Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-05-16
PUENTE OIL WELLS.
The Methods Of Getting Pe.
trOleum to the Surface.
LOS ANGELES FUEL SUPPLY.
Thirteen Wells Giving Up Their
Treasure to the Amount of $50
Barrels a Day.


Yesterday HERALD reporter took a
little trip out to the Puente oil wells to
investigate the methods used in getting
the oleaginous product of the sandstone to
the surface and to the city. At the sta
ton where the Cotton local arrived he was
met bv w. R. Rowland and Mr.. VIM.
Lacy, Jr. A ride of an hour through
beautiful hills and cafions, clad in live oak
and wild walnut trees, and the wells were
reached. Before going into description
of the methods used in getting the oil,
a brief sketch of the history of the en-
terprise may be not amiss. In these
hills there have been known to exist for
fifty years past, out-croppings of the oil,
but as there was little, or no market, for
the stuff, mo effort was made to develop the
measures until about four years ago. For
some months operations were
carried on with little, or no
success, owing to the fact that those
engaged in the work had neither skill
nor proper tools. A small hole was
drilled in bed of brea, to depth of 250
feet, or such matter, and then the drill
broke. Then the present operators, the
chief of whom are Mr.. w. R. Rowland
and Mr.. William Lacy, ST., took the
matter in hand. A second small hole
was sunk near the first one, and to about
the same depth. Oil was struck, but it
was very thick and not fit for fuel. Then
Mr.. Youl's aid was called in, and as he
was an experienced Gilman, he aban-
doned the bed of brea, and, crossing the
canon, began to bore on the crest of a
hill where no sign OF oil ex-
listed on the surface. He
sunk some 500 feet before good
indications were obtained. At a
depth of 800 or 900 feet ten or twelve
barrel we'll was reached. Mr.. Rowland
said yesterday: "That was more than I
expected. l thought that if we could get
out a wagon load of oil day it would be
a great thing; and at first l used to drive
the wagon myself, in order to be sure
the oil should not be spilled. Then a
second we'll was sunk little further up
the caflon, and at depth of 500 or 900
feet second we'll of twelve or fifteen
barrel product was obtained. And 80 the
work has been prosecuted with skill,
patience and energy, until yesterday the
HERALD man found thirteen wells, all
yielding oil, and preparations being
made to begin work on the
fourteenth we'll. The road is being ex-
tended sever al hundred yards up the
caf1on, and when it is passable the tools
will be transferred to the spot selected
and work begun on the fourteenth we'll.
These holes lie all along the caiion, and
to the eye of the novice they seem to
have been sunk at random. The plan OF
operations is traceable at any point. But
that is just where the eye of the mex
perienced is blind to the facts. A most
carefully considered plan Of action guides
all the work. 1t has been observed that
oil measures exist in this State along the
coast range of mountains all the way
from Santa Cruz to the mouth of the
Colorado River. At certain points
this oil is obtainable by boring. Sand.
stone and shale are the formations in
which it comes towards the surface. The
lodges are at all points very narrow.
Experts claim that it is not more than a
mile wide. Along the southwestern
edge of these strata rocks impervious to
the oil force it to the surface, and there
for ages it has been converted into brea,
or asphaltum. Near these brea beds oil
is not usually obtainable. To get the
liquid product the hole must be sunk to
the north of the brea. 1t has been the
aim of those directing matters al
Puente to ascertain the width
and trsnd of the oil-bearing strata,
and along what line in this belt the best
wells may be found. To do ihis,
wells have been sunk along both sides oil
the cai1on. come being we'll out towards
the south edge, and others we'll to the
north. So the wells zigzag along the
caf1on, They are mostly sunk on the
top of knolls in order to run the oil into
central system Of tanks, from which it
may be pumped into reservoir on the
summit of the hills, from whence it is
taken in pipeline to the cars at Puente.
The system by which everything is
done is admirable. In central spot be-
tween five OF six wells a large boiler is
placed. This is heated by means of the
gas that rises with the oil, with small
percentage of the oil blown in with the
gas. The water for the boilers is also
obtained from the same hole as the oil
and it is conveyed to the boiler.house by
a simple method. From this boiler
power is supplied to run small engine
at each well, which pumps the oil to the
surface, and then it is run to the central
tanks. Here pump is operated to force
the oil to the top of hill sufficiently
high to run it to Puente station by
a pipe line. The same pump is
used to furnish water to the boilers A
boy of l6 years attends both the boilers
and all the engines. These simple
means serve to raise daily from the rocky
ribs of the hills $50 barrels of oil, which
loads one car day at present, whence it
is hauled into Los Angeles, where it is
used for fuel.
The wells range in depth from SIG
feet to 1,160 feet. The usual depth is
about 800 to 1000 feet. The yield per
well is from ten to twenty-five barrels q
day. Those along the south side of the
canon as a rule yield the smallest
amount, and those along the north side
the largest. The well, known as numb 81
IL, from being bored in that order, is
situate furthest north along the belt. 1t
is remarkable fact that the drill was
run 900 feet before a sign of oil was
reached, and then the stream rose SO
rapidly that further progress has been
slow. After sinking to depth
of 1000 feet, the hole began to
cave at the bottom, causing some delay
in boring. Yesterday, when the re-
porter visited the we'll, there were 900
feet of oil in the pipe, it having risen to
within 100 feet of the surface. AS soon
as the hole is secured it will be drilled
- ..,k A- n