The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-27
DECREASE in PRODUCTION
APRIL WORK WAS MORE IN THE
LINE OF REHABILITATION.
winter Was Hard on the Old Wells
Drop I'm the Price OF Grade n
Hard Blow tn the Oil Trade.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
MONTPELIER, Ind, April pa decline
IN operations In the indians oil field for
the month of April does not cause much of
a surprise. as Il has been looked for. The
past winter has been a hard one on pro-
ducing wells and the month of April being
the first month that good weather has been
experienced the operators have been busy
getting their old wells In shape. and they
find 1t a good idea. as their production is
being increased. During April there were
DC wells completed. of which fifty-one were
gas wells or dry holes, the balance showing
a daily output of 1890 barrels. or an aver
age a well per diem of eighteen barrels.
This is a decrease In completed work of
sixteen wells and LIS barrels new produc-
ton, while in dry holes or gas wells there
is an increase of only one. In new work
under way there are 202 wells drilling and
142 rigs up and building. The decrease I'm
the price Of the product has had some eff
feet on operations. especially in the drill
ing of test wells, as the wildcatters would
prefer to see the market price settle before
they venture too much. A large number
Of test wells are already under way and
many leases have been taken where the oil
men have agreed to drill within sixty TO
ninety days. and the are now making ar
to drill the wells which will
make operations more active, 1t looks very
encouraging for the opening up of new pools
in various locations. The new developments
I'm the Loogootee field have not been very
encouraging the past few weeks and the
quota OF failures has driven many from the
new field. The Ohio Oil Company's VEN
ture.on the Mehan farm, a mile in advance
10 the north Of developments in that field,
has developed a buster. This location was
looked upon as one of the best in the field.
To the south about three miles from pro-
ducing wells the Acme Oil Company drilled
in what Is considered but little better than
a buster on the Gootee farm, and midway
between the Acme well and the producing
well Guffey & Co. nave also drilled
In a failure. So, ak 1t all in all, the
field has received decidedly a black eye.
There are several strings OF tools still at
work in the Loogootee field and IL may yet
develop into a producing field of no mean
magnitude, as such things sometimes hap
pen in the oil business.
One of the most promising spots in In
diana to-day is located in the shallow
a OF Jasper county, where the heavy oil
is being found. The feature of hat field
~ tAC AOAt was thC III los - 1T
English syndicate OF the property formerly
owned by South Bend parties, consisting of
leases on close to 10000 acres and a dozen
or more producing wells for a consideration
of $4,000. The new owners will push the
drill and increase their production largely
before the close of the present year. 1t
looks very much as though the field will
prove an extensive one and a money
maker. as the drilling of wells does not
amount to much, and drilling machines are
being used instead OF the s~eventy-four foot
rig used in other portions of the field.
Huntington county Is attracting more or
less attention, and Eastern men who have
secured leases there will put down a large
number of wells. The drop in the price of
3 cents this week Tuesday was uncaIled
for by the pipe line company. and is a
sumner TO the trade. New work is spring.
ing up in Jay. Adams and Blackford coun-
ties and especially in Blackboard. but the
waste gas question is against the drilling
and around Hartford City deters the prog
ress of the drill to a great extent. Wells
county Is holding its own as are all other
counties throughout the field. Following
Is the condition Of operations for the past
two months:
Summary IF CompIatad Walls