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Subsurface Studies in Northeastern Kansas

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Atchison County

The oil and gas development in Atchison County has been very slow. This is probably due to the mantle of glacial drift and loess that covers most of the outcrops of the underlying rocks. Structures are extremely hard to map because of the lack of outcrops in the northeastern counties of Kansas. There have been only six wells drilled for oil or gas in Atchison County, two deep wells and four shallow wells. None of these have been productive, although shows of oil and gas were reported in the Oak Mills well in the NE cor. sec. 13, T. 7 S., R 21 E. The Oak Mills well was drilled by the Indian Mound Oil Company to a depth of 3,085 feet, although the log record is only to 2,890 feet. Mr. S. S. King, who furnished the log, reported about 7 feet of red rock below 2,890, 10 or 15 feet of black, dirty, sticky material, about 100 feet of what appeared to be rotten granite, and then 10 or 15 feet more of the black, dirty, sticky material. From the description of beds below 2,890 by Mr. King, it appears that the granite was encountered at about 2,900 feet. The black material probably was schist. The stratigraphic record of the Oak Mills well is given below.

Indian Mound Oil Co. No. 1 Oak Mills, NE Cor. sec. 13, T. 7 S., R. 21 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pleistocene (35 feet)    
Sand and loess 35 0-35
Pennsylvanian System    
Bronson-Lansing groups 365 35-400
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 180 400-580
Cherokee shale 670 580-1,250
Mississippian System    
"Mississippi lime" 410 1,250-1,660
Kinderhook shale 90 1,660-1,750
Silurian and Devonian Systems    
Siluro-Devonian formation 170 1,750-1,920
Ordovician System    
Maquoketa shale 3 1,920-1,923
Galena-Platteville limestone 192 1,923-2,115
St. Peter sandstone 80 2,115-2,195
Cambro-Ordovician System    
"Siliceous lime" 635 2,195-2,830
Basal sand 60 2,830-2,890
Pre-Cambrian System    
Granite and schist 185 2,900?-3,085 T.D.

As no samples were available from this well it is difficult to correlate the limestones between the base of the Kinderhook shale and the top of the St. Peter sandstone. The unusual thickness suggests that it cannot be entirely Galena-Platteville limestone. The upper 170 feet of the limestones are assigned to the Siluro-Devonian formation, the 3-foot shale is considered as representing the Maquoketa shale, and the lower 192 feet is regarded as Galena-Platteville limestone. Shows of gas were reported in the Oak Mills well at 574 feet, 1,400 feet, and 2,830 feet. A show of oil was reported in the basal sand at 2,830-2,890 feet.

The record of the diamond drill hole at Atchison, in the SW cor. NE sec. 18, T. 6 S., R. 21 E., is given in Bulletin 3 of the Kansas Geological Survey.v' Their correlations of this well are as follows (Moore, Raymond C., and Haynes, Winthrop: Oil and gas resources of Kansas. Kansas Geol. Survey, Bull. 3, pp. 222-224, 1917):

Indian Mound Oil Co. No. 1 Oak Mills, NE Cor. sec. 13, T. 7 S., R. 21 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Clay and loose rock 18 18
Pennsylvanian System:    
Douglas formation:    
Lawrence shale:    
Shale, clayey 6 24
Sandstone 7 31
Shale, blue 33 64
Sandstone 1 65
Shale, blue 40 105
Iatan limestone (?):    
Limestone (?), conglomeratic 2 107
Weston shale:    
Shale, sandy 53 160
Sandstone 7 167
Shale, blue 9 176
Sandstone 3 179
Shale, sandy 11 190
Sandstone 34 224
Limestone 2 226
Shale, blue 8 234
Sandstone 2 236
Shale, sandy 3 239
Sandstone 5 244
Lansing formation:    
Stanton limestone:    
Limestone 20 264
Sandstone 4 268
Limestone 1 269
Vilas shale:    
Sandstone 12 281
Shale, blue 2 283
Plattsburg limestone:    
Limestone 8 291
Lane shale:    
Shale, sandy 35 326
Kansas City formation:    
Iola limestone:    
Limestone 11 337
Shale, blue 3 340
Limestone 9 349
Chanute shale:    
Shale, blue and black 4 353
Limestone 1 354
Shale, blue 9 363
Limestone 5 368
Shale 10 378
Limestone 5 383
Shale, with limestone 4 387
Limestone 1 388
Shale, blue 4 392
Drum limestone (?):    
Limestone 5 397
Cherryvale shale:    
Shale 11 408
Limestone 3 411
Shale, blue 1 412
Conglomerate 8 420
Shale, blue 7 427
Conglomerate 2 429
Limestone 6 435
Conglomerate 4 439
Winterset limestone:    
Limestone 15 454
Bethany Falls limestone:    
Shale, blue 8 462
Limestone 19 481
Shale, black 5 486
Hertha limestone:    
Limestone 16 502
Marmaton formation:    
Pleasanton shale:    
Shale 6 508
Sandstone, coal, 1 inch 5 513
Shale, sandy 6 519
Limestone 1 520
Walnut shale:    
Shale, sandy 42 562
Shale, blue, clayey 22 584
Sandstone 5 589
Shale, clayey 24 613
Limestone 1 614
Bandera shale:    
Shale, clayey 4 618
Sandstone 4 622
Shale, blue, clayey 5 627
Shale, black, soft 4 631
Pawnee limestone:    
Limestone 4 635
Shale, with limestone 8 643
Shale, blue 6 649
Shale and limestone 2 651
Shale, blue 2 653
Shale and limestone 5 658
Limestone 4 662
Labette shale:    
Shale, sandy, black 16 678
Limestone 2 680
Shale, black 2 682
Coal 1 683
Shale 2 685
Fort Scott limestone:    
Shale, limy 2 687
Limestone 5 692
Shale, limy 2 694
Limestone 3 697
Shale 10 707
Limestone 1 708
Shale and limestone 4 712
Limestone 1 713
Limestone and shale 3 716
Cherokee shale:    
Shale, black, and limestone 2 718
Shale 46 764
Coal, shale partings 1 765
Sandstone and shale 10 775
Shale, coal 2 1/2 inches 3 778
Shale, sandy 15 793
Limestone, dark shaly 6 799
Coal, a little bony 1 800
Shale, with nodules 3 803
Limestone and shale 4 807
Shale, soft 3 810
Shale, sandy 9 819
No core 4 823
Limestone and shale 5 828
Shale 7 835
Coal 1 836
Shale 15 851
Sandstone 9 860
Shale, sandy 5 865
Sandstone 1 866
Shale 12 878
Coal 1 879
Shale (salty water) 7 886
Shale, sandy 3 889
Limestone and shale 3 892
Sandstone 11 903
Shale, sandy 6 909
Sandstone 49 958
Coal and shale partings, sandstone 17 975
Sandstone 45 1,020
Shale 23 1,043
Sandstone, light gray 20 1,063
Shale 7 1,070
Coal 2 1,072
Sandstone 6 1,078
Shale, light sandy 30 1,108
Shale, dark, carbonaceous 3 1,111
Sandstone, light gray 5 1,116
Shale, very dark 1 1,117
Sandstone and limestone, coal 1 inch 4 1,121
Sandstone, light colored 1 1,122
Coal 3 1,125
Sandstone 4 1,129
Shale, very dark 4 1,133
Coal 1 1,134
Sandstone 11 1,145
Shale, dark 3 1,148
Sandstone 2 1,150
Shale, coal 2 1.152
Sandstone 12 1,164
Shale, black, coal 1 1,165
Shale, carbonaceous 0 0
Shale, dark, fossiliferous 22 1,187
Coal 2 1,189
Shale, black 7 1.196
Coal, very brittle 2 1,198
Shale, dark 57 1,255
Coal 1 1,256
Sandstone, shaly 40 1,296
Shale, dark 2 1,298
Sandstone 16 1,314
Mississippian System:    
Limestone, crystalline 38 1,352

There is no record of oil or gas shows in this well. The four shallow wells likewise were not productive of either oil or gas. Plate In shows the location of the wells drilled in Atchison County.

Plate III--Base map of Atchison County, showing location of wells.

Base map of Atchison County, showing location of wells.

