The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-11-15
Wild Elm Grove Well
Like a Small Volcano


Resembling small volcano in ac-
tion causing much loss to its owners
and apprehension to people living near
by, Ward well No. /, on the L. j. White
lease. in the Elm Grove (BOssier FAR
ish) gas field, is drawing heavily on
the. supply of gas in this section. Sat
urday it was said that enough gas to
supply Shrcveport's daily needs is
cscaning frcn this one well. The Well
is thirty miles southeast of Shreveport,
and was drilled ut cost OF about
$4,000: the loss of gas has caused
some additional expense. TO get the
well in working order, or to fill it and
drill another. it is said, will run the
cost to probably $4,000 or S20,OOO
more
Tie well is complete wreck, said
one well versed on gas wells, and the
only remedy is to drill relief we'll
and xiii the original producer, experts
declare. There is a difference Of opin-
ion whether the siX-inch casing has
parted, but whether it has or not. it is
bent over the large crater formed
around the well by continued erup-
tons.
Saturday it was reported that about
100000 cubic feet of gas is escaping
| daily, some Of the production that has
been going into the air having been
stopped by the well partly filling itself
with mud. The gas is under 1850
pounds pressure, and when first cut in
the well tested at about 2O.OCOOGO
cubic feet daily.
The well came in during July. but
was shut i'll and has never been in use.
| There was Il blowing out of gas around
the ten-inch casing September LIST, but
this leak was cemented up. Ten days
later, however, another leak, developed,
but Tuesday the real damage began
when gas in large quantities COM
Menced escaping and the roar from the
well awakened persons living in the
vicinity. Wednesday the well was
quiet Tut was again on rampage
Thursday afternoon. There was q
change in its actions every ten hours
until Friday night. when it began
throwing up mud and dirt, later in the
night shooting slate rock for distance
of quarter of mile.
Friday night and Saturday it was il
a continual boil. resembling a small
volcano. Since Wednesday three cavi
ties have been blown out of the ground
one being fully 1000 feet from the well
Nearby trees are covered with mut
and water. From the appearance O.
the derrick. mud and rocks wer,
thrown more than twenty feet high
Friday night the noise was SO terrific
that a man living near the well tool
his family away that they might b.
safe from anticipated danger.
Saturday afternoon the rear coul,
he heard for one-half mile, and person
visiting the well from Shreveport sal
well tremble. Persons living in the Vi
!. cinity say that Friday night the roar
ing noise and explosions sounded as
a battle, in which small cannon wer
used, was in progress. Around the we
!. is a hole twenty or thirty feet in dian
l
y and water running from the openin:
The derrick was partly caved in. an
:. Saturday was standing at an angle {
: about twenty degrees.
The cavities created Friday mig!
!. are believed to have been caused Il
| the gas going out into the water SAND
and then spreading.
\ watchnan on duty advises all Vi
II itors not to strike any matches in IL
1 vicinity Of the well. and little apr
y tension is felt from fire. though thel
o is danger of fire should an electric;
storm occur before the well is brOugl
under control.
II you have something Oh your far
YOU would like to convert into none
:, advertise it in the Banner.