INFLUENCE OF GEOLOGY ON OIL DEVELOPMENT 



627 



oil pools of West Virginia. The results were especially noticeable in the 

 years following 1888. The importance of Doctor White's work can hardly 

 be overestimated. While not the originator of the anticlinal theory, he 

 may be considered as the one who first proved it by the snccessful location 

 of wells. Since that day structural terraces and a score of subordinate 

 features have been found to play an important part in the distribution of 

 oil, but the anticlinal principle underlies practically all of them. 



At first only a few companies were sufficiently far-sighted and pro- 

 gressive to break away from the traditional methods, but gradually, one 



Period of "degree lines," etcetera 



Period of early ap- 

 plication of anti- 

 clinal principle 



Period of intensive ap- 

 plication of geology 



Figure 2.— Curves showing Relation of Oil Prod^uction to Geology 



by one, they adopted the anticlinal principle as a guide to their opera- 

 tions. Today few companies of prominence disregard geology. Capital 

 for development can be obtained only on a favorable report by a geologist. 

 Geologists are found in every field. Even in an old and declining field 

 like the Appalachian their services are still of great value, and the life of 

 more than one compan}^, or oil or gas pool, has been prolonged through 

 their help after production under old methods had reached a standstill. 



While, because of other factors involved, it is difficult to state quanti- 

 tatively the effect of geology on oil output, the curves of production are 



