WEST VIRGINIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 433 



Prospective Oil and Gas Areas, Collins Settlement Dis- 

 trict. While Collins Settlement District has been prospected 

 for oil and gas in the western and extreme southern portions, 

 the main central part remains still practically untouched by 

 the drill. Present development, however, and structural con- 

 ditions do not warrant the belief that this district will prove 

 nearly as prolific in oil and gas as are the more northern dis- 

 tricts where structural conditions are ideal. The fact that 

 gas in considerable quantity has been found in the edge of 

 Upshur on the east makes it seem probable that additional 

 wells will be found joining this production to that along the 

 western part of the district. Attention is called to the follow- 

 ing localities: (1) That portion of the district lying between 

 the Orlando Anticline and the Roanoke Syncline offers hope 

 of many new gas wells in sands ranging from the Injun tu 

 the Fifth; (2) The northern portion of the district between 

 the West Fork River and the Skin Creek District Line looks 

 favorable for gas in sands ranging from the Injun to thu 

 Fifth, since gas occurs in some of these sands at Roanoke, on 

 the west, and at Frenchton, on the east; (3) The southern 

 portion of the district, south of the West Fork River, and 

 between the Roanoke Syncline on the west and the Upshur 

 Line on the east, will bear prospecting for gas, although it is 

 less favored by present development than the northern part 

 of the district ; (4) The presence of oil in the Big Injun Sand 

 in considerable quantity in Well No. 572 at Roanoke, in 

 No. 590 at Crawford and the showing in the same sand in 

 some of the Frenchton wells on the east, leads to the belief 

 that it may be found in paying quantity at some point in this 

 region. Since the sand is water-bearing generally in this re- 

 gion, the best chance for drilling would be at some point 

 where a sharp change in the dip of the measures makes it 

 possible for the oil to collect at the foot of a steep structural 

 slope, where the water would occupy the terrace below it. 

 This condition is found l*/2 miles northeast of Ireland, where 

 the structure has a cove-like appearance and oil might possi- 

 bly be found in the Injun or Gordon Sands between the 1575 

 and 1600-foot structure contours. 



