OIL AND GA:p;iy]£LDlNG FORMATIONS OP SAmM^mMMA.,QQ U,NI IE s '.'.'•'. 'Vi- v.'*'/ '|gvJi^^|JS^MtS,Mi'Sv; •■/■'.'''i'^yV'' l:«'^S;^'^iiP^^S^#-^ ■^^ci>^: 1 ^•■••.^••.v •.-/•: THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS 2^ / ,,,/ ?f. /f <^«^j^^y^ ^ (liuf2U^/^f7 < o CALIKORNIA STATE IVIININO BUREAU. J. J. CRATATTORD, State Mineralogist. BULLETIN NO. 11. San Francisco, December, 1896. OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORMATIONS OF Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties. PART I By W. L. watts, M. E., Field Assistant. A. J. JOHNSTON, : SACRAMENTO: : : : superintendent state printing. 1897. LIBRARY iJNlYERSiTY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS LETTI'lR OF TRANSMITTAL. California State Mining Bureau, ) San Francisco, December 1, 1896. \ To Hon. J. J. Crawford, State Mineralogist : Dear Sir: In accordance with your instructions of September 9, 1894, I have investigated such portions of the oil-yielding districts on the west side of the Coast Range, and south of the Sierra Madre range, as has been possible in the time at command. I hope to complete our investi- gations during the next two years. In this bulletin the following oil-fields are described: In Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles City and the Puente oil-fields. In Ventura County, the Sespe district and the oil districts north of Santa Paula. In Santa Barbara, the Suramerland oil-field and the petroleum-yielding formations in the southeast corner of the county. I speak only of localities wherein I have obtained geological evidence concerning the relation of the exposed rocks to oil-yielding strata. Some of the streams and mountain peaks mentioned in this bulletin are not shown on the Land Office maps. In such instances, the names used are those by which such streams and peaks are best known locally. The facts stated, and deductions made, concerning the different localities mentioned, speak for the time at which such localities were visited. Allow me to take this opportunity of returning thanks to the following gentlemen who have rendered valuable assistance in the work which is the subject of this bulletin: General K. H. Wade, G. W. Parsons, E. Wright; County Surveyor J. B. Hawley, C.E.; the officers of the Los Angeles City Waterworks; J. S. Maltman, President, and others of the Capital Crude Oil Co.; L. Stewart, President, and others of the Union Oil Co.; F. C. Garbutt; the officers of the Los Angeles Oil Exchange; Messrs. Doheny & Connon — (all of Los Angeles); G. C. Power, County Surveyor of Ventura County; A. S. Cooper, C.E., of Santa Barbara; H. T. Doulton and H. L. Williams, of Summerland, Santa Barbara County, and many other gentlemen of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. Yours respectfully, W. L. WATTS. CONTENTS. Page. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL iii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS x PART I.— LOS ANGELES COUNTY. Chaptbr L GEOLOGY, LIST OF WELLS, PRODUCTION, ETC 1-13 [The figures refer to the paragraphs under each Part and Chapter.] Output and location of oil-fields in Los Angeles County, 1 ; The rocky formations at Los Angeles and vicinity, their character and geological age, 2-4 ; Exposures of oil-yielding formations, 5 ; The Maltman and the Ruhland wells, 6 ; Formation and fossils near Ruh- land wells, 7 ; Formations north of the Ruhland and the Maltman wells, 8; Ivanhoe, 9; Hills between Ivanhoe and the Los Angeles River, 10; The Hunter tract, 11 ; Formations between East Los An- geles and Pasadena, 12; Character and age of formations west of Los Angeles, 13-14; Temescal Canon, 15; Geological structure at Los Angeles, 16-17; History of Los Angeles oil-field, 18; Rocks pene- trated by oil-wells at Second-Street I'ark, 19-20 ; Sections across west end of oil-field and thickness of oil-sand, 21-22; Experiments by T. B. Hawley, C.E., on absorbent power of sand, 23 ; Approximate esti- mate of contents of oil-sand, 24 ; Strike of oil-line, outlook westward, 25; The outlook to the eastward, 26; Wells in East Los Angeles, 27; The best direction in which to prospect, 28 ; At Los Angeles the specific gravity of the oil increases with the depth, 29; Cost of drilling at Los Angeles, statement of Los Angeles City oil-wells,for 1895, 30. II. PIPE-LINES AND TANKAGE 13-14 Pacific Oil Refinery and Supply Co., 1 ; Union Oil Co., 2 ; Daily yield of Los Angeles wells, 1895-96, 3; Oil on hand, March to July, 1896,4; Decrease in yield, 5; Gas at Los Angeles, 6; Tankage, 7. III. ABANDONED WELLS 14-17 Why unsuccessful, 1 ; Alison & Barlow, 2 ; Angelina Heights, 3 ; Boyle Heights, 4; Bryant & Co., 5; Chance, 6; Chandler, 7; Denker, 8; Dunkleberger, 9; Eureka Oil Co., 10; Fudicker, II; Gasson, 12; Green Meadow ranch, 13; Hoag it Silent, 14; Johnson, 1.5; La Brea ranch, 16; Wells between La Brea and La Cienega, 17; Lookout Mountain, 18; Mcintosh, 19-20; Well near River Station, 21 ; Obar, 22 ; Okell & Barber, 23; Oregon Oil Co., 24; Perkins, 25; Polhemus, 26; Thompson Bros., 27 ; Sisters' Hospital, 28 ; Union Oil Co.'s, 29 ; Villa Tract wells, 30; Wilmot & Holden, 31 ; Wilshire, 32. IV. MISCELLANEOUS WELLS 17 Benedict ranch, 1 ; Ilellman ranch, 2 ; Maier & Zobelein, 3 ; Protestant Orphan Asylum, 4; Reynolds & Wiggins, 5; Rosencrantz, 6; United States Hotel, 7. VI CONTENTS. Chapter V. THE PUENTE OIL-WELLS 18-21 Puente Hills: where situated, geological structure, formation at base of, 1; Formations in higher portions of Puente Hills, 2; Age of for- mations at base of Puente Hills, 3; Points where petroleum is found, 4; Location of Puente wells: number, depth, and yield, 5; Structural geology at Puente Gulch, 6-7 ; Table showing depth, life, etc., of Puente wells, 8 ; New wells drilled by Puente Oil Co., gas at Puente wells, 9 ; Pipe-lines, 10; Brea Canon, geology of, 11; Brea beds, 12; Chandler wells, 13 ; Comparison of formations at Brea Canon and at Los Angeles, 14. VI. DISTRICTSNOT YET VISITED— PETROLEUM STATISTICS 21 Bluett & Mullen wells, 1 ; Central Oil Co.'s wells, 2 ; Pico oil-wells, 3 ; Union Oil Co., 4 ; Petroleum statistics of Los Angeles County for the year 1895, 5, PART II.— VENTURA COUNTY. I. GEOLOGY, DISTRICTS, WELLS, ETC 22-38 The Sespe district, its position and topography, 1-2 ; Structural geol- ogy of Sespe district, the Redstone Peak anticline, the Cold Water anti- cline, Eocene rocks, 3-4 ; More recent Tertiary strata, anticlines die out, 5-6; Faults in formation, 7-8 ; Influence of faults on the strati- graphy and topography, formations north of the Sespe district, 10; Remarks on structural geology of Sespe district and vicinity, 11; The most recent Tertiary formations in Sespe district, 12 ; Dark-colored shales at Tar Creek, their geological horizon, the uppermost oil-yield- ing formation in the Sespe district, 13-15 ; No marked non-conformity, the Sespe brownstone formation, building-stone, Henly quarry. Men- tone Brownstone Co.'s quarry, 16; Breadth of outcrop, underlying rocks. Eocene rocks, 18 ; Springs of warm water and oil, 19 ; Oil-springs in Eocene rocks, 20 ; Agua Blanca Creek, 21 ; Little Sespe petroleum mining district, metes and bounds, 22; Groups of wells in Little Sespe mining district, 23; Wells at Tar Creek, 24; Wells at Four Forks, 25; The Brownstone (Los Angeles) group of wells, 26-27; Kentuck wells, 28-29; Well of the California Oil Co., strata pene- trated, yield, etc., 30-31; The Devil's Gate oil and brownstone min- ing district, metes and bounds, geological formations in, 32; Oil districts northwest of Santa Paula, oil-wells and oil-tunnels, topog- raphy, 33; Structure of mountains northwest of the Silverthread oil- wells, west extension of Cold Water anticline. Eocene formations of Mount Cayetana, position of the Silverthread oil-wells, 34 and 35 ; Ter- tiary formations south of the Silverthread oil-wells, oil-wells south of the Sulphur Mountains, 36 ; The Jones (O'Hara) wells, structure of east end of Sulphur Mountains, 37; Geological structure of oil districts northwest of Santa Paula, valleys frequently coincide with axes of anti- clines, solfataric action, 38; Relative position of oil-wells and oil-tun- nels, strike of the formation, cross-section showing stratigraphy through oil districts northwest of Santa Paula, Eocene formations, 39-40; Oligo- cene formations, 41; Bleached shales, 42; Line showing solfataric action, 43; Formation on southwest slope of Mount Cayetana, solfataric line marks a fissure or fault, position of productive wells and tunnels south of Sulphur Mountains, wells on Sulphur ^fountains, 44; Dark- colored shales on north slope of Sulphur Mountains, evidence of faults in Sisar Valley, 45; Rocks penetrated by wells on south side of Sul- phur Mountains, position of wells with regard to axis of fold, 46; Tun- • nels showing bleaching to be Superficial, fossils from tunnels, 47; Forma- tions exposed on Santa Paula Creek and south of Mount Cayetana, 48; CONTENTS. Vll Page. Chaptbr I, Part II — Continued. The Silverthread oil district, 49; Oil-springs north of Sisar Creek, Eocene fossils north of Silvertliread wells, formation at Silverthread wells probabl^y Oligoceiie, rock exposures unsatisfactory, 50 ; Faults in Silverthread district, deductions hazardous, 51 ; Bard wells, table show- ing life and yield of wells, 52; Capital Crude Oil Co.'s wells, strata penetrated, 53 ; Union oil Co.'s wells, three kinds of oil, 5-1 ; Oil-wells south of Sulphur Mountains, 55 ; Adams Canon wells, 56 ; Aliso Canon wells, 57; Salt Marsh Cafion wells, 58; Scott ct Cilniore wells, 59; Wheeler Canon wells, gas yielded by wells northwest of Santa Paula, • 60; Jones (O'Hara) wells, 61 ; Records of Jones wells, 62; Formations east of Jones wells, 63 ; (irayham well, 61 ; Total yield of oil-wells north- west of Santa Paula, 70. II. OIL-TUNNELS — . ._ 39-45 Rocks penetrated by productive oil-tunuels, 1 ; Oil-yielding strata, character of, oil and water, gas, method of illumination, cost of tunnel, method of collecting oil, 2; Pinkerton tunnel, 3; Pinkerton middle tunnel, 4; Jefferson tunnel, 5; Tunnel northwest of Jefferson tunnel, 6; Orne tunnel, 7 ; Adams (old) tunnel, 8; Tunnel northeast of Orne tunnel, 9 ; Good & Irwin tunnel, 10 ; Good lower tunnel, 11 ; Good mid- dle tunnel, 12; Good upper tunnel, 13; Portion of the Magie and the Farrell & Kimball tunnels, 14 ; Magie tunnel No. 6, strata penetrated, fossils, 15; Magie tunnel Xo. 3, 16; Magie tunnel No. 1, 17; Magie tun- nel No. 4, 18; Solfataric action, formation north of Magie tunnels, 19; Farrel & Kimball west tunnel, formation penetrated, 20 ; Formation at end of tuiinel, 21 ; Fossils from Magie and Farrell & Kimball tunnels, 22; Water-blast for ventilating tunnels, 23; Tunnels in middle fork of Salt Marsh Cailon, 24 ; Adams Canon tunnel, 25 ; Major Moultre tun- nel, formation penetrated, 26 ; Wheeler Canon tunnel, 27 ; Parker & Orne tunnel, 28 ; Yield of oil-tunnels northwest of Santa Paula, grand total from wells and tunnels, 29. III. GENERAL REMARKS ON OIL-FIELDS OF VENTURA COUNTY. 45-47 Yield of parallel tunnels penetrating similar strata frequently dis- similar, under some conditions similar oil obtained, principal source of oil crevices in the rocks, 1; Some wells close together, yet yield dis- similar, some reasons suggested, rocks penetrated by productive wells northwest of Santa Paula are of similar geologic horizon to the rocks j)enetrated by the welJs at Tar Creek, Four Forks, Brownstone, and Kentuck, 2 ; Oil districts in Ventura County yet to be investigated, 3; Bardsdale wells, 4; Eureka Oil Co.'s, 5; Fortuna wells, 6; Torrey Canon wells, 7 ; Petroleum produced in Ventura County during 1895, 8 ; Union Oil Co.'s pipe-lines, 9. PART III. GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS AND PETROLEUM INDUSTRY IN PORTIONS OF VENTURA AND SANTA BARBARA COUNTIES ..48-57 Extent of bleached Miocene shales, Brea Canon (Weldon) asphalt mine, 1; Formations exposed along the Ventura River between Canada del Laga and Ventura, Ventura Asphaltum Co.'s mine, 2; Solfataric action near Rincon Creek, remarkable chemical action described by A. S. Cooper, C.E., 3;' Character of shale near Carpinteria, 4; Fissures in shales tilled with bitumen, shales interstratified with bituminous sand, 5; Late Pliocene or Quaternary formation, 6; Eocene formations in Santa Ynez Mountains, 7; Bituminous deposits in Santa Barbara County, Vlll CONTENTS. Page. Chapter I, Part III— Continued. I'unta Gorda asphalt mine, analysis of asphalt from, 8 ; Rincon asphal- tum mine, 9; Character of deposit, 10; Bituminous sand near mouth of Rincon Creek, 11; Las Conchas mine and asphaltum works, descrip- tion of plant, 12; Geological formations at Cari)iiiteria, artesian area, oil in alluvial formations, 13; The Summerland oil-field, geology of, extent of oil-field, 14; Alameda and Santa Barbara Development Co.'s wells, 15; Backus (t Craven wells, 16; Cole's wells, 17; Dewlaney's wells, 18; Doulton & Wilson wells, 19; Fischer wells, 20; Forrester & Treadwell wells, 21; Loomis wells, 22; Moore wells, 23; Stevens ife Roberts wells, 24; Williams wells, 25; General character of formation penetrated at Summerland, 26 ; The sand-box, 27 ; Gas-wells at Sum- merland, 28; The Cone wells, 29; The Darling Bros, gas wells, 30; Oil-wells near Summerland, the Occidental oil-wells, 31 ; Santa Monica Oil Co.'s wells, 32; Statistical report of Summerland oil-wells for 1895, 33; Geological horizon of petroleum-yielding formations in the por- tions of Santa Barbara County which are described, 34. II. SUMMARY 57-60 Object of this bulletin, 1; Further investigation needed, deductions from evidence obtained, 2 ; Geological horizon of oil-yielding forma- tions at Los Angeles, 3; At Puente, 4 ; Upper oil-yielding formation in Sespe and Silverthread districts, 5; Lower oil-yielding formation in Sespe and westward therefrom, 6; The Santa Monica and Occi- dental oil-wells, 7; Geological horizon of Summerland oil-field unde- termined, 8 ; Table showing oil-fields visited and the geological horizon to which they may be referred, 9; Petroleum deposits classified, 10; Primary deposits, 11; Secondary deposits, 12; Evidence of primary deposits, 13; Oligocene deposits probably primary, 14; As yet insuffi- cient evidence to determine whether Los Angeles, Puente, and Sum- merland deposits are primary or secondary, 15; Secondary deposits in Santa Barbara County, 16 ; Review of structural conditions of deposits named, 17; At Los Angeles, 18; At Puente, in the Sespe district, 19; At Sulphur Mountains, O'Hara oil-wells and Silverthread district, 20; Prevailing structure compresses anticlinal folds, 21; No attempt to force conclusions, hence few deductions, 22; More time necessary to complete the investigation of the California oil-fields, 23. PART IV.— MISCELLANEOUS. I. REFINERIES IN LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES-.. 61 Asphaltum and Oil Refining Co., 1; Clark, Johns & Co., 2; Oil- Burning Supply Co., 3; Puente Oil Co.'s refinery, 4 ; Union Oil Co., 5. 11. DRILLING MACHINERY USED IN LOS ANGELES 61-63 Drilling machinery used in Los Angeles, 1 ; The St. Louis rig, 2 ; The Star rig, 3; The Standard rig, 4; Cost of drilling at Los Angeles, 5; I>iameter of casings used, 6; Cost of casings, 7; Price of labor during 1895,8; Pumps, 9; Allen's patent pumping rig, 10; Fuel used at Los Angeles oil-field, 11. III. OIL AS FUEL AT LOS ANGELES.... 63-G6 Comparative tests, coal versus oil on the Southern California Rail- way, 1; Gravity of oil used and cost per mile of travel, 2; Further comparisons as to relative value of coal and oil, description of burners, tests by the Los Angeles Electric R. R. Co., tests by the Los Angeles Steel and Iron Co., 3 ; Tests at the court-house at Los Angeles, 4 ; Tests by the Los Angeles Pressed Brick and Terra Cotta Co., 5 ; Tests by the California Sewer Pipe Co., 6 ; Comparison of tests, 7 ; Calorimetric tests CONTENTS. IX Page. Chapter III, Part IV— Continued. made in the laboratory of the California State Mining Bureau on oils of different specific gravities, 8; Laboratory tests compared to i)racti- cal use, 9 ; Table showing relative fuel value by laboratory experiment and practical working on the railroad, 10; One pound of oil compared to one pound of oil, 11 ; Probable reason why practical working on the railroad gave somewhat higher results, 12; Calorimetric experiments on coal and oil by Prof. Stillman in the laboratory of the S. P. II. K., 13. IV. FRACTIOXAL DISTILLATIONS 67-72 Table of fractional distillations, 1; Table of, by W. D. Johnston, 2; lieview of tables, 3; Distillations at temperatures above 350° C, 4 ; Remarks on distillations at temperatures above 350° C, 5. RESUME OP ORIGINAL RESEARCHES, ANALYSES, AND REFINING METHODS OF PETROLEUM, MAINLY FROM THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES OF CALIFORNIA. By Frederick Salath^, Ph.D. Origin and elementary analysis of petroleum 73 Chemical constitution and hydrocarbon series of Ventura and Los Angeles County crude oils 74-75 Fractional distillations and yields of various Southern California crude oils 76 Fresno County crude oil, from Coalinga 77 Diagram showing products of distillation and redistillation 78 TABLE OF FOSSILS. Identified by Dr. J.G.Cooper 79-87 ATLAS OF SKETCH MAPS AND CROSS-SECTIONS. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. Fig. 1. Oil-wells at Second-Street Park, Los Angeles ...Frontispiece 2. Contorted strata, Temescal Canon 5 3. Puente oil-wells. 5 4. Geological section of Los Angeles oil-wells 7 5. Geological section of Los Angeles oil-wells 7 6. Mount Cayetana and Santa Paula Canon 22 7. Valley of Santa Clara River, Sulphur Mountains, etc 22 8. Cross-section through Devil's Gate Mining District 22 9. Slaty shale. Sulphur Mountains 25 10. Dark-colored shale, Tar Creek 25 11. Oil-wells penetrating dark-colored shale, at Tar Creek 26 12. Seepages of heav3'oil from iissures in sandstone. 26 13. Cross-section, Redstone Peak to Agua Blanca Creek 26 14. Sespe brownstone 33 15. South slope of Sulphur Mountains 33 16. Oil-spring, Sisar Valley 35 17. Stream of maltha, Sisar Valley 35 18. Oil-tunnels: Good, Pinkerton, etc 40 19. Formations penetrated by the Pinkerton tunnels 40 20. Oil-tunnels: Magie, Farrell, etc 42 21. Water-blast and reflector at the Magie tunnel 44 22. Las Conchas Mine, Santa Barbara County 44 23. Water-blast at the Magie tunnels 44 24. Alcatraz asphaltum relinery at Carpinteria 51 25. Mount Cayetana from Sespe Canon 51 26. The St. Louis rig 61 27. TheStarrig 61 28. The Standard rig 61 29. Allen's patent pumping rig 63 30. Geological sketch map, Los Angeles and vicinity In Atlas 31. Geological sketch map. West Los Angeles.. In Atlas 32. Geological sketch map, Puente Oil District In Atlas 33. Geological sketch map, Ventura County Oil District In Atlas 34. Cross-section, Mupu school-house to Echo Cafion Peak In Atlas 35. Geological sketch map, about Summerland, Santa Barbara County.. .In Atlas THE OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORxAIATlONS OF Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties. By W. I.. WATTS, Field Assistant. LOS ANGELES COUNTY. CHAPTER I. Geology, List of Wells, Production, Etc. 1.1.01.* The most important mining operations in Los Angeles County are connected with petroleum; the total output for 1895 was 979,695 bbls., and the price realized was $732,817. The oil-fields which contributed to this total are situated at Los Angeles, in the Puente Hills, and in the mountains to the south and west of Newhall. They are known, respectively, as the Los Angeles, the Puente, and the Pico oil-wells. 1.1.02. The rocky formations at Los Angeles and its immediate vicin- ity consist of sedimentary strata, except a little decomposed granite rock, which is said to have been struck by the Los Angeles Water Co., when excavations were made for a reservoir at Ivanhoe. Beneath the surface soil of Los Angeles the most recent formations consist of sand drift and conglomerate, as may be seen in cuttings near the Sand Street school, on Brooklyn Avenue, and at other places. 1.1.03. These recent strata are practically horizontal, and rest non- conformably on formations of Pliocene age, which in most parts of the city are inclined at an angle of more than 20°. A large portion of these Pliocene formations consists of thin-bedded sandstones, sandy clays, and shales. This formation can be recognized in many of the street-cuttings by a yellow color, imparted to it, in most instances, by a sandy clay which is used in the manufacture of brick. There is also a soft, white, diatomaceous rock which belongs to this formation; it gen- *The numbers at the beginning of the paragraphs are so arranged that the first figure denotes the Pitrt, the next the Chnpter, and tlie last two the Paragraph. Thus, 1.2.15 means the I5th Paragraph of Chapter II of Tart I. 2 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. erally shows a calcareous reaction, and in some places it is mixed or interstratified with sand or clay. A few thin strata of this rock can be seen in a cutting about 300' west of Fifth and Main streets. It is noticeable among sandy and clayey strata on Orange, near Alvarado Street, and in a ravine a short distance south of the old Dryden well. In a cutting on First and Olive streets, there is a rock which appears to be of a similar composition. At the first two places the rock is calca- reous, but at the last two it is not. The yellowish formation is also found on the east side of the Los Angeles River, and patches of what appears to be a similar formation can be seen on the hills to the north of the city. 1.1.04. In the Farmdale school district, a formation very similar to the soft white rock already described, but possessing a distinctly shaly structure, is found, and in some places it appears to contain the impres- sion of plants. Fossils were obtained from the sandy and clayey for- mation in the Normal School grounds at Los Angeles, and specimens from a similar forjnation at the Shatto estate on Orange, near Whitmer Street, were collected by Mr. W. Whitney and presented by him to the State Mining Bureau. Other specimens have also been loaned the Bureau by Mr. F. Forrester, which were collected by him at the follow- ing places: the Normal School grounds, the Shatto estate, and from a cutting on Sixth near Sumner Street. These specimens show that the rocks which held them are of the Pliocene age. (See table of fossils at end of this bulletin.) 1.1.05. It is the yellowish sandy and clayey formation which is penetrated by the numer(>us oil-wells at Second-Street Park, although it is possible that the deepest wells there may have gone through into older rocks. There are three places where glimpses may be had of the strata probably underlying the yellowish sandy and clayey formation: (a) On First Street, near Rosemont Avenue, where there is an out- crop of oil-yielding shale, which shows a very slight dip to the north; (6) Near the Dryden old well, where thick strata of sandstone dip S. 20'^ W. at an angle of 45°; about 300' south of this sandstone thin strata of soft, clayey sandstone and shale are found dipping S. 20° W. at an angle of about 30°. The Dryden old Avell was sunk many years ago. It now shows a pit full of heavy oil with gas bubbling through it. It is said that formerly there was a large deposit of brea around this well, but that nearly all has been carried away for fuel; (c) Along the creek which flows through the Maltman tract, where there are, at intervals, the following rock exposures: First, yellow clayey and sandy formations which dip S. 39° W. at an angle of 24°. A short distance farther northeast there is a soft, whitish, calcareous shale and clayey and sandy formation which dips S. 24° W. at an angle of 25°. Still farther north a light-brown bituminous sandstone crops out; dip S. 20° W. at an angle of about 20°. Still farther north there is a sandy bituminous shale dipping S. 32° W. at an angle of about 20°. The foregoing appears to be the order of their downward vertical range. 1.1.06. The Maltman wells are situated in the sandy bituminous shales. There are nine of them, and they vary from 140' to 285' in depth. They are all within a radius of about 300' and range irregularly along a line running S. 7° W. The strata penetrated consist of sandy shale and oil-soaked sand, with a few thin strata of harder rock. One well is 16", and the rest are 7" and 8" in diameter. There is a slight OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORMATIONS — LOS ANGELES COUNTY. 6 flow of oil from one of them, and from another a small stream of water flows, which is accompanied by a light oil. Several of the wells yield a little gas. One of these wells was dc^ for the tirst 60' of its depth, and among the material thrown out are numerous fragments of thin calcare- ous shale, similar to that seen beneath the yellow clayey sandstone on First Street near Rosemont Avenue. By pumping the Maltman wells they can be made to yield very nearly 2 bbls. of oil apiece, dail3\ At these wells there is a deposit of brea, and heavy oil exudes from shallow excavations therein. One excavation shows brea interstratified with alluvium to about 16' in depth, the brea aggregating about 6' in thick- ness. This brea is used for fuel to a limited extent, and is sold at the rate of $1 50 to $2 00 a ton on the dump. The Ruhland wells are about half a mile west of Westlake Park. There are twelve of these wells, which vary from 40' to 100' in depth. They are 7" wells, and are said to have yielded, all told, about 4 bbls. of oil daily by bailing. 