THE CORNING OIL AND GAS FIELD.[A]
J. A. Bownocker
Area.—This field lies in the three counties, Athens, Perry and Morgan. Leaving out of consideration at present a few small outlying pools, and starting at the south, the productive territory may be said to begin in Section 22, Trimple township, Athens county. From this point it runs almost due north to the Perry county line. The widest part of this portion of the field does not exceed one-half mile, while the narrowest portion permits of a single row only of wells.
[A] Published by permission of Edward Orton, Jr., State Geologist.
It enters Monroe township, Perry county in Section 33, and runs almost due north towards Corning, but bends to the northeast about one mile south of that place. Here the productive territory attains a maximum width of 3 miles, the greatest in the field. The northeast course is continued to the Morgan county line, where it turns due north, skirting that line with a productive strip about one-half mile wide for 2½ miles, when it turns slightly to the east, entering Morgan county in Section 31 of Deerfield township. From that place it extends through Section 30 and into Section 19, beyond which it has not been traced. Development of this part of the field is retarded by floods of salt water which may limit it in this direction. The total length of the field is about 14 miles.
Outside of this belt are four pools, two of which are of little importance. One lies around Glouster, and has an area of less than one square mile. A second one lies in Sections 22 and 29, a short distance northwest of Glouster. This is the principal territory from which the gas of Corning and surrounding towns is derived. A third pool lies around Porterville, and the fourth known as the Oakfield lies from 3 to 5 miles north of Corning. It includes parts of sections 5, 21, 28, 29, 32, and 33 of Pleasant and 22, 27 and 34 of Bearfield townships. It is in this pool that the most extensive work is being done at the present time.
Discovery.—Probably the first deep well drilled in the Sunday Creek Valley was near Burr Oak, about 4 miles south of Corning. Its date is not now known, but it must have been 40 or more years ago. Its depth is likewise unknown, but it is reported to have penetrated the salt sand. To this day it flows salt water, and with it sufficient gas to be ignited. This well, however, seems not to have aroused suspicion that there might be valuable liquids other than salt water buried in the rocks.
The discovery of oil in the Corning field was a matter of accident, and resulted directly from a scarcity of water for the Toledo and Ohio Central railroad. To remedy this a deep well was drilled in August, 1891, at the round-house, about three-fourths of a mile south of Corning. The only water found was in the salt sand which is reported as having been struck at a depth of 630 feet. The supply was copious, but the salinity prevented its being used in locomotives. This brine was shut out of the well by casing and the drill forced down to a depth of 1507 feet. Finding no water at that depth the work ceased, but a few days later oil was thrown to the top of the derrick, and there were smaller eruptions later. However further disturbances of this sort were prevented by the company closing the well.
Development.—The disclosure made by this well attracted the attention of oil men who immediately entered the field and began leasing territory. The citizens of Corning feared the territory was falling into the hands of the Standard Oil Company, and that it might not under such conditions be developed for years. Accordingly a home company styled “The Sunday Creek Oil & Gas Company,” was organized in February, 1892, to make certain the development of the territory. The capital stock was placed at $10,000 in shares of $50, and $8900 of the stock was sold. Much of this was raised by citizens of the town subscribing for single shares.
The new Company was successful. By January 1st, 1898, 255% in dividends had actually been paid the stock holders. In September, 1898, a power for pumping the wells, and costing over $7000, was erected, the contractor taking the product of the wells until it paid for the plant. In November, 1899, the property together with $1250—the amount received in excess of the cost of the plant—was turned over to the original holders. The power is now (July 1, 1900,) pumping 20 wells, which have a daily production of 40 barrels.