Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-18
GAS DRILLING IN CHINA.
The Primitive Methods That Are Used
CToledo (OO Commercially


CToledo (O) Commercially
Colonel Samuel Frel, who has been
travelling through the various localities
in the foreign countries where oil and
gas are found. was a visitor in this city
on his way to the Indiana coal-helds.
He related the following regarding the
gas Of the Chinese Empire: The princi-
pal natural gas well in China ere located
near the town OF Tsl-lin-tsinR in the
vicinity of which large numbers of wells
are found. These latter. In fact, appear
10 have really been responsible for the
exploration Of the former. To make a
well. the Chinese use a long and elastic
bamboo pole. supported in the middle by
Ia cross piece, a rope made by coupling
the ends OF long slices Of bamboo and an
iron instrument which weighs about l6J
pounds. The rope is fastened on the thin
end OF the pole. and the iron on the end
of the rope. 4 slight UP and down mo-
ton Of the thick end of the pole makes
the iron jump and bore a hole with its
broad. sharpened edge. When Il portion
of the rock Is dsntegrated. clear water
Is poured into the hole. a large bamboo
tube with valve in the bottom Is raised
and the tUrbid water is raised
to the TOP. Pieces OF cypress wood are
rammed In TO protect the sides Of the
bored hole and to prevent the water con-
tanned in the surrounding ground from
getting access TO the well. The pipes
are attached 10 each other at the ends
with nails, hemp and tung oil. The inner
width of the pipes is about five inches
As the work proceeds the pipes are
rammed deeper and a new one is at
taChed on the top. the rope, too, is made
longer. At a depth varying from zoo to
Loo feet the brine is struck, and the well
is fit for use The brine is raised to the
top through long bamboo tubes and bam-
boo ropes, by means of a horse within, and
is then carried to large pans for evapora-
ton. or led to them through bamboo
pipes
Besides these wells there are others,
which are bored TO a depth OF 1900 20
1850 feet. AT that distance below the
surface petroleum is struck. I'm
diately on reaching it an iniammatory
gas escapes with great violence. Work Is
then stopped and a wooden cap fastened
! over the mouth of the pit, perforated 10y
/ several rows OF round holes. In each OF
| them q bamboo pipe Is inserted, and
| through these the gas is led under the
evaporation pans. The pipes ramify. and
on each end a tapering mouthpiece is at
| tached. The gas is then used for evapO'
rating the brine.
ne tntSrlIlSlnS spirit WHICH INDUCED
| the Chinese to examine the ground Al
| so great a depth is said 10 have had
| its origin in the drying up of a brine
| pit The proprietor was in hopes of meet
/ ing brine at n greater depth, but found
! instead. the gas. When the country was
! infested with rebels during the TAPPING
/ rebellion, they moved the cap from one
| Of the gas pits. and set fire TO IT. Since
that time long columns Of fire has riser
| from that pit. and 1t makes n beautiful
/ scene. There has been large number
| Of test wells drilled in various parts OF
| the Chinese empire. but the most i'm
| portant find of petroleum was struck by
! Americans in "A test well on the To-Chi
Slg. which caught fire, and burned FOL
/ many days. striking terror to the Chi
! nese. Ii is great country, but / prefer
| the United States. as it Is the only coun
| try on the globe"