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6^"1' f
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I
MICHIGAN GEOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SURVEY.
PnbUcBtlon 14.
Geological Series 11.
THE OCCURRENCE OF OIL AND GAS
IN MICHIGAN
RICHARD A. SMITH
283672
• • • • • •
• • • • • • •
• • • • t •
• •
BOARD OF GEOLOGICAL AND BIOLOG
ICAL SURVEY
1Q13.
EX officio:
The Governor of the State,
HON. WOODBRIDGE N. FERRIS, President.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction,
HON. L. L. WRIGHT, Secretary.
The President of the State Board of Education,
HON. WM. J. McKONE.
Director.
R. C. ALLEN,
SCIENTIFIC ADVISERS.
Geologists. — ^Dr. L. L. Hubbard, Houghton; Prof. W. H. Hobbs,
Ann Arbor; Prof. Wm. H. Sherzer, Ypsilanti.
Botanists. — Prof. E. A. Bessey, East Lansing; Prof. F. C. Newcombe,
Ann Arbor.
Zoologists. — Prof. W. B. Barrows, East Lansing; Prof. J. Reighard,
Ann Arbor, Dr. Bryant Walker, Detroit.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
To the Honorable the Board of Geological and Biological Survey of the
State of Michigan:
Gov. WooDBRiDGE N. Ferris, President.
Hon. Wm. J. McKone, Vice-President.
Hon. Fred L. Keeler, Secretary.
Gentlemen: —
I have the honor to present herewith Publication 14, Geological
Series 11, a monograph on the subject of the occurrence of oil and gas
in Michigan. The recent activity in drilling for oil and gas has not
only stimulated the issue of this volume but has also contributed
directly to the information contained in it. Much of the data con-
tained in this work is new, including the records of a considerable
number of important deep wells, but a large part of it has been com-
piled from various sources.
For many years the Southern Peninsula of Michigan has offered a
tempting field for exploratory work designed to test the possibilities
for the occurrence of oil and gas. Although with the minor exception
of the Port Huron field all such efforts have resulted in a discouraging
monotony of disappointments; the activities of recent years lends
force to the observation that repeated failures 'serve only to stimu-
late rather than to retard these adventurous projects.
The time is approaching if not actually at hand in most parts of
this country, when valuable mineral deposits may be found no longer
without the application of vast labor and expense to underground
explorations of one or another kind. Surely this is true of the State
of Michigan, and probably nowhere within our borders may success
attend the efforts of the prospector unaided by generous financial
support. Any project devoted to the discovery of valuable minerals
must therefore be considered as a purely financial adventure and
this applies with peculiar force to explorations for oil and gas in Mich-
igan.
It is trite to remark that a financial adventure should be preceded
and controlled by a careful weighing of the possibilities for success.
This is a moral as well as a business responsibility which is particu-
larly incumbent on those who control the expenditure of the capital
6 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
of a company, association, or corporation. Unfortunately this re-
sponsibility has been so frequently violated through fraudulent intent
in some instances and ignorance in others, that a warning should be
sounded throughout the state as a guard not only against fraudulent
schemes of promotion, but against that credulous class of so-called
*'oil smellers'' or "locators" whose operations are no less fantastic
than their claims to unusual or occult powers are crass and audacious.
The '^oil smeller" or "locator" is not always a calculating fakir.
Among them are a few who seem to be honest but these present a
curious study of more interest to the psychologist than to the geologist,
and to the former they may be consigned without further remark.
The professional promotor, when guided by moral as well as busi-
ness sense, is a legitimate and oftentimes necessary factor in many
modem financial and industrial undertakings, but the element of
mere luck or chance, which the partial and oftentimes complete ab-
sence of determinative data in many localities must always leave
open to the prospector, not only provides a cloak for rascality but
also a basis for the play of credulous imagination on which the un-
scrupulous promotor builds his fortune. Men of sound judgment
in matters of general business, as well as others, continue to seek pots
of gold at the end of the rainbow, following those whose sole claims
to leadership reside in unscrupulousness, suave audacity, clever de-
ceitfulness, and a smattering of technical jargon, meaningless to them-
selves but nevertheless a bait for the unwary layman.
As may be suspected, the promoter and the "locator" often share
the work as well as the gains attaching to a successful "fleecing" of
a whole community. In many instances, their common solicitude for
a wider distribution of prosperity invites a participation of the people
in general through the medium of carefully prepared "literature"
amply illustrated with pictures of derricks, drilling outfits, views in
the oil fields, gushers, and perhaps a sketch showing the exact posi-
tion of the "vein" or "pool" which is expected to be opened by the
application of the stockholders' money if enough remains for the
purpose after promotion charges have been carefully set aside. Lack-
ing only the actual odor of crude oil, which can hardly be transmitted
by mail, these gems of persuasive advertising are calculated to pro-
duce an anticipation of realities which are doomed to materialize
only in the imaginations of the investors.
Among the numerous drilling operations of recent years are a num-
ber which may be termed "community projects." The incentive
to these undertakings is a general desire for exact information rela-
tive to the formations and their contents coupled with a hope, not to
say expectation, of developing a valuable local resource. Such efforts
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 7
should be encouraged , but only under a full realization of the relative
probabilities for financial loss or gain on the part of those whose means
are involved. None who can ill afford the risk of loss should be en-
couraged to enlist in these enterprises.
Those who engage permanently in the oil business recognize the
principle that the chances for loss are in inverse ratio to the number
of well advised separate adventures embraced. A small amount of
money staked on a single, or a limited number of projects is almost
certain to be dissipated. On the other hand, a large amount of money
involved in many separate and well advised operations is almost equally
certain to be multiplied. To illustrate this principle, it may be re-
marked that a single well drilled in the most favorable locality in
Michigan would have only a very remote possibility of encountering
oil in commei-cial quantity, but the drilling of one hundred wells in
five favorable localities would stand a very reasonable, though far
from assured, chance of success. A thousand dollars invested in
the latter enterprise would be a much sounder investment than the
same amount invested in the former. It is the operation of this prin-
ciple which renders so extremely hazardous an occasional investment
in operations confined to a single test well, or a single locality.
The natural conditions governing the occurrence of oil and gas
are well known to geologists, but unfortunately the geologic data in
different regions or localities are rarely so precise and determinate as
to warrant unqualified statements in the one or the other direction in
advance of exploration. There is a large area in Michigan where
oil or gas is not to be sought under any circumstances because of the
age and character of the rocks. I refer to the copper and iron bearing
region of the Northern Peninsula; i. e., that part of the stat« under-
lain by pre-Cambrian rocks. In a considerable part of the remainder
of the State the occurrence of oil and gas in commercial quantity is a
possibility and in some localities a very reasonable probability. Com-
mon prudence would demand that the areas where the conditions
are known to be favorable should receive first attention through a
fair and adequate test. Too frequently, initial disappointments
terminate a well conceived plan of exploration before conclusive re-
sults either positive or negative are obtained. Negative results are
always ultimately if not immediately useful, and, therefore, records
of all explorations should be carefully preserved.
It has been remarked above that the absence of ample and reliable
data, from which the geologist may draw sound conclusions, and the
element of luck or chance renders unsafe in many parts of Michigan
any unqualified statement relative to the presence or absence of com-
mercial quantities of oil or gas, but while the soundness of any calcula-
8
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
tion or conclusion must always be governed largely by the fullness and
reliability of the basal data, the lack of complete information need
not stay a conclusion or hypothesis on which to base expenditures in
exploration. Indeed ultra conservatism is rarely creative; it is de-
sirable only to eliminate waste through ignorance or fraud and on
the other hand to encourage and assist worthy projects for explora-
tion. It is with this double purpose in view that this volume has
been presented to the pubUc. If it accomplishes these purposes the
care, labor, and expense which has been devoted to it will have been
well repaid.
Very respectfully yours,
R. C. ALLEN,
Director.
June 18, 1914.
CONTENTS.
Introduction.
Page
Acknowledgments 17
CHAPTER I.
The Michigan Basin.
Major structure 19
Minor structure 19
The geological section 21
Cambrian 22
Lake Superior, Eastern or Jacohsville ftandstone 22
Ordovician 22
St. Peters 22
Calciferous 22
Utica shale 23
Lorraine or Maysville 23
Silurian 23
Richmond and Medina 23
Clinton 24
Rochester shale 24
The Niagara limestone (Guelph and Lockport) 24
Salina 26
Monroe formation 25
Lower Monroe or Bass Island Seri^ 25
Sylvania (Middle Monroe) 26
Upper Monroe or Detroit River Series 26
Devonian 26
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone 26
Traverse (Hamilton and Marcellus) formation 27
Antrim shale 28
Mississippian 28
Berea sandstone 28
Coldwater shale 29
Marshall sandstone 29
Napoleon or Upper Marshall and Lower Marshall 29
Michigan Series or Lower Grand Rapids 30
Maxville or Bayport limestone or Upper Grand Rapids 30
Pennsylvanian 31
Parma sandstone or conglomerate (Pottsville) ^ 31
Saginaw formation (Upper Pottsville) 31
Possibly Permo-Carboniferous 31
Woodville (Conemaugh?) 31
Pleistocene 32
CHAPTER II.
Geological Factors Controlling the Occurrence of Oil and Gas.
The anticlinal theory 33
Rock pressure in oil and gas wells 44
Cause of rock pressure 45
;8urf ace indications 48
10
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER III.
The Port Huron Field.
Early hi.story and development
Geolc^ical conditions in western Ontario
The Petrolia field
Sarnia township
Court right
Explorations in the Port Huron field
Port Huron
Marysville
Wadhams station
Abbotsford
Valley Centre ,
Imlay City
Fort Gratiot township
The Port Huron anticline
The oil horizons
Conclusions
Huron and Sanilac counties
The early salt wells
The geological sections
CHAPTER IV.
The Southeastern District.
Introductory statement —
Rock structures
Relation of surface signs to oil and gas horizons
Explorations in Monroe county
Monroe
Lasalle
Strasburg
Dundee
Milan
Newport
Ida
Riga
South Rockwood
Explorations in Lenawee county
Adrian
Britton
Blissfleld
Manchester
Madison township
Explorations in Hilidsale county
Hillsdale
Os.seo
Explorations in Wayne county
Trenton
Grosse Isle
Romulus township
Wyandotte
Delray
River Rouge
Oakwood
Fort W^ayne
W^indsor (Ontario)
Detroit
North Detroit
Eloise
Structures in southeastern Michigan
Wyandotte Anticline
Stony Island Anticline
Page
50
52
53
54
55
56
56
61
62
62
63
65
65
66
67
67
67
67
68
70
70
71
74
74
76
76
79
80
82
82
83
83
83
84
84
86
86
87
88
88
88
91
91
92
92
93
97
99
99
102
103
104
104
105
105
105
106
CONTENTS. 11
Paife
Explorations in Washtenaw county 107
Ypailanti 107
Ann Arbor 108
Explorations in Oakland county 109
Royal Oak 109
Pontiac Ill
South Lyon 112
Holly 112
Explorations in Macomb county 1 13
Mt. Clemens 114
New Baltimore 114
Romeo 115
Explorations In St. Clair county 116
Ali^onac 116
Marine City 117
St. Clair 121
Explorations in Ontario 124
Wallaceburg 124
Local structures in Macomb county and southern St. Clair county 124
Conclusions 125
CHAPTER V.
The Saginaw Oil Field.
The Saginaw Valley Development Company 126
The Saginaw anticline 126
The Explorations 127
Mundy-Fifleld.' 128
Garey-Casamer No. 1 128
Jackson-Church 129
Cresswell 129
Watson 129
Green Point or Giobe-BlaisdeU 130
Lawndale 131
Garey-Casamer No. 2 131
Mershon 131
Ring 132
Gera 132
The oil horizons 133
The Berea 133
The "Saginaw sand" 133
The Dundee 134
Explorations 134
Conclusions 134
Character and composition of the oils 135
The "Saginaw" oil 135
Dundee oil 135
CHAPTER VI.
Central Michigan.
Geographic and geologic relations 136
Surface deposits 136
Explorations in Day county 137
Bay City 137
Kawkawlin 140
Explorations in Saginaw, Genesee and Midland counties 141
Blackmar 141
Flint 142
Midland 142
Explorations in Gratiot county 143
Alma 143
St. Louis 144
Ithaca 144
12 CONTENTS.
Page
Explorations in Isabella county 1*5
Mr. Pleasant ^^5
Explorations in Gladwin county 150
Gladwin 150
Explorations in Mecosta county 152
Big Rapids 152
Explorations in Kent county 152
Grand Rapids 152
Explorations in Ionia county 153
Ionia ^^
Explorations in Barry county 15?
Assyria ^^^
Explorations in Eaton county 15*
Charlotte ^54
Grand Ledge 150
Eaton Rapids 15^
Delta 1^6
Explorations in Ingham county 158
Lansing ^f^
Mason ^^J*
Explorations in Jackson county 15^
Jackson ^^^
Explorations in Calhoun county 1^2
Goguac Lake ^^^
Explorations in Livingston. Shiawassee and Clinton counties 162
Local geology J®^
Explorations in Livingston county i***
FowlerviUe ' *®^
Explorations in Shiawassee county 1^
Owosso
Durand }«2
Explorations in Clinton county ^°'
St. Johns ^®'
CHAPTER VII.
The Southwestern District.
Explorations in Allegan county 1"^
Allegan ;°
Character of the formations and local structures * '-«
Explorations in Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph, and Kalamazoo counties 175
Local structures ^^^
Oil horizons *"i^
Explorations in Cass county l '^
Dowagiac J3«
Explorations in Berrien county * '^
NlleH Ill
Berrien Springs : J'^
Bridgman J»"
Benton Harbor J^*
Explorations in St. Joseph county 182
White Pigeon }®^
St. Joseph. . J^^
Constantine J^*
Explorations in Kalamazoo county 185
Kalamazoo
CHAPTER VIII.
Western Michigan.
Explorations in Muskegon county J^^
Muskegon |^^
Frultport \^
Explorations in Mason county *^"
Ludington ^^^
CONTENTS. 13
Page
Explorations in Manistee county 196
Manistee 196
East Lake 199
Stronach 201
Onekama 202
CHAPTER IX.
Northern Lower Michigan.
Surface deposits and explorations 205
Bed rock geology 206
Little Traverse Bay anticline 207
Explorations In Benzie county , 207
Frankfort •. 207
Explorations in Emmet county 208
Petoskey 208
Bay View , 208
Explorations in Charlevoix county 209
Charlevoix 209
Explorations in Wexford county 211
Cadillac * 211
Explorations in Cheboygan county 211
Cheboygan 211
Explorations in Crawford county 213
Grayling 213
Explorations In Rosconmion county 214
Roscommon 214
Explorations in Presque Isle county 214
Onaway 214
Grand Lake 217
Explorations in Alpena county ; , . 217
Alpena 217
Local Structures 219
Explorations in Alcona county 221
Relation of rock formations to surface signs 221
Killmaster wells '. 222
HarrisvUle 222
Conclusions . 223
Explorations in Iosco and Ogemaw counties 226
AuSable and Oscoda 226
Tawas City 227
Prescott 228
Explorations in Arenac county 229
Standish 229
CHAPTER X.
Northern Peninsula.
The Paleozoic area 231
The Wisconsin section 232
Milwaukee 232
Marinette 232
Explorations in Menominee county 234
Menominee 234
Explorations in Delta county 236
Escanaba 235
Stonington 235
Gladstone 237
Rapid River 237
Oil and asphalt 239
Explorations in Schoolcraft county 240
Manistique 240
Explorations in Mackinac county 242
St. Ignace 242
14 CONTENTS.
Page
Explorations in Chippewa county 243
Neeblsh 243
Pickf ord ^ 244
Explorations on Manitoulin Island, Ontario 246
Gore Bay 246
APPENDIX A.
The Regulation of Drillings and Care of Deep Borings 247
APPENDIX B.
Bituminous or Oil Sliales 255
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PLATES.
Plate I. Pumping plant of the Michigan Development Company. Port Huron 56
Plate II. The Garey-Casamer No. 1 well 126
Plate III. The Onekama gas well, Manistee county 202
FIGURES.
Figure 1. Diagrammatic cross section of the Michigan Basin from Port Rowan,
Ontario, to Manistee. Michigan 20
Figure 2. Outline geological map of Michigan, showing rock formations and the
location of antidines and deep borings 21
Figure 3. Geological column of Michigan from the Calciferous to the Pleistocene. . . 23
Figure 4. Diagrammatic sketch of reservoirs showing ideal relations of gas, oil and
water 39
Figure 5. Diagrammatic section of the oil and gas sands in the central Appalachian
oil region 40
Figure 6. Cross section of the saline dome of the Spindle Top oil field, Texas 41
Figure 7. Sketch showing forms of oil and gas reservoirs in shale 42
Figure 8. Sketch showing forms of oil and ga.s reservoirs 42
Figure 9. Map showing the location of salt blocks in Wayne county (after C. W.
Cook) 90
Figure 10. Map showing the location of salt blocks along St. Clair river (after C. W.
Cook) 113
Figure 11. Map of the Saginaw oil fi^ld showing the location of borings, the Saginaw
anticline, and the contours of depth of the Marshall formation below
the surface in Saginaw Valley 129
Figure 12. Sections of deep borings in Saginaw Valley 133
Figure 13. Contour map showing the depth of the Dundee limestone below sea level
in the vicinity of Allegan and the location of deep borings 171
Figure 14. Contour map showing the indicated anticline east of Niles and the eleva-
tion above sea level of the base of the Antrim block shale in south-
western Michigan 175
Figure 15. Map of a portion of Marquette Lake, Mason county, showing location
of salt blocks 191
Figure 16. Map of the Manistee salt district showing location of salt wells and the
discordant dips of the salt horizon 197
Figure 17. Geological section from Alpena north through Grand Lake to Lake
Huron 220
Figure 18. Geological section from Alpena south through Alcona county to Oscoda,
Iosco county 22 4
Figure 19. Sketch showing the possible occurrence of oil and gas along the strike of
the Berea sandstone In Alcona county 225
INTRODUCTION.
In 1860, A. Winchell, published in the First Biennial Report of the
Geological Survey of Michigan a number of records of deep borings
and referred to the possibilities for the occurrence of oil in the eastern
part of the State, especially in the vicinity of Port Huron. Further
records of borings were given in Volume III by Dr. C. Rominger in a
report on the geology of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. In Volume
V, Dr. A. C. Lane published a large number of well sections with special
reference to the occurrence of oil and gas. The introduction, written
by Dr. L. L. Hubbard, is a brief discussion of the origin o£ salt, gypsum,
and petroleum. Brief chapters on oil and gas together with the records
of many borings were published by Lane in the Annual Reports for
1901, 1903, 1904, and 1908. The Mineral Resources for 1911, Publica-
tion 8, Geological Series 6, contains a short chapter' on the occurrence
of oil and gas in Michigan.
The above reports contain most of the published information with
the exception of that to be found in the geological reports of the vari-
ous counties.
Since Michigan lies adjacent to the oil and gas producing territories
of Ontario, Ohio, and Indiana, it has received for many years much
attention from oil and gas operators. Many explorations have been
*
made, but thus far the results have been meager. Only at Port Huron,
Allegan, and Saginaw have oil and gas been struck in quantities ap-
proaching commercial importance. The known presence of oil forma-
tions, the many small showing of oil and gas, and the abundance of
oil and especially gas seepage in certain portions of the State, how-
ever, have kept up a keen interest in the possibilities for the occurrence
of oil and gas in larger quantities. During the past three years espe-
cially, there has been a continuous demand on the part of the oil opera-
tors and the general public for information relative to the oil and
gas possibilities in Michigan, and fifty or more drilling operations have
been made and projected.
A large part of the recent drillings were located with due regard to
kiiown geological conditions, but unfortunately a considerable num-
ber of explorations were started upon the most chimerical notions of
geology, which is not surprising when it is considered that most of
the explorations in Michigan have been made by operators from the
oil fields of adjacent states.
16 INTRODUCTION.
The data furnished by the many explorations of recent years has
been published only in part. The object of this report is to bring
together all the available data relative to the occurrence of oil and
gas in Michigan in such a form as to make it effective in more intelli-
gently directing explorations.
The plan of the report embraces, (1) An outline of the geology of
the Paleozoic formations, (2) A brief discussion of the more prominent
theories on the accumulation of oil and gas, but more particularly of
the anticlinal theory of accumulation, (3) A history of the explora-
tions by districts or fields with the records of borings, (4) A discussion
of the care and regulation of oil and gas wells and an outline of needed
legislation relative to deep borings, and (5) A brief statement of the
possibilities of the black shales of Michigan as a source of oil and gas.
The well records given in detail do not include all of the deep bor-
ings in the Paleozoic area. Many wells have been drilled of which
the Geological Survey has no records, or only imperfect ones. At
many places, several borings have been closely spaced, and of these
only the more accurate records have been given, but whatever in-
formation the others afford has been included in the discussions pre-
ceding the records given. Most of the records have been revised,
especially the older ones, to bring them into harmony with present
geologic knowledge.
For convenience in discussing the history of the oil explorations,
the state has been arbitrarily divided into districts and fields. As
there are no sharp lines of separation between any of these, some
wells included in one district may have been placed with equal pro-
priety in another. The territory in the vicinity of Saginaw and of
Port Huron, properly parts of the central and the southeastern dis-
tricts respectively, have been deemed worthy of separate treatment
as oil fields on account of the structural conditions and the large amount
of exploration made in each.
In all oil fields, there is always a greater or less number of "dry''
holes or wells of small production which are abandoned. Usually
the drillings pass through one or more water or brine bearing forma-
tions and the *'dry'' holes and abandoned wells form a serious menace
to the life and productivity of a field through the ingress of water
into the oil sands. On the other hand, oil and gas wells are a source
of danger to mining industries, but more especially to that of coal,
through the escape of gas into the mines with consequent explosion.
So acute is the situation in some states that stringent laws have been
passed regulating the drilling and care of oil and gas wells. Besides
being a source of injury to oil fields and a menace to life and property
in coal mining regions, abandoned wells, in some cases, cause contami-
INTRODUCTION. 17
nation of potable water supplies through the entrance of salt water;
or, vice versa, valuable brines or mineral waters may be polluted by
surface or fresh waters.
In Saginaw Valley and in the vicinity of Grand Rapids, the potable
waters have been ruined through the ingress of brines or mineral waters,
and the purity and strength of the brines in the former district are
now being menaced by the entrance of surface or fresh waters through
abandoned salt wells, the casings of which have been destroyed by
the corrosive action of the brines. The regulation and care of oil
and gas and other borings has become a subject of such importance
to the State that a discussion of the methods and means of conserv-
ing oil and gas, water, and other mineral resources has been included
as an appendix to this report.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
The information contained in this report has been compiled from
so many sources that proper acknowledgment cannot be made to
each of the investigators whose works have been freely drawn upon.
The outline of the geology of the Michigan Basin has been taken largely
from the writings of A. C. Lane, C. Rominger, and A. Winchell.
The stratigraphy of the formations has been compiled chiefly from
Lane 's Geological Section as published in the Annual Report for 1908.
Much information on. local geology has been afforded by the reports
on Huron and Alcona counties by A. C. Lane, on Monroe and Wayne
counties by W. S. Sherzer, on Sanilac by C. H. Gordon, on Bay by
W. F. Cooper, on Tuscola by C. A. Davis, and on Arenac by W. M.
Gregory.
The various bulletins of the U. S. Geological Survey and the State
geological reports have been freely consulted for the material in the
chapter on the accumulation of oil and gas. The statement and the
history of the development of the anticlinal theory with particular
reference to its practical application has been compiled from the publi-
cations of I. C. White and E. Orton.
Much other information bearing upon the limitations of the anti-
clinal theory has been gleaned from the investigations of N. M. Fenne-
man, F. G. Clapp, R. W. Stone, M. J. Munn, W. T. Griswold, H. S.
Gale, R. Arnold, C. W. Hayes, Wm. Kennedy, C. H. Wegeman, and
others as found in the many bulletins published by the U. S. Geological
Survey,
The history of the drillings and the records have been compiled
from the several reports of the Michigan Geological Survey, parti-
culariy Volumes V, VII, and VIII, the Annual Reports for 1901, 1903,
1904, and 1908, and Publications 2, 12, and 15. Many of the records
3
18 INTRODUCTION.
were previously unpublished, or published only in part. In com-
piling these, much valuable information was obtained from the field
notes of Dr. A. C. Lane and W. F. Coop)er. Special acknowledg-
ment is hereby extended to the officials of the Saginaw Development
Company for their many courtesies and hearty co-operation in care-
fully preserving sets of samples and compiling the information afforded
by their drillings in the vicinity of Saginaw.
Most of the information in Appendix A on the regulation and care
of deep borings has been obtained from Bulletin 65 and Technical
Paper 53 of the U. S. Bureau of Mines. Much other data, however,
has been gleaned from the reports of the State geological surveys
and of the State mine or oil and gas inspectors, particularly of Cali-
fornia, Oklahoma, Ohio, Indiana, and Wyoming.
In the discussion of the commercial possibilities of the black or
bituminous shales in Appendix B, much valuable information was
obtained from the Summary Reports, and especially from the Joint
Report on the Bituminous or Oil Shales of New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia and on the oil Shale Industry of Scotland by R. W. Ells, Nos.
55 and 1107 of the Mines and Geological Survey Branches of the De-
partment of Mines of Canada. It is to be regretted that the writer
did not have the opportunity of reading the bulletin now in prepara-
tion by the U. S. Geological Survey on the Oil Shales of Utah and
Colorado.
• .•:
• • • *
•/•/•
•• • •
• • • •
....
• • a
• • •
• • •-
«
CHAPTER I.
THE MICHIGAN BASIN.
MAJOR STRUCTURE.
The tenn, Michigan Basirij is applied to a broad, shallow structural
basin occupying part of western Ontario, the eastern half of the North-
ern and the whole of the Southern Peninsula of Michigan, eastern
Wisconsin, northeastern Illinois, northern Indiana, and northwestern
Ohio. Its average diameter is about 500 miles and the deepest part
appears to be near the geographical center of the Southern Peninsula.
The total depression of the lowermost Paleozoic formations at the
center has been variously estimated at from 5000 to 7000 feet. Re-
cent drillings in the central part of the Basin favor the larger figure.
The Michigan Basin is a composite, comprising a series of sedimen-
tary formations which form a gigantic nest of very broad and extremely
shallow warped basins whose diameters decrease regularly from the
bottom upward (Fig. 1.) Were the rims ot these basins uncovered
by draining the lake basins and removing the glacial drift, they would
form concentric belts about the central or uppermost formation (Fig. 2.)
The depth of the Basin is so small in comparison with its diameter
that the inclination of its several members is ordinarilv between 25
and 50 feet per mile, and rarely exceeds 60 feet.
MINOR STRUCTURES.
The formations constituting the Michigan Basin are locally gently
folded and, in some cases, slightly faulted. So far as known, the
folds occur mainly near the margin of the Southern Peninsula and in
Western Ontario. Of the anticlines or upward folds (Fig. 2), the
six best developed ones in the Southern Peninsula are in the vicinity
of Saginaw, Port Huron, Stony Island (Detroit river), Wyandotte,
Niles, and Khagashewing Point (Little Traverse Bay). A very low,
broad and ill defined anticline extends through Washtenaw county
with its crest apparently near Ann Arbor. All of the anticlines, ex-
cepting those near Saginaw, Niles, and Ann Arbor, are relative y low
and short. (See Chaps. IV, V and VII). Inconclusive evidence
points to the probable existence of additional anticlines in the vicinity
of New Baltimore, Macomb county, near Manistee, and near Fowler-
OIL A«ib. QAS IN MICHIGAN.
ait[*«N«inia3
■mu
•n
ill
SI
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 21
^ille and Howell, Livingston county. A syncline of considerable
length and depth occurs near Berrien Springs and Dowagiac in Ber-
rien county and two or three small ones^ along Detroit river south of
Detroit. Doubtless further drilling will reveal the presence of other
anticlines and synclines of which there is now no indication.
In the vicinity of Al egan, there is a sudden change in the general
northeastward dip of the strata, indicating the presence of a terrace
or structural *M)ench.'' Discordant dips have been observed in
several places in southeastern Michigan, in Huron, Alpena, and Pres-
que Isle counties, and along the Lake Michigan and Lake Huron
shores of the Northern Peninsula.
Numerous faults, generally with a displacement of a few inches to
a few feet, have been noted in the Coal Measures. However, the
occurrence of two faults with displacements of 50 to 60 feet have been
reported, one in the Coal Measures of Saginaw Valley, and the other
in the Dundee limestone in Presque Isle county. The Monroe forma-
tion in southeastern Michigan and in the Northern Peninsula is char-
acterized by peculiarly brecciated dolomites. Drillings in the Man-
istee-Ludington salt district and in Presque Isle county indicate a
wide spread occurrence of this brecciation, the cause of which may
be related to movements due to the ablation of the salt beds as noted
in Chapter IX.
THE GEOLOGICAL SECTION.
The rocks of the Michigan Basin represent the Paleozoic succes-
sion from the base of the Upper Cambrian to near the top of the Penn-
sylvanian. Exposures are numerous in many localities, especially along
the north and south shores of the Northern Peninsula, but, in areas
of large extent in the Southern Peninsula, outcrops are entirely want-
ing. In the Southern Peninsula, bed rock is exposed in two areas of
considerable extent, one in Alpena and Presque Isle counties, and the
other in Hillsdale and southern Calhoun and Jackson counties. Scat-
tered outcrops occur in an arcuate belt extending from Arenac county
through Huron and Tuscola into Genesee county, and from Jackson
county through Calhoun into Ottawa and Kent counties. Limited
but important outcrops also occur along the south shore of Little
Traverse Bay and in Monroe and Wayne counties. In the greater
part of the State, however, the Paleozoic rocks are concealed by a
mantle of drift from 100 to 600 feet or more in thickness and the knowl-
edge of the structure, character, distribution, and thickness of the
diflFerent formations, necessary for making a generalized section, has
been derived chiefly from a study of the records of borings.
»W. H. Sherzer: The Monroe Formation, Pub. 2, Geol. Ber. 1, p. 57.
22 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
CAMBRIAN.
Lake Superior, Eastern or Jacobsville sandstone. The Cambrian^ so
far as known, is represented in Michigan by the upper member only,
called the Lake Superior or Potsdam sandstone. Jacobsville (or
** Eastern '0 is the term applied to a similar sandstone along Kewee-
naw Bay though it is not certainly the equivalent of the Lake Superior
sandstone east of Marquette. The Potsdam sandstone probably un-
derlies the whole of the Michigan Basin. It outcrops at numerous
points in the Northern Peninsula, especially along the Lake Superior
shore from Marquette eastward to beyond Grand Portal, and it has
been penetrated by drill holes in the southern part of the Peninsula.
In the Southern Peninsula, it is so deeply buried that no borings have
reached it. The formation is composed mainly of fragments of quartz
and feldspar and comprises an upper red member, locally mottled
and streaked, and a lower one of lighter color. It varies much in
thickness, from 1500 feet at Grand Marais to only about 200 and 300
feet at Rapid River and on Neebish Island.
ORDOVICIAN.
Calciferotis, Lower Magjiesian, (Prairie du Chien), Hermansville
Limestone. The Calciferous outcrops in the Northern Peninsula on
Calciferous creek, a branch of the Au Train river, and on St. Mary's
river near West Neebish Rapids. This formation, or perhaps only
the lower part of it, is represented by the Hermansville limestone.
It is mainly white sandstone, limestone, and sandy limestone. Its
sandy phases resemble the St. Peters and the whiter portions of the
Potsdam, hence the three formations are not readily separated in
drill samples. Wells along Green Bay indicate a thickness of 200 to
250 feet.
St, Peters. Exposures of the St. Peters sandstone are not known
in Michigan. Apparently it is about 75 feet thick at Marinette,
(Wis.), absent near Stonington and 18 feet thick at Rapid River,
but further east in the Northern Peninsula it has not been recognized.
The formation is very irregular in thickness and appears to fill hollows
in the eroded surface of the Calciferous. In the Southern Peninsula
it has not been penetrated.
Trenton Limestone. The Trenton limestone outcrops at various
places on the west side of Green Bay and Little Bay de Noc, along
Rapid and Whitefish reivers, and on St. Marys river. Wells have
penetrated it at Manistique, Pickford, on Manitoulin island, and in
western Ontario. In the Southern Peninsula it has been penetrated
only in the southeastern part and at depths of over 1500 feet. It is
a widespread formation and probably once extended over the whole
Sy5
OUATEI
FOSSIBU
CARBONn
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 23
of Wisconsin and Michigan, but later was eroded from the present
pre-Cambrian areas.
In the Northern Peninsula, it appears to be about 250 feet thick,
though across the bay from Escanaba near Stonington it is over 270
feet thick. In the Southern Peninsula, its thickness is unknown.
In the Northern Peninsula the Trenton has three phases, (1) an
upper granular, crystalline, dolomitic limestone of alternating blue
and brown layers terminating at the base in a dark or black bitumin-
ous limestone, (2) *a middle portion of cherty layers or lenses alternat-
ing with thick beds of limestone and, (3) a basal member of blue shales
and limestone, a part of the latter being black or dark. The sandy
middle division and the lower blue shaly one appear to have a wide-
spread distribution.
The Trenton limestone is an important oil bearing formation in Ohio-
In the outcrops near Rapid and Whitefish rivers in the Northern
Peninsula, oil impregnates the rock and asphaltum gum fil's fissures
and cavities. In Monroe county (Chapter IV) nearly all of the drill
holes penetrating this horizon yield a little oil and gas. In Ontario,
however, where it has been penetrated at many places, it is apparently
barren
Utica Shale. (Ekien of Ohio). The Utiea shale is very black and
bituminous and of fairly uniform thickness which, however, varies
from 50 feet in the Northern Peninsula to nearly 200 feet in the south-
eastern part of the Southern Peninsula. It is easily recognized, but
drillers who are not familiar with it are apt to confuse it with the equally
black Antrim shales of the Devonian.
Lorraine or Maysville. The Utica and Lorraine shales are soft rock,
and therefore easily eroded. They occupy low ground extending
through Green Bay and Little Bay de Noc and along the north side
of the prominent escarpment of the Niagara limestone from Cardan
Peninsula to Drummond island. The Lorraine shale is generally cal-
careous and full of fossils. Its color is mainly blue but black streaks
occur in it, especially towards its base. The top of the formation is
hard to distinguish from the Richmond and the Medina shales above,
and its base from the Utica shale below. According to Lane, in the
southern part of the state there are above the Trenton about 600 feet
of shaly beds of which he ascribes 200 feet to the Utica, 250 feet to the
Lorraine, and 150 feet to the Richmond and Medina. In the north-
ern part of the state the Lorraine is more variable in thickness, but
it is apparently a very persistent formation throughout the State.
SUiURIAN.
Richmond and Medina. These formations represent the transition
from the blue shale of the Lorraine below to the red dolomitic beds
24 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
of the Clinton above. They are characterized by the prevalence of
soft red shale, sandy in places and mixed here and there with green
shale. The Richmond, Medina, and Lorraine cannot be sharply
separated. The Richmond and Medina have not been recognized in
outcrop anywhere in Michigan and apparently are only sparingly
represented in the Northern Peninsula, but in southeastern Michigan
and western Ontario, they are much more prominently represented.
In Ontario the Medina is largely sandstone and an important oil and
gas bearing formation with three productive horizons. In the South-
em Peninsula, this formation is practically unexplored and little is
known concerning its oil and gas possibilities.
Clinton. The Clinton formation is thin, poorly represented, and
not readily separated from the Rochester shale above or the Medina
below. In most places, where present at all, it is a clayey dolomite
with more or less iron ore and red shale. Its thickness varies from
nothing to 130 feet. The presence of water and gas is characteristic
of the top of the formation.
Rochester Shale, A blue shale horizon which, though persistent, is
never very thick (30 to 80 feet), occurs above the Clinton formation.
In many places, it is absent. These blue shales have been correlated
with the Rochester formation of New York but they may be a part of
the Clinton.
The Niagara Limestone, (Guelph and Lockport,) In the Upper Pen-
insula, the Niagara limestone forms an almost continuous belt of out-
crops from the southern part of Garden Peninsula along the Lake
Michigan and Lake Huron shores to the eastern point of Drummond
island. The formation is composed of an upper whiter part called the
Guelph dolomite, and a lower less white and uniform one, the Lock-
port. This formation as a whole is remarkably free from impurities,
especially iron and clayey material and is composed dominantly of
carbonates of calcium and magnesium with the exception of thin
lenses and nodules of chert and occasional sandy beds. Dolomite
predominates, though there are heavy beds of very pure limestone in
the lower part. According to Lane, the extreme whiteness of the
upper part, its occasional grains of sand, and beds of sandstone and
chert are characteristic thoughout the State. Its thickness varies
from 270 to 350 feet in the southern part of the Southern Peninsula
to about 600 feet in the Northern Peninsula. The Niagara is an
important producer of oil and gas in Ontario. The formation yields
strong flows of fresh water or weak brine at one or more horizons.
The mineralized waters or weak brines of the Niagara are characteris-
tically different from the strong sulphate brines of the Monroe forma-
tion above.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 26
Salina. The Salina in southeastern Michigan is an extremely
variable formation composed of alternating layers of compact brown
to drab dolomite^ anhydrite (partially converted into gypsum), and
salt beds with minor amounts of red, green, and rarely blue and black
shales, and dolomitic marls or oozes. It cannot always be separated
from the overUnng Monroe Formation, because the salt beds are absent
in many areas and there is nothing to distinguish the dolomites of the
Salina from those of the Monroe. In the absence of salt beds, the
top of the first gypsum bed may be taken as the dividing line but as
there is more or less gypsum in the Lower Monroe, and even in the
Upper Monroe, this is an unsatisfactory basis of division. In the
Northern Peninsula and in southwestern Michigan, the Monroe and
Salina cannot be diflferentiated.
In southeastern Michigan and western Ontario, the thickness of the
Salina range? from 370 feet to more than 950 feet, but the average
for the Detroit river district is 700 to 800 feet. Rock salt beds have
a great development along the flanks of the Cincinnati anticline and,
in Michigan, the aggregate thickness of the beds increases down the
dip to the northwest, the total thickness being over 609 feet in the
Royal Oak well in Oakland county.
South of a line from Muskegon through Kalamazoo to Trenton, no
rock salt has been found. In the southwestern and western part of
the State, the Salina is much thinner and cannot be separated from
the Monroe beds above it. In the Manistee Ludington salt district,
the salt beds have an aggregate thickness of only 20 to 40 feet. In
Presque Isle and Alpena counties, the Salina apparently is developed to
an equal or even greater thickness than in southeastern Michigan.
The Salina is apparently over 1100 feet thick in the Onaway well
where it includes over 800 feet of rock salt. The Grand Lake well
penetrated 428 feet of the Salina, including nearly 325 feet of salt,
but did not reach the bottom of the formation. Further drilling may
«how that the Manistee-Ludington, Alpena-Onaway, and the south-
eastern Michigan and western Ontario rock salt areas are only por-
tions of a large area.
Signs of oil and gas have been observed in the lower dolomite of the
Salina, but in southeastern Michigan this formation has been pene-
trated at so many places without striking any noteworthy amounts
of either oil or gas (aside from hydrogen sulphide gas) that it does
not appear to be a promising oil and gas bearing formation.
Monroe Formation, The Monroe formation is divided into three
parts — Upper, Middle (Sylvania), and Lower, but these divisions can
be clearly recognized only in southeastern Michigan.
Lower Monroe or Bciss Island Series. The Lower Monroe, or Bass
26 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Island Series, is exposed in eastern Monroe county. It varies from
about 365 feet to 440 feet in thickness in southeastern Michigan.
Oolite, sandy dolomite, dolomite with anhydrite, and acicular or
gashed dolomite are characteristic of the formation in both the North-
ern and the Southern Peninsulas.
Sylvania, Middle Matiroe. In southeastern Michigan the Sylvania
sandstone is composed of very whit« sandstone, (5 to 300 feet thick)
and of siliceous limestone or dolomite (30 to 165 feet). This forma-
tion is found only along the flanks of the Cincinnati anticline. It is
thicker along a line from Milan, Monroe county, northeast to Royal
Oak, Oakland county. To the west of this line and also toward the
outcrop, where it is between 50 and 100 feet thick, the formation
grows thinner. Toward the north, along St. Clair river it grades
into sandy dolomite. The Sylvania sandstone is very easily recog-
nized for it is pure white, generally incoherent or little cemented, and
resembles granulated sugar. It yields "sulphur'^ water and much
hydrogen sulphide gas.
Upper Monroe or Detroit River Series. The Upper Monroe (0 —
350 ft.) is composed mainly of dolomite interstratified with limestone
of great purity, the Anderdon beds. One of the heavy beds of dolo-
mite is bituminous and oily throughout, and oil occups also in cavities
and fissures in this formation. Little or no free oil has been found,
however, in the many drill holes which have penetrated this forma-
tion along Detroit and St, Clair rivers.
DEVONIAN.
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone. The Dundee limestone underlies
most of the Southern Peninsula, and, imder other names, western
Ontario, and the Ohio and the Mississippi valleys. Its exposures
skirt the northern shore of the Lower Peninsula from the northwestern
point of Emmet county to the eastern extremity of Presque Isle county,
and extend from southeastern Wayne county southwest through Mon-
roe and Lenawee county into Ohio. It has been penetrated in hun-
dreds of drill holes in the Southern Peninsula and Ontario. It is the
lowermost formation which has been penetrated in the central part of
the Southern Peninsula, having been encountered at depths ranging
from 2900 feet at Saginaw and 3270 feet at Bay City to 3667 feet at
Mt. Pleasant.
In southeastern Michigan, the Dundee is only about 100 feet thick,
but it gradually thickens west and northwest to a maximum of 250
feet throughout an area extending northeast from Barry, Eaton, and
Jackson counties into Saginaw and Bay counties. In the southwestern
part of the Southern Peninsula, and especially in the western part, it
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 27
becomes much thinner. At Allegan it is not over 125 feet thick, per-
haps absent at Muskegon, and is only 100 feet thick at Ludington.
In Presque Isle and northern Alpena counties, however, the thickness
is over 200 feet thick.
In Michigan, the Dundee nearly everywhere is a true limestone,
usually light gray to buff in color, very fossiliferous, and locally con-
taining nodules and seams of chert. Some of the beds of limestone
are remarkably pure, averaging over 98 per cent calcium carbonate.
With dilute acid, the Dundee limestone always gives a vigorous effer-
vescence in marked contrast to the Monroe dolomite below. The
formation* in many places gives off a strong odor of oil and contains
drops of thick black bituminous matter in small cavities. In Ontario,
the formation yields oil in considerable quantity, but in Michigan, at
Port Huron, Saginaw, and Allegan, it scarcely approaches commercial
importance as an oil producer. From the fact that the Dundee usually
shows abundant signs of oil and gas wherever penetrated, and that
it is easily accessible nearly everywhere in the Southern Peninsula, it
appears to be the most promising oil formation of the State.
The Dundee generally yields an abundance of sulphate water or
strongly mineralized brines at some distance from the top. So much
water was encountered in the top of the formation in the Braun well
at Mt. Pleasant as to cause its abandonment.
Traverse {Hamilton and Marcellus) Formation, The Traverse forma-
tion outcrops along the south side of Little Traverse Bay and at vari-
ous points across the northern end of the Southern Peninsula into
Presque Isle and Alpena counties where it is extensively exposed or is
under light drift cover. In southeastern Michigan, it is wholly con-
cealed by drift. The formation is essentially a series of transition
limestones, generally hard and fossiliferous, and calcareous shales or
soapstones from the Dundee limestones below to the heavy shale of
the Antrim above. Wells along Little Traverse Bay indicate that
limestone greatly predominates over the shale in that portion of the
Southern Peninsula. Some of the limestones are very high grade
and are quarried on an extensive scale in Alpena, Charlevoix and
Emmet counties. In the northern and eastern parts of the Southern
Peninsula, the formation averages about 600 feet thick. In the south-
em and southeastern parts it is much thinner, being only about 300
feet at Port Huron, 168 feet at Milan, less than 100 feet at Adrian, 55
feet at Jackson and Charlotte, 70 feet at Kalamazoo, and 190 feet at
Benton Harbor. A heavy blue or black shale, the Bell (or Marcellus)
occurs nearly everywhere at the base and is thus of great stratigraphic
importance.
sSberzer: Geology of Wayne county, Pub. 12, Geol. Series 1, p. 201, Michigan Geological
and Biological Survey.
28 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
In the recent drill holes (see Chapter VI) in the vicinity of Saginaw,
an excellent oil was found in a sandy or cherty limestone at the top
of the Traverse, but not in commercially important quantities. In
one of the wells, three oil bearing horizons were encountered in the
Traverse. The oils from the lower horizons were black, much heavier,
and of inferior grade. Elsewhere in the State the Traverse has given
little promise.
Antrim Shale. (Ohio, Huron, Chagrin, Cleveland, and Bedford of
Ohio, Genesee, Portage, and Chemung? of New York). The Antrim
black shale is one of the most easily recognized horizons in the South-
ern Peninsula. It varies from 140 to 480 or more feet in thickness
and consists mainly of pyritic shales, nearly everywhere black and bi-
tuminous in the lower part and locally blue in the upper part. Spheri-
cal to ellipsoidal calcareous concretions from an inch to six feet in
diameter are characteristic of the formation in certain localities. Where
the Antrim passes into the Berea horizon, elsewhere represented by
sandstone, it is generally red, gritty, or interstratified with thin sand-
stone lenses. In places this formation contains so much bituminous
matter that it resembles coal and can be burned. Generally it smells
»
strongly of petroleum and nearly always yields small quantities of
gas when penetrated in drill holes. The oil and gas of the Upper
Traverse and of the Berea sandstone were possibly largely derived
from this bituminous shale. The Devonian formations, especially
the Antrim and Dundee, can be traced across southeastern Michigan
by a line of * 'shale ^ ' or surface gas wells and gas springs.
MIS8IS8IPPIAN.
Berea Sandstone. This formation was originally defined by Lane^
as the Richmondville sandstone and was regarded as equivalent of
the Berea grit of Ohio. Later he concluded that the ** Richmond-
ville'' is not the exact equivalent of the Berea, ''but a stray sand-
stone higher up. ' ' The Berea in Michigan forms the base of the Cold-
water, but it cannot always be recognized with certainty on account
of the occurrence of sandstone in the lower portion of the Coldwater.
The Berea exists as a sandstone only on the eastern side of the
Southern Peninsula, where it is generally white to gray in color and
full of pure strong salt brine. In southeastern Michigan, it is a coarse
gray sandstone, 100 feet or more in thickness, but, in Saginaw Valley,
it is generally very fine grained. Farther north in Iosco and Alcona
counties, the Berea is much thinner, and, towards the western side of
the State, the formation disappears as a sandstone. At Alma, Mt.
'Sherzer: Geology of Wayne county, Fub. 12, Geol. Ser. 9, 1911, p. 191.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 29
Pleasant, and Grayling, it is either represented by red shales, locally
sandy, or it is absent.
At Blackmar, Saginaw county, Bay City, and Killmaster, Alcona
county, this formation yields very considerable quantities of gas, and,
previous to the recent explorations at Saginaw, it was supposed to be
one of the most promising gas horizons in Saginaw Valley. Unfortu-
nately, it proved to be so fine grained that it yielded relatively little
brine, and only moderate amounts of gas. On the western side of
the State, owing to the red shaly character of the rock of the Berea
horizon, the possibilities seem to be less promising than on the eastern
side.
Coldwater Shale. Part of Waverly, Sunbury or Berea shale together
with Cuyahoga and Raccoon (?) and perhaps Black Hand of Ohio.
The Coldwater shale is one of the thickest formations in the State.
It underlies the surface deposits of a large portion of the Southern
Peninsula, but, being a soft formation, has but few exposures. It is
composed largely of blue shales with nodules of iron carbonate, es-
pecially near the top, and lenses of sandstone and sandy shale with
subordinate streaks of limestone, particularly on the western side of
the State. A thin, but very persistent black bituminous shale, called
the Sunbury or Berea, lies at the base just over the Berea grit. At
the top, the Coldwater grades upward into the red shale and sandstone
of the Lower Marshall, from which it cannot be sharply separated.
The Coldwater and the Lower Marshall are apparently from 1000 to
1200 feet or more in thickness. The shales are soft, nearly every-
where free from water, and afford the easiest of drilling. In some
places brine bearing sandstone lenses occur at some distance above the
Berea grit and cannot readily be distinguished from it, as in the Bay
City, Grand Rapids, Caseville, Tawas City, and Richmondville wells.
■ Marshall Sandstone. Napoleon or Upper Marshall and Lower Mar-
shall. (Raccoon, possibly. Black Hand and Logan of Ohio in part,
Kinderhook of Illinois.) The Marshall sandstone forms an almost
continuous belt around the central portion of the Southern Peninsula
and outcrops at many points throughout an arcuate belt from Port
Huron southwest into Jackson, Hillsdale, and Calhoun counties and
thence northwestward into Ottawa county. It consists of an upper
coarse white to gray pyritous and nonfossiUferous sandstone, called
the Napoleon sandstone, and a lower white to gray or red micaceous
sandstone grading downward into sandy red and blue shales. In
Huron county the Lower Marshall is largely sandstone and contains
minor amounts of **peanuf conglomerate, composed of rounded
fragments of quartz, which resemble peanuts, and grindstones and
whetstones. In the central part of the Michigan Basin, the sand-
30 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
stone of the Lower Marshall is replaced by a series of red and blue
shales, usually sandy. The bottom, and especially the top, is generally
marked by a red sandstone or sandy shale popularly called, ** paint
rock. ' '
The Upper Marshall is nearly nonfossiliferous but the Lower Mar-
shall has several extremely fossiliferous horizons. Strong brine occurs
in abundance in the Upper Marshall away from the outcrop and is
characterized by its content of bromine, especially toward the centre
of the Basin. Near the margin, the Napoleon is an abundant source
of fresh water. The thickness of the Marshall formation in Huron
county is fully 560 feet, but elsewhere in the State it varies from 260
to 300 feet. Hundreds of drillings for oil, brine, or fresh water have
penetrated the Marshall but no signs of either oil or gas have been
encountered anywhere.
Michigan Series or Lower Grand Rapids. The Michigan Series is
a variable formation both in thickness and character. It consists
chiefly of dark or bluish limestone or dolomite with blue or black,
and, rarely, reddish or greenish shales and dark or red sandstone.
Well records indicate that gj-psum or anhydrite, associated with dark
dolomite and dark blue shale, occurs ever>'where near the middle of
the formation. In certain areas, gypsum beds are numerous, but
most of them are thin, ranging from a fraction of an inch to a foot or
more thick. Some of the thicker beds which are being quarried and
mined in Kent and Iosco counties, however, are from 6 to 23 feet
thick. The sandstones are thin and irregular, and dark limestones
occur near the base of the formation.
Near the margin, excepting along the southeastern portion, the
formation is apparently about 200 feet in thickness, but toward the
center of the Basin it is much thicker, being 330 feet at Midland and
358 feet at Mt. Pleasant. Along the southeastern margin from Tus-
cola county into Jackson county the formation is absent in whole or
in part. The water from the Michigan Series is salty and ** bitter,''
being high in sulphates of calcium and magnesium. The high con-
tent of sulphates in these brines readily distinguishes them from those
of the Marshall immediatelv below.
Bay Porl Limestone or Maxville, Upper Grand Rapids, (Upper
St. Louis, Middle Kaskaskia.) The Bay Port, or Maxville,
limestone is very irregular in thickness and distribution owing
to heavy erosion subsequent to its deposition. The unconformity
between the overlying Coal Measures and the Maxville is
very pronounced and distinctly marks the division between the
Mississippian and Pennsylvanian. Present evidence afforded by
drillings and rock exposures indicates that the Maxville exists only
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 31
in fragments over much of the Basin. On the southeastern margin
from Tuscola into Livingston county, it seems either to have been
completely removed by erosion or was never deposited. From Jack-
son to Grand Rapids, remnants of the Maxville occur and this evi-
dence points to the probability that erosion rather than non-deposi-
tion explains the apparent absence of the formation along the south-
eastern margin. Generally, the formation is not over 50 to 75 feet
in thickness, but at Mt. Pleasant it appears to be 235 feet thick. Hard
light bluish limestone with chert and white sandstone lenses are char-
acteristic.
PENNSYLVANIAN.
Parma Sandstone or Conglomerate. (Pottsville). The Parma is a
white sandstone containing local conglomerates with small white
quartz pebbles like split peas. It is the basal member of the Penn-
sylvanian and a very persistent and easily recognized horizon vary-
ing from to 170 feet in thickness. It jaelds an abundance of fresh
water around the margin and sulphate brines near the center of the
Basin.
Saginaw Formation (Upper Pottsville). The Saginaw formation is
the uppermost and youngest of the Paleozoic sediments and under-
lies the drift in the whole central portion of the Southern Peninsula.
Unlike the lower formations, it does not partake of the basin-like
structure; its strata, aside from local undulations and small folds,
are practically horizontal. The Saginaw formation averages about
400 feet in thickness, and is composed of white shales or so-called
fire clays, sandstones, black shales, and coal seams. There are also
sul)ordinate amounts of blue shales, thin seams of black band ore
(siderite) and, rarely, beds of thin limestone. In general, the strata
vary markedly in character and thickness within relatively short
distances. Apparently, however, there is a curious persistence of
local facies; that is, in one locality the strata may be predominantly
sandstone, while in another shales predominate. The same is true
of the coal seams, some regions having several seams, generally thin,
and other regions none.
Near Fowlerville, a little oil was struck in a sandy shale in the top
of the formation. Many drill holes have penetrated this formation
and the underlying ones down to the Upper Marshall or Napoleon
without striking any noteworthy s gns of oil or gas.
POSSIBLY PERMO-CARBONIFEROU8.
Woodville. (Conemaugh?). Near Jackson, at Woodville, there is a
sandstone 79 feet thick, which Winchell separated from the Coal
32 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Measures and called Woodville. Wells at Maple Rapids^ St. Johns,
Ionia and Gladwin indicate the presence of a reddish sandstone which
may be the same as the buff colored Woodville. Being at the top of
the Coal Measures, the sandstone apparently has been largely re-
moved by erosion.
PLEISTOCENE.
Nearly the whole state is covered with drift or glacial deposits of
sand, gravel and clay varying from a thin veneer to 1000 feet or more
in thickness. In most of the eastern half of the Northern Peninsula
and in the southern half of the Southern Peninsula the drift is generally
less than 200 feet thick, and does not commonly exceed 300 feet,
but throughout a broad belt extending from Mason, Oceana, and New-
aygo counties northeastward into Otsego, Montmorency, and Alcona
counties, the depth to rock varies from 300 to 1000 feet or over and
the average depth is probably nearly if not fully 600 feet. From the
head of Saginaw Bay southwest to Alma, and thence northwest through
Mason and Manistee counties to Lake Michigan, there is an old pre-
glacial rock vallej' in which the drift is also ver>'^ deep, especiall(y to-
ward the west, being 400 to 500 feet in Isabella county and 500 to
over 700 feet in Manistee county. In Presque Isle and Alpena coun-
ties, in eastern Monroe county, and in Hillsdale, Calhoun and Jackson
counties the drift is absent, or thin, over areas of considerable extent.
In the eastern half of the Northern Peninsula a broad belt along the
shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron from Little Bay de Noc
eastward to Drummond Island, and another north from Little Bay
de Noc to Lake Superior are thinly drift covered. Locally, near
the lake shore in the Southern Peninsula and around the margin of
the Coal Basin, rock is exposed, or but thinly covered with drift.
Nearly everj'where the drift contains thick beds of sand and gravel
full of water. Where such beds have a suitable cover of clay and
overlie the Devonian formations, especially the Antrim or Dundee,
they yield small to considerable quantities of gas. From St. Clair
county southwest to Ohio, this surface or *^ shale" gas has been uti-
lized by the farmers for domestic purposes. In the northern part of
the Southern Peninsula, where the drift is locallv verv thick over the
Antrim shale, considerable bodies of gas are liable to be encountered
in gravel beds. At a depth of about 425 feet, a strong flow of gas
with a pressure of about 190 pounds was struck in the drift at One-
kama, (Chap. VIII), Manistee county.
OIL AND OA8 IN MICHIOAN. 33
CHAPTER II.
GEOLOGICAL FACTORS CONTROLLING THE OCCURRENCE
OF OIL AND GAS.
THE ANTICUNAL "raSOBT.
■
Very soon after the development of the great oil fields of the coun-
try, it was independently observed by different investigators, and by
some of the practical oil and gas operators, that the great oil and gas
wells in Pennsylvania, Ohio» and West Virginia, were aligned along
the crests of anticlines. T. Sterry Himt^ was one of the first to recog-
nize the influence of antidinal folds, in the accumulation of oil in
Ontario, and asserted that such structures are absolutely necessary
for large accumxUations. E. B. Andrews^ independently reached a
similar conclusion in studying the oil and gas wells of the White Oak
anticline in the vicinity of Burning SpringSi West Virginia, and ex-
plained the separation ol gas, oil, and water as due to gravity. In
a series of articles in 1881, F. W. Minsball of Ohio advocated views
similar to those of Andrews concerning the West Virginia ' ' Oil Break. ' '
H. Hoefer of Austria, without knowledge of Hunt's and Andrews'
publications, recognised that ''rock disturbance" is a fundamental
factor in the accumulati(m of oil and gas in Pennsylvania and, in 1876,
published the elements of the anticlinal theory in a book ''The Petro-
leum Industry of the United States. ' '
While the influence of the anticlinal structure was early recognized,
no attempt was made to use it in a practical way until 1883, when
I. C. White of West Virginia in connection with Wm. A. Earseman,
a practical oil operator, made an exhaustive study of the gas fields
in the Appalachian district and reached the conclusion that "rock
disturbance caused by anticlinal waves" is the important factor in
the occurrence of both oil and gas. Working upon this hypothesis,
the Grapeville, Washington, and other great gas pools were located
in the next two years. In 1885, the theory was published by Dr.
White* in Science, and the essentials of the theory, as first stated by
him in connection with the accumulation of gas, is best given in the
following paragraphs from this article.
iCanadiaa Naturalist. 1859. Amer. Jour. Scl.. Mar. 1S63.
>Amer. Jour. Scl., May 1861.
>8cience, June and Julv, 1885. The Geology of Natural Gas. See also reprint, Qeoloclcal
Surrey, West Virginia. Vol. 1, 1809. pages 160-175.
34 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
''The first explorers assumed that gas could be obtained at one
point as well as at another, provided the earth be penetrated to a
depth sufficiently great; and it has required the expenditure of sev-
eral hundred thousand dollars in useless drilling to convince capi-
talists of this fallacy, which even yet obtains general credence among
those not interested in successful gas companies.
''The writer's study of this subject began in June, 1883, when he
was employed by Pittsburg parties to make a general investigation
of the natural gas question with the special object of determining
whether or not it was possible to predict the presence or absence of
gas from geological structure. In the prosecution of this work, I was
aided by a suggestion from Mr. William A. Earseman, of Allegheny,
Pennsylvania, an oil operator of many years experience, who had
noticed that the principal gas wells then known in western Pennsyl-
vania were situated close to where anticlinal axes were drawn on the
geological maps. From this, he inferred there must be some connec-
tion between the gas wells and the anticlines. After visiting all the
great gas wells that had been struck in western Pennsylvania and
West Virginia, and carefully examining the geological surroundings
of each, I found that every one of them was situated either directly
on or near the crown of an anticlinal axis, while wells that had been
bored in the synclines on either side furnished little or no gas, but in
many cases large quantities of salt water. Further observation showed
that the gas wells were confined to a narrow belt, only one-fourth to
one milie wide, along the crests of the anticlinal folds. These facts
seem to connect gas territory unmistakably with the disturbance in
the rocks caused by their upheaval into arches, but the crucial test
was yet to be made in the actual Iqcation of good gas territory on
this theory. During the last two years I have submitted it to all
manner of tests, both in locating and condenming gas territory, and
the general result has been to confirm the anticlinal theory beyond a
reasonable doubt.
"But while we can state with confidence that all great gas wells
are found on the anticlinal axis, the converse of this is not true, viz.,
that great gas wells may be found on all anticlinals. In a theory of
this kind, the limitations become quite as important as, or even more
so than the theory itself; and hence I have given considerable thought
to this side of the question, having formulated them into three or
four general rules (which include practically all the limitations known
to me, up to the present time, that should be placed on the statement
that large gas wells may be obtained on anticlinal folds), viz.:
(a) "The arch in the rocks must be one of considerable magni-
tude.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 35
(b) '^A coarse or porous sandstone of considerable thickness, or, if
a fine grained rock, one that Would have extensive fissures, and thiis
in either case rendered capable of acting as a reservoir for gas,' niust
underlie th6 surface at a depth of several hundred feet (500 to 2,500).
(c) *' Probably very few or none of the grand arches along the
mountain ranges will be found holding gas in large quantity, since
in such cases the disturbance of the stratification Bas been so pro-
found that all the natural gas generated in the past would long ago
ago have escaped into the air through fissures that traverse all the
beds.
(d) ''Another limitation might possibly be added, which would con-
fine the areas where great gas flows may be obtained to those underlain
by a considerable thickness of bituifiinous shale.
(e) "Very fair gas wells may also be obtained for a considerable
distance down the slopes from the crests of the anticlinals provided
the dip be sufficiently rapid, and especially if it be irregular or inter-
rupted with slight crumples. And even in regions where there are
no well marked anticlinals, if the dip be somewhat rapid and irregular,
rather large gas wells may occasionally be found, if all other condi-
tions are favorable.
"The reason why natural ga^ should collect under the arches of
the rocks is sufficiently plain from a considerisition of its volatile na-
ture. Then, too, the extensive fissuring of the rock, which appears
necessary to form a capacious reservoir for a large gas well, would
take place most readily along the anticlinals where the tension in
bending would be greatest."
The theory was from the first enthusiastically accepted by many
as a complete explanation of both oil and gas accumulations, but was
violently attacked and opposed by others. There was such a general
attempt on the part of the champions of the theory to explain all
accumulations on the anticlinal basis without due regard to White's
" limitations'' and to other limiting factors not then known or fully
recognized that the theory suffered more or less unjust criticism. C.
Ashbumer, geologist in charge of the Second Pennsylvania Survey,
who was a strong opponent of the theory held that the relation be-
tween gas wells and anticlinals was merely one of coincidence, and
also that large gas wells could be found in synclines. Dr. White's
answer to these criticisms is given in the following extract from an
article published in Science July 17, 1885.
"In reply to Mr. Ashbumer 's criticism of the views advanced in
my article on natural gas, I would say that the necessary brevity of
the paper in question prevented the mention of many facts that might
have rendered the conclusions clearer and less open to challenge. One
36 OIL AND GAB IN MICHIGAN.
of these is that my oommunication had ^speoial reference to the natural
gas regione proper, i. e., where the gas is unoonneeted with the oil
fields. Most geologists know that natural gas in laige quantities ex-
ists with and contiguous to every oil pool, apparently as a by-product
in the generation of tiie oil, and of course the rocks are filled with it
wherever it can find a reservoir. To gas wells from such sources Mr.
Asbbumer's criticism may sometimes be found applicable; but, even
with these, by far the larger ones will be found on the arches of the
rocks.
''The cases that Mr. Ashbumer mentions, where large gas wells
have been found at the centers of efynclines, do not necessarily con-
tradict my conclusions; for no one knows better than he that a su-
bordinate crumple or anticlinal roll often runs along the central line
of a qmcline.
' 'My excuse for writing the article on natural gas was that I mi^t
be of some service in preventing the waste of capital that has been
going on within a radius of fifty miles of Pittsburg by an indiscrim-
inate search for natural gas; and it is a sufficient answer to Mr. Ash-
burner's criticism to point him to the brilliant lights along the crests
of the Wajrnesburg, Pinhook,. Washington, Bull Creek, Bradys Bend,
Hickory, Wellsburg, Raccoon, and other anticlinalsy* and also the
darkness that envelops the intervening ssoiclines, in which hundreds
of thousands of dollars have been invested without developing a single
profitable gas well. The same results has been proven in other por-
tions of the country. The Great Kanawha Valley above Charles-
ton has been honeycombed with borings for salt, and the only gas wells
developed were found within a belt a few rods wide, which coincides
with the crest of the Brownstown anticlinal, where immense flows
were struck. In this connection, I should say that Col Allen, of
CharFestown, says he can trace the Brownstown anticlinal by the escap-
ing gas across streams and even mountains, from the Kanawha river
to the Big Sandy, where, on its crest, near Warfield, two of the largest
gas weUs ever known have recently been struck. At Burning Springs,
on the Little Kanawha, the only large gas wells were found on the
very crest of the great uplift in that region. The gas belt of western
Ohio, through Findlay and other towns, follows closely the line of
the Cincinnati arch, and the same story is repeated in other localities
too numerous to mention.
"Mr. Ashbumer can, if he chooses, interpret these facts as mere
coincidences, and explain them to himself as having no more bearing
on the question of finding gas than "Angeirs belt theory '' of oil; but
the practical gas operator can no longer be deluded by such logic into
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 37
risking his money in water holes (synctines) where so many thousands
have been hopelessly squandered.
''With regard to the anticlinal theory not being a practical basis
for successful operations, I deem it a sufficient reply to state that all
the successful gas companies of Western Pennsylvania and West
Virginia are getting their gas from the crests of anticlinal axes, while
those that have confined their operations to synclines have met with
uniform financial disaster.
"The statement was distinctly made in my original communica-
tion that gas would not be found on all antidinals, nor at all localities
along one that actually produces gas, since other factors have to be
considered, as there stated; but, with the facts before us, it would
certainly prove a great saving of capital in the search for gas if opera-
,tions were confined to the crests of anticlinals, and I fail to perceive
how Mr. Ashbumer's fears for the 'misleading' character of my arti-
cle can be realized. ' '
In the March number of the Petroleum Age in 1886, Dr. White, in
reply to further criticism by Mr. Ashbumer, published another paper
on the occurrence of gas particularly in western Pennsylvania. In
this paper he recognized the importance of the "crowns," "hogs-
backs,'' or domes formed through the intersection of the main anti-
clines by minor ones, in causing local concentration of the oil and gas
at these points. These localizations at the cross arches explain why
the course of some anticlines are marked by a line of groups of produc-
tive wells with barren or "lean" territory in the sags or "saddles"
between the "crowns" or domes.
"An inspection of the accompan3ring map will reveal the fact that
the main northeast and southwest anticlinals are cut by another set
at nearly right angles, which have been termed crosscut anticlinals.
"The principal anticlinal axis of Illinois puts out in Ogle county, in
the northern part of the state, and extends in a direction S. 20® E
Along this axis natural gas can be traced in springs and well borings
for a distance of 160 miles. It ia however, more prevalent on the crowns
of the cross axes,
"This same story is repeated in Ohio according to the testimony of
the eminent state geologist. Professor Orton.
"These cross-cut arches result in carrying the anticlinal structure
and a line of disturbance in the rocks directly across the trend of a
syncline, and failure to grasp this fact is the principal reason why
Mr. Ashbumer insists upon his readers believing that a great gas well
may be obtained in a S3mcline; for it is quite certain that no large gas
well has ever yet been found in the trend of a sjrncline, except where
38 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
the trough itself has been elevated by a long rise which is of course
brought about by the crosscut folds.
''These are the geological surroundings of all those wells which
Mr. Ashbumer cites from northern Pennsylvania and southern New
York as occurring in synclines. It is not necessary to show a reversed
dip in order to demonstrate the existence of one of those
crosscut waves, since their crests are often marked by a simple flatten-
ing of the rate of dip along the latter. Professor Orton would call
such a structure (where there is no reversal of dip, but only a change
in rate) a suppressed anticlinal, a very good name, for such it really
is.
' ' It follows, of course, that a sjrnclinal structure may be converted
into an anticlinal one by the presence of the crosscut wave, so the
reverse may and frequently does happen."
As noted in the foregoing paragraphs, the theory was stated with
special reference to the accimxulations of gas and the ''limitations"
given by White were not intended to cover occurrences of oil, or of
gas in association with oil.
E. Orton* grasped the truth of the principles of the anticlinal theory
and used them to explain the accumulations of oil and gas in Ohio
where pronounced anticlinals are few, or wanting in many areas. He
held that structure is a vital element in the accumulation of either
oil or gas and recognized clearly that the principles of the anticlinal
theory applied to any structure having an anticlinal eflfect, provided
that due regard be given to the "limitations" of the theory, i. e., to
the other geologic factors such as water, porosity, size of the pores,
and source of hydrocarbons. In brief, he asserted that in a wide
area where the rocks are nearly horizontal no marked accumulation
can take place until the rocks are tilted considerably so that the small
disseminated particles of oil, gas, and water found in nearly all sedi-
mentary rocks can rearrange themselves in the rocks in the order of
their specific gravities, assuming the presence of water, a suitable
reservoir and an impervious cover to retain the petroliferous products.
The gas being lightest is found at the top, the oil next below and the
water lowest, filling the rest of the rock reservoir. The ideal condi-
tions for an anticlinal structure are illustrated by figure 4.
The principles of the theory^ have been widely accepted and applied
in the practical development of oil and gas fields in general. Un-
fortimately at first, the importance of the "limitations" were often
ignored, but costly experience has demonstrated the truth of White's,
statement that they are of as much or even greater importance than
the theory itself. Under the anticlinal theory as later developed by
Ohio Geol. Survey, Vol. VI, pp. 80-96.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
39
White, Orton and others, oil and gas may be expected to occur most
abmidantly on or near the crests of anticlines or other rock atructureSf
anticlinal in effect, provided: (1) that a suitable reservoir is present,
(2) that the rocks are saturated with water, and (3) that there is an
impervious cover over the reservoirs. Orton asserted that the three
limiting conditions are more often met together than structure alone,
but that they can not produce an accumulation without the aid of a
proper structure. Evidently, a large accumulation can not occur
without the presence of a stratum not only with a large amount of
pore space but also with pores of sufficient size to permit the ready
passage of oil and gas in response to gravity or hydrostatic force, nor
is oil likely to occur near the crests of anticlines or structures of like
WATBM
OAB
Olli
Figure 4. Ideal relations of oil, firas, and water in reservoirs, (a). Sandstone bed inter-
Btratifled with impervious beds. (c). Sandstone lens wholly sealed in by shales b and. not
in communication with water.
effect without the rocks are saturated with water which tends to float
the oil upward to the highest possible points.
In Pennsylvania and West Virginia, the regional folding has pro-
duced a series of pronounced anticlinal and synclinal folds with minor
folds, superimposed on the larger ones, all extending in a general north-
east southwest direction. As noted on previous pages, the location
of all the great gas wells in the latter state, on or near the crests of
the pronounced anticlines, was the significant fact which gave rise to
the anticlinal theory as stated by White. Since the axes of anticlines
do not usually lie in a horizontal position but undulate more or less^
resulting in an alternating series of rises or domes and sags, the great-
est accumulations generally occur near the crests of the domes while
Uttle or no oil and gas is found in the sags, as noted by Orton and
White. In many cases, however, considerable bodies of oil and gaa
40
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
are found on the slopes of anticlines, trapped beneath smaller super-
imposed folds.
Formerly, the opponents of the anticlinal theory made a most con-
vincing argument by pointing to the fact that, in some of the Penn-
sylvania fields, oil and gas are found anywhere from the bottom of
the sjmclines to the top of the anticlines. Apparently, this proved
that there is no relation between the occurrence of the oil and gas
and the geologic structure. As previously stated, there are several
producing oil sands (Fig. 5) in Pennsylvania, the upper ones of which
are saturated and the lower ones dry or only partially saturated. It
Figure 5. Diaj^rammatic section of the oil and gas saiids in the central Appalachian oil
region. (After W. T. Griswold and M. J. Munn).
Adaoted from Part I. Bull. 318. V. S. Geological Survey.
A. Oil sand saturated with water.
B. Dry oil sand.
C. Oil accumulation.
D. Gas accumulation.
is this combination of saturated, partially saturated, and dry sands,
which at first seemed to prove the theory false and at variance with
the facts concerning the occurrence of oil and gas. A study of each
sand separately showed that oil and gas in the sands saturated with
water are generally foimd along the crests of anticlines especially in
the vicinity of domes and therefore in direct relation to structural
conditions. In dry or partially saturated sands, the oil is more apt
to be near the bottom of the synclines or part way up the limbs.
Further observations have shown that there are many other struc-
tures which serve the s^tme purpose as normal anticlines. In Ohio,
the Cincinnati anticlines extends through the state from north to south
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 41
but it is so broad and flat that it partakes little of the oature of ordi-
nary anticliaes. On the eastern flank of this structure, however,
there are a few minor antichnes related ia part to the "anticlinal
waves" of western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, but, in general,
the disturbing force in eastern Ohio produced only marked irregulari-
ties in the normal dip. Orton noticed that in many oil and -gas flelds
of Ohio, where anticlines are absent, that the general dip becomes
flatter, or even horizontal over a considerable area before ttie normal
dip is again resumed. This fpves rise to a structural "bench" or
terrace or the arrested anticline of Orton. In such cases, the upward
migration of the oil and gas is arre8t«d or retarded by the Batter dip,
and accumulation occurs beneath the terrace and on tbe lown* slope.
