Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
SASEG Annual Convention Geneva June 2019
History of the Exploration and Exploitation of the Tertiary Bituminous Sandstones in the Dardagny Area west of Geneva compiled by Bernhard Gunzenhauser
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Tectonic Map of Western Switzerland
Jura
Molasse Prealpes Area of bituminous Basin Molasse sandstones west of Geneva Geneva
Subalpine Chains
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Location Map of Seismic & Schematic Cross Sections Geneva Basin
Molasse Jura Basin
Prealpes Dardagny area
Location of seismic and geological sections
Subalpine Ref.: Chains
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Area of Bituminous Lower Freshwater Interpreted Seismic and Schematic Cross Sections Molasse Sandstones
Vuache Geneva Basin Humilly-2 Salève Salève-2 Bornes W E NW SE
Ref.:
Area of Bituminous Lower Freshwater Molasse Sandstones
Ref.: IAS 2014 Field Trip B1
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Stratigraphic Section LFM Molasse
Ref.: https://data.geo.admin.ch/ch.swisstopo.geologie-geologischer_atlas/legenden/12.png
The Lower Freshwater Molasse (LFM) consists of fluviatile sandstones and marls deposited in a low sinuosity river and
flood plain environment.
LFM Molasse LFM
Chattian
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Play Types in the Geneva Basin
Gas play sourced from Permo-Carboniferous coals present in half grabens. This is the conventional play that has been pursued since many years on the Swiss Plateau with only minor success. Recently, a well drilled at the eastern end of Lake Geneva (well Noville-1) encountered gas in tight Permian sandstones. Oil play sourced from the organic-rich Posidonia shales in the Toarcian. This source rock located at depths of 2’500- 3’000 m is mature for oil in the Geneva Basin and has produced the 14°API oil recovered in the wells Gex and the bitumen impregnated Molasse sandstones in Canton Geneva and karstified Urgonian limestones cored during the construction at the CERN of the LEP (Large Electron Positron Collider) tunnel north of Geneva City. Unfortunately, the migrating oil has not found any trap/seal and reached very close to surface where it has been biodegraded. Posidonia shales are only 14m thick in Humilly-2 and thin towards the northeast in Canton Vaud. The main problem in the Greater Geneva area to allow hydrocarbon accumulation is the a) lack of large structures (although the seismic grid presently available is fairly large), b) effective seals and c) good reservoir quality formations. Potential reservoirs are the Permian sandstones, the Muschelkalk and the bioclastic and oolitic limestones of the Dogger. Reefal carbonates in the Kimmeridgian might be of reservoir quality, but most likely lack a seal. The karstified top surface of the Lower Cretaceous and its siliclastic "Sidérolithique” infill might also be of interest (see bitumen impregnations in the CERN's LEP tunnel above). In this case sealing would depend on the presence of shales in the Molasse. The presence of heavy oil and bitumen generated from the Posidonia shales in the Molasse sandstones and in the Gex wells, respectively and the Molasse at outcrop demonstrates that in this area the migrating oil has not encountered a sealing/trapping system in the whole Mesozoic sequence or that the latter is fractured by transpressional faults. Source: GEOLOGY OF WESTERN SWITZERLAND AND NEARBY FRANCE IN A GEO- ENERGY PERSPECTIVE by Andrea Moscariello and Carole Nawratil De Bono, 2015
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History of the Geneva Bituminous Sandstones 18th Century
1769 Jean-Philippe Horneca (dit Horngacher) of Dardagny was trying to establish a company to look for bitumen which was thought to be an indication of coal. 1770 H.B. de Saussure in his book “Voyages dans les Alpes” described the bituminous sandstones in the Geneva area, particularly in the “Nant de Roulavaz”. De Saussure gave a speech at an academic gathering in which he encouraged the public to pay for excavating quarries at Dardagny, believing that there was reason to find thick layers of coal. Based on de Saussure's pledge - a sum of four hundred Louis was collected from twenty-five individuals, but it was impossible to agree with the landowners on the distribution of possible profits and hence no activities resulted thereafter. 1794 The register of the Society of the Arts of December 26, indicates that new research was carried out in Nant-Punais to discover a coal mine, but without results.
