SANTA CLARA VALLEY: BARDSDALE FIELD. 
79 
Although in South Mountain this formation appears to contain minor 
divisions of sandstone, these seem to be wanting in Oak Ridge. On 
the southern slope of the ridge, above the shale and unconformable 
with it, are the Fernando conglomerate, sandstone, and clay. These 
for the most part lie well down the slope of the mountain, but here 
and there reach the crest. 
OIL WELLS. 
UNION AND BARDSDALE CRUDE WELLS. 
A single oil field has been developed in the South Mountain-Oak 
Ridge anticline. It lies opposite Bardsdale, extending along the axis 
of the fold from Grimes Canyon westward for a mile and a half. Two 
companies are operating—the Union Oil Company and the Bardsdale 
Crude Oil Company. The territory of the former is adjacent to 
Grimes Canyon; that of the latter is the westward extension of the 
field. The wells of these companies are sunk in the rusty-yellow 
conglomeratic sandstone described as the lowermost formation of this 
district and possibly of Eocene age. The wells are located along the 
highest portion of the anticline, the elevation of any particular bed 
diminishing in both directions along the axis of the fold. The records 
of the wells indicate that oil is found in the rusty sandstone and in 
the underlying red and gray sandy beds at depths of 300 to 815 feet. 
The total depth of the wells varies from 500 to 1,000 feet. The oil 
is black and its gravity is reported as ranging from 23° to 32° B., the 
average being about 30°. In one instance an oil of about 17° B. was 
encountered. Occasionally water is pumped with the oil, but this is 
exceptional where a good landing stratum is obtained for the casing. 
Such a stratum is usually found among the red bands of the beds 
underlying the rusty sands. These, being generally more argillaceous 
than the gray bands, afford a more nearly water-tight bed. The 
wells of the Union Oil Company have been steady producers for a 
number of years, the decrease reported to the writer being but slight. 
These wells yield a large quantity offgas, which is used entirely for 
fuel. Of the total number of wells the Union Oil Company pumps 
about fifteen, the Bardsdale seven. The foreman of the Union Com¬ 
pany remarks that if the gas be retained in one of the two strings 
pumped by them the wells of the other have an increased product, 
and that if the gas is not taken from the wells the pressure in them 
becomes so great as to hold the oil back. Numerous devices have 
been used for drawing out the oil, one of them being the ordinary 
steam ejector. 
At several other points in the Oak Ridge anticline wells have been 
drilled, but without success. This may be due in part to insufficient 
depth and in part to their location beyond the oil zone. In Garber- 
son Canyon, for instance, a well has been drilled to a depth of over 