Figun 0. Cross sscllon ol th« s^ine dome of the Spindle Top oil Beld, TexiE. (After
Si. ITnconsolidated nuids uid snivel*. Gre&l pu reservolis Just »boTe tbe UmeBtons.
). ClajB. often of the "ininibo" cbkrscler.
(c) Ckvemous UnieiiloDe, the chief oil reaervotr.
(d). Oypeum.
(e). Rock s<.
This appears to be the case at Allegan where the dip of the strata
suddenly chai^^. (See Fig. 13).
In Texas and Louisiana, the rock strata are locally arched up into
domes or quaquaversal anticlines, which appear to be due to dynamic
force resulting from tbe deposition of rock salt and gypsum from as-
cending waters. These substances always form the inner core of the
domes. (See Fig. 6). The greater part of the oil and gas found in
such structures occurs in the porous limestone, which forms tbe cap-
pii^ over the salt, or in porous strata immediately above the lime-
stone. Spindletop is one of the most noted of these oil and gas struc-
tures.
While strii^rs of salt ramify tbe dolomites for a short distance
above the salt beds in Michigan, there is no evidence that the strata
have been arched up mto domes as in Texas and Louiaana.
In California, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania and other states many
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Figure 7. Fonna at oil ud ru merrolia.
(t,). Inclined una ol niulBlDns Maled In by dulea (b| but BOmewhera in n>nununir*llon
with w>l«r under hvdroatftlic prewure.
(c). IncUiied bM oT undatone gndInK Into BbilM uid sealed lu bf tbem.
In connecllon with Butcj u la M.
Figure 8. Sketch ihowinR farma ol oil reservoln.
A. tjurface sands and riays.
B. Limestone lena In ahnlo.
C. Fissured or cavernoiia llmeBtone.
D. Sandslona lena In limestone.
E. Fault with Iractured or brerclated ions In the limestone, but more or less se&led In the
P. Oil bearing limestone [ormstlon.
O. Porous aiea contalnlnc oil uid lu not In communlolloD with water.
ac cumulations of oil and gas occur on unbroken slopes, apparently
not related to structure but drillings have shown that generally the
accumulations in such cases are contained in porous strata grading
up the dip into impervious rock. (Fig. 7). In many instances, the
oil reservoir is a porous sandstone lens (c of Fig. 4) hermetically sealed
in by impervious shale, in other cases a porous limestone (Fig. 8) sur-
roimded by less porous rock. In the same regions, however, many
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 43
of the accumulations and, generally the more important ones, are
determined by the anticlines and terraces. |
A less common structure is that produced by an unconformity,
especially an angular unconformity. In the Coalinga^ district of
California, the oil migrates up the highly inclined strata of the petroli-
ferous Tejon shales into the flat unconformable Vaquereros sandstone
above and collects in certain favorable places forming the chief oil
accumulations of the district. Similar conditions are illustrated in
(Fig. 19), which shows the edge of the inclined Berea sandstone in Al-
cona county imconformably overlain by the Pleistocene deposits.
As shale gas is abundant in the drift along the strike of the oil and gas
formations in Michigan, it is proof beyond reasonable doubt that the
gas has escaped from the underlying rocks into the overlying sand
and gravel beds, as at Killmaster (See Chapter IX), Alcona county.
In eastern Mexico, the accumulations are in the upturned edges of
porous strata adjacent to old volcanic necks. This form of occurrence
is one of the strongest arguments advanced by the exponents of the
inorganic theory of the origin of oil. The oil, however, instead of
originating from volcanic emanations from the interior of the earth
much more plausibly has been distilled by volcanic heat from the
bituminous matter in the intruded sedimentary strata.
In many oil fields, particularly those of the western states, there
are numerous faults involving weak or soft strata such as clays and
shales. Fractures and faults in such formations are readily healed,
preventing the escape of oil and gas from the porous reservoirs below
and these products may collect next the ends of the impervious strata,
as illustrated in Figure 8. In some oil and gas fields, as in the Niagara
limestone of western Ontario, fissured and fractured zones in dense
non-porous limestones form the chief oil reservoirs. (Fig. 8). Since
the Niagara yields oil only a few miles east of Detroit river, and as
the strata are locally disturbed along the river, it is possible that simi-
lar fractured zones may exist in the Niagara in southeastern Michigan
and prove oil bearing.
From a study of the occurrence of oil and gas in the various fields
of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the following generaliza-
tions may be made concerning the application of the anticlinal theory.
1. With a completely saturated oil stratum, the accumulations show
a definite relation to the geologic structure.
2. In general, the greatest elongations of the pools are in a direc-
tion more or less parallel to and coincident with the axes of the anti-
clines.
3. With gas, oil, and water present together in the same stratum^
•U. 8. Geol. Survey, BuUetin 398. PI. V. B.
44 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
they are arranged in the order of their specific gravities, the gas at
the top or absorbed in the oil, and the oil next below, but resting on
the water which fills the remainder of the reservoir.
4. When water is absent, the oil is apt to occur near the bottom of
the S3mclines but it may be part way up the anticlinal slopes, caught
in superimposed S3rnclines or in porous areas.
5. Oil and gas also occur in sealed reservoirs which may be located
near the crests of anticlines, on the slopes, or in synclines. Water
may or may not be present.
6. Oil and gas may occur on a ''structural bench," i. e., where the
dip of the strata changes from gentle to steep.
7. Oil and gas occur in other structures, which are not anticlines,
but which serve in the same capacity, and the principles of the anti-
clinal theory (subject to its limitations) apply as in the case of normal
anticlines.
8. Gas occurs mainly near the crests of anticlinal folds, but it occurs
in greater volume beneath certain upward rises along the crests, called
"domes."
9. Due to local changes in dip and porosity, gas occurs also in volume
at many other points.
10. Oil in rocks saturated with water is found in the coarse grained
porous areas but appears to be wholly excluded from many porous
but fine grained areas in the same oil stratum, and this seems to be
due in some way to capillary force and viscosity, the effects of which
are not well understood.
ROCK PRESSURE IN GAS AND OIL WELLS.
The pressure developed within the casing of a gas or oil well, when
the casing valve is closed, is called the ' ' rock ' ' or closed pressure. This
pressing, which in general increases with the depth of oil or gas sand,
varies from a few pounds up to 1500 or more, but the rock pressure
in most of the great gas fields ranges from 300 to 800 pounds. Rock
pressure, as observed, is always greatest when a field is first opened.
The open pressure of a well is the pressure exerted by the cokunn
of gas escaping with unobstructed flow from the casing. The greater
the volume of gas discharged in a given time the greater the open
pressure. This pressure which is rarely more than a few pounds is
measured by some form ol a gauge held in the current of escaping
gas, but the open pressure of weUs of less capacity than 1,000,000
cubic feet per day cannot be measured by the ordinary high pressure
gauges. Resort must be made to the water or mercury cohinm, or
the anemometer.
The amount of closed pressure developed by a well is no indication
OIL AND OAS IN MICHIGAN. 45
of ite size and value. A small well may develop ae great a cloeed
pressure as a laige erne. A rough estimate of the size of a well, how-
ever, ean be made by noting the time necessary for it to develop the
majrimum rock pressure after being closed. In a large well, the full
pressure is attained almost instantly, in a few seconds, or in a minute
at the longest. Wells of small volume on the contrary require several
hours or even days to develop the marimum pressure obtaining in
the pool. The time necessary for a well to develop its maximum
rock pressure bears such a close relation to its size that generally the
volume or value of a gas well is roughly estimated by comparing the
amount of pressure developed per minute (''minute pressure") after
beix2g closed and the total rock pressure devel(^)ed. Veiy accurate
determinations are obtained by the use of the improved Pitot tube,
which gives the capacity of a gas well in cubic feet.
The reason for the great difference in the volume of gas wells in the
same pool lies in the fact that the porosity of the reservoir varies
markedly from place to place. In the fine grained portions, the gas
and oil escapes into the wells slowly, hence the flows are small. Large
wells always indicate very open and porous reservoirs, frcNU which
the gas and oil can escape most freely. In general it may be stated
that the greater the porosity and the rock pressure in an oil and gas
reservoir, the greater is the size of the wells.
Cause of Rack Pressure. The cause of rock pressure in gas and oil
wells has been the subject of much speculation and argument, and
the controversy is still unsettled. Four theories have been advanced
in explanation of rock pressure.
1. Hydrostatic pressure from water.
2. Pressure due to the expansive nature of the gas itself.
3. Pressure as the result of the weight of the overlying rocks.
4. Pressure from gaseous emanations from deep seated rocks.
In most fields, the oil and gas bodies are surrounded by salt water
which, when penetrated by the drill, rises in the well to a certain height
or even to the surface and above, in response to the pressure of the
head of water contained in the rocks. This is the explanation of the
artesian well, and E. Orton and I. C. White, and many other early
investigators, once held that rock pressure in gas and oil wells similarly
is due to direct water pressure acting under artesian conditions. Orton
observed that in Ohio the pressure in most of the gas wells from the
Trenton limestone was approximately the same as the calculated
weight of a column of water of imit cross section reaching from the
gas sand to the assiuned level of the outcrop of this formation. In
the case of oil wells, according to the artesian theory, whenever the
elevation of the outcrop of the oil formation is sufficiently high above
46 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
the mouth of a well to overcome the loss of head through capiilazy
friction, the pressure from the hydrostatic head will force the oil or
water, as the case may be, up to or above the surface and the cal-
culated weight of this column should represent the rock pressure.
Rock pressure in general increases with depth in about t^e same pro-
portion as the weight of a column of water extending from the sur-
face to the same depth, but while this is strong evidence that water
is generally an important factor in causing rock pressure, it does not
follow that it is always a factor, and much less an important one.
The artesian theory assumes a porosity of the oil or gas stratum
from well to outcrop, but this assumption in many instances is not
warranted by the facts. Many oil sands vary greatly in porosity
within short distances. In Oklahoma, California, and other western
states some of the oil reservoirs are mere lenses devoid of water and
sealed in by impervious strata. The so-called ** Saginaw oil sand"
(Chap. V) at the top of the Traverse at Saginaw appears to be a thin
porous sandy or cherty limestone non-water bearing, of very limited
extent, and sealed in by calcareous or bluish shale. Porous lenses
appear to be characteristic of this formation, as it yields water only
locally, at. different levels and with small head in many cases. The
deep Gordon and other sands beneath, in Pennsylvania and West
Virginia, contain little or no water. Evidently under the conditions
cited above water cannot be an important factor in causing rock pres-
sure. Orton in his investigations of the New York gas fields foimd
pressures of 1500 pounds, or much greater than could be accounted
for under the artesian theory. In other fields also, rock pressures
have been struck at depths much too shallow to be due to any
hydrostatic head possible under the conditions. Thus the artesian
theory breaks down as an explanation for all cases of oil and gas pres-
sures.
It has been urged also that if artesian water is the cause of rock pres-
sure, this pressure in a given field should remain practically constant
instead of showing a more or less gradual decrease. This argument
is not conclusive for, admitting that water is the primary factor in
causing rock pressure in a gas pool, the pressure always tends to de-
crease inversely as the number and size of the wells opened. Owing
to greater friction, the passage of water through the pores of a rock
is much slower than that of gas, hence the invasion of the gas reservoir
by water (or oil) may lag behind the escape of the gas, with a conse-
quent fall in the rock pressure. This is especially pronounced in the
case of close grained sands tapped by many wells. In open coarse
grained rocks offering little resistence to the passage of water, the fall
is much less rapid. To determine the maximum rock pressure in a
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 47
field where artesian conditions prevail, all of the wells must be closed
for a period sufficient for the water to invade the gas reservoir and
restore the full pressure of the hydrostatic head. The rock pressure
in the oil and gas sands of some of the Pennsylvania fields has de-
creased to zero and in certain pools continuous pumping has tended
to develop a vacuum^ in the sands.
The '* expansion hypothesis" advocated by Prof. Lesley many years
ago ascribes rock pressure to the expansive nature of the gas itself.
Solid and liquid bituminous material in the reservoirs or in the asso-
ciated rocks are supposed to give rise to gases which occupy many
times more space than the liquid or solid sources. The gas tends to
expand to fill this space and thus exerts pressure. This theory is
apparently the true explanation for the rock pressure observed in
sealed reservoirs and sands devoid of water and accounts satisfactorily
for the variable pressures found in shale gas pockets.
In sands containing water under artesian conditions, the expansive
force of the gas equals that exerted by water. Any increase in pres-
sure by the former will tend to force back the water until equilibrium
is again established through the increase in the capacity of the gas
reservoir. In close grained sands, however, resistance to the passage
of water is very great, hence the expansive pressure of the gas may
become much greater than that from any possible hydrostatic head.
This may explain the occurrence of exceptional pressures at depths too
shallow to be accounted for under the artesian theory. I. C. White
also suggests, as a possible explanation for the apparent agreement
of rock pressures with the artesian pressure theory, that the long con-
tinued escape of small quantities of gas upward to the surface along
fissures and joints has reduced the original pressure of expansion within
the rock reservoir to that found on opening any new gas field, and
in the case of small fissures and joints filled with water, the escape
of gfls would be arrested as soon as the resistance to the passage of
the gas equals the pressure exerted by the head of water.
The third theory ascribes rock pressure to the weight of the over-
l3dng sediments. Against this theory, it is urged that oil and gas
bearing rocks must be in a crushed state before the weight of the over-
Ijring rocks can be effective in reducing pore space and exertmg pres-
sure upon the contained liquids and gasei^. In the original argillace-
ous and calcareous muds and sands, now shales, limestones, and sand-
stones, gravity was a very effective force in causing consolidation
and a reduction of pore space with a consequent increase of pressure
on the liquid and gaseous contents. Rock pressure in the case of
sealed reservoirs may be accounted for in part at least in this way,
'Bull. 454 U, S. Gaol. Surv. 1911.
48 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
•
and it is possible that the pressures obtaining in some o( the oil and
gas reservwB of southern Texas and Louisiana fields are due partially
to the weight of the overiying and largely unconsolidated Tertiary
sediments of the gulf coastal plain. In general, however, the atti-
tude of the rocks and the geological conditicHis have so changed since
the consolidation and cementation of the original sediments that,
whatever pressures may have <mce obtained from the weight of over-
lying deposits, the ^TiRting rock pressures in hard indurated rocks
are probably more directly due to other factors.
Under the fourth theory, the cause of rock pressure is referred to
the pressure of gaseous emanations from deep seated or magmatic
sources. In the sone of anamorphism, or of rock flowage, the pres-
sures and temperatures are so great that gaseous and liquid solutions'
(chiefly the products of the processes of dehydration and decarbona-
tion, but probably in part the result of emanations from magmatic
sources) tend to be squeesed upward into the belt of cementation
whete lower pressures and tenperatures obtain. The upper part of
this belt contains the oil and gas reservoirs, and it is supposed that
the gaseous and liquid solutions make their way upward and trans-
mit their higher pressures and temperatures to the oil and gas bodies.
While magmatic emanations are probably a factor in causing rock
pressure, there is little evidence to indicate that they have been of
more than very minor importance in causing the pressures observed
in the great oil and gas fields of the continent, and certainly the emana-
tion theory cannot account for the pressures obtaining in sealed reser-
voirs.
In conclusion it may be said that all four theories contain some
elements of truth and that, while most of the existing evidence is in-
conclusive or contradictory, rock pressure is probably the combined
result of the factors as given in the theories. In a ^ven case, one
or two factors are generally of much more importance than the others,
and present evidence indicates that in most fields the cause of rock
pressure can be ascribed chiefly to water acting under artesian condi-
tions and to the expansive force of the gas itself.
SURFACE INDICATIONS.
Oil and gas *' signs" in some fields are related to various surface
indications. These may be divided into two classes: (1) those com-
mon to many fields, (2) those peculiar to certain fields.
In the first class are seepages of oil and gas. The seepages may
be far distant from a pool (See fig. 8) and as a general rule the area
of seepages is much larger than that of the productive territory. Large
•C. R. Van Hiae: Mom XLVII, U. 8. Geol. Surv., pp. 1017-1029.
OIL. AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 49
and numerous seepages cannot be regarded as a more favorable sign
than few and small ones. Some of the best fields gave little or no sur-
face indications of their presence prior to their discovery. Large
seepages noiay mean a very leaky reservoir and consequently little
or no accumulation. Gas seepage is a poor indicator because marsh
gas and other gases form so abundantly in many localities from decay-
ing vegetation near the surface.
There are other surface signs peculiar to certain districts which
have he&a taken as favorable indications. Two of these, characteris-
tic of the gulf coastal plain in Texas and Louisiana, are the escape of
hydrogen sulphide (HiS) gas, and the "sour'* waters. These phenom-
ena are doubtless related to the formation of the salt bodies below,
which in turn cause the formation of favorable structures for trap-
ping the oil and gas in their migration upward.
In Wyoming, and many other western fields, anticlines are frequently
discovered from surface observations or from a study of the field rela-
tion of the rock outcrops. On the Gulf Coastal Plain, low rises only
a few feet in height sometimes indicate the presence of saline domes.
More often, the anticlinal conditions are discovered only after con-
siderable drilling.
In Michigan, gas springSi the occurrence of ''shale" gas in the drift,
a scum of oil on ponds and in wells, and bituminous smelling rock,
are most abundant along the strike of the Devonian formations in
the southeastern and northern portions of the Southern Peninsula.
These signs have led to much fruitless drilling. The belt in which
the oil formations outcrop must necessarily be one of leakage rather
than accumulation.
The Survey has received many samples of highly bituminous ''oil
rock" from various parts of the State, especially from the regions
mentioned above. Some of the black shales of the Coal Measures,
the Sunbury (Berea), Antrim, and the Bell shales, and the Dundee
and Trenton limestones give off a strong bituminous odor, especially
when struck or heated. Such rocks are a source of oil and gas, but
this does not mean that they necessarily contain valuable oil or gas
pools, for reasons already given. In Michigan, the configuration of
the surface deposits has no relation to the structures in the underly-
ing rocks or to the oil horizons and the conclusions frequently drawn
by drillers from the "lay of the land" are therefore of no value what-
ever. Extensive swamps with an abimdance of gas (marsh gas, mainly
methane) are also supposed by many to be highly indicative of accumu-
lations of gas or oil in the immediate vicinity.
In many localities; a reddish oily scum with iridescent colors may
be observed on the surface of the \yater, around springs, and in moist
places. This nearly always proves to be iron oxide but it is often
mistaken for oil.
7
50 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
CHAPTER III.
THE PORT HURON FIELD.
EARLY HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT.
To Mr. C. H. Gordon^ we owe a full report concerning oil and gas
operations in the vicinity of Port Huron up to 1901. For many years
it had been known that oil and gas existed in the underlying rocks
in the vicinity of Port Huron, especially in the r^on to the east in
western Ontario. In fact, the occurrence of these products in western
Canada is mentioned in the reports of the Geological Survey of Canada
nearly seventy-five years ago.
In 186Cy-61, the small and short lived Oil Springs field was struck,
and later the Petrolia field was discovered. The latter, parallel to
the Oil Springs pool, extends northwesterly for a distance of 12 miles
nearly to the middle of Samia township, across the river from Port
Huron A third pool was found running parallel to the other two in
Euphemia township. It was this pool which led to the sinking of
several wells in Port Huron in 1886-7. Even before this, several wells
had been drilled along the river for gas. In nearly all of these, gas
was found in small or even considerable quantities in the top of the
Dundee at a depth of about 500 feet. In 1886, C. A. Bailey drilled a
number of wells. Well No. 1 (605 A. T.) was drilled 500 feet N, 1000
feet W, of the S E cor. of sec. 9, T 6 N, R 17 E, and two others appear
to have been drilled in the same immediate vicinity. In these wells,
the Dundee was struck at 543, 545 and 572 feet respectively. Gas
was found in small quantities in the surface deposits just above the
Antrim black shale, which is the bed rock in southeastern St. Clair
county, and, also, considerable odorless gas was struck near the bot-
tom of the ''top lime" of the Traverse at depths varying from about
280 to 320 feet. The first show of oil, accompanied by some gas,
occurred in the top of the Dundee at about 520 to 525 feet in all of
the three wells.
A year later, F. L. Wells drilled a test well (585 A. T.) 1685 deep
on the bank of Black river opposite Kern's brewery. There was a
"blow" of odorless gas in the ''top lime" of the Traverse; similar
to those noted in the Bailey wells, and the usual show of oil and gas
«Ann. Report for 1901. pp. 26?^290.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 51
in the top of the Dundee which was reached at 515 feet. A pocket
of hydrogen sulphide gas under strong pressure was struck in the
Upper Monroe beds, and the first conspicuous bed of salt in the Salina
seems to have been struck at about 1555 feet.
No further interest was taken in the development of the field imtil
1898, when Mr. G. B. Stock, an operator from the Canadian fields,
organized the Michigan Development Company and drilled a number
of wells on what is known as the Goodrich property n the weste n
part of the city very close to the old Bailey wells. 'According to state-
ments of ofiicials of the company, oil in relatively small yet commer-
cially important quantities was struck in all of the wells in the sandy
top of the Dundee limestone, which ts struck at an average depth of
about 520 feet in this part of Port Huron. At first, some of the wells
yielded from 2 to 3 barrels per day, but graudally all of them decreased
during the first few months until the average yield of each was about
one-half barrel per day. With such shallow and cheap drilling the
field was considered worthy of further development and new wells have
been drilled from time to time until in 1910 there were twentv-one
wells ranging in depth from about 500 to 650 feet, with a total pro-
duction of about 10 barrels per day of 10 hours. The wells are on
a tract of about 15 acres and are operated from a central pumping
station (PI. 1) by a 25 horse power gas engine which derives its motive
power from gas obtained from the wells themselves. Mr. Stock also
drilled a number of test wells north and west of Port Huron near Wad-
ham 's Station, at Abbottsford, and in Fort Gratiot township.
The showings of oil nearly everywhere in the district and the ener-
getic example of Mr. Stock incited other men to undertake develop-
ment work. Drillings were made on the old Sweitzer farm about
three miles north of the Stock wells, at Valley Centre, and elsewhere.
A few years ago the Black River Oil Company drilled a number of
wells along Black river north of the city. The company was suc-
ceeded in 1913 by the Michigan Central Oil Company which has made
further exploration, and a number of their wells are reported to yield
oil in quantities similar to the Stock wells, and also considerable gas.
While the quantity of oil is small the wells in the Port Huron dis-
trict are long lived, most of the Stock wells having been pumped from
10 to 15 years without showing any great signs of exhaustion. It is
the permanency of production which has caused the firm belief on the
part of local prospectors that a large pool must exist somewhere in
the vicinity of Port Huron. This permanency of flow seems to be
characteristic of the Dundee in Ontario also, as the Petrolia field has
been producing oil for over 45 years.
52 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
!
GEOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN WESTERN ONTARIO. i
From the study of the large number of drillings in western Ontario
and at Port Huron, much light has been thrown upon the character,
thickness and depth of the rock formations and the local geological
structures. Early geologists supposed that the great Cincinnati and
Nashville anticline, on the flanks and near the crests of which the great
oil and gas fields of Ohio occur, extended northeastward from Ohio
through the western end of Lake Erie into western Ontario. This
now appears to be true only in part. According to E. Coste of the
Canadian Survey, it runs from about Point Pelee on Lake Erie through
Essex into Kent county and dies out in the northeastern part of the
latter county. The Trenton along the supposed axis of the anticline
which in Ohio is only 350 feet below sea level at Findlay and 800 feet
near Lake Erie, is 1500 feet below sea level in Colchester township,
Ontario, 1860 feet at Leamington and 2543 feet at Petrolia. Con-
tinuing northeastward from Petrolia the Trenton begins to rise, as it
is 2310 feet below sea level near Inwood, 1166 feet at Stratford, 572
feet at Glen Allen, 310 near Alma, and 350 feet in Osprey township,
Grey county.
According to the geological section* from Hamilton on Lake On- j
tario southwest to Courtright on St. Clair river, there is a steady dip
only very slightly interrupted by minor folds and faults in Lambton
county in the vicinity of the Petrolia, Moore and Euphemia pools.
The line of section, however, is at an acute angle to the axis of the
Cincinnati anticline and passes near the bottom of the sag noted above,
hence the present drill holes might not show the presence of a gentle
arch such as the Cincinnati anticline probably is, if it exists in Lamb-
ton county.
In Ohio, the Cincinnati anticline is very low in comparison with
its great breadth. Superimposed upon it, however, are numerous
minor anticlines and structural "benches'* or terraces under which
are found the many oil and gas pools of Ohio. Likewise in Canada
there are local folds and undulations which run, not only parallel to
the supposed course of the Cincinnati anticline, but also transverse
to it. From a study of well records it appears that there are a number
of these transverse folds in Ontario, having two principal courses —
one practically east and west and the other northwest-southeast.
From this, it follows that the structures in general extend toward the
Michigan border, and perhaps across it into the state. Apparently
this is the case at Port Huron, near Algonac, and at Wyandotte and
Stony Island. The anticline at Port Huron seems to be directly in
2E. T. Corkill, 14th Rept. Ontario Bull, of Mines, 1905.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
53
line with those in Enniskillen township, Lambton county, and
evidently belongs to the same series.
The general dip of the formations is westward from Ontario into
Michigan, therefore, according to the anticlinal theory, the oil and
gas of the Dundee in the eastern part of Michigan would tend to mi-
grate eastward into Ontario and perhaps much of the oil and gas found
in the oil fields of Ontario, especially in the western part, has come
from the rocks of eastern Michigan.
The Petrolia Field. There are three oil fields in Lambton county —
the Petrolia, the Oil Springs and the Moore. The Petrolia was once
the largest and most important field in Ontario. Its wells have been
uniformly small but surprisingly long lived. Some of the wells have
been pumped for nearly forty-five years, but the production has stead-
ily fallen until the average yield per well is only 8 or 9 gallons per day.
Through the use of gas engines, utilizing the gas which flows in con-
siderable quantity from many of the oil wells, more than a hundred
wells have been operated from a single pumping plant. After the
pumps have been withdrawn many of the wells are bailed with fair
success.
In the Petrolia field, the oil occurs in a p)orous horizon, ''the lower
lime,'' the Dundee (Corniferous), at about 400 feet, or about 65
feet below the top of the formation; but, in other fields, the oil hori-
zon of the Dundee occurs from 45 to 170 feet from the top. In Mich-
igan, the oil occurs near the top of the formatiom, salt water nearly
always being struck when the formation has been penetrated to any
considerable depth.
The logs of the wells given below show the general character of the
formations in the Petrolia field.
TEST WELL, PETROLIA.
Loc. — Near Imperial Refinery. Recprdby H. P. H. Brummell, Geol. Survey Can. E. Rawlinjiis,
driller.
Elevation 667 ft. A. T.
Surface
Traverse:
Limestone (* * upper lime ' ')
Shale
Limestone ("middle lime")
Shale
Dundee:
Limestone (' ' lower lime")
Limestone, soft ^
Limestone, gray
Monroe:
Limestone, hard, white with hard streaks of sandstone from 2 to 5 feet in
thickness
Gypsum
Salina:
Salt and shale. . . ♦
Gypsum •
Salt and shale
Depth,
feet.
54
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
The4>ase of the 'Mower lime*' is regarded as the base of the Traverse
(Hamilton) by the Canadian geologists, but Michigan geologists draw
the line at the base of the overljdng shale, because this horizon is very
sharply separated from the limestone below and therefore easily
recognized in drilling. According to Lane's definition, the Dundee
includes all the limestones below the shales down to the dolomites or
gypsiferous shales of the Monroe formation. As this well does
not reach the Trenton, the record of the Carman well drilled some
years later is inserted to show the character, thickness and depth of
the rocks down to the Trenton inclusive.
CARMAN WELL, PETROLIA.
Ix>t 11. Concession 11, Enniskillen, Lambton Co., Ontario, Drilled in 1900.
Elevation 667 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene or surface:
Blue clay .'
Traverae (Hamilton)
Streaks lime and shale. At St. Clair, 775 ft.:
Dundee (Comif erous) limestone
Streaks of brown. At St. Clair about 000 ft.:
Monroe Beds
Brown, gray and black dolomite. At St. Clair, about 1630 ft.:
Salina, gray and black dolomites:
Salt
Dolomite
Salt and light streaks dolomite
Salt
Salt and dolomitic lime
Salt
Gray dolomite
Salt
Dolomite and salt
Salt •.
Dolomite and lime shale
Salt
Guelph and Niagara lime
Rochester (Niagara) shale (red and dark)
Clinton
Red Medina
Lorraine or Hudson River shale (light)
Iltica (dark)
Trenton (Trenton, Birdseye and Chazy), 1015 ft. 6^ in. casing, no salt water
or pressure of any kind found in Trenton, Finished December, 1900
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
90
90
240
330
190
520
690
1210
65
1275
20
1295
170
1465
90
1655
50
1605
25
1630
10
1640
67
1707
40
1747
138
1885
130
2015
90
2105
275
2380
60
2440
90
2530
275
2805
205
3010
165
3175
602
3777
Sarnia Tovmship. As the productive oil territory extends north-
west into the southeastern part of Sarnia township, and Sarnia lies
directly in line of the longer diameter of the Petrolia field, there was
more or less exploration in the vicinity of Sarnia.
In the Dicken's well, located in the southern part of the township,
no Antrim black shale was found yet, just across the river in Port
Huron, it is 82 feet thick in the F. L. Wells drill hole and 183 feet
thick in the Junction well in the western part of the city. E\ddently
the 200 feet of surface in the Sarnia well represents an old pre-glacial
channel as the surface materials in Port Huron are only half as thick.
The top of the Dundee at Petrolia is 335 feet A. T. and 127 feet A. T.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
55
at Samia, and this represents a drop of 208 feet to the westward in
about 15 miles, or a dip of 14 feet per mile.
DICKEN'S WELL.
Loc: Southern part of Samia near cor. Rose and Tecumaeh streets. H. Mitchel, driller.
Record by H. P. H. Brummell.
Elevation 590i: ft. A. T.
Surface:
Sand and clay
Hard pan
Gravel
Traverse (Hamilton):
Limestone
Shale
Limestone
Shale
Dundee (Corniferous) :
Limestone
Depth,
feet.
130
185
200
290
390
395
463
540
In the King's Gristmill well, Samia, one and a half or two miles
north of the Dicken's well, the drift is only 120 feet thick and there
is 36 feet of the Antrim black shale. No oil was found, but there
was a little gas At about 400 feet. The Dundee is 32 feet lower than
in south Samia, showing a dip of nearly 20 feet per mile toward the
north.
KING'S GRISTMILL WELL.
Loc.: One and one-half miles north of Dicken's well, Samia.
Record by H. P. H. Brummell, Geol.
Drilled in 1875 by E. Rawllngs.
Sur. Can.
Elevation 589 ft.
A.
T.
Thick-
ness,
fact.
Depth,
feet.
Surface:
Sand
9
109
2
36
30
263
5
40
60
100
546
200
105
•
9(
Blue clay
118
Hard pan
120
Antrim :
Black shale
156
Traverse:
Limestone
185
Shale
449
Limestone
454
Shale
494
Dundee:
Limestone
554
Gray limestone
654
Monroe:
Hard limestone.
1200
Hard and flinty
Limestone witn
limestone.
EVDSUm . . .
1400
1505
Courtright. Courtright is about 10 miles south of Samia on St.
Clair river. In a well at this place, the top of the Dundee was
struck at 46 feet A. T. or 81 feet lower than in south Samia,
the average dip to the south being only about 8 feet per mile. The
56
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
fact that the Dundee is lower both to the north and south of Samia
indicates that a fold crosses St. Clair river, probably through the
southern part of Samia into the southern part of Port Huron. As
will be seen later, this low fold appears to turn northwest in Port Huron
and run along Black river valley.
COURTRIGHT WELL, ONTARIO,
Record by H. P. H. Bnimmi^ll. Geol. Surv. Can., £. RawlinRfs, driller.
Elevation 588 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Surface sand and clay
Hard pan
Antrim:
Shale, black
Traverse:
Limestone
Shale and limestone
Dundee:
Limestone, white
limestone, gray
Monroe:
Limestone, hard, white
Sandstone (Dolomite, probably — B), (Sylvania — Lane)
Limestone
Limestone and gsrpsum
Salt
Gypsum
Thlck-
n««s,
feet.
Depth.
feet.
1.32
132
28
1<M>
32
192
40
232
310
542
50
592
100
692
370
1062
32
1094
400
1494
136
1630
22
1652
13
1665
EXPLORATIONS IN THE PORT HURON FIELD.
Port Huron. As previously noted, most of the wells in the Port
Huron field are in the western part of the city. The G. B. Stock
wells on the Goodrich property and the Bailey wells are close together.
The former, 21 in number, are owned by the Michigan Development
Co. of which E. J. Schoolcraft is president. The output is entirely
consumed by the G. B. Stock Xylite Grease and Oil Co. in the manu-
facture of a superior grade of lubricants, for which the oil is said to be
especially adapted. The oil is of a dark and heavy grade and a
natural lubricant, being similar to the Petrolia or Lambton county
oils which come from the same horizon.
The Bailey and the Stock wells are so close together that the log of
only one from each group is given.
Is
OS
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
57
THE STOCK WELLS.
Loc.: S. 4, N. W. i, sec. 9. T. 6 N.. R. 17.
Elevation 606 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Blue clay
Antrim:
Black shale
Traverse (Hamilton):
Limestone (' ' top lime")
Soapstone. soft
Limestone (' ' middle lime' ') . .
Slate or shale, dark
Soapstone
Dundee (* * Lower lime") :
Limestone, sandy, oil bearing
Limestone
Thick-
ness,
feet.
100
87
Depth,
feet.
100
187
43
230
70
300
15
315
85
400
120
520
47
567
33
600
The oil is found in the first 45 feet of the sandy top of the Dundee.
The elevation of the top of the Dundee is 85 feet A. T., or 15 feet higher
than in the F. L. Wells well to the eastward, and 23 feet higher than
the Bailey No. 1, one-half mile southwest, and 93 feet higher than
the Grand Trunk Junction well one and one-half miles southwest.
This indicates the presence of a low anticline between the Junction
and the Wells drill holes and in the \'icinity of the Stock wells.
BAILEY WELL NO. 1.
Loc.: 500 ft. N.
1000 ft. W., sec. 9 T. 6. N.. R.
Stock weils.
17. About i mile southwest of the
Elevation 605 ft. A. T.
; Surface
Antrim shale:
Traverse (Hamilton) formation:
Streak hard argillaceous limestone with FeSt
Soapstone (argillaceous marl)
Limestone (top) blow of odorless gas at 280 ft
Soapstone (argillaceous marl)
Limestone (middle)
Soapstone with streaks of limestone at 518 and 525 ft
Dundee (Corniferous) limestone:
Limestone (lower)
Thick-
ness,
feet.
100
100
125
Depth,
feet.
100
200
2
202
15
217
80
297
47
444
9
453
90
543
668
58
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN,
GRAND TRUNK JUNCTION WELL.
Loc.: At Grand Trunk Junction near the N. E. comer, eec. 18, T. 6 N., R. 17 E.
Elevation 618 ft. A. T.
Surface
Antrim shal?:
Black shale, small amount of gas at 300 ft
Traverse (Hamilton) formation:
Limestone (top)
Soapstone
Limestone (middle)
Soapstone
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone:
Limestone Gower)
Depth,
feet.
124
307
435
512
520
625
772
At 680-685 feet there was ** black water," at the bottom of the
well, brme, and a show of oil at 710 feet.
The drop of the Dundee from the Stock wells southwest to the Junc-
tion well is 92 feet in about a mile.
WELL'S BORE HOLE.
Loc.: On bank of Black River near Seventh St. bridge. Port Huron.
Drilled in 1886-7. Record from samples.
F. L. Wells, owner.
Elevation 585 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Surface, mostly clay
Antrim:
Black slate and sbale
Traverse:
Limestone (top)
Soapstone with seams of limestones
Limestone ( middle)
Soapstone
Dundee:
Limestone (lower) cherty at top with show of oil and gas
Monroe:
Dolomitic limestone with Indications of salt and gypsum
Marl and marly limestone
Hard dolomitic limestone
Bhiish black marl with gypsum
Hard dolomitic limestone with show of brine and oil
Argillaceous marl with streaks of doiomitic limestone and gypf>um
Hard gray calcareous sandstone. (Oriskany?)
Bluish black argillaceous marl
Dolomite and gypsum
Alternating beds of salt limestone and shale
Thick-
ness,
feet.
102
83
105
225
133
Depth,
feet.
102
185
290
515
648
68
716
.54
770
75
845
58
903
42
945
205
1150
95
1245
10
1255
300
1555
130
1685
This drilling is about a mile east and a little north of the Stock
wells. The Dundee apparently occurs at 70 feet A. T. in the Wells
bore hole, while to the west in the Stock wells it is 85 feet A. T. and
7 feet below tide in the Junction well. This indicates a westward
rise of 15 feet to the Stock wells in about a mile, and then a rapid
descent of 92 feet to the Grand Trunk Junction well in about a mile
and a half. The first salt in the Salina seems to have been struck at
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 59
about 1555 feet, which at Petrolia (667 ft. A. T.) in the Carman well
(see record on preceding pages) occurs at about 1210 feet. As the
distance from the Carman well to the Well's bore hole is about 15 or
16 miles and the difference in elevation is 427 feet, the dip should be
about 27 feet per mile to the northwest, or considerably greater than
for the upper formations.
The Trenton was struck at 3175 feet or 2508 feet below sea level
in the Carman well, and if we assume that the dip is the same for the
Trenton as for the top of the Salina, the Trenton at Port Huron should
be struck at about 2935 feet below sea level, or 3520 feet below the
surface. As many of the deeper formations as the Clinton, Rochester,
Medina, and Lorraine are known to vary markedly in the thickness
in Ontario, the depth may be considerably more or less than this
figure.
The Port Him)n Salt Company drilled a deep well to the rock salt
beds. The following record made from a complete set of samples is
inserted with special reference to the character of the rocks encoun-
tered.
60
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
PORT HURON SALT CO, WELL.
Elevation about 600 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Glacial drift
Antrim shale:
Black bituminous shale; no effervesoenoe
Traverss (Hamilton) Foimation:
JBluish rray dolomitic limestone: slijirbt eff
Mixed bluish and gray dolomitic limestone, probably thin bedded ; eff. brisk
in spots, owing perhaps to fossils
Bluish calcareous shale somewhat plastic: eff. free
Even more shaly and plastic; dark rather than blue, yet not as dark as
the Antrim
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone:
Light brown, limestone sharp, clear fragments; elf. very slow
Brownish, more granular: eff. fierce
Similar, with a httle darker shaly matter, perhaps accidental . .
Same; with a sandy granular character, probably more porous,
Same; eff. fierce
Almost similar, but a shade darker; no eff
Similar; slight to alow eff
Upper Monroe or Detroit River Series:
Depth,
feet.
I
Dolomite in light buff chips and white grains of anhydrite
Dark brown and granular; moderate
Mainly similar to previous samples, but ^ith a few white specks of gyp-
sum as the same is damp, it may have be^i altered from anhydrite. . .
Maini^ anhydrite •
Dolomit?, no eff
Dolomit ?; moderate eff
Dolomitic limestone evidently highly banded, fragments in pieces some-
times nearly 1 cm square x 1 mm thick at 915 ft.; light buff dolomitic
limestone, same hue sincj &&!>', no eff ,
Brown dolomitic limestone; moderate elt.; somegrains of anhy driteT; no
quartz
Light buff dolomite, brisk eff. a moment oniv
Mixed dark brown and brown bituminous dolomitic limestone; some of
the grains eff. moderately, others not at all
Dark dolomitic Imiestone; moderate eff
Similar
Slightly lighter and with some anhydrite; slight eff
Dolomite with a little anhydrite
Dolomite with anhydrite, and a gassy smeil
Dolomite; at first brisk and then slight eff
Svlvania? :
Cherty dolomite; blue gray, oxidizes brown; a few grains eff moderately;
many grains of chert
Largelv a white cherty dolomite
Lower Nlonroe or Bass Island Series:
Apparently a light buff dolomite
Darker dolomitic limestone: moderate eff
Light dolomitic limestone; mo<lerate eff. with somf! anhydrite at 1235 ft
Light dolomitic limestone; moderate eff.. rather more than at 1235
Darker dolomitic limestone: moderate eff.. strong gassy smell
Dark, evidently thin bedded dolomite; slight eff
liighter dolomite, moderate eff
Slate colored dolomitic limestone; moderately brisk eff
Bluish slate colore dolomitic limestone; moderately brisk eff
Dark bluish gray, and vari-colored dolomitic limestone: moderate eff.:
gassy
Dark dolomitic limestone, more granular, less slaty ; moderate eff
Brownish dolomitic limestone: moderate eff
Color about like 1370; very mo<lerate eff
Yellow; a very sharp change in coior; slow eff
Dark slate colored dolomite; very slirht eff.; like 1305
Dark slaty dolomite; very slightly eff.; like 1395
Equally dark, but with mor<^ of a brown tone, and white specks: with
moderate eff. and greenish and re<ldish specks
Dark slate colored anhydrite; very slight eff
Salina:
Brownish salt
Dark, slate colore<l. with impure salt and anhydrite
Salt; while this appears impure and brownish, niirroscnpir examination
shows that the impurity Ls in separate particles, probably derive<l
from the overlying bed
Blue and brown dolomitic anhydrite: slow eff. The color of the bands
is like that of 1345 to 1.395
110
190
15
60
70
135
30
50
20
5
50
45
25
20
40
15
10
5
30
30
40
15
5
25
50
35
10
25
10
5
20
25
5
20
10
20
20
15
5
20
20
20
5
25
13
8
24
20
33
3
6
4
28
110
300
315
365
435
670
600
650
670
675
725
70
795
815
65
870
880
885
915
945
985
1000
1005
1030
1080
1115
1125
1150
1160
1165
1185
1210
1215
1235
1245
1265
1285
1300
1305
1325
1345
1365
1370
1395
1408
1416
1440
1460
1493
1496
1502
1506
1534
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
61
PORT HURON SALT WELL CO.— Concluded.
Elevation about 600 ft. A. T.
Gray salt
Like 1534: slight eff
Brown salt at 1574 ft. Buff dolomitic anhydrite; rIow eff.; color about
like 1408, nearly white to light buff
Bluish gray elaty anhydrite, one lai^e piece; no eff
Salt, white; anhydrite mixed in from above
Brownish salt ; mixed with anhydrite
Clear white, coarsely crystalline salt
White and brown siut
Dark gray slate colored anhydrite: color same as at 1345 ft
Clear white salt; specks of gray anhydrite probably from the overly hig
bed
Brownish, impure salt
Grayish salt with bands of anhydrite. . .
Dark gray suit and anhydrite
Varicolored dolomite, green, reddish and
slowly .
buff grains, which effervesce
Varicolored dolomite; slow eff.; shaly and with anhydrite
Buff dolomite: rather a dark buff in thin chip8 indicating original band-
ing; some dark grains mixed in
Slate colored salt and anhydrite
Clear white salt
Buff dolomite; slow eff.; with large pieces (1 cm) of a green slate with
anhydrite
Nearly dear salt
Mixed green, reddish and colorless salt, anhydrite
Gritty clay, plastic when wet, no eff
81at« colored anhydrite, about color of 1345; no eff.; some clay. .-
Nearly clear white salt; partly gray
Salt and anhydrite
Gray salt witn anhydrite
Dark gray anhydrite, color of 1345
Gray salt with anhydrite
Gray salt with anhydrite
Impure dolomite; slow eff. Varicolored
Thick-
ness,
feet.
10
35
4
17
15
14
11
2tf
20
5
25
10
25
20
25
20
30
5
10
5
10
30
5
62
D^pth,
feet.
1544
1579
1583
1600
1615
1629
1640
1666
1695
1700
1725
1735
1760
1780
1805
1825
1855
1860
1870
1875
1885
1915
1920
1982
2013
2022
2027
2044
2048
2260
There are many typographical errors in the depths as given for the samples from 2012 to 2044 ft.
MarysviUe. In the Marysville well, four miles south of Port Huron,
the top of the Dundee is 73 feet lower than at Port Huron directly
north, thus the average dip to the south is over 18 feet per mile. Salt
water was struck at 745 feet and mineral water at 817, 970 and 985
feet. The division between the Dundee and the Monroe is not cor-
rect as the thickness given for the Dundee is much greater than any
observed in Michigan.
62
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
MARYSVILLE WELL.
Loc.: Four miles south of Port Huron on the Binic farm. Drilled by Church & Company.
Elevation about 600 ft. A. T.
Surface, or Pleistocene:
Clay
Gravel (dry)
Antrim shale:
Dark blue shale, streaks of black
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation :
Gray limestone
Argillaceous marl thinly laminated and fissile
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone:
Sandy limestone, porous, indications of eas . .
Limestone, gray (upper Monroe in part) . . . .
Monroe Formation:
Limestone, sandy (Sylvania?)
Limestone, dark gray, hard in places
Depth,
feet.
107
110
298
398
588
625
1015
1095
1150
Wadham^s Station. G. B. Stock drilled a well on the farm of Mr.
Fair near Wadham's station, which is four or five miles northwest of
Port Huron. The Dundee is 141 feet lower than at Port Huron,
and this is equivalent to a dip of about 35 feet per mile. No oil or
gas was reported.
THE FAIR WELL.
Loc.: Three-fourths mile southeast of Wadham's station. S. E. i, sec. 2, T. 6. N., R. 16 E.
Elevation about 655 ft. A. T.
Depth,
feet.
Surface:
Gravel
Blue clay
Antrim:
Black shale
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Limestone (top)
Soapstone
Limestone (middle)
Soapstone
Dundee (Cornlferous) limestone:
Limestone Cower)
Abbotsfard, A well was drilled by G. B. Stock on the F. A. Beard
farm near Abbotsford, which is in Black river valley 10 miles north-
west of Port Huron. The top of the Dundee was struck at the depth
of 737 feet, or but about 25 feet lower than at the Fair well five or six
miles to the southeast. This indicates that the steep northwest dip
from Port Huron to Wadham's station becomes almost flat from the
latter place to Abbotsford. Only a slight flow of oil was struck and
this was 76 feet below the top of the Dundee.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
63
BEARD'S WELL.
Loc.: Abbottsford. near S. E. comer sec. 8, T. 7 N., R. 16 E. F. A. Beard farm. Drilled
by G. B. Stock.
Eleration about 655 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Marly clay
Tough blue clay
Wash gravel /
Antrim:
Black shale (heavv flow of mineral water at 140 ft.)
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Limestone (top)
Boapstone
Limestone (middle)
Soapstone (brine at 587 ft.)
Dundee (Corniferous) limestone:
Limestone Cower); slight flow of oil at 813 ft
Depth,
feet.
30
116
138
238
455
577
581
737
833
Valley Center. Valley Center is 20 miles northwest from Beard's
well and 30 miles from Port Huron. Since the top of the Dundee was
not reached at Valley Center, the top of the Traverse must be taken
as a basis of comparison. In Beard's well, this is struck at 417 feet
A. T. and in the Valley Center at 841 feet, or 423 feet lower. This
gives an average dip of about 14 feet per mile to the northwest. The
Traverse formation, however, thickens rapidly to the west, increas-
ing from 313 feet in the Stock wells to practically 500 feet at Beard's.
This indicates that the Dundee must dip much more than the figure
given above. If we assume that the Traverse is 500 feet thick at
Valley Center, (probably it is more, as at Saginaw and Bay City it is
600 to 650 feet thick), the top of the Dundee at Valley Center should
be struck at a depth of about 1341 feet, (536 feet below sea level) or
respectively 454 and 621 feet lower than at Beard 's and at Port Huron.
This would give an average dip for the Dundee from Port Huron to
Valley Center of nearly 21 feet per mile, and nearly 23 feet from Beard's
to the 'atter place.
64
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
VALLEY CENTER WELL.
Loc: S. E. J. N. E. J, 8ec. 27, T. 9 N., R. 13 E.
Elevation 805 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Red sand and loam
Quicksand
Clay
Sand and gravel with plenty of pure water
Cold water shale:
Sandstone
• ' Conglomerate' *
Sandstone
(This sandstone and conglomerate may be the RichmondviUe or another
stray sandstone horizon at some distance above the base of the Cold-
water.)
Slate (blue shale)
Soapstone
Slate (shale)
Berea sandstone:
Limestone
Sandstone
Antrim shale:
Shale changing to soapstone below
Traverse (Hamilton) Format on:
Limestone \
Thick
ness,
feet. I
i Depth,
feet.
5
05
117
149
154
174
204
214
539
54»
56»
841
875
OILr AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
65
Imlay City. Two deep holes respectively 802 and 1020 feet deep
were drilled by Walker & Co. at Imlay City, Lapeer county, and the
record of the deeper one is given below.
IMLAY CITY WELL.
Walker ft Co.. owners. Record from driller's notes and from samples.
Elevation 830 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Red sand
Suickaand (mostly)
ardpan
Grav^
Lower MarshaU? and Coldwater:
Biue argillaceous shale; quite soft and somewhat calcareous
Blue shale, (no samples)
Flow of fresh water at 190 ft.
Red shale (no sample)
Light gray argillaceous shale, very sandy. Under microscope about equal
parts of somewhat rounded grains of sand and of day; sand 1-500 in. in
diameter
Light bluish gray argillaceous shale, almost gritless
Very sandy ar^iUaceous shale, light gray, almost gritless. A few partly
rounded grains of sand 1-1000 in in diameter
Argillaceous shale, iight bluish gray, almost gritless. A few partly
rounded grains of sand 1-1000 in. in diameter
Limestone
Argillaceous shale, light gray; few very minute shale grains at 602 ft.
Argillaceous shale, light gray
Argillaceous shale, bluish gray, gritless
Argillaceous shale, bluish gray
Argillaceous shale, grayish drab
Weak brine at 708 ft.
Argillaceous shale, dark gray
Argillaceous shale, very dark drab, gritless
Argillaceous shale, gray
Argillaceous shale, dark blue
Argillaceous shale, dark blue, gritless
Sandstone
Argillaceous shale, light blue, somewhat sandy
Argillaceous shale, light blue, gritless
Argillaceous shale, light blue
Argillaceous shale, dark bluish drab, somewhat sdaty, hard
Argillaceous shale, light bluish, soft
Argillaceous shale, light bluish, gritless, soft
Argillaceous shale, dark blue, gritless soft
Argillaceous shale, light blue, gritless soft
Argillaceous shale, gritless, soft
Argillaceous shale, gritless, soft, light blue
Argillaceous shale, light blue, gritless. soft
Argillaceous shale, dark bluish drab, slaty and rather hard and gritless. .
Reddish shale
90
Depth,
feet.
11
71
76
91
110
190
198
400
430
520
75
595
7
602
28
630
20
650
20
670
40
. 710
30
740
15
765
15
770
12
782
8
790
10
800
5
806
9
814
51
865
10
875
25
900
15
915
10
925
35
: 960
15
' 975
10
985
25
1010
5
1 1015
5
1 1020
Fort Gratiot Township, Two wells were drilled on the Sweitzer
property, one and a half miles north of the Stock wells. The Dundee
is about 33 feet deeper than in the latter wells and this indicates a
dip of about 20 feet per mile to the north. A show of oil was re-
ported at 558 feet in the No. 1 well and a small quantity was ob-
tained after shooting it at 568 feet.
9
66
OILr AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
SWEITZER WELL.
Loc.: Fort Gratiot Twp.. 8. W. |, sec. 33. T. 7 N.. R. 17 E.
Eleyation about 610 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Soil and sand
Clay
Hard pan and marl
Antrim shale:
Blaclc shale
Traverse Formation:
Limestone, white with thin strata of soapstone
Soapstone
Dundee (Corniferous) limestone:
Limestone (lower)
62
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
5
5
100
105
15
120
100
220
60
280
278
558
620
G. B. Stock drilled a well on the farm of Mr. Shaw about six miles
north of the Stock wells in Port Huron. In this well, the top of the
Dundee occurs at 60 feet above sea level, or practically at the same
height as in the Stock wells. To the north of the Shaw well, the for-
mations are known to descend rapidly, as in the Pabst well 3 miles
south of Lexington there are more than 252 feet of Antrim shale, in-
cluding a thin bed of limestone at the top. A showing of oil was said
to have been struck at 557 feet in the Shaw well, but this was not
tested and the well was abandoned.
The record of the Pabst well above mentioned is faulty or incom-
plete, hence of little use in correlating horizons or tracing structures.
SHAW WELL.
Loc.: Fort Gratiot Twp., S. E. \, aec. 8, T. 7 N., R. 17 E.
Elevation about 600 ft. A. T.
TW^"- ! Depth,
feet. ' '®®*-
Surface:
Sand and gravel
Purple clay or mud
Gravel
Blue clay
Antrim shale:
Black shale
Traverse (Hamilton) Fonnation:
Limestone
Soapstone
Limestone (middle)
Soapstone
Dundee limestone:
Limestone (lower)
115
5
5
30
35
3
38
79
117
45
162
203
365
95
460
15
475
65
540
655
THE PORT HURON ANTICLINE.
From the data afforded by the numerous borings in the vicinity of
Port Huron, a low fold (Fig. 2) crosses St. Clair river from Sarnia,
passes northwestward through the southern and western parts of
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 67
Port Huron, and, veering to the north, extends along Black river. The
anticline pitches very gently along its course, and, on the west, it is
bordered by a S3mcline pitching in the same direction. Since the
anticline pitches in a general northwesterly direction, the oil and gas
would tend to migrate to the southeast along the crest unless arrested
by some cross fold, of which there is no present indication.
THE OIL HORIZONS.
Until a comparatively few years ago, it was supposed that the Dun-
dee was the only oil bearing horizon in Ontario. Prospecting in the
deeper formations disclosed the fact that the Guelph or Niagara are
locally very '* vesicular" or fissured and contain oil in great quanti-
ties. The porous nature of the reservoirs permitted a ready flow of
oil and some of the wells yielded more than 1200 barrels per day. This
formation also 3rielded great quantities of gas in Kent and also in Essex
county. The Medina with three ''pays ' was also found to be a great
gas producer in the Niagara peninsula. The Onondaga in Kent
county, however, has four gas horizons. The wells are very large,
one producing 7,000,000 cubic feet per day and 17 averaging two
and one-half million cubic feet. The Trenton formation, however,
has been a source of disappointment wherever struck in Ontario.
Conclusions. From the foregoing facts, it is reasonable to conclude
that, since the Dundee, Niagara, Medina, and Onondaga are oil bear-
ing in western Ontario, the same formations may be productive a few
miles to the west in Michigan, especially in the vicinity of favorable
structures such as occur at Stony Island* Wyandotte, and Port Huron.
HURON AND SANILAC COUNTIES.
The early salt wells. In the early days of lumbering and salt manu-
facture, many wells were drilled along the Lake Huron shore from
Saginaw bay to Sanilac county. These wells obtained their brines
from the Berea grit, or from the Richmondville sandstone. The F.
Crawford wells at Caseville were from 1760 to 2270 feet in depth,
the Pigeon River Furnace Company (later Lake Huron Iron Co.),
1760 feet, the Port Crescent wells about 1250 feet, Port Austin 1225
feet. Grindstone City 1080 feet, New River 1029 feet. Port Hope Salt
Co. 787 feet. Harbor Beach 715 to 1900 feet, and the White Rock
wells 700 to 1311 feet.
The brine bearing horizon dips to the westward increasing in depth
from 700 to 800 feet at White Rock in the eastern part of Huron county
to about 2000 feet in the western part. The Berea in Huron county
68
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
is a coarse grayish white sandstone full of pure strong brine, but in
none of the drill holes was the occurrence of either oil or gas noted.
The Geological Sections, As there are no reliable logs of any of these
numerous early salt wells, the following generalized sections showing
the probable character and thickness of the formations in Huron and
Sanilac counties are inserted.
GEOLOGICAL COLUMN IN HURON COUNTY.
Surface:
Lake sands, clays and till
Sa«[inaw Coal Measures (Present only in extreme southwestern part of county) :
Black, white and blue shales, coal and sandstone
Mazvllle limestone (Present along western shore) :
Sandy yellow limestone, cmssbedded sandstone and a little dolomite
Michigan Series (Present in western quarter omy):
Light erav shale with gypsum and pyrite; mlty bluish shales; argillaceous hy-
draulic limestones
Napoleon or Upper Mandiall (Absent from most of eastern half):
Clean white sandstone, sometimes with an olive tint or brown from specks of
pyrite
Lower Marshall (Absent along eastern margin of county):
Flags and sandstones, green weathering red. with beds of blue micaceous shale,
white sandstone, nodules of iron carbonate, and thin seams of ' * peanut ' ' con-
glomerate
Coldwater shales:
Blue shales with sandy streaks, often ripple-marked, frequently charged with
carbonate of iron
Sunbury (Berea) shale:
Black shales
Antrim shale:
Black shales
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Limestones and shales with black Bell (Marcdlus) shales at the base
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone:
Limestones locally bituminous; water bearing near the base
Monroe (including the Salina) :
Dolomites, anhydrite, shales and salt beds; dolomites heavily water bearing at
several horizons
Niagara (Gueiph and Lockport) :
Dolomites with some limestone and shale and occasional sandstone lenses; water
bearing expedaily at some distance beiow the top ; yields oh in Ontario
Rochester. Clinton, Medina, and Lorraine shales:
Mainly shales, red green« and btack and locally sandy down to the heavy blue
shales of the Lorraine
Utica shale:
Black and bituminous shales
Trenton limestone:
Dolomites and limestone with oil horizons near the top and water farther down
Thick-
ness,
feet.
0-50
76
50
230
300
260
896
75
456
615
120
1200 +
400
700
50
300 +
The thicknesses given in the above section are estimated mainly
from the records of wells in Huron and Sanilac counties. Since the
formations dip to the west, the depth to a given horizon grows pro-
gressively greater in that direction.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
69
GENERALIZED SECTION FOR SANILAC COUNTY.
Pleistocene or glacial drift:
Sand, clay and till
Lower Marshall (absent in eastern and southern part of county) :
Sandstone and "g^rindstones* '
Coldwater shales:
Blue shales
Sandstone (Rlchmondviile)
Blue shales
Black shales (Sunbury)
Berea sandstone
Antrim shale:
Darker below
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Blue calcareous shales and limestones frequently dolomitic ,
Dundee limestone , ,
Monroe Formation including Salina:
Dolomite, calcareous and argillaceous marls, anhydrite and rock salt
Thick-
ness,
feet.
(>-2€0
60-100
100-200
50-80
200-250
50-150
30-50
100-150
100-160
125 +
800 +
70 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
CHAPTER IV.
THE SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT.
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT.
The southeastern district includes that of Port Huron, but for sev-
eral reasons it has seemed best to discuss the latter as a separate oil
field. The southeastern district, lying close to the Toledo oil fields
and to two great industrial centers, and including areas in which there
are abundant signs of oil and gas, has received a disproportionate
amount of attention in the past from oil and gas prospectors. A large
number of holes have been drilled from Port Huron to the Ohio line.
Many of these were drilled for salt or water and others for oil and
gas, but in none of them has there been any but the most meager dis-
coveries of either of the latter products.
ROCK STRUCTURES.
These explorations indicate that all of the formations from the Ohio
line to Macomb county dip in general from 20 to 30 feet per mile to the
northwest toward the central part of the basin. The only marked
disturbances which break the monotony of this northwestward slope
appear to be at Stony Island, Wyandotte, and Algonac.
While this general northwest dip of the rocks constitutes a great
monocline, a large part of it is included in what is really a very low
anticlinal fold extending at least down to the Traverse formation,^
and pitching gently northwest. The limbs of the fold extend from
Adrian to Pontiac, a distance of nearly 70 miles, the axis passing
through Ann Arbor. The steepest dip at right angles to the axis
appear to be not more than 5 to 7 feet per mile. The actual drop
of the Antrim from Ann Arbor to Pontiac is 231 feet in 34 miles, and
to Adri'a'n on the other side 195 feet in about the same distance.
Such a structure might reasonably be expected to contain pools of
oil and gas, but deep drill holes at Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor encoun-
tered no appreciable quantities of either. In explanation of why
this structure does not apparently contain these products, Dr. W.
H. Sherzer advances the theory, that, since the anticline pitches to
the northwest, the oil or gas works its way upward and southeast-
»W.H. Sherzer, Geological Report of Wayne County, Pub. 12, Geol. i^er. 9, 1911.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 71
ward along the crest of the anticUne to the outcrops of the oil forma-
tions in Wayne and Monroe counties, and thus escapes. In this con-
nection, it may be noted that the anticline is so broad, flat, and ill
defined that it could have only slight effect on the concentration of
oil and gas in bodies of commercial importance.
RELATION OF SURFACE SIGNS TO OIL AND GAS HORIZONS.
Signs of oil and gas abound in the area underlain by the Berea grit
and Devonian formations which occur in a belt extending from
St. Clair county to the Ohio line. In some places oil accumulates as
a scum on ponds, around springs, and in wells, giving a very offensive
odor to the water and rendering it unfit for domestic or stock use.
Some springs give off gas in amounts sufficient for ignition. Gas is
struck in surface wells throughout the belt underlain by the Devonian
formations, and nearly a hundred wells in St. Clair, Macomb, Oak-
land, and Wayne counties yield gas enough for household purposes,
many of the wells being utilized by farmers in this way. The pres-
sures vary from a fraction of a pound to nearly 100 pounds, but range
ordinarily between 5 and 40 pounds. The life of such wells is gen-
erally from 6 to 8 years, but some of them have yielded gas for more
than 15 years. Others exhaust themselves in a few weeks or months.
The shale gas wells are worth utilizing to a much greater extent than
they are at present. One well in Muskegon county, reported to yield
2500 feet per day, is allowed to run to waste. This well would furnish
fuel and light for several ordinary families
Similar surface signs are in the northern part of the State where the
Devonian formations underlie the drift. The Killmaster and Atlanta
gas springs are in the vicinity of the Berea horizon, and the gas well
at Onekama (Chap. VIII), Manistee county, struck in January, 1912,
is in heavy drift directly over the Antrim black shales.
The Dundee limestcne is locally very bituminous and has a strong
oily odor. A semi-fluid bituminous or oily matter is sometimes found
in ca'vities of fossils and in crevices and the whole rock is generally
more or less impregnated with oil. The Antrim shale is very black
and sometimes contains 25 per cent of bituminous matter, smells
strongly of petroleum, and nearly always yields small quantities of
gas. In places it is so bituminous that it can be burned.
The Traverse formation in the central and northern parts of the
state is 600 to 650 feet thick, and is known to produce oil at three
different horizons (See Chap. V) at Saginaw. In southeastern Mich-
igan, it is much thinner, being only about 300 feet thick at Port Huron
and less than 200 feet thick in the southeastern corner of the State.
The bituminous basal (Bell, or Marcellus) shales are not characteris-
72 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
tic of the Traverse in the southeastern district, and perhaps this ex-
plains why it does not jdeld more abundant signs of oil and gas in this
region.
The Berea sandstone, a coarse gray sandstone full of brine even
near its outcrop, is from 100 to 200 feet thick and lies at the base of
the Coldwater shales. Its course through Oakland county is appar-
ently marked by a line of brackish or salt wells. It cannot always
be recognized in well records that do not go to deeper and more char-
acteristic and recognizable horizons, for, in some localities, stray sand-
stones verj*- similar in appearance occur in the Coldwater above the
Berea horizon. The Berea is generally overlain by a black shale at
the base of the Coldwater, known as the Berea or Sunbury shale.
Thus the Berea is overlain and underlain by black bituminous forma-
tions, giving ample sources for the gas it nearly always contains in
considerable quantities and yields to the overlying drift.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
73
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74 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
MONROE COUNTY,
Monroe county^ lies close to the oil fields of northwestern Ohio»
There is an area in the western part where surface signs of oil and gas
are especially abundant. Naturally it received early attention from
oil and gas prospectors. About 15 deep wells have been drilled in the
county, of which seven penetrate the Trenton.
The Cincinnati anticline extends in a general northeasterly course
from the vicinity of Findlay, Ohio, across Lake Erie into Elssex and
Kent counties of Ontario, where it apparently dies out. On either
side of the axis the formations slope away at comparatively fiat dips.
The general dip northwestward from the crest into Monroe county
is only about 30 feet per mile and there are apparently no local dis-
turbances in the general slope. Monroe county is situated well down
on the northwest slope of this great anticline, and, therefore, the oil
and gas may have been drained to the southeast towards the fields of
northern Ohio. Apparently the only hope of finding oil in this part
of the State lies in the presence of local anticlines or terraces of which
we now have no knowledge, or in porous areas or lenses sealed in by
impervious rocks.
The southeastern part of the county is the most promising portion
as it is nearest the crest of the Cincinnati anticline and the northern
Ohio fields. Of the 15 or more wells drilled for oil, the one farthest
southeast, the Potter well, was the most productive, and the ones
farthest away from the axis were *'dry*' holes. The Potter well, is
located in N. W. J, N. W. i, sec. 22, Erie township. It was begun
in November and completed December 10, 1899, reaching a depth of
1667 feet, and striking the Trenton at 1555 feet. A little oil and gas
were struck. The well has been bailed out several times, once yield-
ing about 10 barrels of oil. The gas, with an original pressure of
25 pounds, was piped to the house and used for cooking and lighting
purposes. Most of the other wells made showings of oil and gas, but
none as large as the Potter well.
Monroe. At Monroe several wells were drilled, three of them to
the Trenton. None yielded more than a trace of oil and a little gas.
The record of the Moore well, as revised from Vol. VII, Part I, is
given below:
» Sherzer: Monroe County, Vol. VII, Part 1, p. 190.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
76
MOORE WELL.
Loc.: Monroe, Monroe County. Record from Bamples.
Elevation 585 ft. A. T.
lar^e
W
Surface
Lower Monroe:
Bluish shale, with only a small amount of ett. calcareous matter . .
Bluish shaly dolomite, with quite a little slowly eff. matter, and a
residue in lower part
Yellowish limestone, briskly eTTervescing . . ,
Here and at 35,500 and 650 ft., samples of a white earthy powder of cal-
cite and dolomite, with a trace of gypsum (probably a chemical pre-
cipitate from underground water.)
Water, 3000 gallons per hour between 280 and 297 ft.
Dolomite at 340 it.: effervesces slowly when in fine powder; contains much
anhydrite of a dark buff color
Buff dolomite at 450 ft. like the sample above, eff. moderately fast, with
an occasional fragment of the green shale, little or no sulphate of lime.
Light colored dolomite
Eff. moderately at 500 ft. with much anhydrite.
Eff. slowly at 500 and 650 ft.; an occasional grain of sand; no anhy-
drite.
Lilfbt gray dolomite: eff. slowly; reacts for gypsum
Niagara—Giielph and Lockport:
Light yellowish to bluish gray dolomite; eff. slowly; quite ferruginous, no
gypsum
bite arenaceous dolomite; eff. slowly; with grains of quartz, sand and
I^ast limestone before
Thick-
I ness,
feet.
a very Utile magnetite
Gray dolomite, eff. slowly with a trace of quartz
shaie
Rochester, Medina?
Greenish and reddish shales, eff. slightly; mostly clay
Lorraine or Maysville:
Bluish gray, somewhat ferruginous shales, slight eff
With minute granules of quarts at 1400 ft.
Green and red ferruginous shales, slightly eff. with a trace of magnetite.
(Particles of the drill?)
Utica:
Next above Trenton, black bituminous shale, eff. slightly, fusing with an
aromatic odor and intumescence to a blebby enamel; a little finely
divided quartz
Trenton:
First screw, buff colored dolomite; hard, with slow eff. At 1742 gas,
odorless, with white flame; considerable salt water?
Third, fourth, fifth and sixth screws in Trenton, buff colored limestones. .
40
5
35 i
230
Depth,
feet.
40
45
80
310
170
200
20
85
80
15
480
680
700
130
830
70 ,
900
160
1060
90
1150
420
1570
1655
1735
1750
76
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
LASALLE* WELL.
Loc: Gadfry Saul Farm, LaSalle, Monroe county. Owners, Benf^ood Oil Co.. Fostoria
Michigan. Drilled in 1914 by Srhrier & Kerr. Lancaster. O. Record furnished by Geo.
T. Bench, Fostoria, Michigan. Reported by H. L. Osborne.
Elevation between 590 and 600 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Drift
large at 100 ft
Drive pipe 40 ft.
Lower Monroe or Bass Island Series
Hard gray lime (dolomite).
Small stream of water at 50 ft..
White lime (dolomite)
Gray lime (dolomite)
Niagara (Guelph and Lockport):
White lime
Rochester shale and Clinton?
Blue shale and shells
8 inch casing to 885 ft.
Richmond and Medina:
Red rock
Gray shell
Pink rock
Lorraine or Mayffv^ille shales:
Gray shell
Utica shale:
Brown shale
Trenton rock (Trenton, Birdseye and Chazy?)
Little salt water at 2485 ft.
St. Peters? sandstone:
White sandstone
"Big salt" water at 2510 tt.
Depth,
feet.
325
. 160
850
31
40
300
360
390
880
1045
1090
1100
1150
1475
1635
2485
2516
* Record received as this report went to press.
Strasburg, About 1907, a well was put down by the Strasburg Oil
Company on the Hansberger farm near Strasburg. It reached the
Trenton at 1884 feet, and was shot with 200 quarts of nitroglycerin.
From 1950 to 1989 feet there was a very small showing of oil and gas.
A small flow of water was struck between 600 and 625 feet, and a
larger flow just above 690 feet. A good driller's record and set of
samples were obtained from which the following record was com-
piled by A. C. Lane:
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
77
STRASBURG OIL St GAS CO. WELL NO. 1.
Ix)C.: Hansberger farm, Monroe county. J. P. Harnden, Driller, 1907.
Elevation 625 ft. A. T.
Pleifltooene drift:
Soil, sandy loam, light clay and grayel
Lower Monroe (below Sy^Tania) Bass Island Series:
Raisin river and Put-fn-Bay dolomites
300-375. hard with moderate eff.
Water at 25 ft.
Water at 45 ft. 10 gallons a minute.
Flow at 68 ft. 160 gallons a minute.
Flow at 345 ft. 240 gallons a minute.
Tyroochtee shale horizon:
Dolomite and gypsum or anhydrite
375-385, hard, moderate eff. A little anhydrite.
385-395 with anhydrite and much gypsum. Stow eff.
Greenfield dolomite. Dolomitic limestone
395-415, alutitc.
455-485, the upper samples not so hard: the rest pure, light colored,
hard, massive,, dolomitic limsstone with moderate eff., except the
lost which contains blue shale and grit as well as dolomite.
Cased well to 485 feet— no water.
Anhydrite, hard blue shale and dolomite, a httle anhydrite, which may
have come from layer below?
485-510 " Hard*^ blue shale, almost no eff.
510-540. * * Hard, ' ' moderate eff.
Balina Horizon?
Anhydrite
540-565, slow eff.. under the microscope mainly • anhydrite, light
brownish.
Dolomite mainly, all "hard"
565-585, slow eff. A little anhydrite which may have dropped in from
above.
Anhydrite
600-625, moderate eff ., " a little water at this depth; ' ' under the micro-
scope, gypsum as well as anhydrite, the former probably produced
from the Tatter by water, as the bed is reported hard."
Dolomite (with water)
625-655, is a brown sandy looking kind of dolomite that often occurs
near water course, but there is really only about 1 per cent sand.
Compare Morton well. Wyandotte, 230-240, 410, 460, V20 and 780 ft.
655-600, is also dark and "very hard," more water, filled within 200
ft. of the top, pulled casing, sample of water taken.
Somewhere from here down should oe put the base of the Monroe and
Salina and the top of the Niagara or Guelph. the brown sandy look-
ing oily dolomites which occur in this welf between 625 ft. and 9(X)
ft. being represented at —
Wyandotte, between 1235 ft. and 1510 ft.
Dundee, between 618 ft. and 1103 ft.
Nogard well, between 560 ft. and 1420 ft.
Britton, between 1200 and 1550. ft.
Milan, between 1400 ft to 1540 ft.
With rock salt at the bottom.
Monroe, from 500 down.
Cheboygan, from 1460 down.
Niagara (Guelph and Lockport) :
Brown Holomite
690-605, brownish, sandy, "dry, no water," crystalline enough for
Guelph.
695-800, dolomitic limestones with moderate (at 775 ft.) eff. and bluish
light colors.
Light dolomitic limestone
800-820, is light colored with brisk eff. and under the microscope a
clear limestone.
Brown dolomite
820-900 are "very hard." brown, sandy looking, almost exclusively
carbonate with slow to moderate eff.
Compare Nogard "oil limestone" at 1260-1420 ft.
Wyandotte, 1475-1510 ft.
White dolomitic limestone (Guelph)
900*950 "softer," is white, with moderate eff.
950-1100 is verjr white, slow eff., the typical "Guelph," western Nia-
gara or Manitoulin dolomite.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
18
357
18
375
20
90
395
485
55
20
35
25
65
540
565
600
625
690
110
800
20
820
80
900
200
1100
1
1
1
78
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
STRA8BURG OIL & GAS CO. WELL NO. 1.— Continued.
