Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-02
ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM.
bulletin to Be Issued by Geological
snrxev-yir.inla Developments.

.
WASHINGTON. D. c.. October %
fSpecial.)-In view OF probable OIL Do
velopments in Virginia. as result OF
business and financial arrangements that
are going on In that State. bulletin.
soon to be Issued by the Geological sur
vev. is. Of peculiar interest This bulletin
treats primarily Of the Texas-Louisiana
oil fields. and Of what is called the coastal
plain of that region. that country In which
is located Beaumont and other OIL helos.
The feature Of chief general interest
however, Is the scientific discussion Of the
origin Of oil in all countries. not only IN
Texas. but elsewhere. The origin OF Pc
troleum in general is too obscure for even
the scientists to have an agreement on the
subject, but in the coming report this
origin is given as follows:
VARIOUS THEORIES.
1. According to one theory. which e1-
plains the origin Of oil by inorganic agcn-
ties. water percolating downward through
assures in the earth's crust comes In
contact under conditions of high tenn
pera ture, and great pressure with metallic
carbides. and the resulting chemical re-
action produces metallic oxides and satu-
rated hydrocarbons, the latter ascending
and impregnating porous beds OF sedl-
mentary rocks in which they are now
found. No geological evidence Is at hand
that these reactions actually take place
in the earttl's crust. The inorganic theory
is attractive but not proven. CD Ac-
cording to the theory of organic origin.
first. petroleum is indigenous to the rocks
in which it is found and results from the
primary decomposition Of organic matter
and was formed when the rocks them
selves were formed; and, second, PEE
troleurn is derived from the organic mat
ter disseminated through great masses OF
carbonaceous shales by the process OF
slow natural distillation at low tempera-
lures, and that it has subsequently, MI
grated through the strata to the reservoirs
in which it is now found. The maj.rity
Of biologists have held to this second the
DRY, but the probability Of natural distilla-
ton at temperate re sufficiently low to
leave the enclosing rocks entirely I'M
changed has not been proven, nor have
tie residues Of carbon been found in the
rocks go According to theories invo1v-
ing both inorganic and organic agencies.
petroleum is produced by the action OF
volcanic gases containing sulphurous acid
and hydrogen suiphide upon limestone
Containing vegetable or animal matter),
on the one hand, or upon gypsum. on the
other The great diversity of views regard
ing the origin of petroleum is equalled
by the diversity In the character
of the petroleum itself, and in The geo
logic condition under w14lch it is found.
It is therefore. probable that 40 final
theory OF it's origin will recognize the
fact that petroleum may be the product
Of widely different processes acting upon
a great diversity Of materials. The petro-
leum Of The Gulf Coastal Plain is probably
derived In part at least, from the action
upon gypsum Of decomposing organic mat
ter, both animal and vegetable, but chief
~ the latter.
ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS.
The essential conditions for the accu-
mutation of oil are: a. a sufficient sup
ply of oil derived from any Of the sources
above described. (2) a porous reservoir
rock, in which it may be stored, and g.,
An impervious cap rock winch will pre-
tent It's escape. Conditions which favor
its accumulation, but which are not al
ways essential. are: a. Gentle undu-
slation in the strata, forming anticlinIl
arches, or domes; and 90 The completes
saturation Of the rocks with water and
its. slow circulation under hydrostauc
head, or convection, due to differences Of
tempera ture. An abundance Of organic
material and conditions favorable for its
conversion into petroleum have been nota-
E bly, present In many thousand feet .pf
strata constituting the Cretaceous and
Tertiary lorna tons OF tue Gulf Coastal