1.1.07. The formation exposed near the Ruhland wells is a sandy shale, which dips S. 22° W. at an angle of 65°; and in some places it is nearlv vertical and faulted. There is much brea around the wells. A short distance northeast from the Ruhland wells there is another exposure of sandy bituminous shales, with what appears to be a thin remnant of a sandy, fofesiliferous formation resting unconformably on them. jNIoreover, the sandy shale is pierced by boring, shells show- ing that it must have been an ocean-bed at the time of the deposition of the overlying rocks. It must be borne in mind that, although these shales are much disturbed, the prevailing direction toward which they dip corresponds to the direction of the prevailing dip of Pliocene strata which are exposed farther to the eastward; and the only marked nonconformity observed elsewhere in West Los Angeles is between Pliocene and much more recent formations. The fossils obtained from the sandy formation previously mentioned were in rather a poor state of preservation; one of them was found to be a well-marked Pliocene form, and the others ranged from living to Pliocene. All the fossils obtained in West Los Angeles appear to belong to the same geological horizon, namely, the Pliocene. Their vertical range is: Living, Quaternary _ 5 Living, Quaternary, Pliocene.. 12 Living, Quaternary, Pliocene, Miocene 13 Quaternary.-- 1 Quaternary, Pliocene -. 3 Pliocene - - - 5 1.1.08. At the point northeast of the Ruhland wells, where the fossils were obtained, there is another bed of brea through which a well has been sunk, which is full of heavy oil. Toward the hills which lie to the north of the Maltman tract, for more than a mile, the rock exposures are poor, and are few and far between; but here and there yellow clayey sandstones are seen, and at one place there is a hard micaceous sand- stone, and at another a soft bituminous sandstone crops out. At the only point where observations on the dip could be made, it was found to be less than 10°. There is also a seepage of heavy oil about half a mile northeast of the Maltman wells. 1.1.09. At Ivanhoe, the rock exposures are poor, but some strata are found dipping in a northeasterly direction. The formation is sandstone, interstratified in places withcalcareo-silicious rock. The higher portion of the hills which extend from Ivanhoe to the Los Angeles River is com- 4 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. posed, for the most part, of older and harder rocks than those previously mentioned; although there are patches of the yellow sandy formation before referred to. The most characteristic rock is a hard, white cal- careous shale, passing into fissile limestone. This rock can be traced from Ivanhoe to Lookout Mountain, in Elysian Park. 1.1.10. Throughout the northern summits of these hills the forma- tion is mainly sandstone, with hard strata of calcareous rock, and the prevailing dip is still southwest, in most places at an angle of more than 40''^. This sandstone formation is of great thickness, as may be seen by walking from the Buena Vista bridge along the flume of the Los Angeles Water Co. This flume runs at an angle of about 45*^ to the direction of the prevailing dip of the formation, which is S. 20° W, at an angle of from 30° to 50°. The calcareous rocks here referred to contain the remains of fish, but no specimens were found which were perfect enough for identification; nor were any fossils obtained by which the geological horizon of these older and harder rocks might be determined. 1.1.11. In the Hunter tract, on the east side of the Los Angeles River, the physical appearance of the exposed rocks resembles that of the rocks at Ivanhoe and some portions of Elysian Park. Especially is this the case with regard to the hard calcareous rocks previously described. On the Clark estate, in the Hunter tract, there are dark- colored shales containing Pccten pedroanus, Trask; P. peckhaml, Gabb — Pliocene, Miocene. 1.1.12. On the east side of the Los Angeles River, both in the city itself and thence toward Pasadena, the formation is much more broken than it is on the west side of the river. There are no producing wells east of the Los Angeles River in the territory shown in the accompany- ing sketch map, Fig. 30. 1.1.13. West of Los Angeles a thick deposit of alluvium covers the valley lands and the foothills of the Cahuenga range of mountains. The rocks forming the axis of this range are granitic. The sedimentary rocks which overlie the granite are principally sandstones, from which a few Miocene and Pliocene fossils were obtained, notably in Brown's Cafion. In Hay's Canon, west of Cahuenga Pass, the sedimentary rocks show metamorphism and contain a few fossils which are referred to the Eocene period by Dr. Cooper. The rocks exposed along the shore- line west of Santa Monica are similar in appearance, and probably belong to the same geological horizon as the rocks exposed at Los Angeles. The most recent formation consists of nearly horizontal strata of conglomerate and soft sandstone, which rest nonconformably on more compact conglomerate and sandstone. East of the pier the more compact sandstones are traversed by calcareous strata containing fossils which show the following range: Living, Quaternary... - 2 Living, (Quaternary, Pliocene .-. - 3 Living, Quaternary, Pliocene, Miocene 1 Quaternary, Pliocene - 1 Pliocene 1 Pliocene, Miocene -- 1 Miocene - • 1 1.1.14. These sandy formations rest apparently somewhat non- conformably on shaly strata, which are much crushed, and in some places are composed of thin-bedded strata, which show a rapid transi- tion from brown to white or light-colored material. Farther west, and •^-V. k :^ ^\~ ^: Fig. 2. Contorted Strata in Temescal CaJJon, N.W. of Santa Monica. t .-■sUf' i-. Fig. 3. Puentk Oil-Wells, Los Angeles County, Looking West, OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORMATIONS — LOS ANGELES COUNTY. 5 evidently belonging to the same geological horizon, are soft, thin-bedded micaceous sandstones and sandy shales, interstratified with what appears to be infusorial earth. This formation is much crushed, and bleaches on exposure. The prevailing dip is N. 25° E. 1.1.15. At tlie mouth of Temcscal Canon, the bluffs are formed of the last two formations described; these are interstratified with flinty lime- stones. There is much contortion of strata, but the prevailing dip is N. 25° E. Resting conformably on these rocks is a coarse sandstone formed of granitic material and containing Pliocene fossils. In Temescal Canon there are many rock exposures showing curiously contorted strata as in Fig. 2. In this canon, Mr. C. H. Lenton has run three tunnels on strata of shale containing bituminous matter. 1.1.16. At Los Angeles the rocky formations constitute a portion of the southern slope of an anticlinal fold, which appears to extend east- ward from the Cahuenga Mountains. The axis of this fold, although ill-defined, can be found a short distance north of Elysian Park. The prevailing dip of the strata forming the southern slope of this anticline is a little west of south, modifiecPby subordinate folds or flexures, which in some places have locally inclined the strata in an opposite direction. There are two such flexures: one to the north and the other to the south of the oil-Avells at Second-Street Park. Owing to the alluvium covering the rocks, only glimpses of these lines of disturbance can be obtained, but a careful study of them leads to the conclusion that they can be traced as follows: 1.1.17. The most important line of disturbance can be traced with a course S. 55° E. from the corner of Vermont and First streets to a point a little south of First and Glassel streets; thence to a point on Quebec near Ocean View Avenue; and thence to another point about 300' north of Fourth and Bixel streets. The other line of disturbance can be observed on Burlington near Temple Street. It can be traced to Temple Street near Lake Shore Avenue, and probably the disturbance of the formation near Bellevue and Victor streets is associated with it. A little disturbance can be noticed in the middle of the oil-field on Court, near Toluca Street. 1.1.18. The history of the Los Angeles oil-wells, or more properly speaking, of the Second-Street Park oil-field at Los Angeles, is as fol- lows: For many years a small deposit of brea was known to exist on West State Street near Douglas Street, in the City of Los Angeles; and the brea was locally used for fuel. In 1892, Messrs. Doheny & Connon sunk a 4'x6' shaft, 155' deep, at the corner of Patton and State streets, close to the deposit of brea previously mentioned. The formation pene- trated is sandy shale with a few thin strata of silicious or calcareous rock. Near the surface the oil was very heavy, but at about 7' deep it was found to be lighter, and it seeped from the sides of the shaft. The oil exuded from porous material and from the surface planes of the hard strata. The formation was found to dip toward the south at an angle of about 40°. Excavation below a depth of 155' was prevented by gas. An 18" hole was then drilled in the bottom of the shaft, and yielded 7 bbls. of oil daily for several weeks. In July, 1894, the yield had decreased to 2 bbls. of oil a day. In November, 1892, an oil-well was sunk at Second-Street Park by Messrs. Doheny & Connon. As soon as this well was found to be a success, other wells were sunk on adjacent lots, and the Second-Street Park oil-field grew rapidly. By the end of 6 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. 1895, there were more than 300 wells within an area of less than 4,000,- 000 sq. ft. During 1895, the price of crude oil at Los Angeles fell to a ruinously low rate, the average price for that year being about 60 cents a barrel; indeed, there were sales at a much lower rate, it is said even as low as 25 cents a barrel. The reason of this depression was the lack of cor)peration among the oil-producers and the lack of facilities for storing and handling th(! oil. Early in 18i)B, the price of oil commenced to recover, and in July, 1896, it had reached $1 a barrel. The reason of this recovery was the diminishing of the supply, the organization of the oil-producers, and the increased facilities for storing and handling the oil, 1.1.19. The rock penetrated by the oil-wells at Second-Street Park consists of soft, thin-bedded sandstones, and sandy clays and shales, which are interstratified by thin strata of impure limestone and calca- reous strata and two or more strata of oil-bearing sand. This formation is of Pliocene age. At least, as before mentioned, all the fossils obtained from the outcropping rocks in the Los Angeles oil-field and elsewhere in Los Angeles are of that age. The principal stratum of oil-bearing sand is about 150' thick, and it crops out at the surface on Burlington Street, about 300' north of First Street. As a typical illustration of the character of the strata penetrated by the oil-wells at Second-Street Park, Mr. Doheny states that wells drilled by the Doheny Oil Co., in the northeastern portion of the oil-field, pierce the following formations: Sandy and clayey strata, with thin strata of hard rock 650' Oil-sand, interstratified with sandy clay 125' Tough clay (putty).. 200' Oil-sand, witli water .-. 3' Sand, with water undetermined. The oil-sand is more than 100' thick, the richest portion of it being about 45' thick. Mr. Doheny states that the dip at which he struck the oil-sand in most of his wells shows that in the portion of the field in which his wells are situated the prevailing dip is at an angle of about 40^, but that the angle of inclination is by no means uniform; the latter inference is corroborated by the experience of others, as here- inafter noted. 1.1.20. In other portions of the field the following formation has been penetrated: Adobe soil --- 6' Yellow clay... 20' Tough blue clay 20' to 30' Clay shale, with thin strata of sand and hard calcareous strata, "shells" 200' to 700' Oil-sand 70' to 145' 1.1.21. Fig. 4 represents a section across the west end of the oil-field at Second-Street Park. It shows the lines of geological disturbance to the north and south of the oil-field, the outcrop of the oil-sand, and the point where it is penetrated by a well sunk by Mr. Garbutt, near the corner of First Street and Union Avenue, Up to April, 1896, this well was the farthest west of any productive one in the district. In this well, the oil-sand was struck at about 855' deep, which shows that at this end of the field the angle of the dip of the oil-sand must be about 45°. This angle is very nearly that of the dip of the formation exposed near Mr. Garbutt's well, but more than that of the oil-sand where it crops out at the surface of the ground on Burlington Street. On the OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORMATIONS — LOS ANGELES COUNTY. 7 right-hand side of the diagram is the south line of disturbance, notice- able on Quebec Street. If this line is followed along its strike, it would ■cross Western Avenue near Silver Street. It has been necessary to make the lines of disturbance well marked on this diagram, but on the surface of the ground they are merely indicated by strata dipping in •opposite directions. On Burlington Street, about 300' north of First Street, is the only place in the Second-Street Park oil-field where the Fig. 4. Fig. 5. A.— Union Oil Co.'s well on First Street. B. — American Crude Oil Co.'s well. C— Cole's well. D.— American Crude Oil Co.'s well. sands were observed cropping out. The reason of this may be explained by Fig. 5. 1.1.22. In well A, on the south side of First Street, the oil-sand was struck at a depth of 1,010'. If a line be drawn from this well across the oil-field, and at right angles to the prevailing strike of the formation, which is S. 80"^ E., and if the wells nearest thereto, of which information could be obtained, are arranged at points where the strike of the strata they penetrate cross the line, the profile shown in Fig. 5 is obtained. From oil -sand in well A to oil-sand in wells B and C, the dip is shown 2-M 8 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. to be at an angle of about 35°. From oil-sand in well C to oil-sand in well D, the dip shown does not exceed an angle of 16°. With the oil- sand dipping at this low angle it could not come to the surface l)efore reaching the line of disturbance noted in the north end of the field. In wells drilled along the north and soutli margins of the oil-line, water has been troublesome and has prescribed the width of the oil- bearing territory. The operators in the Los Angeles oil-fields agree that the main stratum of oil-sand thus far explored is from 100' to 150' thick, but that, as a rule, it is not productive all the way through. The general opinion of well-drillers appears to be that on an average at least 40' of the oil-sand may be put down as "pay dirt." 1.1.23. Experiments have been made by Mr. Hawley, a civil engi- neer, as to the absorbent powers of this oil-sand, and he states that he found that it would absorb about 10% of oil of 14° B. These figures agree- very closely with experiments made in Eastern States on the absorbent powers of sand. Mr. Doheny also made some experiments on oil-sand from the Maltman tract, and obtained higher results. 1.1.24. For the purpose of obtaining a concrete idea of the situation which is within the range of probability, it may be tentatively admitted as follows: That the Los Angeles oil-field, as far as developments have shown, derives its oil from a stratum of sand carrying about 10% of oil; that the said stratum is about 40' thick, and has an area of about 4,000,- 000 sq. ft. Such a stratum would contain, in round numbers, about 2,850,000 bbls. of oil. A careful canvass of all the oil-producers shows that in 1894 no inconsiderable amount was produced, while in 1895 the Los Angeles oil-fields produced 729,695 bbls., or about one fourth of our theoretical total contents of the sand. The question that naturally arises is, how much of the remaining 2,000,000 bbls. of oil can be obtained by pumping? There do not appear to be many factors on which to base an estimate. It must be borne in mind that it is a heavy oil; that the gas pressure in the Los Angeles wells was never very great. Therefore, the probabilities are that, even after a well has ceased to yield enough oil to pay for pumping every day, providing the wells do not become filled with water or choked with sand, small quantities of oil might be pumped from them for quite a long period. Moreover, although there is such a forest of derricks at Second-Street Park, they are by no means uniformly distributed over the 4,000,000 sq. ft. which we, by way of a rough estimate, put down as the area of the oil-sand. 1.1.25. In the beginning of March, 1896, there were about 330 wells in the oil-field. Allowing to each well, say 5,000 sq. ft., as they were distributed at that date, it would seem that there must be more land in the area we calculated yet to be heard from. Much of the unbroken territory is covered by streets and buildings; this is all the better for the wells which are near them; but it seems probable that if a reason- able price can be maintained for the oil, wells will yet be sunk at Second-Street Park, which may yield moderate returns.* The question naturally suggests itself, cannot other strata of oil-sand be found by drilling to a greater depth than has yet been reached? The experiment is worth trying, but the only wells which in April, 1896, had gone far below the main oil-sand have encountered water. With the limitation of the Second-Street Park oil-field thus in sight, the question as to the ♦These remarks are based on observations made in 1895. OIL AND GAS YIELDIiXG FORMATIONS — LOS ANGELES COUNTY. 9 extension of the oil-iield becomes one of great moment, and the only- plan is to follow the strike of the formation which has proved to l)e oil- producing. As indicated by the arrows in the geological sketch map of \V'est Los Angeles, Fig. 31, the prevailing dip of the formation, as seen at the surface, is S. 10° W., although there are numerous aberrations from that azimuth. The depth at which the oil-sand was struck in the different wells loads to the conclusion that, in the main, the strike and dip of the oil-sand are similar to those of the rocks exposed at the surface. The general direction of the oil-line, as indicated by the pro- ductive wells, is practically east and west. Disregarding any faults there may be in the rocky formation, which for the most part is covered by alluvium, an inspection of the geological map of Los Angeles leads to the following conclusion: If the oil-line on which Second-Street Park oil-field is situated be extended westward it would pass a short distance south of the Baptist University. Southwest of the university grounds a formation is exposed which corresponds very closely to that at Second-Street Park. This formation rests on a series of sandstones, several strata of which are oil-bearing. On the Maltman tract these sandstones, which show a thickness of several hundred feet, are pene- trated by nine wells, ranging from 140' to 285' in depth. Each of these wells, as before mentioned, can be made to yield something less than 2 bbls. of heavy oil a day. In all the deeper wells water was encountered. It is evident, therefore, that the oil-yielding formations extend westward from the Second-Street Park oil-field. The only attempts that have been made to prospect the territory between the Second-Street Park and the Baptist University are as follows: The Fudicker well, situated south of First Street and near what would be Reno Street if it were graded; the Union Oil Co. well, situated south of First and west of Alvarado Street; one known as the old Dryden well, which is about 1,000' northwest of the preceding, and one sunk by Mr. Doheny, near the corner of First and Newhall streets. All of these wells proved unsuccessful and are abandoned; the cause assigned for the failure of the first two being water or water and quicksand. Farther south, near Westlake Park, is the Wilshire well, which was unsuccessful; and farther west there are a very few shallow wells, like the Ruhland, Avhich have yielded small quantities of heavy oil. From the record of these wells, the outlook to the west does not seem encouraging. A careful inspectj^n of the territory, however, leads to the conclusion that the Doheny and the Union Oil Co.'s wells are the only prospect wells mentioned that penetrate similar strata to those which yield the oil at Second-Street Park; that the Doheny well must be nearly on the outcrop of the oil-sand, and that probably the well of the Union Oil Co. is not very far south of it. In the northeast end of the Second-Street Park oil-field, the exposed rocks on Bellevue Avenue, near Victor Street, give evidence of geological disturbance, which probably accounts for the fact that some wells in this portion of the oil-field have proved unsuccessful. 1.1.26. At first sight the steep dip of the formation, as seen near the corner of Beaudry and Bellevue avenues, is very disheartening, for the continuation of so steep a dip would restrict the field to a very narrow oil-line. Investigations farther to the eastward, however, show that this is not the case. Rock exposures on Bartlett Street, near Pearl, show a dip of a little west of south at an angle of about 25°, which leads to the 10 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. conclusion that the steepness of the dip near the corner of Beaudry and Bellevue avenues is but local. There does not appear to be any reason why the oil-yielding formations should not be followed east from Second- Street Park, but between it and the Los Angeles River there are very few opportunities of examining the rocky strata. It is a noteworthy fact, however, that in the water-wells which penetrate the drift near the Main- Street bridge, traces of oil contaminate the water. 1.1.27. The Brook or Chandler well, and the Hoag & Silent well, situ- ated in the north edge of De Soto Heights (see Fig. 30), must be very nearly on the strike of the formation penetrated by the oil-well at Second-Street Park, but they appear to be abandoned. It is said that heavy oil was obtained in the Brook well, but that it was impossible to case off the water without also casing off the oil. Several enterprising citizens have drilled wells in an endeavor to find other oil-lands in the vicinity of Los Angeles, but without success; in nearly all these wells the strata penetrated showed small quantities of oil. It is said that the cause of failure, in most instances, was water, or water and quicksand. 1.1.28. From the foregoing it appears that an extensive oil-yielding formation underlies a portion of Los Angeles; that up to date explora- tions outside of the Second-Street Park oil-field have not been successful. A review of the situation leads to the conclusion that the best results will be obtained by following the strike of the productive oil-yielding formation rather than by sporadic prospecting. When a point is reached where the formation is broken, in the absence of any rock exposures to prove that the geological disturbance is other than local, several hundred feet should be passed over and prospecting be re-commenced still in the direction of what had been previously proven to be the strike of the oil-yielding rocks. Accurate drilling records should be kept, from which a profile of the oil-yielding strata might be made, and by which an engineer could trace the course of the oil-sand. In view of the fact that the direction of the strike and the angle of the dip are somewhat irreg- ular, the safest mode of procedure is to progress gradually and not make too long jumps. 1.1.29. One interesting feature of the Los Angeles oil-field is that the oil from the upper strata is usually of a less specific gravity than that from the lower strata. Thus, there are instances in the Los Angeles oil-field where the specific gravity of the oil increased with the depth according to the following ratio: t^ At a depth of 300' the specific gravity of the oil was 20° B. At a depth of 7oO' the specilic gravity of the oil was 19° B. At a depth of 900' the specific gravity of the oil was 16° B. This is the reverse of the usual experience with oil-wells. 1.1.30. The cost of wells in this oil-field has been remarkably small. The drilling of a 1,000' well has been sometimes contracted for less than $1,000, and the cost of a plant for operating a well need not exceed $1,500, and indeed is frequently less. OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORMATIONS — LOS ANGELES COUNTY. 11 TABULAR STATEMENT OF LOS ANGELES OIL-WELLS, FOR THE YEAR 1895, AS FURNISHED BY OWNERS OR AGENTS. Name and Address of Company. •—2 Adams, II. B Alderson, J.ll., 1807S. Hope Street American Crude Oil Co., Byrne Building. 2 4 5 Bayer & Last . Bayer it Bentz . Beech, Young & Cocliran, 260 Galena Ave., I'asadena.- -.. Blunt, ^Irs. Cora A., 149 Kern Street Bosley tt Co., G. W., 309 Figueroa Street Brophy, Forst & Tabor, Edge ware and Omaha Broph y, Morris & Blaisdell, care Savings Bank & Trust Co Depth. Feet. Burns, John, Court Circle .. Carbon Hill Oil Sc Coal Co., 338 S. Broadway Chandler (new welU Cheney W. H. E.. 15.32 Rockwood Street Chicago Crude Oil Co., 309 S. Hope Street. . . Clark, J. R., 2433 Grand Avenue Coe, E. \V., care L. A. National Bank Cole, A., Belmont and First Streets Combination Oil Co., 1319 Omaha Street Consolidated Oil Co., .305 State Street Crosswell Oil Co., 341 Edgeware Road. Cullen, K. P., 213 Nolan & Smith Block. Dagget it Fletcher, 1342 Calumet Avenue. . . Davis, Cook & Co., care Chamber of Com. .. Davisson, Melice & Co., Byrne Building Davis, Sloan it Beers, 320 Park Place. Day, A. C, 826 Buena Vista Street Diamond Oil Co., 147 S. Broadway Doheny-Connon Oil Co., Stimson Block Dryden, W., L'^niversity Post Office Eagen, May & Mernier, 1525 Rockwood Ave. East Side Oil Co., 530 Stimson Block Ellsworth it Griggs Embody .t Stack, 132 S. Broadway. Embody it Stack _". . Empire Oil Co., 130}^ S. Spring Street. Eureka Oil Co., 302 Smith & Nolan Block . Ferguson & Canfield, 373 N. Main Street.. 