The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-26
DECLINE in PRODUCTION
FEWER WELLS DRILLED AND LESS
OIL Is PUMPED.
Approach OF Winter Checks the
Course of New WOrk-ProspectS in
Indiana-County Comparisons.
special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special 10 the indianapolis journal.
MONTPELIER; Ind. Dec 25.-During
the month of December there were l92
wells completed in the Greater Indiana
oil field. OF this number forty-eight proved
gas wells, or dry holes. The output of the
producing wells is 1850 barrels. or an
average per well per day of eighteen bar
rels. This shows a decrease from the No
vember figures Of twenty-seven in COM
pleted wells. one in dry holes and 720 bar
rels in the new production. A decline In
operations is usually looked for during
the winter season in all the oil fields, as
drilling in cold weather is expensive. The
operator has come to the conclusion that
the best thing for him TO do during cold
weather is TO see that what wells he has
drilled are producing properly. and by not
rushing the drill he always has more
ready cash on hand TO push the work dur
ing the summer season. This has been an
eventful season in the Indiana field. as
the annual report will show when pub
lished in few days, which shows the en-
tire years work, also the work from the
beginning of drilling in the State.
Nothing in the way of gushers has been
found since the completion of the SUI
perior Oil Company's big well in Adams
county, near the State line. This pool has
indications of an extensive area, and be-
fore the close of the coming year that end
of the field will be dotted with derricks.
Heretofore leases have been hard to Sc
cure from the farmers, but now il is differ
ent, as they have learned that the royalty
from oil well that is expense to
them brings much easier money than till
ing the soil and realizing but small gains:
while an oil well, ii a good one, makes a
prIncely income for a farmer. The Su-
perior Oil Company's gusher paid the
farmer a royalty in one day of 500, being
one-sixth of the product. Some farmers
work d year and rail to save that amount
Many man has been made happy over
| the strike of oil on his farm. The industry
erS and their sons, there is always some
| kind of work to be found in the oil fields.
| Blackboard county, for December, shows
unusual activity, owing to the drilling
| near Hartford City, where some good wells
are being completed. In other counties
| heavy gas pressure in the Hartford City
wells has kept the drilling Of that terri
| tory back, and the operators are still meet
| ing with the same results, and are COM
| PEELED to shut their wells in or suffer the
| severe punishment prescribed by the waste
| gas laws of the State, as they are care
| fully watched. Jay county shows big
| decline in completed work, as does Grant.
| Hamilton and Adams counties show slight
| gains. Marion mas an increase or two
| wells while Miami. Madison, Wabash and
| Jasper are about holding their own. The
| other counties show a falling off, owing
| to the fact that drilling for gas has sub
| sided to some extent Following is a COM
| parison of the work for the months OF
| November and December:
Summary of COMPLETED Wells