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Visit to the Oil Section, Crystal Palace Exhibition
222 VISIT TO THE OIL SECTION, CRYSTAL PALACE EXHIBITION. SATURDAY, JULY 17TH, 1920. REPORT BY C. N. BROMEHEAD, B.A., F.G.S., Director. A LARGE party assembled at the Crystal Palace to inspect the exhibits in the " Oil Section" of the Great Victory Exhibition, housed in the Canada Buildings. The first stand visited was that of English Oilfields, Ltd., where specimens of the "oil-shale" and its varied products were seen. A model retort was working to show the method employed. It was of the horizontal" Chiswick " type, the shale inserted at one end being driven through the heating chambers by a screw; the oil could be seen dripping into a collecting vessel, while uncondensed gas was burning at a small jet and the spent shale passed out at the end of the retort. The assistants in charge kindly answered many questions and explained the products shewn. The Director then said that his written request to the Company for a special account of the geology to be given to the Association had produced no reply, and as he had not personally visited the works in Norfolk he could do little but read extracts from Dr. Forbes Leslie's report to the annual meeting of shareholders in December 1919. The shale to be worked was part of the Kimmeridge series; in Dorset, where frequent attempts had been made to utilise it as a source of oil, it was characterised by a small fossil crinoid, Saccocoma, which had also been detected by Mr. Pringle, of the Geological Survey, in Norfolk, where, however, this organism appeared to be confined to a thickness of about nine inches. The statements quoted as to the properties of the shale, its quantity and the products obtainable indicated a truly remarkable deposit of unique value. The Director had had no oportunity of verifying these personally, but mentioned that a representative of the weekly journal "Oil News" after visiting Norfolk, said they " erred on the side of modesty," and compared himself to the Queen of Sheba, Dr. Forbes Leslie playing the part of King Solomon. The Government Exhibit consisted of a large jar of crude oil from Hardstoft, with samples of the motor spirit, kerosene, lubricating oil, and wax obtainable from it, together with a geological section. As he had recently given a demonstration to the Association at the Geological Museum on the Derbyshire oil-borings", the Director only added that the Hardstoft boring continued to yield about one ton of oil per day, that no more borings had reached the Carboniferous Limestone, but that • See Proc, Geol, Assoc., vol, xxxi., 1920, pp. 140-143.
VI SIT TO THE OIL SE CTION , CRYSTAL PALA CE EX HIB IT ION .
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one which had recently been sunk several hundred feet into it was being continued and might perhaps penetrate it; th e total thicknes s of the Limestone and the age of the beds on which it rest ed would be of great interest to geologists. He expressed hi s opinion that such oil as existe d in the district was ind igenous to the lower part of the Lim estone Shales, but was only obtainabl e as free oil when it had migrated into a suitabl e reservoir, su ch as the sandst ones of the Millstone Grit, or the porous beds of the Limest one . Since the oil could only mo ve along , not across, t he bedding planes of the impervi ous shale, and the various series were in apparent conformity to each other, these cond iti ons were only fulfilled when the shale was faulted agai nst the grits or limestone. He claim ed that the occurrences at H ard st oft, Kelham and Castl et on support ed this view, and that the many seep ages of oil found in collier y workings were a nalogous. The next item on the programme was the film " Th e Story of Oil," shown in a private theatre by the Anglo-American Oil Co. The firm had most kindly arranged a special perform ance for the Association. The pictures on the scre en sho wed the selection of sites, the borings of the wells, the finding of the oil, its treatment at the refineries, its export in " t anker " vessels, its reception at the Company's main dep ot at Purfleet , t he manufacture of special produ cts and of suit able containers, the means of distribution throughout th e count ry and man y other points of interest. Light relief was given by a film play showi ng h ow the use of an oil-burning cooking stove solve d dom estic troubl es. Th e Lucey Manufacturing Corp oration were exhibiting a co mplete " Rotary " d rilling outfit . On th is method th e bit, or chisel, grinds away the st ra ta, being revolved by mean s of a holl ow d rillin g ste rn. Th e intense vibrat ion and consequent wear and t ear in volved in the percussion system is therefore avo ided . As drillin g pr oceeds wat er, or water mixed with mud, is pumped down the drilling stern, flows round the bit and escapes at the t op of the hole. This flush serves a double purpose : it washes a way the material ground up by th e bit, avoidin g th e necessity of sto pping the drilling t o bale out the hole, and also in its ascent clothes the sides of the hole with a la yer of mud, enabling soft and friable strata to st and. F or this reason a great depth of hole ca n frequently be drill ed without the necessity for casing, thus saving both time and ex pense . The details of the mechani sm of th e drill and other sp ecialities of the company were explained by two of their representatives, who gave lucid answers to many questions, and distributed an explanatory pamphlet. One of the most interesting stands was that of the Scottish Oil Company. In reply t o the Director's letter the firm had most generously offered to send a special lecturer from Glasgow. In
