Press Bulletin Series For the Oil and Gas Industry STATE OF ILLINOIS DWIGHT H. GREEN, Governor DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION FRANK G. THOMPSON, Director DIVISION OF THE STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY M. M. LEIGHTON, Chief URBAN A No. 46 ILLINOIS PETROLEUM Printed by Authority o f the State of Illinois September 18. 1943 SUBSURFACE STRUCTURE AND OIL POSSIBILITIES of parts of Edwards, Richland, and Wabash Counties, Illinois by William H. Eastox Introduction The area concerned in this structural study emhraces Ts. 1 and 2 N. and the south row of sections of T. 3 N., Rs. 11 E. and 14 W. (fig. 1). This includes producing wells in the Bonpas. Bonpas West. Parkersburg, and Samsville pools. The principal producing zones in the area are in the Ste. Genevieve forma- tion. Production has also been obtained from the Waltersburg, Cypress, and Bethel sandstones, but in only six wells in the area. To date no well produces from more than one formation. The purposes of this study are (1) to recommend areas for future oil ex- ploration and (2) to present contour maps of two horizons near possible pro- ducing formations and also of an easily recognized shallow Pennsylvanian forma- tion which may serve as an index of structural position of future test-wells. Contoured Horizons L< rins limestoni . — The top of the Ste. Genevieve formation (top of the Levias member) was chosen as one horizon to be contoured (fig. 3) because it is the guide horizon closest to the chief pro- ducing zones. The position of this horizon in key wells was determined with careful consideration of evidence available in the Geological Survey files, checking each determination against that of neighboring wells by comparison of the interval between the top of the Levias and the top of the lower Golconda ("Barlow") limestone. The top of the Levias limestone, as determined by the writer, differed by amounts up to more than 100 feet from those reported by well operators. The top of the Levias limestone (up- per member of the Ste. Genevieve for- mation ) is commonly misinterpreted in this area ; the top of the so-called "Aux Vases limestone" is frequently picked up as the top of the Levias. Sandy cal- careous material at the base of the Aux Vases is then referred to the "Rosiclare sandstone member." the Levias limestone is called "Fredonia limestone," and the oolitic and sandy oolitic beds above the actual Fredonia are called "IMcClosky". The sequence of formations in the two key wells, according to the usage of the Illinois State Geological Survey, is shown in figure 2. The picking of these tops is a difficult matter in this area, for lithologic fades similar to "Mc- Closky" and Rosiclare may occur sporad- ically in the Ste. Genevieve. For this reason, producing zones in the Iowa series in the area are all considered mere- ly Ste. Genevieve formation in this re- port, as more study is necessary before the identity of the individual producing zones can be established. In general, the first possible produc- ing zone in the Ste. Genevieve formation is encountered anywhere between 10 and 40 feet below the top of the Levias lime- stone member. Possible producing zones may be expected for another 60 feet. SUBSURFACE STRUCTURE Fig. 1. — Index map of the south part of Illinois showing the location of area for which structure maps are given (figs. 3, 4, and 5). hence any so-called "McClosky" test should penetrate alxmt 100 feet into Ste. Genevieve formation in order to be con- sidered a thorough test of all zones. Golconda formation. — The top of the lower ("Barlow") limestone of the Gol- conda formation was chosen as another horizon to be contoured (fig. 4) because it is an easily recognized stratum of nearly uniform thickness in the area and occupies a stratigraphic position in the Chester series near proved producing sandstones. West Franklin limestone. — The base of the middle bench of the West Franklin limestone was chosen as the third horizon to be contoured (fig. 5) because it is an easily recognized limestone marker at relatively shallow depth. The structure of the West Franklin limestone is similar to that of deeper formations and so this limestone may be utilized to determine relative structural positions of formations in the Chester and Iowa series. The base of the middle bench of the West Franklin limestone was used because there may be from one to three lime- stone strata (usually two) but one is per- sistently the thickest. A very calcareous shale may occur just above the principal limestone bed in the West Franklin and give an electric-log reaction that is liable to be confused with that of the top of tin' contoured bed. The contoured stratum is commonly underlain by a red shale, by mottled