The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-07
DEEPEST KANSAS WE'LL.
Near Caney and Has Already Eaten
Up $4,000.

Caney. Kan, Sept. THE deepest big
well in Kansas is now drilling a mile
west of this city by company which
is composed mostly of Caney men. Al
though they have watched the hole eat
UP almost $4,000, there are those in the
company who are still hopeful of get
ting good flow of oil at the bottom of
the well, wherever that may be. The
hole is now 2.14O feet deep and the drill
is still running, although under very
difficult circumstances.
The we'll was commenced last Ianu-
ary. The drill went to the MissiSSippian
lime at 1850 feet without anything diff
ferent from the usual run of drilling.
From there through 287 feet more the
lime was encountered. At 1,s47 feet
black slate began and continued for 4S
feet. This took the well to a depth of
1897 feet where magnetism lime, call
ed dolomite began. This was contin-
ued without interruption to the present
depth of 2 40 feet The company is
confident that the Trenton rock will be-
gin within the next 100 feet. and if it
does the long search will be rewarded.
Trenton rock in the best oil bearing
substance known. 1t has never been
found anywhere in the west. according
to the Caney men, although in a well
drilled several years ago at Neodesha it
was reported to have been found. 1t
has been found frequently in the deep
wells of Ohio and Indiana.
No Sign of Oil.
BILE has been found in this well. At 800
feet enough was seen to slightly color
the water that was thrown in the hole.
From 400 to 1000 feet not particle of
water was found. None was found at
all in the lime. At 2,100 feet enough
gas was found to force it's way upward
through a column of 2, 100 feet of water,
the weight of which at the gas bearing
sand is estimated to be 1000 pounds to
the square inch. This gas burned con-
stantly when lighted.
Work on the well has been delayed
for several weeks by the difficult task
of cleaning out. The well was shot at
2,133 feet, and ever since then the
time has been used in cleaning out
the constant cavern. This has now
practically been completed and seven
more feet have been drilled. In max
ing the shot $50 quarts of nitro
gIycerin were used and it raised the
column of water only ten feet above
the mouth of the well.
Contend With Water.
The casing has collapsed twice,
which finally necesSitated shooting
the well. This casing is of a very
superior quality, but nevertheless the
weight of it was SO great that the
lower joints ''telscoped." The casing
has been removed so frequently that
the equivalent of $4,000 feet of it has
This casing is all 8 u inches in diam
eter. There is now 1900 feet of it in
the well. Down to 1900 feet the well
is a 10-inch hole. From there on
down it is 81 inches. This size bit
with a big stem is being used.
The drill is operated by $500 feet
of heavy wire cable, at the lower end
of which is $50 feet of rope to give
the necessary spring to the drill. The
wire cable is used because the drill is
operated through 900 feet of water.
Were it not for the water the COM
pany believes it could now make forty
feet a day. AS it is, progress is very
slow. The machinery and rig are
built for S,500-foot hole If desired.
The company is doing its own work.
After Trenton Rock.
The dolomite in which the drill is
now running is softer than the Mis-
sissippian lime. 1t polishes highly:
The new houses of parliament at
London are built of this mineral. It
is different from lime mostly on ac-
count of its feeble efferveScence in
acids. It generally contains some
carbonate of iron.
This we'll is drilling solely in the
hope of striking the Trenton rock
which some of the biologists say out
| crops near Caney at a depth of prob
ably 1880 to $500 feet. The theory
on which this is based is that all the
oil issues through a assure in the Mis-
sissippi lime above the Trenton rock
and that if the Trenton rock can be
reached the real source of the oil will
be found. Other attempts to find this
rock have been unsuccessful. In Ne
odesha several years ago a well was
| drilled to a depth of 2,416 feet. At
Eufaula, I. T.. another hole of great
depth was drilled.