · .· llig_Horn, :WillA River,'.·:'· .. ~.:··:· ' : . ~ .. ~ ~ ~ 

. t.: .. · .... 

.; . .( 

. . . •.. / . . . . ~ : ' : .• 

Powler -·Blvet-· b~~ .of norU3:eastem i7bming: and e~e~te~ . Mozl.1i~~~: .t ~~ -···:·,_ 

-~··· . 

So1;lth"7Certtr~ and northeast em ··Mont·ena. · · ' ' ... ! .. ' . .: . . . • • ' ~ • . 

. . . 

The ~tas. · . · . ' ... · .. :. . .• 

Westerri. N~bra*a~:·: ~-.~ .· : ~. · . . ' -~.. ~ ,., . . ' . 

·, ... · ..··.. .. •, . . . • ; • t .~ .... ,_. '• 

. . . ' 

S~ina b·asiri· of KansaS: ·and )lebraSkL· .· . ~ . . . . ' 

.. ~··· ... r .. 

F~ie~t: .. Cit~··basin of :r.ortheaster.n Kansas, soUtheast~m Nebr.a~ .. nor:tnwestetn Mi sseur1. ·, ana ecuthwestern. Iowa. . ... . ' 

· · · Warrior· ·coal ba$in of Alabama..: · 

j• . .. ~. 

...... . . . _, ·~ ., 

Gulf Ooast·al Pl$.in of MississipPi, Alab~,,.Georgi:a.. and.Flmllt~ ·_. 

-~~ is·appropria.te to ~ntion.aJ.so Al.a.Sta., ~rto Rico ·and the contin$ltal, ',· 

·shelf along the.GUJ.! Coast States and California 'Vbose·oil. possibilities are the 

subject ot :pl!ea~t ~terest. , ' . . . . . . . . . . . '• ... : . . . . . ; ' . . . . . '~ ·.:. ..~.· .· . . . . ·_,. ··: \:;; :. ·.·~. : . . . '• 

Indica,t~~~~: .of oil' ~,a· Widespread in Alaska and bave· ~n.:ki¥>'Wil: ~~7: ~ 

·years. 0!1 production ·in Alaslr..a has been small.,·being -~~ ~~Q90.\larr&ls 

which was obtained from the Ka.talla .. field from 1902 to 193.3 ... InJne past:-.3. yeaz.-.s - the· ~logic~ ·Sur·~_;and the Navy Department have made and are 'c6nti~· stufi'es 

of .~the mre promising ·At~1can areas for oil developnent~. ·~-Most ~"• ia being 

devoted' to· tb.~ . Jrc~e. ·.s+.apa. .Any ·ensUing extensiVe. Oi-l 6.JP~Or&~i~. ~ ~e Arctic · ·slope· -~·~.eJ.~er$.ev· :·discover COJDB'eroi& quantities of oil ~~ .. · : · · · I . . ... . ., . 

. ; · .. '!he t'ke .coaat81. belts ·of, Puerto ltico, one -as·-~ .aalo ·mtf~ ~de-;8.\oDg:fb.e north c;aast-an&-tli$ O.ther··a.'liaRow&r btrlt along· the,.,u:th- coast::~~ :by 

gen t1y incldne4 ~tary rocks of T&rti:B:rw age which .rest ~r;oilfor~, Gil 

greatly deformed Cretaceous rocks th&t.~·&!Oi CQ.t by ~·i.nf4!aslct111~ ;-..~areet 

11 
'evidence ··o-f·OiJ. or·ga&aecwmlation haS:'~- ~~'ia--- te)&Q6;·lJbih~ investigations of the oil and gas paasibill. ties- maCW- 9Y. the Geological Surve,. INC"" 

gest that geophysical. investigations.a!•ttie-..._·of,!er~~~,fib~t. 

coastal areas seem justified. < • ' •, ~-' '~ ·:~ ~;:~J~\l:f_: /"~~~ 

nw continental shelf _adjacent to .. tr.a.e Umited States :is the slightly au'bnar&8t 

portion of the eont!nent- extending out ·to·:tibout the lOO...fathoJJJl~ _ I-t •. 10 to 

100 miles or m>re in width along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico bu.t . 

a;tong n:ost ot the Pacific coast it is only.& few.milea i#'Wi:\i._. ~~~ 

are receiving increased attention for the further testing for :their oil I'&IIINr~ 

In this exploration it is probable that gas will be cti.scoveJ:IQ.·UJ, ~ 

C!~!;e~: ·~~W~~~~si:!ia!:lo~= :e~CO: at~lerore a Senate committee in 1945. (~nvestigation of pe~lO'lfRlla,,li~ sources · ·of petroleum~ the United States. Hearings before a special comittee iaYetniga.ting petroleum reso~ U. s.·., Senat$~,,· 79th Gong., l$t ~es. ~P<II-111111-:.~·~ Rea. 

36, pp • .360-~o, 1946). Accordingly a. very brief.~ of these ·posaibilitiea 

is pertinent in a consideration of futu;e ~~-s~of'·gas. -· .. , . 

