The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-02
"Aldrich Dome" in Cahaba Field to Be Developed by Gulf Producing Co. IN TESTING FOR ORE GAS TOOK FIRE AND
 BURNED DERRICK Maj. R. H. Elliott Submits Report That Dome Is, One of Most Perfect
 in Country

gas and oil possibilities of Alabama.
 This dome" is located in the Cahaba coal field and is only five miles southeast of Birmingham. Developments thus far are said to indicate that it is by far the most promising gas and oil pros pect ever discovered in Ala bama.
 Sometime ago Col. T. H. Aldrich, one of the best known engineers and geologists in the district, was doing some diamond drilling in the Cahaba testing for ore. At depth of only 240 feet the drill broke into the gas which shot up to a height of forty feet under an estimated pressure of 100 pounds, took fire from the nearby boiler and burned up the derrick be- fore it could be checked.
 In short time the boring, which was very small, filled up with pebbles and the gas was cut off. Attempts were made to resume work and when the rocks were cleaned out the gas burst forth stronger than ever. This process was repeated a third time, after which the hole was plugged up and the drillers moved away.
 EXPERTS MAKE SURVEY
 Colonel Aldrich interested the Gulf Pro- ducing company in the matter and ex- perts were secured to make survey of the prospect. Maj. R. H. Elliott made a report on it and pronounced it one of the most perfect geological domes in the United States. The Gulf Producing company then went to work to obtain options and leases on the territory neces- sary to control it and now has approx imately 2400 acres.
 N(ui plOJSCl IS iilldIlCtQ anu We lldN0 no stock for sale" said A. F. Owens chairman of the board of the Gulf Pro ducing company yesterday. "The Aldrie eh dome is a great discovery and we are drilling right on it's crest. It's closeness to Birmingham makes it find of in- calculable value. Some of the most prom inent men in Birmingham are interested with us in the matter but we have pur- posely kept the whole thing quiet until we could get the necessary leases and options on the property we needed. have had a great deal of experience with oil and gas, but this is the best thing l have ever seen. Our company also Is in number of other Alabama prospects,, but this Is so superior that our whole attention Is concentrated at this time on the Aldrich dome.
 industrial men everywhere will ap- preciate the incalculable value of bound- less supply of natural gas within less than eight miles of the Jefferson county 
 MAJOR ELLIOTTS REPORT <
 Maj. R. H. Elliott, the well known civil engineer, has prepared a report on the Aldrich dome and among other things his report contains the following:
 "Ones diamond drilling was put down on the dome, and 1t is consequence of the development in this boring that recent attention has been attracted. The dome Pes long been known, and the geologi- cal features determined and it has been often designated as probable gas and oil field. However, enterprise Jagged until was attracted to the attempt to put down a diamond drill. The boring had to be stopped at depth of little over 200 feet because of the volume of gas. The gas, with a pressure of 100 pounds, drove the water from the hole, blew the clamp off, ignited from the boiler fire and burned up the derrick and put the plant out of business. The rock dislodged below by the gas several times partly choked the flow and the workmen assist ing with water and mud. the gas was sufficiently suppressed to enable the men to work, but whenever the hole was part ly cleaned the gas broke in and resumed control, and the drilling had to be aban- doned. The hole is now closed and plugged. So far as it was possible to
  over 100 pounds and appeared and con- tinued at full pressure whenever an at tempt was made to clean the hole, and this work continued for several days This development of gas, under pressure. was in accordance with natural conditions, and conclusively shows there is no rock fracture in the dome. and also that the rock, shale or clay overaying the gas is strong and binding If this gas contained in strata so near the sur face as 240 feet is securely confined, then all gas and oil below that depth is also preserved against escape, and are also under pressure.
 There are three requisites necessary to constitute a workable oil field. First. pill in the rock second. pressure on the pill; third. concentration of the oil.
 MUST BE CONCENTRATED
 Tt requires only small amount of iiffused oil in field to furnish a full supply, if 1t is in some way concentrated In small area. Most oil wells driven In Alabama have found plenty of diff. fused oil. but no well has yet hit on the point of concentration. Oil and gas will not gather in body if there is any pos sible way of escape, and 1t will escape unless confined in every direction by rock, shale or clay. A dome of rock inter- stratified with clay naturally suggests itself as the best form for collecting and oil and gas, and experienced nas taught that domes furnished in every field almost the only source of oil under Rock domes sloping down from
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