The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 75, July 1971 - April, 1972 Page: 51
566 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Texas Myth in Reality
A second-hand rotary oil rig and derrick were purchased for $13,000
and hauled by wagon to the Doering farm. Diamond S Oil Co.
Doering No. i commenced operations on November 1, 1920o. All
went as predicted and at 3,401 feet the drill entered 7 feet of cap
rock and passed through to 52 feet of oil and gas sand beneath.
At 3,452 feet the well was "showing heavy gas pressure" and at
3,4671/ feet the "gas made a 4 ft. blaze at the flare pipe." Samples
taken at these points tested out at 0.04 percent oil in the gas rock
core; 0.565 percent oil in the loose sand bailed out of the well; and
trace oil in the oil sand core. The petroleum gas pressure on the
drill stem tested at 210 pounds. While not spectacular, these signs
were very promising-especially for the first test well of the first
oil company in a previously untried county." Expenses of these
operations came to roughly $22,000 which were covered by the
$30,876 collected on stock subscriptions by the end of 1921.80
Then, as so often happened, controversy led to disaster. An argument
developed between Walter Seefeld and his driller, W. J. White.
White wanted to explore the gas strata and bring in a gasser in
preference to drilling deeper for oil. Seefeld, after consulting several
itinerant "geologists," Doering's "oil finder," and "The Old Woman,"
decided to drill on. Between 3,668 and 3,685 they hit freely flowing
salt water which White suggested they cement off as a prelude to
returning to the gas strata. Seefeld disagreed, fired White, replaced
him with V. B. Barnes, and drilled on-"thru the Pacific Ocean,"
as the Alice Echo phrased it. His plan was to use heavy mud to shut
off the salt water until he hit oil sand, then set a strainer with
packing above to seal out the water."
Near 4,000 feet, the drill stem broke off and could not be fished
out of the hole. The pipe was pulled and a sidetracking operation was
begun at that depth. At 4,344 feet, the stem broke off again and
defied all attempts at fishing it out. Short of funds, Seefeld decided
to shut down his operations temporarily. The shut down lasted for
almost two years as he had to return to his farm and ranch chores
89Log of Doering Well No. i, ibid. See also Walter F. Seefeld to Gustav A. Seefeld,
April 21, 1923; Diamond S Oil Co. Booster Report No. 2, October 30o, 1924; Walter F.
Seefeld Memorandum, November 6, 1924; Raymond Seefeld to Herbert Seefeld, April
13, 1931, ibid. Quotes are from Log.
80Cash Book and Stock Record Books, Diamond S. Oil Co., 1920-1925, ibid.
81Walter F. Seefeld to Froehlich, October 29, 1921; White to Walter F. Seefeld, July
31, 1922; "Diamond S Well Starts Final Test," undated clipping from the Alice Echo,
ibid.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 75, July 1971 - April, 1972, periodical, 1972; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101201/m1/63/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Texas State Historical Association.