Developments in Southeastern United States in 1941

Urban B. Hughes

doi:10.1306/3D933512-16B1-11D7-8645000102C1865D

ABSTRACT

Outstanding development trends in the southeastern United States during 1941 were the following:

A decided decrease in wildcat activity with only approximately half the number of wells completed as during 1940.
The continuation of a curtailed geophysical program comparable with the last months of 1940 with a slight upturn toward the end of the year.
The inception of core-drilling programs by eight major companies with more emphasis placed on this type of exploration, as well as on surface geology.
A continuation of the leasing program in south Mississippi and its extension into Alabama and Florida.
The review and revision of geological and geophysical data with an attempt to eliminate the sources of error as revealed by negative results of exploration in 1940.

There were several additional events of importance in the area. Development in the Tinsley field seemingly outlined the limits of production from the shallow sands. A new sand, the McGraw, was discovered on the north edge of the field in the basal part of the Eutaw formation.

Two new fields were discovered in Mississippi, the Sharpsburg field in T. 11 N., R. 3 E., Madison County, and the Cary field in T. 11 N., R. 7 W., Sharkey County. The Sharpsburg field which may be an extension of the near-by Pickens field was discovered by C. L. Morgan’s Johnny No. 1, Sec. 4, T. 11 N., R. 3 E. The producing sand is known as the Wilburn and is the first sand in the Eutaw formation. The Cary field was opened by the British-American Oil Company’s Houston No. 1, Sec. 23, T. 11 N., R. 7 W., producing from Selma gas rock of Navarro age. Neither area has had sufficient exploration to evaluate the future.

Of geological importance was the limiting of the Mississippi salt basin on its northeast side by the Union Producing Company’s Waite No. 1 in Clarke County, Alabama, and the Magnolia Petroleum Company’s Culpepper No. 1 in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. The Union Producing well drilled to a total depth of 12,399 feet and near the bottom penetrated formations which are correlated with the Buckner, Smackover, and Eagle Mills formations of Louisiana and Arkansas. In the Eagle Mills formation, interbedded shale and salt was cored, suggesting proximity to the edge of the salt deposit. The Magnolia well in Lauderdale County encountered rocks of Paleozoic age at the depth of 6,060 feet, so that the limit of the salt deposit is between these two wells. Of first importance geologically is the presence of the Smackover limestone, indicating its presence across the Mississippi Basin into Alabama. This suggests the possibility of production in porous zones comparable with producing areas in Arkansas and Louisiana.

Alabama and Florida came in for extensive geophysical and leasing activity. In the latter state many of the large tracts were taken under geophysical option or otherwise leased. The same was true of southern Alabama and to a less degree, southern Mississippi. Nothing of importance occurred in Georgia.

Two new salt domes were discovered in Mississippi. Kings dome was found by the Magnolia Petroleum Company’s Hall No. 1, Sec. 17, T. 7 N., R. 4 E., Warren County. The Halifax dome was discovered by the Plains Producing Company in Sec. 1, T. 7 N., R. 4 W., Hinds County.

The Magnolia Petroleum Company’s Hall No. 1 encountered a saturated section in the top of the Wilcox formation. A test resulted in showing the presence of low-gravity asphaltic oil and water. Although this had no commercial value, the presence of oil in the top of the Wilcox formation was indicative of its productive possibilities elsewhere.

Fig. 1.