Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-27

about 5000. 100000 barrels. The esi-
mated reserves of high grade oils Of the
Appalachian States are about 725,o00,0o0
barrels.
SUPPLY is
GROWING SCANT.
THE estimated reserves are enough to
satisfy the present requirements Of the
United States for only twenty years, II
the oil could be taken out of the ground
as fast at 1t is wanted. Should these
estimates fall even SO much as 2OOO,-
OOO0 900 barrels short Of the actual re-
covery, that error Of % per cent. would
be equivalent TO but four years supply,
a relatively short extension Of life.
However, the committee expressly de-
cries the too freuent assumption THAI
inasmuch as the estimated reserves APP
pear to be sufficient to meet the needs
Of the country at the present rate Of
consumption for twenty years, therefore,
the reserves will be exhausted at the
end Of that time, or at most few years,
This assumption is absolutely mislead-
ing, for the oil pools will not all be
found within that length Of time, drill
ing will be spread over many years as
the pools are found, and the wells can
not be pumped dry so uickly.
Individual wells will yield oil for
more than a quarter Of a century and
drilled in 1850. In short, the oil cannot
all be discovered, much less than from
the earth in twenty years. The Uniteo
States IS already absolutely Independent
upon foreign countries TO exc out her
own production, and, II the foreign oil
can be procured this dependence is sure
to grow greater and greater as our own
fields wane, except as artificial petro-
leum may be produced by the distillation
of oil shales and Goals or some substitute
for petroleum bay be discovered.
ALL HOPE IS
NOT LEST.
IAN the estimates, except the oil re-
covered from the ground by present
methods, but it is practically certain
that the percentage of oil to be recovered
from the American OIL fields will be
vastly increased by the application OF
new and improved methods of recovery.
At present, however, this phase Of pro-
duction may be regarded as in the ex-
perimental stage. Little has been def
nitely determined as to the applicability
of air PRESSURE water drive gas pres
sure vacuum extraction, and other
methods to different regions, with
their variation in conditions, or to the
increase in production to be counted on
from the use Of these methods. The
committee therefore feels that at present
any estimates Of such possible additional
recoveries would probably contain errors
enormously greater than those inherent
in tn estimates made on the basis Of
methods IN use.
In only one region are the geologic
conditions so well known and the expert
ence with improved methods on com
rnerciaI basis so extensive and so long
continued as to justify the formulation Of
estimates based on the results obtained.
This Is the region in northwestern Penn
sylyania and southwestern New York,
where the water drive Is now en-
ployed to obtain oil from the Brad
ford sand which was supposed to be
largely exhausted.
Under the peculiar conditions there
the use Of this method VIII result in the
recovery Of q large quantity OF oil that
cannot be recovered by ordinary methods
Of production. Allowance for the add
tlonal oil thus recovered has, therefore,
been made in the estimates. 1t has al
ready been found, however, that this
method Is not applicable to some other
districts. and. accordingly, no allowance
has been made for possible additional
recovery through It's use where It's suit
ability to the local conditions has not
been actually demonstrated.
in the light Of these estimates as
to the extent Of our supplies Of natural
petroleum, the joint committee points out
the stern obligation Of the citizen, the
producer and the Government to give
most serious study to the more complete
extraction Of the oil from the ground,
as well as to the avoidance of waste,
either through direct losses or through
misuse Of crude oil or It's products"