DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND RESOURCES MINES AND GEOLOGY BRANCH CD r- tO . CM O GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PAPER 40-22 THE LIBRARY OF THE f'/lAR 1 0 1941 UNIVERSITY OF laiWOlS PRELIMINARY REPORT NATURAL GAS IN BRANTFORD AREA, ONTARIO V k Si BY J. F. Caley OTTAWA 1940 3 0112 078037402 CAJtA-DA DEPART.ENT OP MIl'ES AM) RESOURCES MI.'ES AITD GEOLOGY BRAITCH P,''.AR 1 0 1941 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Geological Survey Paper 40-22 Natural Gas in Brantford Area, Ontario By J.P. Caley ..../Am................. Ottawa 1940 THE LIBRARY OF THE IV!AR 1 0 1941 UNIVERSITY OF ILLiNOiS COIMTSNTS Introduction , .,. .. Summary aiid conclusions Stratigraphic synopsis Producing horizons Subsurface structure .. Producing fields ...... Prant county . , . . , Haldimand county . ilorfolk county ... Ill gin county. Oxford county .... Peservoir rocks ....... Accumulation . Production . Other areas Map 636A Illustration Norfolk county i i . 4 4 • , V. 1 i NATliRAL GAS IN BRANTFORD i\R3A, ONTMIO INTRODUCTION This report is a brief account of the p^eological features of natural gas occurrences in Brantford area. It is condensed from a more complete and comprehensive memoir, now in press, dealing with all phases of the bedrock geology and the related economic products. The report is issued at this time in the hope that it may aid operators seeking to alleviate the present more or less acute natural gas situation recently brought about by various causes, which it is not necessary to enumerate here, The region here designated the Brantford area includes about 4,800 square miles extending in an east-west direction fromi Dundas to Aylmer and in a north-south direction from Mount Forest to the north shore of Lake Erie. Yfithin this area, commiercial production of natural gas is at present confined to that part lying south of the latitude of Paris. The accompanying map il¬ lustrates this part of the region; it shows the positions of wells drilled to obtain natural gas and oil and also presents structure contours draivn on top of the Clinton formation. During the earlier days of the industry numerous vrells were drilled for which no records are now available; there is a strong possibility, therefore, that many wells Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2020 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates https://archive.org/details/naturalgasinbran4022cale iiavo 'been drilled Ihat do not appear on the map. Appreciation of this fact is essential for anyone contcniplating drilling in areas appeariin; as untested on the acccminnying map. A relatively small amount of drilling has been done north of this region and shows of gas have hocei obtained at several localities, hut there has been no coinaercial production, SlIlLhAY AND CONCLUSIONS 'The part of Brantford area affording commercifil production of natural gas lies south of an east-west line drawn through Paris. V/ithin this southern part iiatural gas'is drawn from four formations,all helonging to the Silurian; these are; tne Clinton, which is productive over the greatest extent of territory; the Guelph; the Grimshy (Led Medina); and the Whirlpool (White Medina). The regional structure as evidenced hy the tojJ of the Clinton ( See accompanying map) is monoclinal, the strata dipping southerly at an average rate of 24 feet a mile. Small reversals Nip are coirmion, hut structural closure is rare. Variations in the rcite and direction of din hiive not heen caused hy folding of the strata, hut are due to 'anequal settling of the beds, to variations in the thickness of groups of beds, etc. Many wells have heen drilled in many parts of the southern, productive district. There are, hov/ever, several areas of considerable extent in which fe?; wells are recorded \ ■ J 'I \ ^ • 3 (See accoraeanyiii^' map), but no records exist of many wells that v;ere drilled iii the earlier da.ys of the ;^'as industry and it may be tliat a considerable number of such wells v/ere drilled in the otherwise apparently largely .mtested districts. In the productive districts there are, here and there, groups of closely spaced productive wells constituting ”gas fields”. All these "fields” are not definitely limited by dry holes, and in manj'- instances sporadically distributed pro¬ ducing wells occur in the less closely drilled areas inter¬ vening between the "fields”. On the .other - liand, dry.. •occur .surrouiiued..by producing wells. • There is no apparent relation, .betw^een etru-ct ore- and ' t;ne presence or abse/ioe .of producing horioonn,.... Ap^pareaitl^ the accumulatio.is of.->iatural gas are due to ..tiie porous‘chara-*— cter of certain beds axid the' existeiice of gentle anticlinal. * roils or decreases in tiie regional dip within ciraumscribed ■ ♦ areas. As already stated, these favouring structures are not due to folding. For the most part they are so gentle that even in closely drilled areas they are not definitely de¬ tectable , The presence or absence at any given locality of the features favouring acc’omulation of natural gas cannot be foretold. There is no evidence to indicate that these favouring features are confined to the producing parts of the southern productive district. They may be present in some ,, i .1 J ' ■ i - A ^ '* * - *- - .';:.' v; ,-■■ ,i ■■.. r,’ , . rf --r • ' 1^;,^ '' '' , i /»A ,. i -• • i •. ^ «)««• 1- >iV-.» . -x' ' ‘■ ,' r^: ' ’ ^*'1 ? ' ^*.1 ' , .■ ; r» . • fi^ •*- y» f “ ' i ', •" *' ' A- g.v. i • . '■■ ' ■ ' ' if- i . j L .1. - .1 ‘ - > •r - '. V . \^\\h /*rM! -■ r\:. .:.i . ■: ■ -.^-r -‘ • 1* e'i’- .. ’ ‘ ■' -j' .. ;. a: \ ■ • ■ * .* vi ^ • • v'.'t ‘ - ■ - ’i i / •' ’ i ^ ) r: ■'.■*' *•. •< . . V. '■ '■' 1 . r . .-rj ■"■ • * '■ .. •. ' • . ■. , • •■•• '■ ^ . , - . - ■, *1 *• r -vi ; “ • > \ . > , t, , •■ * ■if-*?-*'- i . ■■ ■ , ■ -■- . 7 .. 1*. . ^ • . K ; *'r ' ' ‘ J ■ »' 7 -■ ; ■ . '■'-*■ 1 ^ ' * *- .v!^, '• s •’ -. ■ ^ ■ *• .ivivV ■* *■ ''■ t '.»•¥, V • • .' .;tv 1 .• i. • • -•■ I/.'?/:-'' ■';-4: Vi.-A .;A/, r; >/ . V- • - S'. • . . t • • ' ' ■ :• i ' li?