Brown County

The Upper Pennsylvanian beds, including parts of the Wabaunsee and Shawnee formations, and Permian beds (in the northwestern part of the county) occur in Brown County. Outcrops of the Pennsylvanian formations are not common, however, because of the mantle of loess and glacial drift. This is the main reason why so little is known regarding subsurface structures in Brown County. The result of this inability to determine and map the structures is that there has been very little geologic work done in the county and oil and gas development has been greatly retarded. One diamond drill hole was put down at Horton in sec. 33, T. 4 S., R. 17 E., to a depth of 1,108 feet. The detailed lithology is given in Bulletin 3 of the Kansas Geological Survey (Moore, Raymond C., and Haynes, Winthrop: Oil and gas resources of Kansas. Kansas Geol. Survey, Bull. 3, pp. 228-229, 1917). Only the Pennsylvanian beds are penetrated by this well. Their correlations are as follows:

Horton diamond drill hole, sec. 33, T. 4 S., R. 17 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Soil 37 37
Pennsylvanian System:    
Wabaunsee formation:    
Willard shale:    
Shale, soft 29 66
Limestone 5 71
Shale, gray, hard 14 85
Burlingame limestone:    
Limestone 3 88
Shale, black, slaty 3 91
Limestone 1 92
Shale, black, slaty 4 96
Limestone 4 100
Shawnee formation:    
Scranton and Severy shales:    
Shale, gray 3 103
Shale, sandy 7 110
Shale, clayey 18 128
Limestone, black, conglomerate 3 131
Coal 1 132
Shale, clayey 12 144
Conglomerate (?) 1 145
Shale, clayey 95 240
Topeka limestone (?):    
Limestone 2 242
Shale, clayey 18 260
Limestone 1 261
Calhoun shale:    
Shale, sandy 30 291
Shale, clayey 8 299
Deer Creek limestone:    
Limestone 3 302
Shale, black, slaty 2 304
Limestone 5 309
Tecumseh shale:    
Shale, clayey 13 322
Lecompton limestone:    
Limestone 6 328
Shale, sandy 3 331
Limestone 3 334
Kanwaka shale:    
Shale, black, slaty 9 343
Shale, sandy 2 345
Shale, clayey 6 351
Douglas formation:    
Oread limestone:    
Limestone 28 379
Limestone, sandy 4 383
Lawrence shale:    
Shale, clayey 2 385
Sandstone (water) 6 391
Shale, micaceous 5 396
Shale, sandy 43 439
Shale, clayey 20 459
Iatan limestone:    
Limestone 15 474
Weston shale:    
Shale, black, slaty 4 478
Limestone 3 481
Shale, black, slaty 1 482
Limestone 4 486
Shale, hard 6 492
Shale, sandy (salt water) 8 500
Sandstone 13 513
Shale, hard 23 536
Limestone, conglomeratic 4 540
Shale, hard 16 556
Lansing formation:    
Stanton limestone:    
Limestone, sandy 2 558
Shale and limestone 2 560
Shale, hard 3 563
Limestone, conglomeratic 2 565
Limestone and shale 23 588
Vilas shale (?):    
Shale, black, slaty 9 597
Plattsburg limestone:    
Limestone 18 615
Lane shale:    
Shale; green 14 629
Shale, red 1 630
Shale, clayey 26 656
Sandstone 4 660
Shale, clayey 23 683
Shale, sandy 2 685
Shale, hard 23 708
Kansas City formation:    
Iola limestone:    
Limestone, blue 2 710
Shale, hard 2 712
Limestone, blue 6 718
Chanute and Cherryvale shales:    
Shale, red 8 726
Shale, sandy, micaceous 4 730
Shale, red 5 735
Shale, micaceous 31 766
Shale, clayey 34 800
Winterset limestone (?):    
Limestone 5 805
Galesburg shale (?):    
Shale, sandy, hard 13 818
Bethany Fans and Hertha limestones:    
Limestone, with sandy shale 49 867
Limestone 16 883
Marmaton formation (?):    
Shale clay 16 899
Limestone 4 903
Shale 13 916
Limestone 9 925
Shale 12 937
Limestone 13 950
Shale 2 952
Shale, black, slaty 2 954
Limestone, conglomerate 2 956
Shale 7 963
Limestone 4 967
Shale 7 974
Limestone 13 987
Shale 10 997
Shale, slaty and limestone 99 1,096
Limestone 12 1,108

No oil and gas shows were reported in this well. Plate IV shows the location of the Horton well, Brown County.

Plate IV--Base map of Brown County, showing location of wells.

Base map of Brown County, showing location of wells.

Doniphan County

Doniphan County, in the extreme northeastern corner of Kansas, has not been tested to any extent for either oil or gas. This is probably due to two factors: First, that the structures are very difficult to map on the surface because of a thick mantle of glacial drift and loess, and secondly, that the few wells drilled were not productive and did not encourage further exploration. In 1887 a diamond drill hole was put down at Doniphan by the Diamond Prospecting Company. This well was dry and abandoned in the Cherokee shale at 998 feet. In 1917 the Southwest Oil and Gas Company drilled the Nity No. 1 well in the SE cor. sec. 19, T. 4 S., R. 21 E. This well did not reach the "Mississippi lime" as reported, but bottomed in the Cherokee shale at 1,571 feet. The Doniphan Oil and Gas Company drilled the Albers No. 1 well in the center of the SW SE sec. 14, T. 3 S., R. 19 E., to a depth of 1,725 feet in 1920 without success. The "Mississippi lime" is reported at 1,635 feet, but the limestone encountered is a limestone in the lower Cherokee and not the "Mississippi lime." A limestone hit at 1,715 may be the "Mississippi lime," but no samples are available and the determination cannot be checked.

The exact location of the Stout No. 1 well drilled in sec. 19, T. 3 S., R. 20 E., is not available, nor is the date of drilling. It was drilled to 1,500 feet and abandoned in the Cherokee shale. Stout No. 2 in the Cen. NW sec. 30, T. 3 S., R. 20 E., was drilled to 2,120 feet and abandoned. The section it penetrated is given below:

Stout No. 2, Gen. NW sec. 30, T. 3 S., R. 20 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Shawnee group 325 surface-325
Douglas-Pedee groups 125 325-450
Bronson-Lansing groups 375 450-825
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 180 825-1,005
Cherokee shale 770 1,005-1,775
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 235 1,775-2,010
Kinderhook shale 110 2.010-2.120 T.D.

The Valley Petroleum Company completed the John Mann well, SE NW1,4 sec. 21, T. 1 S., R. 19 E., in 1927. The well was dry and abandoned at 2,315 feet in the Siluro-Devonian formation.

Valley Petroleum Co. No. 1 Mann, SE NW sec. 21, T. 1 S., R. 19 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Shawnee group 440 surface-440
Douglas-Pedee groups 200 440-640
Bronson-Lansing groups 320 640-960
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 170 960-1,130
Cherokee shale 845 1,130-1,975
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 230 1,975-2,205
Kinderhook shale 76 2,205-2,281
Silurian and Devonian Systems:    
Siluro-Devonian formation 34 2,281-2,315 T.D.

Cuttings were not saved from this well, but the lithology of the formations is very similar to that in the W. F. Davis well near Forest City, Missouri. A complete lithologic and stratigraphic description of the Davis well is given in Volume 13 of the Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines (Hinds, Henry, and Greene, F. C.: The stratigraphy of the Pennsylvanian series in Missouri. Missouri Bur, Geology and Mines, vol. XIII, 2d ser., pp. 215-239, 1914). The log of the Forest City well and the log of the Marysville well, Marysville, Missouri, are included in the cross-section of northeastern Kansas, Plate II (Idem, pp. 230-244). The location of the wells drilled in Doniphan County is shown on Plate V.

Plate V--Base map of Doniphan County, showing location of wells.

Base map of Doniphan County, showing location of wells.

Douglas County

The surface rocks of Douglas County belong to the Shawnee and Douglas groups of Upper Pennsylvanian age. The eastern portion of the county is underlain with beds of the Douglas group. The western portion is occupied by beds of the Shawnee group. The escarpment of the Oread limestone formation is prominent in Douglas County. The strata in Douglas County generally dip slightly to the west, but are almost horizontal in places. Oil and gas have been found in commercial quantities in eastern and southern Douglas County, but development has been slow.

For many years there has been sporadic drilling in Douglas County, but with the exception of the Baldwin area and the Eudora area, no commercial production has been found.

The Baldwin oil field, in secs. 2, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14, T. 15 S., R. 20 E., was opened in 1919 by a well drilled in sec. 12, T. 15 S., R. 20 E. The oil was found in sand at a depth of about 800 feet. The wells have an average initial production of about 20 barrels per day. In some wells the initial production was as high as 220 barrels per day, but the decline was rapid. Because of the small size of the wells and the relatively heavy grade of oil, activity has not been great in the Baldwin field and no pipe lines have been built. Some of the oil is used in Baldwin. The oil is found in sand at about 800-830 feet in the top of the Cherokee shales. It is probably the Squirrel sand. It averages about 20 feet in thickness. Some gas is found in the Peru sand, in the top of the Marmaton group, but this is not very important. A typical section of the Baldwin oil wells is given below.

Webster No. 3, SE cor. NW sec. 9, T. 15 S., R. 20 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Douglas-Pedee groups 190 0-190
Bronson-Lansing groups 375 190-565
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 232 568-800
Cherokee shale 59 800-859 T.D.
Squirrel sand 23 831-854

North and east of Baldwin a small gas field has been developed. The wells found gas in the Squirrel sand at about 820 feet and ranged up to 1,000,000 cubic feet of gas per day initial production. This area has never been of great importance, however.