2 4^ 1 2 4 1 3 28 2 1 2 H 3 -, 550 700 770 to 925 700 to 800 1,100 965 986 840 800 977 840 742 765 805 775 950 880 911 810 955 To First Sand. Feet. 730 Specific Uravity. 16.0° B 15.5° B to 855 tol4.5°B 15.0° B 700 None 820 715 690 665 640 700 650 900 1,035 1,000 700 750 750 906 1,025 952 981 900 78,S 930 1,000 830 835 900 770 600 350 650 825 700 750 750 750 650 400 730 930 750 989 810 900 900 1 = 890 6 ==650 865 660 740 750 893 740 860 840 800 to 950 950 950 850 790 660 790 770 800 745 15.0° B 13.0° B 14.5° B 13.5° B 16.0° B 18.0° B 19.0° B 15.5° B 14.0° B •16.0° B 15.5° B 15.0° B 17.0° B 15.5° B 14.5° B 16.0° B 18.0° B 16.0° B 16.0° B 16.0° B 14.5° B to 16.5° B 15.0° B 15.0° H 14.0° B Product of 1895. Bbls. 700 10,000 30,000 25,000 12,000 100 1,200 1,500 5,000 4,000 20,000 None. 95 1,200 None. 1,800 1,600 3,000 7,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 7,000 1,500 3,000 5,000 100,000 6,C00 1,000 1,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 15,C0O '5,600 2,200 12 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. Tabular Statement— Continued. Name and Address of Company. Depth. Feet. To First Srtlld. Feet. Specific Graviiy. Product of Ih95. BblB. Ferguson, Mrs. M. L., 5 Phillips Block. Fowler, K. A., 115 W. Second Street Frendberger, P., 321 Metcalf Street Green, K., 811 Bonnie Brae Greenwood it Barkelow, Toluca and First Sts. Guiteau, H. C, 142 W. Twenty-fifth Street _.. Haight, Webster & Co., 401 N. Figueroa St. ... Hall, Charles Victor, 220 Central Avenue Harrison, H. H., 316 Park Place Henderson, F. B. & Co., 516 Bradbury Block.. Hibbard & Co., 340 S. Edge ware lload Hoffman & Weller, 109 N. Main Street Home, J. K., 1354 Court Street Johnson, M. D., 216 W. First Street Keating Oil Co., 945 Pasadena Avenue Lake Shore Oil Co., 20 Schumacher Block Lathrop, Chas., 1017 Temple Street Lawrence, Geo., 20 Potomac Block Lehman & Mills, 213 S. Spring Street Lewis, Mrs., 161J>.ake Shore Avenue Libby, C. H., 340 S. Edgeware Road Lohma Oil Co., W. Lacy, Pres., 4 Baker Block. L. A. Con. Oil Co., Court and Patten Luitweiler, S. W., 200 N. Los Angeles Street.. McCabe, Frank, 302 First Street McGray & Warring, Temple and Park Place.. McGary & Keed, 227 W. Second Street McOee, E. M., Lake Shore and State Mcintosh, 207 Bradbury Block Maier & Zobelein, 444 Aliso Street Manatt, Rich & Schall, 546 Ruth Avenue Martin, A. E., 142 Court Street Mathay, F. L., 1327 Court Street Nelson, R. T., 176 Bonnie Brae Neubauer, J., 1579 Rock wood Street. North, Edward, 1127 Temple Street. O'Reilley, Mrs. Zella, 631 Washington Street. Orr & Patterson, 147 N. Spring Street Osborne & Stoll, 9 Metcalf Street 1 1 2\ 3 1 3 2 i 1 4 2 J ^1 4 2) 11 1 <> ^1 2 1 1 3 ^i 4 800 820 620 620 915 907 475 715 800 758 935 900 900 750 860 700 960 970 760 815 750 850 950 650 800 981 1,015 800 750 850 710 745 843 950 700 900 750 800 720 1,050 700 to 1,140 840 850 800 830 811 800 765 850 800 840 800 800 860 825 890 840 850 600 630 757 600 600 800 800 760 780 750 820 700 700 700 950 975 810 675 1,020 700 750 770 750 740 890 7«0 770 600 15.0° B 16.0° B 15.0° H 16.0° B 15.0° B 16.0° B 15.0° B 14.5° B 19.5° B 17.0° B 17.0° 14.0° 14.0° 14.5° B 15.5° B 16.0° B B B B 15.0° B 16.0° B 13.0° B 18.0° B 15.5° B 16.0° B 16.0° B 17.0° B 18.5° B 16.0° B 15.5° B 15.0° B 17.5° B 16.0° B 'i6"5°B' 1,500 2,000 None. None. 2.000 3,500 5,000 8,700 3,000 2,300 7,500 4,000 2,000 20,000 1,800 1,500 20,000 3,500 12,0«K) 5,600 3,500 40,000 2,000 1,500 13,400 500 2,100 1,.'>00 7,000 3,000 13,400 12,000 12.000 8,000 7,198 3,000 1,200 8^666 OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORMATIONS — LOS ANGELES COUNTY. Tabular Statement— Continued. Name and Address of Company. 2.^ Depth. Feet. To First Sand. Feet. Spppific Gravity. Product of 189.5. Bbls. Pacific Union Oil Co., 115 W. Second Street... 11 7 H 1 M 3 1 3 1 3 2 i ( « t 790 675 895 1,005 1,024 5,000 Parker L. C. 136 S. Broadway Istsand 2d sand =20.0° B =14.5° B" 150°B Parker-'Morril Oil Co., W. State and Douglas Streets . . - 18,700 40,000 870 930 920 810 745 825 820 900 825 690 715 800 1,026 735 1,100 Phajnix Oil Co., 41 Brvson Block .- Powell. James. 1127 Temple Street .. 17.0° B 15.0°B 4,500 9,500 Ilaymond Oil Co., Third and Main Streets 700 14.5°B 12,000 Rex Oil Co.. 230 S. Soring Street -. 765 515 15.0° B 15.0°B Robinson Geo. S., 233 W. First Street 7,000 1,800 Ruddv Burns & Mathav . . . 5,000 Schwartzentahl, ]SIrs. L., First and Union Sts. Sheldon, M. N., >Second and Broadway Silent, ('has. E., 150 S. Broadway - ""eoo" 680 750 18.0° B 14.0° B 17.0° B 15.0°B 3,000 600 6,000 2,000 3,300 Silent & Callender, Second and Broadway Skinner tfe Tonkin Southern California Oil Co., 408 S. Broadway. 894 8S8 660 800 750 685 540 850 850 840 830 700 940 1,000 Sterling & Co., 310 S. Edgeware Road , z ^ 500 7 3 1 1 i ( 12 7 3 1 I 1 Strauss, Mrs. A, 233 N. Grand Ave 450 None. Sunset Oil Co., 41 Bryson Block ""'825' 15.5°B 110°B 1.5.5° B 15.5°B 3,000 ""1^650 2,000 Suskin, A. H., 121 S.Broadway Thompson, R. C, Omaha Street . ... Tomlinson, Mrs. C, 1318 Omaha Street Tubbs, G. W., Washington Street 1,000 Turner Eros., 206 Patton Street 18,000 Union Oil Co., Byrne Block .. 8,152 Walker, Rust it Hunt. 342 Metcalf Street Wilkinson & Kellam, 147 S. Broadway. Wing, R. W., 301 Welcome Street 780 780 840 810 ""770 ]6.0°B 16.0° P, 16.0°B 10,000 1,000 3,000 New Wylie Total 729,695 CHAPTER II. Pipe-Lines and Tankage. 1.2.01. Pacific Oil Refinery and Supply Company. — Its pipe-line extends from the Second-Street Park oil-field to its tanks on Santa Fe Avenue. The plant consists of 1 mile of 6" pipe, 4 miles of 4" pipe, and I mile of 3^" pipe. The tankage is 75,000 bbls. 1.2.02. Union Oil Company. Its pipe-line extends from the Second- Street Park oil-field to Palmetto Street, on the Southern California Railway. The plant consists of 5 miles of 4" pipe, principally, and a tankage capacity of 32,000 bbls. 1.2.03. The daily yield of oil during 1895 was rather more than 2,000 14 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. bbls. During the first half of 1896, it was estimated approximately at 1,400 bbls. a day. 1.2.04. Stock of Oil on Hand at Los Angeles. — In the field-March 24, 1896 37,500 bbls. In the (ield— May 2, 1^96. 38,700 bbls. In the field— May IS, 1H96 34,100 bbls. In tiie lield— MaV 30, 1896 34.190 bbls. Outside the field— May 30, 1896 55,800 bbls. In the field— .lune 29, 1896 32,100 bbl.s. In the lield— July 20, 1896 29,870 bbls. 1.2.05. A canvass of the owners leads to the conclusion that during 1895 a decrease of from 25% to 50% was noted in the product of the wells at the Second-Street Park oil-field. 1.2.06. The Los Angeles wells yield only a small quantity of gas, and but few instances of its being used were noted. 1.2.07. The Tankage in May, 189G.— In the Second-Street Park field 70,000 bbls. Outside the Second-Street Park field- Southern California Supply Co 70,000 bbls Union Oil Co..-. 32,000 bbls Puente 6,500 bbls Standard Oil 45,000 bbls Oil Exchange - 3,600 bbls Hoffman & Weller 2,400 bbls Pritchard&Co 2,400 bbls S. P. li. R.Co - 20,000 bbls Total 251,900 bbls. CHAPTER III. Abandoned Wells. 1.3.01. The following wells which were drilled for oil proved unsuc- cessful and appear to be abandoned. There are also other wells situated in the northern and southern outskirts of the Second-Street Park oil- field which proved unsuccessful and are abandoned. It is said that the trouble with most of them was Avater, or water and quicksand : 1.3.02. Allison & Barlow well, near corner of Beaudry Avenue and Second Street, is 1,000' deep. Abandoned on account of water. 1.3.03. Angelina Heights well is in lot 26, block 19. The formation is principally a dark-colored shale with hard strata; sunk to a depth of 1,186', and found quicksand Avith water. A stratum of oil-sand 6' thick was struck at a depth of 960'; and is said to have j'ielded a green oil. Abandoned on account of water. 1.3.04. Boyle Heights wells were drilled several years ago; one about 300' and the other about 600' deep. It is said that a small amount of oil was obtained. Abandoned on account of water. 1.3.05. Bryant & Co.'s well is at Ivanhoe and a short distance north- east of the City of Los Angeles. It is said that this well is more than 1,000' deep; that the formation is principally soft sandstone and sandy shale, with hard calcareous strata. Small quantities of oil and much water were struck. Abandoned on account of water. 1.3.06. Chance well is near the corner of Echo Park Road and Bel- mont Avenue; it penetrated sandy and clayey strata to 450' in depth, when there was a showing of oil, but too much water and quicksand caused the well to be abandoned. OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORMATIONS —LOS ANGELES COUNTY, 15 1.3.07. Chandler (Brook) well is on lot 20, block 7, corner Afagnolia and Breed streets, Los Angeles. Sandy shale and clay with oil to 100' in depth; surface water cased off at 90' depth, thence bluish mud to 324' depth. At 150' a thin, hard stratum was passed through, beneath which there was a good showing of heavy oil. At 335' large quantities of salt water were encountered. It is said that this well is abandoned on account of the water. 1.3.08. Denker wells are about 10 miles a little north of west of the City of Los Angeles, on the northern part of the Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas, more generally known as the Ilammel & Denker ranch, and just at the foot of the Santa Monica range of mountains. On this ranch there are some tar springs and some patches of asphaltum, and several years ago A. H. Denker drilled two 520' wells. The forma- tion penetrated, as shown by the record of one of these Avells, is, slate, shale, and sandstone, 100'; black sandstone, 100'; slate, 10'; sand- stone, with a little oil, 100'; sandstone, with tar and sulphur water, G5'; very fine hard sand, 15'; sand, with a little oil, 15'; black slate, with pyrites, 25'. At 25' depth, the first water was encountered; at 465' depth there was strong sulphur water and some gas. Both these wells yield flowing sulphureted water and small quantities of oil. 1.3.09. Dunklcberger well, corner of Emerald and Second streets; is 800' in depth, with very little oil. Abandoned on account of water. 1.3.10. Eureka Oil Co. [Thomas) well. This well is on the line of Effie Street, about 400' north of Berkeley Avenue. It is said that this well is 700' deep; that there was some showing of oil, but that the well is abandoned on account of water. 1.3.11. Fudicker well, 550' deep, is south of the corner of First and Reno streets. Formation, sandstone and shale. The sandstone showed much oil and a great deal of water. Abandoned on account of water. A stream of water, accompanied by a little oil, flows from this well. 1.3.12. Gasson well is on the Hunter tract and west of Garvanza; 985' deep; no oil; water. 1.3.13. Green Meadow ranch well is on Washington Street, and about 5^ miles west of Los Angeles. This well was drilled to about 500' in depth. The formation is soft sandstone; much water; some gas. From this well several Quaternary or late Pliocene fossils were obtained. 1.3.14. Hoag & Silent well is in block 4 of East Los Angeles, and a short distance northwest of the Chandler well. It is said to be aban- doned. 1.3.15. Johnson well is near the corner of Figueroa and Third streets; 1,100' deep; water. 1.3.16. La Brea Rancho well is about 6 miles west of Los Angeles; two wells were drilled on this ranch, and the following record is given in our Vllth Report of one, a 658' well: "At a depth of 81', coarse gray sand; at 83', very fine-grained black bituminous shale; at 420', coarse- grained pebbly sand, yellowish-brown in color; at 479', dark-colored bituminous shale; at 651' and at 658', black sticky bituminous shale." Of the other, a 1,485' well: " Black sand and brea, 43'; quicksand, 45'; hard shale, 18'; black sand and brea, 248'; hard shale, 18'; sand and brea, 618'; soft blue mud, 320'; oil-sand, 30'; soft blue mud, 135'. At 1,000' the well flowed salt water; there was much gas, but no valuable quantity of oil." 1.3.17. Between the rancho La Brea and the hills lying south of the 16 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. rancho La Cienega, a number of other wells have been sunk, ranging from 80' to 200' in depth. Sulphur water and gas have been found, but no valuable quantity of oil, 1.3.18. Lookout Mountain well is 550' deep; small showing of oil. Abandoned on account of water; the water is said to be potable. 1.3.19. Mcintosh well, near the corner of State and Mignonette streets, is 1,025' deep. Formation, soft clayey sandstone; much water near the bottom of the well; salt water; no oil. 1.3.20. Mcintosh well is near the corner of Bellevue Avenue and Old Temple road. The formation penetrated is, adobe soil, 3'; shale, with seams of sand and black earth, 80'; oil-sand, with small vein of fresh water, to 85'; shale, with strata of sand, to 165'; soft sandrock and traces of oil, to 190'; clayey shale, to 200'; casing reduced to 12^"; clayey shale, which caved badly, to 315'; casing reduced to 10^"; hard white stratum, to 316'; hard sandy stratum, with water, to 355'; soft bluish clayey shale (,at this depth the water was cased off), to 406'; sand and oil, to 432'; casing reduced to 8"; sand and oil, to 462'; sand and shale, to 470'; shale, to 520'; sand and more oil, 530'. It is said that at this depth the oil rose to within 200' of the top of the well, and that in one afternoon more than 20 bbls. of oil were bailed out of the well. Sand, with fresh water, to 642'; shale, 662'; sandrock, 678'; hard sandrock, 725'; shale, to 743'; sand, 900'; shale, 904'; sandstone and thin strata of shale, to 945'; sand and shale, to 1,000'; at 996' the casing was reduced to 5|"; oil-sand with strata of shale, 1,004'. Abandoned on account of water. 1.3.21. Near River Station. Asphaltum and gas were struck in an 80' well in the bed of the Los Angeles River, near River Station, on the S. P. R. R. 1.3.22. Obar well is on the south end of the Gould & Fletcher tract, near the end of the old Elysian Park car-line; is 7" in diameter. For- mation: yellow sandstone, 80'; hard sandstone, 100'; dark-colored shale and clay, alternating, to 350'. It is said that traces of oil were found; that the well was "torpedoed" at a depth of 80', and that water rose to within 35' of the surface. 1.3.23. Okell & Barber well is southeast of the corner of Bellevue Avenue and Old Temple road. The formation is: adobe soil, 30'; (water); soft sandstone, to 33'; shale, with oil, to 90'; blue shale, to 150'; (oil at 110'); hard stratum to 158'; soft sandstone, 180'; (fresh water); soft sandstone, 300'. Abandoned on account of the water. 1.3.24. Oregon OiVCo.''s loell is on Vermont Avenue near Barrow. Formation penetrated: soil, 6'; yellow shale, to 40'; blue shale, to 100'; alternate strata of sand and shale, to 189'; hard sandstone, to 209'. It is said that a stratum of gravel with fresh water was struck at 100' depth. This well is said to be abandoned. 1.3.25. Perkins well is near Jewell and Third streets; 600' deep. Salt water. 1.3.26. Polhemus old well is south of Bellevue Avenue, near the Okell & Barber well, and is said to be 390' deep. It was drilled in an early day, and yields water and a little heavy oil, 1.3.27. Thompson Bros, well is on Morton Street, between Geneva and Mecca avenues. The formation is: sand 'rock, 60'; sandy and clayey strata, to 625'; thin strata of oil-sand, much water. 1.3.28. Sisters^ Hospital wells. On the hill east of the hospital are OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORMATIONS — LOS ANGELES COUNTY. 17 two wells 800' in depth. Abandoned on account of water, which is said to be potable. 1.3.29. Union Oil Co.'s well, 900' deep, is southeast of the corner of First and Alvarado streets. An oil-yielding sand was struck within 50' of the surface. Below that depth, soft, sandy formations were pene- trated, and much water was encountered; at 520' there was a particu- larly strong flow of water and gas. Abandoned on account of water. 1.3.30. Villa Tract wells are near Brooklyn Heights. These wells were drilled several years ago. In one a small amount of oil was struck. 1.3.31. Wilmot tt Holden ivell, on Dr. Long's ranch on Prospect Ave- nue, about half a mile east of Vermont Avenue, is 7" in diameter. The formation penetrated is: adobe, 12'; shale and sandstone, nearly all sandstone, 500'. It is said that fresh water was struck at 40'; flowing water and a little oil at 175' depth. This well appears to be abandoned. 1.3.32. The Wilshire well is on the Wilshire tract, west of West Lake Park. Formation is soft, sandy strata, 490' (at this depth a thin stratum of sand was penetrated, which yielded a heavy oil); soft bitu- minous shale to a depth of 1,000'. At 890' in depth, salt water was struck, which rose within 500' of the top of the well. CHAPTER IV. Miscellaneous Wells. 1.4.01. Benedict Ranch. Oil was struck in a well sunk for water on the Benedict ranch in S.E. i of N.W. i of Sec. 14, T. 1 S., R. 14 W., S. B. M. 1.4.02. Hellman Ranch gas well is a few miles southeast of Los Angeles. It yields a slightly sulphureted water, through which inflammable gas bubbles freely. This was at one time used in the ranch-house for heat- ing and lighting. 1.4.03. Maier & Zoheleinh two ivells are 1,100' and 1,300' deep, respec- tively, and are on Commercial Street, between Garcia and Vignes streets. The formation is principally blue clay and quicksand; a little water, but no oil. 1.4.05. Protestant Orphans^ Home well, situated in the northern part of Los Angeles, is 60' deep. In this well gas was struck, and it is said to have burned from the top of a 7" casing with a flame over 6' high for more than an hour. 1.4.06. Reynolds & Wiggin well is on the Kercheval tract, near the corner of Santa Fe Avenue and Grant Street. Formation: gravel and sand, 500'; stiff clay and sandy clay, 330'. At a depth of 800' a hard calcareous stratum was penetrated. From this well some fossils were obtained. (See table of fossils.) This well was not completed in July, 1896. 1.4.07. Rosencrantz gas well, 135' deep, is about 11 miles south of Los Angeles. It was drilled in 1886 ( ?), and is said to have yielded a strong flow of gas when first drilled; in 1896 the well was nearly full of water, and yielded some gas. See our Vllth Report, p. 79. 1.4.08. United States Hotel well at Los Angeles was drilled in 1883. The formation penetrated is: gravel and surface soil, 40'; bluish clay shale to a depth of 900' (inflammable gas). On the completion of the well, brackish water rose to within 20' of the top of the well. 18 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. CHAPTER V. The Puente Oil-Wells. 1.5.01. The hills in which the Puente oil-wells are situated appear to be an east extension of a line of elevation which can be traced in a southeasterly direction from the City of Los Angeles. These hills, as seen at the Puente oil-wells, are formed by a series of closely compressed folds in the rocky formation, which have an east and west trend. At the base of these hills soft sandstones and conglomerates are found, and in some places a white, chalk-like, diatomaceous rock, similar to that seen at Los Angeles, alternates with reddish-brown sandy strata, forming parti-colored banks, in which the strata vary from a few inches to less than an inch in thickness. A small collection of fossils was obtained from these formations, which show a preponderance of Plio- cene forms. 1.5.02. The higher portions of the Puente Hills are composed of both hard and soft sandstones and shales, and these rocks are often separated by hard calcareous strata. Were it not for the latter it would be very difficult to learn much about the stratigraphy of the Puente Hills, for the soft rocks readily disintegrate and become covered with alluvium, while the hard calcareous strata resist the action of the elements and, in many places, afford the only clue to the dip of the formation. These hard calcareous rocks, and the sandstones and shales associated with them, are evidently older and are more disturbed than the soft sand- stones and conglomerates previously mentioned. The only organisms noted in these hard calcareous rocks are the bones and scales of fish, and a few carbonized plant-remains. There has been so much geolog- ical disturbance in the Puente Hills that it renders the locality an unfavorable one for estimating the thickness of the formations named, and it also prevents a definite conclusion being formed as to the con- formity or non-conformity of the older and the more recent strata. 1.5.03. The formations at the base of the Puente Hills contain fos- siliferous strata, and a small collection of fossils was obtained therefrom in Brea Canon. They show the following range: Living, Quaternary 1 Living, Quaternary, Pliocene 5 Living, Quaternary, I'liocene, Miocene 11 Quaternary .". _ I Pliocene 1 Quaternary, Pliocene, Miocene - 1 Pliocene, Miocene 4 Miocene c 1 1.5.04. In that portion of the Puente Hills which is under discus- sion, petroleum is found at the Puente oil-wells and at Brea Caiion. (See map. Fig. 32.) 1.5.05. The Puente oil-wells, as described in our Vllth Report, are situated on Puente Gulch, and are about 5 miles distant in a south- easterly direction from Puente station, on the S. P. R. R., and about 6 miles distant in a northwesterly direction from Fullcrton, on the San Diego branch of S. C. Ry. They consist of twenty-five oil-producing wells, a water-well, and a few non-productive wells. Their depth varies from 700' to 1,750', and the total yield is about 300 bbls. of oil a day. OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORMATIONS — LOS ANGELES COUNTY. 19 Sixteen of them are situated on the north side of Puente Gulch, two in the gulch, and the remainder southeast of it. (See Fig. 3.) 1.5.06. Investigation leads to the conclusion that the Puente Gulch has been worn along the axis of a fold, for the strata immediately north of the gulch, with a few exceptions, dip in a northerly direction, while those immediately south of the gulch dip in a southerly direction. 1.5.07. At the northeast end of Puente Gulch, the scanty rock exposures indicate that the formation is crumpled into two short anti- clinal folds. It is probable that these folds are represented by faults at no great distance beneath the surface, and that they coalesce in one main fold in Puente Canon. 1.5.08. The table on page 20 shows the depth, life, and the character of the oil the Puente wells yield. 1.5.09. In 1895, the Puente Oil Co. drilled two wells, which are dis- tant respectively about half a mile and a mile in a southeasterly direc- tion from Puente Gulch. Although a depth of more than 1,000' was reached, they proved practically dry holes, and were abandoned. The formation penetrated by these dry wells resembles that pierced by the oil-wells in Puente Gulch, which shows that the probabilities as to striking a remunerative deposit of petroleum depend, not only on the position of the rocks prospected in point of vertical range, but largely on the attending structural conditions. Subsequently, two wells were drilled east of the oil-wells in the Puente Gulch and in a line with the strike of the formation which previous drilling had shown to contain oil in valuable quantities. It is said that these wells are very remunera- tive. Some of the wells at Puente yield sufficient gas to be of local value. It is used beneath the steam-boilers and for domestic purposes. Some of the oil is effervescent with gas when it is brought to the surface. 1.5.10. The Puente Oil Co. owns two pipe-lines. One is a 2" line and 8 miles in length; it connects the Puente oil-wells with Puente station, on the S. P. R. R. The other is a 3" line and 15 miles in length, and con- nects the Puente oil-wells with the refinery belonging to the Puente Oil Co. at Chino, in San Bernardino County. 1.5.11. Nearly 2 miles in a southeasterly direction from the Puente oil-wells is Brea Caiion, where there are seepages of heavy oil. Between these two places a spur of hills extends to the southwest. On the north side of Brea Cafion a formation is exposed, which is elsewhere men- tioned as being characteristic of the Pliocene formations at Los Angeles. It consists of thin strata of soft, white, chalk-like diatomaceous rock, which alternate with thin strata of reddish-brown sand. This forma- tion dips N. 17° E. at an angle of 35", and appears to rest somewhat non- conformably on a soft sandstone containing numerous white particles. The soft sandstone rests on conglomerate and the conglomerate on micaceous sandstone, which dips N. 25° E. at an angle of 65°. The white and red formation, the soft sandstone and the conglomerate, appear to rest nearly, but not quite, conformably on one another. On the south side of Brea Canon are soft sandstones and conglomerates very similar to those last mentioned; but they are more or less impreg- nated with petroleum, and show a dip of S. 20° W. at an angle of 70°. A short distance farther south the dip is due south at an angle of about 40°. Along the south side of Brea Canon there is a series of seepages of heavy oil which has a course of S. 78° W., and this direction conforms to that of the axis of the anticline on which the oil seepages are situated. 