GREATEST OIL WELL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1916, Page 8

GREATEST OIL WELL.

A MEXICAN GUSHER. Cerro A 7.11 i No. 4, said to be the greatest oil guslier in the world, was brought in February 10 last on the property of the Huestesca Company, a subsidiary of the Mexican Petroleum Company, Limited, in Mexico. The oil and gas came with such force when the well w«s drilled in that it blew ofT the valve, destroyed the derrick, shot oil into the air at a measured height of tiOO feet, and poured out over 1,000.000 barrels of highgrade petroleum in one week before it could be brought under control. Desiring to have complete records of whatever might develop at the bringing in of the well, which previous tests had proved would be an important one, a full photographic establishment was set up near-by, with cameras, moving picture machines, and all appliances for developing negatives on the spot. On the night of February 9 a pocket of gas was struck, which blew out the water through which the drilling was being conducted. The next morning only a few blows had 'been struck with the drill when it was noticed that the cable ivas slack/

There was a rumbling and a tremor, then, a terrific roar, which sounded as if a volcanic eruption was taking place. As these noises began the men ran for their lives. Before they were twenty feet away, such was the force of gas, t".ie great drill, weighing two tons, shot through the air to a great height and landed fort.v-one yards from the well almost at the feet of the photographer. COUNTRY SPRAYED WITH OIL. The throwing out of the tool carried away the crown of the derrick and the greater part of the structure was quickly demolished by the force of the gas. This great body of gas was struck early in the morning and continued to increase. About the jiiddle of the afternoon oil appeared. The roar of escaping gas and oil was so terrific that the men were compelled to stuff their ears with cotton and put heavy bandages over that. Fortunately the weather was cleaT and enough breeze was stirring to carry away the dangerous gases. . For two miles around the well the country was saturated with petroleum as, the marvellous jet, which ranged in height from 500 to GOO feet, was swayed by the winds. The moon was full and at night the scene was one of marvellous beauty. 'The new gusher produced 201,000 ljarrcls of oil, measured production, on the last day before it was successfully capped. This is almost as large as the daily output of the State of California, and is said to be about 2a per cent, of the present world production.