224 VISIT TO THE OIL SECTION, CRYSTAL PALACE EXHIBITION.
view of the number of exhibits and the little time available for each, this offer had been declined, but every member received a copy of a well illustrated booklet describing the whole process of the extraction and refinery of shale oil. Considering the difficulty found by most speakers in making themselves audible, this was probably more useful than a lecture. The exhibit was unique in that it included a detailed geological map as well as specimens of the shale and its products and models of the works and vertical retorts. One of the most important uses of oil was illustrated by a large Diesel engine in motion, but the consequent noise made it advisable that members should examine the other stands individually. The Director drew special attention to a booklet distributed by the Shell Company, " The Shell that hit Germany Hardest," which described, inter alia, how 80 per cent. of the Toluol used by this country for the manufacture of high explosive during the war was prepared by the Shell Company from their Borneo oil, the refinery for the purpose being transferred from Holland to England in six weeks. Other interesting items were working models of derricks and percussion drills, a series of by-products from the distillation of coal, machinery running on oil fuel, a set of pictures with explanatory booklet containing reproductions illustrating the life-history of " Mex " Spirit, etc., etc. The difficulties of obtaining tea were considerable, and only a few members met again on the Terrace at 5.30, when a brief account of the local geology was given, with special reference to structure. The Crystal Palace ridge is on a synclinal axis, running north-east through Shooter's Hill. At both localities Claygate Beds form the surface, and the thickness of the London Clay proper can be found. At the Crystal Palace it is about 400 feet, at Shooter's Hill not much more than 300 feet. Near Catford the syncline cuts across and depresses an anticline running north-west from Chiselhurst to Deptford, which is also cut by the fault at St. John's. The Claygate Beds at the Crystal Palace were described long ago by M1'. Whitaker* though he had not separated them from the London Clay. The practical importance of this separation had been illustrated lately. It was proposed to build huge reservoirs on ground shown on the old Geological Map as London Clay under River Gravel. The contractors were distressed to find that the" London Clay" was full of seams of sand and would not hold water. In the newer memoir on that district the beds in question are separated as" Claygate Beds," and their nature indicated. The President proposed a vote of thanks to the Director. * "Geology of London," Mem; Geol, Surc
o,
vol, i., 1889, p. 243.
VI SIT TO THE OIL SE CTION , CRYSTAL PALA CE EX HIB IT ION .
