96 ALASKAN MINEKAL KESOUKCES IN 1906. 
POSITION AND DESCRIPTION OF WELLS. 
The wells in which oil has been obtained in this region are so few 
that they throw little or no light on the problem of the occurrence of 
oil. It will be shown in the following pages that a flow of oil has been 
obtained in one well (No. 10, fig. 1) and less quantities in three 
others (Nos. 5, 8, and 13). These four wells are close to seepages and 
are on the outcrop of the shales which have been referred to as the 
Katalla formation. They are all on lines of seepages having a north- 
northeast to south-southwest direction, and are all on the steeply 
dipping northwest flanks of anticlines and possibly on or near lines of 
faulting. It is unfortunate that no other wells have been drilled in 
similar positions on the structural lines alluded to above. Such wells 
might not be successful, but they would test the possible theory that 
the above-mentioned lines have something to do with the distribution 
of the oil. 
The net result of the drilling has been to show the existence of 
moderate amounts of oil in at least part of the territory. The wells 
are neither numerous enough nor deep enough to determine the out-; 
line of the pools and the area of productive territory. They have 
demonstrated the difficulty and expense of drilling and the need of 
ample resources and careful management. The existence of oil in 
remunerative quantities lias neither been proved nor disproved. 
The evidence from the existing wells, like that of the seepages, is 
sufficient to warrant further testing, if it be done intelligently and 
carefully and by companies strong enough to exploit large areas on a 
scale which permits of wholesale economies, and also strong enough to 
risk their capital on what must certainly be regarded as a speculation 
rather than an investment. 
The following list contains an account of each well that has been 
drilled in the district. The numbers refer to the geographic location 
of the wells, as shown on the accompanying map (fig. 1, p. 89). 
1. West shore of Bering Lake The surface rocks are sandy shales, presumably 
underlying the coal-bearing rocks. Dip 12° to 35° NW. Well begun in 1905. Work 
interrupted by accidents to machinery. Depth several hundred feet. 
2. East shore of Bering River. Begun in 1903. Abandoned at depth of 580 feet 
without reaching bed rock because of difficulty of sinking casing through the mud. 
3. Chilkat Creek. Drilled in 1904 to a depth of several hundred feet. No informa 
tion available. 
4. Edge of tide flats 1 mile west of mouth of Bering River. Drilled in 1904 to a 
depth of several hundred feet. 
5. Edge of tide flats a short distance northwest of No. 4. Drilled in 1904 to a deptj 
of several hundred feet. Oil now stands near top of casing. Small but continuous 
flow of gas. Amount of oil not known. 
6. Strawberry Harbor. The derrick was built on piling about 1,000 feet offshore. 
Casing sunk deep into the mud in 1904 without reaching bed rock. 
7. Strawberry Harbor. Drilled several hundred feet in 1904 without obtaining <»il. 
