Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-30
BIGGEST In AMERICA.
The Mcdonald Oil Wells Beat All
Previous Known Records.
DAILY OUTPUT 10000 BARRELS.
Interesting reports From Butler COunty's
Shallow Pools.
NEW WORK AT WILDWOOD AND MCURDY

among the members of the oil fraternity eX-
cept the marvellous wells in the Mcdonald
field. Nothing like them has ever
been known in America. There
have been immeasurably bigger wells
struck in Russia, but the conditions were
all different. In the land of the Gar they
run as high as 50, 900 or 90, 900 barrels day,
while at Mcdonald there is well that was
estimated to be making from 5000 to 10, 600
barrels yesterday. AT Mcdonald all this
oil must come through casing only 53s
inches in diameter, while in Russia they are
several times that large.
The cause of the excitement at McDon-
aid was the action of Forst 81 Greenlee's
well on the Mevey farm. 1t was drilled
deeper into the sand Yesterday, and in
stantly started to flow at tre-
mendous rate In a few minutes 1t blew
the cap off the oil saver and broke all of the
connections to the tanks Then the oil shot
up into the derrick like a Yellowstone Park
geyser, and as it descended ran down hill,
entering CHARTERS run Il short dis
tance below the town of Mcdonald
The populace turned out as one man, as
Billy Ruan would say, and for time con-
sternation reigned. They all expected that
the oil and gas from the we'll would take
fire and follow up the creek into the borough.
Should such thing occur human efforts
could not save the entire place from de-
struction The Mathews well, which was
reported in The DISPATCH yesterday morn
ing as having broken her connections, was
gotten under control at a late hour last
evening. 1t is supposed to be making
about 5000 barrels a day. The owners,
Guffy, Murphy, Jennings & Co, got a
gauge of it for four hours Monday afternoon.
Tt noda OS0 bo tba fret hnur and of tho
end of the last hour had put out 225 bar
rels. This well is almost 80 days old.
Where all of this oil comes from which it
has so far produced, nearly 100000 barrels,
is conundrum. 1t blew the cap of the oil
saver off about o'clock Monday evening,
and until it was gotten under control at
least 4, 600 barrels of oil escaped. At least
800 barrels an hour was going down the
creek yesterday morning Gnffey, Murphy
and Co.'S No. ., Elliott, has been shut
down for several days on top of the fifth
sand and their No. 8, Elliott, is through
the Gordon, and may also have to be shut
down for lack of pipe line facilities. The
following is an accurate hourly gauge of
the big wells in the field: Gutfey, Murphy
s. Co.'S Matthews, 225 barrels their Bell
No. 1, 125; Forst & Greenlee' s Mevey No. 1,
800; Guckert & Steeles Mevev l, 20; Guffey,
Murphy & Co. s Elliott, 3d. their Baldwin,
125; Garland s. Hays No. 1, Miller, 175;
Royal Gas Company's Mary Robb, S5;
Sauters & Co.'S, so; Cook lot, 20;
Woodland Oil Company's Gamble, 45,
Guffey, Murphy & Co s No. 1 Heron, 10.
The estimated production of the field yes
terday was 40, 900 barrels.
Outlook of the Field.
Judging from these figures the future of
the great field is without a parallel. Indeed
no territory has ever come so rapidly to the
front, and there are few operators who ever
expect to see the like again. 1t seems as
though the first wells drilled were located
Immediately over rich spots. This reason
ing is given potency by the fact that
some of the wells which have since
been drilled within short distance
of the big wells, and on a good line from
them have been small. Unless the signs of
the present day fail there will be some wells
completed this week which will run the
production as high as $4,000 barrels a day.
Taking into consideration the size of this
field, the amount figured on yesterday, 49, |
600 barrels, is little less than marvellous. 1t
is only about six miles long, and in that dis
tancc not over dozen wells have been
drilled, and no one knows yet the
width of the pool. When this is fully
determined, and the extent of the pool de-
veloped the wells which are npw making
from 100 to 300 barrels an hour, will have
dropped to little or nothing The owners
OF the big Matthews well have enough land
around it to keep everyone at safe dis
tance, and they are not in hurry to go
ahead themselves and drain from the
Mathews No. l. 1t is extremely discourag-
ing for an operator to drill in q 50-barrel a
day territory when the men who have had
foresight enough to get into Mcdonald
are getting their thousands of barrels
a day from a single well. This is the reason
why so many of the outlying fields are prac-
tically dead and all work at a standstill.
When the bottom drops out of the McDon-
aid field the men in the old sure and steady
territory will, no doubt, go to work again.
There are, however, millions of dollars in
vested in Mcdonald on the land to the
northeast, and this will not be given up
without struggle which may continue un-
til next spring The outlook to-day is not
encouraging for higher priced oil for at
least two months
Bach of Noblestown Phillips, Shaffer &
Shuffiin are starting rig on the Collins
lot. 1t is located half mile northeast of
the Bell No. 1. j. Kyle & Co., on the Wet
tengel farm, are down 100 feet and were
casing Yesterday. They are Just IS rods |
northeast of the Mathews well.
The McCurdy District.
MCCURDY-In Northeast McCurdy Sic !
bert g. Co., who have been fishing four
weeks in the well on the Kansas school |
house got the tools out. At Guffev 6 Co. s |
No. on the Aiken which has been fishing
for some time, the rig was moved and a
new hole started. The tools were shot |
out of the Mink we'll yesterday, where they |
The Forest Oil Company has struck heavy |
vein of salt water in its well near the Kan
sas school house, in advance to the north |
east Of McCurdy.
Quiet in the Old Pool.
doing in this field. Owing to the striking |
of the wells of the Strip Oil Company and |
the Metropolitan Oil Company on the Kol-
bar farm, the production this month
will average about the same as
it did last month, 1000 barrels
a day. Evans & .Mandeville's No.
Kretzer is due this week 1t is on a line
between Guffev & Queens Kretzer,
which was small, and the Heidelberger
well. A well on the corner farm is due in a
few days. 1t is owned by parties who are
in the Metropolitan Oil Company. They
are trying to find another to the northwest.
Ireland & Hughes got a light we'll on this
farm. Greenlee & Forsts No. on the
Alston is down about ], 200 feet. Stevenson
& Co. are drilling on the Pierce farm. It'll
a wildcat, and is a mile north of the White
sell farm. Dunlap & Co. have Just finished
a dry hole on the Widow McCan farm.
Spang, Chalfant q Co. expect to get the
sand to-day in their venture at De Haven.
parties are drilling well back of
Heron station, on the Pittsburg and West
ern.
In Butler County.
There are one or two places in Butler
county which still show signs of life. Par