San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-23
DARKNESS
FADES FROM
OIL HORIZON
Looks Now as if Situation
Will Remedy Itself
Soon.
LESS OIL PRODUCED
New Oil Sand in Luling
Field Attracts Much
Attention.
LESS OIL PRODUCED

all 1leluS IN the CHiteu StdltS uur-
ing the last week, and with notable
decreases in all the big fielQs of the
country, it begins to look as if the
oil situation IS beginning to remedy
itself, especially from the standpoint
of production.
With the exception Of California
and the Powell field in Texas, there
is a general decrease in the number
of compilations for the week just closed
over last week, in all fields. Drilling
activity is quiet generally, and there
is more or less widespread slump
in Indicating.
California showed 5000 barrels less
oil produced during the last seven
days than during the preceding week.
For some time it has been predicted
that the peak of production out there
would be reached in September, and
this proph .cy seems to be coming
true. S. A. Guiberson Jr., chairman
of the proration. committee acting for
the producers of Southern California
for the last few months, issued
statemen. recently, the meat of which
was that the peak of prod ,ction had
been reached and that little produc-
ton was now shut inI
Water Menaces Fields.
The statement calls attention to
the encroachment of water in the COLI
gested districts at Santa Fe Springs
and Long Beach, the decline of gas
pressure in the older fields and wells,
and the smaller initial or flush produc-
ton of new wells now being complet-
ed. The announcement was accepted
by many of the oil men who are fol-
lowing the situation closely with the
remark, IL guess Guiberson is about
right about it" In some quarters.
it is thought that Long Beach will
hold IN its production, and may show
increases. due to the deep prolific
sand. The inside wells at Santa Fe
Springs can be expected TO go off
fast, but the northwest section of the
field is to be contended with and
may keep the daily production from
declining as some think or expect. Mr..
Guiberson stated in his announcement
that nine men, experts on the situa-
ton. had made guesses concerning the
production of Long Beach and Santa
Fe Springs on January 1. and that
only one named a figure above 50O,-
600 barrels:
Most of the wells completed at
Long Beach during the last week were
small, producers and no producer was
completed below 1900 feet. Santa Fe
Springs reports only two good pro-
ducers for the last eight days, and
Huntington Beach continues to show
a decline in both the numler of wells
brought in and the amount of oil pro-
duced.
Gas Pressure Passes.
The outstanding feature of the week
in Texas was the passing of gas
pressure in the Powell field. With
this fact as the principal reason,
Powell production has dropped ap-
proximately $4,000 barrels within the
last week, and the tendency is toward
a still further decline. On September
s, the total number of wells reported
as 100. with an average production
of 1925 barrels. and a total daily out
nut of 199.S00 barrels. On Septem-
Der 1S. the total daily output was
49, 200 barrels. from 232 wells. each
with an average production of 232
barrels.
This passing of the gas pressure has
not yet been followed by any abnor-
NAL encroachment of salt water. The
decreased OUTPUT seems permanent,
but the life of the pool is not threat
ened. Pumping will revive those
wells that have recently become mac
tive. but 1t will require good deal
of time to bring this about. Pre-
dictions now are that within 90 days.
Powell production will be entirely
from wells on the pump. Experience
in q few instances of the last seven
or eight weeks has shown flat wells
are put on the pump with great diff
ficulty in the Powell field The pro-
ducing formation. the Woodbine, is
described as FLOATING" sand the
tendency of which is to collect around
working barrels. leaving no cavity for
tho collection Of oil.
Within the last eight DAYS, 60 wells
have ceased to flow. willie great
MANY others are flowing only by
heads. Evidence of the nassing of
the pressure extends over 80 per cent
Of the field. Dnsnite the completion
of AZ wells. production fe'l. The
field now has 232 wells completed,
with $50 drilling.
Gulf Coast Outuut Less.
Gulf Coast fields show n decrease
Of 1929 barrels against last week.
Orange reDorted six completionS with
one producer for 1900 barrels. Orange
compilations were: Mutual oil COM
pany's Chesson 4, workover. 1900 bar
rels. z ner cent basic sediment at
1880 feet: Humble Oil & Refining
company 1S-B Chesson. 125 barrels,
at 2526 feet: ORANGE Petroleum COM
nany's Berwick. 400 barrels. at 4136
feet: Sinclair's Granger G, dry at
1913 feet; SuDreme Oil comnany's
jackson 4, workover. 200 barrels at
$3.50 feet: Eishi Development COM
nany's Mcclure 4. 40 barrels at $3.50
feet.
One completion is reported from
Richmond. Batson and Hull. At
Richmond. the Gulf COMPANY brought
in its Davis 6. for 1000 barrels at
1880 feet; at Batson. the Paraffine
Oil company brought in its Paraffine
A. workover for 16 barrels at
100 feet, and at Hull, the Link Oil
comnany got $50 barrel producer in
its Peveto 1. at 5000 feet.
Total production for Texas during
the last week was 465.335 barrels
against 425.149 barrels during the
previous eight DAYS.
New Sand at Luling.
The outstanding development at
r e