Page:EB1922 - Volume 32.djvu/93

Rh

Trinidad. The oil fields of Trinidad are mainly in the southern part, and the oil is obtained from lenses of sandstone of Tertiary age. 'Trinidad first appeared as an oil producer in 1908, although wells were known to exist N. of the famous Pitch Lake at Guayaguayare, in the extreme S.E. of the island, in 1902. This district came into real prominence in 1908 when a well at 700 ft. spouted oil over the derrick. A rapid development followed. Oil in the Pitch Lake dis- trict varies in density from 14 to 25 Baum6 (0-9,722 to 0-9,032 sp.gr.). In the latter part of 191 1 regular oil shipments from Brighton began. In that year several large gushers were brought in, but immediately clogged, owing to sand. In 1913 a well came in rated at 40,000 bar. daily, but sanded up, and in subsequent years other large producers have been reported, the initial production of which has soon fallen off on account of sand. Trinidad's production in 1920 totalled 2,083,027 bar., compared with 1,841,000 in 1919.

An oil boom in Cuba in 1917 failed to yield any considerable pro- duction. The principal development was in a field near Havana. Prospecting and a little drilling work have been done in Santo Do- mingo. There was exploration work in Barbados and in Haiti.

EUROPE

Russia. While Russia, as a result of the World War and the revo- lution that followed, dropped in world rank as regards petroleum pro- duction, it remained the largest European producer. Production is found in Tertiary clays and sands. Baku oils are of about 27 Baume (0-8,917 sp.gr.), while in the Suraghany district of Baku province the oil is as high as 48 Baum<5 (0-7,865 sp.gr.). The pro- duction in 1920 was estimated at 25,429,600 bar.; 1919, 25,498,000; 1918, 40,456,182; 1917, 69,960,000; and in 1908, 62,186,447. The relatively small area comprising the Baku field supplies the bulk of Russia's production. Other productive fields are the Grosny, Mai- kop, Ural-Caspian (Emba) and Tcheleken fields. The Maikop field in the province of Kuban on the north flank of the Caucasus, N.E. of the Black Sea, was discovered in 1910. The finding of high-grade oil in a well flowing at the rate of 37,500 bar. daily caused an extra- ordinary rush. In 1915 the sensation in this field was the completion of a gusher credited with an initial flow of 60,000 bar., which main- tained a large, steady production from March 23 to the close of the year. Maikop oil is about 40 Baum6 (0-8,235 sp.gr.). The Ural- Caspian field, covering a large area in the Emba-Uralsk region round the north end of the Caspian Sea, first became a commercial factor in 1913. The district came into prominence on the completion of a well in May 1911, which at a depth of 732 ft. gushed with great vio- lence. It began to flow in Feb. 1912, was closed down and reopened in Oct. 1912, producing 120,000 poods (1,944 tons or 14,480 bar.), and then settling down to 50,000 poods. (One pood equals 36-U2lb.) This famous gusher is estimated to have produced from 8,500,000 to 9,000,000 poods. Emba oil is about 28 Baum6 (0-8,861 sp.gr.).

For many years the I. of Tcheleken, off the Asiatic coast of the Caspian Sea near Krasnovodsk, was the scene of moderate opera- tions, but from 1911 onwards large yields were obtained from wells sunk in the Ali Tepe district in the south-western part. Tcheleken oil is about 22 Baumd (0-9,211 sp.gr.).

Galicia. No new pools of importance were discovered in Galicia during the period 1908-20. Galician production showed a declining tendency beginning in 1910, and during the World War this condition was aggravated, as the fields were battlegrounds. Galicia's largest output is obtained from Eocene beds. The chief producing districts are: in eastern Galicia, Boryslaw-Tustanowice, Bitkow; in western Galicia, Bobrka, Potok and the Gorlice district. The bulk of Gali- cia's production comes from the Boryslaw-Tustanowice district. Boryslaw oil is 32 to 34 Baum6 (0-8,642 to 0-8,537 sp.gr.), and is the standard market grade for Galicia. Bitkow oil is about 53 Baum6 (0-7,650 sp.gr.) ; Bobrka, about 31 Baum6 (0-8,696 sp.gr.); Potok, 34 to 45 Baumfi (0-8,537 to 0-8,000 sp.gr.). Galicia's production in 1920 totalled 5,606,116 bar.; 1919, 6,054,000. The eak of production was in 1909, 14,932,799 barrels.

Rumania, like Galicia, a battleground during the World War, suffered in petroleum production. Most of the oil is obtained from Miocene and Pliocene beds, but part is obtained from Eocene and Oligocene and possibly from Cretaceous beds. The principal fields are Bushtenari, Campina, Moreni, Filipeshti, Baicoi and Bauzau. The oil is from 25 to 45 Baumd (0-9,032 to 0-8,000 sp.gr.). Pro- duction in 1920 was 7,435,344 bar.; 1919, 6,614,000; and in 1908, 8,252,157. The peak was reached in 1913, 13,554,768 barrels.

Yugoslavia. In 1921 drilling began on concessions in Croatia.

Germany. Oil is obtained largely at Hanover, where it occurs in domes associated with rock salt. The rocks are chiefly limestone and sandstone of upper Jurassic age. Oil at shallow depths is heavy, gravity from 17 to 19 Baum6 (0-9,524 to 0-9,396 sp.gr.); at greater depths the oil is lighter. The production is not large, and in 1920 was 212,046 bar. ; in 1919, 234,000.

