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By A. Andreas

New Mexico retained its position in 1938 as the sixth largest oil-producing state, with a total production of 35,510,176 bbl. This was 2,875,598 bbl. less than the 1937 production of 38,485,774 bbl., or a decrease of 0.077 per cent, which was caused by the lack of pipe-line facilities and storage at the pipe-line terminals. The production for Lea County (excluding Maljamar) was 32,926,788 bbl.; for Eddy County (including Maljamar) was 2,225,411 bbl.; and for northwestern New Mexico (San Juan and McKinley Counties), 357,977 bbl. The average daily nonmarginal well allowable for Lea County on Jan. 1, 1938, was 65 bbl. At the close of the year it was 49 bbl. The average daily pipe-line runs for domestic consumption were less than the state allowables recommended by the United States Bureau of Mines. There was a demand for Artesia crude for foreign export, which if included in the daily production for New Mexico would be slightly in excess of the daily production recommended for New Mexico by the Bureau of Mines. The daily average production for the year was 97,329 barrels. There were 622 completions in the state, of which 520 were oil wells; 16 hydrocarbon gas wells; 5 carbon dioxide gas wells, and 81 dry holes. Of the dry holes 38 were in or near-by proven fields and the remainder, 43, were wildcats. Five new fields were discovered in New Mexico during 1938, three in Lea County and two in Eddy County. Southeastern New Mexico Lea County.—The Monumcnt field was the largest producing field in Lea County, with 9,440,334 bbl., and was closely followed by the Eunice field with 8,872,335 bbl. The Hobbs field was third with 5,010,414 bbl. The greatest activity in Lea County was in the Vacuum pool, with 129 completions, of which 126 were oil wells and three were dry holes. The Texas Company completed its Corbin NO. 1 in the KW 1/4 SW1/4 sec. 10, T. 18 S., R. 33 E. in August. This well was drilled to a depth of 5118 ft. in a white sand, encountering salt water. It was plugged back to 4315 ft, and pumped 43 bbl. of 36" gravity oil in 12 hr. It was approximately 6 miles southwest of the closest production in the Vacuum

Jan 1, 1939

By Meredith Johnson

THE year 1924 saw little change in the production of oil and gas it either Pennsylvania or New York. In the early months of the year the price of Pennsylvania crude oil, $4.00 to $4.50 a barrel, was sufficiently high to cause operators to lay plans for rather extensive drilling opera-tions. But when, in August, the price dropped to $2.85 a barrel, there was no inducement for new work and drilling was curtailed. In spite of the curtailment, however, the combined production of the two states for the year showed a slight increase over 1923, the production being 8;859,000 bbl. in 1923, and 8,901,000 bbl.1 in 1924. The increased production was due entirely to. the continued development of flooding operations in the Bradford field, all other oilfields showing a decline for the year. TABLE 1. Production of Crude Oil in Pennsylvania and New York for the Last Ten Years a Production, Barrels Production, Barrels Year Year Pennsylvania I New York Pennsylvania I New York 1915 7,838,000 888,000 1920- 7,438,000 906,000 1916 7,593,000 874,000 1921 7,418,000 988,000 1917 7,733,000 880,000 1922 7,425,000 1;000,000 1918 7,408,000 809,000 1923 7,609,000 1,250,000 1919 8,137,000 851,000 1924 7,535,0006 1;366,0006 a U. S. Geological Survey figures. b Estimated. Much of the drilling in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania was done in search of gas. Natural gas in Pennsylvania is fast being recognized at its true worth and the increased prices allowed 'the gas companies for their product induced quite a bit of new work. The relative importance of natural gas compared with manufactured gas is shown in Table 2.2

