The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-14
CERTAIN LIMITATIONS.

But while We can state with confidence
that all great gas wells are found on the
antiGlinal axes, the converse OF this Is not
true, viz: that great gas wells may be
found on all antiClinals. In a theory OF
his kind, the limitations become quite as
important as, or even more so than the
theory itself; and hence have given con.
siderable thought to this sidU OF the
question, having formulated them into
three or four general rules (Which include
practically all the limitations known to
me, up to the present time, that should be
placed on the statement that large gas
wells may be obtained on anticlinal folds),
viz:
(d) The arch in the rocks must DO one
OF considerable magnitude.
(b) A coarse. or porous sandstone oil
considerable thickness, or, II a fine grain
ed rock, one that would have extensive
assures, and thus in either case rendered
cOpable Of acting as q reservoir for the
gas, must underlie the surface ut depth
OF several hundred feet 1900 to 2,500.)
(c) Probably very few or none OF tho
grand arches along mountain ranges will
DO found holding gas in large quantity,
siuCe in such cases the disturbance OF the
qualification has been 80 profound that
oil the natural gas generated In the past
would long ago have escaped into the
air through assures that traverse all the
beds.
(d Another limitation might possibly
DO added, which would Conilno tho areas
where great gas flows may be obtained to
thoBe underlaid by q considerable thick
ness Of biLuminous ghale.
(e) Very fair gas wells may also be OBJ
tanned for q considerable distance down
the slope from the crest OF the antiClnRls,
provided the dip DO sufficiently rapid, and
especially II II DO irregular or interrupted
with slight crnmples. And even In re-
giOns where there are no well marked an.
tiClinalB, II the dip be somewhat rapid and
irregular, rather large gas wells-may oCca'
sionally DO found, II all other conditions
are favorable.
The reason why natural gao should col.
leCt under the arches Of the rocks Is sufll
Ciently plain, from consideration Of itt
volatile nature. Then, too, the extensive
llBsuring OF tho rock, which appeart
necessary 10 form cRpaCiouB reservoir FOL
a large gas well, would takO place most
readily along the antlClinRls where the
tension In bending would DO greatest.
The geological horizon that furnishes
the best gas reservoir In Western Pom,
sylyania seems to he identical with the
first Venango oil aand, aud hence Is one
oil the Catskill conglolnUratea. This ls the
gas rock at Murraysville, Tarenlum, Wash
ington, WOllsburg and many other points
Some large gas wells have been obtained
In the observation-disclosures sandstone (Po
Cono), however, aud Others down In thu
third venRngo oil sand (Chomung).
In Ohio, gas flows oil considerable Blzt
have been Oblainsd deep dOwnin tho Gin
CinnAti limestt no, while In West VlrginlF
they have been found In tue Polt6vllll
ConglOmerAtei hence natural gas, like oil
has a wide range through the geological
column, thou Il L. Ia significant fact thai
II is most abul do At above the black slater
Of tho DeVOhl,n.
IN THH MIDST or 1T,
Prof.. Lesley BAysi ~ have for q Ions
iimG slooked upon the extension OF Tho
Butler oil belt In a general southwest
ward direction through Washington
and Greene counties and into Weh
Virginia Rs probable, and l believe
now more confidently than eyer, since the
drilling Of the Washington district wells
that a considerable addition to our oil ant
gas wealth will DO made In future yeArS BY
q series Of oil and gas strikes At greatel
depths In that direction. But thus ial
facts all point 10 a greater production o
gas than Of oil from that region"
] The antlCllnes and CtoBs.CutH, fElt