The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-17
lNtTHE OIL FIELDS.

After looking over the Sclo oil fields
one Is at a loss to recall any distinctive
features pertaining to the new develop
mcnt or note any difference in the peo-
pie who have tlocked to scio from all
parts OF the oil producing sections OF
Pennsylvania, West Virginia. Ohio and
Indiana, One can see Mt Sclo those
who have followed the fortunes and
misfortunes OF the various oil excite
ments. from that OF Oil creek down to
the present time. Some have invested
heavily In scIo territory and others
will tell you they have Just arrived and
are looking around.
Al the hotel and on the street, COR
ners, groups OF operators can be seen
bending over maps, discussing the Ia
test strike and Its probable bearing on
further extension OF the producing
territory. The man with n lease on Il
farm within five miles OF the town. can
draw line from the center OF present
developments and TO his own sausfac-
tion, ut least, demonstrate how hispar
the scope OF the producing area before
the outer limits have been defined.
In discussing n new field. one OF the
first questions asked Is, what does It
cost TO complete we'll? Upon this and
the average size OF the wells the prac-
tical operator bases his estimates and
decides upon the value OF the territory.
He Is no longer particular as to what
formation the oil Ia found In, so long MS
he can stand on the tank and see the
stream OF fluid coming through the lead
line. I- -tr,
The average depth OF the Bcren Grit
from the surface. ut ScIo, is 1000 feet,
differences being occaslonel by the ell
ovation OF the hills above the lower
levels, or valleys. About twelve days
Is the best drilling time that has been
made In the field and Is computed from
the time OF beginning to spud and
going through the sand. At the stnrt nm
eight-lnch holc Is sufficient and 1t Is
finished up with elk and one fourth
Inch. But one string OF casing Is need
ed. seven hundred feet OF six and one
fourth-inch. The price paid for drill
Ing varies from rs low as ffty-ilve
cents TO seventy 'cents per foot. The
rig costs from 1926 TO $3.50. and the
builders say that the heavy rtlmbers
can be procured in the immediate VI.
cinity nj nominal cost and now that
the railroads have increased their facil-
tiles for handling the necessary sup
plies In demand, lumber can be had at
reasonable prices.
The total cost to start and complete
Scio well Is given at 5000. This ,esti-
mate Is given by the manager OF one OF
the largest companies operating In that
field. and includes cost of rig, drilling,
shooting, cleaning. tanks and the con-
structlon Of boiler and engine house.
The average settled production Of the
producing wells Is about forty barrels
day. As yet there has been no occasion
10 make deductions for loss In Z. dry
holes. for there have been none. They
will come as the year grows older, and
experience and tangible Information
takes the place of the Views of the the
orist. With two lines of railroads run
ming through the center OF the Sclo de-
velopment. the field is easy Of access,
and unless extremely cold weather
should intervene, there will be no hin
drance to the speedy development Of
the territory. 5
The quality Of the oil does not differ
from that found In other Berea grit
pools. In color. 1t is dark green. and
its specific gravity Is 40. 1t does not
equal in quality some OF the oil OF the
Pennsylvania and West Virginia dis
tricts. although the difference Is not
great enough to make IL distinction In
market price. The Tiona producti is far
superior and that of the Midtown field.
n few miles from Pittsburgh, and the
rpNt n III.
counties Is much richer In bi-products.
At Moundsvllle. W. Va, is little. Be-
rea Grit development and the oil shows
twenty degrees higher gravity Than
that found at Scio. but n comparison OF
the qualities OF oil. from the, different
fields Ia Of little interest to the opera
tor What he wants is quantity, and
the ruling market price for It when Il
has been given into the custody of the
pipe line. He Is receiving the latter
and from the energy he Is putting for
ward he stands good chance to ac-
quirc tile former.
The Berea grit. or rock formation, In
which the oil Is found ut Sclo, is about
thirty-ilyc feet in thickness, and the
richest pay Is found midway between
the top and bottom. 1t lies 200 feet
lower from the surface than the Muddy
Creek pool In Butler county. the most
northern Bcrcl grit yet discovered.
The deepest Bcrea grit field Is the Og-
den Henderson, development In Wood
county. w. Va. This field not only had |
the largest daily production. 5000 bar.
rels, in a given time. but Is the largest
In area. Active developments have been
In progress for more than two years
and the producing territory extends
northeast and southwest for distance
of nearly more than three miles. 1t Is
thought to be nearly or quite uefinedS
starting with southwest to the Ogden |
Henderson, pool. the most southern Ee-
rea Grit development. The formation |
has gradual dip and lies 1900 feet be- |
low the surface, or 1000 feet deeper |
than the same formation Mt Scio. The |
production OF the wells In Wood corn-
~ showed 4 higher average, but the |
difference In depth and increase In pro- |
duct!on. as compared with Scio. leaves |
the latter the more desirable territory
TO operate. The wells In Wood county
have sufficient rock pressure to make |
them flow for long time after they
have heen completed and shot, which |
reduces the expenses Of op-
Grating them. At Scio they must be
shot and put to pumping before they
give UP their wealth.