The log cabin Democrat., 1921-06-24
OIL INTEREST IN
 POPE co. GROWS
TO RESUME TEST SOON
Two More Drilling Contracts Let and Others Pending-Casing Coming
 for Gravel Hill.
(Russellville Courier -Democrat)

:. There have been many important de- velopments in the local oil situation the past few weeks, and there is more interest in the field and local people have more confidence in it's develop ment than at any time since the Gravel Hill test we'll was started almost one year ago. Two drilling contracts have been signed within the past few days, two or perhaps three more are pend ing and will be closed soon, and nego- tiations are under way for others, so that the development of the field no longer depends upon the one well at Gravel Hill. Locations of these wells will be in all directions from Gravel Hill, at distances of from two to six miles, so that a thorough test of the Pea Ridge anticline will be made. Trading in leases has been active since the new drilling contracts were made and the further announcement that drilling in the Gravel Hill we'll will be resumed at an early date, many tracts having changed hands at 5000 to S15.00 per acre, depending upon distance from drilling site.
 Casing is now in transit for the Gravel Hill we'll, in 5-9-19, which has been idle since oil was discovered In the hole five weeks ago. Six and 5-8 inch casing had been set at about 27oO feet, but did not shut off the water and when the drillers started to resume work after few days idleness It was found that the water had risen to within 250 feet of the surface and there was several feet of oil on ton of the water. As there was 80 feet of open hole below the casing, it was unwlse to resume drilling and a shut down was ordered. Mir. Lasbv. of the Lockwood Construction Company, went to Oklahoma to secure the casing. He returned last night and reported that casing was hard to find. He found Z6O0 feet, which was not sufficient and finally bought 5000 feet of 5 3-S inch casing which was enroute from the factory and it has been diverted to Russellville. As soon as this casing IS set drilling will be resumed. and on- " few feet may tell the story of the Gravel Hill We'll. Several tests have been made of the oil from this we'll and 1t has proven of high gravity. Local people who owned the leases have closed contract with Yin Tru man, J. W. Hale, Jno. w. Porter, C. T. Burns and others of Muskogee, Okla, Tor we'll on an acreage basis about three miles northwest of the Gravel Hill test, in the southwest of the southwest, 149-20. Material is on the ground and erection of the derrick Will begin this week. Drilling will follow as soon as the machinery can be set up. This we'll will start with l2-lnch hole. This company brought m number of good producers in Oklahoma, including the No. ? Comp ton well two miles southeast of Mus kogee, which produces the highest gravity oil in Oklahoma. Killis Berry of Dover owns the land on which this we'll is located.
 Contract has been let for another well about six miles southeast of the Gravel Hill test by Jess L. Butler, Uen- ry Moore, Mart Vim and others. or- ganized the Pea Ridge Oil Company. Their holdings are in sections IA and l9, 8-19, and Section 30,S-18, but the 1 drilling location has not been an- nounced. The drilling contract was taken for 2,000 acres of leases by the Lee-Samuels Oil Company of Vinita, Okla. The partners in the company are Frank Lee and B. w.. Samuels. both we'll known operators in Okla home. They will probably use TO- tary drill.
 D. E. Hoover and J. L. Patterson of Oklahoma City have secured over l5,000 acres of leases in the Hector community northeast of the Gravel
 Hill test. AS soon as this acreage IS blocked up drilling contract will be let.
 M. R. Carig of Russellville has se- cued lot of acreage west and north west of Russellville, some ten miles
 from Gravel Hill It is reported that his son, Jack Craig, a well known operator in the Oklahoma fields, will
 develop tis acreage. Practically all
 the southern half of Pope county has
 been leased and several leaseholders
 either companies or individuals, arc
 negotiating for drilling contracts, at
 least two of which will in all prob
 ability be closed within the next few