The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-19
NEW LIFE FOR OIL WELLS.
The Standard OIL Company to Test an
Electrical Continuance.
Philadelnhia Times.

Philadelphia Times.
The result of useful invention. which is
just about TO be placed on the market. will
be TO create a new era i'm the history of oil
and to start fresh life into the regions
which have fiourished in the past. but are
now regarded as played out. 1t will turn
the desert regions of the oil sections into
busting towns and will furnish an enorm-
Gus supply of petroleum that would be suf
hcient OF Itself TO do the work of the great
er part OF the world. The dead wells will
become as fountains and the springs OF
the deep will give up their wealth in an
inexhaustible quantity
This invention is the work of Washing
ton gentleman. Mr.. Tapley w. Young. and
consists of electric heater. which can
be lowered into the well. The electricity
is generated in large quantities. and so
powerful Is the heat that the refuse matter
which clogs the pores of the stone, will be
melted and run out thus allowing the fresh
upward flow of OIL
To understand the principles upon which
this invention is founded. it will be neces-
sary to explain that the theories as to ex-
haustion OF so many wells Is that the OIL
In passing upward through the stone. has
clogged the porous stone with paraIfin In
such Quantities that the further flow is
stopped and the we'll ceases to produce
Some think that il is because the supply
in the earth has given out, but the gener-
ally accepted idea is that the oil is still in
abundance. and only ceases to How when
the exit is stopped.
The stone through which the oil passes
is OF very porous nature, and as the
LIQUID is I'm crude state. the thick matter
becomes as dregs settling in the rock near
the edges of the bottom of the well. 1t has
been common TO torpedoes to shatter
the stone at the bottom of the well. thus
breaking up the clogged matter. but this Is
expensive process.
BY the Young method the machine. which
Is about three feet long and resembles an
iron cartridge, is placed at the bottom OF
the we'll and the electricity turned on so
powerful that ii receives just enough volts
to produce an enormous heat without melt
ing the metal. The current goes down the
wires. and by the peculiar construction OF
the carbon-packed chamber the intense
heat is radiated about into the rock in all
directions. Thus the parafin and other re-
fuse is softened and melted up so that Ii
runs, and when the well is started fresh
flow takes place just strong 1T did
when the well was first sunk. This rejuve-
mating of the dry wells of the oil districts
Of the United States means great deal of
money to the people OF Pennsylvania. New
York. Kentucky and Indiana. Many man
who has lost his fortune in the drying of
his wells will be again able to pump dozens
of barrels. hundreds of wells will spring
into new life. thousands Of dollars will be
made from what is now worthless property
and millions of barrels Of oil will be added
to the annual production of the country.
The invention made by Mr.. Young is in
the hands OF the Standard Oil Company
and will be thoroughly tested. As that
company owns so much oil land. the ma
chine will be source of the saving of
great wealth to them. as well as the many
hundreds OF people all over these districts
in New York and PennSylVa