France. Production in Alsace occurs in sandstone of Eocene and Oligocene age and is comparatively small. The gravity ranges from 25 to 29 Baum6 (0-9,032 to 0-8,805 sp.gr.). In 1920 the out- put was about 388,700 bar. ; in 1919, 344,000.

Italy. Italy's production, relatively small, is chiefly in the Emilia district of Lombardy on the north-eastern slope of the

Apennines. Oil occurs in sandstones of Eocene and Miocene age, and ranges from 31 to 48 Baum6 (0-8,696 to 0-8,187 sp.gr.). Production in 1920 amounted to 34,180 bar.; in 1919, 35,ooo; and in 1918, 50,966.

Great Britain. Apart from the shale-oil industry of Scotland and Wales, Great Britain took its place as a petroleum-producing country in 1919, when the Hardstoft well was brought in in Derbyshire. This was one of n drilling locations, seven of which were in Derby- shire, two in N. Staffordshire and two in the Midlothian district of Scotland. The Hardstoft well was started in Oct. 1918, and struck oil in May 1919 at 3,078 ft. At 3,100 ft. it produced 10 or n bar. daily. The well was still overflowing naturally at the end of 1920. Up to that time its production totalled 4,575 bar. or 590 tons, of which 2,909 bar., or 375 tons, were produced in 1920. At the end of that year progress on the other prospecting wells stood as follows: six wells had reached 3,000 ft. or over, the deepest, Ironville No. 2 in the Derbyshire area, being shut down at 4,500 ft. pending results of Ironville No. I. One new well was started in 1920, Apedale No. 2 (Staffordshire), to replace Apedale No. I, which had to be aban- doned. This development is undertaken by the British Govern- ment, although the operations are managed by a private company. Oil from the Hardstoft well tested 40 Baume (0-8,236 sp.gr.).

Considerable production of petroleum is derived from the Scottish shale-oil fields in the territory from Dalmeny and Abercorn on the Firth of Forth southward to the district of Cobbinshaw and Tar-. brax. The oil-shale industry in Scotland has been in commercial operation since 1850, and in 1920 there were 25,000 persons regularly employed in this enterprise. In 1917 3,116,529 long tons of oil were produced from Scottish oil-shale. There is a small oil-shale produc- tion in England and in Wales.

AFRICA

Egypt. Prospecting in Egypt resulted in the discovery of oil on the borders of the Red Sea and the development of small production in 1911. In 1913 several large wells were brought in in the Gemsah district on the west shore of the Red Sea, near the junction of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez. In Oct. 1914 oil was struck in the Hurghada district, S. of Gemsah, and up to 1921 Egypt's produc- tion had been confined to these districts. The oil occurs in sandstone and in cavernous, dolomitic limestone, associated with thick beds of gypsum of Miocene (Tertiary) age, accompanied in some places by thick beds of salt. The underlying Nubian (Cretaceous) sand- stone also contains some oil. Egyptian oil is about 40 Baum6 (0-8,235 sp.gr.). Difficulties from salt-water flooding have been encountered in the fields, shortening the life of the large wells. Exploitation has been restricted to a comparatively small area. While Egypt's production almost doubled in 1918 as a result of increased activities that year it fell off in 1919, and in 1920 showed a sharp decrease. Production in 1918 was 2,079,750 bar.; in 1919 1,501,000; and in 1920, 1,042,000.

French Colonies. Some oil has been obtained in the Cheliff river area in the district of Oran, Algeria. Over 30 wells have been drilled in the M'Sila and Medjila districts, but during the World War operations were practically discontinued. Interest in Algeria revived after the war. The oil-bearing formation is probably Upper Miocene and its structure is complex.

Prospecting has been active in Angola and Ashanti (Gold Coast), in the Tertiary coastal plain formations. Tests have been drilled in Angola and the Alto Daude district near Loanda and at Ambrizette. Showings of oil were reported in test wells drilled in the Betsiriry Valley, Madagascar, but no commercial production developed.

ASIA

Persia is looked on as a new petroleum-producing country of unusual importance. Development has been virtually confined to the Maidan-i-Naphtun field in northern Arabistan, about 100 m. N. of the head of the Persian Gulf, where the first wells were completed in 1908. In 1914 10 wells were reported as being operated, and 20 more were shut down at the top of the sand. In the neighbouring Maidan-i-Naphtek field one well had been drilled and capped and a second begun. One test well had started in the White Oil Springs district. The following year a total of 12 wells had been completed in the Maidan-i-Naphtun field. The wells were reported to be pro- lific, with a combined capacity of 5,000,000 tons a year. Early in 1920 it was stated that the wells still maintained their high rate of yield. One well, which has been continuously flowing since Nov. 1911, was giving a larger production than ever, maintaining a steady daily average of 11,000 bar. with the well only partly opened. Persian production in 1920 was 12,352,655 bar.; m 1919, 6,412,000; in 1918, 6,856,063. Oil in the chief producing area occurs in the Mio- cene series. The gravity of the oil is about 21 Baume (0-9,272 sp.gr.). In addition to the Maidan-i-Naphtun field, theAhwaz-Pusht- i-Kuh and Gishon I. and the Persian Gulf regions are expected to yield petroleum.

Mesopotamia. There are several petroliferous areas in Mesopo- tamia in the Tigris-Euphrates basin. Primitive development has yielded some oil in the Kirkuk-Mendali-Kasr-i-Shirin area north of Bagdad, in the Middle Tigris belt and in the Euphrates belt. Large- scale development of the Mesopotamian fields was interrupted by the war, but interest in them revived in 1920 and 1921.