Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-08-22
Every Operator Every Royalty Gunner
In Montana Should Read This Article

the combined increases would not equal
the normal decline in one or two years
OF a single flush field In Texas or
Oklahoma
with the exception Of the Gulf Coast
in Texas and some OF the California
fields, these areas as well as less inn
portant districts have been thoroughly
explored to the deepest producing sand
and often to the bottom of che sedimen-
tary rock section. Oil cannot be found
in granite; it must be found in sedimen-
tary rocks So the end OF the sedimen-
tary column marks the end Of deep drill
ling possibilities. -.
Notwithstanding the aid OF geophysical
methods and extensive wildcatting, no
understanding fields and very few of
major Importance have been discovered
since East Texas in 1880 and ConrOe
in 1881. A field of major Importance
may be considered to be one capable of
producing a total of about 75,000,0O0
barrels of oil, which is about one months
supply for the United States. With the
exception of the Yates (Texas) pool,
no really important shallow field has
been found since 1925. The Withdrawals
from our proven reserves have been
greater than the amount added by the
discovery of new fields for at least five
years.
Exports OF crude and refined products
have during the past 10 years caused
than 500, 100000 barrels, despite the
fact that domestic production has ex-
ceeded domestic consumption by 10000
600 barrels per year. Forgetting the ex-
ports stop to consider what II would
mean were there year or two more with
out important discoveries: the decline Of
any one of the flush fields would ex-
coed the so-called Over-production. Here
is the proof:
ID The combined annual production
of the Santa Fe Springs and Long Beach
fields declined $4,000, 900 barrels in two
years, 1929-1931.
(2) The Seminole (Oklahoma) dis
trict declined 95.00O,000 barrels in four
years, 1927-1931, in spite Of the dis
covery of new pools in the area.
(S) -Four of the principal fields in
the West Texas area declined 100000
barrels from their combined peak produc-
lions (1926-19SO) to 1888.
(4) The five principal pools in the
east-eentral Texas district (Mexia, Powell
Richland, Currie and Wortham) declined
from combined peak production of 49,
5000 barrels (19221925) to $780,
GOO barrels in 1928, and less than 2,O00,-
100 barrels in 1sSs
Keeping in mind that two per cent of
the wells (FLUSH PRODUCTION) supply
HALF Of this country's oil, we realize
securing the Rocky Mountain region for
new oil fields. Montana and Wyoming
are among the few states offering
chance for important new production.
Where else can they find more oil: 49,
IN KANSAS?-Old producing areas
have been drilled to the bottom Of the
sedimentary rock column. 49,
IN OKLAHOMA? Greek county with
over 1000 dry holes and Okmulgee and
Usage counties with more than 5000
dry holes each are peppered so thickly
that there isn't room between dry holes
for important new pools in eastern and
southern Oklahoma. Most Oklahoma ields,
like Kansas, are producing from the deep
est possible productive horizons (OrdO-
vieian). This area has been completely
worked by surface and subsurface geo
logical methods, closely core drilled and
completely worked with magnetometers
and the seismograph.
TExAs?-The broad central belt with
the San Antonio and Mexia-Powell dis
triets on the eastern and the Ranger
Breckenridge and Wichita Falls districts
on its western margin, is now condemned
by deep drilling for important new pools.
The area OF Caddo or Sabine uplift; with
few pools in Louisiana on its crest and
the East Texas field on it's western margin
can be said to be condemned for inn
portant new production down to the
Trinity beds. Three areas offer promise.
They are the Panhandle, West Texas and
northeastern Gulf Coast districts.
GULF COAT?-The Gulf Coast belt
of Texas and Louisiana was thoroughly
worked over for shallow production. OF
81 separately listed fields only six have
have approached or exceeded as million
lrrels and the whole asea has produced
little more than years supply Tor the