The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-10-06
AID GAS COMPANIES
fcoutinued from Page one)

increases and II has mucn hlgheI
pressure: II is then released mo the
nipel,nc and starts on Its Journey 10
the next compressor station or 10 the
point of consumption, rs the case may
be-, depending on the distance 1t has
to travel.
or Inc ca!nnressor stations. Mr..
Wver SAYS: Natural gas compressors
are used merely TO re"compreSS the
gas. and in that way supplement inc
declining rock pressure 1.-THE nitural
pressure OF Fas). so as to mt or pre-
pare the gas for transmission through
the lines to the ultimate consumer.
He goes on to say that gas could De
transmitted through pipelines for long
distances without the aid Of compress
ors by gradually increasing the size
Of the pipelines as the distance grew
greater, but that such method is not
expedient because OF its cost. He
further stated that compreSsors have
been in use for over thirty years.
Shorten Lives Of Wells.
There Is more however, in the mat
ter Of gas transmission by compressor
stations than Mr.. Wyer stated before
the commissioner in the above styled
suit. Gas compressprs may be the
most economical method known FOR
the transmission OF gas, bu these
compressors lessen very materially
tho lives Of the gas wells from which
the gas IS received. In the gas pro
duction territory the compressors are
called pump stations" and very log
ically. as can readily be seen. The
gas, when It reaches the compressor,
is sucked into the cylinder by the pis-
ton by the vacuum caused when the
piston moves forward to compress the
gas already in the COMPRISING apart
ment. When the piston moves hack,
the gas is forced into the COMPRISING
APARTMENT and more gas Is sucked IN
by the vacuum caused as the piston
moves forward. BY pulling" the gas
into the compressor cylinder. the wells
supplying the gas are In all sense o!
the word being pumped.
II Is yariously estimated b! gas
people that the life OF a gas we'll Is
shortened from Its natural HE OF
twenty years to Ave years by the gas
compressors. And here Is where lies
the bone OF contention. The farmer
on whose land the gas we'll has been
drilled Is paid rental OF $500 per
year per we'll during the lifetime OF
the well. No matter how much gas
IN" we'll produces. he receives but the
$500 per year. He Is not paid roy
atty on the number OF thousand feet
Of gas. but rental. and low one
at that-a dollar a day for n gas we'll!
And this we'll being sucked dry by the
compr2ssors!
The gauges at the mouths Of the gas
wells bear mute testimony 10 this
assertion. When the pumping sta
tionS are Idle. the flow Of gas IS not
nearly so great as when the compress
ors are operating. showing clearly that
by COMPRISING the gas, the wells are
also pumped.
Mixing Air With Gas.
Another thing which enters into
the compressor stations. II the gas
companies are not absolutely honest
and above board. IS the tempting facil
Ity with which air can be mixed with
the gas as It Is being compressed. 1t
IS we'll known fact that no gas meter
has vet been invented which will dir
erentiate between gas and air. and
will record only the gas which pnssee
through II. Unfortunately. all gas
meters can be operated with either
gas or air, or both o. them mixed: a
thousand feet OF air passing thouh
meter will register the same as a
thousand feet Of gas. And sometimes
by the flickering Of gas while burn
ing, even tho most gullible OF us are
led TO believe that ''licle air has
crept IN somewhere" Tho compressor
stations are mechanical temptation
10 mix In little air" without the
consumer being the wiser.
In West Virginia there arc about
sevcnty-nine compressor stations, os
tensibly assisting the transmission o!
gas to the points Of consumption. The
majority Of these stations are located
In the gas well territory. where the
rock pressure Is grea ,e't. Located so
no doubt, to give better results in the
pumping" Of wells and increasing
the flow OF natural gas, II this were
not the case they would naturally be
located at a greater distance from the
wells.
At this time, when the gas com
panles are pc;ition;ng the Public
Seryica CommiSSiOn for such generous
increases in rates. why would II no
be advisable for the farmers, who arc
receiving mere pittance for theil
gas, TO apply for an increase rs we'll,