Another district that has yielded considerable gas is that at Oakfield about 3 miles north of Corning. These wells started at 2,000,000, 1,500,000, 500,000, and 250,000 cubic feet per day respectively. Two of the smaller of these have been abandoned after having produced for two years. The largest of these wells, now four years old, is producing 500,000 cubic feet per day, and the second largest, now three years old, is producing the same amount. The wells in this field produce considerable oil and by some are rated as oil wells rather than gas ones.
Outside of these two places an occasional strip is found that produces gas in paying quantities. Thus about one mile northeast of Corning two wells were drilled, which combined produced 500,000 cubic feet per day. They produced three years and were then abandoned. About two miles north of Corning a good well was drilled on the Newberry farm. It started at 1,500,000 cubic feet per day, had an initial rock pressure of 400 pounds and lasted three years.
Another productive tract lies about 6 miles northeast of Corning on the Finley, Devore and Stoneburner farms. Three wells were drilled on the Finley farm, and started one at 1,500,000 and two at 250,000 cubic feet, with an initial rock pressure of 400 pounds. These wells lasted three years.
The operators of the wells have been much troubled with salt water in the Muddy Fork field and with oil in the Oakfield territory. Salt water is removed by “blowing” the wells. For this operation the wells are closed for a short period, usually about 30 minutes, allowing the gas pressure to increase; when this has become sufficiently strong the well is opened at the top and the gas then blows the water from the well. When the well has been cleansed in this manner it is closed and the gas turned back into the mains. Sometimes, however, the weight of the water is so great that the gas cannot drive it from the well in the manner just stated, especially is this true with wells that have been in use for a considerable period. Then an iron rod attached to a long pole is let down through the water, is raised and lowered, and the gas following the pole in its ascent finally drives the water from the well. This method of cleaning is known as “agitating.” Finally the pressure of the gas becomes so small that it cannot lift the water with the help of “agitating,” and then the well is dead. In winter time each well is cleaned every other day, and in the summer twice a week.
The gas wells in the Corning field are owned and operated by the Corning Natural Gas Company. It supplies Jacksonville, Trimble, Glouster, Murray City, New Straitsville, Shawnee, Hemlock, Corning, Rendville, Moxahala, New Lexington, and several interior hamlets. Almost the sole use of the fuel is for heat and light.
The company makes a rate of 20 cents per thousand feet by meter. Where the meter is not used, the prices in winter are $2.00 per month for the first fire; $1.50 for the second; $1.00 for the third; 75 cents for the fourth, and all additional fires at the latter figure. In the summer a charge of $1.50 for each cooking fire is made. For lights the charges are 25 cents each for the first two and 15 cents for each additional one.
The number of customers supplied by this company in 1900 was approximately as follows:
| Corning | 300 |
| Glouster | 250 |
| New Lexington | 250 |
| Shawnee | 200 |
| New Straitsville | 150 |
| Other places | 350 |
| Total | 1500 |
In the Fall of 1899 the wells of the company produced 6,000,000 cubic feet per day, but during cold weather when the demand for fuel was great they dropped to 3,000,000 cubic feet, and the rock pressure which was 300 pounds in the Fall was only 200 during the winter. On July 7th, 1900, the rock pressure of the wells in the Muddy Fork field ranged from 170 to 280 pounds, indicating a considerable drop from that of the preceding autumn. The company expects to drill four additional wells during the ensuing fall (1900) in the Muddy Fork territory, and by so doing expects to keep three wells closed, and thus maintain a good rock pressure.