Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Author(s): B. W. Beebe
Source: Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science (1903-), Vol. 67, No. 2 (Summer, 1964),
pp. 256-280
Published by: Kansas Academy of Science
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3626658
Accessed: 03-12-2015 20:26 UTC
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/
info/about/policies/terms.jsp
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content
in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship.
For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.
Kansas Academy of Science is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Transactions of the Kansas
Academy of Science (1903-).
http://www.jstor.org
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Early History
The Kansas oil industrycelebratedits 100th birthdayin 1960. Oil
was firstfound near Paola in 1860 in a well 275 feet in depth. In 1884,
naturalgas was transportedto Paola througha pipeline froma fieldseven
miles eastward. About 1886, the firstrefinerywas built at Paola.
Despite considerable drilling activityin Eastern Kansas, only six
counties produced about 74,000 barrels of oil in 1900 (Jewett, 1954,
Table 2, p. 19) from 108 producing wells (Oliphant, 1904, p. 666).
Most of the early drilling was apparentlynear oil and gas seeps, "on
trend", controlled by creekology,"doodlebugs", or purely random in
character. Jewett(1954, p. 23) reportsthat ErasmuthHaworth, J. W.
Beede and John Bennettwere applying geologic principlesto the occurrenceof oil and gas by the earlypart of this century. By 1908, Haworth
(1908, pp. 161-179) had recognizedthe relationshipof lenticularsand
bodies and anticlinalstructureto the accumulationof oil and gas.
The real impetusto oil and gas developmentwas the discoveryof the
huge Eldorado field on a dome in 1915 as a resultof geological work by
Haworth and others. Development spread rapidly both east and west.
The next 15 years marked the developmentof most of the "shoestring
sands" fieldsin Butler,Greenwood and Cowley Counties.
Although gas had been known in Rice County before the turn of
the century,firstoil productionin Western Kansas was the unimportant
Walton fieldin Harvey County. The discoverywell of the huge Hugoton
gas field was completed in 1922. The Fairportfield was discoveredin
Russell County on a large surface anticline in 1923, and Kansas had
entered the ranks of the importantoil producing states.
Importanceof Oil and Gas to Kansas
At the end of 1962, oil and gas were economicallyby far the two
most importantmineral resourcesproduced in Kansas, and were among
the state's principal sources of income. Kansas ranked sixth among the
states in annual productionand seventhin estimatedproved reservesof
Kansas
crude oil. In productionand reservesof all liquid hydrocarbons,
Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, Vol. 67, No. 2, 1964.
Published September 18, 1964.
* Symposiumpaper presentedbeforethe geologysectionof the Kansas Academyof Science
Meeting, Emporia, on May 1, 1964.
[256]
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
GeologicalExploration
for Oil and Gas in Kansas
257
rankedseventh. Kansas was thirdin reservesand fifthin rankin marof crudeoil fromapproxof naturalgas. Production
ketedproduction
in 1962, butvalue
imately
46,750 wells in 21 countiesdecreasedslightly
of NGL increased19%,
showeda slightincreaseover1961. Production
and value of NGL increased20% so that both volumeand value of
of
in 1962. Marketedproduction
increasedslightly
liquidhydrocarbons
naturalgas and value was at an all timehigh,and gainedsevenpercent
over1961.
On the otherside of the ledger,however,were disturbing
signs.
in
to
in
1962
1141
from
1961
declined
957
drilled
wells
Exploratory
seismic
of
months
Crew
work,
gener(Kuklis et al., 1963, pp. 5-14).
of futureexploratory
drilling,declinedto 28, the
ally a fairbarometer
lowestsince1947. (Hambleton& Merriam,1957; Neal J. Smith,1963)
Post WorldWar II History
value and
a
continued
1962
production,
generaldeclinein reserves,
of crude
in
the
case
as
as
1954
which
began early
activity
exploratory
the
alone
of
value
and
oil reserves.Naturalgas production
hydrocarbons
have increasedoverthepast severalyears.
