Papers - - Production - Domestic - Oil and Gas Development in Illinois in 1933

Continued low prices and restricted markets for crude oil discouraged drilling activity in Illinois oil fields during 1933. Only 36 wells were completed in the state, the smallest number since 1904, and of these the majority were scattered wildcat wells, only 10 having been drilled in producing fields (Table 2). Production was curtailed approximately 40 per cent for the first half of the year. During July, August, and the early part of September there was no restriction on production. On Sept. 8, under the "code of fair competition for the petroleum industry," the quota of allowable production for Illinois was fixed at 12,000 bbl. per day. The state's production in 1933 was 9 per cent less than in 1932. What it would have been had there been no curtailment of production and if economic conditions had permitted a normal amount of cleaning out and repairs to wells, it is not possible to estimate, but it would no doubt have been considerably more than the actual figure. No new pools or new producing horizons were discovered in 1933, but the deepening of a Robinson sand well in Crawford County to the McClosky "sand" horizon (St. Genevieve limestone of the Lower Mississippian) resulted in a production of 3 bbl. per day (Fred Patchel, Savilla Shipman No. 5, NE. 1/4, SW. 1/4, sec. 26, T.6N., R.l3W., deepened from 1122 to 1388 ft., to be tested to the McClosky horizon, and, owing to the rapid variations in porosity within short distances, as shown in the Lawrence County field to the south, one test may not be considered as proving or condemning any large area. The average price of Illinois crude oil in 1933, calculated from the posted prices as published in the Oil and Gas Journal and Oil Weekly, was $0.862 per barrel. This compares with a calculated average price of $1.032 in 1932 and 0.852 in 1931. The total value of Illinois crude oil produced in 1933 obtained by multiplying the average price (0.862) by the total production (4,227,000 bbl.) was $3,643,674. Of the 26 wildcat wells drilled in 1933, only one was drilled on known favorable structure. This was the Walmar Oil Company's William Pepple well No. 1, sec. 12, T.4N., R.12W., Hancock County, which tested