*;;■» A, %■ ■ V . ■ , . .. . -i X*^ ^ J >■ -' j ■ I* ^ . \ 1 ' -^ '*'-’ -V- ■ . • I . ', ■ ^i ■ / • • i 1 '.f ■::: * - * ’i*- !} *'J ^ ' /»•'. '■' ' ' ■ * - --, ^ '.■ V t’ L isr. ■ • M'-u 4 places within the untested or apparently untested intervening areas and, therefore, these intervening areas may properly he considered as 7/orthy of attention. In the districts north of the southern productive part of Brantford area, a relatively small amount of drilling has been done and shows of gas have been obtained at several localities, but there has been no commercial production. In the northern, as lUiproductive, part of Brantford area, the only Silurian formation o'fering prospects of production is the Guelph, and this only in the western half of the area where it is covered by younger rocks. The only other prospective producing horizon in the north is the Trenton. This formation has so far failed to yield gas in commercial quantities. STRATIGHAPHIC SYIMOPSIS t System 1 Thickness Formation in feet Lithology t i Devonian 1 * i ilorfolk 0 - ^10 Grey, blue, and brown limestone and chert Oriskany Light grey sandstone : 1 Bortie-Akron 35 - 105 Brov/n dolomite, grey and bluish, ■ j argillaceous dolomite i i Silurian [ ISalina 325 - 415 Argillaceous dolomite, calcar- 1 eous shale, gypsum, anhydrite 1 1Guelph Grey, b uff, and b rown do 1omit e |Lockport 202 - 320 Light grey dolomite, brown, 1 bituminous dolomite at the top 3iiin‘'vioj j :. v/qs •: •' a. ■ 'j iv*; •',J: .y;'2z^ c^, Qr.Z'^,', ; • o:;v.i:2 a. ■ \ > I/,V, i . .. >.v-''iL;::-:;"iq eriJ i'-'- ;a i^'- . ■ r- «•]..}< . S'3 1,a Jb >•-'i .«''r t '.tTi-iq Aj?7•’?. 'd-(; ii'zrd vv/v.;'. -0 i-y. -? i,.. ^.iJX-. J ' ' (u'l ili'x.Mj S.'f’*! '.; 4 >'1 J Jj <’; . y X i'X ./• ’ ^*0 i rxKi'taTxJ".*)! X -tcj'/xx; , int:i .''‘j Ci* oiiv .:J. .. .•.: iLU ’t'-.S 'i ^ ^4 >10 1:'. '/I u;' !:;*' Xxifc <^'> ■' ^ t'H’Xi* astxj dftJ “XC ^XXld-.-ill''X2.3U'. f.X 2X . V b' Jj h *v/'■ •-■"Q-fVC. .*.■»■ 0 .. v’>'',v.tSuiXo v':-';o a.'”. ,f'>{oo*r ^ ^ Jji Iaj w/ t 4 H>W A j V 0 . j y X u C 0 i '.• • i» aoiji^J^no'l l'i-.’.-x ssit zX fi? •fi't r» .',H •+ a ^ ■z-y; - a*;i:orrq • BO X •* X y Xj-^ - !, ri’ujtO X uX C X' i A '.»u - f • <■ ^ k>B B:X.t -%::.‘^iO«<.Yc r»lHW0i-TAr7^ , r r o'-* A OiW ^ * cs‘:')rbix>i’rl!jL* ' t 'i*]! ni .idXitXi.n'.vd'T ; ■ 3 c :}mii r.rozd bfif , ul-x; .. 6110 : b: .x:.:. v j'i x - cu /<.»■< H ,. ■ 1. / 1 ♦•f t > * jl* ' f -T t* - I 0 *>-fcX.lo'X 0ft 1 I 1 . 3 ... / .a <1 .j.li:;’d tiXrq: ■ : iT;:oici-^iix; , t'jj*Xx'tO^oft iii "' ozM X.?. 'vi’xriOXcft .'»x;Oit L,-5;;^i4 <■• ' Ji z%'i:-iAr-'i ’■'r ..(i i •i •ost’; - r. r» •». • t w • «..• I •. ' \ >«i A- « jlOnAOail J * 3 I I 5 i System i i j Forriation Thickne s s in foot i... 1 Hochoster j 0-80 1 Bark grey shale and calcareous I shale 1 Clinton 1 0-35 1 1 Grey crystalline limestone iV 1 Thorold 1 1 : 0-15 jLight grey and greenish grey 1 sandstone i j i i i j 1 Grimsty j Catot Head ! and j llanitoulin i 60-110 1 Rod sandstone, red and grey, icalcareous shale, grey and iBrown limestone Whirlpool i 0-24 jGrey, fine- to medium-grained 1 sandstone i 1 Queenston 360-500 iRod, in part sandy, shale ; i Heaford i 1 ' i :Dnndas | 640- [Chiefly grey shale with intcr- iBedded grey, impure limestone [Beds, the latter more comiuon [toward the top Ordovician j i 1 i I i i Billings i 130- i [ ; Bark grey shale Becoming Black land Bituminous toward the Base i Trenton and Older Palaeozoic Limestones I i 1 680- 1 1 ■ Essentially grey and Brownish, crystalline limestone and dolo- initic limestone with partings and thin zones of grey and occasion¬ ally greenish shale i Basal "beds o CO 1 1—i Sandstone, arkose, arenaceous limestone, and dolomite -.—.....i P re Cambrian | i ; : 1 ! i •v i • .'I' • ^ w »X »> ^ V .A I > >', .Jtiii(j4. t .. .V; i . I . • - '.^ i-^C’ ’ trcwi!!?! :V' ;:/'• U^-iV - 23 .'.. ,VjS)iiAi; ■ I- )C ' ) • :iA .•'if -. .. i 1 . n sXs^! .n V uV: IJ . ,/•< H.t r- ,, .>.•'? , r.toXee '-r 6 PRODUCING HORIZONS Cornrnercial production comes entirely from rocks of Silurian age, the Medina, Clinton, and Guelph formations holding all the producing rocks. Four productive horizons are present within these formations, viz., the Whirlpool (White Medina), Grimshy (Red Medina), Clinton, and Guelph, The Whirlpool consists of fine- to medium-grained, grey sandstone. It rests disconformahly upon the Queenston forma¬ tion and varies in thickness from mere traces of sand in wells from East Nissouri and North Oxford townships to about 24 feet as exposed on Nottawasaga River, Walpole, Tuscarora, Onondaga, Brantford, and Woodhouse townships hold vrells that produce gas from this horizon. The Grimsby does not outcrop in the Brantford area; it is present only in the southern part where it is concealed beneath younger rocks and is, therefore, known only from well samples. It consists of light grey and red sandstone and sandy shale with some grey shale. As seen at the outcrop *in Niagara gorge^ ^ Caley, J.F.j Geol. Surv,, Canada, Mem. 224 (1940). the Grimsby consists of irregularly distributed lenticular masses of sandstone separated by shale or sandy shale. Drilling indicates that the same conditions prevail in the Brantford area and production may come from almost any level -'ithin a maximum total thickness of about 45 feet. Walpole and Woodhouse tov/nships are the chief areas producing from this horizon, although gas is also found in the Grimsby in Townsend, Middleton, Chariotteville, } • , n. • '.VJ T r*,-' 'w*. « -• o >r • .. * ^ .J ..I f A. * •*> .-**T -L , . - ih ■ . •». ‘ ir ^ ' * *■ ' *. • • • ••• • . . V ^ '.'i-'' ' '; ■ 1 •-*'-' ■ “>■ ■ ■' ‘i-V .1 ^ . 4 *« •' f . .J* . V 'J ± ' . ■ .• ' ^ * .:. ’ it'' r .tw J_ .u..)yr *'. -■ ^ .t'jc. ^.^ <■). , > lii? "piTi a-j‘ . ■; . . 1 . ’•.S'J * ’ .* ^ .» i» » .1* A ^ ^ ^ ' ; > ’ * ; : ,i \hic ,'. 'B*vi‘j[ f :. ^'^.!. '>! •* V U>” 7!’V" ”V, * ■ i.w-'y .^On-ic'c: ?»*i' :.A •. J ■• «A . •>' ’ . v'3) v<.\'V ' . V 4i ^- • 1 Ci') M 0l . :uCi r.30. 1. >r« «• •• *T-. , A i.t V «. * O i OS' iaX. ■ *; • • Ii 1", >), •• ■ »J O •! • Ci' Jl? >• •>>-»k «* i . 