Figure I (API-AGA, 1946-62) (Minerals Yearbooks,1946-62)
reachedtheirpeak in 1955,
showsthatreservesof liquid hydrocarbons
RESERVES
1200
-
co 1000
600
600
3.00
/-r
PRICE
-J
0-
2.00w
m 400
200 20
Ir
1946
1948
1950
1952
I I
1954
P RODUCTION
I
1956
I I
1958
1960
1962
.oo
and
FigureI. EstimatedProvedReservesand Productionof Liquid Hydrocarbons,
AverageValue per Barrelat Well Head, Kansas,1964-1962.
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Transactions
KansasAcademyof Science
258
221
RESERVES
'/9^"^s
U.
0
12
17
-J
I-
IS
15
r7I t
00111
I
uL
PRICE !
I0
tJ
0.
-^
- -I
-:
U.
0
5<DCID-
T
R'PRODUCTION
J^^it
0IL
I
z
wJ
in 3 oC%_z
-:
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
259
Results of Exploration,1946-1962
Figure III shows the patternof exploratorydrilling in Kansas from
1946 to 1962.
From a post war low of 425 total exploratorytest wells drilled,
tempo increased to a total of 1907 test wells drilled in 1956, and had
declined to 957 by 1962 (Lahee, 1962; Carsey and Roberts, 1963).
More important,however, the successful exploratorywells, new "discoveries", rose from 90 in 1946 to 477 in 1956, declining to 163 in
1962. Further decline is anticipated as officialreturns for 1963 are
counted. All drilling has declined during this period. Comparison of
Figures I and III is highly revealing. Although mere numbers of discoveriesgive no indication of quality, it is obvious that a close relationship exists between numbersof exploratorytest wells drilled, discoveries,
reservesand daily productionof liquid hydrocarbons. The same relationship exists on a long termbasis with naturalgas productionand reserves.
However, the effectof price increases resultingin more directed exploration for natural gas, plus more additions from revisions and extensions
A. K P G.
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
260
Transactions
KansasAcademyof Science
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
GEOPHYSICS 6
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
261
2.
.o_
S.
35
m
30
I
E
fEbL"
3 20
0
Ci
U
il Gas- Dry
2esaluNatur,
Bltumbious
Coal
and Lignite
10
!5~
>-_2.
_4
iWater Power.
_
_
. __
-~"'A',-=-
&
-Llqi&
rsLiquids
...I fa
nthraclte
Coal
1591601611621
152
157158
19451461471481491505
153154155156
FUELS
ENERGY
OF
ANNUAL CONSUMPTION
POWER
FROM WATER
AND ENERGY
UNITED
STATES,
19456-1962
Figure V. Annual Consumption of Energy Fuels and Energy from Water Power
U.S.A., 1945-1962.
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
262
Transactions
KansasAcademyof Science
to competewithlower
of domestic
crudeoil producers
3. Inability
costforeignsources;hencea largeincreasein imports.
in the domesticindustry
that domestic
4. A lack of confidence
that
there
are
can
be
or
reallymanyhydrocarbons
competitive
production
leftto findin theUnitedStates.
5. Kansas, as well as otherpartsof the Midcontinent
area, has
even more becauseof the lure of largerreservesand higher
suffered
of
and the migration
offshore,
along the Gulf Coast,particularly
profits
Those
left
that
area.
to
"majors"
operate
manycompanies,
particularly
undersharplycurtailedbudgetsforKansas.
6. Continuousincreasedcostsof findingand developingreserves
in Kansas.
in Kansas,1860-1963
of Artof Prospecting
Development
of
The firstknownuse of geologyin Kansas,primarily
by members
the state survey,Haworth,Beede, and Bennett,has been mentioned.
