G&A ZlUiKO 
 
 "1 
 
 Press Bulletin Series 
 
 Issued Twice Quarterly 
 
 STATE OF ILLINOIS 
 DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION 
 
 A. M. SHELTON, Director 
 
 DIVISION OF THE 
 STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
 
 M. M. LEIGHTON. Chef. Urbana 
 
 No. 3 ILLINOIS PETROLEUM 
 
 July 24, 1926 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 The bearing of the structural relations between the Pennsylvanian and older' 
 
 formations on petroleum prospecting in western Illinois 1 
 
 Oil prospects in central Pike County 
 
 Current oil field operations in Illinois 1() 
 
 THE BEARING OF THE STRUCTURAL RELATIONS BETWEEN 
 
 THE PENNSYLVANIAN AND OLDER FORMATIONS ON 
 
 PETROLEUM PROSPECTING IN WESTERN ILLINOIS 
 
 By Gail F. Moulton 
 Introduction 
 
 Petroleum prospecting in western Illinois on the basis of structure 
 determined from coal bed data has been moderately successful and according 
 to a previous report 1 about fifty per cent of the favorable structures in west- 
 ern Illinois which have been completely tested have yielded important 
 amounts of oil or gas. In view of the fact that other known structures re- 
 main untested and that still other structures are yet to be discovered, certain 
 structural relations which have been observed in a few cases will be consid- 
 ered with a view to furthering petroleum prospecting. 
 
 The general structural relations of the Pennsylvanian and pre-Pennsyl- 
 vanian beds are comparatively simple. In western Illinois the whole series 
 of consolidated rocks has a general eastward dip toward the central part of 
 the Illinois Coal Basin. The older formations have a slightly greater dip 
 than the Pennsylvanian formations. Accordingly, unless the effect of fold- 
 ing increases in the lower beds, a more pronounced structure in the Pennsyl- 
 vanian series would be required to determine favorable conditions for the 
 accumulation of petroleum in the older rocks than would be necessary to 
 determine a favorable structure in the Pennsylvanian itself. 
 
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 Fig. 1. Map of Illinois showing locations of areas A, B, and C 
 
 ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
 
 3 3051 00005 1551 
 
BEARING Or CERTAIN STRUCTURAL RELATION'S ON OIL PROSPECTING 
 
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4 ILLINOIS PETROLEUM 
 
 Detailed work in several areas of western Illinois has established the 
 fact that rock folding took place in the Illinois area during the time immed- 
 iately preceding the deposition of the Pennsylvania!! series. Accordingly, 
 all of the rock formations older than the Pennsylvanian were affected by 
 the disturbance. The structure of the Pennsylvanian rocks has been greatly 
 influenced by one or more periods of folding since Pennsylvanian times. 
 This later folding has also modified the structure of the rocks underlying 
 the Pennsylvanian. 
 
 In attempting to interpret the structural conditions of the pre-Pennsyl- 
 vanian formations from structural data on the Pennsylvanian for use in 
 petroleum investigations, two important questions arise. These are : 
 (1) Was the post-Pennsylvanian folding localized along axes determined 
 during pre- Pennsylvanian movements? (2) What type of structure of the 
 Pennsylvanian deserves the most favorable consideration for oil prospect- 
 ing? It is believed that the data herein considered have a pertinent bearing 
 on both of these questions. 
 
 Detailed Structural Relations 
 
 For the purpose of this paper the detailed structural conditions which 
 have been determined for each of three areas will be described in order to 
 contrast the structure of the Pennsylvanian rocks with that of those under- 
 lying older strata in which oil and gas are most commonly found. These 
 areas are indicated on a general map of the State (fig. 1). Since they are 
 scattered over a considerable portion of western Illinois, the data may be 
 considered as representative of general conditions. 
 
 The cross sections made for this investigation are all drawn to scale, 
 but the vertical scale is larger than the horizontal scale. Accordingly there- 
 is a vertical exaggeration which makes all of the dips appear steeper than 
 they really are. At the same time the dips shown in the different beds in 
 each structure section are comparable and the true relations of the amount 
 of dip are indicated. 
 
 The sections across area A in southern McDonough County (fig. 2) 
 are taken across the structure on which the Colmar oil pool is located. The 
 sections show the structure of the Colchester coal and the Hoing sand (at 
 the base of the Silurian lime) along an east-west and a north-south line. 
 The section along the north-south line shows considerably different relations, 
 for here the dips in the oil bearing horizon are much steeper than in the 
 coal bed. 
 
