The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1947-01-02


oil movement back to 1914, hav-
ing its origin in Noble county.
The main activity is now more
or less centered in Monroe
county and the extreme eastern
edge of this county. Conley has
the following to say.
Over 130 years ago, in 1914 to be
exact, oil was discovered in eastern
Ohio. This was in Noble county on
the Caldwell farm near the county
seat. The oil was struck in well
being drilled for salt at depth
of $50 feet. At that time, there was
no use for the oil, it being considered
a nuisance, since in no well in which
it was found could it be used for
salt. 1t was not until after brakes
discovery well in Pennsylvania did
oil drilling begin in earnest in Ohio.
The first drilling was in Washington
and Noble counties Since 1860, the
oil and gas drilling activity has
not ceased. Many pools have been
discovered, drilled and abandoned
since that time.
Among these might be mentioned
the Gould, Toronto, Port Homer and
Knoxville pools in jefferson coun-
ty; The Cadiz, Bricker, Snyder,
Maxwell, Jewett, Philadelphia Road
and Plumb Run pools of Harrison
county, the Barnesville and Cole
rain pools of Belmont county and
several others scattered through
Monroe, Noble, Guernsey and Wash
ington counties. Many new pools
have been discovered in these coun-
ties and despite the fact that drill
ing has been going on for many
years and millions of barrels of oil
produced, exploration still continues
and a recent report from Monroe
county listed Is wells drilling.
Up until World War l, geology
played but a small part in locating
oil and gas in eastern Ohio. Many
operators frowned on the science,
and wells were drilled where there
was absolutely no structure for the
possible accumulation of petroleum
and natural gas. AS a result, many
wells were drilled that were dry,
millions of dollars were wasted and
in many cases, wells sunk only to
shallow sands.
The Berea sandstone was consid-
cred the lowest sand necessary to
penetrate for oil or gas. If this sand
proved dry, the well was considered
useless and was abandoned, and
thousands were abandoned after
more shallow sands proved dry.
In recent years, however, there
has been deeper drilling and with
the use of geology, many new deep
pools have been discovered in areas
where shallow wells proved dry
many years ago. While many well
logs and records were preserved
during the early drilling, these are
of very little value to present opera
tions because the early drillers had
various names for the sands, Goals
and limestones, and therefore, the
depth to the sands vary widely.
At present, most drilling in east
ern Ohio is centered in Monroe
county, although there are many ac-
tive operations in Noble and Guern-
sey counties. Activity in Monroe
county has been frightened in the
past few weeks by the drilling of
three gas wells, each with a daily
production of over million feet.
One of these wells is located just
west of Cameron in Adams town
ship, another opposite the fair
grounds in Woodsfield, and the third
just south of Woodsfield.
A few years ago, oil was discov-
cred near the village of Stafford.
which set off a town lot" drilling
campaign which gained a magazine
article in a Columbus paper. Much
interest was manifested by indie
pendent operators and some forty
or more wells have been drilled
many of them dry. Drilling in Mon
roe county, however, is not conCen-
trated in the Stafford vicinity, but
is scattered through eleven town
ships. Extensive drilling has been
done in nearly every township OF
this county, except Salem, Lee and
Switzerland, and despite the thou
sands of dry holes that have been
completed, it is probable that this
county will continue to produce oil
and gas for many years to come
Structural conditions in the county
with the exception of Switzerland
and Salem township, are very
promising for further discoveries.
Unlike West Virginia, there is
very little literature or maps avail.
able on the mineral resources Of
eastern Ohio, and the geologiSt i!
forced to construct his own struc
ture maps from his work in the
field. Most geologists agree tha
three anticlines cross Monroe coun
ty-an anticlines is an unfold in the
strata suitable for the accumulation
of oil - and along these anticline
are the most likely places that new
pools will be discovered.
The southern nalf of jefferson
county has never been thoroughly
tested for oil or gas. There has beer
no drilling below the Berea sane
and this despite the fact that il
many wells considerable shows o
oil were found. Warren township
has produced little gas and oil, bu
has never been thoroughly tested
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