The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-31
NATURAL GAS AND OIL.
No Reason why Either of These
Wealth Producers Should BE Wasted.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
Great excitement and alarm now prevails
throughout the Indiana gas field in regard
to the great oil discovery that has recently
been made at Alexandria, together with
the great waste of gas that has occurred
in this well and in all wells where both
pr6dpcts exist 1t has been the practice of
all oil men generally that where the oil is
the only product sought after the gas has
been allowed to flow into the atmosphere
unchecked. it being necessary to relieve the
rock pressure of the gas above in order to
get the free flow of the oil. The gas COM
panies and manufacturers who have made
large investments in the gas fields. express
ly, In consideration of the cheap fuel of
natural gas feel that they will be robbed
of this valuable fuel, which condition must
certainly be as undesirable on the part of
the oil producers with the gas companies
and manufacturing industries. Both prod
ucts have great value and yield immense
revenue to the State yearly, and it will be
doing an injustice to the oil producers to
force them to close their wells entirely
There is a solution to all questions. The
oil men can get their oil freely and the gas
companies can have the gas without the
wasting of either product, except during
the time necessary after drilling in a well
for its proper tubing and closing in. Both
products can be taken care of by a good
automatic separator made to meet any con-
dition desired. Separators are made that
viii separate the gas from the water or oil
perfectly, putting the gas into the line dry.
1t Will make separation where high back
line pressure is maintained, as In long gas
lines, or for large gas and oil wells where
light pressure is used, also, for a large
oil and gas well, as In the case of the re-
cent Alexandra oil and gas we'll. where no
back pressure is wasted and the flowing
~ fhA iG sod To hFin fIn oil A
separator can be put on or near this we'll
which will be guaranteed to do the work
of separation with no interference to the
flow of oil. These sep1rators are so made
that they will automatically separate and
tank the oil at any reasonable distance or
elevation desired. The gas from this well
can be saved by the gas lines being ex-
tended to the well or wells and thus con-
Yeyed wherever desired. Since an organ
ization of gas and manufacturing industries
has been formed. to the end that the waste
of gas may cease and the oil companies
hold leases and have the right to search
for oil wherever they can secure the priv
ilege, just as the gas companies have the
right to drill for gas, both parties are in
terested, and in place or opposing each
other. they can work tremendously with
mutual benefit to all parties concerned.
Another great waste of gas that is still
as is frequently the cry when the supply
Is short in severe weather. but IS in the
gas companies field 1t has been a mis-
taken idea for some years that the gas
wells must be Caily blown off at the well,
and men are Kept with a monkey wrench
in hand going from one 20 another well
for this purpose. Millions OF cubic feet of
gas have been blown away in this way in
one week-suificient TO supply some of our
large cities during an entire winter Gas
wells that are properly tubed and an au-
tomato separator put on in case of water
or oil appearing, if properly protected from
freezing and the lines sunk to a sufficient
depth to prevent the moisture that collects
from the cooling of the gas from freezing,
can be closed and never touched from fall
TO spring. Companies that use their wells
I'm this way viii testify to the correctness
of my statements. When wells begin to
throw water. under the system of tubing
that has been used they will cease to flow
gas In q short time. but If properly re-
tubed can be made TO discharge their own
water. thus preventing the accumulation
and filling up of the gas-bearing rock and
so prolong the life of the wells. If this is
not done the water will soon commence
climbing up the well tubing. producing
back pressure in the rock. When this oc-
ours the well ceases to flow gas and be-
comes dead on the line pressure though the
rock may still contain gas. In wet wells
the line pressure should always be less
than the rock pressure, allowing the gas
to expand so that the same quantity of
gas flows more rapidly up the tubing and
enables the we'll TO keep the pores of the
gas-bearing rock clear of water. so that
The tEas OF the vicinity can flow through
the rock to the well.
WILLIAM MOORE
Koixomo. Ind. May IS.