New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-03
OHIO GAS IND OIL WELLS.

MENACED WITH EXTINCTION BY SALT WATER.
Findlay, Ohio, Oct 1 (speclaD.-The oil and gas
| operators Of Northwestern Ohio are having serious
| trouble with the salt water, which, the field
grows older and the draft upon It's resources be-
comes greater, to be increasing every where
and many the devices that have been tried, thus
far without success to obvate this difficulty. Tho
oil wells be relieved by pumping the salt water
away at regular intervals, but a gas we'll cannot
be pumped without removing the packer and pressure
two impossibllties-the presence of salt water means
ruin to the WELL Some of the greatest producers
Of the Finday field are now practically worthless on
account Of this disturbing element
The Tribune correspondent had long interview
with Of the oldest and most experienced operators
in dhs country the peculiares Of salt water
exhibited in the oil and gas fields of Ohio and Penn
sylvania, where he has spent many years of his
life lie Is intelligent, wel-infOrmcd man, whose
opinion is entitled to consideration. He said:
The gas territory seems TO be much inclined to
trouble from salt water the oil fields. II Is
almost certain that the saline liquid will make it,
appearance in nearly every well that pcnctrates the
Trenton rock to any appreciable distance, II it is
permitted discharge its contents without Interruption
This has been verified by experiments at Fndlay
and other points northward. This salt water that
nvades oil and gas wells Is met In unexpected
places. Some sections seem to be entirely free
from its presence while others adjoining flooded.
It will appear sometimes in the upper crust OF
the Trenton rock, and has been discovered in the
Niagara limestone.
This salt water has no settled level. One well
finds il five feet from the crust of the Trenton,
another at tcn and stlll another at fifteen, and
on to any depth. The adjoining well, not 500 feet
distant, may escape It entirely while drilling and
be completed without indication OF its being In
the territory, but II excessive demands upon the
capacity Of the well are made 1t is to appear.
yVho aypp
found. with rare exceptions 1t is hundreds of feet
above the sealevel.
The most puzZling character IL possesses Is its
strange insdiOus way Of creeping slowly into oil
and gas wells that when first finished showed no
trace whatever Of its existence. Usually after
few months yield Of oil well the receiving tank
begins TO show salt accumulatons. 1t may then be
SET down as certainty that the quantity
Will increase with time, and as 1t does
20 the amount Of oil produced by the we'll Will de-
crease As oil wells be pumped, however, ana
This brine accumulation removed, thereby temporarily
relieving them of their burdens. the damage not SO
preat as where salt water nvades gas well, when
cannot undergo the pumping process. AS saio De-
fore this drawing away of tho salt water from an oil
we'll Is only temporary relief after ALL ana IN inc
end the we'll is destroyed. In gas wells the end comes
sooner because no way yet been discovered afford
ing even temporary relief. The presence OF water
In the gas IS sure sign OF the wells decsdence ana
the final extinction Of its supply oil light aun iuo
Excessive drilling too, in any limited area has never
failed to induce the Appearance OF water in consul.
cradle abundance. In this element lies the graves
danger 10 the perpetuty OF the OIL anu gas resou'o
of Northwestern Ohio. In the gfeal craze now III
to obtain these precious earth products too many wells
are being sunk within a limitcd nell. Nllhim a. a.
ve.,s Unless a check is applied to this runous praeuee
Of sinking wells as close together as derrcks can pu
erectod the oil and gas supplies Of this region WIN
b. haus,ed and the towns and cities that have been
S,iit mn on account OF these wonderful deposits OF
tiON, fue
Sacay as nitiabe as are now exhibited In the desolso
towns like Pithole that marked The oil centres
~ pennsylvania. The danger Is Imminent, Dul lno
warning viii 20 unhecded. In Wood county mere az
few wells that not yet been troubled WIN san
water but the vast majority have 20 be feiles11
regularly or they would produce but little OIL Wnhe
many gas wells have already been abandoneut. Ine
oreai K arg well, this city, whose fa1la DecsnIo
world wide is today a victim OF this inshious ioo
Its glory has departed forever.'