The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-30
RAILROAD NEWS WHY NOT KANSAS
Oil and Gas Possibilities Above
the Oklahoma Line.
Biologists Suggest Wildcat
ting in LeavenwOrth Regions.

Washington. Nov. 3o.-The wide |
spread distribution Of oil and gas In
Oklahoma and the fact |
that large pools extended practically to |
the Kansas state line have very nat |
urally suggested the question. Why are
there not more pools on the Kansas
sice? This question seems all the more
reasonable because geologic formations
and mineral deposits are not limited by
state boundaries. Therefore greater at
tention has recently been given to the
search for pools in southeastern Kan
sas, with some measure Of success.
Now comes the question, Why are not
more oil and gas found in western Mis-
no great pools have been discovered In
the region, though considerable gas and
a little Oil we're recently struck in drill
ing at places a few miles north and
northwest of Kansas City. This dis
covery, which brings the skirmish line
of exploration nearer to Leavenworth.
has naturally aroused interest in the
adjoining region in Missouri. The ge-
Ology OF the areas mapped by the
United States geological survey as the
Leavenworth and Smithville quadran-
giles has recently been examined by
biologists Of the survey and the Mis-
souri, bureau of geology and mines,
who are now Jointly preparing geologic
maps of these areas and report de-
scribing in detail their formations and
structure and Inelf mineral resources.
Experienced drillers know that much
money which is spent in fruitless drill
ing may in most regions be saved If
the position or form of the rock layers
beneath the surface is understood and
considered in locating wells. Therefore
an advance report on the structural
features Of this region has been issued
by the cooperating surveys. According
to Henry Kinds and F. c. Green, the
authors OF the report. the structure OF
the region near Leavenworth and
Smithville is not especially favorable
for oil and gas, but in some districts it
is better than in others.
Kansas Indications.
The rock strata Of the region as a
whole dip gently in a direction slightly
north OF west at a rate of about II feet
to the mile. but this downward dip is
modified by a series of very low arches
or anticlines and shallow trOughs or
northwest. On the assumption that the
mode of occurrence of Oil and gas pools
in this region. if they are present, will
be similar to their modes of occurrence
in other regions. the better locations
for oil and gas prospecting are along
the anticlines (arches) or on struc-
tural terraces where the underlying
rocks lie nearly flat. Though none of
the anticlines are very large, a fairly
well defined one lies three miles north
| east VI OullIuVI1c, c4tcLuluS 1TOIu
Camp Creek northwestward to the
Rock Island railway, where it dies out
Another well marked anticline ex-
tends northwestward from Leaven-
worth station, on the Rock Island line,
to a point half way between Weston
and Iatan. dying out just before it
reaches the bluffs of the Missouri river.
AS this anticline plunges to the north
| west the locations more favorable for
obtaining gas and oil are probably near
! its southeast end. There are several
structural terraces in the region, the
most extensive occupying a consider
| able area near Tiffany Springs and
Nashua, Mo. Results offering some en-
couragemelt have already been re-
ported from the vicinity of Tiffany
| Springs.
| A detailed description Of the general
geology of the Leavenworth and Smith
vile quadrangles which were surveyed
comparatively by the Missouri bureau
Of geology and mines and the United
States geological survey. will later be
published as a folio of the geologic at
| lac a tho Tinted States