The Little River news., 1921-04-02
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
 VISITS OIL TEST WELLS
Visit GrOte We'll and Two Wells at Foreman Tuesday Afternoon;
 Had Profitable Trip.

About 25 or 30 members of the Ash down Chamber of Commerce visited the test wells that are being drilled for oil at Arden and Foreman. The trip was made in automobiles, leav- ing Ashdown at 2 o'clock. The party went by the way of Richmond, strik- ing the highway at Wades Chapel The east end of the Ashdown-F road has not been completed but work is rapidly from both ends After reaching the highway it took only few moments to reach the well known as the Grote well, about one fourth of mile off the gravel road. At the we'll the party was met by Mir. Grote, who with crew of men, were doing some repair work at the we'll.
 Drilling was not in progress the af- ternoon when the property was visited, MT. Grote stating that they were wait ing some supplied from Pittsburgh. Considerable trouble has been found in attempting to drill this we'll. At first bit was lost in the quicksand, and after recovering this, they at tempted to put down the casing. They are using 15 inch casing, and they soon found that the sand caved in so badly that they could not drill through it. Then they tried to drive the casing which resulted in tanning the threads and ruining number of joints. Then MT. Grote stated that they attempted to pump the sand out of the hole, sink ing the casing little by little, but were forced to abandon this plan as the derrick threatened to cave in. He says now they have still another Dhp to try out. The hole is now only about 80 feet deep.
 The rigging for this well is large standard rfe, erected some eighty feet in heights.f The machinery seems to be of the very latest type. They have installed an electric light plant in or der that they may work at night. As soon as the drillers can sink the well below the quick sand, they expect to rush to work, and make a thorough test.
 The .Grote we'll is located on the F. H. Aiken, farm, two miles southeast of Arden, and the section of the coun- try around the location is level as a plane.
 On leaving the Arden we'll the party opened their automobiles up on high after again reaching the highway and it took only d few minutes to reach Foreman, where much interest was shown.
 Busy at Sullivan We'll
 On reaching the Sullivan we'll, which is located about one mile south of Foreman, and in the southern boun- dary of what is known as old town or Rock Comfort, the party found the drillings crew at the Sullivan we'll at work. The drillers were then pull ing the drill stem, after having cleaned out the hole. The party watched the operation with much interest. The crew seemed to be we'll up on their job, working like clock works, never losing moments time. The Sullivan drillers are using rotary rig which is said to be the quickest way to drill a well. It is possible, however, for a rotary to go through an oil sand and ruin we'll, unless the crew know their bushes. But there seems to be no doubt but what the Sullivan dril- lers know their business.
 The party was informed that as soon as the we'll has been thoroughly clean ed out work would then be started in setting the casing. After the casing is set then the test will be made.
 The party was not able to get much information at. the we'll. only few rumors were boating around. No one seemed anxious to give out any infor- nation whatever.
 The Story of the We'll.
 The facts about the we'll, as far as we. could learn. was that few weeks age while drilling at depth of 2100 feet oil sand was struck, giving a showing of oil. The drillers were not able to tell whether the oil would be in paying quantities or not, but it was decided to give it a thorough test. Then the work was shut down, awaiting the arrival of casing. The casing has arr rived and is piled up high at the we'll. The roaming of the hole began, and now all is ready for the setting of the casing and the test.
 Taffee- -Matteson Test.
 The party of men went from the Sullivan we'll to the Taffee- Matteson