 The structural relations of the Pennsylvanian and pre-Pennsylvanian as 
 indicated by the sections across area B (fig. 3) are similar, for here, too, 
 the structure of the Chester formation (oil sand) along an east-west line is 
 similar to that of the Pennsylvanian coal bed above, but along the north- 
 
BEARING OF CERTAIN STIU (TlIiAI. RELATIONS ON OIL PROSPECTING 5 
 
 south line the fold indicated by the lower beds is more pronounced than that 
 in the coal. 
 
 The data available permitted the construction of only the section along 
 a north-south line across area C in Bond County (fig. 4). The beds which 
 
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 Macoupin County 
 
 show the structure are the Herrin coal and the gas sand of Chester age. In 
 this case the folding of the Chester is notably more pronounced than that of 
 the coal. This feature is common to each of the other sections along north- 
 jouth lines. 
 
ILLINOIS PETROLEUM 
 
 A review of the data shows that in general the structure of the Penn- 
 sylvanian along east-west lines is closely parallel to the structure of the 
 Chester, but that it is much gentler than the Chester along north-south 
 lines. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The uniformity of these relations in the areas examined stronglv sug- 
 gests that there was folding in western Illinois in post-Chester-pre-Pennsyl- 
 vanian time which resulted from compressional forces acting along a north- 
 south line. It appears that these folds in the underlying rocks were modi- 
 
Oil. PKOSPBCTS IN CENTRAL PIKE COUNTY 7 
 
 fied by folding due to compression along an east-west line after the Penn- 
 sylvanian deposition and that they caused slight localized uplifts in the Penn- 
 sylvanian in some places. 
 
 The important conclusions from the point of view of the oil prospector 
 are that in areas where Pennsylvanian structure can be determined, the fold- 
 ing of the underlying rocks may be expected to be somewhat similar except 
 that folds along east-west axes should be much more pronounced. For 
 locating structures in Pennsylvanian beds favorable for petroleum prospect- 
 ing, first consideration should be given to those with an east-west axis which 
 appear to have a reverse dip along this axis. Such structures are probably 
 competent to cause the accumulation of oil and gas. 
 
 OIL PROSPECTS IN CENTRAL PIKE COUNTY 
 
 By Alfred H. Bell 
 
 Introduction 
 
 Along with the active search for prospective oil territory remote from 
 developed fields there may be a tendency to overlook possibilities still exist- 
 ing in areas which have been exploited in the past and which, from a super- 
 ficial view, appear to be exhausted. The Pittsfield-Hadley anticline in cen- 
 tral Pike County was at one time the scene of an extensive drilling program 
 but in recent years this territory has been inactive. Certain considerations 
 set forth below seem to warrant further drilling in this area. 
 
 Structure 
 
 The Pittsfield-Hadley anticline has been described by H. N. Coryell. 1 
 Its general relation to the surrounding structure is shown on a structure 
 map prepared by Frank Krey. 2 A line of folding extends northwest-south- 
 east across parts of Lewis County, Missouri, and Adams and Pike counties, 
 Illinois. In Pike County it bends to the east and culminates in a dome cen- 
 tering in sec. 21, T. 5 S., R. 4 W., 4 miles west and one mile north of Pitts- 
 field. Between Pittsfield and Fladley a series of small domes are arranged 
 along a fairly well defined axis and some others lie to the south of the axis. 
 (See fig. 5.) 
 
 Development 
 
 Gas was discovered in Pike County in 188G in sec. 1, T. 5 S.. R. 5 W. 
 By the close of 11)1 2, 100 wells had been drilled, 39 of which were productive 
 
 'Coryell, H. X., Parts of Pike and Adams counties: Illinois State Geol, Survey 
 Bull. 40, pp. 69-95, 1919. 
 
 2 Krey, Frank, Structural reconnaissance of the Mississippi Valley area from Old 
 Monroe, -Missouri, to Xauvoo, Illinois: Illinois State Geol. Survey Bull. 45, Plate I, 
 1924. 
 