References: this and following pages: de Girard R. Les Gites d‘Hydrocarbures de la Suisse Occidentale 1913 and Lagotala H. Les gîtes bitumineux de Dardagny (Genève). Le Globe. Revue genevoise de géographie, tome 71, 1935 and Andrea Moscariello and Carole Nawratil De Bono, 2015 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 7 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
History of the Geneva Bituminous Sandstones 19th Century (1)
1824 On October 24 a public limited company with the title «Société pour la recherche et l'exploitation de diverses substances minérales et spécialement de la houille ("Society for Research and Exploitation of Mineral Substances and especially Coal") was formed in Geneva. No activities were reported. 1825 On 29 December, M. Tessier from Geneva and owner of coal mines in France started with a first “puits” (shaft/well) and a gallery at the “culmination point of Dardagny” (Bois de Roulavaz or Roulave). Apparently the well only found bituminous molasse sandstones and was abandoned at 16 m depth due to strong gas eruptions. The exact location of this first shaft is not known. 1826 On 16 November an article in the “Journal de Genève” announced a discovery of “a lot of oil” in the vicinity of Dardagny. Further it says: “This oil obtained flows naturally, is black, of excellent quality, and floats on the water coming out with the oil”.. The article most likely refers to the second “puits” (shaft/well) by Tessier which was probably started in March 1826 and excavated to a depth of 12 m (40 ft). This “puits Tessier” is most likely the “mine de goudron” on the left bank of Nant Punais as described in various articles and depicted in maps of that time. Apparently, excellent quality of bitumen was found. The well was deepend to 50 ft without finding coal. In order to exploit petroleum oil, it was decided to excavate a gallery starting from the shaft at a depth of 40 ft and going upward with an inclination of 45 degrees to reach the surface at some distance of the shaft. The operators assumed to collect 30 litres of bitumen a day. According to Pareto, the well reached a depth of 30 m and was stopped in 1827.
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History of the Geneva Bituminous Sandstones 19th Century (2) 1836-1839 Bitumen was more and more used as pavement and from 1836 until 1839 a company headed by M. de Grenus installed boilers at the Nant Punais to extract the bitumen which was transported to Geneva, where the company Sandino and Girel used the “goudron” or “mastic” to cover the market of the Corraterie (1838), for the paving of a brewery of Plainpalais, a terrace in Pregny, and in 1839 these products were used for special works at the Fort de l'Ecluse. 1838 The parliament of Geneva dealt with a mining legislation, which was applied for the first time in 1839. 1839 Extraction at the Puits Tessier (mine de goudron) stopped, probably for not having enough supply. 1850 A well (puits) was sunk on the right bank of the Allondon river near the railway bridge at La Plaine with the aim to find coal. After crossing 36 m of bituminous sandstones, the well had to be stopped because of gas emanations to an extent that a ventilator had to be installed. 1856-1894 Some 15 awards or changes of concessions took place in the areas of Dardagny, Satigny, Russin and Avully 1868 Activities started again by two companies with the aim to explore for other places (Satigny, Russin and Dardagny) than the “Puits Tessier” which was most likely over-exploited and most likely filled by water. They started various works, e.g. in the area of “Granges” with some wells/shafts. 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 9 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
