New-York tribune., 1918-03-05
Oil Output
Gained Heavily
During February
Despite Handicaps, Large
Number Of New Wells
Were Completed

During February I 1925 oil wells were
completed in the territory covered by
arbe Oil City Derrick's" monthly re-
mort OF operations. New production
was placed at 1919 barrels. Compared
with January, this was an increase of
el N the number of wells completed.
va;ie she increase in production was
% aOS barrels. These cesults are con-
sidered as exceedingly favorable IN
view OF the difficulty encountered in
the fewer working days last month
and the condition of the roads in the
oil fields.
The biggest share of the increased
production was contributed from the
mid-cont.nent and Gulf Coast sections
Kentucky made the best showing in the
number OF wells completed. The most
encouraging feature of its report. "The
OIL City Derrick" finds, was the amoun.
OF new work indicated at the end of
February.
The total new work at the close
of February" The Derrick states,
.was 5.G01 wells. but this includes BIB
rigs and 4 loss of SO drilling wells, or
and Colorado. which states were not
represented IN former reports. The
i actual comparison of tbs new work for
the same fields as were reported in
January would show an increase of 20
rigs and a!oss of 50 drilling wells, or
A total decrease OF 40, which is less
than would be expected under the con-
ditions that existed. With Wyoming
and Colorado included, there is a gain
of 1O2 in rigs and Of II in drilling
wells, or total increase of 1I3.
"The divisions that reported an in
crease in new work during February
we're Kansas, Kentucky, Lima and Illi-
nois. although the gain was small IN
each instance AS compared with Feb
ruary, 1917, the amount Of new WORK
in the olde- divisions (Wyoming and
that the present figure of 4,7sS shows
q large increase.
Among the completions, it was
pointed out. were 276 dry holes and
21e gas wells. Of the total number
of failures, one-half was reporte d
from Kansas and Oklahoma, while the
Gulf Coest and Kentucky
accounted for % per cent. Allowing
for the failures and gas wells, the
productive oil wells reported last
month numbered $40, a gain of 81 over
January. The high record for produc-
tive wells was established last October
with a total OF / Isl.
The only happening of interest in
the Pennsylvania fields was the dis
eovery OF gusher III West Virginia
This, however, came in too late to ap-
pear as a completed we'll in The Oil
City Derrick's" report. During Feb
ruary, 199 wells were completed in the
Pennsylvania division. with q produc-
ton Of 1856 barrels. the former being
a gain of IS and the latter an in
crease Of 976. West Virginia more
than doubled its new output.
In the Central West the only active
district was Kentucky. where 104 wells
were completed with new production
of $50 barrels. This was d gain o.
27 in completion and of 1912 barrels
in new output Twenty-six dry holes
and four gas wells were among ths
completions. A deep we'll at Gler
Mary is reported TO have found pay
ing oil sand at nearly 1000 feet.
Indiana made the best showing il
new production obtained during The
month. reporting $50 more barrel.
than in January, with only five NOR,
wells completed. Illinois was prac
tically shut down, completing only five