The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-02-05
DEVELOPMENT OF THE
PEcOS VALLEY OIL FIELDS.

The oil situation in the Pecos Val
ley is creating interest o only in
New Mexico. but in other sections of
b country and much is hoped for
from the thorough development of the
fields. A recent dispatch from Carls-
bad to the Ell Paso Herald, takes an
optimistic view of the situation. and
if founded on fact is certainly encour-
aging. The dispatch is as follows:
The Bakersfield oil field in Califor-
over the world, yet the Bakersfield de
velopmelts have never been at any
time of a spectacular nature as were
those of Beaumont and other well re-
membered oil fields, which have since
ceased to gush geysers of oil.
1t is now almost a certainty that the
trans-Pecos oil region, of which Carls
bad is the center. will be a close rival
of Bakerfield, and there is a strong pos
sibility that it may even eclipse the
latter field in extent and the aggre-
gate of production, to say nothing of
1g 1AC "a PAOduCCh. WHICH 10
now known to be of an exceedingly
fine grade. all samples of the product
of the three wells that are now yield
ing in the Toyah, Texas field running
more than 75 per cent ~lubricating.
Definite exploitation has determined
that the trans-Pecos field extends
from a point some few miles below
Seven Rivers on the north to a point
in Ell Paso county. Texas, near the
Davis mountains. on the south; and
from the Guadalupe mountain chain
on the west to the Pecos River on the
east. These explorations have been
carried on for more than two years
past by a number of oil men who have
taken up their residence in the Carls-
bad. conducting their extensive inves-
legations at their own Mum
erous test wells have been put down
at a number of widely variant points
in the Seven Rivers district, and in
every instance oil has been found.
though never any indications that
would determine a gusher field, but
that the oil deposits extended over
an immense area, forming a practic.
ally inexhaustible reservoir. at a shall
low depth of not more than 500 feet,
and in many instances known to be
much less han that. The oil taken
from the Seven Rivers district wells
has proven to hold a parafine base.
and carrying abou "a percent coal
Oil with Othpr Volatile ollie
In fact these are three wells which
are now being pumped at a depth Of
40 feet and are yielding az barrels
a day One of these wells was pump
ed for 20 days continuously, ten hours
a day. and the daily yield was the
same as stated above. III barrels for
the ten hours. Six barrels of this oil
have been sold at different points in
tbs Pecos Valley. N at Toyah. Texas
one at Lakewood, N. NJ, one at Arte-
STA, N NJ, Inc one at Carlsbad to a
physician for use on his automobile
which he uses in his practice. In ey-
cry instance the oil has been highly
satisfactory. One or two barrels have
been taken by the local branch of the
Santa Fe railroad system for testing
as lubricant, and the tests nave been
satisfactory. All the oil sold at a
price of $1,000 a barrel. and all has
given perfect satisfaction.
For more than six months previous
to this your correspondent mas known
that development work was being
done at various points in the trans
Pecos country, and also tina a bunch
of drilling outfits was at work near
Toyah, Texas in FL Paso county. at
a point about 20 miles from the latter
place. which is a small division sta
ton on the Texas and Pacific railroad
about 200 miles east of e Paso. While
he was casually aware that some
kind of important development work
was being carried on. he found it i'm
possible to gather any definite infor-
nation regarding the operations. At
last, however, by dint of persistent in
v~estigatiol and inquiry. the following
facts nave been elected:
1t was finally learned that a stock
company had been at work with two
dr1lllnS outfits at the location named
above. This company was composed
of old and expert California oil men.
with n exception, the latter being
the president of the DR.. A.
L. Brice, a Carlsbad physician. This
company operated with all the secrecy
possible, giving out no facts, and at
no time carrying on any stock jobbing
operations spending only their own
money. a private pool having been
formed with a limited capital, which
they had put up ito blow in" on the
exploitation, as was recently express
ed by your correspondent. This com
pany was impressed with the idea
that they were going to strike a gush-
er flow. and for that reason paid no
attention to the small flow of fine oil
which they struck at a depth OF 10
feet, casting it OF and going down