History of the Geneva Bituminous Sandstones 19th Century (3) Activities never really started on a larger scale. The costs of exploitation were too high, because of high costs of machinery and too ambitious plans and most likely also due to the fact, that the sandstones were impregnated in a very spotty and lenticular way. 1877 The galleries and shafts in the “Nant de Roulavaz” were most likely excavated later than 1877 by Lormier. 1877-1881 A steam boiler was installed by M. Lormier, which was in use until 1881. During this period, apparently a well near the village of Dardagny (“Nant Charmille”) was drilled to a depth of 130 m (or 230 m?) with gas indications. 1894 H. Aymard starts extracting bitumen in the Nant de Roulavaz (gallery No. 11?) and sent samples to Lyon. 1887 The “Turettini” consortium continued to search for coal with two “sondages” (wells) in areas where there had been activities in previous times. In 1888 a well was drilled to 137.65 m near the bridge over the Allondon river at Les Granges. The other one was drilled in 1889 in the yard of the Gardy factory at La Plaine on the right border of the Rhône river. Both wells found abundant occurrences of gas and bitumen. Some activities were carried out by the consortium in 1879 in the “Nant de Roulavaz”, using left-overs of machinery. 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 10 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
History of the Geneva Bituminous Sandstones 20th Century (1)
1900 The bituminous sandstones west of Geneva were studied by de Girard and published 1913. 1916 J. Fassnacht, swiss engineer and architect in London was granted a concession for 99 years to exploit bitumen in the communities of Dardagny, Russin and Satigny. Already in 1915, Fassnacht made the study of a treatment plant, the chosen location was above the gallery No. 6. The following year the gallery No. 6 on the right side of the Le Roulave river was excavated on a length of some 23 m and 2.5 tons of bituminous molasse were shipped to London for testing and analysis. On October 11, 1916, the British expert John Wells studied the deposit on behalf of the "Winchester Syndicate Ltd London". 1916 The shortage and high costs for oil and its derivatives during World War I urged the companies “AG der Eisen- und Stahlwerke vorm. G. Fischer" in Schaffhausen and „Gebrüder Sulzer AG." in Winterthur to contract Arnold Heim for the investigation of the petroliferous Molasse of Switzerland. The detailed and careful study included the bituminous sandstones of Geneva and the findings were published in 1919 together with the chemical analyses by A. Hartmann. The authors were optimistic and proposed an exploration program including sites of wells. They declare the bituminous sandstones of the canton of Geneva are among the most beautiful that can be found on earth. 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 11 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
History of the Geneva Bituminous Sandstones 20th Century (2) 1917 Robert Sulzer, acting on behalf of the Sulzer Brothers Company, in Winterthur, and Ernest Homberg on behalf of the G. Fischer Steelworks AG, in Schaffhausen, obtained on October 19 the exploitation concession in the territories of the of Aire-la-Ville, Avully, Avusy, Bernex, Cartigny, Chancy, Confignon, Laconnex, Onex and Soral. This concession was abandoned by the interested parties on October 19, 1922. 1918 The "Society of Furnaces of Nancy" (Pétrole Ain-Savoie) commissioned the "Société Nouvelle de Sondages Bonne-Espérance" of Paris for the drilling of a well near Challex in France. Drilling of Challex-2 started the 25th of November 1918 and was stopped on 6th March 1920 at a depth of 273,5 m. Three layers of bituminous sst were encountered, but no gas. Near the site, a first well for coal was drilled in 1887 to a depth of 225 m. 1918 Report by Prof. C. Schmidt, Basel: Investigations on the sandstones containing petroleum of the Swiss Molasse. Report for the Swiss Mining Office. 1920 On August 6, Fassnacht created the "Société Anonyme des Produits Petrolifères" to which the transfer of the concession was granted on 11 January 1921. The Company was seeking funds and a geological survey of the deposit (Lagotala, 1926). The report was unfavourable and on 14 September 1927, the Petroleum Products Company renounced the concession. 1925 Dr. Räber, acting on behalf of "Mineralian Schürf AG, Küssnacht a.R." applied for the concession. The same company drilled the exploration well near Tuggen (SZ). The request was not granted by the authorities.