In northeastern Douglas County, in the vicinity of Eudora, a number of gas wells have been drilled. There are two districts of gas production in the Eudora field, one on the east side of Eudora, and the other about three miles south of Eudora. The records of the wells at Eudora show that the gas is being produced from the Peru sand, in the upper Marmaton group, at a depth of 340 feet. The sand varies considerably in thickness, one well recording 70 feet, but it probably averages about 20 feet. The wells in the district south of Eudora have an average initial production of about 500,000 cubic feet of gas per day, with an initial rock pressure of about 210 pounds. The important gas horizon in this area is the Squirrel sand, found at a depth of 700 feet. The sand averages less than 20 feet in thickness. Some gas is found in the Peru sand at a depth of 340 feet. A typical section for this area is given below.

Hannan et al. No. 1 Bartz, NW cor. sac. 20, T. 13 S., R. 21 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Bronson-Lansing groups 340 0-340
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 220 340-560
Cherokee shale 125 560-685 T.D.
Squirrel sand 10 662-672

There has been no recent drilling in this area, but further development can be expected as the region has not been thoroughly investigated and drilled.

Only one deep test has been drilled in Douglas County, the Al Smith et al, No. 1 Smith in the SW cor. SE sec. 28, T. 12 S., R. 19 E. It was drilled to a total depth of 2,382 feet and was abandoned. An excellent set of cuttings was obtained from this well and has served to give an accurate stratigraphic description of the well.

Al Smith et al. No. 1 Smith, SW cor. SE sec. 28, T. 12 S., R. 19, E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Shawnee group 68 0-68
Douglas-Pedee groups 290 68-358
Bronson-Lansing groups 337 358-695
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 218 695-913
Cherokee shale 558 913-1,471
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 331 1,471-1,802
Kinderhook shale 92 1,802-1,894
Ordovician System    
Galena-Platteville limestone 187 1,894-2,081
St. Peter sandstone 74 2,081-2,155
Cambro-Ordovician System:    
"Siliceous lime" 127 2,155-2,382 T. D.

This well is included in the east-west cross-section of the Forest City Basin, Plate I.

Recent work suggests the presence of a northwest-southeast pre-Pennsylvanian structural trend which J. V. Howell has called the Iola anticline. Plate VI shows the location of the fields in Douglas County.

Plate VI--Base map of Douglas County, showing location of wells.

Base map of Douglas County, showing location of wells.

Jackson County

Jackson County lies almost entirely within the belt of outcrop of the Wabaunsee group of the Pennsylvanian. As in the neighboring counties, however, these outcrops are masked in many places by glacial drift and loess deposits so that geologic work is difficult and exploration for oil and gas has been hindered. Two attempts to secure deep oil production were made in 1928 by the Garvin et al. No. 1 Lutz well in the SW NW NW sec. 27, T. 7 S., R. 15 E., and the Goens et al. No. 1 Wabense well in the center NE NW sec. 3, T. 8 S., R. 14 E. Both wells were drilled to the Siluro-Devonian formation. The Lutz well was reported to have had a show of oil on top of the Siluro-Devonian formation at 2,639 feet, but neither well was productive of oil or gas. Three shallow wells have also been drilled in Jackson County, none of which reached the "Mississippi lime." The Charles Wheeler well, in sec. 28, T. 6 S., R. 16 E., found the Bronson-Lansing group at 775-1,095 feet and bottomed in the Marmaton at 1,200 feet. No shows of oil or gas were reported. The diamond drill hole at Hoyt, sec. 23, T. 9 S., R. 15 E., struck the Bronson-Lansing group at 978 and finished in it at 1,246 feet. The log of the well drilled to 1,000 feet at Adrian is not reliable and no definite correlation can be made for it.

The correlation of the formations penetrated by the Lutz well is given below.

Garvin et al. No. 1 Lutz, SW NW NW sec. 27, T 7 S., R. 15 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Wabaunsee group 430 0-430
Shawnee group 370 430-800
Douglas-Pedee groups 215 800-1,015
Bronson-Lansing groups 350 1,015-1,365
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 190 1,365-1,555
Cherokee shale 655 1,555-2,210
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 265 2,210-2,475
Kinderhook shale 164 2,475-2,639
Silurian and Devonian Systems:    
Siluro-Devonian formation 135 2,639-2,774 T.D.

The section penetrated by the Wabense well is very similar to that of the Lutz well and is given here for comparison.

Goens et al. No. 1 Wabense, cen. NE NW sec. 3, T. 8 S., R. 14 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Wabaunsee group 655 0-655
Shawnee group 405 655-1,060
Douglas-Pedee groups 200 1,060-1,260
Bronson-Lansing groups 330 1,260-1,590
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 210 1,590-1,800
Cherokee shale 600 1,800-2,400
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 192 2,400-2,592
Kinderhook shale 240 2,592-2,832
Silurian and Devonian Systems:    
Siluro-Devonian formation 121 2.832-2.953 T.D.

Plate VII shows the location of the wells in Jackson County. It will be noted that there has been no systematic drilling in the county. Until further careful drilling has been done one cannot predict the oil and gas possibilities of this county. The Lutz well and the Wabense well are included in the north-south cross-section through the Forest City Basin, Plate II.

Plate VII--Base map of Jackson County, showing location of wells.

Base map of Jackson County, showing location of wells.

Jefferson County

Rocks of Upper Pennsylvanian age outcrop over Jefferson County, those of the Shawnee group occupying most of the county. There is considerable glacial material throughout the county, but the Pennsylvanian rocks are not covered as much as in the more northerly counties. Comparatively little structural mapping has been done in this county and oil and gas exploration has been very slow so that the oil and gas possibilities are uncertain as yet. The "Mississippi lime" has been tested by two wells with a reported showing of gas in one welL The pre-Mississippian rocks have not yielded oil or gas.

The earliest recorded well is the one at Valley Falls, located in the center of the SW NE sec. 19, T. 8 S., R. 18 E. It was drilled to a depth of 1,173 feet and abandoned. The record of this well is given in Bulletin 3, in which it is correlated according to the old Pennsylvanian classification (Moore, Raymond C., and Haynes, Winthrop: Oil and gas resources of Kansas. Kansas Geol. Survey, Bull. 3, pp. 289-290, 1917.). The section penetrated, according to the revised Pennsylvanian classification is as follows:

Valley Falls well, cen. SW NE sec. 19, T. 8 S., R. 18 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Wabaunsee group 13 17-40
Shawnee group 202 40-242
Douglas-Pedee groups 258 242-500
Bronson-Lansing groups 310 500-810
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 169 810-979
Cherokee group 194 979-1,173 T.D.

The John Freeland well, in sec. 27, T. 7 S., R. 17 E., was completed in 1921 at a depth of 1,594 feet as a dry. hole. It is reported to have hit the "Mississippi lime" at 1,590 feet. No samples from this well are available to check this correlation, but it is the writer's opinion that the "Mississippi lime" is deeper than 1,590 feet at that location.

The Winchester well, drilled by the Northern Oil and Gas Company, in the NW cor. NW sec. 13, T. 9 S., R. 19 E., was abandoned at 3,615 feet. Oil and gas shows were reported at 2,085-2,092 feet, in the St. Peter sandstone, and at 2,365-2,375 feet in the "Siliceous lime." The formations from 3,100 feet to 3,300 feet were reported to have been saturated with oil and also from 3,300 feet to 3,420 feet oil saturation and gas shows were reported. Samples from this well at 3,280, 3,390, and 3,420 feet were submitted to the Kansas Geological Survey. The cuttings from 3,280 and 3,390 feet were identified as igneous by Dr. K. K. Landes of the Survey. The sample from 3,420 was not identifiable because of its heterogeneous character. The writer believes that the pre-Cambrian surface was reached considerably above 3.280 feet. The dark "shales" and red "shales" below 3,016 strongly suggest schists of pre-Cambrian age, because the usual sequence below the "Siliceous lime" is a basal sand and then pre-Cambrian rocks. Putting the contact of the pre-Cambrian at 3,016 still leaves a very thick section of "Siliceous lime" in this welL

Northern Oil & Gas Co. No. 1 Winchester, NW cor. NW sec. 13, T. 9 S., R. 19 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Shawnee group 245 0-245
Douglas-Pedee groups 235 245-480
Bronson-Lansing groups 340 480-820
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 205 820-1,025
Cherokee shales 595 1,025-1,620
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 285 1,620-1,905
Kinderhook shale 70 1,905-1,975
Ordovician System:    
Galena-Platteville limestone 110 1,975-2,085
St. Peter sandstone 35 2,085-2,120
Cambro-Ordovician System:    
"Siliceous lime" 896? 2,120-3,016?
Pre-Cambrian   3,016?-3,615 T.D.