As earlyas 1908, a "SpecialReporton Oil and Gas" was issuedby the
Survey(Haworthet al, 1908). Many geologistshad previouslycontributedto generalgeologicalknowledgein Kansas. It is unfortunate
of petroleum
of earlydevelopment
thatthehistory
geologyin Kansas is
in Kansas can
not betterknown. However,the historyof exploration
into
five
divided
periods:
roughlybe
1. Non-technical,
1860-1900+.
2. Beginningsof use of geology;surfacestructure
mapping,
1900+-1930+.
3. Core drilling,1923 -.
4. Subsurface
1917 -.
methods,
5. Geophysicalmapping:magnetic,
seismograph,
gravimetric,
19291860-1900+.
Non-technical,
Oil operatorsduringthis period dependedon a wide and often
of aids to locatedepositsof oil and/orgas. These ranged
weirdvariety
fromsuchneartechnical
approachesas drillingnearoil and/orgas seepand "trend",to hunches,visions,dreams,
topography
ages, creekology,
of leases,stillunfortunately
and
and
"witches",
availability
"doodlebugs"
oftena compellingreasonfor drillingpoor prospects.Most of southeasternKansaswas developedduringthisperiod.
Introduction
of Geologyand SurfaceMapping,1900+-1930.
use of geologybeganto be recognized
century,
Earlyin thetwentieth
generallyas a valuableadjunctto findingoil and gas. Earlyworkof
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
GeologicalExploration
for Oil and Gas in Kansas
263
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
264
RILEY
LIMESTONE
Figure VI.
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
265
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
266
R7W
19
S
GENESEO FIELD
STRUCTURE CONTOURS ON TOP OF A SHALLOW
PERMIAN LIMESTONE MARKER BED
CONTOUR
INTERVAL
0 FEET
f TYPICAL
Figure VII.
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
267
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
268
as an exploration
traps". Its importance
techniquewhenproperlyused
cannotbe overemphasized.
withtheadventof thevarious
Unfortunately,
mechanical
criticalexamloggingdevicesand commercial
logsof cuttings,
inationof well samplesis also becominga lost art.
Methods,1929Geophysical
In all probability,
all of Kansashas beensurveyed
by magneticand
methodsby severalof the largercompaniesover the past
gravimetric
40 years. These methodswere introduced
of
earlyin the development
westernKansas, and assistedmateriallyin definingcertainregional
structural
features
and "grain". Surfaceand airbornemagnetometer,
and
variousgravimetric
tools,includingthe pendulum,torsionbalanceand
havebeenemployed
meter,
gravity
successfully.
Since both gravityand magneticreadingshave no certaindirect
to subsurface
structure,
theyshouldnot be employedas prirelationship
favorablecircummaryexploration
techniquesexceptunderparticularly
of hydrostances. Althoughthe writeris not aware of any discovery
carbonsin Kansas thatcan be creditedalone to gravimetric
or magnetic
by
mapping,manylargelease blockswereacquiredas a resultof surveys
one or bothmethodson whichoil and/orgas fieldswere foundlater.
Becausethepetroleum
and even laymenin oil producingterriindustry
the
toryhave becomeso enamoredwiththeclosedcontouras indicating
bestplace to drill,magnetics
and gravitydata have been misunderstood,
and abused,yetare oftenmethodsof immensevalue in
misinterpreted
or magnetic
a "closure"on gravity
structural
exploration.Unfortunately,
test,but almost
mapsis notusuallythebestplace to drillan exploratory
everygravityand magneticclosurein Kansas knownto the writerhas
results. Neithermethodhas been
been drilled,usuallywithdisastrous
in
in
Kansas
recent
years.
employedextensively
studiesis
in conjunction
withsubsurface
The reflection
seismograph
methodin Kansas,and has
used exploratory
probablythemostgenerally
been since 1952. Referenceto FigureIV will show its rapid growth
in
followingthe end of World War II, and its declineas exploration
generalwas curtailed.
