The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-02-01
a&pn tions :so Il wslia:.
aesaoszs,oa x e &! e ss y

.fh,uhenou,en nj e1hibited;by oil wells, srg-
f.st-ariosa. Tpryblens, thsdiscu,sianof which
may be OF scientific as we'll as practical in
.srcst.-TLe fact. Which the tsllosiag
remarks arg based have been collected chiefly
from Che history Of aercnt ExeHa In the Oil
regions Of Southern Ohio and West Virginia.
s'-Irssems:e 1.-The: principal supplies
of petroleum arc not diffused between the
plane, Of qualification, but arc collected IN
cavities more or less sunkeu in tue strata,
whence tits less liable.to be carried away bI
running water. Prof. E. B. Andrews has
shown that it is commonyto find largo quanti'
ties in plAccs where there are marks OF dis
turbanec or displacement Of the rocks. The
cavities have probably been caused sometimes
by uplifts aud sometimes. By erosion and the
dissolvius action Of water; but whatever
may be their origin, they are not usually OF
great horizontal extent. AZ So ,..'.!."i '.s,
II is seldom that the neigh6oring wells
strike oil a, the Same depth, whether the strata
he horizontal or dipping. 1t is ono chance
out Of many to strike oil at ALL oven in the
nciyhborhoods rhereeit exists in abundance.
The drill, as it sntors the cavity, sinks various.
ly from four or Ave inches to as many feet,
sometimes sticking fast as If between the
obliaue sides Of q marrow assure. But there
are facts connected With tho history Of oil
wells, particularly in their intorrit'entaelion,
and their interference with one smother, which
serve 10 show the existence, in many. cases,
Of systems Of cavities connected together by
channels Of communication more OF less free,
running sometimes along the strata and some
times across them. The produetiveness Of a
we'll depends on its entering either ono OF the
main reservoirs, or some Of its importau,
connections. e.. q, -. - '-"'" 90. 'r.-
lie, US begin with the most simple case, that
Of single or isolated oil cavity running
obIi1uely upward. Every collection Of oil Is
accompanied with varying quantities Of gas
aud water, tho gas oecapying'of course the
top Of the cavity, and the water the bottom,
according to tho order Of specific GRANTEES.
l. Suppose we'll is bored 70 enter the top
Of tho cavity. Tho gas bsinS in high state
Of tension escapes, sometimes with explosive
violence, carrying out with it whatever matter
may be collected 10 the boring. II the water
flows in rapidly, as is usually the ease, tho
oil on its surface is driven into the lower end
Of the tube, and may bc pumpes out until the
water reaches the tube, when mixed oil and
water will be drawn. I, often happen, thu,
tho water rises faster than it can DO thus OK
haustcd, AMI the oil, driven into tile very top
OF the cavity, is lost until tho water can be
reduced BY machinery Of 5rea. working power.
But as it cannot be driven below the mouth
Of the tube, uumixed oil cannot be obtained
from tho we'll. In all wells from which the
GOO hae escaped therS is, ultimately, u saving
Of oil, If the oil is pumped out as rapidly rs
possible before the intrusion Of water.
.. Suppose the boring enters the cavity 1t
o lower poin. than whore the gas is held, and
ontcrs the oil. In this case the oil enters first
in tho tube toa height depending on the ten.
sion of tho sns above it, amodc Of action
which is illustrated by the familiar apparatus
called tho fountain with condensed air.
Sometimes tits thrown into the airto the dis
lance Of thirty or forty feet, and largo guam
titles are wasted. II tho oil continues to be
elected till its surface in the cavity descends
10 the mouth Of the tube, the fact first becomes
known by q gurgling sound aud squirting
action, and the gas, or greater portion Of it,
escapes, after which the pump becomes ncces.
sary, and tho same series Of actions takes
place ns in tho FIRST case. But il the gas
reaches its equilibrium with the hydrcstatic
pressure before tho oil is reduced 50 low, NC
may then pump out oil till tho water rises in
the mouth Of tho tube, after which mixed oil
and water will be obtained until the supply is
exhausted, provided the pump is Of sufficient
power to prevent Interruptions from tho too
rapid rise Of tho water. 49,,
g. Suppose the boring strikes tho cavity a,
still lower point and enters the water. If
the gas has sufficient tension, water is raised
until its level, in the cavity, is below tho end
Of the tube; then mixed oil and water is OBJ.
tanned, and afterwards puro oil, when the
same conditions follow as in the second case.
Sometimes tho pressure Of tho gas will raise
the vats, only . part Of tho way up tho Dor
ing, and yet the woll will DO found productive.
The Shattuek We'll, on tho Little Knnawha
River, had to DO drained Of water, with o
steam pump, for two weeks, before oil was OBJ
tanned, but afterwards it yielded abundautly.
Some varieties Of action are 10 be accounted
for on tho superstition TINT there are in the
Same cavity different collections Of gas sep.
Mod nv = m rkition fronn thu ton f..'''