20 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. 05 00 05 o w Q go" I H ><; O o o o 00 a Much gas. Much gas. Much gas. ^luch gas. Some gas. Some gas. Little gas. Some gas. Some gas. Little gas. Not much gas down 1,300' (ias. (Jas. Gas. .M uch gas. Much gas. Depth where Water was Cased Off... . iiiiiii OOTiiMi"*iOOOii 1 *J ' 1 1 ' 1 1 1 O (M 1 1 » 1 C-l M 1- O 1 ' ' H • ' • • I I fe ; ; ; ; ; j ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Decrease in Yield per Annum o • . ■ 5 • ' 1 r-l.-( 1 (N r-1 r-1 ' .-I 55 rt C<1 CO C» (M lO CO SO n go o rt cs_;_; ^ ^ _• t^ 1-^ 1»» t».o o o &-.0 o o o o o o t»,o OOOOOOO K., C C C^ C'o o o Co o o lo o o o r'o mo>oioicio>o r* C3 C3 TO C3 C3 C3 TO V O O Q^ ^ O Cj K K K »-iH W h^H HH ' DailyYieldinl894. _m ITS uo r~ lO lO .QOC>C>lOCO«DeOr-(l.OlOCOlO-u:)OI« tioo Daily Yield when Completed m I i ioioioin 'lOinioicosaJOiOWC'iooiMOi.':'".'} ^ao ■S 1 1 i.HN— lOC-IC-lS Depth of Principal Oil-Yielding Strata. : 1 1 o I a ■w 1 1 >ooo S ■OOOiftOWiOOOOOOOOOO o<=> O 1 1 ■moOlOo iCOOOCDOMCO'M00005'TiOXOiiC3 fi, 1 1 1 ^J 1 .^ 1 ; : 5 1 "3 I 1 1 in 1 fc Depth at which Oil was Struck. . . . •*-* 0) Ol <1> O O O O R cd ^ ^ u^ «*- (.H __;* *i b !^ trooiftiooioooiftowiftoooooioooo'^o (u 3 P Dmioaoa)-iri-oo»0(MX ea cS ol cj a> a> a> v Depth t^OOOO'MOt^ 'IftiOlOOiOOOOO-^OCOOiCuOOOO 9} lO lO O I-- O lO ?D ' 1^ 1^ CC tr CI -.O — rf — O O — « C C'J tC C^ (M C-1 « (M CO CT> c-i_i- oo 1 oc o_oj o_ai 02 1- — _t^ ■»_oo ci_x — ,^_« T^i, Year when Com- pleted . - ; ; : °P5 i 1 1 ilOtOt— h-00005-JOOI~CO ■O5iM0CC-lC-ie-1'M-»'eOC«rr5 1 1 i-jCooooooooosoooiooxoo < a^ a oo Cj a 3: a: a: C: Oi 1 1 IX0OX0O0O3UXO00OCCCC iooxocxj: xoc^. ocxjo Diameter of Casing CO mirto-r'ni^x.-T'Trioia'^iffi'viCcotocO'CiCicio '-^ S oooooooooooooooooooooo !o O -i-> *J +J *J -.- ♦J ■.- *J ♦J *J *J «J -M -t-. -M ♦J ^-> *J *J ♦J *J »J , *J ^lOlOOO CI M C-1 -l'-t<-r-*-«<-l<— 'Mf'T-^-*-^ CI MM -*••>!«< tc< .-^.-H.— I.-H — ^-i-H^I^H^-^i^-lii.— (.-If— «.1i-H— 1.1.— < '^H Number of Well... rtCmil««. I mile. Fig. 8. Cross-Skction Through Devil's (Jatk Mining Disnucr. the Sespe district is in the r-ange of mountains which borders the valley of Santa Clara River on the north. This territory comprises the Little Sespe and the Devil's Gate oil-mining districts. It includes the drainage basins of the Little Sespe, Pine, Cold Water, Tar, Stony Corral, and Alder creeks. These streams are tributaries of Sespe River, which flows through the center of the territory referred to. The Sespe and its tribu- taries are torrential during the rainy season, and their channels have a grade of 150' to more than 600' to the mile. They run through deep canons, and their channels are strewn with huge masses of water-worn rock. The rocks exposed in the Sespe district are principally hard sand- stones and dark-colored shales of the Eocene period, which have been denuded of more recent Tertiary formations; the latter form a ridge, which traverses the eastern side of the Sespe district; they also consti- <: H O P o Eci O q 3 o as 7' *^ K M' ■«^k I*. i¥« o S o K b, !5 O c < < CO Q E- < H 'w^^lta ^jp'i; -«-^H| ^*^ - ^. « Q ■< M ■< Eh O cc < t^ c OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORMATIONS — VENTURA COUNTY. Zo tule a great portion of the foothills which lie between the Sespe district and the valley of Santa Clara Ivivor. 2.1.02. The ridge referred to forms a divide between the Sespe and its tributaries on the west, and Pole Canon, Hopper, and Piru creeks on the east. 2.1.03. The rocks of the Sespe district constitute portions of two anticlinal folds. (See Fig. 8.) One of these folds traverses the northern part of this territory. In the Sespe district the most elevated portion of this fold is locally known as Redstone Peak. Its axis can be traced with a course of about N. 50° W. from station A (see map, Fig. 33), on the ridge which, as before mentioned, traverses the eastern side of the Sespe district, through the group of oil-wells at Tar Creek, along the northern slope of Redstone Peak, across Sespe Creek, and thence to some point north of Mount Topo Topa. For convenience this fold is referred to as the Redstone Peak anticline. It is an unsymmetrical fold, and in the Sespe district the dip of the rocks forming it has a tendency to swing around its axis. On the northern slope of this fold the dip varies from N. 45° E. to N. 70° E., and on the south slope, from S. 45° E. to S. 70° E. As this fold extends westward it appears to be much more symmetrical than it is in the Sespe district. 2.1.04. The other fold is also very unsymmetrical, its southern slope being much steeper than its northern. It has a course of about S. 85° W., and can be traced from station B (see map. Fig. 33), about half a mile east of the well of the California Oil Co., to the mountains at the east end of Ojai Valley; at its eastern extremity the dip of the Eocene rocks forming this fold swing around the axis of the fold, and it ranges from S. 10° E. to N. 70° E. The axis of this fold is well exposed at the head of Cold Water Canon. For convenience this fold is referred to as the Cold Water anticline. (See Fig. 25.) 2.1.05. Farther eastward the more recent Tertiary strata seem to iDelong to the southern slope of the Redstone Peak anticline, although on the summit of Four Forks Peak and on the south fork of Tar Creek there are some rocks which dip to the east. In the syncline between the two folds, and in some places on the northern slope of the Redstone Peak fold, the angle of the dip is abnormally low. It is evident that the Cold Water anticline dies out in the Sespe district, and it is prob- able that the Redstone Peak anticline dies out at some point not very much farther to the eastward. 2.1.06. An idea of the structure of the western portion of the Sespe district can be obtained by referring to Fig. 8, showing cross-section from station C on the east peak of Mount Cayetana through Cold Water Peak to a point on the ridge which runs N. 70° W. from Redstone Peak. 2.1.07. The relative geological position of the rocks penetrated by the oil-wells in the Sespe district, and the rocks penetrated by the oil-wells at Sulphur Mountains and in Sisar Valley, cannot be understood without mastering the structure of Mount Cayetana, a mass of Eocene sandstone which rises between Sespe and Santa Paula canons. (See Figs. 6 and 25.) On the northern side of Cayetana a strike fault extends from Sespe Cailon to the head of Ojai Valley. It passes a short distance south of the axis of the Cold Water Canon anti- cline. In many places its course is marked by a trough which has a ■course nearly coinciding with the strike of the formation. This fault 3-M 24 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. can be observed in Santa Paula Creek, a short distance north of the* point marked "Alexander's," in See. 10, T. 5 N., R. 21 W., S. B. M.; the upthrow is to the south; and at the head of Pine Creek tlie Sespo brownstone has been brought into contact with the buff-colored Eocene sandstone. The east fork of Santa Paula Creek has cut its way partly through the rocks which have been shattered by this fault and partly along the axis of the Cold Water anticline. On the northern bank of this stream, the whitish sandstone underlying the Sespe brownstone is exposed. 2.1.08. East of Sespe Creek this fault splits and forms a fault which extends eastward and passes a short distance south of the well of tbu California Oil Co. and a fault which crosses the Sespe River a short distance above the mouth of Little Sespe Creek. 2.1.09. A reconnaissance southward of Mount Cayetana leads to the conclusion that a fault traverses the southern base of that mountain with a course which is nearly coincident with the strike of the for- mation. This fault is marked by a line of springs, a few seepages of oil, and, in some places, by the crushed and broken nature of the rocks. The upthrow appears to be to the north, for the hard, buff-colored Eocene sandstones of Mount Cayetana are nearly in contact with formations in the foothills which contain Miocene and Pliocene fossils. West of Santa Paula Creek this fault splits, one fault passes up Sisar Valley, one along the southern Hank of the Sulphur Mountains, and probably a third extends through the center of the eastern end of Sulphur Mountains. 2.1.10. A reconnaissance northward of the Sespe district and toward the head of Agua Blanca Creek showed a fold still north of the one noted at Redstone Peak. The formations composing this most northern fold resemble those seen in the Sespe district, and rocks physically resembling the hard Eocene sandstones are in contact with the granite rocks of the Alamo Mountains. These sandstones appear to be more crushed and metamorphosed than they are in the Sespe district. 2.1.11. From the foregoing it is apparent that the geological struct- ure of the territory under discussion presents a series of closely compressed anticlinal folds. These folds are modified by faults, the most important of which have a course which is nearly coincident with the strike of the formations they traverse. The most numerous faults, especially in the hardest rocks, are dip-faults; but they are usually of minor importance. It is probable, however, that the course of some of the principal canons has been determined by dip-faults. In a few places lateral thrusts locally complicate the stratigraphy. Rightly to differentiate the rocks of this, or any other territory, it is necessary to trace the folds and the principal faults. It is not easy to do this in every instance. The chief obstacles are the alluvium in the foothills, and the dense brush and rocky debris in the higher elevations. Fig. 8 shows the mountain structure along a line extending northward from the eastern peak of Mount Cayetana, through the Devil's Gate oil-min- ing district, to the ridge which runs N. 70° W. from Redstone Peak. It shows the eastern peak of Mount Cayetana, the Cold Water anticline,, and the southern slope of Redstone Peak. r^/« r-M ^v" Fig. 9. Slaty Shale, Sulphur Mountains. ^^^^3^>.i4 - V —'"'■•■■ m Fk;. 10. Dark-Colored Shale, Tak Cukkk, .'-^ksik District. OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORMATIONS — VENTUKA COUNTY. 25 SESPE DISTRICT. 2.1.12. The most recent Tertiary formation in the Sespe district con- sists of sandstone strata, whitish to yellowish in color, usually rather fine-grained, and the exposed surfaces vary from soft and friable to moderately hard. These sandstones resemble those which are situated and extend north from the head of Pole Creek Canon. Their physical character corresponds to that of the whitish sandstone exposed at the base of Mount Cayetana and to certain sandstones on Ventura River, as hereinafter noted. At the last two places named they contain Miocene and Pliocene fossils. 2.1.13. As before mentioned, these sandstones and certain shales on which they rest form a ridge of mountains on the eastern side of the Sespe district. This formation terminates abruptly at the point marked *' North end of white sandstone ridge." A good place for inspecting this sandstone is below Oak Tree Point. There it rests apparently conform- ably on bleached calcareo-silicious shale, much of which exhibits a slaty cleavage like that seen at the Sulphur Mountains ( Fig. 9 ) as here- after described. This conformity can also be observed in Pole Creek Caiion, but at that place the slaty shale is very silicious. These bleached slaty shales rest apparently conformably on strata of grayish sandstone which are of no great thickness, and which rest conformably on dark- colored shales. The latter are traversed by thin strata of hard bitum- inous limestone and by strata consisting of nodular masses of limestone. (See Fig. 10.) The upper portion of this shale exhibits a slaty cleavage, and bleaches on exposure. In some places there are spots where this shale has been bleached apparently by the action of gas. The lower portion of this dark-colored shale is somewhat sandy, and the limestone strata which traverse it are fossiliferous. Although these fossils are rather poorly preserved, a small collection of them was made. (See table of fossils.) 2.1.14. Reference to this table shows that the vertical range of the fossils obtained from this formation at Tar Creek and on the divide between Tar and Maple creeks is: Eocene ( heretofore classed as Cretaceous B), Tej on.. 9 Miocene 4 Living, Quaternary, Pliocene, Miocene 2 Living, Quaternary, Pliocene .-. 3 Undetermined 2 It is obvious that these dark-colored shales must be regarded as tran- sition beds between the Miocene and Eocene formations. 2.1.15. The physical characteristics of these dark-colored shales and of the slaty shales overlying them resemble those of the dark-colored shales and bleached slaty shales on the Sulphur Mountains, and of the dark-colored shales exposed at points where the foothills are cut through by the Sespe River and Pole Creek Canon. These shales rest appar- ently conformably on drab sandstone, which is of no great thickness. 2.1.16. The lowermost portions of these dark-colored shales, and probably the drab sandstones underlying them, constitute the uppermost oil-yielding formations in the Sespe district. (See Fig. 11.) The drab sandstone rests apparently conformably on the Sespe brownstone forma- tion ; at least no marked non-conformity was observed. The Sespe brown- stone formation consists of sandstone shales and conglomerate — all being 26 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. more or less brown in color. The Sespe brownstone is a sandstone which is valuable as structural material. (See Fig. 14.) It is somewhat exten- sively quarried by Messrs. llenly and tlie Mentone Brownstone (.'ompany. In the Sespe district, a wide outcrop of this sandstone has been exposed by denudation, the greatest mass being in the syncline between Redstone Peak and the Cold Water anticline. This is the case especially on the western bank of Sespe Creek, where huge ledges of good building-stone are exposed, and there are many loose slabs which exceed 30'x30'xl0' in dimension. (See Fig. 14.) The best building-stone appears to con- stitute the upper portion of this brown-sandstone formation, and there are said to be several ledges of it which aggregate about 200' in thickness. Although this stone is generally known as the Sespe brownstone, and ■4 5(^ALe ,milai Fig. 13. Ceoss-Sbction, Rkdstonb Peak to Agua Blanca Ckbek, Skspe District. much of it is of a dark-brown color; more correctly speaking, it varies from reddish brown to brownish or bluish black. 2.1.17. The breadth of outcrop of this brownstone formation is 2 miles. It rests apparently conformably on a hard white silicious sandstone, which is composed mainly of white quartz granules and forms a striking con- trast with the brownstone as seen on the southern slope of Redstone Peak. On the summit of Redstone Peak numerous specimens of Ostrea idriaensis were obtained. The brown and the white sandstone are also exposed at Stone Corral Creek and the north fork of Sespe River. 2.1.18. This white sandstone rests apparently conformably on a hard buff-colored sandstone, which usually shows a calcareous reaction and contains numerous Eocene (heretofore classified as Cretaceous B) fossils. (See table of fossils.) Also, numerous peculiar cylindrical forms, which are believed by Dr. J. G. Cooper to have been sponges. This hard sandstone forms the main portion of Mount Cayetana; it is exposed at many places along the Cold Water anticline, and for tlie most part it constitutes the walls of Sespe Canon. Several springs of petroleum and mineral water flow from it. 2.1.19. On the Redstone Peak anticline, where its axis is cut through by the north fork of Sespe River, there are springs of warm mineral water, which also yield a little oil, and at several other places petro- leum exudes from faults and fissures in this hard Eocene sandstone. 2.1.20. On the Cold Water anticline there are oil-springs in the hard Eocene sandstone at the following places: At the well of the California Oil Co.; in two canons between the well of the California Oil Co. and Fit;. 11. ()il-\Vell8 on Tak (keek, Se.spk Di«tkut. S -'^tf^'Tjfir "s: Fig. V2. Seepages of He.wv oii. i-kom Kockne Sandstone, Noktii ok the Silvekthkead Wells. OIL AND GAS YIEr.DING FORMATIONS — VENTURA COUNTY. 27 the Sespe River; at Tar Hole, a short distance above the Devil's Gate, on the Sespe River; in Echo Canon, west of Santa Paula Creek and north of the Silverthread oil-wells. (See Fig. 12.) 2.1.21. A reconnaissance to Agua Rlanca Creek showed that the whitish sandstone mentioned first, in speaking of the Sespe formations, is overlaid ))y conglomerate which rests conformably upon the sand- stone. By far the best sequence of rock exposure in the Sespe district can be observed along a lino running eastward from Redstone Peak toward Piru and Agua Blanca creeks. Observation along the line indicated warrants the conclusion that all the formations there exposed rest practically conformably on one another; at least no marked uncon- formal)ility was observed. This apparent conformability is somewhat remarkable, because in other places in California Miocene formations have been observed resting non-conformably on the Eocene rocks. The relative positions of the geological formations in the Sespe dis- trict and their approximate thickness can be noted on Fig. 13, show- ing a cross-section between Station 20, northwest of Redstone Peak and Station 15 B, on Agua Blanca Creek. It is quite probable that the thickness of strata is augmented by faults, but no faults of importance were observed. The angle of the dip, as shown in Fig. 13, is a some- what arbitrary one, but it is probably not very far from a general aver- age of the different angles at which the rocks dip between the points named. In many places the Sespe brownstone formation dips at an angle of very much less than 30°. LITTLE SESPE DISTRICT. 2.1.22. The Little Sespe petroleum mining district was organized April 27, 1878. Its metes and bounds, as given by the Recorder of the district, are as follows: " Beginning at the large sycamore tree situated about 100 yds. south of J. Aker's house and on the line dividing his ranch from that of Mower's; thence west along the Sespe grant line 2 miles; thence north 10 miles; thence east to west line of Camulos district; thence south to Sespe grant line; thence west along the Sespe grant line to place of beginning." 2.1.23. The following groups of wells are situated in the Little Sespe mining district: The Tar Creek, the Four Forks, the Brownstone, the Kentuck, and also the oil-well belonging to the California Oil Co. 2.1.24. At Tar Creek thirty -one wells have been sunk, which vary from 700' to 1,000' in depth. For many years this group of wells has been very productive, and in 1892 they yielded at the rate of 1,500 bbls. a month. In 1895 only fiv^e of them were being pumped, and it is said that they yielded about 1,000 bbls. a month. These wells are situated near the axis and on the northern slope of the Redstone Peak anticline. They penetrate the dark-colored shales, and some of them probably pierce the drab sandstone overlying the Sespe brownstone. 2.1.25. At Four Forks five wells were being pumped in 1895, which were said to yield, all told, about 40 bbls. of oil a day. Those wells vary from 700' to 1,100' in depth. It is said that the Four Forks wells have been very productive, and for a long time yielded at the rate of 750 bbls. of oil a day. Two wells drilled at Four Forks in 1895-96 by the Union Oil Co. of Santa Paula are said to be very remunerative. The Four Forks wells are situated east of the point to which the end of the 28 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. Cold Water anticline can be traced. They may be regarded as penetrat- ing rocks forming a part of the southern slope of the Redstone Peak anticline. The formations they pierce are similar to those pierced by the wells at Tar Creek. 2.1.26. The Brownstone (Los Angeles) group of wells is situated at the forks of the Little Sespe, and penetrate strata which may be most appropriately referred to the southern slope of the Cold Water anticline, although that fold cannot be traced east of the forks of Little Scspe Creek. At this point there are eight wells, which are said to vary from 400' to 800' in depth. Three of these wells are west and five of them east of the forks of the Little Sespe. The three wells first mentioned penetrate the upper portion of the brownstone formation, and are said to be dry- holes. The five wells situated south and east of the forks of Little Sespe Creek penetrate the lower portion of the dark-colored shale formation. It is said that these wells have proved very productive, and that in 1895 they yielded, all told, at the rate of about 900 bbls. a month. 2.1.27. There is another well about a third of a mile south of the forks of the Little Sespe, and obviously lower on the southern slope of the Cold Water anticline than are the Brownstone group of wells. In this well only salt water was obtained. 2.1.28. The Kentuck wells are situated on the southern slope of the Cold Water anticline and about half a mile from its axis. They are on the eastern bank of Sespe River, close to the point where, as previously mentioned, an extensive fault crosses the Sespe. All these wells, except one, penetrate the dark-colored shales and the sandstone immediately underlying it. The exception referred to is No. 1: It penetrates forma- tions which are much disturbed, and is said to be a very small producer. No. 2 was sunk in 1889, and the formation penetrated is principally dark-colored shale and light-colored sand. It was first sunk to a depth of 300', and yielded 300 bbls. of oil daily for one week, then 200 bbls. of oil daily for two weeks. Subsequently the yield declined, and the well was sunk to 730' in depth. When that depth was reached oil spouted over the " walking beam," and the well yielded 500 bbls. of oil daily for two months. The yield then graduallj'^ declined, and at the end of one year the well produced 60 bbls. of oil daily. In 1895 this well yielded 20 bbls. of oil daily. 2.1.29. Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 were drilled in the years 1890-91, and are about 700' deep. At first they each yielded about 300 bbls. of oil a day, but in 1895 the yield of each had decreased to 20 bbls. of oil a day. No. 7 is about 730' deep. At first it yielded 700 bbls. of oil a day, but in 1895 the yield had decreased to 50 bbls. of oil a day. Of No. 8 no record was obtained. In 1895 the total yield of the Kentuck wells was about 4,000 bbls. of oil a month. The oil has a gravity of about 26° B. when it is first taken from the wells. Many of the wells in the Sespe district yield considerable gas, which is used under the steam-boilers and for domestic purposes. 2.1.30. The well of the California Oil Co. is situated at the axis of the Cold Water anticline, or a very short distance north of it. The rocks it penetrates are brown sandstone and the hard sandstones imme- diately underlying it. This well was drilled in 1891, and the formation penetrated is as follows: OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORMATIONS — VENTURA COUNTY. 29 Hard, brown sandstone 30' Soft, red sandstone - 10' Hard, brown sandstone 25' Black shale -- - 25' Hard sandstone 20' Soft, red, dry, clayey matter 20' Hard, red sandstone - 35' Shale, with very heavy oil 15' Hard, red sandstone S5' Soft, drab-colored shale, with heavy oil 30' Soft shale, with hard strata, the latter varying in thickness from 6" to 8'. 260' Yellow sandstone -. 50' Dark-colored shale, with oil .- -- 40' Yellow sandstone. - 50' Sand, with oil .-- - - 25' Dark-colored shale ..- --. 30' Hard, yellow sandstone - 5' Oil-sand, interstratilied with hard, yellow sandstone, with oil 30' Soft shale, with oil -.. -- 10' Hard, red sandstone -. 40' Soft shale, with oil 5' Hard, yellow, sandy shale 20' 805' 2.1.31. Concerning this well, Mr. M. Bradfield, the superintendent, states as follows: When a depth of 805' was reached, the well spouted oil over the top of the derrick. It filled a 250-bbl. tank in less than half an hour. For about one month the well spouted oil twice a day, namely, at the hours of 10 a. m. and 8 p. m. At the end of that time the well ceased to flow, but 160 bbls. of oil were pumped out of it every twenty-four hours for nearly one year. The well then became choked with sand, and the flow gradually decreased. In 1894 this well was cleaned out, and it is said to have yielded 100 bbls. of oil a day. In 1895 this well again became choked with sand, and as the price of oil was very low the sand was not removed. In 1896 this well was again cleaned out and work was resumed to deepen it. THE devil's gate OIL AND BROWNSTONE MINING DISTRICT. 2.1.32. The metes and bounds of this district areas follows: "Begin- ning at center stake of the south line of Sec. 1 , T. 4 N., R. 20 W., S. B. M., and continuing west 6 miles; thence north 8 miles; thence east 6 miles; thence south 8 miles, crossing the Big Sespe River to place of beginning, being partly in townships 4 and 5 of the aforesaid meridian." The Devil's Gate mining district includes nearly the whole of that portion of the Sespe River which flows through what is commonly known as the Sespe district, and numerous oil and brownstone claims have been located in it. The portion of this district traversed during our reconnaissance is composed of the following rocks, in the order of their upward vertical range, and were hereinbefore described: (a) Very hard buff and brown sandstones and dark-colored shales, •containing Eocene fossils; {h) "Whitish sandstones; (c) Sespe brownstone formation. OIL DISTRICTS NORTHWEST OF SANTA PAULA. 