A BURNING OIL WELL

Evening Star, Issue 20138, 1 April 1929, Page 6

A BURNING OIL WELL

SHUFFIHfi IT OUT A livo-ton steel cap, like a. giant candlc-smitfor, was used recently to put out a burning oil well near Los Angeles, we arc told by John E. Lodge, writing in ‘ Popular Science Monthly ’ (Now York, February). He says;—■ “ Whatever its cause, a flaming pillar ol oil, hot enough to melt a, derrick’s steel, is not a pretty thing to put out. Vet engineers have dared to attack these fires, with sensational success. One of their recent triumphs, oddly enough, has been just half a mile from the scene of (he latest oil fire, where a. novel system of putting out an oil blaze received a spectacular demonstration. “ For eight weeks a freak lire raged about what had once been the derrick ol Getty No. 13, in the vSantc Fe Springs field. Dense smoke, billowed Irom the Hood of seething, Darning oil, while above roared a smokeless jet of hcry gas. Advancing behind steel shields to screen them • irom the heat, fire-fighters approached the terrific blaze. After a brief pcilpiring survey they decided to try a desperate experiment—to suulf it out, like a giant candle.

“ First. a sapping project reminiscent oi those of tlie World War was curried out. 'Undo- cover of the shields tunnel tors burrowed into the earth and dot: an underground shaft f!ooft long to pierce the, main easing. Through it. GDlt beneath the ground, quantities of gas and oil were diverted, and the force of the burning jet. diminished enough iur I lie doling attempt.

“ To snuff out the ‘ caudle ' the men ehost! a tive-tou cap of steel that looks like an inverted funnel. Jts top is a stack with a huge valve, while at the wide-mouthed base is another pipe with a valve, to lead olf unburned oil.

“ Tractors and a daring crew popped this cap over the burning well. .Instantly the funnel stack became a llumespoutmg chimney. A turn of the v.alvc wheel in the stuck, and the flames went out—the pipe was plugged and the fire smothered. A hoarse command, and the valve on the lower pipe was opened in time to save the whole five-ton cap from being blown off by the accumulated pressure. Harmless oil poured out into a pit. “The fire was out!

“ Often nitro glycerine is used by the asbestos-clad men who extinguish oil well fires. Charges of explosives are dropped into the blaze and exploded, literally blowing the fire out.”