The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-03

1.-The Production of Natural Gas in 1899, -
IS the title of a pamphlet the author of
which is F. H. Oliphant, and which has
just been issued by the United States Geo
logical Survey In its introduction the au-
thor says; The total value of the nat
ural gas produced and marketed in the
United States in 1893 was $50, O24, S73, while
that of 1888 was SD, 1885, 19. showing gain
of 81, 72S,0 go. This gain" Mr.. Oliphant
says, ''is due in part TO the slight increase
in prices charged consumers and in part
10 the securing of more complete returns,
but mainly to the increased amount of nat
ural gas produced and marketed.
This gain has been accomplished against
a declining pressure in all of the old fields.
There was little new territory developed
during the year, except in the extreme
southwestern portion of Pennsylvania and
West Virginia, in which some virgin terri
tory that has not felt the drain of adjacent
wells was developed. The increased deIiv-
cry" Mr.. Oliphant says, is due princi-
paily to the enlargement and multiplied
ton of the pipe lines of the old companies
the application OF the gas compressor on a
large scale. and the more careful nanipu-
lation of the wells and lines so as to an
Jcipate the requirements OF the consumers.
West Virginia made the largest in
crease of any of the gas-producing States.
There were four large companies operat-
ing in the State during the year, which
conveyed the product into Pennsylvania
and Ohio for consumption. They are re-
sponsible for the large increase in the
natural gas output of West Virginia The
total number of wells producing gas Ie-
ported at the close of 1898 was S453, and
at the close of 1899, 1888. This is an in
crease of $50 wells, or over 10 per cent On
the number at the~close of the preceding
year. The increase in the value of the
gas sold during 1883 was 81 per cent over
1888 OF the total value of natural gas
produced in 1899 the Appalachian fields
supplied 60 per cent, and the Lima, Ind,
fields 81 per cent, leaving but 8 per cent
for the production of all the other fields
in the United States"
Speaking of the conditions of production,
Mr.. Oliphant says: THE conditions I'M
der which natural gas is produced in the
Appalachian and Lima Indiana gas fields
are somewhat similar, although in the first
the gas is derived from a series OF more
c. less porous sandstones while the latter
is found in the porous strata near the top
Of the massive Trenton limestone. The
Appalachian sandstones containing the gas
are found on the TANKS and SUBMITS of
long lines Of uplifts in the strata. The
gas of the Lima-Indiana field is collected
along the TANKS and SUBMITS of the great
gradual swells OF the Cincinnati upIift. In
the Appalachian regions there are a series
of waves in the structure, forming high
ridges with troughs of de-
pressions between, known ge-
ologically as anti-clinals and syn
clinals These rock waves have gently
curved arches and gradually sloping Hanks,
and they follow general northeast and
southwest course to the west and north
west Of the main Appalachian chain OF
mountains, and in a measure parallel with
them Beginning in western New York,
these parallel folds can be traced with
some irregularities and notifications into
eastern Kentucky. crossing Pennsylvania
and West Virginia. with outlying minor
fields in southeastern Ohio. In sections
these parallel ridges are disturbed by cross
anti-ciinals and the lines themselves are
offset in several localities The denuda-
ton of these uplifts has evened up the
general surface, so that they are not usu-
ally prominent in the topography of the
section,
The whole series. with their folds,
have q general southwestern dip from
western New York to a point near Par
kersburg West Virginia, which averages
seventeen feet to the mile until West
Virginia is reached, where II fattens of.
From this lowest point the measures are
almost level for miles gradually rising in
all directions.
Near the eastern edge Of this level
area there is q remarkably sudden uplift,
or anti-olinal, extending almost due south
from st. Marys, ", Va, to Spencer, in