Petroleum Industry In Indiana In 1923 (7631f56d-ceda-443b-83ac-e628a20497de)

THE petroleum industry of Indiana made somewhat notable progress during the year 1923, considering the number of handicaps it encountered. The price of labor and materials continued to have an upward slant while the price of crude oil took a decidedly downward course. In spite of these adverse conditions, the quantity production will closely approximate that of 1922, when it passed the million-barrel mark. The progress of the industry in Indiana should be considered fairly satisfactory as long as the present production is maintained. In other words, if the loss of production from the waning old wells can be offset by the production from the new for a period of 10 or 15 years longer, the industry may have cause for congratulation. SUB-TRENTON INVESTIGATIONS In recent years a number of tests of strata lying below the Trenton limestone have been made in Indiana. Several of these tests were completed in 1923. Indications of oil were reported by drillers from several horizons below the Trenton. The most satisfactory of these came from the St. Peter sandstone lying immediately below the Trenton limestone, but no production has yet been obtained from any of the Sub-Trenton horizons. Glen Valley Wells.-Two wells in Marion County were drilled into the St. Peter sandstone, 1 mi. north of Glen Valley and 9 mi. south of Indianapolis. About 30 ft. of sand saturated with a dense asphaltic oil was found in the upper part of the St. Peter sandstone in one of the wells, which contained about 10 per cent. of the light oils, or more easily volatile constituents, and about 90 per cent. of a dark, dense, asphaltic residue. The oil resembled the residue of an asphaltic petroleum from which the more volatile oils had disappeared.