martin.]  PETROLEUM    FIELDS    OF    ALASKA.  379 
of  a  porous  reservoir  capped  by  impervious  beds  and  filled  with  oil. 
A  line  extending  from  about  a  mile  above  the  lower  cabin  on  the  shore 
of  Enochkin  Bay  to  a  point  a  half  mile  northwest  of  the  beach  at  Oil 
Bay,  thence  through  a  point  2  miles  above  the  beach  at  Dry  Bay  to  the 
center  of  the  high  cliff  on  the  north  shore  of  Chinitua  Bay,  would  lie 
at  about  the  center  of  the  zone  which  at  the  present  seems  to  be  the  most 
promising*.  The  oil  sand  would  probably  be  found  nearer  the  surface 
along  this  line  than  either  to  the  southeast  or  northwest. 
As  in  all  cases,  however,  drilling  is  necessary  to  obtain  a  knowledge 
of  the  underground  conditions,  as  well  as  to  estimate  the  economic  and 
commercial  value  of  the  field;  thus  far  this  has  been  insufficient.  As 
regards  the  entire  Enochkin  Bay  region,  it  is  almost  certain  that  the 
oil  will  be  confined  to  the  easternmost  anticline. 
Development. — Indications  of  petroleum  were  discovered  in  this  region 
about  fifty  years  ago.  The  first  was  taken  out  in  1882  by  a  Russian 
named  Paveloff.  A  Mr.  Edelman  staked  ground  in  1892.  His  loca- 
tion was  near  the  divide  at  the  head  of  the  creeks  entering  Oil  and  Dry 
bays,  but  the  claims  were  subsequently  abandoned.  In  1896,  Pomeroy 
and  Griffen  also  staked  property  at  Oil  Bay,  and  during  the  next  year 
organized  the  Alaska  Petroleum  Company.  Work  was  begun  in  1898. 
The  Alaska  Oil  Company  was  organized  in  1901,  and  in  1902  began 
drilling  at  Diy  Bay. 
The  well  at  Oil  Bay  is  reported  to  have  struck  a  flow  of  50  barrels 
of  petroleum  at  a  depth  of  about  500  feet.  On  drilling  deeper  a  strong 
flow  of  water  was  encountered  which  shut  off  the  flow  of  oil.  The  well 
is  now  over  1,000  feet  in  depth  and  affords  a  continuous  flow  of  gas, 
which  at  times  becomes  very  strong.  Attempts  have  been  made  to 
shut  off  the  flow  of  water  and  either  recover  the  lost  oil  or  drill  deeper. 
No  log  could  be  obtained. 
The  well  at  Dry  Bay  was  drilled  to  a  depth  of  320  feet,  without 
encountering  oil.  The  tools  were  then  lost  and  the  hole  abandoned. 
In  August,  1903,  a  new  well  was  started  in  close  proximity  to  the  first. 
The  shipment  of  petroleum  from  this  field  would  probably  be  from 
Enochkin  and  Chinitua  bays,  which  are  harbors  affording  safe  anch- 
orage to  large  vessels  in  all  weather,  as  well  as  good  wharf  sites. 
Ships  can,  however,  anchor  in  the  mouth  of  Oil  Bay  and  off  Dry  Bay 
except  during  very  bad  weather.  If  docks  should  be  built  either  at 
Enochkin  or  Chinitua,  it  would  be  necessary  to  build  pipe  lines  and 
pumping  stations  to  transfer  the  product  from  the  field  to  the  shipping 
point.  This  would  not,  however,  be  a  serious  matter,  as  divides  are 
low  and  construction  and  operation  would  be  easy. 
