Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-16
THREE FRESH WELLS.
Two of Them Are Producers While
the Third Is Almost Dry.
THE PRODUCTION TAKES A.JUMP.
Slower Decline in the Output Is Predicted
for the Future.
WILDCATS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

the gauges given below and grand total
of the amount produced by the small
wells places the output of the field at
81, 1000 barrels. This is looked upon
as only a temporary advance, as there
are no wells inside of the
gilt edge limits which are due for some
time. The production of this field has fallen
off far more rapidly than it increas In
15 days it went from less than 80, 900 to more
than $4,000 barrels per day, while it has
been three times that long in coming down.
Its staying qualities have surprised every
one, including the Oldest and most expert
men in the oil business. When it reached
go, 900 barrels, nine men in every ten to be
familiar with the territory, predicted that
it would 60 no higher, and that it would
soon fall back to the twenties The expec-
tations of the most sanguine were exceeded.
As day followed day with very little decline
in the output the confidence in the
territory gradually increased. Now that
the field has been pretty well drilled over,
faith in the long producing character of the
sand is still strong A wager was made on
Fourth avenue yesterday that the produc-
tion would not be below $4,000 before Feb
ruarv l. This seems good while ahead,
and when the fact is taken into considera-
ton that the production dropped from SO,.
600 to $4,000 barrels in the same length of
time,
IsLooks Like Big Odds for Somebody.
The party who believes that it will not go
below 10000 barrels in the next 45 days
bases his calculations on the supposition
that the decline from $4,000 to 80, 900 will
,of ho Il 20 ho
cause the wells in the latter case were pro-
ducing their full capacity, and when they
dropped it was necessarily fast for short
time. Now he believes the majority of the
wells have struck steady gait, which they
may maintain for some time Whether this
is the case time alone will tell
There were three fifth sand wells COM
pleted in the field yesterday. Two of them
are producers, and the other is so very small
as to be practically dry. The best of the
producers belongs to the Forest Oil Com
pany, and is its No. 1 on the Agnes Kemp
farm, northeast of Oakdale It came in
to 20 barrels days. 1t is south of w. j.
McGill farm we'll, which was dry, and is in
the same direction from the Leonard Shat
fer farm wells. The Kemp we'll is in the
nature of a surprise, as it appeared to be
unfayorably located since the McGill we'll
was finished.
In the same locality the Forest Oil Com
pany's No. l, OH the Robert McClelland
farm, is down LOO feet, and its No. l, on
the james Sturgeon farm, also near the
Kemp well, is drilling at 1,50O feet. The
known as the Moore Farm Oil Company,
and is located on the McKendry property,
which was originally part of the Moore
farm in southwest McCurdy. 1t is almost
through the fifth sand, and is good for about
120 barrels day.
Greenlee & Forst's No 10 on the Mevey
farm, in the southwestern end of the field,
was reported to be through the fifth sand,
and not much better than dry hole. Their
No. IL on this farm was on top of the Gordon
sand yesterday, and was shut down until |
the boilers could be moved back.
Kennedy, Gordnier & Co.'S No. 4 /!
the fifth sand last night, and will be drilled |
in to-day. The Royal Gas Company has
succeeded, after fishing two weeks, in get |
ting the bit out of its No. on the Sauters
farm, and is now drilling below the Gordon |
sand. The Forest Oil Company's No. on !
the W. c. Heron farm was 20 feet in the |
sand yesterday and had not improved.
The Owners Waiting Anxiously.
The Woodland Oil Company's No. on |
the Gamble farm should be in the third |
sand by SATURDAY.. Its No. B Gamble is |
down 1000 feet, and No. about 500. The |
Forest Oil Company was making connec-
tions at its No. on the Margaret McGregor
farm yesterday, and expects to drill it into
the fifth sand to-day.
At Laurel Hill Bailey & Co. expect to
reach the Gordon sand to-day on the Sloan
top of the Gordon on the Walker lot; and
Bartlett & Co. are on top of the Gordon on
the Couch lot. F. NJ Aiken & Co. have tim
Ders on the ground i for their No ON the
Burson have the last casing in their well on
the Patterson lot. also at Willow Grove The
same parties have been stopped from drill
ing on the postoffice lot. An mi un ction was
ssued at the instance of party named
Mankadlck who has store 80 feet from the
-ig. He wants the court to compel Learn &
Burson to give bonds to indemnify him from
oss in case of fire from the well.
Guffey, Jennings, Murphy & Co.'S No. 8 on
he j. j. Matthews farm is through the Cor
lon sard . and On. may ,lt reach the flfth to:mor-
No. on the Heron farm. Their No. Bell !
S below the Gordon.
Gufrey. Murphy & Galey's No on the.
Elliott farm is in the Gordon sand. Guffey, |;
ialey, Russell & Co. are down LOCO feet in /
heir No. on the A. Wettengel farm. They
re rigging up at Nos. and 4, and have rig
completed for No. 5.
The Washington Wildcats.
There are some wells southwest of McDon-
Id IN the, as yet. wildcat territory, which
will be finished up before many days The
7enture Oil Company's Woods farm No. l.
lalf a mile south of Mcdonald, is 1000 feet
eet deep, and should get the Gordon by Fri
lay. There was report last evening that |
heir well on the W. j. Kelse farm was not |
howing for much. The same com :,
,any was putting the s1x-inch casing in its
veil on the Jo,ln j. George farm at Primrose |
yesterday and spudding in its No. on the |
v. B. Moorhead farm. 1t was stated at the
hat its No. l Moorhead is making over $50
,arrels day from the Gordon sand They
AVE a rig up for No. 8 Moorhead The |
'enture Oil Company is the producing end
# the Wheeling Gas Company. The latter
oncern has several wells about completed |
)ne of these is on the S. d. Jones farm, four
niles southwest of Mcdonald. 1t is located
or gas. The Wheeling's No. 81, on
he McClay farm, in Canton township,
nd four miles from Washington on the
anne farm. is drilling at 900 feet and they
ave rig up for No. 80. Mellon, Wilson L
20. have the tools stuck at depth of l. 800 |
eet in their well on the Boles farm near
The Southwest Pennsyl-
ania Pipe Line Company is laying a three
nch line from Mcdonald to the Royai Gas
,ompany's well, on the Moore farm, at
'enice, which is making 80 barrels day,
To Test the Lower Sands.
S1srERsvILLE-The Miller's Run Oil Com.
any has decided to drill its No. ., on the
harles Calvin firm, deeper 1t was drilled
D the Big Injun sand, where the oil ia |
ound in that locality, nearly two weeks AGO.
ut failed to produce. They intend to make
thorough test of the lower sands in that
egion.
Gauges and the Runs.