THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY OF CANADA 



time to enormous proportions, some being as large as 24 

 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep. Large iron tanks were 

 introduced in 1865, tvve of which had a capacity of 3,000 

 barrels, and these still remain as mementos of the time. 

 The iron tanks, however, were found to be too expen.sive, 

 and they subjected the oil stored to many .sources of 

 danger, and vast improvements were found practicable and 

 of such a nature as no other part of the world has been 

 known to supply. The Krie clay, found in this region, 

 would almost appear to have been supplied for the express 

 purpose of oil storage. This clay is of a solid, tenacious 

 quality, free from seams or flaws, and ea.sily removed. 

 When properly constructed tanks are sunk therein they 

 are cool, perfectly free from danger of loss by leakage or 

 evaporationer destruction by fire. 



The tank is formed by excavating a circular hole about 

 thirty feet in diameter to a depth of about fifteen feet 

 through the top soil, Saugeen clay, which is somewhat 

 porous. A wooden crib is placed therein formed of double 

 inch rings five inches wide, outside of which boards are 

 nailed and the clay from the strata below is solidly packed 

 between the curbing and the wall making a solid puddling 

 about five feet thick. The sinking of the tank is then pro- 

 ceeded with to a depth of fifty or sixty feet, the entire wall 

 is lined with segments made of inch pine about five inches 

 wide forming a perfectly tight tank holding from 8000 to 

 10,000 barrels of oil, which on .saturating the wood renders 

 it exceedingly durable. Timbers are laid across the top 

 supported by a block from the arch over it, joists are laid 

 thereon, covered with planks and clay and the contents 

 rest in perfect safety until required. 



After the crude oil has been obtained a process of sep- 

 aration of its parts and removal of its foreign impurities 

 must take place to render it fit for use. Petroleum as it 

 comes from the ground is composed of a series of hydro- 

 oarbons ranging from the lightest gases to the solid waxes. 



