'-" ,, .STATI OF OHIO FIANK J. LAUSCHI, e-r..r D•AITMINI' OF NATURAL RBOUICES A. W. MARION, Director DIVISION OF 6EOLOGICAL SURVEY JOHN H. MILVl!ti. Chief REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS NO. 8 (ftl'ROLEUM AND NATURAL &AS SERIES NO. I) , PART I OHIO OIL AND GAS WELL DRILLING STATISTICS FOR 1950 PART 11 . OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION, HISTOIY, IEGULATIO", SECONDARY RECOVERY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY REFERENCE DEPARTMENT LIMA PUBLIC LIBRARY By ROBERT L. ALKIRE COLUMIUS 1951 • STATE OF OHIO FRANK J. LAUSCHE, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES A. W. MARION, Director DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY JOHN H. MELVIN, Chief REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS NO. 8 (PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS SERIES NO. I ) PART I OHIO O'IL AND GAS WELL DRILLING STATISTICS. FOR 1950 PART 11 OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION, HISTORY, REGULATION, SECONDARY RECOVERY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY By ROBERT L. ALKIRE COLUMBUS 1951 STA TE OF OHIO Frank J. Lausche, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES A. W. Marion, Director NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Lew Reese, Chairman John A. Silpher, Vice Chairman Roy Battles, Secretary C. D. Blubauch A. W. Marion Bryce Browning L. L. Rummell C. L. Dow George Winger DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY John H. Melvin, Chief INTRODUCTION The Petroleum and Natural Gas Series of the Division of Geological Survey makes its first appearance with this issue. Part I reviews the current annual drilling activity. Part II presents new material and reproduces some of the old. It is hoped that this method of presentation may be continued. The works of Orton and Bownocker are well known to students of petroleum geology in Ohio. Nearly all of these volumes are now out of print. Many sections are of considerable interest from a historical standpoint and others remain pertinent in studies of Ohio geology. From time to time these sections will be reproduced. The reference files of the Oil and Gas Section of the Survey are being rapidly expanded. Soon we will be able to prepare detailed studies in almost any area of the State. Such studies, along with those prepared by other authors, will be included in this new series. Although Ohio has long since passed its peak in the production of oil and gas, there still remains many millions of dollars of these valuable minerals yet to be found. Their discovery will depend in great measure upon a renewed interest in petroleum geology research and increased activity on the part of the operators to explore areas still untested. It is the purpose of this new Petroleum and Natural Gas Series to stimulate and assist this search for oil and gas in Ohio. Robert L. Alkire • 1950 i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The source data for Part I, Drilling Statistics for 195 0, was gathered by members of the Ohio Oil and Gas Scouts and made available through semi- monthly reports published by the Ohio Oil and Gas Association. Additional in- formation was contributed through the courtesy of Mr. J. C. Wilson and Mrs. Elma Coyne of the Division of Mines, Mr. Allan Johnson, Ohio Fuel Gas Com - pany, l'Jl:r. Walter Bates, Ohio Oil Company, and IV1r. George Lindberg, Sun Oil Company. The historical and statistical information contained in Part II has been de- rived from numerous sources. Oil and gas production and drilling statistics from 1875 until recent years were compiled from the U. S. Bureau of Mines Mineral Year Books. Oil production data from 1940 to date was taken from annual reports prepared by Mr. D. T. Ring, Vice-President, Preston Oil Com- pany, for the American Petroleum Institute. 11 Highlights, 11 an interesting review of Ohio's 0 firstsn in the search for oil and gas, was prepared by Mr. Kenneth C. Cottingham, Chief Geolo5i.st, Ohio Fuel Gas Company. "Secondary Oil Re- covery in Ohion was written in 1949 by Mr. Jack Cashell, Vice-President, Preston Oil Company. It is an authoritative review of oil recovery by this method in Ohio. During the nearly 30 years that Mr. J. C. Wilson has been associated with the Division of Mines he has witnessed most of the development of well drilling regulations now in force. At the writer's request, he has con- tributed an interesting and informative digest of these developments. The last bibliography on Ohio geology, prepared by the Geological Survey, was published in 1906. A new bibliography of petroleum and natural gas is presented here by Miss Ethel S. Dean and Mr. Gerie Garrison of the Survey staff. The writer expresses his sincere appreciation to all the authors for per- mission to reproduce their articles in this first issue of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Series. Particular commendation is due to staff members Miss Jeanne Morrow for excellent assistance in compiling statistics, editing, and proofreading, Mr. H. J. Flint, preparation of maps and charts, and Miss Doris Runkle, typing the final copy for printing. Their generous cooperation have made this publication possible. Robert L. Alkire ii CONTENTS Page Introduction . • i Acknowledgements. ii Table of Contents • iii PART I Ohio Oil and Gas Well Drilling Statistics 1950 Surnm~~ . • • • . • • • 1 Map Showing Area:s of Drilling Activity 2 Oil and Gas Discovered - By Counties 3 Oil and Gas Discovered - By Sands . 