Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-03-07

can now tnr0ufn u, exccpt IN the eOmeWnAt
rare assures which .penctrate IL. The oil
springs Of Canada West issue from the Ham
ilton group. Below the Hamilton Shales is
the cut Limestone, also Devonisn, which
forms the surface rock, aud On most of the
western half Of the State. This is a marine
deposit, generally a very pure lime stone,
containing myriads oforganic remains. In
some localitiestbe Cliff contains petroleum
in cells or cavities. IL is very dark, has a
strong, disagreeable smell, contains sulphur
and nitrogen, and is probably of animal ori-
gen.
The Blue Limestone series-of Silurian
age-wliich underlies the ''Ciiff," and is
knowledge, yielded any considerable quanti-
ty of petroleum
/ have said that the waveriy series--or
the Chemung and Portage rocks-are III
oil rocks Of Ohio. By this / mean that they
are the principal repositories of oil--the
source from WHICH We are mainly 70 derive
the millions Of gallons which will be annually
used in OF. exported from the State--the
geological level along which We must look
for new discoveries ofpetroleum.
That the oil originates in this group of
strata is, however, by no means certain. On
the contrary, it seems more probable that it
merely accumulates in them, as a convenient
reservoir, when flowing from another source.
These rocks are mechanical sediments, which
are, in Ohio, generally destitute of organic
remains whether animals or plants They
are, however, often quite porous, and strong
currents of water flow through them. The
Hamilton Sbales, on which they rest, con-
tain an amount Of carbonaceous matter pro-
badly equal to all that included in the coal
measures. Here, suspect, most of the oil
originates. From this bituminous mass, as
distilled by natures processes, it would rise
through every fissure by the pressure Of the
incumbent rocks, or water, which is, speci-
fically; heavier. A few layers of the Waver-
ly series are highly charged with the debris
of vegetable and marine shells, and these
may generate some oil but for the most
part what they contain is of foreign origin
The source to which / have referred it is 80
entirely sufficient, both as regards its posi-
ton and character, that it seems unnecessary
to look further Over nearly all the north
ern part of the State, where the Portage
and Chemung rocks are exposed, petroleum
may be found exuding them in greater or
less abundance; but it is only at compare
lively few points that it is found in a "pay-
ing quantity.
The Oil Greek region in Pennsylvania is
one ofthese series of oil centres. There the
wells are sunk from 70 to over 300 feet
often to, and sometimes apparently through,
the Portage group. The oil occurs at all
depths 1t is frequently found saturating
the surface deposits, and the deepest bore
has not reached beyond it. 1t flows in fs.
sures with water, and that from neighbor.
ing wells differs much in quality: all Of
which facts seem to indicate that it is de.
rived from somewhat remote source below.
/ The oil of Titusville is very thin, varying
l shades of brown in color, and has specific
gravity of $50 to 4Oo Beaume.
Not very far distant from the Oil Creek
region is that of Mecca, Trumbull county,
Ohio. Here some 200 wells are being bored,
and dozen or more have been successfully
pumped. The geological level of the Mecca
wells is the same as that Of Ttusville, but
they are generally less deep; varying from
80 to 200 feet, while most are about So
The rock is soft, blush white sand stone
with partings of clay shale, sometimes quite
saturated with oil The yield of the WE'LL
is from 5 to 20 barrels each per day. Tht
oil ismuch thicker than that OF Pennsylvania
has greenish brown color, and compare
lively little odor. Its specific gravity is from
$50 to 300. For many miles around Niece;
signs of oil are found-in the wells sunk fo
water-on the surface of streams &C. /: an,
the aggregate production Of oil from tina
district will unquestienably be very large.
At Lowellville, Mahoning county, some
5 miles southeast from Mecca, a single we
7 has been bored to the depth of l57 feet, an
! is said to be now yielding some 20 barrel
g of oil per day. This well is sunk throug
the conglomerate, which is there, and int
the Chemung The oil is similar in charat
! ter to that of Titusville, is light reddish
. brown in color, and has specific gravity c
$50 Beaume. The oil enterprise at Lowell
vile is, as yet, in its infancy, but it seem
probable that the quantity ultimately raise
there will be large.
At various places near Cleveland, and u
0 the valley of the Cuyahoga, oil makes il
z appearance, generally flowing from the Po
tage rocks. Whether it will be found hei
0 in abundance is, at least, doubtful.
+ At Grafton, Lorain county, and in Live
} pool, Medina county, adjoining township
. the Portage rocks contain much oil nun
's ber ofwells have been sunk which promii
well, but operations are just commencir
:e there and little oil has been raised. II
l. Grafton oil is darker and thicker than tn
u of Mecca, having a specific gravity Of abo
25o Beaume.
rs On Duck creek, in Noble county, petr
lg leum has been procured for many years fro
GO the salt wells. Withina few months pas
le wells have been sunk expressly for the
u with success but how much is now rails
O. there, or what is its quality, | have Il
,s ae definitely learned.
he MODE OF RAISING Rock On.
n The process of raising the oil is very 81
he pie, and may be described in a few words.
In localities where it exists in quantity,
h, makes its presence known by floating
ty streams, or pools of water by imparting
H. peculiar taste and smell to the water in wei
IN BY flowing out spontaneously in springs.
When these evidences of oil are prese
ed it is bored for. Ifthe rock is covered W
in a thick coating of earth or qnicksand, ca
te, iron pipe is driven down to It. If the eai
Of is not more than fifteento twenty feet thi
M a pit is usually sunk The drilling is dc
nd with iron or wooden rods, or both combine
le- the diameter of the hole being genera
,ck three or four inches. Hoil is found, .
ter the flow of water is profuse, it is enlarged
I five or six inches. Great care should
be. taken in boring to see that the hole is rou
,%s ,ns and perpendicular. Neglect of this will I
It's der It difficult to set the pump properly.
& sIn confirmation Of the view thu The oil Of the