Summary
The Gorham oil field from which nearly 100 million barrels of oil have been produced, is representative of central Kansas giant oil fields in Russell, Barton, and Rice counties. All produce oil prolifically from the Arbuckle and Lansing-Kansas City carbonate rocks at the relatively shallow depths of 3,000-3,300 ft (900-990 m) from closely spaced oil wells, 660 ft (198 m) apart, on a regular spacing pattern of 10 acres (4 hectares) per well. In the Gorham oil field, an estimated 66% of the cumulative oil production came from the Arbuckle dolomite or related Cambrian Reagan Sandstone. The unconformity surface at the top of the Arbuckle reservoir, depth near 3,300 ft (990 m), is a buried paleo-land surface characterized by paleo-karst topography with solution moats around three buried Precambrian hills, with solution-enhanced porosity on a scalped paleo-karst plain, but with only a few residuum-filled sinkholes. About 25% of the oil was produced from limestones of the Pennsylvanian Lansing-Kansas City group, depths just below 3,000 ft (900 m). An estimated 7% of the oil was produced from 30 Pennsylvanian Shawnee "Topeka" wells of large capacity, depths near 2,750 ft (825 m), that flowed spectacularly in 1935 from an intermittent fracture zone 5 mi (8 km) long. Analogous fracture zones are present in Ordovician rocks in the upper Mississippi Valley lead and zinc district, Wisconsin. About 100 oil wells produced shallow, stratigraphically trapped oil from "Tarkio" silty sandstones of Pennsylvanian age, depth near 2,500 ft (750 m). A minor amount of oil was produced from fractures in Precambrian quartzite in nine wells and from fractures in fresh granite in six wells.
The Gorham oil field is localized by a 10-mi (16-km)-long northwest-southeast-trending anticline structurally controlled by block faulting in the Precambrian basement rocks. A prominent fault zone on the southwest flank of the Gorham anticline is downthrown over 400 ft (120 m) to the southwest on the Precambrian rocks. There is structural relief of 150 ft (45 m) on the pre-Pennsylvanian unconformity or buried land surface, 75 ft (22.5 m) of relief on the Lansing-Kansas City limestones that are draped over the major anticline and over local highs, and 50 ft (15 m) of relief on the Permian Stone Corral anhydrite, depth near 1,000 ft (300 m). The near-surface Cretaceous Fence-post limestone is folded in an anticline with 30 ft (9 m) of closure directly over the position of the fault zone in the Precambrian rocks. This demonstrates the structural control of the Gorham anticline due to episodic block faulting in the Precambrian granite basement rocks. In one well the granite was dated as 1,505 million years old.
Within the trap formed by the broad Gorham anticline, the Arbuckle dolomite and Reagan Sandstone were a single oil reservoir over a 50-mi2 (130-km2) area with a strong water drive and an original oil-water contact near subsea -1,440 ft (-432 m), now much distorted by fluid withdrawal. Oil production from the 829 Arbuckle oil wells averaged 55,000 barrels of oil (BO) per well. The 215 Reagan Sandstone wells averaged 88,000 BO per well. The overlying Lansing-Kansas City limestones provide oil reservoirs in several separate local closures, each an individual oil accumulation with a dissolved gas drive for energy. The 477 Lansing-Kansas City oil wells recovered an estimated average of 50,000 BO per well of which one-third is attributed to secondary recovery by water flooding. Wells producing from the Topeka fracture zone averaged over 200,000 BO per well. Two giant Topeka fracture-zone oil wells are known to have produced over one-half million barrels of oil each, from depths near 2,750 ft (825 m). Shallow Tarkio oil wells from depths near 2,500 ft (750 m) are considered as averaging about 8,000 BO per well. Production figures are for a 60-year period from October 15, 1926, to December 31, 1986.
The petroleum geology of the Gorham oil field was investigated by the author's examination of well cuttings from more than 300 bore holes, many of which were drilled with cable tools in the 1920's and the 1930's, providing samples from which acid insoluble residues could be prepared. Examination of the original well-cutting samples and of their insoluble residues permitted the recognition of six mappable units within the Arbuckle-Reagan section, 400 ft (120 m) thick. Sample examination also permitted subdividing the unconformity-related sandstone, called "Gorham sand" locally, into five recognizable mappable units of differing ages and reservoir characteristics.
The oil produced from the unconformity-related Cambrian and Ordovician Arbuckle-Reagan Sandstone reservoir migrated long distances from Oklahoma into central Kansas in mid-Permian time and filled that unit reservoir to its spillpoint. The Gorham anticline trapped hydrocarbons in all porous formations and fractures below the Permian Wellington salt encountered from 1,300 to 1,600 ft (390-480 m). The salt, together with the shales below and above it, served as a seal preventing further upward movement of hydrocarbons or downward movement of brines until the salt section was penetrated by the 2,168 oil and gas test holes within the 100-mi2 (260-km2) study area.
The Gorham oil field, discovered in 1926, is the second oldest oil field in the west ranges of Kansas, and was then 120 mi (192 km) west of the nearest oil production except for the Fairport oil field, 10 mi (16 km) north, discovered in 1923. The drilling and development history of the Gorham oil field is described at length with illustrations of cable-tool drilling rigs, derricks, and early automobiles. The obsolete method of full-hole cable-tool drilling was used exclusively in the Gorham oil field during development in the 1920's and into the 1930's, and was still used for part of the drilling during World War II years of the early 1940's. Cable-tool drilling is done by suspending a heavy bit from a cable and drilling the rock by pounding on it. An advantage of cable-tool drilling is that when oil is "struck," it enters the air-filled hole and is immediately detected and measured by the drillers. Geologists were not needed at drilling locations but were involved in surface mapping of anticlines or working with "core drilling machines" such as that used by Tom Allan to discover the Gorham oil field in 1923-25, probably the first such application in the midcontinent United States. Disadvantages of cable tools include the fact that when flowing gas and oil are encountered, an uncontrolled blowout may occur as illustrated by the much-photographed early "gushers." A second disadvantage was that when oil was "struck" (found), drilling had to be discontinued without knowledge of deeper, more prolific pay zones.
