The Florence daily tribune., 1902-05-23

5
This well was then carried down to a
further depth of 800 feet, when oil was
encountered. The exact amount OF oil
here struck is at present unknown, but
the driller in charge, Mr.. Weaver, says
it is considerable. For certain reasons
the well was then capped, and the water
now escapes along the space between
the two castings. That there il oil in the
inner casing is evident from its seeping
through the pipe joints at the surface.
1t may be said that Mr. Weaver regards
this spot a one of the most promising
in the Florence basin. A second well is
now being started by the Columbia com
pany short distance to the south and
several others will be put down in the
immediate vicinity within the next three
months
The lots acquired and under consider
tion at this place occupy in part the up
Per front of Il high mesa, composed of
the grey shales. This drops oil abruptly
To tue cast, the descent TO the generally
level plain at the base where the we'll
Just described is located, being about
300 feet. The shales extend west from
this to the line of the foot hills some two
miles or more distant, and the rock out
crops at a number Of places not only
around the entire face of the mesa, but
in the channels along the base in the
vicinity of the bore hole mentioned.
The depth of the wells in the Flor
ence field varies considerably. The
deepest yet put down is said to he near
the bank of the Arkansas river near
l. lorcnce, to depth of 1900 feet.
Among other deep wells, one about one
and half miles southwest Of Florence,
reached depth of 3luo feet, and was
commenced at the top Of shale mesa at
n much higher level than the deep bor
ing Just mentioned. Though not at
present an oil producer, it yields large
amount of gas, sufficient to furnish pow
er to n number of pumping wells in the
vicinity. Most of the wells in this area
have reached oil in quantities at a much
less depth
OF the wells sunk in the early period
of the oil development, several became
producers at depths ranging from 80 to
100 feet, though the quantity Of oil thus
found was not large. Later develop
ments, from 1879 10 1880, were from wells
ranging from 100 to 1900 feet in depth.
The yield from these was in varying
amounts from half barrel to several
hundred barrels daily. One well OF 100
barrels capacity is said to have produced
this amount for quite ten years Later
wells have been sunk to an average
depth of 1890 to 1000 feet, and several
have been regular producers of large
amounts Of oil for many years. In the
case of some wells, after yielding readily
for some time, the How has ceased, but
after period of rest these have again
become producing wells at about their
original capacity.
The oil bearing zones of the Florence
field range in depth from 1900 feet to
$50 feet. In the intervening space OF
go feet several other productive hori.
IONS have been encountered, the oil
zones being separated by varying inter
walls of 100 tn 100 feet, and sometimes
even greater.
The actual source of the oil has not
yet been definitely proven. 1t however
appears, from "A careful consideration of
the best evidence at our disposal, to be
derived from the shale formation itself
As in other well known areas, the char
acter of the wells varies greatly, since
bore hole may he sunk to the supposed
oil horizon and prove barren, when by
changing the location but few feet
good results have been obtained from
second hole. Further, there is no doubt
that if borings about to be made by the
several companies owning lands in the
immediate vicinity of the lots in ques-
tion, should be as productive as their
owners evidently expect there is every
reason to conclude that these areas will
speedily acquire a greatly enhanced
value.
have the honor to be, Sir, yours very
truly,
X. w. ELLIS.