0 X and South Walsingham townships The Clinton does not outcrop in the Brantford area; it is present onlj south of the latitude of Galt and is concealed Beneath younger rocks, 1'g consists of grey and Buff-colourod, crystalline or granular limestone.. As interpreted hy the driller, this horizon includes the underlying Thorold sandstone. The following are thiclaiossos of the Clinton T;roi3er, as deter¬ mined from well sample ss Township Thickness in feet ilalahide 25 Bayriam South Dorchester Woodhouse Charlotteville Middleton South "felsixigham Dereham East EissQuri Eorth Oxford North Easthope Brantford 20 25 10 20 15 25 20 25 30 20 13 Tuscarora 10 Beverly 35 The Clinton is productive througnout the present producing part of the area 'with ti'^ie exception of Dereham township. In that to?/nsnip production is from the Guelph, Few holes have Been drilled as deep as the Clinton there and all have so far Been non-productivec, The Guelph formation contains the highest producing horizon in the area. The numBer of drilling samples availaBle is insufficient to perrait determining the exact position of the pro¬ ductive Bods, But they are high in the formEtion and apparently ‘ '.Vi.'. ii -i Jt L : . i - • < .. ’/i "/i jiT>-.:. Mib i.X qu'i ji.ii' ijocc if'--.': XiC'< n-; ;: ' . «don*: ? tii / ;- , f »• f r* •» - _«• ’to ,^. 4 « V- * '■ 5?t'‘ ' 5 ^ * , '•• -ix o-Io c.-niKr. ^ r 1 ' \ - iJ J 0 '.•i;7 v! • i . L - A/OT 1 c:-;fx:’'.-^ .rti,": 'S *p • ^ f» •> ,/j.-/■'•';;7'' •.**!< ., * . . „ •- r ♦ • •' .T . -51 i 4*4»v4 ' !<* - ^ , f. •# PI* »* ^ J 0 iu > «j (.4 w rr, •■• •. * ^ .' • ' Py" T« ■ ’.'V 1 - . ur -I •* ■ ' i *•,« • ‘ • * t* ‘‘ -1 ■■' 'X •' .« ,N ^ . . V k>'*^ Xo ii^v. > Xv :■: »f'i‘'. . : :i' xXo’'.x::V)T’i /. . ^ V' ^ •* .y.i u; ' .*< 5ii l' - » i''. tA . , 1 I ' • k • I* ■ ' \ / •I I . • ,. .y\i •' ^ - Oi' • *'oi .-y ' •i.- r^: t V'' ’•■ .■.■/ift-ou itJu *) i.? ? V J T'l a • v." • - . iJ L'iSf r' ;.U S)tr 5; J.t'* hiC V* •. ) . P'l i)l I . t I;' ' r Vs Jrut^e -. T: vlrlr 'JT.:,; ;;,jb0T-'^ q^. i. i'y.; ■ Xu to ,: * *i-M il SH. oi: r!"^o t-/i la'll- I-i. ■ ■ - ^. ■: ‘ orrrM.^ ^ "u-} I'CX ^ .-; " rv /iei-li . • ■M-. ■•■.-?:-i.-7q' «.-V 1 . ;„ J ,Cfi..V.ji9:.' , ^••^i■^Al'J 7 J -;5 qocx 4^4 n;.;/yj*r/^ ;t!:'*.; ,,:ii Uii.fi^iiOu iiC io'"> ’ c; ‘'jX'Xr*.! uivas y • - ’ ■ ;i !|J .;t. jn J: 1 X A * f) "io 'I; • n 7)/iCf , , «*■ ■ 4. -•'.’A £ -O': i * *' ; :o'.:Ti;v.r' * /.. ;,'/ ^ r Xivj ,.-r- '.1 •!<.. -I'X AA'i»; 1'..). .• ■'.■'■ ' " 1 J. wi'i, ^ .i .3 ’*'7. ■ V ’>/■ . ^ * 'il ' I f V I iv. • . . >1 ® »CKjr C; 4'- ^■'A» •■'■ •'« •s 4*V •r>| #. 4* U.hM 'V' ^ ’ .•^.- <• < ► ft . M • .* 1 t •' *./,• • . * . .V.V \*ii -i- i; f ►•••, •* »,•'•'•■• ^4 • •*•>* • \ T W' V ■ ■ »• J. 'ij* • A 5ir:dlar str^actaro is present in the west-central part cf Onondai.;a township, vihoro it nndcrlies lots 10 to 15, concession III and extends westward ahout :r mile into Brantford township. A closure of about 20 feet is indicated. The south flank dips at about 60 feet a mile and the north limb shows onlj a slight reversal of the regional south dip. A small dome writh a closure of about 20 feet underlies most of lots 1 to 0, con. II, ViTalpole tp.; this is probablv little more than a bulge on the regional structure. A low roll is present in the southwest part of lliddleton township and underlies part of lots 2 to 5, concession Ill, and most of lots 1 and 2, concession HIT. The struct’ire trends generally southeast with a major axis about 2 miles long. The south flank dips about 80 feet a mile and the rate of dip is thought to decrease to^the regional rate at a distance cf about ly- miles from tne crest of the roll. On the north side, the regional southerly dip is resuLiied within approximately mile of the crest. A closure of 20 to 00 feet is indicated. About 2-V miles east of the foregoing structure a very small doming of the Clinton is indicated beneath the northern part of lots 15 and 16, concession HIS,and the south part of the same lots in concession IIS. It is slightly elongate with a major axis about gf i.iile long, trending southeast. The south limb has a maximum dip of about 130 feet a mile; this decreases gradually attaining the regional average at an estimated distance of H ^ 80tn 'V L u • V- a j- • U W «• J i. J. < . '■ ■ •*> t '." fv ' • '.'Ai A. 4' ^ ..' ■'' ci i J J O v<" r%i ' ^ f. •' ;■-* '’Ul' >,/ . • ^ V • ' t 4-- ,. Cf • Ui 7 i, .*.. A. r r ■ 8A '-ixts '!<:■ ’'- rrr : ;'V-3*iajry v:: ^-anjjk. 'i k OO ui^.'^i'' •! i. cl i •* ',/ 7 * *r I r j- . • .'■'•■A'j n?’ ■)•.' ’'I , . * • r V ‘.^ • “* ** '• ' li ■' .4^*11) K I ;.( j i'/■ ,i''',< ,.■■ •>! &ll iyM. .. . - .. . - . - ^ . .> N ’ ‘A- k *•.*/ • .% . W 'X7 v‘<5 - I'V.: 4 •« i»4 • ' i ^‘z i. ■ . I':. i. ': ?• >;.'- ■ tq: i'.i '.' j v- •k V.' t ‘ I ' ^ i V i J • T « c :.•; i'uiii. ■. ' 'l l* r ■■« r ■ -.» ., - p,» 1 ( i; ' I , • - , '■y . ■'■. -» * . 4 -* A.. >. I ..I ':rj >;■' .*4* • aT: vj .u” ' ■ * Z ' • rrT I . 'A 1 * 1 ^ I ' . .' ..I I u il 10 miles from the apex of the fold. On tne north side the regional direction of dip is resamed within a distance of -g* mile. As already suggested, the fact that the foregoing stractures are both extremely gentle and widely scattered render it much more likely that they are the result of uneven settling rather than of any tectonic movement. In some instances at least, the low domiiig may he due to reefs in the Clinton limestone. Beef structures are knov/n elsewhere in this formation and can he seen at Niagara gorge in tne upper Clinton and even projecting inco the overlying Rochester sliale, PRODUCING FIELDS Within the present producin.; region drilling has hcen concentrated in areas that for p'urposcs of description may he referred to as ’’fields". In most cases these areas of concentrated drilling are not properly fields in the sense of heing producing areas whose limits arc definite and that arc surrounded hy stretches of country knoY/n to he non-productive. Although it is true that areas of concentrated drilling are separated hy non-drilled regions of considerable extent, those latter do, in some instances at least, contain isolated, widely spaced producing wells. The lack of well-defined structures suggests ehat structure resulting from diastrophic causes is not the major controlling factor in accumulation. This conclusion lends support to the belief that the present producing areas or "fields" may not constitute I .' 