The Van Buren press., 1904-06-25

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together probable that the oil
found in the rocks at various
depths is of widely different ages,
according to the location in which
tits found. That which is observed
to rise above the surface on the
streams of springs may be but
comparatively a few years old,
while that found in the stratum
underlying the shale and rock
certainly is centuries old. There
are Cambrlan, OrdOviciau, Silurian,
DeyOnian, Carboniferous, Triassic,
Jurassic, CretaceOus and Tertiary
petroleums. Each of these varie-
ties Is found in a geological struc-
ture which is unlike any of the
others in points of age and forma.
ton. Hence the position seems
well taken that the surface oil ap.
pearing on streams of water may
be of comparatively recent crea-
tion. The best authorities agree
that the oil found in the reservoirs
underlying the OvertOpping and
| imperyiOus shales is not being
added to, that its volume remains
stationary, and when ii is exhaust.
ed there will be no source from
" hich the supply can be renewed.
The facts of geology seem to
show, too, that it is exceedingly
improbable that oil has been
transferred in a large way from
one formation to another in the
geologic column. That there has
Ueen some transfer of oil in the
rocks is beyond question. 1t is
associated with water, and gravi-
tation will always raise it to the
highest point in the stratum in
which it happens to be. AS in the
case of the spring, the water in
rising to the surface caught up
the particles of oil, and conducted
them to the exit in its formation.
Doubtless, or at least very proba.
bly,, the oil had appeared in the
stratum which contained the water
from substratum, from which it
had escaped through some crack
or Orifice, aud assisted thereto by
a mounting stream of water or
shale gas, which latter is to be
found in almost every crack and
creviCe Of stratited rock of a
porous nature. If the reservoir in
which the mOdicum of oil was
contained were fractured at the
summit of all arch, the Oil, which
is very mobile, will follow the
lines of escape to the surface, and,
as a matter OF course, diffuse it.
self through any porous beds OF
stone or shale which the fracture
crosses. With these escapes OF
oil we are very familiar. We cal
them surface Indications, and some
geologists aver that they may lead
to the stOrehOuse from which
they escaped. This has never been
proved, so far as known, and it il
extremely doubtful if its truth ca
be demonstrated; for it would be
u devious course TO follow the
track ofa particle of oil through
cracks in the rock 50 0ue as to be
all but imperceptible. A porous
rock is often found stored with
petroleum or its by.products, evi
IDENTITY derived from stratum OF
bed directly underlying it. The
most common form of such occur
renee is sandstone Overlying {
carbonaceOus shale,
When such a series rises to tn,
surface, the porous rock is oftel
charged with maltha. resulting
from the oxidation Of the origina
petroleum. IL this sandstone il
used for building purposes, the
tar is often seen exuding from il
even for q term Of years. Ia
springs, 30 called, have n lk,
origin, the escaping water of tn,
porous rock carrying out some o
the inspissated petroleum.
SO much for the actual and visi
bic presence Of oil on the surface
IN relation to its value as IN indi
cation OF the stored reservoirs o
the fluid below. The usual forml
Of surface indications are as de
scribed, but there are others sale
to be vastly superior TO the fore
going. To repeat the reported
experience Of Capt, Lucas, who
discovered the great Beaumont,
Tex, field, will sufficiently dcscrib,
these superior indications, Capt
Lucas Is said TO have followed tn,
surface indications from Louisianl
TO Beaumont, This was done Will
full knowledge that when the signs
appeared for which he was looking
oil would be discovered IN exhaust
less quantities, The probability
il that the story u not correctly
stated, Hels said to have followed
the synclines, monoclnes and anti
clines from Louisiana TO Beau.
mont, IN spite Of the fact thai
those structures are far below
the surface Of the earth. the con
tour Of which has never beer
known 10 have been revealed, OF