Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-10-29
OHIO'6 OIL CEYSEh.


Twenty -Four Hours.
Ohio, says the Cincinnati Com
mcrcial Gazette. has the biggest oil
we'll in the United States ii not in the
world. and If permitted to flow Its full
capacity it would more than fill two OF
tho monster IS, 600. barrel tanks every
iwenty-four hours. This great oil
gcyser is located in Hancock county,
just four miles south OF the town Of
North Baltimore
The we'll has been drilled in and
when at a depth of IS feet in the
sand strong gas pocket was struck,
and the we'll showed for gas producer
of about l. $50, 600 cubic feet capacity.
Gas was not what was wanted, how
ever. and the drill was sent 8 feet
deeper, which made the total depth in
the sand 43 feet, where oil was found.
The total depth Of the we'll is 2.2OS
feet. When the poo. was struck the
oil started flowing, and connection
was made through two-inch line
from the casing head to Il 6OO-barrel
tank. which was filled with good clean
oil in precisely 80 minutes. The COM
pany then learned that they had drilled
into wonderful lake of oil, and it was
also discovered that ordinary tankage
facilities were far from sufficient, and
work was at once begun on another
600 barrel tank. At the same time
several dinkey pumps were started and
pipe lines were laid. while connections
were being made to the main line.
On the afternoon of the same day it
was decided to take the tools from the
hole, and thousands of people having
heard OF the gusher. focked in from
all directions to see the famous geyser
opened up. Atabout three o'clock the
engine was started and the tools were
gradually being brought to the surface.
The drillers were being drenched with
oil, which flowed all over the derrick.
When the tools were within few hun
bred feet OF the surface the rope CON-
menced to slack and the drillers after
reversing their engine made for
place of safety, as the tools were beng
lifted from the well by the heavy pres
sure Of the oil. 1t was thought at the
time that the rope had broken and the
tools left in the hole. but the drill was
found sitting beside the casing in the
rig. As soon as the tools were out a
solid column of Oil belched forth from
the casing head, rising far above the
derrick, where it spread in all direc-
tiOns. There were two 2-inch lines
connected on the casing.
1t made as beautiful sight as any
one wished to see and it thrilled the
hearts Of the oil men who witnessed
the sight with delight to know that
they had looked upon what was prob
ably the largest oil we'll ever complet-
ed on the globe. An effort was made
to shut the we'll in. and eight men
worked nearly two hours until they
succeeded in getting the we'll under
control. Afterward it was turned into
6OO-barrel tank through two-inch
line. running the tank over with rolly
oil in sixty three minutes. The we'll,
at the rate it flowed through the cas-
ing for the space Of time it was opened,
would in twenty -four hours produce
good 20, 900 barrels Of rolly oil, max
ing nearly double the size OF any we'll
ever completed. not barring the Rus
sian wells.
The Ohio oil field now leads all in
the shape OF a phenomenal geyser of
oil equal to volcano. Several
months ago cable was sent out from
Russia. stating that well with ca
pacity of 400. 900 barrels day had
been opened up in the Baku field Of
Russia. There was mistake in the
report. as it was claimed by eye-wit-
nesses to be good for 40, 900 barrels.