4 u ll* f ** ^» « W i • • ■ 1 ■ Vs ‘ Ws V- » . V.:;.; i,;=u-!- • , '< ■•u" l-'-i ‘ . . t .' I-' .' h r’r.'"'i. ' *Vi i. '*.. I. i - 4 i J 0 ’«—■ * ’ 3 » »— • w. i if ' \ ^ ''' ‘ ;V'.-'.;i Vi ■f'JiiAr':'% s . .-..o nsi ‘ ^ ■• . '*• ‘ .' * . . •. * J v J i VC ^ ‘ " + J :* :. . • ■• A - ■ --v'J'- • •••■ * r <.*i!*** -’ i" ^' ^*-4 ^ fi ‘^S '''I f i ' i'i. h :^'<.i'.->'i ■ *’t 3i4‘ni’a’;stv l/ . - -4 ,» • '. •l’'^ ^ rv. -■• - , 44 S- 1 f ~%.i >•' J U'» .'tftt* ,W<'' •) .. • ^SSi' ■■>•<■- -■'•''■ ■' 44 >ii 4 . . 1 .^ - ..■'.. wJ. -I 4 . V.. ..V " '■>’'f'• <«:•'-• '•’ •'■ ^ Tegii ,’ .c: ^ .'•'il” i*,# * 4 . 1 ^ 4 . ■. :'.;:.is- -■■ .L'>-,•■ iSl '«:; sra ; ^.-c. '*•/? '/ir! ' iMiti‘^nr.x .' i*s' - , . • • I , ■ • -s’ ijf t.'TV'iJ ' jil '■■! *4 64^1 ’ 0^ ' 10 . ..^^4 :.;t. VJ t’- -’ i>*ij'!ni’ft« 3 afT«vo lo .. + 4 -. • ••;' % ^ - if' <• . •J. /*• V ‘1 : ’ 'j' j' I -'I i' .arc \ u,:. :^.l ^v■";:^,yJ^S,i , I : ^ J, . ( k? ?' "Y r ' 3 " '*'•-’n ''v 3 " <> •_ .i; J v'a kl ■ v-iiw 4 ee>b/')di . . -y osi'!* ,• •■ .;,. Ton n't liTad’ivi /uox l :tXi./fc jt / . • . . . d tndc :t 7 -u' T? "-IlK '.•/'-i 3 ^ *r ■ ..»•••- t< ^ 4 W < -i"'.-*’’ ••- ' < '■ JiP '-’I *' ♦ v ll 'vo „ I • ’• *f'3 i'l ;d f - '-4%] V - iTlif ,,:f 11 separate fields and that the interveniiiig, non-drilled areas may represent localities of potential prodnction. The folloninj^ remarks are based upon evidence drawn from wells for which data % were available and which could be located in the field. Brant Coi-inty The extreme eastern part of Brantford township to¬ gether with the southern third of Onondaga and most of concessions V axid VI Tuscarora township, constitute a ’’field". Gas is fomid in every part of this area, apparently regardless of str’ictural conditions. fFon-coniiercial 7yells occur sporadically through- out^iri.some instances these are surrounded by producing wells, a condition strongly suggestive of discontinuous porosity in the reservoir rock. About 20 per cent of the holes for which records are available were initially either dry or non-comi/iercial. The Clinton and Whirlpool are the chief produciiig horizons and many wells draw from both. Producing depths range from 362 to 490 feet for the Clinton and 441 to 663 feet for the Whirlpool. The follov/inf’^ log illustraoes the detailed stratigraphy in this field; Log of Hartley Well Ho. 3 Location; lot 16, concession ill, Onondaga township ; • Formation iLepth in feet j Thickness ’ 1 in feet 1 Lithology I 6-110 t i 110 i lie samples 1 110-150 1 40 i Lark grey and gr onish, lim^- Sal ina i 1 shale5 traces of anhydrite 1 150-155 \ iGroy, crystalline dolomite. V / .. «c b .io 'J f .O':,. . ^ n f *rith small amount of grey shale and dolomitic shale. IVhirlpool 565-575 10 Light grey, mediuiTi-grained sand¬ stone , ^ueenston 575-576 1 Red shale. Haldimand County Drilling covers practically all the southern tiTO-tliirds of the part of Walpole tovmship within the present area. The greatest concentration of walls is on lots 1 to 6 , concessions I to IVj lots 7 to 12, concessions IV and V; and lots 13 to 18, concessions V to VIII. r < - 16 - Elsewhere within the first ten concessions the wolls arc more or loss scattered, v;-ith the most oxtonsiwo non-drillcd areas in lots 1 to 6, concessions VI to X, and lots 7 to 15, concessions I and II, About 25 per cent of tho wells for which records are awailablo were initially dry or non-commcrcial. The Clinton and Grimsby are the chief pro¬ ducing horizons, although many vrells yield from both and in some cases the Clinton and hlhirlpool yield to the same well, IJorfolk County Woodhouse toimship contains what might be called a Y/estern extension of the Walpole toimsliip producing area, although a sparsely drilled region intervenes botv/oen Walpole and the most thickly drilled part of Ifoodhouse township. In Woodhouse, m.ost of the wells are in the southwest part, embracing lots 3 to 12, concession 15 lots 3 to 9, concession IIj lots 2 to 6, concession III; lots 1 to 10, concession B.F,; and lot 1, Gore, In addition, more scattered drilling has been done on lots 11, 12, 18, and 19, concession V; lots 12, 13, and 20, concession VI; and lots 13, 14, and 15, con¬ cession'!, Extensive non-drilled areas are pi-esont in the nortlwest and central part of the tovi/nship. Of 128 "veils for which records are available, 16 were dry. The Clinton is the chief producing horizon, but the Grimsby also produces and in about 20 per cent of the wells the yield is from both horizons. Producing depths range from. 8G0 to 1,093 feet for the Clinton and 874 to 1,138 feet for the Grimsby horizon. The following log shows the detailed stratigraphy in this district; *'S*A>*» O W- ft • I ka ^ i 'J t' •:u T >t.i ■; '.J, • . ' '\ \ ^ i4jt %' \S » ,/ .1- ■w r ' , ' -WV •I .»> r • It ,G lof ‘. j 2 ^ •'■ C''- . ‘ i i ■■ H I '[I \y s 4 ' ' « .1 C* -.. JO M , Ji . ;.3 JL • •': 1 - 14 - Log of ISCLOC Ho^Yott TJcll No, 1 Location: lot 11, concession V, Vifoodhouso toimship Formation Depth in foot Thicknosp in feet Lithology Norfolk 55-120 65 BroYmish grey, fine, magnesian lim.e- • stone; grey chert; traces of sand o.t 55 and 90 foot. Bertie-Akron 120-195 75 Broivn and grey, fine dolomito 195-205 10 Brown, fine dolomite; little dark, limy shale. Salina 205-280 75 Dark grey and greenish, limy shale; s OLie gyp sum , 280-380 100 Brown, fine dolomite; some dark shale traces of gypsum. 380-420 40 Dark grey, limy slmlo; traces of anhydrite. 420-480 60 BroTm, fine dolomite; little grey shale. 480-500 20 Dark grey, limy shale; traces of < anhydrite• 500-520 20 Brown, fine dolomite; little dark. limy shale. Guelph 520-600 80 Grey, finely granular dolomite. 600-780 180 Cream-coloured, finely crystalline . dolomite; traces of selenite at Lockport 740 and 770 feet. . 780-800 20 Brom, fine dolomite. 