The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-29
WHERE TO BORE FOR OIL OR GAS.
State Geologist Thompson Describes the Sur
face Indications Which May Lead to 1t.

State Geoloeist Thompson in his forthcoming
report will devote considerable space to the sub
feet of Natural Cas-" In chapter discussing
surface signs and other evidences of where to
bore for oil or gas IN Indiana he will say: 1.-THE
following facts must be understood and be kept
well IN memory while exploring for oil or gas.
Oil has been found in varying quantities through
out the paleozoic rocks. Gas has been found in
all the rocks above and including the Lower 81
lurian, small pockets or cavities full of it hav-
Ing been discovered in the body of the glacial
drift, and in the compact recent clayey and peaty
deposits.
wherever carboniferous shales are exposed
there may be found evidences of the escape of
oil and gas from the body Of the formation. So
IN limestones and even in the central cavity Of
goodies, thick rich kohl may be seen. From
znarshy places and from springs of water light
gas is often found rising, sometimes accompanied
by natant film of oil on the surface of stagnant
pools. These so-cailed Surface signs" are
rarely significant of any deposits or
nccumulations Of oil or gas worth
spots, the source of degeneration may be and
be found in submerged vegetable matter. In
she drift formation the gassource is often OBJ
scure, but facts enough have been observed and
recorded TO make it clear that the generation is
brought about by the decomposition of RATS OF
wood or other plant-matter buried during some
Of the glacial or post glacial disturbances of the
mass. Bituminous shales and other carbonifer
Gus deposits of like character probably have re-
eeved their oily and gas bearing character from
both vegetable and animal substances deposited
along with their other constituents at the time
pf their formation by sedimentation on the sea-
bottom. Clay has peculiar affinity for petro-
Ieum or bitumen. and will often be found
charged with it in one form another espe-
sally where natant oil has come in contact with
xhe banks of streams. Thus old clayey terraces,
marking the margins OF ancient water currents,
may be found to contain bituminous traces and
TO give forth feeble hints of gas on account of
oil transported, perhaps from a great distance,
and imprisoned by the mere accident of contact.
"All over the great drift area of Indiana gas
has been found in digging or boring for water.
In most instances the reservoir was tapped be-
lore reaching the paleozoic rcck. OF course, in
each case the supply was small and the pressure
feeble Still the discovery would invariably be
construed by the ordinary welldigger to be
promissory OF grand reservoir deeper down.
The consequence has been the expenditure OF
great deal OF money and labor in vain. Gas can
not pass through heavy bed Of compact bowl
SER clay, or through dense stratum of areil-
Eaceous shale. Hence q pocket of gas may exist
In the midst Of drift mass or within shale de-
post without at ell indicating any supply deeper
down. If we should bore entirely through the
drift, and Immediately upon reaching the paleo
sz0ic rocks we should find gas, we might be
justified in expecting to reach reservoir further
down, more especially If we knew from the ge-
clogy OF the region that formation otherwhere
gas bearing lay at no great distance beneath the
drill with clay shale intervening. The condi-
tions would strongly indicate gas leak from a
reservoir somewhere deeper in the earth. AT
Findlay, in OHIO, however, such leak extended
through the entire drift mass and the gas was
utilized long before any of the now celebrated
Trenton bores were made. Still the rule, and
not the exception, must govern.
1T may, therefore be set down that there are
no valuable accumulations of natural gas in the
drift mass, and from the nature of the structure
OF our bituminous shales. the gas they bear can
nor be collected into reservoirs great enough in
extent to furnish a desirable supply and that.
therefore, surface indications with either Of
these formations are deceitful and valueless.
IF, however, gas. should be discovered leaking
from the carboniferous rocks in the western and
southwestern part of our state. it might 5esa
good indication Z say it might be- for all the
features of the situation would have to be care
fully considered in connection with more def
mite statement OF the probabilities. So, il sur
face indications very much like those which pre-
Geded the discovery of gas at Findlay, o., were
observed anywhere in northern Indiana, should
say that bore should be made there at once
There are considerable disturbances of q PEI
euliar nature affecting the paeozoc strata under
lying the drift of northern Indiana but their ex-
tent can be inferred only from certain indications
observed near Kentland. Delphi. Logansport
Huntington and Wabash. Further examina-
lions may disclose condition of things making
the existence of gas In parts of that area quite
probable. The existence of HE h-pressure gas in
she lower Surian rocks of northwestern Ohio is
ewing to just such disturbances Of the strata as
are indicated by certain visible features of the
same formation in our own State. The boripgs
should be done with great care and caution, and
not till after there has been an exhaustive study
Of all the facts within reach should it be said that
Indiana has no valuable deposits of oil or gas.n
M0NEY-MAKING TRICKS OF FAKIRS.