Elevation about 600 ft. A. T.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
Compare:
Monroe. 850-900 ft.
Dundee. 1208-1343 ft.
Nofford, 1420-1520 ft.
Britton. 1550-1643 -t- ft.
Riffa, 1165-1275 ft.
Wyandotte, to 1860 ft.
Kalamaxoo. 1730-1875 ft.
Rochester shale?
1 100-1 140 " no sample saved. * '
1140-1170 "was brolce or mud.*'
1170-1180 is impure mixed with greenish and rusty brownish fragments
of limestone; eflT. moderate to brisk, with marked iron stain.
This is properly a part of the Clinton but seems to have some of the over-
lying shale mixed with it, and an unconformity may well be sus-
pected here.
Compare:
Monroe, 1110 ft.
Wyandotte, 1870 ft.
Swan, Grosse Isle well, 1400-1500T
Clinton
Ferruginous dolomite and limestone:
Ferruginous dolomite 10 ft., 1180 ft.
Described above. Swan, Grosse Isle at 1550 ft., is similar.
1180-1230, eff. idow to moderate; pink.
1230-1300. dark, moderate eff.
1300, white dolomitic limestone, brisk eff.
' ' No sample saved, was veiy red in color and soft shale. We call it
'red rock' in Ohio oil fields, always found Just below Clinton lime. ' '
Clinton Iron Ore. Medina and Richmond Shales
This band of red rock marks the base of the Silurian and the top of the
Ordovician. As no sample has b^n preserved it is impossible, and
Jirobably would be so anyway to subdivide it, and it i» a matter of
aste whether it is to be reckoned with the one or the other. It may
be correlated with —
Monroe, 1110 ft.
Dundee. 1563-1623 ft.
Nogard. 1640 ft.
Wyandotte, somewhere between 1890 and 2200 ft., probably about
2100 ft.
Cheboygan, 2265-2407 ft.
Lorraine or Maysville shales
1340-1660 fv.. all the same bluish slightly greenish shale, not eff.
Utica (Eden) shales
1660-1700 ft., slight eff , dark shale.
1700-1800 rt., similar.
1800-1884 ft., no eff., yet darker biiuminous shales. These Lorraine and
Utica .shales appear above the Trenton in all the wells cited below.
Probably the lower part above is the typical I'tica of most wells, i. e..
Strasburg. 1880-1884 ft., with Pickford 475-525 ft.
Trenton limestone
Limestone:
1884, • • Top of Trenton rock; hard. ' ' Moderate eff.
1884-1890, "Top of Trenton rock; hard." Moderate to brisk eff.
The dolomitization of the Trenton is confined to the very top.
1890-1037 ft., all effervesce freely and are a mixed pepper and salt In
color. At 1937-1950 ft. is noted "a ver>' light showing of oil and
gas. ' ' The well was shot with 200 quarts of nitroglycerine.
The top of the Trenton corresponds well with:
Monroe. 1734 ft., with 80 ft. of black shale abov^.
Dundee. 2133 ft., with 300? ft. of black shale above.
Nogard. 2150 ft , with 200? ft. of black shale above.
Wyandotte. 2610 ft.
Note that it changes to limestone in about 10 feet also at Monroe,
and the fion is a few feet down. The blank shales also appear above,
but the thickness assigned is very irregular.
70
1170
130
1300
40
1340
320
224
1660
1884
105
1989
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
79
Note that it changes to limestone in about 10 feet, also at Monroe,
and the gas is a few feet down. The black shales appear also above,
but the thickness assigned is very irregular.
Dundee. At Dundee, in the western part of the county and in the
old Macon or Christiancy, now Bullock, quarry are two other wells
which reached the Trenton. The first was drilled in the quarry then
owned by Mr. R. H. Nogard. Owing to the secrecy about the re-
sults, the citizens of Dundee inferred that success had been obtained
and drilled another well the next year (1888) on the A. Wilkinson
farm one mile south of the village. Both wells were failures. The
Dundee well penetrkted 144 feet of the Trenton formation and a little
oil and gas were found, both of which ** disappeared.'' The sand-
stone, possibly belonging to the Sylvania horizon, yielded some gas
from 193 to 205 feet.
Comparing the record of the Potter well with that of the Dundee
the top of the Trenton drops 483 feet in about 15 miles. This is equal
to a dip of 32 feet per mile to the northwest.
NOGARD WELL.
Loc.: In the Nogard (Macon or Christiancy) quarry. N. W. J, N. W. J. sec. 8, T. 6 S, R. 7 E.
Elevation 600 ft. A. T.
Dundee and Monroe:
Gray limestone
Monroe (including Salina) and Lower Dundee?
Buff and white lifnestone ,
Blue limestone ,
Buff and blue limestone
Oil limestone
Buff limestone and brown marble ,
Oil limestone
Niagara:
Snow white marble
Red, white and blue marble
Medina:
Shale
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
rtJca:
Gray, black and brown slate
Trentone limestone:
59
100
150
260
100
600
151
100
400
.30
200
50
150
309
569
669
1269
1420
1520
1920
1950
2150
80
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
DUNDEE WELL.
Loc.: A. Wilkenson farm 1 mile south of village. N. E. i. N. E. \ sec. 25. T. 6 S. R. 6. E.
Elevation 680 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene or surface:
guicksand
lay
Dundee and Upper Monroe?:
Gray oil limestone
Upper Monroe or Detroit River Si^es:
Sulphur limestone
Dark limestone
Fine gray sandstone, (Sylvanla?) gas
Blue gray limestone
Sylvanla:
Gray sandstone
Fine limestone
Hard shell limestone
White sandstone
Lower Monroe or Bass Island Series:
Dark limestone
Hard shell limestone
White putty limestone
White putty limestone, very hutl
Buff limestone
Alternating blue, gray and brown limestone
Fine buff Itmestone
Gray limestone
Bull limestone
Niagara:
Guelph dolomite —
Light gray marble
Snow white marble
Lockport limestone;
Dark blue marble
Red marble
Pinkish gray marble
Rochester shale:
Blue slate
Clinton:
Gray limestone (mineral water)
Medina:
Red slate . .■
Lorraine (Hudson River) or MaysviUe:
Gray slate
Blue slate
Utica shale:
Brown slate
Trenton limestone
8
30
65
70
20
12
30
18
105
40
7
48
45
70
50
220
315
10
7
23
15
135
80
15
35
30
60
60
100
110
300
144 +
Deptfa,
feet.
8
38
103
17S
193
205
235
253
358
308
405
453
408
568
618
838
1153
1163
1170
1193
1208
1343
1423
1438
1473
1503
1563
1623
1723
1833
2133
2277
Milan, About 1900, a well 890 feet deep was drilled at Milan just
a few rods south of the Washtenaw-Monroe county line. Later this
well was deepened to 1643 feet, penetrating the Niagara. Water
was struck at various horizons as in the Dundee, below 298 feet in the
Upper Monroe, in the Sylvania below 535 feet, and in the Lower Mon-
roe at 845 and 890 feet. Probably water was also struck in the top
of the Upper Monroe.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
81
MILAN WELL.
Loc.: At Milan a few rocls south of the Washtenaw-Monroe county line. Depth, 1643 ft.
Elevation 685 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene or surface:
Clay, quicksand about 60 ft. and clay
Traverse:
Cherty limestone
Blue shale
Blue shaly limestone
Limestone (fissure?)
The top of the Dundee cannot be clearly made out owing to the caving.
It is surely somewhere between 165 and 298 ft , more probably at or
near the latter figure.
Dundee:
Limestone quite fine. H»S water (brecciated and caving)
Upper Monroe or Detroit River Series:
Dolomite acicular, caving to 425 ft
Dolomite sandy
Dolomite with gypsum
Gypsum, mainlv
Sylvania or Middle Monroe:
Sandstones, pebbly at 820
Lower Monroe or Bass Island Series:
Various veins of water, calcareous shale
Dark ollv dolomite, more sulphuretted water
Cherty dolomite
Blue with mineralized water at 890 ft.
With some black specks mixed
Blue clay shale
(Compare Britton 1015 ft.).
Dolomite
SaUna?
Anhydrite
Dolomite
Anhydrite
Red, then blue shale
Brown, oily dolomite, fine, laminated
Dolomite
Rock salt
Niagara?:
Dolomite
11
130
30
45
65
28
97
130
160
205
270
298
395
30
425
10
435
20
455
80
535
288
823
7
830
15
845
45
890
100
990
5
995
30
1025
75
1100
110
1210
90
1300
100?
1400
75
1475
65
1540
5
1545
98
1643
82
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Newport, Northeast of Monroe, a well was drilled on the estate of
C. H. Buhl, Berlin township. From samples taken every 20 feet, the
following log was compiled.
NEWPORT WELL.
Loc.: N. E. i, 8. W. \, sec. 1, T. 6 S., R. 9 E. Depth 910 ft.
Elevation 585i: ft. A. T.
Pleistocene or Surface:
Rust V pebbly clay
Lower Monroe. (Saiina not separated off) :
Drab dolomite, considerable muddy residue. Fragments of calcite, and
considerable anhydrite
Light drab dolomite, with dark shaly fragments. Considerable muddy
residue. Anhydrite and sand grains present
Samples not saved
Dark dolomite with carbonaceous flakes, which bum with flame. Brisk
effervescence. Anhydrite and sand grains present
Bluish-drab dolomite. Anhydrite is present. Flow of fresh water from
195 to 220 ft
Samples wanting
Bluish gray dolomite, carrying anhydrite and some selenite. Much
muddy residue. Further flow of fresh water
Bluish gray, argillaceous dolomite. Some anhydrite present through-
out
Buff dolomite with much yellow residue. The insoluble portion con-
tains numerous rounded grains of quartz, some horn-blende and some
black non-magnetic grains, which are probably some form of titanic
iron oxide. Anhydrite
Bluish dolomite. Drillings are coarse. Lumps of anhydrite with
fragments of dolomite
Quite similar to the bed 372 to 420 ft. Drillings are fine and looser as
contrasted with the beds Just above and just below. Much anhydrite
is present
Practically identical with bed 420 to 435 ft. A bluish dolomite, drillings
coarse. Anhydrite present in lumps
Bluish, dolomitic shale. Slow eff. Much bluish, muddy sediment.
Some anhydrite
Bluish drab, argillaceous dolomite. Lumps of anhydrite and black flakeu
Bluish, dolomitic shale, essentially similar to that occurring from 467 to
500 ft. Fragments of anhydrite with shale
Blue and drab dolomite. Drillings fine. Fragments of anhydrite
Drab to gray dolomite. Anhydrite and some sand grains. Lower por-
tion of bed is more impure
Drab to gray dolomite, with varying amounts of anhydrite
The fine samples from this bed are all alike and more huffish than those
from above bed. The rock is a dolomite also, containing seams of
carbonaceous matter, fragments of anhydrite and scales of selenite.
For some reason, the rusty iron grains are exceedingly abundant in all
samples. (Rusted fragments of steel from drill?)
DriUingfl have a gray color and under the magnifier look much like pure
anhydrite. Slow eff. The rusty grains are not quite so abundant,
but are numerous
The drillings from this bed are a purer white than above. Little eff.
Much anhydrite
Gray to drab dolomite with fragments of anhydrite and scales of sele-
nite
Samples missing
Bluish gray dolomite. Drillings relatively
flakes and fragments of anhydrite
coarse containing bluish
Thick-
ness,
feet.
80
95
Depth,
feet.
83
10
72
93
165
30
195
52
58
247
305
10
315
57
372
48
420
15
435
13
448
19
467
33
20
500
520
40
38
560
598
17
105
615
720
815
10
825
8 ;
833
1
16 1
844
860
50
910
Ida, In 1893, a deep well was drilled at Ida from which a more
jjomplete record was obtained than from the Potter well. This is
located on the Simeon Van Akin property, N. E. J of N. E. }, sec. 3
of Ida township. The altitude of the well is about 640 feet A. T.
A pipe was driven 22 feet into the rock before drilling began. Ten
feet of ** common limerock'^ was found to overlie 45 feet of Sylvania
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
83
sandstone. Gray limestone (dolomite) followed to 320 feet where a
light blue shale was struck. After going through this shale a darker
limestone than the overlying beds was entered and at about 480 feet
gas was struck in considerable quantity, the flow increasing for the
next 60 feet. At 700 feet, 100 feet of ^' light colored rock" was struck.
The drilling reached a depth of 1200 feet when work was suddenly
stopped.
Riga. About 1899, a well 1700 feet in depth was sunk at Riga,
Monroe county, but owing to disputes and legal troubles very little
was learned of the record. Dr. Lane examined some of the samples
from 1165 to 1275 feet and thought that they appeared to be the white
dolomites of the Upper Niagara. Judging from other drillings in the
county, it is about the depth at which it should occur.
South Rockwood, There are several other deep wells in the county
of which no log, or at best only a part of a record has been obtained.
Near South Rockwood the Frey well, N. E. J of N. E. i, sec. 33, T.
5 S., R. 10 E., is said to have penetrated 12 feet of salt at about 1200
feet. No mention is made of the occurrence of oil and gas. About
1903 another well, the Lennard, 2430 feet djeep was drilled near the
swinging bridge over Huron river. The record is very poor and the
*'sand'' in the record may mean only granular limestone or dolo-
mite.
LENNARD WELL.
Loc.: Near swinging bridge oyer Huron river. South Rockwood.
Surface ,
Sylvania?:
White sand
Black
Record missing from 90-950 feet.
Sand
Lime
Sand
Clinton?
Red rock (Cf. Strasburg 1300-1340 ft. or 1140-1170, which is 584 ft.
above Trenton.)
Lorraine and Utica:
Slate.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Sand, water
Shale
Dark at bottom. Smell.
Trenton at 2430 ft.
30
30
30
100
80
155
10
45
65
Depth,
feet.
30
60
90
1050
1130
1285
1295
1340
1405
2045
LENAWEE COUNTY.
The belt of rocks over which surface signs are most abundant in
southeastern Michigan crosses the northwestern part of Monroe into
Lenawee county and consequently exploration has extended west-
ward into the latter county. There are a number of deep wells in this
84
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
county, chiefly in the eastern half as at Britton, Blissfield, Adrian
and Clinton.
Adrian, At Adrian a well 1650 feet in depth was drilled by the
Adrian Gas Co. It probably reached the top of the Salina, but does
not appear to have encountered any marked signs of either oil or gas.
The Berea was present as a gray sandstone and the Antrim as a brown
shale. Inasmuch as drillers make no distinction between limestone
and dolomite the Dundee cannot be separated in the record. Water
or brine was probably struck in the Berea, though not noted in the
records; mineral water was encountered at 805 feet, sulphur water
at about 940 feet, brine in the Upper Monroe at about 1135 feet, and
more brine in the Lower Monroe at 1520 feet.
ADRIAN GAS CO. WELL.
Loc.: Adrian. No samples.
Elevation 810 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Surface
guicksand
ravel
Gravel and quicksand
Coldwater shales:
Sandstone, li|^bt gray
Soft white ' '^late" or sandstone.
Sunbury (Berea):
Brown "slate" (shale)
Berea:
Gray sandstone
Antrim:
Brown * 'slate' *
Brown shale
Traverse (Hamilton) Tormation:
Mineral water at 806 ft.
Reddish hard limestone. (Mouth of driving pipe 180 ft.; casing to 500,
then the second time to 885 ft.)
Black slate or shale. Regular limestone at 900 ft
Dundee (Comiferous) and Monroe:
Limestone, hard, dark drab to gray
Sulphur water at 940, brine at 1135 and 1520 ft.
Lorraine:
Slate rock, white and soft (or anhydrite?)
750
™L^- : Depth.
20
18
60
82
20
38
98
180
4
330
184
514
40
554
30
584
80
HI
664
805
80
15
885
900
1650 +
Briiion. The Britton well, 1700 feet in depth, was drilled about
1900. At 1400 feet and at 1500 feet brown oily dolomites were struck
as in many other wells in southeastern Michigan, but no showing of
oil was observed.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
85
On the lot of John Wiggin in Britton near the above well, a shallow
one 90 feet deep was put down for water and a pocket of gas was struck,
the glow of which, when lighted, could be seen in Tecumseh about
six miles away. The original pressure increased from 35 to 41 pounds,
which would be about equal to the hydrostatic head.
BRITTON WELL.
Elevation 705 ft. A. T. (Approx.)
Pleistocene:
Surface clay and (fravel
Antrim shale:
Black shales
Pyritif erous gray shale
Pyritiferous black shale
Traveree Group:
Cherty dolomite
Green shale
Cherty dolomite
Blue calcareous shale
Dundee (Comif erous, Onondaga) limestone:
White or brownish crinoidal limestone with water and traces of oil and
gas
Upper Monroe or Detroit River series:
Oypsiferous dolomite
GyiMum (Anhydrite) . . . ^
Dolomite
Dolomitic limestone
Dark chertv dolomite
The same, bluer
Sylvania:
Dolomitic sandstone
Gvpsif erous dolomites
The same with a little chert and sand
Dolomitic sandstone, salt water
Shale
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Casing to 1012 or 1015 ft.
Dolomite, dark blue at 1180 ft
Rope black, and HtS at 1200, where there is a slow very salt seepage.
There was said to be 30 ft. of brown oily dolomite at 1400 ft. 7
Dark brown oily dolomite
Niagara:
L^ht white sugary dolomite, typical Guelph
Mineral water at 1000 ft.
03
67
15
35
25
30
40
95
100
75
50
50
33
37
5
25
50
75
100
15
485
50
84
Depth,
feet.
93
160
175
210
235
265
305
400
500
575
625
675
708
745
750
775
825
900
1000
1015
1500
1550
1634
86
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Blissfield. The Blissfiefd well, one of the deepest in the southeastern
district, penetrated the Trenton, but unfortunately only a meager
record from memory could be obtained.
BLISSFIELD WELL.
I>oc.: Sac. 30, T. 7 S., R. 5 E.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
Drift
Gravel; water rose and flUed first 8 inch casing
First limestone about [to ? dark slate and black water]
Water in limerock at 1600 ft.
Struck Trenton at 2342 ft.
Trenton rock
100
20
300
60
100
120
420
2402
Manchester. Six miles southeast of Manchester a well was drilled
about 1904 by the Manchester Oil Co. It is said to have reached
only a depth of 690 feet and appears to have stopped in the Traverse
shales. There is some doubt as to the exact correlations, but the
record as made from well samples by the U. S. Geological Survey is
given below.
MANCHESTER WELL.
(U. S. Geological Surrey WeU No. 26).
lioc.: Six miles southeast of Manchester, Washtenaw county. Manchester Oil Co.. owners.
C. A. Elliot, driller.
Elevation about 830 ft. A. T.
Thick-
ness,
•< feet.
Surface
Coldwater:
Blue shale
Berea:
Horizon of BereaT Red shale
This red shale clay might represent a weathered surface, or some other
zone of special oxidation. The banding upon it is quite distinct. ,
Compare Bedford shales. Compare HOlsdale at 1030-1033, Osseo i
800, Adrian, 514.
Antrim:
Usual shale
Black shale. This looks veiy much like the Ohio black shale, and would
seem to indicate that the horizon of the Berea here is at 327-320
Bluish shal3
Blue shale
Brown shale
Compare Hillsdale 1350, Osseo 1145-1214, Adrian 805, Madison Oil
and Gas Co. 665.
Traverse (Hamilton):
Gray shale; non-eff
Gray shale; slightly eff
174
153
2
Depth,
feet.
174
327
329
12
11
48
90
110
60
30
341
352
400
400
600
660
690
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
87
''The samples from 600 feet down might quite likely be Traverse
or they might be a gray streak in the Antrim. From 327 feet down
to 600 feet, or thereabouts, should be Antrim. ' ' — Lane.
According to Lane, this well is near and perhaps the same well as
that of U. Arnold about two miles from Clinton, sec. 2, T. 4 S., R. 3 E.
In the Arnold well, brine was reported at about 1000 feet.
Madison Township. In 1905 the Madison Oil & Gas Co. drilled a
well 764 feet in depth on the Snedeker farm, N. E. J of sec. 15, T. 7 S.,
3 E. From the character of the water near the bottom of the well
Dr. Lane believes that it did not reach the Dundee oil horizon.
Water was struck in the black shales of the Antrim from 612 to
618 feet. At this horizon there was a trace of gas also. To have
reached the Trenton the well very probably would have had to go
2000 feet below the base of the Antrim.
MADISON OIL AND GAS COMPANY WELL.
Loc.: N. E. i of sec. 15, T. 7 8., R. 3 E.
Fleifltooene:
Sand
Clay and sand
"Sand and gravol. dark and light"
Coldwatcf *
Shale, with shaly till? "ciay and gravel, dark"
Blue and light shale, with occasional otlcareous streaks
Gritty shale
Sunbury shale:
Black shale
Bereagrit:
Very fine grained sharp white sandstone or flagstone, salty
Antrim:
Bituminous black shale with pyrite
At 612 to 618 ft. main water, with a trace of illuminating gas. About
14 per cent salts, sulphates low.
Sandy black shale
Brown limestone (oily)
Dark or black shale
Traverse:
Brown dolomitic limestone, with white chert
Thick-
ness,
feet.
20
60
115
20
50
112
53
15
20
64
Depth,
feet.
20
80
105
.55
250
165
. 415
15
430
450
500
612
665
680
700
764
M-The beds in which the well closes are probably not much above
those in which is the top of the Wyandotte well, which struck Tren-
ton rock at 2610 feet. The limestone at 665 or 700 feet probably
corresponds to that at 420 feet in the Blissfield well, which reached
the Trenton at 2342 feet; and to that at 350 to 385 feet beneath South
Bend, where the Trenton was reached at 1585 feet. The salt beds
along Detroit River thin rapidly to the south and west, but at Adrian
from the Devonian black shale or Antrim down to the Trenton is prob-
ably not less than 2000 feet. In view of the dolomitic character of
the limestone, the strength of the water and its relative freedom from
88
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
sulphur I do ilot think this well has yet reached the Dundee, the oil
bearing horizon of Port Huron and Canada around Petrolia. Two
hundred feet more should go well into it. * * — Lane.
HILLSDALE COUNTY.
Hillsdale. Several deep wells have been drilled in Hillsdale county.
At Hillsdale two were bored in the courthouse square, respectively
1350 and 1550 feet in depth. The log of the deeper well, given below
is a very poor record compiled from hearsay accounts.
HILLSDALE WELL.
Drift
Soft laminated micaceous sandrock
Mainly bluish shales with arenaceous seams and harder, probablv cal-
careous ledges. The color of the shales became dark, bituminous, in the
lower part (Sunbury?)
Hard reel rock with much iron pyrite. and strongly saline water
Fifty feet of white limestone
Soft calcareous rock to end
Thick-
ness,
feet.
?
1100
230?
150?
Depth,
feet.
•
20
1120
1350?
1400?
1550
Oaseo, At Osseo, C. M. DeWitt drilled a well 1430 feet in depth.
According to Mr. DeWitt, gas and oil were struck just below black
and brown shales (Antrim) from 1219 to 1259 feet, gas again at 1380
feet and oil and gas below 1400 feet. The ''big flow'' of gas came
at 1400 feet, and the oil just below 1420 feet. The first oil and gas
horizon appears to be in the top of the Traverse, while the lower one
is quite probably in the Dundee. An Atrypa Teticularia from the oil
horizon, indicates that it was probab'y that of the ''bastard Trenton"
or Dundee, and certainly not that of the Trenton proper.
The well was filled for about 150 feet with stone and cement and
the gas rock above was shot. The gas, originally having a pressure
of about 70 pounds, was nearly sufficient to fire the 25 H. P. engine
used in pumping the mineral water which was struck in abundance
below 1229 feet. The pressure has since decreased to about 38 pounds.
According to Mr. DeWitt, the cement filling in the bottom of the well
did not set, or only partially, so that a heavy lubricating oil can be
obtained after the 1100 foot head of water is pumped off.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
89
OSSEO WELL.
CM. DeWitt, owner. Lige Curry, driller, Bradner. Ohio.
(Record from a few samples and data furnished by C. M. DeWitt.^t
Elevation about 1065 ft. A. T.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Drift 214
•Coldwater shale:
Blue shales 700
Berea? (Apparently horizon absent or not recognized.)
Antrim shale: i
Brown or black shales 231
Stray "oH sand" 5
Black shale, pyritic, odor of petroleum 64
•Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Pepper and salt 5
Dark brown rock, gas 6
Lighter brown rock, more gas 5
Lighter rock. Some oil and more gas. 100 ft. of salt water in well 30
Lighter rock. Water rock very light or hard salt * ' sand. ' ' 400 ft. of
mineral water in well 20
Very light hard rock or * 'salt sand." Fine drilling 25
Light rock becoming darker with bluish cast (shaly?) 21
Rock of a bluish cast (shaly?) ,25
More salt water bearing rock 30
Dundee:?
Brown rock. Heavy flow of water and gas. Water rose to within 330
ft. of the surface , 20
The "Trenton" (Dundee limestone) with showing of oil and big flow of
gas 20
Light brown rock of yellowish cast. Pebble oil rock, very porous ' 10
Well afterwards filled In with cement and stone for l.SO ft. and gas rock
shot. ' ' Lots of oil if head of water is pumped off. ' ' Gas pressure
originally 70 pounds.
Depth,
feet.
214
914
1145
1150
1214
1219
1224
1229
1259
1279
1304
1325
1350
1380
1400
1420
1430
The exact top of the Dundee is not certain from the above record,
but it is probably between 1380 and 1400 feet. From this, the dip
north-northeast to Jackson would be about 20 feet per mile. Mak-
ing the comparison for the base of the Antrim in the two wells, the
<lip is a little over 22 feet per mile.
90
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
WAYNE COUNTY.
MAP or A PART
OTTHC
DETROIT RIVCR A VIQNITY
4
7
SO
11
■ SALT BLOCKS M OPERATION
A SALT BU0GK9 rOfOdUy M OFDUTION
^ SALT MINKS
IN
4> CMCNICAL WOflKS PORHeRLV M OWUTION
CAinXR SALT COi NO.S.
PRANKUN SALT Oa
ooLVAar PNoces* c«i
MULKCV SALT C&fDmwr SACT OO-NfrU
ocTROiT SALT oa Nas.ai«viNQ*wiao
wnvrKiNS SALT ca
DCLIUY SALT Ca
OCTNOir SALT OOiNU. (flALLlOTT A I
BNOWNLKI A CO.
CAffTEa SALT CO H0.1
wonccrrvR salt caCTeci/NKN salt oa>
PCNINSULAR SALT CO
MICHKMil ALKAUOaNOS.
NOftTON SALTCa
HICHIGAN ALKALI CaNai.
PCNNSVLVANIA SALT MP6.C0>
WAMATHA SALT Ca
CNURCNJbCO^
A
♦
■
A
A
A
Figure 9. Map showing tbe location of salt blocks and salt wells in Wayne county (after C.
W. Cook).
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
91
Trenton, In Wayne county, wells are very numerous, especially
along Detroit river where many have been put^down for salt (Fig. 9).
At Trenton there are six wells of which the record of No. 5 of Church
& Company is given below. The well yielded an odor of gas at the
bottom.
CHURCH A CO. WELL NO. 6.
JjOC.: Church A Co. plant« Trenton.
Elevation about 580 ft. A. T.
feet. I '®®**
Surface
Dundee and Upper Monroe undivided:
Limestone; moderate to brislc efT
Limestone; fairly brisk eff.; darker and coarser splinters than beds below;
Allegan well 1260-1- and St. Clair River 520 ft. resemble the top of the
Trenton; light brown limestone
Limestone fine grained and light bulT, moderate to brisk eff
Samples missing, doubtless limestone
Genuine limestone, very brisk eff.. Amherstburg. Anderdon quarries. . . .
Dark brown limestone, moderate to very bride eff
Llmestpne and dolomite
Sample missing, probably limestone or dolomite
Limestone ana dolomite with bluish tinge
Dolomite
Sylvanla or Middle Monroe:
Fine grained white sandstone i
Dolomite with chert '
Fine white sandstone with white chert
Sample missing
Very calcareous sandstone
Pure white sandstone
Sandy limestone or dolomite
Pure white sandstone; water
Dolomitic sandstone
Lower Monroe:
Dolomite with scarcely any sand
Dolomite, moderate eff. at top. slower toward bottom
Very fine grained calcareous marl, fairly rapid eff
Dolomite, with little or no gypsum
Much white chert with shaly streaks down to 660 ft.
Dolomite and anhydrite
Mainly dolomite and anhydrite
Moderate eff. in places. Dark bluish shales
Compare Wyandotte at 800-860 ft.. Ford No. 23, 700-735 ft.
Gypsiferous dolomite passing into bluish gypsiferous shales
Anhydrite with fragments ox green shale
Salina:
Nearly pure nrpsum
' ired dolomite, gypsiferous .
Cream coloi
Buff dolomite
Dark shale
Blue light yellow and buff dolomite
Brown dolomite and blue, green and gray shale
Dark bluish gray shale with buff .dolomite and bluish gray gypsiferous
beds
Bluish shale, gypsiferous -at times
Light buff or cream colored dolomite
Largely bluish shales, gypsiferous
DarK dolomitic shales, dolomite, anhydrite at 1280 ft. and bluish to
brown dolomites below
Buff dolomites
Smell of gas at 1310 and 1340 ft.
76
65
10
40
30
10
.20
10
10
10
10
120
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
110
10
60
60
70
10
30
30
20
40
20
10
20
10
10
170
20
50
60
80
76
140
150
190
210
220
240
260
260
270
280
400
410
420
430
440
460
460
470
480
400
600
610
670
730
800
810
840
870
8fi0
030
960
960
980
990
1000
1170
1190
1240
1290
1370
No rock salt was struck in this well, but, in the other Church & Co.
wells located 200 to 300 feet north, a single bed, varying in the dif-
92 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
ferent wells from 5 to 33 feet in thickness, was penetrated. This
well indicates the exact southern limit of the salt beds.
Grosse Isle, Judge James Swan in 1903-04 drilled a deep well» for
oil or gas in the southwestern part of Grosse Isle just opposite Snake
Isle and about three quarters of a mile from the extreme southern
point of the island. No oil or gas in any noteworthy amount was
struck, though the well reached a depth of 2375 feet. Enormous
flows of water were struck at various depths. The first considerable
flow was at 420 feet, and the second at 450 feet was much larger. Both
were fresh though the water had an odor of ''sulphur" probably
from sulphur dioxide gas. The deeper flows were much smaller and
sulphuretted. The water, which is potable, at first escaped from the
13 inch casing to the enormous quaiitity of 4,320,000 gallons in 24
hours — enough to supply the whole water front from Detroit to Lake
Erie several times over.
A partial record of this well was obtained by Mr. Forest H. Brown
for the Michigan Geological Survey in July 1903, when it was about
785 feet deep. According to the record then obtained, the well had
penetrated 14 feet of clay, 300 feet of *' limestone'' and 70 feet of
*'sand." The latter is the Sylvania. This would give an elevation
of 268 feet above tide for the top of this formation, the mouth of the
well being about 580 feet A. T. Across Detroit river at Elliot's Point,
Ontario, the Sylvania is struck at a depth of 69 feet and on the fann
just north of the Point at 42 feet. This indicates that the Sylvania
dips sharply to the northwest, the dip being over 60 feet per mile.
It must be remembered, however, that this formation is very variable
in thickness within short distances, hence abnormal dips may be due
merely to local thickening or thinning.
Romvlus Township, In 1903, a well 1820 feet deep was drilled by
Newell for Laurence and GriflSth on the Emil Twark farm, section 12,
Romulus township.
*W. H. Sherzer, Geology of Wayne County, Pub. 12. Geoi. Surv. 0, 1911. p. 240.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
93
E. TWARK WELL.
Loc.: Emil Twark farm, S. E. i of N. W. i, sec. 12, Romulus Twp.
Elevation 620 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Drift
Gravel
Lime
Grav limestone
Bell (Marcellus) shale:
Coal (black bituminous shale probably)
Black slate
White lime
Black slate
Black shale
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone:
Lime •
Black shale
Lime
Black lime
Upper Monroe or Detroit River Series:
Gray lime
White lime
Sylvania (Middle Monroe) :
White sand
Black slate
White sand
Sand rock
Whits lime
Sand rock
Lower Monroe or Bass Island Series:
White lime
Blue lime
White lime
Brown shale
White lime
Salina:
Salt rock
White lime
Brown shaJe
Salt rock
Shite
Salt rock
White lime
Salt rock
White lime
Fine white salt
Lime
Salt rock
Lime
White lime
Sait
Lime
Shells and slate
Lime
Salt rock
Shells and slate
White lime
Salt rock
Slate
Salt rock
White lime
Salt rock
Lime
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
92
92
3
95
21
116
25
141
2
143
7
150
7
157
15
172
10
182
63
245
5
250
36
286
12
298
24
322
63
385
5
390
8
398
65
463
22
485
15
500
45
545
240
785
10
795
75
870
12
882
43
925
35
960
25
985
15
1000
46
1046
7
1053
34
1087
30
1117
25
1142
32
1174
<24
1198
7
1205
53
1258
5
1263
7
1270
20
1290
25
1315
62
1373
26
1398
27
1423
30
1463
23
1476
45
1521
20
1541
27
1568
15
1583
20
1603
20
1820
Wyandotte. Many years ago a well was drilled at Wyandotte to
the Trenton, which was reached at 2610 feet. According to A. C.
Lane, the record is that of the driller and is apparently not very
trustworthy. Notes in parenthesis are by Lane and A. Winchell.
94
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
WYANDOTTE WELL.
Lancy and ChurcblU, contractors. Record from C. E. Wright and A. Winchell. Driller's
record.
Elevation 580 ft. A. T.
Thick-
ness;
feet.
Surface:
Clay and gravel
Dundee (Comiferous) :
Dark limestone
Light brown limestone
Gray limestone
Upper Monroe or Detroit River Series:
Brown sand with ' ' slate"
Brown sand and lime
Brown and white limestone
Sylvania (Middle Monroe):
Free-stone
Lower Monroe or Bass Island Series:
White and brown limestone (white and black sand.
Gfay limestone
SheUy limestone
Brown limestone
Muddy limestone
Very dark limestone, struck sulphur water
Limestone and ' * slate"
Slate and soapstone (caved to this point. W.)
Limestone and "slate" (? how far gypsum. L.) . .
White limestone and slate
Salina:
White lime and salt mixed
Pure white salt
Salt and lime, sheJly
Light brown limestone
Light brown shaly limestone
Dark brown shaly limestone
Pure salt
Sand and lime
Pure salt
Salt and lime shell
Lime and ' ' slate, ' ' shaly
Pure limestone
Slate and brown limestone
•Pure brown limestone
Pure brown salt
Pure white salt
Salt and brown limestone
Dark shaly limestone
Dark limestone
Very dark limestone
Brown limestone
Blue limestone
Brown limestone
Brown limestone, very hard
Hard dark limestone
Brown and blue limestone
White and blue limestone mixed
White crystalline limestonf
Brown and white limestone. Water
Fine brown limestone. Gas
Fine brown limestone
Niagara at 1510 ft., Guelph and Lockport:
Limestone (dolomite)
Rochester:
Slate (shale)
Clinton:
Limestone '.
Red rock (red shale or clay) Medina?
Medina, Richmond:
Black slate
Red rock (red shales)
Slate
W.)
Red rock (red shales) ....
Lorraine:
Gray sand
Slate (.shale)
Dark grayish shale: no eff
Trenton at
Depth,
feet.
75
15
10
25
30
5
70
60
70
5
30
5
30
104
66
15
75
40
70
30
40
30
20
20
15
5
5
5
75
10
5
20
10
100
45
•5
90
5
5
10
10
5
6
5
50
15
35
25
10
350
10
20
110
20
80
95
5
10
40
250
75
90
100
125
155
160
230
290
360
365
395
400
430
534
900
615
690
750
800
K30
870
900
920
940
955
960
965
970
1045
1055
1060
1080
1090
1190
1235
1240
1330
1335
1340
1350
1360
1365
1370
1375
1425
1440
1475
1500
1510
1860
1870
1890
2000
2020
2100
2195
2200
2210
2250
2500
2610
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
95
The Morton Salt Co. of Wyandotte drilled a well a few years ago
to the bottom of the *'Big Salt." A very complete set of samples
was obtained from which the following record was compiled by Dr.
Lane. The first salt was struck at 730 feet and the Sylvania at 197
feet, or about 40 feet higher than at Trenton, indicating a low arch
in the vicinity of Wyandotte.
MORTON SALT CO. WELL.
Elevation 674 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Muck, thin clay. Surface deposits
Upper Monroe or Detroit Rlvsr Series:
Light buff dolomites at 10 f«., perhaps oolitic
At 82 to 92 ft. rather brisk efT., generally moderate to slow, some rounded
sand grains.
Dolomites dark brown, bituminous, with sulphur and sometimes pyrites.
with moderate eff. Compare Church No. 6 down to 290 ft
Sylvania (Middle Monroe)
Quartz sand, clear, very fine, most of the grains from .5 to .2 mm., rounded
down to some where between .1 and .25mm. Compare Ford 23,
235-325; Mt. Clemens. 965.
Dolomlts, light, efT. moderate, in specks (due to crystals perhaps).
Compare Ford 23. 325-340
tSIlicious dolomite:
Dark brown, with red, rusty quartz sand and pyrites in spots, and very
cherty at the base. Compare Ford No. 23, 375-436.
White sand like that above
Sandy dolomite
Grains round ad down to .16 mm.
Lower Monroe or Bass Island Series:
Cherty dolomite
Dolomite, dove colored, w^ith relatively little chert
Dolomite
Bluish, bulT, massive.
Coarse chips at 337-447. Compare Edison 462-377.
Brown dolomite
Light dolomite
Dark dolomite
Light dolomite
Btylolitic with black specks.
Inipure gypsum
Bluish, with some dolomite and nearly pure at 587 ft.
Compare Edison, Fort Wayne, 900-950, especially 925 with 587.
Compare Church No. 2 at 720 ft.
Anhydrite is quite abundant at 627 ft.
Compare Edison, Fort Wayne. 1000 ft.
Dolomite
•« Oolitic at 602 ft.
Bluish dolomite and anhydrite
Salina:
Salt and dolomite *.
At 730 ft. is the first salt. The Edison Fort Wayne well seems to have
salt at higher levels, the first salt there at 1010 ft., belonging to the
upper part of this group apparently. Compare Church No. 5 at
890 ft.
Eureka. Wyandotte, 730-800.
Ford No. 1. 830.
Solvay No. 13, 880.
Solvay No. 16. 890.
Romulus, 925.
Tecums3h Salt Co.. 828.
River Rouge Imp. Co.. 815.
River Rouge Salt Co , 871.
Detroit Salt Co.. 906.
Stroh Brewery. 1150.
Royal Oak, 1543.
New Baltimor?. 1600.
Saint Clair. 1600.
Marine City. 1604.
Port Huron. 1500.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
62
75
60
65
20
35
35
10
50
20
30
16
15
35
25
45
20
113
60
Depth,
feet.
62
137
197
262
282
317
352
362
362
412
432
462
477
492
627
662
697
617
730
792
96
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
MORTON SALT CO. WELL— Concluded.
Elevation 574 ft. A. T.
Salt ;
Dolomite, hard
Compare Wyandotte 870-900 ft.
Dolomite with anhydrite
Anhydrite with salt
while this is the second salt in this well, and would thus correspond
to 940 ft. at Wyandotte, Eureka well, and 852 ft. at Ford No. 23
(probably really to 1027 ft.) it is probable that thess salt beds are
not persistent. Edison. Fort Wayne, 1280-1292 ft., may also
correspond. Ford No. 1 is the same.
Dolomite
This is merely a parting, but seems fairly persistent. Compare Ford
No. 1, 9e8-976; Wyandotte, 960.
Salt
Dolomite, anhydrite and clay
Almost solid anhydrits !
Compare:
Ecfison. Ft. Wayne, 1400 ft.
Wyandotte, 1045.
Dolomite and anhydrite
The base of this is the top of the main and, it seems to me, the most
persistent salt bed. We should then compare:
Church No. 6, Trenton, 1280.
Wyandotte Eureka, 1080-1235 (less 45 ft.)
Morton. 1119-1323.
Romulus. 1475-1600 with partings.
Milan, 1540-1545.
Zug Island, 1290-1528.
Solvay No. 11, 1370-1602 with parting.
Edison. Ft. Wayne, 1445-1636.
Stroh, 1565-1815.
Royal Oak. 2115-2475.
Port Huron. 1991-2190.
Salt, dolomite and anhydrite mixed
Salt, samples to 1137 ft
50
80
10
10
5
15
100
5
50
5
201
842*
922
932:
942
947
962
1062
1067
1117
1122
1323
Many other wells have been drilled at Wyandotte for salt, of which
the Michigan Alkali Company have about twenty-five. The record
of one of these wells (known as the Ford wells) shows five salt hori-
zons, the first salt coming in at about 830 feet.
J. B. FORD No. 1 Well.
Loc.: Michigan Alkali Co. Plant. Wyandotte.
Elevation about 580 A. T.
Surface, clays, etc
Upper Monroe:
Limestone
Sylvania sandstone. . . .
Lower Monroe:
Limestone (dolomite) .
Salina:
Salt
Limestone (dolomite) .
Salt
Limestone (dolomite)
Salt
Limestone (dolomite)
Salt
Limestone (dolomite)
Salt at
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
63
63
199
262
110
372
458
830
46
876
92
968
8
976
8
984
9
993
133
1126
87
1213
10
1223
1300
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
97
Ddray, In Delray, the Solvay Process Co. have a large number of
wells down to the Salina for salt, which, in the vicinity of their Delray
plant, is struck from 865 to 890 feet. No noteworthy amounts of
oil or gas were struck in any of the drillings. The Niagara is appar-
ently over 1600 feet deep. The ''Big Salt" is near the bottom in
all of the wells, but according to Sherzer, this bed in the Eureka Iron
Company's well is underlain by over 300 feet of dolomite, hence it
is near the middle of the Salina. In such case, all of the wells in the
vicinity of Detroit represent only partial sections of the Salina. The
records of only three of the wells are given below. The others are
very similar.
The Sylvania sandstone was reached at 415 feet, considerably deeper
than in River Rouge and Wyandotte.
SOLVAY PROCESS COMPANY WELL, NO. 13.
Loc.: Near Delray plant.
Elevation about 575 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Alluvium (clay, sand, etc.)
10-in. casing.
Dundee and Upper Monroe or Detroit Rivsr Series:
Limestone
Slif^ht flow of sulphur water.
Limestone
Large flow of sulphur water.
Limestone
S-in. casing.
Limestone
Large flow of water.
Sylvania (Middle Monroe) :
Sandstone
Lower Monroe or Bass Island Series:
Very hard limestone
Salina:
Salt.
Limestone
Salt
Limestone
Salt
limestone
Salt
Limestone
Salt
Limestone
Salt
Limestone
6-in. casing.
Limestone
Salt
Limestone
Salt
Limestone
Salt
3-in. casing.
^Limestone
Bottom of well.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
86
Depth,
feet.
86
64
150
150
300
51
351
71
422
90
512
368
880
40
020
5
925
5
930
15
945
30
975
5
980
25
1005
25
1030
25
1055
15
1070
65
1135
37
1172
53
1215
10
1225
140
1365
120
1485
10
1495
105
1600
3
1603
♦All of the * ' limestone" In the Lower Monroe and most of it in the Upper Monroe is probably
dolomite.
13
OIL. AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
SOLVAY PROCESS COMPANY WELL. NC
Elanthm about 5TS [t. A. T.
u Detroit RIvf
Slight now al injiphur ml!^.
Llm jttnne
Incmied flow ot (Ulpbui watu.
Llmealons
I«nre Bow ol nilphur water.
LlmMtone
LlmoalonB
ftjrlTanian or Middle Monroe:
a aowing Aug. s. leoA.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
99
ZUG ISLAND WELL.
Eleyation about 575 ft. A. T.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
Surface:
Clays and suxf aoe earth
73
52
35
60
22
88
125
30
55
35
25
40
32
56
27
20
10
55
88
16
6
15
25
17
83
228
73
Dundee and Upper Monroe or Detroit Riyer Series:
Dolomite?
125
Shale
160
Dolomite?
220
Sylyania (Middle Monroe):
Sandstone, 94 per cent SiO
342
Sandy lime
430
Lower Monroe or Bass Island Series:
Softp»»tone (Calcareous shale?) , . ...
555
Rmim 11mA.
585
Gray lime -.,...
640
Lime
775
Limestone
800
Saiina:
Salt
840
Mixed lime- - - . ........
872
Salt
028
Lime
055
Salt
975
T'Ime
985
Salt
1040
Lime
1128
Salt
1144
T4me . . .
1150
Salt
1165
1190
Shales
1207
1290
Salt
1628
River Rouge. In the River Rouge, but at some distance toward
Wyandotte, the River Rouge Improvement Company drilled a well
for the United Alkali Company, striking salt at 815 feet. Near the
River Rouge, Mr. Dalton put down wells for the TecumsehSalt Com-
pany, in which the Sylvania sandstone was struck from 365 to 492
feet and yielded heavy flows of sulphuretted water. In a well at
Brownlee & Company's sawmill (578 =t: feet A. T.), Ecorse, the salt
was struck at 875 feet and the Sylvania at 395 feet.
Oakwood. One of the most important records showing the exact
nature of the rock formations, their thickness and the water horizons,
is that obtained from the Oakwood salt shaft near Detroit. The
first attempt^ to sink a shaft for mining rock salt was made in 1902,
but this was a failure owing to the collapse of the brick drop casing.
The second attempt was successful only after the greatest difficulty
in overcoming suffocating gases and floods of water. When the shaft
was 420 feet in depth Mr. E. Bradt, the engineer, estimated that the
total flow into the shaft was 2,000,000 gallons per minute. The Dun-
dee limestone yielded so much hydrogen sulphide gas that the work-
men were overcome or their eyes painfully affected. Operations
were stopped for some months from this difficulty.
*Sherzer: Geolof^r of Wayne county. Pub. 12, Qeol. Ser. 9, 1911, pp. 279-280.
100 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Strong flows of water were struck at six diflferent horizons, viz.:
In the drift, just over the bed rock, in the Dundee, and in the Upper
Monroe. There was also a seepage flow in the Sylvania. The great
flow of water from a 5 foot horizontal opening was finally shut off by
forcing in a slush of concrete cement under a pressure of 1200 pounds
per square inch. No gas outside of the HjS gas was observed at any
of the horizons, but asphaltum streaks occurred in the Lucas dolomites
of the Upper Monroe
OIL. AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
101
.••
SECTION OF OAKWOOD SALT SHAPTT
«
Loc.: On»-hAlf mile south of the River Rouge in Oakwood, a Binalir'aA>WMt> of Detroit.
Elevation of mouth of the shaft, 575.2 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene or surface deposits:
Blue boulder clay
Sand Just abova rock, water
Dundee (Corniferous) :
Hifh sradd limestone with some chert nodules
Quite neavy flow from 86 to 88 ft.; rank in hydrogen sulphide gas; small
flow at 135 ft.
Upper Monroe or Detroit River Series:
Lucas
Bluish to brownish gray porous dolomite much of it finely laminated,
with streaks of asphaltum. Small amount of gypsum. Poor in fos-
sils. Flow from 155 ft. to 108 ft.; flow continuing down to 181 ft.
Sulphurous; tejnperature at 180 ft. was 49.5** F. (Cooper). Re-
markably heavy flow at 101 ft. from a horizontal opening extending
across the shsit. Water strong in sulphur and under a pressure of 90
lbs. per square inch, causing the shaft to All in 3 to 4 hours.
Amherstburg:
Brownish, laminated dolomite
Anderdon:
High grade limestone, rich in fossils. Some celestite
Flat Rock:
Dark drab dolomite, with few casts and moulds of fossils. Some con-
cretions and cypsum
Sylvania (Middle Nionroe):
Snow white sandstone more or less cross bedded. Generally incoherent
comparted into sandstone from about 490 to 510 ft
Seepage flow of sulphur water throughout Sylvania sandstone, except
for 27 foot stratum of dry siliceous dolomite (Sylvania dolomite).
Mr. Bradt, the engineer, estimated the total flow above the base of the
Sylvania as 2,000,000 gallons p»r minute, this beinff reduced to not
over 500 gallons by the use of Portland cement forceainto ths Assures
of the rock under a pressure of 1200 lbs. to the sq. in. The vein at
the depth of 191 ft. required several carloads of cement before the flow
could be controlled, and the services of a driver to insert the pipe at
the proper point. Preparatory to blasting. hol«»s were drilled obli-
quely aoout the margin of the shaft, one foot apart, and into these
were forced all the cement slush that they would receive. !n the case
of tha Sylvania, a concrete lining, 24 to 30 inches thick was reouired
to restrain the flow. Below the Sylvania, the flow was greatly re-
duced and Anally completely disappeared.
Lower Monroe, Bass Island Series:
Raisin River:
Bluish gray or brownish laminated dolomite with occasional oolitic strata.
Line of separation between this and Sylvania very distinct. "Like
a floor from which sand could be swept." Some chert nodules and
pyrite. Bed of breccia encountered about 580 ft. Some fossils
Put-in-Bay (Possibly including Tymochtee) :
Bluish to brownish dolomite with seams of fossils. Thin strata of
breccia and oolite. Some selenite, alabaster, anhydrite, calcite,
asphaltum, and pyrite. Shaiy and carbonaceous in places. Dolomite
shows "gashed structure" at certain levels. Veins of salt encoun-
tered near bottom
Salina:
Salt and dolomite irregularly mixed. No fossils found
Salt
Salt and dolomite
Salt, slightly blotchsd with dolomitic .slime.
Present bottom of shaft at 1060 ft.
Salt and dolomite
Salt
Salt and dolomite
Salt
Dolomite • . , . .
Salt
When entered, this bed will probably be found to be divided by minor
strata of dolomite.
Thick-
ness;
feet.
Depth,
'faet.
73
10
63
170
19
38
47
113
83
146
316
124
220
335
373
420
533
657
877
83
960
10
970
50
1020
20-
1040
70
1110
30
1140
199
1339
25
1364
73
1437
369
1806
t s
Jrherzer: Geology of Wayne Co., Pub. 12, Geol. Ser. 9. Fig. 21
Ilt-J OI^'-AMD OAS in MICHIGAN.
Flirt Wayne. .JuaV'-lJelow Fort Wayne, Detroit, the Edison Power
tiiul Light Comply have put down a number of deep wells, of which
a log uf their- ^o* 1 is given below.
, ■._ '•■ EDISON POWER AND LIGHT CO., NO. i WELL.
/'.tiv*.: At pluit luM bdow Fl. Wkjiw. Rcconl by A. C. Luie from Bwnplea.
S, iA-«'fi NWfff na«iTou*<W. 10 '!>■ e»«l''ir"> 102 ft.
S~ li<<> n^ktmir (A.: S. IK5 titKt ttl.; S. 300 flerce. cblpping. bluj^.
V |VT\~F ■ hh-?! lua; twrv brokm Imn kbove la Urn uid ciunirterlstlc
(\v.:i!m>ii^ silh A. rviinilaris, Fen«it«ll>, etc. ll there !■ not houw
riisiaW* in llw wnpin II Mwns quite probable tli*t the 300 ft. rample
hMSWtf lu be tran ft roni reel in the Lucu. Elgbt ineli mbv to
I'Mwr Miuinw or IMroll River Series:
l>K-«s IVitumllr.
^ •.» K..»,„ ^w cd : S. 440 ume.
..J iMldJle Monroe)
iT mulstiHie, witb some doloniile. secoDdsry qiimrti uldl-
\,T'«. a.^T-STS. Wj-uirtotte Kureka 230-300. Cliurrii'2«)-«5; River
K«u» S.MI-MO; Solv»y 4HM00: OakwoodilB.
Un>M Miuinw or B*n laluid Sertes:
IHtlniuilK brown. .;
S, M* chMly dolomite, with numerous while i^ns ot solid chert M
wii4l U ilolomlle; IS. 650 doiomfle. gcBiiiilu, s&nd; looking, brown, a few
KKlm «I nnd.
Hiill*. Nile -
S. TOO Mainly dolnmlle. slow efl.. a few grains of selenlte. blulab.
IHilinnlle, brown ,
N 'IS lOuw ell., dark, chipping: S. 7G0 masslTe brown coarse chips.
lidlotnlle. llfthl , .
^ 77.\ slow rtt. : H. 800 pure dolomite: 8. 81G sJmoKt wholly dolomite, a
llllle anhydrite under microscope; B. 87S mainly dolomite and anhy-
drite ill a (race.
Anhydrlti' mainlv
» VOU about half dolomite, half anhydrite: S. 025 almost all anhydrite.
a mile gypsum.
S lOUO mainly anhydrite with flakee of selenlte and dark dolomile.
fteliiia;
s'^ioin brown 'iali: B.'ldis whl'ie'salt.'
M 104(1 brownish white salt.
H. lUMO mainiy dolomite, a IKIle anhydrite.
m' 1 i I ft white salt.
H. 1 1 12 dolomile mainly, a i'iilie anhydHle.
s II4U Hear, roarse erained sail, beds from lOliviieo rompare wliti
Wyanrtolle 730-870,
litoiiROti."*"
r marks the interval between tbe Bnl and second epochs;
1805, p. 2H). compare,
omlte silt, anbydnle and quartz.
r dolomite, half anbydrile.
200b are reddish brown, rusty with some sand, but mainly
slow elf., is stuck together and bas more dolomite, than
OILr AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
im
EDISON POWER AND LIGHT CO.. NO. 1 WELL.— Concluded.
Elevation 685 ft. A. T.
Salt
Compare Wyandotte 040-970.
Limestone.
8. 1300 is mainly dolomite with some anhydrite.
ArgillaceouB limestone ' ' Shale* '
S. 1310 greenish, earthy, with a granular calcite powder.
Limestone
S. 1400 light buff, slow eff.. with some anhydrite.
Salt
S. 1445 not clean, brown salt, at 1600 ft. and 1600 ft. clean salt.
Compare Wyandotte 1080-1235.
Limestone and anhydrite
8. 1655 Strong reaction for SOt, brilliant polarization colors. 1656 feet
of 3-inch tubing.
1656
Windsor f Ontario. Across the Detroit river in Windsor the Canadian
Pacific railroad drilled a number of wells. Their No. 11 well shows
that the Sylvania is 590 feet below the surface and the first salt at
1167 feet. This indicates a rapid deepening north from Wyandotte.
CANADIAN PACIFIC R. R. WELL NO. 11, WINDSOR.
Elevation about 610 ft. A. T.
Surface and hard white dolomite (Dundee absent?) :
Monroe or Detroit River series:
Dolomite, hard fawn colored
Dolomite, marlv, drab
Limestone, daric color, petroliferous
Dolomite marly
Dolomite marly, drab
Dolomite marly, gray . . .
Dolomite vesicular, drab
Limestone ,
Dolomite, crystalline, fawn colored
Limestone, arab
Rylvania (Middle Monroe):
Sandstone, quartzose (Sylvania)
Lower Monroe or Bass Island Series:
Dolomite, faw^n
Dcdomite, with gypsum, gray
Dolomite, shaly, drab, somewhat arenaceous
Dolomite, drab ^ray
■ ale
Dolomite, fawn (dolomite? 670-700)
Dolomite, hard, drab gray
Dolomite, shaly, gray
Dolomite, fawn
Dolomite, drab gray
Dolomite, fawn gray
Dolomite, drab gray with gypsum . .
Dolomite, shaly, drab gray
Dolomite, drab gray
Salina:
Salt
235
40
236
15
250
50
300
25
.325
10
335
30
365
25
390
20
410
30
440
20
460
75
535
55
.590
10
600
40
640
30
670
90
760
40
800
25
825
15
840
40
880
80
i 960
70
1030
40
1070
30
1100
27
1127
1167
104
OIL. AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Detroit. The Stroh Brevdng Company's well, excepting the Wyan-
dotte well, is the deepest boring along Detroit river and may have
reached the Niagara. The record as given below is one obtained from
verbal reports and is lacking in detail.
STROH '8 BREWERY WELL.
Loc.: At plant on Gratiot Ave., Detroit.
Elevation about 620 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Blue clay
Hard pan
Boulders
Traverse Formation
Dundee limestone and Upper Monroe, or Detroit River dolomites, with
sulphur water in the latter
Sylvania sandstone
Lower Monroe, or Bass Island Series:
The lime rock hard at 730 ft., sandy at 80 ft., and hard pan 000 to 1150
feet.
Salina:
Salt
Limestone
Salt
Limestone (Lower part Niagara?)
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
110
110
30
140
14
154
164
300
315
615
85
700
55
1205
201
1406
250
1815
282
2097
North Detroit The Detroit Natural Gas Co. drilled a well in North
Detroit to the depth of 770 feet striking a small quantity of gas with
water in the surface gravels and in the Antrim black shales just be-
low the drift.
DETROIT NATURAL GAS CO. WELL.
Loc: 7 ml. N, and 3 E(?) of Jefferson Ave.
Elevation about 630 ft.? A. T.
Pleistocene:
Gravel and gas (would burn)
Gravel
Antrim :
Black shale
Hard shale
Gas and water (would light) at 165 ft.
Black slate
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Shelly sandstone
Limestone
Soapstone (calcareous shale)
Hard slates and limestone
Dundee (Cornif erous) :
White sandstone, quite hard
(Probably oherty limestone shales).
Limestone (Monroe)
Still in limestone.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
100
25
8
7
52
34
14
160
75
105
190
Depth,
feet.
100
125
133
140
1Q2
226
240
400
475
580
770
OILi AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 105
■
EUnse. An 850 foot well was drilled for gas by C. C. Nims at the
Wa3me County Infirmary at Eloise. The well (625 ft. A. T.) struck
the Traverse formation at 130 feet and this yielded a flow of fresh
water. A strong mineralized brine was struck in the Monroe Group
with some indications of oil.
«
LOCAL STRUCTURES IN SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN.
The strike of the rock formations from the Ohio line through Mon-
roe county is in general northeast, but in Wayne county it becomes
almost due east, the strata apparently lapping around the end of the
Cincinnati anticline in Elssex and Kent counties, Ontario. The gen-
eral dip of the Sylvania in Monroe county is therefore northwest,
and from the quarries of the National Silica Company (Sec. 2, Raisin-
ville Twp.) to Ann Arbor the average is over 38 feet per mile. In
Wayne* county, however, the average dip of the strata cannot be
accurately determined owing to the lack of reliable data. North-
. ward along Detroit river the dip. of the Sylvania varies from 27 to 32
feet per mile, and westward from Detroit to Ann Arbor, a distance of
32.5 miles, the Dundee and Sylvania dip respectively 15.7 and 14.7
feet per mile. The Royal Oak and Pontiac wells are nearly in the
proper position from Detroit to give the true dip of the formations,
but unfortunately- comparison cannot be made for the Dundee in
either the Royal Oak or the Pontiac well, since the formation cannot
be distinguished from the Monroe. If the Sylvania is taken as a
basis for comparison, the dip north-northwest from Detroit into Oak-
land county is about 21 to 22 feet per mile, therefore the average
dip of the rocks in Wayne county is probably not over 25 feet per
mile in the same general direction.
Wyandotte Anticline. While the general dip of the rock strata in
Monroe county is to the northwest at not over 40 feet per mile, and
in Wayne county is north-northwest at perhaps less than 25 feet per
mile, the local dips are not only discordant but much greater, indicat-
ing local warping and folding. At South Rockwood, the Sylvania is
about 565 feet above sea level, but to the northeast in the Swan well,
Grosse Isle, it is only 266 feet A. T. From the latter well northward
to Trenton and beyond the Sylvania rises to 290 and 300 feet A. T.
in the Church wells, to 350 feet A. T. at the Eureka Iron Works, and
388 feet A. T. in the Morton Salt Company wells, Wyandotte.
Northeastward from the latter place, the Salina begins to deepen,
being struck in the Ford wells at Ford City at 345 and 230 feet A. T.,
180 feet and 142 feet A. T. in Ecorse, and 155 feet A. T. in the Oak-
wood salt shaft. At River Rouge, there is a rise to 210 feet A. T.,
•W. H. Sherzer: Geology of Wayne county, Pub. 12, Geol. Surv. 9, 1911, pp. 206.
106 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
but to the north and northeast the descent is rapid, as at Fort Wa3me
the Sylvania occurs at 135 feet A. T., in Windsor 60 to 70 feet A. T.,
and at Stroh's Brewery on Gratiot avenue, Detroit, the Sylvania is
5 feet below sea level. The salt horizons show a similar rise from
Trenton to Wyandotte, and then a sudden deepening to the north-
east. (See references in record of Morton Salt Company well.)
From the foregoing facts, it appears that the crest of an anticline
crosses Detroit river from Ontario and passes near Wyandotte. Ac-
cording to Sherzer,^ the axis of the anticline strikes south 60® west
through a point about five miles north of the Woolmith quarry (sec.
29, Exeter Twp.), Monroe county.
Stony Island Anticline. In deepening the Livingston channel at
the Lime Kiln Crossing in Detroit river, a cofferdam was constructed
exposing the river bed for more than a mile. In excavating the chan-
nel through the ledge of limestone, which crosses the river at this
point, a cut 3500 feet long was made through limestone strata which
dip steeply toward the southwest instead of northeast, as indicated
by the drillings along Detroit river. In the northern portion of the
exposed area near the head of Stony Island, a pronounced anticlinal
fold' extends across the river in an east-west direction. The dip
on the south limb, according to Sherzer, is 1®58', or about 180 feet
per mile in a direction S. 50° W. Eastward in the Anderdon quarry
on the Canadian side of Detroit river the dip is much steeper, being
over 300 feet per mile in a direction S. 23® W., and, in the Patrick quarry
on the south end of Grosse Isle, the dip is S. 30° W., and ranges from
1| to 2°, or about 140 to 185 feet to the mile. The extent of the area
over which the steep southwesterly dips prevail indicate that the
fold is of considerable magnitude, apparently much larger and more
pronounced than the anticline near Wyandotte.
In the Sibley quarry, the rock strata have been disturbed as the
strata dip in a direction 5° south of west instead of north-northwest,
and at 200 to 230 feet per mile. In the Christiancy or Bullock quarry
on the Macon river two miles northeast of Dundee, the dip is only
about 25 feet per mile west-northwest, while at Dundee it is nearly
120 feet. Such striking irregularities in dip, and the presence of at
least two anticlines, are indicative of favorable conditions for the
occurrence of oil and gas, but so many holes have been drilled to the
Salina horizon in Monroe and Wayne counties without striking any
noteworthy amounts of either oil or gas, that the chances for finding
these mineral products in large quantity in strata above the Niagara
do not seem promising. A few miles east of Detroit river in Ontario,
oil and gas have been found in great quantities in the Niagara and
»The Monroe Formation, Pub. 2, Geol. Ser. 1, Geol. and Biol. Surv., 1909, p. 57.
"W. H. Sherzer: Geology of Wayne county, Pub. 12, Geol. Ser. 9, p. 214.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
107
the Medina especially. Possibly these fonnations, particularly in the
vicinity of the Stony Island and Wyandotte anticlines/ may likewise
contain oil and gas in large amounts.
WASHTENAW COUNTY.
West and northwest of Detroit toward the center of the Michigan
Basin wells have been drilled at Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Royal Oak
and Pontiac.
Ypailanti. A number of wells have been drilled at Ypsilanti for
sulphuretted brines derived from the mixture of brines from the Berea
grit, the Traverse and Dundee limestones. The oldest well is the
Comwell mineral well, 750 feet in depth, on the flats along Huron
river. Only a poor record of this is available; and of the Moorman
well, about 965 feet deep, there is only the record of the casing. Fresh
water was struck in the latter between 125 and 150 feet, and the first
flow of mineral water was struck at 400 feet, which was saltier than
the lower one. Gas (H^) was struck at about 550 feet.
It is to be noted in the Atlantis and the Banner Oil Company wells
that the Berea sandstone at the base of the Coldwater is not a definitely
recognizable horizon, though at Ann Arbor in the Court House well
Rominger correlated 92 feet of coarse gray brine bearing sandstone
with this horizon.
ATLANTIS WELL.*
Loc.: North of State Normal College Campus, Ypsilanti. T. C. Owen, owner.
Elevation 785 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Sand, clay, gravel, etc., unconsolidated
Antrim :
Shale, soft
Sandstone, fine, slightly calcareous, fresh water
Limestone, fine — all dissolves in acid
Shide, dun, dark; lower 74 ft. black
Shale, sandy, dun
Traverse? :
Sandstone, very fine, slightly calcareous; yields bromine water
Limestone, pale, cherty
Shale, sandy
Limestone, ranging from pale and cherty to dun and sparry. Brine at
404 ft. directly beneath a very hard streak ,
Shale, bluish to dun, in places gritty
Limestone, varying from silicious to pure
Shale.
Dundee? (Top uncertain but probably below 525ft. Cf. Banner Oil and
Gas Co. well.):
Limestone, varying from pale to dun, with some shalv partings, portions
magnesian. others silicious; contains sulphurou.<« (HaS) water
Unrecorded
Monroe probably below 680 ft
Thick-
ness,
feet.
185
4
10
10
84
64
4
10
5
43
22
24
21
138
184
Depth,
feet.
185
189
190
200
293
357
361
371
376
419
441
465
486
624
808
808
•Record from A. Winchell's Mss., by W. H. Sherzer, Geol. of Wayne County, Pub. 12, Geol.
8er. 9, 1911, p. 189.
108
OIL AND QAS IN MICHIGAN.
In 1904 the Banner Oil and Gas Company and the Ypsilanti De-
velopment Company drilled another well at Ypsilanti on the Cramer
farm about 300 feet from the old Comwell well and near the city
water works.
BANNER OIL A OA8 CO. WELL.
Loc.: Three hundred feet from Comwell well near Ypsilanti Water WorkB plant. Banner
Oil A Qas Co> ard Ypsilanti Development Co. A. H. Marah. contractor. Sam-
ples at 700, 1150 and 1200 ft.
Elevation 082 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene
At base of gravel water flows with T. 50.2*. T. 49.7 *» at 90 ft., 10 inch drive
pipe to 91 ft., T. 51. 2« at 128 ft.
Devoman Antrim:
"White shale" -
• • Some pas" at 135 ft.? A little water, no odor.
Black shale
Traverse Formation:
Limestone shale
With a flow of gas. Hard shells at 300 ft. T. 53* F.
Brown shale
This Traverse is also reported as 50 ft. limestone, then blue shale,
then black shale, then limestone, then black shale, &nd the change
to Dundee at 525 ft. At 520 ft, T. 57.2* F.
Dundee limestone:
Limestone
S. ai 600 tests limestone according to Sherzer. Mineral water at
525 ft., .SSO ft. with gas HsS, also at 570 ft.
Upper Monroe:
Dolomite
S. at 700 ft. slow eff. dolomite; at 680 ft., more water quite salty with
some gas and traces of oil. e. g., at (730 ft.) or 720 ft., at which point
it was fruitlessly shot with nitroglycerin, Nov. 16, 1904.
At 710 ft. T. 59. 4" F
Sylvania:
Whit 3 sandstone "375 ft. to 390 ft." of it at 1150 ft.
8. 1150 ft. typical Sylvania sandstone, white, Dec. 17. 1904.
S. water at 1175 ft.
S. 1200 brownish sandstone, Feb. 9. 1005, looks like the samples near
the bottom of the Sylvania.
Well 1210 ft. deep. Ypsilanti Press, Oct. 4, 1905. ("Has it been
deepened? ' * — Lane.)
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
90
51
150
25
204
160
80
400
90
141
291
316
520
680
760
1200?
Ann Arbor, There are two wells at Ann Arbor; one, known as the
old Court House well, was reported by Winchell and Rominger and
the other, the Campus well of the University, is given below. Sam-
ples were taken for the Survey by Prof. Russell and careful notes
were made by Prof. H. D. Campbell of the University and Mr. Frueauff
of the Ann Arbor Argus.
OIL. AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
109
CAMPUS WELL.
(Drilled in 1899-1900.)
Loc.: Campus of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Record by Dr. A. C. Lane.
Elevation 875 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Soil, fine sand
Gravelly, 10 ft., large boulder at 80 ft., casing to 90 ft
Bluish clay, large boulder at 1 13 ft
Coldwater shales:
Bluish shales
Red shale
Plugged at 287 ft. and water above analyzed 4.3 per cent salt.
Blue shale
Fine soft gray and black shale
Fine gray sandy shale
Fine bluish shale .«
Berea grit:
Fine gray sandstone
(No water noted).
Fine sandy shale
Glossy black shale
Fine gray sandy shale
Salt water at 515 ft. and below.
Antrim shales:
Fine black and green shale
Fine gray sandy shale
Very nne black shale
Black bituminous shale
Coarse gray sandstone
Black sandy shale
Black bitiuninous shale
Traverse Formation:
Shale with pyrite
Gray calcareous shale
Dundee limestone:
Gray cherty limestone
Light gray limestone
Gray argillaceous limestone, some gas indications
Upper Monroe:
Light gray dolomite ^ .
Limestone at 950 feet struck a mineral water charged with HiS which
rose 3(X) ft. and contained 13 per cent salts, according to Eberhard.
Lieht gray dolomite, sandy
Nov. 18th operations were suspended for a month at the end of the
first 1000 It. in an oily dolomite or limestone.
Light gray dolomites with Sylvania sand grains
Jan. 5th at 1065 ft. a red rock with much iron was struck.
Sylvania sandstone:
Pure white friable sandstone
According to newspapers at 1275 ft. on Feb. 10th another mineral
water strong of H^with 17 per cent salts (Eberhard) was struck in
limerock.
At 1300 ft. the rock is said to have been a little softer. The well was
shut down Feb. 26. 1900. at 1326 ft., plugged at 283 ft. and tested.
Then a cement plug of 25 ft. was put on top, but the analysis of the
water remained practically the same.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
45
45
145
45
90
235
30
15
265
280
75
. 20
10
15
355
375
385
400
15
415
25
5
76
440
445
520
10
15
15
15
5
20
80
530
545
560
575
580
600
680
5
60
685
745
30
30
130
770
800
930
40
970
60
1030
205
1235
35 +
1270 +
OAKLAND COUNTY.
Royal Oak. Two wells have been drilled at Royal Oak, one 1400
feet in depth and the other 2502 feet penetrated the Salina for
more than 900 feet. The record of the deeper well is given below.
Little or no signs of oil or gas were noted anywhere in the drilling,
although there were numerous shale gas wells in the drift in south-
eastern Oakland county.
no
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
ROYAL OAK WELL.
Mfg. & Gas Co., Hugh Monroe, driller.
Elevation 678 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene or Surface:
Clay
Gravel
Clay
Quicksand and gravel
Antrim (Huron):
Black shale
Traverse (Hamilton;:
Limestone
Brown shale
Dundee (Upper Monroe or Detroit River Series in lower part) :
Salt water at 548 ft. and 583 ft.
Limestone containing salt water. (As this record does not distinguish
dolomite and limestone, we cannot fix the boundary between the Mon-
roe and Dundee limestone)
Salt water at 720 ft.
Sylvania:
White sand. Salt water at 836 ft
Very soft white sandstone 836-1105 ft.
Limestone. "Struck white sand 990-1095, very soft,*' (May this be
anhvdrite? — Lane.)
Lower Monroe or Bass Island Series:
Very grittv hard limestone
Dark sandrock, gray
Blue hard gritty limestone ,
Very soft light colored lime ,
A little closer
Hard close bluish limerock ,
Hard gray sandrock ,
Hard limerock
Hard gritty limerock
Rotten lime or shale. (The *' shale" and "slate" are probably largely
anhydrite, or at times dolomitic man) ,
Salina:
Solid rock salt
Hard shale ,
Nice quality of salt
Slate, rotten lime or shale, marly
Salt
Hard blue lime
Shale
Salt
Soft gray lime
Hard lime
Salt
Slate
Salt
Slate
Salt
Slate
Salt
Slate
Salt
Hard blue lime
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
40
40
5
45
25
70
94
164
141
305
85
390
130
520
316
836
154
990
115
1105
20
1125
16
1140
35
1176
40
1215
45
1260
145
1405
5
1410
10
1420
45
1465
78
1543
97
1640
10
1650
45
1695
40
1736
57
1792
18
1810
10
1820
80
1900
10
1910
95
2005
15
2020
95
2115
35
2150
15
2165
20
2185
15
2200
100
2300
15
2315
160
2475
27
2502
MiUual Oil & Gas Company^ s Welly Royal Oak. In 1913, a test well,
for oil was projected by the Mutual Oil & Gas Company of Detroit.
Fifty acres of land near Royal Oak were bought and capitalized at
$162,000. The land was divided into 5400 parcels 20 feet square,
which were to be sold at S30.00 each. A certain portion of the pro-
ceeds was to pay for the land, another the promoters for their work
in organizing the company and selling the stock, and the third por-
tion for the drilling. In such stock schemes, the charges for purchas-
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Ill
ing the land and promoting the enterprise are so great that there is
relatively little money available for actual drilling.
