The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-02
Claim Immense Oil and Gas Dome Has Been Discovered Near City in Cahaba Valley
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central point on axis are not com mon geological form, and when discov- cred should be valued for their probable content When such dome can he clearly defined, covering several thou sand acres, and in addition Is discovered to contain gas under pressure, then IS success in finding oil or gas in large and profitable quantities almost a cer- tainty.
 The dome located five miles southeast of Birmingham Is clearly defined and several thousand acres in area, It has below its crest over 5000 feet In thickness of measures which may be oil bearing, and several stratas are known to con- tain oil The diamond drill boring on the crest has demonstrated the pressure of gas under continuous pressure, and so far as it is possible for human req son to determine before the event this dome must furnish gas and probably oil in large quantities. It is by far the best prospect for the development or gas or oil field yet discovered in the state rot excepting the two areas now pro ducing gas.
 OWENS SUPPLIES FACTS
 The following facts regarding the Aid rich dome" were supplied yesterday py ducing company:
 "C,blone like an inverted bowl or a sroon
 "Situated in Cahaba valley between Shades mountain and the river.
 Highest point of dome, 1050 feet above sea level, receding to all sides to altitude of about G50 feet.
 "pone covers area of about 4000 acres of which area about 2S00 acres oil and gas can he reached at commercial depth. Of the 2SCO acres about 400 acres are ~ of,6 halanCe under oil and gas leases to the Gulf Pro- ducing company.
 Area of oil and gas territory from which the sands of the dome will draw is about 20 square miles.
 s.Perfect oil and gas domes are of un- common occurrence and when found the possibilities of their content becomes al most a certainty.
 FAMOUS DOMES OF AMERICA
 ..The famous domes of the American oil fields have been opened in the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Texas Oklahoma, wyoming and California. The most famous and spectacular oil dome was the world renowned Spindle Top of Beaumont, Tex. It came in the year of the Spanish American war. 1S9S Bir- mingham is the only city located Tn the Appalachian coal belt that Is not supplied with natural gas This belt extends from beyond Pittsburg to little south of Bir- mirgham Scattered here and there along this northeast to southwest 45-de- gree line are located few big dome structures that furnish the gas for the cities of Pittsburg. Alleghany, Harris burg in Pennsylvania; Wheeling, Par kersburg. Clarksburg, Huntington and Charleston. in West Virginia; Columbus Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo. in Ohio eff In, and TannaS- see, and right on down the line to Ala bama.
 According to engineers. geologists and oil and gas men, the only known dome that has so far been uncovered Is the one located in Alabama. Cahaba valley
 known as Aldrich Dome.
 ADcmestic consumers that utilize natu- ral gas for heating and cooking consume about 700,C00 cubic feet per annum, or for city the size of Birmingham about l 10, 900 cubic feet per day. OIL IN DOME STRUCTURE "Oil found in dome structures most always flows like an artesian we'll with 1 out aid of suction pumps. Developers oi l Aldrich dome expect to strike both oil l and gas in large quantities. Aldrict dome has concentration. through being sealed on all sides and has possibly the | greatest rock pressure to be found any place Estimated that at depth of 20O( l feet 1t will attain pressure of 1850 pounds l to the square inch
 .Oil of the Appalachian system is ol the highest quality, parafine base, wortt 1 $350 per barrel In the crude. operators in oil and gas territories as rule. sell the output of their gas wells to the cities using natural gas oi l establish compressing plants and extrac | the gasoline content from the gas whicf 1 ia frequently more profitable than sell I ing to industrial and domestic consum
 CTS. From two to five gallons of higf l gravity gasoline are extracted from l each 1000 cubic feet of gas.
 I Price of natural gas in northern ant western cities ranges from 25 to 50 cent | per 1O0t cubic feet. or from 21a cents tt 5 cents per 100. It has been found tha | the heat units In natural gas is about 5 l per cent more than that found in arti ficiai gas or from given amount O
 coal"