126 ANNUAL REPORT 
CHAPTER IV. 
THE CARBONIFEROUS ROCKS AS A SOURCE OF OIL 
AND GAS. 
These rocks are found at the surface of the eastern half of the state, 
but the important reservoirs of oil and gas are restricted to the areas 
where the coal measures constitute the surface formations. The producing 
strata have a great range stratigraphically, the lowest being the Berea 
grit, while the highest lie in the Monongahela formation or Upper Pro- 
duciive Coal Measures. These sands and their relative positions are 
shown in Chapter I. As will be seen from what follows this was the first 
territory developed in the state, but it is now greatly surpassed in produc- 
tion by the Trenton limestone. 
OIL AND GAS IN MORGAN COUNTY. 
Two pools of oil and one reservoir of gas have been discovered in 
this county : 
1. The Chester Hill oil field ; 
2. The Buck Run oil field; 
3. The McConnellsville gas field. 
With the exception of the last named, the producing sand is the First 
Cow Run. From this it follows that the wells are shallow, and hence 
the expense of drilling comparatively small. The territory has contributed 
much to the wealth of the county. The Chester Hill pool is one of the 
important ones in the state. It extends into Athens county on the south 
and Washington on the east, but for convenience will all be considered 
under the head of Morgan. 
P THE CHESTER HILL OIL FIELD. 
Location and Area.—The oldest part of this field lies one-half mile 
north of the village Joy in Homer township, Morgan county. The land 
is known as the Dale and Boileau farms, and occupies section 2 and the 
south half of section 3. From this the productive strip runs south through 
section 1, and then entering Ames township, Athens county, passes south- 
west through sections 16, 12, 11 and 17. Starting again with the Dale 
farm and going east the productive strip extends almost to Chester Hill 
when it turns abruptly to the southeast, continuing in that direction for 
3 miles and then curving again to the northeast it passes through sections 
7, 1, 8, 2 and 3. From this locality it enters Wesley township, Washing- 