The Anderson Drilling Company recently completed two wells north of Perry, Kansas, the Stines No. 1 in the NE cor. of sec. 10, T. 11 S., R. 18 E., and the Gramse No. 1 in the SE SE sec. 4, T. 11 S., R. 18 E. The Stines No. 1 was drilled to 1,565 feet and reported an oil show in the Bartlesville sand at 1,405-1,440 feet. Correlation with the Gramse well showed that the reported "Mississippi lime" at 1,565 feet was a limestone in the lower part of the Cherokee shale about 70 feet above the top of the true "Mississippi lime." The stratigraphic section of the Stines well is given below.

Anderson Drilling Co. No. 1 Stines, NE cor. sec. 10, T. 11 S., R. 18 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Shawnee group 279 0-279
Douglas-Pedee groups 256 279-535
Bronson-Lansing groups 345 535-880
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 198 880-1,078
Cherokee shale 487 1,078-1,565 T.D.

The Gramse well in the SE SE sec. 4, T. 11 S., R. 18 E., tested the St. Peter sandstone with no oil or gas in the pre-Mississippian formations. A strong flow of gas was reported on top of the "Mississippi lime" at 1,536 feet, but was not sufficient to be commerciaL The well found water in the St. Peter sandstone and was abandoned. The section of the Gramse well is as follows:

Anderson Drilling Co. No. 1 Gramse, SE SE sec. 4, T. 11 S., R. 18 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Shawnee group 173 0-173
Douglas-Pedee groups 252 173-425
Bronson-Lansing groups 355 425-780
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 194 780-974
Cherokee shale 562 974-1,536
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 334 1,536-1,870
Kinderhook shale 75 1,870-1,945
Silurian and Devonian Systems:    
Siluro-Devonian formation 142 1,945-2,087
Ordovician System:    
Maquoketa shale 47 2,087-2,130
Galena-Platteville limestone 124 2,130-2,254
St. Peter sandstone 70 2,254-2,324 T. D.

There has been an increasing interest in the oil and gas development and exploration in Jefferson County. Results have been encouraging in that gas and oil shows have been reported, but no commercial wells have been brought in. Plate VIII shows the location of the wells in Jefferson County.

Plate VIII--Base map of Jefferson County, showing location of wells.

Base map of Jefferson County, showing location of wells.

Johnson County

The surface rocks of Johnson county belong to the middle part of the Pennsylvanian system. The Douglas group outcrops in upland areas in central and western Johnson county. Beds of the Lansing group are found in the valleys. The older beds outcrop to the east, the Wyandotte and Bronson formations in the lower areas, and the Stanton limestone in prominent escarpments in eastern and southern Johnson county.

Because of the proximity of Kansas City, attempts to find oil and gas in Johnson county were made at an early date. Out of this more or less widespread drilling two definite fields have been developed, the Craig Station-Monticello gas field, and the Dallas oil and gas field. Some gas has been found northeast of Spring Hill, but a field has not been developed.

The Craig Station-Monticello field, often called the Craig field, is located in north-central Johnson county in T. 12 S., R. 23 E. Over sixty wells have been drilled in the field, but only a few are producing at the present time. A survey of the field in 1931 showed eight wells producing gas. The production of the field for 1930 was 33,785,000 cubic feet of gas. The total production of the field up to July 1, 1931, was about 3112 billion cubic feet of gas. The rock pressure has declined from 188 pounds to 34 pounds. The estimated probable gas reserves for the Craig field are about 3112 billion cubic feet. The probable gas reserves are estimated as five times the proved reserves which are figured on the decline in pressure. The gas is found in two horizons, a sand in the upper part of the Marmaton group, probably the Peru sand, and a sand in the Upper Cherokee shale, about 50 feet below the Fort Scott limestone. This lower sand is probably the Squirrel sand. The wells that produce from the Peru sand range from 150 to 300 feet in depth and the sand varies from 10 to 30 feet in thickness. The deeper wells, producing from the Squirrel sand, are 550 to 650 feet in depth. The sand averages about 25 feet in thickness. A generalized section of a typical well in the area is given below.

Harlan et al. No. 1 Mettee, SE SW NW sec. 22, T. 12 S., R. 23 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Bronson-Lansing groups 295 0-295
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 250 295-545
Gas sand (Peru) 10 305-315
Fort Scott limestone 13 532-545
Cherokee shale 105 545-650 T. D.
Gas sand (Squirrel) 25 570-595
Gas sand 35 615-650

The location of this field is shown in Plate IX.

The Dallas oil and gas field in T. 13 S., R. 25 E., had 75 active wells in 1927, the majority producing oil and the others gas. The wells are small and the field is of minor importance. The oil is produced from the Bartlesville sand, at a depth of about 500 feet. The sand is thick and averages about 60 feet. The gas is found in a sand in the Upper Marmaton group, probably the Peru sand. The gas is not an important product of the field. Little drilling has been done in this area during the last few years.

Some shallow gas wells were drilled in sec. 1, T. 15 S., R. 24 E., but the area has not been thoroughly exploited. The wells had an initial daily production of 200,000 to 300,000 cubic feet of gas from sand in the upper part of the Marmaton group. The sand is found at a depth of 270 feet and is 20 feet thick on an average. Several tests have been drilled in T. 15 S., R. 24 E., and T. 15 S., R. 25 E., to the "Mississippi lime," with no production from the "lime," but several shows of oil were reported in the Bartlesville sand. The generalized section of one of the wells is given as typical of this area of Johnson county.

Higgins et al. No. 1 Harrison, NW cor. sec. 6, T, 15 S., R. 25 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Bronson-Lansing groups 290 0-290
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 242 290-532
Gas sand (Peru) 5 320-325
Cherokee shale 390 532-922
Bartlesville sand 10 772-782
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 53 922-975 T.D.

Only two deep tests have been drilled in Johnson county, one in sec. 12, T. 14 S., R. 22 E., to the granite, and another in sec. 4, T. 14 S., R. 24 E., into the "Siliceous lime." The Harrington No. 1 well was drilled to a depth of 2,236 feet by the Seminole Petroleum Company and was completed at 2,421 feet by the Universal Oil and Gas Company. The well was dry and abandoned, but shows of oil and gas were reported at the following depths:

270-375 Show of gas 1,535-1,577 Show of gas
673-675 Show of gas 1,724-1,732 Show of gas
712-717 Show of oil 2,235-2,236 Show of oil and gas
1,433-1,435 Show of oil  

The stratigraphic record of the Harrington well is given below.

Universal Oil Co. No. 1 Harrington, NE cor. SW sec. 12, T. 14 S., R. 22 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Bronson-Lansing groups 340 0-340
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 305 340-645
Cherokee shale 380 645-1,025
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 370 1,025-1,395
Kinderhook shale 40 1,395-1,435
Ordovician System:    
Galena-Platteville limestone 100 1,435-1,535
St. Peter sandstone 63 1,535-1,598
Cambro-Ordovician System:    
"Siliceous lime" 767 1,598-2,365
Cambrian System:    
Basal sandstone 35 2,365-2,400
Pre-Cambrian Granite 21 2,400-2,421 T.D.

The Mahaffie well was drilled in sec. 4, T. 14 S., R. 23 E., to a depth of 1,785 feet. A small show of gas was reported at 660 feet in the Bartlesville sand. The section of the well follows:

Mahaffie No. 1, sec. 4, T. 14 S., R. 23 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Bronson-Lansing groups 235 0-235
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 265 235-500
Cherokee shale 410 500-910
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 405 910-1,315
Kinderhook shale 20 1,315-1,335
Ordovician System:    
Galena-Platteville limestone 165 1,335-1,500
St. Peter sandstone 65 1,500-1,565
Cambro-Ordovician System:    
"Siliceous lime" 220 1,565-1,785 T.D.

Johnson county will probably continue to witness intermittent drilling because of the results thus far and because of the close market Kansas City provides. Thus far attempts have failed to show any production in the pre-Pennsylvanian beds, but the few tests that have been put down are no criteria for the entire county. Plate IX shows the location of wells in Johnson county.

Plate IX--Base map of Johnson county, showing location of wells.

Base map of Johnson County, showing location of wells.

Leavenworth County

Pennsylvanian beds of Douglas and lower Shawnee age outcrop in Leavenworth county. Very little glacial drift obscures the outcrops of the Pennsylvanian rocks so that structures can be mapped fairly well throughout the county. The exploration for oil and gas has not been extensive in the northern part of the county, but there has been much mapping and gas development in southern Leavenworth county. Two gas fields have been developed in southern Leavenworth county, the Linwood gas field and the Six Corners gas field.

The Linwood gas field is located in sec. 31, T. 11 S., R. 22 E., sec. 6, T. 12 S., R. 22 E., and in sees, 11,12,13, and 14, T. 12 S., R. 21 E. The production comes from a sand about 50 feet below the Fort Scott limestone in the upper part of the Cherokee shale. It is generally known in northeastern Kansas as the Squirrel sand. The gas sand is about 700 feet below the surface and is about 20 to 30 feet in thickness throughout the field. In some of the, wells the Peru sand in the upper Marmaton group produces some gas but is not as important as the Squirrel sand. The wells in this field averaged close to 1,000,000 cubic feet of gas per day, some ranging up to 2,000,000 cubic feet of gas. The initial rock pressure was 263 pounds. There has been very little development in the Linwood field the last few years and as the pressure decreased the wells were taken off the line and abandoned.