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History of the Geneva Bituminous Sandstones 20th Century (3) 1935 The Federal Employment Agency of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs appointed an advisory commission for investigations in the field of geology, mineralogy and petrography with the aim to create jobs for young unemployed geologists and to develop native usable raw materials. The “Geotechnical Advice Center "chose a sub commission of petroleum geologists (PEK) who had worked abroad and instructed them to set up a program for the investigation of the country. The main work concentrated on the northern edge of the Molasse Basin south of the Jura Mountains. (excluding the canton of Geneva, where detailed geological surveys were available (Arn. Heim, 1919, H. Lagotala, 1935). In 1938, the Geotechnical Advisory Board received final reports accompanied by maps, profiles and figures. The most important practical conclusions were published in 1939. 1941 The country's supply of liquid fuels, fuels and lubricants caused increasing concern during WW II to the responsible authorities. The Mining Department of the War Industry and Labour Office (KIAA) has dealt with the question of the Swiss oil deposits and their possible utilization for the national supply immediately after its founding in February 1941. The investigations by A. Heim in the Swiss Molasse Basin and H. Lagotala’s complementary work in the western part of the canton of Geneva, as well as the field surveys of the PEK, allowed a selection and approximate demarcation of areas eligible for drilling where oil deposits, if any, could exist in Switzerland. However, for the exact determination of the most favourable drilling points, the previous results of the field surveys were not yet sufficient, so that supplementary field investigations, possibly in combination with shallow excavations, proved to be necessary. 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 13 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
History of the Geneva Bituminous Sandstones 20th Century (4)
1942 Despite the impossibility of financing the oil wells as planned in the exploration program, the Mining Office continued its efforts. On 8 October 1942, it submitted to the War Industry and Labour Office (KIAA) instead of the complete program covering all the potentially oil-producing areas in the Central Plateau only a smaller one, namely to carry out a concluding investigations of the bituminous Molasse in the canton of Geneva. From previous work it was known that the oil sandstones in the canton of Geneva contain good lubricating oils. The "Study Group for the Utilization of Swiss Mineral Resources" decided on 25 September 1941 to dedicate the sum of CHF 100’000 to the investigations in the Canton of Geneva.
To assess the recoverable value of the various deposits, extensive prospecting was necessary, which began on 14 December 1942 and completed on 17 June 1943. They included the regions Les Granges, Nant de la Roulavaz, Nant Punais and Nant Charmille, whereas investigations at La Plaine had to be avoided because of the pondage of the Rhone river, and because the low oil content of the layers in the Ravin of Bevouses offered little prospect. In total, 157 m3 of terrain has been excavated from trenches and shafts and 308 m of borehole has been sunk.
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History of the Geneva Bituminous Sandstones 20th Century (5) 1945 In order to test the potential production possibilities of the oil sandstones in the subsurface a well was drilled on the culmination of the anticline Dardagny (Roulavaz) – Choully. It was drilled near Peissy and reached a TD of 294 m. The well intersected 9 sandy intervals impregnated with oil with a total thickness of 20 m. The highest oil content was 2.89 wt%. No gas was encountered in the well. The well was cored over the whole section of the Molasse sandstones with a recovery of 94%. A bailing test was performed over the interval 157.75-161.9 m. Although no proper water shut-off was made, it was concluded that the sands are not productive. 1947 After the completion of the work by the PEK, the Geotechnical Advice Centre transferred a possible publication of the results to the Geotechnical Commission of the Swiss Association of Natural Research (S. N. G). The results were published in 1947 by Althaus, H.E. in the “Geotechnical Series (26) of the Explanations of the Swiss Geological Maps” with the title “Erdölgeologische Untersuchungen in der Schweiz, Teil 1, 2. Abschnitt. Über geologische Untersuchungen im Gebiet der ölführenden Molasse im Kanton Genf “. 1960 Hydrocarbon exploration has a long history in surrounding France which started in the 1960's. Several wells were drilled essentially on anticlinal structures south of the Vuache Fault. Only some minor oil and gas shows and tight reservoirs in the Mesozoic carbonates were encountered. In the Geneva basin, the Humilly-2 (1969, SNPA) well reached the Permian sandstones but was dry (TD 3’051m). 1980 At the beginning of the 1980’s, the company BP France drilled a series of shallow wells around the Canton Geneva in the Gex area to test for potential oil accumulations. They found some viscous 14°API oil in Molasse fluviatile sandstones. 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 15 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Some Geochemical Aspects of the Bituminous Sandstones
Heim & Hartmann 1919: - Total content of bitumen in Geneva oil sandstones: 1.8 – 6.64 wt% or 5 – 16.92 vol% - Oil sandstone from a shaft at La Plaine: 7.3% bitumen, 17% Limestone, 75% Sandstone - Roulavaz river gallery 1: 3-5% bitumen - Roulavaz river gallery upstream sample 1: bitumen 3.84 wt% or 10 vol%, containing 70% raw lubricant, i.e. 5 vol% lubricant sample 2: bitumen 6.64 wt% or 19.9 vol% - 9 kg oil sandstone produce 136 gr. crude after distillation, SG 0.9036; yield 1.51 wt% - 9.5 kg sandstone produce 272.8 gr. Crude, SG 0.905 - Elementary analysis: carbon 87.1%, hydrogen 12.23%, other 0.61% - Fractional distillation: Fraction wt% SG Naphta 2.93 - Kerosine 20.32 0.852 Spindle oil 11.74 0.887 Machine oil 35.95 0.914 Steam cylinder oil 21.97 0.921 Residue 7.09 -
- The crude contains 4.6% Paraffin
Althaus 1947: The crude oil gained by extraction from the bituminous sandstones of Nant Punais was described as of good quality and of which valuable products can be produced. Apparently, the oil is asphaltic, with a low content of light fraction but rich in components adequate to produce high quality lubricants.
