120 NOETLING: PETROLEUM IN BURMA, 



I think these figures show sufficiently that the bed from which 

 now 64 per cent, of the total production is drawn shows unquestionable 

 signs of exhaustion; we notice therefore the same phenomenon as in 

 1 89 1 when a decrease in the average yield was observed as against 

 1888. This decrease was at once counteracted by an energetic 

 deepening of the wells which was in fact carried out to such an extent 

 that each well was increased 19 feet in depth on the average. The 

 result of this operation proved a success and the average production 

 per well rose to the extent of 16*1 viss per day, 



Between 1893 and 1895 these same wells were again deepened 

 to the extent of 4 feet on the average per well. The operation 

 did not, however, prove a success, because the production instead of 

 rising declined to the extent of 9*2 viss per well per day. so that at the 

 beginning of 1895 each of the 328 productive wells which represent 

 65 per cent, of the total number, and supply 64 per cent, of the 

 total production, produces only about 7 viss more than in 1891, 

 although each well has been deepened to the average extent 

 of 23 feet, since that year. Were therefore the production of the 

 native wells not supported by 107 recently constructed wells, ex- 

 ploiting a part of the reserve hitherto not worked, instead of an 

 increase, the production would show a distinct decrease as compared 

 with 1893. In fact we are in a position to estimate that decline 

 with some precision. Under the above conditions the decline of the 

 328 wells, as compared with 1893, would amount to 90,528 viss per 

 mensem. 



This however does not represent the total amount of decrease, 

 there are 84 more productive wells 1 which have not been included 

 among the 328 wells because their history shows that they have not 

 been productive for the whole time since the beginning of 1891* 

 As it is safe to suppose that these wells have been influenced by the 



1 Out of these 84 wells, 78 existed previously, while six were added during 1895, 

 these being dug in the older part of the field have not been included among the other 

 wells dug in the new parts, and it is supposed that their production was equally affected 

 with the general exhaustion as the others. 



( 166 ) 