The Six Corners gas field, located in secs. 13, 14, and 23, T. 12 S., R. 20 E., was purchased in 1927 by the Empire Oil and Refining Company for experimentation in subsurface gas storage. The gas was pumped from the lines into the ground for storage. Upon withdrawal all of the gas pumped into the sands was recovered and the success in this area led to underground storage in other regions. The gas wells in the Six Corners field were smaller initially than those in the Linwood field, although the rock pressure was slightly greater. The wells average about 500,000 cubic feet of gas per day when brought in. The production is from the Squirrel sand just below the Fort Scott limestone as in the Linwood field. The gas zone is about 750 feet in depth and is about 20 feet in thickness. Development in this field has been at a standstill, as in the Linwood area, but the prospects for increased activity in southern Leavenworth county are promising.

Two wells have been drilled to the Mississippian or deeper in Leavenworth county. A prospect well for oil and gas was drilled in 1887 at Leavenworth to a depth of 2,116 feet. No gas or oil shows were reported. The lithologic description of the well is given in the Leavenworth-Smithville folio and is correlated as follows (Hinds, Henry, and Greene, F. c.: Leavenworth-Smithville folio, Missouri-Kansas. U. S. Geol. Survey, Geol. Atlas of U. S., 1917.):

Record of well at Leavenworth; T. 9 S, R. 23 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Quaternary System:    
Loam and clay 20 0-20
Pennsylvanian System 1,155 20-1,175
Mississippian System:    
Keokuk and Burlingame limestone 375 1,175-1,550
Kinderhook (?) group 130 1,550-1,680
Ordovician System:    
Joachim (?) limestone 30 1,680-1,710
St. Peter sandstone 160 1,710-1,870
Ordovician and Cambrian 246 1,870-2,116 T.D.

Comparison with adjacent wells has led to a partial revision of this correlation.

  Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Quaternary System 20 0-20
Pennsylvanian System:    
Bronson-Lansing groups 340 20-360
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 262 360-622
Cherokee shale 553 622-1,175
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 395 1,175-1,570?
Kinderhook shale 70 1,570?-1,650?
Ordovician System:    
Galena-Platteville limestone 60 1,650?-1,710
St. Peter sandstone 160 1,710-1,870
Cambro-Ordovician System:    
"Siliceous lime" 246 1,870-2,116 T.D.

The chief difference in the two classifications is in the Kinderhook shale. Shale only is assigned to the Kinderhook in the later classification, but since the Kinderhook is apparently becoming more limy to the east it may include some of the limestone beds as in the earlier correlation.

In 1930 Forrester et al. drilled No. 1 Yazel in the cen. E. L. SE SE sec. 18, T. 12 S., R. 22 E., in the Linwood district, to a depth of 1,546 feet where it was abandoned. The Squirrel sand, producing in that area, was absent in the Yazel well and only a few feet of Bartlesville sand were found. The stratigraphic section of the well is given below.

Forrester et al. No. 1 Yazel, cen. E. L. SE SE sec. 18, T. 11 S., R. 22 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Bronson-Lansing groups 260 62-322
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 210 322-532
Cherokee shale 456 532-988
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 402 988-1,390
Kinderhook shale 55 1,390-1,445
Ordovician System:    
Galena-Platteville limestone 101 1.445-1.546 T.D.

Plate X gives the location of wells drilled in Leavenworth county and shows the location of the Linwood and Six Corners fields.

Plate X--Base map of Leavenworth county, showing location of wells.

Base map of Leavenworth County, showing location of wells.

Shawnee County

The surface rocks in Shawnee County are Upper Pennsylvanian in age. The eastern part is occupied by the Shawnee group and the western part by the Wabaunsee group. The Topeka limestone of the Shawnee group and the Burlingame limestone of the Wabaunsee group form prominent escarpments.

The first test for oil or gas in Shawnee County was drilled in 1886 at Topeka. It was a diamond drill hole, and the section as recorded in Bulletin 3 of the Kansas Geological Surveys is given below (Moore, Raymond C., and Haynes, Winthrop: Oil and gas resources of Kansas. Kansas Geol. Survey, Bull. 3, pp. 339-341, 1917.). The well was drilled to a total depth of 1,638 feet and ended in lower Cherokee shale. It was a dry hole.

Record of well at Topeka Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Soil 42 42
Pennsylvanian System:    
Shawnee formation:    
Sandstone, fine, gray 16 58
Sandstone, coarse 24 82
Calhoun shale:    
Shale, blue 19 101
Shale, clay, laminated, light blue 7 108
Deer Creek limestone:    
Limestone, dark conglomerate 3 111
Limestone, mixed with clay 12 123
Shale, blue 1 124
Limestone, dark 4 128
Tecumseh shale:    
Shale, blue 9 137
Shale, laminated 15 152
Shale, blue 2 154
Lecompton limestone:    
Limestone, hard, gray 2 156
Shale, blue 23 179
Limestone, gray, fossiliferous 5 184
Kanwaka shale:    
Shale, blue, laminated 1 185
Shale 17 202
Shale, laminated, light and dark 17 219
Shale, blue (water) 14 233
Douglas formation:    
Oread limestone:    
Limestone, gray 5 238
Shale, light 5 243
Limestone, gray 11 254
Limestone, light 1 255
Shale, black 7 262
Limestone, light 8 270
Shale 6 276
Limestone, gray 3 279
Shale, hard, black 6 285
Limestone, gray 2 287
Lawrence shale:    
Shale, sand and mud 124 411
Iatan limestone:    
Limestone, crystalline 2 413
Weston shale:    
Shale 41 454
Shale 30 484
Shale, laminated, with limestone 31 515
Shale, dark, compact 25 540
Lansing formation:    
Stanton limestone:    
Limestone, light to dark, some shale 52 592
Vilas shale:    
Shale, dark, laminated 17 609
Plattsburg limestone:    
Limestone, gray 18 627
Shale, black 3 630
Limestone, gray 6 636
Shale, blue 3 639
Limestone, gray 1 640
Shale, blue 1 641
Limestone, gray 1 642
Shale, blue 1 643
Limestone, gray 2 645
Shale, blue 3 648
Lane shale:    
Shale, blue 20 668
Kansas City formation:    
Iola limestone:    
Limestone, light 20 688
Shale, soft, and mud 11 699
Limestone, gray 13 712
Chanute shale:    
Shale, dark, clayey 12 724
Limestone, gray 7 731
Shale, hard, black 2 733
Limestone, gray 2 735
Shale, dark, laminated 12 747
Drum limestone:    
Limestone, gray 9 756
Cherryvale shale:    
Shale, dark 4 761
Limestone, light and dark 3 764
Shale, dark 10 774
Limestone, light 3 777
Shale, dark 11 788
Winterset limestone (?) :    
Limestone, some shells 23 811
Shale, with limestone 4 815
Limestone, light to dark 14 829
Galesburg shale:    
Shale, laminated, dark 6 835
Limestone, conglomeratic 3 838
Shale, laminated 2 840
Limestone, conglomeratic, fossiliferous 1 841
Shale, laminated, and limestone 13 854
Bethany Falls limestone:    
Limestone, conglomeratic, fossiliferous 12 866
Shale, dark with limestone 5 871
Limestone, light gray 7 878
Ladore shale:    
Shale, black 5 883
Hertha limestone:    
Limestone 29 912
Marmaton formation:    
Pleasanton shale:    
Sandstone, gray 3 915
Shale, laminated, blue 8 923
Limestone, gray 11 934
Bandera shale:    
Shale, dark 6 940
Shale, blue 14 954
Shale, dark, clayey 32 986
  8 994
Shale, bituminous 2 996
Limestone, conglomeratic 2 998
Shale, dark, clayey 2 1,000
Pawnee limestone:    
Limestone 3 1,003
Shale, laminated 8 1,011
Limestone 2 1,013
Labette shale:    
Coal 1 1,014
Shale, laminated 4 1,018
Sandstone, laminated 35 1,053
Shale, laminated 3 1,056
Fort Scott limestone:    
Limestone 2 1,058
Shale, laminated 5 1,063
Limestone 1 1,064
Cherokee shale:    
Shale 38 1,102
Sandstone, light 1 1,103
Shale 18 1,121
Coal 1 1,122
Shale, black to light 7 1,129
Coal 1 1,130
Shale, dark to light 10 1,140
Sandstone and shale 4 1,144
Shale, black 2 1,146
Coal 1 1,147
Shale and clay, some flint 50 1,197
Coal 1 1,198
Shale and sandstone, laminated 14 1,212
Coal 1 1,213
Clay 4 1,217
Shale 14 1,231
Sandstone, micaceous 11 1,242
Shale, blue 3 1,245
Limestone, porous (gas) 3 1,248
Shale 1 1,249
Sandstone, variegated 9 1,258
Sandstone and shale 1 1,259
Shale, dark 3 1,262
Shale, little coal 9 1,271
Limestone, dark 1 1,272
  2 1,274
Shale, dark 2 1,276
Limestone, gray 1 1,277
Shale, black 1 1,278
Limestone 1 1,279
Shale, dark 5 1,284
  3 1,287
Shale, blue 12 1,299
Shale with limestone 5 1,304
Shale 14 1,318
  4 1,322
Shale, mixed with iron oxide 3 1,325
Sandstone 9 1,334
Shale, dark 6 1,340
Shale, black, little coal 10 1,350
Sandstone, little coal 1 1,351
Sandstone, hard 1 1,352
Shale, with limestone 8 1,360
Shale, clay, dark 9 1,369
Shale and sandstone 1 1,370
Sandstone, gray 2 1,372
Shale, some limestone 8 1,380
Shale, clayey, with mica sandstone 10 1,390
  3 1,393
Sandstone 1 1,394
Shale, dark 24 1,418
Sandstone, gray 9 1,427
Limestone, light 1 1,428
Sandstone, shaly 6 1,434
Sandstone, gray 15 1,449
Shale, dark 2 1,451
Sandstone, gray 2 1,453
Shale 1 1,454
Sandstone, with shale bands 12 1,466
Shale, laminated, dark 34 1,500
Sandstone and shale 13 1,513
Limestone, light 7 1,520
Shale 9 1,529
Coal 1 1,530
Shale 67 1,597
Coal 2 1,599
Limestone, crystalline 3 1,602
Shale, dark 4 1,606
Coal 1 1,607
Sandstone and shale 3 1,610
Shale 11 1,621
Sandstone, white 4 1,625
Shale, dark 13 1,638