After the 1940's, all drilling was done with the faster and cost-efficient "mobile" rotary-drilling tools with a folding "jack-knife" mast in place of a derrick. In rotary drilling, a bit on the end of the drill pipe is rotated, chipping the rocks. The cuttings are removed by circulating drilling fluid or "mud" through the bit. This completely changed the role of geologists who became indispensable at well sites to detect oil shows in samples of well cuttings and to determine the depth at which the production casing should be set.
Another aspect of the Gorham oil-field history is the handling or mishandling of increasingly large volumes of brine produced along with the oil, principally from the Arbuckle reservoir. In the 1920's, the produced brine was dumped into the waterways. In the 1930's, brine was required to be stored in "evaporation ponds" throughout the oil field. In 1957, this practice was no longer allowed. In the 1940's, shallow saltwater-disposal wells, depths near 500 ft (150 m) in the Cretaceous Cheyenne Sandstone or near 800 ft (240 m) in the Permian Cedar Hills Sandstone were licensed. During the 1950's, in the stripper stage of the oil-field's production history, the wells pumped 90% or more of saltwater. The shallow saltwater-disposal wells and the evaporation ponds could not dispose all the produced brine. Systems of gathering lines were built and brine was transported 4 mi (6.4 km) south, where it was disposed in deep saltwater-disposal wells utilizing the full downfaulted 400-ft (120-m) thickness of the Arbuckle dolomite for brine disposal.
On January 1, 1987, there were 444 producing oil wells in the Gorham oil field, but production had declined to an average of 3.21 BO per day per well. The 60 years of continuous production of nearly 100 million barrels of oil and perhaps nine times that amount of saltwater adversely affected the environment in three ways.
- Near-surface freshwater aquifers, the alluvium and the Dakota sandstones, have in some parts of the Gorham oil field become unusable because of contamination by saline oil-field brines. This saline pollution was caused by downward seepage of brine from the formerly used surface-evaporation ponds and by the upward movement of disposed brine from the shallow saltwater-disposal wells, many of which were still in use in 1986.
- Subsidence of three areas along 1 mi (1.6 km) of I-70 within the Gorham oil field has entailed repair expenses of about one million dollars. Subsidence, beginning at the time of construction of the highway in 196~6 and continuing through 1986 is caused by the dissolving of large volumes of salt due to inadvertent downward movement of undersaturated oil-field brines being disposed in saltwater-disposal wells, some with unknown corroded leaky casing. Subsidence is expected to continue in the future, but the rate of subsidence is declining and was a maximum of only 0.5 ft (0.15 m) per year in 1986.
- Within the Gorham oil field, agricultural land has been damaged by increased salinity of the soil in areas of one acre or more that were sites of former "evaporation ponds."
Land is being restored to agriculture with pits properly filled, tank battery dikes levelled, and with lease roads ripped up. There are large areas within the Gorham oil field where a person driving along I-70 or on any of the section-line roads will see but infrequent reminders of the once-extensive oil field. Rigorous regulation by the Kansas Corporation Commission of waste oil-field brine disposal, of plugging abandoned wells, and of protection of fresh or usable water is minimizing future adverse environmental impact due to oil-field operations in the nearly depleted Gorham oil field.
Acknowledgments
The author accepts full responsibility for the investigations and conclusions of this report but acknowledges the indispensable help of the following, whom he thanks.
Pieter Berendsen, Don W. Steeples, W. Lynn Watney, and Don Whittemore each critically reviewed that portion of the text within his own field of specialty and expertise. Each contributed helpful and constructive criticism regarding respectively, Precambrian rocks, seismic and subsidence, stratigraphy, and hydrology.
Rex Buchanan, Don Butcher, William W. Hambleton, W. Lynn Watney, and Frank Wilson helpfully reviewed the entire text. In addition, Rex Buchanan suggested improved captions for the 50 illustrations.
Ralph W. Knapp, Don W. Steeples, Richard D. Miller, and Carl D. McElwee contributed their unpublished seismic cross section (1986) reproduced as fig. 44.
The Russell County Historical Society furnished photographs used in the history section, as individually acknowledged. These include the cover photograph and figs. 19, 20, 22, 23, 28, 29, and 31.
Craig Miner made available the Hartman family scrapbooks containing contemporary newspaper accounts of the spectacular Hartman and Blair Roubach No. 1 that "struck oil" in 1935.
The Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association (KIOGA) allowed reproduction of photographs from their 1987 publication Discovery (Miner, 1987), here reproduced as figs. 21, 24, 28 (the inset of the collapsed derrick), 32, 33, 34, and 42.
Charles Steincamp furnished the photograph of the oil-field fire (fig. 36). He also contributed information concerning the Topeka fracture zone from his well-site experience.
Albert Abercrombie talked freely, vividly, and often with the author concerning his years of work in 1944-48 in the Gorham oil field as assistant field foreman repairing casing leaks and reworking wells on the Nate Appleman's Central Petroleum Company properties and the Anthony Witt properties after they were purchased by Standard Oil Company of Ohio.
Tom Allan (deceased 1985), a resident of Russell, Kansas, from 1923 to 1933, furnished the original core-drill map used in the discovery of the Gorham oil field (redrafted as fig. 16). He verified the identification of photographs of his "core-drilling machine" (fig. 22).
Jene C. Darmstetter furnished oil-field maps of historical interest from his personal file. These showed early development drilling within the Gorham oil field.
Larry H. Skelton furnished the 1936 historical map (fig. 37) and made helpful suggestions regarding history, oil production, and records of secondary recovery.
Robert Frensley furnished information on secondary recovery by waterflooding in the Gorham oil field, based on his personal experience as a consultant when waterflood projects were in the planning stage.
Virgil B. Cole (deceased 1984), an expert on mapping Cretaceous beds, shared his knowledge of the development of the Gorham oil field in the 1930's, during the time that he and the author worked in the same office in 1940-41. In the 1970's, he provided first-hand knowledge of past events such as the drilling of carefully watched holes (dry in Topeka zone) offsetting the spectacular Roubach No. 1 in 1935. He had a vivid memory for field developments, with almost total recall of location by section, township, and range, and of formation depths and dates. He shared his experiences through frequent conversations. In addition, he was an expert on wells drilled to the Precambrian basement rocks (Cole, 1962, 1976).