Jan 3, 1925

By C. A. Hartnagel, D. H. Newland

Most of the petroleum produced in New York State is obtained by flooding; that is, water drive. No important oil fields have been developed during the past 30 years, nor does there seem much hope that the productive oil areas will be substantially enlarged in the future. There is some prospect that additional supplies may be obtained by deeper drilling, but deep tests for gas to the Oriskany sandstone in some of the oil-producing areas have been without results so far as any discoveries of oil are concerned. Although the flooding method had been made legal in 1919, and some floods had been in operation previous to 1921, that year marks the beginning of a rapid increase in oil production by the new method. The flush production of oil in New York was in 1882, shortly after the discovery of the Richburg pool in Allegany County. The oil production in that year amounted to 6,685,000 bbl. The 1937 production of 5,478,000 bbl. was the largest since the flush production of 55 years ago. The effectiveness of water-flooding for increasing oil production from the old New York fields is shown in Table 1. Table 1.—Production of Oil in New York since 1921 Year Barrels Year Barrela 1921 988,000 1929 3,377,000 1922 1,000,000 1930 3,647,000 1923 1,250,000 1931 3,363,000 1924 1,440,000 1932 3,508,000 1925 1,695,000 1933 3,181,000 1926 2,242,000 1934 3,804,000 1927 2,603,000 1935 4,236,000 1928 3,377,000 1936 4,633,000 1937 5,478,000 The area of the New York oil fields is about 60,000 acres. It has been estimated that not over one-fourth of the area is being flooded. Very little of flooded territory has ceased to produce. Some leases flooded by the early, less scientific methods are being again subjected to the water

Jan 1, 1938

By C. E. Shoenfelt

There were 110 important discoveries of either oil or gas in Co1orado in 1935. There was, however, further development of the Price structure in southern Colorado and developments since the first of the year indicate. that an important oil field may be in the making. The discovery of oil in Price structure was made by the Oil City Petroleum Co. late ill Novem-ber, 1934, in its No. 2 Garnett in the northeast corner of lot 3 in the SW.¼ of sec. 25-33N.-2E. This well developed a good showing of oil in Dakota sand at 970 ft. The hole filled up 15 ft. with 40° gravity oil overnight and after standing for several days the oil level was 400 ft. higher. As a result of the discovery of oil by the No. 2 Garnett, three wells were drilled by the William E. Hughes Estate. Two of these wells had good showings of oil and may make good producers but it is doubtful whether they will produce the estimated capacity of 500 bbl. each with which they have been credited. Although the Hughes Estate wells have been completed for some time, they have not been given thorough production tests because of the isolated position of the field and lack of proper facilities. The. first well drilled by the Hughes Estate was located on the west side of the Navajo River on the downthrow side of a fault. It encoun-tered water ill the Dakota sand at 1285 ft, and was abandoned in green shales of the Morrison at 1405 ft. Well cuttings from the Dakota sand showed some evidence of once containing oil, so a 1ocation was selected for No. 2 Fee on the east side of the river and on the upthrow side of the fault. Oil was discovered in Dakota sands ill 1935 by Continental Oil Co. in its No. 3 Hoye, NW.NW.NE. of sec. 34-9N.-78W., on the South McCallum anticline in North Park, Jackson County, Colo., but on account of heavy flows of carbon dioxide gas under high pressure it has been impossible for the company to get an accurate gage of the oil production. The freezing action of expanding carbon dioxide makes the producing of the oil difficult and costly.

