Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1921-01-27

ed in "DOmga or "Antic! ne ana
how these structures are located by
geologist; and dlilling sites are
selected We believe these aitic-es
win be Of educational and practical
value TO our readers. This weeks ar
ticIe will show what the state ana
government reports have to say
about this district
WHAT UNCLE SAM SAYS
It is customary all over this coun-
try for both the state and federal gof
ernment to cooperate and assist in
rtbe deyeIopment o. oil and gas lie cF
because the commercial uses oL THESE
very valuable resources has mich
10 do With the prosperity OF the couE
try at large as well as the fortunate
communities where they are found.
In future articles ! viii show how
systematic survey OF the geoioglca!
and structural conditions shows me
proper. places 10 dTill 70. gas and OH.
and when We have state and govern
ment reports to a. sist l thi l
the conservative oil operator saves
much time and expense By making
use OF such reports.
II is 10 bs regretted that consider
able Tl-adyised drilling for oil has
been done in this district. before gov
eminent and state surveys were
made. resulting tl the loss OF large
sums OF money and discOuraging
tests which were not drilled in the
proper .p!aces or with poor mechani-
cal equipment and poorer business
management.
In dealing with this subject, RObt.
n. Belb State Mine Inspector OF the
State of Idaho, in his last annual re-
port says, There have been dozen
or so oil tests made in this territory,
500 to 1,5OO-f feet deep, in addition
TO the deep test at Ontario, but II is
doubtful if much regard was paid be
fore starting them 10 the essenIia!
preliminary geological and structural
study for favorable dOming. and sew
eral of the well sites selected, inciud-
ing the most important gassers arc
started on strata as flat as floor.
Chester w. Washburne, of the
United States Geological Survey, IN
Bulletin 431-A, reports The Pay
ette formation. in which oil is found,
covers a large area in eastern Ore.
son and southern Idaho. Traces OF
gas and oil and a few small gas
wells are reported from widely sepa-
rated parts of this area. The writer
was unable to visit many OF the
places designated, but he has per
sonally noted traces of oil at four
places and of gas at many places.
FsF gas springs and gaseous
emanatiops from shallow wells are
very numerous In the vicinity OF
Payette and Ontario
In reporting on the Ontario well,
he gives six different levels at which
gas was struck, and at 2.2O4 Ieet
when the hole contained about 1000
feet of water giving a resistance OF
over $50 pounds per square inch,
gas was struck which blew water
and mud over the top of the der
rick. Instrumental measurements OF
the gas made somewhat later gave
400 pounds per square inch.
Ia reporting on the well drilled in
1907 al PRHetfe, he writes that gas
pressure was sufficient to blow a
column of water, sand, and shale to-
a peight of $50 feet. As this gas oc-
.. at comparatively shallow
Irs5th, ii would seem wise to develop
it Tor local lighting
In commenting on the above gov
ernment report, it is interesting toI
Aote that this same Bulletin in re-
porting Or The natural gas in North
Dakota shows that eight wells near
Westhope have been furnishing gas
for heating, cooking. and lighting
since 1903. where il Is piped 20 mile
and sold at from so to 40 cents q
thousand feet. The gas pressure in
North Dakota is given at from 50 to
70 pounds per square inch, while this
district has from 420 to SEQ pounds
of pressure.
WHAT THE STATE SAYS
The Idahe State report. above men
toned. further states I'll IS H&ely
that II the casing has been properly
set on the hard cap rock in the Pay
ette gas gushers before they were
drilled In that commercial flow or
natural gas might De obtained OF
sufficient volume to supply the do
mestic requirements of the town and
have proved a decidedly important
commercial asset"
"The physical conditions available
in the Snake River Basin are ideally
adapted for the existence of success
Tui oil pooling. In fact this valley
can afford almost exact replicas of
the conditions prevailing in Mexico
along the Gulf Coast. These MeXi-
can deposits have produced some of
the most phenominal flows of crude