The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-20
No Doubt Now That 1t Can Be
Found in Quantities.
Topeka Corporation Behind Ex-
tensive Drilling Plan.
PROOF THAT THERE IS OIL
Present Well Indicates Pres.
ence of Big Pool.
Mile West Is Next Site To Be
Picked for Work.

Overlook territory, in the shadow
of the state house dome. will be de-
veloped for oil. T. F. Doran, promi-
nent Topeka attorney and president of
the Red Line Oil & Gas company, a
Topeka corporation, made that asser-
ton late Thursday afternoon. stand
ing before a barrel of black and thick
sulphuric liquid, pailed from the new
Indian Territory Illuminating well,
and stirring the sticky mass with a
broken spade, Doran declared that his
company would sink a well in the
vicinity as soon as an outfit could be
placed in action In company with
DR.. j. c. McClintock. Joe w. Nolan,
and others interested in the project,
Doran went to Overbrook late Thurs
day afternoon and made a personal
examination of the showing" made
by the new well, the offsets of which
are owned by his company.
Whether or not the we'll just
brought in at Overlook will prove
a producer of any consequence is yet to
be determined Present indications
are to the effect that it will not pump
enough crude to pay for operation
There is a possibility that those indi-
cations may change when the well is
shot. Despite that uncertainty, the
prospect hole has served its purpose.
1t has proven conclusively that there is
OIL and to all geological Indications in
field
Big Pool There
Several barrels of oil have been
bailed from the well since the twenty
six feet of oil bearing sand was passed
thru a week or so ago. o. P. Boggs.
driller in charge of the project and
who has spent years in charge of SIM
liar operations in the mid-continent
fields, asserts that the strike" elimi-
mates all doubt of the existence of an
oil pool of considera BILE size Boggs
because of the thickness of the de-
post in the bottom of his we'll, be-
lieves that his drill has penetrated the
base of this pool.
The oil which We have bailed from
this hole is what is known as seepage
oil. The drill has penetrated the base
of pool, the formation of which is
generally almost pure asphaltum. That
explains the thickness of the deposit
which we are bailing OUT
Geological indications, oil men
agree, are all to the effect that the
mother pool of the deposit in the new
we'll is located about a mile west of
the present drilling operations. 1t is
here that the rock formation shows a
decided dome-like tilt. So sure is
Boggs of the close existence of a de-
posit in paying quantities that he will
recommend to his company. Doherty
subsidiary, that another well be drilled.
Will Shoot Well.
MY office has not yet notified me
to shoot the WE'LL Boggs said How
ever l think this will be done"
A can of soup to be used in blow
ing the bottom of the hole arrived at
the we'll Thursday.
Since the oil sand was penetrated
drillers have bailed considerable
crude from the we'll. A pit. dug a
short distance from the well, has
been entirely filled, and an overflow
has allowed small stream to escape
and flow with water for a half mile
or more down the road
The deposit already obtained is not
unlike the California petroleum. 1t
is low in gravity. but will refine well,
if it can be obtained in sufficient
quantities. The analysis, as printed
in Thursdays State Journal, shows it
contains a good percentage of gasoline
and kerosene ana coke. AS road
tered DIR. J. G. McCIintock, a stock
holder of the Red Line company who
has had wide experience in the prin-
cipal oil fields in the country, is en-
thusiastic over prospects. All indi-
cations, ne says, point to successful
development of the project.
No Stock for Sale.
The Red Line company which has
announced its intentions of drilling
is a CLOSED corporation insofar as
it is composed of men who have no
stock to sell but are putting their own
money in a gamble which, win or lose,
will perform a service to Topeka in
deciding whether or not oil deposits
nea rbv can be made to pay. Provid =
ing they are made to pay. Topeka S
growth to considerable extent will
be insured
DriIlers at the Overlook we'll con-
tinued operations today. Boggs. the
head driller. stated that the bit would
be sent down another hundred feet
before the well is shot This, in an
effort to either find the Mississippi
limestone stratum or another oil sand.