Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-24
HOW IT is DONE.
The Process BY Which Gas Wells
are Bored.
A Brief Description Of the Drilling Apparatu:
at the ceatral WeI-The Depth
Attained Casingthe Well.

"How in the world do they get . drill
long enough ID bore a gas welia' asked .
gentleman in q group at the Mcclure
House, last night, when the subject OF
natural gas was under discussion. Very
many people seem to be, with the gentle
man, under the impression a gas we'll is
bored by a long steel drill, jointed on as it
goes down and a brief description OF the
process will be OF interest. That now used
at the Central glass works, being in full
operation, will serve as a model.
A derrick from fifty to seventy-fve feet
in height is erected over the site OF the
we'll, and is fitted with two reels, mi of
which carries the drilling apparatus and
the other the battling and pun ping instru-
ments. The tackle block from each reel is
movable and so arranged as to rest directly
over the we'll, giving the rope a straight
fall. A steam engine for working the reels
and for the drilling is indispensable. The
drilling bits or darts are heavy pieces OF
steel, perhaps twelve feet in length and OF
the diameter of the we'll to be drilled
Thew are attached to the rope from one OF
the reels and are OF ponderous weight.
An immense lever, or walking beam, oPe,
rated by machinery, is so adjusted
that the long arm works directly above the
we'll. The short arm is connected with a
crank, on the engine, working in a slot, so
that, when in motion, the beam moves
like a see-saw. When the we'll is sufficient
ly deep for the insertion OF the drill, the
reel is put in operation and the large dart
il. lowefed until its point rests upon the
bottom. With the reel stationary ana
holding the rope just taut, the long arm OF
the working beam is clsmped securely
on. When the machinery Is
started and the beam begins its workings,
the drill is raised three feet and dropped at
each revolution. The weight OF the drill
and the O is sufficient to do the drilling.
For removing the debris, the sand pump
and bailer are used. The clamp is removed
from the drill rope, the reel set in motion
and the drill brought to the surface. The
tackle block is swung aside and the second
reel set in motion TO lower the birler.
The bailer is a long tube, fifteen feet
in length and open at the top. The bot.
tom is closed by a valve, which opens as
the bailer descends, and closes as 1T comes
I'D. The bailer sinks to the bottom, and
fills Up with the water and sand. As 1t is
drawn out, the valve closes and retains
the contents which are drawn to the sur-
face. This is repeated until the well is
clear, when the drilling is resumed. This
comprises, in the rough, the proce33.
Late on Sunday night, the drill at the
Central we'll cut into a salt water spring
and the saline fluid gushed out in great
quantity, pouring out at the mouth OF the
well. For a time this compelled an ab1a.
Comment OF the drilling, but yesterday
morning work was resumed again.
The well must now be cAsed
10 the full depth. The casing is
simply iron pipe, which tightly
fits the we'll. Before it is inserted, the well
is reamed out Il half inch, after which the
casing is driven down from the top. Tae
casing for the lower portion is OF gaIva.
nized iron.
The well is now to a depth OF SD feet aud
last night the drill was working through
black saud.rock. In all probability 80 feet
more must be overcome, before the great
reservoir Of gas will be tapped.