Development of the "Anticlinal Theory." 



The Mannington oil Held was developed by myself and associates, and 

 as its location was made from purely scientific deductions illustrative of 

 certain theories concerning oil and gas accumulation which I have taught 

 for several years, a brief history of these theories and their application 

 in the discovery of the Mannington field may not be without interest to 

 geologists ; and this must excuse much that is personal to myself in con- 

 nection therewith. 



As is well known, it was formerly a popular saving among practical 

 oil men that " Geology has never filled an oil tank ; " and to such a low 

 estate had oil geology fallen that a prominent producer of oil and gas, 

 disgusted with geology and geologists, was once heard remark that if he 

 wanted to make sure of a dry hole he would employ a geologist to select 

 the location. It has been my pleasant task during the last eight years 

 to assist in removing this stigma from our profession, so that with the 

 able and valuable assistance of Ohio's distinguished geologist, Professor 

 Orton, Dr. Phinney, of Indiana, and others the battle against popular as 

 well as scientific prejudice has been fought and won and this longstand- 

 ing reproach to geology in great part removed. The battle was opened 

 by the publication of a paper in "Science" of June 26, 1885, entitled 

 " The Geology of Natural Gas," by I. C. White.* 



As gei >logist sarea ware, Hunt, Andrews, M inshall. Xewl >erry, and Steven- 

 son had all previously recognized some of the factors of oil and gas accumu- 

 lation, but the paper in question contained the first clear exposition of 

 what has been termed the "anticlinal theory" of oil and gas. Astherein 

 stated, I was led to the discovery of the laws of gas, oil and water accu- 

 mulation through a remark by Mr. William A. Earseman, a practical oil 

 operator of many years' experience, and now general superintendent of 

 the South Penn oil company, one of the Standard oil company's most 

 successful concerns. Mr. Earseman believed, in spite of the disrepute 

 under which geology rested with practical oil and gas operators, thai it 

 could, if rightly applied, render them valuable service. 1 le believed this 

 so thoroughly that he induced Captain -I. .1. Vandergrift, president <>!' the 

 Forest nil company, to engage my services in June, L883, lor a general 

 study and investigation of the subject, the results of which were embodied 

 in the paper to which reference has been mad.'. The propositions formu- 

 lated then for the first time in any scientific publication provoked a dis- 

 cussion of the general Bubject of oil and gas accumulation, and as these 

 letters and papers of mine are scattered through several journals which 



* Reprinted in tin Appendix, ante, pp. 2tM 2()G. 