The test well was to be drilled on land which has one or more sur-
face gas wells. The idea was, that by going deeper, larger quantities
of gas would be struck. As the numerous *' shale gas*' wells in Oak-
land county are in the belt underlain by the black Sunbury shale,
the Berea grit and the Antrim black shale, the gas in the drift is un-
doubtedly a leakage from these formations. Any well more than
a few hundred feet deep will pass completely through these petroli-
ferous formations. Royal Oak well is well down the northeast limb
of the low broad anticline between Pontiac and Adrian with its crest
near Ann Arbor, and therefore it is apparently in an unfavorable
position. The above project was finally abandoned without doing
any drilling.
PoTdiac. The Pontiac Natural Gas & Oil Company, drilled a well
1505 feet deep at Pontiac, Oakland county. A little gas was found
between 1305 and 1310 feet, and also in the limestone at 1497 feet.
The Berea sandstone, although exceptionally thick and overlain and
underlain by bituminous shales, apparently gave little sign of either
oil or gas.
PONTIAC WELL.
Pontiac Natural Gas & Oil Co., G. S. Duncan, contractor.
samples and driller's log.
Record by C. E. Alright, from
Elevation 934 ft. A, T.
Surface
Coldwater:
Blue shale
Blue ari^Uaceou-s shale
Calcareous argillaceous sandy shale; light blue; ve^ fine grained
Sandy argillaceous shale, light blue
Sandy argillaceous shale
Reddish argillaceous shale
Sunbury shale:
Dark brown aqi^illaceous shale
Berea sandstone:
Lighi drab sandstone; flna grained. Palt water
Light drab sandstone, fine grained
Gray sandstone
Antrim shale:
Black shale
Traverse Formation:
Coarse-grained argillaceous limestone, dark drab
Fine-^n^ined limestone, light drab; 2 per cent insoluble residue
Limestone, light drab and grayish white; 8 per cent insoluble residue. . .
Limestone, light gray; 20 per cent insoluble residue
Sandy limestone, dark drab; 20 per cent insoluble residue
Argillaceous limestone; 10 per cent insoluble clay residue
Light blue calcareous clay: 90 per cent insoluble residue
Salt water; very strone brine at 1115 ft.
Dundee limestone (top aoove 1220 ft.) and Monroe Beds:
Monroe not separated from Dundee.
Limestone, light gray, drab to dark drab 1220 to 1350 ft.
Show of gas at 1300 ft.
Sandy limestone; light gray, brisk eff.; residue "SO per cent gray sand
and some glassy grains at 1350.
At 1497 ft. in gas-rook for 40 ft. (?). bui 1100 ft. water in well.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
320
10
10
30
70
40
20
35
20
17
236
167
35
10
7
8
35
15
50
320
330
340
370
440
480
500
535
555
572
808
965
990
1000
1007
1015
1050
1065
1115
112
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Sovih Lyon, At South Lyon (sec. 30, T. 1 N., R. 7 E.), a well was
drilled to 1350 or 1400 feet in depth, but only a meager record is avail-
able. Rock was struck at about 70 feet, mineral water above 800
feet, and limestone (Traverse and Dundee probably) from 1000 feet
to the bottom. Above 1000 feet are sandstones and shales, the latter
in places black.
HOLLY MUNICIPAL WELL.
Notes kspt by D. M. White of well drilled at Holly, by Kinney and Coleman: 8 inch well.
Pleistocene:
Sand and gravel
Soft clay
Sand and gravel
Soft clay
Like we had at 140 to 180 feet.
Sand and gravel
Bottom of pipe 265 feet.
Lower Marshall:
Light drab shale with shells of sandstone running through it .
Coldwater:
Light drab shale very much like clay, but does not cave, soft
Gray sand rock; a little bit of water with salty taste
Blue shale, some harder than light drab shale
Dark sand rock, more salty water
Light drab shale
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
113
Figure 10.
Map sbowing the location of salt blocks and salt wells aiong St. Clair river (after
C. W. Cook).
MACOMB COUNTY.
Northeastward from Detroit to Port Huron numerous wells have
been drilled for salt, oil, or mineral water. (Fig. 10.) Many wells
have been drilled at Mt. Clemens for Mineral water and at Marine
city and St. Clair for salt. The records of these and other wells indi-
cate not only that the strike of the formations becomes easterly, but
that there is a great discordance in the dip of the strata in Macomb
and southern St. Clair counties.
15
114
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
ML Clemens, The record of the Mt. Clemens No. 3 well shows
that the base of the Dundee horizon drops from 145 feet m the Oak-
wood salt shaft to 400 feet below the surface and the Sylvania from
410 to 965 feet. The dip of the latter is, therefore, about 21 feet per
mile and of the former only about 8 or 9 feet.
MT. CLEMENS WELL NO. 3.
I.OC.: Claim No. 141. Owner. Mr. Courein; driller, Mr. Nims. DriUed In 1892. Samples
furnished by driller, through T. M. Crocker.
Elevation 617 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Wet dark gray sand with an oUy smell and moderately free eff
Rock at 123 ft.?
Record missing
Antrim shale:
Bjinis with an aromatic odor, in shaly flakes; black: smells oily
Like the above, not so bituminous, tastes of ferrous sulphate
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Mixture of black shale and of a limestone like that at 260 ft.; eff. not
T ,v®rX orisk; traces of gypsum in solution
Light buff limestone with traces of shells; very brisk eff
The ssune; no gypsum
Unrecorded
Dundee (Coruiferous) limestone:
_ -l^fht buff even grained; very brisk eff; no CaSO*
Light buff ; even grained; very brisk eff.. no CaSO«
Gas at 600 ft. and at intervals for the next 200 ft.
Upper Monroe:
As at .560 ^
As at 560, but slower eff
LUce 660 in color, but with many large pieces of gypsum, and slow eff . . .
The same, with a certain amount of gypsum
Brown; slow eff., except a few grains; some gypsum
Dark buff; slow eff., gypsum
Dark gray, slow eff., gypstmi
Dark gray; gypsum; eff. faster at 890 ft. than at 900 ft., quartz occa-
sional
Dark brown; with a trace of gypsum
Like No. 720 in color; moderate eff.; occasional quartz; trace of gyp.(ium. .
Brownish buff; quick eff.; a little quartz, chert and clay
Like 940, but a shade lighter
Sylvania sandstone:
Granular white sandstone, very pure; rounded grains averaging 0.3 mm. in
size, and smaller angular grains, averaging 0.15 mm. in diameter,
like the sand at 1920 ft. and 1950 ft. at Kalamazoo
l^nrecorded
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
35
35
88
123
17
140
70
210
8
218
67
285
15
300
100
400
160
560
23
583
17
610
10
520
30
650
50
700
20
720
40
760
25
785
105
890
10
900
20
920
20
940
25
965
35
1000
60
1060
New Baltimore. The Dundee drops from 400 feet a*^ Mt. Clemens
to 690 feet below the surface at New Baltimore. This indicates a dip
of about 32 feet per mile to the northeast, or three times as great as
that from the Oakwood salt shaft to Mt. Clemens, and probably
greater than the average north-northwest dip in Wayne county, al-
though accurate calculations cannot be made for the latter on account
of the lack of reliable data.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
115
NEW BALTIMORE WELL.
C. M. Swift, owner. Drillers, J. J. Mason ^ Co.
Elevation about 588 (?) ft. A. T.
feet. '^^•
Pleistocene:
Surface
Antrim shale: «
Blue shale
Black shale
Compare St." ClairV4(k); Marine City, 460; JPontiac, 966; Mt. Clemens,
218.
Traverse Formation:
Limestone and calcareous shales
Limestone
Compare St. Clair, 630; Pontiac, 1065.
Blue shale
Compare St. Clair. 790; Algonac, 613; Marine City, 740 to 635; Pon-
tiac. 1235; Mt. Clemens, 400.
Dundee (Corniferous) limestone:
Limestone high jerrade
Compare St. Clair, 910; Marine City, 825 to 770; Mt. Clemens, 610.
Monroe Group, including Salina:
Dolomite
Gypsum bed (anhydrite) 860 to 870 ft.
Compare St. Clair, 990.
G3rpsum bed 885 to 895 ft.
Brown dolomite, 920 to 940 ft.
Compare Marine City, 1060 ft.
Limestones
Compare St. Clair, 1380; Marine City, 1220.
Brown dolomite and gypsum
Blue dolomite, shale and gypsum
Compare St. Clair, 1480; Marine City, 1390.
Buff dolomite
Blue and brown dolomite and gypsum
Compare St. Clair, 1600; Marine City, 1604.
Salt
120
5
335
20
50
160
130
290
120
125
460
480
630
690
820
1110
165
85
35
50
155
40
1275
1360
1395
1445
1600
1640
Romeo, At Rx)meo, a well 1575 feet in depth was drilled by M.
Porter for the village in a vain search for potable water. The brine,
or mineral water struck in the lower part of the well rose about 1000
feet. The record, as furnished by Fred E. Hipp, cannot be satis-
factorily correlated. A sandstone from 180 to 240 feet apparently
corresponds to the Richmondville, but it may be the Berea since in
a well drilled by O. N. Phillips on the D. M. Ferry & Company farm,
sec. 23, Avon township, Oakland county, a brine bearing sandstone
overlain by 45 feet of black shale was struck at 230 feet. The driller,
upon being shown samples of Berea sandstone and Sunbury shale
from the Saginaw wells, pronounced them identical in character with
the rocks encountered in the Ferry well, and in many other wells drilled
by him in Oakland and northwest Wayne county. The sandstone
and shale correspond to the Berea and Sunbury respectively, yet it
cannot be asserted that the upper sandstone at Romeo corresponds
to the Berea horizon, as stray sandstones resembling the Berea are
known to occur in the lower part of the Coldwater shales. The corre-
lations as given in the record below are merely, tentative.
116
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
ROMEO WELL.
Loc.: Near water works? Mat Porter, contractor.
Elevation about 75 feet above R. R. station.
Record from F. E. Hipp
' Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
Pleistocene or drift :
Sand and gravel
Coldwater shales (probably Antrim and Traverse in lower part):
Very light rock, floats
Freestone, i. e., sandstone (RichmondviUe?) ....:.,..-
' ' Soapstone. ' ' black shale and slate.
Bed of rock salt (?) and well caves badly at 750, Berea horizon?
* ' Soapstone. ' ' black shale and slate
Dundee? (Corniferous) limestone:
Sandstone or grindstone rock, like the Huron county rock, only it has
harder streaks in it. (This may ver}** likely be the cherty Corniferous
limestone. — Lane)
Monroe?:
Limestone, light gray
Soft rock; rotten limestone; caves badly.
Plaster beds at 1370 ft.
End of 4Hn. hole at 1420 ft.
Gas veins and rock badly caving at 1440 ft.
End of drill in soft rock at 1575 ft.
150
30
00
510
300
250
70
180
240
750
1050
1300
1370
ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Algonac. Just south of Algonac on St. Clair river, a well 1727
feet in depth penetrates the salt beds of the Salina. This well is
either so far east that it is beyond the limits of the Antrim black shale,
or the well is over a rock valley where the black shale is cut out by
erosion. The Sylvania is not present as a sandstone; apparently it is
represented by a sandy dolomite.
New Baltimore is about 10 miles north of west from Algonac and
the Dundee drops about 175 feet, or about 17 feet per mile from
Algonac to the former place. This is much less than the north-
easterly dip from Mt. Clemens to New Baltimore, although the
maximum dip should be in general northwesterly toward the central
basin.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
117
ALGONAC WELL.
Loc.: South of Algonac on St. Clair river. Albert Miller, owner. Drilled in 1886. Driller's
record. (Apparently this is one of the Algonac Salt Co. 's wells. See map.)
Elevation about 584 ft.
Pleistocene:
Surface, clay, etc
Traverse or Hamilton:
Soft white shale
Soft brown lime
Soapstone. soft, gray and sticky
Dundee and Monroe, not separated:
Hard, mixed gray and brown limestone. (The records of this well do
not show the distinction between limestone and dolomite^
Yellow gypsum (probably anhydrite;, 1180-1185 ft.
Hard, mixed gray and brown limestone
Blue shale; medium hard
Salina :
Gray, brown and white hard limestone
Rock salt.
Shale and salt mixed; soft and hard
Hard brown and white lime
Rock salt
Hard gray lime
Salt
Hard limestone at 1727 ft.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
208
293
313
513
1280
1300
1376
1500
1580
1605
1623
1633
1727
Marine City, There are a large number of wells at Marine City
which penetrate the salt beds. The records of seven of these wells
are given in Volume V, but th ee, the Lester and Roberts, the National
Salt Company, and the Morley are given below as representative of
the others. The record of one of the Michigan Salt Co. wells, located
south of the city, is also given. Some oil was struck in the National
Salt Company's well in the top of the Salina.
LESTER AND ROBERTS WELL.
Record from samples preserved by J. R. Burr. Driller, Mathew Porter. Record by C. £.
Wright.
Elevation about GOO ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Surface: ,
Clay
Antrim:
Hard pan, contains fragments of slate
Hard pan
Black bituminous slate, contains FeSa
Dark and light drab slate
Black bituminous slate, contains small pieces of coal
Dark drab bituminous shale, contains small pieces of coal and FeSt- .
Drab bituminous shale, somewhat calcareous
Traverse (Hamilton) Fonnatlou:
Argillaceous dolomitic limestone
AltOi 14.29.
SiOs 28.67.
Light bluish gray to drab colored limestone
Light gray limestone
Light gray limestone, contains a little tulc and slate
Light and dark gray limestone: small silicious residue
Soft argillaceous limestone (soapstone)
AlsOa 9.70.
SiOt 21.
Thick,
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
50
50
150
200
20
220
10
230
70
300
20
320
20
340
10
350
10
360
50
410
40
450
20
470
20
490
10
500
50
550
118
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
LESTER AND ROBERTS WELL. —Concluded.
Elevation about 600 ft. A. T.
Thick-
I ness,
feet.
Dark drab limestone
C^careous argillaceous rock, grltless
AliOs 17.18.
SiOa 41.30.
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone:
Light yellowiah gray limestone ,
Light gray limestone, contains oblong concretions or possibly fossils,
6 mm
Upper Monroe or Detroit River Series:
jjolomite. contains vellow specks
Light brownish draS dolomite; contains in residue a little anhydrite in
white specks
Light gray dolomite; contains in residue a little anhydrite in white
specks
Dolomite, light drab, contains in residue a little anhydrite in white
specks
Hard dolomitic limestone, light gray, massive
Dolomitic limestone, contains a little anhydrite; also a few fragments of
slate
Dolomitic limestone, contains a few fragments of slate
Dolomitic limestone, light drab, contains in residue a little anhydrite in
specks
Dolomitic limestone, drab; even texture
Dolomitic limestone, dark drab
Sylvania or Middle Monroe:
Arenaceous limestone, dissolves briskly but leaves a large cherty sandy
residue. Not organic
Arenaceous limestone
Lower Monroe or Bass Island Series:
Limestone, light drab
Limestone, light gray, contains a little gypsum
Limestone, light gray, contains a little gypsum
Dolomitic limestone, dark drab
Dolomitic limestone, hard, light gray, yellow specks; large silicious resi-
due
Dolomitic limestone, very dark drab* large silicious residue
Dolomitic limestone, li^ht drab; small sificious residue
Gypsum, drab and white
Calcareous gypsum, dark drab; large residue, possibly argiUaoeous
Calcareous gypsum, dark drab; very large residue, possibly argillaceous. .
Si 0»=12.68.
Calcareous gypsum, dark drab; large residue, possibly argillaceous;
contains anhydrite
Dolomitic limestone, light and dark drab; large residue slate, anhydrite,
gypsum and silica and some orsanic matter
Dolomitic limastone, light drab; Targe residue slate, anhydrite, gypsum
and silica and some organic matter
Dolomitic limestone, light and dark drab; large residue slate, anhydrite,
gypsum
Dolomitic limestone,- li^t drab, residue slate, anhydrite, silica and some
organic matter
Dolomitic limestone, light drab: large residue of gypsum
Gypseous limestone, light drab; large residue of gypsum
Gypseous limestone, light drab; large residue of gypsum
Calcareous clay. Alt Os 22 . 12
Anhydrite. SOi 69.42
Gjrpsum, (anhydrite) white and dark drab
Salina:
Rock salt
Gypseous limestone. 8 Oif=14.10
(The gypsum is anhydrite. — Lane.)
10
76
06
40
30
30
26
26
26
30
30
16
10
70
40
30
30
30
30
6
20
36
23
11
26
36
26
16
20
20
20
20
20
33
41
20
6
33
4
D^th,
feet.
560
635
730
770
800
830
856
880
006
036
966
980
090
1060
1100
1130
1160
1190
1220
1226
1246
1270
1203
1304
1330
1366
1390
1406
1426
1446
1466
1486
1606
1638
1670
1599
1604
1637
1641
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
119
NATIONAL SALT COMPANY WELL.
Loc.: Marine City. Drilled in 1886. Record by C. E. Wright from driller's notes and
samples.
Elevation about 600 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Earth
Gravel
Antrim shale:
Dark brown and black shale
Traverse (Hamilton) formation:
Light gray limestone, with small amount of sand and gypsum, or an-
nydrite
Calcareous clay shale
Hard light drab shale
Calcareous clay shale
Dundee (Comiferous) :
Gypsum, argillaceous limestone
At 665 ft. struck some calcareous tufa that floated to the surface and
when dry was fluffy.
Light gray gypseous limestone, resembles sand
Hard grayiui white limestone
Brown and white limestone mixed with small amount of gypsum and
sand
Brine at 750 ft.
Upper Monroe, or Detroit River Series:
Brownish gray dolomitic marl with small residue of silica
Dolomitic drab limestone
Grayish white calcareous anhydrite
Drab dolomitic gypsum marl
Dolomitic gypseous marl
Dolomitic limestone
IJght ^ray and drab dolomitic limestone
Dc^omitic limestone, yellowish to buff
Bylvania:
Dark ochreous, sandy limestone, large residue of silica and flint
Lower Monroe, or Bass Island Series:
Buff dolomitic limestone
Light gray dolomitic limestone, with residue of gypsum, anhydrite and
silica.
Bluish gray dolomitic limestone with small residue of gypsum and
an^lar grains of black flint
Bluish gray dolomitic limestone, with large residue of gypsum, anhydrite
and flint ^
Buff sandy dolomitic limestone, with laige residue of silica, anhydrite
and gypsum
Light bluish gray calcareous gypsum, large residue of gypsum and
anhydrite
Gray mottled with yellow dolomitic limestone
Bluish gray dolomitic limestone, large residue of light and dark gypsum
and anhydrite
Gray dolomitic limestone, with small residue of gypsum, anhydrite and
silica
Dark drab gypseous limestone, large residue of clayey gypsum
Grayish calcareous clay, with large muddy residue
Dark drab dolomitic limestone, small residue of gypsum
Dark drab dolomitic limestone, large residue of gypsum
Salina:
Rock salt. Oil and salt at 1577 ft
Dolomitic limestone, small residue of gypsum and anhydrite
Rock salt
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
150
50
150
200
200
400
75
95
15
40
476
570
585
625
40
665
35
25
700
725
25
760
60
10
30
10
10
10
00
30
810
820
860
860
870
880
070
1000
130
1130
60
1190
30
1220
40
1270
60
1330
20
1360
50
80
1400
1430
20
1460
60
10
30
10
10
1510
1520
1550
1560
1670
20
10
30
1590
1600
1630
120
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
W. B. MORLEY WELL.
Loc.: One mUe north of Marine City. Drilled in 1886. Record from samples.
Elevation about 600 ft.
Pleistocene, or drift:
Clay
Gravel
Clay
Hardpan (clay or shale)
Antrim shale:
Brown shale
Black shale
Brown calcareous shale
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Hard silicious in'ay limestone
LiKht gray calcareous clay shale, large clayey residue
Light gray calcareous clay
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone:
Light gray limestone, small silicious residue
Hard light gray limestone, small silicious residue
Gas and mineral water at 805 (eet.
Hard light gray limestone, small silicious residue
Soft lts:nt gray argillaceous limestone
Upper Monroe, or Detroit River Series:
BufT gypseous limestone, large residue of gypsum and anhydrite
Soft flgnt gray limestone, small residue
Soft light gray limestone, small residue of anhydrite
Hard gray dolomite, small residue of black cherty quartz
Hard dark gray dolomite, small residue
Grayish drab dolomite, medium residue of anhydrite and black grains of
shale .'
Sylvania (Middle Monroe):
Dark buff sandy limestone, large residue of sand, 37 per cent of SiOt
Dark buflf calcareous sandstone, 69.34 per cent SiOi, milk white and
glassy
Dark buff sandy limestone, 16.4 per cent SiOt
Dark buff sandy limestone, 43.5 per cent SiOs
Lower Monroe, or Bass Island Series:
Chocolate buff dolomite, medium residue of silica
Soft grayish drab dolomite, medium residue of silica
Dark drab to vellow gypseous dolomite, large residue of silica, gypsum
and anhydrite
Light gray and yellow gypseous dolomite, large residue of gypsum and
anhydrite
Gray calcareous gypsum. large residue of gypsum and some clay
Gray dolomite, small residue of silica and gypsum
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
150
5
30
45
150
155
185
230
70
• 160
5
300
460
465
45
145
95
510
655
740
50
15
790
805
10
10
815
825
55
20
30
65
15
880
900
930
905
1010
55
1065
25
1090
35
55
27
1125
1180
1207
03
10
1300
1310
30
1340
20
100
10
1360
1460
1470
II
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
121
MICHIGAN SALT WORKS WELL NO. 2.
Loc. : At plant south of Marine City. Drilled in 1898. Log furnished by Mr. S. R. McLouth.
Pleistocene drift:
Clay
Hardpan
Clay and gravel
Antrim shale:
Black slate
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Lime
Soapstone. Hard to mill. Could cut about 4 ft. per hour with 4 inch
stem 43 feet long
Darker and harder
Lime. (Dundee?) Average 2 ft. per hour with .*>{ inch stem, 38 ft.
long. Struck sulphur water at 710 and salt water at 725 ft
Brownish limestone. Soft. Easy on bits
Dundee and Upper Monroe:
(T)
Streaks of gypsum
Hard streak of lime
Gypsum
Hard
Gypsum
(?)
Hard streak of lime
Soft blue gypsum
Limestone shellv
Averaged 15 inches per hour
Flint limestone. Gooo drilling. 18 ft. in 12 hours
Same
Sylvania:
Sandy limestone. Very hard
Lower Monroe:
Hard: 8 in per hour from 1160 to 1225 ft
Caving rock and gypsum
No trace of gypsum from 1370 to 1400 ft
Very hard
Same
Salina:
Salt, first bed
Lime and (?) salt. (The record at this point is not clear, reading "10 ft.
lime and 10 ft. of salt to 1805. Lime to 1612 ft.; lime 11 ft.'^)
Lime
Lime
Salt; top of lower bed at 1623 ft
Lime at 1751 ft.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
150
15
35
200
15
50
110
155
50
15
5
25
5
20
10
10
5
25-
70
30
40
60
60
140
70
30
100
70
25
10
7
11
128
Depth,
feet.
150
165
200
400
415
465
675
73)0
780
795
800
825
830
850
860
870
875
900
970
1000
1040
1100
1160
1300
1370
1400
1500
1570
1595
1605
1612
1623
1751
St. Clair. The Diamond Crystal Salt Company have drilled a
number of wells to the salt beds and preserved good sets of samples.
In one of their first wells, the Dmidee was struck at 790 feet, and this
indicates a decided dip amounting to about 25 feet per mile north
from Marine City. To the north of St. Clair, however, there is a rise
again, since at Marysville, the Dundee is struck at 582 feet and at
Port Huron 542 feet.
The record; of other wells given in Vol. V showed very similar
depths for the Dundee and the drop of the Dundee is so great from
Marine City on the south and from Port Huron on the north that
doubt was thrown on the correlations. The careful record of the
Diamond Crystal Salt Co. well apparently substantiates the correct-
ness of the older correlations. Across the river, however, in Court-
right, the Dundee is apparently struck at 542 feet, or nearly 250 feet
122
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
higher. This rise is so abrupt as to indicate a fault along the river
or a pronounced fold to the east in Ontario; otherwise the correla-
tions in the record of the Courtright well must be greatly in error.
Present evidence indicates that the correlations in the latter record
are incorrect.
DIAMOND CRYSTAL SALT CO. WELL.
IMI.'
Deplb.
feet.
PIHiloCune:
m
Z30
.'88
130
80
40
1270
90
40
1
10
Anirim thtie:
Coatpaie MarysvlLle, 688 ft.. Mulne Cttf, 630 It., Oakland. SOO ft.,
Dundee (ComlferouB) UmMlone:
Conutara New Baltimore. 820 ft.
oSir.KS'&yiSs.^Sor"""'': r-r":
N™ Baltimore. IflOO ft.. Marine City, 1877-1833 It,, and No 3, 1868
Salln./**'-
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
123
DIAMOND CRYSTAL SALT CO. WELLS NOS. 6 AND 7.
Loc.: St. Clair. Composite record>0 of wells Nos. 6 and 7 from driller's log. Started, Feb.
/ 10, 1909. Record furnished by Mr. F. W. Moore.
/
Pleistocene Jdrift:
Clay....*
Hardpaa'and grayel
Antrim shupe:
Blue shwe or slate
Brown male
Traverse plamilton) Formation:
Lime.
Blue sl|ale .
Lime
Blue shale
Lime.
Soapetone . . ,
Lime
Soapstone
Dundee (Comiferous) and Upper Monroe:
Lime.
Sharp hard lime
Lime. In part Dundee .
Hard brown lime
Lime.
Sylvania:
Hard sandy lime.
Very hard lime. .
Very sharp lime .
Lower Monroe:
Lime
}ry hard lime.
id vein
shale
Lime
very
R4d
Hard brown lime
Hard gray lime
SaUna (First salt at 1630 in No. 5. 1620 in No. 6, and 1623 in No. 7):
Salt.
Lime
Hard brown lime .
Lime.
Very hard lime.
Salt
Lime
Salt
Shale
Salt
Lime
Salt
Lime ,
Salt
Lime
Salt
Lime
Salt
Brown lime .
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
116
115
38
153
62
305
195
500
12
512
10
522
20
542
23
565
25
590
110
700
10
710
50
760
60
820
10
830
290
1120
8
1128
32
1160
20
1180
20
1200
145
1345
55
1400
85
1485
5
1490
5
1495
75
1570
30
1600
20
1620
33
1653
22
1675
10
1685
20
1705
38
1743
20
1763
5
1768
10
1778
76
1854
30
1884
8
1892
10
1902
10
1912
8
2020
5
2025
105
2130
5
2135
30
2165
35
2200
wThe record of the No. 7 well was not saved uiitil after the first salt bed was reached at
1623 ft., compared with 1620 in No. 6. From the top of the first salt, the record of the No. 7
well is used since it passed through the last salt bed whereas the No. 6 well did not.
124
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
ONTARIO.
WaUaceburg, Wallacebiirg, Ontario, is about 8 miles south of east
from Algonac. At the former place the Dundee was struck at 750
feet, much lower than at Algonac (513 feet) and the dip southeast
to Wallaceburg from Algonac appears to be nearly 30 feet per mile.
WALLACEBURG WELL.
Elevation about 585 (?) ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Sands and clays
Boulder day
Shale
Limestones
Shale and sandstone
Compare Marine City, 370-480 ft.
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Limestone. * ' top limestone"
Compare Marine City, 600 ft.
Shale, * ' top soapstone'^
Compare Marine City. 640 ft.
Limestone. ' * middle limestone"
Compare Marine City, 730 ft.
Shale, limestone and clay
Dundee (Corniferous) limestone (Top of Monroe not separated) :
Light colored limestone
Doubtless the lower part is dolomite and belongs to the Upper Monroe.
Sylvania (Middle Monroe) :
Sandstone
Lower Monroe:
Fine gained dolomites
Gypsif erous dolomites
(No salt reported, the record may be imperfect.)
Niagara (Ouelpn and Lockport):
Dolomites
Limestone
on at 1865 ft.
Calcareous and arenaceous shales
Medina:
Gray sandstone, red shale and marls
Depth,
feet.
35
85
180
75
74
106
95
15
85
250
100
280
320
120
105
110
65
35
120
300
375
449
555
650
665
750
1000
1100
1380
1700
1820
1925
2035
2100
LOCAL STRUCTURE IN MACOMB AND SOUTHERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
In the Pontiac well, the top of the Dundee cannot be determined,
but using the base of the Antrim as a basis of comparison, the dip
from Mt. Clemens to Pontiac is about 20 feet per mile to the west.
Northeastward to New Baltimore the dip for the Dundee is over 32
feet to the mile, eastward to Algonac, 8 feet, and south of east to Wal-
laceburg, Ontario, about 15 feet. These discordant dips indicate the
presence of an anticline of considerable extent in the vicinity of Mt.
Clemens, but the available data does not indicate the precise position.
Its axis apparently pitches in a general northwesterly direction.
At Algonac, the top of the Dundee occurs at 71 feet above sea level,
and, using this horizon as a basis of comparison, the dip northwest
to New Baltimore is over 17 feet per mile, north to Marine City and
St. Clair, 15 and 18 feet respectively, northeast to Fort Lambton,
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 125
Ontario, apparently 66 feet, and southeast to Wallaceburg, Ontario,
about 30 feet per mile. According to this, another anticline exists
near Algonac, but the great discordance in the several dips makes
its position and course very uncertain. A further study of the records
of wells in Macomb and St. Clair counties and in Ontario tends to
show that there are perhaps a series of anticlines and synclines in the
region under discussion. A large syncline appears to extend north-
west from Chatham, Ontario, through Wallaceburg toward Fort Lamb-
ton; a low anticline or terrace at Marine City, and a syncline at St.
Clair. Future drilling may show that faulting plays an important
part in causing the sudden and discordant dips in Macomb and south-
ern St. Clair counties.
Conclusions, In conclusion, it may be said that the records indicate
that there is marked warping and folding, or perhaps faulting, in the
rock strata in Macomb and southern St. Clair counties, and that there
are pronounced anticlinal structures in the vicinity of Mt. Clemens
and Algonac. The drill holes, however, are so located that while they
show the presence of anticlines and synclines they do not clearly in-
dicate their position or direction. Such disturbances in general form
favorable conditions for the occurrence of oil and gas, and it is not
improbable that future drilling, especially to the Niagara and Medina,
may show that some of these structures contain oil and gas in com-
mercial amounts as they do a few miles east in Ontario.
126 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
CHAPTER V.
THE SAGINAW OIL FIELD.
THE SAGINAW VALLEY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY.
Some years ago Dr. A. C. Lane, then State Geologist of Michigan,
wrote an article upon the oil and gas prospects in Saginaw Valley.
This article appeared in the Michigan M ner of Saginaw and created
considerable interest at the time, especially at Saginaw. Nothing
came of it, however, and the article was forgotten until a reprint fell
into the hands of some enterprising Saginaw business men in the win-
ter of 1912. They became very much interested in the oil and gas
possibilities of Saginaw Valley, as portrayed by Dr. Lane, and soon
interested other business men of Saginaw. The Saginaw Valley
Development Company was soon organized for the purpose of drilling
three test wells, two to the Berea grit, and a third to a depth of 3500
feet or more, unless oil or gas should be struck in commercial quantity
before that depth was reached. The oflScers of the company were
Wallis Craig Smith, president; Clark' L. Ring, vice-president; and
N. N. Rupp, secretary and treasurer. At their request, the officials
of the company were given a compilation and interpretation of the
data by the Geological Survey which, though meager and inconclu-
sive, was deemed sufficiently favorable to warrant a test of the Saginaw
territory.
THE SAGINAW ANTICLINE.
Most of the evidence indicating favorable structural conditions for
the occurrence of oil and gas in the region was derived from the numer-
ous and comparatively shallow salt (fig. 11) wells along Saginaw river,
drawing brine from the Upper Marshall sandstone.
Further evidence was afforded by drill holes at Midland, Caseville,
Blackmar, Flint, Owosso, and St. Charles. The two deep wells at
Bay City were of great value in giving a general idea of the probable
thickness and character of the formations below the Marshall brine
horizons.
The center of the Michigan Basin appears to lie in Midland and
Isabella counties. Saginaw and Bay City are east of the center, there-
fore the strata in the vicinity of these places have a general westerly
OIL. AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 127
dip which, on the average, is about 20 feet per mile. Since Saginaw
is somewhat nearer the central basin corresponding strata at Saginaw
should be deeper than at Bay City.
Upon platting the records of the salt wells along Saginaw river the
Napoleon, or Upper Marshall sandstone, instead of being deeper at
Saginaw is apparently 200 to 300 feet higher than at Bay City. This
sandstone rises gradually from a depth of about 1900 feet in Bay City
to about 610 feet in the old Wylie well near Bristol street bridge in
Saginaw, and then descends to the southwest. Southeast of Saginaw
near Blackmar and at Flint, the Marshall and the Berea are apparently
much higher than to the east or west of these places. North of Sagi-
naw, the Ralston well, sec. 4, T. 13 N., R. 4 E., and many other drill-
ings for coal indicate a pronounced upward fold in the Coal Measures.
The Marshall and the Coldwater also appear to be somewhat higher
in the Page Oil & Gas Company's well (sec. 26, T. 14 N., R. 4 E.),
than farther east along Saginaw river. At Kawkawlin, the brine
horizons are between 700 and 800 feet deep, or considerably shallower
than in Bay City to the southeast. Apparently this fold (Fig. 11),
should run slightly west of north through Saginaw near Bristol street
bridge to a point two or three miles west of Kawkawlin.
Southeast of Saginaw at Balckmar, the Marshall and the Berea
occur in wells at 360 and 1545 feet, and ut Flint 170 and 1200 feet
respectively. As these formations are known to occur at greater depths
east and west of these places, it appears that the anticline turns south-
east toward Blackmar and Flint, but the evidence is not conclusive
as the records of the drill holes at these places are of doubtful accu-
racy. As the Marshall appears to be only about 360 feet deep at Black-
mar, 610 feet at Saginaw, and about 700 feet at Kawkawlin, the struc-
ture apparently pitches gently to the north. On the whole, the evi-
dence seems fairly conclusive that a pronounced anticlinal fold exists
in the strata down to the Marshall at least, and presumably much
deeper, but its exact position and course are not so clearly indicated.
Explorations of the Saginaw Valley Development Co. tend to prove
the general correctness of this conclusion.
THE EXPLORATIONS.
The company spent some time in obtaining reliable contractors
and made careful preparations to do the exploratory work in the most
accurate and scientific manner possible. Ten wells were drilled, two
to the Traverse, and the other eight to the Dundee. Accurate records
were kept and full sets of samples taken for the Michigan Geological
Survey, and the resulting information concerning the imderlying
rock strata in Saginaw Valley nearly to the base of the Dundee may
128 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
be considered as the most reliable and complete that has ever been
obtained from any one set of deep holes drilled anjrwhere in Michigan.
Mundy'-Fifield Well The first well drilled by the Saginaw Valley
Development Company was located near the S. E. comer of
the N. W. i of sec. 27, T. 13 N., R. 5 E., Buena Vista township, Sag-
inaw comity, although from the evidence then at hand, this location
was four or five miles east of the axis of the supposed anticline. In
this well, known as the Mundy-Fifield, the Marshall sandstone was
struck at 780 feet, or 40 feet higher than in the South Bay City (North
American Chemical Co.) well to the north in sec. 5, T. 13 N., R. 5 E.,
but fully 170 feet lower than the supposed depth to the Napoleon at
the Old Wylie well on Niagara street about 800 feet north of Bristol
street bridge.
The Berea was struck at 2070 feet, or 30' feet higher than in the
South Bay City well. All of the formations from the Marshall down
were found to be higher than corresponding ones in the Bay City
wells, but much lower than at Saginaw, as shown by later drillings.
The Berea yielded some brine and a little gas, but no sign of oil. At
the depth of 2246 feet the drilling was abandoned, but later in the
spring of 1913 it was deepened to the Dundee, no noteworthy quanti-
ties of either oil or gas being struck anywhere. The Traverse and the
Dundee were struck at 2513 and 3130 feet, or 100 and 140 feet higher
respectively than in the South Bay City well, and about 230 feet lower
than in the Saginaw wells.
Garey-Casamer No, i. 'Another well was drilled near the site of the
Wylie Bros, well on what is known as the Garey-Casamer lease. (PI.
II). The Upper Marshall, or Napoleon, was encountered at 610 feet,
or 170 feet higher than in the Mundy-Fifield well, and 210 feet higher
than in the well in South Bay City. The Berea was encountered
at 1833 feet, or 233 feet higher than in the Mundy-Fifield well, and
265 feet higher than at South Bay City. It is to be noted from the
foregoing records that the fold becomes more pronounced with depth.
As in the Mundy-Fifield well, the Berea proved to be a small yielder
of brine, perhaps 25 barrels per day, and gas. Drilling was con-
tinued with the intention of going down to the Dundee, supposed to
be 900-1000 feet below. At 2305 feet the Traverse formation was
entered and oil of the highest grade was struck at 2317 feet in a sandy
or cherty limestone. The so-called *'sand'' since called the ** Sag-
inaw sand,*' was very thin, probably being not much over two feet
thick.
According to statements of officials of the company, the well made,
two flows of some 40 or 50 barrels of oil altogether. The indications
were that a 25 to 30 barrel well had been struck. The well was shot
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 129
with iOO quarts of nitroglycerine. As soon as pumping began, how-
ever, it was found that the casing was leaking, and after the first 75
or 80 barrels, the production of oil fell off rapidly until the well yielded
only about three or four barrels of oil per day with about 25 barrels
of water. After much trouble, the water was finally shut off by the
use of rubber packers, but the production was not materially in-
creased. Finally the well was reshot with 20 quarts of nitroglycerine,
but the casing was loosened so that water was again troublesome;
After continuous piunping for some months without increasing . the
production, the well was pumped only intermittently with the Jack-
son-Church and the Cresswell wfells in the same vicinity, the produc-
tion finally decreasing to almost nothing.
Jackson-Church Well. The next well. No. 3, was drilled on the
Jackson-Church property near the west end of Bristol St. bridge on
Niagara St. and about 600 feet west of south from the Garey-Casamer
well. The Marshall, Berea, and the Traverse were struck approxi-
mately at the same depth as in the latter well, but no sandy limestone
or oil "sand'' was found at the top of the Traverse. The "Saginaw
sand, ' ' as the oil horizon in the Garey-Casamer well is called, appeared
to have pinched out, and there was not the slightest show of oil or gas
at this horizon.
The well was drilled to the Dundee, which was struck at about
2900 feet. At 2935 feet, there was a show of oil, but the largest was
between 2945 and 2955 feet. The drilling was stopped at 3080 feet,
after striking brine, which was plugged off and the well shot with
120 quarts of nitro-glycerine. The first pumping is said to have
yielded some 50 barrels of high grade oil, and then the production
rapidly fell off to about 2 or 3 barrels per day. Later this well, like
the Garey-Casamer, was pumped but intermittently.
Cresswell Well, A fourth well was drilled about 1200 feet south of
east from the Garey-Casamer No. 1, at the east end of Bristol street
bridge on the Cresswell property. The formations were found to be,
as in the Jackson-Church and Garey-Casamer wells, at approximately
the same depth. In the Cresswell well, a showing of oil was struck
in the "Saginaw sand" of the Traverse, another about 100 feet lower,
and a third toward the base of the formation. The oils from the
second and third horizons were dark and heavy and of much lower
grade. None of these showings were deemed worth testing and the
well was deepened to 3060 feet, the Dundee being struck at 2886 feet
and a showing of oil found above 2942 feet. The oil is high grade,
being similar to that found in the Jackson-Church well.
Watson Well The Watson well, or No. 5, 3068 feet deep, was drilled
on the Watson farm near the S. E. comer of S. W. J of section 17^
17
130 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
T. 12 N., R. 5 E., Buena Vista townshipi about a half mile east of
the city near the intersection of the highway and the new electric
railway from Saginaw to Bay City. There was a small show of gas
in the Berea, but no sign of either oil or gas was reported in the Trav-
erse. Oil was struck in the Dundee, but in such small quantity that,
after standing six days, there was only a few quarts of oil in the well
and about 180 feet of water. The well, which was abandoned with-
out shooting was plugged to protect the Marshall brines from con-
tamination, and also to prevent leakage of gas which escaped in a
considerable though not commercially important quantity from the
Berea. Strong brine from the Berea constantly flowed over the top
of the casing in small stream.
The Upper Marshall, or Napoleon, was struck at 600 feet, or slightly
higher than in the Bristol street bridge drillings. The Berea was
struck at 1835 feet, or practically at the same depth, and the Dimdee
at 2928 feet or about 28 feet deeper. Apparently the structure at
Saginaw is that of a structural bench or terrace for the upper forma-
tions, and an asymmetrical anticline for the lower, the western
limb being very much steeper than the eastern which dips but 28 feet
from the Jackson-Church to the Watson well, a distance of 2^ miles.
From the Watson well east to the C. W. McClure well, 3000 feet in
depth, near Gera in section 8, Frankenmuth township, the strata seem
to be nearly flat, since corresponding formations were reported to be
at practically the same depths and very similar in character as in
Saginaw. Farther east, the strata must rise, as at Reese, the Napoleon
is less than 500 feet from the surface The broad flat depression in
the lower formations to the east of Saginaw evidently pitches toward
the north and becomes a pronounced syncline, in the vicinity of Bay
City since the Berea drops from a depth of 1850 feet in the Watson
well to 2035 feet in the Mundy-Fifield well, and 2100 feet in the South
Bay City well, and similarly the Dundee from 2928 feet to 3130 and
3270 feet respectively.
Green Point Wdl. The Green Point well or well No. 6, also
known as the Globe-Blaisdell, is located on the Globe-Blaisdell prop-
erty nearly opposite the East Saginaw waterworks plant, on the N.
W. J of section 2, T. 11 N., R. 4 E. This well is situated about 2i
miles south southwest from the Garey-Casamer. All of the forma-
tions were found to be from 110 to 135 feet deeper than in the Bristol
street bridge wells, the Napoleon occurring at 720 feet, the Berea at
1965, the Saginaw ''sand'' at 2450, and the Dundee at 3012 feet.
No signs of oil or gas were noted, but the Dundee, which was pene-
trated 240 feet, yielded an abundance of brine near the bottom of
the well.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 131
Lawndale Well. The Lawndale, or well No. 7, was drilled near
Lawndale on the L. Reincke farm in the N. E. comer of section 5,
T. 12 N., R. 4 E., about six miles northwest of the Garey-Casamer
well, and at about two or three miles west of the axis of the anticline.
All of the formations were struck from 185 to 260 feet deeper than in
Saginaw, showing a dip of from 40 to 60 feet per mile to the north-
west from the Garey-Casamer. The Dundee was penetrated 112
feet without showing a sign of either oil or gas.
The Green Point and the Lawndale, together with the Saginaw
Plate Glass Co. wells in West Saginaw, show that the strata from
northern and northwestern Saginaw dip rapidly to the southwest
and west, proving the correctness of the earlier conclusions that there
is an anticlinal arch at Saginaw. Unfortunately, the wells are so
located that they do not indicate its precise direction or probable
extent. In fact, it is not positively known that it extends continuously
northward toward Kawkawlin.
Garey-Casamer No. 2 Well. Since all the wells located at some dis-
tance from the anticline gave little or no sign of oil and gas and the
wells near or on it yielded both, the company decided to locate the
next wells as near the axis of the anticline as possible, but farther to
the north. Garey-Casamer No. 2 well was drilled 500 feet north
Mid east from the Garey-Casamer No. 1 to test out the extent of the
Saginaw sand in that direction, the sand having pinched out 600 feet
to the southwest in the Jackson-Church well. The formations were
found to be practically at the same depth as in the other Bristol street
bridge drillings, but the Saginaw *'sand" in the No. 2 well proved
to be hard gray cherty limestone, showing not the slightest sign of
oil or gas.
The drilling was continued to the Dundee, which was struck at
2885 feet and yielded a small flow of oil, but after standing several
days the well was tested with the bailer and it proved to be less promis-
ing than either the Jackson-Church or the Cresswell wells.
Mershon Well. Some of the records of the old salt wells in north-
eastern Saginaw give the depth to the bottom of the "salt,^' that is
to the red horizon marking the base of the Upper Marshall. After the
first few wells had been completed by the Saginaw Development Com-
pany and the average thickness of this formation determined, it was
possible to calculate the depth at which the top of the Upper Marshall
should be struck in northeastern Saginaw. According to calculations,
the top of the formation should be struck from about 605 to 615 feet
below the surface in this part of Saginaw, or practically the same as
in the Bristol street wells. It was also reported that one of the brine
wells of Eastman & Co. was only 585 feet deep. This data indicated
132 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN:
that the crest of the supposed anticline was slightly to the east of
the Wylie well, and upon this supposition the next, Or No. 9, well
was located near Saginaw river on the Mershon property about two
miles north of the Bristol street wells and about 1000 feet north of
the Pere Marquette railroad bridge.
The top of the. salt formation was struck at 600 feet, or slightly
higher than in the Garey-Casamer wells. The well was drilled to the
Dundee, but no noteworthy amount of oil or gas was found at any
horizon. «
Ring Well. The Ring or No. 10 well was drilled on the C. L. Ring
property a few hundred feet north and west of the Garey-Casamer
well No. 1 to determine whether or not the '^Saginaw sand'' extended
in that direction. This, the last well to be drilled, was a dry hole
and apparently proved that the so-called "Saginaw sand" is very
limited in extent and porosity, and that it holds little promise of con-
taining any considerable quantity of oil and gas.
The almost absolute failure of these last wells, together with the
great outlay of money already made, caused the company to abandon
further exploration and to surrender their large lease holdings. It is
to be regretted that more of the drill holes were not spaced along the
supposed course of the anticlinal. Five of the ten wells drilled by
the Saginaw Valley Development Co. were within a radius of 1200
feet, and three of the remaining five were at considerable distances
from the supposed crest of the fold. In short, only about two miles
of the anticline, apparently 25 or 30 miles long, has been t-ested, and
this is not sufficient to determine whether the drillings are located in
a sag or on a dome, if these secondary structures exist. Since oil
and gas occurs in greatest abundance in the vicinity of the domes or
cross arches It is possible that, had the explorations been made along
the supposed axis of the anticline, oil and gas would have been found
in greater quantity.
Gera Well. Chas. W. McClure, a prominent stockholder in the
Saginaw Development Company, drilled a well 3000 feet deep near
Gera on one of his farms, section 8, Frankenmuth township. Ac-
cording to the driller, the formations were encountered at about the
same depths as in Saginaw and the well was "absolutely dry." The
Marshall yielded such a strong artesian flow of brine, that drilling
operations were stopped for some time.
A comparison of the records (Fig. 12) shows that the formations are
remarkably regular in character and thickness. This is so true that,
given the top of the Napoleon, the depths at which the Berea, Trav-
erse, and Dundee should be struck can be calculated very closely.
The error in calculating the depth of the Dundee in the Jackson-Church
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 133
«,nd the Green Point wells proved to be less than 10 feet. From a
comparison of the records of the Braun (Mt. Pleasant No. 2), Gladwin,
Bay City, and Saginaw wells, this uniformity in character and thick-
ness of the formations seems to prevail over most of the central basin.
The only formation which chan:ges markedly is* the Berea sandstone,
which disappears toward the west side of the Basin, or is represented
by red or sandy shales. Apparently, the Antrim shale grows thicker
as the Berea thins and it has more or less white or blue shale near the
top. The thickness of the black shale series from the top of the Sun-
bury (base of Coldwater) to the base of the Antrim is very uniform
in all of the wells in the Central Basin.
THE OIL HORIZONS^
The Berea. From the date assembled before drilling began, it ap-
peared that the Berea was the most promising horizon to test for oil and
gas. In the South Bay City well there were strong signs just above this
horizoA, andin the Blackmar well considerable gas was encountered.
A favorable structure seemed to be the only condition lacking for an
accumulation of commercial size. It was a keen disappointment when
the Berea yielded no oil and only a small quantity of gas which, how-
ever, increased considerably with time. In some wells, the gas was
not noticed .for some time after the brine was cased ofiF. - The
latter, though apparently very strong, was also deficient in quantity,
there rarely being a flow of much more than 25 barrels per day;
In the Garey-Casamer No. 2, however, it was over 15 barrels per
hour,
• For some time, it was a puzzle why this formation did not consis-
tently yield a greater abundance of brine^ since it was so thick and
well represented. An examination of the samples sbowed ,that the
Bef^a is a very fine and close grained gray to white sandstone^ In
some phases, the isand grains are too fine to be readily distinguished
by the naked eye. It is this fine to exceedingly fine grain of the rock
which not only limits the flow of brine but also that of gas. A
heavy charge of nitroglycerine might possibly increase the flow of. gas
greatly, but the head of brine probably would overcome it. .
The '^Saginaw Sand.-' The so-called "Saginaw sand'Mn Garey*
Casamer No. 1 well appears to be a sandy or cherty limestone... There
se^ms to be some doubt a^- to the exact nature. of the oil horizon, but
^11 of the samples examined by the writer proved to be limestonei
xwnmonly cherty or atody, effervescing very vigorously in cojd dihite
acid and leaving & corUparWiviely siaftll. residue of sand and ch^rt. . It
-apy.case, tb.e productive/ ■saiid:':i3,thin and pinches out whoily.to the
-^onUiwest iji the JaeksohtOWcb. well,.tQ.:the nortbeaai in the^Goiy-
134 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Casamer No. 2, and to the northwest in the Ring well. In the Cress*
well, or No. 4 well, this horizon is represented by two "sands"; that
is, two cherty limestones separated by a shaly layer. In the Watson
well, there is a cherty or pyritous limestone filled with black micaceous
particles from 2325 to 2359 f^t, but it contained no oil.
The Dundee. The Dundee oil horizon appears to be about 35 feet
below the top of the formation and is a light gray to buff and brown
granular limestone, effervescing violently with dilute hydro-chloric
acid. A fragment shot out of the Jackson-Chiu*ch well is a gray gran*
ular porous limestone, the pores being readily seen by the naked eye.
The oil horizon appears to be free from water but there is an abundance
of water a short distance below it as shown in the Jackson-Church, the
Watson, and the Green Point wells.
EXPLORATION.
Of the eleven deep wells in the Saginaw field, six (Nos. 2, 3, 4. 8,
9 and 10), appear to be on the anticline and four of these six, perhaps
significantly, yielded oil and gas in considerable if not commercially
important quantities at two different horizons. In the Cresswell well,
four oil bearing horizons were struck. The other wells are located
from about one-half to three or four miles distant from the apparent
crest of the anticline and }delded little or no oil and gas. The Watson,
or No. 5, perhaps may be excepted as this well yielded considerable
gas at the Berea horizon, but this well apparently is less than half a
mile east of the axis of the anticline. Since the wells at some distance
from the anticline have been so barren of encouraging results, it seems
logical that future prospecting should be along the supposed axis of
the structure. Oil may not be found in commercial quantity along
its crest, but the chances are presumably greater in its immediate
vicinity (especially near cross arches or domes, if they exist), than
elsewhere.
In this connection, it must be borne in mind that the evidence point-
ing to the continuation of the anticline northward from Saginaw is
not conclusive. Further drilling may show that the indicated anti-
cline west of Kawkawlin between Bay City and Midland may have
no direct connection with the one at Saginaw. The local structures
in Saginaw Valley may be very different than is indicated.
Cancbmons. In concluMon the following statements concerning the
conditions for the occurrence of oil and gas in Saginaw Valley appear
to be warranted from the evidence afforded by the wells of the Saginaw
Valley Development Company, and wells of earlier date.
(1) A pronounced anticline undoubtedly exists at Saginafw and ap-
pears to be continuous northward to a point a few miles west o Kawkaw-^
OII^ AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 135
lin. (2) An equally marked syneline underlies the vicinity of Bay
City. (3) The structure, as originally worked out by Dr. Lane, ap-
pears to be essentially correct, though future drillings may show that
the structure at Kawkawlin is not continuous with that at Saginaw.
The evidence on this point is not conclusive. (4) The various forma-
tions are remarkably uniform in character and structure. (5) There
are at least three well represented and accessible oil or gas formations,
and five possible oil horizons, three being in the Traverse. (6) All
of the oil or gas formations contain oil or gas in small to considerable
amounts, and from a geological standpoint, these products should
occur in greater quantity at some point or points (the domes or cross
arches) along the Saginaw anticlinal. (7) The indicated anticline
appears to be 25 or 30 miles in length, and therefore the half dozen
drill holes on its crest in the vicinity of Saginaw have tested only a
small portion of the supposedly favorable territory.
CHARACTER AND COMPOSITION OF THE OILS.
The *' Saginaw^' Oil. The oil from the Saginaw ''sand" is a very
high grade paraffin oil, testing 47° Baume and containing over 62
percent of naphtha and burning oil. In color, it is Ught green by re-
flected light and deep red by transmitted light. The following anal-
ysis by the Paragon Refining Company of Toledo, Ohio, is indicative
of the excellent quality of the oil.
Test of Petroleum from the "Saginaw sand," Garey-Casamer well
No. 1:
Gravity of crude 47® Baume.
Naphtha* 28. 16%
Burning oil 34.5
Intermediate ^ 8.66
Wax distillate 22.8
Tar 3.23
Loss 2.65
Total 100.00%
The black heavy oils found lower down in the Traverse were not
tested.
Dundee Oil. The oil from the Dundee is high grade, testing 36*
Baume, considerably lower than that from the *' Saginaw'* sand.
The oil is green in color and has a distinct smell of sulphur. Prelim-
inary tests show that it contains a considerable amount of this sub-
stance, but no complete analysis is available.
136 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
CHAPTER VI.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN.
GEOOBAPHIC AND GEOLOGIC BEIATIONS.
The central district of Michigan includes the Saginaw oil field,
which has been deemed worthy of a separate discussion m the pre-
vious chapter. The central district is not only near the geographic
but also the geologic center of the Southern Peninsula. The deepest
part of the Michigan Basin is in the region of Isabella and Midland
counties. In the immediate vicinity of the center of the Basin the
Berea is 2000 feet or more below the surface. The Dundee is nearly
3700 feet below the surface at Mt. Pleasant, therefore the Trenton
should be more than 5500 feet (Fig. 1) in depth at this place.
Surface Deposits. Northwest of a Une from Midland to Grand
RapidS; the drift is very thick, ranging from 250 to 600 feet. From
Bay City, southwestward past Midland to Alma and thence north-
westward to Manistee there is an old preglacial rock valley which
accounts for the great depth of drift at Alma, St. Louis, White Cloud
and Mt. Pleasant.
In the southeastern portion of the central basin, the drift is relatively
thin, and, from Grand Rapids and Holland southeast to Jackson and
beyond, bed rock in many places is at the surface or under a very
thin cover of drift. From Jackson to Huron county the drift is gen-
erally less than 150 feet thick, and4n much of the region rock can be
reached from 40 to 100 feet below surface.
EXPLORATIONS.
The great depth to the oil horizons and the thick drift in the north-
wetsem half of the central district have been most effective in dis-
couraging explorations for oil and gas. Deep drillings, however, have
been made at Bay City, Midland, St. Louis, Alma, Gladwin, Mt.
Pleasant, Grand Rapids, Charlotte, Delta, Eaton Rapids, Jackson, and
near Morrice and Fowlerville, and at Ionia, St. Johns, Ithaca, Owosso,
Durand, Perry, Blaekmar and Flint.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 137
BAY COUNTY.
Bay City. In North Bay City three or more deep wells have been
drilled. One was bored by John Mason in 1885-6 to the depth of
2900 feet. The record indicates that the formations are about the
I
same depth as in South Bfty City, but that they are considerably differ-
ent in character. The Coldwater apparently contains a number of lime-
stone lenses, with a little black shale and sandstone at some distance
above its base. The abundance of limestone in the Coldwater is
unusual in the eastern part of the State, and possibly these '* lime-
stone'' beds are only large iron carbonate concretions, which are com-
mon in this formation. C. E. Wright quotes John Mason as stating
that the well at 2900 feet was in the same rock as the Morley well
(Chap. IV) just north of Marine City. This indicates that the well
may have been deeper than given in the record, and it is very probable
that the record, which is only the driller's, is imperfect.
Brine was struck in the Parma, the Marshall, in the base of the
Coldwater, and in the Berea. According to Cooper marked signs of
oil or gas were observed at one or more horizons, but no mention of
this is made in the record as originally published.
The Hall well (No. 93^ of the Saginaw Board of Trade map), was
close to the above well but it only penetrated the Berea. Another
well, MacLeans, was on the east side of the river near 28th street.
138
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
NORTH BAY CITY WELL.
Loc.: Near Atlantic Mill, North Bay City. Drffled in 1885-« by John Mason. Record by
Lane from notes of 0. £. Wright and from record pubUahed oy Bay City Tribune.
Elevation 502 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Sand and clay
Hard pan . , . .
Sarinaw Coal Measures:
Blue shale
Sandy shale
Parma:
Llmerock tp brine 85<*. Carboniferous limestone (7)
Sand rock: brine 45 ft. to 55 ft
Grand Rapids -Group:
Sandy snale
Blue shiUe
Gypsum: white; • In. casing to 722 ft
Blue shale ,
Hard limerock
Napoleon or upper Marshall:
Sandstone: brine to lOO*
Lower Marshall:
White shale :
Red shale
Coldwater:
Blue shale
Limestone
Hard blue shale
Blue limestone (Calcareous shale?)
White shale
Sand shale
Blue shale
Hard limestone' (ConcretionT)
Blue shale
White shale
Black shale
Black limestone
Brine bearing sandstone
White shale
Hard limestone
Sunbury or Berea shale:
Soft black sand
Hard blue shale at 2067 ft
Black oUy shale. 15-20 ft. thick at 2085 ft.
Very hard nmestone; 5 5-8 In. bore to 2120 and 5 1-2 in. below
Berea:
Sandstone
Gray limestone
Pumped clean sand at 2140 ft.
Sandrock with salt brine; 100**, overflowing top
(2252 i ft. deep, stopi>ed In blue shale.— -Wright).
Antrim shale:
White shale
Black oi^ sandy shale
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Black hard limestone
Gray limerock
Blue shale, quite hard
Sandy limestone
Limerock
neas,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
85
85
35
120
300
420
145
565
20
585
50
635
25
660
40
700
12
712
108
820
10
830
90
920
35
955
100
1055
50
1105
40
1145
75
1220
65
1285
105
1390
120
1510
20
1530
18
1548
200
1748
50
1798
35
1833
65
1898
15
1913
70
1983
50
2033
15
2048
45
2093
25
2118
15
2133
8
2141
165
2306
65
2371
214
2585
100
2685
90
2775
47
2822
30
2852
13
2865
In December 1898, the deepest bore hole in Michigan excepting,
however, the Braun well drilled in Mt. Pleasant in 1913, was begun
at South Bay City by the North American Chemical Co. of Bay city.
By February 22, 1899, the well was down to the Berea grit at 2100
feet. Drilling became more difficult and with a four months delay
from a broken rope the well was not finished until in January of 1900.
Careful notes of the drilling were kept and a complete set of samples
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
139
were preserved. From notes and samples, W. F. Cooper, of the Mich-
igan Geological Survey, compiled the log^ as given below.
NORTH AMERICAN CHEMICAL COMPANY WELL.
Loc.: South Bay City, sec. 5, T. 13 N. R. 6. E. Drilled by Thos. Percy.
Elevation 585 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Sand
Clay with thin seams of sand
Sand
Hardpan
Sand.
Saginaw Formation:
Shale,
g'uicksand, probably fissure ,
andstone
Blue shale
Sandy shale
Blue shale
Sandy shale ,
Blueshide ,
Shale.
Fire clay..
Blue shale .
Fire day..
Shale.
Red shale «
Parma Conglomerate:
Sandstone
Upper Grand Rapids, Maxville or Bayport:
Brown dolomite ,
Silicious dolomite
Sandstone
Lower Grand Rapids or Michigan Series:
Dolomite ,
Gray shale
Dolomite
Gray shale
Sandy dolomite
Green shale
Gray shale
Limestone
Gray shale
Limestone
Gypsum
Gray limestone,
Upper Marshall or Napoleon Sandstone:
Gray sandstone, brine
Analysed. Usual temperature of brines 60.4^ F.
Lower Marshall:
Red sandstone
Blue shale
Red shale
Red sandstone
Blue shale
Red shale
Coldwater shale:
Blue shale
At 1304 ft. 65* F; at 1793 ft. 7l« F.
Dark blue shale
Blue shale
Red shale
Blue shale
Sandy shale
Blue shale
Sunbury (Berea) shale:
Black shale
Berea grit:
Gray siuidrock
White sandrock, strong brine flowing over surface at 2170 ft.
about 20 gal. per hour at 2230 ft
Flow
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
15
15
35
50
10
60
10
70
30
100
38
138
2
140
138
278
17
295
10
305
15
320
5
325
35
360
60
420
10
430
30
400
10
470
10
480
10
490
50
540
30
560
60
610
10
620
5
625
25
650
10
660
35
695
25
720
10
730
10
740
10
750
20
770
10
780
10
790
30
820
150
970
100
1070
30
1100
20
1120
20
1140
45
1185
5
1190
560
1750
100
1850
70
1920
20
1940
10
1950
10
1960
100
2060
40
2100
40
2140
130
2270
ipl. II. Ann. Rept. for 1905, Bay County.
140
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
NORTH AMERICAN CHEMICAL COMPANY WELL.— Condiided.
Elevation 585 ft. A. T.
Antrim nhale:
lilue Nhale
Hlack iihale, oily, i^aM
Hock Halt (trom precipitation?)
Black Hhale, calcareous at 2380 and 2490 ft.
Hrown shale
Illark shale
Oil and KU at 2580.
Trn verse Formation:
Handy limestone
Handstone
^concretions?)
Diue shale
Limestone
Hltie shale .
Limestone .
Handstone.
Brine with indications of gas (between 2734-2740 ft.)
Handy limestone
Brown sandy limestone
(Jray sandy limestone. Brine
At 2934 ft. 90.1«-90.2« F.
Pepper sandy limestone
Blue shale
dray shaly limestone
Blue shale
Marcellus shale:
Black shale
DundiH* limestone:
dray limestone (yellow limestone — Cooper.)
At 3455 ft. 97* F.
10
10
60
10
27
9
44
30
50
45
35
180
40
50
60
238
. Thick-
neaa.
! feet.
1
Depth,
feet.
1
i 20
2290
14
2304
6
2310
225
2535
15
2550
60
2610
2620
2630
2690
2700
2727
2736
2780
2810
2860
2905
2940
3120
3160
3210
3270
3508
The information furnished by this record was valuable in indicat-
ing the character, depth and thickness of the formations; and number
and depth of the water bearing strata, and the possible oil and gas
horizons which might be expected to be encountered in drilling in the
vicinity of Saginaw.
In the South Bay City well, water or brine was struck in abundance
in the Coal Measures, the Parma, and the Upper Marshall. A strong
brine was found in the Berea, in the Traverse, and very probably a
highly mineralized brine was struck in the lower portion of the Dun-
dee, although the latter is not noted in the record.
Strong signs of oil and gas were noted just above the Berea grit, but
in none of the lower horizons except the Upper Traverse were note-
worthy signs reported. The well penetrated the Dundee limestone
238 feet and the bottom of the well is probably close to the top of
the Monroe dolomites since the Dundee is not known to be more
than about 250 feet thick in Michigan.
Kawkawlin. At Kawkawlin, northwest of Bay City, salt wells
show that the Napoleon brine horizon occurs between 700 and 800
feet, or 150 to 200 feet higher than in Bay City. Since westward the
same horizon is struck at Midland at 1205 feet a very strong fold must
lie between Midland and Bay City. As noted on previous pages, the
Saginaw anticline is conceived as running sUghtly west of north from
Saginaw through a point two or three miles west of Kawkawlin. The
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN:
141
connection between the antjclinal fold at Kawkawlin and Saginaw
seems probable since the Coal Measures also show a strong upfold in
the Ralston well near the old Bay Mine No. 2. The Marshall and
the Coldwater in the Page Oil and Gas Company (see Chap V) well
also appears to be higher than they are farther east along Saginaw
river.
FRANKLIN WELL.
Loc.: Kawkawlin, Bay County.
Elevation 596 ft. A. T.
Thick-
nOBB,
feet.
Drift
Saginaw Fonnation:
Sbale and sandrock with coal seams
Grand Rapids Group:
Gsrpsum at 400 ft., limestone and gypsiferous shales.
No record
Napoleon:
Sandstone with a strong brine
Lower Marshall:
Red shales
100
300
100
200
100
233
Depth,
feet.
100
400
500
700
800
1133
The thicknesses as given in the above record are evidently approx-
imations as they are in round numbers.
SAGINAW COUNTY.
Bladcmar. In the early 70 's, a well reported to be 1764 feet in depth
was drilled at Blackmar, Taymouth township, Saginaw county. Con-
siderable gas and a strong brine appears to have been struck below
1545 feet. As a coarse sandstone corresponding to the Napoleon was
struck at 360 feet, the sandstone below should be the Berea. As
mentioned in the discussion of the Saginaw oil field, this depth ap-
pears to be much less than to the east or west of Blackmar, hence it
is supposed that south of Saginaw the anticline veers to the east and
runs through Blackmar towards Flint.
The depth of the well is given as 1764 feet but the record only
adds up to 1677 feet.
BLACKMAR WELL.
Loc.:- BiackmaT, Taymouth Twp., Saginaw County. Mr. Blackmar, owner.
Elevation about 613 ft. A. T.
Drift
Shale
Coarse sandrock, brine 63** salinometer test ....'.,
Blue shales
Red shales
Gray sandy shales
Sandstone with a strong brine at 1675? (154A?) ft
Gray shale
Limestone
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
90
90
270
360
00
450
45
405
200
695
850
1545
110
1655
20
1675
2
1677
142
OIL. AND QA8 IN MICHIGAN.
GENESEE COUNTY.
Flint, At Flint there are many shallow borings, chiefly for coal.
ThoHC indicate that the Maxville limestone is absent, probably eroded.
In a deep well drilled many years ago a coarse sandstone was struck
at 170 feet which yielded a ''strong stream of sweet water." This,
according to Lane, resembles the Marshall, and another sandstone at
about 1200 feet containing a strong brine would therefore correspond
to the Berea. The recent drillings for coal in the vicinity of Flint,
however, indicate that the Marshall is more than 170 feet below the
surface, hence the sandstone yielding the flow of fresh water is probably
a sandstone belonging to the Coal Measures.
FLINT WELL.
R«ported by Dr. CUrk.
Elevation 715 ft. A. T.
Plf»l«loc«n«:
Drift
Hatuliitone
HhalfM and Mndstone with seaniB of coal
Marnhall:
HAiulMtone. with a strong stream of fresh water at 260 feet
AUctrnatlons of shale and sandstone; in the lower part strong brine
(from Berea?)
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
68
68
67
185
35
170
108
278
922
1200
MIDLAND COUNTY.
Midland. At Midland, there are seven wells to the Marshall, which
is struck at about 1200 feet or 580 feet deeper than at Saginaw. This
represents a dip from South Bay City to Midland of about 20 feet
per mile, and 30 feet per mile from Saginaw. The No. 1 was drilled
for Larkin & Patrick in 1879. Others were drilled later for brominif-
erous brines by H. H. Dow and the Midland Chemical Company.
The wells in the northwestern part of the city reach rock sooner than
those In the southeastern part. The drift is much thicker than ai
Saginaw and Bay City but not nearly so thick as at Mt. Pleasant,
Alma or Gladwin. Brine was struck in the Coal Measures, the Parma,
and the Napoleon, the brine increasing in strength with depth. The
record given below is representative of the character of the forma-
tions.
OIL ANP QAS IN MICHIGAN.
143
MIPLAND WELL.
Elevation 608 ft. A. T.
Pleiatocene:-
Surfaoe deposits
Coal Measures:
Micaceous white sandstone, fresh water
Black soft shale
Sandstone, brine at 480 ft
Hard shale
Sandstone
Hard shale
Hard sandstone
Black shale
Calcareous (FeCOt) shale. . ..\. . ..\ . ..
Black shale
Parma:
White sandstone
Grand Rapids:
Argillaceous limestone
Plaster bed, fairly pure anhydrite
Calcareous shale
Limestone
Napoleon or Upper Marshall:
White sandstone somewhat ferniginous.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
285
285
33
318
27
345
65
420
35
455
70
525
50
575
7
582
118
700
45
745
65
810
110
920
50
970
80
1050
80
1130
75
1205
100
1305
In the No. 13 well of the Dow Chemical Co. red shale occurs at
1390 feet or above. (C. W. Cook, Pub. 15, Geol. Series 12, 1913.)
GRATIOT COUNTY.
Alma. At Alma, one of the deepest wells in central Michigan was
drilled in 1895 for the Alma Sanitarium. It reached a total depth of
2865 feet and was bottomed in the Upper Traverse limestones where
mineral water with a temperature of 98° F, was struck. A little gas
also seems to have been found in the top of the Traverse.
The drift was very thick, bed rock being struck at 600 feet. This
is much deeper than at St. Louis and Mt. Pleasant. The Napoleon
is about 375 feet higher than at Mt. Pleasant, thus indicating an ab-
normal dip of the formation from Alma to the north-northwest.
144
OIL AKD GAS in MICHIGAN.
Loc.: Almft Sanitarium, 1889.
ALMA WELL.
Sec. 34. T. 14 N., R. 3 W.
from samples.
Reported by Prof. C. A. DaviSr
Elevation about 755 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Clay and gravel with quicksand and water at 60 ft. and 3 ft. water-bear-
ine gravel at 167 ft
Sana and gravel
WoodvilleT:
Feldspathic sandstone (335-590 at St. Louis)
Coal Measures:
Pyritif erous black shale, coal horizon
Blue shale
White shale
Pebbly sandstone
Shale sometimes black, coal reported
Parma sandstone:
Pyxitic sandstone, brine
Grand Rapids:
Blue and black sandy shales
Blue and white gypsum
Bituminous, dolomltic red or blue argillaceous limestones (cement rock)
Upper Marshall or Napoleon:
Clean white sandstone, brine
Lower Marshall:
Red sandy shale. :
Blue shale ;
Red shales
Coldwater:
Blue shales
Brownish fine grained grit, no water
Blacl^ shales
Light yellowish fine sand
Dark shale colored limestone or shale
Dark blue shale
Berea shale:
Black 8hal9
Berea absent?:
Antrim (Ohio shale) :
Blue shale
Black shale
Black shale with harder streaks (limestone shells?) Sandy from 2630-
2670 ft :
Traverse Formation:
Dolomitic limestone
Blue shale
Sandy limestone, dolomitic . .•
Mineral water at 2825 ft. Temp. 98^ F.; gas.
475
25
50
25
40
22
38
35
80
70
35
120
85
200
20
180
75
30
35
40
60
510
50
60
260
130
30
20
61
Depth,
feet.
475
500
550
575
615
637
675
710
790
860
895
1015
1100
1300
1320
1500
1575
1605
1640
1680
1740
2250
2300
2360
2620
2750
2780
2800
2861
St, Louis. There are two or three deep wells at St. Louis which
penetrate the Upper Marshall. The latter is reached at about 1330
feet and yields abundant brine. No definite records are available.
Ithaca, The Ithaca well, though not deep, has a carefully com-
piled record as published by a local newspaper. The drilling did not
reach the Marshall and the 2 feet of light shale at the bottom of the
well is probably the top of the Grand Rapids Group.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
145
ITHACA WELL.
Record by the Gratiot Journal.
Pleistocene or surface:
Surface clay
Blue clay, stony
Hardpan
Gravel
Hardpan
Gravel. Considerable water
Hardpan
Gravel
Blue clay
Hardpan
Gravel
Red clay
Hardpan
White clay
Blue clay
Hardpan. Very hard
Gravel
Hardpan
Woodvule (T) sandstone:
Gray sandstone. Very hard. Bottom of 8-inch casing
Gray sandstone
Saginaw Coal Measures:
Fireclay
Red sandstone
Red shale
Blue shale
Bottom of 7-inch casing, with two Id foot lengths, standing up into
8-inch pipe, 15 ft. bagged and swedged out on top. Bottom of
this casing is 349 ft. by measurement.
Blue shale
Limerock
Sandstone
Blue shale
Dark lime
White shale
Black shale
Light shale
Blue shale
Dark lime
Light shale
Dark lime
Sandrock ".
Dark lime
Sandrock
Light shale
Sandrock
Light shale
Parma:
Light sandstone
Grand Rapids Group(7) :
Light shale
Thick-
ness,
feet.
10
70
38
1
30
2
40
4
6
10
2
60
4
25
8
10
5
5
2
4
3
4
2
4
6
2
5
1
15
16
15
20
6
22
8
8
2
2
8
25
10
86
5 '
Depth,
feet.
10
80
118
119
149
151
191
195
201
211
213
273
277
302
310
320
325
330
332
336
339
343
345
349
355
357
362
367
368
383
399
414
434
440
462
470
478
480
482
490
515
525
611
613
ISABELLA COUNTY.
ML Pleasant. In 1903, the city of Mt. Pleasant and the Midland
Chemical Company drilled a well over 1550 feet deep penetrating to
the lower Marshall, which was struck at about 1400 feet. This well
indicates that the corresponding formations are from 200 to 600 feet
deeper at Mt. Pleasant than at Alma, Midland, Bay City and Sag-
inaw.