shales, or by underclav. A very thin seam of coal may occur above the limestone. AND OIL POSSIBILITIES m | ~| i»N0510NC HSH J iiiimois statc cioiocicti sunder (left) Fig. 2 — side of electric log shows resistivity in ohms. SI 'BSl 'RFACE STRl CTL HE unoi% srtrf gcoioccal *-w*vtv -Contour map showing the structure of tin- to;, oi the Levias limestone. Rased mainly on electric logs. AND OIL POSSIBILITIES \_} L-e^-U Illinois srArr ccolocical sunder -Contour map showing the structure of the lower ("Barlow") limestone of the Golconda formation. Based mainly on electric logs. SUBSURFACE STRUCTURE R.I4 W. R.I4W iNon sTAre ctOLOiiCAi su*vrr LEGEND PRODUCING OIL WELL ABANDONED PRODUCER • STE. GENEVIEVE -if- DRY HOLE • C CYPRESS -If- DRY HOLE , SHOW Or OIL • B BETHEL ® SALT WATER DISPOSAL ,2.00 STRUCTURE CONTOUR; / INTERVAL 10 TEET SCALE Fic. 5. — Contour map showing the structure of the base of the principal stratum of West Franklin limestone. Based mainly on electric logs. AND OIL POSSIBILITIES Oil Production The main source of oil production has been the Parkersburg pool, which to the end of March 1943 had produced ap- aproximately 2,250,000 barrels of oil from 38 wells. Of this, all but a little more than 1,000 barrels (Cypress pro- duction) came from the Ste. Genevieve formation ("McClosky" as identified by the operators). Wells on the west flank of the pool are lower than those on the east flank, and the former wells general- ly make water with the oil. Bonpas West pool had produced about 130,000 barrels of oil from 9 wells (2 now abandoned) to the end of March 1943, essentially all of which was pro- duced from the Ste. Genevieve formation (Levias and "McClosky" as identified by the operators). Bethel production in the area is negligible. Wells in the southern part of the pool make consid- erable water with the oil, but most of them have maintained good production in spite of this difficulty. Bonpas pool had produced approxi- mately 50,000 barrels of oil from 2 wells to the end of March 1943, all of which came from the Ste. Genevieve formation (essentially "McClosky" of the op- erators). Samsville pool has been abandoned and then revived. It had only 1 producing well at the end of March' 1943. All of its production is from the Waltersburg sandstone but the amount has not been reported. Structural Features The most important structural feature of the area is a series of domes and anti- clines aligned nearly north-south and constituting a definite structural trend. Parkersburg pool is the chief area of oil production, and the dome upon which the main part of the pool lies is here named the Parkersburg dome. The north end of this dome extends to the north edge of sec. 17, T. 2 N., R. 14 W., and that sec- tion, as well as sec. 20, T. 2 N., R. 14 W., includes oil production from the Bonpas West pool. North of Parkersburg dome is a dome lying for the most part in sees. 32 and 33, T. 3 N., R. 14 W., and sees. 4 and 5, T. 2 N., R. 14 W. A "nose" ex- tends south of this dome into sec. 8, T. 2 N., R. 14 W. and from this is obtained the production of the Bonpas West pool. The dome and the "nose" together con- stitute what is here named the Blackoak dome (after Blackoak School). South of Parkersburg dome is a dome lying chiefly in sees. 19 and 30, T. 1 N., R. 11 E. This is here named the West Salem dome. Of secondary importance are four small anticlines with trends about east- west. The northernmost of these lies along the line between sec. 34, T. 3 N., R. 14 W. and sec. 3, T. 2 N., R. 14 W. This yields the oil production of the Bon- pas pool and is here named the Bonpas anticline. The axis of a broad anticline crosses sees. 13-16, T. 2 N., R. 14 W. Oil has not been obtained from the structure. In sees. 21, 22, 27, and 28, T. 2 N., R. 14 W. is another "nose," upon which oil production has been obtained in sec. 21. This area has been included with Parkersburg pool, even though different structures are involved. The structure is here named the Redhead anticline (after Redhead School). The anticline appar- entlv extends into sec. 36, T. 2 N R 14 W. Finally, oil from Samsville pool is ob- tained from a "nose" in sec 31, T. 1 N., R. 11 E. The anticline extends across sec. 31, T. 1 N., R. 14 W., and is here named the Samsville anticline. The third most important structural feature of the area is the marked depres- sion, lying immediately east of the Park- ersburg trend. Two synclines pitching away from the saddle east of Parkers- burg dome constitute the depression. A marked closed "low" lies southeast of Bonpas West dome. The final noteworthy feature of the area is the regional dip from east to west. This continues from the western flank of the LaSalle anticline. SUBSURFACE STRUCTURE Comparisons of Structure Contour