Since 1886 fourteen wells have been drilled, of which nine encountered pre-Pennsylvanian beds. All of the wells were dry and were abandoned. All of the earliest tests stopped before they reached the "Mississippi lime." The first test to reach the "Mississippi lime" was the Wapeka Oil Company's No. 1 Neil in the cen. SW NE sec. 26, T. 13 S., R. 15 E., drilled in 1917. It topped the "Mississippi lime" at 1,545 feet and was drilled to a total depth of 2,430 feet.

In 1920 the Advance Oil and Refining Company drilled No. 1 Shawnee in the SW NW sec. 14, T. 10 S., R. 13 E., to a depth of 2,700 feet. The stratigraphic section of this well is given below.

Advance Oil & Refining Co. No. 1 Shaumee, SW NW sec. 14, T. 10 S., R. 13 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Wabaunsee group 360 0-360
Shawnee group 410 360-770
Douglas-Pedee groups 220 770-990
Bronson-Lansing groups 345 990-1,335
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 165 1,335-1,500
Cherokee shale 615 1,500-2,115
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 200 2,115-2,315
Kinderhook shale 247 2,315-2,562
Silurian and Devonian Systems:    
Siluro-Devonian formation 138 2.562-2.700 T.D.

Sulphur water was found in the Siluro-Devonian formation and the well was abandoned. This well is included in the north-south section through the Forest City basin, Plate II.

Green et al. drilled the No. 1 Ripley well in the NW cor. NE~ sec. 12, T. 12 S., R. 16 E., in 1923 and struck the pre-Cambrian granite at 3,015 feet, penetrating it for 305 feet to a depth of 3,320 feet. No shows of oil or gas were reported. The stratigraphic record of this well follows:

Green et al. No. 1 Ripley, NW cor. NE sec. 12, T. 12 S., R. 16 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Shawnee group 325 0-325
Douglas-Pedee groups 275 325-600
Bronson-Lansing groups 350 600-950
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 240 950-1,190
Cherokee shale 590 1,190-1,780
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 270 1,780-2,050
Kinderhook shale 90 2,050-2,140
Silurian and Devonian Systems:    
Siluro-Devonian formation 120 2,140-2,260
Ordovician System:    
Maquoketa shale 20 2,260-2,280
Galena-Platteville limestone 125 2,280-2,405
St. Peter sandstone 70 2,405-2,475
Cambro-Ordovician System:    
"Siliceous lime" 530 2,475-3,005
Cambrian System:    
Basal sandstone 10 3,005-3,015
Pre-Cambrian System:    
Granite 305 3,015-3,320 T.D.

The Ripley well is one of the wells in the east-west section through the Forest City Basin, Plate 1. It will be noted that, although the Siluro-Devonian formation and Maquoketa shale are present in the Ripley well, they are absent in the Smith et al. No. 1 Smith well to the east. These beds were truncated in the pre-Mississippian erosion intervaL

The Onarch Oil and Gas Co. No. 1 Omar Allen well in the SE cor. NE NW sec. 2, T. 11 S., R. 14 E., was drilled in 1929 to the Siluro-Devonian formation, 2,450-2,471 feet, and found sulphur water. It was abandoned at 2,471 feet.

Two deep tests were drilled near Topeka and a third started but abandoned. Hummer No. 1 drilled by Forrester et al., in the center of the SW sec. 14, T. 11 S., R. 16 E., was drilled to the granite and abandoned at 3,023 feet. Samples were carefully saved and the stratigraphic section was accurately determined.

Forrester et al. No. 1 Hummer, cen. SW sec. 14, T. 11 S., R. 16 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Shawnee group 355 0-355
Douglas-Pedee groups 275 355-630
Bronson-Lansing groups 345 630-975
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 245 975-1,220
Cherokee shale 565 1,220-1,785
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 255 1,785-2,040
Kinderhook shale 120 2,040-2,160
Silurian and Devonian Systems:    
Siluro-Devonian formation 120 2,160-2,280
Ordovician System:    
Maquoketa shale 50 2,280-2,330
Galena-Platteville limestone 120 2,330-2,450
St. Peter sandstone 100 2,450-2,550
Cambro-Ordovician System:    
"Siliceous lime" 440 2,550-2,990
Cambrian System:    
Basal sandstone 20 2,990-3,010
Pre-Cambrian System:    
Granite 13 3,010-3,023 T.D.

The Hummer well found a hole full of water in the Siluro-Devonian formation and in the St. Peter sandstone. The well is included in the east-west section through the Forest City Basin, Plate I.

The second deep test near Topeka was Jenkins and Scott No. 1 Hayden in the NE NE SE sec. 8, T. 12 S., R. 14 E. This well reported showings of gas at 715, 1,180-1,225, and 1,665-1,710 feet, but no commercial quantities were found. The formations are relatively thick below the Pennsylvanian, showing a synclinal condition that did not favor oil accumulation in the pre-Pennsylvanian beds. The well was abandoned in the Simpson formation at 2,693 feet.

Jenkins and Scott No. 1 Hayden, NE NE SE sec. 8, T. 12 S., R. 14 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Wabaunsee group 150 0-150
Shawnee group 382 150-532
Douglas-Pedee groups 263 532-795
Bronson-Lansing groups 345 795-1,140
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 170 1,140-1,310
Cherokee shale 565 1,310-1,875
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 295 1,875-2,170
Kinderhook shale 150 2,170-2,320
Silurian and Devonian Systems:    
Siluro-Devonian formation 125 2,320-2,445
Ordovician System:    
Maquoketa shale 77 2,445-2,522
Galena-Platteville limestone 133 2,522-2,655
St. Peter sandstone 38 2,655-2,693 T. D.

The Hayden well is included in the east-west section across the Forest City Basin, Plate 1. The thickening of the beds below the Pennsylvanian can readily be seen.

Jenkins and Scott started the Asherman well in the NE NW NE sec. 28, T. 10 S., R. 15 E., but abandoned it at 862 feet.

Results in oil and gas exploration have been disappointing, but there is much territory in Shawnee County left for investigation. What the future for oil and gas development in Shawnee County is cannot be predicted, but the county cannot be condemned by the scattered drilling attempts up to the present time. Plate XI shows the location of the wells in Shawnee County.

Plate XI--Base map of Shawnee County, showing location of wells.

Base map of Shawnee County, showing location of wells.

Wabaunsee County

Pennsylvanian and Permian rocks appear at the surface in Wabaunsee County, the Lower Permian beds in the western and southwestern part of the county and Upper Pennsylvanian beds of the Wabaunsee group in the eastern and central part of the county. The general dip of the strata is westward, but anticlinal structures have been mapped in the county. The structure near Alma is an anticline whose crest is 160 feet above the bottom of the adjacent shallow anticline to the east (51. Moore, Raymond C, and Haynes, Winthrop P.: Oil and gas resources of Kansas. Kansas Geol. Survey, Bull. 3, p. 346, 1917). This structure was tested by a diamond drill hole in the SW cor. of sec. 31, T. 11 S., R. 11 E., near McFarland, which did not show any oil or gas. The McFarland well stopped in the Cherokee shale at 2,006 feet. The Upper Pennsylvanian beds are hard to correlate from the record of this well, but the Douglas-Pedee groups can be identified from 880 to 1,151 feet, the Bronson-Lansing group from 1,151 to 1,536 feet, the Marmaton group from 1,536 to 1,842 feet, and the Cherokee shale from 1,842 to 2,006 feet.

