The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-12
OIL OPERATORS ACTIVE
IN SOUTHERN KANSAS
Producing Wells Now Number
About I,4oo, Averaging 1000
Barrels a Day.
REVIEW OF THE FIELDS

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
COFFEYVILLE. Kan, Dec. 11.-Southern
Kansas. the new Mecca for oil men OF the
Nation, broke the record for activity dur
ing the month of November by completing
2S3 wells In the various districts. This
number is against 1s7 In October. 1SS in
September and 10 in August. On Nov 30
the number of producing wells In the State
was approximately estimated at 1,40O, with
an average production of over 1900 barrels
day. On this day, also, 167 wells were
drilling and about fifty rigs were up and in
operation in various parts OF the field. This
is the best showing made by the field at
any time during its development. The wells
are distributed as follows: Coffeyville,
seven; Neodesha. thirty-nine; Cherryvale.
eighteen: Chanute, eighty-one; Humboldt,
forty-four; Independence. forty-nine; Peru,
i. T., three
If these wells averaged but two or three
barrels a day the average daily output
would amount to over 5000 barrels, but the
pipeline figures show that the run Is better
than 1000 barrels a day. In some of the
districts the flush production is bringing
the output up to a still higher standard,
but others, on the contrary, are quite well
settled, so the average as given is nearer
correct.
1t has been almost impossible for rig men
to get sufficient tools and other supplies
from the East and consequently the work
has been greatly retarded. 1t takes from
three to six weeks to receive a shipment of
tools after they are ordered. but of late the
railroads are putting forth greater effort
to hasten urgent shipments. Tools and sup
plies have come into the field literally in
carload lots and this will greatly aid In
the quick development of the field. Oil is
commanding a high price in the markets
now. The competition for leases. for labor,
for supplies of all kinds, Is great The
Kansas field is somewhat hampered by the
lack OF facilities. Tankage is limited de-
spite the fact that trainloads Of tanks are
unloaded in the various districts daily. OF
course these difficulties are being gradually
surmounted as the additional pipelines are
being constructed.
A fine well was brought In this week by
w. =. Brown, a Coffeyvile man, who Is
drilling on his own responsibility. The pay
sand was tapped at a depth OF CIT feet. AS
soon as ii was struck the immense volume
Of gas shot the crude oil into the air high
above the derrick. The we'll Is good one
and though II has not yet been shot It is
flowing about sixty barrels a day. The
Springfield Crude Oil Company also brough,
In a good well In the Coffeyville district this
week IL IL estimated to be flowing from
twenty-five to forty barrels day-and II
has not as yet been shot. The Atlas Crude
| Oil Company brought In their fifth well las,
week The new well is flowing about sew
enty barrels day. 1t was drilled, pulled
ing time of ffty-four hours. The wells OF
| the Atlas company are phenomenal fol
their shallowness. The pay sand has beer
struck IN tan coat at less ar than 80
very much less than In other localities. The
| estimated cost Of sinking well on the At
las company's holdings Is under $s2S.
The biggest sensation In the State thu
| In at chNnute by thu Hudson OIL Company
The wQt, when the pay sand was mrs.