KERN RIVER FIELD, CALIFORNIA A detailed investigation of a flooded area in the Kern River field was made in 1916, which led to the plugging of two wells. This work more than doubled the output of oil and reduced the daily output of water from 16,000 bbl. to about 250 bbl.
The water had been handled by two air compressor plants, which were not needed after the two wells were plugged. The elimination of expense for fuel and operation, together with the increased output of oil, made the plugging very profitable, and definitely proved the value of scientific investigation.
This instance serves to exemplify the loss following the failure to keep complete records of well conditions, and the consequent wide differences of opinion as to the cause of damage. The report of the investigators summarizes all the available evidence and is therefore quite lengthy. A presentation of the entire report seems justified because it illustrates not only the method adopted in the investigation, but also gives a complete statement of the early operating methods in use before scientific studies had been made of any of the problems.
The wells are located as shown in the accompanying map (Fig. 33) The State Oil and Gas Supervisor received a letter from the Alma Oil Company, Petroleum Development Company (A. T. & "Water has long been a menace to the properties of the undersigned in sections 4 and Kern River Field, and each of us has spent large sums in vain attempts to cure the difficulty.
"We now submit our problem voluntarily to you asking your prompt investigation of the conditions, and your recommendations regarding curative work. Our records are at your disposal, and we request your prompt attention. " The report of the state supervisor, dated Feb. 27, 1917, is as follows: "The requested investigation was carried on as fast as the necessary records and adequate engineering assistance became available. This report is largely the result of work done by Deputy Supervisor R. N. Ferguson and Inspector G. McGregor.
"The Supervisor expects the recommendations herein contained to be promptly carried forward.
"The damaging conditions complained of seem to have first become acute in the early part of the year 1904.
"The early part of the work of investigation consisted of collecting the logs and other information on which to base an investigation. We have succeeded in getting some sort of a log of every well concerned. Many of these are meaningless; in fact, very few of them furnish com plete records of the wells. The other information that we have obtained is even less satisfactory than the logs.
"Mr. Beard of the Alma Oil Company has made a painstaking at tempt to secure dates, facts and figures for us, and what we have secured come almost entirely from him. However, he has not yet furnished us any production reports, as required by law.
"The Associated Oil Company has furnished us production reports covering the year just passed, but practically nothing concerning the early production of the district.
"The Petroleum Development Company has furnished us a report of the production of its wells for the month of July, 1916, but absolutely no information as to the history of the water trouble.
"This preliminary statement is made merely to show the difficulties encountered in making the investigation, due to the lack of information furnished. In spite of this handicap we are certain that, when the recommendations made herein are put into effect, conditions will be materially improved. Furthermore, we expect to gain enough informa tion from watching results of the work ordered to enable us later to locate the remaining sources of trouble.
"The conditions of the wells considered in this work are listed in the appended historical sketch in the order of their drilling. The sketch also contains the dates of some other events bearing on the subject.
`The Alma Jr. Company drilled its first five wells along the south line of their property during the year 1901, and they were all finished at about 800 ft. stopping in the oil sand as the logs will indicate.