Three wells drilled in Wabaunsee County reached the pre-Cambrian basement rocks. The Parker Oil Company drilled two wells on the Bardwell farm. The record of Bardwell No. 2, sec. 26, T. 10 S., R. 9 E., as given in Bulletin 3 of the Kansas Geological Survey, follows (52. Idem, p. 151):

Record of Bardwell well No. 2, Zeandale, Wabaunsee County Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Soil and clay 10 10
Clay, soft 20 30
Sand, fine 10 40
Clay, blue 20 60
Gravel, coarse 6 66
Clay, blue 17 83
Limestone 2 85
Shale, light blue 80 165
Limestone 4 169
Shale, blue 88 257
Limestone 26 283
Shale, light 12 295
Shale, sandy 10 305
Shale 15 320
Limestone 43 363
Shale 10 373
Limestone 5 378
Shale 12 390
Limestone 8 398
Shale, black 2 400
Limestone 25 425
Shale 50 475
Limestone 5 480
Shale, light 5 485
Limestone 24 509
Shale 1 510
Limestone 15 525
Clay 5 530
Limestone 4 534
Shale, blue 76 610
Limestone 5 615
Shale 5 620
Redrock 2 622
Shale 3 625
Limestone 8 633
Shale, light 25 658
Limestone 7 665
Shale 4 669
Limestone 1 670
Shale 2 672
Limestone 1 673
Shale 1 674
Limestone 19 693
Shale, blue 3 696
Limestone 1 697
Shale 3 700
Limestone 5 705
Shale 5 710
Limestone 18 728
Shale 3 731
Limestone 4 735
Shale, light 8 743
Limestone 40 783
Shale 1 784
Limestone 10 794
Shale 2 796
Limestone 26 822
Shale, light 4 826
Limestone 2 828
Shale 2 830
Limestone 35 865
Shale 4 869
Limestone 4 873
Shale 2 875
Limestone 8 883
Shale 2 885
Limestone 15 900
Shale 4 904
Limestone 49 953
Shale 5 958
Granite, gray 17 975
Granite, red 15 990
Shale 1 991
Granite, gray 102 1,093

The above record shows the top of the granite at 958 feet. The well was drilled to a depth of 1,093 feet and abandoned. Pink, medium to fine-grained granite and chlorite schists are reported to have been penetrated by the Bardwell well. This well is often known as the Zeandale well because of its location near Zeandale.

The Empire Oil and Refining Company No. 1 Root well in the cen. SW NE sec. 1, T. 11 S., R. 9 E., struck the granite surface at 1,180 feet and drilled 820 feet into it to a total depth of 2,000 feet. Pink, medium to fine-grained granite is reported from this well. A record of this well and a description of the granite cuttings are given in Bulletin 3 of the Kansas Geological Survey (53. Op. cit. pp. 150, 163). The record follows:

Record of well south of Wabaunsee, Wabaunsee County Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Shale 90 90
Limestone 20 110
Shale, black 5 115
Shale, light 10 125
Shale, black 40 165
Sandstone 30 195
Sand (water) 23 218
Limestone 92 310
Shale 10 320
Limestone 30 350
Sandstone 30 380
Shale (little gas) 15 395
Limestone 26 421
Shale 39 460
Limestone 24 484
Shale 20 504
Limestone 2 506
Sandstone 16 522
Shale 20 542
Limestone 38 580
Shale 6 586
Limestone 6 592
Shale 36 628
Limestone 4 632
Redrock 20 652
Shale 6 658
Sandstone 17 675
Shale 60 735
Limestone 70 805
Shale 65 870
Limestone 102 972
Shale 13 985
Limestone 6 991
Shale and coal 95 1,086
Limestone 29 1,115
Shale 5 1,120
Shale and flint 60 1,180
Granite, red 200 1,380
Granite, gray 80 1,460
Granite, red 20 1,480
Granite, gray 510 1,990

Both the Root well and the Bardwell well were about on the crest of the Nemaha granite ridge. Figure 3 shows the location of the ridge and its relationship to the Forest City Basin to the east.

The Williams et al, No. 1 Henderson well in the cen. NE sec. 15, T. 13 S., R. 12 E., begun in 1924 and finished in 1928, was drilled to a total depth of 3,652 feet and encountered granite at 3,625 feet. The steep eastward slope of the granite ridge is illustrated by these wells. The granite in the Root well is approximately 55 feet below sea level, while the granite in the Henderson well, 21 miles southeast of the Root well, is approximately 2,455 feet below sea level, a difference of 2,400 feet. The Henderson test is located well out into the Forest City Basin.

The Empire Oil and Refining Co. No. 1 Schwalm well in the SE cor. sec. 19, T. 12 S., R. 11 E., was drilled to a depth of 3,431 feet and an excellent set of cuttings was saved. A careful study of these cuttings has made accurate correlation possible. The section of the. Schwalm well is, therefore, a very good type section for Wabaunsee County. The well is in the lowest part of the Forest City Basin for, in spite of its depth of 3,431 feet, it reached only the St. Peter sandstone. The section of the Schwalm well is given below.

Empire Oil & Refining Co. No. 1 Schwalm, SE cor. sec. 19, T. 12 S., R. 11 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Permian System:    
Council Grove group 295 0-295
Pennsylvanian System:    
Wabaunsee group 605 295-900
Shawnee group 355 900-1,255
Douglas-Pedee groups 240 1,255-1,495
Bronson-Lansing groups 355 1,495-1,850
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 220 1,850-2,070
Cherokee shale 415 2,070-2,485
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 320 2,485-2,805
Kinderhook shale 185 2,805-2,990
Silurian and Devonian Systems:    
Siluro-Devonian formation 225 2,990-3,215
Ordovician System:    
Maquoketa shale 70 3,215-3,285
Galena-Platteville limestone 115 3,285-3,400
St. Peter sandstone 31 3,400-3,431

No shows of oil or gas were reported in this well. The Schwalm well is included in the east-west cross-section, Plate 1.

The Ramsey Petroleum Company No. 1 Kaul well in the SW NE NE sec. 2, T. 11 S., R. 11 E., was drilled to the Siluro-Devonian formation, but found no oil or gas. The well went to 2,830 feet. The section of this well is as follows:

Ramsey Petroleum Co. No. 1 Kaul, SW NE NE sec. 2, T. 11 S. R. 11 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Wabaunsee groups 560 0-560
Shawnee group 410 560-970
Douglas-Pedee groups 200 970-1,170
Bronson-Lansing groups 355 1,170-1,525
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 223 1,525-1,748
Cherokee shale 492 1,748-2,240
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 135 2,240-2,375
Kinderhook shale 210 2,375-2,585
Silurian and Devonian Systems:    
Siluro-Devonian formation 245 2,585-2,830 T.D.

A discussion of the lower section is given by F. C. Edson in which the Kinderhook beds are described in detail (Edson, F. C.: Pre-Mississippian sediments in central Kansas. Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists, Bull., vol. 13, No. 5, pp. 442-443, 1929). The top of the Kinderhook shale was a bed of soft, light pinkish-gray shale about 15 feet in thickness. Below this was a light greenish-gray shale which carried Sporangites huronense from 2,445 to 2,580 feet. Banded reddish-brown and greenish-gray shale at the base, 2,580- 2,585 feet, carried these plant spores also. The dolomitic limestone below the Kinderhook shale, identified as Siluro-Devonian by the writer, was described by Edson as a cream-colored dolomitic limestone from 2,585 to 2,620 feet, passing into a 10-foot zone of white and gray semitranslucent chert, and then cream to buff finely crystalline pure dolomite. Edson describes the lowest sample which she examined, at 2,650 feet, as containing a small amount of irregular subangular, frosted sand. No age is assigned to this dolomite by Mrs. Edson.

Three other wells drilled in Wabaunsee County reached the "Mississippi lime." The Kansas Oil Association No. 1 Wille well in the cen. SW NE sec. 5, T. 11 S., R. 11 E., was drilled to 2,700 feet and reported a showing of oil and gas in sand at 2,000 to 2,024 feet, but was abandoned. The section of this well is as follows:

Kansas Oil Association No. 1 Wille, cen. SW NE sec. 5, T. 11 S., R. 11 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Permian System:    
Council Grove group 290 0-290
Pennsylvanian System:    
Wabaunsee group 450 290-740
Shawnee group 385 740-1,125
Douglas-Pedee groups 200 1,125-1,325
Bronson-Lansing groups 370 1,325-1,695
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 180 1,695-1,875
Cherokee shale 420 1,875-2,295
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 185 2,295-2,480
Kinderhook shale 220 2,480-2,700 T.D.

