THE NAPHTHA INDL>T1:Y. 



)iQ:i 



latter. 590,000 poiuls. As tlie bucketing system not only requires the current expenses 

 of labour, but also the storage or sale of the naphtha, and as the number of i-eser- 

 voirs and the sale are at times, expecially in the winter, insufficient, tlierefore the 

 exploitation of many of the Avells is only carried on during a certain season. Out 

 of tlie 458 wells, which yielded naphtha in 1891, only 132 were worked during 

 the whole year, 188, from six to eleven months, and 138 for less than half 

 a year. The diameters of the tubes in 67 Avells were from 6 to 10 inches, in 278 

 from 10 to 15 inches, and in the remainder over 15 inches, and none more than 22 

 inches. The average depth of all the wells worked in 1891 was 102.2 sagenes or 

 715 feet; in 1890 this average was 94 feet, and at the commencement of the eighties 

 it was only about 70 sagenes; thus there is no doubt as to the depth of the profit- 

 able stratum for working, although it cannot be said that all the superficial strata 

 are exhausted, because there are still holes sunk to a depth only from 50 to 70 sa- 

 genes, and yet yielding as much as half a million pouds of naphtha per annum. 

 However, there is no doubt that the depth which is the most profitable for exploi- 

 tation, increases every year, and rather rapidly. Thus in 1890 the greatest average 

 yield, about 1,333,333 pouds per well per annum, corresponded to those holes which 

 were sunk to a depth of 120 to 130 sagenes, while in 1891 the highest average 

 yield of 1.-500,000 pouds was given by a well sunk to a depth of 140 to 150 sagenes. 

 The total average annual yield for all the wells exploited was 803,000 pouds in 

 1888, about 692,000 pouds in 1889, about 636,000 pouds in 1890, and about 599,000 

 pouds in 1891 per well. 



The average daily yield is also decreasing over all the naphtha areas, as tlu^ 

 following figures show. 



Average daily yield per well. 



Balakhan-Sabouncliinsk area 



Eomaninsk area 



Beibatsk 



1890. 



1891, 



1.714 I 1,622 

 1.431 1,386 

 2.654 



2.782 



In looking at these figures it must not be forgotten that the total production 

 of naphtha in 1891 was 50 million pouds, or 20 per cent greater than that of 1890, and 

 that the number of active wells increased by 102, or almost 30 per cent. That is, 

 in 1891 endeavours were made to cover the losses which were incurred by the fall of 

 the price of naphtha, by increasing the production. Hence the number of wells sunk 

 during recent years has increased. In 1889 fresh borings were conducted to a total 

 depth of 6,500 sagenes, in 1890 to a total depth of 14.810 sagenes, and in 1891 

 to a total depth of 19,980 sagenes. During these three years, altogether 284 n^vv 

 holes were sunk, namely 86 in 1889. and 151 in 1891. The cost of boring, including 

 the cost of steam power, erection of derricks, and lining with tubes, is now on tlie 

 average from 170 to 200 roubles per sagene, so that the total cost of the new holes 

 sunk in recent times, is about four million roubles per annum. 



If this yearly expense in boring be accepted, and the number of active wells 

 be taken as 500, and the current expenses for labour, fuel, et cetera, per well per 



