Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-07

tools are dressed, is also moved out of the
derrick for the same reason. The oil we'll
driller, however, expects nothing worse, as
he stands turning the cable or feeding it out
by the temper screw, than thorough wetting
with the golden grease as he drills through
the productive rock. The gas well driller
expects a storm of missiles hurled at him from
below. The first tap into the pay streak
brings something like gentle breeze at his
feet. Every strike after that increases the
fow OF gas until it blows perfect gale up
against the derrick roof, and not inirequent-
ly literally ''raises the roof" itself.
FISHING WITH A BIG HOOK.
They have an ugly fishing job" now on
the eight-inch hole out in the Grapeville
field. There are two strings of tools in the
hole. That is. a set of drilling tools, con-
sis;ing of a rope socket, "pair of jars' or
slips, an auger stem 45 feet long BY 4 inches
diameter and bitt. On top of this string
another somewhat lighter set of tools, with
q socket instead of bit. Not unlike any
other fishers, the drillers dangle their line
in the hole waiting for q bite. Their hook
is string of tools, with one of the many
kinds of sockets on the end, the common
varieties being the horn socket, slip socket
and combination socket, the jar socket being
used only when the jars have been broken.
The men stand on the derrick floor, care
fully feeling every movement of their line,
which Is two-inch cable, '1etting out' or
taking up screw" as occasion may require
in the endeavor to get the socket over the
top of the lost tools. Should it go on and
take hold they begin the process of earring
up" to get the lost tools from the bottom.
The Grapeville well was In the sand when
the tools were stuck, and the gas blows out
furiously upon the men all the time they
work.
Fishing looks to the uninitiated Just like
drilling. The tools are run in the holes,
the walking beam tipped up level and the
pitment adjusted on the crank pin. The
clamps at the end of the temper screw are
fastened about the rope and the beam set in
motion, wagging slowly up and down.
When they get hold of the tools the appear
ance is the same. Only the practical eve
will detect the difference. In drilling,
when the tools strike the bottom the slips of
the jars run together on the downward
motion of the beam, and on the up stroke
the upper link is brought against the lower
with sharp blow. 1t is this motion, but
with longer stroke, that iscalled jarring up
when fishing. A frequent cause of fishing
jobs in the sand is the locking of the jar
links together by pebbles, blown up from
the bottom, lodging between them.
ChANCE O6 SEhlOOS ASClDENTS,
When gas is expected the drillers are al
wavs prepared for it. But sometimes it is
struck Unexpectedly in some formation
above the regular sand, it comes with
rush. communicates with the fires or lights
about the derrick and there is an explosion.
The fire leaps to the derrick top and in
every direction as far as the gas has accu-
muIated or spread in sufficient quantity
with the speed of lightning. The workmen
have no time to escape, and are lucky if
they are only painfully instead of danger
ously burned. Enough gas to cause an ex-
plosion can easily escape from the drill hole
without being detected.
The drlller has his chance though, The
jars are always changing together noisily,
though at any great depth the sound does
not ascend audibly to the top of the hole
When gas is struck, however, the sound
comes up like the tinkling of a distant bell,
and the attentive driller is warned to be on
the lookout. All old drillers know this
and the fact is of service to them in several
ways. The driller is full of practical wis.,
dom and becomes careful observer of facts
though he is not often an inquirer who delyes
deeply to ascertain the causes contributing
to the effects he observes.
Rlowing off the water from gas well is
one of the interesting sights of the produe-
ing fields. The water is blown out in fine
SPRAY by tie great pressure of the gas as
cending in gradually expanding column
until it ends in q curved fantail. The ap-
pearance is not unlike that of blue comet.
if that image can be allowed. 1t is nearly
the same scene as flowing oil well when
not confined, though oil wells rarely have
such great pressure. A. r. CRUM.