Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-01-13

about 30 per cent Of the area on which
oil and Eas operations are conducted,
Probably the greater amount OF waste
has occurred ON lands not under the
control Of the government. some
waste rs probably unavoidable, hut
there is no doubt lu my mind ihut the
greater part thereof could bc avoided
N the operators would take proper
precautions IN advance Aside from
tho loss 90 the landowner uf the roy
atty there Us "a greater loss TO the
state OF Oklahoma Iu general on ace
count of the dissipation ot IT'S natural
Resources
"Thr lack OF market for natural
gas has been due iu great measure
to ID. waste Of the gas. a gds-selIng
corporation viii not care 10 construct
it- pine lines into o field producing
both OH and gas while this wanton
waste of the gas is permitted, for
there would be no assurance that
there would be any return on the in
yestmtut II proper methods were
/ used 90 conserve this gas, there seems
/ To be no doubt that it would eycntu-
ally find "A market and thus prove a
source OF great revenue.
The bureau of mines has made
careful study Of drilling methods, and
has introduced the su-Called mud
fluid svstcm, by which the production
from any stratum. whether water, gas
( or oil, may be effectively sealed I'm its
/ own stratum and not permitted to
flow into and mingle with the produc-
iion Of other strata.
Mud fluid Praised.
/ Contrary opinions are held as 20
the effectiveness OF the mud-fluid
F method Of drilling. II has been high
ly praised and II has been adversely
criticized. From a careful study of
the matter however. / am convinced
/ That where the method has been given
| a fair chance and has been employ ed
/ consclcntlousIy, it has done all that
/ II is claimed for it, The difficulty is
/ due to failure Of operators TO prepare
/ to use the method until trouble has
. overcome them. then there has nee
| ,SsarllH been some He;ay in applying
/ the method, because the apparatus
/ was not at hand. Oilmen are CON
servatvc. They think their own old
. methods are sufficient and hesitate
/ to institute new systems. particularly
/ II thnfe Is any additional first cost,
/ overlooking the vast advantages to be
gained I'm the end. They must be edu-
! Gated to the use of proven scientific
]
/ Of mines in this direction are encour-
aging. The Oklahoma state authon-
/ ties are fully alive to the conditions,
ana are endeavUrius 10 control opera
/ lions so as to hcuJfit the greatest
number The indications are that op-
! orators themselves are becoming i'm
| pressed with the necessity Of using
/ better methods. so as to conserve oil
and gas.
TO bring. about a proper regard
! Tor the regulations of the department.
! To show the carnestuess of the office
and its intention to compel operators
! To put forth every effort TO prevent
waste, ! found Unnecessary to fine sev-
/ eral lcssces, one of them as high as
| $1,000, for failure to comply with tho
/ regulations. / believe this action has
! had salutary effect
Little Attention to Details.
The force heretofore emplaycd bv
| the office and the bureau OF mines
/ 10 inspect oil and gas mining oper-
ators has not been sufficient. Dcyel-
/ opW,ut has been $50 active that IL has
/ been impossible for ollmtn to give
propcr 'attDluuu To- detail For in
stance, where efforts have been made
. To introduce tho use OF the mud-rIuid
/ system "a bureau of mines representa-
/ tive would give iustru. .uous To the
/ drlllcr as 10 the procedure. and then
/ be called away To look after some i'm
/ portaut case and not be in a position
/ to see that his instructions were care
IuIIV followed. II mas happened I'm
cases that HTS instructions We're not
/ followed. ana failure To obtain proper
/ results has been charged to the svs-
tenn rather than tn, lack Of compH-
/ auty with directions