Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-12-10
THE INVISIBLE FUEL.
Failure of Natural Gas Probably
Due to Defective Casing.
IS THE SUPPLY OF GAS DURABLE3
Interesting Facts Gathered At Wells
burg - The Outlook For
Local Gas.
Special 10 The ReoiStsF.

WELLsBURG, December 9.-Wellsburg
day presents an appearance very differ
ent from that of only week ago. The
chimneys emit continuous columns oi
| black smoke. Coal wagons Of all sizes
and descriptions frequent the streets. On
seeing this one would conclude that the
hard working miner. had put new oil into
bis lamp and got his pick reshsrpened. So
he has. Entering house where the cold
is with difficulty whipped out by the heat
yeu will observe the old msgnetized poker
in its accustomed place in company with
the other parsphernslis Of the ere place,
The highly carboDized Auttering fame
plays joyfully in the CRATE. The
INVISIBLE FUEL HAS BEEN sUPPLANTED
in many cases by the old reliable. The
scarcity of the former led to this very sp,
parent change.
Wellsburg, like Pittsburg, Allegheny
and Beaver, has experienced trouble in the
last few days with its natural gas supply,
Many theories are rife concerning the
probable cause of the unexpected difficulty.
Evidently the demand has been much
greater than ever before, but whether the
supply is decreasing is the question that
most concerns those interested
The late trouble at Wellsburg is probs'
bly, due to three cause.-the increase in
demand, the decrease in supply, and the
freezing up Of the pipe lines which lesd
from the wells to the town. These are un-
covered, and the dampness in the gas con
geals in the pipe where ii lay on theifrozen
ground. This congelation steadily in.
creasee, until the whole pipe is filled and
the passage Of the gas is impossible. This,
of course, would be sufficient to deprive
the town Of gas no matter how great the
supply. The gas company is preparing to
bury the entire line OF piping, which will
set aside this one cause OF dissatisfaction.
By far
THE MOST POTENT QUESTION
in connection with the gas industry that
now demands solution by the scientist is,
whether the wells that at frat we're pro-
nounced to be productive will remain 80.
Each gas region seems to present phenom-
ena that are peculiar 10 itself, and out Of
the abundance OF evidence the patience OF
the investigator is exhausted before any
satisfactory conclusion is derived.
The supply of gas is not regulated BY
the demand, as ia most merchandise, but
by certain conditions. Biologists tell US
the stratum out Of which it forms, and q
porous sandstone which acts as reservoir
for it must be Immediately above.
This sandstone along the anti-chinsl axis
contains the treasure that is destined to
revolutioni2e, either directly or indirectly,
all manufacturing. The absence OF any
one Of the three aforementioned conditions
would be fatal to finding any gas, while if
either of the first two was only partially
developed it would influence the continu
Gus supply very materially. The character
OF the gas sand itself undoubtedly has much
to do with continuous flow. All the
fifty
WELLS THAT SUPpLY rITTSBrRG
have a coarse, Iebbly sand, while that
found at Wellsburg and in many places IN
Ohio is fine grained. The superiority o.
the former over the latter is readily seen
Where the wells are failing most rapidly II
in the region of the fine grained sand. Tht
pressure of the gas in one Of the wells a
Wellsburg one year ago was about one
hundred and fifty pounds to the square inch
To day it is scarcely one.tenth that much
This is rather an extraordinary failure
and is much faster than any OF the others.
1t ia almost an universal complaint where
the gas sand is fine grained, no matter
how thick it may be, that decrease in the
supply is noticeable.
1t is the belief OF many whose investiga
ton OF the subject entitle them to al
opinion, that where the conditions for find
ing gas are present that the supply in
m easure is inexhaustible. They attribute
the decreasing pressure OF the gas to
BAD CASING.
In many regions it is found that the casinI
has become completely filled up with
kind of magnesium deposit. In such IN
stances, OF course, re casting would be o.
adequate temporary remedy. In oihe
wells it has been observed that the cessa
ton OF the flow is due to q constantly IL
flowing of water making deposits of sma
sand, which Gil the gEs outlets This ia
result Q! bad casing where ih
water gains Sdmittance above tn
gas rock, as it does in mot
wells, but in the wells at Wellsburg it
thought the water is present in the gas san
itself. In the latter event the problem
separating the gas from the water had bes
be submitted to q man Of Yankee inRenu
ity TO solve. A pacEer IL sSusliy suttcIer
to overcome the former trouble. There
no doubt but that an improvement in th
manner of casing wells would aid mater
ally in overcoming the present difficult.
With better casing and mains the populs
ity which the gas industry has lost IN II
last few days might readily return. In
proyeuelt in this direction ism great d
lsnd.
, The skeptic ia al#a getting in b
, work Oh every new improvement. Suppo
8 for o moment he is right in pronouncir
upon the gas industry death. Its diseove
deprived 2,50a miners In Plttburg alol
Of employment. By such an invasion I
Rits Of a coal operator were fred up vi
now boldly asserts that he hss discover
= q process Of Takrng coal gas as cheap
0 nsturai gas can be furnished The e
o pertinent is among other places bs;l
tested ct the Top Nil Wheeling. If I
announcement is true natural gas v
have lively Competitor until its failure
provided it does-snd then tie ccal 2
can be run through the same msins q
- perform the Eame duties.
! NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION.