Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1911-04-21
DRILLING
FOR OIL.
Operations Being Resumed in this
Section in Search Of 0leagin-
ious Fluid.
COMPANY MAY BE FORMED
More than Likely that People
Stand Ready to Organize to
Make Test.

Oll OperaClOnS are now pelnS
revived in this section of the state.
A three barrel well has been brought
in near South Shore and large COM
pany formed to make extensive tests
for the oleagenous fluid or gas.
6 1t is the opinion of those having had
some experience in the oil and gas op-
eratons that there is rock produc-
ing formation in this section. AlthQ
former experiments which were made
proved fruitless, it is evident to those
having witnessed the line up of oil
operations that there Is either oil Or
gas, or both in abundance in this Sec
tion. =
Not many years ago it, was theory
among oil operators that paying oil
streaks were only to be found in hilly
or mountainous countries. This eg-
gregious error was dissipated when
the Lima, O., oil field was opened with
its gushers of both oil and gas. Since
then the reading public is famil,.r
with the developments made outside
Of the oil belts ii hilly and mountain
.ous portions Of Pennsylvania.
X Oil in Level Country.
Practically the largest oil fields 10
be found today are in the Oklahoma
oil belt. In Kansas, Illinois, Indiana,
Texas, California and West virgtnta
oil and gas are found in abundance,
and, with the exception Of California
and West Virginia, the large strikes
are made in practically level sections
like the Dakotas.
@ It is the belief of some persons hay
Ing had some experience in the oil
fields that this section is on the belt
rock formation extending from the
Beaumont fields in Texas to the oil
fields in Canada.
N At one time it was said, when the
state Of Pennsylvania was practically
the only oil producing field, that no
oil could be found in the state of New
York. Yet, afher many experiments,
which for time seemed to corrobor-
ate this theory, cne Of the best produc-
ing fields at that time was brought
in at Bolivar, N. 2.
Not Fair Tests.
In former tests that have been made
in this section it is very evident that
they were far from what would be
acknowledged as fair test in this
age OF the oil and gas business which
is conducted on scientific plans in.
stead Of theories as was the case un.
til recent years.
In those days if oil-producing sand
was not reached from 600 to 1000 It. ut
most the hole was abandoned as z
duster. An instance of this kind is
to be seen near Butler, Pa, in what
was termed the Hundred Foot" hsld
4 where, several years ago, the Phillips
Brothers drilled shallow we'll and
pronounced it duster. Several
years afterwards those who believed
in deeper drilling sunk the drill to sew
eral hundred feet below the former
( well and brought in one Of the best
fields In a rock unknown to old timers
and the oil brought a premium over
all others. Another feature in con
nection with deep wells is the face
that they are the best stayers.
! VIII Try Again.
Those who were interested in for
+ mer operations in this section are
inclined to take hold Of the situaTon
again and drill deep enough that there
Will be no doubt in regard to the pres
.ence of either oil or gas or both. The
next test Will probably include wei
at least 5000 feet and possibly $500
& Small wells are not to be ignored
in these days Of the oil business wher
many Of the fields are being abandon
led as played out. Even in Pennsyl
yania old territory is being drilled tic
second and even third time and thres
or four ar even one barrel wells I'M
considered profitable. With the new ap
paratps Tor pumping many wells from