The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1923-04-12
Geologist Says Oil Will Be
Struck in the Alfalfa Well

i of this the dip has taken an extrem
degree. This has also taken place OF
the main anticline.
i Having shown the structural forma
ltions, we take into consideration tn,
TERRITORY thus far being developed il
the Walla Walla and Snake river dis
trict. It's products are now conceded
to be of migratory nature, carrying
with it the lighter portions of tn.
main pool production filtering thr,
great silt beds commonly known t.
exist along the fault lines. This ha.
been known in many instances of thu
worlds greatest oil fields. The same
is also true of gas, which is usually Of
very dry nature, but also of very
high heat.
Owing to the cause to effect, we
take up the cause and follow it to eff.
feet. The conditions we find most
favorable in the townships and ranges
above mentioned, tributary to the
westerly portion Of the field west OF
the snowy range, where the first pres
tsure took place, then the upheaval, but
not volcanic, then the admittance OF
animal or organic matter together
with all other features. Geologically
a general healing took place, hence
the oil. This is in accordance with
all and good theory. Owing to alti-
tude and the general dip of forma-
tons for distance of IS miles to the
westward and SO miles to the north
westward of Walla Walla city or the
snowy. range to the eastward with
it's inticlines and dominal features.
The townships and range west of
the principal meridian, now coined into
the name of the Alfalfa structure with
the strongest possibilities of the gil
gantic subterranean lake of petro-
leum, these strong possibilities are
that all formations are most favor
able The Eagle Sandstone and the Sea
Sane, !. the immense lime formations,
not specifically Of different kinds, but
of one kind and Of different ages, and
being of the older animal and organic
origin, then being healed in by the
deeper shales, being. generally of a
reddish color, everything which are
immense sandstone lodges sealing in
and foning complete lines of recep-
tacles and projections, only where
fault lines make it possible for the oil
leakage to filter to lower lodges, re-
gardless of distance which is conclu-
sive as previously stated with refer
ence to the Walla Walla and Snake
river districts or q distance Of from
IS to 60 miles.
Now we find another and chief fea-
ture. That where the larger oil pools
exist, we also find the larger folds in
the formation, which is the case at
the Intersection of the Snake and Wal
la Walla rivers with the Columbia riv-
er and also of the Alfalfa structure,
and that Of the Alfalfa well under pro-
cess of drilling and that this inter-
section is one more feature which is
not in evidence in any Of the other
districts that Of the solidified shale
having been pushed up from over the
quadrant bearing the fossils and shell
matter being Of the former origin Of
stratagraphy in which highly crystal
lied cavaties are found containing the
original petroleum of high parafine
base.
Owing to the general dip Of forma-
tions depth Of from 1000 to 1900
feet should reach the first oil bearing
sand and 1000 to 5000 feet should
reach the second sand in the quadrant
sand at Alfalfa in the Columbia struc-
ture. However, the drill only will
prove the depth.
In my twenty years of experience,
and the greater part Of the year 1922
being given to the geological study Of
this territory, am pleased to state
that to the close observer there needs
little to be said and q great work to
be done to accomplish great results
in opening one Of what in my just and
sincere belief will be one Of the great
est of the worlds oil pools.