in Kansas about
firstintroduced
The earlyhistoryof seismograph,
1929, was not encouraging
despitethe factthatvisualrecordqualityin
WesternKansas,exceptforthe southwestern
partof the state,is fairto
of fieldand interpretaof the method,employment
good. Limitations
reliefof
not suitableforKansas and the low structural
tivetechniques
on mappableseismic"events"or "pulses"was notwell
Kansasstructures
of
understood
bytheindustry.A blow byblow storyof thevicissitudes
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
GeologicalExploration
for Oil and Gas in Kansas
269
in Kansas is a fascinating
the reflection
bit of exploration
seismograph
it to saythatbythe late 1930s,mostof the largercomhistory.Suffice
and expensiveseismicworkin Kansaswithout
panieshad doneextensive
rewardsin termsof oil and gas discoveries,and the
commensurate
abandonedas an exploration
tool forseveralyears.
methodwas virtually
weremadeduringthe
However,a numberof oil and gas discoveries
features. These
earlyperiod,usuallyon larger,moreobviousstructure
the
writer's
to
the
Bedford,
Farmingknowledge, Lyons(gas),
included,
ton, Lindsborg,Nunn, and ShallowWater.
tookplaceduringthisperiod. AccordTwo important
developments
area of Central
"A considerable
to
286-87),
(1949,
pp.
ing Weatherby
Kansas had beenmappedon theseismicStoneCorralas earlyas 1929."
of thefields,if any,discovered.However,Derby
He makesno statement
a seismicsurveyof a largearea in Ellis
undertook
Petroleum
Corporation
and partsof adjacentcountiesin Kansas in 1935 and 1936 underthe
of E. A. Koester,mappingonlythe StoneCorralreflection.
supervision
of many
thiswas an almostideal area fromthe standpoint
Fortunately,
of themoreseriousnearsurfaceproblems. In thewriter'sopinion,this
costand results,ever
seismicprogram,
is themostsuccessful
considering
conductedin Kansas. At least 14 fieldswere discoveredas a resultof
fieldsas Solomon,Vohs, Ellis and
thissurvey,
includingsuchimportant
Pleasant. The accountof this interesting
programis containedin a
on
paper by Koester, "Symposium Geophysics",publishedby the
Kansas GeologicalSurvey(Koester,1959, pp. 351-355).
and
as contractor,
In 1934 or 1935,WesternGeophysical
Company,
StanolindOil and Gas as client,were doing extensiveseismicworkin
soon discoveredthe basic errors
WesternKansas. Their geophysicists
cornearsurface"weathering"
and
surface
in
involved makingempirical
feet
hundred
few
first
in
the
variations
and seriousrapidvelocity
rections
of
the
assistance
With
of sectionabove the Stone Corral anhydrite.
were
these
which
ignored
problems
geologists,a schemewas devisedin
and the lower
betweenthe StoneCorralanhydrite
and onlytheintervals
weremapped. Thus the "reference
plane" methodwas
seismicmarkers
success. (Sidon Harris,personalcommunibornwithalmostimmediate
Drach-Maxcation.) Discoveriesincluded,amongmanyothers,Stafford,
St. JohnTownsite,Zenith,Zook, and Patterson.However,the
Sittner,
patternof surfacecoveragewas designedto findonlythe larger,most
pre-Pennobviousfeatures.Too muchreliancewas placedon uncertain
areas of
the
from
features
reflections.
away
Many large
sylvanian
technical
of
certain
a
result
as
highly
to
failed
success
produce,partially
will be
which
and
now
understood,
becoming
seismicproblemsonly
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
270
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
GeologicalExploration
for Oil and Gas in Kansas
271
in publications
to whichreference
oneswithdetaileddiscussions
excellent
has beenmade.
