The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-06
BORING FOR NATURAL GAS.
A Well To Be Sunk on South Street, and
How the Work Is To Be Done.
The Prospects for the Success of the Enter
prise-HOW Natural Gas May Be Utilized
and the Cost for Supplying 1t.

to be made In this city. well is to be sunk on
South street, opposite the j., NJ. & L freight
depot, by the Indianapolis Gas Light and Coke
Company, and Lenny 6 Churchill. firm exper-
fenced in boring for gas, will do the work. Their
machinery and tools are already on the ground,
and the boring will begin next week In their
search for the gas they have contracted to go to
depth of $500 feet, and the cost of the work
will be between 1000 and &c. 0o. The machin-
cry for ibis work is necessarily large and cum
brous, immense power being required. The
derrick is seventy-six feet high, and the
cables used are of the largest size.
''What assurance have you that you will
strike gas at 2, 500 feet. or at any depth hereT
inquired Journal reporter
I'VE have no assurance" was the answer,
"that we will strike it here at any depth. There
is nothing in our favor and nothing against Us.
It is purely matter of experiment. In ma
iority of cases where gas has been struck the
wells range from depth of 800 to 700 feet, and
in only one or two instances has natural gas
been found at depth below two thousand feet. !"
The work will be begun with putting down an
iron pipe eight inches in diameter, to which a
steel point is attached, and this will 20 down to
depth where, it is expected, limestone will be
struck 1t is mere conjecture here as
to what will be struck, but the contractors
are presuming on their experience in Ohio
on similar geological formation. So they ex-
pect to strike limestone rock at a depth some
where between $50 and 200 feet. After getting
into this rock with this eight-inch pipe, which IS
as heavy as Waterman piping, they viii 60 a
sufficient depth to shut off surface water and
then case the work. They will then continue
boring with 81 inch drill. The hole as contin-
ued unless water is struck again, will need no
other casing than Its natural wall. 1t beyond
that point they again strike water they will have
to 60 back and replace the IS inch drill with the
larger drill ard eight-inc pipe. and again case
the hole to keep out the water. They do not
second time until depth of 1000
or LOO feet is reached. The water will be
either saltish or sulphurish, and when cased
out there is no further danger of water at less
than $500 or 5000 feet. The sides Of the well
have to be perfectly dry for the flow of gas.
Professor Collett says, in general way, that
there is no gas in this region, but. In spite OF
this geologic opinion the contractors say 1t IS as
likely to be found here as anywhere. and as
likely not to be. When the boring begins it will
go night and day 1t will take three months
to reach depth of $500 feet. This same firm
put down a well for the Cleveland rolling-mill,
and at q depth of 1880 feet lost their tools.
They now roaming out larger diameter Tor
tQe purpose or recovering tnom.
This experiment. here will probably settle the
question of the possibility of getting natural gas
in this vicinity, though some claim, not fully,
as gas might be found somewhere else half
mile or mile away. Natural gas is usually
found In certain stone formation In which coal
oil generally prevails Is is claimed by gas
borers that they can tell with some degree OF
certainty before they strike gas in time to pre-
pare for it Occasionally, however, they are
taken by surprise and the gas comes with such
- IL IAN n
about the well opening. To be valuable for
manufacturing purposes, the gas must have
pressure of at least sixty pounds to the square
inch. This gas is in no sense an illuminat-
ting gas lacking as 1t Does nearly all
the essential compo nents Of an illumination.
While natural gas might be found in enormous
volume, if the pressure was slight it would be
OF little utility. On the other hand, IT small
vein of great pressure is struck, so little gas
might be delivered IS to be of small practical
account With all these things to be taken into
account, boring for gas is matter of much un-
certainty. The two great natural gas fields are
those contiguous to Pittsburg, Pa, and Findlay,
o. The reason of the numerous accidents that
have happened in Pittsburg through the use of
natural gas is because the gas used there is
without smell to indicate its presence. The
Findlay gas has a decided and disagreeable odor,
and has for that reason occasioned few accidents,
leaks being readily detected.
The ordinance that passed the Council provid-
ing for the conveyance or supplying OF natural
gas to consumers for heating purposes, is now
pending before the Board of Aldermen. The
ordinance is modelled after those of the cities of
Pittsburg and Allegheny, and if Indianapolis is
to have natural gas it may be well to mention
two or three of its provisions, as the ordinance
has not been published. except by title. One
feature is that any corporation awaiting itself OF
rights under the ordinance shall pay to the city
annually in advance, three cents for each foot of
pipe laid within the city, exclusive of service
connections, the first payment to be In ad-
vance of the laying of each 1000 feet,
and thereafter annually from the date of such
that if natural gas. in proper quantity and pres
sure, is found here, it will take for its dstribu-
tion pipes of greater strength than those used
for artificial gas and OF at least the strength OF
the pipes used by the water works company.
An important section is that which provides that
any corporation availing itself of the rights
granted by the ordinance shall not charge more
than these specified rates: Transportation COM
panies three cents PEI LOCO feet, irrespective of
distance; supply companies, for manufactures,
the net cost of coal at the rate per ton at which
coal is or may be furnished to similar manufac-
tories in this vicinity. For private houses
ranges and cooking stoves. ST. 80 per month;
CRATES and stoves for heat, 81 per
l to May i, for the first CRATE
or stove, and 70 cents for each additional for
the same period; furnaces. 81 per month for the
first register, and IS cents for each additional
register; or by meter, not to exceed 10 cents per
thousand, as the customer may select.
Natural gas has already reduced the price of
Pittsburg coal, and that coal in competitor has
reduced, and will still further reduce, the price
of Indiana block and other Goals. Natural gas
here las elsewhere), If anybody is fortunate
enough to strike it, must be furnished to con-
sumers at least as low as the price named in this
ordinance, to be desirable to manufacturers, and
for culinary and heating purposes, in dwellings.
It's price, predicated on COAL must be as low, or
lower, than that Of coal.