The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-17
DEVELOPMENT Of
oil POSSIBILITY
IN TENNESSEE
Wells Drilled as Early as 1892
Fields in Scott, Pickett,
FentreSS and 0VertOn
Counties.
eY ARTHUR J. FORBES.

BY ARTHUR J. FORBES.
The development Of oil in paying
quantities In Tennessee Seems more
than a possibility. Considerable Ircs-
pecting has been zone in The state IN
years past by agents OF various produc-
Ing companies, and while no producing
well has been drilled which Indicated
oil as a commercial proposition Eeoto-
gists and expert oil men believe tha- In
most instances that il was because the
test wells have not been sunk deep
enough
Many years & some shallow wells
were drilled In Overton and several
Of the other counties on the western
rim OF the Cumberland plateau. Oh
was actually produced In paying Uu7n-
titles in 1892 from other shallow wells
in what is known a the SpurTier- XIV
erton field In Pickett and FentreSs
counties. but there was no further de-
velopment owing to lack OF transporta-
ton, the wells being some distance
from any railroad, and the oil not being
in sufficient quantity to warrant the
construction OF pipe lines.
Years later there was some develop
ment In Scott copnty, near Glen MARY
on the Cincinnati Southern railroad,
Within the last few Years, there has
been more or less test drilling In Cum
berland county. on top Of the Cumeer-
land lakeland. and some tests nave
been made In West Tennessee In the
Reelfoot lake diatrict.
Owing 10 the Interest In oil produc-
ton OF the past year, since the ire
mendoua development of the new fields
in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, Will
bur A. Nelson, state ~geologist. has, IN
cooperation with tpe United States
geological survey. made some new in
v~estlgation in the Pickett and Fentress
county fields A detailed structural
mar will be ready for distribution soon
from the office OF the state g~eologist.
In a preliminary report upon this most
resent survey. Mr.. Nelson says:
Mississippi Rocks.
rAs there is now considerable re-
neWed oil excitement and some drilling
In this region, II is considered desra-
BILE 10 release Immediately the MIN
cipal factors influencing oil aCcumLla-
ton. The recent mapping has showrn
that the old producing wells were To-
Gated on favorable structure and that
there Is stil much more similar struc-
ture In this area INFESTED by the drill.
fThe rocks on the surface over most
OF the area are of Mlssissippian age.
The oil horizon Is a limestone of Or
dofiolan age, from 1866 to 275 feet be-
low the Chattanooga (blackl shale,
which can be readily recognized by the
drillers.
sThe general dip Of the rocks is to
the southeast. while the fairly sharp,
NV SAA NAAAN - NAlAh
have In general a northeast. direction.
THO structure contours were drawn on
the cypress sandstone and at intervals
OF 20 feet. The vertical distance be-
tween the Cypress sandstone and
CHATTANOOGA (hlackl shale in most
ofsthe area Is 700 feet. The depths u
wells viii vary, considerably between
the limits OF 210 feet In places west Of
Livingston n In the stream valleys,
to- 800 feet on the edge of the Cum
berland plateau. In the past this area
has produced S. 76 barrels of oil, a
famous 'Bob's bar" well, having an
initial capacity OF about 800 barrels a
day. Water troubles and the taking up
Of the pipe line into this district due
to a heavy tax by Pickett county.
cansed the abandonment of this field
in 1905. A probable solution OF the old
water troubles Is suggested in the pres
cnk report, which may reduce greatly
this danger.
sThe following facts concerning the
NEST promising locations for test wells
SHOULD be given consideration by oil
men;
@Copeland Anticllne-A small dome
having a 2O-foot closure occurs on this
lphg narrow antlcline. The best loca-
tiun is one.eiEhth Of a mile southwest
from trangulation station on top OF
Outlet mountain,
arIAt ITetk AnllNilne-FTom JbuH-
son mill on Flat creek. one-half mile
gopth OF the Hilham- Cookeville road for
b distance OF one and a half miles
northeast along Flat creek, and on
Roaring river, one-fourth of a milo
down stream from Browns ford. on the
road south from Hllham. Is favorable
territory for testing. The Spurrier oil
sand should be reached inside of 200
feet.
sMill Creek A~ntlcline-The best To-
cation for a test well Is on MIN creek.
onk-half mile down stream from cross
ing OF Hilham-Celln road, as the anti
cline crosses the creek at this point,
mitchell Creek nome-Prohably the
bert location In along the Living st on-
Celina road, not quite one and a half
miles north. Is degrees west, from cid
Grey postoffice, where there Is at pros
ent a water grist mill. This dome has
Monroe Anticline.
sMonroe Antlcline-The summit OF
this structure Is on the old road be-
tween Livingston and Monroe and two
thirds OF the distance from Livingston.
From this point a long narrow anti
clihal crest extends nearly north ard
sobth, the south end being one-tnird
mhe west OF the gap between Alpine
and Gullett mountains, The store at the
forks OF the Livingstone jamestown
AVa0s ANuI HliltE HASl bl JdNliGS ~ On
Is on the axis OF this anticllne, The oil
sand should be reached at a deptn OF
about 1000 feet.
West Fork Anticline-There Ia n
small dome IN this anticline three
fourths OF a mile southwest of the
mouth OF Poor branch and on the north
side OF the Livingston West Fork road.
East from this point the anticlinc az
tends northeast through West Fork
and on, crossing the East Fork OF
Obey river about three-fourths Of i
lmie above the mouth of Rockhouse
well worth testing. At West FORK TIE
Spurrier oil sand should be reached
inside OF SIS feet.
Franklin Creek Anticline This
structure, might be tested on Franklin
creek. about one mile southeast OF
above the black" shale.
Gooseneck Dome--At n point one
hair a mile southeast OF the mouth &
Fig Indian creek Is one Of the most
pronounced domes in this entire area,
IL Is well worth testing. A test hole
near the public ICad would start IN
the top Of the st. Louis limestone aul
shnuld reach the Spurrier oil saud
within 725 feet.
Little Crab Anti d'ne-The oh rrt-
auc:.nG wells. located On the Woods ard
this U-shaped Little Crab anIicInr
AIpa,cntly the most favorable place 10
dr. Is about one-thild Of a ME south
OF the store at Int Crab and u the
cas- OF a sm1L. branch that flow ipto
Little Crab creek.
Tho entire south leg OF the Little
Crab anticltne fran where IL crosses
INDIAN creek at the Duncan Smith We
nFtheast to tn. Choate wells On Pop
lar Cove creek, a comparatively
straight line, Is all considered good Ter.
ritory. The old David Beatty wells are
located halfway ,.ctween Iidian cr,pk
amt TIRE Ch1aie wL..s. IN the no = lyaAt
k.cpe OF this antichre."
INV ri AIMc pEr0pn