722 W. G. MILLER — PETROLEUM IN CANADA 



form, in recent government publications, the subject of this paper will 

 be treated briefly. 



The chief cause for the smallness of the production in Canada is due 

 to the fact that much of the surface of the two largest and most populous 

 provinces, Ontario and Quebec-, about 70 per cent of the former and more 

 of the latter, is occupied by rocks, the pre-Cambrian, in which petroleum 

 is not to be looked for. Of later compact rocks only the Paleozoic are 

 found in these provinces. In Ontario, the oldest and largest producer, 

 tlie Paleozoic is not represented by strata younger than the Devonian. 

 Hence in this province Paleozoic rocks are not only restricted as regards 

 areal distribution, but as to thickness as well. 



Ontario 



erie -huron peninsula 



The most interesting fact, in connection with the petroleum industry 

 of Ontario, is its persistence, production having been continued unin- 

 terruptedly for about 55 years in the only area, that of the Erie-Huron 

 peninsula, from which the material is derived. It should also be added 

 that the wells are comparatively shallow. 



FIRST DEVELOPMENT 



In 1859 or 1860 the first attempt was made at utilizing Ontario petro- 

 leum. The oil first used was that which made its way to the surface 

 at Oil Springs, Lambton County. Later, surface wells, from 40 to 60 

 feet in depth, were dug through the soil. The first drilling in compact 

 rock was done about the year 1861. During late years, in spite of the 

 discoveries in other localities in the area, the production has declined. 



STRUCTURAL FEATURES 



Information concerning the structural features, such as anticlinesj in 

 the Ontario petroleum area is not great. Much of the area is covered 

 with loose deposits and care often has not been exercised in recording 

 drilling operations. Anticlinal structures were described as early as the 

 beginning of the petroleum industry, and as they have been referred to 

 by most writers on the field since that time, there is no need to deal with 

 them here.* 



OIL-BEARING FORMATIONS 



According to various writers, oil has been found in Ontario in each of 

 the following formations: Onondaga (Corniferous), Oriskany, Niagara, 



4 Geology of Canada, 1863, p. 379. 



