Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-02
WORK OF THE MONTH.
The Year of 1891 in the Oil Business
Starts Off With Quite
LARGE INCREASE OF PRODUCTION.
Points of the Field Which Are Now Of Par
ticular Interest.
THE FACTS AND FIGURES IN DETAIL

The first monthly report of the new year
presents bearish aspect as to new pro-
duction. The new work, however, is rather
bullish, but the decline is In the northern
and middle fields. January, without ques-
ton, has been invested with more interest
and importance than at any other time since
the beginning of the petroleum industry.
While the field situation is an important
factor in this conclusion, the commercial in
terest in the great staple overshadows all
other considerations. During the month
the independent element of the producing
fraternity have organized one of the most
powerful and stable combination in the history
of the trade. This combination has been
formed with a view of establishing better
prices but Just what the outcome of the reor-
ganization of the old P. +. A. will amount to
remains for time to develop. The producers
have not only organized themselves into one
compact body, but have sought relief through
legislation, by which they hope to ameliorate
their condition. For the past 80 days there are
few changes to be noted in the field situation.
Wildwood, one of the most prolific white
sand pools ever opened up, practically remains
unchanged, The Southwest still continues to
yield producers of the first magnitude, while,
on the other hand, the old gushers are tast de-
clining and the territory is showing drainage
Some interest was manifested on the north
line by the good showing of the Bowman gaser,
and for time.it was thought that this section
of the pool would develop into big territory.
Subsequent events have not borne out
this premature conclusion, and we venture
the opinion unless all signs tail that this local.
ity of the Wildwood field will never have
comparison with the Southwest end OF the
field. The McCurdy pool is as yet an unknown
quantity. The Palmer well coming in at
1000 barrels day would seem to demonstrate
the existence of considerable body o. OIL
Yet its proximity to the old McCurdy well docs
not indicate there has been territory to any
extent opened up. While there has been one
good well struck here, there has been one dry
hole on the Linton and another nearly so on
the TidbaIl. but liberal use of glycerine con-
verted it into a small producer.
The Butler county situation appears about as
follows: There is a standoH in tie way OF new
rigs and drilling wells, Harmony, Gallery and JEFF
ferson Center having sufficient new work to
offset the decline in the old portion of the One
Hundred-Foot district, which seems to no
longer be ''in it," At Gallery most of the work
is on the town lots and is launched Several
wells have come in large, but have been short
lived, notably the BARLEY & Co., which made
l500 barrels in the first "A hours, and Is now
down to 50 barrels. The same NAV be said OF
Harmony. Several dry holes have been drilled
at the latter place, nearly encIrcling the little
pool. There is a possibility of an extension to
the west which appears to be the only loop
hole of escape. At jefferson Center T. W.
Phillips brought in a well on January II that
has produced over 10000 barrels and is still
making Is barrels per hour. There is appar.
entlE qulIe d pool Vi Oll lying oeC"een tnlS mSii
and Herman. Mr.. Phillips has about all the
territory and can develop il at his leisure. The
new production for the month will exceed that
OF last month by at least 500 barrels, leaving
new work and drilling wells ABOUT the same as
January l.
The total increase of new production in the
Is pools of the southwest district over last
month is 5 124 barrels. Wildwood is mainly
responsible for the increase, yet it must be re-
membered that Warrington was also an i'm
portant factor in contributing to this result.
The report Tor the same section also shows an
increase in new work, there being 100 wells
drilling, IS rigs, making total OF 275, while in
December there we're 1SS drilling wells Y rigs,
a total of 260, which is increase of Is.
From the appended summary of the entire oil
field it will be seen that the new production is
1880 barrels, an increase of 1865 barrels.
There we're 30S wells completed, 4O7 wells drill
ing ard 233 rigs up and building
Following is the work in detail of the impor-
tant southwest pools.