New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-04
November Set
High Record IN
Oil Well Drilling
Drouth and Lack of Sup.
plies Hamper Develop
ment Work

Development work under way in the
verioEs fields Of the country estab-
lished a new high record in November.
At the close OF the month there were
1873 wells in the process OF being
drilled. according to the compilation o.
The OF City Derrick" an increase Of
sixty-nine over October This Is the
largest amount Of new work ever
known.
During November 2.ls6 wells were
completed in tho fields covered By the
Derriek's" report. Tie new produe-
ton obtained was S6,7s5 barrels. There
vas loss Of 222 in the number OF
competitions, and a falling oH Of jf,133
barrels in new production. Various
causes contributed 10 important
changes in the competitions and pro-
duetion. Strikes in che fields OF the
Gull Coast and Louisiana reduced the
Outpu, and cSpsed fewer wells to be
competed. IN the mid continent
drouth and lack Of supplies are re
ported as checking work. The size OF
the wells obtained IN some OF the I'M
pOrtant pools Of Oklahoma was also
smaller than last month. and the Kan
4as pools failed 10 obtain any OF the
great gushers for watch they have been
aoted for several months. The create
decrease in the new production was m
the mid -contineDt and ON the Gui4
Coast, these divisions showing loss
of s.f3O barrels from the October re
port. There were lesser decreases IN
an the divisions. with the exception
of Lima. which added a few barrels TO
its former figures.
Work Closed Up for Winter
The Pennsylvania 6elds are scarcely
holding their own. While there were
800 wells completed in November,
which WAS seventy more than IN the
previous month, the activity marked
the closing up of considerable work
for the winter. The new production
obtained was 2.96S barrels. or 22s bar
rels more than in October. South
eastern Ohio furnished the largest IN
crease in new production. the gain be.
ing s54 barrels. while the number OF
new compilations increased twelve. west
Virginia showed a decrease OF 33J bar
rels and had ak fewer competitions.
Southwestern Pennsylvania made
good showing with twenty-five more
wells completed and an increase OF
dfty-tnree barrels Of new production.
The districts IN Northwestern Penn
sylvanis about held their own. Among
the compilations we're eighty TOUR oIy
holes and sixty-three gas wells. Soutn-
eastern Ohio furnished the most dry
holes. thirty being found IN that terri
tory and twenty-onc m West Virgins,
while Southwestern Pennsylvania mad
seventeen. West Virginia was ahead
in the number OF gas wells, win
total Of thirty-hve. showing the &C
tiyitv OF the gas companies IN that
tate. In Northwestern Pennsylvania
and Allegany County. New York, only
eight gas wells were reported.
kentucky Lively Field
Kentucky is the real lively field east
NJ the Mississippi. Work Is progress
ing in some Gfty-two counties OF the
state. and also moving over into
Tennessee. Irvine and Scottsville con
tinue TO be the two main pools, out
he wildcat work in Warren. lee and
other counties is finding indications
! which lead 20 the belief that other I'M
/ portant pools will be opened. during
the month under review there Ver.
1855 wells completed In Kentucky and
Tennessee, with new production OF
q6i barrels. The competitions were
/ eighteen less than in November, and
the new production showed a decrease
/ of 7li barrels. The loss IN new pro
AUCTION was due 70 the smaller eallbrs
OF the wells in the old pools. WORK
will be continued in Kentucky during
/ the winter, as the weather Is not Sc
yere there. and the greatest difficulty
arises from bad roads. At the close
OF the month there were hfty-three
more RIGS and drilling wells than a.
/ - - - Octobar