Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-04-08
THOROUGH test
WILL Be N ADE
IN VALLEY field
Marland People Start Drill
ing on Betanzo Ranch Ten
Miles East Of Rio Grande
City

What Is described by veteran oiIsincn
to be the most thorough test ever made
IN the Starr county oil field was started
slast week when drilling commenced OF
The Betanzo ranch. about ten miles east
Of Rio Grande City, on location which
gcologists and other experts are conf
dent will prove that an oil field exists
In that locality The test IL being made
by the Marland Oil Company of Okla
homa. one of the most successful com
panies operating in the Texas and Okla
homa fields. and they have already ex-
pended thousands of dollars in explora-
tion work on the properties in Starr
county.
The derrick was erected last week. and
drilling operations commenced Xednes-
day. The drilling outfit is the larges'
ever brought into that section OF the
Valley. and is capable of going to a
depth which will thoroughly test the oil
possibilities Of that section. The rig is
| located near Garcia on the Santa Do
mingo plantation, known as the r. J..
Garcia ranch
Veteran DriIlcr in Charge.
J. r. Abercrombie. who is in charge
of the drilling. il a veteran oil man. ani
has drilled number Of wells in the
Oklahoma. North Texas and Miranda
fields. and is the owner of several wells
The location OF the test was made after
nine months of exploration and investi-
cation by biologists, a total Of "a tests
having been made before the present lo-
cation was decided upon. In connection
with the drilling crew a chemist and
geologist, with well equipped abora-
tory. will be maintained at the we'll. and
careful examination and analysis made
Of all STRATA Day and night crews have
Sbeen provided. and the work is propres-
sing at rapid rate. 24-inch hole Is
being drilled and for the first 2D9 feel
this will be cased with two inch con
crete. leaving a 2a-inch hole thereby
making the attaining Of great depth pos
sbie- II the test does not bring in oil
at a shallow level
Test Will Prove Of Value.
That this test and the analysis of the
chemist and geoIogst will prove Of
great value to the Valley. was tho opin-
ion expressed BY an oil man who visited
the location last week. and decln~~a
that IL would be the most Extensive test
ever made in that section OF the sta.r
"The Marland people are evidently con
fident that they will bring in a we'll"
he said. "They have spent thousands ~
dollars in explorations and tests. an !
they are now starting the work with
equipment which proves their faith IN
the ultimate Development of field
That they are planning to 90 great
- - A.
they are drilling. but opinions expressed
by geologists who have made n thorough
investigation of the district. would indi-
cate that great depth will not be re-
quired. The Marland people. however
are prepared for all contingencies. and
II Is predicted that they will know the
possibilities of that district before they
get through"
Pass Through Several Gas Strata
The Kelsey well, No. /. which Is be-
ing drilled by Mercedes people. is now
down about 1900 feet, and has already
passed through six or seven gas strata.
Fuel for power Is obtained from a shall
low gas well ahont ihree hundred feet
from their location. The Kelsey well No.
l Il reported 10 have struck heavy gas
tating the pumping Of mud 10 cut II off.
In the shallow well which j. supply
ing fuel gas. the gas stratum struck
ut 500 feet. and is reported 10 nave a
pressure of about is1 pounds
Believe Field Will he Developed.
For several years explorations and
tests have been under way in Starr and
southern Zapata counties. but this test
by the Mariand company will be the
most thorough ever made in that dis
trict. i+ the opinion expressed by oil men
who have seen the rig IN oncra'ion. The
fact that company Of the Marlands
reputation for bringing in wells would
make such a thorough test after devot-
ing months TO exploration work and in
vestigations. II considered the b.St cvi-
dence that they are reasonably conf
dent Of bringing in q we'll which will
amply rccoup them for their expendi.
lures.