5 Summary of Footage Drilled ..... 6 Chart of Wells Completed and Drilling. 7 Chart of Production By Grades . • • 7 Drilling Permits Granted and Wells Abandoned. 8 Inactive Counties • . 8 Summary'of Drilling By Sands .. 9 Summary of Drilling By Counties. 17 PART II Production, History, Regulation, Seconda!'y Recovery, and Bibliography of Oil and Gas in Ohio Review of Gas Production . • . • . 38 Chart of Gas Production and Consumption 1940 - 1948 40 Review of Oil Production. • .41 Chart of Oil Production 1876 - 1950. 44 Wells Drilled 1888 - 1950 . .• 45 Map of Oil and Gas Fields . • 47 Map of Oil Pipelines and Refineries. 48 Generalized Section of Rocks of Ohio . 49 General Features of Producing Sands - by Wilber Stout . 53 Discovery of Petroleum in Ohio, 1860 to 1864 - by F. W. Minshall 61 Cost of Drilling in Macksburg Field - by F. H. Newell . • • • • . 64 Highlights in the Se~ch for Oil and Gas in Ohio - by K. C. Cottingham 66 Development of Oil and Gas Well Drilling Regulations - by J. C. Wilson. 72 Digest of Present Oil and Gas Law • . • . 75 Permits Issued and Wells Abandoned 1913 - 1950 - by J. C. Wilson . 77 Legislation Governing Secondary Recovery. • • • . 78 Second~y Oil Recovery in Ohio - by Jack Cashell . ...••.. 79 Smith-Dunn or Marietta Compressed Air Process - by J. O. Lewis .• 87 Division of Geological Survey Oil and Gas References - by E. S. Dean. 105 Bibliography of Oil and Gas in Ohio - by R. L. Alkire and G. Garrison 117 iii PART I OHIO OIL AND GAS DRILLING STATISTICS 1950 SUM:MARY OF OIL AND GAS WELL DRILLING IN omo DURING 1950 In 1949, large Clinton sand gas discoveries in the northeastern and northcentral counties tended to overshadow drilling operations elsewhere in the State. The failure of additional discoveries in these areas during the early months of 1950, along with slight increases in the price of oil, stimulated activity in the oil prdducing counties, especially those in southeastern Ohio. The prominent areas of oil discovery during the year occurred in Bowling Green Township, Licking County, and Newcastle Township, Coshocton County. There were no new outstanding gas areas found. A total of 1,141 wells were reported drilled in 48 counties in 1950. Of these, 666 were successful and 475 resulted in dry holes, an average of 42 per cent failures. Discoveries amounted to 144, 833, 000 cubic feet of gas and 10,328 barrels of oil per day initial. Footage drilled totaled 2,247,125 feet. Gas was found in 284 wells in 33 counties with reported open flows totaling 177,487,000 cubic feet per day. In 24 counties 282 new oil wells produced 7, 902 barrels during the first 24 hours. One hundred combination oil and gas wells were found in 17 counties and were reported to have produced 26,346, 000 cubic feet of gas and 2,426 barrels of oil during their initial period. The largest gas well reported during the year was completed in November by the Ohio Fuel Gas Company on the L. A. Starr•farm, Lot 5, Litchfield Town- ship, Medina County. The Clinton sand was found from 2,611 to 2,623 feet and produced 5, 740, 000 cubic feet natural during the first 24 hours after drilling was completed. The initial rock pressure was 960 pounds. Midland & Hunt discovered the largest oil well of the year on the S. S. Cooperrider farm in Section 3, Bowling Green Township, Licking County. This well found the Clinton sand from 2, 949 to 2, 99i feet and reached a total depth of 3, 009 feet. The pay section occurred at 2, 954 to 2, 989 and produced 220,000 cubic feet of gas and 64 barrels of oil natural during the first 24 hours. After being shot, well production was 620 barrels the first day, 430 barrels the second, and at the end of the first week 300 barrels per day. Ashland County led the State with a total of 136 wells drilled. Other active counties were: Perry 107; Washington 87; Knox 78; Monroe 73; Noble 61; and Meigs with a total of 5 8 wells completed. The four leading counties in gas discovered were: Perry 20, 172, 000 cubic feet per day initial; Knox 15,491,000; Medina 10,867,000; and Ashland 9,042,000. Perry County led in new oil discovered, with 2,545 barrels per day initial re- ported. Following Perry County were Licking County with 1, 83 0 barrels, Coshocton with 1,379, and Muskingum with 1,042 barrels.