The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-06-19
Evening Chat

rue output OIL petroleum In the
Appalachian field, which includes the
areas Of oil production in New York,
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentuck.
ey and southwestern Ohio was 22,S6o-
04S barrels in 1915, according to sta
tistics compiled under the supervis-
sion Of ]. ID. Northrop OF the United
States Geological Survey, q. decrease
Of 1,241,000I barrels OF per cent from
the output Of this field in 1914 This
decrease was well distributed among
the contributing states and is remark.
ably small In view of the fact that
the oil market did not begin to recov.
er from the depression caused by the
oyerproduction Of oil in Oklahoma In
1914 until August, 1915.
The average price Of this oil at the
wells was s1.55 barrel and the total
market value was s35,46S,793, de.
crease Of SO cents In average unit
price and of ss,770,22s or % per cent
in total value from 1914.
Throughout the field as a whole,
drilling activity, which generally re.
fleets market conditions rather close.
vi was below the normal, though in
certain areas there was abnormal &c.
hyity resulting from the discovery
that they. were underlain by small
pools Of oil that had been overlooked
In the earlier development of the re-
gion.
A total of 5,1s7 wells were complet-
ed, Of which, 2,9o5 or 56 per cent yield
ed oil. 1884 were classed as gassers,
and 1908 were barren. The combined
output for the first day Of productive
life in the oil wells completed In 1915
was 81 1922 barrels, or an average OF
u barrels for each well. Individual
wells In pennsylvania and New York
averaged barrels each, In
eastern and central Ohio, u barrels,
In Kentucky 10 barrels, and in West
Virginia. IS barrels.
In western New York field activity
was moderate and no new areas Of
production were added to the old pool.
New oil wells In the Allegheny dis.
trict numbered rs, which gave total
initial yield or 1872 barrels or an ay.
erage Of less than barrels per well.
InDecember considerable interest was
aroused by the completion near CAMS
teo. Steuben County, 20 miles east OF
the Allegany district of freak well
which, from a depth Of 695 feet, yield.
ed for q few days a small quantity Of
amber colored petroleum reported to
have o gravity Of So B and to contain
S. per cent OF gasoline. Other wells
put down in the same locality were
barren.
In northern Pennsylvania activity
In the Bradford and Middle districts
was confined almost exclusively to
proved leases where the returns, al.
though small, were reasonably certain.
Near Ridgway. Elk County, the deyel.
opment OF the gas field opened in 1914
was continued with gratifying sue.
cess. In the Yenango.C Clarion district
activity in the development Of gas
ogershadowed the routine operations
in the oil pools. 49,,
Southwestern Pennsylvania was the
center OF interest in the northern Dor.
ton OF the Appalachian field, owing
to the fact that new wells in this re.
gion average higher In initial yield
than elsewhere In the State and to the
discovery OF two new areas of oil pro-
ducdon during the year. At Evans
City In Butler County, the completion
OF o 125;barrel well on the Lutheran
church lot In May proved the incen.
tive for q frantic town.lot development
that resulted In the exhaustion OF a
1mall pool Of oil in the third sand,
overlooked in the development Of the
region years ago. In Indiana town.
ship, Allegheny county. the old Dor.
seyyille field was extended to the north
and east In the last half OF 1916 as
the result OF promising discoveries Of
oil in the 80 foot sand in June. In
this pool well No. 2, completed in oc.
tober by the National on and Gas
Co, on the Robinson farm. comprised
the record well of the year In the
osthern part OF Appalachian field, It's
nrst day flow being reported at 1,017
barrels In North Versailles town.
ship. also In Allegheny county, a
gas well estimated at 100000 cubic
feet open flow was completed on the
spiegel farm in July and furnished an
incentive for additional drilling In the
same locality which. however, result.
I'd only In wells ofiordinary capacity.
Developments In West Virginia in
1915 did not extend much beyond
proved territory, and no important
hreas Of new production were discov.
sred. In all 7s3 successful oil wells
we're completed in this state in 1916,