The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-09-27
THE PETROLEUM SUPPLY.
4 Member of Pennsylyan;a's Geological
Survey Takes a Gloomy View.

SIrvey Takes a Gloomy View.
John F. CARL is assistant geologist
Of the State of Pennsylvania. and for
business to collect statistics and all
AVAILABLE information regarding petro-
leum and natural gas
In conversation with Prof CARL he
expressed some rather sensational
opinions regarding the future supply
Of petroleum. Notwithstanding other
views are taken by producers. Prof
CARL SAYS the petro cum fields of Penn
sylvania are being rapidly drained, and
at the present rate of exhaustion
1t will not be many years until the
question Of supplying the world with
.riroleum will be a most serious one.
For the last year" said Prof. CARL,
-the supply was 5000, 600 barrels short
Of demand. as gauged by former years,
AID every day the demand is more and
the supply much less A few years ago
the reverse WAS the case Stoci.s were
piling up at the rae of 1900, 900 bar
L.
they e being decreased at the rate of
100000 barrels month, and have
been for the last year. This shortage
In the supply includes the large produc-
ton of the Ohio fields, where extraor-
binary results have been obtained in
the way of large wells" There are
now something like 1900, OO0 barrels
of petroleum in tanks in the Ohio field,
but this was because Ohio oil was not
yet used extensively as an illuminaut-
Prof. CARL was asked his opinion re-
earding the probable extent OF the Ohio
field and said lie believed it would be
found much less in extent than the
trade and the public generally elieved
There have been opinions expressed
that the yield of the Ohio field could be
increased to 100000 barrels a day. He
thought it would not last long at this
rate Of production. When this field
comes TO be entirely defined" he said.
1t is pretty sure TO fall very much be-
low the expectations that e now held
out for it " When aske if he thought
Ohio oil void ever be successfully re-
fined and enter the market as a COM
petitor OF the Pennsylvania product he
said: Il certainly hope so. " thout
this oil / can not see where the world
supply is to come from, and it would be
very great hardship to the people if
they had to give up this cheap and
popular illuminaut. Neither gas nor
electricity, in my judgment, can ever
take its place as a means of illumina-
ton for the masses. And yet, with the
known fields being as rapidly exhausted
as they are, look before many years
for a great scarcity of petroleum.
Bradford was the field that produced
such an extraordinary quantity of oil.
plling up the stocks on tanks until they
reached $1,000 600 barrels with the
fields still yielding CD 900 barrels day
or the:eabout. In regard 10 the posi-
bility of another such field being dis
covered Prof. CARL said he believed
there was absolutely no likelihood OF it.
The number OF experimental wells that
had been drilled in search Of another
Bradford sand in | parts of the coun-
try seemed to establish the fact that
Bradford was unique ard alone. He
did not believe that such petroleum
deposit Is this would ever be found in
any country in The world. The Brad
ford field and its annex in Allegany
County, New York. are apparently be-
ing drained TO the dregs. At one time
the production of the field was as high
as 10000 barrels every twenty-four
hours Now it is down below 30
900, possibly as low as Is. 900 barrels.
B adford has produced about o.
0OJ,O00 barrels OF oil. and a pool that
will yield the fifty-sixth part of this is
something that the oil-producer is
eagerly looking for. Prof. Carl said
there were yet possibilities of opening
up small pools that would produce from
1000 900 10 5000. 900 barrels. even in
some OF the old fl Ids. such as Venango.
Warren and Butler Counties. in Penn
sy.vania, but even these possibilities
were growing more and more remote.
The Cogley field, which has produced
about 5000 600 barrels. was the last
extensive field found in Venango Coun-
ty. and this was perhaps as large a field
as would ever be found there again.
Cor. ST. Louis Globe-Democrat.