The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-08-03
EXPLORING FOR OIL.
Effort Being Made to Locate 1t in Geor-
gia'

Considerable interest is manifested in
the possibility of obtaining oil in some
parts of southern Georgia, notably in an
area near Fitzgerald, which several com.
panies have been organized to test. To
aid in the development of this and other
areas in that region, if the conditions
seemed to warrant il, the United States
geological survey, department of the in
terror, in cooperation with the geologi-
cal survey of Georgia, has examined two
areas in the southern part of the state
and, in advance of somewhat more
comprehensive review of the conditions
affecting the possible occurrence of all
there, makes public the following state
ment for the benefit of the general pub
lie:
One of the two areas explored, which
in previous reports were referred to as
possible areas of uplift, lies along Chat
taboochee river, extending from Column
bus to the Florida line; the other lies
mainly along point near Fitzgerald to
the Florida line near Townsville and
Valdosta. The evidence as to the pres
Va hPtlAbS Va duAiNAAiitS III tntcG
areas has hitherto been inconclusive be-
cause the areas had not been studied in
sufficient detail.
The surface indications of oil may be
classed as direct indications, such as the
presence of seeps of oil, gas, or asphalt;
and indirect indications, such as the pres
ence of an .anticline or upward fold of
the rock beds, which, as experience has
shown, is favorable place for the ac-
cumulation of oil, provided oil is present
in the underlying rocks and other condi-
tions are favorable. Thus the object of
the investigation was, first, to deter
mine whether there were seeps of oil, gas,
or asphalt in the area, and, second, to OBJ
tain evidence of the presence or absence |
of rock folds or anticlines. Although it |
Is not possible at this time to describe |
in detail the structure of the areas con- |
sidered, it may be stated that the evil
dence of the existence of anticlinal folds |
is unsatisfactory and inadequate and af
fords no sufficient ground for drilling for
oil. No direct evidence of the presence l
Of oil in the underlying rocks, either as
surface seeps or as ''showings" in shall
ow wells, was found in these areas. Al 4
though the absence of such direct evil
ience does not prove that oil is not pres
mt in the deeply buried rocks, it leaves
he question of the probable presence of
Ill in commercial quantities more doubt
ul than if traces could be found.
Indicating, drilling prospect wells for
vi, in any new region is, as the term
financially hazardous, and al
hough it is a game in which the stakes
re large, the chance of success is pro-
small, especially if the geo
ogic structure or the surface indications
re unfavorable. No. one who can not {
yell afford to lose money should invest e
a Indicating" and no one should in t
est in it without due consideration of
he risk involved. The drill, however, is t
he only instrument by which the pres Y
nee of commercial pools of oil at any u
oint can be definitely proved S
Much of southern Georgia is fiat and r
-ithout significant exposure OF rocks, SO C
rat it is difficult or impossible to dis. o
over favorable places for drilling. In b
Ich areas the discovery of oil that may :
> present at any place must depend on !,
lie random wildcat we'll The only val 4
able result of drilling most wildcat 4
ellis is knowledge of the underground 7
and many wells obtain but 4
tile valuable information. The driller !.
wildcat well performs a patriotic act 4
an act which amounts to duty-when !
saves samples of the strata penetrated 4
, the drill and keeps careful log of I
e well. +
In short, the evidence now obtainable
to the presence of oil in these areas pc
southern Georgia is meagre, and drill to
g there is pure and simple wildcat fr
ig,. with all the hazard of drilling in a ty
W region in which oil has not vet been
in commercial quantities. Be IN
re an actual test is made with the drill OF
is not possible to know that oil does Z.
{ exist in this region, and the patriotic ns
restor who desires to prove the pres ~.
ce or absence of oil in his neighbor- IN
cd may be justified in spending his no
'ney, provided he does it with the full wi
owledge of the financial risk he as an
mes. bic
fire.