170 OIL FIELDS OF TEXAS-LOUISIANA COASTAL PLAIN, [bull. 312. 
when no accident occurs is about two months. Several wells on 
Spindletop have been drilled in less than one month, but the greater 
number of them have occupied between two and three months. The 
work is often kept up night and day, though most of the contractors 
are content to keep the pumps at work all night without attempting 
to drill. 
FINISHING THE WELL. 
When the well approaches completion, the drill rods are withdrawn 
and a gate valve fitted to the casing in such a way as to permit of a 
rapid closing of the well if desired. AVhen the valve is in position, 
the bit is again lowered and the work - proceeds until the oil sands 
have been reached and penetrated to a sufficient depth to insure a 
flow in the well. The drilling tools are then withdrawn, the water 
bailed, and the well allowed to flow. When a sufficient time has 
elapsed to allow of the well cleaning itself of all loose pieces of rock 
or gravel, the valve is closed and the well shut in. None of these 
wells has been torpedoed. This method of inducing a flow was tried 
in one case on Spindletop and the only result was a ruined well. 
Considerable danger accompanies the flowing and closing of a new 
well on account of the poisonous nature of the gas accompanying the 
oil flow. This gas contains a large proportion of hydrogen sulphide 
and its poisonous qualities are intensified by its being saturated with 
petroleum vapor. Petroleum vapor has the effect of rendering per- 
sons inhaling it unconscious, and if one remains under its influence 
for any length of time death ensues. The combination of the hj^dro- 
gen sulphide and petroleum vapor issuing from the wells is such as to 
render death almost instantaneous. Few fatal accidents of this kind 
have taken place at Spindletop, however, but often drillers and others 
have been overcome and but for timely assistance would have been 
killed. The only deaths resulting so far from this cause connected 
with a well is that of the Palestine and Beaumont well, when three 
men lost their lives. Owing to an accident the drill rods got fast in 
the well and when the oil flow came it could not be closed on account 
of the rods being in the valve. To remedy this these men went into 
the derrick and attempted to unscrew the rod, but were overpowered 
by this mixture of gas and vapor and killed before assistance could 
reach them. One of the Higgins Oil Company's tank men was killed 
by the same cause when on the roof of a tank. 
