214 BITUMEN, ASPHALTUM, PETROLEUM, ETC. 



The black slates (Huron) of the upper Devonian of Ohio and Kentucky, 

 according to Dr. JSIewberry, abound in hydrocarbonaceous matter and are 

 undoubtedly the source of the oil supply. 



STATISTICS OF PETROLEUM. 



In Canada there are four areas, in which natural oil springs are found, 

 two in Enniskillen, a third in Mosa and Oxford townships, and a fourth in 

 Tilsonburgh. At the former wells have been sunk with great success. Near 

 Oil creek, in Enniskillen, the thickened oil forms deposits known as gum beds 

 of viscid, tarry consistency, and covering two or three acres of tvvo inches 

 to two feet in thickness. At Petrolia a bed of solid asphaltum two to four 

 inches thick was found at ten feet depth in the clay, and sometimes hardened 

 bitumen is found in cavities of the rock. 



At Enniskillen the larger supply has been obtained from the deeper 

 wells, and from some petroleum has risen above the surface of the earth. 

 A well 200 feet deep yielded 2,000 barrels in twenty-four hours. Both oil 

 and water flow out, and in some of the deeper it is saline. The oil area of 

 Enniskillen covers about four square miles. The total oil producing area 

 of Petrolia and Enniskillen is eleven square miles.* From a catalogue of 

 Canada minerals, 1876, arranged for the Philadelphia exhibition, we learn 

 that the borings in Enniskillen average 480 feet. At first the oil flowed spon- 

 taneously, but now the wells require pumping. There are at present 300 

 wells capable of producing petroleum, but only 200 are in operation, with be- 

 tween 200 and 300 steam engines used for pumping and boring. Only a small 

 portion of the oil is distilled at Petrolia, but the greater part is refined at Lon- 

 don, fifty miles east. At this place are fifteen refineries, with a total capacity 

 of 12,000 to 15,000 barrels per week. The principal oil works here are the 

 Atlantic Petroleum works, with Waterman Bros, proprietors. Their 

 exhibition in the Canada section. Main building. Centennial, Philadel- 

 phia, was large and creditable. The catalogue of the Canada exhibit at 

 the Centennial gives the amount of oil shipped from Enniskillen for the 

 year ending January, 1863, at 82,814 barrels, of 40 gallons each, and the 

 quantity refined in Ontario for the year ending June 30, 1871, 269,395 bar- 

 rels; year ending June 30, 1872, 308,100 barrels; year ending June 30, 1873, 

 365,052 barrels; year ending June 30, 1874, 168,807 barrels; year ending 

 June 30, 1875, about 210,000 barrels. The greater portion has recently been 

 consumed in the dominion. 



Canada Geol. Rep., ISoo. 