19
146 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
In 1913 W. F. Braun, an oil operator from the Pennsylvania and the
Oklahoma fields drilled the deepest well in Michigan on the Biley farm
near Mt. Pleasant in sec. 27, T. 14 N. R. 4 E. The record down to
the top of the Traverse at 3082 feet is by Mr. Braun, but from that
point his record has been supplemented by that obtained from an
examination of a complete set of samples, which Mr. Braun kindly
preserved and sent to the Michigan Geological Survey.
A comparison of the Alma and the old Mt. Pleasant well records
with the new one shows that the rock formations are very similar
eyen in many minor details. The depths to the Berea and th^ Dundee,
however, are greater than calculated. In neither the Alma nor the
Braun well is the Berea present in its typical phase as a sandstone.
The ''hmestone and black sand*' from 2568 feet to 2598 feet yielding
oil at 2590 feet with a specific gravity of 47® Baume, may possibly
represent this horizon. Some gas accompanied the oil. Another show
of oil occurred in the Antrim black shales at 2632 feet.
In July the well reached the top of the Dundee at 3667 feet, but
this formation jnelded such a strong flow of water at 3675' feet that
the well had to be abandoned at 3680 feet. Generally the upper por-
tion of the Dundee does not yield much water.
Deep drillings at Bay City, Saginaw, Gladwin, Alma and Mt. Pleas-
sant indicate a remarkable uniformity in the character and thickness
of the formations down to and including the Dundee, therefore if the
formations below the Dundee are as regular in thickness, the Niagara
should be found at about 5100 feet and the Trenton at 6200 feet or
more. Such depths are so great that the cost of testing the oil possi-
bilities of either one of these formations is out of proportion to the
chances for success.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
147
Loc.:
MT. PLEASANT WELL.
(Mt. Pleasant Village and Midland Chemical Company.)
0.65 miles N., 2 miles west of 8. E. Cor. of sec. 10, T. 14 N.. R. 4 W. Record from
samples and notes of A. Borden.
Elevation about 707 (?) ft. A. T.
Pleistocene or drift:
Gravel, glacial overwash
Blue tiU
Quicksand
Blue till
Porous bed with water, coarse graved on top, fine sand below
Red clay
Ground moraine, till with broken coal measures
Saginaw Coal Measures:
Black shale with str^tks of coal (410,435, .5A0 ft.), sandstone, limestone
or carbonate of iron and fire clay, mostly less than five ft. thick
Fine white sandrock with mineral water
Gravelly sandrock, with a strong flow of water not so salt
Shale and red limestone
White limestone
Parma:
White sandstone with very salt water
Maxville:
Whl-e limestone, fiercely effervescing
Shale
Sandstone
Michigan Series:
Dolomite and shale
Anhydrite and dolomite
Anhydrite, nearly pure (gypsum)
Dolomite, shale and anhydrite (gypsum)
Sandstone
Shale
Sandstone
Shale
Napoleon:
Sandstone, dark, with heavy biine
Lower Marshall, 1550+ ft.:
Red rock; well originally 1463 ft. deep, afterwards deepened to be be-
tween 1550 ft. and 1585 ft., ending in red rock.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
80
20
20
160
74
26
55
185
90
80
30
30
120
55
5
20
146 +
Depth,
feet.
80
100
120
280
354
380
435
620
710
790
820
850
970
1025
1030
1050
75
1125
100
1225
45
1270
103
1373
8
1381
5
1386
4
1390
15
1405
1550 +
148
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
W. F. BRAUN WELL.
Loc.: On Riley farm. Mt. Pleasant, Mich.. W. J. N. W. i of sec. 27, T. 14 N., R. 4 W.
Driller's record to 3082 ft. Record supplemented by samples below this point.
Elevation given as 800 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Sand loam
guicksand and water
lay
Sand and water
Clay
Sandy clay
Quicksand vein, good water
Sandy clay
Quicksand
Sandy clay
Quicksand
Gravel
Gravel and quicksand
Blue Are clay
Gravel
Blue "fire clay"
Red • ' sand rock" (boulder?)
"Fire clay." blue
Red sand rock (boulderT)
* * Fire clay, ' * pinkish color
Suicksand and water
ed "fire clay"
Gravelly sand
Saeinaw Coal Measures:
Limestone
Red sand rock, hard
Fresh soft water
Sand rock red
Black slate (shale)
Gray sand rock
Black fire clay
Gray sand rock
Black shale
Gray shaly limestone
Black shale
Pure white sand, fresh water
Red shale
White soapstone
Gray limestone
White shales ^
Parma: ^
Pure gray salt sand, much brine
Maxville or Bay Port:
Limestone gray, very hard
Mixed limestone, jiebbly and sandy
Michigan Series:
Salt blue (shale?)
Mixed limestone
Blue shale
Mixed rock, blue shale and limestone
Mixed rock gypsum and clay
Gray limestone
Blue shale
B}ack shale
Gray limestone
White limestone
Blue shale
White limestone
Blue shale
Gray limestone, very hard
Mixed limestone of rock and shale
Gray limestone
Blue shale
Limestone, very hard
Blue shale
Fine gray sand (top of the Upper Marshall?)
Gray limestone
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
2
2
16
18
32
50
8
58
2
60
15
75
1
76
13
89
1
90
10
100
10
110
15
125
47
172
45
217
6
222
60
282
10
292
10
302
27
329
41
370
5
380
10
390
10
400
5
405
40
445
5
450
3
453
10
463
10
473
4
477
31
508
25
533
10
543
124
667
55
722
30
752
24
776
26
802
9
811
124
935
45
980
35
1018
3
1021
6
1027
11
1038
32
1070
35
1105
10
1115
35
1150
10
1160
10
1170
24
1194
6
1200
15
• 1215
25
1240
25
1265
35
1300
10
1310
10
1320
10
1330
10
1340
00
1400
38
1438
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
149
W. F. BRAUN WELL.— Continued.*
Elevation tfiven as 800 ft. A. T.
alt sand, gas, sand top; much salt water, 1535 ft. of 8 i in casing.
Upper Marshall or Napoleon:
Salt sand, gas,
Lower Marshall:
Red sand rock
Coldwater:
Blue shale
Gray shell (carbonate nodule?)
Blue shale
Gray shell (carbonate nodule?) ,
Blue shale
Sunbury shale:
Brown shale
Limestone
Brown shale
Berea (?) horizon:
Black sand and shale, showing oil and gas; oil of Sp. gravity of 47*^. at
2590 ft
Antrim shale:
White shale
Brown shale
Black shale
Black sand and shale small show of oil; hole reduced to di Inches
Black shale
Black sand, mixed with black shale; mineral ore showing silver (?) and
iron ore
Black shale
Black sand, mixed with black shale, showing mineral ore, silver (?) and
iron.
Black shale, mixed with limestone
Black shale
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Salt and pepper limestone; mod. efT. Very little chert. Some particles
of black snale from above at 3082.
Light grayish buff limestone
Buff gray limestone, mod. eff . Slightly cherty .
Grayish Duff limestone, pyritic, a Uttle chert; oriskly eff
Gray limestone, briskly en
Dark buff gray limestone, mod. eff
White and dork gray limestone, pyritic; vigorously eff. Some dark gray
shale; ealcite crystals
White crystalline limestone and very calcareous shale; some pyrite;
vigorously eff
Very calcareous blue shale
Light gray to dark gray limestone; brisk eff.; ealcite fragments
Light gray limestone and dark gray shale; brisk eff
Wnite to light gray limestone; brisk eff
Yellowish gray limestone; violent eff
Very cherty white limestone
Very cherty fossiliferous (coral, acervularia?) limestone; blue and black
shale; violent eff
Very chertv fossiliferous (coral) light grray limestone: violent eff.; some
blue shale .•
Very cherty light gray limestone, pyritic with some blue shale
Very fine white cherty limestone; violent eff
Cherty white crystalline limestone; violent eff ,
Yellowish white and very cherty limestone; viplent eff
White to light gray cherty limestone; violent eff
Very cherty white fossiliferous limestone* violent eff
Fine grained cherty white limestone; violent eff
Buff gray limestone; violent eff.; some dark shale
White to light gray cherty limestone; very hard; violent eff,
Same,
Light gray limestone; violent eff
White limestone; violent eff
Light gray with some black limestone and dark gray shale; violent eff
Lipht and dark limestone ("salt and pepper"); violent eff.; some grt
shale
Dark gray limestone
gray
69
76
Depth,
feet.
1507
1582
716
2298
2
2300
15
2315
3
2318
232
2550
18
2568
4
2i572
6
2578
20
2598
18
2616
40
2656
20
2676
6
2682
233
2915
13
2928
54
2982
•
13
2995
15
3010
72
3082
2
3084
2
3086
2
3088
5
3093
6
3099
6
3105
6
3111
17
3128
15
3143
7
3150
7
3157
13
3170
18
3188
6
3194
6
3200
6
3206
4
3208
2
3210
2
3212
6
3218
12
3230
4
3234
6
3240
5
3245
15
3260
16
3276
20
3296
4
3300
6
3306
6
3312
150
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
W. F. BRAUN WELL.— Concluded.
Elevation about 800 ft.A.T.
Thick-
ness,
feel.
Traverse (Hamilton) formation:
Gray limestone, violent eflf
Salt and pepper limestone
BulT white limestone mixed with some shale
Buff gray tiraestone
Lif^ht limestone and dark to black shalv limestone
Grav limestone mixed with some light limestone
White and gray limestone; violent eff
Buff gray limestone mixed with some dark; violent eff
Hard white to light gray limestone; violent eff
White limestone mixed with gray
Salt and pepper limestone
Gray shalb mixed with limestone at 3480.
Calcareous gray shale
Very calcareous light gray shale
Calcareous bluish gray shale
Dark bluish gray shale mixed with light gray limestone
Dark bluish gray shale
Calcareous grav shale and limestone
Calcareous ana f ossiliferous gray shale
Very dark gray, cherty and fossilferous limestone and dark calcareous
shale
Cherty limestone mixed with shale
Bluish shaly limestone; some chert; very hard
Dark buff gray limestone and black shale; mod. eff
Dundee limestone:
Very hard buff to dark gray limestone; cherty and very pyritous; mod. eff
Very hard, dark buff pyritous limestone; mod. eff
25
13
25
9
4
12
15
12
3
42
8
24
2
10
6
11
25
22
8
10
22
47
8
5
Depth,
feet.
3337
3350
3375
3384
3388
3400
3415
3427
3430
3472
3480
3504
3506
3516
3522
3533
3558
3580
3588
3598
3620
3667
3675
3680
So strong a flow of water was struck at 3675 ft. that drilling was stopped at 3680 ft. Tem-
perature at bottom 104° F. Temperature gradient apparently one degree in about 67 ft.
GLADWIN COUNTY.
Gladwin. A very deep well was dril'ed in 1913 at Gladwin for oil
by Chas. G. McClure of Saginaw. According to the records of wells
in the vicinity of Gladwin rock is from 200 to 400 feet, below the sur-
face but, in the McClure well, the drift was found to be 600 feet in
depth and great difficulty was encountered in getting the drive pipe
down to rock. Much quicksand and water was found in the drift.
The elevation of this well is not known, but it appears to be about
780 feet above sea level, or nearly 200 feet higher than the Saginaw
wells. Mr. McClure, having drilled one well near Gera in Saginaw
county and striking the Dundee between 2900 and 3000 feet, inferred
that this formation should be struck at about the same depth at Glad-
win. The Gera well is on the flat, eastern limb of the Saginaw anti-
cline, and therefore the Dundee is 100 to 150 feet higher than it would
be if the normal dip prevailed.
Since Gladwin is 200 feet higher and is not on an anticline, the depth
to the Dimdee should be several hundred feet greater than in the Gera
well, and apparently this is the case. In May, the well reached the
depth of 3043 feet, having penetrated the Traverse formation less
than 100 feet and operations were temporarily suspended as the nor-
mal capacity of the drilling outfit had been exceeded. According to
reports another drilling rig was brought in, but on account of the small
hole, or other difficulties, the well was abandoned without reaching
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
151
the Dundee oil horizon. Since the Traverse in the central part of the
Basin is everywhere about 600 feet thick, the Dundee at Gladwin
should be struck between 3550 and 3600 feet.
The record was made by the writer from a hasty examination of a
set of samples in Mr. McClure's office. The exact thickness of the
various strata could not be determined from the data accompanying
the samples, hence the record is more or less indefinite. .
Assuming that the elevation of the Gladwin well is about 50 feet
higher than the Braun wIbU, the dip of the Napoleon from Gladwin to
Mt. Pleasant is only about 5 or 6 feet per nodle.
McCLURE WELL.
Ix)c.: Near Gladwin. Chas. G. McClure, owner; drilled In 1913.
Elevation about (?) 790 ft. A. T.
; Depth,
I feet.
Surface
Sand with water at 380 ft.
Saginaw Coal Measures:
Dark gray shale
Parma:
Sandstone
Grand Rapids Group:
Calcareous green shale
Dark gray shale with considerable gypsum
White sandstone with brine.
Light gray limestone and shale.
~' "III
Shaly limestone with gypsum.
Dark limy shale
Gray shale with pyrite, gypsum and brioe
Napoleon at
White sandstone, with some limestone fragments, pyrite and brine
Lower Marshall:
Red sandv shale
Coldwater shales:
Dark gray shales (1425 ft. to)
Gray shales
Richmond ville? sandstone:
Extremely fine grained light gray sandstone, somewhat calcareous, full of small
black specks
This sandstone resembles very closely some of the Berea found at Saginaw, but it
appears to be too high for the Berea and may be one of the stray sandstones
often found in the Coldwater shales at some distance above its base.
Light gray shales (2205 ft. to)
Dark gray shales but not bituminous at
Antrim:
Very black and bituminous shale at
Light gray shale
Browmsh black bituminous shale (2525 ft. to)
Light gray and brownish shale, mixed
Both black and brown shale, more or less calcareous.
Very pyritic black shale with some white chert fragments
Very pyritic black shale with some white chert fragments
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Top probably at about
Light gray hmestone with some black particles of shale, probably from the black
shale above
A sample was missing between 2940 and 3025 ft. and this bottle without a label ap-
pears to be the m&sing sample which probably was taken not far from 2975 ft.
The top of the Traverse, therefore, should be between 2940 and 2075 ft. and
from the amount of black particles in the sample, the top may be nearer 2975 ft.
Gray limestone fiercely effervescent
Some particles of black shale in this sample, probably from above. These were
also c&lcareous
Lieht gray limestone, fiercely effervescent, cherty and granular. The limestone
DreaKs up into very fine particles
Light my limestone, fiercely effervescent, cherty and granular. The limestone
breaKS up into very fine particles
Cherty light buff limestone, moderately effervescent
Well afterwards deepened but amount unknown.
600
600
650
790
945
950
1020
1030
1190
1230
1250
1300
1350
1675
2150
2170
2275
2350
2495
2465
2825
2880
2900
2940
2970
2975?
3025
3035
3040
3043
152
OIL. AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
MECOSTA COUNTY.
Big Rapids. Near Big Rapids a well was drilled to the depth of
1400 feet by A. L. Clark a number of years ago. This well, known as
the Red Cross well, entered rock at 600 (?) feet and struck water at
600, 800, 850 and 1300 feet. The brine at 1300 feet is very strong,
and is probably from the Marshall. No record of the well is avail-
able.
KENT COUNTY.
Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids Artesian Well Co. sunk a well
for water to the depth of 2220 feet. An abundance of fresh water
was found in the Upper Marshall sandstone, but it did not flow. Weak
brines were struck in the Lower Marshall, mineral water in the Cold-
water, a stronger brine from a sandstone in the lower part of the Cold-
water, and gas and brine in the top of the Dundee. The black shales
i)f the Antrim yielded a strong smell of gas and oil.
GRAND RAPIDS WELL.
Grand Rapids Artesian Well Co. Record by C. E. Wright.
Elevation between 605 and 639 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene or Surface:
Drift
Grand Rapids Group:
Black clay slate
Plaster rock (gypsum) mixed with clay slate
Marshall Sandstone:
Sandstone, dark and light colored
Sandstone, light gray. Fresh water, increases with depth
Lower Marshall:
Hard black coarse sandstone. Increase of fresh water
Blue clay slate •
Ash-colored sandstone, mixed with clay seams and layers of soapstone;
fine texture. Small quantity of weak brine, 20'*
Coldwater shale: . , ^ ._ .
Sandy shale at top and day-rock boulders and sheets b^ow
Light blue to ash-colored shale, with very little change in color except
for short places which are little darker. Quite uniform as to hard-
ness. Except these (7), th3 lower 260 ft. has more hard streaks, and
boulders that would make slate pencils
Dark hard water-lime from 702 to 712 ft. There is a streak of ten feet
from 712 to 722 ft. of calcareous water-lime, dark and hard at top
and softer below; but it is all hard rock.
T^orV rf>H clav soft • •
Sandstone. ( Richmond viile?)brine 26*», small amount >
Light to greenish blue shale, mixed with clay rock. Streaks and boul-
ders and streaks of gas-scented material
Antrim shale: , . ^ ^ ^
Black slate rock; scent of gas at top and stronger m depth and very
strong at bottom
Black slate or hard rock; strong odor of gas and oil
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Drab limestone; color changes nearly every foot
Prab magnesian limestone
Very dark water-lime
Each screw changes color
Limestone: light gray and medium hard in upper portion and dark drab
and hard below
Gas, marl, limestone and brine
10
47
71
17
95
19
12
129
20
735
Depth,
feet.
10
67
128
145
240
269
271
400
420
1155
20
30
1175
1205
295
1500
208
67
1708
1775
52
28
10
20
1827
1855
1865
1885
115
20
2200
2220
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
153
IONIA COUNTY.
Ionia, A comparatively shallow well was drilled near the old sand-
stone quarries at Ionia many years ago. While it penetrated no oil
horizon, the record is inserted as there are so few drillings in this part
of the State giving any reliable information concerning the underly-
ing rocks.
IONIA WELL.
Loc: In vicinity of old sandstone quarries. Record by Mr Blanchard.
Saginaw Coal Measures:
Sand rock
80 to 110 ft. in thickness.
Shales and fire day
Coal from 20 in. to 4 ft. at 99 ft.
Fire clay
Sand rock, fine grained
Coal seam, thickness unknown . . .
Sandrock and shales alternating
' ' Copious stream of sweet water at 300 ft. " Record not accurate in
some places.
96
4
2
40
306
Depth,
feet.
95
99
104
144
450
BARRY COUNTY.
Assyria, In 1899 a well was drilled near Assyria (sec. 14, T. 1 N.,
R. 7 W., about 870 A. T.) but no record is obtainable. According to the
driller, John Brogan, the bottom of the Antrim black shale was struck
at 1875 feet. In 1903, another well was drilled at Assyria from which
a good set of samples was preserved for the Survey by G. D. Connor
and J. J. Callender. The latter located the well with an *' instru-
ment," but no oil was found, although the well passed through the
Dundee. Apparently the well was deepened in the spring of 1904
from 2040 to over 2300 feet, but no record was obtained of the lower
part of the drilling.
154
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
ASSYRIA WELL.
Loc.: Sec. 9. ABsyiiA Twp.
Elevation 917 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene or Surface:
Sou
Sand and gravd ,
Clay and gravel
Quicksand with water
Sandy clay \
Fine sand, clay and gravel
Clay and gravel
Michigan Series:
Limestone, light colored dolomite
Bluish shale and gvpsum
Napoleon or Marshall:
Clean white sandstone with water. Came within 100 ft. of top of well. .
Dark sandstone
Lower Marshall:
Soft blue shale with ' ' heavy black sand "
Calcareous shale and fine rray sandstone
Bluish shale, flne and sanay
Coldwater shale:
Dark ^rav shale, very flne grained
Typical Coldwater.
First showing of oil at 560 ft. and water at 900 ft. Brown shale at 1075
ft. is iron carbonate.
Dark green shale, calcareous
Berea horizon:
Red shale. Typical Bedford
Antrim shale:
Black and bituminous shale
Dark blue shale
Very black and bituminous shale, smdl of gas
Very black in part. Smell of gas or ammonia
Pyritic and not as calcareous as above.
Gray shale, hard and calcareous
Very black and pyritic shale
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Brown limestone fiercely effervescent
Dark and shaly looking.
Very black shale, very pyritic and quite calcareous. No water below
1875 ft
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone:
BufT limestone, fiercely effervescent
Cherty limestone, brownish fiercely eff
Pure white limestone, little or no chert, fiercely eft. Brine at 2000 ft.,
93** salinometer test
Dark brownish tending to drab limestone, fierce eff , . .
Light brown limestone; fiercely eff
Dark gray limestone, some chert
Very fiercely eff. limestone with much brown chert, a little pyrite and
some clay at 2040 ft.
Water at 2300 ft. Filled hole 600 ft. before cased off. No record of
the lower part of drilling.
Total depth
Thick-
ness,
feet.
2
38
15
7
34
34
32
1
t i
70
10
110
20
50
675
325
50
18
57
175
55
15
40
50
15
65
35
35
15
5
10
Depth,
feet.
2
40
55
62
96
130
162
163
240
310
320
430
450
500
1075
1400
1450
1468
1525
1700
1755
1770
1810
1860
1875
1940
1975
2010
2025
2030
2040
2300 +
BATON COUNTY.
Charlotte. A well 2209 feet in depth was drilled at Charlotte many
years ago by E. Shepard and F. W. Higby. The calcareous nature
of the Coldwater shales is to be noted as this appears to be rather
characteristic of the Coldwater in the western part of the State. The
Berea horizon is represented by gritty red shales. This formation
exists as a sandstone only on the eastern side of the Basin, being gen-
erally represented by red shales in the western half of the State. Brine
was reported in the Dundee, but doubtless water was also struck in
the Parma and the Marshall sandstones.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
155
CHARLOTTE WELL.
E. Shepard and F. W. Hlgby. Driller's? record and notes on samples examined by A. C. Lane.
Elevation 906 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Rock.
Woodville or Parma:
"Fine sandrock." Mainly quartz sand, with a very little calcite and
larger bits of dark bluish gray shale; water
Saginaw Goal Measures. (Perhaps in part Grand Rapids) :
"Fine shale." Quite dark bluish, with black specks (fossiliferous?),
very finely divided quartz, much clayey matter and but a trace of cal-
cite
Grand Rapids Group:
"Fine sand rock. A somewhat sandy, medium gray shale; no reac-
tion for gypsum ; a trace of calcareous matter. There are some frag-
ments Yerv fine grained, but quite gritty
Upper Marshal) or Napoleon:
Soft sand." Fine grained; quite calcareous; greenish gray sandstone,
showing under the lens distinctly the rounded grains of colorless quartz.
. One lai^r piece shows distinctly the grayish or greenish white sand-
stone, with the rounded quartz sand and occasional specks of mica. . . .
Coldwater shale (Some of the top is probably Lower Marshall) :
"Shale and sand.*' Argillaceous limestone, with a little quartz and
green earth ; greenish gray
Much like the preceding 320 ft.
Calcareous shale, eli. briskly
"Sou sand? ' ' Much of the matter greenish gray argillaceous, as in pre-
vious samples, but there are also fragments of siderite or dolomite,
often brownish. These may represent nodules of kidney iron ore
"Sand and slate." Somewhat sandy limestone; contains some brown
and white mica. ( Richmond villeT)
' ' Soft slate. ' ' Calcareous shale with traces of quartz
Berea (?):
"Hard sand." Gritty calcareous shale. . In the whole preceding sec-
tion there is no distmct break
• ' Red rock. ' ' Calcareous red shale; gritty; ferruginous
Antrim shale:
' ' Shale. ' ' Black shale, with occasional harder reddish fragments, barely
calcareous
' ' Shale. ' ' Brownish black bituminous shale, non-calcareous; burns with
an aromatic smoke
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
"Shale." Shows frequent pyrite; black bituminous and gray grajns.
slightly calcareous
' ' Shale. ^* Gray calcareous shale with bits of calcite from fossils
* * Shale and lime. ' ' Highly fossiliferous shale full of bits of brachiopods(7)
and of black matter
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone:
* ' Top of limestone. ' ' Gray limestone, briskly eff
* ' Limestone. ' ' Brine at 2050 ft.; eff. briskly, with a cherty residue and
a little quartz. All these limestones down to 2121 ft. are yellowish or
buff ferruginous with magnetite
Brine:
Sp. g. 1. 198.
Salin .97''.
"Limestone." Eff. briskly
"Limestone." Acid water in it. Eff. briskly: residue of cherty dolo-
mite, quartz, magnetite and pyrite
"Limestone;" hara water under it. Eff. briskly; residue of chert,
quartz, green grains, with iron rust, magnetite and pyrite
' ' Limestone;" like pr3vious sample, residue larger
"Limestone;" damp, reacts faintly from sulphates (gypsum), like pre-
vious sample
* • Limestone. ' ' Buff to gray, with little fragments of iron ore in thin
seams (hematite; magnetic), but little quartz and no chert
* * Limestone. ' ' Buff to gray; slight residue of chert and quartz
Driller's (?) record in quotation marks.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
72
88
210
200
110
320
150
310
40
160
20
20
200
30
20
30
5
15
50
35
15
2
3
16
29
59
Depth,
feet.
72
160
370
570
680
1000
1150
1460
1500
1660
1680
1700
1900
1930
1950
1980
1985
2000
2050
2085
2100
2102
2105
2121
2150
2209
156
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Grand Ledge. — ^A comparatively shallow well was drilled at Grand
Ledge a few years ago, but only a meagre record is available.
TABER WELL.
Record by W. D, Southworth.
Elevation about 860 ft. A. T.
Coal Measures:
Sandstone
Coal
Sandrock. Fresh water at 11 ft. in sandrock and large vein at 287 ft .
Michigan Series:
Chalk rock
Shale. Mineral water at 385 feet
Depth,
feet.
75
77*
300
303
512
Eaton Rapids. In 1910 and 1911, two wells were sunk for oil in
Eaton county, one at Sihithville near E^ton Rapids, and the other
about one mile south of Delta on the J. Hitchcock farm. The Eaton
Rapids well reached a depth of at least 2005 feet for samples from
1510 to 2005 feet were preserved for the Survey. The samples above
1510 feet were never received. The well appears to have reached the
Berea horizon, but no marked signs of gas and oil were observed at
any horizon, according to reports. The well was not finished owing
to legal troubles or other difficulties.
EATON RAPIDS OIL WELL.
Loc.: Smithville, Hamlin township, Eaton county. A. E. Smith, owner, Jno. Flanagan and
J. A. Gardner, drillers. Samples by A. E. Smith.
Elevation about 0007 ft. A. T.
I Thick-
ness.
feet.
Samples missing to
Cold water:
Light gray shale
Light gray shale, slightly gritty
Light gray shale, non-calcareous
Light gray shale
Light gray shale, gritty
Gray shale with red streaks
Red and white shale (oxidized after exposure to air?)
Berea at about 1975 ft.?:
Antrim (Sunbury?):
Pyritic black shale
Sandstone (Berea?) conglomeratic, chert, feldspar, epidote?, magnetite,
green and white quartz, limonite fragment, dark sandstone, fragments
of black shale, calcite
Black shale and limestone
Depth,
feet.
1510
1540
1570
1600
1750
1840
1900
1980
1990
1995
2005
Delta. The Delta well, about 2330 feet in depth, was started in
1911 and work was not finally abandoned until the fall of 1912. The
location of the well was made by the use of an *' instrument" but
little or no trace of oil was found, although the drill apparently pene-
trated the Dundee about 30 feet.
The well appears to have been started without any knowledge con-
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
157
ceming the character, thickness and depth of the formations, or of the
water and probable oil horizons; as a consequence, much time and
money were wasted in casing off the numerous water bearing strata
down to the Coldwater shales. According to reports, the casing was
pulled and the hole reamed out 8 or 9 times before the last water
horizon above the Coldwater was passed. The depth to the oil hori-
zon appears to have been greatly underestimated, so that the drilling
outfit brought in Was inadequate for penetrating to the depth necessary
to reach the Dundee oil horizon. Indeed, the drilling had to stop
when supposedly within only a few feet of the coveted goal. Samples
were taken and a log was kept by Mr. Ricker, owner of the well,
but no record and only a partial set of samples reached the Survey.
The following is the log compiled from verbal statements of one
of the drillers and Mr. Ricker and from an examination of the partial
set of samples.
DELTA WELL.
Loc: One mile south of Delta on Carrier Creek, sec. 10, Delta township, Eaton county. E.
Hitchcock farm.
Elevation about 830 ft. A. T.
Surface
No record. (Much white sandstone, some shale, with big flow of fresh
water above 428 ft.) ,
Grand Rapids:
Dolomitic sandstone similar to 875 ft. at .
No record. (Much sandstone and some shale)
Calcareous white sandstone ,
Dolomite and sandstone
Light gray shale, soft
Upper \farsnall:
Fine white sandstone.
Much water (artesian) down to Coldwater.
Fine grayish white dolomitic sandstone. ......
Lower Marshall:
Red sand and grray shale .
Fine gray dolomitic sand
~" III
Very nne dolomitic sand
Very fine dolomitic sand, very sandy
Dolomitic gray limestone, slow eff. m cold HCl
White and very fine white sandy dolomite ....
Coldwater shale:
Gray calcareous shale
Samples missing, probably blue and gray shales
Gray shale, fossiliierous at
Samples missing, probably blue shale
Mineral water from sandstone lens in the Coldwater, 10-15 bbls. per
day.
Gray dolomite
Gray shale.
Extremely fine gained gray sandstone (Berea?), ferrusfinous with fine
black specks similar to Saginaw Berea. Richmond ville?
Light gray calcareous shale
Ai^Uaceous dolomitic limestone, cherty
Berea?:
Red shale, calcareous
Antrim shale:
Dark gray shale ^
Black and very bitiuninous shale at
Dundee limestone:
Cherty shell at 2304 ft.:
Buff or brown limestone, fiercely eff. Some chert, pyrite, and limonite
fragments. (From pyrite?). Dundee very hard. According to Mr.
Ricker the shell at 2304 ft. required 36 hours to penetrate. The arte-
sian flow above 425 ft. was very strong and the water fresh, though
there was a slight smell of ' * sulphur"
Thick-
ness,
feet.
40
Depth,
feet.
40
544
740
750
760
765
780
830
835
840
845
855
865
890
900
1200
1200
1775
1777
1850
1895
1900
1905
1910
1915
1950
2330
15S
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Comparing the top of the Antrim black shale In the Charlotte and
Delta wells, the dip is about 16 feet per mile to the north which is
comparable to the dip of 17 feet per mile northeast from Kalamazoo
to Charlotte. The striking fact is, however, that the black shale in
the Eaton Rapids and Delta wells are practically at the same level,
indicating Uttle or no dip directly northward from the first place,
therefore a structural bench, or possibly an anticline may exist between
Eaton Rapids and Delta. More reliable data, however, is necessary
before a positive statement is warranted.
INGHAM COUNTY.
Lansing. There are several drillings at Lansing from 360 to 1400
feet deep. The Hoffman well 700 feet and the old Lansing Magnetic
1400 feet in depth flow, but the water in both wells comes from the
upper strata. Dr. Lane suggests that the latter well may have reached
the Berea, but this is hardly possible for the Berea in the Eaton Rapids
and Delta wells appears to be fully 1900 feet or more below the sur-
face. Unfortunately no record of the rock strata penetrated in the
old Magnetic well was kept. The record of the well at the State
Industrial School is given below.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL WELL.
Loc.: At the School in the eastern part of Lansing.
Elevation about 840 ft. A. T.
Clay and i^ravel
Sand and eravel
Sandy hardpan
Lake sand and gravel
Clay, sand and gravel
Lake sand and gravel
Coal Measures:
Soft sand rock
Hard fire clay
Soft white sand rock
Soft sandy fire clay
Hard sand rock
101 to 255 is sandstone, "first water" — Wlnchell.
Hard fire clay alternating with beds of sand rock, variable in color from
whitish to Dlue
Cherty lime
Gray lime
Sandy fire clay mixed with seams of bard rock
Soft sand rock
Hard gray limestone
Soft ¥rnite sand rock
Blue limestone
White fire clay
Sand rock
Fire clay with iron pyrites
Soft sand rock
Blue limestone
Thick-
ness,
l^t.
Depth,
feet.
36
36
5
41
4
45
30
84
16
100
1
101
3
104
4
108
13
121
15
136
119
255
64
319
1
320
4
324
51
375
37
412
2
414
15
429
1
430
1
431
4
435
50
485
5
490
m
5061
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 159
Mason. The E. Strope well at Mason is about 650 feet deep and
flows a weak stream. The upper rocks down to 200 feet are mainly
sandstone increasing in porosity* with depth and yielding abundant
water.
JACKSON COUNTY.
Jackson. At Jackson, three wells, respectively 2455, 2174, and
2100 feet in depth, have been drilled. The No. 1, or Worthington
& Cooley Manufacturing Company well probably reached nearly to
the bottom of the Monroe formation. An abundance of water was
struck in the Marshall (including Parma?) with an ** extra ^' flow at
218 feet, near the middle of the Coldwater, in the top of the Dundee,
and at several lower horizons. According to the record, about 270
feet of ** black shale *' forms the base of the Coldwater, but only the
last 28 feet is described as bituminous. The Berea is present, but it
is very shaly. There is about 50 feet of blue sandstone at 660 feet
in the Coldwater which, in Volume V, Dr. Lane correlated with the
Marshall. The Antrim is characteristically black, the Traverse thin
but typical with its calcareous shales or ^'soapstones,'' and the Dun-
dee shows the exceptional thickness of over 250 feet.
160
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
JACKSON WELL.
Loc.: Worthington & Cooley Mfg. Co. R. M. Decker & Co.. drillers.
log and samples.
Record from driller's
Elevation 928 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene or Surface:
Quiclcsand and clay
Sairinaw Coal Measures:
Shelly sandstone
Black shale
Fine gravel (conglomerate)
Black shale (BreclayT)
Limestone
Grand Rapids Group?
Marshall (Plus Parma at top?) sandstone:
Mainly calcareous gray sandstone with minor amounts of argillaceous
sandstone. Part of the bottom may be limestone or shale as shown
in the other Jackson wells
Extra flow of water at 210 ft.
Black shale
Blue sand
Dark shale and calcareous drab sandstone
Dark gray shale and blue sand (light gray to dark drab shale)
Dark gray shale and sandstone
Coldwater shale:
Dark shales slightly calcareous at some horizons
Blue sandstone sughtly calcareous
One foot of brown limestone at 665 ft.
Dark gray clay shale
Sandstone at 725 ft.
One foot of limestone at 770 ft.
Water commenced to flow at 1050 (?) ft. after nearly ceasing just before
this depth.
"Black" shale
Some show of limestone at 1255 ft.
Dark drab shale with 10 per cent brownish red at 1338 ft.
Reddish brown shale
Bituminous black shale (called coal)
Dark gray and black (Sunbury) shale
Berea Grit.
Sandy shales
Antrim Shale:
Dark ^ay shale
Bitummous black shale
Very black shale at 1555 ft. with some smell of petroleum; also at 1570
feet.
Blue shale
Black shale
Petroleum smell at 1655 ft.
Brownish black calcareous shale
Thin hard flinty shell at 1705 ft. Samples show bituminous black shale.
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Dark gray calcareous shale
Dundee (Corniferous) limestone:
Limestone changeable in color; cherty or sandy. Brine at 1765 ft
Very hard white shell at 1842 ft.
Sandy limestone; ' ' could run only 2 feet before sharpening; bitter water",
liimestone calcareous and argiUaceous; mainly gray in color, some yellow
Calcareous blue shale
Limestone gray, yellow or buff In color, often cherty or shaly
Monroe Formation:
Dolomite with anhydrite and gypsum with an abundance of marls of
various colors. The marls are very salty, sometimes quite sandy and
often with 10 to 20 per cent of gypsum or anhydrite
Sandy dolomite
Marls with chert, anhydrite with more or less salt and quite ferruginous;
some gas
Thick- ri^4v
ueptn,
feet. '®®*-
285
22
14
10 1
5
32 I
5 '
7
380
5
385
30
415
15
430
15
445
215
660
50
710
420
208
34
3
25
65
10
135
14
36
45
55
82
6
19
17
131
385
45
10
22
36
46
51
83
88
373
1130
1338
1372
1375
1400
1465
1475
1610
1624
1660
1705
1760
1842
1848
1867
1884
2015
2400
2445
2455
The Woodworth well was (irilled in the northern part of the city
in 1883 and only a driller's (Fred Saeger) record is available.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
161
MCKSON NO. 2 WELL.
Loo.: Woodworth's farm, north side of city. Driller's (?) (Fred Saeger) record, 1883.
Surface:
Clay
Gravel
Sacrinaw Formation:
Brown limestone (Grand Rapids Group?)
Fine clay
Marshall Formation:
Sandrock
Coldwater shale: •
White shale
Sandy shale, brackish. Brine
White shale
Berea?:
Red shale
Antrim shale:
White shale
Brown limestone
Black -shale
White shale
Sandy shale
White shale
Brown limestone
Brown shale, contains ^as
Brown shale
Black shide
White lime
Black shale
Traverse Formation:
' White shale
Sandy shale
Dundee (Corniferous) limestone:
Brown lime
Monroe Formation:
White shale (i. e. anhydrite — L.)
Sandrock
White shale
Sandrock
White shale
Gray lime
White shale
Porous sandstone, salt rock
White shale
Gas rock
White shale
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
6
6
14
20
30
50
90
140
160
300
815
1115
6
1121
289
1410
8
1418
11
1429
1
1430
15
1445
52
1497
15
1512
15
1627
3
1530
71
1601
99
1710
20
1730
12
1742
25
1767
40
1807
10
1817
228
2045
9
2054
15-
2069
10
2079
12
2091
15
2106
2
2108
15
2123
5
2128
15
2143
20
2163
10
2173
The Jackson No. 3 well was drilled near Francis and Milwaukee
streets and was begun in 1863. Only a very incomplete record is
available.
21
162
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
JACKSON WELL NO. 3.
Loc.: Francis and Milwaukee Sts. Driller's record.
1863.
Surface:
Drift
Saginaw Coal Measures:
Sandstone
Fire clay. Pronounced first class by gas-retort men
Marshall:
Sandstone
Coldwater:
Limestone •. . .
Slate
Saline from 685 ft. on increasingly.
Salt water at 1040 ft. 20 per cent salt.
Oil in traces at 1396 ft.
Argillaceous slate at 1443 ft.
Reached 1800 ft. on February 12, 1864.
Reached 2000 ft. on June 4th, 1864.
Bottom 2100 ft.
60
23
203
97
340
Depth,
feet.
65
88
291
388
728
CALHOUN COUNTY.
Goguac Lake, The Marshall sandstone underlies the surface in
Calhoun county throughout a belt extendmg from the northwest to
the southeast. None of the wells for water at Albion, Marshall, and
Battle Creek are over 500 feet in depth, as water is generally struck
in abundance in the sandstone at shallow depths. A few of the test
wells however, penetrate the Coldwater shale 200 or 300 feet. In
the Goguac lake well near Battle Creek, traces of oil were found in
these shales.
GOGUAC LAKE WELL NO. 6.
Loc. : At Goguac Lake near Battle Creek. Drilled in 1902 for Battle Creek Water Works by
Sim Coleman. Size of pipe 8 inches. Record by W. F. Cooper.
Elevation 903 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene or i^lacial drift :
Lake sand and cement gravel
Fine lake sand
Dark sand and grravel with strong taste and smell of * ' sulphur"
Quicksand with some lake sand
Soft blue clay, with some coarse gravel with some streaks of light gray
sand rock
Coldwater shale:
Blue shale
At 287 ft. found indications of oil in dump from sand pump. Esti-
mated one gill of oil to 10 gallons of dump. — Cooper.
Hard gray sand rock
Soft blue shale
Depth,
feet.
15
70
80
198
208
407
410
430
LIVINGSTON, SHIAWASSEE AND CLINTON COUNTIES.
Local Geology. A comparison of the wells from Genesee and from
southeastern Saginaw county, southwest to Eaton and Barry counties
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 163
across the southeastern part of the Central Basin indicates that the
strata in northwestern Livingston and southern Shiawassee counties
are higher than to the northeast or southwest, contrary to what should
be expected. Unfortunately, the wells in these two counties are too
shallow to reach horizons which can be definitely recognized, or their
records are of such doubtful character, that the evidence indicating
the presence of an anticline is inconclusive.
On the eastern side of the Basin, the Berea sandstone appears to
have been struck at 1545 feet at Blackmar (610 ft. A. T.), 1500 feet
at Columbiaville, and 1200 feet at Flint (723 ft. A. T.) Wefet of the
meridian of Jackson the Berea is apparently absent, but its horizon
is usually represented by red shales, generally very sandy. At Jack-
son this red horizon occurs at 1410 feet, at Eaton Rapids (900 ± ft. A. T.)
1980 or 1995 feet, at Charlotte (906 ft. A. T.), 1680 feet, at Assyria
(917 ft. A. T.) 1400 feet, and at Delta (830± ft. A. T.) 1905 feet. The
sandstone horizon at the bottom of the old mineral well at Lansing
could not have penetrated this horizon at 1400 feet as shown by the
Eaton Rapids and Delta wells.
Near Morrice close to the Looking Glass river (850 ft. A. T.) on
sec. 25, T. 6 N., R. 2 E., C. W. Gale drilled a deep .well in the 60 's.
The record obtained is one from memory, and it appears that the well
was drilled to the depth of about 1135 feet and much black shale and
also ''blue clay" w.ere struck. A strong brine was struck at the bot-
tom which according to reports flowed and did not smell of sulphur.
A little oil used to occur on the surface of the river.
Little dependence should be placed on such a record as drillers are
careless in their observations and statements, and too often they pay
little attention to the character of the horizons above the one which
they desire to reach. The great amount of blue clay and black shale
reported in the well, however, is similar to the Coldwater and the
Antrim. It is also to be noted that in the Jackson No. 1 well, ac-
cording to C. E. Wright, the upper part of the Coldwater is drab ' * slate ' '
and the lower 270 feet including the Sunbury shale, ''black slate,'*
but in the other wells at Jackson, however, there are only white shales
according to the drillers' records. The Durand and Howell wells and
the Jason and Shumway well (1000 ft. A. T.) northwest of Fowler-
ville on the Grill farm, sec. 17, T. 4 N., R. 3 E., likewise show the
, same abundance of black or brown shales. According to Lane, the
brown shales of the Jason and Shumway well may correspond to the
Coldwater, the coarse brine bearing sandstone between 600 and 800
feet to the Berea, and the black shales beneath the latter to the Ant-
rim. Lane argues that if this sandstone is the Marshall then there is
an abnormal amount of black shale associated with it, for, as a rule,
164 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
black shales are rarely found in association with this formation, but
are nearly always associated with the Berea.
According to the village clerk, in the municipal well for water at
Perry, Shiawassee county, drilled in 1914, blue shale extends from
about 200 to 600 feet with about 30 feet of water ' 'graveP ' (conglomer-
ate?) below 250 feet. The well was continued to 725 feet where brine
was encountered. The Perry well is only about 7 miles northwest of
the Jason-Shumway well and the brine horizon at 725 feet may cor-
respond to that at 600 feet in the latter since the elevation of the two
wells is about the same and the rock strata dip to the northwest. The
preponderance of *^blue rock'* in the Perry well tends to throw doubt
on the reports of so much black shale in the Jason-Shumway well.
Quite possibly dark shale has been reported as black shale by the
drillers. The 270 feet of ''black shale" above the Berea in the Jack-
son No. 1, however, is comparable in amount to that in the Shumway
well above the coarse brine bearing sandstone supposed to be the
Berea, this sandstone may be the Richmondville or a stray sandstone
in the Coldwater above the true Berea horizon.
If this sandstone in the Morrice and the Jason-Shumway wells is
the Berea, then^ there is a very pronounced arching of the strata in
the vicinity of Fowlerville. (Fig. 2). If such is the case, it is diffi-
cult to explain the absence of the Marshall and a large part of the
Upper Coldwater. Lane advances the idea that this uplift and arch-
ing preceded the deposition of the Coal Measures but not that of the
Grand Rapids Series, in which case, the Grand Rapids Series, and
locally the Marshall, and Upper Coldwater were either not deposited
or were eroded away. This would bring the Parma sandstone directly
above the Coldwater or above the Marshall. In the latter case, the
Marshall and the Parma could not be distinguished, as they are very
similar in appearance.
There is further evidence in support of Dr. Lane's hypothesis of a
pre-Coal Measure uplift and folding. From the studies of Dr. Sherzer
in southeastern Michigan, the formations, down to the Traverse at
least, are about 200 feet higher at Ann Arbor than they are on either
side at Adrian and Pontiac. This fold, which is nearly 70 miles in
breadth apparently pitches northwest in the direction of Livingston
county, and perhaps is directly related to the supposed fold in the
latter county, which, if it exists, probably rims northwest from Fowler-
ville through Laingsburg or its vicinity.
It must be admitted that the evidence, while highly suggestive,
is not sufficient to draw a positive conclusion. A carefully made
drilling to the Dundee in northwestern Livingston county, or in south-
eastern Shiawassee county would doubtless prove whether or not
there is a pronounced anticline as indicated by the evidence.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
165
LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Fowkrville. The Jason-Shumway well, northwest of Fowlerville,
though full of strong pure brine and plugged, constantly leaked gas
which came from the sandstone mentioned in the previous para-
graphs. The abundance of black or brown shale is not imfavorable
for the occurrence of oil and gas.
JASON-SHUMWAY WELL.
Loc.: Sec. 17, T. 4 N., R. 3 E., Grill Farm.
Elevation of well 900 ft. A. T.
Surface to rock (8-in. drive pipe)
Slate (at 120 ft. oily at the house)
Shale (gas at 165 ft.)
Gray sand (dry well from 200-600 ft.)
Brown shale (gas at 380 and 600 ft.)
8-in. hole for 587 ft., cased at that depth with 5 7-8 in. casing.
Coarse gritty sand with salt water (Berea?)
As analvzed, filled the well, and slowly oozed out in spite of a plug, with
bubbles of fuel gas, and a temp, of 65%.
Black shale
Brown shale
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
95
95
35
130
63
193
25
218
382
600
200
800
20
820
150
970
Fowlerville. — In the northwesten part of Livingston county about
4 miles southeast of Fowlerville, oil was struck apparently in dark
sandstone lens in blue shale at the depth of only about 157 feet.
The oil horizon is in the Coal Measures, which underlie the north-
western half of Livingston county. The well, if pumped, might have
yielded half a barrel of oil per day.
FOWLERVILLE OIL WELL.
Loc.: Two miles south and 2 3-4 miles east of Fowlerville in N. E. i of sec. 6, T. 3 N.. R. 4 E.
Henry White farm. 1903.
Pleistocene:
Clay
Sand
Qravd
Sand
Blue clay
Sand
Gravel
Sand and gravel
Coal Measures:
Sandrock
Blue shale with oil and gas, the flow being estimated at about one-half
barrel per day
Dark sandstone at 157 ft.
8
30
Thick-
^
ness,
Depth,
feet.
feet.
30
30
8
38
2
40
6
46
28
74
30
104
2
106
22
128
136
166
166
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
SHIAWASSEE COUNTY.
Owosao. Four miles northeast of Owosso, C. W. CoUyer in 1863, as
it appears, drilled a well 1000 feet deep. The Marshall was struck
at 556 feet, but, below 601 feet, white and blue shales with red hori-
zons predominated. The Grand Rapids Group appears to be little
represented, probably eroded or not deposited as it is absent farther
east.
owosso WELL.
Loc.: Four miles northeast of town. C. W. CoUyer, 1863.
Elevation 745 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Gravel, sand, etc
Jackson Coal Series:
Gravel and clay
day, mixed with sand and gravel
Shale
Coal
Shale
Parma sandstone:
Sandrock
Sandrock, very hard
Sandrock
Sandrock of white quartz pebbles; resembles split peas
Sandstone
Grand Rapids Series:
LimeroCK (dissolve in acid)
Blue shale
Blue shale
Brown lime-rock .'
Soapstone. Brine at 541 ft
Upper Marshall:
Sandstone
Brine at 557, 572 and 601 ft.
Cold water and Lower Marshall:
White shale and sand, brine at 616 and 633 ft
Blue shale
White shaJe (gray)
Blue shale
Brown shale and white lime-rock
Blue shale
Blue limestone
Red shale
Blue shale
Red shale
Blue shale
Red shale
Blue shale
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
04
94
6
100
26
126
20
145
4
150
100
250
47
297
4
301
103
404
31
435
38
473
3
476
29
505
28
533
3
536
20
556
45
601
115
716
23
739
50
789
31
820
9
829
16
844
7
851
3
854
32
886
3
889
64
953
10
963
37
1000
Durand, The rock strata in the Durand well are so variable in
character, that it is hard to correlate them with the rock strata at
Owosso. Lane thinks that, if the anticline mentioned on previous
pages is present in Livingston county, the structure extends south-
east to Durand, and the Marshall is not represented.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
167
DURAND WELL.
Record from blue print furnished by Grand Trunk R. R.
Elevation about 700 (?) A. T.
Pleistocene:
Surface clays
Quicksand
Gravel
Hardpan
Gravel
Hardpan *
Gravel
Hardpan
Blue clay
Hardpan
Gravel
Hardpan
Saginaw Coal Measures:
Brown shale
Parma:
8 in. casing to 176 ft..
Water bearing gravel
If this is really under shale it must be a conglomerate.
Hardpan and stones
Iron casing 208 ft.
Grand Rapids (7) or Lower Marshall:
6 in. casing to 267 ft. 89 ft. farther.
Black shale
Well plugged at 332 ft.
Blue shale
Black shale
Limestone
White shale
Green shale
White shale
Blue shale
Limestone
Blue shale
Limestone
White shale
Blue shale
Salt bearing sandstone
Well yields 4 gallons of brine per minute.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
12
12
7
10
4
23
18
41
2
43
10
62
1
63
15
78
10
88
10
08
2
100
100
65
174
4
178
60
238
103
341
2
343
12
355
1
356
67
423
10
433
54
487
20
507
1
508
02
600
5
605
14
610
24
643
5
648
CLINTON COUNTY.
St. Johns. Near the Water Works at St. Johns are three deep wells
ranging from 574 to 780 feet in depth. The record of the No. 3, ob-
tained as this report went to press, shows that the Marshall sandstone
occurs at 700 feet below the surface.
ST. JOHNS WATERWORKS WELL.
Loc.: At plant.
Elevation about 765 + ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Clay with thin layers of quicksand
(This indicates the depth of the moraine at St. Johns. There is a
heavy water bed at 28 ft., but the supply is too near the surface to
be considered safe.)
Coarse gravel
Saginaw Coal Mea.su res:
Red sandstone, bearing some water
Blue shale
Black shale with alternating hard and soft layers
White, water bearing sand rock (Parma?)
Gray, water bearing sand rock
Michigan Series?
Black shale
Blue shale
Thick-
ness,
feet.
40
112
Depth,
feet.
40
152
20
172
202
374
1
375
150
525
10
535
15
550
24
574
168
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
ST. JOHNS WATER WORKS WELL.
Loc.: At water and lighting plant. Record No. 2.
Elevation 753 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Blue clay
Pipe clay
Clay and hardpan
Stony and hardpan
Granite boulder
Soft clay
Gravel and hardpan
Hardpan
Coal Measures:
Red sandrock
Sandrock
Gray sandrock
Yellow sandrock
To shale rock
Shale rock
Slate rock
Blue sandrock
Yellow sandrock
Yellow hard and lighter .
Parma sandstone:
Sandrock
Hard blue sandrock
Water rock
Blue sand, harder
Maxville or Bay Port:
Slate
White sand
Water rock sand
Blue packed sand
White water rock
Blue sand
Michigan Series:
Hard strata
Blue sand to white
Hard blue sandrock
Blue shale and sandrock
(Very hard).
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
19
12
61
19
2i
10
13
5
5
20
17
17
14
3
26
21
23
51
6
44
23
45
12
10
17
22
10
13
10*4'
18'
3i
27*
19'
19
31
92
111
113
123
136
141
146
166
183
200
214
217
243
264
287
338
344
388
411
456
468
478
495
517
527
540
541* 4*
559' 4*
652' 4*
589' 4'
608' 4*
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
WATERWORKS WELL NO. 3.
169
Loc.: Three hundred ft. north of Electric Light and Water Works, St. Johns; 10 inch well
301 ft. In depth, drilled in 1908; deepened in 1014 to 780 ft.; 6 inch hole. A. R. Puroell,
Jackson, contractor; Chance Emley, driller. Record of 10 inch hole from records of Water
Works Dept., remainder of record by R. A. Smith from samples and information furnished
by Archie Bishop, Supt. Electric Light and W^ater Works.
Elevation 753 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene or glacial drift:
Clay
Clay and gravel
Water sand
Fine sand and clay
Fine sand and blue clay
Blue clay
Clay ana sand
Coarse water gravel
Red clay
Sannaw Coal Measures:
Red sand rock
White sand rock
Soapstone (probably "fire clay." or calcareous shale)
Blue shale
Red sandstone
White sandstone
Red sandstone
Blue shale
White sandstone •
Soapstone '. . . .
Red sand rock
White sand rook
Blue shale
Soapstone; end of 10 inch hole •
Parma sandstone:
Sandstone (Sandstone struck just below the bottom of the 10 inch hole,
as reported by A. Bishop, Supt.)
Fine white sandstone
White sandstone; coarse and pyritic; water
Maxville, or Bay Port limestone. Upper Grand Rapids:
Gray limestone; vig. eff. Sample marked 150 to 520 and next sample
500 to 540
Grayish white sandstone, pyritic
Michigan Series or Lower Grand Rapids:
Gray limestone with much sandstone; the latter apparently from the
sandstone directly above
Snow white gypsum and some shale
Dark gray snaie and white gypsum
Napoleon or Upper Marshall:
White sandstone and strong brine
Gray sandstone and shale •
Well bottomed in white sandstone at 780 feet. Water rises to within
34 feet of surface. Can lower the head but six feet.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
10
20
20
20
10
10
22
31
8
6
4
10
3
5
12
15
12
10
10
8
10
36
24
100
25
70 or 60
20 or 40
10
30
120
60
20
Depth,
feet.
10
30
50
70
80
90
112
143
151
157
161
171
174
183
188
200
215
227
237
247
255
265
301
325
425
450
520 or 500
540
550
580
700
760
780
170 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
CHAPTER VII.
THE SOUTHWESTERN DISTRICT.
A large number of deep wells have been drilled for oil and water at
various places in the southwestern part of the State as at Kalamazoo,
Assynsky DoWagiac, Berrien Springs, Bridgman, Benton Harbor, Niles,
White Pigeon, Constantine, and Allegan.
ALLEGAN COUNTY.
Though oil and gas were struck in many of the wells, only at Alle-
gan has oil been found in possibly commercial quantities. Nearly a
dozen wells* 1300-1400 feet in depth have been drilled in and about the
city in the last twenty or twenty-five years.
Allegan. About fifteen years ago the Allegan Gas, Oil & Mining
Company drilled a number of wells at Allegan. According to Mr.
J. G. Ellinger, president of the Company, their No. 1 well, which was
located on the river flats near the Pere Marquette depot produced
about 5 barrels per day natural, and this was not appreciably increased
by shooting The well was 1275 feet in depth, oil occurring in the
sandy shales at 1245 feet and in a sandy limestone at the top of the
Dundee at 1256 feet. For six weeks their No. 2 yielded about 3 barrels
of oil per day of 24 hours and nearly enough gas to fire the boiler.
The sand was struck at 1328 feet practically at the same level as in
the No. 1, as shown on the contour map (fig. 13). Both of these wells
were abandoned as not being worth operating. The No. 3 (?) well
was absolutely dry although the *'sand," according to the drillers,
looked very promising. This well, 1411 feet deep, was located on
the higher groimd in the eastern part of the city.
In 1912, the Northern Oil and Gas Company drilled two wells, the
first on* *'high ground" near the southwest corner of the N. E. J of
section 32, Allegan township, and the second in section 28 on the
river flats, 1800 feet north of the No. 1 well of the Allegan Gas, Oil
& Mining Company. The No. 1 well was drilled to the depth of 1387
feet, the Dundee limestone, the ''oil sand," being struck at 1318 feet,
but very little oil was found even after shooting. There is an upper
thin ''sand" separated from a lower but much thicker one. In this
well, the surface deposits were found to be exceptionally thick, rock
being struck at 355 feet. Great quantities of water and hard "lime
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
171
shells/' probably chert beds and siderite nodules, were encountered.
The cherty "lime" just beneath the drift is about 75 feet thick and,
near its base, it yielded a heavy flow of water upon which the bailer
"running at top speed" could make no impression- It took several
months to complete the well.
In the No. 2 well, 1340 feet in depth, the surface deposits were found
to be only 87 feet deep, and little or no water was struck in the bed
rock except in the lower part of the Dundee below the oil horizon.
No casing outside of the drive pipe would have been needed. Owing
to the soft character of the rocks and the absence of water troubles the
well was completed in 13 days.
Figure. 13. Contour map showing the depth of the Dundee limestone below sea level in the
vicinity of Allegan and the location of borings.
Roman numerals refer to the wells of the Northern Oil and Gas Company; Arabic to the
older explorations.
Oil was struck at 1287 feet apparently in commercial quantity.
The two oil "sands" separated by a few feet of gritty limestone con-
sist of light buflF to gray limestones of the Dundee. The well was
shot December 6, 1912, with 120 quarts of nitro-glycerine, 60 quarts
in each sand. Upon pumping, the well yielded about two barrels of
oil per day and a little water.
The oil is dark reddish brown, smells of *' sulphur" and tested about
36° Baume according to Mr. Mercer, president of the company. Little
or no gas accompanied the oil.
172 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Three of the wells drilled in Allegan yielded from 2 to 5 barrels of
oil per well. If a group of such wells were drilled and operated from
a central pumping plant as at Port Huron and in Ontario, probably,
under the present high prices of oil, a fair return could be obtained
upon the investment. As the oil horizons are twice as deep at Port
Huron, the cost of drilling and operating the wells would be much
greater.
Character of the Formations and Local Structures, All of the drillings
show consistently that the blue-gray shales of the Coldwater, with
here and there a red horizon, predominate down to about 1150 feet
where the black shales of the Antrim begin. The Antrim is com-
posed of gray shales in the upper jjortion and dark or black • shales
near the base. This formation is very thick but the Traverse is thin,
the former being probably over 400 feet in thickness. The Dundee
appears to be a cherty or sandy limestone very changeable in color
with a shaly phase just below the top.
Through the kindness of Mr. C. F. Mercer, president of the Northern
Oil & Gas Co., and Mr. Perry Fox, driller, the locations and altitudes
of several of the former drillings were furnished together with all of
the information available concerning the depth of the Dundee. In
platting the wells according to sea level base, it is observed that there
are irregularities in the general dip, and the most prominent structure
is the apparent terrace or structural bench in sections 27 and 28 with
the abrupt northward dip into the southern part of sections 21 and
22, Allegan township. The highest elevation of the Dundee occurs
in the No. 2 well in section 32, yet this well yielded little oil or gas.
The oil was found on the lower part of the terrace and on the steeper
slopes to the north. It must be said, however, that some of the data
may not be accurate. According to Mr. Mercer the Allegan Oil, Gas
and Mining Co. well, Plate VI, Volume V, is located on the Kalamazoo
river flats near the Pere Marquette depot, therefore could not have
the altitude of 708 feet as given in Volume V. Owing to the doubtful
location and elevation of some of these wells too much stress should
not be placed on the stn^ctures as indicated by the records.
The following are the records of one of the older drillings and of
the two wells drilled by the Northern Oil 4 Gas Co. The logs of the
latter were made partly from memory and partly from notes by Mr.
C. F. Mercer, president of the company, and Perry Fox, driller. The
thickness of the various strata of rock are approximations. The
depth to the Dundee, however, is accurate as it was carefully deter-
mined by steel tape measurements.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
173
ALLEGAN GAS. OIL & MINING COMPANY WELL.
Loc.: In Allegan on bluflfs above river flats? (near P. M. depot?). J. E. Elllnger, President.
Record by driller. Notes on samples by Lane.
Elevation 708? ft. A. T.
Pleistocene or glacial drift:
Sand and clay
Gravel and flowing water at 120 ft.
Unreported
Slate and sandstone at 255 ft.; end of drive pipe. Sample impure gray
banded sandstone at 255 ft.
Coldviratfir shale*
Sandstone. Brine at 292 ft. cased with 3 5-8 in pipe to 331 ft. Sample
260 pyritiferous bituminous coal, 275 siderite, 205 pyrite nodules and
bluish shale, 331 brownish drab siderite, full of grains of calcite and
pyrite with traces of fossils
Blue shale
Sample greenish bluish non-fossiliferous shales.
Red rock
Sampl3 red and green mixed shale, calcareous red shale, residue of red
clay, very little grit.
Blue shale
Sample rM freely eff. shale.
Red rock (Berea?)
Sample no eff. but burns from green to red with HCl .
Antrim snale:
Gray shale, flne drilling (in part Coldwater?). Sample no eff., greenish
and bluish gray shales
Black shale - • ,
Sample burns on heating — bituminous shale.
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Hard rock, salt water between 1120 and 1200 ft
Sample siderite. This may be merely a large nodule.
Black rock or slate , . .
Sample bituminous black shale.
Lime rock (top of Traverse?)
Sample mixture of dolomite and black shale.
Blue shale. Oil at 1245, crust very hard, turned drill
Sample greenish or bluish gray shale, slowly eff.
Dundee (Comiferousj limestone:
Sandy limestone, oil at 1264
Light yellow limestone rapidly eff., containing white chert and fraginents
of dark gray pyritiferous seams, also brachiopod fragments? Either
Leptocelia acutiplicata or Spirifer gregaria
120
135
Depth,
feet.
120
255
76
249
331
580
15
595
15
610
5
615
375
105
990
1095
80
1175
20
1195
10
55
1205
1260
15
1275
125
1400
174
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
NORTHERN OIL & GAS COMPANY WELL NO. 1.
Loc.: 8. E. cor. N. E. J, sec. 32, Allegan Twp., H. F. Thomas farai. C. F. Mercer, presi-
dent. Perry Fox, driller. Drilled in 1912.
Elevation 696 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Sand
Blue clay, sticky
Gravel, water
Coldwater shale:
Flinty lime
End of drive pipe at 365 ft.
Slate streaked in color
Black gritty lime or sand
Big flow of fresh water.
Blue slate, no grit, soft
Cased 450 ft, 8i' casing.
Red slate, hard
Little salt water under red slate. (Berea?).
Blue shale, clean drilling, in part. Antrim?
Berea? absent?
Antrim shale:
Light brown shale, changing to darker. Part of the shales grouped with
the Coldwater are doubtless Antrim
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Light blue shale, hard
Gray lime, hard
Blue slate
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone:
Light bluff lime. Oil
Changed color most every screw.
Total depth
About water enough to drill with. Not arcurate as to changes. Depth
to top of Dundee measured by steel line.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
320
340
355
365
375
390
650
660
1160
1270
1280
1283
1318
1319
1387
NORTHERN OIL & GAS COMPANY WELL NO. 2.
Loc.: 8. E. cor. of 8. W. J, Sec. 21, Allegan Twp. 1800 ft. north of old No. 1 (near P. M.
depot) of Allegan Gas, Oil A Mining Co. and onnver flats. Drilled in 1913. Record reported
bv Perry Fox, driller, and C. F. Mercer, president. Record from memory and rough notes.
Top of Dundee accurate; measured by steel tape.
Elevation of well about 628 feet A. T.
Surface:
Ten in. drive pipe through drift
Coldwater:
Soft blue clay or slate
Lime hard, black and dry
Lime shell
Slate, blue, soft
Yellow colore slate
Blue slate and red rock
Blue shale, hard (Largely Antrim)
Berea absent?
Antrim shale:
Brown shale with streaks of black lime
Part of shales above doubtless Antrim.
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
White or blue shale
White lime shells
Slate blue, hard
Dundee (Corniferous) limestone:
Lime called Dundee changeable, no grit
Oil at 1287-1290 ft.
Gritty lime
Looked good for oil
About 1 bbl. water an hour 1290-1295 ft.
Total depth
Pumped at an averiM^e of 2 bbl. oil per 24 hours.
Shot with 120 quart.s of nitroglycerme, 60 qta. above and 60 qts. be-
low gritty lime.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
87
70
15
10
42
24
5
10
Depth,
feet.
200
287
20
307
70
377
248
625
5
630
10
640
510
1150
87
1220
1235
1245
1287
1311
1316
1326
1340
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
175
CONTOURS OP (M^m)ss/i/o^
DcvoNiAN Mack snale^j^
ABOVE SEA-lEVa (AT.)
^ IN SOUTH WESTERN
MICHIGAN.
/k. O, LAW. 1900
Figure 14. Contour map showing the indicated anticline east of Niles and the elevation
above sea level of the base of the Antrim black shale in southwestern Michigan.
BERRIEN, CASS,. ST. JOSEPH AND KALAMAZOO COUNTIES.
Local structures. From a comparison of the records of the wells in
Berrien, Cass, and St. Joseph counties, and in western Indiana, it
appears that in Berrien coimty a well defined trough or synchne ex-
tends northeast in the vicinity of Bridgman, Berrien Springs, and
Dowagiac, and a le^s well defined anticUne northeast from near South
Bend and Grangers in Indiana into Cass county 10 or 12 miles east
of Niles. At Benton Harbor the base of the Antrim black shale is
about 115 feet A. T., at Berrien Springs 30 feet A. T., at Niles 190 feet
A. T., at Dowagiac feet A. T., at White Pigeon 227 feet A. T., and
at Constantine 137 feet A. T. From this data it will be observed
that from Benton Harbor to Berrien Springs there is a drop to the
southeast of 85 feet in about 15 miles, and a rise of 160 feet frOm the
latter place to Niles, a distance of 12 miles. The southern limb of
this trough or syncline is much steeper than the northern. South-
ward the rise is pronounced from Berrien Springs to South Bend where
the Antrim is nearly 350 feet higher, but south of South Bend the
strata descends again, giving rise to the anticline (Fig. 14) mentioned
above.
The territory in the vicinity of the Berrien Springs syncline may
be classed as unfavorable for the occurrence of oil and gas, while the
region from South Bend and Grangers, Indiana, northeast into Cass
county may be worthy of exploration. This anticline seems to be
related to the Kankakee uplift and therefore may have a much greater
northeastward extension toward Jackson than indicated by present
drillings.
Oil horizons. The Dundee oil horizon is comparatively shallow in
176 OIL AND GAS IN >iICHIGAN.
the vicinity of the anticline, probably being nowhere more than 1000
feet below the surface. At Niles, 10 or 12 miles west of the axis of the
anticline, it is only 580 feet below surface.
The next probable oil horizon beneath the Dundee, excepting per-
haps the Niaraga, is the Trenton limestone, which is not only deeply
buried, but wholly unknown. It is in this part of the State that dril-
lers from Ohio have confused the Traverse or Dimdee limestone with
the Trenton. In the southwestern part of the State the drift is un-
derlain by the blue shales of the Coldwater and the Antrim black
shales. After penetrating these shales and striking a limestone be-
neath some black or brown shale, drillers are deceived and believe
that they have struck the Trenton. The black shale is the Antrim,
and the limestone that of the Traverse or Dundee. It is doubtful
that the Trenton has been penetrated in southwestern Michigan.
CASS COUNTY.
Dowagiac. The only boring which may have reached the Trenton
is the Dowagiac well, which is known to be 1760 feet deep, and which
apparently penetrated the Lorraine shales.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
177
Loc.:
DOWAGIAC WELL.
Round Oak GaJ) & Fuel Co., Dowacriac. Drilled 1887 by Win. M. Farr. Record by
C. E. Wright from driller's noten and from samples.
Pleistocene or glacial drift:
Fine and coarse sand
Gravel
Blue clay
Sand and some gravel
Blue clay
Coarse gravel
Blue clay, very tough
Coarse and fine sand and gravel
Coldwater shale:
Blue arf^llaceous shale, slow eff
Red argillaceous shale (Land surface belonging to the Antrim? — Lane) . .
Antrim shale:
Argillaceous shale, light blue with streaks of hard blue sandstone. Slow
eff. 90% residue
Argillaceous limestone, very hard
Argillaceous shale, slow eff. 05% residue
Sandy shale; dark bluish drab, hard and soft; slow eff. 00% residue
Ars^iilaceous shale, dark drab and brown, quite joft; slow eff. 05% r^s-
due of clay
Argillaceous shale; dark brown, hard and soft; slow eff. Oo% residue
of clay
Argillaceous shale, dark brown, medium hard
Brown areillareous shale, burning with aromatic «mell
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Dark drab argillaceous limestone: brisk eff. 10-15% residue of clay
Dark drab coarse grained limestone; brisk eff. 2% angular grains of
silica
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone:
Light gray fine grained (coarse at 050 ft.) limestone; brisk eff. 4-5% an-
gular grains of quartz and silica. 1 % at 920 ft
Dark drab finegrained limestone; brisk eff. 4%-5% of brown residue of
< silica and carbon
Light drab fine grained limestone; brisk eff. 5% of dark brown residue
of silica and carbon ,
Brownish drab limestone; brisk eff. 5% siliceous residue
Monroe Formation:
Dark grav and drab dolomite 25 to 30% residue of gypsum, anhydrite
and silica
Drab dolomite, fine grained; brisk eff. 10% residue of gypsum, anhy-
drite and silica
Drab dolomite, fine grained; brisk eff. 12 to 25% residue of g3i>sum,
anhydrite and silica
Light gray dolomite, fine grained; brisk eff. 12% residue of gypsum,
anhydrite and cherty silica at 1080 ft.
Light gray sandy limestone (Sylvanla?) 4 to 12% rounded grains of
glassy sand, quartz and flint
Niagara; Guelph and Ixx*kport:
Light gray limestone, dolomitic in part; 1 to 7% of chert, quartz, anhy-
drite, pyroxene
Light gray argillaceous limestone 15 to Z0% clay
Gray limestone, dolomitic in part; brisk efi. 1 to 2% of rounded glassy
grains of sand and angular ones of chert
Creamy gray fine grained marley limestone; very brisk eff. 8% of
silica and clay
Creamy gray fine grained limestone, dolomitic in part
Grayish white to gray fine grained limestone, brisk eff. 2 to 5% rounded
grains oi glassy sand and angular ones of flint, anhydrite, and clay. . .
Gray dolomitic fine grained limestone: brisk eff. 5% of silica and clay.
Creamy white marly limestone; 1 to 8% of rounded grains of sand, clay
and anhydrite
Rochester:
Bluish drab clay shale; brisk eff. 95% clay
Dark drab argillaceous limestone (Clinton?)
Lorraine and Utira:
Blue black calcareous argillaceous shale; slow eff. 95% clay
Carbonaceous limestone brownish red to yellowish gray; brisk eff. 10
to 20% rounded glassy grains of sand, white chert and anthracite
23
Thick-
ness,
feet.
34
4
18
40
8
4
48
41
82
12
40
5
177
50
65
10
35
90
40
68
78
25
5
10
30
18
47
15
175
45
120
Depth,
feet.
34
38.
56
103
111
115
159
200
282
294
343
348
525
576
640-
650
685
765
805
873 +
950
975
980
990
1020
1038
1085
1100
1275
1320
1440
40
60
1480
1540
70
35
1610
1645
35
1680
20 .
20 1
1700
1720
8
1728
32
1760
178 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
BERRIEN COUNTY.
Niles. At Niles, at least six wells have been drilled for oil and gas
or water. One from 500 to 700 feet deep, drilled in 1865 close to the
bridge, yielded some gas. Another, drilled about 1885 on Second
street 20 rods from the railroad, yielded a large flow of water for some
time after the drilling was completed. One of the drillers, also reported
striking oil, claiming that, owing to outside influence, he had con-
cealed the fact from the public. A third well was drilled about the
same time near the C. C. C. & St. L. R. R. to about 1100 feet. No. 4
was located about one or two miles south of the city on a river terrace.
A strong brine which rose nearly to the surface was struck at 546
feet and another in limestone, probably the Monroe, at about 850
feet. These were cased off, but fresh water was struck below 880 feet
(Niagara?) and this rose as high as the first. Trenton rock was re-
ported at 1000 feet, but the top of this formation must be several
hundred feet deeper. Some gas was constantly given off, making
the water "milky" or foamy. The well was abandoned apparently
at 1438 feet, but it is claimed that the well was drilled to 1600 feet.
Though this well is higher than those in the city, corresponding strata
appeared to be struck at the same depth but this is what should be
expected as the general dip of the strata should be northeasterly. The
No. 5 (Vol. V) well, drilled in 1899, was located across the river 200
feet from No. 4 and only two or three feet above the water. It was
about 518 feet deep, and yielded brine at 504 feet. By the use of a
packer, the water was shut off and some gas was obtained. In 1903,
a sbcth well 592 feet deep was drilled by the Niles Oil & Gas Company
about a mile west of Niles on the old Baumann farm. A little oil
with brine was struck in the Dundee at the bottom of the well.
