Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-01-07

part. i'm my judgment, In the study of
oil and gas. That oil is found above
water IN a given sand, is n matter of
common knowledge. That gas occurs
still higher is also well known. The
relative positions of the gas. oil and
water depend in part on the pressure
that the water cXerts on the other con-
tents of the stratum. knowledge Of
the upper level of water Is therefore
important both for the geologists and
the operator So far as | know
there is no way of determining this
EXCEPT by actually drilling. But once
II has been determined in given well,
the biologists should be able TO give
capable and valuable assistance in
operations Of drilling. In certain
fields IN our state at the present time
the problem of the water pressure Is
ono OF the most preplcNinS. As data
aCCumulatcS however, We are able To
gather information and reach CON
clusions that are of material assistance
IN operations, and in this way much
needless expenditure Is being avoided.
In the early history of the oil in
dUStry in this country relationship
between streams and oil accumula-
ton was quickly noted. 1t was thot
that streams of oil followed the
streams of water or vice versa, II YOU
choose. one step, however, is omitted
TN this reasoning. viz; that IL so hap
pens in the Allegheny region the
streams usually follow the anticlines.
hence the streams and the trend OF
the oil are Coincidcnt. In almost all
of the gulf coast fields, slight clevn-
tion9 of surface are easily observable.
These vary from a few feet as at
Spipd,ctop to fifty or more in certain
pljCcs in Louisiana.
In the Mid-COntinCnt field some In
teresting facts have pecn gathered
with relation To anticlines and streams.
The general tendency is for the
streams To avoid anticlincs and domcs
and to follow the synclines. There
are. however. many exceptions To this
rule. a glance Mt a good map of OK
lahoma Will show some curious and
interesting curves in the streams at
BartlcsVillc, Talala, Newkirk, CleVc-
land, Gushing, RNlston and In many
other places. In this connection 1t is
interesting also to note that water
sheds which are anticlnal are often
more prominent than are other water
sheds For instance one may see from
a long distance the Cleveland field IN
spite OF the fact that the north end
Is close to the river, The same Is true
of the Gushing field. In my work IN
oklahoma | learned early and believe
was the first to point out this re-
lationship between structure and sur
face features of the earth
The biologists work Is not all easy.
In much of the older part of the Mid
Continent field the geology is simple,
but as We go westward and southwark
recognizable formations become fewer.
Deep wcathcring also Is great
hindrancc To geologic work for by this
means strata are often prevented from
showing at the surface. In the red
beds region which now is attracting
much interest, strata are SO familiar
that often an individual bed can be
recognized only with the greatest diff
ficulty Nevertheless, II the geologist
works with great care he can afford
valuable aid In prospecting for oil and
gas IN the red beds region
Are there more fakes In oil and gas
than In any other industry? IL would |
seem SO to me. Perhaps, however, II |
is because | have had SO many brought |
to my notice. There are those who |
pretend to be gcologists who are using |
what Is termed the ELAINE" test. |
Specimens of rock are gathered and |
taken to the laboratory. II one gives |
In the gas flame a certain color, II Is |
indicative OF the presence or absence |
Of oil or gas as tho 'case may be |
Nothing could be more ridiculous aud |
nothing deserves sharper ccnsure un-
less II be some OF the other fakes.
Trends" are worked overtime. Re- ]