MARTIN.] 
PETROLEUM FIELDS. 
137 
CHARACTER OF THE OIL BAY AND COLD BAY PETROLEUM. 
Samples of the oil from Oil Bay and Cold Bay have been collected 
by the writer. They were obtained by skimming- the petroleum from 
the surface of the pools of water where it was continually rising from 
the bottom of the pool. An effort was made to obtain as much of 
the fresher oil as possible. Vegetable and earthy impurities were 
removed by straining through coarse cloth. Water could not be 
entirely removed. Oil for lubricating purposes at the neighboring 
wells is obtained from these pools in this manner. 
The fresher oil is dark green. That which has remained on the sur- 
face of the pool for some time is dark brown. 
The oil has doubtless lost a large part of its volatile constituents. 
The analyses, therefore, would not correctly represent the composi- 
tion of live oil from wells in this region. Such oil would have a lower 
specific gravity, higher percentage of the more volatile constituents, 
and lower percentage of the less volatile constituents, residue, and sul- 
phur. It would certainly be better than these samples in all respects, 
and would resemble them in having a paraffin base. It might not be 
of as high quality as the Controller Bay petroleum, but neverthless it 
would be a refining oil. 
The samples were submitted to Penniman & Browne, of Baltimore, 
who return the following report on their tests: 
Report of tests of oil from Oil Bay and Cold Bay. 
Oil Bay. 
Cold Bay. 
Specific gravity at 60° F. 
Distillation by Engler's method: 
Initial boiling point „ 
Burning oil (distillation up to 300° C, 
under atmospheric pressure). 
Lubricating oils (spindle oils) (120 mm. 
pressure up to 300° C. ) 
Lubricating oils (120 mm. pressure, 
300°C.-350°C). 
Paraffin oils (by destructive distillation 
under atmospheric pressure. 
Coke and loss 
Total sulphur 
0.9557... 
(16. 5 ( 
B.) 
230° C 
13. 2 percent 
(29.5° B.) 
39.2 per cent 
(22.6° B.) 
19.6 per cent 
(17.9° B.) 
22.4 per cent 
(20.4° B.) 
5.6 per cent 
0.098 percent... 
0.9547. 
(16.6° B.) 
225° C. 
13.3 per cent. 
(29.6° B.) 
28.3 per cent. 
(23.8° B.) 
18.3 per cent. 
(18° B.) 
32.0 per cent. 
(20.4° B.) 
8.1 per cent. 
0.116 per cent. 
The distillation of the lubricating oils under diminished pressure, corresponding to 
refinery practice, was carried on until signs of decomposition set in. The resulting 
residue was unsuitable for making cylinder stock, and was therefore distilled for 
paraffin oils. These paraffin oils contain a considerable quantity of solid paraffin. 
It was not practicable to determine the amount of the material with the small 
amount of oil at our disposal. 