Jan 1, 1936

By C. E. Shoenfelt

There were 110 important discoveries of either oil or gas in Co1orado in 1935. There was, however, further development of the Price structure in southern Colorado and developments since the first of the year indicate. that an important oil field may be in the making. The discovery of oil in Price structure was made by the Oil City Petroleum Co. late ill Novem-ber, 1934, in its No. 2 Garnett in the northeast corner of lot 3 in the SW.¼ of sec. 25-33N.-2E. This well developed a good showing of oil in Dakota sand at 970 ft. The hole filled up 15 ft. with 40° gravity oil overnight and after standing for several days the oil level was 400 ft. higher. As a result of the discovery of oil by the No. 2 Garnett, three wells were drilled by the William E. Hughes Estate. Two of these wells had good showings of oil and may make good producers but it is doubtful whether they will produce the estimated capacity of 500 bbl. each with which they have been credited. Although the Hughes Estate wells have been completed for some time, they have not been given thorough production tests because of the isolated position of the field and lack of proper facilities. The. first well drilled by the Hughes Estate was located on the west side of the Navajo River on the downthrow side of a fault. It encoun-tered water ill the Dakota sand at 1285 ft, and was abandoned in green shales of the Morrison at 1405 ft. Well cuttings from the Dakota sand showed some evidence of once containing oil, so a 1ocation was selected for No. 2 Fee on the east side of the river and on the upthrow side of the fault. Oil was discovered in Dakota sands ill 1935 by Continental Oil Co. in its No. 3 Hoye, NW.NW.NE. of sec. 34-9N.-78W., on the South McCallum anticline in North Park, Jackson County, Colo., but on account of heavy flows of carbon dioxide gas under high pressure it has been impossible for the company to get an accurate gage of the oil production. The freezing action of expanding carbon dioxide makes the producing of the oil difficult and costly.

Jan 1, 1936

By A. Andreas

New Mexico, after several years as the sixth ranking oil-producing state, was surpassed by Illinois and for 1939 ranks seventh in the United States. Oil production for 1939 was 36,746,840 bbl. Production for 1938 was 35,510,176 bbl., a gain of 0.033 per cent. Production for the year would have been greater had there been a pipe-line outlet for the Vacuum field. The complete shutdown during the latter part of August covering a period of 15 days meant a production loss of over 1,500,000 bbl. of oil. Daily production allowable as set by the Oil Conservation Commission has followed very closely the recommendations of the Bureau of Mines. It has been found that the recommended allowables as quoted by the Bureau of Mines do not always reflect the actual demand, as there is a considerable lag hetween the recommended amounts and the current demands. During the year the various operating companies have done considerable remedial work in setting packers to reduce the gas-oil ratios in the various fields. Six new fields were discovered in New Mexico during 1939; three in Lea County, two in Eddy County and one in Chaves County. In the early part of 1939 a committee composed of the various engineers and geologists recommended subdividing the old Artesia area into various producing pools. This division was accepted, therefore the total number of producing fields in New Mexico is considerably greater than the number of fields in 1938, but does not represent new fields discovered during the year. The southeastern area continues to he the largest producer of oil. During the year 2,716,551 bbl. were produced in Eddy County and 33,690,996 bbl. in Lea County. Total production ill the northwestern part of the state, which includes San ,Juan and McKinley Counties, was 338,293 bbl. At the beginning of the year the daily average nonmarginal well allowable for Lea County was 48 bbl. At the close of the year it was 49 bbl. The daily average production for the year was 97,313 bbl. During the year, 659 wells were drilled in the state, of which 565 were producing oil wells, 15 gas wells, 6 carbon dioxide gas wells and 73 dry holes. Summarized at meeting; manuscript received at the office of the Institute March 18, 1940. * State Geologist, member of New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Jan 1, 1940