Numerousfieldshave been discoveredin manyareas in Kansas as
of thereference
a resultof therehabilitation
plane (oftencalledisotime)
method. Discoveriesincludemanyof thepast 15 yearsin Barton,Stafford,Pawnee,Pratt,Trego,Ellis,Rice and EdwardsCountiesand others,
in Ness and HodgemanCounties. Examplesinclude
and morerecently
Enlow, Smallwood,Dunes, Crissman,and Koelsch, Southeast,all of
whichare describedwithothersin the literature.
The declineof seismicworkin Kansas since1955 has beena result
of severalfactors.First,of course,is thegeneraldeclineof exploration
and geologistsbecame
in theindustry.Secondly,
manyoperators
activity
disillusionedwith seismograph,
usuallythroughtheirown failureto
and appreciatetechnicalproblemsinvolved,and the limitaunderstand
tionsof the method,but oftenthroughfailureto shootenoughpoints,
checktie into enoughdrilledwells on whichgood data was available,
positionof the reference
plane
and/orfailureto establishthe structural
cost
corehole. Seismicpointsgenerally
whenpossiblebyan inexpensive
become
can
holes
core
very
fromabout$80 to $150 each; logged
expena reliableshallow markercan be found.
sive. However,oftentimes
It appearsto be poor economyto fail to shoota few additionalseismic
the
pointsor to drilla corehole at a costof $1500 or less,considering
a
of assemblingleases and drilling prospect.
time,expenseand effort
This rarelyamountsto lessthan$20,000outof pocketexpense. Drilling
hazardof
but is a normal,well understood
of dryholes is unfortunate,
and one which
exploringforoil and gas. The saddestof all situations,
oftenoccursbecauseof inadequateor poor seismicwork,is the drilling
of a dryhole a locationor two froma fieldwhichis foundlaterby a
morethorough
competitor.
Althoughthe above reasonsaffectthe amountof workdone,there
in
are reallytwo basic operatingproblems. In thevastareas remaining
eitheradverse
Kansas in whichoil and/orgas will surelybe discovered,
of any
combination
a
or
technical,
near
subsurface,
surface,
topographic,
reflecthe
of
the
limit
accuracy
conditions
these
requisite
or all
severely
so
been
have
results
where
areas
good
In
other
tion seismograph.
warrant
no
to
as
small
so
are
discoveries
longer
theaverage
historically,
forthemwithseismograph.The law
theexpenseinvolvedin searching
Neitheris the seismograph
work.
at
yet
is hard
returns
of diminishing
those
for
"stratigraphic
methodwithwhichto search
a primary
traps",
plays a minorpart in the
elusive depositsin which closed structure
accumulation.
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
272
Transactions
Kansas Academyof Science
The Future
in Kansas,then,does not appear
futureof exploration
The surficial
increaseddemandfor energy
encouraging
despitepredictedcontinuously
and analysisof all the
fromhydrocarbons.A thoughtful
examination
an
such
not
does
facts,however,
assumption.
support
methodsof explorationare being
in conventional
Improvements
made continuously.Improvedseismicfieldtechniquesand instrumenallow the requisiteaccuracyin manyareas in
tationwill undoubtedly
conditions
whichunsatisfactory
precludeseismicworkat thistime. Use
havealreadyrevealed
of different
typesof chargesand geophonepatterns
with an inexpensive
considerable
promisein some areas. Experiments
in otherareas
whichhas assistedmaterially
sourceof energy,
mechanical
wheretheseproblemsexist,hold promise.
However,the mostseriousproblemswere discoveredonly within
thelastfewyears. For almostthirty
yearswe failedto fullyunderstand
and possibleinterseveralbasicaspectsof seismicsignals,theirgeneration
ference. Suddenly"ghosts"and multipleswere discoveredto be the
cause of seriousproblemsin manypartsof the worldin whichseismographhas beenused. Kansas is no exception.
to explain
Withoutgoingintohighlytechnicaldetail,butto attempt
at depthone or more
in the simplestterms,a multipleis the repetition
obscurethe
These oftencompletely
timesof a strong,shallowreflection.