Don Butcher, who was in charge of the 1985-86 repair work at the Witt sink under I-70, furnished a copy of his January 1986 final report on the project. In addition, his concise comments as a peer reviewer, based on his years of practical field experience supervising the plugging of dry holes and oil wells, were most helpful. For example, in reviewing the original brief section concerning future subsidence affecting I-70, he made a cryptic marginal comment, "You should describe why you think this will subside." His comment led to a restatement and expansion of that section and to the addition of the section "Research drilling and coring in other saltrelated subsidence areas in Kansas."
Jack H. Heathman, my long-term business associate, provided enthusiastic encouragement over the years. Moreover, in 1955 he financed and drilled two unsuccessful holes in the Gorham oil field based on my effort to extend the Reagan Sandstone oil production. We drilled the wrong spot (by 660 feet) and were 10 years too late for primary production from the then-depleted Lansing-Kansas City formation and 10 years too early for the successful waterflood (Bass, 1966) on our formerly owned leases.
Heber-Beardmore furnished historical lease ownership maps for the Gorham area and shared some of his experiences with the cable tools owned by the former Beardmore Drilling Company.
Steve Van Buskirk, artist and geologist, used the available poor-quality old photographs as a basis for his sketches, figs. 38, 39, 41, 43, and 53. He also assisted in compiling the geological maps, figs. 7, 9, 10,11, and 12 which required careful distinction among the five various oil-production zones.
Jim Harden, consulting geologist, Hays, Kansas, provided blueline prints of the land in the Gorham oil field, scale 1 inch equals 400 ft, or 1 mile equals 13.2 inches. He also provided helpful information on local developments.
The Kansas Geological Society Library, Wichita, Kansas, loaned the material photographed in figs. 26 a and b, and loaned the four original plotted drillers' logs from which fig. 27 was constructed.
As background concerning the "personal communication" items dating back to the 1970's, it was then that the author completed investigations of human-induced land subsidence in central Kansas related to salt dissolution (Walters, 1978). To understand the cause of subsidence affecting I-70, it was necessary to understand not only the geology but also the oil-field history of the Gorham oil field; short excerpts of both, as they directly affected subsidence, were summarized in that report. Dr. William W. Hambleton, then Director of the Kansas Geological Survey, encouraged the preservation of my accumulated data and knowledge by the inclusion in this publication of historical and environmental chapters not usually part of oil-field geological reports. Without Dr. Hambleton's persistent, patient, long-continued support, this report would not have been completed. His successor, Dr. Lee C. Gerhard, gave added impetus during 1989, the year of centennial celebration for the Kansas Geological Survey, by approving publication of the illustrations of oil derricks, cable-tool drilling rigs, old automobiles, and historic maps included in the section "Oil-field history."
Appendix
Table 1--List of discovery wells; oil fields now merged into Gorham oil field. Locations are mapped in fig. 3.
| Field and discovery date |
Discovery well and producing horizon (italic) |
Location |
|---|---|---|
| Atherton July 21, 1935 |
McMorrow et al. Atherton #1 Arbuckle |
30-13S-14W NW NW NE |
| Atherton North May 27, 1939 |
Cities Service Oil Co. Dutt #1 Arbuckle |
18-13S-14W NW NW SE |
| Atherton October 10, 1935 Oswald |
Phillips Petroleum Downing #1 "Oswald" |
19-13S-14W SE SE SW |
| Atherton South June 25, 1936 |
Shell Petroleum Brown #1 Arbuckle |
31-13S-14W NE NE SE |
| Atherton West December 28, 1945 |
Coralena Olson #1 Arbuckle |
23-13S-15W C S/2 SE SE |
| Balta February 18, 1936 |
Hartman and Blair Boxberger #1 "Oswald"; later August 12, 1936, deepened to Arbuckle |
32-13S-14W NW NW SW |
| Balta Arbuckle June 11, 1936 |
Empire Oil and Refining Co. Boxberger #1 Arbuckle |
32-13S-14W SW SW NW |
| Balta North July 27, 1938 |
Phillips Petroleum Co. Miller #1 Arbuckle |
29-13S-14W C NW SW |
| Benso January 25, 1936 |
Central Petroleum Co. Benso #1 Lansing-Kansas City |
9-14S-15W SE SE SW |
| Big Creek July 6, 1935 |
Hartman and Blair Rexroat #1 Arbuckle |
31-14S-14W NE NW NW |
| Big Creek East July 12, 1938 |
Aylward Production Co. Solbach #1 Arbuckle |
31-14S-14W SE SE NE |
| Big Creek Oswald December 31, 1935 |
Phillips Petroleum Co. Hall #1 "Oswald" |
36-14S-15W SE NE SW |
| Cook June 23, 1950 |
H. H. Blair Cook #2 Lansing-Kansas City |
26-13S-15W NW NW SE |
| Cook Arbuckle January 31, 1951 |