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Tertiary Lower Freshwater Molasse Bituminous Sandstones Geneva Area
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Dardagny Area Old Wells/Shafts and Galleries after de Girard 1913
Well/Shaft Gallery
Les Granges
Peissy
Puits de 1827 = Puits Tessier = Mine de Goudron Le Roulave
Nant Punais Dardagny Mine de Goudron, misplaced
Source: de Girard R. & de Buman R. Les Gites d‘Hydrocarbures 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones de la Suisse Occidentale 1913 18 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Shafts, galleries and trenches in the Dardagny Area after Schmidt 1918
Molasse Bituminous Molasse Les Granges Shaft Gallery
Trench
Peissy
Puits Tessier 1827 = Le Roulave Mine de Goudron
Dardagny Nant Punais
Ref.: Schmidt, C. (1918) Geologischer Bericht über das Vorkommen Bituminöser Molasse bei Dardagny (Genf)
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Molasse Outcrops and Mining Works at Le Roulave and Nant Punais
Molasse Bituminous Molasse Shaft/well Gallery Trench Ref.: Schmidt, C. (1918) Geologischer Bericht über das Vorkommen Bituminöser Molasse bei Dardagny (Genf)
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Bituminous Sandstones in the Valley of «Le Roulave» river
Old gallery with Chattian LFM oil sandstones
Walk
Pick up for coaches
Parking coaches
Le Roulave river (or nant de Roulavaz on older maps) is a tributary to the L’Allondon river (also called “la London” on older maps) Source: Wikipedia 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 21 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Geological Map Le Roulave Area
Old gallery with Chattian LFM oil sandstones
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Le Roulave - Old Galleries and Location of Section
Ref.: Lagotala_Rapport général sur les travaux entrepris par la Soc. D’Etude pour la mise en valeur des gisements métallifères suisses_Nov_1943
9 9 1 8 2 7 3
6 4
5
Gallery
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Le Roulave - Section Galleries No. 6, 7, 8 and 9
SE NW
6 8 9 7
Ref.: Althaus, H.E. (1947), Geotechnische Serie Lief. 26, Teil 1, 2. Abschnitt
Section Galleries 6, 7, 8, 9
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Le Roulave - Section Galleries No. 6 and 8
SW Ref.: Althaus, H.E. (1947), Geotechnische Serie Lief. NE 26, Teil 1, 2. Abschnitt
8 6
Section Galleries 6 and 8
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Photographs from Le Roulave River Outcrops, from Heim, A. 1919
Ref.: Heim, A. und Hartmann, A. (1919), Geotechnische Serie, VI. Lieferung
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Le Roulave – Photographs Galleries 7 and 6
Seeping oil in gallery 6
Gallery 7
Heterogeneous distribution of bitumen in sandstones Oil from gallery 6
Pictures by B. Gunzenhauser October 2018 and May 2019 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 27 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Le Roulave - Sections across Galleries
Gallery 6 Gallery 8
Gallery 1
Source: Heim, A. und Hartmann, A. (1919), Geotechnische Serie, VI. Lieferung
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Le Roulave - Photographs Gallery No. 2
Ref.:
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Le Roulave - Photographs Gallery 7
Pictures by K. Censier October 2018 From gallery 6
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Bituminous Sandstones at the Punais River
Le Punais river (or nant Punais) is a tributary to Le Roulave river
Nant Punais
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Old Geological Map (Favre 1878) with Indication of «Mine de Goudron»
Al Path leading to the mine Le Roulave
Mine de goudron
