Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-08-09
HAkNESSING A 1USHER.
ITS A GREAT FEAT TO SUBJuCATE
AN OIL WELL.


Everybody who reads the daily pa
pers knows that big hole was sunk
in the ground near Beaumont. that a
mighty stream Of oil rushed forth and
that the Lucas gusher was created.
Everybody knows that after several
days had elapsed the well was
capped" and the further waste of oil
was prevented. But everybody does
not know what great feat of engi-
Eeering skill, daring and endurance
the process Of "capping" was nor
what an effort it took to control and
bring into subsection that mighty
belching of nature.
On Jan. 8 the we'll had reached a
depth of 1160 feet, and there were four
metal tubes in the hole. The first cas-
ing, pipe 10 inches in diameter,
reached a part of the way. Inside of
that there was an eight-inch pipe eX-
tending still farther down, and within
that there was a six-inch pipe reach
ing almost 1000 feet down. All of these
r.pes extended above the surface of
TIE ground Below the end Of the six
inch pipe was rock formation,
through which the contractors had
been drilling for several days. The
drill was driven by a four-inch pipe
extending through the others. The
four-inch pipe was merely used as a
tool and was not intended for casing.
On the evening of Jan. 8 the four
inch pipe was drawn out In order that
new drill might be substituted for
the one which had become worn. The
pipe was left out overnight. The next
day new bit was affixed to it and the
men began lowering it. 1t had got
down about 700 feet when the oil
gushed out of the rock, forcing the
four-inch pipe out, hurting it 300 feet
aloft, carrying away the tackles, hy-
Graulic pump connections, etc. The
oil deposit was not drilled into. The
commotion in the bowels of the earth
broke through the rock II hours after
the drill made its last turn, and the oil
gushed forth and shot heavenward
with terrific force, belching, ungov-
erned monster.
To cap and curb and control this
great pillar of force, the upward pres
sure of which it was afterward deter
mined was 105 pounds to the square
inch. The men had to work under the
torrent of greasy, dirty oil as it de-
scended to the earth. In order to do
this they wore goggles to protect the
eyes and gauze shields to protect the
nose, all the apertures around them
being closed with plaster. Speech and
hearing were impossible, and the work
was directed by code Of signals pre-
yiously agreed upon.
A plan was devised for putting
whole valve in place. A frame was
constructed of railroad iron as slide
to carry the valve. Two bars were
laid horizontally across the derrick
frame, passing on either side OF the
stream of OIL These bars were In
tended to support and hold the valve
in place from the sides. Above these
were two other bars, engaging the top
of the valve and intended to keep it
from being thrown upward when it
should come in contact with the
stream.
Just beyond the stream bolts were
fastened in the bars so as to stop the
d. valve over the stream and at the prop
er place. The bars were securely an
chored so as to withstand the strain
to be put upon them. Into this frame
or side the valve was put. A block
and tackle was rigged up and con-
nected with the valve, and when ev-
erything was in readiness a team of
horses was driven forward at rapid
speed The valve was, of course, open
at both ends so as to permit the
stream to pass through it when it
should come directly over the pipe.
But it was known that a tremendous
pressure would be exerted upon the
half of the valve passing through tho
stream before the valve would reach
its place and surround the flow. As
the horses moved forward and the
valve came in contact with the stream
there was a fearful strain, a fitting
movement and terrific scattering of
oil. 1t was an anxious and critical
moment for the men who were trying
to harness this force of nature, but
the crisis was safely passed. The
valve reached the stop bolts and set
tied into place directly over the end of
the pipe and perfectly inclosing the
stream. The oil again flowed unim-
peded toward the sky, but with the
circle of iron around it.
One step in the closing Of the well
had been safely accomplished, but the
valve hung in its frame IL inches
above the top of the pipe. Anchors
were made, and the valve was pulled
down to the top OF the eight inch pipe
and screwed on. Fortunately there
were good threads on this pipe. The
six-inch pipe was what is known as Il
blind pipe and was not threaded.
1t next became necessary to put
down anchors sufficiently strong to
hold the pipe in place after the clos
ing of the valve should bring the pres
sure of the stream against it. AS the
oil was still rushing upward through
the orifice at the top of the valve and
falling on the ground around the well