2.1.33. The petroleum industry in the oil districts west of Santa Paula is represented by the oil-wells in the Silverthread (Sisar) and Sulphur Mountains districts and the O'Hara wells (see Figs. 6 and 7 and sketch 30 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. map Fig. 33); also, several tunnels which have been run for oil, as hereinafter noted. The wells and tunnels are situated in hills which culminate in the mountain ridge of San Cayetana. The principal range of hills which extends as an offshoot from Mount Cayetana is known as the Ojai range, or Sulphur Mountains. Santa Paula Creek has cut through the mountain ridge of San Cayetana and through the eastern end of the Sulphur Mountains, whence it flows southerly and joins the Santa Clara River near the town of Santa Paula. (See Figs. 6 and 7.) 2.1.34. As previously mentioned, and as can be seen by inspecting the sketch map (Fig. 33), the fold spoken of as the Cold Water anti- cline can be traced from the Sespe district to the mountains at the southern end of Ojai Valley. 2.1.35. South of the Cold Water anticline and west of Santa Paula Creek the Eocene formations of Mount Cayetana show two distinct folds or flexures, and their axes extend in an east and west direction. The Silverthread oil-wells are situated near the axis of the southernmost of these folds, and, as hereinafter noted, it is probable that a fault extends along the axis of this fold. 2.1.36. Farther southward more recent Tertiary formations prevail; they constitute a fold, the axis of which very nearly coincides with the course of Sisar Canon, and about a mile to the south is another fold, the axis of which lies south of, and was nearly parallel with, the southern base of the Sulphur Mountains. All the oil-wells at the southern base of the Sulphur Mountains are situated a short distance north of the axis of this fold, except the wells in Aliso Caiion and perhaps some in Wheeler Canon. 2.1.37. The Jones (O'Hara) well, east of Santa Paula Creek, pene- trates rocks which correspond to the formation on the northern slope of this fold. It will be noted that the eastern end of the Sulphur Mountains exhibits a syncline. The rocks on the northern side of the moun- tains dip southerly, and form the southern slope of the fold which has its axis in Sisar Canon. The rocks on the south side of the Sulphur Mountains dip northerly and form the northern slope of the fold which extends south of, and nearly parallel with, the southern base of the mountains. 2.1.38. The geological structure of this territory is that of closely compressed anticlinal folds. (See Fig. 34.) Along the anticlinal and synclinal axes the rocks are crushed and their stratigraphy is irregular. In a general way, the trend of the valleys, extending east and west from Santa Paula Canon, coincides with that of the axes of the rocky folds. Along the axes of the folds, and along what appear to be lines of faulting, there are numerous springs of sulphuretcd water, gas, and oil. In Sisar Valley some of the mineral springs have been improved and a bath-house and camping resort have been established for the accommo- dation of visitors. Much of the gas is sulphureted hydrogen. It is the acid resulting from the oxidation of this gas which is the most promi- nent factor in the solfataric action noticeable on the southern slope of Sulphur Mountains and elsewhere, and probably many of the bleached rocks in this locality owe their whiteness to this reagent. 2.1.39. By referring to the sketch map, Fig. 33, the reader can note the relative position of the oil-wells and of the several tunnels which have been run for oil in the above described territory. The strike of the formation varies from N. 70° E. to S. 70° E., the prevailing strike being OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORMATIONS — VENTUUA COUNTY. 31 N. 80° E., or thereabouts. As shown by the exposed rocks, the angle of the dip of the different strata varies from 40° to more than 80°. In such closely compressed folds as those herein referred to, it is reasonable to suppose that, beneath the surface, the strata in many places dip at a much greater angle than the exposed rocks indicate; nor could rocky strata be so crushed together, as they are in this locality, without the formation of numerous faults. Fig. 84 shows the relative position of the strata exposed between a line drawn S. 80° W. and N. 80° E., through the ]Mupu school-house, in Santa Paula Canon, and a line drawn S. 80° W. and N. 80° E., through station D on the fold which can be traced westward from the head of Cold Water Canon in the Sespe oil district to the mountains northeast of Ojai Valley. 2.1.40. In order to convey an idea as to the structure of the geological formations, since the angle of the dip is very irregular, the strata are represented as dipping at an angle of 65°. In order that this diagram may not be too complicated, numerous faults and the crumpled rocks which can be seen in the axis of the syncline on the Sulphur Mountains and elsewhere, are not shown. The oldest rocks (marked W in Fig. 84) are the Eocene formations, and which are exposed between Echo Canon and the Silverthread oil district. They consist of hard reddish-brown sandstone, dark-colored shales, and whitish sandstone. These contain distinctively Eocene fossils. (See table of fossils.) 2.1.41. The formation marked X in Fig. 34 consists of soft sandstones (bituminous in places), dark-colored clays and shales. From the clays was obtained a small collection of fossils which are mostly Eocene, together with some unclassified species, said by Dr. Cooper to resemble Miocene forms. (See table of fossils.) This formation underlies the bleached slaty shales on the Sulphur Mountains, and for the most part constitutes the short, crumpled fold between Silverthread oil-wells and the northern slope of the Sulphur Mountains. These rocks are pene- trated by the oil-wells of the Sulphur Mountains, the O'Hara wells, and probably by some of those of the Silverthread group. In physical appear- ance these dark-colored shales resemble the dark-colored shales at Tar Creek and Four Forks in the Sespe district. The fossils obtained from these shales indicate the Oligocene period. 2.1.42. The formation marked Y in Fig. 34 constitutes the upper por- tion of the dark-colored shale formations, which becomes slaty and passes into bleached slaty shale (Fig. 9); this shale is traversed by numerous hard calcareo-silicious strata. It is probable that this bleaching does not extend a great way beneath the surface. On the surface these bleached shales frequently appear as a white silicious rock, which adheres readily to the tongue. These shales mainly constitute the upper portion of the eastern end of the Sulphur Mountains; on the west side of the upper end of Ojai Valley they have a wide outcrop, and springs of heavy oil flow from them. Farther eastward, in Sisar Valley, the out- crop narrows, tapering and disappearing in the Silverthread oil district. 2.1.43. As previously mentioned, the upper portion of the eastern end of the Sulphur Mountains consists mainly of bleached slaty shales, similar to those which are seen in Ojai Valle}', and which pinch out in the Silverthread oil district. On the northern side of the Sulphur Mountains, they can be seen at many points dipping in a southerly direction, and on the south side of the mountains they dip northerly, the synclinal axis being near the apex of that portion of the mountains 32 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. referred to. On the southern slope of the Sulphur Mountains, as observed immediately north of the Scott & Gillmore oil-wells, and as shown in Fig. 15, these slat)'' shales are bounded on the south by a line of decomposed and bleached shale, which at many points shows evidence of solfataric action. These bleached shales make a line along the southern flank of the Sulphur Mountains, as shown in Fig. 15. This line, or sulphur streak, as it is called, can be traced for many miles, its course being approximately S. 80° W. Along this sulphur streak or streaks (for it looks as though there were two or three running parallel), the rocks are bleached, and here and there they manifest solfataric action, resulting in the formation of small quantities of alum, sulphur, and gypsum. In some places, even at 3' depth, the heat is too great to be borne by the bare hand. When the solfataric action ceases in one spot, it begins in another, somewhere along the line indicated. The extinct solfataras usually show a white slaty shale or whitened rotten rock; in one instance previous solfataric action has left lichind a black pulverulent rock. In some places near this sulphur streak the rocks appear to have been softened and run together by heat, and the slope of the mountain is partially covered with brecdia formed of angular frag- ments of shale and other sedimentary rock cemented with scoriaceous material. In one place, the cementing material appears to be silicious clay. The breccia is rudely stratified; its dip corresponds to the slope of the mountain south of it. This is an opposite direction to the dip of the underlying rocks, and conveys the idea that these disconnected masses of breccia are not in place. This solfataric line can be followed in an easterly direction to Santa Paula Creek, the direction being N. 80° P]., or thereabouts. East of Santa Paula Creek, although the alluvium is very deep, bleached shales can be observed here and there along the course indicated, nearly to the head of Bear Canon. 2.1.44. On the southwestern flank of Mount Cayetana, at about 1,500' altitude above the bed of Santa Paula Creek, and a short distance northeast of the head of Bear Canon, there is an exposure of whitish clay or bleached clay-shale intercalated with streaks of pulverulent silica, the latter being probably referable to solfataric action. There is but little doubt that the solfataric line before mentioned marks a fissure or fault running in the direction of the strike of the formation. Below the solfataric line there is a fringe of oil-seepages, from which heavy oil and maltha creep slowly down the slope of the mountain. In most places the bleached slaty shales rest on slaty shales which are not bleached. These slaty shales have been prospected by both wells and tunnels, some of which are productive. In every instance, however, the productive wells and tunnels are situated at or near the contact of the slaty shales and underlying strata. One well, drilled at or near the axis of the Sulphur Mountains syncline, is said to be 2,180' deep and to have yielded nothing but sulphur water and a very small quantity of oil. 2.1.45. Beneath the slaty shales on the northern slope of Sulphur Mountains there is a very meager exposure of dark-colored clay shales. Indeed, at the junction of Sisar and Santa Paula creeks, the slaty shales dipping south are in immediate contact with clayey shales and sandy strata dipping north. The presence of crushed rocks, and springs of gas, oil, and sulphur water, indicate a fault, the course of which roughly corresponds to the direction of Sisar Valley and also to the anticlinal axis which is coincident with it. M H U > o bls. of oil daily for a year, when it commenced to fail, and at the end of three years went dry. 2.1.57. No. 27 is situated 75' south of the Wild Bill well. Similar strata to those encountered in the Wild Bill well were passed through to 1,800' in depth. From that point to a depth of 2,780' the formation was principally sand. At 1,000' depth the well yielded 25 bbls. of heavy black oil a day, but no gas. At 2,000', a heavy, grass-green oil was obtained, which, when exposed to the air for a few hours, became thick and viscous. Between the depths of 2,700' and 2,780', a light- green oil of about 27° B. and much gas were obtained from a dark- brown sand formation. When first pumped, it yielded about 60 bbls. of oil a day. It was pumped continually for three years, and gradually diminished until 1895, when it yielded daily only 5 bbls. of green oil of low specific gravity. 2.1.58. No. 16 is about 125' southwest of the Wild Bill well. The formation passed through varies from dark-brown to light-colored sand, yielding much gas. A brown oil of high specific gravity was struck a*-- 330 in depth. At 875' the oil shot above the top of the derrick. This well is said to have flowed at the rate of 1,000 bbls. of oil a day for ten days, when it was capped under a pressure of 1,500 lbs. to the square inch. In a few weeks the flow of oil ceased, and the well was pumped. At first it yielded 300 bbls. of oil a day, but at the end of one year the well was exhausted. 2.1.59. Seven wells were sunk in Wild Bill Gulch; it is said that only Nos. 28 and 29 appeared to affect each other, and they were about 200' apart. No. 28 was 850' deep, and yielded 25 bbls. daily until No. 29 was completed, when it went dry in twenty-four hours thereafter. In it water was struck at 200' depth. No, 29 was 975' deep, and water was struck at 200' depth. At 975' it was pumped, and yielded at the rate of 60 bbls. a day for a short time, and then 25 bbls. daily for five years. 2.1.60. In 1887 a well was drilled in west fork of Adams Canon, and about one quarter of a mile west of Wild Bill Gulch. It is said that, although this well is 1,400' deep, when completed it yielded only 5 bbls. of oil a day, and that it failed in a few months. 2.1.61. Aliso Canon wells are about 4 miles west of those in Wheeler Canon and about 10 miles in an air-line from Santa Paula. These five wells, 600' to 700' deep, are said to be producers of oil accom- panied by much water. In May, 1895, they were not being pumped. 2.1.62. Salt Marsh Car'wn wells are situated about one half mile southwest of the well in the west fork of Adams Canon, and consist of nine wells drilled in 1887, and varying from 250' to 1,600' in depth. It OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORMATIONS — VENTURA COUNTY. 37" is said that the formation is dark-colored shale and sand, and that they yielded 200 l)bls. of oil a day for more than a year, but that the yield gradually diminished, until in 1895 three wells only were being pumped, which yielded, all told, 300 bbls. of oil a month. 2.1.63. Scott tO Gillmore loells, seven in number, are about one half mile west of Santa Paula Creek, and are 300' to 1,100' deep; total yield, 200 bbls. of oil a month. The oil varies from a light-brown oil to maltha; the oil of the lowest specific gravity, i. g., the light-brown oil, is obtained from strata which are the lowest in point of vertical range. 2.1.64. Wheeler Canon wells are more than a mile southwest of the wells in Salt Marsh Canon. It is said that five wells, from 200' to 900' deep, were drilled in this caiion; and that the chief oil-bearing stratum was struck at 90' depth; also, that the best well was only 250' deep, and that it yielded 30 bbls. of oil a day for six months, and then went dry. In Wheeler Canon there are extensive deposits of calcareous tufa, from which specimens of Helix traski (see table of fossils) were obtained. There are similar rocks at other places in the Sulphur ^Mountains, and many of the springs which issue therefrom form a calcareous deposit. 2.1.65. Many of the wells in the Silverthread district and on the southern side of the Sulphur Mountains yield considerable gas. It is used for steam-boilers and for domestic purposes. OIL-WELLS ON SOUTHWESTERN SLOPE OF MOUNT CAYETANA. 2.1.66. The O^Hara oil-ivells are situated three quarters of a mile east of Santa Paula Creek, and at about 1,130' elevation. (See Fig. 6.) They pierce similar strata to those south of Sulphur Mountains. They consist of five wells, varying from 430' to 1,170' in depth, and yield, all told, about 400 bbls. of oil a month. 2.1.67. The following records of the two deepest wells were kindly put at the disposal of the Mining Bureau: Well No. 1. Completed December 2, 1892, yielding 900 bbls. of oil monthly. In June, 1895, it yielded 300 bbls. of oil per month. To 45' depth, 14" casing. Clay and light-colored shale. " TCK " Dark shale, witli a little water. " SCf " Water, with a little gas. " 120' " Dark shale, with streak of brea; some water. " 200' " 121" casing. Slate and shale. " 255' " Shale. " 275' " Thin stratum of hard rock. " 300' " 8J^" casing (screw). Soft shale. " 415' " Shale and brea. " 525' " Sand, with gas. " 575' " Sand and slate ; more gas and a little oil. " 650* " 6%" casing. Hard, dark shale, with thin streaks of sand and brea ; some oil. " 655' " Sand, with water. " 705' " Dark-colored sand, with gas. " 735' " More water, with traces of oil. " 805' " Hard, close, dark-colored sand, with a little oil. " 817' " Dark-colored sand : good showing of oil; during 8 days pumped 22>^ bbls. a day. " 895' " Dark-colored sand (making 90' of oil-sand in one stratum). " 950' " Shale and slate. " 965' " Sand, with gas and oil. " 1,005' " Shale and light-colored slate. " 1,100' " Oil-sand. " 1,120' " 4>^" casing. " 1,155' " Oil-sand. " 1,170' " Slate. 38 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. Well No. 2 is about 700' southwesterly of the preceding. In June, 1895, it yielded 1 bbl. of heavy oil daily, said to come from between 190' and*215' depth. To 20' depth, 6't' " 75' " " 85' " " 100' " " 170' " " 190' ' " 215' ' " 300' " 320' " 390' " 520' " 570' " 620' " 670' " 775' " 790' " 854' " 851' " 860' " 870' " 965' " 1,105' " 1.125' HM" casing. Dark-colored sand. Hard, white sand, followed by softer sand. 12" casinj<. Harder sandstone; brea streak; showing of heavy oil and a little water. Showing of light, amber-colored oil. Hard sandstone ; heavy oil. Shale, caved badly. 10;^^" casing. Light-colored sandstone. Dark sand. Heavy oil rose to witliin 100' of the surface. For a few days 8 bbls. of oil a day were pumped, but after- ward diminished to 3 bbls. Light-colored, soft shale, with streaks of white sand. Dark-colored shale (caves badly). Sandstone, with thin strata of shale and a little gas. Sand and shale. Shale and liglit-colored sand. G')i" casing. Sandstone and gas ; shale (caves badly). Dark-colored sandstone. Very hard, white sand. 5%" casing. Sandstone. Soft sandstone. Sand, with some gas and oil and much water. Running sand. Shut down six weeks ; hole filled IOC with sand. 4%" casing. Hard, white sand. Kunning sand. 2.1.68. Extending east from the Jones (O'Hara) oil-wells the exposed formations consist of dark-colored shales and soft sandstones, which crop out all the way up Bear Caiion. In some places petroleum seeps from them. 2.1.69. The Grayham well is about 4 miles east of the O'Hara wells and a short distance west of Timber Canon. It is said that this well is 275' deep; that it penetrates a soft grayish sandstone, and that it can be made to yield 6 bbls. of oil in twenty-four hours. 2.1.70. TOTAL YIELD OF OIL-WELLS NORTHWEST OF SANTA PAULA. Oil-Wells. No. of Wells. Depth. Monthly Yield. Capital Oil Co. wells .- Bard wells, Sisar Oil and Asphalt Co. Union Oil Co.'s wells, in Sisar Canon Scott & Gillmore wells j. Union Oil Co.'s wells, in Adams Canon Union Oil Co.'s wells, in Salt Marsh Caiion O'llara wells, in 15ear Gulch 11 9 9 7 3 3 5 Feet. 400 to 750 550 to 8C0 60 to 9(10 300 to 1,100 430 to 1,170 Total monthly yield. Bbls. 990 9U0 6110 200 900 300 400 4,290 OIL AND GAS YIELDING FOUMATIONS — VENTURA COUNTY. 39 CHAPTER II. Oil-Tunnels. 2.2.01. All the productive oil-tunnels in the Sulphur Mountains district are situated on its southern slope. It will be observed by examining Figs. 33 and 34, that the oil-tunnels penetrate strata which overlie the rocks pierced by the oil-wells on the south side of the Sulphur Mountains; also, that the oil-tunnels are situated immediately south of the solfataric line, which, as before mentioned, probably marks a fissure or fault traversing the Sulphur Mountains in a course which is nearly, but not quite, coincident with the strike of the formation. Indeed, the Orne tunnel terminates in crushed shales, almost within the southern limits of the solfataric line previously mentioned. 2.2.02. An inspection of Figs. 18, 19, and 20, which respectively show the Pinkerton, Good, Magie, and some of the Farrell tunnels, will give those who wish closely to follow the matter a good idea of the character of the strata penetrated by the oil-tunnels on the southern slope of the Sulphur Mountains. These strata consist of dark-colored clay shale and soft sandstone, with an occasional hard calcareous stratum. The shale becomes slaty as the before-mentioned solfataric line is approached. In these tunnels, the oil is usually struck in thin strata of sandstone, or it oozes from little fissures or cracks in the shale or slate, and sometimes it exudes from between the laminse of the slaty shale; it is usually accom- panied by sulphureted water. For the most part, the oil is green, but heavy black, brown, heavy and light green oils are found at no great distance from one another. Some of the strata penetrated by these tun- nels yield much gas. When work is in progress, the tunnels are illumi- nated by reflected sunlight (Fig. 21) or by incandescent electric lights. The blasts are usually discharged by electricity, and water-blasts are used to ventilate the workings. The cost of running these tunnels is about as follows: $1 50 per foot for the first 100', and $1 per foot more for every additional 100', exclusive of the cost of timbering. Each foot of tunnel requires one 2"x 12"x 16' plank for posts and caps, and some- times lagging is needed. The tunnels are usually 4' wide on the bottom and 3' wide on top, and about 6' high. A foot-board and a track run the entire length of the tunnels. The track is made either of iron or 3"x 4"x 16' pine scantling. For sleepers, a 2"x 12"x 16' plank is used for every 16' of track. The oil and water flow down a gutter in the floor of the tunnel to a separating tank, which usually holds lObbls. In the separating tank, the oil rises to the surface of the water, and is drawn off by a pipe-line to a receiving tank, while the water escapes from an outlet at the bottom. The following tunnels are shown on Figs. 23 and 24: 2.2.03. Pinkerton Lower Tunnel. It is 320' in length. When com- pleted in 1894, it yielded 45 bbls. of oil a month. In 1895 it yielded per month 30 bbls. of oil of high specific gravity. The principal source is a sandstone stratum 8^" in thickness, which is traversed by crevices i" to i" wide. The oil is accompanied by gas and sulphureted water. Between this sandy stratum and the end of the tunnel, oil and sulphu- reted water seep through cracks in the walls and in the floor of the tunnel. 4 — M 40 CALIFORNIA STATE MININC; BUREAU. i h/hihe Shreahr ,,^^£ .focks cteconn posed by /3*o* * solfaharic aihion. W ^ri/lholo a/- enti runnel. Pinker hon Tunnels ^^ru^hed slaty shaie ' Hard calcareous ir ol » W rrhite spot no erid-, of So If al action ^ .'-'-■ s't,7j X ^ ^'' p,,su/pnur leso ^f^- v<^omc shale DarKcolored shale r^^of ^o^ Sand^l-one Aoo I""iG. 20. The Magie and the Farrell Oil-Tuxnei,s. the end of the tunnel the formation is sandstone and dark-colored shale. At the end of the tunnel there is a spring of sulphureted water and traces of oil. 2.2.12. Good Middle Tunnel. It is 425' long, and about 150' above the Good lower tunnel, from which it is distant about 400' north- westerly. The formation penetrated resembles that in the Good lower tunnel. It produces sulphureted water, but practically no oil. 2.2.13. Good Upper Tunnel. It is 50' long, and about 80' above the middle tunnel, from which it is distant about 400' northerly. The formation is principally dark-colored, and somewhat slaty, shale. A small quantity of oil was struck in a thin stratum of sandstone. 2.2.14. Magie and Farrell cC* Kimball Tunnels, shown on sketch map. Fig. 20, are situated in the west fork of Salt Marsh Canon. They are distant about two thirds of a mile in a southwesterly direction from the Good tunnels, and they range from 1,200' to 1,300' altitude. OIL AND GAS YIELDING FORMATIONS — VENTURA COUNTY. 43 2.2.15. Mcujie Tunnel No. G. In June, 1895, this tunnel was 560' long, and work was still being actively prosecuted. The formation penetrated shows as follows: Dark-colored shale, with a few fossils 220' Hard stratum of limestone and a little heavy oil 2' Light gray sandstone, yielding daily 6 bbls. of oil of 20° B 120' ylatv shale... 20' Sandstone, apparently crushed, in strata 1" to 18" in thickness, inter- stratilicd witli layers of clay-shale and clay %" to ]4" thick. The last 27' of this formation is traversed by cracks running transversely to the strike of the rocks, and the sandstone is saturated with oil 180' Slaty shale 20' Hard (crushed) limestone and oil 3' In June, 1895, the end of the tunnel was in a slaty shale, traversed by small fissures yielding sulphureted water and oil. This tunnel yields 200 bbls. of oil a month. 2.2.16. Mngie Tunnel No. S. It is 270' long, and about 150' south- westerly from, and penetrates a similar formation to, the preceding tunnel. Yield, 15 libls. of green oil a month. 2.2.17. Magie Tunnel No. 1. It is 200' in length, and about 400' distant from tunnel No. 6, and 70' higher up the mountains. The for- mation penetrated is sandstone and slaty shale. It was completed in 1891, and then yielded 300 bbls. of oil a month; in 1895 it yielded 15 bbls. of oil a month. 