The occurrence of nu.trerous large en4 productive salt domes .. ~ a\oDg 

the operi coast of the Gulf of Mexico and the gradual extension of geopeyaical 

prospecting into the marshes, 'bayous, lakes, and coastal bBaVS:;~f" tke,~l~M~ana 

coastal strip, including_the Delta of the-Mississippi River, earl;y made it eviden1 

that the oil-produci.rtg province of Lo'UiQiatla:end ~e-. e~~ --~i~ ., the waters of ~he Gulf. In 1927, tha l~te Dr. David White of. the Geological ebr- v~ publicly. expressed. the vi'ew :that ·domes. existed un-derneath· the Gulf aa41lO.inte< 

out that the knowledge of the toPography of the be~t'of the <lWlf .t\JMiehed b7 chal1 

of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey indica'!ied.- possible aticlinel aa4 

domes. Dr. White suggested that the topograpey of·,tb.e enti~ ·bo-ta.'tQf·:., •bmerged continental shelf be surveyed by. the .then newly dev: .. l-eif&d· methods· of eonic 

soundillg, and clir$cte4 attention to· the 'fact that ·~even out·:· to ·.35'~ ._ the · coast , depths greater than. 60 feet were rare and that in ;p•t-a:·of· ·the belt tbe 

water is Mt over· 25 feet· deeP'·) ·.)J·. · · .. - •· · .- ··i- · • .:-' •. · • · -: ~ · · 

. . . . . . . ·, . ;:· -·· . . :: .... · . . . . ·, .. '. . . -~~;~:: ; :· ">' ·: < ·;: .. . ' . ''; f .. 

The continued extension of geopeysicaJ. prospect~'~· CJrUrltM~.isltp.;--~:r·~ 

partially submerged marsh areas anc;l adjoining la\tes :an4- -coastal bevs lecl ult~l 

to ~loratiorr~;and :~umg· in the· Gulf of .. :Menco. near·~~ .C.· _.~~Ia tbl_ discovery,~ in 1938 :of ·the. Creole field, a'9out ·a mi;le:qff•:ve t~Bt~.- ~~· 

L.a.; in the open :Gulf~· albse~ent ~lo~t proved..~ p:roduc-"~·•~·,~ .-.:a · ·.-DJll&::S~ • .' · . , · · . . . . . . .. ·' :: ; .. , (':•·.· . · 

= · ... · :·· ·. In .i94l·· the. ~nd· fi~ld. in ·the-~- .c;r ·Me:Xie6, ·the :Ssb:Lae-~.,~.f:~~-'"M~t:. 9 t 000 feet .o.ffsbol'e froiD Jeffersot:t: .. Cmm.ty, .~~ .... , .wa& oQ;iSCO~~-· ~--~Mr:f~ · 

in Galveston :SS\Y', Laguna Madre, and other coast~ ba.YS of. Texas and in. the blr'a of 

iile' Missiesippi Del;t~ have aJ..so beQn ~apG<L .~ F~ical>lUiv ~/-M ' 

- ~ill~,IJ\4 oil· PmAU.c'liton, in the ~---~atltt,· ·~ tilt 118B•~"" ~_.,­

cepied··a&.•atebli.,_d, -and .tla• exist~-~~· •~·~···-~-~·_, ... ~~-tt~..;,.·' ~turs. ~· ~::R~·JtO;tent.t·~y p~t..•ve:of oi-J. .. 1.B. :t.Ml-c,.._,.. c -::::·.: • 

12 
12706 

The submerged slopes off the California coast, in sharp contrast with the 

continental shelves of the Gulf of Mexico coast, are steep and the submarine 

topography is markedly irregular and similar in many features to the rugged muntains that adjoin or plunge toward the ocean. The strip above the 100-fathom line 

along n:ost of the southern coast of California is only a few miles in width and in 

many places is less than a mile wide. Nevertheless, several coastal California 

oil fields have been extended out beneath tidelands or into submerged areas. 

Oil fields of the California coastal strip in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los 

.Angeles Count~es are found in Tertiary sands in several sharply folded anticlines, 

Whose axes lie obli<Pely to the general trend of the coast. The discovery of 

productive fields on these anticlines by wells close to or at the coast line, has 

led to production of oil from. the submerged parts of the fields by directional 

drilling from rigs established on shore, or by drilling from piers extended for 

IIX)re than 2, 000 feet offshore. 

The possibilities of finding oil and at so gas on the continental shelf area 

are believed by roost gec;>logists to be good. It is generally agreed also that the 

engineering problems involved in the discovery and production of oil and gas from 

the shelf can be solved. It is not yet established, however, that costs of production will be such that oil or gas can be produced far from shore in competition 

w.i th other fuels. ' 

Concluding statement 

The natural gas resources of the United States are large and the present 

proved reserves are only a fraction of the total reserves. Geologic conditions 

appear to justify the conclusion that large and inportant gas reserves remain to 

be found. Whether or not the present proved reserves of 140 trillion cubic feet 

represent a half, JIX)re or less, of the ultimate uroducible reserve is not known. 

· Information is not available that will permit an estimation of the magnitude 

of our future discoveries of natural gas in exact terms, either cubic feet or 

year's supply. Our gas reserves yet to be discovered, \\hatever their magnitude, 

are finite in qu.an ti ty. '!hey are a wasting mineral asset--that is, they are destroyed in their use. Also, they are not replenished by geologic processes in the 

underground reservoirs. When one gas field is eli scovered, one less remains to be 

discovered. The problem of the discovery of oil and gas fields has become increasingly difficult and, from all available evidence, this trend will continue • . Natural gas, like numerous other abundant mineral resources of oUT Nation, is 

a rich heritage. As a geologist I am deeply concerned with the wise development 

'and production of this convenient fuel ro that posterity, like our generation, mav 

be blessed with a full measure of this heritage. 
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