800-810 10 Grey, limy shale. Rochester 810-840 30 Dark grey, limy shale; little brownish limestone. , 840-880 40 Dark grey shale. Clinton 880-890 10 Grey, crystalline limestone. Thorold 890-900 10 Light grey sandstone. Grimsby 900-920 20 Grey and greenish sandstone; little red shale. 920-950 30 Greenish grey shP^le; little reddish impure lime and grey sandstone. - 15 - Formation Depth in foot ■ Thickness in foot Lithology Cabot Head 950-965 15 Greenish grey shale. and 965-970 5 Grey dolomite. * Manitoulin 970-1000 30 Greenish grey shale; little grey dolomite at 995 to 1,000 feet. YHiir Ipool 1 ,000-1,010 10 Grey, medium-grained sandstone. Queenston 1,010-1,015 5 Red shale. Middleton township contains throo distinct areas whore drilling has been more or less concentrated. The nost easterly is con¬ tinuous with small producing areas in northeast North Walsingham town.ship, northwest Charlottevilie to-wnship, and southwest Windham tovmship. The most v/esterly extends a short distance into Bayham township, Elgin county, whore it joins the Eden field. Those areas are separated by more or less untested localities, but structurally the three areas seem to bo parts of a single, narrow, east-trending area extending from Bayham township eastward to Windham towiaship. Gas is found practically throughout this area, though dry holes occur at several places. Such a condition indicates that dry holes do not necessarily define the limits of a field and favours considoring the intervening, untested areas as being potential.. About 25 per cent of the wells for which records are available were either initially dry or non-commercial. The Clinton is the chief producing horizon, but a fevf vrolls yield from the Grimsby in Charlotteville and Middleton townships. Producing depths for the Clinton horizon range from about 1,035 to about 1,329 feet. The follovj-ing log shows the detailed stratigraphy of this area: I- • J •♦A • 5 . r f., - 16 - Log of J« Holtby No* 2 Well Location: lot 6, concession VIII, Bayham toiAmship Formation Depth in feet Thickness in feet Lithology Norfolk 270-440 .440-540 540-560 170 100 20 Grey,fine limestone; dark, bituminous streaks from 380 to 440 feet. Grey, fine limestone; much grey chert. Coarse, grey sand with much chert. Bertie-Akron 560-610 50 Brownish grey, fine dolomite with dark, bituminous streaks. Salina 610-650 650-950 950-970 970-1,010 40 300 20 40 Grey, limy shale and brown dolomite; some gypsum. Ho samples. Dark grey, limy shale, traces of anhydrite• Brown, fine dolomite; traces of gypsum. Guelph Lockport 1,010-1,260 250 Grey, cream, and broi/vnish coloured, finely granular dolomite; traces of selenite at 1,070 and 1,130 feet. Rochester 1,260-1,300 40 Dark grey, limy shale Clinton 1,300-1,320 20 Brownish grey, granular dolomite. Cabot Head and Manitoulin 1,320-1,400 1,400-1,430 80 30 Grey, greenish, and red shale; little reddish limestone; bryozoa frag¬ ments at 1,350 feet. Grey, crystalline limestone; little grey shale^ Whirlpool 1,430-1,440 10 Greenish shale with some white sand¬ stone * Queenston 1,440-1,450 10 Red shale. Drilling in South Walsingham township is in part concentrated on lots 8 to 17, concessions B and Aj and on lots 16 and 17, concessions I and II. Gas is found throughout this district, although about 20 per cent of the wells for which records are available were initially dry or non-commercial, The Clinton is the main producing formation, but in a • 1 -17- few wells both Clinton and Grimsby arc responsible for the yield. Producing depths for the Clinton range from 1,272 to 1,370 feet. The following log shows the detailed stratigraphy here: Log of Dominion N atur a l Gas Company Well No, 1 Location; lot 9, concession B, South Laisingham township. Formation Depth in feet Thickness in feet Lithology 290-450 160 Cream-coloured, finely crystalline. Norfolk magnesian limestone; little chert at 370 feet; dark, bituminous streaks at 360 and 450 feet. 450-485 35 No samples , 485-495 10 Chiefly chert; some coarse sand. 495-530 35 Brownish grey, fine limestone; much chert; some coarse sand. 530-535 5 Chert, little fine sand 535-550 15 Grey, fine limesuone; much chert; little coarse sand. 550-565 15 Chert; some clear, angular quartz grains. 565-585 20 Chert; little coarse sand at 570 feet. Bertie-Akron 585-655 70 Buff and brown, fine dolomite. 655-740 85 Dark grey, limy shale; traces of gypsum. 740-790 50 Browi, finely crystalline dolomite. Galina 790-850 60 Dark groy, limy shale; little brown dolomite; traces of gypsum. 850-860 10 Brown, fine dolomite; minor amount of grey, limy shale. 860-940 80 Dark grey, limy shale; traces of gypsum. 940-970 30 Brown, fine dolomite. 970-1020 50 Dark groy, limy shale. * '4 k -18- Formation Depth in feet Thickness in feet Lithology Guelph 1,020-1,035 15 Grey, finely granular dolomite; traces of selenite at 1,035 feet. Lockport 1,035-1,210 175 Grey and brovmish, finely crystalline dolomite. 1,210-1,230 20 ho samples , Rochester 1,230-1,275 45 Dark grey shale. Clinton 1,275-1,300 25 Grey, finely crystalline doloiifite. Thorold 1,300-1,315 15 Grey, medium-grained sandstone. Gr imsby 1,315-1,360 45 Red and grey sandstone v/ith minor amount of red and greenish shale.- Only a few wells have been drilled in Houghton tormsliip, and of the 17 wells for which records are available, 4 were dry* Production is from the Clinton at depths between 1,382 and 1,423 feet, and one well is reported to yield from the l/'JhirIpool * Elgin County Bayham township contains four separate areas of con¬ centrated drilling. At the extreme northv/est part on lots 1 and 2, concessions IX and X, and lots 4, 5, and 6, concession there are about 19 wells forming an extension of the Broims- ville "field” of Dereham tomiship* All but one of these v/ells - 19 - obtained coimncrcial production from tho upper part of tho Guolph dolomite at depths bet\'veen 895 and 960 feet. The second producing locality includes lots 22 to 28, concession VIII and constitutes the Eden ’’field”, already referred to as a westward extension of the Middleton township producing area , The third locality is in the west-central part of the tovmship and includes only about ten wells, on lots 1 and 2, concession V, and lots 1 to 