By A. Andreas

New Mexico, after several years as the sixth ranking oil-producing state, was surpassed by Illinois and for 1939 ranks seventh in the United States. Oil production for 1939 was 36,746,840 bbl. Production for 1938 was 35,510,176 bbl., a gain of 0.033 per cent. Production for the year would have been greater had there been a pipe-line outlet for the Vacuum field. The complete shutdown during the latter part of August covering a period of 15 days meant a production loss of over 1,500,000 bbl. of oil. Daily production allowable as set by the Oil Conservation Commission has followed very closely the recommendations of the Bureau of Mines. It has been found that the recommended allowables as quoted by the Bureau of Mines do not always reflect the actual demand, as there is a considerable lag hetween the recommended amounts and the current demands. During the year the various operating companies have done considerable remedial work in setting packers to reduce the gas-oil ratios in the various fields. Six new fields were discovered in New Mexico during 1939; three in Lea County, two in Eddy County and one in Chaves County. In the early part of 1939 a committee composed of the various engineers and geologists recommended subdividing the old Artesia area into various producing pools. This division was accepted, therefore the total number of producing fields in New Mexico is considerably greater than the number of fields in 1938, but does not represent new fields discovered during the year. The southeastern area continues to he the largest producer of oil. During the year 2,716,551 bbl. were produced in Eddy County and 33,690,996 bbl. in Lea County. Total production ill the northwestern part of the state, which includes San ,Juan and McKinley Counties, was 338,293 bbl. At the beginning of the year the daily average nonmarginal well allowable for Lea County was 48 bbl. At the close of the year it was 49 bbl. The daily average production for the year was 97,313 bbl. During the year, 659 wells were drilled in the state, of which 565 were producing oil wells, 15 gas wells, 6 carbon dioxide gas wells and 73 dry holes. Summarized at meeting; manuscript received at the office of the Institute March 18, 1940. * State Geologist, member of New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Jan 1, 1940

By John Gillie

PRioR to the year 1902 electricity was used in the Butte district only for lighting, for the tramming of ores on the surface, and for the electrolytic refining of copper. In that year the Canyon Ferry hydro-electric plant on the Missouri river, with a transmission line to Butte and Anaconda, was completed, and enabled the mining operators to purchase electric current in large quantities at reasonable rates, and its application and use in the various mining operations and reduction works proceeded rapidly. The principal applications of electric current in metal mining may be listed as follows: Compressing air for hoisting. Compreeaing air for rock drills and pneumatic tools. Pumping. Ventilating. Lighting. Tramming. Compressing air for blast furnaces and converters Running shop and miscellaneous motors. Compressed Air for Hoisting. The Anaconda Copper Mining Co. operates 22 mine shafts and plants at Butte. Of these, 15 are large plants and hoists, through which most of its ores are hoisted. In 1912 this company commenced using compressed air in place of steam, in operating a number of its large hoists, and at this date has 10 main hoisting engines and 10 auxiliary hoists driven by compressed air. The compressed air is furnished from a central plant containing six compressors, each having a capacity of 7,500 cu. ft. of free air per minute compressed to 90 lb. pressure in large receivers, and conducted by suitable pipe lines to the various hoists, the air being reheated before passing to the engines. Each of these compressors is driven by a 1,200-h.p. synchronous motor, directly attached to the drive shaft, and takes electric current at 2,200 volts. Two additional compressors are being installed,

Jan 1, 1914

By W. N. Logan

THE petroleum industry of Indiana made somewhat notable progress during the year 1923, considering the number of handicaps it encountered. The price of labor and materials continued to have an upward slant while the price of crude oil took a decidedly downward course. In spite of these adverse conditions, the quantity production will closely approximate that of 1922, when it passed the million-barrel mark. The progress of the industry in Indiana should be considered fairly satisfactory as long as the present production is maintained. In other words, if the loss of production from the waning old wells can be offset by the production from the new for a period of 10 or 15 years longer, the industry may have cause for congratulation. SUB-TRENTON INVESTIGATIONS In recent years a number of tests of strata lying below the Trenton limestone have been made in Indiana. Several of these tests were completed in 1923. Indications of oil were reported by drillers from several horizons below the Trenton. The most satisfactory of these came from the St. Peter sandstone lying immediately below the Trenton limestone, but no production has yet been obtained from any of the Sub-Trenton horizons. Glen Valley Wells.-Two wells in Marion County were drilled into the St. Peter sandstone, 1 mi. north of Glen Valley and 9 mi. south of Indianapolis. About 30 ft. of sand saturated with a dense asphaltic oil was found in the upper part of the St. Peter sandstone in one of the wells, which contained about 10 per cent. of the light oils, or more easily volatile constituents, and about 90 per cent. of a dark, dense, asphaltic residue. The oil resembled the residue of an asphaltic petroleum from which the more volatile oils had disappeared.

