234 Kansas Academy of Science. 



A DEEP WELL AT EMPORIA. 



By Alva J. Smith. 



^^HE well under consideration was drilled by Roberds & Lane 

 -^ for the city of Emporia, which had provided funds for the 

 purpose by the issuance of development bonds. The well was be- 

 gun soon after the first of the year 1904, the contract calling for 

 a depth of 2000 feet, or to the Mississippian limestone. In the 

 prosecution of the work the contractors were very unfortunate, 

 having to abandon two wells at their own expense. 



The first well was lost on account of the drill stem breaking, 

 leaving the bit in the well at a depth of about 700 feet, where it 

 was never recovered, although several weeks were spent in fishing 

 for it. In the other well, which was drilled twelve feet south of 

 the first one, a lug of iron was encountered. After drilling out 

 large quantities of iron, the well was shot three different times, in 

 the hope that the obstruction would be dislodged, but it continued 

 to cut the rope, injure their tools, and impede the drilling, till the 

 well was abandoned at a depth of 890 feet. In this well a stratum 

 of coal of considerable thickness was encountered at a depth of 714 

 feet. As there was a probability of this coal being of commercial 

 value, preparations were made for more accurately determining its 

 thickness in the third well, which was drilled thirty feet south of 

 the second one. 



Eight or ten oil barrels were secured for the reception of all the 

 drillings to be taken from the well while passing through or near 

 the coal, and a contract was made with the drillers requiring them 

 to remove their tools, bail oat and measure up the well with a steel 

 tape as often as the city might require. 



The same formations were penetrated in this well as the other 

 two, and the ten-inch casing put down to a depth of 690 feet, and 

 no water was encountered for the next fifty feet. 



When the hard sandstone above the coal was reached, the special 

 gas committee of the city council and I were notified, and the work 

 from that time till the coal was passed was under our personal 

 supervision. When the drill penetrated a soft stratum beneath the 

 sandstone they bailed out, and found they were drilling in slate. 

 The depth of the well was then taken with a steel tape and the 

 drillers instructed to drill one foot and then bail out, which they 

 attempted to do, but the spring of the rope let the drill down 