4, concession IV, Of those, only five were commercially productive and three were dry; data re¬ garding the remaining wells is lacking. Yield is from the Clinton formation at depths between 1,263 and 1,398 feet. The fourth locality is in the south-central part of the township and includes the old Vienna ’’field” , Most of the wells are in lots 11 to 16, concession I, and lots 12 to 25, concessions II and III. Of about 63 wells in this area for which records are available, 13 were either initially dry or non-commercial. Pro¬ duction is mainly from the Clinton at depths between 1,304 and 1,415 feet, but several wells yield from the Grimsby horizon. The log of J, Holtby No, 2 v/ell on lot 6, concession VIII, already given, illustrates the detailed stratigraphy in Bayham toYmship, The Malahide ’’field” was' discovered by the Union Gas Company of Canada, Limited, late in 1938 and is still being developed. When last visited by the writer (September, 1939) 18 • j • I • '• I iV ■ ■ -I • - 20 - 7 \rolls had boon drilled or were drilling; most of those are concentrated on lots 15 to 24, ooncession V, and lots 8 to 10, concession IV. Of the 18 wells, 8 wore commercially productiTe, 6 were dry holes, and 4 wore drilling. Since that time the rajimber of wells in this field has more than doubled. The producing horizon varies from 9 to 45 feet below the top of the Guelph formation, --the drilling depths being between 1,060 and 1,083 feet. Sufficient data upon which to work out the structure is not at hand. However, using the top of the Guelph as determined from well samples, there appears to be a low anticlinal roll or elongate dome trending generally northeast, with its major axis extending at least from lot 15 to lot 23, concession V. This apparent structure is bounded on the northwest side by a line of dry holes situated within mile of the crest. No definite indication of tho probable southeast limit is as yet knoYm to the writer. The following log shows the detailed stratigraphy of this field. Log of E. BroYvn No. 2 Well Location: lot 21, concession V, Malahide tovmship Formation Depth in feet Thickness | in feet j Norfolk 295-407 112 1 i : 407-484 77 484-596 112 1 596-624 28 ! 624-631 7 1 t I Lithology BroY/n and cream-coloured, fine lime¬ stone; little chert at 335 and 379 feet Cream-coloured, fine limestone with dark bituminous streaks. Light buff limestone; minor amount of chert throughout. Chert; smiall amount of grey sand. Cream-coloured, fine limestone; little chert. t f: t - 21 - Formation a o o d-i O h Thickness in foot 1 Lithology Bortio-AlDTon 1 631- 684 t ; 53 1 Brown and grey, finely crys'calline 1 i dolomite. 1 684- 700 16 j Dark grey, limy shale. Salina 1 700- 722 22 Brovm, fine dolomite; some dark, shaly lime stone. i 722- 821 99 Dark grey, limy shale; small amount * gypsum. 1 821- 877 56 Brovm, fine dolomite; traces of gypsum. i 877- 920 ! 43 Dark grey, limy shale; traces of 1 gypsum. 920- 941 21 Brovm, fine dolomite; little dark, limy shale; traces of gypsum. 941- 993 52 Dark grey, limy shale; minor amount gypsum. 993-1,018 25 Brovm, fine dolomite; traces of gyp- sum. 1,018-ipso 32 Dark grey, limy shale. 1,050-1,068 18 Brovm, fine dolomite; traces ef gyp- sum. Guelph 1,068-1,199 131 Grey and brovm, crystalline dolomite. Lockport 1,199-1,300 101 1 Buff and cr^jam-coloured, crystalline dolomite. 1,300-1,354 54 1 Bream and grey, finely cyrstallino dolomite. t : Rochester i 1,354-1,403 49 I Dark grey shale, limy in the upper .. . part. Clinton j 1,403-1,428 25 1 Grey and buff limestone. Cabot Head 1 1,428-1,503 75 1 Grey shale; small amount of grey. and 1 crystalline limestone. Ifcinitoulin | 1,503-1,525 22 i Grey, crystalline limestone; little grey shale, j Whirlpool j 1,525 1 Traces of grey sandstone. Oxford County/' Most of the Brownsville field is in the southvrest part of Dereham township, but the "field" extends southward into Bayham township. It was discovered in 1935. The general area embraces lots 21 to 27, cons. XI and XII, Dereham tp., as vroll I •v -kM » •r.'■ * ^ ^ <■, ' • I fl Jui 6*J Ci C, ^ -• ' > ' ' tc’ :i '; ; v Liijf'.rj ■■ 'i f 'y ■« *3 X%:^> r •' V ? V i> rnr *rrA"' # * /-* 1* . r .>Jr r'* r .^.f' P f ,' - ■ ' ^ . /J.' :: /■; bo“T] o V Ui liiiis' r ■•' '/ c 5>i n . -r • • ? ' ■.. ' ' i>t . t . .X • - 22 - as lots 1 and 2, cons, IX and and lots 4 to 6, con. X, Bayham tp. Of the 83 -wells in this field for which records arc avail¬ able, 72 came in with commercial production and 6 wore dry holes; information regarding the remaining wells is lacking. The pro¬ ducing horizon varies from 5 to 61 foot bclov/ tj'io top of the Guolph formation and is reached at depths between 895 and 960 foot. The thicloiGss of the producing zone is about 18 foot in one well and about 6 foot in some others. Several producing wolls have boon added to this field since 1938. Lack of sufficient 'voll samples a.nd difficulty in re¬ cognizing the Salina-Guclph contact in drillers’ logs rondorod an attempt to contour the top of tho Guelph unsuccessful. In discussing 'the structure of this field, Evans” states that ^Evans, C,S,: Out, Dept, of Iiines, vol. 46, pt. 5, 1937, p.lOO, "the water data indicate that tho structure of tho Brownsville field is only a minor modification of the regional dip, since the sulphur water from, tho Detroit River series rises in all v/olls to or near tho siirfaco. Moreover, in one well, Preston, No, 1, a sulphur water struck in tho Guolph at 968 feet below the surface rises to the top of tho well". Tho following log shov^rs tho stratigraphy of this field; 0 I r ■% \ V r • • » / I i- r « I r 'T •1 5j I Location: lot Formation Norfolk Bertie-Akron Salina Guelph Lockport Rochester - 23 - Log of R, Tic Hav/kins Ho. 1 TTcll 22, concession XI, Dcrcham tovmship Depth in feet Tjiickne ss in feet Lithology 175-355 180 Croam-colourod and hrouTiish grey, finely crystalline limestone. Protosalvinia at 175 foot,* Eryozoa at 195 feet; traces of solonito at 210 foot; dark, bituminous streaks at 350 and 355 foot. 355-485 130 3 r oY.Tii sh grey, fine 1 imostone ; little chert throughout; sand at 480 and 485 foot. 485-500 15 Chert; little grey limestone and some sand. 500-585 or oo Broivn, finely crystalline dolomite; some grey shale in lower 15 feet. 585-600 15 Broimish grey, fine dolomite; treacos of anhvdrite. fc/ 600-655 55 Greenish grey, limy shale; traces of anhydrite. 