Jan 3, 1924

By Hsun Hu

The formation of annealing textures in high-purity silver, from the various rolling textures obtanled in the course of texture transition, was studied. It was found that from a brass-type rolling texture the recrystallization texture is mainly (120) [211] type, which is quite different from the recrystallization texture of brass. From a predominantly copper-type rolling texture, the reclystallization texture is mainly (100) [001]. The recrystallization texture of silver- varies also with the degree of purity. In each case, however, the reorientation can be expressed as [Ill] rotations of 30° to 40°, which is consistent with the oriented growth theory of the formation of annealing textures. ThE recrystallization textures of rolled silver were studied long ago by Glocker and co-workers (1924-27) and were reported to be (113) [iil] upon annealing at low temperatures.1 Since that time, no further study of the recrystallization textures of silver, particularly with the modern techniques of quantitative texture determinations, has been reported in the literature. In a previous study2y3 it was found that the rolling texture of high-purity silver (99.999 +pct pure) is changed gradually from the common silver- or brass-type to the copper-type by raising the temperature of rolling from 0" to 200°C. The formation of annealing textures from the various rolling textures in the same material is, therefore, of considerable interest. The present paper constitutes the results of such a study. MATERIAL AND METHOD Specimens were taken from the same strips of high-purity silver* that were used previously for

Jan 1, 1962

By Rizzi Homestake Mining Co.

Geophysical methods of discovering new mineral deposits have long been routine with both the petroleum and mining industries. Experience has shown that most subsurface structures and mineral deposits can be located, provided that detectable differences in physical properties exist. The main properties exhibited by the more common rocks and formations are: density, magnetism, electricity, electrical conductivity, and radioactivity. This entails five major geophysical methods: gravitational, magnetic, seismic, electrical, and radiation. Applications of radioactivity measurements in geophysical exploration are concerned with location of concentrations of radioactive rocks and materials, such as uranium. The search for uranium ores and minerals has been carried on for more than 50 years, ever since the first atomic breakdown from uranium to radium was discovered. However, the comprehensive search now being made throughout the world for radioactive materials is a direct result of the first atomic explosion and the subsequent development of new and more sensitive portable equipment to detect radiation.

Mar 1, 1956

By R. D. Brown

This paper profiles Canada’s current economic, tax, and political environment with respect to its mining industry. Problems that must be overcome if the industry is to attain its full growth potential and are highlighted, some suggestions reflecting the opinion of many in the industry are given. Tables provide some detail on the current Canadian mining tax system, province by province, as well as for the Yukon and Northwest Territories, plus some relevant economic trends.

Jan 1, 1985

By David Segura

THE Huitzuco mercury deposits have been described by C. W. Vaupell,1 therefore the general information such as location, history, production, etc. will not be repeated here. The present owners acquired the property when the deep levels of the Cruz mine were flooded, and it was believed that a relatively large tonnage of low-grade ore and fills would be encountered in the flooded section, because f the early mining methods used in the Cruz mine. The mine was partly unwatered and about 187,000 tons of fills was pit-sampled in the San Cayetano stope. These fills average 2.4 kg. Hg per. ton. During the period of maximum production at Huitzuco, the ores were sorted in the mine and cobbed into 3-in. pieces, which were treated in Scott furnaces. Large pieces of raw ore are found in the sinter, and it is indicated that both recovery and, costs were not very satisfactory. Recent practice has been to treat the ores in closed retorts made of 10-in. pipes. Because f the presence of combined antimony in the mineral livingstonite (HgS.2Sb2S3) and considerable native sulphur, little or no metallic mercury is recovered in the condensers and a second retorting of the condenser muds is-necessary. This makes the treatment of the ores expensive and tends to low recoveries of mercury. The prin-cipal costs of retorting are, in their relative order: (1) fuel, (2) low recov-ery of mercury, (3) replacement of retort pipes, (4) labor.

