99 



K. ORTON — ROCK PRESSI RE OF NATURAL GAS. 



measuring the force which cau be exerted on the gas and oil that are caught 

 in the traiis of the terraces and arches of the porous Trenton limestone. 



Why, then, is nol the rock pressure of the gas the same in all portions of 



the new horizon ? For the obvious reason, I reply, that there is a varying 



element involved, viz., (he deplh of (he rock below sea level. The surface 



elevations at the wells vary greatly, and the wells of the same depth con- 



lently find the L r a- rock in very different relations to sea level. 



Tin-: Test of the Btdrostatk Theory. 



It is obvious that it' an explanation of the rock pressure of the Trenton 

 limestone gas is attempted on this basis, there are facts enough now at 

 command to substantiate or overthrow it. By the facts it must stand or 

 fall. In the accompanying table I have indicated the following lines of 

 facts as t" strictly representative wells in the leading districts of the new 



- fields, viz: (1 ) location, (2) depth at which gas is found, (3) relation of 

 this depth to sea level, (4 i the initial rock pressure of the gas. In regard 

 to tin- last line of facts I have taken, in almost all cases, figures that I have 

 myself verified. (5) A fifth column I add, in which the pressure due in the 

 particular well is calculated from the two following elements, viz., an assumed 

 elevation of the salt water to the Lake Superior level, or six hundred feet 

 above tide; and, secondly, an assummed specific gravity of the salt water of 

 the Trenton of 1.1, which gives a weight of 0.476 pound to the foot. 



Locations. 



Ohio. 

 Tiffin, j 



Loomie A: Nyman Well, i 

 l ' pper Sandusk j 

 Well No. 1. [ ••"" 



Bloom Tp W I I o 



iend Well, j 



Pindlav, ) 



Pioneer Well, j " 



Si. Man 

 \ \\. 



1 1 

 Dwyer Well, No. i 



Indiana. 



Kokomo, i 



No. I. i 



Marion, 1 

 W 



M uncie . 



Relation of <ci- 

 K'>ck to Sea 

 Level. 



7 17 ft. below tide. 



178 



895 " " 



386 " " 



238 " " 



200 " " 



At till" level. 



Original or 

 first Obser- 

 ved Press- 

 ure. 



650? lbs. 

 515 " 



in:, " 

 150 •■ 

 890 " 

 876 " 



820 " 



828 " 



, ■< ii 



Calculated 

 Pressure. 



l/=0.476 



lb. 



c,ll 11-. 



513 " 



173.6 •• 



145.7 " 



398.8 " 

 885 '• 



:v::i " 



wsir, •• 



286 6 •' 



