The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-12-10
Many Rigs Under Construction in South
west Chickasha District; Fortuna
Ready to Drill in No. 2
SKY LIMIT ON
PRICE OF LEASES
GOrIOn Still Fishing" Gladstone Finishes
Derrick; Structure" Comprises Big
Area; Other Locations Made

The next 60 days will see some
definite determination as to whether
the "semi-wildcat territory, repre-.
sented by the southwest Chickasha
district is producer Of oil or gas in
paying quantities, if the activity in
that section can be taken as crite-
rion.
That the entire section represented
in the structure is to have thor
ough testing out is evidenced by the
many outfits that are in course Of
construction and the quality Of the
rigs being built There is not a Star
or cheap rig in the field. The der
ricks, built or building, are all Of the
standard type and the strings Of
tools being installed are Of the best.
This is not surprising when it is
known that the biggest companies op-
trating in the mid-continent field are
either working on locations or are
making preparations to drill, by first
sending the scouts there to take up
what loose acreage may be available
The most extensive operations and
the biggest fight for leases is center
ed in an area comprising practically
30 square miles. This area can best
be described by naming the village Of
Cement as the center Taking the
statements Of several oil men who
have visited the section and who
have consulted geologists, and strik.
ing what would be an average Of
their statements, the structure" ex-
tends some four or five miles south
west and northeast from Cement by
mile and half southeast and
northeast from the same village This
area, in other words, would represent
a reetangle some nine or ten miles
long by three to four miles wide, with
Cement as the central point Scouts
and oil men seem to be unanimous
in the opinion that this area is the
most promising block Of ground in
the southwest Chickasha district.
There are good lime formations with
in its boundaries and traces of the
same structures farther away than
the outer edges Of this rectangle, but
the oil men seem to shy at the terri
tory Immediately south Of this area,
around the village of Cyril. At that,
considerable acreage is being taken
up outside of the charmed rectan-
gle.D Inside Of it, during the past
week, the leasing has shown ai incli-
nation to fall off. for the reason that
the competition has advanced the
prices to such an extent that it takes
considerable bank roll to handle even
a small lease. In the section, leases
have been reported at prices ranging
ell the way from $4,000 to 100000
per acre depending upon the location
the pocket-book and ability of the
traders. Some Of the stuff that now
sells at as high as s2oO0O an acre,
could have been purchased GO days
ago for $1,000 to s25 per acre. This
has clearly demonstrated what 4O,-
100000 gasser of the Fortuna type
does to prices in new field.
The Fortuna people have completed
a standard rig in the NV, NV, rf-w
Of esq. They are at this time put
ting their string Of tools and drilling
at the new location and it is expect
ed to begin within the next week. It
is reported that they are unloading
timbers for their well No. and that
the construction of the derrick will
start as soon as the timbers have
been hauled to the location.
Timbers for the standard derrick
of the Gladstone oil and Refining
company have been hauled to their
location. which is the s-w, s-w, sc
Of 1863 and the rig builders are at
work on the derrick. Only a matter