Jan 1, 1938

By B. B. Cox

The principal event during 1936 was the sale of Mosul Oilfields, Ltd. to Mosul Holdings, Ltd., a British company with French and American participation, and the expansion of its wildcat activities to untested structures on its West Tigris concession. Mosul Holdings continued the exploration of its low-gravity Qaiyarah-Najmah-Jawan-Qasab field. The Iraq Petroleum Company's systematic exploration and exploitation of its Kirkuk field was continued on a scientific unitized basis. Pressures and gas-oil ratios remained satisfactory. All wells were produced by flowing. A stabilization plant large enough to supply the 4,000,000-ton pipe line to the Mediterranean was completed at Kirkuk about the close of the year and only sweet oil is now being exported. The Khanaqin Oil Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Co., Ltd., continued the normal exploitation of its Naft Khaneh oil field, refining and marketing through the Rafidain Oil Co., Ltd. for local Iraq market. This field lies partly on the Iraq side of the boundary and partly on the Iranian side, the latter portion being known as Naft-i-Shah. Only the Iraq side is considered in this paper. Slightly more than 30,000,000 bbl. of crude was produced in Iraq during 1936. The I.P.C. exported all crude sold outside of Iraq and showed an increase of about 2,500,000 bbl. over the preceding year. Crude production in Iraq for export in 1934 was 7,096,669 bbl.'; in 1935 it was 27,014,904 bbl. and in 1936 it was 29,521,053 barrels.

Jan 1, 1937

By Dorsey Hager

THE rapid increase of water troubles in the Mid-Continent oil fields is causing much alarm. Troubles occur at Towanda, Eldorado, Augusta, Cushing, Blackwell, and Healdton, although they had, not been acute in the Mid-Continent field until about two years ago, when the unusual conditions in the deeper oil fields were first encountered. California faced the same situation, but, thanks to aggressive measures, has largely overcome the dangers. The following analysis of water trouble may throw some light on the subject and be of assistance in solving the problems involved. WATER TROUBLES CLASSIFIED The presence of water in large quantities in oil sands has the following results: 1. Diminishes oil production. 2. Diminishes casing-head gasoline production: (a) By curtailing the gas flow. (b) By making the use of vacuum pumps unsuccessful. 3. Increases lifting costs: (a) By making it necessary to pump large quantities of water, which requires. a fast motion and long stroke (third hole). (b) By requiring the use of compressors for air lift. (c) By causing break-downs and delays due to the high speed necessary to pump water. (d) By making it necessary to treat "cut" or emulsified oil. Oil production is seriously curtailed by the presence of large quantities of water. Lease records show that wells are shut down 40 to 60 per cent. of the pumping time where serious water trouble occurs. While a small quantity of salt water may cut the paraffine and keep the oil moving, several hundred feet, or a hole full of water, effectually "kills" the oil

Jan 10, 1918

By Arthur McKee

As HEAT is the controlling factor in all smelting operations, it will be .most helpful to make a new set of calculations on the basis of a .unit of fuel burned at the tuyeres to carbon monoxide. This ties together the only two factors in this operation that seem to be constant with respect to each other-the fuel at the tuyere and the air or its oxygen content. If our usual smelting operations, using natural air heated to reasonably obtainable temperatures, furnish sufficient heat above this critical temperature for the purpose, it is doubtful whether additions of oxygen will be of marked benefit. A unit of fuel will not produce a single heat unit more if burned with pure oxygen than if burned with natural air and less heat will be available per unit of fuel by the amount of heat that is carried in by the preheated nitrogen in the natural air of the blast. This is more readily apparent if considered in connection with a heat balance sheet per unit of fuel at the tuyere. The heat available in the stack, as shown by the committee's report, is less by reason of the lower fuel consumption per unit of output assumed in this calculation. The balance sheet for enriched air shows a shortage of the amount of heat usually carried in with the blast; also a lack in the hearth of sufficient heat to melt the 18 per cent. additional metal and slag and in the shaft to the extent of the shaft heat required to heat the 18 per cent. additional stock to the melting point. These heat deficiencies are provided for by the largely increased conversion of carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide, which is assumed, as shown by the following figures: Calculation for natural air: Carbon dioxide 18.4 per cent. (after having eliminated the carbon dioxide from limestone) and 20.8 per cent. of carbon monoxide. Calculation for oxygen-enriched air: Carbon dioxide 28.4 per -cent. and carbon monoxide 23.2 per cent. (no carbon dioxide from stone as lime is charged instead).

