The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-15
A NEW FUEL.
Great Results Expected from a Process
Invented by an Ohio Man.

Findlay Letter in Cincinnati Tribune.
Within a very short time there will be
practically demonstrated in the natural
gas field north Of this city the value of a
process or theory which, If results are such
as the projectors and others Of good judy
ment predict, will lead to an inexhaustible
supply of natural gas in all localities where
that valuable agent has ever been found.
The diminishing of the pressure in the
gas wells which supply this and other cities
in northwestern Ohio has for several years
been a condition confronting the citizens
and manufacturers in the Ohio gas belt,
and there has been no end of hard thinking
by experts and others to find a way by
which the lowering of the pressure when
sends the gas through the long miles of
mains could be counteracted.
Following the example of the gas COM
panies Of Pennsylvania, the cities of Find
lay and Toledo and the Northwestern Ohio
Gas Company sought to solve the problem,
and to some extent succeeded, by building
immense pump stations in gas fields at
Van Buren, and Stuartsville, by means of
which an artificial pressure was placed
on the mains. This plan of procedure has
been only partially successful, and had the
drawback that the natural gas. when re-
ceived by the customers OF the gas COM
panies, was largely diluted by chunks of
1t remained for William Heckert, a we'll
known mechanical engineer, whose work
as an inventor has made his name prom
inent in this and other portions of the
country, to evolve a plan and invent a
process which. If the practical test soon 20
be made near this city does not prove a
failure, Will solve not only the problem OF
gas pressure. but of gas supply as well.
Mr.. Heckert worked upon his theory for
nearly a year in a quiet way, and little
was known Of the workings or his process
until letters patent were issued to him IN
February last covering a process Tor re-
juvenating abandoned natural-gas wells.
The Heckert process is based upon the
making of artificial gas by machinery, viz:
forcing air through "A body OF crude petro-
leum. This process of making artificial gas
has been in vogue for many years, and Mr..
for his gas machine. 1t is we'll known that
the gas bearing. territory in northwestern
Ohio is underlaid by vast stretches OF por-
GUS rock in which crude petroleum exists in
larger or smaller quantities. The .Heckert
process proposes by means of immense
pumps to force a vast current of air stimuli
taneously down several wells which have
yielded some oil. This air passing through
the oil-saturated stratum of rock will be-
come sufficiently and permanently carbur-
ated to change it TO a gas for heating or
lighting. The gas having been thus manu-
featured will find its way to the surface
hood.
Some scout at the feasibility of Mr.. Heck
ert's plan. but the latter is strong in the
faith that his process will be Il revolution
in the present methods Of treating gas
"s sAa no no a iim ie'e since the the Si Introduction of
practical science in general business have
we been required to take a backward step
in anything essential to the comfort, con-
venience and higher development OF the hui
man race. In keeping with such universal
tHh rebe onndIess s1pp hru of fuel Which nature
has stored in a reservoir below us, and
which present methods fail to reach. The
fact is now demonstrated in thousands of
places that air forced through a reservoir
of oil IS carburated and becomes a better
illuminating gas than any natural gas.
~ no Will give an Intelligent reason why
air forced through natures oil reservoir
should not produce gas equally good and
in pr~oportionately larger quantities than is
produced from artificial tanks of oil? With
in the last month an interesting illustration
was given near Elwood. Ind. Gas from a
high-pressure field was conveyed through
a long pipe and permitted to return TO the
porous rock through a few wells connected
with the same pipe line in a low-pressure
field, and in this way surrounding wells
within a radius of a half mile were well
supplied with gas. Thus was demonstrates
beyond a doubt the fact that air, as well
as gas. when forced down wells at one
point. will pass through the porous rock
and reappear in adjoining wells"
All the arrangements for making the test
Of the Heckert method have been made. A
large pumping engine and air compressers
have been purchased by the company own
ing the patents, and a thorough series of
being erected on the Wyoming addition to
this city.
Large capitalists and experts from East
ern cities have recently visited Findlay and
investigated the Heckert theory, with the
result that plenty of money and other as
~sistance have been forthcoming. Several
Of the best and oldest experts in the Penn
sylvania oil and gas fields. representing
vast interests. have looked into the matter,
and without exception reported their belief
in the ultimate success of the plan. which.
In its results. would be ,equaled only by
the discovery of oil and gas. It would
mean 2 revolution in the now exhausted
gas fields of Pennsylvania and West Vir-
Sinia, while the capital and industries in
terested in the permanence Of the gas sup
ply in the Ohio and Indiana fields would
take on a new feeling of security. Small
wonder, then, that the coming experiments
will be watched with eager attention by
the people of the localities mentioned.