M = Molasse G = Alluvium Gl = Glacial Terrains A A = Post glacial Terrains Al = Alluvium recent Ref.: Favre, A., carte géologique du canton de Genève, classe d’agriculture de la societé des arts, 1878; based on surveys in 1837, 1838 and 1871 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 32 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Puits Tessier (1827, depth ~ 30 m) - Mine de Goudron
Puits “Tessier”, coord.: 46 ° 11.903 ' N; 05 ° 58.589 ' E (WGS 84), alt. 481 m Diameter ~ 7 m Depth in 2015: ~ 8 m
Contours: masl, spacing 1m On 16 November an article in the “Journal de Genève” announced a discovery of “a lot of oil” in the vicinity of Dardagny. Further it says: “This oil obtained flows naturally, is black, of excellent quality, and floats on the water coming out with the oil”.. The article most likely refers to the second “puits” (shaft/well) by Tessier which was probably started in March 1826 and excavated to a depth of 12 m (40 ft). This “puits Tessier” is most likely the “mine de goudron” on the left bank of Nant Punais as described in various articles and depicted in maps of that time. Apparently, excellent quality of bitumen was found. The well was deepend to Ref.: SESIANO, Jean: 50 ft without finding coal. In order to exploit petroleum oil, it was decided to excavate a gallery Genève, tout nouveau canton suisse, starting from the shaft at a depth of 40 ft and going upward with an inclination of 45 degrees to amène en hommage à Dame Helvétie, le reach the surface at some distance of the shaft. The operators assumed to collect 30 litres of rêve d'une "mine de goudron« Bulletin de bitumen a day. According to Pareto, the well reached a depth of 30 m and was stopped in 1827. la Société d'histoire et d'archéologie de In 1839 extraction at the Puits Tessier (mine de goudron) stopped, probably for not having enough Genève, 2015, vol. 44, p. 60-67 supply. 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 33 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Old Topographic Maps with Indications of «Mine de Goudron» and «Grottes»
Goudron means tar in english
Dufour 1833 Mayer 1831
Mine de goudron
Grottes
Ref.: SESIANO, Jean: Genève, tout nouveau canton suisse, amène en hommage à Dame Helvétie, le rêve d'une "mine de goudron« Bulletin de la Société d'histoire et d'archéologie de Genève, 2015, vol. 44, p. 60-67 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 34 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Nant Punais Investigations 1942-1943
Ref.: Althaus, H.E. (1947), Geotechnische Serie Lief. 26, Teil 1, 2. Abschnitt The "Study Group for the Utilization of Swiss Mineral Resources" was looking for an exploitable bituminous layer at economic conditions in the area of Nant P.T.: Puits “Tessier” Punais, La Plaine, Dardagny, and Les Granges. To assess the recoverable value of the various deposits, extensive prospecting was necessary, which began on 14 December 1942 and completed on 17 June 1943. In total, 157 m3 of terrain has been excavated from trenches and shafts and 308 m of borehole were drilled.
Ref: Lagotala H.:Rapport général sur les travaux entrepris par la Soc. D’Etude pour la mise en valeur des gisements métallifères suisses, Nov. 1943
22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 35 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Nant Punais Mine de Goudron 2019 and nearby Oil Seep
Lidar SITG
Mine de Goudron; coord. from LIDAR: 487’142/117’364
Pictures by B. Gunzenhauser May 2019
22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 36 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Old Wells in the Dardagny Area Apparently, at around 1880 a well was drilled to a depth of 130 m (or 230 m?) with gas indications near the village of Dardagny (“Nant Charmille”).
In 1888 a well was drilled to 137.65 m at Les Granges. In 1889 a well (TD 124 m) was drilled in the yard of the Gardy factory at La Plaine on the right border of the Rhône river. Both wells found abundant occurrences of gas and bitumen.
