New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-10-28
GAS IN QUANTITIES TO
FURNISH INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY
AT TOWN OF AZTEC

A commercial gas we'll was brought
IN on the school section three fourths
of mile south of Aztec last week
The estimated capacity of the well
> is between five and eight million feet
= of gas. This means that there is suf =
ticient gas to furnish heat and light
for town ten times the size of Az
tee.
When the news reached town it
seemed too good to be true and hard
to believe by those who had been hop
ing against hope. A commercial gas
well at less than nine hundred feet.
A commercial gas field at the very
doors of Aztec. Indications are that
It will also prove to be a big oil pro-
ducing field
The roar OF the gas can easily be
heard at Bloomfield, eight miles south
OF the well and at the Chas. Herr
ranch six miles down the river. The
well has been partly plugged with
a wooden plug, with a two inch pipe
carrying part of the gas to a safe dis
tance from the well and there lighted
afire and can be seen burning from
a great distance. A casing head has
been ordered so that the flow of gas
con be shut off
/ As soon as possible it is planned
to pipe the gas into Aztec and use it
for heating and cooking, thus bring
lng a revenue
The discovery was made by the Az
tee Oil Syndicate a local syndicate
known in oil terms as hardly able"
company. By all past experience it
was doomed to failure from the time
they started Other companies with
large capital had failed, had used up
their resources and quit. As last
hope, this little organization was
started by a few who would mot be
discouraged by the past failures With
a few hundred dollars in cash, the
loan of the Mesa Verde tools, and
pledged labor and teaming from the
drillers, helpers, carpenters, freighters
and coal haulers the well was spudded
in. Last week their money was nearly
exhausted, sulphur water and caveins
had caused delay after delay. And
to cap the climax the ten inch cas-
ing stuck and could not be under
reamed. or driven. To pull it up meant
flooding the hole and perhaps the end
of the we'll A hurried trip was made
to La Plata to try to borrow the six
inch casing which is near Aztec. The
loan was refused. The dark hour
it seemed had come. II the struc-
ture would hold up, there seemed
chance to get down to the next sand.
But il a cavein or another big flow
of sulphur water filled the hole, there
seemed little to do but shut down
until string of six or eight inch cas-
ing could be secured This was the
dark hour before dawn. Friday night
II was reported around town that
there was some gas. enough to burn
at the top of the hole. There had
been a showing OF oil all day. a show.
ing similar to what had been encoun-
tered in Mesa Verde No. two which
was greatly exaggerated. There was
no exaggeration here. Just a plain re-
port OF the truth. 1t was a show
ing. The public had no reason to ex-
pect anything more than had occur
red in the other wells drilled near
here. Friday night some of the faith
ful boosters staid up at the well all
1 ght. A larger flow of gas was en-
countered and the well closed to await
a mighty on rush of gas, so sudden
that Driller F. ]. Gilson could not
get the tools from the hole before
he was showered with pebbles. mud
dy water and slush. The big strike
had been made and the news vas
passed around.
The location was selected by c. B.
Gibson, a driller of experience, who
with his brother are largely respon-
sible for the success. The people who
backed the enterprize had implicit con-
fidence in these gentlemen. They
knew they were experienced drillers;
that they were donating large part
Of their time for units in the COM
psny. That they were not particularly
in wages, but in the sue
cess OF the well. Messrs. Gilson and
Gibson from experience knew that the
Ceologist can guess sometimes, but
the drill is a better test. They took
the chance, the local people backed
their judgment with q little labor and
a little cash and WON.
The enterprise was started at a most
time. It seemed. Between
two and three hundred thousand dol
lars had been spent in the county in
the vain search for oil or gas in COM
mercial quantities. These funds of the
local people had been exhausted in
the tests. Hard times were upon US
Money stringency was affecting all
kinds OF business. Many that would
ordinarily put up one hundred to five
hundred on such a test could hardly
raise twenty five dollars. 1t seemed
But the little band of
people did the impossible and now
all OF San Juan county can prosper.
There is no predicting the benefits
hat will accrue to the county from
The success OF this valiant band OF
workers. The citizens OF Aztec will
snjoy the conveniences OF gas for
heating and cooking at great saving
n cost over other fuels. Industries
requiring power can locate in this
section. being assured of permanent
,heap power. Aztec will double sew
sral times over in population in a
very short time.-Aztec Independent.