Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-30
BIG OIL WELLS.
A String of Phenomenal Producers in the
Pennsylvania Oil Country.

Some account of the phenomenally big
oil wells OF the country will be interesting,
says an Oil City, Pa, letter to the st. Louis
Globe Democrat. The three largest wells
ever struck on Oil Creek during the early
development were the Maple Shade, Phil
lips and Noble wells. 1t is not known ex-
actly which one of these wells was the
largest. The production of each of them
at the start was not less than 5000 barrels
day. The Noble we'll did this much by
actual gauge, after it had been turned into
the tanks and after it had been flowing on
the ground for some time. 1t was located
on the Farrell farm. The well was struck
May q, 1863, and the value of the oil ac-
tually sold and shipped from the well was
$1,000, 900. The Caldwell well was fin
ished on the same farm a short time be-
fore the Noble. 1t was flowing 300 barrels
per day when the latter was struck. The
owners of the Noble, fearing that the
Caldwell would ultimately hurt their big
sprouter, purchased the latter for S145, 900.
This money was all realized from the Noble
well within As days, the period In which
all the payments, three in number, were to
be made. The Caldwell flowed regularly
for two months and then dried up COM
pletely.
The Maple Shade well was struck Aug.
5, 1868, on the Hyde & Egbert tract, near
Petroleum Center, seven miles above Oil
City. The net earnings of this well are
given by Dr. A. g. Egbert, of Franklin,
Pa, one of the owners, as 81 500, 900. The
Phillips well was located on the Tarr farm.
Oil Creek and was struck Nov. IA, 1861.
1t commenced to flow at the rate of 5000
barrels per day. The total production of
the we'll is estimated to be between ESQ, 900
and l 200, 900 barrels.
The Empire well, on the McElhenny
farm, near Housewife, flowed 2,200 barrels
a day for some months. Bradley & Son,
of Cleveland, had contract by which they
were to receive months product of this
well for $500. They received the oil &C
cording to contract and 1t was a fortune
purchased for $500.
The Sherman we'll, on the Foster farm,
Oil Creek, was struck in March, 1862. 1t
started off with l 300 barrels, and produced
81, 700, 900 worth of oil in three years.
These comprise the largest 'gushers' of
Oil Creek, but they have been ecl1psed by
wells struck since in other territory.
The largest we'll ever struck In the Penn
sylvania regions is undoubtedly the Semple,
Boyd & Armstrong, at Thorn Creek, Butler
county It's production for few days was
equal to the combined production of the
three largest wells found on Oil creek, or
nearly 10,0 900 barrels day. This well was
opened Oct. q, 1884. Two days prior to
this it had been reported through the oil
sand and dry. But when the we'll was tor
pedoed on the 9th it began flowing at an
extraordinary rate, flooding all the ada
cent lands. The gas and oil burst from the
well with roar that was heard for several
miles. While this great well was unbridl
ed and flowing into the air to the height
of over 100 feet the scene was one of the
grandest ever witnessed in the oil country
As soon as possible, but after a great deal
of difficulty and danger to the workmen.
the we'll was got under control, and the oil
turned into tanks. After the well had
been flowing on the ground for some time
its actual gauge in the tanks was at a rate
of $500 barrels a day. The total yield of
this well was not so large as many others,
but it stands unchallenged as the largest
we'll in Pennsylvania for a single days
production.
The Boss well on the Parker farm, be-
tween Petrolia and Brady's Bend, Butler
county, was struck July Is, 1884. Its pro-
duction for the first day or two is estimat-
ed at 1000 day. After it was turned
into the tanks it gagged 5000 barrels a
day The Lady Hunter was located near
the Boss and had daily record of 1,500
barrels 1t produced longer that its big
neighbor and was the better well of the
two.
Washington county has produced some
phenomenal wells. John McKeovn has
opened up several that flowed from 500 to
5000 barrels day. John McKeown's in
come from his wells at one time was as
high as $4,000 a month. He has three
farms in Washington county that have
yielded him $4,000, 900. McKeown land
ed at Castle Garden poor emig-ant about
the time the oil excitement broke out on
Oil Creek.
Ohio has produced some very large wells.
three or four having record of from 5000
to 10000 barrels day. These hardly
count against the Pennsylvania wells, as
the oil is worth but Is cents barrel. The
wells at Pithole were not exceptionally
large as oil wells go, but they created a
Juror that has never had parallel in the
oil country The United States well, the
| first struck at Pithole, January, 1865. never
did over 800 barrels day. Then follow
ed the Grant well, with a product of 200
barrels day. This was Pithole's largest
well.