1876.] 



349 



[Lesley. 



The use of benzine in this well gave no satisfactory results, probably on 

 account of salt water. 



Three pint torpedo exploded 8 feet below top of 3d sand, May 30th, 

 1873. Daily production increased to 10 barrels, but declined to 5 barrels 

 in 10 days. Torpedoed again, Dec. 18th, 1873. Result not stated. 



Colorado Well, No. 4. 

 August 20th, 1872 (?). 

 Located 5^ rods S. E. of McKinney's N. E. corner. 



Drilled dry. Cased at 413 feet. 



Best natural production, 3 barrels per day. 



The hole was dry when the 3d sand was struck, and remained so until 

 the drill had penetrated the 3d sand 5^ feet. At this point oil and salt 

 water came in. The best part of the sand was from 505 feet to 515 feet ; 

 below this the sand was poor. 



The first torpedo was exploded 5 feet below top of rock. 

 " second " " 10 " 



" third " " 5 " 



" fourth " " 15 " \ " " May 4th, 1872. 



The production was increased by the first torpedo but soon settled back 

 to about 5 barrels per day. The same effect followed the second and third. 

 The fourth was a one quart nitro-glycerine blast, but it made very little in- 

 crease in the oil flow. Benzining, flooding the sandrock with oil, and 

 "scratching" the walls, all failed to produce beneficial results. f 



* Oil City Depot provisionally 995' + P. R. R. datum. 



t A well is " flooded " by pouring sufficient fluid in at the top, while the pump 

 remains idle, to fill up the shaft several hundred feet, more or less, above the 

 oil sand. Benzine and crude oil are both used for this purpose: the object being 

 to saturate tlie rock, underpressure, in order that the paraffin or other accu- 

 mulations which may have adhered to its surface or obstructed its pores may 

 be loosened and removed with the fluid when the pump is again started. 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XVI. 98. 2r 