H. H. Blair Cook #3 Arbuckle |
26-13S-15W SW NW SE |
| Cramm July 31, 1935 |
J. C. Shaffer Cramm #1 Arbuckle |
11-14S-15W NE NE SE |
| Dillner May 5, 1930 |
Empire Oil and Refining Co. Dillner #1 Arbuckle |
36-13S-15W NW NW NW |
| Dillner Northwest December 16, 1947 |
Kissinger Billings #C-1 Arbuckle |
27-13S-15W NE NE NE |
| Foster March 3, 1936 |
Central Petroleum Co. Foster #B-1 "Oswald" |
3-14S-15W SW SW NE |
| Gorham October 15, 1926 |
Mid-West Refining Co. Dortland #36 "Oswald" |
5-14S-15W SE SE NW |
| Gorham Council Grove November 5, 1935 |
Hartman-Blair et al. Roubach #3 Neva |
2-14S-15W NE SE NW |
| Gorham East September 18, 1935 |
Bridgeport Machine Co. Polson #1 Lansing-Kansas City |
10-14S-15W NW NW NE |
| Gorham-Gorham Sand January 28, 1928 |
Stearns and Streeter Mermis #1 Gorham sand |
33-13S-15W SW NW SW |
| Gorham Pool #2 December 12, 1985 |
Shields Oil Producers Inc. #1 Crawford "A" Lansing-Kansas City |
16-14S-15W NW SE SW |
| Gorham Reagan January 12, 1984 |
Ladd Petroleum Reinhardt "A"-4 "Reagan sand" |
19-14S-14W C W/2 NE NW NE |
| Gorham Shawnee April 23, 1935 |
Hartman-Blair Roubach #1 Shawnee, Topeka |
2-14S-15W SE SE NW |
| Gorham Wabaunsee July 10, 1935 |
Gypsy Oil Co. Ehrlich #1 Tarkio |
1-14S-15W SW SW NW |
| Harbaugh February 17, 1936 |
Hartman and Blair Harbaugh #1 "Oswald" |
25-14S-15W NE NE SW |
| Harbaugh Arbuckle May 15, 1936 |
National Refining Co. Reinhardt "C"-1 "siliceous lime" |
25-14S-15W NW NW SE |
| Milberger April 29, 1935 |
Kirk and Jones Milberger #1 "siliceous lime" |
7-14S-14W NE NW NW |
| Neidenthal August 28, 1934 |
Lario Oil and Gas Co. Niedenthal #1 Arbuckle ("siliceous") |
23-14S-15W NE NE NE |
| Neidenthal LKC February 2, 1940 |
Phillips Petroleum Co. #1 Boxberger Lansing-Kansas City |
24-14S-15W NW SW NW |
| Neidenthal South June 13, 1935 |
Wakefield-Armer Hall #1 Arbuckle |
36-14S-15W NE SE SW |
| Rusch Arbuckle May 28, 1941 |
Westgate Greenland Oil Co. Rusch #1 Arbuckle |
29-14S-14W C E/2 SE NE |
| Sullivan February 8, 1935 |
Hartman and Blair #1 Sullivan "Oswald" |
2-14S-15W NE NE SE |
| Vaughn March 15, 1937 |
Empire Oil & Refining Co. Vaughn #1 Lansing-Kansas City |
17-14S-14W SW SW SW |
| Vaughn PBC May 4, 1938 |
National Refining Co. #5-D Reinhardt Penn. basal conglomerate |
19-14S-14W SE SE NE |
| Vaughn Arbuckle December 25, 1937 |
Philhan Oil Co.-GW Hinkle #1 Reinhardt Arbuckle |
19-14S-14W SE SE SW |
Table 2--Annual oil production, Gorham oil field, Russell County, Kansas; data graphed in fig. 4.
| Year | Annual oil production (bbls) |
Number of wells | Barrels of oil per day per well |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | 6,206 | 1 | 77.60 |
| 1927 | 69,020 | 4 | 47.30 |
| 1928 | 587,110 | 20 | 80.20 |
| 1929 | 476,511 | 26 | 50.02 |
| 1930 | 399,692 | 33 | 33.20 |
| 1931 | 331,144 | 34 | 26.70 |
| 1932 | 249,428 | 30 | 22.70 |
| 1933 | 220,246 | 32 | 18.90 |
| 1934 | 555,655 | 47 | 32.40 |
| 1935 | 1,377,313 | 111 | 34.00 |
| 1936 | 3,500,294 | 213 | 44.90 |
| 1937 | 4,543,310 | 339 | 36.70 |
| 1938 | 3,449,373 | 381 | 24.80 |
| 1939 | 2,941,831 | 402 | 20.00 |
| 1940 | 3,129,355 | 425 | 20.10 |
| 1941 | 3,483,624 | 461 | 20.70 |
| 1942 | 4,824,139 | 457 | 28.90 |
| 1943 | 3,876,295 | 458 | 23.20 |
| 1944 | 4,488,525 | 527 | 23.30 |
| 1945 | 3,141,280 | 523 | 16.50 |
| 1946 | 2,526,745 | 449 | 15.40 |
| 1947 | 2,757,600 | 445 | 17.00 |
| 1948 | 2,639,139 | 447 | 16.10 |
| 1949 | 2,395,967 | 460 | 14.30 |
| 1950 | 2,649,023 | 506 | 14.30 |
| 1951 | 2,617,395 | 517 | 13.90 |
| 1952 | 2,201,767 | 516 | 11.70 |
| 1953 | 2,105,119 | 512 | 11.30 |
| 1954 | 1,760,547 | 454 | 10.60 |
| 1955 | 1,582,918 | 457 | 9.50 |
| 1956 | 1,530,570 | 436 | 9.60 |
| 1957 | 1,500,710 | 503 | 8.20 |
| 1958 | 1,498,922 | 496 | 8.30 |
| 1959 | 1,420,889 | 494 | 7.90 |
| 1960 | 1,310,776 | 485 | 7.40 |
| 1961 | 1,237,771 | 484 | 7.00 |
| 1962 | 1,195,630 | 491 | 6.70 |
| 1963 | 1,385,752 | 514 | 7.40 |
| 1964 | 1,479,822 | ||
| 1965 | 1,446,078 | 533 | 7.40 |
| 1966 | 1,349,529 | 548 | 6.70 |
| 1967 | 1,259,957 | 537 | 6.40 |
| 1968 | 1,166,607 | 512 | 6.20 |
| 1969 | 947,621 | 498 | 5.20 |
| 1970 | 821,268 | 488 | 4.60 |
| 1971 | 708,587 | 488 | 4.00 |
| 1972 | 646,430 | 491 | 3.60 |
| 1973 | 560,242 | 442 | 3.50 |
| 1974 | 565,991 | 448 (341) RFW | 3.46 (4.55) RFW |
| 1975 | 552,037 | 456 | 3.31 |
| 1976 | 604,152 | 477 | 3.47 |
| 1977 | 621,334 | 500 | 3.40 |
| 1978 | 583,600 | 510 | 3.13 |
| 1979 | 544,065 | 511 | 2.92 |
| 1980 | 521,873 | 528 | 2.70 |
| 1981 | 598,480 | 486 | 3.37 |
| 1982 | 611,212 | 510 | 3.28 |
| 1983 | 584,073 | 516 | 3.10 |
| 1984 | 598,891 | 532 | 3.08 |
| 1985 | 600,279 | 525 | 3.13 |
| 1986 | 520,292 | 531 (444) RFW | 2.68 (3.21) RFW |
| 93,860,001 |
Table 3--Oil and gas test holes, cross sections A-B and B-C, figs. 5 and 6 (p. 8-9), and map (fig. 3, p. 5).
