A Terrible Petroleum Well.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 100, 28 April 1888, Page 3 (Supplement)

A Terrible Petroleum Well.

Thk Ruesian paper ' Caspian' gives the following interesting1 details of one of the largest naphtha fountains yet known, which has lately Woken out near Baku, and which threatens 10 inundate all Balakhani. The naphtha, owing bo the pressure of the gases which accompany it, rises to a height of 280 feet to 420 feet, and is carried away by ths wind toa great distance, falling like fine rain at the more distant parts ot the district, but near the fountain coming down iii torrents that form rivers and streamlets. Further on it falls like sleet, and settles in a layer on all the buildings in the neighbourhood. Those naphtha rivers flow for a distance of more than half a mile, and puss through walls, works, reservoirs, inhabited houses, etc. Unfortunately, all the reservoirs in the neighbourhood were full when the fountain broke out. and the oil was thus wasted. Owing to the stillness of the atmosphere at one time the fjases which accompany the naphtha spread in a heavy layer for more than two hundred and eighty yards, filling the houses and placing their inhabitants in a most dangerous position, especially at night, when fires were lit. The sand and dust thrown up by the fountain form a hill of considerable size, and have buried the boiler - house of the mining company's works, and all buildings in close proximity to the fountain. There is no doubt that an exposed flame would set the whole district, from the mining company's works to the Sabounchi Railway station, in one blaze. Many efforts have been made to atop the fountain, but all have proved unavailing, for after five or six hours the fountain would again burst forth with all its former vigour. For some days the fountain has be'en left to play without hindrance, and has increased in power. Thanks also to a strong and changing wind, the naphtha has been scattered in every direction, turning the whole district into a petroleum swamp. The naphtha pours from the roofs of the houses, on to which also fall the earth and stones carried up by the oil.