Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-12-30
WASTING A TREASURE.
PROP. ORION DECLARES THE HAfURAL
GAS SUPPLY
Can Not LAST Many More Years al ihs Present
Rate Of CcnsunPton-Hs IaEri@
as 10 Rock PrsSars-li Is
Due 10 Hydnsate Forces.

Due 10 HydDsiate Forces.
NEW YORK, December 90. AT the
meeting of the American Geological soci-
ETY., Friday, Prof Edward Ofton, State
GeolOgist OF Ohio, discussed the origin Of
the Rock Pressure Of Natural Gas in tho
Trenton Limestone Of Ohio and IndiaDa."
He said: Natural Gas derived hom the
Trenton limestone has supplied during the
last year, and is now supplying, all the
fuel aud a considerable part OF the artificial
light that ia used by al leas, 400, 900 peo-
pie in Northwestern Oh'o and in Central
Indiana. Within the same limits IL is the
basic of varied line Of msnuiac oriel, the
annual prodnct of which will make sn ag-
gtegate OF many millions Of dollars.
MANY INDUSTRIES INTERESTED.
"More than forty glass furnaces, rot
one Of them three years old, are nov ia
very successful operation within the terri
tory named, while iron and steel mills,
pOtteries and bfickwOrks, and loag let Of
fsctores, in which cheap power is q desit-
eralum, have been built up on an sides
with wonderful rapidity.
''The largest gas production OF Trenton
limestone that has yet been reached il to
be credited TO the Irefent year. well
drilled 81 Strailsville, six miles north Of
! Findlay, early last summer, produced
through, the casirg pipe 5. inches Ia di-
ameter, 2S, 100000 cubic feet Of gRs every
twenty -four hours.
AS BIG As ANY.
There are but few wells in any fields
that exceed these figures Most Of the
wells that have beenso reported have been
estimated, not measured. An tquslly as
tonishing advance had been msde IN the
oil production Of this rock, within four
counties Of Northwestern Ohio Single
wells during the last year have began
their production at a rate Of 10 900 barrels
day, and more than 200 coo barrels Of
total production are alresdy 10 be credited
to single wells Of the new field, while
considerable number have passed the lO0,-
600 barrel mark
THE rock pressure of the gas is vital
factor in all this production. To its energy
s due the prtpulsion Of the volatile fuel
| from the wells where IL is released, through
20, 30 so miles of buried pipes to the
cities, which it supplies with the nnspeak-
able advantages OF gaseous fuel This is
the came cause that liiis The oil FROM the
rock in all flowing wells.
WHAT ROCK PRESSURE IS.
"By rock pressure is meant the pressure
which gauge shows I'M well that il
locked in, efler the drill bas reached the
gas reservoir. The iron tubing Of the veil
becomes by this means part of the reser-
y0ir, and the same conditions as no pres
cure are euppos6d TO pertain 10 IL that are
found in the p0rous rock belOg The rock
pressure Of gas varies greatly in different
fields, and 10 less, but still an important
extent, in different portions Of the same
field. The highest rcck preft1ro recorded
in the Trenton limestone ia about $50
pounds 20 the square inch. while there are
considerable sections Of ihe gas territory
that never reach 300 pCuada pressure per
square inch. The original pressure in the
Flndlay field was 450 pounds ysrying
somewhat in wells OF different depth
THE AVERAGE PRESSURE.
In the Wood county field, from which
the largest amount of gas * now being
conveyed to Ohio cities the original pros-
sure raDged from 400 10 $50 pounds. the
general pressure being counted 900 pounds
to the tquare inch. There were occasional
records made of higher prtssures still in
single wells; but Of such cases the number
is very small, and the existence of these
incTedulous pfessures was short lived.
in the Indisna field a still greater re-
! A NJ oh HHH
range Of the principal Indiaaa wells is be.
tween $50 and 3@5 pounds 10 the square
inch. The Indiana gas wells, ss compared
with the Ohio gas wells, are marked By
reduction in total depth as we'll as IN rock
pressure, the figures for depth in the pro-
ductiye territory eeld0m OF never passing
| 900 feet"
PROF. ORTOS's THEORY.
Prof 0ftOn discredits the tbeoriea that
rock pressure is due TO the weight OF the
overlyiDg iocks or the expansive force OF
the gaa. He thinks that the rock pressure
OF gas in Trenton limestone OF Ohio and
Indiana Is hydrostatc IN its origin.
''Sagacious operators he says. care be-
coming satisfied by their own experiences
that the root OF !ock pressure IL 10 be
found In the water column that stands
connected with the porous rock in which
the gas aud oil are contained.
when the drlll descends into the gas
rock proper, day gas escapes; when into
the contiguous and lower-lying terrace.
oil, accompanied by the gas, appears; but
al little lower level salt waller ia struck
and this rises promptly in the well. some
times to the point Of overflow. Far ont
iscm the narrow ridges, o. restricted ter
races, where gas and on are lougd. the
salt water reigns undistnrbed. aud when
ever drilled 10 it, rises Ia the wells as in
those already described.
AN ARTEsTAN RISE.
'Tbe rice Of the salt water is unmi.tats.
bly, artesian. IL deplnda on hydroststc
preGsure, RS dOes ths-fo1 Of eli srtesian
wells, aud its head must be sought. M in
other like dow, IN the higher portions OF
the structure that are contiguous The
nearest outcrops Of this porous Trenton
are four d in the shores o. Lake Superior
st an altitude Of about 100 feet ahovo tide
1T is Certainly significant tha on
abundant hnw OF salt water BE- struck In
boring in Northern Olio or iu Iadiana
No matter Fl what depth, is rsss gener.
ally to the level Of Lake Superior on. in
other words, sbOut 600 feet ahavs tide.
II the m0uth OF the we'll is below this level
rs In the case in The Wabash Valley. the
salt water oveIaoEs. The height 70 which
the salt water rises 10 auy portion Of the
field is one oi the elements to be used in
measuriug the force which can he erefisd
on the gas and oil that are caught in The
traps Of the terraces eni arcbe. Of toe ID.
rous Trenton Limestone.
NOT THE sAME PRESSURE
"Tne Tcck pressure OF the gas differs at
various points beCauso Of tie dinefencsin
depth or the rock belog ssa level. The
rock pressure Of Trenton limoiione Q.s is
due TO salt water colamB measured from
about 600 iseti above tide 70 the level of
the structure which Yields ths gss.
- ''Thsre IL no danger that the grsat gag
reservoirs OF to-day will cave in' or blow
up after the gas 10 Withdrawn from them.
The gas will moi leave tie porous rock M
I'll the salt Eater obliees it 10 hy driving IL
out and tskin2 it's plsee. The doctrine
lays the ax AZ the root Of Oh the oo.imir-
tic theories which blossom Cul in every
district where neiaTal pas IL discovered
and especially among the real esfats oDeTs-
tors Of each rev held, 70 the effect that
na.Grs will 10. tail 10 perpetusily main
tain or peTpstualiy renew the supplies
w hfoh xva find eo d.ft.ht