The story of Pittsburgh: Petroleum and natural gas : in two parts

Petroleum and natural gas : in two parts (Vol. 1, nr. 10)

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Multivolume work

Identifikator:: 1831622599

Document type:: Multivolume work

Title:: The story of Pittsburgh

Place of publication:: Pittsburgh

Publisher:: First National Bank

Year of publication:: 1919-1930

Collection:: Economics Books

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Volume

Identifikator:: 1831623455

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-239811

Document type:: Volume

Title:: Petroleum and natural gas : in two parts

Volume count:: Vol. 1, nr. 10

Place of publication:: Pittsburgh

Publisher:: First National Bank

Year of publication:: 1923

Scope:: [ca. 24] Seiten

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Chapter

Document type:: Multivolume work

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Petroleum and Natural Gas

Collection:: Economics Books

There is a local record to the effect that natural gas was first used in a small way in lighting houses at Fredonia, Chautauqua County, N. Y., in 1821. In C. B. Tergo’s “Geography of Pennsylvania,” published in 1843, occurs the following: “Oil Creek derives its name from the substance called Seneca oil, which rises in. bubbles from the bed of the stream, and on reaching the top of the water these bubbles explode, leaving the oil floating on the surface. Though this oil is found in many places throughout the whole course of the stream, it is most abundant two or three miles from the mouth. Several of the owners of the land make a business of collecting the oil during the dry season, as it is most plenti- ful at low water. From two to twelve barrels are collected in a season by the proprietors, the quantity depending on the prevalence of dry weather and low water. In the low grounds along this creek oil may be obtained by digging to a level with the bottom of the stream, but when thus pro- cured it is not so pure and clean as that taken upon the sur- face of the creek. This mode of obtaining it has evidently been practiced by the Indians, or some other people, long vefore the white man set his foot upon the soil of this region.” After the news of the Drake well became known there was a rush to the oil regions comparable to the rush of gold seekers to California and other gold fields at different times. Hundreds of wells were started in the Oil Creek valley, and up and down the Allegheny river. In the following year oil was found at Tidioute, Henry’s Bend, Franklin and Smith’s Ferry, and the production of the year 1860 is estimated at over 500,000 barrels, In 1861 the first flowing well was struck, near Rouseville, a suburb of Oil City, at the depth of 400 feet. This well was followed by others which produced from 2000 to 3000 barrels a day. Naturally the market was overstocked, for uses for the product were few, and prices declined disastrously. The estimated production for 1861 was 2,118,600 barrels, but much oil was lost, being carried away by the waters of Oil creek and the Allegheny river. An era of oil stock companies ensued, many of which made money, but the failures, with consequent losses, were very numerous. Later widening markets were found for petroleum, and the search for new fields spread into Clarion.

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