| Test hole number |
Company Elevation (ft) |
Well, total depth (ft), year drilled |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clinton Oil Co. 1881 KB |
#1 V. Jann 3426 TD, 1973 |
19-14S-15W NW SW NW |
| 2 | Hanhoff Oil Co. 1897KB |
#2 Frank Schmale 3758 TD, 1982 |
18-14S-15W 330 FSL, 835 FEL, NE |
| 3 | Hanhoff Oil Co. 1896 KB |
#1 Frank Schmale 3762 TD, 1982 |
18-14S-15W C E/2 SE NE |
| 4 | Brown et al. 1877 |
#1 Baumrucker 3439 TD, 1930 |
18-14S-15W NE NE NE |
| 5 | Aylward Drilling Co. 1841 KB |
#1 Jacobs 3340 TD, 1963 |
8-14S-15W NE NE SW |
| 6 | Bridgeport Machine Co. 1843 |
#1 Black 3332 TD, 1935 |
8-14S-15W NW NW SE |
| 7 | Bridgeport Machine Co. 1871 |
#3 Dortland 3306 TD, 1937 |
8-14S-15W C NE |
| 8 | shallow SWD well | Bulletin 50* 700TD± |
4-14S-15W projected from SE SW SW |
| 9 | Day and Keys 1880 |
#2 Dortland 3340 TD, 1930 |
8-14S-15W NE NE NE |
| 10 | Homestake Prod. Co. 1886 KB |
W-26 Witt "F" 3280 TD, 1962 |
4-14S-15W SW SW SW SW |
| 11 | Mid West 1886 |
#31 Benso 3086 TD, 1929 |
4-14S-15W SW SW SW |
| 12 | Stanolind Oil & Gas 1888 |
#21 Benso 3072 TD, 1936 |
4-14S-15W NE SW SW |
| 13 | Stanolind Oil & Gas 1893 |
#6 W. E. Benso 3400 TD, 1937 |
4-14S-15W NW NW SW |
| 14 | Homestake Prod. Co. 1886 KB |
W-18 Witt "F" 3290TD 1962 |
4-14S-15W C SW |
| 15 | Central Petroleum 1887 |
3-A Benso 3073 TD, 1935 |
4-14S-15W SW NE SW |
| 16 | Coop Refining Assoc. 1883 KB |
#1 Witt "F" 3275 TD, 1958 |
4-14S-15W C NE SW |
| 17 | Central Petroleum 1873 |
2-A Benso 3081 TD, 1935 |
4-14S-15W NE NE SW |
| 18a | Homestake 1876 |
0-56-B Mills 3279 TD, 1964 |
4-14S-15W SW SW NE |
| 18b | Aylward Petroleum 1871 |
#3 Mills 3085 TD, 1935 |
4-14S-15W SW SW NE |
| 19 | Aylward Production 1887 |
#2 Mills 3090 TD, 1935 |
4-14S-15W NE SW NE |
| 20 | shallow SWD well | Bulletin 50* 700±TD |
4-14S-15W approx C NE |
| 21 | Bridgeport Machine Co. 1896 |
#2 John Mills "A" 3072 TD, 1940 |
4-14S-15W C S/2 NE NE |
| 22 | Bridgeport Machine Co. 1898 |
#1 John Mills "A" 3300 TD, 1940 |
4-14S-15W C N/2 NE NE |
| 23 | Bridgeport Machine Co. 1901 |
#3 Mills "B" 3330, 1937 |
33-13S-15W SW SE SE |
| 24 | shallow SWD well | Bulletin 50* 700±TD |
33-13S-15W SE SE SE SE |
| 25 | Central Petroleum 1895 |
#1 Mills 3319 TD, 1938 |
34-13S-15W SW SW SW |
| 26 | Central Petroleum 1891 |
#2 Mills 3314 TD, 1940 |
34-13S-15W C S/2 SW |
| 27 | Brougher Oil Inc. 1914 KB |
#8 Mills "B" 3572 TD, 1985 |
33-13S-15W projected from NE NE SE |
| 28 | Barnett Oil Co. 1918 KB |
#1 Coady 3377 TD, 1959 |
34-13S-15W NE NE SW |
| 29 | Hartman-Blair et al. 1921 |
#1 Mills 3387TD 1935 |
27-13S-15W SE SE SW |
| 30 | Texas Co. 1896 |
#1 Cook "D" 3371 TD, 1952 |
26-13S-15W SE NW SW |
| 31 | water well 1885 |
Bulletin 50* 223.5 TD |
22-13S-15W projected from NW NW SE |
| 32 | H. H. Blair 1890 |
#2 Cook 3052, 1950 |
26-13S-15W NW NW SE |
| 33 | H. H. Blair 1891 |
#1 Cook "C" 3356 TD, 1950 |
26-13S-15W SW SW NE |
| 34 | Jolly J. Inc. 1896 KB |
#2 Neal 3344 TD, 1978 |
26-13S-15W NW SW NE |
| 35 | Wakefield 1891 |
#1 Cook 3344 TD, 1941 |
26-13S-15W C E/2 NE SE |
| 36 | Wakefield 1890 |
#2 Cook 3322, 1955 |
26-13S-15W C W/2 NE NE |
| 37 | Wakefield 1892 |
#1 Cook 3326 TD, 1954 |
26-13S-15W NE NE NE |
| 38 | water well 1870 |
Bulletin 50* 184 ft |
30-13S-14W projected from SE NW |
| 39 | Great Lakes Carbon Co. 1877 |
#1 Anna Bicker 3331 TD, 1950 |
24-13S-15W NE SW SW |
| 40 | Great Lakes Carbon Co. 1843 |
#2 F. Bicker 3317 TD, 1949 |
24-13S-15W SW NE SW |
| 41 | Great Lakes Carbon Co. 1844 |
#1 F. Bicker 3326 TD, 1949 |
24-13S-15W NE NE SW |
| 42 | Great Lakes Carbon Co. 1846 |
#1 McAllister 3284 TD, 1948 |
24-13S-15W SW SW NE |
| 43 | Great Lakes Carbon Co. 1831 |
#5 McAllister 3287 TD, 1956 |