655-680 25 DOerk grey, limy shalo; much anhyd¬ rite , 680-715 35 BroYm, fine dolomite; little anhyd¬ rite , 715-725 10 Dark grey, limy shalo; traces of anhydrite• 725-790 65 BroYvnish grey, fine dolomite; traces of anhydrito. 790-840 50 Dark grey, limy shale; little anhyd¬ rite , 840-865 25 Alternation of gray shalo and brov/n dolomite; traces of anhydrite. 865-915 50 Brown, fine dolomite; little grey shalo, 915-930 15 Grey, limy shall;; much anhydriT:o . 930-975 45 Brovm, fine dolomite; shalo at 945 feet. 975-1,040 . '1 65 Groy o.nd brownish, finely granular dolomite. 1,040-1,195 155 Brownish grey, crystalline dolomite. 1,195-1,240 45 Dark groy shalo; little groy lime¬ stone at 1,215 and 1,235 foot. Depth in Thickness in Formation feet feet Lithology Clinton 1,240-1,260 20 Grey, crystalline limestone. Cabot Hoad 1,260-1,295 35 Greenish grey shale; little grey and 1,295-1,335 40 and red, impure limestone. Grey and green shale; little grey Manitoulin 1., 335-1, 350 15 limestone« Grey, crystalline limestone. I'Vhirlpool 1,350-1,360 10 Grey shale; some light grey sandstone Queenstono 1,360-1,355 5 Rod shale RESERVOIR ROCKS The F.ain reser'v^oir rooks are the sandstones of the Thorold, Grimsby, and 1/Yhirlpool.^ and limestones of the Clinton and Guelph formations, The ?i[hirlpool sandstone is composed chiefly of fine to medium, subangula^' quartz grains that for the most part are secondarily enlargedo The porosity is primary and has been estimated at about 10 per cento The Grimsby consists of red and grey, medium-grained sand¬ stone with shaly zones and lenticular masses of sandstone enclosed by shale or sandy shaleThe porosity is p-rimary and probably more or less discontinuous, as evidenced by the irregularity in pro¬ duction from this horizons The Thorold is a quartz sands bone of rounded, subangular, and even angular, grains with an average diameter of 0.1 mmc Argillaceous materials form about 20 per oent^ and include chlorite, ^ Ailing, H.Lo: Free., Rochester Acad^ Sci^, vols No-. 7, 1936, p. 196, fit *1 i. t ■ <> i. -25- muscovito, and rusty biotito* The Guelph is a dolonito fairly uniform in both physical and chemical characters* The percentage porosity and its origin are speculative• The primary effective porosity is in all pro¬ bability low. The effective porosity is probably secondary and due to solution and leaching. Porosity may not be confined to the present producing part of the Guelph, The gas obtained from the Guelph may have its source in the bituminous Eramosa and lower Guelph beds, and possibly its upward migration may have been arrested by the less pervious overlying Salina beds. If such is the case, all the rocks through which the gas passed on its way to the present place of accumulation must also be porous., ACCUMULATION Structure resulting from diastrophic causes does not appear to bo the principal factor controlling the accumulation of natural gas in the Brantford area and, therefore, it might be thought that the chances of,Obtaining some gas are equally good throughout the area. The Grimsby does not outcrop in the Brantford area, but where it does, as in the Niagara gorge and elsewhere, it holds lenticular masses of sandstone completely enclosed in argillaceous sandstone or shale. Such lenses could act as traps to migrating gas and even if the voids in the sandstone did not amount to more than 10 per cent the largest lenses might easily account for wells affording considerable production. j o • '■y If • XT0 7 3blWS I - 26 - In the ease ef the Thoreld sandstene it was found hy Stev/art^ ^Stovrart, J.S. ; Personal communication that the most highly productive wells are located where the sand¬ stone is purest, whereas in the dry holes and small producers it is highly dolomitic. Very little is knovm regarding the conditions giving rise to accumulations in the tJliirlpool, but differential cementation probably plays a loading part. The Clinton is loiovm to contain roofs of considerable size in other areas. It is suggested that roofs, if present in the Brantford area, may arrest migration and so play some part in causing accumulation. The vridespread production from this horizon, however, suggests that other and more important causes of accumulation are operative. In the G-uolph formation, gas in commercial quantities has, so far, been found only in the upper 60 foot or so, and the overlying Salina is a loss pervious formation. It may bo, therefore, that suitable porosity at the top of the Guelph, together with resistance offered to further migration by the Salina, may account for the accumulation. It is the writer's belief that porosity, differential cementation, and stratigraphic form, combined with gentle anti¬ clinal rolls and local flattenings of the regional structure, account for the gas fields so far discovered in the Brantford area If those conclusions are valid, it follows that much of the untest ' tv / Gd country that in the southern part of tho Brsaitford area intervenes bctiTOon preducing areas may prcporly bv considered worth testing. PRODUCTIOh The total production-^ from the Broeitford area in 1938 ^HarloiosSj R.B : Ont. Dept. liincs^ vol. 48, pt. 5, 1939, p.2 (exclusive of the jrield from Tlalpolo township, for which figures arc not available) vras 1,243,788 LI, cubic feet. Of this volume, Brant county produced 135,348 PI, cubic foot; Norfolk county 437, 867 II. cubic fectj Elgin county (Bayham tovmship) 113,651 JI. cubic foot; and Oxford county (Brownsville f iold)^ 556,922 PL cubic feet. 2 Doreho,m tp., 506,005 M. cu. ft,; Bayham tp., 50,917 PL cu. ft.. OTIiER PJiEAS That part of Brantford area north of the area illust¬ rated by tho accompanying map has so far failed to yield natural gas or oil in coimriorcial quantity. In this northern region, the Silurian stratigraphy shcvfs some changes from that of tho producing region. The domanantly arenaceous Grimsby and Thorold arc replaced by the argillaceous Cabot Head beds. The Clinton is not laio’vm to be present north of tho latitude of Kitchener, and the TPhirlpool, although it persists along the oast boundary of tho area, is represented only b^r traces of sand in wells from East Nissouri, North Cbiford, and Plinto tovmships, cjid is not recognized at all in North Easthope tovni- t ^ ''C^'T'== f P- ’K '< ji- i l .