The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-09-19

have increased in their frequency
and in their magnitude and in my
opinion they are caused by the tur.
MOL and pressure of the ever in
creasing gas and petroleum deposits
/ which underly the Gulf of Mexico.
+ The Gulf of Mexico, in my opinion
i represents in its entirety, or it's prac-
teal entirety, recessed area, which
at one time, was probably entirely
above the sea level, or at least a
greater portion of it, was, but the up
! heaval Of various mountain ranges in
j Mexico, southeast and the middle south
of the United States would naturally
/ force a recession somewhere and as a
consequence, the Gulf Of Mexico be-
| came submerged territory.
Numerous mountains are known to
have existed, in various places, which
| long since have been eroded and
| brought to the level Of the surround
ing plains
i The additional re-occurrence and
/ increasing strength of the Gulf of Mex
leo upheavals inclined me to the belief
that the upheaval of 1900 fissured and
cracked open, inland stratas of the Me-
/ sozoic and Palezoic ages and allowed a
migration of oil from these stratas to
the upper sands underlying the Gulf,
/ and as consequence, this continual
| migration has given added strength to
! the deposits which already existed in
| that region, thus giving cause for the
| re-occurence at more frequent inter-
c nf c.,1F
Professor Clapp, as understand, was
favorable to three locations in the
Chipley territory, and undecided as to
which one was the best. especially un-
decided as to the desirability of their
| present location, or the Rock Hill
structure.
In considering the feasibility Of the
structure, and likelihood of profit from
explorative drilling, it is my policy to
eliminate as far as possible all mega
! tives before trying to build up a theory
of alternatives.
The absence of Igenous rocks and
intrusive rocks eliminate a great mega
tive feature.
Owing to the theory given above as
to the origin and basis of the Gulf It'd
al waves and possibilities outlined, +
naturally perfer territory more differ
ent from the scene of this activity, and
thus less likely to be affected should
my theory be correct. 1t is no harm
to take into consideration this posi-
bility and it might prevent disaster So
I recommend the Salt Dome area along
the coast.
5 In considering the log of the well at
Chipley, 1 find that commencing at $50
feet to nearly 1850 feet, they passed
several stratas of sand which held pc
troleum. From lilo feet downward |
they passd through considerable
stratas of sand which was very
similar to those enumerated in |
the Coastal Regions; in fact, logs of |
this well are very similar to the logs |
of South Texas and Louisiana wells. 1 |
am unable to give all facts as my in
formation was secured under a pledge
of secrecy.
It frequently happens that such sur
face seepages are the primary reasons
for the checking of the territory, and
while I am inclined to a certain
amount of skepticism in the areas i'm
mediately near or close to the seepage.
Will agree that S6epdSeS are response
BILE for the opening of considerable ter
ritory as found around DeFuniak
Springs and Walton County.
Seepages usually indicate fault OF
fracture line which may not be clearly
indicated at the surface by any other
evidence and there is further danger
that the seepage may have travelled
latterly for some distance through the
porous beds and chennels before reach
ing the surface, therefore the recon-
mendation for the location Of the we'll
On seepage evidence alone is very un-
safe and numerous dry wells have
been drilled in Mexico and the Gulf
Coast Region on this Inadequate evil
dence. have made your location on
general conditions.
While it would be more easy TO
block out structures in a territory
where outcropping statifoid rock dis
.iosed contour lines, yet, at the same
line, such territories have long since
,een worked over.
Salt domes, gas bIisters, bloW-outs
ind sinks and seepases must
10 studied carefully with the idea
# establishing their relationship to
Underlying oil bearing stratas.
Extreme care must be used In
,assing on a dome, so as not to mis-
AXE a sand dune for a salt lone, and ]
furthermore, seepage erosion viii cause /
he formation of hillocks very similar {
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