24-13S-15W NW SE NE |
| 44 | W. C. McBride Inc. 1762 |
#A. D. Jellison 3575 TD, 1937 |
19-13S-14W NE NE SW |
| 45 | B and R Drilling Co. 1810 |
#1 New Estate 3279 TD, 1947 |
18-13S-14W C S/2 SW SW |
| 46 | Wilhelm 1745 KB |
#3 Olson 3188, 1967 |
18-13S-14W SE NE SW |
| 47 | Cities Service Oil Co. 1686 |
#1 Dutt 3134 TD, 1939 |
18-13S-14W NW NW SE |
| 48 | Jay-Bee Oil Co. 1782 |
#1 Krug A 3226 TD, 1966 |
18-13S-14W NE SE NE |
| 49 | Morgenstern Oil 1661 KB |
#4 Krug 3481 TD, 1968 |
17-13S-14W C N/2 NW NW |
| 50 | Cities Service Oil Co. 1648 |
#1 Sutton 3118 TD, 1940 |
7-13S-14W SE SE SE |
| 51 | Jay-Bee Oil Co. 1641 |
#2 Rogg 3100 TD, 1966 |
7-13S-14W NW NE SE |
| 52 | Jay-Bee Oil Co. 1699 |
#1 Rogg 3175, 1965 |
7-13S-14W SE SE NE |
| 53 | Shields Oil Producers 1806 |
#1 Mollinger 3297 TD, 1955 |
8-13S-14W SW SW NE |
| *Bulletin 50--Frye and Brazil (1943) | |||
Table 4--Gorham oil field oil production 1926-1986, by formations.
| Number of oil wells |
Formation | Barrels in 1000's |
% of total |
Gravity, degrees |
Average BOPW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100± | SHALLOW PRODUCTION Chase, Council Grove, Wabaunsee (Tarkio), Shawnee (Plattsmouth) |
800 | 1.3 | 40° | 8,000 |
| 30 | TOPEKA Fracture zone only |
6,500 | 7.0 | 39° | 217,000 |
| 477 | LANSING-KANSAS CITY | 24,000 | 25.0 | 37° | 50,000 |
| 607 | SUB-TOTALS | 31,300 | 33.3 | ||
| 28 | ARBUCKLE, E MEMBER | 1,000 ) | = 46.4 | 35,000 | |
| 324 | ARBUCKLE, D MEMBER | 14,500 ) | 45,000 | ||
| 229 | ARBUCKLE, C MEMBER | 16,000 ) | 35° | 70,000 | |
| 248 | ARBUCKLE, B MEMBER | 12,000 ) | 48,000 | ||
| 215 | REAGAN SANDSTONE "Gorham sand" |
19,000 | 20.2 | 35° | 88,000 |
| 14 | PRECAMBRIAN | 60 | 0.1 | 4,000 | |
| 1,058 | SUB-TOTALS | 62,560 | 66.7 | ||
| 1,665* | TOTALS | 93,860 | 100.0 | ||
*A total of 1,397 oil wells were mapped within the 50 mi2 (130 km2) Gorham oil field (fig. 2). Many wells are counted twice or more in table 4 because they produced from more than one formation, most commonly from both the Arbuckle and the Lansing-Kansas City.
Table 5--Well-head price Kansas crude oil, 40° gravity; price at mid-year in dollars.
| Year | Mid-year price |
|---|---|
| 1910 | - |
| 1911 | .50 |
| 1912 | .70 |
| 1913 | .86 |
| 1914 | .75 |
| 1915 | .40 |
| 1916 | 1.55 |
| 1917 | 1.70 |
| 1918 | 2.25 |
| 1919 | 2.25 |
| 1920 | 3.50 |
| 1921 | 1.00 |
| 1922 | 2.00 |
| 1923 | 1.60 |
| 1924 | 1.75 |
| 1925 | 1.80 |
| 1926 | 2.29 |
| 1927 | 1.28 |
| 1928 | 1.28 |
| 1929 | 1.45 |
| 1930 | 1.29 |
| 1931 | .22* |
| 1932 | .92 |
| 1970 | 3.60 |
| 1971 | 3.52 |
| 1972 | 3.52 |
| 1933 | .44 |
| 1934 | 1.00 |
| 1935 | 1.00 |
| 1936 | 1.10 |
| 1937 | 1.22 |
| 1938 | 1.22 |
| 1939 | 1.02 |
| 1940 | 1.02 |
| 1941 | 1.17 |
| 1942 | 1.20 |
| 1943 | 1.20 |
| 1944 | 1.22 |
| 1945 | 1.42 |
| 1946 | 1.93 |
| 1947 | 2.60 |
| 1948 | 2.58 |
| 1949 | 2.57 |
| 1950 | 2.57 |
| 1951 | 2.57 |
| 1952 | 2.56 |
| 1953 | 2.69 |
| 1954 | 2.81 |
| 1955 | 2.80 |
| 1956 | 2.79 |
| 1957 | 3.15 |
| 1958 | 3.15 |
| 1959 | 3.15 |
| 1960 | 2.90 |
| 1961 | 2.84 |
| 1962 | 2.91 |
| 1963 | 2.85 |
| 1964 | 2.98 |
| 1965 | 2.98 |
| 1966 | 3.05 |
| 1967 | 3.15 |
| 1968 | 3.20 |
| 1969 | 3.35 |
| 1970 | 3.60 |
| 1971 | 3.52 |
| 1972 | 3.52 |
| 1973 | 4.20 |
| 1974 | 10.70 |
| 1975 | 12.75 |
| 1976 | 12.10 |
| 1977 | 14.15 |
| 1978 | 13.20 |
| 1979 | 22.00 |
| 1980 | 34.21 |
| 1981 | 35.00 |
| 1982 | 28.00 |
| 1983 | 29.00 |
| 1984 | 27.00 |
| 1985 | 26.50 |
| 1986 | 10.50** |
| 1987 | 18.50 |
| 1988 | 14.75 |
| 1989 | 19.25 |
| * July 3, 1931 Koester (1933) ** August 1, 1986 |
|
Table 7--Subsidence in feet per year at Witt, Crawford, and Roubach sinks, affecting I-70; subsidence at Witt sink is graphed in fig. 48.
