Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-03-23
The First Well to be Drilled in
the County
Was About the Year of IS57-Was
Drilled on Theories which Grew Out
OfIhe ..OId Burning Spring. Field.
1t Uas Rot Been a Money Maker.


Writ county, which was discovered
more than half century ago. These
developments were never connect
ed or associated together only from
theory. The Burning Springs field
was operated in the SOS, and pros
pecting in Richie county never
began until about the year OF 81.
About this time General Kearns
drilled a wildcat we'll in the edge OF
Wood county that proved pro-
Queer and opened what was after
ward called the Volcano field. This
field almost in its entirety produced
only heavy lubricating oil, which
varied in gravity from Fl to 81.
A small number of wells were
found which produced light oil, but
they were of rare occurrence. This
heavy oil formerly sold at SIS per
barrel. 1t may be said that this
field was practically the opening OF
the Richie county developments.
Prospecting in this county began
soon after the discovery OF oil at
Volcano and at Petroleum inRitchie
county is what is termed the east
ern extremity of the Volcano field.
Along about IS some adventures
dropped over into Peasants county
and drilled test we'll on what was
termed Horseneck creek or run.
This test proved to be paying Cow
run producer, and several more
wells were put down in that locality
with the same result. These sew
eral pools were closely drilled and
today they have ceased producing.
The wildcatter was frequently
heard from in many parts OF Rltchle
county, but their efforts were I'M
successful. The Waverly pool in
Wood county was then discovered,
which for the time being detracted
attention from Richie county. This
pool, however, proved a disappolnt-
ment to many, never banning out"
anything like what was expected
from it. While it held the attention
of the talent for sometime it was,
comparatively speaking, short lived.
Only had the attention of the oper-
ator began to turn in the direction
of Richie county again until the
Ogden pool was discovered. WOOD
county was again in the lead and
was the greater of the two counties.
The Ogdin pool proved to be I'M
satisfactory territory and the talent
was again disappointed.
The Waverly pool was shallow
sand stuff, while the major part OF
the Ogdin field was deep sand.
After excitement had begun to
waue over the Ogdin find the Hen
dershot pool was discovered. This
pool continues to be operated on a
small scale and an occasional small
deep sander is found. 1t proved to
be too expensive to operate and
the more daring and venturesome
operator dropped over into Richie
county and opened up the Cairo
field. This was practically the first
paying field ever discovered in the
county.
Soon after this the CORVALLIS
pool was discovered, and since that
time the drill has been busy in
almost all portions of the
county. One popularity of the
Cairo field is that there are two
separate and distinct pools. On
the one side of the town may be
found a salt sand pool, while on the
other only Injun is found.
The CORVALLIS field is purely
salt sand, no Injun pay existing.
Along about the close of 90, OF