The Washington times., 1924-01-28
KANSAS BOOM IN
: OIL TOBREAK
SHORTAGE
nUV
WiIdcatters Are Turning %
New Field, Looking for
Big "strikes."

BOSTON, Jan. 2S.-The mother
tAneous with q prediction that 9
general slump in oil production 10
expected in 1924 come murmurs OF
a "Kansas oil boom" that will mako
the present year the best in the
States history.
OIL men, particularly the romantic
wifdcatters, are turning their at-
tention and time to KANSAS. Like
wise upon developments in the new
fields in undrilled sections of the
State depends to q great extent
whether the oil industry in general
this year will show a decrease In
production as predicted.
WiIdcatterS Busy.
Already the wildcatters are "a
the ground looking over the pros
poets for strikes"
OIL men of other States in the
Southwestern fields are anticipat.
ing a bad year, but the dreams Of
spectators envision big produc.
ton in Kansas to follow up the de-
pressing year Of 1928.
New pools discovered in Kansas
bring much encouragement to the
wildcatter. and increased drilling
already has been started. Two
big strikes recently have instilled
added hope.
The excitement started a month
ago, when the Valerius Oil Com,
pany brought in a well making 176
barrels daily and which has held at
this average for more than q
month. The new well is $50 miles
from old oil fields, and is
the first oil of any consequence
discovered in the western part Of
the State.
Boom Is On.
Acreage Is being blocked off In
all directions from the well, and
speculation is expected to open up
in this new territory on a large
scale.
One Oil man has purchased q
block Of $500 acres south Of this
well and announced that drilling
would begin soon. An oil company
has purchased two other tracts
nearby and will start tests as soon
as rigs can be built and tools
strung.
than this strike was the more re-
cent one at Russell, and hundreds
Of scouts lost no time in making
their way to the little town and
surrounding territory to block
acreage and make preparations for
extensive tests.
The KANSAS oil strikes come e
a most opportune time for oil men
from a financial standpoint. The
price, which has been down to q
low level. already has advanced is
cents a barrel. and indications ale
that it will get another rise soon.
Survey Looks Bad.
An Oil survey recently made.
however, did not make predictions
of q big productive year generally.
To the contrary. unless new pools
are discovered in other States. pre-
dictions Of a slump by OH men
probably will be borne out in 1924.
The surveys most important OBJ
servation was in the State Of
Texas, where 1t made the predic.
ton that, unless another Powell
field Is discovered. that State
would show a decrease Of approx.
mately 100000 barrels, which
would bring the annual production
down to 1O0.000,000 barrels.
Big Drop Forecast.
Oklahoma would drop 1000 900
barrels unless another Burbank or
Tonkaway is found Cast years
production, 100000 barrels,
Louisiana may tall off 100000
barrels CAST years production.
100000 barrels); California
would show a decrease of 11.OOO.p
600 barrels this year unless an.
other series Of pools like the Los
Angeles basin in uncovered Clast
years production, 261 .OOO,OOO bar
rels-. Terrence should remain In
the 100000 barrels q day class, the
survey addad