2.2.18. Magie Tunnel No. 4. It is 125' long, and is nearly 400' northeast of tunnel No. 1, and at a somewhat higher elevation. The formation penetrated is, earth and drift, 113'; sandstone, 12'. When completed in 1894 it yielded 30 bbls. of oil a month; in 1895 it yielded 8 bbls. of oil a month. 2.2.19. About 800' north of the last-mentioned tunnel a decomposed slaty shale is exposed, which exhibits signs of solfataric action. It is partly covered with breccia, which rests non-conformably on it and has the appearance of not being in place. Farther westward evidences of solfataric action are very conspicuous, and a breccia is exposed, which is cemented with scoriaceous material, and some of the rocks appear to have been softened by heat; others are decomposed, and impregnated with alum and sulphur. North of the solfataric line are bleached shales interstratified with irregular strata of 'impure limestone. A small amount of heavy green oil oozes from these shales and it covers the surface of the water in a small reservoir which is supplied from springs farther up the mountain. This water is used in a water-blast (Figs. 21 and 23) at the Magie tunnel No. 6, as hereinafter noted. This water is hard, but not unpalatable. Included in the Magie group there are also two 140' tunnels, which penetrate formations similar to those in the Magie tunnels No. 3 and No. 6. Each of them yields about 15 bbls. of dark green oil a month. 2.2.20. Farrell S. P. R. R., and at about 150' altitude. The workings consist of a tunnel about 140' long, and a 100' shaft. The tunnel cuts through a vein of asphaltum which has a strike of N. 20° W, The thickness of the vein in the tunnel varies from 10" to 2', and dips S, 60° E. at an angle of about 75°. The wall rock is the bituminous shale previously mentioned. At the mouth of the tunnel the shale is much disturbed, and in the tunnel it shows a dip of S. 30° W., at an angle of about 70°. The prevailing dip of the formation north of the tunnel is N. 10° E., at an angle of about 80°. The shaft has been sunk on the vein, which shows about 13' maximum thickness. Tlie asphaltum is a uniformly black mass, which exhibits a slightly granular structure. The follow- ing assays of asphaltum obtained in the Punta Gorda mine are from the records of the company: From the 40' level, by Prof. Geo. E. Colby, University of California, Berkelev: Lossat212° F 0.83% 100.00% Hydrocarbons ...) c-n,i„i qs ;forniationsof the Sespe District. O'Hara wells and t!ie oil-yielding formations on south side of Sulphur Mountains . Silverthread wells --. _--.- Lower oil-yielding horizon, Respe District Santa Monica wells, Santa Barbara County Occidental wells Summerland wells Pliocene. [termined. Older than Pliocene ; exact age unde- Miocene. [Eocene and Miocene.) Oligocene {i. e. transition between Probably Oligocene. Probably Oligocene. Eocene. Eocene. Probably Eocene. Undetermined. 3.2.10. The following definitions Avill explain to those who are unfamiliar with the subject under discussion, why emphasis is laid on the geological horizon of the different oil-yielding formations: Petro- leum deposits are divided into two classes, namely, primary and secondary deposits: (rt) The primary deposit is contained by the rocks in which the petroleum was formed, or originally accumulated; (b) The secondary deposit is formed where petroleum wanders from the strata in which it originally accumulated, and finds a resting-place in other rocks under conditions which are favorable to its storage. 3.2.11. Primary deposits, in various parts of the world, have been found to belong to definite geological horizons. Careful investigation has shown that the oil-yielding strata of which these primary deposits consist have a definite position in the geological horizon to which they belong; and frequently the oil-yielding rocks can be traced from fold to fold and mountain to mountain, wherever the characteristic rocks representing their geological horizon are exposed. 3.2.12. The secondary deposits are, in the nature of their occurrence, erratic and local. As before mentioned, they consist of rocks saturated with petroleum, which, by means of fissures or other channels, has found its way from some primary deposit. 3.2.13. In some cases it is difficult to distinguish the primary from the secondary deposits; but when rocks belonging to a certain geological horizon are found to be oil-bearing, not only in one place, but on differ- ent folds and in different localities, it may safely be assumed that such oil-bearing rocks belong to a primary deposit of petroleum, 3.2.14. The evidence thus far gathered concerning the petroleum- yielding rocks of California leads to the following conclusions: First, that the Oligocene formations, previously referred to, contain a primary deposit of petroleum; that this deposit is found in the lower portion of a certain bed of dark-colored shales, and in certain strata of sandstone, inters tratifying and immediately underlying the said shales; that the Eocene formations also contain primary deposits of petroleum. (At present there is only one productive well which derives its oil from this dis- tinctively Eocene formation within the territory described in this bulletin. ) 3.2.15. At this writing there is not sufficient evidence forthcoming to determine whether or no the Los Angeles and the Puente and the Sum- merland oil-wells penetrate primary or secondary deposits of petroleum. Portions of the slaty shale formation, which can be observed at the Sulphur Mountains, Carpinteria Bay, and elsewhere, and which exhibits 60 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING HUREAU. such a tendency to bleach on exposure, may be regarded as containing primary deposits of petroleum, but the petroleum is too diffused to be of value, except where it occurs as veins of asphaltum. 3.2.16. Examples of secondary deposits of petroleum are found in the deposits of asphaltum and bituminous sand which are described as occurring in formations which have a vertical range from Miocene to the Quaternary, The deposit of bituminous sand at the Las Conchas mine, in Santa Barbara County, is a typical example of a secondary deposit of petroleum. 3.2.17 A review of the territory under discussion shows that the deposits of petroleum described in this bulletin occur under the follow- ing structural conditions: 3.2.18. At Los Angeles the petroleum-yielding rocks form an oil-line far down the slope of what appears to be an illy defined anticlinal fold. There is no geological evidence in sight to show that this oil-line has any particular reference to the axis of any anticline; oil, and oil and water, have been found at intervals along this oil-line for a distance of more than five miles. At the Second-Street Park oil-field, probably owing to the effect of subordinate folds or flexures, conditions have been produced favorable to the accumulation of the oil. There are numerous faults in the rocks of this locality, but it does not appear that the throw of any of them is very great. 3.2.19. In the Puente oil-field the productive wells are situated on both slopes of an anticlinal fold. In Brea Canon in the Puente Hills there is a line of oil-seepages along the axis of an anticlinal fold. In the Sespe district all the productive wells arc near the axis of anticlinal folds, and at or near the termination of those folds. 3.2.20. The wells at the southern base of Sulphur Mountains — the O'Hara wells and the Silvcrthread wells — are also situated near the axis of anticlinal folds. At the Silverthread wells the stratigraphy is complicated by faults and fissures, and the rocks are crushed. At Sum- merland the oil-wells are at no great distance from the axis of an anti- clinal fold. It is seen, therefore, that, in nearly all the instances observed, the anticlinal structure has presented the conditions under which the petroleum has accumulated. 3.2.21. As previously mentioned, the prevailing structure of the rocks in the territory under discussion is that of closely compressed anticlinal folds, and the compression has resulted in much crushing and fracturing of the rocky strata. These conditions favor the migration of petroleum and the formation of secondary deposits. 3.2.22. In this })ulletin no attempt is made to force conclusions. When the evidence in sight is insufficient to warrant an expression of opinion, all that safely can be done is carefully to record such evidence as is forthcoming. In such case it is a reasonable presumption that eventually further evidence will be obtained, which, when coupled with that already secured, will be sufficient to warrant the formularization of deductions. 3.2.23. Those who are familiar with the researches made in the Eastern oil-fields well know that it lias tak(m the combined efforts of many able men for years to collect and collate the data of the oil -yielding formations there, and it cannot be expected that similar work can be done as rapidly by a few in California, where the geology is much more complicated than it is in the Eastern oil-fields. Fig. 26. St. Louis Rig. i'lG. -1. bXAli iUG. 4 r^%*-^ i£^b^-''t^^^''-^*^ Fic; 28. Standard Kig. REFINERIES AND DRILLING MACHINERY. 61 MISCELLANEOUS. CHAPTER L Refineries in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. 4.1.01. Asphaltuvi and Oil- Refining Co. The plant on Santa Fe R. R. Avenue and Ninth Street, Los Angeles, consists of four stills: two of 125 bbls. each, one of 50 bbls., and one of 30 bbls. capacity. The pro- duction is lubricating oil, asphaltum, and distillate which is used for fuel. 4.1.02. Clark, Johns ct Co. Their oil-works are located at Ventura. The plant consists of two stills and one retort, with a total capacity of 60 bbls. per twenty-four hours. The product is illuminating and lubri- cating oils and asphaltum. 4.1.03. Oil-Burning Supply Co. Its plant, at the corner of Date Street and Alhambra Avenue, consists of three stills of 100 bbls. capacity each, and storage tanks of total capacity of 5,000 bbls. The product is distillate for fuel, asphalt of A, B, C, and D grades, and liquid asphal- tum, used for fluxing asphaltum which is used for roofing. 4.1.04. Puente Oil Co.'s Refinery. It is at Chino, San Bernardino County, and has a capacity of 200 bbls. of refined petroleum a day. The refined product consists of illuminating oil of 120° fire test, gasoline 72° B., benzine 58° B., and the residues, which are sold as fuel. 4.1.05. The Union Oil Co. has removed its refinery from Santa Paula to Oleum, on San Pablo Bay, in Contra Costa County, where it has erected a new refinery, which has a capacity of 12,000 bbls. a month. Product: gasoline, naphtha, illuminating oil, and asphaltum. CHAPTER II. Drilling Machinery Used in Los Angeles. 4.2.01. When the Los Angeles oil-field was first developed, horse- power and hydraulic rigs were used. These soon gave place to the St. Louis, the Star, and the Standard rigs. 4.2.02. The St. Louis Rig (Fig. 20) consists of a wagon frame which carries the rig, upright boiler, double-cylinder engine, and grasshopper walking-beam; a 1|" cable is used, and the tools are lighter than those used with the Star and the Standard rigs. This rig is suitable for wells not exceeding 600' in depth. 4.2.03. The Star Rig (Fig. 27) resembles the Standard, except that the Star is portable; it has a Sampson-post and walking-beam. The 62 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU, sand reel is driven by friction with the inside of the band wheel, and the band wheel is 76" in diameter. The bull-wheel shaft is of iron with iron flanges, and is situated directly back of the Sampson-pont, and is driven by a draw belt. The rig is furnished with T boiler of 18 II. P. and an 8"x8" single-cylinder engine. It is provided with a 44' mast and a 34" crown pulley, which can be used instead of a derrick. Tlie tools are much heavier than those used with the h^t, Louis rig; the stem is 26'x 3i". The Star rig is suitable for drilling to a depth of 800'. 4.2.04. The Standard Rig (Fig. 28), now universally used in the Los Angeles field, is so well known that minute description is not required. At first an 8' band wheel and a 1 2 H.F. engine were considered suflicient, but as wells increased in depth, the diameter of the band wheel was increased to 9' and a 15 H.P. engine employed. The bull wheels are 7' to 7^' in diameter. A straight sand reel is used on account of the excessive amount of sand-pumping required. The frictional pulley on the sand reel is at least 34" in diameter. The derricks are usually about 56' high, with a 16' base. The walking-beam is about 22' in length, and 8-^" rig-irons are used. The timbers for the sills and Sampson-post are 12"x 12", usually. A 2" or 2^" cable, and a H" to li", hard-laid sand line are used. The stems vary from 22' to 30' in length, and from 3^" to 4" in diameter. Horizontal tubular or firebox boilers of 20 to 35 H.P. are employed. The Standard rig is suitable for drilling the deepest wells, but for drilling below a depth of 1,500' a heavier set of tools is needed than those herein mentioned. 4.2.05. It is said that the actual expense of drilling in the Los Angeles oil-field has been about 50 cents per foot, and that many con- tracts have been taken at $1 per foot for wells of less than 1,000' in depth. 4.2.06. The diameters of the casings usually used are ii", 4-h", 4^", 5", 5^", 6|", 8^", and 9|". In screw casing the most popular sizes are 51" and 71". 4.2.07. During 1805, the cost per foot of casing at Los Angeles was, for 51", 40 cents; for 6§", 50 cents; for 7|", 66 cents; for 8|", 80 cents; and for 9^", $1.. A steel shoe is used at the bottom of the casing, to protect it during the process of driving. The driving is done from the top. 4.2.08. The price of labor in the Los Angeles oil-field during 1895 was : Drillers, $4 to $5; tool-dressers, $2 50 to $3 50; and laborers, $1 50 to $2 per day. 4.2.09. Two-inch iron tubing is used for the pumps, and l" black iron pipe or acme iron rods for the sucker rods. Wooden rods are not used at Los Angeles, on account of the great specific gravity of the oil. A common working-barrel and working-valves with leather cups are in ordinary use, but in wells where the sand gives much trouble, a Snow working-barrel or a working-barrel with a solid plunger is emplo3'ed. 4.2.10. Allen^s Patent Pitmjnng Rig (see Fig. 2^) is in general use, and sometimes twenty wells are pumped from one station. Allen's patent rig consists of a vertical shaft driven by a bevel-gear; upon the upper end of the shaft is an eccentric to which are attaciicd the wires or pitmans from the various pumps, preferably in such manner that the pull of the pumps will balance one another. When this can- not be attained, a counter-balance is employed. The stroke of the pump corresponds to the revolution of the eccentric, being twelve to seventeen n^ ■ 1 1 / ^-i '>» A. lfc*'Vt Fig. 29. Allen's Patent Pumping Rig. OIL AS FUEL IN LOS ANGKLES COUNTY. 63 strokes a minute, according to the gravity of the oil and the amount of oil pumped at each stroke. When the wells are a great distance apart, connection is made by wire cables to a reciprocating jack. In some oil- fields the power is conveyed by this means for more than half a mile. 4.2.11. Steam and, in a few instances, gas engines furnish the motive power. Oil is the usual fuel, and natural gas is used to a limited extent. CHAPTER III. Oil as Fuel in Los Angeles County, and Calorimetric Tests. 4.3.01. Oil is largely used for fuel on the Southern California Rail- way, a portion of the Santa Fe system, between Barstow and San Diego. More than half of their locomotives are now adapted to the use of oil as fuel. The burners used were invented by W. Booth, formerly master mechanic of the Central Railroad of Peru, and the Santa Fe Company have made some improvements in the original design. Experiments, extending over a period of six months, demonstrated the superiority of oil as compared with solid fuel. An average of the results obtained show that 4 bbls. of oil did the same work as 2,200 lbs. of Nanaimo coal. Experiments extending over sixteen days, with a freight engine, 19"x 28" cylinders, gave an average evaporation of 13.11 lbs. of water to each pound of coal consumed. Taking coal at $6 65 per 2,000 lbs., and oil at $1 33 per barrel, a money saving of 27.1% is effected. The oil used in this experiment was supplied by the Union Oil Company, and its specific gravity was 23° B. During January, 1896, oil was used as fuel on twenty-five locomotives, being equally divided between passenger and freight service. The results showed: Oil consumed by these twenty-five locomotives during January. 2,077 tons. Distance traveled 87,063 miles. Average cost per mile 14.39 cents. 4.3.02. The gravity of the oil used was 15° B. During .January, 1896, coal was used as fuel on twenty-five locomotives. They performed practically similar work to the engines fired by oil: Average cost per mile, 23.20 cents, or practically a money saving of 37.975% in favor of oil. 4.3.03. During January, 1896, the cost of coal was $6 60 per 2,000 lbs. During January, 1896, the cost of oil was $6 03 per 2,000 lbs. During December, 1895, an overland passenger engine, cylinders 19"x26", ran 7,347 miles and consumed 143.2 tons of oil. A similar service with coal required 294 tons. Taking oil at $6 03 per 2,000 lbs. and coal at $6 60 per 2,000 lbs., the relative value shows: Cost of oil - $S63 50, or 11.75 cents per mile. Cost of coal .$l,9i0 40, or 26.41 cents per mile. Practically a money saving of 55.5%. The average of other experiments made with oil as fuel was 14.24 cents per mile. In these experiments steam from the boiler was used to atomize the oil and the oil is heated by a steam coil to a temperature of 100° to 120° F. Two 4" flat-mouthed burners are used to each engine. The fire-box is protected with fire- brick, and there is an arch of fire-brick at the back of the flues, similar to that in coal-burning locomotives. The Los Angeles Consolidated Electric Railway Company made a series of careful experiments to test 64 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. the value of Puente oil as compared with Wellington coal. The results of tests on runs, which averaged nineteen hours per day for ten days, showed that 19.41 tons of Wellington coal had a fuel value equal to that of 2,957 gals, of oil, specific gravity 24° E. The use of oil also saved the labor of five men at $2 a day each. In two of the power-houses the Wilgus steam burner is used, and in one the Gilbert & Barker aerated burner. It is said that these burners give practically the same results. Oil is used as fuel in the rolling-mills of the Los Angeles Steel and Iron Company. The Crawford and the Wilgus burners are employed, in which the oil is atomized by steam. The superintendent of this company states that it requires about 1§ bbls. of oil to manufacture a long ton of muck bar from scrap iron, and about the same amount of oil to manu- facture the muck bur into finished sheet iron. Thus, it takes about 3^ bbls. of oil to manufacture one ton of finished sheet iron from scrap. He also states that, for steam purposes, 3 bbls. of oil equal 2,000 lbs. of good bituminous coal; and that, for the heating furnaces, 2^ bbls. of oil equal 2,000 lbs. of bituminous coal; thus, taking coal at $6 65 per ton of 2,000 lbs. and oil at $1 per barrel, the use of oil instead of coal at these works effects a saving, in round figures, of 54.6% for steam purposes, and 62.5% for the heating furnaces. 4.3.04. The court-house at Los Angeles is heated by steam furnished by two boilers of 75 H.P. estimated capacity. Crude oil of specific gravity 22° to 26° B. is used in Gilbert iV: Barker aerated burners for fuel. In these burners the oil is atomized by air. The engineer states that when the boilers are running at their full capacity 1 gal. of oil will evaporate 15 gals, of water; i. e., practically 1 lb. of oil will evaporate 15 lbs. of water; also, that 1 lb. of good coal would evaporate about 8 lbs. of water in these boilers. 4.3.05. The Los Angeles Pressed Brick and Terra Cotta Company have five kilns whose capacity ranges from 20,000 to 40,000 brick. They use oil as fuel. The manager states that they have tried both steam and air burners, and have concluded that the air burner is the best, on account of its introducing less moisture into the kiln. That estimating good bituminous coal at ^S per ton, and oil of 30° B. at !)>1 40 per bar- rel, the use of oil efTects a saving of about 15% in the fuel and also the labor of one man to each kiln. 4.3.06. At the California Sewer Pipe Works, at Vernon, there are three 20' and two 28' down-shaft kilns. DeBow steam burners are used. The manager states that the work done with $85 worth of coal, at $7 75 per ton, can be done with $30 worth of oil at 60 cents per barrel. Oil is being used as fuel for open brick kilns by several of the brick manu- facturers at Los Angeles. It is said that 1 bbl. of oil is sufficient to burn 1,000 brick, and is therefore equal to i cord of good wood. The price of wood is $6 a cord. 4.3.07. From the foregoing, the relative fuel value of coal and oil shows: L. A. S. ik, I. Co., heating furnaces 1 ton \Vellin<:ton coal ^250 bbls. of oil. L, A. S. (t I. Co., steam purposes 1 ton Wellington coal =: 3.00 bbls. of oil. L. A. Con. Electric Railway Co. 1 ton Wellington coal =3.62 bbls. of oil. L. A. Court-House, steam purposes ...l ton good coal =3.10 bbls. of oil. So. Cal. Ry. Co 1 ton Nanaimo coal = 4.00 bbls. of oil. Those who have experimented with oils of different specific gravity state that they find very little difference in the actual fuel value of the OIL AS FUEL IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. 65 oil tested, but that oil of a high specific gravity requires to be heated in order that it may pass freely through the feed pipes and be readily atomized; moreover, oils of high specific gravity usually contain water and earthy matter. 4.3.08. In 1895 there was a prevailing opinion that the oils of high specific gravity had a much less fuel value than the oils of low specific gravity. To determine this point experiments Avere conducted in the laboratory of the State Mining Bureau. Samples of oil varying from 13° B. to 34° B. were burned in oxygen beneath a calorimeter, which had been calibrated with hydrogen, as described in Bulletin No. 3. The samples of heavy oil were cut with gasoline and the calorific value of the gasoline deducted. The results showed a range of from 9,999 to 10,381 kilo-calories for the samples of oil tested. This was sufficient to demonstrate that there was no great difference in the relative calorific value of the samples tested, but limitations as to time prevented a sufficient number of experiments being made to work out the relative fuel values for the different specific gravities. The samples tested had been com- paratively freed from water and earthy matter. 4.3.09. It is interesting to note how the laboratory tests compare with the practical use. Taking anthracite coal as a standard, one ton of which is equivalent to 8,092 kilo-calories (available heat units) per kilogramme. Comparative working tests have shown that an average sample of Nanaimo coal has an available fuel value of 6,684 kilo-calories per kilogramme. Calorimetric tests made in the laboratory of the State Mining Bureau showed that a sample of Los Angeles oil of 0.973 specific gravity (equal to 13° B.) had an available fuel value of 10,203 kilo- calories per kilogramme. Practical work on the Southern California Railway showed that 4 bbls. of petroleum 15° B. (or 1,352 lbs.) have a fuel value of ly-g- tons of Nanaimo coal. As lyV tons of Nanaimo coal is equivalent to 6,683,332 kilo-calories, therefore, 1 ton of petroleum of 15° B. (2,000 lbs.) has a working equivalent to 9,886,585 kilo-calories. 4.3.10. RELATIVE FUEL VALUE. Available "Heat Units " in One Kilogramme. Available " Heat Units" in One Ton, Calculated as 909 Kilogrammes. Nanaimo coal Sample of Los Angeles oil, 13° B., calorimetric test in laboratorj' of State Mining Bureau Sample of petroleum, 15° B., from practical work- ing test on So. Cal. Kj-. as compared with Nanaimo coal 6,684 10,203 6,075,756 9,274,527 9,886,585 4.3.11. From the foregoing, the following ratios of fuel value have been computed: Assuming that 1 lb. of coal is equal to 1 heat unit, 1 lb. of oil, per Mining Bureau tests, is equivalent to 1.526 heat units; 1 lb. of oil, per So. Cal. Ry. Co.'s tests, is equivalent to 1.629 heat units. 4.3.12. In a furnace a more complete combustion can be secured with petroleum than it is possible to obtain with coal. Therefore, it is not surprising to find that practical work on the Southern California Rail- way gave a somewhat higher fuel value to the petroleum than did the calorimetric tests in the laboratory. Moreover, the samples of petroleum used in the laboratory and on the railway were dissimilar. 66 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. 4.3.13. The following tests on the relative fuel value of petroleum were made by Prof. H. Stillman, in the hiljoratory of the Southern Pacific Companj'-, at Sacramento. The calorific value was determined ))y Thompson's calorimeter, and represents theoretical pounds of Avatcr evaporated at and from 212° F. by one pound of fuel. Calorimetric Experiments with Oil. B.« Lubricating oil. Crude oil 24° to 25° B. 16° to 17° B. WRtf.r OaloriHc Value, !!•„„ Lh i» Kilogramme EvapoFHted. j ., ^^^^ units." 