Nearly all of the oil and gas in the above wells apparently came
from the Dundee or '* bastard" Trenton which also yielded an abun-
dance of brine some distance below the top and especially in its lower
portion. In the No. 3 and No. 4, a little oil was struck in the top
of the Niagara. A good log of the No. 6, or Niles Oil & Gas Company
well was kept by Mr. F. W. Cook of the Niles Daily Star and a copy
furnished the Survey. The log below shows the general character of
the rocks down to the Dundee. This record tends to substantiate
the general correctness of the hearsay records of the earlier wells.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
179
NILES OIL ft GAS COMPANY.
(Niles WeU No. 6.)
Kleyation 600 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Yellow impure sand (all the samples of the superficial deposits down to
265 ft. are more or less calcareous)
Fine gravel (Torpedo sand) with water
Till (or boulaer clay, sand and gravel mixed)
TiU
Clayey tlU
Clay, grit free, calcareous brown
Coarse sand
Antrim shale:
Black shale, bituminous, very slightly calcareous (not so black as below)
Black shale, bituminous
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Blue calcareous shale
Light colored limestone (nearly pure CaCoa)
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone:
Slightly darker, and more magnesia? (with oil and salt water)
Thick-
ness,
feet.
12
Depth,
feet.
91
01
12
103
79
182
19
201
6
207
10
217
48
265
20
285
136
421
141
562
18
580
592 +
Berrien Springs, About 1900 a well 700 feet in depth (6504* ft.
A. T.) was (irilled at Berrien Springs about 60 rods north of St. Joseph
river. The Hon. Roseoe D. Dix furnished an accurate record of the
well as given below. As noted previously, the base of the Antrim
black shale is respectively 160 feet lower than at Niles to the south-
east and 85 feet lower than at Benton Harbor to the northwest, there-
fore Berrien Springs is near the bottom of the sjrncline. No oil was
reported, but signs of brine were observed in the base of the Dundee,
when drilling ceased.
BERRIKX SPRINGS WELL.
Elevation 650 + ft. A. T.
Thick- r%^^tu
I ness. : ^-^P^**'
I feet.
feet.
Pleistocene:
Gravel
Blue clay •
Antrim:
Soapstone
Reached 550 noon June 5. Compare Benton Harbor at 280 ft. Niles
at 415 ft.
Black shale with pyrite, bituminous
Compare Benton Harbor at 475 ft., Niles at 460 ft. Dowagiac at
675 ft.
Traverse:
Limerock with indications of salt water at bottom
Stopped at 670 ft., June 15. Compare Dowagiac at 874 ft.
40 >
70 i
440
70
80
40
110
550
620
700
Some distance north of Berrien Springs a well was drilled to the
depth of 1260 to 1300 feet, but no record was obtained. A good re-
cord would be valuable in showing whether or not there is a sudden
northward rise of the strata. In 1903, the Umholtz Oil Company
bored a well 620 to 625 feet in depth on the Umholtz farm about 8
180
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
miles north of Niles and 4 miles from Buchanan. Some oil and gas
was struck at 618 feet just beneath black shale.
From a comparison of the wells in this part of the State, the Berea
horizon shows considerable irregularity in character. This horizon
appears to be nearly as reliable in yielding signs of gas in Michigan as
the Dundee of oil. It is possible that gas in commercial amounts
might be struck in this formation in the vicinity of favorable struc-
tures.
Brtdgman, Some thirty years ago an oil well was drilled at Bridg-
man in Berrien county. A pocket of gas was struck which burned for
some time. In 1904, a second well was drilled by the Bridgman Oil
& Gas Company about 40 rods south of the depot. No record was
kept of the drillings, but one of the workmen gave from memory the
record below.
BRIDGMAN OIL AND GAS CO.'S WELL.
Loc.: Forty rods south of depot, on ground about 3 ft. lower than railroad track, e. 1., 636 ft.
A. T.— May, 1904.
Elevation about 636 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Sand
Clay, sticky
Sand, fresh water
Clay, blue
Sand, some fresh water
Clay, blue
Sand, fresh water
Gravel, cement
Clay, blue, waxy
Coldwater shale*.
Clay (really shale), big break
Antrim shale: -
Brown shale, gas near top, scum on water after striking gas
Dundee (Corniferous) limestone:
So called Trenton, "bastard"
Samples 520 to 700, limestone with echlnoderm fragments, quick eff.
Salt sand
Brown sand, salt water rising nearly to the top
Trenton, porous, drilled nice
Salt water at bottom of this 200 ft., with traces of gas above.
Monroe Formation:
Sample at 768 a gypsiferous dolomite. Water stands 600 ft. deep in the
well
Depth*
feet.
3
103
108
158
153
203
223
228
258
308
508
513
538
563
763
768
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
ISl
Benton Harbor. At Benton Harbor a well was drilled for oil and gas
by the Benton Harbor Natural Gas and Oil Co., but little or no signs
of either were found.
BENTON' HARBOR NATURAL GAS AND OIL CO.
Record by C. E Wright from samples. Samples from Fred Jordan.
Rlevation about 600 (t. A. T.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
Surface:
Undifferentiated
Antrim shale:
Bluish gray argillaceous shale
Red shale
Chocolate brown shale, eff. in cold Hcl; 70 per cent residue. Under
microscope, Ane fringy argillaceous mass and small granules; does
not depolarize the light.
Light blue shale; quite hard; efT. slightly; large residue, finely granular,
apparently isotropic
Blue shale or ' ' slate " ; no sample
Black shale or ' * slate"
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Argillaceous limestone; dark bluish drab; contains Iron pyrites; brisk eff.
50 per cent residue of a fringy clay mass
Calcareous ar^^illaceous shale; dark drab; medium hard; brisk eff.; 70
Ser coiit residue of clay
ee (Corniferous) limestone:
Arenaceous limestone; dark drab; brisk eff.; 20 per cent residue of
rounded glassy grains of sand
Limestone, grayish white mixed with dark drab; brisk eff.; 10 per
cent residue, mainly isotropic
Porous limestone; light gray; brisk eff.; 2 per cent residud of a finely
granular mass
Grayish limestone; brisk eff. in cold acid, 10 per cent residue of round
glassy grains of sand (and bits of green shale; no anhydrite
Similar?
Similar?
Dark drab to light drab limestone; brisk eff.; 5 to 10 per cent residue of
rounded grains of sand
Water with strong brine at 750 ft.
Similar? :
Similar?
Light gray limestone; brisk ^.; 2 to 8 per cent residue of rounded glassy
grains of sand r
Brisk eff
Monroe (and Niagara?) Formation:
Limestone; drab; brisk eff.; 20 per cent residue of sand and gypsum
Marly gypsum; very light gray; 80 per cent residue of anhydrite and a
few grains of silica
Dolomitic limastone; drab: resembles sand; slight eff. in cold acid; 10
per cent residue of rounded glassy grains of sand, anhydrite and gyp-
sum
130
Dolomite: slow eff. in cold acid; 3 to 20 per cent residue of grains of
grayish sand
130
it
135
150
20
110
195
170
280
475
165
640
25
665
35
700
11
711
9
720
5
725
735
741
9
750
5
9
7.'>5
764
14
10
778
788
27
815
17
832
108
040
305
1205
1
182
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
In 1904, the Salzman Mineral Bath Co. driUed a well at Benton
Harbor near the comer of 5th and Park Streets.
SALZMAN MINERAL BATH CO. WELL.
(U. S. Geologicftl Surrey WeU No. 183.)
Loc.: Cor. 5th and Park StB.. Benton Harbor. Drilled in 1904.
Elevation 600 (?) ft. A. T.
Surface:
Fine grained, light
A sand, fine gnuned, and considerable variety in the grains, showing it
must be a glacial sand
Antrim shale:
A light bluish shale
Light, rather gritty silicious shale. I suspect that this is from the top
of the strata
Black shale. This is a typical Antrim or Ohio shale. If we may believe
samples 4 and 5 the amount that is black is not as much as usual
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Dark,, with crinoidal limestone mixed; may represent the Traverse
Record missing, probably limestone passing into shale 683-690 ft.
Largely clay; perhaps the lower part of tne Traverse
Thick-
ness,
feet.
130
5
215
180
60
43
60
Depth,
feet.
130
135
400
580
640
683
750
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
WhUe Pigeon, In 1903, the White Pigeon Oil & Shale Gas Co.
drilled an 800 foot well near the northwest comer of the N. E. J of
sec. 22, T. 8 S., R. 12 W. The oil ''sand" at 756 feet is a yellowish,
cherty, fiercely eflfervescent limestone 75 feet below the top of the
Dundee. At about 710 feet water was encountered which rose 400
feet. The well was shot ''wet," i. e. without casing off the brine, at
about 763 feet but without effect.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
183
WHITE PIGEON WELL.
Loc: Near the N. W. cor. of Ih^ N. E. I of sec. 22, T. 8 S., R. 12 W.
from driller's log and from samples.
Record by A. C. Lane,
Pleistocene:
guicksand, fine silt
ravel, \ inch pebbles Gimestone, chert quartzites, dark traps)
130 ft. of 10 in. casing shutting off fresh water.
Clay, blue calcareous
Compare surface to 03 or 136 ft. in the Constantine wells.
Coldwater shale:
Shale, blue non-calcareous
Quicksand
Calcareous and from the varied character of its grains, evidently a
glacial sand, which must come in from some vertical fissure trav-
ersed by the drill, and yet is i>eculiar as being in very nearly the
horizon of the Berea grit which yielded a strong brine and gas from
283 to 383 ft. in one of the Constantine wells, while in the other
it seems to have been represented by 15 ft. jof red shale, from 286
to 301 ft., while in this well it is not to be recognized at all. This
variety in record is probably due to an unconformity at the base of
the Carboniferous, and the red shale which appears in various
records in this comer of the State may be due to the weathering
and oxidation of black and green shales beneath an old land surface.
Shale, dark blue, probably in part Antrim, belonging with the next divi-
sion
Antrim shale:
Black shale
This apparently corresponds to the base of the dark shales at Elkhart
between 375 and 350 ft. down, and in the first Constantine well rec-
ord the red calcareous shale immediately underlying is counted in,
and 211 ft. of shales given between 492 and 703 ft. Correspond-
ing horizons are found about 82 ft. deeper at Constantine.
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Red calcareous shale
Very calcareous, gritty with a few large grains of sand and some cri-
noid buttons.
Soft blue limestone
This formation was apparently not separated off in the Constantine
records, but its base and top of the Dundee is probably nearly
marked by the brine and sulphuretted hydrogen which occur at
700 ft. ana correspond to the horizon of the "salt sand" from 606-
711 ft. here. The red, gritty shale at the top may also mark a
time between the Traverse and Antrim as here developed, when
there was a land surface here. The paleontogist Schuchert assumes
that there was a neck of land here at about such a time, and the
more recent Niles and Dowagiac wdls show a greater thickness of
blue calcareous shale with no red shale mentioned, while from Cold-
water and Elkhart no Traverse is reported. The Niles well in
Volume V gives 415 to 500 ft. of very similar strata.
Dundee (Corniferous) limestone:
Sample missing. Said to be similar to those below
Limestone, very white, clear, fiercely eff. in acid, leaving a little quartz
sand residue
' ' Salt sand. ' ' here a brine was struck which filled .up the hole about
400 ft., no casing done when the well was shot.
Five samples, all yeUowiflh. fiercely eff. limestone with a little quartz
and microcline sand and more chert
At bottom, "oil sand."
Limestone; record says "blue shale," but sample is a coarsely chipping,
fiercely eff., somewnat darker limestone, stnick together with gypsum,
possibly from the brine
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
120
20 <
120
140
42 '
182
31 .
28
213
241
224
108 I
465
573
32
78
605
683
13
15
45
696
711
756
76»
184
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
5/. Joseph, In St. Joseph, across the river from Benton Harbor,
Vincent and Blake drilled a well 820 feet deep penetrating the Dun-
dee. The record compiled by A. C. Lane from a meager set of sam-
ples is given below. The drift is much deeper in the St. Joseph well
than in the Benton Harbor well. The record does not agree very
well Tidth that of the Benton Harbor Natural Gas & Oil Co. well and,
according to Lane, the latter may be imperfect.
ST. JOSEPH WELL.
(U. S. Geological Survey Well No. 233.)
Surface:
Sandy drift clay
Rujjty, sandy, with a variety of pebbles*
Bluish drift clay, sandy
Richmond or Berea?
Rusty red
Record missing from 185-500.
Antrim shale:
Dark shale
Traverse not represented by samples but it probably lies between 520
and 750 ft.
Dimdee? (Corniferous) limestone.
Mixed. Very white and pyritiferous, dark and fiercely eflf
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
50
50
80
1
50
100
180
5
185
20
520
70
820
Constantine. A well over 1080 feet deep was drilled many years
ago at Constantine, and the record as correlated by A. C. Lane is given
below.
CONSTANTINE WELL.'
Levi Dodge, owner?
Elevation 803 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Sand •. .
Blue clay
Sand
Blue clay
Sand
Hard pan
Cold water shales:
Soft ' ' slate" or soapstone
Berea horizon:
Red shale
Antrim shale:
Gray "slate"
Black shale
Traverse and Dundee
Limestone, brine at 790 ft. with Hi?.
Thick-
ness,
teet.
Depth,
feet.
40
40
15
55
2
57
43
100
1
101
35
136
150
286
16
301
91
392
311
703
377
1
1080 -h
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
185
KALAMAZOO COUNTY.
Kalamazoo. In 1887, the Kalamazoo Natural Gas Co. sunk a well
2250 feet for gas. A strong brine was struck in the top of the Dundee
at about 1270 feet and brine and a little oil at 1490 feet near the top
of the Monroe.
KALAMAZOO WELL.
Kalamazoo Natural Gas Co. Drilled in 1887. Record in part from samples.
Elevation 771 ft. A. T.
Surface (approximately, P. B. Beardsley)
■Coldwater Shales:
Clay and shale (soft) ; drab color
Black sandstone (hard)
Dark blue shales (soft)
Red clav
Light blue soft shale
Berea?
Twenty ft. of red clay between 900 and 1000 ft
Antrim stiale:
Dark drab soft shale
Black slate, soft and somewhat sandy
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Limestone, blue and hard
Blue slate and shale, soft
Dundee (Corniferous) limestone:
Light gray sandstone, hard. Strong brine (probably cherty limestone) .
Limestone, briskly eff., light buff
Monroe Formation:
Gypsiferous dolomite, anhydrite, with strong brine
Very salty, i. e., brine, from 1270-1740 ft.
Flow of brine also from 1610-1635 ft.
Salt and oil at 1400 ft.
Mainly ferruirinous dolomite with anhydrite
Niagara (Guelph and Lockport) :
White dolomite
Red sandy shale
Whita sandstone
Red sandstone
Hochester:
Dark shale
Clinton:
Dark gray dolomite, eff. moderately
Light to buff dolomite, eff. slowly; small clay and quartz residue, ferni-
frinous
na:
Brown sandstone, with a little calcite^ rounded quartz and angular fel-
spar, including microcline
Thick-
ness,
Teet.
130
170
20
300
110
200
20
120
130
60
10
40
180
25
215
145
45
50
30
80
40
110
20
Depth,
feet.
130
300
320
620
730
930
950
1070
1200
1260
1270
1310
1490
1515
1730
1875
1920
1970
2000
2080
2120
2230
2250
186 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
CHAPTER VIII.
WESTERN MICHIGAN.
MUSKEGON COUNTY.
Muskegon, Along the shore of Lake Michigan from Muskegon north
to Manistee and beyond, a large number of deep wells have been drilled
since the early 70 's for salt, water, and oil and gas. * At Muskegon,
there are a number of wells, some of which penetrate the Marshall for
fresh water, while others reach depths of 1400 to 2400 feet.
The oldest and farthest west of these deep wells is the Whitney
or Truesdell, also called the Hacker well. It is located close to the lake
at an elevation of about 586 feet. A. T., and according to reports is
from 1230 to 1600 feet deep. Copious flows of water were struck at
330 feet, and also at 643 feet, the lower one being mineralized but of
agreeable and refreshing taste. Strong brine was struck at the bot-
tom, probably in the Monroe beds, but this did not rise and mingle
with the water above.
The Mason well near the old Occidental Hotel, 613 ft. A. T., was
begun 1872 and a depth of 2000 feet was reached two years later. In
1875, it was 2400 feet deep and was finally bottomed hi the Salina
at 2627 feet. An abundance of artesian water and brines was struck,
and at 1200 feet oil and gas. At first, the quantity of oil was re-
ported to be 75-100 barrels per day, but the flow proved to be mainly
water mixed with a little oil. From the quality of the oil, the hori-
zon then appeared to be that of the Berea grit, but later the much
more accurate record of the Central Paper Company well indicates
that the oil horizon is in some fine grained grits or sandstones in the
base of the Coldwater, but at some distance above the Berea horizon.
A strong brine resembling the Dundee was struck at about 2030 feet
in rock containing thin beds of sandstone. No rocks typical of the
Dundee were recognized and perhaps the formation is absent, since
it is known to decrease in thickness toward the western part of the
State, and it is absent at Milwaukee on the opposite side of Lake
Michigan.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
187
THE "MASON" WELL.
Loc.: Near Old Occidental Hotel. Maaon Lumber Co.
DriUed in 1875.
Elevation of well 594 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Sand..
Clay
Hardpan
Napoleon or Upper Marshall:
Sandrock with seams of iron pyrites and some shale
Lower Marshall and Coldwater:
Shales and sandrock alternating
Overflow of water just above 625 ft.; some of the rock dark gray and
shale.
Blue shale, with streaks of some soft material
Sandstones and limestones from 625 to 685 ft.
Strong flow of mineral water at about 685 ft.
Red rock not far from 900 ft. probably.
Fine grained grits and sandstones, probablv at about 1200 ft. Petro-
leum and gas. Good lubrication oil. Ci. Central Paper Co. well.
Antrim shale:
Solid blue shale
Solid red shale
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
limestone, with streaks of shala and soft limerork
Salt bearing rock, with streaks of sand (Dundee?). 1 to 4 ft. thick.
Cannot say whether salt was struck or not. Brine 100^
Dundee not recognized unless it is this sandy horizon.
Light colored limerock and shale
Mouroe Formation:
Dark colored limerock, (dolomite probably and so indicated in a sec-
tion drawn under Wrignt 's direction)
Salina:
Gypsum and lime streaks, 4 to 6 ft. thick
Limerock and gypsum, a little less gypsum than in preceding and more
lime
Rapid and various changes ending in dark limerock, loose and porous. .
Thick-
ness,
feet.
150
150
300
50
50
250
50
145
82
Depth,
feet.
60
150
15
100 I
300
775
60
210
225
325
625
1400
15.50
1700
2000
2050
2100
2350
2400
2545
2627
The Ryerson-Hills well, farther east at about 588 feet A. T. is com-
plete in its record only to 1427 feet, but is was drilled to between 2050
and 2200 feet. A flow of brine, probably at about 2050 feet, was
struck, 3delding about one-third of a barrel per minute when pumped
rapidly. Oil was found at about 1200 feet, but this horizon was cased
off and the well continued to the deeper brine horizon. In 1900, the
well was cleaned out, plugged at 1200 feet, and tested for oil. Only
a little was obtained but, after the well was abandoned, the brine
which came to the top of the casing had a layer of oil on it, and, ac-
cording to recent reports, oil and a little gas has been constantly seep-
ing from the well.
188
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
RYERSON-HILLS WELL.
Elevation 588 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Sand
Clay
Hardpan
Hardpan. sandy spot.s and shale.
Lower Marshall and Cold water:
Dark and iif^ht shale
liime
Shale
Lime
Light shale
Lime
Light Dine shale
Lime
Light blue shale
Hard lime rock
"Wliite and blue shale and streaks of lime
Red shale
Hard lime
Dark and light shale
Lime
Ix)ose shale
Depth reported 2050 to 2200 feet!
Record from 1427 feet unknown.
I Thick-
ness,
feel.
65
135
8
90
200
4
20
1
20
2
40
2
15
80
195
8
3
222
5
312
Depth,
feet.
65
200
208
298
498
502
522
523
543
545
585
587
602
682
877
885
888
1110
1115
1427
Close to the lake and near the Ryerson, another well was drilled in
1900. The record, not kept in detail, is said to be very similar to
the former. A little oil and salt water were struck at 1227 feet. About
the same time, another well 12 feet above the lake was drilled only 44
feet southwest of the Mason well for the Michigan Oil Company.
Prof. McLouth kept a careful record with a number of samples. At
1275 feet, a fine grained micaceous sandstone or sandy shale, the oil
horizon of the other wells, was struck and this yielded a little oil.
MICHIGAN OIL COMPANY WELL.
Loc.: Forty-four feet southwest of the Mason well.
Elevation 592 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene :
Sand becoming finer downward
Calcareous blue clay free from pebbles
Gravel in clav and sand, till
Upper Marshall:
White micaceous sandstone
Lower Marstiall and Coldwater:
Blue micaceous shale; drilled 65 ft. in 7 hrs
Harder shale with carbonates of iron and lime; drilled 70 ft. in 10 hours.
Soft blue shale, calcareous
Brown limestons
Flagstones, shales with thin laminae of white sandstone and calcareous
bands; drilled 40 ft. in 4i hours, and 6 ft. in 33 J minutes
White very fine grained micaceous sandstone or silicious shale, yield-
ing a little oil
Sandy shale
Shale, somewhat darker at bottom
Depth,
feet.
. 60
223
235
340
620
700
890
914
1275
1293
1320
1500
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 189
Later the Central Paper Company* drilled a well 1650 feet deep on
Lot 1, N. E. i sec. 34, T. 10 N., R. 17 W., about 4^ miles from the
Ryerson well. This well appears to be at about the same altitude as
the Ryerson, and 10 feet lower. than the Mason. A careful log was
kept and a good set of samples obtained.
As the well is at a considerable distance from the Ryerson, the Mason,
and other wells, determinations of the local dips and structures can
be made. From Milwaukee, where the edge of the Traverse or Hamil-
ton rocks outcrop at the surface, across Lake Michigan to Muskegon
it is approximately 86 miles. At Muskegon, the Traverse appears to
be 1700 feet below the surface, therefore the dip from Milwaukee
eastward to Muskegon is about 20 feet per mile.
The base of the Antrim black shale occurs In the Central Paper Co.
well at 1615 feet and in the Mason at 1700 feet. The latter well is
about 10 feet higher in elevation, and, allowing for this, there is a
drop in the strata of approximately 75 feet in about four miles. This
gives a dip of nearly 20 feet per mile to the eastward, which corres-
ponds with the general dip from Milwaukee to Muskegon.
In the Central Paper Co. well, a bed of red fossiliferoiis limestone
occurs from 845 to 870 feet, and this also occurs from 890 to 904 feet
in the well, drilled in 1900 near the old Mason well. In this case, the
drop is about 45 feet in four and one-half miles or an average of only
10 feet per mile.
The Central Paper Company, Ryerson-Hills and Mason wells are
not in direct line, but they are nearly so and, from the general east-
ward dip, the strata in the Ryerson should be lower than in the Mason
well. On the contrary, the red horizon and other corresponding
strata are higher in the Ryerson than in the well drilled in 1900 close
to the old Mason well. This indicates a local disturbance in the rock
strata, and, according to Lane, the chances for finding a pronounced
anticlinal appears to be greater farther north along Muskegon lake,
perhaps on the north side in sections 15 and 16. Unfortunately, the
oil sand is so fine grained that probably the flow would be limited
unless the oil stratum should be struck in a coarse phase.
Beneath this oil horizon, however, are those of the Traverse and
perhaps the Dundee. The Traverse is well represented by an alterna-
tion of limestones and shales, the latter mainly blue. Possibly, as at
Saginaw, some of the limestones may contain oil. As the Dundee is
thin, or possibly not present at Muskegon, this formation does not
offer great possibilities, but the porous brine bearing stratum at the
pointi where the Dimdee should be expected to occur, may prove to
be oil and gas bearing.
>Ann. Rept. 1903, p. 274.
190
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
CENTRAL PAPER CO. WELL.
I^c: On Lot 1, N. E. J, aec. 34, T. 10 N.. R. 17 W., about 41 miles from Hyerson-HUls
well.
Elevation of weU 584 ft. A. t.
Pleistocene:
Sand
Red calcareous c^ay.
Smooth, red calcareous clay
Lowei Marshall sandstone:
Sandstone, greenish, calcareous, very fine at the bottom: a typical Mar-
shall grit
Coldwater shale:
Shale, dark, bluish, more or less calcareous
Limestone, a clayey and dolomitic water lime, with selenite; like lime-
stones of the Michigan series
Shales, blue calcareous
Limestone, red and white, fossiliferous
Flags, i. e.. blue and green silicious shales, with bands of very fine-
grained grits, or sandstone; in places more or less calcareous
Berea Horizon:
Shales, red and green
Antrim shale:
Shale, black, bituminous, pyritic, especially at the base
Traverse (Hamilton ) Formation:
Shale, blue, calcareous
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
■
50
50
183
233
77
310
315
625
35
185
25
660
845
870
530
1400
80
1480
135
1615
35
1650
Fruit-port, At Fruitport in the southern part of Muskegon county,
a deep well was drilled about 1903, but the samples preserved for the
Michigan Geological Survey were carried away by mischievous boys
and no record was kept by the drillers.
MASON COUNTY.
Ludington, At Ludington, several deep wells (Fig. 15) were drilled
to the Salina for salt by the lumber companies in .the early days of
the salt industry-.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
■ •ALT «UJ H OHKATIO*
> BTEARHB SALT > HWI-CO.
a •IX-OW BHIT »!.■«" CO. ■»«.
4 aumnB SALT nan CO.
\v
^
SI
^^-^ >
v!i
fe" '
1
1
■■A
r>-'
•i
^
MAP or PART
or
LUDtNCTONA VICI N rr Y
^»
', Mason caunly. ihowing location of sail
The Pere Marquette Lumber Company's well at the north end of
Marquette lake, 2220 feet deep, (490 ft. A. T.) and the Butters and
Peters well on the southwest side of the lake, 2260 feet deep, pene-
trated rock salt in the Saltna; but apparently no oil or gas was found.
192
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
PERE MARQUETTE LUMBER CO. WELL.
Loc.: Near mill at the north end of Marquette lake, Ludln^on; 1} miles north of Butters
and Peters well. Drilled in 1885. Record in part from samples.
Elevation 590 ft. A. T.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Pleistocene:
Band
Marl, shells and pine sticks
Sand
Soft clay
Hard clay
Hard pan
Coarse sand and small stones.
Sand and gravel
Sand
Sand and gravel ,
Sand with clay . ,
Sand
Clay
Clay and gravel
Clay and sand ,
Hard pan ,
Clay
Clay and gravel
Clay....
Clay and gravel
Clay
Clay and sand
Hard clay
Hard pan and gravel.
Gravel
Gravel and sand
Sand
Gravel and clay shale .
Coldwater shale:
Blue shale
Limestone^.
Red shale and marl . .
Shale
Limestone
Blue shale
In Lvon's No. 2 well, a showing of oil at 1175 ft.
ihi"
There
Antrim shale:
Black slate or hard shale, with py rite
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Blue shale and limestone
Black sandy limestone, with strata of gypsum.
The limestone is quite crvstalline at a depth of say 1460 ft.
are many specks of pyrites
Brine 30*.
Limestone
Limestone and gypsum
Limestone, hard: with grit above, and softer with less grit below
Brine aO'-SG*.
Blue shale
Salt: either salt (?) or soft salt rock.
90<* brine
Limestone, very sticky. TO^-SO** brine
Slow eff. with some sand grains at 1880 feet.
Bluish, argillaceous, moderately eff. with a large residue 1920-2005 ft.
Dundee? (Corniferous) limestone:
Very hard limestone. 20® brine
Dolomitic limestone, with a residue of quartz sand and anhydrite.
Monroe Formation:
Dolomite, with soft streaks. 6 in. to 18 in. thick, 50°-56° brine
Brisk eff. 2005-2050 ft.
Mainly rounded sand, eff. slowly at 2100 ft.
62*>-64<» brine.
Largely rounded sand. Eff. slow at 2150 ft.
Rusty white sand 2125-2220 ft.
Hard gray limestone, contains gypsum and is soft in streaks
Salina:
Rock salt. 100« brine
Limestone, containing 2 feet of rock salt
58
4
100
Depth,
feet.
30
30
5
35*
21
56
4
60
20
80
10
90
18
10ft
9
117
42
159
24
183
17
2oa
5
205
4
20»
5
214
27
241
32
27»
11
284
8
292
15
307
53
360
37
397
15
412
52
464
12
476
16
492
6
498
18
516
12
528
35
563
15
578
8
586
8
594
5
599
601
1200
165
1365
70
1435
45
1480
60
1540
20
1560
240
1800
1858
1862
1962
40
2002
138
2140
55
2195
18
7
2213
2220
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
193
In the Lyons No. 2 well, a showing of oil was reported at 1175 feet
which should be near the base of the Coldwater, possibly in some of
the thin stray sandy layers which in the western part of Michigan
locally occur in this formation near the Berea horizon.
A few years ago the J. S. Steams Lumber Company drilled a well
2304 feet in depth to the rock salt of the Salina. An accurate record
and set of samples were kept from which it appears 1 hat an oily brown
limestone occurs at 2085 feet in the upper part of the Traverse, while
the middle Traverse is composed of 250 feet of pure limestone. Part
of the latter may be the Dundee, but the recognition of this forma-
tion is not certain in this well.
J. S. STEARNS SALT & LUMBER CO. WELL.
Loc.: Ludington plant.
One mile north of Butters and Peters well and on north side of
Marquette Lake. Record hy Lane.
Elevation about 600 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene :
Sand
10 in. casing to 204 ft.
Pink clay, calcareous
Water at about 300 ft., T.
Gravel
53*
Pink clay, calcareous.
Gravel
8 in. casing to rock.
Coldwater shale:
Limestone
With 15 ft. of porous granular limestone and salt water 35 ft. below
the casing.
Blue shale
Antrim shale:
Black shale. . .•
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Brown limestone
Blue shale
Brown limestone, oily with HaS
Pure limestone (possibly Dundee? — Lane)
Brown sandy dolomite
Calcareous shals (Bell or Marcellus)
Monroe Formation (Dundee in part?) :
Dolomite
Limestone (Anderson or Dundee — Lane)
Dolomite
Sylvania sandstone?
Sandy dolomite and anhydrite
Salina:
Salt
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
108
68
94
155
61
74
550
200
25
35
40
250
160
00
25
25
25
100
121
8
198
266
360
515
576
650
1200
1400
1425
1460
1500
1750
1910
2000
2025
2050
2075
2175
2106
2304
The Anchor Salt Co.* has drilled five wells to the salt beds. The
No. 3 well, 2360 feet in depth, shows three beds respectively 20, 9,
and 8 feet thick and the No. 5, four beds 20, 12, 7, and 5 feet thick.
The records of No. 's 4 and 5 are given below.
*C. W. Cook, Brine and Salt Deposits of Michigan, Pub. 15 Geol. Ser. 12; Mich. Geol. and
Biol. Surv., 1913. pp. 157-159.
25
194
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
ANCHOR SALT CO. WELL NO. 4.
Loo.: Liidinf^ton, on north side of Marquette lake three-fourths mile northeast of Butters
and Peters well. Completed In 1908, J. H. Brogan, driller. Record by P. Hardy.
Elevation between 635 and 650 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene drift :
.Sand and gravel
Clay
Hardpan
Clay
Sand
Clay
Hardpan and sand
Sand
Hardpan and gravel
Sand
Gravel
Sand
Gravel
Brown shale
Sand
Shale
Sand and grave!
Cold water:
Shale (Hard Illinoian till from 558.5 to 635 ft.? Depth to rock uncer-
tain from r?cord)
Limestone
Hard "slate* * (shale)
Limestone
Red limestone
Lime
Sharp lime (sandy or cherty?)
Lime
Shale
Lime
Shale
Antrim shale:
Black shale
Brown shale
Black shale
Traverse (Hamilton) and Dundee?:
Lime, water at 1536 ft
Lime. ' ' Trenton. ' ' Water at 1569 ft
Brown sandstone '
Gypsum (anhydrite?) at 1586 and a vein of sand at 1617 ft.
Sharp sandstone
BlacK sandstone
Sharp pand
Black sand
Brown sand
Dark sand
Sharp sand
BlacK sand
Brcnvn sand
Yellow sand
Brown sand
Black sand
Sharp .sand
Probably the "sand" from 1540 to 1986 is dolomite, cherty or sandy
in the "sharp" horizon.
Streak of shale
Limestone
Shale
Dundoe f?) and Monroe:
Black lime
Brown lime
Snlina:
Salt
Bottom of salt at 2329.5 ft.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
267
27
19
36
89
5
25
40
2
4
4
34
6.5
3.5
1
10
2
60
14
24
6
17
74
112
18
167
20
146
29
176
58
44
37
108
10
46
29
8
57
13
8
9
20
33
34
27
7
3
6
69
10
235
Depth,
feet.
267
294
313
349
438
443
468
508
510
514
518
552
558.5
562
563
573
575
635
649
673
679
696
770
882
900
1067
1087
1233
1262
1438
1496
1540
1577
1685
1695
1741
1770
1778
1835
1848
1856
1865
1885
1918
1952
1979
1986
1989
1995
2064
2074
2309
20.5 2329.5
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
195
ANCHOR SALT CO. WELL NO. 5.
Log furnished by J^ H. Brogan, driller.
Elevation about 595 (?) ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Sand
Gravel
Sand
Gravel and hardpan
Sand
Blue clay
Coldwater:
Slate (Hard lUinolan tiU?)
Blue lime
Slate and limestone (in part Antrim)
Antrim shale:
Brown shale
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Hard limestone
*'Cave" (Soft shale? Bell shale? Cf. well No. 4)
Dundee (?) and Monroe:
Hard limestone, Dundee not recognized
Salina:
First salt
Hard white lime
Second salt
Limestone
Third salt
Limestone
Fourth salt
Limestone
Thick-
ness,
feel.
Depth,
feet.
90
90
42
132
92
224
176
400
90
490
44
534
61
595
15
610
725
1336
147
1482
468
1960
70
2030
233
2263
20
2283
14
2297
12
2309
25
2334
7
2341
13.9
2354.9
5
2359.9
44.0
2404.8
The No. 3 well with a total depth of 2360 feet showed three beds of
salt, respectively 20, 9, and 8 feet in thickness. This well which has
about the same elevation as No. 5 is located about 1,000 feet west
and 700 feet north of it.
196
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
MANISTEE COUNTY.
Manistee, In the Manistee salt district, there are more than 35
deep wells scattered from the shore of Lake Michigan along Manistee
lake to Filer City and Stronach, a distance of four or five miles. Be-
low is a list of 29, giving locations and depths as far as obtainable.
The records of many of them are very incomplete, only the depth to
the salt or the total depth being known.
Owner.
Location.
Eleva-
tion
above
lake.
Feet.
Total
depth.
Feet.
Depth
to top
of salt
rock.
Feet.
1
Canfield A Wheeler No. 1. . .
Canfield A Wheeler No. 2. . .
Manistee Lumber Co. No. 1.
Manistee Lumber Co. No. 2.
IjOuIs Sands No. 1
0.7 mi. N., 0.68 ml. W., sec.
T. 21 N.. R. 17 W
11.
12
12
2,700
1,947
1,926
1.900
2
0.7 ml. N. 0.68 mi. W.. sec.
T. 21 N., R. 17 W
11.
8
.28 . 72 sec. 1
4
• ^VF a i mf t^V/C m l*a(..i,..».. ..■••)
5
.04 .44
A
Louis Sands No. 2
.04 .44
2,012
7
Canfleld S. A L. Co
Canfleld S. A L. Co
R. G. Peters No. 1
R. G. Peters No. 2
R. G. Peters
R. G. Peters
R. G. Peters
Buckley A Douglass
Buckley A Douglass
Buckley A Douglass
Buckley A Douglass
Buckley A Douglass
Canfield S. A L. Co
Canfield 8. A L. Co
8
9
.92 .28. sec. 7, T. 21 N.,
16 W
R.
2,026.5
10
.92 .28. sec. 7. T. 21 N..
16 W
R.
11
.92. .28, sec. 7. T. 21 N..
16 W
R.
12
.92 .28. sec. 7, T. 21 N..
16 W
R.
13
.92 .28. sec. 7, T. 21 N..
16 W
R.
14
,54 .40, sec. 12, T. 21 N.,
17 W
R.
15
.54 .40, sec. 12, T. 21 N.,
17 W
R.
16
.54 .40. sec. 12, T. 21 N..
17 W
R.
17
.54 .40. sec. 12. T. 21 N.,
17 W
R.
18
.54 .40. sec. 12, T. 21 N.,
17 W
R.
30
2.015
1.947
1.965
19
.18 .36 sec. 7, T. 21 N.,
16 W
R.
20
21
State Lumber Co
State Lumber Co
.18 .21 sec. 12, T. 21 N.,
17 W
R.
22
«
1
23
State Lumber Co
;
24
Louis Sands
.69 .97 sec. 18, T. 21 N.,
16 W
R.
1
' . . .
I^uis Sands
25
I
1
26
Filer A Sons
.96 .86 sec. 19 T
'1
27
Union Salt A Lumber Co. . .
Union Salt A Lumber Co . . .
East Lake or Percy
.72 .68 sec. 20
25
1.982
or
2.016
to
2.025
2.045
1,924
28
.72 .68 sec. 20
29
East Lake
2.025
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
197
Figure 16. Map of the Manistee salt district showing location of salt wells and the dis-
cordant dips of the salt horizon and depths to the same. Arrows indicate direction and num-
bers, amount of dip per mile.
The Canfield-Wheeler well (592 A. T.) near Lake Michigan (see
Fig. 16), originally 1947 feet deep, was afterwards deepened some 500
feet by T. Percy to the white Guelph or Niagara dolomites. These
outcrop on the opposite shore of lake Michigan and, according to com-
putations by Lane, the dip across the lake is not less than 39 feet nor
more than 50 feet per mile. This dip is intermediate between the 20
foot dip from Milwaukee to Muskegon and the 60 foot one from Nee-
bish Island to Cheboygan. A second well was drilled but only to
1926 feet.
198
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
CANFIELD-WHEELER WELL.
Loc.: Near mouth of Manistee River, Manistee. Record by E. D. Wheeler; notes on sani'
pies by Lane. (Samples appear to have been mixed. — Lane.)
Elevation 604 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Sand, with streaks of gravel
Reddish gray clay
Sand
Gray clay
Dark reodish clay
Quicksand
All shades of clay ; some sand
Gravel
Clay, sand, gravel
Reddish clay, gravel and some sand
Dark clay and gravel .•
Dark shaly stun
Light shaly stuff
Shale and gravel. Contains pebbles of white limestone, argillaceous
marl ; large residue of clay
Richmondville or Berea?:
Sandrock, with occasional streaks of shale and lime
Antrim shale:
Shale and streaks of hard lime. (Traverse in lower part)
Light gray limestone and some black shale; medium residue of glassy
grains of quartz and black slate at 965 ft. (Base of Antrim?)
Grayish calcareous sandstone; large residue of small roundc^l grains
of glassy silica at 1020 ft.
Light gray limestone, medium residue of milky quartz, glassy quartz
and Dlack slate at 1040 ft.
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Blue shale
Bluish gray argillaceous marl; large residue of clay at 1100 ft.
Light gray and dark brown limestone; medium residue of glassy
quartz and black slate at 1 14.5 ft.
Hard gray and black limestone, with conchoidal fracture; also black
and light gray slate at 1290 ft.
Bluish 7 arginaceous shale and light gray limestone; also black shale
at 1310 ft.
Limestone as at 1290, and a little blue shale at 1325 ft.
Light gray marl; very small siliceous residue at 1370 ft.
Siliceous limestone and marl; residue of glassy quartz and gray and
dark gray lumps at 1410 ft.
Calcareous clay; large residue of clay at 1420 ft.
Bluish gray calcareous clay; residue of clay 90 per cent at 1432 ft.
Bluish gray calcareous clay; residue of clay 90 per cent at M.*).*) ft.
Sticky grayish brown shale, cased 60 ft. above bottom when hole was
1520 ft. deep; brine 20 per cent
This sample came up in the slops (i. e. on the sinker rods) when the
hole was down 1510 ft. and is like previous sample.
Bluish gray argillaceous shale; residue of clay 95 per cent at 1525 and
1530 ft.
Shaly lime
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone:
Lime rock
Reddish limestone, with numerous yellow specks of ochre; small resi-
due ot clay and silica at 1620 ft.
Shale and lime
Lime streaks, dark and light
Yellow gray silicious limestone; appears quite friable; medium resi-
due silicious and yellow at 1675 ft.
Monroe Formation:
White lime; brine 30 per cent from here to 1845 ft. Grayish white cal-
careous clay at 1200 ft. ; large residue
Lime and shale, hard
Shaly and sticky
Light gray ai^illaceous marl at 1735 ft.; large residue of clay and
gypsum.
Dark buff soft limestone at 1740 ft., as at 1675; medium residue of
clay and gypsum.
Lime cuts free
Thick-
ness,
feet.
93
2
107
94
2
3
54
3
36
181
5
15
7
113
160
200
380
100
5
Depth,
feet.
93
95
202
296
298
301
355
358
394
575
580
595
602
715
875
1075
1455
1555
20
1675
29
1604
51
40
1655
1695
10
20
15
1705
1725
1740
1745
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
CANFIELD-WHEELER WELL— Concluded.
199
Elevation 604 ft. A. T.
Calcareous shale
Very hard 8pot8 and softer, and streaks of lime
Very hard streaks, with streaks of softer
Porous rock:
Dark gray or drab dolomite at 1810 and 1825 ft.; very small lesidus.
saline
Porous rock:
Dark drab dolomite, conchoidal fracture; very hard; very small resi-
due at 1835
Clay lime rock with hard thin streaks. Brine 80°; liffht gray soft lime-
stone at 1845 ft., small residue of gypsum and silica
Softer: cuts very fast from 1845 to 1858.
Soft* lifTiA roolc *
Dark drab dolomite at 1858, as at 1835 ft
Hard and soft streaks. Brine 92*
Massive lime rock. 93° S. 1877 ft. similar to 1858 ft., and a yellowish
limestone in small grains; ver>' small residue
Supposed to be salt. 96%
Samples missing from 1904 to 1912 ft.
Salina:
Rock salt
Hard lime rock
Thick- T'»fl,r»tv.
ness. ^.^^^'
feet. , '^^•
32
7 1752
28 1780
23 1803
1835
10 ;
1845
13
1858
7
10
1865
1875
25
4
1900
1904
30
^ i
1942
1947
Buckley & Douglass Lumber Co. drilled five or more wells, but only
of the No. 5 was a complete record obtained. According to Mr. J. J.
Hubbell, the record is as follows.
BUCKLEY & DOUGLASS LUMBER CO. WELL NO. 5.
Elevation about 610 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
FiiBt casing 10-inch pipe driven 40O ft
Second catung 8-inch pipe to bed rock through sand, clay and gravel
Antrim shale:
Hard shale
4i inch casing to 985 ft.
3 inch casing to 1032 ft.
A 3 inch pipe for brine Inserted 985 ft.
Traverse and Dundee:
Limestone
Soft shale, 7 inch hole drilled, brass lining to caving rock
Monroe Formation:
Limestone. 6 inch hole, no lining
Salina:
Six inch hole brass lining, caving rock salt and gypfnim
Limestone. 5 inch hole, no lining
Brine cavity
Thick-
ness,
feet.
feet.
Depth,
400
616
940
1570
1680
1875
1895
1985
2015
The above well is near Manistee Lake about IJ miles east of the
Canfield-Wheeler, 610 ft. A. T. or about 18 feet higher, but the top of
the salt at 1985 feet seems to be fully 70 feet deeper. Too much de-
pendence must not be placed upon comparisons between these two
wells as the record of the Canfield is probably not reliable, since the
samples do not correspond with the log.
East Lake, The R. G. Peters Salt & Lumber Co. in East LaJ^e ia
200
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
about three-fourths of a mile northeast of the Buckley and Douglass
Lumber Co. The Peters Company drilled a well in 1886 and accord-
ing to the record of this published in Volume V (PL XXXII) the top
of the first salt bed occurs at 1988 feet, or practically at the same
depth as in the Buckley and Douglass well. In the former, the base
of the Antrim appeared to be at 960 feet, in the latter 940 feet. A
soft shale from 1570-1680 feet may likewise be correlated with a simi-
lar shale in the Buckley-Douglass at 1490-1600 feet. The top of the
salt in the Canfield and Wheeler well near Lake Michigan occurs at
1932 feet, hence the salt is about 70 feet deeper in the Buckley and
Douglass well. This is equivalent to a dip of about 35 feet per mile
slightly south of east. This dip is comparable to the average south-
east dip of the Niagara of 39 to 50 feet per mile across Lake Michigan.
From the Buckley and Douglass well northeast to the R. G. Peters
well the dip is nearly if not quite flat (Fig. 16), assuming that the salt
beds are the same in each well. Considerable oil and a great pressure
of gas were encountered at 1905 feet in the old R. G. Peters well. Water
and oil, according to reports, shot up 150 feet above the derrick, blow-
ing off the top. Some oil was also reported in the Antrim shale at
about 960 feet.
R. G. PETERS LUMBER CO. WELL.
Manistee No. 3 of Vol. V. PI. XXXII.
Loc: East Lake, Manistee.
Drilled in 1885. Driller's record with correlations by C. E.
Wrij^ht. No samples.
Elevation about 600 ft. A. T.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Pleistocene or surface:
Sand, gravel and clay
Antrim:
Black shale, in part bituminous. Some petroleum. Black water at
960 ft
Traverse (Hamilton):
Limerork, hard and salt, light colors
Argillaceous shale (Bell shale), caves badly; looks like petrified worm-
holes; diasolves readily in water
Dundee and Monroe:
Sandy limestone. Dundee cannot be distinguished from Monroe. First
showing of oil at 1905
Water and oil shot up from the 8 in. casing to 150 ft. above the surface;
blew off the top of the derrick.
Record mi-ssing from 1905 to 1988 feet.
Salt to hard rock below
Top of salt at 1988 ft.
Depth,
feet.
614
960
1490
1600
1905
2026
In 1908, another well was drilled by the R. G. Petel^ Salt & Lumber
Co. to the salt bed and a set of samples and a log were preserved,
from which the appended record has been compiled. According to
Mr. R. A. Nickerson, general manager of the company, a considerable
flow of oil was struck at 1925 feet, which was immediately cased off
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
201
and the well continued to the salt bed, which was struck about 1980
fee'.
R. G. PETERS SALT & LUMBER CO. WELL NO. 7.
Loc: N. W. i. N. W. i. sec. 7. T. 21 N., R. 16 W.. East Lake. Record from samples and
notes, furnished by R. A. Nickerson, General Manager. Samples examined by Lane.
Elevation 600 ft. A. T.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Pleistocene or surface
Antrim:
Soft blue shale
Bluish gray calcareous shale, gas at 730 ft
Hard black micaceous shale
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Fine gray chertv limestone, vigorous eff. Some blue shale
Ver>' hard geodiferous dolomite with pearl spar in geods at 987 feet, gas
at 1100 feet.
Black shale and gray limestone with selenite (gypsum) crystals; vig. eff.
Gray limestone (Vig. elT.) and a little black shale; seienlte. Harder
than at 978
Mainly light gray limestone (Vig. eff.) with' a little black shale. Sele-
nite
Gray to dark gray and black shale
Dark gray shale and light gray argillaceous limestone. Top of cave
rock; mod. eff. and very pyritic; selenite
Soft gray calcareous shale
Crumbly soft shale (Bell) resembling blue clay; some eff
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone:
Hard gray to buff fine grained limestone; cherty (sand) and pyritic;
violently eff
Reddish fine grained brown limestone sandy and cherty; very pyritic
and ferruginous; mod. eff
Monroe Formation:
Gray dolomitic limestone; pyritic and gypsiferous; some bituminous
matter
Reddish anhydrite and dolomite, sand and selenite
Anhydrite and dolomite, light buff in part
Ferruginous (altered from pyrite) buff dolomite, anhydrite, selenite.
Gas at 1654 feet
Buff dolomite, anhydrite, selenite; some chert from 1638 to 1658 ft.
Some bituminous matter
Pyritic buff dolomite with anhydrite and selenite; softer than above
Very red (ferric oxide from pyrite) anhydrite and dolomite; very fine
• grained
Mainly red (ferric oxide from pyrite) anhydrite, and some dolo-
mite
Dolomite and anhydrite with selenite
Brown dolomite and anhydrite, selenite, and a little dark shale
Mainly anhydrite, pjrritous
Mainly pure anhydrite with a little black shale
Hard gray vesicular dolomite with selenite crystals
Cherty dolomite and anhydrite; ' * cave rock
Brown dolomite with much anhydrite and selenite
Vesicular grayish brown dolomite with selenite; ferruginous
Vesicular gray dolomite with much selenite in cavities
Mainly red (from altered pyrite) anhydrite and dolomite, gas rapidly
increasing from 1911 to 1916. Quite a flow of oil from 1916 to 1925
feet
Mainly very red anhydrite and dolomite
Vesicular gray dolomite; selenite crystals; very salty
Dark gray porous limestone (dolomite)
Salt
Depth,
feet.
593
4
203
187
347
75
25
25
37
13
50
45
10
15
18
7
7
5
19
20
80
30
10
10
20
12
8
10
15
10
25
10
20
20
20
593
597
800
987
1325
1400
1425
1450
1487
1500
1550
1595
1605
1620
1638
1645
1652
1656
1661
1680
1700
1780
1810
1820
1830
1850
1862
1870
1880
1895
1905
1930
1940
1960
1980
2000
In the Louis Sands Salt & Lumber Co. wells, in Manistee, gas has
been reported in sufficient quantity to be utilized in a small way.
Stronach. The Stronach Lumber Co. wells at Stronach (604 ft.
A. T.) are a little over 3^ miles southeast of the Canfield-Wheeler
and 2^ miles from the Buckley and Douglass wells. The salt bed,
1930 to 1964 feet is about as high as in the Canfield and about 30
202 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
feet higher than in the Buckley and Douglass or in the Peters at East
Lake. The Bell (Marcellus) shale from 1450-1625 feet likewise is
higher and signs of oil and 'gas were encountered directly beneath
this shale. The Antrim black shale, however, is at about the same
depth, i. e. 970 feet. Gas was struck in the top of the black shales
at about 600 feet and oil and gas about 30 feet below the top of the
Dundee, which is cherty, porous and perhaps brecciated as it caves
in some of the drillings. In the Union Lumber Co. wells (605 ft. A. T.),
the top of the salt, reported at 1949 feet, is apparently a little deeper.
The bottom was supposed to be at 1982 feet, but the bottom of the
brine cavity deepened to 2015 and 2025 feet. This indicates that the
bottom of the salt was not reached in the drillings.
The average dip of the formations, as previously noted, is between
39 and 50 feet per mile to' the southeast. From this one would expect
that corresponding strata at Stronach and Filer City should be from
150 to 200 feet deeper than near Lake Michigan in the Canfield- Wheeler
well. On the contrary they are nearly as high at Stronach and Filer
City as in the latter well, and are even higher than in the Buckley
and Douglass and Louis Sands wells, which, although not in direct
line, are between the Canfield and Wheeler and the Stronach wells.
This indicates that there is an upward fold or anticline near Stronach
which may contain oil and gas in commercial quantity. As there are
no .deep wells southeast of Stronach, one cannot tell whether the axis
lies at Stronach or farther to the south and east.
Onekama. From the records of wells at Ludingtonand Manistee, it
is to be observed that the drift is very thick, ranging from 500 to aver
700 feet in thickness. It contains several thick beds of water bearing
sand or gravel, and clay, some of which are probably persistent over
large areas. As the black bituminous Antrim shale imderlies these
thick deposits in northern Manistee county, gas is commonly found
with water in surface wells in small to very considerable quantities.
In the vicinity of Portage Lake, Manistee county, considerable gas
mixed with water has been struck in many artesian wells throughout
an area of four or five miles long. In 1901, a well in sec. 22, Onekama
township, was drilled close to the fish hatchery on the north side of
the lake. A strong flow of gas under high pressure was struck which,
according to reports, rapidly decreased in pressure and volume. Ac-
cording to Mr. W. W. Davis, a well driller and contractor, who has
drilled a great many of the artesian wells in the Portage Lake district
in the past twenty years, the well caved below the bottom of the cas-
ing, which did not reach to the gas horizon, and thus the flow of gas
was shut off. Other wells yielding much gas with water have been
struck since then. In 1913, Mr. Davis made a test well near the fish
THE ONEKAMA QA9 WELL, MANISTEE COUNTY.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
203
hatchery for Mr. H. Ward Leonard of Manistee. The well is located
on the Northern Transportation Co. land about 25 feet from the old
gas well. On January 27, 1913, gas with a pressure of about 185
pounds and free from water was struck at a depth of 437 feet in a
sand or gravel bed. The casing is 2 inches in diameter and, in pulling
out the well rods, the last 185 feet were blown free from the well and
scattered around in the tree tops. The well was "blown'' almost
every day for several weeks from about 15 minutes to an hour and a
half to prevent clogging. After it has blown for some time the presr
sure, measured by a registered steam gauge, gradually sinks to about
145 pounds but upon closing the valve the pressure is almost instantly
back to 185 pounds or more. When the gas was lighted (PI. Ill) the
flame shot up 25 to 30 feet above the top of the casing.
The analysis of the gas, as furnished by Mr. Leonard, was made in
1913 at the Grand Rapids gas plant and indicates that the gas is of
good quality and is free from sulphur.
ANALYSIS OF ONEKAMA GAS.
Carbon dioxide 0.2
Oxygen 1.1
Carbon monoxide 0.1
Nitrogen 11.7
Mettiane 86 .0
Total 100 .0
Heating power B. 'T. U (cu. ft.) 1070 .0
Candle power 3.0
There is much water in the overlying sand and gravels but it is
shut ofiF from the gas sand, which appears to be just below a compact
conglomeratic mass of shale fragments. The following is the log as
given by Mr. W. W. Davis, the driller.
LEONARD GAS WELL.
Loc.: Sec. 22, Onekama Twp., Mani.stoe county. Owner, H. W. Leonard, Manistee; driller,
W. W. Davis; 1912-13.
Red clay, gravel and sand
Blue clay
Sand
Layer of blue clay and sand
Red clay
f^hale fra^ents with black water (sulphur water?)
Gas beanng sand
Gas free from water and hydrogen sulphide gas. Flow of gas estimated at
4200 cu. ft. per min.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
57
10
152
71
120
20
7
Depth,
feet.
57
67
219
290
410
430
437
204
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
The list of wells located around Portage Lake given below, with
notes concerning the occurrence of gas was also furnished by Mr.
Davis.
Clark Well. Section 33
Sands & Smith Well. Section 33
Aueust Lipkowski Well, Section 34
H. Ward Leonard Well. Section 32
Dunham Well, Section 26. Enouf^h gas for one
jet
Showalter Well, Section 25
Dunham Well No. 2. Section 33
N. & M. Transportation Co. Well
Prosser Well, Section 35
Depth,
feet.
Remarks.
470
537
418
535
510
318
425
450
399
Gas but no flowing water.
Gas and water.
Gas and water.
Gas and water.
Trace of gas but no water.
Trace of gas and good flow of water.
No gas.
Gas and water.
Very little gas.
From the abundance of gas in the sand and gravel beds in the region,
it is probable that the body of gas described above is of considerable
size and commercial importance, though as yet it has not been util-
ized.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 205
CHAPTER IX.
NORTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN.
SURFACE DEPOSITS AND EXPLORATIONS.
The northern part of the Southern Peninsula has few and widely
scattered deep drillings and these are chiefly near the lake shore at
Frankfort, Petoskey, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Onaway, Alpena, Grand
Lake, Harrisville, Killmaster, Oscoda, Tawas City, Prescott and
Standish. The only ones in the interior are the Hanson wells at Gray-
ling and the Cadillac well, now being drilled.
As noted on previous pages, there is a broad belt extending from
Newaygo, Mason and Manistee counties northeastward into Otsego,
Montmorency, and Alcona counties, in which the surface materials are
very thick, ranging from 400 to more than 1000 feet, the average
being probably about 600 feet. This has been, and will continue to
be a most effective obstacle in discouraging explorations for oil and gas.
BEDROCK GEOLOGY.
The rock strata of this part of the State compose the northern seg-
ment of the Michigan Basin, consequently in passing around the lake
shore from Frankfort, Benzie county, to Harrisville, Alcona county,
the strata dip successively southeast, south, and southwest toward
the center of the Basin. The formations beneath the drift form belts
more or less concentric with the lake shore, and in passing form the
lake margin to the central basin the edges of the Devonian formations
— ^the Dundee, Traverse, Antrim, Berea, Coldwater, Marshall, the
Grand Rapids Group, and the Saginaw Coal Measures are crossed in
order.
Relations of surface signs to the oil and gas formations. Three
of the oil horizons outcrop at the surface or lie beneath the
drift cover in this part of the State. Locally as in southeastern
Alcona county there are springs which, from the amount of gas
given off, appear to be in a state of ebullition and one of these near
Killmaster (center of sec. 26, T. 26 N., R. 8 E.) gave off so much gas
that it led to the Killmaster drillings (see Fig. 18). Similar springs
occur near Atlanta, Montmorency county. Gas is struck in wells
also, as in Benzie county and around Portage Lake, Manistee county.
206 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
In the vicinity of Alpena there is a large area in which the Traverse
formation and the Dundee limestone outcrop, or are under a light
cover of surface materials. The Traverse has been carefully studied
in northern Michigan by Grabau, and the outcrops around Little
Traverse Bay and Alpena have received very careful study from
limestone, cement, and chemical companies, which have extensively
developed the deposits of the high grade limestones of the Traverse
and the Dundee formations.
While no prominent anticlinal folds are known to exist in Alpena
county, discordant and abnormal dips, noted by Winchell and Ro-
minger, occur in several localities. The general dip is to the south-
west, yet the rocks north and east of Alpena dip northeast toward
Lake Huron. The Dundee limestone is much fractured and faulted
locally and extreme brecciation is characteristic of the Monroe Beds
throughout the northern and southeastern part of the State.
During the past few years Mr. Henry R. Hindshaw, former assis-
tant State geologist of New York, has made an extensive study of
the limestone deposits of possible commercial value in Alpena and
Presque Isle counties. He observed the abnormal dips, local frac-
tures, and the brecciation of the Dundee limestone, which near
Rogers City, is so great that drilling with a core drill is very difficult.
In the Salina, in Alpena and Presque I?le counties, the salt beds
aggregate 300 to 800 feet in thickness. According to the upward
rise of this formation toward the northeast and east, it should form
the bottom of the Lake Huron basin. Thin salt beds occur at
Manistee and Ludington, and here too are to be observed abnormal
local dips and a "vesicular" dolomite above the salt which caves
in drillings and is very probably brecciated. The brecciation in the
Dundee and the Monroe in the Frankfort well appears to be un-
doubted.
In limestone areas, much of the drainage is undergroimd. In the
limestone belt of northern Michigan there are relatively few streams
as most of the surface waters drain into the numerous sinks. The
Dundee, especially near its base, and the Monroe beds are very heavily
water bearing, being filled with crevices, fissures, caverns, and under-
ground water channels. The water channel struck in the Detroit
salt shaft was more than five feet across. In many instances drill
tools suddenly drop four or five feet into cavities. Again, in drillings,
beds of dolomitic sand are struck in the Monroe which flow into the
drill holes like thin mud. Such sands and oozes may be the residuum
of other beds carried away by solution.
Mr. Hinshaw related these facts — the abnormal dips, the breccia-
tion of the Dundee and the Monroe beds, the large underground water
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 207
circulation, the oozes, the relation of the margin of the Salina forma-
tion to the basins of lakes Huron and Michigan, and conceived the
idea that these lake depressions are due n part to the ablation, or
solution of the salt in the Salina and that the brecciation was caused
by the slumping incident to the removal of the salt beds below. While
the validity of all of the evidence has not been investigated, the theory
as advanced contains elements of plausibility and is worth considera-
tion.
It is obvious that if the salt in the outer edges of the formation
should be removed by solution, there would be slumping in the beds
above, which might very possibly cause brecciation in rocks like dolo-
mites and limestones. The slumping would also explain the abnormal
dips, observed near the lake shores.
According to Mr. Hindshaw's theory, marked disturbances in the
rock strata are liable to be found along the margin of the southern
Peninsula, excepting in those regions where salt was never deposited.
Such disturbances are favorable to the accumulation of oil and gas,
but the brecciated rock must be capped by some soft and plastic stra-
tum such as shale, which would not readily fracture or these products
would escape.
LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY ANTICLINE.
Along the south shore of Little Traverse Bay, the limestones and
shales of the Traverse formation outcrop in low bluffs. In the vicinity
of Khagashewing Point (Fig. 2) there are numbers of low folds which,
pitch southward. While the folds are small, together they make up
a structure sufficiently large to contain oil and gas in commercial
quantity. A Mr. W. N. Norton, representing an eastern oil company,
made a survey of the Charlevoix region and made preparation to drill
a number of test wells in 1913, but for some reason the project was
suddenly abandoned.
BENZIE COUNTY.
Frankfort, At Frankfort two wells respectively 1800 and 2200 feet
in depth were drilled many years ago, but only a meager record of
either was obtained. The first one, 1800 feet in depth, was abandoned
on account of the great flow of water from the brecciated Dundee
limestone at the bottom. The second i& 600 feet to the southwest,
and, at 1800 feet, a sulphate brine testing 20 per cent salinometer
was encountered. This brine appears to come from a horizon cor-
responding to the Manistee and Stronach salt horizon. The well
was continued to 2200 feet and the brine decreased in strength toward
the bottom, where an enormous flow of water was struck, probably in
the Niagara.
208
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
FRANKFORT WELL NO 1.
A. G. Butler, owner? Reported by C. E. Wright and Mr Perry. Vol. V. PI. XVIII.
Elevation of mouth of well fiOO ft. A. T.
Surface
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Hard limestone
Shale, soft caving: stuff
Dundee (Corniferous^ limestone:
Black to firray brecciated lim(«tone with hard flinty blocks
Bottom at
Much water towards bottom, 8000 barrels per day.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
.V27
543
160
150
Depth,
feet.
527
1070
1230
1380
1800
EMMET COUNTY.
Peioskey. At Petoskey, a well was drilled nearly if not quit« to the
bottom of the Dundee limestone. Judging from the depth of the
drift the well is in an old glacial rock valley for within a short distance
on either side rock is only 5 feet below the surface.
PETOSKEY WELL.
Ixx*.: Thirty-three feet north of Chi. & West. Mich. R. R. slacion near end of Lake Street
and 180 feet from Bear river. Drilled in 1888. Reported by H. P. Parmelee. Charlevoix;
C. S. Hampton, G. S. Richmond, Petoskey.
Elevation of well 600 ft. A. T.
Surfar*e:
Gravel, etc
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation*
Limestone strata, hif^hly fo^iliferous throughout the entire depth. The
fauna is nearly the same as that found in th^ Huri.a*e bed. Color li?ht
Rray, a few strata quite dark and much harder
Ten to 15 ft. of blue shale, no fossils. Beneath this was a flow of quite
pure water, somewhat charged with HjS
A nearly solid bed of Acervularia limestone, without a trace of mollusca
or other corals. (>olor light, often creamy white
A thin layer of rray lime rock of incoherent structure at 355.
Bell shale (Marcellus):
Dark shale
Dundee (Corniferous) limestone:
About 120 ft. of crystalline limestone of same color, texture and com-
position throughout
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
30
30
250
280
15
295
60
355
80
435
120
555
Bay View, At Bay View, a well about 500 feet deep was drilled in
1895. This record and others show that the Traverse on the western
side of the State is predominantly limestone, shale being very sub-
ordinate in quantity in contrast to the Alpena region. The only
thick bed is the blue basal or Bell shale in which the drilling stopped,
but thin shale beds have been struck in some of the shallow wells
along the south shore of Little Traverse Bay.
A very hard layer was struck at 450 feet in which only 18 inches a
day could be drilled. Water in great quantity was struck in the Ume-
OIL. AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
209
stone below this shell. Nearly all of the limestone is hard as an aver-
age of only 10-12 feet per day could be made.
BAY VIEW WELL.
Loc.: One hundred and twenty paces northwest from the door of G. R. & I. R. R. station
and 40 feet from the shore of the bay. Reported by H. P. Parmelee, Charlevoix, and A. J.
Richards. Completed July. 1895.
Elevation of well 585 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Shingle
Traverse:
Cream limestone
Medium gray limestone
Dark limestone
Twenty-five feet of cellular blue shale
Flow. 200 bbls. an hour.
Depth,
feet.
264
462
473 1
498}
CHARLBYGIX COXJNTT.
Charlevoix. In Charlevoix, three wells were drilled within 50 feet of
each other. Only of No. 3 were samples obtained. The drift was
found to be 230 feet in thickness, yet rock is at the surface to the east
and west of the city. This indicates the presence of deep rock valley.
Apparently the well was bottomed in the blue Bell shales at the base
of the Traverse.
27
210
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
CHARLKVOIX WELL.
Elevation 600 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Saod.
Gravel. . .
Fine sand
Gravel . . .
Sand ; quicksand at 214 ft
Traverse:
Fine grained earthy limestone, eff. with dilute HCl. No fossils found
in the samples
Gray limestone, eff. freely with dilute HCl. No fossils in samples
Earthy or chalky, brownish, porous, much oxidized clavey limestone
with a strong clay odor, bein^^ in fact in large part clay, but with suffi-
cient lime to give it coherence, and cause free eff. with dilute HCl. . . .
Dark gray argillaceous and somewhat shaly limestone, eff. freely in
dilute HCl
Finely stratified shale, eff. feebly with strong HCl. Compact in tex-
ture
Fossiliferous whitish limestone, containing A try pa retieulaTU and other
fossils. Eff. freely with dilute HCl
White crystalline limestone containing considerable crystalline calcite.
It carries f^^g7nent8 of Actrvularia davidsoni. Some portions of the
samples are compact and argillaceous
White chalky limestone, non-argillaceous, fossiliferous; eff. freely with
dilute HCl.
Brownish, earthy and arrillaoeous limestone, with a strong clav odor;
Br^ozoa and other fossils have been observed. Eff. freely witn dilute
HCl
Gray calcareous clay of very uniform texture, partially oxidized. Eff.
treeHy in dilute HCl, but is nevertheless a good day
Gray, compact calcareous clay rock, but of massive character, and
eff. freely in dilute HCl
Fragments of Acertularia davidtoni with the calices free from matrix.
and evidently embedded in clay. No clay is, however, retained .
Gray calcareous shale, mixed with pure white limestone, the latter
con-
taining Favoiiites and Acervularia
Gray argillaceous limestone and some white limestone, with fragments
of Splrifer and Acervularia
Gray limestone. Acervularia datid$oni is abundant. Favosites and
Atrypa rtticularia also occur
Gray, compact, semi-argillaceous limestone; fossils not observed, except
crinoid stems. Much shale is mixed with the limestone
Fragments of Acervularia davidtoni and Favosites
Compact, gray, argillaceous limestone; no fossils observed. It is almost
a clay
Fine grained, compact, argillaceous rock
Limestone and black shale
Gray argillaceous limestone with whiter limestone containing Acervularia
Chalky clay. Crumbles and soUs fingers. Cream colored
Bluish gray day, slightly calcareous; eff. feebly with HCl
Compact, brown to gray limestone, weathering earthy
Cream colored calcareous clay, identical with the rock at 400 ft
Limestone similar to that at 410 ft. No fossils
Cream colored earthy clay, somewhat more calcareous than that at
402 ft
Brown banded limestone, mingle with black and gray shale containing
A trypa relieularie, etc
Bell Shale:
Bluish clay, non-eff
Same as preceding
Thick-
ness,
feet.
6
g
155
6
54
10
10
Depth,
feet.
6
15
170
176
230
240
250
10
260
10
270
10
280
10
290
10
300
15
315
7
322
8
330
5
335
10
345
5
350
5
355
5
360
7
3
367
370
5
12
3
10
2
8
5
5
10
375
387
300
400
402
410
415
420
430
13
443
4
447
13
22
460
482
Apparently in none of these wells were there any showings of oil and
gas worthy of record, but the Petoskey well is the only one which pene-
trated the Dundee oil horizon.
The wells are so shallow that they do not reach horizons which
outcrop on the northern shore of Lake Michigan. To the south the
Grayling well is the only one of accurate record with which compari-
sons can be made, but this well apparently did not reach the Dundee,
hence accurate calculations of dip cannot be made. An approxima-
tion may be made, however, by assuming that the Traverse at Gray-
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
211
ling (1140 ft. A. T.) is not over 600 feet thick, in which case, the top of
the Dundee should occur at about 2880 feet at the latter place. The
base of the Traverse in the Petoskey w.ell occurs at 435 feet. Allow-
ing for the difference in elevation of the two places, the base of the
Traverse at Grayling is probably about 1905 feet lower than at Pe-
toskey, representing an average dip of over 38 feet per mile slightly
east of south.
WEXFORD COUNTY.
Cadillac, In 1913 the Cadillac Oil & Gas Company, C. R. Smith,
president, and Bruce Smith, secretary, was organized and in the win-
ter of 1914 began drilling a test well on the C. R. Smith farm near
Cadillac. According to reports the well was located by means of an
** instrument'* invented by T. H. Cross, who superintended the dril-
ling.
Unfortunately the drift is very deep in the vicinity of Cadillac and
considerable difficulty has been encountered in getting the drive pipe
down. The upper 470 feet was entirely sand and gravel, and at last
reports the well was still in drift at 712 feet. A good set of samples
was preserved for the Survey from which the following partial record
has been compiled.
CADILLAC OIL A GAS COMPANY WELL NO. 1.
Loc.: C. R. Smith fann, S. E. i, S. W. { sec. 28, T. 22 N., R. 9 W. Theo. H. Cross. weU
superintendent. Record by R. A. Smith from samples.
Pleistocene drift:
Yellow sand with small pebbles. Yellow color due to oxidation of iron
minerals
Fine light yellow sand
Gravel with pebbles of chert and limestone predominating
Fine yellowish clayey sand . , . *
Coarse gravd with much white chert and some pebbles of crystalline
rocks
Fine yellowish sand
Gravel with white chert pebbles, some of fossiliferous limestone, black
and white sandstone. Very few pebbles of crystalline rocks
Fine yellowish clayey sand
White sand. and small pebbles of chert, magnetite, red Jasper and green
schist
Slightlv liner yellowish clayey sand
Clay, highly calcareous with considerable white sand (probably from
overlying bed). Clay brownish in natural sample, white when pul-
verized: vigorous eff. with cold dilute hydrochloric acid.
Well in drift at 712 feet, according to reports.
Thick-
ness.
feet.
Depth,
feet.
20
100
109
124
137
195
205
287
430
470
CHEBOYGAN COUNTY.
Cheboygan. About 1900, one of the deepest wells in the Southern
Peninsula was drilled at Cheboygan for rock salt. Rock outcrops to
the west of Cheboygan, and on the adjacent islands, but the drift was
found to be 380 feet in depth, indicating the presence of a deep pre-
glacial rock valley. The first rock encountered was the Monroe in-
212
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
stead of the Dundee as would have been the case if the latter had
not been removed by erosion in the formation of the rock valley.
The well, 2750 feet in depth, was bottomed in dark drab shaly dolo-
mite probably near the base of the Lorraine (Hudson river) shales, and
did not reach the Utica or the Trenton.
CHEBOYGAN WELL.
Loc.: At Swifts and Denks (?) near comer Blair and Turner streets. Samples examined by
W. C. Alden, U. S. Geological Survey. (See Ann. Rept. for 1908. p. 06).
Elevation of weil 600? ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Red clay, highly calcareous
Sand and gravei
Sand
Sand, gravel and red clay ,
rei.
Grav<
Sand with some calcareous material
Sand and gravel
Gravel
Fine sand with calcareous material
Gravel
Gravel, coarse
Fine sand with calcareous material
Fine sand with calcareous material, coarser
Fine sand with calcareous material, flne
Much water in drift.
Fine calcareous sandy clay
Second box of samples.
Light to whitish dolomitic limestone at 265 ft.
Chips of dark grayish dolomite with some quartz sand grains from
265-278.
Light colored limestone at 300 ft.
Grayish, dark, porous, earthy dolomitic limestone at 320 ft.
Monroe (Upper Silurian, Water Lime and Salina).
Fine chips of brownish bulT gray dolomite with a little chert at 380-438
feet.
Red shaly stuff from 850 to 900 ft.; red sandy shale at 1000 ft.
Flows of water at 1050. 1350 and 14<X) ft.
Brecciated dolomites with slits and cavities.
Caved down to 750 ft.
Salt (March 12, 1901), at ? 1400 ft.
Fine grayish sand and dolomitic materials with some white chert and
bluish and reddish shaly material at 1360?- 1550 ft.
7^ i af ara '
Beginning of Niagara (Guelph) ,
Fine quartz sand, slightly calcareous
Fine quartz sand, slightly calcareous, brownish ,
Fine quartz sand, slightly calcareous, brownish
Light grayish crystalline dolomite
Light grayish crystalline dolomite
Buff fine angular grains of quartz, chert with some dolomitic material. .
