The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1914-07-04
lAKEv|EW GUSHtR
FREAK PERFORMER
EXHIBITS PHENOMENA OF SEN
SATIONAL NATURE AND
SCIENTIFIC INTEREST

~ W VI oNots "a .
the Oil Age, Los Angeles. Among
the interesting and peculiar features
during the flow of this well is a
phenomenon that occurred last week
following the blowing out of the sur
face earth around the casing. The
enormous flow of oil and the great
gas pressure tore away the three top
joints of the A-inch casing and
also later the three top joints of the
10-inch pipe were thrown out of the
hole. This breaking off of the sur
face casing caused the oil and gas
to flow through about 65 feet of
open surface formation. This open
formation was speedily torn away,
leaving an open bowl-shaped hole or
basin about 20 feet across and 65
feet deep. This Immediately filed
with oil and for some time the cavity
thus formed served as a cushion
through which the oil was shot. This
oil cushion so impeded the force of
tie flow that instead of the oil shoot
ing 500 feet in the air and spraying
the surrounding country with mist.
as it had been doing in the past, it
kettle shooting the oil so to so feet
in the air. This blowing out of the
surface casing and the consequent
formation of the crater of boiling oil
occurred Wednesday morning. We'd
nesday night at 9:45 the officials of
Tho onnanN- u-ora Cforf1nd Inv q urnota-
cOmmotion at the well. In place of
the comparatively quiet boiling in
the crater, the we'll was giving forth
a deafening oar and, it is said by
those who were on the lease at the
time, that for many yards surround
ing the well the earth trembled or
vibrated. Turning the searchlights
On the well and making an examina-
ton. it was found that the oil was
again shooting high in the air and
with apparently greater force. The
stream of oil at the mouth of the
crater appeared to be at least Is feet
in diameter. Due to a high wind
that was blowing it was found that
little if any of the fluid and spray
was falling near the we'll. At day
light a second examination was made
and, to the surprise of the officials
no oil was found boiling or standing
in the crater. Instead the crater was
empty and the oil was shooting in a
solid stream high in the air and was
being carried away from the hole by
the wind. Apparently the oil that
had been in h basin or crater be-
fore this phenomenal flow, and the
accompanying high wind, had either
been blown out of the crater or had
been siphoned out by the terrific flow
of the oil. The officials of the com
pany, with the aid of a life line, were
able to get to the brink of the crater
and there made a minute examination
of the formation and the effects that
the terrific flow had on the remain
ing casing yet standing in the hole.
Due to magnitude of the oil column,
nc view was possible of the six-inch
stream. The top of the 10-inch cas-
ing could be seen in the hole, but it
was noticed that it was split and was
apparently wearing away. The crater
was found to be about 65 or 70 feet
in diameter, about the same number
of feet in depth and in shape about
the same as a coffee cup. The sides
of the crater were smooth from the
constant whirl and wash of the oil.
In less than an hour after the ex-
animation was made, the wind died
down, allowing the oil and spray to
fall back into the basin and again the
well vas flowing through the oil
cushion as it had the day previous.
Just before the wind died down,
however, it was possible to distinct
iy note the difference in color be-
tween the black oil coming out of
the 6H inch casing and the dark
yellow mass flowing between the 6H
and the 10-inch castings. This yell
lowish hue of the outer stream is
caused by the assortment of forma-
ton cuttings held in suspension by
the oil.
In connection with the phenomenal
flow of Wednesday night, when it
was the well was DONG
double it's previous record, it is in
teresting to note hat this freak well
apparently increases the flow as the
sun goes down at night and de-
creases as the sun comes up in the
morning. This phenomenon has given
rise to the report that the moon was
exerting a pulling influence on the
production. Many who are making
a study of the well declare that the
flow increases at least % per cent
during the time the noon is shining.
J. R. Andrews, oil expert connected
with the United States bureau OF
mines, is now at the well and is
making daily and nightly observa-
lions and his report will be awaited
with interest to see what deductions
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