Jan 11, 1924

By Kendall E. Born

Production of crude oil in Tennessee during 1940 was slightly more than 15,000 bbl., a decrease from 1939 of about 36,000 bbl. This sharp decline has been caused largely by curtailed activities in the shallow pools in Clay County, where approximately 3000 bbl. was marketed off the lease during the year as against more than 37,000 bbl. in 1939. The flashy production found in 1938 in the Celina area has been short-lived and the area is essentially abandoned. Failure to find steady production has been the major factor retarding developments in the northeastern Highland Rim area. The Mississippi lime production in Scott and Morgan Counties continued to show a steady decline. The Tennessee production by counties is shown in Table I. Table i.—Oil Production in Tennessee it1 1940 Production. Bbl. Number of County Wells Pumped 1939 1940 Scott............ 4 4,332 3.596 Morgan.......... I: 6,479 5,751 Fentress.......... 3 I,2XX 1,5xz Pickett........... 1 1.2XX Clay............. 8 37.200 3,XXX Developments There were 32 wells spudded in during 1940, four of which were drilling or only temporarily suspended on Dec. 31, 1940. Twenty-eight wells were completed during the year, four of which were commercial producers. The total footage drilled was 3I,214 ft. The more important wildcats are listed in Table 2; the distribution of 1940 oil and gas tests according to physiographic divisions is given in Table 3. Cumberland Platenu.—Thcre was one completion in the coal area of the state, a test that attempted to extend the Mississippi lime production in the Coon Hollow pool to the southeast in Morgan County. This test encountered only slight shows of oil in the producing horizons of the near-by Coon Hollow and Boone Camp pools. Some surface work was carried on by private interests during the year in Scott and Morgan Counties and two wells were spudded in early in 1941 The revival of interest in the Kentucky portion of the plateau will probably result in increased activity in this part of Tennessee during 1941. Several sizable blocks of acreage, some by major oil companies, are held in Scott, Morgan, and Cumberland Counties. Middle Tennessee.—The northeastern Highland Rim continued to be the most active area in the state with 20 completions, although this figure is about one third of the number drilled in 1939. Four oil wells, none with initial productions of more than I00 bbl., were completed in Clay, Fentress, and Pickett Counties. The producing horizons discovered in Pickett and Fentress Counties were in the "Sunny-brookJ' pays of Trenton age. The Clay County producer was an old test drilled deeper in which oil was found at 671 ft. in the upper part of the Stones River group of limestones, a common pay in this area. All four wells were drilled in or close to old shallow production. Deeper testing into the Knox dolomite group in this area was not particularly encouraging, although one well in Fentress County encountered some saturation at 1860 to 1869 ft. in the upper