Dark gray, very cherty dolomitic material
Fine, angular, gray dolomitic material
Fine, angular, gray dolomitic material. Lockport about here — 2065 ft.
Fine, angular, gray dolomitic material; Rochester shale 2136-2200 ft
Fine, angular, gray dolomitic material .
Fine, angular, gray do omitic material.
Clinton:
Fine, angular, gray dolomitic material.
Fine, angular, gray dolomitic material.
particles of iron or magnetite
Medma (See Lorraine below):
Dark purplish ferruginous material, reddish streak, in small flattened.
roundea lenticular jtellets. With this is some bluish nhaly material,
moderately calcareous. Some particles rounded. Also few quartz
grains. Bluish shaly material increases in lower samples
Lorraine. Lower part:
Dark drab shale, or dolomite, somewhat calcareous. Small particles of
iron or magnetite
Dark drab shale, or dolomite, somewhat calcareous. Small particle.** of
iron or magnetite
Utica at
Dark colored, nearly black
lighter colored
Lighter colored.
Contains small
150
53
2
25
15
5
5
15
30
34
18
2
6
15
T
?
T
T
T
?
?
T
?
?
?
?
?
?
T
125
125
300
Depth,
feet.
150
203
205
230
245
250
255
270
300
334
352
354
360
375
380
1550
1615
1625
1635
1652
1726
1975
2000
2050
2100
2150
2176
2200
2226
2250
2426
2425
2725
2750
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
213
CRAWFORD COUNTY.
Grayling. In 1901, R. Hanson of Sailing, Hanson 4 Co. drilled
three wells at Grayling and one, the No. 3, reached a depth of 2800
feet. This well, though one of the deepest in the State, was drilled
very quickly. Work began the last of January and, by May 6, the
well was finished at a depth of 2800 feet. This well penetrated about
520 feet of Traverse limestones and shales, but did not reach the heavy
shale (Bell or Marcellus) at the base of the formation.
GRAYLING WELL NO. 3.
Sailing, Hanson dc Co., owners. Grayling. T. Percy, driller. Drilled in 1901. Samples,
records from notes of A. C. Lane and F. W. Cooper.
Elevation of well 1140 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Sand
Till or boulder clay
Mainly sand, some clay and navel, plenty of water. Progress slow
throurh water bearing quicksand
Sandy day till
Coarse cement sand, etc
Michigan Series:
Dark shale
Blue or bluish shale and gypsum
Dark blue shale
Upper Marshall or Napoleon:
white sandstone, micaceous toward the bottom
Lower Marshall and Coldwater:
Blue shale
Brownish and probably sideritic (iron carbonate nodule) at 720 ft.
Dark blue shale
Compact blue shale
Berea horizon?
Apparently not recognized.
Antrim shale:
Black shale
Blue shale
Black shale
Dark blue shale
No sample at 1740 ft. nor none from 1780 to 1880
Light blue shale
Black shale
Dark gray shale
Black shsUe
Gray shale
No sample at 2200 ft.
Black shale
Brown shale
Pyritlc from 2240-2280 ft.
Traverse (Hamilton) formation:
Light blue shale
No sample at 2320 ft. Probably shale.
Fossilif erous light blue shale and limestone
"Salt and pepper' ' limestone and shale
Light and dark limestone
Steel gray limestone
Light colored limestone
• • Salt and pepper" limestone
Light colored limestone and blue shale
Light colored limestone
Dark limestone, fine grained
Steel gray fine grained limestone
Light colored fine grained limestone
Steel gray fine grained limestone
Dark steel gray fine grained limestone
• ' Salt and pepper" fine grained limestone
Bell shales should occur just below 2800 ft, and the top of the Dundee
at about 2880 ft.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
50
50
200
25
25
30
30
30
100
90
650
220
20
20
00
60
120
80
60
20
40
20
20?
40
20
20?
40
20
20
20
20
20
100
20
20
80
40
20
40
Depth,
feet.
50
100
300
325
350
380
410
440
540
730
1380
1600
1620
1640
1700
1760
1880
2060
2120
2140
2180
2200
2240
2280
2300
2340
2380
2400
2420
2440
2460
2480
2580
2600
2620
2700
2740
2760
2800
214 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
ROSCOBIMON COUNTT.
Roscommon. Many years ago a drilling was made for oil near Ros-
common, but statements concerning it are so contradictory that noth-
ing very definite can be asserted. It is not known that the well reached
bed rock before it was abandoned, but it appears that the drift is at
least 365 feet thick, and is mainly sand with some clay at 118 and 365
feet. Mr. Fred Johnson of Roscommon is authority for saying that
he and others saw oil at the well, which was claimed to come from it.
Many consider that the well was "salted" and a fraud. One morn-
ing the well was foimd to have been filled with scrap and railroad iron,
and the enterprise was abandoned.
PBESOTJE ISLE COUNTY.
Onaway. In 1913 the Presque Isle Development Company was
organized, H. T. Moeller of Detroit, president, and Judge W. H. Mar-
tin of Saginaw, secretary. Drilling was started with the intention of
penetrating the Trenton unless oil or gas should be struck before reach-
ing that horizon. The well was bottomed in the Niagara at a depth
of 3106 feet without encountering any noteworthy signs of either oil
or gas.
The Monroe beds and the Salina show a remarkable development,
the former being nearly 1150 feet in thickness and the latter, 1175
feet, including about 800 feet of rock salt. The combuied thickness
is several hundred feet greater than any thickness previously known
in Michigan or Ontario. The upper portion of the Monroe appears
to be composed largely of limestone or dolomitic limestone instead
of dolomite and for 200 feet below the middle of the formation, the
dolomite is very cherty and somewhat sandy. Most of the salt is
red or tinged with red. The first salt bed, 145 feet thick, varies in
color from a reddish pink to a deep br ck red and the 150 foot bed
below 1950 feet is also red, but the 225 foot bed at the bottom is nearly
all white or gray salt. Below the salt beds there are 281 feet of hard
white and gray limestone.
Notwithstanding the. fact that shale everywhere overlies the Tren-
ton limestone and that none had been penetrated in this well below
the salt beds, the drillers, according to statements of the officials of
the company, pronounced these limestones of Trenton age and barren
of oil or gas. Upon this supposition, the well was abandoned.
The hard white limestones below the salt beds probably belong in
part to the Salina, but, if they are considered as wholly Niagara and
this formation has its normal thickness of 600 feet for the northern
part of the State, there is still about 300 feet of Niagara limestone
to be penetrated before reaching the top of the shale series which
OIL AND OAS IN MICHIGAN.
215
lies between the Niagara and the Trenton. This shale series in a
descending order includes the Rochester, Clinton (generally dolo-
mitic), Medina, Richmond, Lorraine and Utica and, while no close
approximations can be made of the thickness of each of these forma-
tions, the total thickness is probably between 600 and 700 feet. From
this it would appear that the bottom of the well is from 900 to 1000
feet above the top of the Trenton.
The company very kindly furnished the Michigan Geological Sur-
vey with a log of the well and a set of samples from which the follow-
ing record has been compiled:
PRESQUE ISLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY WELL.
Loc.: S. E. i. N. W. J. Sec. 5, T. 34 N., R. 2 E., on Merril Chandler property, 40 rods W.-
N. W. from Detroit and Mackinac railroad station at Onaway. Contractors, Schrier and
Kerr, Lancaster, Ohio. Weil started July 14th and finished November 14, 1913. Record
by R. A. Smith from driller's notes and log and from samples.
Elevation 830 i^ ft. A. T.
Pleistocene of glacial drift:
Pink calcareous clay
Traverse (Hamilton) formation:
Gray limestone; moderate elT
BufX and dark gray limestone, and very argillaceous limestone; viol. eff.
with strong smell of petroleum. Dark brown oily scum
Gray eranular limestone; bituminous; fosslliferous, crinoids and corals;
Viol eil. ; much white calcite
Soft calcareous gray shale
Gray limestone with much disseminated calcite; foflsiliferous (corals);
vigorous eff
Dark limestone; hiehly calcareous black ^hale; disseminated calcite
Gray, brown and black shale, slightly calcareous
Dundee (Comiferous) limestone:
Light buff, brown and black limestone, with much white calcite; vigorous
eff. Limestone mottled and streaked
Reddish buff and light gray limestone. Buff violently eff. Red ap-
parently an oxidized zone. Crevice from 480 to 510 feet. Water. . . .
Upper Monroe. Detroit River series:
Hard, light buff limestone with rusty spots (from pyrite?); violent eff.;
crevice at 525 feet
Dark gray and buff limestone; pyritic; vigorous eff
Gray to brown bituminous limestone; oily scum; violent eff
Mainly buff limestone; violent eff
White friable marl and fine grained light colored limestones; violent eff.
No sample at 675 feet. CTrevice from 656 to 700 feet; more water. . . .
Very hard white to light buff limestone, vigorous eff
Very hard white and Drown limestone; vigorous eff
Crevice at 750. No drillings obtained from 740 feet.
White limestone and dolomite; cherty; some fragments eff. vigorously,
others slowly
White limestone, cherty, some gray and brown limestone, vigorous eff , . .
White and black limestone; vigorous eff
Mainly black limestone, some white; bituminous oily scum; vigorous eff. .
JBrown to dark brown limestone, some white limestone and chert; vig-
orous eff. ' ' 20 feet of black limestone' *
Grayish brown limestone; vigorous eff
Grayish buff limestone; cherty; vig. eff
White to buff gray limestone and dolomite; some particles eff. vigorously,
others slowly
White to gray limestone; vigorous eff
Argillaceous marl and gray limestone; vigorous eff
White and buff gray limestone — "salt and pepper;" cherty; vigorous
eff. Much water above 1050 ft. rose to within 160 ft. of surface; could
lower head
Sylvania? (Middle Monroe) :
White limeHtone. very cherty : vigorous eff
White limestone: vigorous eff
Extremely hard white and very cherty limestone, medium eff
Marl and dolomitic limestone; medium eff
' * Water (brine) not shut off . "
Hard white sandy limestone; vigorous eff
Thick-
ness,
feet.
10
15
100
15
10
20
80
60
165
35
15
50
50
25
50
25
40
15
45
30
5
15
15
25
25
50
25
25
50
25
100
25
Depth,
feet.
50 I
10
25
125
140
150
170
250
310
475
510
525
575
625
650
700
725
765
780
825
855
860
885
900
925
950
1000
1025
1050
1100
1125
1225
1250
1300
216
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
PRESQUE ISLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY WELL.—Conciuded.
Elevation 830 * ft. A. T.
Lower Monroe; Bass Island series:
Hard reddish brown limestone; very ferruginous; very red at 1376 ft.;
vigorous eff
Very hard cherty gray dolomite; slow eff.
Hard gray dolomite, with rusty sjpots either from pyrite or from particles
of the drill. Selenite crystals, slow eff. More or less anhydrite down
to the salt
Hard my dolomite; slow eff
Light Dun and gray dolomite; slow eff
Red shale and dolomite; slow eff
Gray dolomite; slow eff
Brown dolomite: slow eff
Cased to 1640 feet.
Salina:
Reddish salt
Red shale
White salt
Light shale and anhydrite . . .
Reddish salt
Hard shale
Reddish salt
White salt
Buff shale
Gray salt
Dolomite
White salt
Pink to very red salt
Mainly anhydrite; some shale
Mainly salt, some dolomite . .
Dolomite and anhydrite
Salt
Anhydrite, dolomite and salt
Soft red shale
Dolomite and anhydrite
Mainly anhydrite
Salt and anhydrite
Gray dolomite and anhydrite
White salt; "caving at 2625 and at 2740; have to drill three screws to
two of hole"
Driller's record. No samples below 2825 ft.
Gray limestone. 6 5-8 in. rasing; no water
Brown limestone, very hard : 25 ft. per day
Hard gray or white limestone; 10 to 15 ft. per day
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
50
1350
25
1375
25
1400
25
1425
125
1550
15
1565
15
1580
50
1630
145
1775
30
1805
25
1830
100
1930
150
2080
10
2000
65
2145
25
2170
10
2180
15
2105
15
2210
35
2245
75
2320
10
2330
15 ,
.2345
75
2420
50
2470
10
2480
15
2495
25
2520
25 ,
2545
15
2560
10
2570
225
2705
15
2810
40
2850
226 ,
3076
In the Onaway well, the base of the Traverse is 310 feet below the
surface and in the Grayling well it is over 2800 feet as the Bell shale
at the base of the formation was not penetrated. Since the Traverse
is about .600 feet thick in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula,
and as the Grayling well penetrated 620 feet of Traverse limestones
and shales, the base of this formation in the Grayling well should
occur at 2880 feet. The exact elevation of the mouth of the Onaway
well is not known but it is about 830 feet above sea level. Allowing
for the difference in elevation between Onaway and Grayling (1140
ft. A. T.), the base of the Traverse at the latter place is about 2250
feet lower than at Onaway. The distance from Onaway to Grayling
is about 54 miles by map measurement, therefore the average dip
south-southwest is nearly 42 feet per mile.
Grand Lake. A number of years ago, a well 1712 feet in depth was
drilled by the Alpena Land Co. at Grand Lake. A careful record was
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
217
kept and a set of samples preserved. This well was started directly
in the Bell shales at the base of the Traverse and penetrated the Salina
425 feet; passing through salt beds aggregating more than 300 feet in
thickness. Strong flows of salt water were struck at 1000 and 1257
feet. Fresh water was probably struck in the Dimdee and Upper
Monroe, though not mentioned in the record.
ALPENA LAND COMPANY WELL NO. 1.
Loc.: About 14 miles north of Alpena at Grand Lake. Lot 1. Sec. 8. T. 34 N., R. 8 E.
Traverse:
Bell shale
Dundee:
Crinoidal and fossUiferous limestone, bituminous and pyritic
Upper Monroe:
Mixed samples of dolomite and limestone
Lucas:
Stylolitic limestone
Amherstburr:
Blue and buff dolomite
Anderdon limestone:
Brown limestone
Dolomite and lime
Limestone
Black shale mixing with sample below, and limestone. (Cf. Milan 820)
Flat Rock?:
Limestone, crinoidal in many places
Sylvania horizon. Cf. Milan 846-800:
Cherty, crinoidal limestone
Largely chert
Cherty limestone
Lower Monroe:
Gashed dolomite and limestone
Limestone, sometimes deep brown (dolomite also)
Bluish dolomite, often gashed, with a few grains of sand
Limestone, with a little sand, brown at top, then yellow. Water at 12.57
feet
Dolomite, Cf. Carmen 1210
Top of salt formation or Salina. just about 450 feet below the cherty
crinoidal limestone horizon that cannot be far from the Sylvania
horizon. Compare Goderich groups IV and V.
Salina: **
Salt
Brown dolomite
Salt and dolomite
Hard layer
Dark salt
Salt, very clear from 1300-1306
Anhydrite •
Reddish sand, marl or anhydrite
Salt (top eight feet reddish)
Salt and annydrite?
Brown salt
Salt and shale
Dolomite, anhydrite and shale
Salt and anhydrite
Salt, clear
Impure s&It with shale and anhydrite
Salt, mainly clean, white . .
Salt with clay and anhydrite streaks at 1655-1678. Cf. Carmen well
210,''> :
Anhydrite and dolomite
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
60
60
215
266
30
206
15
310
70
380
55
436
15
460
85
635
80
616
85
700
100
800
30
830
170
1000
20
1020
85
1105
26
1130
130
1260
24
1284
6
1200
60
1340
7
1347
5
1362
5
1357
80
1437
28
1465
5
1470
40
1510
4
1514
14
1528
5
1533
10
1552
20
1572
17
1580
5
1504
57
1651
50
1701
11
1712
ALPENA COUNTY.
Alpena. The early borings at Alpena were drilled for salt. One
of the deep holes was drilled about 1872 near the bed of Thunder Bay
river and **salt/' probably brine, was reported at about 1025 feet.
The record shows 400 feet of Traverse limestone followed by 80 feet
218
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
of blue fossiliferous Bell shales. Beneath the shales is 120 feet of
Dundee limestone variable in color and hardness. Below the depth of
600 feet are light colored dolomitic limestones.
Later, the Churchill well was drilled in Alpena close to the bay. A
very careful record was obtained and a summary of the same is ap-
pended below. The top of the well is in the Alpena coral limestone
of the middle Traverse, hence there are about 130 feet of Upper Trav-
erse shales and limestones unrepresented in the record. Down to 444
feet there is a continuous succession of hard limestones and blue or
calcareous shales. The hard and cherty Dundee limestone appears
to be 99 feet thick, but perhaps the shale, and heavy limestone just
below should be included with the Dundee. Farther north near
Rogers City, Mr. Hindshaw reports the Dundee as being 215 feet thick.
The Monroe beds down to 777 feet are alternations of relatively thin
shale beds and heavy beds of hard limestone. Following this series
is 480 feet of hard white limestone (dolomite).
The first flow of water in the rock was struck at 427 feet and a strong
flow in the Dundee at 489 feet, which kept increasing down to 590
feet. This last flow was exceptionally strong. Other flows occurred
at 605 feet and apparently at various intervals down to about 1050
feet. No oil or gas was encountered worthy of mention.
CHURCHILL WELL.
Elevation of well 685 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Sand and boulders
Traverse:
Hard white Oight colored) limestone
Shale ■
Very hard white limestone
Shale
Extra hard gray limestone
Blue shale
Hard white limestone •
Shale. 7 ft. white and slimy, possibly gypsum (T)
Hard white limestone
Very sticky blue shale
Hard white limestone
Shale
Hard white limestone, upper two-thirds extra hard
Bell:
Shale
Hard white limestone
Shale, mostly blue. . Some water at 427 feet
Dundee:
Hard white and gray limestone, mostly extra hard. Strong flow of
water at 489 feet
Extremely hard (flinty) limestone
Monroe:
Shale
Hard gray and white limestone (Dundee?) Great flow of fresh water at
590 feet. Vein of sulphur water at 605 feet
Shale
Hard white limestone water
Sandy lime and shale
Hard white limestone
Salina:
Rook salt
20
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
41
41
25
66
9
75
49.5
124.5
2.5
127
40
167
20
187
34
221
18
239
23
262
27
289
32
321
3
324
39
363
24
387
5
392
52
444
60
504
39
543
25
568
103
•671
20
691
86
777
10
787
480
1267
1287
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 219
There are several other wells in the city or near it, but they only
penetrate the Dundee for fresh water. Among these are C. Moench
& Sons, the Tannery, and the Fletcher wells. (Ann. Rept. 1901,
pp. 172-73).
Local strudurea. The Grand Lake well is slightly west of north of
the Churchill well at a distance of a little over 14 miles. The eleva-
tion of the former well is not given but from the indicated location it
appears to be about 630 feet A. T. or higher than the Churchill well
which is near the level (580 ft. A. T.) of Lake Huron. If this eleva-
tion is used in the calculations of dip the error probably will not be
greater than a foot per mile. Since the Bell shales in the Grand Lake
well are 50 feet thick, the top of the Dundee would come at the same
level as the mouth (585 ft. A. T.) of the Churchill well in which the
Dimdee was struck at 444 feet. This figure therefore represents the
amoimt of dip in 14 miles, or an average dip of nearly 32 feet per mile
a little east of south. This agrees fairly well with Grabau's deter-
mination, which is about 30 feet per mile. As the strike of the rocks
is northwest-southeast and the above dip is along a line (see fig. 17),
very oblique to the strike the above figure does not represent the
maximimi dip, which should be to the southwest. The 30 to 32 foot
dip along the line from Grand Lake to Alpena should be equal to
about 42 feet per mile to the southwest, and Grabau found that the
average local dip, determined in several places, is approximately this
figure.
Along the lake shore, however, northeast of Alpena, N. H. Winchell
in 1870 noted marked dips toward the lake, yet at some distance from
the shore he observed, in almost the opposite direction, a dip of 10°
to the southwest. ■ In the case- of the Traverse beds, however, such
dips may be due to the presence of the coral reefs, the dips being away
from the reefs. Others have noted the same discordant dips. As
noted on previous pages Mr. Wm. L. Hindshaw reports the same
lakeward dips near Rogers City and associates them with the slump-
ing of the formations due the ablation of the underlying salt beds
along the margin of the lake.
The distance from the Grand Lake well to Grayling, according to
map measurement, is about 74 miles. Comparing the wells at these
two places, the latter being about 510 feet higher, the average dip
appears to be about 32 feet per mile. As Grayling is not in direct
line with the center of the Basin, and apparently is to the west of the
north-south median line, this figure must be less than the maximum
dip, i. e., 42 feet. As will be seen later, the dip southward from Part-
ridge Point, Alpena county, where the Antrim shale outcrops, to the
Killmaster wells in Alcona county is approximately 35 feet per mile.
•g
I
9
S
e
<
a
S
s
1j
3
8
«
-a
X ^
e
S 8
50
o
c
C
t
o
o
O
M
3
6C
-18
1^
m
e
c
»• m m
^ "« "^
•» C V
cqCQCQ
CQOQ
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 221
and this should be equal to about 50 feet per mile to the southwest.
From the foregoing approximations, it seems that the average south-
west dip in the northeastern part of the Sourthem peninsula is be-
tween 40 and 50 feet per mile, 42 feet being about the average for the
Alpena district.
While the Antrim, Dundee, and Traverse formations are bitumin-
ous, or contain bituminous horizons, yield a strong petroleum odor,
and small quantities of gas in the northeastern part of the Southern
Peninsula drillings have not shown any very promising signs of oil.
ALCONA COUNTY.
Relation of the rock formations to surface signs. Alcona county is
underlain by the Marshall sandstone which crosses the southwestern
comer, the Coldwater shales, the Berea sandstone, and Antrim black
shale, the latter crossing the northeastern comer of the county. The
strike of the formations is approximately northwest-southeast, there-
fore the dip is southwest toward the central part of the Basin. No
rock outcrops are known in Alcona county. The Berea underlies the
drift at Harrisville, as shown by the well at that place, and extends
northwest toward Atlanta in Montmorency county and Vanderbilt in
Otsego county. It is along the strike of this horizon and the Sunbury
black shales that surface signs are most abundant.
There is another source of gas, however, and this is in the drift itself
which contains an abundance of bituminous shale fragments, evidently
from the Antrim. Apparently this bituminous material yields small
but appreciable quantities of gas which collect in gravel beds in the
drift.
In Alcona coxmty, there are a large number of springs, some of which
yield gas in considerable quantities. One of these near the center of
sec. 26, T. 26 N., R. 8 E., yields so much gas that it led to the Kill-
master drillings. According to reports, the gas from this spring when
lighted will blaze up two or three feet above the water. There are
several other similar gas springs in the same township as on sees. 14
(2 springs), 32, and 34. Gas springs also occur in sec. 15, (2 springs)
T. 25 N., R. 8 E., and along the bed of the east branch of Pine river.
Oil has also been noted on the Angus Cameron farm, sec. 12, T. 28
N., R. 5 E., and gas was struck in gravel, just above bed rock in the
No. 1 Killmaster well.
Most of the county is deeply drift covered and there are no rock
outcrops even in the deepest river valleys. Practically all knowledge
of the bed rock geology has been obtained from drill holes at Kill-
master and Harrisville, and from wells in Alpena and Iosco counties.
222
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
KiUmaster. Three wells were driUed at Killmaster. The No. 3
well, drilled in 1892, was the last and deep^t (1530 feet). Some gas
with a very small amount of oil was struck in the top of the Berea
which yielded an abundance of brine lower down. The latter over-
came the oil and gas, but according to reports some years ago the well
was still yielding bubbles of gas. Below the Berea the hole was abso-
lutely dry.
KILLMASTER WELL NO. 3.
Loc,;
Five hundred paces N., 1000 paces W. of the south line of sec. 22, T. 26 N.. R. 8 E.
On the east side of the stream 10 rods from the brld^. No samples.
Elevation 670 ^ ft. A. T.
Surface:
Sand, then till, no gravel at the bottom
Coldwater Shale r
Sandstone .-. . .
Gray shale
Sandstone
Gray shale
Sunbury (Berea) Shale:
Red shale
Black shale
Berea Grit:
Sandstone: Gas in top of sandstone, and a very small quantity of oil,
which was overcome by salt water in the sandstone below the gas.
However, bubbles of burning gas (not HtS or COi) are now coming
up continually in the water
Antrim Shale:
Gray shales (compare Bedford shales)
Dark shales (compare Cleveland shales)
Gray shales (compare Erie shales)
Dark shales (compare Huron shales)
(The top of the Traverse may be here. — Lane.)
Gray shale and limestone
Black shale (compare Huron shale)
Traverse (Hamilton) Formation:
Hard limestone
Soft limestone
Hard limestone
Hard limestone
Soft limestone
Limestone
Color varies from light to dark from 1090 ft. down.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
240
4
6
4
275
20
20
40
Depth,
feet.
240
244
2.S0
254
530
550
570
610
150
760
150
910
25
935
65
1000
32
1032
58
1090
8
1098
80
1178
90
1268
4
1272
20
1292
238
1530
The No. 1 well is about 80 rods from No. 3, a little east of south,
and it is about 10 feet higher. It is only 600 feet deep and stopped in
a hard bed supposed at the time to be limestone, but it appears that
this is only the hard upper crust of the bed at 570 feet in the No. 3
well. The formations are similar to those in No. 3 well except that
there is a bed of gravel just above the rock which served as a reser-
voir for gas. (See Fig. 18), with a pressure of 103 pounds. The gas,
however, was afterwards overcome by a large flow of nearly fresh water
from the sandstone below.
HarrisviUe — In 1904 a well 506 feet deep was bored at Harrisville at
the courthouse striking the Berea sandstone directly under the drift
(Fig. 19) at 230 feet. There were signs of oil in the drift at 100 feet,
but no further signs of either oil or gas were observed at any other
horizon in the well.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
223
HARRISVILLE WELL.
Loc.: Court House, HairisvlUe.
Elevation of well MO ft. A. T.
Post Glacial and outwash:
Yellow loamy soil
Quicksand
Red clay
Gravel
Glacial:
Wisconsin. Last till sheet (sand of mixed character, boulders, etc.)
Interglacial:
Sand, signs of oil
(Quicksand, solidified to a blue hard pan at base).
Earlier till sheet:
Red hard pan
(Weathered till sheet).
Red clay
Blue hard pan and pebbles
Berea Grit:
White fine grained sandstone
Antrim shale:
Light gray shale (Bedford) or weathered black shale
Brown and black shale
Depth,
feet.
12i
26{
33
39
90
129
188
192
230
260
409
506
The Eillmaster No. 3 well is about 8 miles west and 2f miles south
from the Harrisville well, and allowing for the difference (30 feet) in
altitude, the top of the Antrim, in the former is 320 feet lower
than in the latter. This represents a dip of 38.4 feet per
mile in a direction a little south of west. This is exactly the
same as the southward dip of the No. 2 well of the Alpena Busi-
ness Men's Association at Partridge Point to the Kilhnaster wells.
The direction of the maximum dip is probably between the two direc-
tions given above, or approximately southwest and would be about
42 feet per mile, or the same as. the southwest dip in the vicinity of
Alpena.
Comparing the Harrisville well with the James Norn well of Standish,
Arenac county, the Berea appears to dip southwest at about 25 feet
per mile. At Tawas City and Oscoda, a brine bearing sandstone
occurs at 680 feet and 960 feet respectively. If the Tawas brine hori-
zon is the Berea, then there is a pronounced sjrncline between Harris-
ville and Tawas and an anticline at the latter place. The sandstone
at Tawas, however, appears to be above the base of the Coldwater,
hence it corresponds to the Richmondville rather than the Berea
sandstone.
Conclusions. The wells at Killmaster show that, locally, the Berea
grit is not only a porous sandstone, but that it might contain gas and
oil in commercial quantity if proper structural conditions were found.
At Harrisville, however, the sandstone is too fine grained to be a free
yielder and there was no showing of either oil or gas in the top of the
Berea, although there is apparently an impervious cover of clay over
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
225
the outcrop (see Fig. 18) which oi^bt to have trapped snmll quantities
of oil and gas in the top of the sandstone itself. Elsewhere along the
outcrop, these products probably escape into the sands and gravels
of the overlying drift as illustrated in Ftg. 19.
As the drift is very thick over most of the county, there are ample
chances for the accumulation of considerable quantities of gas in the
drift, especially along the strike of the Berea grit and the overlying
and underlying black shales. Such accumulations are more apt to be
found northwes from Harrisville toward Hubbard Lake, Atlanta in
Montmorency county, and Vanderbilt, Otsego county. In order to
test the possibilities of the Berea, explorations should be made at some
distance to the southwest of this line of outcrop and belt of leakage.
In Alcona county, he Traverse and Dundee formations are com-
paratively shallow and could be easily and cheaply tested. While the
Traverse at Saginaw has three oil and gas bearing horizons, at Kill-
master it was free from water and showed no signs of either oil or gas.
The porosity of this formation, however, varies greatly in short dis-
tances'and this b favorable for the occurrence of accumulations as in
the so-called Saginaw sand in the Garey-Casamer No. 1 well at Sag-
inaw:
Below the Traverse is the Dundee limestone which was not reached
in the Killmaster drillings. Under favorable structural conditions oil
may be found in considerable quantity in this formation, but the
drillings are too few in Alcona county to indicate the presence or loca-
tion of an anticline or structural bench, if either should exist. The
oil and gas horizons beneath the Dundee, the Niagara, Clinton, Medina,
226 OILr AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
and Trenton are so deep that the cost of testing them would be out of
proportion to any reasonable chance of success.
IOSCO AND OGEMAW COUNTIES.
AuSable and Oscoda Wells. In Iosco county at AuSable and Oscoda,
eleven or more wells were put down by lumber companies for brines.
The wells, all located within a radius of a mile, are in three groups
which may be termed the Pack, the Smith, and the Loud. No de-
tailed log of any of these wells is available, but from various sources
the following information, which may be relied upon with a fair degree
of confidence was compiled by Dr. A. C. Lane.
The Pack wells are from 20 to 25 feet above the lake, the Smith
about 15 feet, and the Loud 6 to 8 feet. The drift, 90 to 100 feet
thick, is mainly sand. The rock strata down to 200 feet, or more,
are a series of sandstones and shales, apparently belonging to the
Lower Marshall formation, which yields a very weak brine (one-half —
one per cent of salt). Below the Marshall blue shales with an oc-
casional red horizon predominate down to the Sunbury black shale
which overlies the Berea grit. The latter in the Pack wells was struck
at 950 feet, in the Smith at 960 feet, and probably at a little greater
depth in the Loud. The brine of the Berea is -strong (90**— 98** salino-
meter test) and pure, but the sandstone is so fine grained and shaly
that there is not a free flow.
According to Mr. E. E. Holmes, the sandstone runs out to the north,
yielding less and less brine. This can be the condition only for a
short distance, however, as the sandstone is well represented at Kill-
master and Harrisville. At Grayling, Alma, Mt. Pleasant, and in
other places in the central and western parts of the State, the forma-
tion appears to be represented by shales, generally red or sandy.
According to the records of wells in various parts of the State the
Berea, while locally coarse grained and porous, yielding an abundant
flow of brine, is apt to be very fine grained or shaly as at Oscoda, Harris-
ville, Bay City, and Saginaw. In such localities, it cannot be a free
yielder of oil and gas.
One of the Pack wells was drilled to a depth of about 1800 ieet,
reports varying from 1760 to 1850 feet. Only blue and black shales
with thin streaks of limestone were penetrated below the Berea, and
no water or signs of oil and gas were encountered. It is almost cer-
tain that the well did not reach the Dundee, but the bottom must
have been very close to the top of this formation for the drill stopped
in black shale, quite possibly the Bell (Marcellus) at the base of the
Traverse. The hardness, light color, and the mineral waters of the
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 227
Dundee would have been noted and remembered if the drill had reached
this horizon.
At Harrisville the Berea is only 30 feet thick, being in part eroded.
If it was originally as thick as it is at Killmaster; about 10 feet must
have been removed, and the top of the Berea would have occurred at
220 feet instead of 230 feet. Using the first figure and allowing for
the difference (36 ft.) in elevation of the mouths of the Harrisville
and Oscoda wells, the Berea is approximately 765 feet lower at the
latter place about 16^ miles to the south. This is equal to a dip of
over 46 feet i)er mile, or about 8 feet per mile more than from Part-
ridge Point, Alpena county, to Harrisville, or from Harrisville west-
southwest to KiUmaster. Computing the dip to the south-southeast
from KiUmaster to Oscoda, it is found to be about 30 feet per mile.
If the black (Bell) shale at the bottom of the Pack well is the same
as that at the top of the Grand Lake well, the dip southward from
Alpena to Oscoda must be between 30 and 40 feet per mile.
From the above, the general or maximum dip for eastern Alcona
and Iosco counties appears to be nearer south than southwest. From
Oscoda south to Caseville across Saginaw bay in Huron county and
south-southwest to Bay City, there is a decided flattening of the dip
of the Berea, as the dip is only about 22 feet per mile toward the former
and less than 20 feet per mile toward Bay City.
Tawas City. Several drill ngs have been made by the lumber com-
panies of Tawas City for brine, which was struck in a coarse white or
gray sandstone, apparently in the Coldwater shale but at some dis-
tance above the true Berea horizon.
228
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
TAWA8 CITY WELL.
Ix>c.: Grant A Sons Mill.
Elevation about 600 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Sand
Clav, yellow
Napoleon or Upper Marshall:
Sandstone, whitish
Lower Marshall and Coldwater:
Sandstone, red
Sandstone, gray
Sandstone, red
Shale, light colored
Shale, arenaceous red
Shale, light colored
Shale, arenaceous red
Shale, blue
Sandstone, red
Shale, hard, light colored
Sandstone, red
Shale, white
Sandstone, red
Shale, hard, light colored
Sandstone, red
Shale, white
Shale, arenaceous, light colored
First indications ox brine.
Shale, white, hard
RichmondvllleT:
Sandstone, gray
Abundant supply of strong brine.
Appears to be too near the top of the Coldwater to be the Berea.
Shale, blue
Thick-
ness,
feet.
30
20
60
15
5
40
10
80
5
88
36
40
60
6
16
6
40
5
3
3
164
196
10
Depth,
feet.
30
50
110
126
130
170
180
210
215
303
338
878
438
443
458
468
603
508
513
516
680
876
886
The general dip of the strata in Iosco county is apparently south-
southwest at about 25 to 30 feet per mile. According to this the
Berea should occur about 300 or 400 feet deeper at Tawas City than
at Oscoda. Since the Berea is struck at approximately 960 feet in
wells at the latter place it should be 1250 or 1350 feet below the sur-
face at Tawas City. As the brine bearing sandstone at this place is
struck at a depth of only 680 feet it appears that it is not the Berea
but the Richmondville or some stray sandstone in the Coldwater
shales 600 feet or more above the Berea horizon.
If the sandstone in question is the Berea proper, there is a very
pronounced anticline in Iosco county with its crest near Tawas City.
OGEMAW COUNTY.
Prescoit. In 1912 Mr. F. Jahncke of Alpena drilled a well for water
near Prescott in southeastern Ogemaw county. The Upper Marshall
was struck at 308 feet and the Coldwater shales were penetrated about
170 feet.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
229
PRE8COTT WELL.
Loc.: S. W. Cor. of sec. 36, T. 22. R. 4 E., Oeemaw county. Franz Jahncke, contractor,
Alpena, Mich., March 16, 1912. Record lumished by Mr. Jahncke, also samples.
Elevation of well about 768 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Red clay
Blue clay
Fine white sand
Red clay
Grayel
Red clay
Red clay and grit
Blue clay, round fragments of gypsum and rock
Michigan Series:
Gray rock (Sample muning)
Blue shale
Gypsum
Blue shale
Dark rock
Dark shale
Oray limestone
Blue shale
Dark rock
Gypsum
Dark blue limestone
Brown limestone
Gypsum
Blue shale calcareous
Blue limestone
Brown limestone
Gypsum
Blue limestone
Hard gray limestone
Chert (a little flow of water)
Dark blue limestone
Blue shale and dark
Chert yery hard
Upper Marshall or Napoleon:
white sand (water rises from 26 ft. to 22 ft. 4 in. from top of casing) .
Chert (Sample missing)
White sand
Red sand (Sample missing)
White sand (Sample missing)
Light blue sand
Water 16 ft. 7 in. from surface.
Lower Marshall:
Red rock with mica
ColdwaterT
Blue shale (Sample missing) ,
Brown rock with mica ,
Blue shale sandy ,
Brown shale sandy
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
6
6
9
15
6
21
37
58
2
60
55
115
14
129
25
154
4
158
27
185
3
188
i
192
3
195
3
198
4
202
5
207
1
208
2
210
10
220
3
223
8
231
3
234
4
238
12
250
3
253
262
12
274
2
276
12
288
18
306
2
308
10
318
2
320
16
336
3
339
21
360
68
• 428
55
483
45
528
62
590
44
634
16
650
ARENAC COUNTY
Standish, In Arenac county, there are a number of wells penetrat-
ing rock, but they are shallow excepting a 1900 foot well drilled by
James Nom at Standish of which no log was kept but it appears to
have reached the Berea (Sunbury) black shale just above the Berea
grit. Below the Marshall, blue shales of the Coldwater which yielded
a little brine, predominated.
The record given below has been largely compiled from notes and
statements of persons connected with the drilling of the well, and may
be taken as fairly representative of the general character and thick-
ness of the formations penetrated.
230
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
JAMES NORN WELL.
Loc.: Standish.
Elevation of well 626 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Clay, sand, etc
Baeinaw Coal Series:
Gray sandstone
Blue shale
Black shale
Upper Grand Rapids:
Blue and pray limestone
Gray sandstone
Lower Grand Rapids:
Blue rock
Shale?'
Shale?
Blue rock
Blue shale
Hard gray rock; streaks of shale: big flow of water
Upper Marshall or Napoleon Sandstone:
Gray sandstone, rapid drilling
Lower Marshall Sandstone:
Red sandstone and blue shale (brine easily exhausted.) Blue shale with
some red shale
Coldwater Shale:
Mostly blue shale. Some water at the top
Blue stiale, some brine but scarce
Blue shale
Berea Shale:
Black shale, some water
Depth,
feet.
60
40
100
20
120
10
130
70
200
40
240
40
280
20
300
30
330
60
390
10
400
50
450
650
900
1000
1400
1800
1850
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 231
CHAPTER X.
NORTHERN PENINSULA.
THE PAIiAEOZOlC AREA.
That part of the Upper Penmsula west of a line drawn from Mar-
quette to Menominee is mainly imderlain by pre-Cambrian rocks.
Palaeozoic rocks from the Cambrian up to and including the Silurian
occupy all of the area to the east of this line.
The Niagara limestone extends in an accurate belt along the western
shore of Lake Michigan through Green Bay peninsula and along the
northern shores of Lakes Michigan and Huron from Garden Peninsula
to Drummond Island and into Cockburn and Manitoulin Islands,
Ontario. The St. Ignace Peninsula, however, is composed of Mon-
roe beds.
The Niagara in the Upper Peninsula is a massive limestone and
dolomite formation with an average thickness of about 600 feet. The
prevailing dip is lakeward from 40 to 60 feet per mile and this gives
rise to low rocky shores with few deep harbors. Toward the interior
the rock surface rises to considerable heights and the outer margin of
the formation is marked by a prominent line of landward facing bluffs
100 to 200 feet high. The elevation of the interior and the lakeward
dip of the rocks give rise to general artesian conditions along the lake
shore. As a consequence much drilling for water has been done at
several points but as water from limestones is nearly always very
hard, some relatively deep drillings have been made in search of softer
waters. These drillings, together with observations afforded by ex-
tensive outcrops, indicate that the Niagara contains very little bitu-
minous matter and that in the Upper Peninsula it gives little promise
of yielding oil and gas.
The Clinton, Rochester and Medina are doubtfully recognized in
outcrops or in borings and can not be distinguished from each other.
The Lorraine and the Utica are well represented and are easily recog-
nized in drill holes. These shaly formations, being very soft, occur
in a belt of depressions on the north side of the Niagara escarpment
and outcrop in but few places. The Utica shale is exposed in the beds
of streams on the east side of Whitefish river.
The Trenton limestone forms the western shore of Green Bay and
232
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Little Bay de Noc, turns eastward in Delta county, describing an arc
through the Northern Peninsula, and crosses St. Mary's river at St.
Joseph Island into Ontario. Nowhere in the Northern Peninsula is
the Trenton very deep, yet it offers certain oil and gas possibilities,
for, aside from its bituminous and petroliferous character, it has a
suitable cap rock, being overlain in most of the Peninsula by the im-
pervious shales of the Utica and Lorraine.
The Trenton outcrops over a very large area and in general is
under a very thin cover of drift in the vicinity of Rapid and White-
fish rivers. Wherever exposed, it shows signs of the former presence
of oil and gas. The rock is bituminous and petroliferous and very
frequently the cracks and fissures are found to contain dried oil resi-
due or asphaltum * * gum. ^ '
Comparatively little exploration has been done in the Upper Penin-
sula except for water. Thus far wells have been sunk at Marinette
(Wisconsin), Menominee, Rapid River, Escanaba, Gladstone and Flat
Rock, near Stonington, at Pickford, Neebish Island, and St. Ignace.
THE WISCONSIN SECTION.
Milwaukee, In order to show the relation of the eastern Wisconsin
rocks to the Michigan Basin, the following log of the Lake Park well
is given below. Comparing it with the western Mibhigan borings, it
is to be observed that the formations in eastern Wisconsin are merely
the western edges of the lower formations of the Michigan Basin. The
dip from Milwaukee across Lake Michigan to Muskegon is rather
flat, being only about 20 feet per mile. Farther north in the North-
em Peninsula the dip toward the center of the Basin becomes
much greater ranging from 40 to 60 feet, or even more per mile.
LAKE PARK WELL, MILWAUKEE.
Depth,
feet.
Hamilton (Traverse) Group:
Soapstone
Cement rock
Soapstone
Dundee absent:
Waterlime? Brown limestone ....
Niagara limestone
Cincinnati shale (Medina to Utica)
Galena and Trenton limestone
St, Peters sandstone at
Potsdam sandstone
80
92
122
152
470
650
950?
958
?
Marinette. A number of wells were sunk in Marinette by the Hon.
Isaac Stephenson, A. C. Merriman, and the city at the waterworks.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 233
The record of Mr. Stephenson's well is incomplete, but the well ap-
parently penetrated limestone and dolomite and a little light reddish
sandstone, and a thin stratum of shale in the first 200 feet. A flow
of water was struck in a crevice in the Calciferous (or the St. Peters)
at 405 feet. At 410 feet, there was a large crevice, the tools dropping
four feet and breaking the cable. The flow of water from this crevice
was stronger and rose 21 feet above the surface. Below this point
there was no increase in the amount of water though the well pene-
trated mainly lime rock until ^'granite'' was struck at 716 feet. The
granite, according to Lane, is probably a cherty or jaspilitic arkose
quartzite which was struck in a later well drilled at the waterworks.^
At Oakwood, three miles south of the city, it was claimed that a
well reached a depth of 999 feet, but the samples at 860 (white sand)
and at 920 feet do not resemble the Huronian rocks which should be
struck at those depths. From a comparison with the records of other
wells in the vicinity there seems to have been a mistake of 100 feet in
the record.
A well two miles south of the Stephenson well was drilled in 1902-3
for oil and gas to the depth of 850 feet. This well may have reached
the pre-Cambrian as red "sand,'' similar to Huronian well samples
from other wells, was struck at the bottom.
The first deep well drilled at the city water works was not com-
pleted as the tools were lost in the hole and could not be recovered.
Another hole was drilled about 8 feet away and this struck the first
hole at about 860 feet. Artesian water, struck above 860 feet in the
second well, flowed out of the first after the intersection of the two.
The tools were deflected on the old ones in the bottom of the first well
and the hole was drilled to the depth of 978 feet, penetrating over
180 feet of Huronian rocks. The well yielded a little oil along with
the water, but the oil probably came from the vugs or cavities in the
limestone and not from the pre-Cambrian rocks as supposed by some.
In the Rapid River well, Delta county, oil occurred in limestone in
this way and at the same horizon.
lAnn. Kept, for 1903, p. 123.
234
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
MARINETTE WATER WORKS WELL NO. 1,
Loc.: Waterworks. Marinette, Wis.
Thick- n*»r.#K
feet. I '^*-
Pleistocene:
Red sand and gravel
Galena limestone:
Round chipped limestone (or to 196 ft.)
Trenton limestone:
Blue shales (Galena?)
Chipping limestone coarse
Chipping limestone
•• Slate •'^light blue and white
(Base of Trenton uncertain, St. Peters sandstone absent?)
Lower Magnesian (Calclferous) limestone:
Chipping limestone, coarse
Coarse chipping limestone light colored and doloraitic
Potsdam group?:
White sandstone, very white, mealy-looking
White and greenish, ^careous sandstone
White sand
Rounded white sand
Huronian? (Potsdam wholly or in part?) :
• • Granite' ' (broken and lost)
Dark red quartzite
70
85
144
196
240
250
320
450
550
560
670
685
712
716
716 +
MARINETTE WATER WORKS WELL NO. 2.
Pre-Cambrian :
Cherty or jaspilitic arkose quartzite.
Thick-
ness,
feet,
Surface sand and gravel
Galena dolomite
Trenton dolomites, brown and blue shaly (at 260 to 275 sandy)
St. Peters sandstone
Calciferous (Lower Magnesian)
Potsdam
69
121
135
75
180
215
183
Depth,
feet.
69
190
325
400
580
795
978
MENOMINEE COUNTY.
Menominee. Several deep wells have been sunk in Menominee just
across the river from Marinette. The records of all of the wells are
incomplete and are of little value. A well drilled in 1895-6 at the
residence of the Hon. S. M. Stephenson is reported to be 500 to 1000
feet deep. The water has a head of 15 feet and it is said to come
mainly from sandstone, perhaps the Potsdam. A well on Mr. Stephen-
son 's farm which, like the one at his residence, begins in the Trenton
and perhaps reaches the pre-Cambrian. The water is hard, therefore
it probably comes from limestone.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 235
DELTA COUNTY.
Escanaba. In Delta county, there are several wells from 600 to
nearly 1000 feet in depth. In 1890 the Escanaba Brewing Company
drilled a well for soft water 730 feet in depth at Escanaba, but only
a meager record was obtainable. The record below is given from
memory by Nick Welch:
ESCANABA BREWING COMPANY WELL.
Feet.
Surface 39
Limestone 150-200
Sandstone 300-400
Struck "iron" at 730
Water very red.
The Escanaba Manufacturing Company made a drilling to a depth
of 972 feet for water, but no record was kept. The Richter Brewing
Company also drilled a well 810 feet and the record furnished by the
brewmaster, Mr. Richter, is one from memory:
RICHTER BREWING COMPANY WELL.
Feet.
Rand 50
Hard clay 9
? ((probably limestone mainly) 300
Sandstone 410
"Granite" at 810
Stonington. A. Wagner drilled two holes on his farm, three or four
miles northeast of Stonington and, according to reports, the first
was for coal and the second, a diamond drilling for iron. Mr. J.
Wagner, present owner of the farm, furnished Mr. L. P. Barrett of
the Survey with a record given from memory. A core was preserved
but Mr. Barrett was not permitted to see this.
236
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
A. WAGNER WELL.
Loc.: Delta county. S. W. i of N. W. i of sec. 8, T. 39 N., R. 21 W. Drilled for coal.
merly A. Wa^^ner farm; present owner Jno. Wagner.
For-
Elevation over 650 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Gravel and clay
Lorraine (Hudson River):
Blue shale
Fossilif erous shale
Brown shale
Blue shale
Brown shale
Gray shale
Light gray shale
Utica:
Bituminous shale
Trenton limestone:
Galena:
Limestone
Fossiliferous limestone
White limestone
"Upper blue" of Wisconsin, Trenton?
Dark limestone
"Upper buff?"
Quartzite (geodsT)
Limestone
Quartz (geods?)
Limestone
• • Lower blue. ' '
Blue shale
Black limestone
Limestone
Blue shale
' ' Lower buff. ' '
Sandstone, soapstone and limestone (perhaps in part St. Peters)
St. Peters:
Red clay shale (weathered surface of Lower Magnesian?)
Sandy shale
Calcif erous:
I^imratone, soapstone and sandstone
Crystalline limestone
Depth of hole
Thick-
ness,
feet.
9
45
13
28
20
8
70
8
50
83
55
8
6
44
1
24
4
14
19
4
38
1
1
66
12
Depth,
feet.
9
54
67
95
115
123
193
201
251
334
389
397
406
412
456
457
481
485
499
518
522
560
561
562
628
640
640
A. WAGNER HOLE NO. 2.
Loc: S. W. i N. W. i, sec. 8, T. 39 N., R. 21 W. Formerly A. Wagner farm; present owner,
Jno. Warner. Three or four miles northeast of Stonington. Driflers, Gunter of Escanaba
and Chns. Skaug of Stonington. Drilled about 1910.
Elevation over 650 feet.
• Thick-
i ness,
I feet.
Surface:
Sand and gravel ,
Clinton, Medina, Lorraine and Utica:
Fossiliferous limestone ,
Alternate shale and limestone
Bituminous shale (Utica in lower part) ,
Trenton, Calcif erous, St. Peters, Potsdam:
Limestone, sandstone and blue shale
Hematite. Two veins two and seven inches thick, interbedde<l in sand
stone (Huronian?)
Sandstone
Huronian:
Hard white quartzite with pebbles in it
8
32
200
250
400
1
29
68
Depth,
feet.
8
40
240
490
750
751
780
848
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
237
Gladstone. The St. Paul and Ste. Marie railroad drilled a well for
water at Gladstone, but the precise location is not given.
ST. PAUL AND STE. MARIE RAILWAY WELL.
Loc.: Gladstone.
Elevation 605 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene or surface:
Sand (old dug well)
Quicksand
Till (clay and hardpan)
Sand and jnuvel.
Clay and Umestone
Boulders
Trenton:
Limestone
St. Peters:
Lime and sandstone in mixed layers. Some water at 400 feet
Caldferous (Lower Magnesian):
Limestone (crystalline dolomite at 632 feet)
Potsdam:
Shell sandstone (white round sand at 742 ft.)
Main water flow; 150 gallons per minute. Soft water.
Depth,
feet.
13
51
61
76
8
91
I
325
404
642
748
Rapid River. In the central part of Delta county, there are a num-
ber of water wells, mainly artesian, said to be from 250 to 900 feet in
depth, as at Flat Rock, Lathrop, Maple Ridge, Parkins, Gladstone;
and Rapid River. In some of the more northerly wells, it is only
from 80 to 160 feet to the water bearing sandstones. At Rapid River,
a dozen or more wells are supposed to be deep enough to go through
the Trenton, which yields strong flows of water.
Seven miles north and two miles east of Rapid River, a well was
drilled for oil. The set of samples taken for the Survey was stolen so
that a very incom]f)lete and perhaps inaccurate record can be given.
The surface rock is the Trenton which apparently consists of about
300 feet of more or less oily and bituminous limestone. The rest of
the well is largely in white sandstone, except at the bottom where
decomposed schist of Huronian or Archean age was struck. There
were strong flows of water, probably from the same horizons as in the
Rapid River wells. A small quantity of oil was obtained in the Tren-
ton. According to newspaper reports at the time, the flow, greatly
exaggerated, was given as 400 barrels per day. The oil probably
came from the vugs or cavities in the Trenton limestone rather than
from the Archean rocks as was claimed at first.
The following record was made from scattered samples.
OIL. AND GAS IN MICHIOAN.
RAPID RIVER WELL.
Thick-
"S"'
3-6
3S0
SO
40
30
eating.
di Uaed wllb fine dog-tooth «p»r cildte and lUled
CalclfennuT
B. >t 620 hot 380, a dolomite.
»d?tS^"~~^ ::;...:..:,...
bS^^^"^ '*^ '"'"'°~^ "^ ""•^'™"-
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
239
Another well 1000 feet in depth was drilled a year, or two later 7
miles northeast of Rapid River on the property of A. E. Neff. This
record is more satisfactory than the foregoing one and shows that the
pre-Cambrian is at comparatively shallow depths in the vicinity of
Rapid River. The following record was compiled from samples.
A. E. NEFF WELL.
Loc.: Seven miles N. E. of Rapid River, Mich. Owner, A. E. Neff. Driller, Cisco.
Drilled in 1904.
Surface materials
Trenton limestone:
Top limestone — dark, mixed, some sand.
Limestone — mixed brown and blue
No record 290-302
St. Peters:
Sand — round quartz sand, white
Calciferous:
Limestone — Ane trained, white, massive.
Sand — clean, white, quartz sand
Sandy lime — ^white ix>wder
Sand — clean white 9uartz sand
Sand — ^white dolomitic powder
Sand — quartz and white dolomite mixed ,
Sand — cemented by dolomite
Cased 9 5-8 in. pipe.
Slate— duU bluish
No record 565-630
Lake Superior or Munising Sandstone:
Gray, sandy round quartz and rarely other grains
Red sandstone — light pinkish quartz grains
White sand — ^white quartz grains
Red sand — pinkish quartz grains ' ' 725 grit. ' ' Water flow
Sand — arnica, quartz, feldspar, etc., mixed
Sand — mica, quartz, feldspar, chlorite. Arkose? but not rounded.
• • 780 red granite"
No record 830-875 >*'.
Pre-Cambrian :
Rusty, much mica. "Wedged in bottom from description in gabbro' ' .
Quartz and feldspar? a pounded aplite?
Fddspar, chlorite, mica hornblende
Fine grained dark feldspar, chlorite, etc
Bottom
Thick-
ness,
feet.
12
218
60
12
18
35
20
10
20
'25
25
30
25
75
45
35
15
25
30
50
125
Depth
feet.
12
230
290
302
320
355
420
430
450
475
500
530
555
630
675
710
725
750
780
830
875 A
890 lAi
900*
1000 ite
CHI and Asphalt. In many places there is an asphaltic oil in the
cavities of the Trenton limestone. The oil is a more or less semi-
fluid; dark brown to almost black oil residuum or asphaltic "gum/'
The **gum/' according to Fr. Ruschaupt of Milwaukee, who made
some analyses and tests, is odorless until heated and then gives an
asphalt smell, foams at 185° F., fully liquid at 2W, foams from 3W
to 350°, slightly decomposes at 430° with an evolution of a small amount
of empyreumatic matter and boils at 556°. After about one and a
half hour's boiling the asphaltic gum thickens and the boiling point
rises. Boiling the residue at 600° F. for three-quarters of an hour and
then cooling to 70°, gave a hard tenaceous asphalt. There is no
240 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
paraffin or petroleum in the distillate, gum asphalt being the only
base. The results of two tests by Fr. Ruschaupt are given below:
ANALYSES.
I
No. 1. I No. 2.
Percent.! Percent.
I
Distilled at 212'» to 347» (mainly water) 25
DistiUed at 570» to 600" (mainly oU) ' 46.36
ARnhalt j 24.56
Balance ash or decomposition products 5 .08
Total
2.21
46.55
46.7a
4.51
100.00
Upon the supposition that a great pool of asphalt exists in a "syn-
clinorium*' in northern Michigan, a company was formed in Milwau-
kee to prospect for commercially important quantities but nothing
came of the project. Oil might be foimd in quantity in the Trenton,
especially in those regions where the formation is overlain by the Utica
and Lorraine shales.
The wells of reliable record are so scattered in Delta county that
there are no indications of favorable structures such as anticlines or
benches. The general dip is southeasterly at from 40 to 60 feet per
mile, but since no wells of accurate record on the opposite side of Lake
Michigan reach any of the horizons represented in the region under
discussion, no exact calculations can be made.
SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY.
Manisiique. At Manistique, the flowing wells are from 200 to 800
feet in depth. At 800 feet in the Hiawatha House well, a flow was
struck which lifted the drill. The head was 30 to 40 feet and the
water bearing stratum is in a ''not hard, shell rock,'' probably the
Trenton. The wells furnishing the municipal supply obtain their
water from depths between 250 and 500 feet. The deepest well was
drilled for salt but the tools were lost in the hole. The water is hard
as !t is from hmestone. Possibly soft water could be obtained from
the Potsdam, but the depth probably would be at least 1400 feet or
touch greater than at Escanaba.
In 1903 a number of new city wells were put down. Mr. Coleman,
the driller, gave the following record:
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
241
MANISTIQUE MUNICIPAL WELL.
Loc.: Cor. of Garden Ave. and Potter St. Finished August, 1903.
Elevation 595 ft. A. T.
Sand
Dolomite, li^ht buff, massive
Light dolomitic limestone
Bluish white dolomite (harsh feel)
Brownish crystalline dolomitic limestone
Light bluish dolomitic limestone
Buff crystalline cherty limestone
White limestone
Buff, crystalline dolomitic limestone
Hard drilling from to 80 ft.
White limestone (Blaney — Fibom bed?)
Mottled gray dolomite
Buff dolomite
Soft drilling from 80 to 140 feet.
Yellow dolomite
Gets harder; very little water at 140 feet but no flow.
Yellowish limestone
Yellowish dolomite
This may be base of coralline, top of Byron beds of Wisconsin, Rominger 's
lower division.
White thin bMided lithographic dolomite
At bottom white limestone
Depth,
feet.
2
4
13
24
40
52
63
70
80
107
125
136
158
188
216
225
240
All of the above wells are artesian and the flows are from the Niag-
ara, with the exception of the Hiawatha House well, which probably
obtains its flow from the Trenton. Usually, abundant water is found
in the Niagara from 60 to 70 feet below the top as shown by other
wells which penetrate this formation in Michigan and Ontario.
In the Manistique region, the Trenton, which is locally very porous,
is overlain by the Utica, the Lorra'ne, and the Nagara, and, should
favorable structures exist, oil and gas may occur in commercial quan-
tities The shallowness of most of the wells and the incomplete re-
cords of the deeper ones do not permit a close approximation of either
the general or the local dip, and much less, a determination of the
presence of local structures. From surface observations, however, the
dip appears to be fully 40 feet per mile to the southeast.
31
242
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
BCACKINAC COUNTT.
SL Ignace. In 1887, the Mackinac Lumber Co. drilled a well at St.
Ignace to the depth of 919 feet. As the rocks on the St. Ignace pen-
insula are practically all of Monroe age, good water supplies are hard
to obtain, the surface waters and those from bed rock being strong
in sulphates. Plenty of good water, though hard, may be found
in the Niagara. A cherty layer at the bottom of the well yielded
some gas.
Macldnac Lumber Co. O.
ST. IGNACE WELL NO. 1.
W. Johnson. Racine. Wis. W.
Henry Errata.
A. Burt. Drflled in 18S7 by
Elevation about 600 ft. A. T.
Depth,
feet.
Surface:
Sawdust and day I 16
Monroe Formation:
Red and blue slates, principally red. Strongly impregnated. Salt water
with a bitter taste ! 385
Red marl and a vein of salt. .... 4
Blue slate 100
Niania (Gudph and Lociraort):
LmMstone (contains a little dolomite and gypsum.) Very light buff.
Dolomite with slow eff. Upper strata are probably Monroe; see weU
^ No. 2 .VT; 300
Driller's name, sandstone; with a strong smdl. oily. S. white limestone;
contains a little gypsum, 2 per cent 95
B. Calcareous sandstone (gray) ; 90 per cent chert, etc.; rusty. Some gas 20
15
400
404
504
804
809
919
SL Ignace WeU No. 2. Well No. 2 at St. Ignace is about two miles
north of the old well, 300 feet from Lake Huron, and only about 10
feet above lake level. A comparison of the two wells show that the
beds dip rather steeply, the dip being over 40 feet per mile. Neither
of these wells show the Medina, Lorraine, or Utica. The Lorraine
and Utica are known to exist in the Upper Peninsula and from the
Neebish well the total drop of the formations must be over 1200 feet
in 30 miles, or over 40 feet per mile. If 500 feet is allowed for the
thickness of the shaly beds, above the Trenton, the total drop would
be over 1700 feet, which would be equal to a dip of about 55 feet per
mile from Neebish southwest to St. Ignace. As the general dip is
nearly south and not southwest, the mayimum dip is probably 60 to
65 feet to the mile.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
243
ST. IQNACE WELL NO. 2.
Loc.: Two ml. north of No. 1 on sec. 31, T. 41 N.. R. 3 W.; 600 ft. N. of town line and 300 ft.
from Lake Huron.
Elevation 500 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Surface
Gravel with nrpsum
Monroe Formation:
Dolomite
Dark dolomite
Gypsum
Red shale
Blue shale
Gypsum
Red shale
Blue shale
Gypsum, about
Blue shale with gypsum at 329 and 364 to 400 ft. and other spots to 426
feet
Gypsiferous dolomite
jQght dolomite. :
Dark brown dolomite
Niagara (Guelnh):
lieht dolomite
Vmte sandy dolomite
Good water at 575 ft. 580 ft., January 29.
Hard mixed cherty dolomite
White sandy dolomite
581 ft. Feb. 10: HiS water for over 100 ft.; 870. March 23.
Brown and mixed dolomite
Lockport (T):
Limestone
Rochester (7):
Blue shaly dolomite
Brown cherty dolomite
Light dolomite
Thick-
ness,
feet.
34
9
63
100
174
255
126
18
19
47
60
15
7
196
232
90
35
5
16
Depth,
feet.
34
45
to 89
to 104
to 187
to 260
300
426
444
463
510
670
585
592
788
1020
1110
1145
1150
1166
CHIPPEWA COUNTY.
Neebish A well was drilled on St. Joseph's Island to the depth of
200 feet and, according to reports, it penetrated the Huronian without
striking oil. No further details are known. On Neebish Island, near
Sailor's Encampment and close to the water, a well over 527 feet in
depth (563 feet according to the Michigan Miner), was drilled by A.
W. Palmer for the American Alkali Company. It jjppears that the
drilling began in the top of the Trenton, but if this is true the Trenton
must be verv thin.
Dr. Lane considers that the bottom of the well is in conglomeratic
Potsdam and that the limestone is in part Trenton. The white sugary
sandstone appears to be Calciferous, and, in that case, the St. Peter
is absent as at Pickford. The top of the Potsdam is locally very
similar to the St. Peters, and if the Calciferous is absent the two may
be easily confused.
The record given below is chiefly that of the driller. Notes on the
samples and the record are given in brackets. The correlations are by
W. Alden of the U. S. Geological Survey.
244
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
NEEBI8H WELL.
Loc.: Near Sailor's Encampment, Neebish Island, or across the west channel on the main-
land opposite Trombleys and about 1000 ft. south of north line of Trombleys; about 100 ft.
from river, 6 or 7 ft. above water, and about li miles below the rapids in the river. Re-
ported by A. W. Palmer, Jan. 15, 1900.
Elevation about 587 ft. A. T.
Surface:
Clay, boulders and sand
Trenton limestone:
Limestone, hard
Limestone, vein water, soft
Limestone, hard
Limestone, gritty, softer
Limestone, darker in color, not so gritty but harder (111-138 light
colored)
Limestone, softer
Limestone, shale
Limestone, hard
Limestone, softer
Limestone, hard
Limestone, softer
Limestone, shale
Limestone
Limestone, hard (148-168 light colored)
Limestone, softer
Limestone, shale (bluish, thin chips)
Limestone, brittle (bluish, chipping. 1A3-200)
Clay
Limestone, brittle
Shale: cased here for first time
Limestone
Shale (large chips, thin bedded)
Limestone, darker in color (sandy dolomite)
Limestone, shelly, full of little seams
St. Peters (CalciferousT) :
White sand rock
Shale
White sand (glass sand) rock, got first flow water at 250 ft., and more in
several placss in going through the sand
Potsdam:
Light red sand
Sand ; harder, looks like granite boulders pounded up
Pre-Cambrian :
Sandy shale; sand Dumpings look red but when washed out are black.
(Coarse red conglomerate; grows coarser)
Sand rock
(At 430 ft. red pebble? of Huronian quartzite; 506-510 ft. and 510-527
ft. material mainly Huronian.)
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
33
33
1
34
1
35
14
49
40
89
17
106
13
119
2
121
3
124
3
127
7
134
6
140
2
142
7
149
4
153
5
1.58
5
163
22
185
1
186
4
190
8
198
2
200
5
205
214
223
10
233
2
235
149
384
27
411
6
417
89
506
21
527
Pickford. In 1906-1907, a deep well was drilled for oil at Pickford,
Chippewa county. A heavy flow of water with a 25 foot head was
struck somewhere below 1000 feet, probably about 1400 feet. There
was some water between 500 and 800 feet, but it would rise to the top
of the casing only on standing over night. Very little signs of oil
and gas were struck an3rwhere, though an oily sandstone was en-
countered toward the bottom of the well. The record, compiled by
Dr. Lane from a partial set of samples down to 1000 feet, is- as fol-
lows:
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
245
Loc.: Sec. 6, T. 43, N., R. 1 E.
PICKFORD WELL.
F. G. Holden, H. D. Van Campen. Sault Ste. Marie: Mr.
Taylor, Plckford.
Elevation about 670 ft. A. T.
Pleistocene:
Lake Superior red clays
Sand, source of local flows of water
Described by I<eyerett. Head 6 to 7 ft., li^ht flow.
Niagara (Lockport):
Hsird dolomite; slow eff., a few loose shaly layars at top ; then very hard.
About 3 miles S. of town the land rises to the Niagrara escarpment.
Lorraine:
Blue shale
Utica:
Black shale, ' ' slate"
Trenton limestone:
White limestone; ready eft.; residue of pyrite cubes and chert
St. Peters:
Thickness unknown
Water at 600-700 ft. said to be in white sandstone but it is doubtful;
no samples.
Samples of water .575 to 650 ft. show 70-70 per million CI and are hard
and have SO4.
Calciferous?
At 800 ft. 10-24-06 Iron Mtn. Tribune-Gazette.
Potsdam or Lake Superior sandstone
Red rock at 800-900. (Holden.)
J. L. Ward also thought they passed Trenton at 900 ft.
Said to be muddy. (VanCampen).
At 1360' red as blood. (J. L. Ward).
Flow of water March 22?, 07 ' ' warm. ' '
Into an oily sandstone — Detroit Times.
VanCampen thought the casing was crushed at 1200-1300 ft. Water
flowed with over 25 ft. head.
Depth — Marquette Mining Journal, 3-23-07, 1600; 6-7-07, 1425.
Depth,
feet.
119
132
260
475
525
800
600
1500
Concerning the interpretation and the correlations, Dr. Lane makes
the following statements:
**Down to the top of the Trenton, the record is verified by samples
and agrees perfectly with other holes; below that, it must be made
out by statements from memory, and the only thing of which one can
be reasonably sure is that it struck the red Potsdam above 1360 feet
and probably at 800-900 feet and did not penetrate the Huronian.
The most that can be said of the correlation above is that there is
nothing known to make it impossible. The Neebish Island well shows
that there is about 400 feet or more between the Utica and the red
sandstones there; at Wagner's well (near Stonington) there was 310
feet. And here, there is (525 to 800 or 900 ft.) 373 feet or less. This
must then include the Trenton, St. Peters, Calciferous, and perhaps the
upper white part of the Lake Superior sandstone, affiliated with the
Calciferous.
The water at 600 feet is hard, a regular limestone water and does
not suggest the St. Peters. There will hardly be less limestone than
in the Neebish well and along St. Mary's river and it makes a conspic-
uous ridge to the north. The dip seems to be about 66 feet to the
mile to the south and, with any such dip, the Trenton must be 200
246
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
feet or so thick, judging from the breadth of the outcrop. Not only
that, but the Neebish well shows a good thickness (Alden thinks 112+
ft.) for the Utica does not show, and the Manitoulin Island wells also
show 250 feet, which is assigned to the Trenton. It seems most likely
that the Calciferous has been eroded and the St. Peters and Potsdam
can not be separated. ' '
Assuming that the Niagara has its average thickness of 600 feet at
Pickford, if it were not eroded, the dip of the Niagara, as calculated
from its projected top toward the center of the Basin, would be only
about 50 feet per mile instead of 66 feet as suggested by Dr. Lane for
the lower beds. As the Lorraine thickens toward Cheboygan the dip
would be greater for the Trenton. In any case, the dips of the strata
in the Northern Peninsula are prevailingly greater than in the South-
em.
BfANITOULIN ISLAND, ONTARIO.
Gore Bay. In 1904-05, several oil wells were drilled on Manitoulin
Island, and the record of one is given by M. J. L. Ward. Some oil
was struck at 425 feet, about 85 feet below the top of the Trenton.
GORE BAY WELL.
Pleistocene or drift
Niagara:
Limestone extra hard and gray
Rochester:
Blue shale
Clinton? LorraineT
Limestone
Shale
Limestone
Lorraine:
Blue shale
Utica shale:
Brown shale
Black shale
Trenton limestone:
Limestone .'
Oil at 425 ft.
Thick-
ness,
feet.
Depth,
feet.
. 1
1
45
46
89
135
1
20
1
136
165
166
90
256
60
15
316
331
250
581
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 247
APPENDIX A.
THE REGULATION OF DRILLINGS AND CARE OF DEEP
BOHINGS.
In all oil and gas fields a larger or smaller percent of the wells drilled
are dry holes or holes with a yield which is too small for profitable
operation. In '' spotted'' fields, such as in Randolph coimty, Indiana,
40 per cent of the wells may be dry. In many fields, such wells are
abandoned without plugging with the result that water, which is
generally encountered at one or more horizons, makes its way into
the oil and gas sands with disastrous consequences. Sometimes the
casings are left in the wells but this is only a temporary protection as
the corrosive action of the brines or mineral waters generally will des-
troy ordinary casings in two to five years.
Most oil and gas bodies are surrounded by salt water but this water,
known as **edge water'' invades the reservoirs only as the oil and gas
are withdrawn (providing these products are not withdrawn at too
rapid a rate), so that a maximum recovery is possible. When water
is introduced directly into the productive portion of a field through
an uncased, or improperly cased well, the oil is forced back into the
sand, so that pumping may produce nothing but water. As the sheet
of advancing water reaches other wells, their production becomes
partly, or entirely water, and the final result will be the ruin of the
entire field.
In the older oil and gas fields of the country, little or no attention
was given to abandoned and unplugged wells and the life of many pools
has been greatly shortened or abruptly terminated by the flooding of
the sands by water. In CalifomiaS investigations by the State Min-
ing Bureau has disclosed the fact that the productivity and life of
many of the oil fields of that state are menaced by water from im-
properly cased and unplugged wells. Reports obtained from 41 per
cent of all the wells in operation show that 25 per cent of these wells
produce from 10 to 50 percent or over of water. Similar menacing
conditions exist in most of the fields of the coimtry, and had proper
means and methods been used in the drilling and care of wells, these
conditions could have been largely avoided.
Abandoned or improperly cased wells are not only a menace to pro-
iR. P. McLaughlin. Preliminary Reports on Petroleum, Nos. 1 and 2, Cal. State Mng. Bur.,
1914.
248 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
ductive wells in an-oil and gas field, but they are a source of pollution
to potable waters or valuable brines and mineral waters. Brines or
mineralized waters from one horizon may invade another containing
fresh water, or, vice versa, fresh water may find ingress to brine bear-
ing or mineral water strata. In the first case, supplies of potable
water, the most valuable of the natural resources, are destroyed and,
in the second, the quahty of the brines or mineral waters is injured or
ruined.
Along Saginaw river, most of the former suppUes of fresh water in
the surface deposits have been ruined through leakage from the aban-
doned salt wells unplugged or improperly plugged. In the vicinity of
Grand .Rapids, drillings for salt and gypsum have permitted the sul-
phate brines of the Michigan Series to percolate down into the under-
lying Marshall, and, locally, the former supplies of fresh water in
this formation have been destroyed. As these old test holes and
many others scattered over the State are still implugged, the injury
to valuable supplies of brine and fresh water grows greater from year
to year. The above cases are not exceptional but are rather typical
of conditions obtaining in many portions of the country.
Many oil and gas fields are located in coal fields, particularly is this
the case in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kan-
sas and Oklahoma. Oil and gas wells penetrating workable coal
seams or active mines add greatly to the hazards of mining on account
of the dange of the escape of ga . or oili nto the mines with the con-
sequent danger of explosion. The casings may be improperly placed,
breached by the corrosive action of brine or mineral water, broken by
the caving or subsidence of the overlying strata subsequent to the
mining of the coal, or removed upon abandonment of the wells. In
several instances, severe explosions of natural gas from this source
have occurred in coal mines, and many others have been narrowly
averted.
In Pennsylvania, there are over 50,000 oil and gas wells in coal
territory, and it is estimated that 3000 new wells are drilled each year,
2000 of which are abandoned. Most of the latter are abandoned
without being properly plugged or charted. Many of these though not
producing commercial quantities of gas, yield enough t-o cause explo-
sions and fires, if it were to leak into a mine. In some localities, the
oil and gas wells are so numerous and close together that they not
only seriously interfere with mining operations but cause much loss of
coal through the large pillars which must be left to protect the wells.
Owing to the close drilling and the number of unplugged and un-
charted wells, the leases on certain coal properties in Pennsylvania
have been surrendered on the ground that the estimated recovery of
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 249
coal is too small and the hazards too great to pay for mining. In
addition to the danger from gas and the loss of coal noted above, water
from unplugged and uncharted wells may flood the mine workings.
