Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-03
A NEW DISCOVERY,
-
AN Exhausted Murrysyille
Well Drilled Deeper.
NATURE GIVES RESPONSE,
Changing the Stuffed-Up Hole to a
Producer of 700 Pounds.
1T SOLVES A PERPLEXING PROBLEM
Description of the Immense Steel Pipe Line
About to be Laid.
NATURE GIVES RESPONSE,
1T SOLVES A PERPLEKING PROBLEM
A BIG LINE TO TAP BELLE VERNON

The Philadelphia Natural Gas Compan,
yesterday accomplished what they regard a
great feat 1t was nothing less than tn
successful revival of an old gas well a
Murrysville The we'll had been re-boret
and completed shortly after noon at deptl
of 1,5S2 feet. 1t came in with a pressure o
zoo pounds, equal to that of the new vel
which was lately drilled in Bellevernon
The old well was $50 feet deep, and it haC
gradually filled up with sand and pebbles
which caused a great decline in pressure
1t was then that the company commenced tt
experiment upon drilling deeper for another
vein of gas.
As a general thing similar attempts have
usually proved unsuccessful. In some
cases salt water was struck between the TIVE
gas sands, which utterly ruined the we'll
Where nitro glycerine was employed the
whole well was shattered, and scarcely
ever has a satisfactory result been accom-
plished.
SAID TO BE IMPORTANT.
''On this account" said gentleman con-
nected with the Philadelphia Company
yesterday, ''this is of great Importance. 1t
proves that the old story about gas giving
out and declining wells being worthless is
simply fable. The Murrysville gas field
is Just as good to-day as it was some years
ago. If some of the wells show trivial de-
cline in pressure, it is simply
because they are clogged up.
Now, the fact that a very high
pressure has been obtained again in this
well is sufficient evidence that the same
thing can be done with other wells and
there is no necessity of abandoning a we'll
simply because its pressure decreases. To
drill a new one costs about 5000 or $4,000,
while an additional drilling of $50 or 800
feet entails an expense of S4O0 at the
utmost"
"what is the object of the Philadelphia
Company in laying a steel pipe line to
Murrysville, instead of cast iron as has
been done heretofore?" asked the reporter.
''There are a number Of reasons for that, -
replied the official. "One consideration is
expense. A steel pipe OF Sc inches in
diameter is about $40, 900 cheaper per mile
than a cast iron pipe of the same diameter.
Then again it saves labor and does not re-
quire such large amount of leading.
ITO give proper idea of this steel pipe,
which is the first one that has ever been used
for a similar purpose, detailed description
might be interesting. 1t will be "a, 900 feet
long, and it takes 9, 900 tons of one-fourth-
inch steel to manufacture it. Cast iron pipe
lines are composed of 12-foot sections, while
the sections Of this pipe will be "a feet long.
This fact explains why it is that great
deal of labor is saved, because it takes about
as many men to lower 24-foot section into
a trench as it would take to place 12-foot
section"
''But it is claimed that on account of the
riveting your steel pipe can easier leak,
and will therefore not be so serviceable as
an iron pipe?"
>''That is mistake. Boilers are made out
of steel They are riveted, and should
think that leak in a boiler is as likely to
occur as leak in one of the sections of the
gas line. Each section is similar in a2-
pearance and construction to boiler, and
there is no doubt it will do as good SER
vice.
The Philadelphia Company is now laying
the line at the rate of 500 feet day.
1t was also learned at the office of the
Philadelphia Company that it has now
been definitely decided to Law a new line
however, will not be commenced until Gen.
eral Superintendent T. A. Gillespie returns
from Europe, where he is now sojourning.
NATURAL GAS RUMoRs.
1t was reported yesterday that Oliver
Bros. & Phillips and the Republic Iron
Company intended to cut loose from the
Philadelphia Natural Gas Company and
pipe their own gas. Mr.. II. w. Oliver,
Jr., the senior member of the firm of Oliver
Bros. & Phillips, was seen by DISPATCH
reporter, but he declined to talk on the
subject He said he would neither affirm
nor deny any reports.
1t is also stated that the Jefferson Natural
Gas Company, of which Hon. B. f. Jones
is leading member, intend to supply some
OF the Southside iron mills with fuel from
their Washington county wells. They are
layiGg pipes into the city and may be ready
for business in short time. An effort was
made to see Mr.. Jones last evening, but he
was i'll and did not care to talk on business
matters