The herald., 1893-06-05
AMONG THE OIL WELLS.
PRESENT CONDITION OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA WELLS.
takes OF the Psst-What Is Being
Done In Various Localities.

M. R. Craig, who is one of the BEST
posted and most experienced oil men on
the coast, eaid the other day to Ventu-
rian reporter, "The oil business here is
in ite infancy. Much stronger wells are
likely to be struck any day than have
yet been developed. Some of the wells
in the Pico cafion have yielded az high
as 200 barrels per day, and some as low
as 10 barrels. But we have this adven-
tsge over eaetern wells, that while the
average life OF well in Pennsylvania is
from three to five yesrs, ours continue
yielding, we don't know how long yet.
Many have been pumping steadily for
Is years and are still producing. Be-
sides, our oil brings from $l.75 to $3.50
per barrel, while in the east it only
commands from 40 to go cents.
About how many wells have been
drilled, and what proportion have been
dry and worthless?
Speaking from memory only, | should
say about 300 or 220 wells have been
sunk in Southern California, and of
theee at least four out of five have been
successful, Aut in the future there are
likely bO DS IoHCI lhilQAOos AAO VA
sands underlie all OF the Coast Range in
Ventura, Los Angeles and San Diego
counties. But the rock lies tilted at
varying angles, caused probably by
shrinkage OF the crust at some remote
period, and mistakes were often made
heretofore from not taking this into con-
sideration.
"Tell me something, Mr.. Craig, about
the cost of putting down a well and
about the present production OF this re-
eion."
"rhe cost of we'll depends, of course
upon the depth. It varies from S5O0t
to 500 900, averaging, perhaps, 5000 ol
$4,000. To sink one 1000 to 10000 feet
requires from three months to year
| Over in the Pico canon are perhaps 20 tt
80 wells now pumping, and their produc
ton ie about $4,000 barrels per month
| In Ventura county the yield 1s llttl'
larger. At Puente are few wells, bu
their product is mainly consumed at th'
Chino sugar works and at Los Angelo
de fuel. At Newhell the work is jus
starting, but the indications point to a
rich a field as any yet found. There ar
practically but three ,companles
operating. The largest of theee i
| bno Union Oll COhlpuhJs WnOrO va j
ital 10 $4,000, 900. Their wells are i
Ventura county. The Pico wells or
owned by the Pacific Coast Oil compan
who also have large capital and non
of the stock is offered for sale. The
send their oil to Alameda to be refined
The Union compsnY's rehneries are
Santa Paula"
Mr.. Stewart, the gentlemanly pree
dent of the Union Oil company, also b
lieves thst the oil industry in Souther
California bids fair to be more tevorab
than the pact. i,
1--WE nave learned how to utilize II
oil to better advantage" was his rep
in answer to q question "and beside
we now know better where to put IL
drill. Only very small percentai
of the oil lands haa yet bet
worked" Asked as to the output
their wells, MIR. Stewart remarked tn
his company had not been in operate
: very long, but that the region they we
working had produced in the psst six
eight years about l, 800, 600 bsrrels. ,Hhe
best we'll had yielded 1913, 900 barrels
tnree years, and when frat struck was
"gusher," producing 800 barrels dai
for over two months. The average vie
oi their own wells ia steadily increasin
aud at present ID about 20,O60 barrels ?
month.