20.09 lbs. 18.25 lbs. 10,788 9,800 Proximate Analysis and Calorimetric Experiments with Coal. Mount Diablo, Cal. Clark Vein. Clark Vein. Amador County, Cal. lone. Carbon Hill. Comax. Colorado. Carson. Moisture Volatile matter Fixed carbon Ash Sulphur Total . Color of ash Cooking quality... Water evaporated by one pound of coal..- Calorific value, in kilo- gramme '• heat units " 8.15% 38.24 37.24 11.45 4.95 100.00% Lt. Brwn. I'oor. 11.28 6,057 11.55% 37.59 3G.59 9.05 5.22 17.65% 43.;?0 23.00 15.85 6.30% 26..30 50.70 16.00 .70 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% Gray. Poor. 12.01 6,449 Brown. Poor. 9.65 5,175 Gray. Fair. 12.9 6,927 .90% 28.08 54.38 12.50 4.14 100.00% Gray Fair. 13.52 726 .90% 29.00 38.23 23.70 8.14 100.00% Purple. Good. 12.06 6,476 FRACTIONAL DISTILLATIONS. 67 CHAPTER IV. Fractional Distillations. 4.4.01, In order to determine the character of the oil yielded by the different formations described in this bulletin, the samples of oil men- tioned in the following table were, by the writer, subjected to fractional distillation in the laboratory of the State Mining Bureau. The tempera- tures given are those of the vapors in the head of the retort: Crude Oil. Naphtha. Sample was Obtained from— Specific Gravity Nearest Correspond- ing Degree to Scale Volumetric Percent- age of Distillate cut off at 150° C •o o 5 a Q S p a, <^ <2 o O en "-■2 P o Los Angeles— Second-Street Park (a) 0.9534 0.9520 0.9515 0.9.539 0.952S 0.9565 0.9580 0.9816 0.9702 0.9672 0.9513 0.9657 0.9672 0.9692 0.9125 0.9129 0.9196 0.9015 0.9402 0.9366 0.9255 0.9369 0.9442 0.9590 0.9435 0.9769 0.9302 0.9486 0.9398 0.9333 0.9773 0.9193 0.8893 17° B. 17° B. 17° B. 17° B. 17° B. 16° B. 16° B. 13° B. 14° B. 15° B. 17° B. 15° B. 15° B. 1.5° B. 23° B. 23° B. 22° B. 25° B. 19° B. 20° B. 21° B. 20° B. 18° B. 16° B. 18° B. 14° B. 20° B. 18° B. 19° B. 20° B. 13° B. 23° B. 28° B. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces Traces. Traces. Traces. 7.6% 8.4 Traces. 6.0 Traces. 5.0 1 7.0 Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. 10.2 Second-Street Park (6) Second-Street Park (c) . .. Second-Street Park (d) Second-Street Park (e) .. Second-Street Park(/") Second-Street Park (jr) ... Mackintosh Well, West Los Angeles... Maltman Well, West Los Angeles. .. Summerland (o) .. Summerland (6).- Summerland (c) Summerland (d) Summerland (e) .. Tar Creek 0.7350 0.7240 60° B. Tar Creek 63° B Four Forks. Kentuck 0.7200 64° B. California Oil Co Silverthread Oil District (a) 07560 0.7428 55° B Silverthread Oil District (b) 59° B. Silverthread Oil District (c) Silverthread Oil District (d) Silverthread Oil District (e) O'Hara Wells. O'Hara Wells.... Scott & Gillmore Scott it Gillmore Pinkerton Tunnel Pinkerton Green Oil Magie Tunnel .. . Puente Puente 0.7323 61° B. 68 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. Fractional Distillations— Continued. Illuminatiug Oil. Sample was Obtained from— < a 9 o c» (B g O B : nr- CO •o n I-.. CD O O •5" = g Deo O en %■% P 3 < O p o ^ Cb ^ o B CO o O 1 55 ST* B «» WO) n 5"?- Los Angeles— Second-.Street Park(rt) Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. 'J'races. Traces. 11.0% 8.0 6.9 8.6 7.3 7.6 10.4 10.0 6.0 Traces. 5.6 Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. 1.59 13.5 7.0 6.4 9.6 8.0 1.6 2.2 0.8330 0.8304 0.8274 0.8255 0.8153 38° B. Second-Street Park ( 6 ) 38° B. Second-Street Park (c) 39° B. Second-.Street Park(d) 40° B. Second-Street Park (e) 42° B. Second- Street Park(/) Second-Street Park (q) Mackintosh Well, West Los Angeles Maltnian Well, West Los Angeles .-. . 1.0 2.0 Traces. Traces. Traces. Traces. 10.4 10.4 16.8 10.0 9.5 8.0 8.0 14.6 10.6 Traces. 6.4 Suninierland (a) Suniinerland (b) Siunnierlaiid (c) Suninierland (d) Summerlaud (e) "'a8266"' 0.7985 0.8005 0.8047 0.8012 0.7945 0.8001 0.8273 0.8010 Tar Creek 0.7595 0.7430 0.7684 0.7600 0.7640 0.7673 0.7614 0.7680 0.7556 .55° B. 58° B. 52° B. rA° B. 5.3° B. 52° B. 54° B. 52° B. 55° B. 41° B Tar Creek 45° B Four Forks 45° B Kentuck 44° B California Oil Co 4.5° B Silverthread Oil District (a) .. Silverthread Oil District (b) .. Silverthread Oil District (c) .. Silverthread Oil District (d) .. Silverthread Oil District ie) .. 46° B. 4-^° B. 39° B. 45° B. OTIara Wells 0.7784 50° B. 0.8032 44° B. O'llara Wells Scott & Gillmore.- 12.0 Traces. 9.6 11.6 0.8044 '"b'8085" 0.8015 44° B. Scott ct Gillmore.- .. Pinkerton Tunnel 43° B. Pinkerton Oreen Oil 45° B. Magie Tunnel Puente 0.7660 0.7656 52° B. 53° B. 10.8 12.2 0.8013 0.8089 4.5° B Puente 43° B. FRACTIONAL DISTILLATIONS. 69 Fractional Distillations— Continued. Illuminating Oil— Continued. Lubricating OiL Sample was Obtained from— < f5 » O Pi p 2. om (0 i »^ CO •0 n a 55 ►-•to a p '^ 2 On Wo |s < p cos s^ c»(B g B p ^1-1 coo" 01 jr. 1^ ill •0 a S p m 1 Om li a> p a Los Angeles— Second-Street Park (a) 13.6% 15.3 16.8 17.6 12.0 11.4 11.2 1.6 80 11.0 19.4 11.6 6.0 0.8653 0.8809 0.8710 0.8771 0.8642 0.8662 0.8721 32° B. i 29° ]5. ! 31° 13. 36° B. 32° B. 32° B. 30° B. .0% 8.0 5.0 4.0 3.4 7.0 4.4 9.6 5.0 12.0 6.8 5.0 4.6 6.0 4.0 6.6 2.5 2.9 5.8 6.4 7.6 4.0 7.0 6.0 3.0 3.2 7.6 5.0 5.0 16.0 2.9 8.3 Second-Street Park (b) Second-Street Park (c) Second-Street Parlv (ci) Second-Street Parlv (e) .. .. 0.8890 0.8895 0.8922 27° B. 27° B. 27° B. Second-Street Park (/) Second-Street Park (g) . ... Mackintosh Well, West Los Angeles 0.8820 29° B. Maltnian Well, West Los Angeles - . .- 0.8680 0.8452 0.8550 0.8468 31° B. 36° B. 34° B. 36° B. Sumnierland (a) . .. 0.8722 0.8962 0.8900 30° B. Sunimerland (6) .. 26° B. Sumnierland (c) - .. . 27° B. Sunimerland (d) . . Sumnierland (e) Tar Creek 12.4 14.2 9.7 12 2 11:3 7.6 9.8 9.6 11.0 5.0 14.4 18.0 16.0 6.0 17.2 16.0 0.8514 0.8602 0.8369 0.8450 0.8,502 0.8403 0.8430 0.8478 0.8525 0.8500 0.8532 0.8530 0.8443 0.8465 0.8500 0.8406 34° B. 33° B. 38° B. 36° B. 34° B. 36° B. .36° B. 37° B. 34° B. 35° B. 34° B. 34° B. 36° B. 35° B. 35° B. 37° B 0.8834 29° B. Tar Creek Four Forks -. 0.8604 0.8662 0.8608 0.8746 0.8612 0.8791 0.8790 0.8780 0.8738 33° B. Kentuck ... .32° B. California Oil Co. 33° B. Silverthread Oil District (a) .. Silverthread Oil District (6) .. Silverthread Oil District (c) .. Silverthread Oil District (d) .. Silverthread Oil District (e) .. O'Hara Wells 30° B. 3.3° B. 29° B. 29° B. 29° B. 30° B. O'Hara Wells Scott & Gillmore Scott it Gillmore 0.8603 0.8701 0.8620 0.8701 0.8610 0.8502 33° B. Pinkerton Tunnel Pinkerton Green Oil Magie Tunnel .. 31° B. 33° B. 31° B. Puente Puente 9.3 10.2 0.8500 0.8413 .35° B. 36° B. 33° B. 34° B. 70 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. 4.4.02. The following samples of crude oil from districts referred to in this bulletin were subjected to fractional distillation in the laboratory of the State Mining Bureau by \V. D. Johnston in 1887: Crude Oil. Naphtha. CD 55 w CO is a Cb 55 ^ E-| {L "8 ?g •0 a ag Localitv from which n TO j; 5 t;2 o B) m3 4 Sample was Obtained. ^ ■So g a o » «-► "Bo "-1 3 Tar Creek 0.833 0.859 28° B. 33° B. 10.0% 9.1 0.720 0.700 64° B. 70° B. 6.8% 9.2 0.755 0.734 55° B. Sespe No. 2 61° B. Green Oil Well, Adams , Canon - .. 0.853 34° B. 7.8 0.740 50° B. Wild Bill, Adams Canon . 0915 0.822 23° B. 28° B. Puente 10.6 0.717 65° B. 8.7 0.747 57° B. "" """i Napht ha— Continued. Illuminating Oils. r^ a "2 O o ooS n 05? Locality from which Sample was Obtained. g a O "So cS 1-1 S o *~l rtl p p 5 S2 i •^ co-a n o P 3 1 ■ a Q 1 ® 3 p 1 52 ; •4 tr.-o p 3 "< P 3 Tar Creek 9.0 14.4 0.889 0.822 0.832 33° B. 40° B. 38° B. 7.1% 8.0 10.0 0.889 0.876 0.861 27° B. Sespe No.2 - 30° B. Green Oil Well, Adams Cafion 33° B. Wild Bill, Adams Cafion 8.0 0.M46 35° B. 7.7 0.880 29° B. -Pupnte 1. 7.2 0.845 36° B. 6.0 , 0.881 29° B. FRACTIONAL DISTILLATIONS. 71 4.4.03. A review of these tables shows that the naphthas and distil- lates below 200° C. are practically absent from the Los Angeles and the Summerland oils, and that the oils from Puente, the Sespe district, and the districts north of Santa Paula, not only yield naphthas, but a much larger percentage of the illuminating oils than do the oils from Los Angeles and Summerland. Some of the samples of oil from Los Angeles and Summerland and the sample from the Magie tunnel con- tained water and held mineral matter in suspension. 4.4.04. With the following samples distillation was continued at temperatures of more than 350° C. The temperature was gradually increased and the distillates, a, h, c, and d, were cut off in the order in which they are mentioned: SAMPLE OF OIL FROM PUENTE OIL-WELLS. (Specific gravity, 0.8893, or about 28° B.) Temperature at which Distillates were Cut Off. Percentage ' by Volume. Percentage by Weight. Specific Gravity. Nearest Degree to Scale. Character of Distillate, Etc. 150° C 200° C 250° C 300° C 350° C, (rt)--- (6)... (c) ... 10.20 13.47 12.24 10.20 8.67 15.82 16.33 4.08 8.42 11.67 1L13 9.67 8.29 15.16 15.54 4.17 324 12.71 0.7323 0.7656 0.8089 8413 0.8502 0.8529 0.8469 0.9090 61° B. 53° B. 4.3° B. 36° B. 34° B. 34° B. 35° B. 24° B. Naphtha. Illuminating oil. Illuminating oil. Illuminating oil. Gas distillate. Gas distillate. Gas distillate. Lubricating oil. Residue. Loss. * SAMPLE OF OIL FROM WELL DISTRICT. OF CALIFORNIA OIL (Specific gravity, 0.9402.) CO., IN THE SESPE 200° C 250° C 300° C 350° C (a)... (6) — (c) -. (d)... 7.37 9.47 11.37 2.95 19.48 27.89 6.11 2.95 6.00 8.07 10.28 2.70 18.45 26.45 5.57 3.00 10.18 9.30 0.7649 0.8012 0.8506 0.8608 0.8906 0.8914 0.8585 0.9479 53° B. 45° B. 34° B. 33° B. 27° B. 27° B. 33° B. 18° B. Illuminating oil. Illuminating oil. Illuminating oil. Gas distillate. Lubricating oil. Lubricating oil. Gas distillate Lubricating oil. Residue. Loss. SAMPLE OF OIL FROM FOUR FORKS, SESPE DISTRICT. (Specific gravity, 0.9196.) 200° C 250° C 300° C 350° C (a)... (6)... 6.94 16.84 9.69 6.63 15.51 37.14 5.80 14.64 8.82 6.21 14.31 36.37 4.72 9.13 0.7684 0.8005 0.8396 0.8604 0.8493 0.8980 52° B. 45° B. 38° B. 33° B. 35° B. 26° B. Illuminating oil. Illuminating oil. Illuminating oil. Gas distillate. Gas distillate. Lubricating oil. Residue. Loss. 6-M 72 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. SAMPLE OF GREEN OIL FROM PINKERTON TUNNEL, KOUTII SIDE OF SUL- PHUR MOUNTAINS. (Specific gravity, 0.9333.) Temperature at which Distillates were Cut off. Percentage by Volume. Percentage by Weight. Specific Gravity. Nearest Degree to •Scale. Character of Distillate, Etc. 250° C. 300° C. 350° C. (a).... (b).... (c) .... (d).... 11.6 16.0 .3.0 17.0 25.6 11.6 6.0 9.26 14.41 4.62 16.23 24.50 10.53 6.18 9.28 0.8015 0.8406 0.8620 0.8914 0.8925 0.8473 0.9615 45° B. 37° B. 33° B. 27° B. 27° B. 35° B. 16° B. Illuminating oil. Illuniinuting oil. (ias distillate. Lubricating oil. Lubricating oil. Gas distillate. T..ubricating oiL Residue. Loss. 4.4.05. As is shown by the records of the distillations made at tem- peratures of more than 350° C, there was some decomposition, which resulted in the oil " cracking," and the formation of a distillate possess- ing a lower specific gravity than that of the preceding fraction. Nearly all the distillates obtained at and above a temperature of 350° C. had an offensive odor. The residuum consisted of a brilliant black material, a sample of which showed as follows : Soluble in alcohol 1% Soluble in ether - 7 Soluble in carbon disulphide.. -. 6 Insoluble hydrocarbons --- 12 Fixed carbon _.. 16 , Ash 58 The loss during the process of distillation practically ranged from 9% to 12% ; it resulted, no doubt, from the escape of steam and gas. ORIGINAL RESEARCHES, ANALYSES, ETC., OF PETROLEUM. 7S RESUME OF ORIGINAL RESEARCHES, ANALYSES, AND REFINING METHODS OF PETROLEUM, MAINLY FROM THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES OF CALIFORNIA. By Frederick S.VLATHfe, Ph.D. ORIGIN. The opinions on the origin of petroleum still differ widely among chemists, but through the classic researches recently made by Engler, who has produced the complete series of paraffins, identical with the petroleum-hydrocarbons, by synthesis from fish oils under pressure during distillation, the theory of animal origin of petroleum has become most plausible. The question has been asked, what has become of the nitrogen, if petroleum was formed of marine animals, and why are most of the petroleum-hydrocarbons free from nitrogen combinations? Analysis of some natural gas from a well in Pennsylvania shows the presence of nitrogen in natural gas, which in one instance amounted to 23% by volume. In 1892, I began an investigation on the hydrocarbon series consti- tuting the Ventura County crude oils, which I found to contain invariably from 0,75% to 3.5% of nitrogen. The experiments were conducted in such a manner as to ascertain in what form or combination the nitrogen existed in the crude petroleum, with the view of isolating the nitrogenous hydrocarbons. The result was the identification of a number of organic bases of the Pyridin and Chinolin series, which heretofore were only found in the so-called animal tar from the distillation of animal cadavers or bones. The presence of these organic bases in the California petroleum indi- cates, therefore, clearly the origin of this petroleum from animal matter furnished by the slow decay of a marine fauna, which became extinct by changes of the sea-water through local influx of saline mother liquors.* ELEMENTARY ANALYSIS. The sample of crude petroleum represented an average mixture of Ventura County crude oils of 23.5° B., or 0.9120 specific gravity. Carbon 84.0% Hydrogen.- 12.7 Nitrogen - 1.7 Oxygen 1.2 Sulphur... — 0.4 100.0% ♦Theory advanced by Oechoener, Engler, Zalociecke. More detailed reference will be found in a paper on the origin of petroleum, read by writer, April, 1894, before the Tech- nical Society of the Pacitic Coast. 74 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. CHEMICAL CONSTITUTION AND HYDUOCARIiON SKRIES OF VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES CRUDE OILS. These crude oils, which all carry asphalt, held in combination with the high boiling members of the hydrocarbon series, are of a very complex constitution, which makes their refining exceedingly difficult. By a series of chemical reactions and fractional distillations, I have succeeded in isolating various hydrocarbons, which define clearly the presence of the following hydrocarbon series: (a) Hydrocarbons of the Paraffin, or fatty, series. CJl2n+2' (h) Hydrides or hydron addition-products of the Benzole series. CsHia and homologous h3^drocarbons. (c) Pyridin and Chinolin series. CnH2n_oN and CuI-Lo_iN. {d) Isomeres of the Terpene series. CnHi„_4. (fl) Hydrocarbons of the Paraffin series, C„H2n+2. These were sepa- rated by successive treatment of crude oil and its fractions with fuming sulphuric acid containing 20% sulphuric anhydride in solution, nitric acid 43° B., chromic acid, potassium-hydrate, followed by fractional dis- tillations. Owing to the great difficulty of isolating the high boiling members, whose boiling-points are very close together, I examined the fraction boiling between 80° and 100° C, and isolated and identified in the same Heptane, C^U^ of 97° C. boiling-point. By chlorination and subsequent decomposition of the chlorides, Heptylic alcohol was formed. Crystallizable paraffin could not be detected in any of the heavy frac- tions. At 20° C. a slight cloudiness appeared in the oils, caused by tlie presence of traces of colloidal paraffin, such as constitutes th^ liquid paraffins in Eastern oils. (&) Hydrides of the aromatic or Benzole series, CuH:,n_fi. These hydro- carbons could only be separated and identified from the residue obtained by the treatment of the original oil with fuming sulphuric acid, and were in form of sulpho-conjugated derivatives of the lienzole series, yielding, when melted with caustic potassa, Phenol and its homologous oxy-products, which I have under further investigation. The great facility with which California oils produce, by pyrogenic action. Benzole and its homologues, which process the writer has especially studied, further illustrates the presence of hydrides of the aromatic series. (c) Pyridin and Chinolin series, CnH,„_5 and C„H2n-nN. I obtained and isolated this group of basic hydrocarbons by extraction of the Cali- fornia crude oil and its fractions with dilute sulphuric acid, 1:5, at 212° F. The acid solution containing the organic bases in the form of sul- phates was then steamed until no more volatile oils, mainly Pyrrol, passed over with the aqueous vapors. The bases were then precipitated by potassium hydrate in form of yellowish-gray fiocks, which, by pro- longed heating on the waterbath, formed a supernatant oil of a reddish- brown color and of the characteristic penetrating odor of the Pyridin bases. The crude basic oils showed a specific gravity of 0.0985. By moderate oxidation with permanganate of potassium the basic hydrides were first converted into normal bases, while at the same time the formation of small quantities of "^ Pyridin-monocarlionic acid was observed derived from partial oxidation of the homologous bases of ORIGINAL RESEARCHES, ANALYSES, ETC., OF PETROLEUM. 75 Pyridin. The resulting bases were then driftd over potassium hydrate and submitted to fractional distillations in the following fractions: From 115° to 121° C, specific gravity = C.9580 " 132° " 138° C, " " = 0.9610 " 137° " 170° C, " " = 0.9735 " 169° " 180° C, " " = 0.9890 " 179° " 200° C, " " = 1.0500 " 199° " 250° C, " " = 1.0860 " 249° " 320° C, " " = 1.1200 From fraction 115° to 121° C. pure Pyridin was isolated, by forming the insoluble Ferro-cyanide and the Platino-chloride combination. It distilled at the constant temperature of 116'^ C. The next homologous base, the a Picolin or « Methyl-pyridin, was isolated from fraction 132° to 138° by converting the same into the Picolin-ferrocyanide combination, which is easily soluble in water, and which by double decomposition with alkali yielded <>■ I'icolin of 140° boiling-point. The Pyridin and « Picolin showed all the characteristics of these bases made from animal tar. The higher homologous bases, such as Lutidin, Collidin, etc., have not yet been isolated by me except that their presence is indicated by the uniform rise in the boiling-points of fractions. In continuing the distillation above 300° C. considerable ammonia-gas is generated, which is formed by the action of the high temperature on the heavier basic products. All fractions above 200° C. possess a remarkable, fine crimson liuoresence. By carrying the dis- tillation to 360° C, a glossy, hard, asphalt-like substance remains in the still; diluted sulphuric acid, 1:5, dissolves the same to the greatest part and alkalies precipitate from the filtered solution a crystalline powder which probably contains a number of unknown solid nitrogenous hydrocarbons of the Pyridin or Chinolin series, parallel with Anthra- cene, Phenanthrene, Chrysene, etc., from coal tar. The presence of Chinolin and its homologues was demonstrated by the Cyanin reaction, a blue color, which is formed from the lodin deriva- tives of Chinolin and its homologues. The occurrence of Pyridin and Chinolin bases in California crude oils opens up a new resource for these products, which are largely used for the synthetical production of alkaloids, dyes, etc., and in a large measure for 'denaturalizing' alcohol in Europe. (d) Isomeric Hydrocarbons of the Terpens series, CnHan.,. These hydrocarbons enter easily into polymerization and thus form the great- est part of the asphaltic constituents usually termed Petrolene and Asphaltene, which terms I use instead of Retinoid and Retene; the former being a series of polymerized hydrocarbons, the latter their oxidation product. The investigation on these hydrocarbons is not far enough advanced for publication. {e) Sulphureted Hydrocarbons. These of the California crude oils differ in their chemical constitution from the sulphureted Trenton lime oils of Ohio or Canada, mainly in that the sulphur is for the greatest part only confined by chemical substitution to the highest boiling con- stituents, the asphalt, and is practicall}^ transferred by chemical action to the middle fractions during distillation in the form of sulphur-addition products, another part escaping in the form of sulphureted hydrogen. 76 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. Distillation over soda lime or passing the vapors over the same com- pletely eliminates the sulphur from the hydrocarbons; this is not the case with Ohio or Canada oils. PRArTICAL DISTILLATIONS AND YIELDS OF VARIOUS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CRUDE OILS. 1. Sespe Oil, of 25.2° B. or 0.9022 specific gravity at 60° F. Kaplitha,60° Ji. at 150° C 7.30% Illuminating distillate, 42° B. at 330° C 19.50 Gas distillate. 28° B.-above 360° C 25.00 Lubricating distillate, 24° B.-above 360° C 35.80 ♦Asphaltand Loss 12.40 100.00% The ryridin bases equal 2..30%. 2. Crude Oil from Four Forks, of 24° B. or 0.9090 specific gravity. Naphtha 6.00% Ilhiininatin»? distillate --. 17.10 Gas distillate 29.50 Lubricating distillate 34.40 Asphaltand Loss 13.00 100.00% The Pyridin bases equal 1.75%. 3. Crude Oil from Torrey Canon, of 27° B. or 0.8917 specific gravity. Naphtha 9.20% Illuminating distillate 21.50 Gas distillate 26.00 Lubricating distillate 30.30 Asphalt and Loss - 13.00 100.00% The Pyridin bases equal 1.52%, 4. Crude Oil from Lime Kiln CaFwn (Eureka Oil Co.), of 29° B. or 0.8805 specific gravity. Naphtha - 14.10% Illuminating distillate 26.40 Gas distillate 24.00 Lubricating distillate -.. 27.00 Asphalt and Loss 8.50 100.00% The Pyridin bases equal 1.44%. 5. Crude Oil from Adams^ Canon (Tunnel Oil), greenish oil of 24° B. or 0.9090 specific gravity. Naphtha -- 5.20% Illuminating distillate - ...- 24.50 Gas distillate - 17.30 Lubricating distillate .-. - 46.00 Asphalt and Loss - 7.00 100.00% The Pyridin bases equal 0.88%. 6. Crude Oil from Los Angeles Wells, of 14.2° B. or 0.9708 specific gravity. Naphtha - Traces.^ Illuminating distillate - 6.00% Gas distillate 17.50 Lubricating distillate • 51.50 Asphalt and Loss 25.00 100.00% The Pyridin bases equal 3.2%. This crude oil contains usually from 2.5% to 7% of water and 0.16% to 2% of suspended mineral matter, mainly a fine silicious clay. *rhe gravities of the products. Naphtha, etc., are the same in all the following analysts of crude oils, as in No. 1, Sespe oil. ORIGINAL RESEARCHES, ANALYSES, ETC., OF PETROLEUM. 77 7. Fresno County Crude Oil, from Coalinga, of 54° B. or 0.7608 spe- cific gravity. This oil represents a distillate made by nature, nearly all fractions Lving a very low fir e test. Fraction 1. 10%, at temperature from 49° to 111° C. t( 2. 10%, " 110° ' ' 121° C. '» 3. 10%, " 120° ' ' 141° C. (( 4. 10%, " " " 10%, " 10%, " 140° ' ' 161° C. (( 5. 160° ' ' 176° C. u 6. 175° ' ' 196° C. 11 7. 10% " 195° ' ' 227° C. 11 8. io| " 10%, " 226° ' ' 249° C. (( 9. 248° ' ' 275° C. li 10. 10%, Residue is hard asphalt. REFINING. From the investigations given so far it is evident that the refining of the crude California oils is not an easy task and that they require refin- ing methods different from those practiced with Eastern or Russian oils. The complicated nature of this class of asphaltic crude oils necessitates complete elimination of all unstable hydrocarbons by inexpensive prac- tical processes. Another great difference exists between the specific gravities of Eastern oil distillates and those of California oils. Viscosity of distillate or reduced stock being equal, the gravities are from 5° to 6° B. lower in California oil fractions than in those of Eastern oils. Flash and fire tests are from 10° to 30° F. lower in California oil distillates than in Eastern distillates of the same gravity. 78 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. The following is a diagram of products available from California crude oil by refining, showing where redistillation is required: Asphalt . . . >. Asphalt, different grades of hardness or liquid asphalt. Reduced stock, valve oil, ^etc, 14° to 16° B. Crude Oil. ' Lubricating Distillate. 28° Gas Distillate."* 42° Distillate ..g Crude Naphtha, 58°-60° B. Heavy lubricating oil, engine oil, 21° B. Neutral oil, 23° B. Light lubricating oil, spindle oils, 26° B. Gas distillate, 28° B. :irRef=idue. Mineral sperm, 38° B. Illuminating kerosene, 45° B. Residue, 50° B. Benzin, 63° B. Gasoline, 76° B. The average yield of products from 100 bbls. of Ventura County mixed crude oil of 24° B., determined by actual running on a large scale, is as follows: Gasoline, 76° B 3 bbls. Benzin, 63° B 4 " Kerosene, 45° B 15 " Heavy kerosene, 38° to 40° B 8 " Gas distillate, 28° B. 21 " Light lubricating (spindle) oil, 26° B 10 " Neutral oil, 23° B 12 " Heavy neutral oil, 21° B 6 " Reduced stock, lubricating oil, 14° B 5 " Asphalt, crude - - 11 '" Loss 5 " The extraction of Pyridin bases with dilute sulphuric acid should be done before the redistillation of the distillates, as tlie treatment of those distillates with concentrated sulphuric acid will otherwise form certain sulpho-conjugated products which, during the washing process with water and alkali, decompose and re-enter into solution again with the refined products. The special refining methods will be discussed in the next paper, as certain processes are not yet covered by letters-patent. LIST OF FOSSILS. 79 u o P< o o o 73 02 1^ i-i OQ 02 O O OQ ^ pS^SSSSHSs c5 -^— > •'^ c O 53— < oj c o c C *i "^T" ^ o o cj y r^ r" ^" eS 2^^ o O O O O P-i^?H 3 .— . CJ "bo o o a> a C s -- 1^ 3 3 - , 1 .' I ->^ ' ' ' ' S Pill'-) 1 ■ 1 I ^ 'A ! (Perhaps Eoce L. Quat. L.Quat. PI. Mic Pl.:\li .L.Quat.Pl.M] .L.Quat. PI. Mi PI. Ml L.Quat. L.Quat. . L. X "3 o o u. 3) o I I i 1 1 1 1 o .' >. ■ Reynolds & Wiggins well, Los .