The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-25
UTAH may BECOME A GREAT OIL STATE
Dr. Tamag GeOOgst of the State University Conditions
Development of a

plants known as diatoms may yield
petroleum under favorable conditions
Of partial decomposition
AS to the geological structure most
favorable TO the accumula ton Of Oh,
1t may be said in general that oil re-
sembles water in many particulars of
its occurrence Thus, the best sub
terranean reservoir for water consists
Of thick beds Of porous rock, say sand
stones, cOnglomerates and cavernOus
limestone, lying between layers Of inn
perviOus rock such as shale or COM
pact claT, forming both floor and roof
TO the porous strata. If water enter
the porous layer at a higher level, as
viii be the case if the strata are up
turned in part Of their course, the
water viii accumulate in the porous
bed. and VIII reach the surface only
when the imperviOus roof is broken
through, as by a natural fissure, or
artificially. as by the driving of an
artesion well.
In an analogous way oil is found
where other conditions are favorable.
in porous rocks overlaid and underlaid
by impervious layers which nold it i'm
prisOned until punctured by the pros
pectOT's drill. There is this striking
difference, however, between oil and
water occurrences of the sort. The
water reservoir is connected with a
perennial supply, and the reservoir is
not easily emptied, whereas the oil so
stored is the result Of slow accumula-
ton during geological ages. and the
reservoir is not replenished as fast as
the oil wells drain it.
The FiSsurs Theory
Il am aware OF the oId-time belief
that the oil occurs in assures and
large caverns beneath the surface. but
such an explanation is not applicable
to petroleum occurrences in general.
F1ssures and caverns in porous rock
Otherwise suitable would constitute
local reservoirs, and in the process Of
oil extraction assures are artidcially
produced by Shooting" the oil rock
by means Of explosives. thus increas-
ing the facilities for percolation from
the porous rock to the we'll bottom
Natural caveTns and assures of great
size are rare occurrences, while porous
rocks are common in all oil regions.
AS TO the horizon, or geological age
Of the oil-bearing rocks, a wide range
has been proved, reaching from the
very ancient siluTian to the younger
tertiary formations. Thus in Pennsyl-
Vania, Kentucky and Canada oil is OBJ
tanned from devonian strata; in West
Virginia and Ohio it comes from rocks
of the carbOnifeTous age; while creta-
ceOus deposits yield oil in the Rocky
mountain region. notably in Colorado
and Wyoming, and tertiary formations
in California, as also in the celebrated
Baker region near the Caspian sea. and
in Burmah. The Colorado, Wyoming
and California oils are heavier than
those Of our eastern fields; they yield
less Illuminating oil, but give a CORE
SpOndingly greater portion Of the more
valuable lubricating oils.
Oil Industry in Utah.
Practically no systematic field work
in Utah and contiguous parts has been
reported, touching the actual existence
of oil in quantity, but from what little
has been done, and from known facts
concerning the existence of enormous
deposits of allied hydrocaTbOn mix
lures. I am reaSona bly, confident as to
the probable development of the oil in
dustry here at home. The great Uin-
tab basin south Of the Uintah noun
tains and east of the Wasatch, pos
sesses all the outward promise of oil
occurrences. The signs so encour-
aging to the oil prOspector are numer-
GUS and strong throughout this region
and the same may be said Of many
other old lake areas in the intermOun-
tain country
a careful geological examination Of
the region should be made before
money is expended in extensive Dor
ing operations, the probable futility or
success of which for any section might
possibly be indicated in a less costly
way.
Our young state. though wealthy
and thrifty, has not yet provided for a
geological survey. Systematic exploit
tatiOn is rarely undertaken by private
enterprise, and a thorough survey is
needed to demonstrate the resources
Of our favored land.
Il am continually receiving letters
from capitalists and others at a dis
lance inquiring as to particular re-
sources here, and of late a large pro-
portion Of such inquiries have been in
respect TO oil. I have in hand an in
quiry for the purchase of several bar
rels Of Utah oil for practical test as
to its fuel ana lubricating value, with
the assurance that if the results are
satisfactory a market for the product
IS certain; but thus far 1 have failed
TO find any quantity for sale. I in
dulge the confident hope that before
long the demand can be met"