The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-02-15
IN THE {, FIELDS.

Developments. in the southwest and
lower southwest during the past week
were utterly devoid OF anything OF a sen
satlonal nature. The work now under
way Is for the most part of the routine
order, and Is, therefore. OF little interest
to anyone except TO those directly inter-
ested In It In a financial way. The ef-
forts to open now pools are confined al
most entirely 10 three OF the lower SOUTH
west counties, says ID. S. W." in his
weekly review, and the results so far,
with one exception. have been a success
sion of busters or very light producers.
The Whisky run well Is something
new. but with It's good production has
been discounted, and Is not causing the
commotion that one would expect.
Elk Fork Is on the wane, the south
west extension having run its course
and IS no longer able to furnish the
gushers that made It famous about
three months ago. The wells that were
listed at 100 or more barrels a day are
fast disappearing, and In few weeks
more the entire number will have been
{relegated to the average producer In
that pool. The deep sand territory since
1t first became a factor In the lower
southwest has been sensa tional and sup
piled a very creditable portion OF new
production. but those who have followed
up the discoveries as told in these re-
ports are aware for more than q month
that the aggregate new production from
that source has not been alarming. II
would be 4 matter OF SOME interest to the
trade. however. to know the cost per
barrel OF the new production from that
source for the past, two months; II esti-
mated at the present market price the
average producer would have no cause
for regret that he has had to be content
with nursing his old wells rather than
take chances on trying to increase his
production when SO much capital must
be risked.
North Of Flat run in aionongalia
county, the deep sand test on the Parks
farm was drilled through the sand and
proved duster. The location OF the
well is almost two miles In advance OF
developments. and indicates that the
Flat run developments 10 the north does
not reach to that location.
e At Centerville. Tyler county, the
South Penn OIL Company completed It's
test well on the Leroy Pierpont farm and
and got a forty-barrel producer. The
well is located intthe southern part Of
the Development.
There seems to be some difference OF
opinion as to the formation In which the
oil in the Albreicht farm on Whisky run,
Richie county, was developed. The
contractors, who drilled the well, have
no hesitancy In saying that It was found
in the Big Injun sand. They drilled the
Albreicht well and the one on the Wl.a-
ley farm and are positive that 1t Is the
Big Injun formation. A well known
operator came up from that country
yesterday. having visited the well and
gave 1t as his opinion that 1t was the
Keener sand that was furnishing the
production and made the well all the
more a freak. The opinion had been
gaining ground each day and since then
operators have become quite skeptical
and showed little inclination 10 invest
In leases. .'75l
The royalty, one-eighth Of the produc-
ton in the ,Albreicht farm, consisting Of
seventy-iive or eighty acres, had been
sold for $4,000. A twelve-acre piece Of
( the Richardson farm, right UP against
/; the Afbreicht well. had been sold out
right. including the royalty, for 81, 500.
On this basis, fancy prices have not
ruled In the vicinity OF the gusher.
Three or; four wells are starting in that
locality. but the usual energy displayed
In starting new work Is net in evidence
on Whisky run.
' The well on the Albreicht farm is still
making twenty barrels an hour, but Its
high production is only maintained by
frequent agitation.