The "Society of Furnaces of Nancy" (Pétrole Ain-Savoie) commissioned the "Société Nouvelle de Sondages Bonne-Espérance" of Paris for the drilling of a well near Challex in France. Drilling of Challex-2 started the 25th of November 1918 and was stopped on 6th March 1920 at a depth of 273,5 m. Three layers of bituminous sst were encountered, but no gas. Near the site, a first well for coal was drilled in 1887 to a depth of 225 m.
In order to test the potential production possibilities of the oil sandstones in the subsurface a well was drilled near Peissy in 1945 on the culmination of the anticline Dardagny (Roulavaz) – Choully. It reached a TD of 294 m it found in total some 20 m of bituminous sandstones. A bailing test was performed over the interval 157.75-161.9 m. Although no proper water shut-off was made, it was concluded that the sands are not productive.
At the beginning of the 1980’s, BP France drilled a series of shallow wells around the Canton Geneva in the Gex area to test for potential oil accumulations. They found some viscous 14°API oil in Molasse fluviatile sandstones. 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 37 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Dardagny Area Old Wells
Well (Year) TD in m
Les Granges (1889) TD 138 m 1945: Peissy TD 293 m
Well location approx.
Dardagny (18??) TD ?130 m
Challex-1 (F) (1887) TD 225 m Challex-2 (F) (1919) TD 273.5 m 1889: La Plaine TD 124 m
22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 38 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Dardagny Area Old Wells
Les Granges (1889) TD 138 m
Les Granges (1889) TD 138 m
Peissy (1945) TD 293 m
1945: Peissy TD 293 m
Dardagny (18??) TD ?130 m
Challex-1 (F) (1887) TD 225 m Dardagny 18?? TD?130 m Challex-2 (F) (1919) TD 273.5 m
Oil sandstones of the Lower Freshwater Molasse (Chattian, Oligocene) Well (Year) TD in m, location approx. 1889: La Plaine (usine Gardy) TD 124 m Old, still visible shafts Source: Heim, A. und Hartmann, A. (1919), Geotechnische Serie, VI. Lieferung 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 39 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Old Well Les Granges 1888/89
Objective: Coal exploration
Oil Sandstones
Les Granges Well coordinates: E 488’855, N 119’425 drilled 1888-89 Gas TD 138 m
Ref.: SITG Le Territoire Genevois A La Carte
22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 40 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Old Well Challex-2 1919/20 (Ain, France)
Objective: Oil exploration
Oil Sandstones
Challex-2 Well coordinates: E 487’750, N 114’960 drilled 1919-20 by SNPA TD 273.5 m
Ref.: Le sondage pour la recherche du pétrole à Challex (Ain) by Heim, Arnold, Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae 17/1 (1922)
22 June 2019 Ref.: SITG Le Territoire Genevois A La Carte B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 41 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Peissy Oil Exploration Well (1945)
Peissy Oil Sandstones Drilled by “AG für In total 20 m Grundwasserbauten” on behalf of the “Study Oil content: Group for the 2.3-2.9 wt% Utilization of Swiss No gas Mineral Resources” encountered
Peissy-1 Well coordinates: E 489’975, N 119’055 drilled 1944-1945, TD 294 m In order to test the potential production possibilities of the Test oil sandstones in the subsurface a well was drilled on the culmination of the anticline Dardagny (Roulavaz) – Choully. It was drilled near Peissy and reached a TD of 294 m. The well intersected 9 sandy intervals impregnated with oil with a total thickness of 20 m. The highest oil content was 2.89 wt%. No gas was encountered in the well. The well was cored over the whole section of the Molasse sandstones with a recovery of 94%. A bailing test was performed over the interval 157.75-161.9 m. Although no proper water shut-off was made, it was concluded that the sands are not productive Ref.: Althaus, H.E. (1947), Geotechnische Serie Lief. TD 294 m 26, Teil 1, 2. Abschnitt 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 42 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Bitumen – Asphalt - Tar Bitumen is a dense, highly viscous, petroleum-based hydrocarbon that is found in deposits such as oil sands and pitch lakes (natural bitumen) or is obtained as a residue of the distillation of crude oil (refined bitumen). In some areas, particularly in the United States, bitumen is often called asphalt, though that name is almost universally used for the road-paving material made from a mixture of gravel, sand, and other fillers in a bituminous binder. Bitumen is also frequently called tar or pitch - though, properly speaking, tar is a by-product of the carbonization of coal and pitch is actually obtained from the distillation of coal tar. Bitumen is defined by the U.S. Geological Survey as an extra-heavy oil with an API gravity less than 10° and a viscosity greater than 10,000 centipoise.
