The Yale expositor., 1911-09-14

Unstable line and connected with heavy arm or
beam driven by engine which continually
raises and releases the arms and permlts the drll
IN fall with great force into the hole With each
drop and by it's own weight, the drill literally
brushes and puverizes the rock into sand whlcn
is removed with sand pump from time TO time
as it accumulates in the boring AS Fhe work pro-
crosses and the hole deepens the adjustable line ~
heightened and the drill lowered required.
After drilling to depths varying from 100 to 1000
feet and when a crevice is struck In TIE rock, inc
oil is frequently brought to the surface by the
force of its own pressure; but it often becomes
necessary in case the flow of oil is not considered
sufficient, to insert charge of explosive at the
bottom of the boring, shoot or blast the well.
and thus increase the supply After the drllllng
and blasting completed, the well is then cased
with iron piping, known as lining and pump
inserted
In the old days each we'll pumped sepa--
ately but the industry is now conducted upon such
an economic and scientific basis that the wells are
pumped in groups by vertable network of con-
Meeting rods, extending the fields and driven
by an engine in centralized station
In some districts the oil fields have been prac-
ticaliy honeycombed with wells and the production
of petroleum greatly reduced or scattered by con-
tinual pumping.
AS the enterprise grew many complex problems
arose from time to time, but they have all been
gradually but effectuay solved and the industry
placed upon conservative and economic basis.
The total flow of oil In the United States for
the year 1852 the first Of which any official record
has been kept amounted to only 1000 barrels.
For the year 1909 the production estimated by
David T. Day Of the United States Geological Sur
vey amounted to about 17S 900 barrels, which.
If placed in single body. would be sufficient to
float a gigantic fleet of 935 DreadnouGht battle
ships of the 26,00O-ton Arkansas type OF the
United States Navy.
Gradually the oil derrick wendell its way from
a northeastery to southwesterly direction, and the
petroleum industry was extended over vast terri
tory
During the year 1908 there were 5000 wells
sunk in the United States, of which but 3,214 were
dry.
Extensive experiments have been conducted to
determine the value of petroleum as fuel for power
plants as we'll for the navy and merchant ma
rine especially in England and the United States.
Numerous merchant vessels have been fully
equipped for burning oil as fuel and, by practical
test it has been determined that oil will evaporate
80 per cent more water per pound than COAL Is
easier to handle and stow offers difficulty in
burning and in its use, time formerly wasted in
coaling and in useless labor is saved smoke elimi
mated fuel space economical, steaming and sTeed
capacities increased strain on boilers greatly de-
creased, and a clean ship assured at all times.
The crude oil of parafhn base is particularly de-
sirabe for fuel and the only obstacles to its uni
yersaI use are: CD Difficulty in obtaining; (2) in
creased cost over coal. With the production of
sufficient petroleum at reasonable cost, there is
little doubt that every ship afoat will be event
uay equipped with oil burners and the coal crates
pass from
The United States navy has equipped the bat
tleships Delaware North Dakota, Utah, Florida,
Arkansas and Wyoming with auxiliary provision
for from 400 to 600 tons of fuel oil each.
The new battleships under construction at
the Fore River Ship Building Company, Phadel
pha, for the Argentine government will also be
equipped for auxiliary oil capacities of 600 tons
EACH
The usefulness of petroleum is almost unlimited
Besides the many grades of gasolines, naphthas,
Illuminating oils, lubricating oils paraffin, and
greases obtained from the crude oil parafin base.
filtered paraffln residues or concentrated jees
are also obtained These jellies universally
employed as therapeutic agents In diseases of the
skin, as a basis in the manufacture Of medicated
ointments for general household use and also in
the compromising of shoe and metal polishes.