Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-08
INDICATIONS FOR
OIL ARE Good IN
HQLBROOK FIELD
Hopi Company's Drill Is Near
ing Productive Sand Storms
and Muddy Roads Have
Caused Delay in Drilling,

fssre,AL coseEsponoeNcG TO MORNING JOURNAL
Holbrook, Ariz., March "A COM
pIete change in the formation
through which the drill of the Hopi
Oil company is passing took place
Saturday afternoon, and 1t is the be-
lief of Senator Mayfield and Tom Nc
Cauley, the executive officers of the
company. that the cross-bedded Co
conino sandstone of the PennsylNahll
formation, which is the cap-rock ot
this section, has at last been bottom
ed. So complete is the change in the
formation that instead of the ringing
sound which was formerly made ny
the drill, there is scarcely any sound
at all now as it drops.
If, as is believed, the Coconino
sandstone is completely gone through
(instead of a soft place in it having
been found) it will be welcome news
for everyone interested in the dis
trfct. According to the biologists the
formation underlying the hard cap
rock is so much softer that from 20
to so feet per day can easily be
made--which means that the point
where the productive oil sands are
said to lie will soon he reached.
Considerable excitement was crelt-
ed last week by a report that the Hopi
had struck gas in big quantities. The
report gained credence not only in
town but one or two outside stories
carried stories about it, though the
local papers and your correspondent
investigated before making mention.
Investigation proved that the Hopi
had gone through a small stratum of
oil sand, which contained some gas
hut not in sufficient quantities 20 get
excited about, as Senate" Mayfirid
put it.
OF course any showing of oil or
gas is encouraging, but the import
ance of this find lies in the fact that
it was made within 10 feet of where
Prof. Chas. +. Major the company's
geologist said it would be made.
Prof. Major who was formerly chief
geolog.st for the United Verde Cop
per company, made his calculation
from an oil seepage which he found
in the canyon and from the dip Of
the Sands. ...
Sand Shows Traces of Oil.
1t has been known for som time
that the sands in the canyon near the
Ifopi well show oil in more than one
place. and Prof. Major got decided
tests when his attention was called 10
it.
Great interest is manifested in the
report on the Holbrook oil field by
Dorsey Eager, which will be pub
| lished on the 18th of this month.
Hager not only has high reputation
as a geologist, but he is one of the
most interesting, thouah conservative
writers on geology. The article was
written at the request of the Cham
Of nf
That Hager Major and half doz-
en- prominent biologists have passed
| favorably upon this field has long
been known, and the newspapermen
] have sometimes been allowed to see
i the original reports, but the article
! by Hager will be the first authorize
| tive publication by "A prominent ge-
! ologist upon the Holbrook field since
| drilling began. DR. Herbert r.. Greg
| DRY, MARCUS r. Campbell and other
| government men have included this
section in U. s. geological reports
made several years ago, but not with
| standing this, no test for oil was
started until the latter part of 1918.
Secretary Hennessy, of the Adam
ana Oil company, is spending most OF
! his time at the we'll and is repairing
the road to the water tanks in order
| that as little time as possible be lost
| from the actual drilling. The Adam
ana, like the other companies drill
| ing, has had plenty of grief as a re-
suit of the unusual storms and muddy
| roads, but the work done of late will
! leave them in good condition when
| the god of storms takes vacation.
The HolbroOk Oil company has also
! been hung up on account of muddy
roads and has awaited better wealth
| er conditions before starting its rig
and spudding in its well.