Asphalt is a black or brown petroleum-like material that has a consistency varying from viscous liquid to glassy solid. It is obtained either as a residue from the distillation of petroleum or from natural deposits. Asphalt consists of compounds of hydrogen and carbon with minor proportions of nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen. Natural asphalt (also called brea), which is believed to be formed during an early stage in the breakdown of organic marine deposits into petroleum, characteristically contains minerals, while residual petroleum asphalt does not.
Tar is a dark brown or black viscous liquid of hydrocarbons and free carbon, obtained from a wide variety of organic materials through destructive distillation. Tar can be produced from coal, wood, petroleum, or peat. Residues left behind during the pyrolysis of carbon-rich substances are not bitumen but tar. Source: https://www.britannica.com/science/ 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 43 Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists Association suisse des géoscientifiques de l’énergie Schweiz. Vereinigung von Energie-Geowissenschaftern Associazione svizzera geoscienziati dell’ energia
Important Historic and Geological Studies of the Bituminous Sandstones in the Area West of Geneva
1877 Les Gîsements Bitumineux du Canton de Genève – Rochat et al. Report commissioned by former concession holders of the asphalt mines in Val de Travers on the history and economic considerations of the exploitation, as well as analyses of the bituminous sandstones with the aim to attract enterprises to deliver asphalt and oil for pavement, heating, lighting, lubricants and fertilizer. 1913 Les Gîtes d’Hydrocarbures de la Suisse Occidentale – de Girard, R. De Girard was mandated by the «Federal Coal Commission» to study the bituminous deposits in the north-western area of Geneva. In 1906 de Girard delivered a manuscript to the «Federal Coal Commission» to be published in the Geotechnical Series of the Explanations of the Swiss Geological Maps. However, it was published only in 1913 in the Fribourg Society Bulletin of Natural Sciences. 1918 Geologischer Bericht über das Vorkommen Bituminöser Molasse be Dardagny (Genf) – Schmidt, C. (Basel) Report for «Büro für Bergbau» (Swiss Mining Office). 1919 Untersuchungen über die petrolführende Molasse der Schweiz – Heim, A. & Hartmann, A. In 1916 the authors were contracted by the two companies AG der Eisen- und Stahlwerke vorm. G. Fischer (Schaffhausen) and Gebrüder Sulzer AG (Winterthur) to carry out an expertise on the prospects to find crude oil in Switzerland. The «Federal Coal Commission» published the study in the Geotechnical Series (VI) of the Explanations of the Swiss Geological Maps. 1935 Les gîtes bitumineux de Dardagny (Genève), Mémoires – Lagotala, H. The report is based on field work carried out in 1926. 1943 Rapport général sur les travaux entrepris par la Soc. d’Etude pour la mise en valeur des gisements métallifères suisses (S.E.), November 1943 – Lagotala, H. The aim of the S.E. was to find commercially exploitable bitumen at shallow depth and therefore a number of field investigations were carried out in the area west of Geneva between December 1942 and June 1943. These investigations (particularly at Nant Punais) form the basis for the study by Althaus (1947). 1947 Erdölgeologische Untersuchungen in der Schweiz, Teil 1, 2. Abschnitt. Über geologische Untersuchungen im Gebiet der ölführenden Molasse im Kanton Genf. Geotechnical Series (26) of the Explanations of the Swiss Geological Maps – Althaus, H.E. Compilation of studies between 1935 and 1945 of the Commission of Petroleum Experts (PEK). 22 June 2019 B. Gunzenhauser - Dardagny Bituminous Sandstones 44