The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-31
OIL FIELD WORK is Dull
CONSIDERABLE DECREASE IN AC.
TIvITY, DUE TO LACK OF FUEL.
Cold Weather Also Operates as n Nat.
ura1 Check-Disappointi Results
i'm BIackfOrd County.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
MONTPELIER, Ind, Jan. 30.-Operations
in the greater Indiana oil field for the
month of January show that 211 wells
were completed, of which forty-three were
dry holes or gas wells, the balance having
a daily production of 5000 barrels, or an
average per well per day of eighteen bar
rels, a slight increase over the averages
for December. This is decrease in COM
pleted wells of twenty-six; there are AGO
barrels less production and an increase of
six in dry holes or gas wells. In new work
under way there are 1873 wells drilling and
eighty-fve rigs up which is a decrease in
drilling wells of twenty-six. and in rigs
up and building eleven, making net de-
crease in new operations of thirty-seven.
The decline in the new operations is due
to the scarcity of water and coal for fuel,
in portions of the State where there is but
little gas to utilize for that purpose.
Grant county is still the active part OF
the field and will remain so for some time
TO come unless something new Is opened up
TO attract the attention of the trade In
some other direction. An attempt is being
made to extend the Marion field 10 the
northwest toward La Fontaine, but far
all tests put down are not Of a very en-
couraging nature. Considerable Blue Lick
water is found in the wells, and so far no
one mas Deen dDle TO exhaust IL. 1t IL not
like the salt water usually found in the
Trenton rock formation, as IL is always in
larger quantities. 1t is the same kind of
water encountered in the Peru field during
the boom there in 1897.
The late developments in the vicinity of
Hartford City, in Blackboard county, have
set the oil people to thinking that the field
is not as profitable at first supposed,
for the reason that a great number Of fail
ures are being drilled in there. During the
month seven dry holes have been found
there. Wells county has made fairly
good record so far, and has prospects for
a large amount of work as soon as spring
opens up. The same can be said of all
the fields, and the present year should
be one of the most profitable in the history
of oil in this State, unless the price of the
product goes 10 a low figure, which is not
looked for under present conditions. Con-
ditiOns were never better than at present
were it not for the large gushers now be-
ing opened up In the Texas field. and the
lighter grade oil fields in Colorado. Here
tofore the oil product of Indiana and Ohio
has furnished the gas oil for the country,
but Texas now takes the bulk of that trade
from the two States, which means quite a
loss, to say nothing of the lubricating part.
The fuel and refined or Illuminating parts
will hardly affect our home product.
But little work is doing in the shallow
fields OF Jasper and adjoining counties at
present, but operations will increase there
with more pleasant weather One of the
leading fields to be looked after the COM
ing year will be that around the State line,
considerable work Will be done there.
Another favorable location is around
Muncie in Delaware, and i'm Randolph
county. Huntington county will come in
for its share of operations in the near fu-
ture, as Mcdonald * Co. are now drilling
an important test well on a block of 1900
acres in Salamonia township, also partly
located in Liberty township. to the east.
In case this well is a producer IL will open
UP large scope of new territory.
The following figures give a comparison
for the work throughout the State for the
months of December and January:
Summary of Completed Wells