New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-07
Mexicnra Oil Men
See No Danger Of
Early Exhaustion
Production Has Cro,ou
Rapidly in Last T,oenty
Years, but Neao Fields
Haze Been Discovered
CCORDING to statistics giver

a CCOROlNG 10 STATISTICS given
IA to the press of Mexico City
= by the Mexican Secretary
of Industry and Commerce, the pro-
duction of petroleum from 1901 to
1920 was 563,523,752 barrels Of
forty-two gallons each. The guam
tity increased yearly from 10,345
barrels in 1901 to 163,540,000 bar
rels in 1920. A we'll known oil ex-
pert estimates that in January, 1921,
the supply of oil in the Tampico-
Tuxpam fields was 450,000,000 bar
rels. This would last two and one
half years at the rate of production
in 1920. But the rate of production
is increasing, being now something
like 18O,000,000 barrels year.
Old wells are giving out, but there is
no compiled information showing how
much the supply from old sources is
diminishing. 1t appears, however, from
the statements of men who are con-
versant with actual conditions and who
represent important oil concerns, that
there is no ground for anxiety about
the future oil supply though there is
some difference of opinion on the sub
ject, says United States Consul Cor
nelius Ferris jr.
The division of special taxes of the
Department. of Finance gave out fig
ures, which were published June 16,
1921, in the Financial and Mining Bull
letin of Mexico, showing that on Janu-
airy l of the present year there were
$50 petroleum wells in Mexico, with a
daily production of SILT, 1886 barrels
From January to May l there was reg
istered an increase Of forty two wells
with daily output of S28,728 barrels.
According to figures furnished by
| this department the monthly produc-
ton of petroleum from January to
May, 1921, was as follows: January
| 16,240.623 barrels; February, 1903
1854 barrels; March, 17,841.887 barrels;
April, 18,614,790; May (estimated), 49,
900, 900 barrels.
In the Amatlan District Of the Tam
pico-Tuxpam fields three or four wells
have been opened since January l.
1921, yielding an aggregate of $4,000
barrels a day. The well-determined
oil fields of Mexico extend along the
Gulf of Mexico from a district north
of Tampico to the Isthmus of Tehuan-
tepec and Tabasco. The well-exploit-
ed portion is comparatively small
Even in the exploited portion new
wells are continually being opened
Exploration is now extending into the
districts of Lacalulu and Cobus. The
Lacalulu District is in an oil-bearine
formation situated in the extreme
southeastern corner. of the State OF
San Luis Potosi about so miles south.
west Of Tampico. A we'll was recently
opened in this district, yielding from
10000 to $4,000 barrels of oil daily
The Cobus District begins at Cobus
directly across the Rio Gonzales from
Tuxpam, and extends southwesterls
about SO miles. 1t is regarded by ex
perts as a determined oil field, anc
there is definite exploitation going on
Exploration work is being carried OF
in all parts of Mexico, including Lower
California. So far nothing definite has
resulted, but there are sufficient pros
poets in the southern part of Oaxacs
to have led to the investment of capita
and the sinking of we'll which re
quires 100000 Exploration is espe
cially active on the Isthmus of Tehuan
tepec and in the region immediately
south of Vera Cruz. The Tabasco dis
trict is the oldest oil field in Mexico
and the refinery at Minatitlan, neal
Puerto Mexico, is the largest in Mex
leo. Much oil is taken from the Tam
pico fields to this refinery, but lttl
oil is now produced in the Tabasc,
district, and there are no definite pros
poets for the future.