New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
Drilling in Mid-Continent
Fields Is Most
Successful

ever, owing to the small amount OBJ
tanned in the Gulf coast fields.
The increase In new wells came
wholly from the mid-continent fields,
as most of the other divisions fell of
in the number completed. Initial pro-
ductlon credited to the wells was I4l,-
4ls barrels. q decrease Of 1874 bar
.els from the previous report Okla
homa furnished the increase, aided by
Texas Panhandle, while Kansas, Lou
islana and the Gulf coast had large
decreases. The older districts showed
no important changes. Work was
routine through oil tbs Acids east Of
the Mississippi. The largest gain in
compilations came from 0klahoms, Of
9S6, with Kansas q close second and
completing l22 more than September.
both these states were interesting in
the amount Of new production OBJ
aimed, Oklahoma making an increase
OF .l,oo5 barrels over September and
Kansas reporting 43,14i barrels, which
was 1906 barrels less than in the
preyiou., report. The figures Of new
work also make q new high record.
the total Of Asa being the largest
ever reported, and make promise of
greater activity during the coming
month. The total increase In new
work over September is 1873.
Drouth Delays Drilling
conditions in the oil-producine in
dustry, outside OF the price Of crude
petroleum, are said to be the worst
ever experienced by the operators.
Material is hard TO get and the price
is high. Scarcity OF labor also ia a
matter that has to be reckoned with
many OF the field workers are now in
the army, and new men cannot be
trained in few weeks. The drouth
IN many OF the Western oil fields is
also interfering with starting new
work, and in some sections operators
have been obliged TO lay of tools until
rains furnish water. Notwithstanding
these drawbacks, the producer is
nustling wherever he can, as is plainly
indicated by the figures Of the report.
II the oil exists in the earth that is
wanted by the government il Is certain
the producer will get il.
Among the compilations were 4el dry
no!es and las gas wells, an increase
over September OF FIVE and three, re-
spectively. One-half the failures were
IN Oklahoma and Kansas, and Texas
furnished a fourth OF the total. Sub
tracing the dry holes and gas wells
from the total compilations leaves 1871
productive oil wells, the largest ever
reported for one month. In September
the producers were 1871, and in Au-
gust the number was 1902, while in
July and June they were, respectively,
l,40s and 1907.
New Pennsylvania Wells
TIE number of we'll, completed in
the Pennsylvsnia fields during October
was 1870, with a new production OF 2,739
barrels. While there was a loss OF
twenty-five in the compilations, there
was a gain Of 2i6 barrels in new
production. West Virginia completed
sixteen more wells and made the nice
increase OF 6l2 barrels in the amount
Of production obtained. There was also
an increase in the new production in /
Allegheny, Butler and Southwest Penn /
sylvania, but the other districts showed
considerable decreases. The failures I
numbered eighty-six, or two less than |
in September. The greater number OF /
dry holes was reported from Southeast I
ern Ohio, and many OF them were in 4
the shallow sand districts. Fifty-seven /
gas wells appear in the report, OF which /,
West Virginia furnished forty-one, or I
nearly 50 per cent. This was due 10 /
the activity OF the gas companies in /
that state. No new fields were discov-
cred Of Importance, but producer was .
obtained in Clarion County which may
lead up TO important developments. In 4
new work the Pennsylvania division ,
showed loss Of forty-two in the total. /
Central West Activities
The Central West fields Of Lima. /
Indiana and Illinois were more active /
than in September, with the exception 4
Of the gas districts, where there was a
falling off in compilations. In October
there were ia wells completed in Ken
lucky and Tennessee, credited with q
new production Of 2,702 barrels. This
vas q gain of SO in competitions and Of
l31 barrels as compared with Septem-
Der. During October there were many
showings reported in wildcat ventures,
scattered in various parts OF the state,
and which encourage the belief that
new pools will be opened. The section
about Bowling Green, in Warren
County, i. being tested BY many vent
Ires. Scottsville is gaining in pro-
Is being extended in several directions.
On the whole, the prospects for larger
production in this state are fattering.
Kansas operators we're very busy dur
ing October, encouraged by the gushers
which have awakened the state. The
numbered 445 and the new
H.. 20,
barrels. The wells were not so large as
IN the former report, for, while the
number completed showed an increase
Of l22, there was loss Of 1905 bar
,els is new production. Many good
sized producers were obtained and the
fields were extended by pioneer vent
lres, but there we're fewer great gush-
ers.
Oklohama Average Good
Oklahoma reports ssi competitions
for October, an increase over Septen-
per OF 235. The new wells showed
aew production Of i7,018 barrels, which
vas II ,003 barrels more than obtained
IN September. This increase was due
largely 20 operations in many fields,
and a good general average Of the pro-
hcers obtained.
Operators in the Texas Panhandle
ire still being hampered by the drouth
which has been prevalent since last
spring. During October SO wells were
completed in this division, or three less
han in September. The new produc-
ion obtained was s,04S barrels, making n
gain of 5.0ls barrels over the previ-
Jus report. The 80 dry holes we're six
ess than in September. and were prin-
ipally among the wildcat ventures. Al
he same time several tests are making
avorable showings for new pools. The
lew work under way at the end of the
month showed decrease in the total
4 is.