The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-12
THE TEXAS OIL INDUSTRY.
Estimates of Marvellous Outputs Of
Wells Go Uncontradicted.

Spindfe-Top Gushcr Reputed to
leum Extraordinarily Of Obfaininx
Accurate and Reliable Informatioa
BEAUMONT. Tex, Aug. lit ia as
serted that one of the oil gushers on
Spindle Top recently poured oil into a
tank at the rate of 10000 barrels a day.
The remarkable feature of that assertion
is not the size of the figures. but thSpfact
that the assertion itself has not been
contradicted. There can be. no doubt
that II the figures should be increased so
per cent In some future report there will
be no contradiction. AS the great State
of Texas is not accustomed to stand sec
ond in matter where mere size is con-
cerned, it may be expected that before
the close Of the summer the claim will
be made, without contradiction. that the
production of any one of the wells on
Spindle Top exceeds the record of the
most prolific oil well In the history of the
world. To reach this distinction the pro-
duction will have to be marked UP to
nearly $1,000 barrels. as the record well
in the Russian oil fields actually produced
120 coo barrels day.
The production of the wells on Spindle
Top has been curious study in arithme-
teal progression. When the wonderful
Lucas well, the pioneer of Spindle Top.
flowed unmuzzled for ten days last Janu-
airy, it's capacity was first placed at 5000
barrels day. That was an Under esti-
mate: but the Texas people were novices
in the oil business at that time. and they
were unable to gauge an oil wells ca
pacity by the size and force of the column
of oil that shot high above the derrick.
A few days after the discovery of the oil
the assertion was put forth, with perhaps
a touch of uncertainty in the tone, that
the well was good for 10000 or 5000 bar
rels a day. This was promptly scoffed
at. chiefly by farmers and others who
knew more about Texas long horns than
about oil wells.
The first expert estimate made of the
capacity of the Lucas well was made by
a prominent oil producer of Pittsburg,
who visited Beaumont ir the hope of
leasing oil lands, but returned home dis
gusted with the attitude of Texas land
owners. This expert estimated the ca
pacity of the Lucas well at 5000 barrels
a day. 1t may be assumed that in his
disappointed state of mind. this gentle
man was not disposed to overestimate the
producing capacity of the well.
A short time afterward the production
was placed at $1,000 barrels a day. There
the estimates rested until the Beatty well
came in. and real estate speculation began
In earnest Then the capacity of the Luz
cas- and the Beatty began to climb up
ward, with no one to utter protest The
figures were marked up by the specula-
tors, not half dozen of whom had seen
an oil well before coming to Beaumont
to engage in the widest reaf>astate spec
uiation in the history or the United
States. From $1,000 barrels day the
production went by leaps and bounds to
10000 $1,000. $1,000. and 10000 barrels a day.
Not one dissenting voice was lifted above
the din of Crockett Street speculation.
Even the newspapers printed the asser-
tons and let them stand without protest
The maximum estimate now stands at
lUo.VU0 barrels day.
1t must not be supposed that these as
sertions We're made with no attempt at
proof or convincing circumstance. On the
contrary, each upward step was an
nounced as the result of an accurate and
scientific test of the capacity of some par
ticular well. As each human being in
Texas was vitality interested in the sue
cess of the Beaumont oil field, it was inn
possible to obtain any facts with which
to contradict successfully the spectators
assertions. The diSintereSted enquirer
would meet with no better success now.
AS matter of fact. sit is impossible to
obtain the exact figures of the production
of any we'll on Spindle Top or elsewhere
in Texas One can only guess at it.
The writer's estimate of the capacity of
each OF the wells on Spindle Top is 10000
barrels. This estimate has been made
after careful study of the Beaumont
oil field since last FebI uary, and a COM
parison of all the facts obtainable with
the peculiarities of the oil fields of Russia.
The writer, during visit to the oil fields
of Baku, Russia, saw well flowing at
.In..y Of NJ lNrr rQIs. Ilx- hat
was eighteen inches inSdiameter at the
bottom and twenty-five inches at the top.
il threw u solid column of oil high above
the derrick In actual height the column
was perhaps the same as the height of
the geyser streams sent up by the guShers
on Spindle Top.
In the thickness of column, however,
there was a decided difference. In the
Russian well the oil came through an
aperture eighteen inches in diameter at
the bottom, whereas in the case OF most
of the Spindle Top wells the aperture at
the bottom of the well is only four inches
in diameter. Thus, 1t will be seen, if the
Russian well. with an aperture of eight
teen inches, threw a column of oil
high as that from one of the Spindle Top
wells. the aperture of which is only four
inches. the producing capacity of the
larger well would be much greater than
the capacity of the smaller one.
In addition to this, it may be said, that
it is a physical impossibility for 10000
barrels of oil to pass through a finch
pipe in twenty-four hours at pressure
of seventy-five pounds to the square inch.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Aug. u.-Al-
though there have been no results of a
definite nature, Alabamians continue to
organize and formulate plans for boring
for oil in different parts of the State.
and In a number of instances wells are
being driven. There are undoubted evil
dences of oil, but no deposits of paying
nature have yet been struck. The Mobile
Beaumont Oil Company has been organ
lied by leading citizens of Mobile. includ-
ing Postmaster p. ID. Barker. This COM
pany has secured by option and purchase
large tracts of land in the vicinity of
Mobile, and will make a thorough test
with deep wells. Its capital stock is
S2o0. 900.
The leading oil company in north Ala
bama is the Madison OIL Company, of
which has capital stock of
$3.50, 600. and is backed by wealthy citizens.
This company has engaged experts, and
will make tests in the Tennessee Valley.
Behring'S are taking place all over the
State, from the Gulf to the northernmost
part of the State in the Tennessee Val
ley, and If there are paying deposits In
Alabama it appears almost certain that
they will be struck. A great deal of
money is being expended.