Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
HUGE GAS SUPPLIES
WASTED ON COAST
Petroleum Industry Is Seek
ing Methods of Develop
ing By-ProduCts.
BY J. C. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

NEW YORK, October 23-Eight
hundred million cubic feet of natural
gas, enough to cook the meals of 120,-
900, 900 citizens, is being blown into the
air daily in California while the courts
are engaged in deciding the constitu-
tionality of the Lyons act.
The Lyons act is a State law which
prohibits the waStage Of natural gas.
The first test case of the new law. which
has been in effect only few weeks, is
on application by the State for an in
junction against 40 Oil companies in
the Santa Fe Springs Field of Cali
fornia against unreasonable wastage of
natural gas.
Case on Trial.
The case, which is being tried in the
Los Angeles Superior Court, revolves
around the constitutional right of the
State to restrict individuals or COM
panies from doing as they choose with
their own property-in this case, nat
ural gas flowing from wells drilled on
their property. If the law is upheld
it is expected that the prohibition
against wastage of gas will restrict
drilling for and production of oil. Pc
troleum experts declare it would reduce
relS daily, which Is about the amount
by which California output has made
countrywide production exceed coun-
try-wide demand.
Average daily California production
for the week ended october 19, accord
ing to the American Petroleum Insti-
tute, was $3.50 barrels. This was an
increase from the previous week of
10000 barrels daily. 1t is figured that
a reduction to $4,000 barrels daily
would just about stabilize production
and consumption for the Nation. In
stead of that. however, stocks are now
increasing. Countrywide production Is
at 1908, 200 barrels, or about 100000
barrels more than at this time last
year.
Stocks for the country as a whole
have risen and are still rising, the latest
total being 0,184 ,482 barrels, and the
months of lowest gasoline consumption
are now approaching. Unless there is
dustry from its present depressed state
may be long delayed. It is for this
reason that the entire industry as well
as State and Federal officials are watch
ing the California test cases closely.
Federal Control.
Many factors in the industry have
supported proposal of Federal control
of oil production. This has met with
being given its tryout
Oklahoma has cut production in the
Allen, Lowell. greater Seminole, East
Earlsboro and Oklahoma City fields by
percentages ranging from 20 to so. II
the California flush production is al
lowed to continue, it is believed 1t will
1ullify to great extent the conservation
in Oklahoma.
The majority Of previous efforts to-
ward curtailment of production have
been largely matters of agreement
among the producers and in few cases
have all Of them agreed to conform
The State authorities do not look with
unanimous approval on Federal control
even II legislation were passed permit
ting 1t or making it obligatory. The
United States, according to the Petro-
leum Institute, has $4,000, 900 acres of
oil land. The State authorities do not
desire to lose control over that huge ter
ritory with its producing posi-
bilities.