246 NOTES ON THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE 
NOTES ON THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE OIL 
WELLS OF ENNISKILLEN. 
BY SANDFORD FLEMING, ESQ., C.E. 
Read before the Canadian Institute, February 29, 1863. 
During a recent visit to the village of Oil-Springs, in the township 
of Enniskillen, I made the following notes on the present condition 
of the oil wells in that quarter. 
The first flowing well discovered, was that known as the “Shaw 
Well,” on Lot 13 in the Second Concession. The oil was “ struck” 
in the early part of last year, and continued to flow spontaneously 
for about ten months. This well was formed by digging about fifty 
feet through clay to the rock surface, and then by boring one hun- 
dred and fifty-eight feet through the latter. The flow from this well 
has now entirely ceased, after discharging a total estimated quantity 
of 35,000 barrels. 
During the past summer, or at least since the first discovery of 
the Shaw well, there have been found in all about thirty flowing 
wells, of more or less value, in this section. The yield of all these 
wells, as I was informed, was at one time as much as 12,000 bar- 
rels per day. They are all situated within an area of one square 
mile, and chiefly on the south bank of the Black Creek; only one 
having been discovered to the north of it. The number of flowing 
wells is now reduced to two, an old and a new one recently opened. 
These two wells are within one hundred feet of each other, and, 
yield, it is said, over one hundred barrels per day each. Many 
of the old surface wells are now brought into requisition ; and such 
of the old flowing’ wells as yet afford oil by pumping, are worked by 
hand. The total yield from the flowing wells and all other sources, 
at the present time, is said to be about four hundred barrels 
per day. 
There is one remarkable peculiarity connected with the stoppage 
of the natural discharge of oil from the wells, which might 
here be mentioned. The deepest wells invariably have been those 
which first ceased te flow; and the two shallowest of all the thirty 
wells, are those only which now yield a natural discharge of oil. 