2 23
one which had recently been sunk several hundred feet into it was being continued and might perhaps penetrate it; th e total thicknes s of the Limestone and the age of the beds on which it rest ed would be of great interest to geologists. He expressed hi s opinion that such oil as existe d in the district was ind igenous to the lower part of the Lim estone Shales, but was only obtainabl e as free oil when it had migrated into a suitabl e reservoir, su ch as the sandst ones of the Millstone Grit, or the porous beds of the Limest one . Since the oil could only mo ve along , not across, t he bedding planes of the impervi ous shale, and the various series were in apparent conformity to each other, these cond iti ons were only fulfilled when the shale was faulted agai nst the grits or limestone. He claim ed that the occurrences at H ard st oft, Kelham and Castl et on support ed this view, and that the many seep ages of oil found in collier y workings were a nalogous. The next item on the programme was the film " Th e Story of Oil," shown in a private theatre by the Anglo-American Oil Co. The firm had most kindly arranged a special perform ance for the Association. The pictures on the scre en sho wed the selection of sites, the borings of the wells, the finding of the oil, its treatment at the refineries, its export in " t anker " vessels, its reception at the Company's main dep ot at Purfleet , t he manufacture of special produ cts and of suit able containers, the means of distribution throughout th e count ry and man y other points of interest. Light relief was given by a film play showi ng h ow the use of an oil-burning cooking stove solve d dom estic troubl es. Th e Lucey Manufacturing Corp oration were exhibiting a co mplete " Rotary " d rilling outfit . On th is method th e bit, or chisel, grinds away the st ra ta, being revolved by mean s of a holl ow d rillin g ste rn. Th e intense vibrat ion and consequent wear and t ear in volved in the percussion system is therefore avo ided . As drillin g pr oceeds wat er, or water mixed with mud, is pumped down the drilling stern, flows round the bit and escapes at the t op of the hole. This flush serves a double purpose : it washes a way the material ground up by th e bit, avoidin g th e necessity of sto pping the drilling t o bale out the hole, and also in its ascent clothes the sides of the hole with a la yer of mud, enabling soft and friable strata to st and. F or this reason a great depth of hole ca n frequently be drill ed without the necessity for casing, thus saving both time and ex pense . The details of the mechani sm of th e drill and other sp ecialities of the company were explained by two of their representatives, who gave lucid answers to many questions, and distributed an explanatory pamphlet. One of the most interesting stands was that of the Scottish Oil Company. In reply t o the Director's letter the firm had most generously offered to send a special lecturer from Glasgow. In
224 VISIT TO THE OIL SECTION, CRYSTAL PALACE EXHIBITION.
view of the number of exhibits and the little time available for each, this offer had been declined, but every member received a copy of a well illustrated booklet describing the whole process of the extraction and refinery of shale oil. Considering the difficulty found by most speakers in making themselves audible, this was probably more useful than a lecture. The exhibit was unique in that it included a detailed geological map as well as specimens of the shale and its products and models of the works and vertical retorts. One of the most important uses of oil was illustrated by a large Diesel engine in motion, but the consequent noise made it advisable that members should examine the other stands individually. The Director drew special attention to a booklet distributed by the Shell Company, " The Shell that hit Germany Hardest," which described, inter alia, how 80 per cent. of the Toluol used by this country for the manufacture of high explosive during the war was prepared by the Shell Company from their Borneo oil, the refinery for the purpose being transferred from Holland to England in six weeks. Other interesting items were working models of derricks and percussion drills, a series of by-products from the distillation of coal, machinery running on oil fuel, a set of pictures with explanatory booklet containing reproductions illustrating the life-history of " Mex " Spirit, etc., etc. The difficulties of obtaining tea were considerable, and only a few members met again on the Terrace at 5.30, when a brief account of the local geology was given, with special reference to structure. The Crystal Palace ridge is on a synclinal axis, running north-east through Shooter's Hill. At both localities Claygate Beds form the surface, and the thickness of the London Clay proper can be found. At the Crystal Palace it is about 400 feet, at Shooter's Hill not much more than 300 feet. Near Catford the syncline cuts across and depresses an anticline running north-west from Chiselhurst to Deptford, which is also cut by the fault at St. John's. The Claygate Beds at the Crystal Palace were described long ago by M1'. Whitaker* though he had not separated them from the London Clay. The practical importance of this separation had been illustrated lately. It was proposed to build huge reservoirs on ground shown on the old Geological Map as London Clay under River Gravel. The contractors were distressed to find that the" London Clay" was full of seams of sand and would not hold water. In the newer memoir on that district the beds in question are separated as" Claygate Beds," and their nature indicated. The President proposed a vote of thanks to the Director. * "Geology of London," Mem; Geol, Surc
o,
vol, i., 1889, p. 243.