The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-11

enty-ive feet and one of the points made
in favor of Petersburg as a location for
manufactures is that if the supply of gas
should be exhausted coal can be had at
80 cents a ton, an advantage not possessed
in any part of the northern Indiana gas
field.
Last fall Mr.. Woolley said that from his
investigation of the geological situation in
Pike county he was convinced that there
was oil or gas here. A company was formed
and on Jan. l the drills were set in motion.
Toward the latter part of March salt water
was struck and the comparatively few per-
sons who had given attention to the well
declared that this was proof of failure, but
Mr.. Woolley had predicted the finding of
salt water, and at a depth between LOO
and 1,200 feet. He said it was not only what
he expected, but what he wanted. 1t was
evidence of the presence of gas or oil
farther down.. On March 80 a great volume
of water and gas roared from the mouth.
With each day for three weeks there was
increasing pressure. There was some delay
in getting material for casing the well and
as the pressure increased the people be-
gan to believe that gas had been struck in
deed. They resented the statements cred
tied to State Geologist Blatchley in an in
terview in an Indianapolis paper in which
he was quoted as saying that it was not
natural gas. but a shale gas, the sup
asked about the interview Prof. Blatchley
wrote a letter saying that he had been mis-
in unequivocal terms that the supply. could
not last long. His opinion was that the
chances We're against a large. supply and
that opinion was based on the fact that the
gas was found far above Trenton rock,
probably in DeVonian or Genesee shale. For
example, he mentioned the gas found at
Salem. Ind. and Brandenburg, KY, in the
Genesee shale, and where the pressure
while strong, gradually, weakened. he
hoped the Petersburg well would prove an
exception. This letter was written before
the well was fired a week ago.
WHEN GAS WAS STRUCK.
Mr.. Woolley says the gas in the well here
was struck below the Devonian or Genesee
shale in the sand rock referred to above,
and which is overlain by a dark black close
slate or shale which evidently had been a
factor in enabling the porous rock to retain
the gas. 1t is the same rock, he says,
which holds the vast reservoir of gas as
Wellsbury, w. Va. Besides, if the gas in
the Trenton rock is better he intends to
go down to it, which, according to Prof.
deeper than the Woolley well, which is
exactly 1,163 feet. Mr.. Woolley also says 1t
is unfair to compare the Salem or Branden-
burg wells with this one, from the TACT that
the DeVOnian or GeneSee shale crops out at
New Albany and neither Salem nor Bran
denburg, which are not far away, could eX-
pect to have a great pressure or last as
long as the gas in the same strata at Pet
ersDure. which is seventy miles west and
the gas been imprisoned with several hun
dred feet of everything strata that would not
let the gas escape until struck by the drill.
AS TO the lasting Qudllly Oh the petersburg
well, Mr.. Woolley makes the comment that
even the gas from Trenton rock gives out
sooner or later. If the gas came only from
the DeVonian Shale here it is considered
strange that the pressure does not decrease
when it is borne in mind that 1t was blow
ing off for several weeks.
The WOolley company VIII sink another
well at once, but IN the other side of the
town and where it is believed oil will be
found. The Pike County COMPANY will sink
one two miles northeast of town, where
it is also believed oil will be found. This
belief is based partly on a report f.. T. Cox
is said to have made some years ago when
he was state geologist, and which was to
the effect that in this locality there would
some day be found a great oil reservoir.
Mr. Woolley has received a letter from Mr..
Cox written from Florida, IN which he says
they have struck an extended area of cav
ems and assure feeders, ana IKE all gas
wells, the quantity OF gas may gradually
diminish in the course of time. He says
that neither gas, OIL nor salt water is pc
culiar to any one geological formation. In
conclusion. he says: What is now discoV-
cred only serves to show that nothing is
known TO what remains 10 be known. /
consider your well q very valuable one"
The Petersburg discovery has had the ef-
feet of starting companies in several coun-
ties TO find oil or gas. FOR two or three
years. beginning with 1886, wells were sunk
in nearly all of these counties from the
National Road down to G~reenville. in which
latter place two arteSian wells were the re-
suit, one CT which is yet supplying water
for a bathhouse. Evansville wants Mr..
Woolley to make a search there for gas or
oil, and he has submitted a proposition 10
some capitalists which is now under con-
sideration.
Following is the strata gone through in
drilling the we'll:
Clay, sand and clay. l to 81; blue and yell
low limestone, 81 to 48; slate and coal. AS to
81; 3hale, 81 TO 10; hard rock, 10 to Ill:
coal, III TO IFS; shale rs to 145; coal, 145 to
147; shale, 147 to 10; hard sandstone, 100
to 173; sandy shale, II3 to $50; common
streaks OF fire clay, 215 to 225; shale. 225 to
265: limestone. 25 TO 26S; hard sandy shale,
26S to 300; streaks of limestone and shale,
300 to 3l5: shale, 35 to 80; rock and coal,
s75 to $50; dark and light shale, $50 to 424;
streaks of limestone. 4M 10 626. sandy lime
stone. 626 to GIT; white sandstone, bearing
salt. CT to 7oS: shale. zOA to no. white sand