| Date | Days | Maximum subsidence in feet |
Rate of subsidence in feet per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subsidence, Crawford Sink--Westbound | |||
| Built 1965-66 | |||
| 01-26-70 | 1.85 | ||
| 05-15-71 | 476 | 0.75 | |
| 5±years | 2.60 | Average 0.575 ft per year 5±yrs |
|
| Rebuilt 8-9-71 | |||
| 12-20-73 | 863 | 1.20 | |
| 01-15-76 | 756 | 0.85 | |
| 1,619 | 2.05 | Average 0.462 ft per year 4.44 yrs |
|
| 05-16-76 | 851 | 1.10 | |
| 03-30-81 | 1,089 | 0.85 | |
| 07-26-83 | 817 | 0.80 | |
| 2,757 | 2.75 | Average 0.3640 ft per year 7.55 yrs |
|
| Subsidence, Crawford sink--Eastbound | |||
| Built 1965-66 | |||
| 01-26-70 | 2.40 | ||
| 05-17-71 | 476 | 1.10 | |
| 5±years | 3.50 | Average 0.844 ft per year 5±yrs |
|
| Rebuilt 8-9-71 | |||
| 12-07-73 | 850 | 1.60 | |
| 01-15-76 | 769 | 1.25 | |
| 1,619 | 2.85 | Average 0.643 ft per year 4.44 yrs |
|
| 05-16-78 | 851 | 1.15 | |
| 04-14-80 | 698 | 0.60 | |
| 07-06-83 | 1,198 | 1.10 | |
| 2,748 | 2.85 | Average 0.379 ft per year 7.53 yrs |
|
| Subsidence, Roubach sink--Westbound | |||
| 12-31-78 | |||
| 04-26-83 | 1,577 | 0.70 | |
| 0.70 | Average | 0.162 ft per year 4.32 yrs |
|
| Subsidence, Roubach sink--Eastbound | |||
| 12-31-78 | |||
| 04-26-83 | 1,577 | 0.60 | |
| 0.60 | Average 0.139 ft per year 4.32 yrs |
||
| Built 1965-66 | |||
| 10-20-66 | 0.90 | ||
| 05-17-71 | 1,670 | 3.15 | |
| 5±years | 4.05 | Average 0.688 ft per year 4.58 yrs |
|
| Rebuilt 8-9-71 | |||
| 12-07-73 | 850 | 2.00 | |
| 01-15-76 | 769 | 0.80 | |
| 1,619 | 2.80 | Average 0.631 ft per year 4.44 yrs |
|
| 05-16-76 | 844 | 0.95 | |
| 03-30-81 | 1,055 | 0.85 | |
| 07-26-83 | 757 | 0.95 | |
| 2,656 | 2.75 | Average 0.378 ft per year 7.28 yrs |
|
| Subsidence, Witt sink--Eastbound* | |||
| Built 1965-66 | |||
| 10-20-66 | 1.35 | ||
| 05-17-71 | 1,670 | 4.00 | |
| 5.35 | Average 0.874 ft per year 4.58 yrs |
||
| Rebuilt 7-9-71 | |||
| 12-07-73 | 850 | 2.30 | |
| 01-15-76 | 769 | 1.05 | |
| 1,619 | 3.35 | Average 0.755 ft per year 4.40 yrs |
|
| 05-16-78 | 844 | 1.40 | |
| 03-30-81 | 1,055 | 1.55 | |
| 04-26-83 | 757 | 1.25 | |
| 2,656 | 4.20 | Average 0.577 ft per year 7.28 yrs |
|
| Rebuilt 1985 | |||
| 1986 | 0.50** | Average 0.50 ft | |
| 1987 | 0.4** | Average 0.40 ft | |
| *see graph, fig. 48, p. 84 **personal communication, Don Butcher, 1989 |
|||
Table 8--Petroleum Production Statistics for the state of Kansas (Kansas Geological Survey; listed by year of statistical data, not by year of publication which was from one to five years later.)
Mineral Resources Circular 1, 1927
Mineral Resources Circular 2, 1928-1930
Mineral Resources Circular 3, 1931-32
Mineral Resources Circular 6, 1937
Mineral Resources Circular 10, 1933-37
Mineral Resources Circular 13, 1938
Bulletin 28, 1938
Bulletin 36, 1940
Bulletin 42, 1941
Bulletin 48, 1942
Bulletin 54, 1943
Bulletin 56, 1944
Bulletin 62, 1945
Bulletin 68, 1946
Bulletin 75, 1947
Bulletin 78, 1948
Bulletin 87, 1949
Bulletin 92, 1950
Bulletin 97, 1951
Bulletin 103, 1952
Special Distribution Publication 41, 1967
Special Distribution Publication 50, 1968
Special Distribution Publication 54, 1969
Special Distribution Publication 59, 1970
Special Distribution Publication 64, 1971
Energy Resources Series No. 2, 1972
Energy Resources Series No. 4, 1973
Energy Resources Series No. 6, 1974
Energy Resources Series No. 8, 1975
Energy Resources Series No. 10, 1976
Energy Resources Series No. 12, 1977
Energy Resources Series No. 14, 1978
Energy Resources Series No. 16, 1979
Energy Resources Series No. 18, 1980
Energy Resources Series No. 20, 1981
Energy Resources Series No. 23, 1982
Energy Resources Series No. 24, 1983
Energy Resources Series No. 25, 1984
Data Base Series No. 1, 1985
(Compiled and published as a computer printout only.)