8 ILLINOIS PETROLEUM 
 
 in 1918. At that time only those wells enclosed by a 590-foot contour 
 (fig. 5) had sufficient gas supply for all seasons of the year. Between the 
 590-foot and the 500-foot contours the supply of gas was sufficient only for 
 cooking and lighting. Coryell concluded in 1918 "the field has been thor- 
 oughly exploited. The productive area is bounded on all sides by dry wells 
 and it is decreasing in size from year to year by failure of some of the wells 
 that are near the margin." 3 
 
 Producing Horizons 
 
 the gas rock 
 
 "The porous stratum forming the reservoir for the gas is a yellowish- 
 brown dolomite, probably belonging to the Niagaran." 4 
 
 THE HOING SAND 
 
 This sand is the producing horizon in the Colmar field, 5 45 miles to the 
 north of the area under consideration. Its stratigraphic position is beneath 
 the "second lime" and at the base of the Niagaran formation. Its areal dis- 
 tribution is spotty and it is absent over considerable areas. One well in the 
 Pittsfield-Hadley gas field located in SW. J4 SE. l / A sec. 21, T. 5 S., R. 4 
 W., had 3 feet of Hoing sand. About 12 miles to the north a well in the 
 NE. Y A NW. V A sec. 8, T. 3 S., R. 4 W., had 18 feet of broken Hoing sand. 
 
 Future prospects 
 
 The Pittsfield-Hadley anticline has been thoroughly tested with respect 
 to the Niagaran gas rock. The presence of the Hoing sand in the well in 
 sec. 21, T. 5 S., R. 4 W., suggests the possibility that lens-like sand bodies 
 may be found elsewhere on the flanks of the domes in this vicinity. With 
 the favorable structural conditions that obtain here it seems probable that 
 oil accumulation may have taken place provided that there is an impervious 
 stratum between the Hoing sand and the gas rock. Sufficient data are not 
 at hand to decide this important point. For that reason the area appears to 
 merit further testing with the drill. Successful drill tests in this area would 
 suggest the practicability of similar tests in other areas, where analogous 
 conditions are known to exist. 
 
 One of the most favorable locations for a test is intermediate between 
 the summit of the structure in the NE. ]/ A sec. 21, T. 5 S., R. 4 \Y., and the 
 well in the SW. l / A SW. V\ of the same section where Hoing sand was found. 
 
 3 Coryell, H. N., op. cit., p. 83. 
 
 4 Idem, p. 83. 
 
 5 Morse, Wm. C, and Kay, F. H., Area south of the Colmar oil field: Illinois State 
 Geol. Survey Bull. 31, pp. 8-56, 1915. 
 
OIL PROSPECTS IN CENTRAL PIKE COUNTY 
 
 R.4W. 
 
 LEGEND 
 • Gas producing well 
 
 -<J>- Dry hole 
 
 <i> Water well 
 
 ® Deep well 
 
 H Homg sand present 
 
 R. 5W. 
 
 R.4W. 
 
 Fig. 5. Map showing the structure of central and northern Pike 
 
 County 
 
10 ILLINOIS PETROLEUM 
 
 Other locations on the flanks of the domes such as near the center of sec. 19 
 and near the center of sec. 17, T. 5 S., R. 4 W., have similar possibilities. 
 
 Since Hoing sand was found in the well in sec. 8, T. 3 S., R. 4 W., it is 
 considered that some of the surrounding area has prospects for production. 
 The structural conditions here are less favorable than in the area of the 
 Pittsfield-Hadley anticline. The dips, which are comparatively gentle, are 
 from 10 to 20 feet per mile. The most favorable locations for future tests 
 will be at positions higher on the structure than the old well, — possibly to 
 the west of it about a quarter of a mile, and also \y 2 miles south of it in the 
 S. y 2 sec. IT, T. 3 S.. R. 4 W. 
 
 In making future tests it would be advisable to take samples frequently 
 from the top of the Niagaran "cap rock" to the top of the Maquoketa shale 
 which underlies the gas rock and the Hoing sand. The study of such sam- 
 ples is of great importance in estimating the advisability of further tests, 
 even though the well in question should not be a producer. 
 
 CURRENT OIL FIELD OPERATIONS IN ILLINOIS 
 
 By Gail F. Moulton 
 
 Good completions during the past month have helped to maintain inter- 
 est in oil development in the eastern fields, and a high proportion of dry 
 holes has served to diminish interest in prospecting in western Illinois. Clark 
 and Wabash counties continue to lead the State in the amount of new work 
 and the size of the wells completed. 
 
 The following table summarizes oil field operations which have been re- 
 ported to the Survey. 
 
CURRENT Oil. FIELD OPERATIONS IN 
 
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