Oil Well being “Shot”

 

An oil well in Monroe County, Ohio being “shot.”  After a well was drilled to the depth where oil was found, the well was “shot” by dropping a canister of nitro-glycerin into the casing of the well.  When it fell to the bottom of the well it exploded reducing the surrounding stone formation to rubble and producing fractures in the adjacent rock.  This served as a catch-basin into which oil and water accumulated and was later pumped to the surface.  Notice the crowd of people standing well back from the well.  During this procedure rocks, dirt and dust would be hurled high into the air.  This is the same principle of a gun projecting a bullet.  Here the casing serves the same function as a gun barrel.  This well is believed to have belonged to Levi Hehr.

 

 

Provided by Dave Distler

 

Last modified 18 July 2010 by reh

 

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