Maps Most production in the area is from the Ste. Genevieve formation, hence the top of the Levias limestone (the upper- most member of the Ste. Genevieve) con- stitutes the most important reference horizon (fig. 3). The chief characteristics of the struc- tural features of the area on this horizon are their narrowness or "sharpness" and tendency toward lack of closure on ex- tremities of major domes. Parkersburg dome is a narrow elongate structure on the Levias horizon. The same structures as shown on the top of the lower limestone of the Gol- conda formation (fig. 4) are generally broader, the extremities of domes may be small subsidiary domes, the Parkers- burg trend is less straight, and the regional dip is slightly less. Parkers- burg pool has slightly more closure on this horizon, but the highest portion of the pool occupies less area and lies some- what to the east of its position on the Levias limestone. Contours on the base of the principal limestone bed of the West Franklin (fig. 5) agree regionally with the contours on Mississippian horizons. The center of the Bonpas West dome lies about half a mile west and slightly north of its posi- tion on the Levias limestone. The closed "low" southeast of Bonpas West dome is replaced by an open syncline, and the en- tire general depression east of the Park- ersburg trend lies east of its position on the Levias limestone, the difference being as much as a mile. One of the most in- teresting features is that there is one elongate dome at this horizon, whereas there were two domes on the lower Gol- conda limestone in sees. 8, 17, and 20, T. 2 N., R. 14 W. There apparently is progressive upward coalescence of struc- tures. Parkersburg dome on this horizon is a rounded dome with isolated closed "highs" and with more closure than on the lower horizons. The trend of Park- ersburg East anticline has changed from about NW-SE to NNW-SSE and is a much broader, less well defined structure. The northwest corner of the map has not been contoured because of lack of sufficient structural control. Regional dip on this horizon is less than on the lower horizons. Recommendations For Drilling Four kinds of recommendations for drilling in the area can be made, namely : (1) new areas, (2) extensions, (3) deep- er testing, and (4) inside locations. ( 1 ) New areas. — Testing of the high part of the Bonpas West dome is recom- mended. The first well should be lo- cated in the W. ]/ 2 W. V 2 SW. 14 sec. 33, T. 3 N., R. 14 W. It*may be neces- sary to locate on the east line of this tract because of drilling restrictions, but a location near the west line of the tract is to be preferred because of the oil shows in the well in sec. 32. The Ste. Genevieve formation should be tested. Testing of the West Salem dome is recommended. The test well should be located at the highest indicated part of the dome, which is in the center of the SW. 1/4 SW. 1/4 SE. 1/4 sec. 19, T. 1 X., R. 11 E. (330 feet from the south line and 2310 feet from the east line of the section). The Ste. Genevieve formation should be tested, and shows may be encountered in the Tar Springs. Cypress, Bethel, and Waltersburg sandstone. (2) Extensions.— The W. i/ 2 SE. 1/ and SW y 4 NE % sec. 17, f. 2 N., R. 14 W., is structurally as high as or higher than the three wells now produc- ing in that section. The present wells made water with their initial produc- tions, hence new wells presumably would behave similarly. Even so, new wells should pay out in two years or less in the ratio 3 paid out wells to 1 well not paid out, provided that they have initial productions similar to those of the pres- ent wells. (3) Deeper testing. — A number of wells in the area penetrate a very few feet into the uppermost Ste. Genevieve producing zone. It is reasonable to ex- pect that these wells should be deepened perhaps another 60 feet in order to com- plete the testing of all possible producing zones of the Ste. Genevieve formation. 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[4 ..(J ~ r M £ C • f . *- i> rj-' _ a> ^' .5 C S ^ . 5, =---~£-7,~cu o. i- a ci ^*- ^ o V S •- .13 XTJ ^ -* .2 cJ rt 3-c S o.S p - d; fb 12 SI 'US I 'HE ACE STRUCTURE restrictions of Order M-68 of the petrole- um Administration for War and hence the wells are on a 40-acre spacing. Flow- ing wells with an initial production as high as 1320 barrels of oil with no water have been reported in tbe area of the SE. % sec. 31. T. 2 N.. R. 14 W., and NE. % sec. 6, T. 1 N., R. 14 W. It may become possible in the future to drill some new wells in the area of present 40-acre spacing, but this depends upon how far depleted the reserves of oil and the gas pressure are by the time Order M-68 may be relaxed. Illinois State Geological Survey Illinois Petroleum 46 1943