Jan 1, 1941

By Kendall E. Born

Production of crude oil in Tennessee during 1940 was slightly more than 15,000 bbl., a decrease from 1939 of about 36,000 bbl. This sharp decline has been caused largely by curtailed activities in the shallow pools in Clay County, where approximately 3000 bbl. was marketed off the lease during the year as against more than 37,000 bbl. in 1939. The flashy production found in 1938 in the Celina area has been short-lived and the area is essentially abandoned. Failure to find steady production has been the major factor retarding developments in the northeastern Highland Rim area. The Mississippi lime production in Scott and Morgan Counties continued to show a steady decline. The Tennessee production by counties is shown in Table I. Table i.—Oil Production in Tennessee it1 1940 Production. Bbl. Number of County Wells Pumped 1939 1940 Scott............ 4 4,332 3.596 Morgan.......... I: 6,479 5,751 Fentress.......... 3 I,2XX 1,5xz Pickett........... 1 1.2XX Clay............. 8 37.200 3,XXX Developments There were 32 wells spudded in during 1940, four of which were drilling or only temporarily suspended on Dec. 31, 1940. Twenty-eight wells were completed during the year, four of which were commercial producers. The total footage drilled was 3I,214 ft. The more important wildcats are listed in Table 2; the distribution of 1940 oil and gas tests according to physiographic divisions is given in Table 3. Cumberland Platenu.—Thcre was one completion in the coal area of the state, a test that attempted to extend the Mississippi lime production in the Coon Hollow pool to the southeast in Morgan County. This test encountered only slight shows of oil in the producing horizons of the near-by Coon Hollow and Boone Camp pools. Some surface work was carried on by private interests during the year in Scott and Morgan Counties and two wells were spudded in early in 1941 The revival of interest in the Kentucky portion of the plateau will probably result in increased activity in this part of Tennessee during 1941. Several sizable blocks of acreage, some by major oil companies, are held in Scott, Morgan, and Cumberland Counties. Middle Tennessee.—The northeastern Highland Rim continued to be the most active area in the state with 20 completions, although this figure is about one third of the number drilled in 1939. Four oil wells, none with initial productions of more than I00 bbl., were completed in Clay, Fentress, and Pickett Counties. The producing horizons discovered in Pickett and Fentress Counties were in the "Sunny-brookJ' pays of Trenton age. The Clay County producer was an old test drilled deeper in which oil was found at 671 ft. in the upper part of the Stones River group of limestones, a common pay in this area. All four wells were drilled in or close to old shallow production. Deeper testing into the Knox dolomite group in this area was not particularly encouraging, although one well in Fentress County encountered some saturation at 1860 to 1869 ft. in the upper

Jan 1, 1941

By C. D. Hunter, I. B. Browning, N. W. Shiarella

The oil industry in Kentucky during the year 1937 shows some improvement over that of 1936, although not to as marked a degree as 1936 over 1935. Oil in Eastern Kentucky In eastern Kentucky more than 150 new inside wells were completed in the pools of Estill, Powell and Lee Counties. Also, a number of wells were completed to be used as intake wells in repressuring operations. Repressuring is proving more successful in this area than was expected, as the producing formation was the Corniferous limestone. However, when the repressuring work was started, cores taken of this formation showed that the oil in the second and third pays was from a true sand, only the first pay in the top being a sandy lime formation. In the Weir sand fields of Magoffin, Johnson and Lawrence Counties, continued repressuring operations caused an increase in the quantity of oil. These operations and the completion of 20 new wells in the Maxon sand and the Big lime (Mississippian) in Martin and Floyd Counties produced an increase in the oil production from eastern Kentucky of 100,000 bbl. over that of 1936. As an illustration of what may yet be done in the fields of eastern Kentucky, one repressuring operation involving four oil wells and one pressure well produced an increase in production, or an additional recovery of 7200 bbl. of oil during the year. This amounts to a recovery of 2000 per acre for the 3.6 acres involved. In other fields of eastern Kentucky, as in the Corniferous pools of Estill, Powell and Lee Counties, increases in the runs are noted as follows: In the area of the Estill County pool from which the oil passes through the Revena pumping station, the production in 1935 was 88,175 bbl.; in 1936, was 102,849 bbl.; and in 1937 was 107,704 bbl. This pool was

Jan 1, 1938

By AIME AIME

Jan 1, 1936