The herald., 1898-04-13
OIL YIELDING STRATA
GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS DIS
CUssED BY MR.. WATTS
THE LOCAL OIL FIELD
What It Is and Its Probable Extent.
Present Limitations and Future
Possibilities

xIG60ut 4lm4tdLlOAS anu
Possibilities
w. L. Watts, assistant in the field of
the California state mining bureau,
lectured last evening before the Southern
California Academy of Sciences at the hall
of the Friday morning club. on the OIL
yielding formations Of the Puente hills
and on the Los Angeles oil field. The
audience was largely composed of people
interested In the petroleum wells and prac-
tical geology.
Introductory to the subject under dis
cussion, Mr.. Watts showed a number of
drawings Of the formation, dips, strata
and outcrops of the soil in the territory
upon which he was to lecture and gave the
various names by which such geological
conditions are known. AS soon as the
speaker launched into the lecture proper
he illustrated his remarks with a large
number Of stereopticon views, consisting
Of geological sketch maps, cross sections
and photographs of the oil fields, showing
ravines, oil wells, etc., which enabled his
hearers to thoroughly understand the sub
ject.
OOOPSA
ious to place before the public maps which
will show the position of the mineral de-
posts of California. and detailed Mr.. Watts
to make geological map Of the territory
between the Santa Ana river and the coast
line at Santa Monica. This will include
the Los Angeles, the Whittier, the Puente
and Santa Fe oil fields, and several other
points where prospect wells are being
drilled. 1t was of his work in the terri
tory between Whittier and the Santa Ana
river that Mr.. Watts first spoke, after
ward turning his attention to the Los An
geles fields as follows:
Without worrying about technical de-
tails, we are justified In arriving at the
following conclusions: The strike Of the
oil sand in both fields is about north IS
degrees west. This being the case, and
eliminating any idea of twist in the
formation as improbable, we can only ac-
count for the relative position of the oil
sand in the two fields by the following
structural conditions: First-That 1t may
be occasioned by a gravity fault running
in the direction of the dip of the forma-
ton. Second-That 1t may be occasioned
by a gravity fault running In the direc-
ton of the strike of the formation. Third
That 1t may be occasioned by there being
an oil-yielding stratum underlying those
which have been struck in the Second
street park Oil field.
II the first hypothesis is true, there is
no extension of the eastern end of the
old field, nor the western end of the new
field. This is the least probable Of the
three explanations. If the second or third
ctc to <r,,a <11n ctr r;l of ho
ton would carry the oil line in the new
field beneath the Sisters hospital towards
the corner of Edgeware road and Temple
street, running parallel to and north Of
the oil field. There would also be an oil
line runnig east from the old field towards
the corner OF Alpine street and Bunker
Hill avenue.
Running our eyes over the map, we find
that the strike of the formation, If pro-
longed to the westward from the new field,
would carry the oil line to the Mailman
wells, and from the old field to a point a
short distance south Of the Baptist COL
lege. Between these points, however, there
is a stretch Of country where the geological
structure is obscure. The abnormal fiat
ness of the exposed rocks to the north of
First street and west Of Burlington ave-
nue. and the lack of success attending such
wells as have been drilled between Sec
ond-street park and the Baptist college,
demand great caution in expressing an
opinion concerning further prospecting be-
tween the places named.
There is one part of the country which
seems to deserve more attention than has
been paid it. I refer to the country west
Of the Baptist college. Turning to the
southeast we find that the strike of the
formation would carry any eastern extern
sion of the new fields across the river
short distance north Of the Main-street
bridge, and thence toward the reservoirs
south of Alhambra avenue. It Is hardly
likely that all the territory I am naming
will be productive territory, but these are
lines on which to prospect. There is one
thing which have previously drawn at
tention to- and which my recent investiga-
tions emphasize. 1t Is this The low angle
at which the strata dip calls for a wider
oil line than has hitherto been developed.
The lack of success which has attended
most of the wells in the northern margin
of the oil fields is probably due to lines of
geological disturbance, some of which
are noticeable in the exposed rocks.
Just how much figure these lines Of dis
turbance cut is at present an unknown
quantity. IT is probable that there are
other oil lines in Los Angeles besides
those already developed For INSTANCE, it
is not improbable that one extends with
strike of about south so degrees east
from Brooklyn heights. There is probably
another one extending in similar course
through the territory on which the Mac
intosh we'll is situated, north of Bellevue
avenue, near Reno street.
The question of petroleum in California
Is a great one. 1t calls for earnest work
and careful consideration at the hand
of those to whom the work of public in.
vestigation has been entrusted. While we
are devoting our best efforts to the task
it must be borne In mind that it would be
contrary to all human precedent II our
conclusions were always right. But If we
work faithfully, we shall advance knowl-
edge.