DEPTH OF PIT WELLS. l8l 



was a prolonged one, and during its duration only such new productive 

 Wells could be added as had been under construction at its commence- 

 ment. This explains the very small increase of 29 productive wells 

 during the period 1891 — 93. 



At the end of 1893 a satisfactory settlement of the rights of the 

 twinzayos having been achieved the construction of fresh wells was 

 again permitted, and the natives availed themselves of their privileges 

 in such an energetic manner, that between the last half of 1893 and 

 January 1895, 113 new productive wells had been constructed. 



So far this seems to indicate a very prosperous state of the native 

 oilfields at present, but we shall see that far from being so, this very 

 increase of the number of the productive wells is an indication of 

 the setting in of the decline of the native petroleum industry. 



The pit wells may be examined in two ways, viz. :— 



(1) with regard to their depth, 



(2) with regard to their production, 



both sides will give us full information as to the state of the native 

 oilfields, and if thoroughly gone into, some conclusions may be drawn 

 which have been further elaborated in the section dealing with the 

 future prospects of the oilfields in Upper Burma. 



(a) Depth of the pit wells. 



It is a general belief among the native well diggers that a well 

 sunk in one of the ravines which intersect the oil tract of Twingon 

 reaches the petroliferous sand within the same depth as a well 

 constructed on the plateau. On the face of it this seems highly 

 absurd, as one would feel inclined to think that a well in one of the 

 ravines being so much nearer to the petroliferous sand must strike it 

 sooner than one on the top of the plateau. 



It is, however, a fact that such is really the case, and may be ex- 

 plained. Observing that the Twingon tract is situated on the arch of 

 an anticline, and that the area was mostly intersected by longitudinal 

 ravines, i.e., such running parallel to the strike of the strata, the 

 curious phenomenon seems to be easily explained by the natural dip 

 of the strata. 



( 227 ) 



