Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-23
LAST DROPS OF OIL.
Prof CARL, of the Geological Survey,
on the Situation.
PETROLEUM SUPPLY GIVING OUT.
The World Wants 100000 Barrels a Year
More Than 1t Can Get.
ALL THE FIELDS RAPIDLY FAILING.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE D1sPATcH.I

NEW YORK, June 21.-John F. CARL is
Assistant Geologist of the State of Pennsyl-
vanIa, and for several years it has been his
especial business to collect statistics and all
valuable information regarding petroleum
and natural gas. Prof. CARL lives at Pleas
antville, Venango county, Pa, in the heart
Of the great petroleum fields. and has had
opportunities of making careful study Of
the oil Industry. His geological reports
made for the State are invaluable to the
trade, and are eagerly sought after both by
producers and speculators
In conversation with Prof CARL he ex-
pressed to the writer some rather sensa-
tional opinions regarding the future supply
of petroleum. Notwithstanding other views
are taken by producers, Prof. CARL says the
petroleum fields of Pennsylvania are being
rapidly drained, and at the present rate Of
exhaustion it will not be many years until
the question of supplying the world with
petroleum will be most serious one "For
the past year." said Prof CARL, ''the sup
ply was 5000, 900 barrels short of the de-
mand. as gauged by former years, and every
day the demand is more and the supply much
less. A few years ago the reverse was the
case. Stocks were piling up at the rate of
100000 barrels a month, or almost that,
and now thev are being decreased at the
rate of 100000 barrels month,
and have been for the past year.
This shortage in the supply includes the
large production of the Ohio fields, where
extraordinary results have been obtained In
the way of large wells. There are now
something like L, 900, 900 barrels of petro-
leum in tanks in the Ohio field. but this
was because Ohio oil was not yet used ex-
tensively as an illuminant.
THE OHIO FIELD.
Prof. CARL was asked his opinion regard
ing the probable extent of the Ohio field,
and said he believed 1T would be found
much less in extent then the trade and the
public generally believed. There have been
opinions expressed that the yield of the
Ohio field could be increased to 100, 900 bar
rels day. He thought it would not last
long at this rate of production.
when this field comes to be entirely de-
fined" he said, SIT is pretty sure to fall
very much below the expectations that are
now held out for it,
When asked if he thought Ohio oil would
ever be successfully refined and enter the
market as a competitor of tie Pennsylvania
product, he said: II certainly hope so.
Without this oil / cannot see where the
worlds 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
illuminant. Neither gas nor electricity, in
my judgment, can ever take its place as a
means of illumination for the masses. And
yet, with the known fields being so rapidly
exhausted as they are, 1 look, before many
years. for great scarcity of petroleum.
Bradford was the; field that produced
oh 49, 9 II
up the stocks in tanks until they reached
sc, ,OOO, 900 barrels, with the field still Weld
ing sc, 900 barrels day or thereabouts. In
regard to the possibility Of another such
field being, discovered, 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 all parts of the country,
seemed to establish the fact that Bradford
was
UNIQUE AND ALONE
He did not believe that such petroleum
deposit as this would ever be found in any
country in the world. The Bradford field
md its annex in Allegany county, N Y,
is apparently being drained to the dregs.
At one time the production of the field
was as high as 700 barrels every
"a hours. Now it is down below 10000,
possibly as low as 5000 barrels. Bradford,
has produced about 56, 900, 900 barrels of oil,
and a pool that would yield the 56th part Of
this is something that the oil producer is
eagerly looking for. Prof. CarlI said there
were yet possibilities of opening up small
pools that would produce from ], 900, 900 to
}, 900, 900 barrels even in some Of the old
fields, such as Venango, Warren and But
Ter counties In Pennsylvania, but even
,hese possibilities were growing more and
more remote. The Cogley field, which has
produced about 5000, 900 barrels, was the
ast extensive field found in Venango
county, and this was perhaps as large field
Is would ever be found there again.
Considerable exploring has been done in
Kentucky for petroleum, and Prof. CARL
vas asked his opinion in regard to the like
ihood of oil being found in that State in
paving quantities. He thought from his
observations in that State, that Kentucky,
would yet produce considerable oil, but
nothing in comparison with Pennsylvania.
The oil-bearing sands underlie portion of
Kentucky, and lap over into Tennessee, and
lere petroleum would be found, but in
limited quantities. As to Texas, be was
f the opinion that experiments there would
Iever be profitable. Prof. Carll, before he
,ecame connected with the Geological sur
-ey, went into Texas, in Nagadoches coun-
y, to superintend the drilling of expert
mental wells there for company of capi-
alists, who had great faith in the country,
ecause of allurlng surface
INDICATIONS OF OIL.
After drilling veil or two and noting
he various strata of rock he was convinced
hat petroleum in paying quantities would
ot be found there. The company decided,
owever, to prosecute the work, and only
bandoned it after spending $50, 900 without
ny return. This was very soon after the
arly discoveries in Pennsylvania, and since
nat time other capitalists have continued
xperiments from time to time with not
cry gratifying results. Two companies,
omposed largely of New Orleans business
len, are now drilling wells in Nagadoehes
ounty,' but So far there has been no
loney made at it. One company
pened up a well that produced
10 barrels day of lubricating oil.
wo or three other good wells were soon
ruck in the same vicinity, and this en-
,uraged the company to expend large
mount OF money in building pipe line to
It their oil TO a railroad, some II miles,
ut the wells soon ceased to yield, and the
Ipensive pipe line has never had barrel
oil pumped through it. The three or
ur wells had exhausted the pool and 25 or
80 wells drilled since have not opened up
lother rich spot, and probably 30 wells
i'll not.
The opinion expressed by Prof. CARL that
le great oil fields cannot much longer be
lied upon to supply the world with
reap illuminant is likely to set commercial
sonle thinking r. w. CRISWELL.