This has happened in a number of cases. Water, under a head of
400 feet, broke into two mines in Illinois in 1912 and caused much
trouble and expense before it was controlled.
Since many of the older oil and gas fields have been redrilled from
one to three times and tens of thousands of holes are being drilled in
coal territory, hitherto unprospected for oil and gas, the situation
between the coal and the oil operators has become acute. A number
of states have passed laws with the aim of protecting and conserving
the oil and gas resources, but only in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois have
measures been enacted to protect the coal mines and coal reserves
from the dangers of the promiscuous drilling of oil and gas wells. The
laws, however, in all of these states are inadequate.
On the other hand, mining operations are a menace to the oil and
gas wells. As noted previously, the slumping of the strata after the
removal of the coal or other minerals may bend or break the casings
and ruin some of the wells. The broken casings in the case of aban-
doned mines also permit the entrance of water to the sands with con-
sequent injury to the field.
As a result of these confiicting interests, a bitter antagonism has
grown up between the coal and the oil and gas operators. Manu-
facturing concerns utilizing brines and mineral waters also look with
disfavor upon drillings which endanger the purity and strength of
their supply of these substances.
It is most regrettable, that in the past the pubhc at large has dis-
played only an apathetic interest in the conservation of the potable
water supplies.. Owing to the wave of agitation for the conservation
of the natural resources, which has swept over the country during the
past few years, strong efforts have been made in many states to secure
adequate laws regulating the drilling and care of deep borings, more
particularly those for oil and gas. In certain states, opposition on
the part of the oil and gas interests has been successful in defeating
every attempt at securing much needed legislation on this subject.
Oklahoma, California, Wyoming, Illinois, and a number of other
states, however, have passed remedial and protective measures. Un-
fortunately, in some states, the measures are rendered almost nuga-
tory through failure to provide for proper administrative machinery,
sufficient funds, or adequate penalties for violations of the law".
In Pennsylvania and West Virginia, the law requires that abandoned
wells must be plugged, but there is no competent executive officer to
see that the requirements of the law are properly complied with. In
250 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Ohio, owners of wells must notify the Salt Mine Inspector ten days
prior to the contemplated abandonment of a well so that, at his discre-
tion, he may notify a district mine inspector to be present when the
well is plugged. A man may be an efficient mine inspector but incom-
petent to supervise the plugging of an oil or gas well. Moreover,
mine inspectors, beyond the protection of the coal mines have little
interest in the protection of oil and gas sands or water and brine hori-
zons. In the California laws, there is no provision for a central exe-
cutive authority. The drilling and care of wells is left to the county
well commissioner, who is appointed at the request of three or more
oil companies operating in the country. The Indiana laws of 1903
require owners upon the abandonment of a well to plug the same ac-
cording to certain specifications and file an affidavit signed by two
witnesses, describing in detail the manner in which the well was plug-
ged. Since the law does not require that the State Natural Gas Su-
pervisor shall be notified, this official has no means of knowing when
a well is to be plugged or when the law has been violated, except
through information furnished by outside parties. ''Fly-by-night"
operators take advantage of this, '*puir' their casings, and seek
more promising fields in other states without plugging their wells.
In Wyoming, the laws prohibit the waste of oil or gas from a well
beyond a limit of thirty days, specify the manner in which wells shall
be plugged, and provide penalties and liabilities, but there is no cen-
tral authority to enforce the provisions of the law. No legal action is
taken except on the formal complaint of an interested party.
The Illinois statutes provide that all fresh water, during the drilling
and after the completion of a well, shall be kept cased off from the
oil and gas sands, in addition to the requirement that abandoned
wells shall be plugged. The law fails of its purpose as there is no
provision for adequate administrative machinery. The only protec-
tive measure in Michigan is a law requiring that, in Saginaw and Bay
counties alone, salt wells shall be plugged upon abandonment. -In
short, in none of the states do the existing laws relative to the regula-
tion of the drilling and care of oil and gas wells secure the desired
ends.
In order to fully protect the rights of all parties concerned, a law
regulating the drilling and care of oil and gas wells or other deep bor-
ings must provide for, (1) a competent administrative body having
adequate executive powers, sufficient funds and trained assistants to
properly carry out the provisions of the law; (2) definite methods of
(a) casing and protecting wells through beds of coal, clay or other
mineral deposits, and through horizons bearing valuable brine and
mineral or potable water and, (b) of plugging wells, (3) the collection
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 251
and filing of all infonnat^'on bearing on the geologic conditions, i. e.,
the character, thickness, and depth of the various formations, the
water and the oil and gas horizons, (4) the formal and accurate (a)
location and recording and (b) the formal abandonment, plugging,
and inspection of wells; (5) the coop ration of all parties concerned;
and (6) adequate penalties and liabilities for infractions of the law
and for damages.
The chief difficulties in framing a workable and satisfactory law
regulating the drilling and care of oil and gas or other deep borings
arises from the (1) conflicting interests and (2) the variety of condi-
tions which may be met. A law which will adequately protect the
coal operator and minable coal beds may work undue hardship upon
the oil and gas prospector. In some districts, there are several coal
seams, some of which are of workable thickness imder present condi-
tions and others not. The term ''workable" thickness is a relative
one. Whether a coal bed is workable or not depends upon several
factors besides that of mere thickness, viz., quality of coal, mining
and labor conditions, nearness to markets, and competition. In Wales,
veins of coal imder 14 inches in thickness and in Missouri and Kansas
beds 12 to 20 inches are operated at a profit, while in some coal fields
no beds under four feet thick are being mined. With further exhaus-
tion of the coal reserves, or with the development of new markets or
cheaper methods of mining, some of the beds too thin to mine now
may become workable.
The chum or percussion drill is generally used for oil and gas ex-
plorations, and, with this type of drill, it is very difficult to determine
the exact thickness of coal beds and many drillers pass through work-
able beds without recognizing their presence. In Michigan, there are
a dozen or more seams of coal, extremely variable in thickness and
extent. Apparently only a few of the beds contain areas thick enough
to be mined under present conditions, and these areas are very local.
From this, it follows that there is no absolute way of distinguishing
the different seams of coal, and it would be impossible in many cases
to determine what seams should be protected. To require a driller to
case off and protect each coal bed encountered would not only entail
prohibitive expense, but it would be practically impossible in many
cases on account of the size of the hole which would be required. The
same may be said of the water and brine horizons, since, in some re-
gions, there are a number of water or brine horizons, each 3rielding a
water or brine differing in quality from any of the others.
The capping of oil and gas wells within a definite time limit to pre-
vent waste may be very difficult or even impossible as in the case of
the great oil wells in the eastern Mexico fields and the gas wells of
252 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
Texas and Louisiana. It cost $3,000,000 to put out the fire and cap
the great Dos Boeas well No. 2 near Tampico. In many instances,
the plugging of a gas well too small to be operated is very difficult,
especially where the rock pressure is very high, and it may cost several
thousand dollars. To case off the salt water which occurs between
the two productive oil sands in the Midway-Sunset field of California
costs about $10,000 additional per well, yet it must be done to protect
the oil sands.
The designation of a specific method for the casing and plugging
of wells is unsatisfactory as no one method is adequate to meet the
different conditions which may be encountered in different parts of a
state, or even in the same field. A given method may secure the
desired results in one case, but may fail of its purpose- in another.
Two or more efficacious methods, however, may be outlined to meet
the conditions more commonly occurring, but certain discretionary
powers as to what coal beds and water and brine horizons shall be
protected, and what method and means are to be used in a particular
case should be given the administrative official or body, but arbitrary
power over the casing and plugging of wells should not be placed in
the hands of a single individual.
One of the greatest difficulties in intelligently applying the remedial
and protective measures of a law lies in the lack of an organized body
of information concerning the character, thickness and depth of the
(1) formations, (2) the oil and gas horizons and, (3) coal beds or de-
posits of other minerals and mineral substances having present or
possible future value. In some fields where the sands are little dis-
turbed, regular in thickness and character and continuous over large
areas, the problem of drilling and caring for wells is comparatively
simple, but in fields where the sands are numerous, variable in char-
acter, discontinuous and much disturbed, and where there are several
water bearing strata, some of which lie between the productive sands,
the problem demands the fullest knowledge of the geological condi-
tions and taxes the ingenuity of the most highly trained geologist-
engineer.
The usual penalties prescribed in the laws of the several states are
nominal fines from $100.00 to $500,00, or both fines and imprison-
ment. In those states where the maximum fine is but $500.00 and
the cost of repairing the casing of a well or of plugging a well is several
thousand dollars the fine is ridiculously small in comparison. To
obviate this difficulty some states have made the fine cumulative
according to the length of time that the offender fails to comply with
the requirements of the law.
For many years the drilling and care of oil and gas wells has been
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. . 253
the subject of much study and investigation. During the past few years
the United States Bureau of Mines has made an exhaustive study of
this subject with special reference to the danger to life and property
from drillings for oil and gas in coal territory. In order to secure
information bearing on every aspect of the subject, the Bureau of
Mines has been in the practice of conferring from time to time with
students of the subject and representatives of all interests concerned.
The information has been collected with the view of formulating and
recommending changes in the present practices in the drilling and care
of wells, and also changes in the state laws which might prove eflfective
by being '^both reasonable and enforceable." As a result of these
separate conferences, a general conference^ was held February 7 and
8, 1913, between representatives of the coal operators, the oil and gas
companies, the geological surveys of the various states, and the Bureau
of Mines of the United States. At this conference, problems, arising
particularly from the interrelations of oil and gas wells and coal mines,
and tentative suggestions for the legal regulation of drillings in coal
regions, were discussed at length. The tentative regulations were
referred to a committee of twenty composed of three representatives
from each of the interests: coal, natural gas, petroleum, state geolo-
gists, state mine inspectors, and the Bureau of Mines, together with
the president and secretary of the conference. This committee met
on March 1 and 10 and made a revision of the proposed regulations
which was presented to the general conference on March 11. The
proposed regulations as drafted by this conference are in the form of
an outline'of desirable legislation, to be developed in proper legal form
to meet the industrial needs of each state.
The essential features prescribed in the proposed regulations are six
in number, viz:
(1) Accurate and formal location and recording of wells.
(2) Cooperation of the several parties interested to obtain a safe
location.
(3) Designation of efficacious methods of casing and protecting wells
through coal beds.
(4) Formal abandonment of wells.
(5) Safe methods of plugging wells.
(6) Adequate inspection.
The proposed measure placed the administrative power in the hands
of a single individual, the Chief Well Inspector of the state, and this
is one of the objections strongly urged against it. According to R. P.
McLaughlin of the State Mining Bureau of California, experience
'Bull. No. 66, U. S. Bureau of Mines, Oil and Gas Wells through Workable Coal Beds. 1913.
"Technical Paper No. 53, U. S. Bureau of Mines. Proposed Regulations for the Drilling
of Gas and Oil Wells. O. P. Hood and G. Heggem.
254 . OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
has shown that the arbitrary power to order repairs or the abandon-
ment of a well should not be wielded by a single individual. Other
investigators hold that the control of drilling and plugging of wells
should be in the hands of a commission composed of the State Geolo-
gist, the head of the State Mining Board or Inspector of Mines, and a
third member chosen from the oil and gas operators. A second crit-
icism refers to the framing of specific regulatory measures designed
to protect coal mines and coal reserves without adequate protection
of potable waters, valuable brines and mineral waters, deposits of clay,
gypsum, limestone, shale, or other minerals or mineral substances. A
third criticism may be made as to the lack of explicitness regarding
the control of the chief oil and gas inspector over the kind of geologic
records to be kept of each drilling. This is most necessary to the
intelUgent application of. the remedial and protective provisions of
the law, and the information contained in a log made by the average
driller is far from reliable. The Chief Well Inspector should have
power to prescribe the kind of record to be kept and to demand, as
circumstances warrant, sets of samples of the well drillings and samples
of the waters and brines encountered.
In 1912-13, the Saginaw Development Company drilled a number
of wells for oil in close proximity to the salt wells in Saginaw and the
operators of salt blocks were alarmed lest these borings should be
abandoned without being properly plugged. The law reqtiires that
only those wells drilled for salt in Saginaw and Bay counties alone
must be plugged, hence the Development Company was not l^ally
bound to plug their borings upon abandonment. The company, how-
ever, of their own accord plugged all their wells which were near enough
to contaminate the brines utilized by the salt blocks along Saginaw
river.
In order to protect the fresh and mineral water, brine, coal and
other resources of Michigan from the danger of promiscuous drilling
and of improperly cased and unplugged wells, an attempt was made
during the session of the legislature of 1913 to pass a general law cover-
ing the subject of drilling and care of wells, but the bill was permitted
to languish in committee. Later, the members from the Saginaw
Valley districts introduced a bill to protect the salt industry of the
State but this also failed of passage. Michigan has no law governing
the drilling and care of deep borings, other than the salt wells in Sag-
inaw and Bav counties.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 256
APPENDIX B.
BITUMINOUS OR OIL SHALES.
Before the great oil fields of the United States and Canada were
discovered, the extraction of oil from bituminous or oil shales was an
industry of considerable importance in the United States. Prior to
the Civil War, there were 50 or 60 plants^ in the United States dis-
tilling oil from shales and coals, high in volatile and liquid hydrocar-
bons. Some of the companies imported special kinds of coal but
most of them used shale and coal from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia,
Kentucky, and Missouri. Twenty-five oil-shale plants were in Ohio
and ten in western Pennsylvania, but most of the plants in the country
were of small capacity and the greater number were hardly in opera-
tion before the discovery of the great oil fields of Pennsylvania and
other states forced them out of business. The oil-shale industry was
practically destroyed by 1865, but the operating companies in many
cases saved themselves from ruin **by converting their oil factories
into refineries, which was done with very little trouble. ' '
In Scotland*, unsuccessful attempts to extract oil from coal and
shale began more than a century ago, and in France the distillation
of shale began even earlier. James Young discovered a process of
distilling oil from bituminous and petroUferous substances and began
the distilling or refining of petroleum found in a coal pit. Later he
experimented with various coals and, finding Boghead coal or Tor-
banehill mineral suitable for distillation, began work on a commercial
scale at Bathgate, 1850. The deposit of Boghead mineral was ex-
hausted in 1862 and then the extensive deposits of bituminous shale
west of Edinburgh were utilized. The Torbanehill mineral yielded
from 116 to 125 gallons of crude oil per ton, but the black shales only
40 to 45 gallons. The oil-shale industry was carried on for many years
with varying success but, with improved methods of mining and dis-
tillation, and with more attention to the value of the by-products,
especially ammonium sulphate, now much in demand as a fertilizer,
and paraffin, the industry has become very profitable, some of the
companies paying annual dividends of 50 per cent or more.
In 1904, the production of oil shale in Scotland was 2,709,840 tons
yielding 63,000,000 gallons (Imperial) of crude oil and, in 1913
'Sir Boverton Redwood, Petroleum Mid Its Products. Vol. 1.. Ist ed., p. 14.
*R. W. Ells, Oil Shale Industry of Scotland. Mines and Geol. Survey Branches. Depart-
ment of Mines, Canada. 1910, Nos. 55 and 1107, Pt. II. p. 41.
256 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
3,150,000 tons of shale were mined from which about 65,000,000 gal-
lons (Imperial) of crude oil was obtained. From these figures it fol-
lows that the average yield of crude oil is from about 20 to 23 gallons
(24 to 28 gal., U. S.) per ton. During the same years, the average
amount of sulphate of ammonia produced per ton was from 35 to 40
pounds.
In Saxony, chiefly brown coal or an earthy lignite is used in the
distillation of oil, and the industry, began more than half a century
ago, has become very important. In 1880, the amount of lignite
mined for the production of crude oil was over 9,000,000 tons but
later statistics are not available. The oil-shale industrv is carried on
in a number of localities in New South Wales, which has some of the
largest and most important deposits in the world. The material is
called by different names, viz.: kerosene shale, torbanite or Boghead
coal, cannel and parrot coal, etc. The jaeld of crude oil per ton from
some grades is over 100 gallons.
Extensive deposits of bituminous and oil shales occur in eastern
Canada, particularly in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Quebec.
The oil shales of New Brunswick are known as the Albert shales of
the Perry formation of early Carboniferous age. The petroliferous
character of these shales led to much fruitless drilling for oil and the
high oil content of some of the bands of shale resulted in a thorough
test being made under the direction of the Department of Mines of
Canada to determine their commercial possibiUties. Some 45 or 50
tons of material were sent to the Pumpherston Oil Company near
Uphall in Mid-Calder, Scotland and the shale, upon distillation, yielded
about 48 gallons (U. S.) of crude oil and 77 pounds, of ammonium
sulphate per ton, or twice the average yield of oil and ammonia from
the Scottish shales.
The value of oil-shale depends not only on the oil but also upon the
ammonia content. The by-products, particularly ammonium sul-
phate and paraffin are the chief sources of profit. The failure of many
of the early companies was due to the fact that they recovered the
oil but not the ammonia. Investigations show, that, in general, as
the content of oil decreases, the ammonia increases. From this fact,
shales low in oil but high in ammonia can be made to yield a large
profit and the low average jdeld of 20 gallons of oil per ton from the
Scottish oil shales is due to the utilization of a greater amount of the
*'lean'' oil-shales, high in ammonia. Some of the latter yield only
10 or 15 gallons of oil but from 60 to 70 pounds of ammonium sul-
phate.
The value* of the crude oil according to 1910 prices would be $0,025
■R. W. Klls, Joint Report on Bituminous or Oil Shales of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
Mines, and Geol. Survey Branches, Dept. of Mines, Canada, Nos. 56 and 1107, Pt. I, pp. 34-36.
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 257
per gallon and of the ammonium sulphate $0.29 per pound, therefore
the value of the products of distillation, i. e., 48 gallons of oil and 77
pounds of ammonium sulphate would be $3.43 per ton. The cost of
mining the shale is estimated at $1.00 per ton and the retorting of the
shale and the manufacture of the sulphate $0.86, or a total of $1.86
per ton, giving a profit of $1.57 per ton, no allowance, however, being
made for depreciation of plant and equipment and for interest on the
capital invested. This profit may be materially increased through the
refining of the crude oil itself, especially if it is rich in naphtha, burning
oil, and paraffin.
The by-products resulting from the present methods of retorting
and refining of oil shale are numerous and there is still much chance
for improvement in methods and means of treatment. The latest
types of retorts have greatly increased the recovery of anunonia from
the shales. As stated previously, the average yield of ammonium sul-
phate for the past few years from the Scotland shales is from 35 to 40
pounds and, with the improved retorts, 60 to 70 pounds have been ex-
tracted from the same shales. The conmion products of manufacture
and their principal uses are:
1. Permanent gases, mainly used for fuel.
2. Shale naphtha used for Ughting and heating or power purposes.
3. Burning or lamp oils, especially adapted for continuous biuning
lamps.
4. Intermediate oils used for gas making.
5. Lubricating oils.
6. Solid paraffin, used for water proofing, insulation, and metal pro-
tection.
7. Still grease, used for grease making.
8. Still coke, used for fuel where smoke is undesirable.
9. Sulphate of ammonia, used chiefly as a fertilizer, especially for
the growing of sugar beets. With the exhaustion of the guano de-
posits of south America and the impending exhaustion of the nitrate
beds of Chile, ammonium sulphate is becoming of great importance
as a fertilizer, especially as it contains about 20 per cent of nitrogen, or
4 per cent more than nitrate of soda.
10. Liquid fuel — ^the acid and basic tars together with the dregs and
other residues are generally used as liquid fuels in the stills. These
tars with further refining would probably yield a number of tar pro-
ducts.
11. The oil from some shale yields vaseline, but this substance is not
contained in the Scottish oil shales.
12. "Spent*' shale. The shale after it has passed through the
33
258 OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
retort may be used in the manufacture of Portland cement, brick, and
road metal.
The future value of the bituminous or oil-shale deposits has been
recognized by the British Government and, according to reports, the
British Admiralty has purchased a large tract of oil shale in New
Brunswick to be held as a reserve for supplying the British navy with
fuel oil when the present sources are exhausted. Recognizing that
the present and growing demands made upon the oil fields of the con-
tinent must sooner or later exceed their capacity of production, the
U. S. Geological Survey has made an investigation of the oil shales of
Utah and Colorado to determine their possibilities as a future source
of oil. The results of this investigation will be issued as a bulletin,
which is now in press. According to the Press Bulletin of the Survey
of January, 1914, the tests and analyses of the oil shales of these states
show that they contain from 10 to 61 gallons of oil per ton with a prob-
able average of a barrel per ton for the better grades. This is practically
two and one-half times the average yield from the Scottish shales and
compares favorably with the better grades of shales of New Bruns-
wick. Apparently, the investigations did not extend to the nitrogen
content of the shales which, as previously mentioned, is of the utmost
importance m exploitmg oil-shales on a commercial basis smce much
of the profit comes from the ammonium sulphate, the coming sub-
stitute for the guano of South America and the sodium nitrate of
Chile.
In Michigan, there are a number of formations containing bitu-
minous or oil bearing shales. The Antrim shale, 300 to over 480 feet
in thickness, locally is composed almost entirely of black bituminous
shales. In certain parts of the State, however, it contains much light
colored shale. In Alpena and Charlevoix counties, this formation is
easily accessible &s it outcrops at a number of points and is under a
light cover of drift in many localities. Even where the drift is of
considerable thickness, as in southeastern Michigan, the shales could
be easily mined for the formation generally contains little or no water.
In the Northern Peninsula the Utica black shale is about 50 feet
thick and outcrops, or lies beneath a thin cover of drift in many places
on the east side of Whitefish river. Delta county. In the Southern
Peninsula, the formation is thicker, but is too deep to have economic
possibilities. From 1851 to 1861, near ColUngwood, Ontario, the
Utica shales were used for the distillation of oil with fair success until
the discovery of the Petrolia oil field. Numerous black shales also
occur in the Coal Measures associated with the coal beds. Some of
the coal seams are too thin or of too low grade for profitable mining,
but it is possible that the coal, usually high in volatile matter, and
OIL, AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 259
the black shales, or the bone, cannel, and ''blackjack" coals could
be mined together for their oil and ammonia content and made to
yield a substantial profit. Certain parties from New York investi-
gated the Michigan coals last year with the view of establishing a coal
and shale oil plant and reported that some of the coals high in volatile
matter were very suitable for the manufacture of oil and ammonium
sulphate, but as yet nothing has come of the project.
The amount of oil or bituminous matter recoverable as oil in the
sediments is many times that contained in the accumulations known as
pools, and, in contrast to the latter, the amount of oil in a given area
of bituminous shale can be estimated within close limits. The aver-
age yield of oil from the better grades of Colorado and Utah black
shales is estimated at 53 gallons per ton or about 71.5 gallons per
cubic yard. A square mile of such shale three feet thick would yield
over 1,800,000 barrels of oil, and 300 feet thick 180,000,000 barrels,
or more than 75 per cenl^ of the total production in the United States
for 1913.
If the oil is present in amounts of -only one per cent, a square mile
of rock 300 feet thick would contain 15,000,000 barrels of oil. While
no extended tests andanaylses have been made on the Antrim shales
to determine their average oil content, the two analyses given below
indicate that locally the content of oil is about 6 per cent, equivalent
to at least 90,000,000 barrels per square mile, 300 feet thick. In any
case, the amount of oil in the Antrim shale alone forms a reserve prac-
tically fnexhaustible which can be drawn with the exhaustion of the
oil fields of the country.
ANALYSIS ANTRIM SHALE.
Sample from a depth between 1575 and. 1700 feet in the No. 2 Assy-
ria well, Barry county. Analysis^ by a student under the direction
of M. A. Cobb, laboratory of Lansing High School, October 22, 1903.
Percent.
Moisture 6 . 595
Volatile carbon 6 .025
Fixed carbon ; 3 .95
Ash 83.435
Total 99.985
<Ann. Rept. Mich. Geol. Surv. for 1903, p. 277.
OIL AND OAS IN MICHIGAN.
ANTRIM' SHALE.
Suu)%lo fnun iK^ar Alpena, Analyst, W. H. Johnson, Alpena.
PefoeDt.
\ (tlntilo matter (water between A and 10 percent) 17.96
y\\tH\ carbon «.49
Ah)i 75.56
Total 100.00
Wiiilc there are no satisfactory analyses showing the oil content of
tho IJtica shale, the table of analyses taken from a report on the geol-
ogy of Wisconsin shows the bituminous character of the shale.
(/lay and sand
( *arDon
Ifydrof^en
Oxygen
Carbonate of lim^
Carbonate of maffiiMia
Alum . and oxide iron . .
Total
II.
34.00
6.63
0-77
/96
40.81
2.53
2.00
III.
IV.
37.26
48.27
0.61
6.99
0.88
1.13
1.71
3.39
52.60
20.30
3.42
11.48
3.20
7.99
73.57
15.03
1.65
5.39
1.29
0.76
2.79
100.48
No. I is a brownish black, very fine grained rock from Cape Smith,
Lake Huron.
No. II from an island to the north of Maple Cape, Lake Huron and
is blackish-brown, fine grained, and of earthy texture, with a laminated
structure, and contains no fossils.
No. Ill from St. Anne, Montmorency, is a dark brown shale, and
contaihs graptolites.
No. IV is from Gloucester, near Ottawa, and is a black shale filled
with fragments of trilobites and crinoids. In these analyses, the car-
bonates of lime and magnesia, with the alumina and oxide of iron,
were removed by solution in acids, and the elements of the organic
matter were determined in the Insoluble portion.
No. V is that of a pyroschist from this formation in the lead region
of Wisconsin.
Dr. T. S. Hunt's* account of the attempt to exploit the Utica shale
for oil in the vicinity of Collingwood, Ontario, gives a general idea of
its possibilities as a source of oil.
** These shales contain very variable amounts of combustible mat-
ter, and they give when distilled, besides inflammable gases, portions
of oily matter, which in the shales of Collingwood, the richest yet
*H. Reis. Clays and Shales of Michigan. Geol. Surv. Vol. VIII. Pt. 1, 1900. p. 47.
•O«»ol. Sufv. Can., 1863, p. 784.
OIL. AND GAS IN MICHIGAN. 261
examined, are equal to 4 or 5 per cent. Though the final results of
the retorting of these shales are hot now available the following de-
tails of operations at this place may be given (Geol. Can. 1863, p.
784):
In 1859, works for obtaining these oils were erected on the locaUty
of this shale, near the town of CoUingwood. Twenty-four longitudinal
cast-iron retorts were set in two ranges, and heated by wood, of which
25 cords are said to have been required weekly. The shale, broken
into small fragments, was heated for two or three hours, from eight
to ten charges being distilled in 24 hours. In this way, it is said from
thirty to thirty-six tons of shale were distilled daily, and made to
yield 250 gallons crude oil, corresponding to about three per cent of
the rock. By a further continuance of the heat, a small additional
proportion of oil was obtained from the shale; but it was found more
economical to withdraw the charge after 2J hours. The bed of shale
available for the purpose adjoins the works, and was furnished, ready
broken, at twenty-cents per ton. The cost of the crude oil from the
shale was stated by the manufacturers to be fourteen cents per gallon.
When rectified and deodorized, it gave from 40 to 50 per cent of burn-
ing oil, and from 20 to 25 per cent of pitch and waste, the remainder
being a heavy oil fitted for lubricating purposes. After two or three
unsuccessful trials, and the repeated destruction of the works by fire,
they were at last, in 1860, got into successful operation, and a ready
market was found for the oils. Data, however, is wanting to show
whether the enterprise was remunerative; and it was after some time
abandoned, partly, it is probable, on account of the competition of
the petroleum of Enniskillen, which was about that time brought into
the market in large quantities, and at a very low price. Should it,
however, at any time be found advantageous to renew the experiment
of distilling the bituminous shales of this formation, those of CoUing-
wood offer very favorable conditions, from their accessibility, and
also for the ready means of transport afforded both by the lake and
the railway.'*
The following tables largely taken and adapted from the Joint
Report of Mines and Survey Branches Nos. 55 and 1107 illustrate the
difference in the analysis and in the yield of crude oil and ammonium
sulphate from various oil shales and oil coals.
262
OIL AND GAS IN MICHIGAN.
•Moisture.
Volatile
Hydrogen.
Fixed
Carbon.
Asb.
1
t
Torbanlte, Kcotland 1
♦71.17
♦54.39
♦89.67
56.05
55.36
68.38
6.025
30.74
35.80
36.18
♦39.64
7.65
45.44
6.27
26.02
35.17
22.35
3.95
49.29
41.10
58.99
57.66
•
21.18
Aibertit«. N. B !.!.!.*.'!."!!!!!!!!.*!
0.17
Joftdja oU-Bhale. N. fl. Wales - -
4 98
New Zealand torbanlte
2.83
1.21
0.37
6.595
8.08
11.35
2.37
5,10
Kentucky Cannel Coal
8.26
Btellarite. Nova Hrotia
8.95
Antrim sbale. Barry Co
83.435
Bone coal, Hafrlnaw Valley
11.89
••Cannel" Arenac Co
11.87
St. Cbarles. Saginaw Co
2.46
EnclUh Cannel, Wlsan
2.70
♦Dry material.
The figures given in the table below refer to the U. S. wine gallons
and are the approximate equivalents of the figures given in the above
report which refer to the Imperial English gallon.
' Amroon-
Crude oil. ium
gallons. ' sulphate,
pounds.
Geo. Irving seam. N. B. (sbale retorted in Scotland)
Albert mines, N. B
Albertite, N. B
Stellarite coal, Nova Scotia
Baltimore shales, N. B
Taylorville shales. N. B
Utah and Colorado black shales
Torbanlte, Scotland
Pumpherston seams, Scotland
Union oil-coal, W. Va
Elk River oil-coal, W. Va
Kanawha oil-coal, W. Va
Wolgan and Capertee, N. S. Wales.
Kentucky Cannel coal
* ' Old Kentucky Boghead. ' '
48
77
32-58
49-«2
135
1 ^
60-150
1
65-68
36^ii2
52-57
85-101
ia-61
108-156
19-24
55^6
32
54
88 ,
120
156
In conclusion it may be stated that Michigan has an abundance of
oil-shale and oil-coal which, with the increasing demand upon the oil
fields of the country, probably exceeding their capacity of produc-
tion within a very short time, and with the exhaustion of South
American guano and nitrate deposits, will become of very great eco-
nomic importance as a source of oil and ammonium sulphate.
INDEX.
INDEX.
A.
Page
Abbotsford test well, record of 61, 62
Adrian well, Lenawee county, record of 84
Alcona county, depth of drift in 32, 205
Alcona county, gas springs in 206, 221
local dip of rock strata in 223
occurrence of oil in 221
occurrence of "shale" or surface gas in 221, 222. 225
relation of oil horizons to surface signs 221
rock formations in . 221
Albert shales. (Canada) oil content of 256. 257, 262
Algonac, anticline near 116, 124, 125
Algonac well, record of 116. 1 17
Allegan, character of Dundee " oil sand " or oil horizon at 170
explorations by the Northern Oil A Gas Co at 170. 171, 172
Allegan, Gas, Oil & Mining Company wells, record of 170, 173
occurrence of oil at 15, 170, 171, 172
structural bench or terrace at 21,41, 172
wells, records of 170, 171. 172. 173, 174
Ahna. depth of drift at 143
mineral water at 143
(Alma Sanitarium) well, record of 143, 144
Alpena county, discordant dips in 206
thickness of rock salt beds in 206
Land Company well at Grand Lake, record of 216, 217
record of Churchill well at 217, 218
wells drilled for water at 219
American Alkali Company, test well on Neebish Island for 243
Ammonium Sulphate, extraction of from oil shales and oil coals 255, 256, 257, 262
value of as a fertilizer 255, 257
yield of per ton from oil shales and oil coal 255. 256. 257, 262
Analyses of oil shales and oil coals, tables of 262
Analysis Antrim shale 269, 260
Onekama gas 203
Saginaw oil 135
Utica shale 260
Anchor Salt Co. wells at Ludington. records of 193, 194, 195
Andrews. E. B., reference to 33
Ann Arbor anticline, reference to 70, 111
wells, records of 108, 109
Anticline at Port Huron 56, 57, 58
Saginaw 19, 127, 130, 131, 134. 155
Stony Island 70. 106
Wyandotte 70, 105, 106
in Livingston county, evidence of an 163, 164
near Algonac 70, 124, 125
Ann Arbor 70, 1 1 1
Khagashewing Point 70, 207
Manistee and Stronach 202
Niles 70, 176
Anticlines, list of in Michigan 19
value of as a surface indication 49
266 INDEX.
Page
Anticlinal theory, application of the principles of 34
as a basis for guiding exploration for oil and gas 36
criticisms of 35
generalizations on 43. 44
geologic factors affecting 38
limitations of 34, 35, 38
origin of 33
publication of 33
statement of by I. C. White 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38
Antrim shale, analysis of 259, 260
bituminous content of 28, 71, 258. 259. 260
commercial possibilities of 259
depth of base of in Berrien, Caas, and St. Joseph counties 175
description of 28
gas in 82. 71
occurrence of in the Port Huron oil field 60, 64
oil in at Mt. Pleasant 146, 148
in southwestern Michigan 175. 179
Artesian water conditions in the Northern Peninsula 231
in Pickford test well 244. 245
relation of to rock pressure 45, 46
well of James Bwan, Grosse Isle 92
Ashburner. C, reference to 35, 36, 37
Asphalt, occurrence of near Rapid and Whiteflsh rivers 23
and oil, occurrence of near Rapid and Whiteflsh rivers 239, 240
Asphaltum gum, analyses of 239, 240
occurrence of in the Trenton limestone 232
Assyria, depth of Berea horizon at 163
wells, records of 153, 154
Atlanta, gas springs near 205
Atlantis wdl at Ypsilanti. record of 107
Au Sable, brine horizon at 226
wells at 226, 227
B.
Bailey, C. A., explorations of for oil at Port Huron 50. 56
oil wells, typical record of one of 57
Banner Oil and Gas Co. well at Ypsilanti, record of 107. 108
Bass Island Series (Lower Monroe), description of 25
Battle Creek wells, reference to 162
Bay City, brine horizon at 137
record of weUs at 137, 138. 139, 140
syndine 130, 135
Bayport (Maxvitle) limestone, description of 30
Bay View well, record of 208, 209
Beard's well at Abbottsford, record of 63
Bell (Marcellus) shale, description of 27, 71
Benton Harbor, depth of base of Antrim black shale at 175
Benton Harbor Natural Gas & Oil Co. well, record of 181
Benton Harbor, record of Salzman Mineral Bath Co. well at 182
Benzie county, occurrence of gas in 205
Berea sandstone, brine horizon of in Iosco county 226
Sanilac and Huron counties 67
Berea sandstone, brines of 128. 130. 133, 137, 140
depth of along Saginaw river 127. 128, 129. 130. 138, 139
at Adrian 84
Blackmar 127
Columblaville 163
Flint 142, 163
in Central Basin 136, 163
description of 28. 72
occurrence of gas in 29, 72, 128, 130, 133
Berea sandstone, exceptional thickness of at Pontiac Ill
~ 'en county, local structures in 175
INDEX. 267
Page
Berrien Springs, depth of base of Antrim black shale at 176
syncline 176
well, record of 179
Big Rapids well, notes on 152
" Big Salt*' bed, thickness of at Delray 97
Wyandotte 96
Bituminous or " oil rock, " analyses of 262
" oil rock, " occurrence of 49
"oil shales," analyses of 262
extraction of oil from 265
Blackmar, depth of Berea at 163
well, record of 141
reference to 126, 127
Black River Oil Company at Port Huron, explorations of 61
Blissfield well, record of 86
Boghead mineral or coal, extraction of oil from 255
Borings, previously published, recortfs of 16
Bradt, E., reference to 99
Braun, W. F., oil well driller, reference to 138, 146, 148, 149, 160
Braun well (Mt. Pleasant), record of 146, 148, 149, 160
Brecciation in the Monroe Formation ^ 21
of the rock strata in Presque Isle county 206
Bridgman, borings for oil near 180
Bridgraan, Oil & Gas Co. well, record of 180
Brine bearing sandstones, occurrence of in the Coldwater shale 29, 137
Brine horizon of the Marshall, depth of along Saginaw river 126, 127
Brines, character of at Midland 142
pollution of by oil and gas wells 17
abandoned salt wells along Saginaw river 248
Britton, occurrence of oil at 68
Britton well, record of 86
Brominiferous brines, occurrence of at Midland 142
Brownlee & Co. wells at River Rouge, reference to / 99
Buckley A Douglas Lumber Co. well at Manistee, record of 199
Bullock (Christiancy) quarry, Monroe county, dip of strata in 106
Bureau of Mines, U. 8., reference to 36
Burning Springs (West Virginia) anticlinal, reference to 36
By-products resulting from the distillation of oil shale, list of 267
C.
Cadillac, depth of drift at 211
Cadillac Oil A. Gas Co. well, partial record of 211
Calciferous sandstone, description of 22
California, laws regulating the drilling and care of oil and gas wells in 249, 260
Campbell, Prof. H. D., reference to 108
Campus well, Ann Arbor, record of 108, 109
Canada, occurrence of oil shale in eastern 256
Canadian Pacific Railway well at Windsor, Ontario, record of 103
Canfield & Wheeler well at Manistee, record of 197, 198, 199
Cannel coal, extraction of oil from 265, 266
Carman well at Petrolia, record of 64, 59
Caseville, salt wells at 67, 126
Casings, corrosion of in oil and gas wells 247
Cass county, local structure in 175
Central Michigan oil district defined 136
explorations in 136
geographic and geologic relations in 136
preglacial rock valley in 136
surface deposits in 136
uniformity in character of formations in 146
Central Paper Co. well of Muskegon, record of ., 186, 189, 190
Charlevoix well, record of 209, 210
Charlotte, depth of Berea horizon at 163
well, record of , 164, 1.55
268 INDEX.
Ch'eboygftn well, record of 21 1, 212
Chief well inspector, appointment and powers of 253
Chrifltiancy (Bullock) quarry, Monroe county, dip of strata in 106
Church A, Co. wells at Trenton, records of 91, 92
Churchill well at Alpena, record of 218
Cincinnati anticline.course of in Ontario 52
description of 41, 52
occurrence of oil and ^as along the 52
reference to 36, 52, 105
Clinton formation, character of in the Northern Peninsula 231
description of 24
Closed pressure in oil and gas wells, measurement of 44
Coal beds, danger to from oil and gas wells 248, 249
determination of workable 251
protection of ' 249, 250. 251, 254
Coal Measures, occurrence of oil In 165
Coal mines, danger to from oil and gas wells 248, 249
Coal mines, flooding of in Illinois 249
Coals of Michigan, content of oil in 258. 259, 262
Coal operators, antagonism of against oil and gas prospectors 249
Coal seams, difficulties of protecting workable 251
Cobb, M. A., analyses of Antrim shale by 259
Coldwater shale, brine bearing sandstones in 29, 72, 159
calcareous nature of at Charlotte 154
description of 29
Colorado, oil shala resources of 258
Columbiaville. depth of Berea at 163
Concreilons, occurrence of In Antrim shale 28
Conglomerate. " peanut," occurrence of 29
Conference for framing regulations governing the drilling and care of oil and gas wells . 253
Constantine, depth of base of Antrim black shale at 175
Constantlne well, record of 184
Comwell well at Ypsilantl. reference to 107
Cooper. W. F., reference to 137, 139
Coste, E., reference to 52
Court House well at Ann Arbor, reference to 107. 108
Courtright well. Ontario, record of 52. 55, 121
Creswell well. Saginaw, notes on 129
D.
Davis. W. W., well driller, reference to 202. 203, 204
De ta, Eaton county, depth of Berea at 163
Dundee at 157
record of well near 156, 157
Delray wells, records of 97, 98. 99, 100
Department of Mines of Canada, investigations of the commercial possibilities of the
oil shales of eastern Canada by the 256
Detroit, records of wells in 104, 106
Detroit Natural Gas Co. well. North Detroit, record of 104
River Series (Upper Monroe), description of 26
synclines along 21
Devonian formations, biiuminous character of . . . .• 49
relation of "shale" or surface gas to 49, 71, 205, 221
DeWItt, CM., mineral well at Osseo, record of 88, 89
Diamond Crystal Salt Co. wells at St. Clair, records of 121, 122, 123
Dicken's well, Samla (Ontario), rerard of , 54, 55
Dip of Dundee limestone from Osseo to Jackson 80
Dip of strata, average In the Central Basin 143, 151
Dip, Irregularities of In southeastern Michigan 106. 113, 124. 125
of strata from Detroit to Ann Arbor 106
Milwaukee across Lake Michigan 232
Petrolia to Port Huron 55
In the eastern half of the Northern Peninsula 242, 246
Monroe county 74
INDEX. 269
« Page
Dip of strata in the northern half of the Southern Peninsula 211. 216, 219, 221. 223, 227
Wayne county 106
western Michigan 189, 197
Dips, local discordant 106, 113. 124. 125. 206, 207, 219
Domes or -cross arches, definition of . . . .• 37
occurrence of oil and gas in the vicinity of . 37
saline 41
Dos Bocas oil well No. 2 near Tampico, Mexico, difficulty of capping 252
Dowagiac, depth of base of Antrim blaclc shale at 175
Dowagiac, syncline near 21
well, record of 175, 177
Dow Chemical Co. wells at Midland, records of 143
"Dry holes," danger f om 16, 247
proportion of in oil and gas fields 247
Dundee limestone, absence of at Muskegon 186
Dundee limestone, exceptional thickness of at Jackson 159
depth of at Allegan 170, 171
Alpena 216
Mt. Pleasant 136, 146, 150
Port Huron 50, 61
Valley Centre 63
in Saginaw Valley 128. 129, 130, 131
South Bay City 140
description of 26
dip of along St. Clair river • 1 14
from Osseo to Jackson 89
in Wayne county 105
gas in 32, 51
occurrence of oil in 27, 61, 71. 88. 129. 130, 131. 170, 171
sulphate bitterns or mineralized brines of 27
surface signs along the strike of 71
Dundee oil, character of at Allegan 171
character of at Port Huron 66
character of at Saginaw 135
horizon at Petrolia 63
Port Huron 50, 51. 67
well, record of 79, 81
Durand well, record of 166, 167
E.
Earseman, Wm. A., reference to 33, 34
'• Eastern" sandstope, description of 22
East Lake, records of borings at 199, 200, 201
Eaton Rapids, depth of Berea horizon at 163
well, record of 156
"Edge water," Increep of in oil and gas pools 247
Edison Power & Light Co. wells at Fort Wayne, Detroit 102, 103
Eloise or Wayne County Infirmary well, reference to 105
Emanations, relation of magmatlc to rock pressure 48
Enniskillen township (Lambton county. Ontario) local anticlines in 53
Erosion of Bayport limestone 31
Escanaba Brewing Co. well, record of 235
Escanaba Manufacturing Co. well, reference to 235
"Expansion hypothesis" of Prof. Lesley as an explanation of rock pressure 47
Fair well at Wadham's station, record of 62
Faults in Paleozoic rocks of Michigan, occurrence of 21
Ferry & Co.. D. M., weils in Oakland Co 115
Fletcher well at Alpena, reference to 219
Flint, depth of Berea at , 142, 163
well, record of . 142
reference to 126, 127, 143
270 INDEX.
Page
Ford, J. B., wells (Michigan Alkali Co.) at Wyandotte 96
Fort Gratiot township, St. Clair Co., explorations in 51, 60
Fort Wayne well (Edison Power & Light Co.), record of 102
Fowlerville, anticline near 19, 164
occurrence of oil near 31, 165
test wells near 165
Fox, Perry, reference to 172
Frankfort, records of wells at 207, 208
Franklin well at Kawkawlin, record of 141
Fresh waters, pollution of 248
Frueauff. Mr., of Ann Arbor Argus, reference to 108
Fruitport, wells at 207, 208
Garey-Casamer well No. 1 at Saginaw, notes on 128
No. 2 at Saginaw, notes on 131
Gas, accumulations of in West Virginia and Pennsylvania 34
relation of to anticlinal structures 34
analysis of 203
escape of H jS 49
geologic conditions favorable for the accumulation of 33
occurrence of at Killmaster 221, 222
Manistee 201
Onekama ' 32
Osseo 88
Port Huron 50
Saginaw 130. 133
St. Ignace 242
Stronach 202
in Antrim shale 28
Berea sandstone 28, 72, 128, 130, 133
Devonian formations 32, 71. 221
Surface deposits 32, 71, 202, 204. 221. 222, 225
vicinity of Portage Lake 202. 203, 204
near Niles 178
reservoirs, character of 34
rock pressure of in New York fields 46
sands, flooding of 247, 248, 249
seepages of 48
springs, occurrence of in Michigan 49, 71, 221
surface indications of 48. 49. 71, 85, 221
wells, necessity for the charting of 248
in Michigan, list of shale 73
Geological columns of Huron and Sanilac counties 68, 69
Survey of U. S.. investigation of oil shales of Colorado and Utah by 258
Gera (C. G. McClure) well, reference to 132. 150
Gladwin, depth of drift at 150
Gladwin, probable depth of the Dundee at 151
Gladwin well (C. G. McClure), r«cord of 150, 151
Gladstone, St. Paul A Sault Ste. Mari«» railway well at 237
Glacial drift in Michigan, thickness of 21
Globe-Blaisdell (Green Point) well, notes on 130
Goguac Lake well, record of 162
Gordon. C. H., report on Port Huron oil field by 50
Gore Bay (Manitoulin island) well, record of 246
Grand Lake well, record of 216. 217
Grand Ledge. Taber well at 156
Grand Rapids, depth of Marshall sandstone at 152
Artesian Well Co.. weU of 152
Grand Trunk Junction well, record of 58
Gravity as a factor in causing rock pressure 47
Grayling (Hanson. R.) wells, records of 213
Green Point (Globe-Blaisdell) well, notes on 130
INDEX. 271
Page
Grindstone City, salt wells at 67
Grosse Isle or Swan well, artesian flow from 92
(Swan) well, notes on 92
Guelph limestone, deecriptlon of 24
Guano deposits of South America, exhaustion of 257
H.
Hall well at Bay City, reference to 137
Hacker (Whitney or Truesdell) well at Muskegon, reference to 186
Hanson wells at Grayling, records of 213
Harbor Beach salt wells, notes on 67
Harrisville weU, record of. 222, 223
Hermansville limestone, equivalency of with the Calciferous sandstone 22
Hillsdale wells, records of 88
Hindshaw, H. R., ablation theory on the formation of the Great Lakes basins 206, 207
Hoefer, H., reference to 33
Holly, record of well at 112
Hubbard. L. L., reference to ' 15
Hunt, T. S., reference to 33
Huron county, early salt wells in 67
Huron county, geological section in 68
Hydrogen sulphide gas, occurrence of ^ . . 49
I.
Ida well, Monroe county, notes on 82, 83
Illinois, laws regulating the drilling and care of oil and gas wells in 249, 250
Imlay City well, record of 65
Indiana, laws r^n^lating the drilling and care of oil and gas wells in 249, 250
Industrial (State) School well at Lansing, record of 158
Ionia, record of well at 163
Iosco county, local dip of rock strata in 227, 228
Iron oxide, occurrence of iridescent films of 49
Ithaca well, records of 144, 145
J.
Jackson-Church well, Saginaw, notes on 129
occurrence of Berea sandstone at 159. 163
occurrence of Marshall sandstone at 159
Parma sandstone at 159
Woodville sandstone near 31
wells, records of 159, 160, 161 , 162
JacobsviUe sandstone, description of 22
Jahncke, F., well driller, reference to 228
Jason-Shumway well near Fowlervllle, record of 165
notes on 163, 164
"Junction" well at Port Huron, record of 57, 58
K.
Kalamazoo Natural Gas Co., well of 185
oil at 185
well, record of 185
Kawkawlin, anticline west of 140
brine horizon at 127
record of Franklin well at 141
Kentucky, occurrence of Boghead coal in 255
" Kerosene" shale, occurrence of in New South Wales 256
Khagashewing Point anticline 19. 207
Killmaster. gas springs at 71, 206, 221
oil and-gas at 221, 222
wells, records of 222
King's grist mill well, Samia, Ontario, record of 55
272 INDEX.
Page
LaingsbuTg, possible anticline near 164
Lake Park well (Milwaukee), record of 232
Lake Superior sandstone, description of 22
Lane. A. C, reference to 15, 126
Lansing, wells at 158
Lasalle well, Monroe county, record of 76
Laws, difficulties in the application of protective and remedial 252
in framing protective and remedial 251
in Michigan, mining 250, 254
necessary provisions of, for the protection of natural resources 250. 251
proposed general mining 253, 254
protecting coal mines and coal reserves in Ohio and Indiana, passage of 249, 250
regulating the drilling and care of oil and gas wells 249, 250
Lennard w^l at South Rockwood. Monroe county, reference to 83
Leonard. H. W., gas well at Onekama, Manistee county 202. 203
Lesley. Prof., " Expansion hypothesis" of 47
Lester & Roberts well at Marine City 117, 118
Little Traverse bay or Khagashewing Point anticline 19, 207
Livingston county, absence of Grand Rapids Group in 164
apparent anticline In 163. 164
possible absence of Marshall sandstone in 164
•• Locators" of oil bodies 6
Lockport limestone, description of 24
Lorraine shale, character of in Northern Peninsula 231
description of 23, 231
Loud wells at Au Sable 226
Louis Sands Salt A Lumber Co. wells at Manistee, reference to 201
Lower Grand Rapids series, description of 30
Magnesian (Calciferous) sandstone, description of 22
Monroe or Bass Island series, description of 25
Ludington, occurrence of oil at 193
thickness of drift at 202
salt beds at 193. 195
wells, records of 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195
Lyons Lumber Co. well at Ludington, occurrence of oil in 193
M.
MacLean's well at Bay City, reference to 137
Macomb county, explorations in 113
Madison Oil A Gas Co. well, record of 87
township (Lenawee county) well 87
Manchester well, record of 86, 87
Manistee, anticline near 19, 202
county, dip of rock strata in 197
discordance of dip in 202
list of borings in 196
presence of rock valley in 136
thickness of drift in 32, 202, 205
Manistee, occurrence of oil and gas at 200. 201. 202
wells, records of 197, 198, 199, 200
Manlstique, artesian wells at 240. 241
possibilities for the occurrence of oil and gas near 241
Manitoulin Island, Gore Bay oil well on 246
Map of salt block along St. Clair river 113
in Ludington and vicinity 19r
Wayne county ^ 91
Maroellus (Bell) shale, description of * 27, 71
Marine City salt wells, records of 117, 118, 119, 120, 121
Marinette Water Works wells, records of 234
wells, notes on 232, 233, 234
INDEX. 273
Page
Marshall brine and water horizons, description of 30, 126. 137
sandstone, depth of in central Michigan 127. 128. 130. 131. 140. 141 143,
145, 150, 152. 1.57. 159, 164, 166. 167
description of 29
•• paint rock '• in 30
Marysville well, record of 61
Mason county, thickness of drift in 32, 206
.• E. Strope well at 159
.John, reference to 137
record of well at 159
'• Mason " well at Muskegon, record of 186, 187
Maxville limestone, description of 30
erosion of 31
McClure. C. G.. well near Gera 132, 150
ciadwin 150, 151
McLaughlin, R. P., State Mining Bureau of California, reference to 253
Medina, character of in the Northern peninsula 231
formation, description of 23
oil horizon in Ontario 67, 106
Menominee wells, reference to 234
Mercer, C. F., of Northern Oil A Gas Co., reference to 172
Michigan Alkali Co., wells of at Wyandotte 96
Michigan Basin, description of 19
center of 19. 126
local folding and faulting in 19
rock formations comjirising 21
Central Oil Company, explonCtions by the 51
Development Company, wells of at Port Huron 51
Oil Company well at Muskegon, record of 188
iSalt Co., well at Marine City, record of 121
^'eries, description of 30
gypsum beds in 30
sulphate waters in 30, 248
Middle Monroe; (Sylvania). description of 26
depth of along Detroit River 92. 97, 99, 103, 105. 106
Midland (Midland Chemical Co ) brine wells, records of 1^2. 143
Midland Chemical Co., reference to l'*2, 145
well at Mt. Pleasant, record of ^*^
depth of Marshall brine horizon at ^^^
pre^lacial rock valley near ^^
salt wells 126. 142. 143
Milan well, record of 80, 81
Milwaukee, record of Lake Park well at '^'^'^
Mineral resources, protection of from oil and gas wells 250, 252. 254
waters, pollution of 17. 247, 248
well at Lansing, reference to ^^^' ^*^^
Mining laws pertaining to the drilling and care of oil and gas wells 249, 250. 253. 254
Minshall, F. W., reference to •'•*
Missouri, occurrence of oil shale and oil coal in ""'^'^
Moeller, H. F., reference to '^^^
Moench & Sons well at Alpena, reference to ^^®
Monroe county, dip of rock strata in ^*
explorations in ^*
Formation, brecciated dolomites of 21, 206. 207
Formation, description of '^^
wells at 74, 75
Montmorency county, gas springs in ^^^
thickness of drift in ^'^' ^2'^
Moore well at Monroe, record of 74 . 75
Moorman well at Ypsilanti, notes on ^^^
Morley well at Marine City, record of ^'^^
Morrice, notes on well near ^^'^
Morton Salt C:o. well at Wyandotte, record ot . • . ....... 95. 96
Mount Clemens well, record of . . 113. 1 14
35
274 INDEX.
Page
Mount Pleasant, record of Braunwell at 146, 148, 149, 150
Mount Pleasant, depth of Dundee limestone at 136
Marshall sandstone at 145
thickness of drift at 136, 147, 148
wells, records of 145. 146. 147, 148. 149. 150
Mundy-Fifield well near Saginaw, notes on 1 28
Muskegon, absence of the Dundee limestone at 186
Muskegon, evidence of an anticline near 1^
Muskegon, occurrence of oil at 186, 187, 188, 189
Muskegon, oil horizon at 186
Muskegon wells, notes on and records of 186, 187. 188. 189
Mutual Oil & Gas Co. of Detroit, proposed exploration of at Royal Oak 1 10
Napoleon sandstone, depth of in central Michigan 127, 128, 130, 131, 140, 141. 143,
145. 150, 152, 157. 159, 164, 166, 167
description of 29
"paint rock" at the base of 30
water and brine supplies of 30, 126, 137
National Salt C"o. well at Marine CMty, record of 119
Natural resources, conservation of 249
Neebish, record of test well near 243, 244
NefT, A. E., well near Rapid River, record of 239
Newaygo county, thickneiw of drift in 32, 205
New Baltimore, anticline near 19, 124. 125
well, record of 114.115
New Brunswick, occurrence of oil shale in 256
Newport well (Monroe county), record of * 82
New River (Huron county) salt wells, brine horizon of 67
New South Wales, " oil shale" industry in 256
Niagara escarpment in the Northern Peninsula • 231
limestone, character and distribution of in the Northern Peninsula 231
depth of in Monroe county 83
description of 24. 231
possibilities of as an oil horizon 231
probable depth of at Mt. Pleasant 146
Nickerson, R. A., reference to 200
Niles, anticline near 19, 175
depth of base of Antrim black shale at 175
explorations in vicinity of 178
occurrence of oil in " bastard" Trenton in vicinity of 178
Oil & Gas C;o. well, record of 179
oil horizons in vicinity of 176, 176
occurrence of oil and gas near 178
Nogard well (Monroe county), record of 79
Norn. Jas., well at Standish, record of 229. 230
North American Chemical Co. (South Bay City) well, record of 138. 139, 140
North Bay City well, record of 137. 138
North Detroit well, record of 104
Northern Lower Michigan district, bed rock geology of 205
surface deposits in 205
signs in 205
Northern Oil A Gas (^o.. explorations of at Allegan 170, 171, 172
Peninsula, artesian water conditions in 231
dip of Paleozoic formations in 231
Paleozoic area of 231
Nova Scotia, occurrence of oil shale in 256
O.
Oakland county, .ihale gas wells in Ill
Oakwooil (Detroit Salt Co.) salt Shaft, description of 99, 100, 101
flows of water in 99, 100
INDEX. 275
Page
Oakwood (Wis.) wells, notes on 233
Ohio, development of oil shale industry in 266
laws regulating the drilling and care of oil and gas wells in 249, 260
Oil, analysis of 135
analyses of ashphaltic 240
and asphalt, occurrence of 230, 240
gas fields, danger to from improperly cased or unplugged wells 247, 248
horizons at Port Huron 67
. in Alcona county 225
Saginaw Valley 128, 129, 130. 131, 132, 133, 134, 135
southwestern Michigan 176, 176
and gas, geologic conditions controlling the accumulation of 7, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39,
40.41. 42,43,44
horizons in central Michigan 136, 140, 141. 146, 149, 163. 163, 165
occurrence of in Pennsylvania 39, 40
saline domes 41
western Ontario 106, 107
operators, antagonism of to restrictive laws 249
reservoirs, description of 39, 40, 41, 42, 43
sands, flooding of 247
of Pennsylvania, character of 40
seepages of ; 48, 49
surface indications of 48
unfavorable areas for the occurrence of 7
wells, regulation of the drilling and care of . . . 16, 247. 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254
for the capping of 250, 251. 252
wells, charting of 248
menace of mining operations to 248, 249
character of at Allegan 171
Port Huron 56, 57
Saginaw 129, 135
districts and fields of Michigan 16
estimated content of in petroliferous formations 259
occurrence of at Abbottsford 62
Allegan 170, 171. 172
Kalamazoo 185
Kilhnaster 222
Ludington 193
Manistee 200
Mt. Pleasant 146
Muskegon 187, 188, 189
Ossao 188
Port Huron 5, 16, 50, 61, 66, 57
Saginaw 18, 128, 129, 131. 132, 134
films of 49
in Coldwater shale at Goguac lake 162
Ft. Gratiot township, St. Clair County 65
Monroe county 74
Saginaw formation 31
near Fowlerville 165
Niles 178
Rapid River 237
reservoirs, sealed 42
shale as a future source of oil and gas 258, 259, 262
by-products, value of 256, 257
deposits, future value of 258, 262
industry, development of in Scotland 255
destruction of in United States 255, 258
in Scotland, investigation of by the Dept. of Mines of Canada 256, 258
profits from in Scotland 255
occurrence of 18
plants in United States previous to 1860 255
production of in Scotland for 1904 and 1913 255, 256
yield of crude oil per ton from 255, 266, 258, 259, 261, 262
36
276 INDEX.
(Pi\ " mrwlkru." fffj<-rationii of 6
Hprini^ oil fleM ^Ontario), di«rav«ry of 50
wHU. fn<;nar« of abandonfyl or improperly cased 247. 248
OklMiwmt, pajwai^e of remerJial and protective oil and gas laws in 249. 2.50
Onaway. prot>able depth to Trenton at 215
f>naway« thirknem of rock salt beds at 214. 216
Onaway fPres*|u« Isle De^'elopment Co.) well, record of 214, 215, 216
Ofiekarna (I^eonard. H. Wj gas well, reference to 32
description of 202, 203
thickneNS of drift in the vicinity of 202
well, analysis of ffas from 203
Ontario, local anticlines in 52, 56, 106, 125
" Ojien pressure," definition of 44
measurement of 44
Orton, K . reference to 37, 38, 39, 41 , 45, 46
OscMida salt wells 226
(}sHf*o, oi-currcnce of oil and gas at 88
well, record of 89
Otsfffo county, thickness of drift in 32, 205
Owosso well, record of 166
P.
PabNt well near I^'xInKton, reference to 66
Pack salt wells at Oscoda 226
Paleozoic rocks, exjiosures of 21, 136, 231, 232
" Paint rock, " occurrence of In the Marshall formation 30
Parma sandstone, brine horizon of at Bay City 137
description of 31
occurrence of at Jackson 159
sulphate brines and waters of 31
•• Peanut " conglomerate, occurrence of in the Marshall formation 29
IVnaltles for the infraction of oil and jfas laws 250. 252
Pennsylvania, development of oil shale industrj- in 255
laws regulating the drilling and care of oil and gas wells in 249
Percy. T.. well driller, reference to 197
Pere Manjuette Lumber Co. salt well at Ludlngton, record of 191, 192
perry well, notes on 164
Peters, U. O ., Halt A Lumber Co. wells at East Lake, records of 200, 201
PtftOHkey well, record of 208
Petrolia oil field, discovery of 50
oil horizons in 5y
long life of 51
production of 53
rei'ord of Carman well near 5.3
*' Test well, " record of 5.3
Phillips. O. N., wells drilled in Oakland county by 115
Pirkford well, record of 244, 245
Pleistocene deposits, description of 32
occurrence of shale gas in 32, 43, 71, 72, 73, 74, 85, 109.
111. 202. 203, 204, 20.5. 221. 222. 225
Plugging of abandoned wells, methods and means of 250, 251, 252, 253
Pollution of brines, and mineral and potable waters 17, 247, 248
Pontiac well, reference to 105
Pontiac Natural Gas & Oil Co. well at Pontiac, record of Ill, 112
Portage lake (Manistee county), list of surface gas wells in vicinity of 204
occurrence of gas in vicinity of 202, 203
Port Austin salt wells, reference to 67
Port Crescent salt wells, reference to 67
Port Hope salt wells, reference to 67
Port Huron, anticline 19, 56, 57, 66, 67
Bailey oil wells in 56
explorations in the vicinity of 50, 51. 56. 57, 58, 59, 60. 61, 62, 65, 66
INDEX. 277
Pag«
Pori Huron oil field, reference to 5
early history and development of 50, 51
horizon at 50, 53, 67
possibilities for the onmrreiice of oil near 67
Salt Co. well, record of 59. 60, 61
Potsdam (Lake Superior) sandstone, description of 22
Potter oil well, Monroe county 74
Pre-Cambrian roclcs, depth of at Escanaba 235
Marinette (Wis.) 233, 234
Neebish 243, 244
Rapid River 237, 238
near Stonington, Delta county 235, 236
Prescott well, record of 228, 229
Presque Isle county, thickness and depth of rock salt beds in 206, 214
Development Company well at Onaway, record of 214, 215, 216
Projects, " community " oil and ga? 6
Promoter, the role of the profe.>).4ional 6
Pumpherston Oil Company near Uphall in Mid-Calder, Scotland, test of oil shales by. 256
Q.
Quebec, occurrence of oil shales in the province of 256
R.
Ralston well, (Bay county), anticlinal fold in Coal Measures near 127, 141
reference to 127
Rapid River, artesian wells near 237. 238, 239
depth of pre-Cambrian rocks in the vicinity of 237, 239
occurrence of oil near 237
test wells for oil northeast of 237, 238, 239
Records of deep borings, reference to 15
Regulation of the drilling and care of oil and gas wells 16, 247. 249, 250, 251, 252, 253. 254
Reservoirs, cause of rock pressure in 45, 46, 47, 48
forms of oil and gas 39, 40, 41, 42, 43
sealed reservoirs 42
Richter Brewing Co. (Escanaba) well, record of 235
Richmond shale, description of 23
Richmond ville sandstone, brines of 67, 228
Richmond ville sandstone, occurrence of 29, 152, 228
Riga well (Monroe county) , reference to 83
River Rouge, salt wells in 99
Rochester shale, character of in the Northern Peninsula 231
description of 24
Rock pressure, abnormal in New York gas fields 46
causes of 46, 46, 47, 48
defined 44
measurement of 44
structures in the Port Huron field 56, 57
southeastern district 70, 71. 105, 106, 107, 124, 125
western Michigan 172
Ontario 52, 53
Romeo well, record of 1 15, 1 16
Romlnger, C, publication of well records by 15
Romulus township (E. Twark) well, Wayne county, record of 92, 93
Round Oak Gas & Fuel Co. well at Dowagiac, record of 177
Roscommon, fraudulent exploration for oil at 214
Royal Oak, proposed test well of the Detroit Mutual Oil & Oas Co. at 110, ill
well, record of 109. HO
Ryerson-Hills well at Muskegon, record of 1^6, 187
S.
Saginaw anticline 19, 126. 127. 130, 132, 134, 135
Formation, des'^ription of 31
occurrence of oil in 1^^
27H INDEX.
• Asu(\ttzw oil," analjriilji of I*-'*
f\»M» Tt^t^ante to 126
Kaiclnaw. <tfniTTfwtt <if %•» at 128, 130, 133. 135
oil at 15, 128. 129. 130. 131, 134. 135
"Haclnaw narwJ." r«?f#jr«i«» to 45. 128, 131. 133, 134
HfMcMiaw Vall^-y Il#jv<'lofmi«jril C'o., organization of 126
wHI No. 1 (Mundy-Fifleld) 128
No. 2 (Garey-Casamer No. 1) 128
No. 3 (Jackson-Church) 129
No. 4 (Cresswell) 129
No. 5 (Watson) 129. 130
No. 6 (Green Point or GIobe-Blaisdell) 130
No. 7 (Garey-Caaamer No. 2) 131
No. 8 (Lawndale) 131
No. 9 (Mershon) 131, 132
No. 10 (Ring) 132
Ht. Clair Halt wMlii. records of 121. 122, 123
Ht, lKna/«. recrord of wells at 242. 243
IienlriMula, dip of rock strata In 242
water supplies in 242
Ht. Johns municipal wells, records of 167, 168. 169
depth of the Marshall at 167
Ht, Joseph county, rock structure In 175
(Vincent and Blake) well, record of 184
Ht. Joseph's Island, test well on 243
Ht. Umis, preglftclal rock valley near 136
wells, reference to 1^*
Ht. Peters sandstone, description of 22
Halfna formation, description of 25
Hallne domm, tlescrlptlon of *1
as oil reservoirs ^^
Halt beds, character an<l distribution of 25
occurrence of alouR Detroit river 91, 92, 95, 96, 97, 99, 106
Ht. Clair river 58, 69, 117, 121
at Ludlngton 193, 195
in Alpena county 206
Manistee county 196, 199, 200. 201
Presque Isle county 210
southern limit of in Wayne county 91, 92
Halt bbM-ks in the vicinity of Ludington, map of, 191
Manistee, map of 197
In Wayne county, map of , 90
Halt Industry in Michigan, laws protecting the 250, 254
Halt wellJ», distribution of along Saginaw river 1 26, 127, 131
in Hanllac and Huron counties 67
Hands, Louis, Lumber Co. salt wells at Manistee, occurrence of gas in 201
Sandstone reservoirs, sealed in by shale 42
Hanllac county, early salt wells in 67
geological section in 69
Saxony, extraction of oil from lignite in 256
Salzman Mineral Bath Co. well at Benton Harbor, record of 182
Harnia township, Lambton county, Ontario, explorations in 53
Schemes, fraudulent oil and gas 6
.Schoolcraft, E. J., of the Michigan Development Co., reference to 56
Scotland, development of oil shale industry in 255
Sealed oil and gas re8erv.oirs 41, 42
Seepages of oil and gas. significance of 48
♦•Shale" gas, occurrence of 48, 49, 70. 72, 73, 85, 111, 202, 203, 204, 205, 221
Shaw well near Port Huron, record of 66
.Sherzer. W. H., reference to 70
Sibley quarry, discordant dip of strata in 106
Signs of oil and gas 48, 49, 70, 205, 221
Sinks, limestone, in Alpena and Presque Isle counties 206
Slumping of strata in abandoned coal mines 248, 249
\
INDEX. 279
Page
Slumping of strata, superjacent to the salt beds 207
Smith salt wftlls at Oscoda 226
Smith, Wallis Craig, of the Saginaw Valley Development Co., reference to 126
Solvay Process Co. wells at Delray, records of 97, 98, 99, 100
*■ Sour" waters of the Gulf Coastal Plain, reference to 49
South Bay City (North American Chemical Co.) well, record of 138, 139, 140
Southeastern district , defined 70
anticlines in 106, 124, 125
South Lyon, record of well at 112
South Rockwood, record of Lennard well at 83
Standish well (Jas. Norn), record of 229
Steams Salt & Lumber Co. well at Ludington, record of 193
Stephenson, S. M., wells at Menominee, reference to 234
Stock, G. B., explorations for oil at Port Huron by 51
Xylite Grease & Oil Co. of Port Huron, reference to 56
wells, typical record of 57
Stonington, depth of pre-Cambrian rocks near 235, 236
Stonington, A. Wagner explorations near 235, 236
Stony Island, anticline at 19, 106, 107
Strasburg well (Monroe county), record of 76, 77, 78
Stroh's Brewery well, Detroit, record of 104
Stronach, (Manistee county), anticline near 202
Lumber Co. wells, reference to 201, 202
occurrence of oil and gas at 202
Strope, E., well at Mason, reference to 159
Structural ** benches, " occurrence of 41, 172
Structures governing oil and gas accumulations 39, 40, 41, 42, 43
Sunbury shale, description of 29, 72
Surface deposits, depth of in Central Michigan . . . ' 32, 136
Northern Lower Michigan 32, 205
Mason and Manistee counties 32, 202
Swan. Jas., artesian well, Grosse Isle, reference to 92
Sweitzer well. Port Huron, record of 66
Syncline at Bay City 130, 135
Port Huron 62, 67
St. Clair 121, 125
near Chatham, Ontario 125
Berrien Springs 175
SyncUnes in Michigan, reference to 21
Sylvania sandstone, depth of at Ann Arbor 109
Delray 97
Detroit 102, 106
Dundee 80
Grosse Isle 92, 105
Mt. Clemens 114
lliver Kouge 99, 105
Royal Oak 110
Trenton 91, 105
Windsor, Ontario 103, 106
Wyandotte 94, 95, 105
Ypsilanti 108
in Oakwood salt shaft 101
T.
Taber well at Grand Ledge, record of 156
" Tannery" well at Alpena, reference to 219
Tawas City well, record of 227, 228
Terumseh Salt Co. salt wells. River Rouge, reference to 99
Terraces or arrested anticlines, occurrence of 41
Test holes, necessity for the charting of 248
Torbanehill mineral (torbanite), occurrence of in Scotland 255
/
280 INDEX.
Page
Traverse Formation, rlesrrtptlon of 27
occurrence of gas in 32. 50
oil in 71, 128. 129, 135
thickness of in the northern part of the Southern peninsula 216
Trenton, " bastard," reference to 88, 178
Umestone, character, thickness and distribution in the Northern Peninsula . . 23, 231,
232, 237, 239
<lepth of along the crest of the Cincinnati aiticline 52
depth of at Monroe 74
Dundee ' 79, 80
Lasalle, Monroe county 76
Strasburg, Monroe county 76, 77
in the *' Potter" well, Monroe county 74
Wyandotte 93
description of 22
exposures of 232
probable depth of at Mt. Pleasant 136
Onaway 215
Port Huron 59
occurrence of asphaltuin "gum" in the 232
oil formation 23, 67
(Church & Co.) welLs. record of 91
Twark, Emil, well near Romulus, record of 92, 93
U.
Umholz Oil Co. well near Berrien Springs, reference to 179
Unconformity at the top of the Bayport or Maxville limestone 30
United Alkali Co. wells in River Rouge, reference to 99
Unite<l States Bureau of Mines, reference to 253
development of oil shale industry in the 255
Geological Survey, investigations of the oil shales of Colorado and Utah
by the 258
Unplugged wells, danger to oil and gas sa!ids from 247, 248
Upper Monroe or Detroit River series, description of 26
Utica shale, «lescription of 23
distillation of oil from 260, 261
character, thickness, and distribution of in the Northern Peninsula 231
exposures of 23, 231
oil content of 258, 260
V.
Valley Centre well, Sanilac county, record of 63, 64
Vincent A Blake well in St. Joseph, record of .« 184
Virginia, occurrence of oil shale and oil coal in 255
W.
Wadham's station, record of the Fair well at 51, 62
Wagner. A., explorations of near Stonington 235, 236
Wullaceburg well (Ontario), record of 124
Washtenaw county, anticline in • 164
explorations in 107
Water, flooding of oil and gas fields by 247
occurrence of in oil and gas fields 247
Watson well at Saginaw, reference to 129, 130
Wayne county, dip of strata in 105
Wells, F. L.. test hole at Port Huron, record of 50, 57, 58
Wells, unplugged or improperly cased 16, 247, 248
W('st Virginia, laws regulating the drilling and care of oil and gas wells in 249
White, I. C;., anticlinal theory of 33
reference to 35, 37, 38. 39. 45
White Cloud, depth to bed rock at 136
INDEX. 281
Page
White Pigeon, depth of base of Antrim black shale at 175
Oil & Shale Gas Co., well of 182, 183
well, record of 183
Rock, salt wells at ! . . 67
Whitney or Truesdell well at Muskegon, reference to 186
Winchell, A. , publication of well records by 15
Windsor wells, Ontario, records of 103
Woodville sandstone, description of 31
Woodworth (Jackson) well, record of 161
Worthington & Cooley Mfg. Co. well (Jackson), record of 160
Wyandotte anticline 19. 105, 106
wells, records of 93, 94, 95, 96
Wylie well at Saginaw, reference to 127, 128
Wyoming, laws regulating the drilling and care of oil and gas wells 249, 250
Y.
Young. Jas., discovery of method for distillation of oil from bituminous shales by. . . . 255
Ypsilanti wells, records of 107, 108
Ypsilanti Development Co., well of . ^ 108
Z.
Zug Island well, Detroit river, record of 99
■"ids di« its «»I1
4
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