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.
The first well drilled by this Company was on the William Fisher farm
in northwest quarter section 14, Monroe township, Perry county. The
Berea was struck at 1012 feet, but the indications were so unfavorable
for a paying well that it was not considered advisable to shoot it.
However, on June 2d, 1892, after waiting nearly a month, the well was
shot with 80 quarts of nitro-glycerine, which had been hauled from
Sistersville, W. Va. The cost of the shot was $200. The first day
following the shooting of the well it produced 12 barrels, and a year
later was still producing 10 barrels per day. Following this other
wells were drilled in sections 14 and 15. In all 25 have been drilled,
only 3 of which were dry holes.
[Illustration: THE CORNING OIL _and_ GAS FIELD