The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-03
OIL SURE ENOUGH.
Contractor Joyce's Theories About
the Deep Artesian Well

the Deep Artesian Well
The new artesian well, an object of in
terest all along to visitors on account of its
wonderful and ceaseless flow OF 2,5O0,0O0
gallons of water daily, gives indications
that are likely to attract more general at
tention, as oil flowed from the well last
Wednesday
To MORNING News reporter who visited
the well yesterday afternoon, Contractor
joyce said that at about II o'clock on
Wednesday he struck oil bearing sand, the
stratum being about one foot in
thickness. The strong odor of the
oil first attracted his attention
while he was drilling, and when
the drill was taken out and the pump set to
work, oil began to flow on the waters and
1t could be seen yesterday in the eddy of the
ditch, where the water flows from the weir,
There was a strong odor Of gas or oil
at the we'll which was never distinguish
able at any former visit.
MIR. Joycs took some of the drillings or
sedimentary deposits from the pump, and,
after washing it, found the oil sand. he
and his assistant. both experienced in we'll
boring in northern oil fields, say that
the indications Of oil are unmistakable, and
such as are met with in oil countries. They
say that just such oil sand is first found
IN the oil section at the further depth of
800 feet, and then oil-bearing stratum is
found. and at a second depth of 300 feet
still a third oil-bearing rock, or sand, is
penetra ed, which three strata unite to sup
ply thu flow of il, which flow is increased
by shooting the well at the three points
where the oil-Dearing sand is met with.
Dir. Joyce says that the wells in the
oil fields are oft n put down to a
depth of 2,7OO feet. As the well now being
drilled is alb Ut 400 feet in depth, drilling
it to an additional depth of 600 feet would
develop either the oil or gas deposits which
are believed to underly this section.
The oil sand is considered as Enthusiastically
indicating something more valuable than
water, but Mr. Joyce says that if either oil
or gas should be found in paying quantities
the water need not be lost, as an eIght-inch
casing could be put down below the water
bearing rock, making the lower section
of the well what is known as
dry we'll, and that while
| the volume of water would be diminished,
there would still be- a good artesiau well. Ia
this connection, he says that he believes the
present flow Of water could be materially
| increased by putting in a shot in the water
bearing rock, opening the assures and Great
ing a reservoir from which a more abun-
dant supply of water would flow.
To prospect 600 feet deeper for the lower
oil-bearing rock, Mr. Joyce says, would
necessitate casing the water off, as its press
ure is too great for such deep drilling, and
heavier tools would be necessary, but all
the other apparatus now in use would be
| adequate
The drill was working in the hard flint
! again yesterday, and up to 4 o'clock Mr.
Joyce said that he had not drilled more
than five feet. He says he would rather
drill in iron, as that sharpens the tools,
while the diamond-grained flint wears off
the point of the drill = lder his contract
he has about 100 feet more to drill, aud he
says he hopes he will get permanently out
of the flint soon, as it will take month or
two to finish the remaining 100 feet if the
| flint rock continues.
Spe liking of the probable value of the
well, if oil in any considerable quantity is
| found, ne remarked that even five-harrel
well would pay, and he says that land where
! the wells average no more than that daily
flow readily sells in the oil sections at S40O
per acre.