The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-09-21
SURFACE INDICATIONS OF OIL AND GAS.
ny Is. nRuMMoNp.

an anticline2"
Prof. Gould gives as reason for this
that oil and gas are volatile substances,
lighter than water, and tend to seek
the highest point in the rocks in which
they are contained gas being lightest
will 20 to the highest possible point in
the rocks that is under the axis Of the
anticline; water, being heaviest, will
go to the lowest point OF the syncline I;
while the oil will he found along the
slope OF the anticline, below the gas,
and above the water.
ALWAYS CONTAIN OILY
mot always. In a few instances
neither oil nor gas have been found un-
der an anticline,' says Prof. Gould.
"Gt may happen that there are no
sands or other porous rocks capable OF
holding oil under an anticline. Or it
may happen il such reservoir rocks are
present, nature has failed to enrich
them with oil or gas. 1t
should be remembered that anticlines
do not form oil, but are simply catch
ment basins for the accumulations OF
oil and gas.
"More than 30 percent OF the anti.
clines so far drilled in Oklahoma and
Kansas have been found to contain oil
and gas"
In a few cases oil and gas has been
found where there are no anticlines.
A great majority of the oil fields Of the
world, however. and prac cticslly all in
Kansas and Oklahoma, are located
anticline folds.
Nobody knows how oil and gas are
formed. There are many theories but
no proofs, and 80 far as the object OF
this article is concerned it doesn't
make any difference. What we want
know is how to find the stuff.
WHEN GKoLoGIsTs FAIL.
"Can a geologists always locate oil
and gas?
To this question Prof. Gould makes
answer: "By no means. Neither the
geologist nor any other living man can
tell, with certainty, where oil or gas or
other substance occurs beneath the |
earth. All that a geologist can do is
to locate the most promising place at |
which to drill. The drill is the only |
sure oil finder.
A SUMMING UP.
Here ia Prof. Gould's summing up |
of the matter, in answer to tho ques-
ton; "Are there any anticlines yet
undrilled in Oklahoma and KsnsasP"
He answers that there are plenty OF
them, and new ones are constantly |
coming to light, and for years to come
new oil fields will be discovered in
these states.
No, my friend, il you have carefully
studied the foregoing description OF an
anticline, you may at least get an idea |
from the formation OF the surface OF
the ground and the dip" OF the rocks |
whether there is prospect that oil or
gas might be found by drilling.
oiO obhVt VI WIS
section of eountry which, we think. ge-
ologists do not believe amount to any
thing, but as the matter has never been |
tested, no one knows whether these |
things indicate anything or not. We
speak now OF the oily substance which |
gathers on the surface of the water in |
some Of the small creeks. 1t 10 some |
kind OF substance which, IL skinned |
of OF the water, will burn, and smells
like coal oil. There are many springs.
also, which show this same popularity.
We have been told OF some old stock
wells, which, after not being disturbed
for some weeks, had generated enough
gas to make quite blaze when flame
is passed over the top OF the well.
We do not profess to be a scientist,
but we do know enough about this land
which lies between the Cimarron and
South Canadian to feel very sure that
we will find plenty Of oil and gas here
A. L