70 KANSAS UNIVERSITY QUARTKRLV, 



for the weight to equal the upward gas pressure. If the gas reser- 

 voir was only 20 feet below the surface the pressure of 300 pounds 

 would give an excess pressure of 43,200 — (172 X 2o)=;39,76o pounds 

 for each square foot of surface, or 3,578,400,000 pounds or 1,789- 

 200 tons for the area above considered. With the weight of the 

 strata overcome by a portion of the gas pressure, the excess 

 pressure would tend to bend the strata upwards. With the 

 points of resistance 300 feet apart it is hardly probable that tlie 

 enormous pressure of more than three and a half billion pounds 

 could be withstood. From the conditions observed on the ground 

 it is probable that the sheet of gas was more than 300 feet across, 

 rather than less, for the total length of the fissures is more than 

 that distance. This woidd increase the probability of an explosion. 

 It is therefore concluded that the most probable explanation of 

 the Coffeyville explosion is the gradual accumulation of gas in the 

 form of a broad, thin sheet between the rock strata near the surface 

 where it was held until the upward pressure became so great that 

 it was sufficient to overcome the weight of the super-imposed 

 material and the rigidity of the strata, at which time the explosion 

 occurred. 