\ngeles ... Temescal CaHon Santa Monica, East of Pier... 1 ; \y I i ; \ \ \ [y i Brea Canon, Pu- ente Hills ;^^, X I ;'^ ^ i I yyy ; \yyy \y H O CO Asphaltum Bed, Lincoln Park . ^ i ; ; i ' i i Normal School, Los Angeles... yy ^ ; I ; lyy \y ^ \y ; i !^^ ;^ Shatto Estate, West Los An- geles yy i ; ; : ;^ ;^ y \ \ \ : : ly ; ; II 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ■ . i ■ ■ II O Well on Green- MeadowRanch 1 y, : i 1 1 ■ • < 1 1 1 1 11 ; i : i^ ; ; < 1 1 1 II Los Angeles Oil- Wells.. y, ixx \\y \y\ i \y . 1 . >> a f-, S oi 3 3 c 0) o o 53 o o i 2 "3 o o e e e « 1 > e § •-* S O e '■i 1- g S s o -^ o \2 >» 1 o ; a: 1 .« ' "^ 1 g ■ ^ 1 :^ ; ■«3 §a ^2 a s S ^ c •? e £ = £ e c ci c o -. « ■> « ? Chione malhewsoni tiabb ChlorostoDta pfeifferi Phil CkithureUa conradiana Gabb Corbula luteola Carp Crenidnla arnndix Midd U I* .- '2 2 ^11 C c2 c c e S o •2 S a Drillia 11. sp. ? Diplodonta orbella Gould Fusns kobelti })a.]l._ __ _ _ Galerus inornatus Gabb Gt)/cinieris generosa Gould Hinnites girianteus G ray Janira bella Con Kellia suborbir.ularis ^[ontasu ^ ) 11 ~ 2 2j 80 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. V c c o u I H :z; p o o OQ w 1-3 O < 00 o a •3 u ■§ •s c c 1 4- '' HI "^ !h4 ' tj ^ ^ \ '.2.2.2.S . • . •" 'S'S rt - 3 3 3 5 — X" *. \ ° i - !'■ ! < oC- la 1 a; ; 5^ — .o 1 Oil- 0- ' W-i .4^ I—I ! I ^, rt *- 11.3 1 t t "'•t* 1 • • "*' : a \ )E IE d. 2 •^ 1 1 1 1 1 L. Quat. PI. PI. -L.Quat.Pl.Mioc. L. Quat. PL S o s: ■•.3 o 1 ''< J n > O u c IS 1 1 1 1 ; i I » O 05 1— 1 <3 O . 3 >.55 03 m > (- Ul Santa Monica, East of Pier... X y y y yy Brea Canon, Pu- enie Hills X >< !^X X y y >^, X Asphaltum Bed, Lincoln Park.. y y Normal School, Los Angeles... y. yy^A y Shatto Estate, West Los An- geles y. \ yy y [ Well on Green- Meadow Ranch y yy y Los Angeles Oil- Weils \>- ^ e "5 s ■ "a 'o 2 a "3 Is c o u e 1 03 u e v c e 1 c o e C S •** 1 •S e 5: C o CO .£ '5 ■s. s •*- •^ c c c c - •> c o g OS > e C e u •<* e 03 -a or s e 1 3 a B u V -4-1 e < •*- <- v. 1 > /- •a B 1 a o B Q "B c c u oj C e ^*) )>. C c; c I- Of 3 :j e V. V e c5 'm Cj tl <5 B • • e 1 N '3 m sJ ti B "^ V. 1 a o S -a 5.. OJ _B _0J . !- 15 OC s B S S cd u "5 C •<- or c B s w s »-1 n B .3 s u 6 1 ( 1 C ■^^ i 5 c O or « B V. .B 's B c o "b o 1 LIST OP FOSSILS. 81 r-j t^ ;>^ ;x^ :x \y. y, \y ;x!x ;^ a o o o u O III OCl l-q l-H 03 02 O IN IN o EH 02 c o 13 33 o o CO Eh y, 1=) o o <^ c^ > •so '^^ CQt taO a as •3 1 O -4- c: 1 L.Quat.Pl. Mioc. L. Oiiat PI .L.Quat.PJ.Mioc. L.Quat.Pl. L.Quat.Pl. L.Quat.Pl. --- Mioc. Mioc. 01 1 5 o Divide between Ken- tuck and Brownstone oil-wells -a 1 CO , II O cj Santa Paula Creek, be- tween Mupu School- House and Sulphur Mts. yy.\ ; X ; yy \ Goat Mountain, near Mouth of Adams Canon. ; y y Aliso Canon >< East Forkof Corey Canon. \y Divide between Tar Creek and Stony Corral Creek. y [ Tar Creek, Dark-Colored Shales and Hard, Cal- careous Strata y : y no 1 & OS a u 1 § a 1-1 s » a B l-H CO CO •»> Si & o «3 CD eo a, « s 82 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. 13 « 3 C a o a I H t? o o < be a « o o a> O as O w Santa Paula Creek, be- tween Mupu School- House and Sulphur M ts. Goat Mountain, near Mouth of Adams Canon. Aliso Canon . East Fork of Corey Canon . Divide betweenTar Creek and Stony Corral Creek. Tar Creek, Dark-Colored Shales and Hard, Cal- careous Strata o >> ^> a OS a & •a a ol a 0) u o a o o — . o •-^ -M '^ 1 ^>>— . k1 u u 2.2 ca o O O h-J^ o3 CO 73 g O 03 x;^,^ X X y.y. O O O O — -" OT* 00005h&h05h <,~,^.^.%'^'P.-^P, 3 eS el 3 3 3 CCO" X x>< M X X x: y. o 3 2 H ri K c s = e S e « 2 ^CuCm e:8; w — +^ •*-> .^ eJ*^ 05 eS 08 3_; 3 3 5 X X x>^ = :=-: 5 o y.y, \y Pui 03 3 >< y. X! XI c e 3 3 :f « ^ ts-2-s s OOOOC '^ 1- o S c o g fcCj •< "*^ *^ *.> V o u e-c^'fcj^ « s e ^ i-s" b f^ ^^ ^ -J p* *r* ~,t. O '- g c r c >- ■~ ^ ^ M ^ ^* *^-^ " o S « = §.5^ .-5 c o o e s e •«* s .0.2 .^ ..* '>5»~5h^«=;«^"i5«=;'^-s; C ^ a e > LIST OF FOSSILS. 83 Ch o; . o 3 o X o o c3 3 Ch ^ S^ a 3 ©> C r4 1-5 S >> 83 CO • e3 2 CO ;3 S » -- .- - = s fc:=: c 3^ f-TZ c c c ^ e3 O « O X^ i-H r— 4 -^ >— t »-H •--' — ^ "^ o e3 ol c3 cj oj _; O 3 3 3 3 3 w^ _- w -^ w _- ;^ o or-' cj . rr 1 e S « e o e e S-«3 ■, ----- ^ « ^ ^ c^ (CJ "^ ■s e On 83 o V o C O o e s e o e S &1 V a, 05 O o o = ? I ^- 2^ S e ;i ;s § *5 to ^ •< 00,0,0, 13 C3 |o^ 3 . £ 3S D4 to o*^ ^ - « S <^ -* r^ w .0 => S ~ e 2 '^tS O e e o « 3. to ^ S.2 o = »! S • s c Ci ^"^ tn « ^ - ? e — i- « Si SI o CQCQ S J S ** S* 3? <* "* to to *■» g 2 O * fe :: cS ^ 3 ~ S> N g V S V. e e S « w « C S tc = 84 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. Listof Fossils— Cre- taceous Groups to which these Fos- sils have Hereto- fore been Re- ferred. c 'a E- 1 c 'a E- ^ H ■fc c c E- c c "a c c c •y 3 5 c ■Vr- a 5 o _c E- a E- a en ca M Eh O !c c c C C E^ Eh S c Eh c" C o o EhH • 03 ■Si? «5 OS O .1 c o OS O a> d o 1 o o o • El O O <^ H > S 3 35 > a . to *-» P l-i -a ■*-» o to Si C aj vi -a ►J P3 < go ■-5 o a3 eS aJ 2n3s ° S c < e3 C e] o CO «S d) ^ 3 -mC-h 5 a a cc o -4.3 CO Oj St >> station I), Hard Sandstones, Silver- thread Oil District. y, • 1 13 ed •;3 Clay Beds, Santa Paula Greek, Sil- verthread Oil Dis- trict.. ><; y.xx y i^.x X, X Mouth of Stony Cor- ral Creek . . . -. X X >< i-l CQ Mt. San Cayetana, above Pine Creek.. X X y CQ O P4 Tar Creek, Dark-Col- ored Shales and Hard, Calcareous Strata y 1^ X o Eh Divide between Tar Creek and Maple Creek 02 li il §. .a e •.* u S c o o e e «£ e i. J3 o 1 c o e S B s o •** C — s i 03 o e 1- u B LIST OF FOSSILS. 85 fl o C c n c c C c c c d C E s c c c rt a c c G G a" o " o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o • ^-»"-» 5" V a> 4J O n/ a> OJ 0) 0) H^H H H HH H H H nHH^J-HH h-ib^ H HH HHH CO ' ^ ■ ^^ O - a> J3 a Si; >:?a: 75 § O O O J CO o o u o a o o •v. O >^ •S H c Z ^ & t. O « U ^ r*l W •w ij r H V o ^ ^; -< r« O £1 ^ W O 2; e ?- -c -?! e W 3 o :?! o O « t>^ «? £) X> i-fi a o o fc< •2 W c o o (■ w jS 2 e3 (H to 4)-!^ -*-» -^ c/3 w "^ ^ a "^ c3 O >H o G 3 cS « -*^ ^ t, (« ^ C &•!) 03 1) 4j m -*_! ^ Q> ^J'G "1 a* 03 :2 >c3 >.o3 03O <^0 5 u o O 03 ja G 0) O (H 03 O oj c3 a J3 3 o O"^ G G 03 O C +-> o G - oT tS G iG -jCC--" c3 03 _ rj j3 G ^- CO oiJ O ojo 5>< xyy y yy X X X X x x y. X y y y 03 • .2 c3 o3 c3 gOOO fees goes C ?3 '■<' •«■» "o ^ O «^ « o w s. CO Xi 03 O H) 0,1 ■GO?: > 2 «a A o o O s CJ S e •^^ Cr, S s s a^ 1^ to !> Xi a O ■S t e o &2 v. G o m > 03 >C5 o ^ ir s, s' e e e e e u ^ ^ >d ^ P« ^ , ^ -^ "-^ ^ --i »•»*> 02 Co tM e>. t-1 tx E-H Si.-" O « 2 ^e •s s 5s r-<> K li e s ^ B B S-*J e o ^ <-•« •BT3 ^ ^ E^ (5^ 86 CALIFORNIA STATK MINING BUREAU. d •pH a o o I a> o o O a> a t3 oa 02 o Em O H 02 > OS a -♦^ e « C3 >» o ej ii d -ij c o o to H a- P3 O O H t) o o < Pi < H la CO 0) W) a OS a: "3 o ^^ o u Oil-well, Ranch. Higgins' Water-well, Higgins' Ranch Soft Sandstone, Near Rincon Asphallum Mine Soft Sandstone Over- lying Bleached Shale, NearMouth of Rincon Creek 03 u 3 C > C o c 03 O CO X, y, y X H-3J xxy.y.y. 3_;^' 3 S ^/^ ^ =3"^ 03 eS 3— • 3 S 3 ><>< 2 c3 3 S > C o n -a <-" 3 09 xxxxxxx O 03 a a> ■•-• 03 3 c? n 03 u o 2 k> k> i> k> k> k>l »> k^ '3 :: =sS B S «-2 5 e -^ 5 >,c3 3 ac e B.« S S S e w o :£ ~ 2 '^ •(* ?5 > ~ •'* ■- "a ■« X 5 «>•: ■* 2 X « 2: "» o c >.«*.<; oc ■C -3 '^' ^, •^ .^ ^ B ►-«— "« W C: c S c S *- 5 ^ S"^"" B « t 2 C s: « « =^ .-"^ > ►"" >• XXXX 2 o C oa t -3 ^• >. B X XX X .«-3~ X •2 S -.2 ■ »^ CI ? "^^ c c — B b"^ >> . CO - TJ — o :_■ c 3"^ •S'Z^B ^ V- &: >< M' ^ >^ X ^ M y. XX XX XX XX r'n'N I'i ri r ■( rS I'N ?S rS rS f'^ >^. C o o IS 't3 , Pi O o e 8 e o 3J2 O. f-i qS ' 03-5 go s <= - S.2 Sl ^ 4- ^ e ^ s 33 %1 ^^ ^ 1^ -^ ^ ^ «-S - C o to CC !0 •?* -a e e s o e e.2. ~* si - ^ ^ -J S 3; V s c so e e ^ **> -^ •«* 3 O CO og Co CQ e . v: O O ■ cS •*> 3 S •« S o O c3.V IH C3 3 S =S. 0°0 V s « ~ p- •5 c-..»-§ ■ ft s '/■rs S o B i- r? c -, ~ 'i 7-M 3 o « •-a '^ >• H •« a CQCQCQ l-l^-e:s.s o -» = ^gS^ 88 INDEX. INDEX. Part, Chapter, A and Paragraph, Adams Cafion tunnel 2.2.23 wells '/_" 2!l!56 Adams old tunnel 2.2.08 Adams well _. 1.1.30 Alameda and Santa Barbara Development Co.'s well .'" 3.1.15 Alcatraz asiihalt refinery 3.1.12 Alderson's well.. 1.1.30 Aliso Canon wells 2.1.67 Alison & Barlow well 1.3.03 Allen's patent pumping rig 4.2.10 American Crude Oil Co.'s well 1.1.30 Analyses of asphalt from Punta Gorda mine 3.1.0.S Angelina Heignts well 1.3.03 Agua Blanca Oeek 2.1.21 Asphalt mines, Las Conchas 3.1.12 Punta Gorda. 3.1.08 Rincon 3.1.09 Ventura 3.1.02 Weldon 3.1.01 Asphalt refineries, Alcatraz 3.1.12 Asphaltum and oil refinery at Los Angeles 4.2.01 B Bach, Young & Cochran wells 1.1.30 Backus t^- Craven wells 3.1.16 Bardsdale wells 2.3.04 Bard's wells, table showing life of, etc. 2.1.52 Bayer & Bentz wells. 1.1.30 Bayer it Last wells 1.1.30 Benedict ranch well 1.4.01 Bituminous sand at Las Conchas Mine 3.1.12 near mouth of Rincon Creek ... 4.1.11 Bleached shales 2.1.42 Blunt's well 1.L30 Boyle Heights well.. 1.3.04 Bosley's well ._. 1.1.30 Brea Caflon, Los Angeles County — 1.5.11 brea beds in .. 1.5.12 Brophy, Frost ct Tabor, and Morris it Blaisdell wells 1.1.30 Brownstone formation in 8espe district 2.1.16 Brownstone group of wells 2.1.26-27 Bryant & Co.s wells 1.3.05 Building-stone in Sespe district 2.1.16 Burns well 1.1.30 C California Oil Co.'s well 2.1.30-31 Calorimetric tests in laboratory of State Mining Bureau 4.3.08 by Professor Stillman in laboratory of S. P. Co. 4.313 Carbon Hill Oil and Coal Co 'swell 1.1.30 Chance well -. ...*. 1.3.06 Chandler's well, East Los Angeles 1.3.07 Chandler's old well near Brea ('afion 1.5.13 Chandler's new well, Second-Street Park, I^os Angeles 1.1.30 (,'haracter of deposit at Rincon asphaltum mine 3.1.10 Character of shale near Carpinteria 3.1.04 Cheney's well .. 1.1.30 Chicago ("rude Oil Co.'s well ..-. 11.30 Clark's well 1.1.30 Cold Water anticline... 2.1.03 Cole's well at Los Angeles 1.1.30 at Summerland 3.1.17 Combination Oil Co.'s well L1.30 Comparison of formation, Brea Cafion and Los Angeles 1.5.14 INDEX. 89 Part, Chiipier, and Paragraph. Comparison of fuel tests of oil 4.3.07 Cone wells -.. .- 3.1.29 Consolidated Oil Co.'s well _ 1.1.30 Cooper, Dr.j Table of fossils identified by pp. 79 to 87 Cost of casing 4.2.07 of drilling at Los Angeles 1.1.30 and 4.2.05 of oil-tunnels 2.2.02 Cross-section, Oil district northwest of Santa Paula 2.1.39-40 Crosswell Oil Co.'s well 1.1..30 Cullen's well . 1.1.30 D Dagget it Fletcher's well •. 1.1.30 Daily yield, Los Angeles wells in 1895 12.03 Dark-colored shales at Tar (reek, Sespe district 2.1.13-15 at northern slope of Sulphur Mountains 2.1.45 ])arling Bros.' wells at Summerland 3.1.30 Davis, Cook & Co.'s well 1.1.30 Davisson, Mellice it Co.'s well 1.1.30 Davis, Sloan & Beer's well... 1.1.30 Day's well 1.1.30 Decrease in yield of Los Angeles wells during 1895 1.2.05 Deductions from evidence obtained . .. 3.2.02 Denker's wells 1.3.08 Devil's Gate Oil and Brownstone Mining District 2.1.32 Dewlaney's wells .. 3.1. is Diameter of casing used at Los Angeles 4.2.06 Diamond Oil Co.'s wells 1.1.30 Districts in Los Angeles County yet to be visited 1.6.01 Doheny-Connon Oil Co.'s well 1.1.30 Drilling machinery used at Los ilngeles 4.2.01 Dryden's well 1.1.30 Dunkleberger's well 1.3.09 E Eagen, May & Mernier's well 1.I.30 East Side Oil Co.'s wells. -. 1.1.30 Ellsworth & Griggs 1.1.30 Embody it Stack 1.L30 Empire Oil Co. 1.1.30 Eocene rocks in Cahuenga range 1.1.13 in Mount Cayetana . .. 2.1.34-^35 in Santa Ynez Mountains. 3.1.07 in Sespe district 2.1.03-^04 north of Silverthread district.. 2.1.39-40 and 2.1.50-51 Eureka Oil Co., Los Angeles 1.1.30 and 1.3.10 Ventura County 2.3.05 Evidence of faults in Sisar Valley. 2!l.45 in Silverthread oil district. 2!l51 Evidence of primary deposits of petroleum 3.2.13 F Ferguson & Canfield wells. . 1.1.30 Fissures in shale filled with bitumen ". 3.1.05 Fortuna wells 2 3.06 Fossils, table of -'"'.'."pp.79 to 87 Fowler's well ._ 1.1.30 Fractional distillation of oil from districts mentioned in this bulletin -..4.4.01-05 Frendenberg's well... 1.1.30 Fudicker's well 1.3.02 Fuel (oil as), Coal compared to oil by S. C. Ry. Co "...4.3.01^2 Other tests by S. C. Ry. Co 4.3.03 Table showing results of laboratory experiments compared to prac- tical working 4.3.10 Tests at Los Angeles court-house 4.,3.04 Tests by Pressed Brick and Terra Cotta Co "... 4!3.05 Tests by California Sewer Pipe C"o. 4.3.06 Tests by Los -Vngeles Electric R. R. Co ... 4!3.03 Tests by Los Angeles Steel and Iron Co 4.3.03 Tests by Professor Stillman in Laboratory of S. P. Co 4.3.13 Tests, calorimetric, in laboratory of California State Mining Bureau. 4.3.08 Fuel used in Los Angeles oil-tield 4.2.11 90 INDEX. Part, Chapter, C, and Paragraph. Gasson & Co.'s well 1.3.12 Gas yielded bv wells at Los Angeles 1.2.06 and 1.4.02-07 at Puente 1.5.09 at Summerland i . 3.1.28 in Sespe district 2.1.29 northwest of Santa Paula 2.1.60 Geological formation at Carpinteria 3.1.13 at Brea Canon, Los Angeles County 1.5.11 at Ivanhoe 1.109 at Los Angeles and vicinity 1.1.02-04 and 1.1.16-17 at Mount Cayetana ' 2.1.34 at Puente Hills 1.5.01-03 at Rincon Creek 3.1.06 at Ruhland wells 1.1.07 at Santa Ynez Mountains 3.1.07 at Santa Paula Creek and south of Mount Cavetana 2.1.48 eastof O'Hara wells '. 2.1.63 in Sespe district 2.1.03-06, 2.1.12-15, 2.1.21, and 2.1..32 in Silverthread district 2.1.51 in Temescal Canon 1.1.15 in Ventura River 3.1.02 on southwest slope of Mount Cayetana 2.1.44 penetrated by tunnels at Sulphur Mountains 2.2.01, 2.2.15. 2.2.19, 2.2.20-21, and 2.2.26 Geological horizon of oil-yielding formations at Los Angeles .. .. 1.1.03 of oil-yielding formations at Puente.. ..- 3.2.04 of oil-yielding formations at Summerland not determined 3.2.08 of oil-yielding formations in southeastern portion of Santa Barbara County 3.2.34 of lower oil-yielding formation at Sespe district. 3.2.06 of oil-fields described in this bulletin (table showing) 3.2.09 of rocks penetrated by wells in Silverthread district 3.2.05 of rocks penetrated by the Occidental oil-wells and the Santa Monica oil-well 3.2.07 of upper oil-yielding formations in the Sespe district 3.2.05 Good's tunnels 2.2.10-13 Good & Irwin tunnel . 2.2.10 Grand total yield of oil-wells and oil-tunnels in districts north of Santa Paula, for 1895. 2.2.29 Grayham's well .... 2.1.64 Green's well _ , 1.130 Greenwood & Barkelow's well . . - 1.1.30 Greenwood Meadow Ranch well 1.3.13 Guiteau's well _ 1.1.30 H Haight, Webster it Co.'s well. 1.1.30 Hall's wells.. 1.1.30 Harrison's well 1.1.30 Hawley, experiments by 1.1.23 Hellman Ranch well 1.4.02 Henderson's wells... 1.1.30 Henley quarry 2.1.16 Hibbard & Co.'s wells 1.1.30 Hoag & Silent's wells l,fi.l4 Hoffman .*: Waller's well 1.1.30 Home's well... 1.1.30 Hunter tract 1.1.11 1 Ivanhoe 1.1.09 Johnson's well 1.1.30 Johnson's well ... - 1.3.15 .lones (O'Hara) wells 2.1.61 Jefferson tunnel.. 2.2.05 K Keating Oil Co.'s wells 1.1.30 Kentuck wells... ... 2.1.28-29 Kimball (Farrellik Kimball) tunnels 2.2.04-20 INDEX. 91 Part, Chapter, L and I'aragrapti. La Brea Ranch well 1.3.16 Laboratory tests compared to practical use of oil as fuel 4.3.09 Lake Shore Oil Co.'s well 1.1.30 Lathrop wells .- 1.1.30 Lawrence wells 1.1.30 Lehman it Mills wells . 1.1,30 Lewis' wells 1.1.30 Libby wells •. 1.1.30 Line showing solfataric action 2.1.43 Little Sespe raining; district, wells in 2.1.23 Lohma Oil Co.'s well 1.1.30 Lookout Mountain well 1.3.18 Loomis'wells .. . ..- 3.1.22 Los Angeles Consolidated Oil Co.'s wells 1.1.,30 Lower oil-yielding formations in Sespe district _ 3.2.06 Luitweiler's well 1.1.30 M Magie oil-tunnel 2.2.17-19 Mater & Zobelein wells ..._. 1.1.30 ^Nlaier i Zobelein well 1.4.03 Maior Moultre tunnel 2.2.26 Malt man wells 1.1.06 Manatt, Rich & Schall's wells __. 1.1.30 Mat hay's wells 1.1.30 McCabe's wells 1.1.30 McGary it Reed's wells.. 1.1.30 McGary it "Warring's wells 1.1.30 Mcintosh's well .1.L36, i.3.19-20 Mentone Brownstone Co.'s quarry 2.1.16 Mertin's wells - 1.1.30 Metes and bounds of the Little Sespe mining district ,_ _ 2.1.22 . of Devil's Gate Oil and Brownstone mining district 2.1.32 Moore's wells ' 3.1.23 More time necessary to complete investigation of California oil-fields 3.2.23 Most recent Tertiary strata in Sespe district 2.1.0.5-06 Natural sublimation 2.2.08 Near River station, gas and asphaltum struck in well . 1.3.21 Nelson's wells 1.1.30 Newbauer's wells 1.1.30 North's wells . l.l!30 O Obar well 1.3.22 ObjectofBulletinNo.il 3.2!oi Occidental wells 3.l!31 O'Hara (Jones) wells . 2.1.33 Oil as fuel at Los Angeles 4!3!oi Oil districts northwest of Santa Paula . ... 2.L33 in Los Angeles yet to be investigated.. . 1.6.01-^5 in Ventura County yet to be investigated . 2.3.03 Oil on hand in Los Angeles, March to July, 1896 1.2.04 Oil-springs in Eocene rocks .._ ., 2!l!20 north of Sisar Creek . \_ 2.1.50 Oil-tunnels, Strata penetrated by 2.2.01 Oil, water, and gas in, methods of illuminating and ventilating, method of collecting oil in, cost of- 2202 (See Tunnels). Oil-wells. (See Wells). Oil-yielding formations exposed at Los Angeles 1.1.05 Okell ifc Barbar well 1.3.23 Oligocene formations in Sespe district 2.1.13-15 One pound of oil compared to one pound of coal as fuel 4.3.11 Oregon Oil Co.'s well 1.3.24 O'Reilley's wells _. _ _ LL30 Orne tunnel ...'.... 2!2!o7 Orne (Parker it Orne) tunnel \.l"[""V.\[.[ 2!2.2S Orr it Patterson's well ....... l!l.30 Osborne it StoU's well IV.~ \V/.i[\[V. L1.30 Outlook westward from Second-Street Park oil-wells, Los Angeles 1.1.25 Outlook eastward from Second-Street Park oil-wells, Los Angeles 1.1.26 Output and location of oil-tields in Los Angeles County 1.1.01 92 INDEX. Part, Chapter, P and Parat;raph. Pacific Oil Refinery and Supply Co _ 1.2.01 Pacific Union Oil Co 1.1.30 Parker's well , 1.1.30 Parker-Morril Oil Co.'s well 1.1.30 Perkins well 1.3.25 Petroleum deposits classified 3.2.10 Petroleum statistics of Los Angeles County for 1895 1.4.05 Phoenix Oil Co.'rfwelL. l.i.so Pipe-lines of Pacific Oil Refinery and Supply Co .- 1.2.01 of Puente Oil Co 1.5.10 of Union Oil Co. at Los Angeles 1.2.02 of Union Oil Co. in Ventura County 2.3.09 Polhemus well .-. 1.3.26 Position of productive wells and tunnels south of Sulphur Mountains 2.1.44-46 Powells wells ..- 1.1.30 Practical tests with oil as fuel at Los Angeles 4.3.01-10 Prevailing structure compressed anticlinal folds 3.2.21 Price of labor at Los Angeles during 1895 4.2.08 Primary deposits of petroleum 3.2.11 Protestant Orphan Asylum well 1.4.04 Puente Oulch, structural geology of 1.5.06-07 Puente Hills, Age of formations at base of 1.5.03 Formations in higher portions of.. 1.5.02 (geological structure of 1.5.01 Puente wells, Location of, depth, yield, etc 1.5.05 Table showing life of, yield, etc. 1.5.08 R Raymond Oil Co.-- - L1.30 Reclstone Peak anticline 2.1.03-O4 Refineries, Alcatraz Asphaltum 3 1.12 Asphaltum and Oil Co 4.1.01 Clark, .Johns & Co. : 4.1.02 Oil-Burning Supply Co. 4.1.03 Relative position of oil-wells and oil-tunnels on Sulphur Mountains 2.1.39-iO Remarkable chemical action near Riucon Creek 3.1.03 Review of fractional distillations 4.4.03 Review of structural features of petroleum deposits in oil districts referred to ... 3.2.17 Reynolds & Wiggins well ._ 1.4.05 Rex Oil Co.'s well 1.1.30 Rincon asphaltum mine 3.1.09 Robinson's well . 1.1.30 Rock exposures in Silverthread oil district unsatisfactory 2.1.50 Rocks penetrated by oil-wells at Second-Street Park, Los Angeles 1.1.19-20 by productive oil-tunnels 2.2.01 by productive oil-wells north of Santa Paula 2.3.02 by wells on south side of Sulphur Mountains 2.1.46 Rocky formations at Los Angeles 1.1.02-04 between East Los Angeles and Pasadena 1.1.12 north of Ruhland and Maltman wells 1.1.08 west of Los Angeles. 1.1.13.14 Rosencrantz well - 1.4.06 Ruhland wells, fossils at 1.1.07 S St. Louis rig - - 4.2.02 Sand-box 3.1.27 Salt Marsh wells - 2.L58 Santa Ynez Mountains 3.1.07 Santa Monica oil-wells - 3.1.32 Schwartzenthal's well 1.1.30 Scott A Gillmore wells 2.1.59 Secondary deposits of petroleum 3.2.12 Secondary deposits of petroleum in Santa Barbara County 3.2.16 Section across west end of Second-Street Park oil-field 1.1.21-22 Sespe district. Position and topography 2.1.01-02 Structural geology of.. 2.1.03-04 Eocene formations in 2.1.03-04 Oligocene formations in 2.1.13-15 The most recent Tertiary formations in 2.1.12 Sheldon's well - 1.1.30 Silent'swell -.- 1.1.3U Silent & Callender's well 1.1.30 INDEX. 93 Part, Chapter, and Paragraijh. Silverthread oil district 2.1.49 Similar geologic horizons 2.3.02 Sister's Hospital well 1.3.28 Skinner it Tonkin well 1.1.30 Solfataric action on Sulphur Mountains .2.1.38 and 2.2.19 near llincon Creek 3.1.03 Solfataric line marks fissure or fault 2.1.44 Southern California Oil Co. 's well 1.1.30 Specilic gravity of oil increases with depth at Los Angeles wells 1.1.20 Springs of warm water and oil 2.1.19 Standard rig 4.2.04 Starrig... 4.2.03 Statistical report of Summerland oil-wells for 1895 3.1.33 Sterling it Co. 's well 1.1.30 Stevens it Robert's wells 3.1.24 Stillman, Professor II., experiments by 4.3.13 Strata penetrated by well of California Oil Co 2.1.30 toy Farrell it Kimball tunnels 2.2.20 by Magie tunnels 2.2.15 Straus' well 1.1.30 Strike of oil-line at Los Angeles 1.1.25 Structure of east end of Sulphur Mountains ... 2.1.37 of mountains northeast of Silverthread district 2.1.34 of oil-tields northwest of Santa Paula . 2.1.38 Sulphur Mountains 2.1.36 Summerland oil-field 3.1.14 Sunset Oil Co.'s well 1.1.30 Suskin's well... 1.1.30 Tankage at Los Angeles 1.2.07 Temescal Caflon 1.1.15 Thompson's well 1.1.30 Thompson Bros.' well 1.3.27 Tomlinson's well .. _ 1.1.30 Torrey Canon wells 2.3.07 Tubbs' wells 1.1.30 Tunnels, Adams' 2.1.30 Adams Canon 2.2.25 Farrell & Kimball's 2.2.20 Good's 2.2.11-13 Good it Irwin's 2.2.10 In middle fork of Salt Marsh Canon 2.2.24 In Wheeler Canon 2.2.27 Jefferson's 2.2.05 Magie 2.2.15^18 INIajor Moultre's ,. 2.2.26 Pinkerton's .. 2.2.03-04 Northeast of Orne tunnel . 2.2.09 Northwest of Jefferson 2.2.06 Turner Bros.' wells - 1.1.30 U Union Oil Co.'s wells at Second-Street Park 1.1.30 Union Oil Co.'s well west of Second-Street Park 1.3.29 United States Hotel well 1.4.07 V Valleys frequently coincide with axes of folds _ 2.1.38 Ventura Asphalt Co.'s mine 3.1.02 Villa Tract wells 1.3.30 W Walker, Rust it Hunt's wells.. 1.1.30 Weldon asphalt mine... " 3,l!oi W^ells, Adams Canon ... '_ ' 2!l23 Alameda and Santa Barbara Development Co.'s... I.. 3!l!l5 Aliso Canon ^ 2]l.57 Backus it Craven's sil.lB Bardsdale __. 2!3!o4 Bard's l..."^".!"!.' 2!l52 94 INDEX. I'art. Chapter, and Paragraph. Wells, Between La Hrea ranch and La Cienega 1.3.17 Bluett .V; Mullen's 2.6.01 California Oil Co.'s... - 2.1.:{0-31 Capital Crude Oil Co.'s - 2.1.53 Central Oil Co.'s - 1.6.02 Close together, but yield dissimilar 2.3.02 Cole's - 3.1.17 Dewlaney's 3.1.18 Doulton & Wilson's -- 3.1.19 Elsmere Cafion... 1.6.03 Eureka Oil Co.'s 2.3.06 Fischer's 3.1.20 Forrester it Treadwell's 3.1.21 Fortuna — - 2.3.06 Four Forks - - 2.1.25 Grayham's --- --- 2.1.64 Jones (O'Hara's) - 2.1.37 and 2.1.61 Kentuck - 2.1.28-29 Loomis - - 3.1.22 Maltnian's 1.1.06 Moore's - - - 3.1.23 Pacific Coast Oil Co.'s (Pico Cafion) 1.6.03 Puente Oil Co.'s .- - - - 2.3.05 Salt Marsh --- 2.1.58 Scott & Gillmore 21.59 Second-Street Park, Los Angeles (classified list) 1.1,30 Stevens .t Roberts... 3.1.24 TarCreek . . - -- 2.1.24 Torrey Canon - - 2.3.07 Union Oil Co.'s (Silverthread district) 2.1.54 Union Oil Co.'s (north of Whittier) 1.6.04 Wheeler Cafion -- 2.1.60 Wiggins (Reynolds (t Wiggins) 1.4.05 Wylie Canon - 1-6.03 Williams' -.- - — - 3-1-25 Wilmot & Holden's .- 13.31 Wilshire' s.. - 1.3.32 Wing's -- - 11-30 Wylie's.. --- 11-30 Y Yield, Daily, of Los Angeles oil-wells during 1895 1-2.03 Of oil-tunnels dissimilar 2.3.01 Total, of wells in Los Angeles County for 1895 Ll.Ol and 1.4.05 Total, of wells and tunnels in Ventura County for 1895 2.3.0.S Total, of wells at Summerland, for 1895 3.1.33 ^EST tas Anceles. J^^l ^LIFORNIA^TATE y^lNIING^fREAU J.J.VPAWFOBD. State Mineralooist. Prepared by W. L Watt*. ffelA Assisfarxh, — RaILBOADS — ' P.P OF FbRMATION. AaANDONCP PftOSPetT WtLLfc O 5TATtorl z-srt'CoMTOuB Lines • Wells » K V- '0 •Jin ,,0 4 10 It vis I Od:? on Si P ° til n f 1^ •5 » s -v ^ S I 5 .1 F.e33 CEOLOOICAL SKETCH A\AP ENTURA^UNTY OilPiSTRICTS. ^LiFORNiA State Twining Bureau J.J.Crawford. State Mineralogist PreparecV by W. L.WATTS.frelA A<,^iyanN Pviri(i^l5'55-I596. _ «j^'-**"™'*'""<«^ '"'""' lU 'l^iVlli.,..i^ .v-W^'"...*.. "•t". 'IK iV"!.!*.^,* *■"-*., -.-^u!^ «*'•»/ •^ntf-^fi^j^^ lM"V/^rV! ""F^^^^^rni"*'' Fig. 34 Chowmo a cro5S-sec'fiork throMiK ^f\e forma-l'ion, bel-wecn a line, Ar&vtn Sso" W. ik N 8o° E .^roui^K r77upu scf^ool house in*e ^jante Paula carvof^ -^^ a ''"^e (^''a^'"^ &,8o°W*N8o°C.-throLii^h srafion inarKeA DotAsKatth map^ sil-uafed on Echo (aP\oiA R2ak. 5cal£. i6jOo z^oo 3^00 y«j-o/w o6serya/-/o"s or^ bon^s of San f-a Pau/o Creek . ^ o/^ /?7c/c/ Q: tffitsutea are irtstt^ier^n^ c/fa/-/y fa ■n^ns^raAr f^e ff^tt/eyfctr/ s^ru^fuf- fiV- ^oc£A/£: /of^z-i/TTfO/^s ftr/f^ci^^i-i-y h0K£> l^^^^^^^-^:. '.^^ "i^^ ^"^r-^ S, i^-^ be vo g CO d -I 6 N THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY WILL INCREASE TO 50 CENTS ON THE FOURTH DAY AND TO $1.00 ON THE SEVENTH DAY OVERDUE. JUL 12 198 b JU[t\l 2 1985 SeK^ 1985 REC f loJ RECEIVED #.'oy 2 *- iflsfl PfsysciLIBRARy JUN 2 is 2008 APR 3 1989 JUN16 1S89 JAN 04 1990 NOV 28 1369 fca (B » •« Book Slip-25m'7,'53(A899ea4)4S8 / California. Dept, of natural resources. Di- vision of mines. C'^^'^"^Orri'\dc PHYStC-'^l SCIE?v. UBRAH) Call Number: TK2U G3 A3 no. 11 . i '4 ' A3 tIBRART l^nVERSITY OF CAUFQ«»» DAVIS 169827