and have been mapped,more often than
deeper primaryreflections
to the sorrowof all concerned.Even
reflection,
realized,as a primary
waves
in Kansas is the "ghost"generatedby secondary
moreimportant
interfere
either
which
of energyproducedby the primary
may
explosion
When "ghosts"cancel
reflections.
theprimary
with,cancel,or reinforce
witha primary
interfere
reflection,
or seriously
poorrecordqualityresults
costof thesurveythenis
the
and a reliablemap cannotbe made. Only
situationoccurswhen a primary
lost. However,the mostunfortunate
is
is reinforced.This is rarelyobvious. An interpretation
reflection
made in good faith,appearsto be sound geologically,a prospectis
drilled,the seismicworkdoes not check,yet the visual appearanceof
thanrealizedin Kansas.
recordsaregood.This occursfarmorefrequently
existadjacentto
Largeareaswhereseismicworkis notreliablegenerally
be measuredin thouareas of reliability.The distancescan sometimes
sandsof feethorizontally.Thereare largeareasin Kansas in whichit
whichwill contain
is obviousthattheremustbe low reliefstructures
economicdepositsof oil and gas in whichthereare simplyno methods
forseismicmappingwithrequisiteaccuracy.
However, the velocitylog, the continuousvelocitywell bore survey
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
273
D
0
D
Cl
GEOPHYSICALLOG
IN LINEAR TIME ,|
~
9
REFLECTIONS ONLY
PRIMARY WITH
SYNTHETIC
SEISMOGRAM
^ J^ ^
TOTAL SYNTHETIC
M M
FIELD
SEISMOGRAM
SYNTHETIC
COMPARISONOF
AND FIELD
SEISMOGRAMS
CENTURY GEOPHYSICAL
CORP.)
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
274
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
275
WHERRY FIELD
STRUCTURE
BASAL
CONTOURS
PENNSYLVANIAN
ON TOP OF
THE
CONGLOMERATE
(SOOY)
R IIW
9** * * ' I
28
2\>1
o?
SUBSURFACE
STRUCTURE OF
CONTOURED
REDRAWN FROM
IMBT
25
26
27
28
IN
30
IL
ZENITH
POOL
ON TOP VIOLA
STATIGRAPHIC
TYPE
OIL
FIELDS
(1941),
P. 151.
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
276
oftenbydrillinga structural
prospectwhichhad littleif any
byaccident,
in the accumulation.This is indeedhaphazardexploration.
significance
has paid lip serviceto, buthas not bought
In general,the industry
the "stratigraphic
trap" conceptbecauseits explorationarm has failed
to developmethodsand techniquesfor accurately
locatingand properly
is tied by long ingrained
depictingtheseelusivetargets. The industry
habit to "the seductiveinfluenceof the closed contour".(DeGolyer,
1923)
The electroniccomputer,an idiot in itself, and only as competent
as the individual who decides what it should do and how to interpret
its findings,offersreal promise for assistancein more accuratelylocating
traps in which closed structureis not the most importantfactor. In its
simplest analysis, the computeris only an extension of a trained individual, his pencil and desk calculator. However, it allows the individual
to sort,store,retrieve,calculate and analyze huge volumes of data which
could not be thoroughlydigested in years by ordinarymethods. It also
and reservoir
allows him to examine new and excitingrock characteristics
will
be
which
of
some
never
before
significant
used,
highly
parameters,
in locatingaccumulationsof hydrocharbons.The State Geological Survey
of Kansas has issued several valuable publicationsin pioneer work in this
importantdevelopmentin oil exploration. Geological and geophysical
studiesmakinguse of the computerand designed to discoveroil and gas
are already underwayin Kansas with promise of success. Such studies
are inexpensive, but highly exacting; they remove the subjective, the
"abouts", are clinical and surgical, and will probably ultimatelyforce
the historicallyqualitativegeologist to quantifymanyof his observations.
fluidmovements
With regardto the finalparameter,hydrodynamics,
and
in
the
Midcontinent
and theirgradients,
particularlyin Kansas, the
industryhas paid littleor no attentionto this importantfacet of oil and
gas accumulation. Yet the fundamentalimportanceof such data is well
recognized in the Rocky mountainbasins and in Canada, and is just as
importantin Kansas. Most of the readily available data in Kansas is
virtuallyunusable for analyzing directionand intensityof fluid movements in any reservoirbed even locally, much less on a regional basis.
