Heinrich Ries

“ The rock in which the oil is found is spoken of as the reservoir, or oil-sand, and it is essential that this rock should be porous. The degree of porosity not only influences the quantity of oil which the rock can hold, but it may also influence the rate of flow of the well. Some wells may yield as little as 15 barrels per day; others may reach a production of 50,000 or 60,000 barrels per day. The porosity of the oil-bearing formation may also change from place to place and would account for the location of a profitable well at one point and a barren one a short distance from it. ”

“ Edward Orton, of Ohio, was the most prominent investigator in this field. In all regions where petroleum occurs the strata are not only disturbed, but they are bent into anticlinal or arch-shaped folds. If the rocks are porous the gas tends to collect at the summit of the anticlinal fold or arch, while the oil collects in the flanks of the fold. Salt water is usually associated with the gas and oil, and, being heavier, accumulates in the flanks of the anticlinal or in the neighboring synclinal folds. There is little use of searching for oil in regions where the strata are flat ”

“ Distribution of Petroleum. The most noted and most productive field in the United States is the Appalachian, which extends along the western slope of the Appalachian Mountains, from southwestern New York (and eastern Ohio) , through western Pennsylvania into West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The oil-bearing sandstones are partly Devonian and partly Carboniferous, the latter being especially important in West Virginia. Four fields are recognized in Pennsylvania, the oil varying from amber to dark green. Ohio contains two districts. ”

“ In addition to the hydrocarbons, which are the chief constituents of petroleum, the following substances may be present: Sulphur, nitrogen, hydrogen sulphide, carbon disulphide, arsenic, and phosphorus. The carbon percentage may vary from 79.5 to 88.7 per cent.; the hydrogen from 9.6 to 14.8 per cent.; the sulphur from 0.7 to 2 per cent., and in rare cases even 3 per cent.; nitrogen from 0.008 to 1.1 per cent. The hydrocarbons of all crude petroleums fall either into the paraffin or olefin group, those of America belonging chiefly to the first and those of Russia to the second group. ”

“ The Lima field of Ohio and Indiana was first developed in 1885, while the California fields have become large producers only in the last few years. The discovery made in the Beaumont region of Texas early in 1901, which has been followed by extraordinary development, is the most important event in the recent history of petroleum.
Among foreign countries, Russia is the largest producer of oil and the strongest competitor of the United States in supplying the world's markets. ”

“ It is obtained at depths of as much as 2850 feet, and has a gravity of 42.5° B. California contains several oil fields in the southern part of the State. The rocks are of Cretaceous to Neocene age. The oil has an asphaltic base, and is chiefly valuable as a fuel. Petroleum is also known to occur in Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, and Utah. A moderate amount of oil is obtained from Lambton County, Ontario, at a depth of 400 to 500 feet. Cuba is known to have at least small supplies of oil, and a limited quantity has been exported from Porto Rico. ”

“ Cracking is a term used to denote the process of condensing the heavier vapors in the still, causing them to become superheated and decomposed, and thus obtaining a more complete separation of the fractions, as well as increasing the percentage of illuminating oil. ”

“ On exposure to the air many petroleums lose their more volatile constituents and change to a viscous or even solid condition resembling asphalt. The lighter colored varieties are often quite liquid, while the black or dark oils may be slightly viscous. The temperature at which crude petroleum solidifies ranges from 82° F. in some Burma oils to several degrees below zero in certain Italian oils. ”

“ Both the flashing point and burning point are carefully regulated by law in most civilized countries so as to run the minimum risk from explosion. The cold test is of importance for lubricating oils, and is made in order to determine the temperature at which the oil thickens or becomes cloudy. It can be made by cooling the oil in a small tube and noting the temperature at which the oil ceases to flow when the tube is inclined. ”

“ The distillation of petroleum from shales was first undertaken in France in 1834, and was successfully introduced into Scotland in 1850. The importation of shale oil into America led to the use of cannel coal for distilling; this industry gained considerable importance in the United States previous to 1860, but quickly succumbed when the first wells became productive.
Origin and Geological Occurence. The geological history of petroleum and natural gas are closely connected, so that what is said of one practically holds true of the other. Petroleum is always found in sedimentary rocks. ”

“ Astral oil and mineral sperm oil are special illuminating oils of high flashing points. Crude petroleum is much used for fuel purposes in engines. Along the Pacific Coast, especially in southern California, where good coal is scarce, the locomotives consume large quantities of crude oil. Paraffin residue is placed on the market for medicinal purposes under the name of vaseline, petroleum ointment, and cosmoline. ”

“ In Germany oil is obtained near Hanover, and also in Alsace, while some is supplied by the Carboniferous rocks of Great Britain, but does not begin to supply the local demand. In Japan petroleum is obtained on the northwestern coast, and some of it is refined. ”

“ The gravity is a measure of the purity of the distillate. Too large a proportion of the lighter oils renders the product unsafe for illuminating purposes, while too great a percentage of the heavier oils interferes with its free burning qualities. The gravity test is commonly made by placing the oil in a tall jar and inserting a hydrometer marked preferably with the Baumé scale (water has a value of 10 on this scale) . The temperature of oil when this test is made should be 60° F. The fire test inincludes the determination of the flashing point, i.e. ”

“ The burning point is commonly from 6° to 20° C. higher than the flashing point. Kerosene for lighting purposes should have a flashing point of not less than 110° F., and a burning point of not less than 125°. ”