The American Petroleum Corporation drilled a well on the Schmidt farm in the cen. SE SE sec. 9, T. 12 S., R. 10 E., to a depth of 2,339 feet and was abandoned. It penetrated the following formations:

American Petroleum Corporation No. 1 Schmidt, cen. SE SE sec. 9, T. 12 S., R. 10 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Permian System:    
Council Grove group 270 0-270?
Pennsylvanian System:    
Wabaunsee group 490 270?-760
Shawnee group 350 760-1,110
Douglas-Pedee groups 200 1,110-1,310
Bronson-Lansing groups 365 1,310-1,675
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 200 1,675-1,875
Cherokee shale 395 1,875-2,270
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 69 2,270-2,339 T.D.

A well drilled in the NW SE SE of sec. 9, T. 12 S., R. 10 E., the Coleman-Edgerton No. 1-B Smith, produced 44,000 cubic feet of helium gas in sand at 266 to 276 feet. This is very unusual and is the only recorded well in northeastern Kansas producing helium gas. No attempt has been made to develop this helium gas area by further drilling.

Another deep test in Wabaunsee County was the Steinmeyer No. 1 well drilled by the Manhattan Oil Company in the NE NW SW sec. 11, T. 13 S., R. 10 E. This well was drilled to a depth of 2,405 feet and found a hole full of water in the "Mississippi lime." The record of this well is given below.

Manhattan Oil Company No. 1 Steinmeyer, NE cor. NW SW sec. 11, T. 13 S., R. 10 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Permian System:    
Council Grove group 195 0-195
Pennsylvanian System:    
Wabaunsee group 590 195-785
Shawnee group 375 785-1,160
Douglas-Pedee groups 205 1,160-1,365
Bronson-Lansing groups 370 1,365-1,735
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 210 1,735-1,945
Cherokee shale 395 1,945-2,340
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 65 2,340-2,405 T.D.

The log of this well is included in the east-west cross-section in Plate I.

The exploration and development of oil and gas in Wabaunsee County has been slow up to the present time. This is due in a large part to the disappointing results of the wells that have been drilled. With the exception of a few shows of oil and gas, the only productive well is the Smith No. 1-B in sec. 9, T. 12 S., R. 10 E., which produced helium gas. Plate XII shows the location of the various tests in Wabaunsee County.

Plate XII--Base map of Wabaunsee County, showing location of wells.

Base map of Wabaunsee County, showing location of wells.

Wyandotte County

Wyandotte county has been surveyed by N. D. Newell and J. M. Jewett, and Circular 4 gives some of their findings (Newell, Norman D.: Mineral resources of Wyandotte county, Kansas. Kansas Geol. Survey, Circ. 4, 1931). The surface beds in Wyandotte county are Lower Pennsylvanian, belonging principally to the Missouri series of the new Pennsylvanian classification. The Pennsylvanian beds are generally well exposed, although some are masked by glacial gravels and till.

Wyandotte county stands out prominently in northeastern Kansas as a gas-producing area. While gas is being produced over a large part of the county, there are two fairly distinct gas fields, the Fairfax field in sections 25, 26, 27, and 34, T. 10 S., R. 25 E., and the Bethel gas field in sections 24, 25, 26, 35, 37, T. 10 S., R. 23 E., 30 and 31, T. 10 S., R. 24 E., and 1 and 2, T. 11 S., R. 23 E. Two smaller fields in Wyandotte county are the Welborn field, northeast of Welborn in sections 23, 24, 25, 35, T. 10 S., R. 24 E., and 19, T. 10 S., R. 25 E., and the Dunlap field in sec. 8, T. 11 S., R. 23 E.

All of the gas produced in Wyandotte county is found in the Marmaton group and Cherokee shale. The Squirrel sand near the top of the Cherokee shale is the most important gas zone. The Peru sand in the Pleasanton formation is the next most important gas zone. No gas or oil has been obtained in commercial quantities from the "Mississippi lime" wells drilled in Wyandotte county. Whether the unsuccessful tests in the "Mississippi lime" have been due to poor structural locations or lack of oil and gas in the "lime" is not known. It will require more careful study of structures and more drilling to ascertain whether the pre-Pennsylvanian beds underlying Wyandotte county are productive or not. It is more than likely that many of the structures apparent on the surface do not extend below the Pennsylvanian beds, but again only deep drilling can prove or disprove this supposition.

There have been wells producing gas for many years in Wyandotte county, but only in the last three years has there been active development. Both the Bethel and Fairfax fields were opened in 1930.

The Fairfax gas field, located in the industrial district north of Kansas City, Kansas, has about 40 wells producing from two horizons in the Marmaton group. The most important gas horizon is the Peru sand, found at about 350-400 feet below the surface. The other gas zone is a shale at about 225-275 feet below the surface. The Peru sand averages about 30 feet in thickness. The initial daily production ranges up to two and a quarter million cubic feet of gas, but the average for the field is less than one million cubic feet. The gas accumulation is due primarily to structure, but is locally affected by the lenticularity of the sand bodies. The sands thicken and thin locally and cause great variation in the production of the wells. The Bartlesville sand has been tested, but was not commercially productive. Likewise the Burgess sand and "Mississippi lime" were penetrated, but were not productive. The probable gas reserves, based on pressure decline curves, are about 700,000,000 cubic feet.

The Bethel gas field, west and northwest of Bethel, has about 60 gas wells producing from the Squirrel and Peru sands. The field was opened in November, 1930, and drilling has been active since that date. The Squirrel sand is the most important gas zone in this field and is found at a depth of about 700 feet. The sand is 75 to 100 feet below the base of the Fort Scott limestone, or "Oswego lime" as it is often called. The Squirrel sand averages about 30 feet in thickness with a maximum recorded thickness of 81 feet. The Peru sand in the Bethel field is found at a depth of about 550 feet and is less than 20 feet thick on an average. Some wells have been drilled to the Bartlesville sand in this area, but little gas was found. The probable gas reserves of this field based on the pressure decline from 165 to 140 pounds are estimated at about six billion cubic feet.

The Welborn field, northeast of Welborn in secs. 23, 24, and 25, T. 10 S., R. 24 E., and sec. 19, T. 10 S., R. 25 E., has about 15 gas wells producing from the Squirrel and Peru sands. The rock pressure has declined quite rapidly in this field from 162 to 57 pounds and the reserves are not large.

The Dunlap field in sec. 8, T. 11 S., R. 23 E., on the Dunlap and McKee leases, is controlled by the Arrow Oil and Gas Company. There are about eight wells at present producing from the Squirrel and Peru sands, but they are not large wells, averaging less than half a million cubic feet daily production. The estimated probable reserves for this field, based on pressure decline from 136 to 112 pounds, are about one billion cubic feet.

Very few deep wells have been drilled in Wyandotte county. The deepest was the Bonner Springs Oil and Gas Company No. 1 Bonner Springs well in sec. 20, T. 11 S., R. 23 E., drilled to 2,200 feet. The section of the well is as follows:

Bonner Springs Oil & Gas Co. No. 1 Bonner Springs, sec. 20, T. 11 S., R. 23 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Bronson-Lansing groups 190 0-190
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 260 190-450
Cherokee shale 390 450-840
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 325 840-1,165
Kinderhook shale 150 1,165-1,315
Ordovician System:    
Galena-Platteville limestone 190 1,315-1,505
St. Peter sandstone 35 1,505-1,540
Cambro-Ordovician System:    
"Siliceous lime" 660 1,540-2,200 T.D.

This log is included in the east-west cross-section, Plate I.

Three wells were drilled to the "Mississippi lime" near Bonner Springs, in addition to the Bonner Springs No. 1, by the Bonner Springs Oil and Gas Company. The wells are the No. 1 Twist in the SE cor. NE sec. 29, T. 11 S., R. 23 E.; No. 1 Schubert in the SE cor. NE sec. 30, T. 11 S., R. 23 E.; and No. 1 Kinahan in the SE cor. NW sec. 21, T. 11 S., R. 23 E. The sections in the wells are very similar, and that of the Twist well, as given below, is typical for the area.

Bonner Springs Oil and Gas Company No. 1 Twist, SE cor. NE sec. 29 T. 11 S., R. 23 E. Thickness
in feet		 Depth
in feet
Pennsylvanian System:    
Bronson-Lansing groups 340 0-340
Marmaton-Bourbon groups 205 340-545
Cherokee group 445 545-990
Mississippian System:    
"Mississippi lime" 50 990-1,040 T.D.

This well is included in the east-west cross-section of northeastern Kansas, Plate 1.

The future development of oil in Wyandotte county is problematical, but there seems to be room for considerable development of gas in the county. Much of the drilling has been done without careful geologic study and it seems likely that with detailed mapping new areas can be developed into good gas fields. Plate XIII shows the location of the several fields in Wyandotte county as well as scattered wells.

Plate XIII--Base map of Wyandotte county, showing location of wells.

Base map of Wyandotte County, showing location of wells.

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Kansas Geological Survey, Geology
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