Summaryand Conclusions.
Although no new vastly differenttechniques universallyapplicable
to findingoil and/or gas, such as the reflectionseismograph,are in sight,
the industryin Kansas and in the United States must and is making concerted effortsto improve not only its discoveryrecord,but reduce costs
of findingand developing the large depositsof oil and gas awaiting dis-
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
277
coveryin far more subtle traps than those for which it has explored in
the past. Methods, techniques and instrumentsare constantlybeing
improved. There are far more data available, and the exploration arm
of the industryis learning to,handle this vast accumulationof data far
more effectively. Integrationand proper use of all known and proved
exploration methods and the introductionof the electroniccomputerto
speed the effortforeshadowsbetterdays ahead. To be sure, the Kansas
oil and gas industryis in the doldrums; the immediate future is not
promising. And yet a critical examination of the distributionof oil
and gas in Kansas, the geology of the state and knowledge that in many
areas prospectinghas been grossly inadequate yield convincing evidence
that there is much oil and gas remainingto be found.
A prophet is without honor in his own land, so the writer,fully
aware that predictionsof future supplies of hydrocarbonsremaining to
be found have proven historicallyto be grosslyinadequate, refusesto be
specific. At the end of 1962, past production and proved reservesfor
Kansas exceeded 4.5 billion barrels of liquid hydrocarbonsand 28.6
trillion cubic feet of gas. The road of exploration is littered with
prophesiesthat no oil would be found in Western Kansas, no oil below
the minus 1500 foot contourin the Arbuckleof Western Kansas, in West
Texas, in the Illinois basin for example, and at depths from which we
now produce as a matterof course.
UnfortunatelyFigure XI does not show dry holes, but the technical
reader who is familiar with development in Kansas will immediately
recognize the vast areas of far Northwesternand Western Kansas, the
Salina basin, the Forest City basin, even many counties such as Kiowa,
of State Geological
FigureXI. Map of Oil and Gas Pools,State of Kansas.(Courtesy
Surveyof Kansas)
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
278
known examples.
And many of these fields were found by accident; by drilling a
"closed structure"which was not present.
There must be a bettermeans of searchingfor such accumulations.
Our technology,our exploration methods simply have failed to locate
more subtle,elusive deposits in many of these areas. Afternearlythirty
years in exploration,many of them prospectingin Kansas, the writer
has no hesitancyin predictingthat productionwill be found in many of
these non or poorly productiveareas within the next 10 to 25 years,
provided we properlyand objectivelyprocess and use the vast amount
of data available to us, thoroughlyunderstandthe local problems to be
make use of all of the sound and proven explorsolved, and thoughtfully
ation methods and techniquesand the assistanceof the invaluable, completely objective electroniccomputer.
References
BEEBE, B. W., and BALLOU, A. L., 1955, A Case Historyof the Smallwood Pool,
StaffordCounty,Kansas: GeophysicalCase Histories,a Symposium,Soc.
Explor. Geophysicists,1956, v. II, p. 310-327.
BEEBE, B. W., 1959, Case Historyof the Koelsch SoutheastPool, StaffordCounty,
Kansas: Kan. Geol. SurveyBull. 137, p. 249-274.
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
GeologicalEvploration
for Oil and Gas in Kansas
279
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
280
Boulder,Colorado.
-ConsultingGeologist,
This content downloaded from 142.150.190.39 on Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:26:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions