The north Mississippi herald., 1921-01-21
MISSISSIPPI MAY
BE NEXT GREAT OIL
PRODUCING STATE
Fifteen Test Wells Now Being
/, Drilled in Various Sections.
(From The Oil WORLDLY


COLUMBUS, Miss, Jan. 1l.-Js
Mississippi to be an oil state? This
question undoubtedly will be answer
ed within the next few months. There
are, in all, 15 test wells now under
way in this state, and few of them
are making favorable reports.
The we'll at "Winona" is down at
3400 feet and is closely under guard.
Rumor has it that oil has been struck,
but confirmation is lacking. "Meri-
dian" reports good flow of gas at
2600 feet and tests at Charleston,
Canton and Fayette look very encour-
aging. The general consensus of o.
pinion is that all previous tests in the
middle and western parts of Mississip-
pi never were drilled to the required
depth, which is estimated at $500 to
1000 feet. Some geologists claim
that the gushers in Louisiana will be
duplicated and even surpassed in Mis-
sissippi whenever the right formation
has been struck. This of course
means expensive drilling, which under
present conditions of tight money"
and the wide range of newly opened
shallow" fields, does not look very
attractive to the average wildcat
operator.
Mississippi people, however, are
hopeful of increased activity this year
and especially in the northeastern
parts of the state. Most geologists
agree that the Pennsylvania forma-
ton continues in a direct line through
Mississippi, entering the state through
Il
continuing in southwesterly direc-
ton down to Natchez and into Louis
lana. Furthermore, it is claimed that
the distribution of the Pennsylvania
rock in Alabama is such as would war
rant the belief that these beds may
be encountered beneath the Grcta-
ceous and above the Mississippian,
even though the latter are the young.
est consolidated rocks at the surface
in the state. A more recent and de-
tailed survey of Lowndes county has
shown that at least one sandstone in
Mississippi is highly impregnated witd
petroleum.
This being correct, it would mean
that shallow field exists in this part
of the state. 1t is estimated that it
will be found between the depths of
1900 to 1900 feet. What strengthens
this belief and makes it look more
reasonable is that the general forma-
ton in Lowdnes county is identical
with the Corsicana oil and gas field
in Texas.
Two test wells have been contract
ed for in Lowdenes county near Co.
iumbus. The first one is nov drilling
between 500 and 500 feet. From the
geological Viewpoint this is the most
interesting test in Mississippi, as it
will prove once more how much oil
geology has profited by experience
in the last decade. The people, of
course, are interested in the material
side of the question. "Oil in Missis-
sippi" would be tthe salvation OF the
Magnolia state in view of the collapse
of the cotton market. Oil at a medi.
um shallowd epth would mean boom
equal to the Texas, Louisiana and
Arkansas onrush. Therefore. it is
only natural that Columbus and vicin-
ity is in high expectation and that old
and new "seepages" in water wells
and puddles are recalled and debated
every day. The report from okolona
about 80 miles north of Columbus,
that over 200 barrels of high grade
oil have been pumped from an old
water well at 500 feet, has added fuel
to the flame, and many are convin-
ced that Columbus, Miss, viii be the
next oil field.