Annual oil and gas production reports for 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
Data Base Series No. 2 1989
(Compiled and published as a computer printout only.)
Cumulative oil field production histories 1965-1989
Bulletin 107, 1953
Bulletin 112, 1954
Bulletin 122, 1955
Bulletin 128, 1956
Bulletin 133, 1957
Bulletin 138, 1958
Bulletin 147, 1959
Bulletin 155, 1960
Bulletin 160, 1961
Bulletin 166, 1962
Bulletin 172, 1963
Bulletin 179, 1964
Bulletin 185, 1965
Bulletin 190, 1966
Secondary Recovery Operations in Kansas
Oil and Gas Investigations No. 20, 1959
Oil and Gas Investigations No. 24, 1960
None, 1961
Special Distribution Publication No. 6, 1962
Special Distribution Publication No. 16, 1963
Special Distribution Publication No. 21, 1964
Special Distribution Publication No. 30, 1965
Special Distribution Publication No. 32, 1966
Special Distribution Publication No. 36, 1967
Special Distribution Publication No. 46, 1968
Special Distribution Publication No. 49, 1969
Special Distribution Publication No. 57, 1970
Special Distribution Publication No. 62, 1971
Enhanced Oil Operations in Kansas
Energy-Resource Series No. 1, 1972
Energy-Resource Series No. 3, 1973
Energy-Resource Series No. 5, 1974
Energy-Resource Series No. 7, 1975
Energy-Resource Series No. 9, 1976
Energy-Resource Series No. 11, 1977
Energy-Resource Series No. 15, 1978
Energy-Resource Series No. 17, 1979
Energy-Resource Series No. 19, 1980
(None compiled), 1981
Energy-Resource Series, 1982
(Compiled and published as a computer printout only.)
(Series discontinued after 1982)
Oil-field abbreviations
Oil-field abbreviations used in this report for convenience include the following:
BO Barrels of oil. An oil-field barrel contains 42 U.S. gallons.
BOPD Barrels of oil per day.
BOPW Barrels of oil per well.
BOPDPW Barrels of oil per day per well.
sec. Section. A unit of land survey, one mile square, containing 640 acres.
Twp or T Township. A unit of land survey six miles square containing 36 sections. In Kansas, townships are numbered consecutively southward (S) from the Kansas-Nebraska border. The Gorham oil field is in Townships 13 and 14 South.
R Range. A measure of longitude, usually six miles. In Kansas, ranges are measured east (E) or west (W) of the 6th Principal Meridian which passes through Wichita. The Gorham oil field is in Ranges 14 and 15 West.
Section numbers Within a township, sections are numbered sequentially, 1 to 36, in the following order:
6 5 4 3 2 1 7 8 9 10 11 12 18 17 16 15 14 13 19 20 21 22 23 24 30 29 28 27 26 25 31 32 33 34 35 36
Section numbers are omitted from most maps because of space limitations.
sec. 6, T. 13 5., R. 15 W. Section 6 of Township 13 South, Range 15 West.
NW sec. 6 The northwest quarter of section 6; 160 acres square, measuring one-half mile (2,640 ft) on each side.
NW NW sec. 6 The northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 6; 40 acres square, measuring one-fourth mile (1,320 ft) on each side.
NW NW NW sec. 6 The northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter; 10 acres square, measuring one-eighth mile (660 ft) on each side. If describing the location of an oil-test hole, the location is inferred as being in the center of the described unit. Wells located on regular 10- acre spacing (such as NW NW NW) are spaced 660 ft apart and 330 ft from the unit line or lease boundary.
HFW Hole full of water, meaning filled with water or brine to the static fill-up level which may be some distance below the surface of the ground. In the Gorham oil field, wells do not fill with water completely to the top of the hole. There are no artesian flowing water or brine wells.
SWD Saltwater-disposal well. Waste oil-field brine produced along with the oil was disposed in deep SWD wells (depths commonly below 3,500 ft) or formerly was disposed of in shallow SWD wells at depths above the salt section encountered near 1,300 ft.
SWI Saltwater-injection well. A well in which water or brine is injected, usually under pressure, into an oil-producing formation as a method of secondary recovery by waterflooding, displacing oil toward nearby oil wells.
KCC Kansas Corporation Commission, the State regulatory body for drilling permits, licensing of SWD and SWI wells, allowed oil production, and plugging of abandoned holes.
KDHE Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the State regulatory body concerned with pollution, contamination, and oil spills, brine spills, and general environmental matters such as surface pits or ponds, migratory birds, etc.
Abbreviations for depth-of-hole measurements:
DF derrick floor
KB kelly bushing
GD ground level
TD total depth
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Van Schmus, W. R, Bickford, M. E., and Zietz, I., 1987, Early and middle Proterozoic provinces in the central United States; in, Proterozoic Lithospheric Evolution, A Kroner (ed.): American Geophysical Union, Geodynamics Series, v.17,p.43-68
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Walters, R. F., 1946, Buried Precambrian hills in northeastern Barton County, central Kansas: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Bulletin, v. 30, p. 660-710, 8 figs. and 1 folded plate with 8 cross sections
Walters, R. F., 1953, Oil production from fractured Precambrian basement rocks in central Kansas: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Bulletin, v. 37, p. 300-313, 6 figs.
Walters, R. F., 1958, Differential entrapment of oil and gas in the Arbuckle dolomite of central Kansas: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Bulletin, v. 42, p. 2,133- 2,173, 21 figs.
Walters, R. F., 1976, Land subsidence in central Kansas related to salt dissolution: Solution Mining Research Institute, Inc., 144 p., 37 figs., cover photograph
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Kansas Geological Survey, Geology
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