* -iv 0 28 - ship. Thus, of the Silurian producing horizons in the south, only the Guelph presents any prospects of production in the north¬ ern region, and for raore thcin half of this region these prospects do not seen "bright. The Guelph outcrops at many localities; sections ranging from a few feet to over 80 feet have heen seen. It is highly prohahle that where Guelph forms the youngest "bedrock, any gas it may have contained would long since have "been dissipated. However, 77here the Guelph is buried "beneath younger rocks, as for example in the western half of the region, upward migration of any gas in them may have "been arrested "by the overlying Salina, Possibly the gas would migrate up the dip and be lost at the outcrop except in so far as presence of favourable structures or variations in degree of porosity might arrest and trap some of this gas. The pirospocts of obtaining production from the Ordovician rocks of this northern part of Brantford area do not seem very good, but the absence of gas in commercial quantity has not been proved. i The detailed lithology of the Ordovician forraations is illuatrated by the following log: Log of ;^ckv/ood Oil Company W ell Location: lot 6, concession lY, Eramora township f Depth in Eormtion i feet Thickness in feet Lithology 1 0-180 180 Ho samples Lockport I 180-210 30 Light bluish grey, coarsely cry¬ stalline dolomite. 1 210-220 : : 10 Grey, crystalline dolomite with much pyrite : i t Cabot Head! 220-260 40 Red and greenish grey shale with 1 some red and grey, limy shale. r’H 29 I I ; Depth in 1 Tiiickness 1 Formation | feet 1 1 in feet 1 j Lithology 1 Manitoulin 260-280 i 1 20 1 Grey, crystalline dolomite with j 1 3 little greenish grey shale. i Whirlpool j 280-300 20 Light grey to white, medium- i grained sandstone. 1 Qusenston 300-740 1 440 Red shale Lleaford i 740-880 1 140 Grey and greenish grey shale with i 1 i ■ frequent grey, crystalline lime¬ stone hands. i 880-950 i 70 IJo samples Dundas 1 950-1,380 430 Grey shale with occasional, thin. ; ; limestone hands. Billings 1,380-1,420 40 Dark grey shale. ■ 1,420-1,510 90 Dark grey to hlack, bituminous shale. 1,510-1,720 210 Grey and hrown, crystalline limestone 7;ith occasional, dark, shale Trenton 1,720-1,790 70 partings. Grey, limy shale with minor amounts and of grey, crystalline limestone, greenish, limy shale, and light older 1,790-1,890 100 grey, flaky ’’Kaolinite''. Grey, shaly limestone with small amount of greenish and grey shale. Palac ozoic 1,890-1,930 40 1 Grey, finely crystalline limestone. 1,930-1,970 40 1 Grey, limy shale. limestones 1,970-2,000 30 1 Grey, shaly limestone. 2,000-2,060 1 60 Brownish grey, finely crystalline : 1 limestone, with cream-coloured, 1 dense, limestone at 2,030 and 2,060 • j feet 2,060-2,140 o CO 1 Brov/nish, finely crystalline limestone Basal heds 2,140-2,170 30 1 1 Greenish, fine-grained sandstone with j 1 i i 1 minor amount of grey limestone 1 and shale. Precarntrian 2,170-2,180 10 i : 1 1 ' r r V ^ i; ■ • ■. • i t 30 Tho occasional limestone lieds of the Meaford and Dundas might function as reservoirs under favourable conditions of structure and porosity. The Trenton is the most favourable formation; like most limestones, however, its value as a re- servoir rock depends greatly on the presence of secondary porosity. This IS usually developed by the leaching action of circulating ground water, and hence presupposes a period of erosion. The top of the Trenton is an erosion surface in the Ivlanitoulin Islands and Georgain Bay districts, but Sproule^ states that in the southern 1 Sproule, J.C.: Geol. Surv,, Canada, Mem, 202, 1936, p. 99. of the two districts the period of erosion was much shorter. Possibly still farther south in Brantford area there may have been no erosion interval and porosity may be lacking. Reliable data are too meagre and scattered to indicate whether favouring structures are present in the Ordovician beds. The strata as a whole have a gentle dip toward the southwest. Widely spaced drilling has penetrated the Ordovician rocks i in Perth, Oxford, and Wellington counties with no encouraging result 3, A well on lot 3, con. VIII, North Easthope tp., was drilled to the precamjjrian in 1937, but neither oil nor gas was encountered. In 1909, a deep well was sunk in North Oxford township near i A THE UBRAKt (Jf THE MAR 1 0 1941 UNIVERSITY OF llUNOiS - 21 - Beachville. It penotrated the Trenton to a depth of 520 feet, but is reported to have encountered neither oil nor gas. On txde south iialf of lot 7, con, IV, Puslinch tp, , a well was drilled to a depth of 2,670 feet. An estimated flow of 20,000 cuhic feet of gas was obtained in limestone at a depth of 2,226 feet. In 1922 a second well on the same lot reached a depth of 2,521 feet, enterixig the Precamhrian at 2,360 feet, A show of gas was struck at 2,357 feet in, according to the driller’s log, the basal beds of the Ordovician, In 1900 a ?/ell was drilled on lot 6, con. V, Pilking- ton tp,, and furnished sufficient gas for two stoves. The gas was reported to come from a depth of 2,235 feet, or about 645 feet below the top of the Trenton. In the same year, a well on lot 5, con. III, Peel tp., reached a depth of 2,573 feet. It entered the Precambrian at 2,526 feet, A small flow of gas v/as struck at 2,506 feet, some 688 feet belo¥/ the top of the Trenton. In 1919 a well was drilled on lot 6, con, IV, Eramosa tp., to a depth of 2,180 feet. It reached the Precambrian m at 2,170 feet, A show of gas was reported, but the exact horizon is not known. §271 **^4 . I ) , *.11 . I ' * %( .tV 'j f A ^ - ••* - h 'i \ J" 0 '. t. 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