RUSSIAN PETROLEUM

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1509, 31 January 1901, Page 57

RUSSIAN PETROLEUM

IT IS- PUMPED FROM OIL WELLS ON THE SHORES OF THE CASPIAN SEA. .

On approaching Baku, evidences of the oil fields became visible on all sides, and great cities of black derricks, set so close together that they appear like a dense forest, mark the well-defined' area of the productive field. As the train circles around a well-sized Mil the city of Bakul bursts upon the vision with startling suddenness, and one is soon in what might be called one of the most interesting cities of modem times (says a writer in “Cassier’s Magazine”). It lies on the sloping .shore of the very salty Caspian Sea, and ait the present ■time the ruling impression is the complete absence of verdure, due to a lack of fresh water supply. All the water used, by this city of over .75,000 inhabitants is now either distilled from the sea water, brought in tank cars from the distant rivers, or bom© in -casks on the backs of horses or camels from very carefully preserved wells in the vicinity, and fed by not too frequent rains.

The city of Baku was taken frchn Persia by Peter the Great of Russia two hundred, years ago, and, although the process of Russianising has been going on steadily ever since then, the city still retains many of its Persian Characteristics. The old city wall at one time probably extended 1 quite down to the water’s edge, but the steady lowering of the level of the Caspian Sea, which has been going on year after year, lias gradually left ia considerable strip of lantt between the oldJ wall and the water. A fine quay has been constructed and the long row of docks and great quantity of shipping always to be found here are remarkable for an inland' sea.

As a business centre, Baku Iras acquired considerable wealth, and the new city, wbidlr has naturally extended in all directions, contains substantially built, indeed elegant, stone houses and large shops which would' do credit to any city of Europe. The streets are rapidly being paved, amid they will soon he better in this respect than those of any other town in Russia, with the exception of St. Retersburg.

The most productive oil fields are to be found in the. vicinity of Baku.- The field at Ali Baba is ; nearer to the city, buit is not so large in extent nor so productive as Balakhani, which lies ten miles to the north-east. Both of these towns .are one mass of derricks and engine houses, 'and everything about the place appears to be saturated with petroleum. Borings are constantly being made, and oil is generally found at a depth or from 500 to 1000 feet. A few years ago it was common to open up large ispouting wells, but these have fallen off considerably during later years; occasionally, however, a fountain is produced, and it sometimes happens that an explosion of gas. in a well that is being pumped not only blows all the apparatus out of the tube* but produce® a natural flew of oil to the surface.

The most successful system of working the wells in. this district is by the use of the: bailor, which consists of a 30 or 40-foot length of 8 or 10-inch pipe the top of the. well, lowers the bailer is let down into the well, where it is filled with oil through the bottom valve, and is then raised by a hoisting engine until jusit above the top of the well. The operator then places a wooden cap over the top of the. well, lowers the bailer gently, so , that the valve rests on the cap and opens, allowing the oil to flow out in all directions, being conducted, by means of trenches, to a receiving pool; The operator then draws the bailer up a few inches, removes the cap from the well, and lets the bailer drop down again to near the bottom of the well. Care is taken not to bail from the bottom, on account of the sand and salt water, which are apt to accumulate there.

The time consumed in lowering, raising, and discharging the bailer of a 1000foot well is only about one minute for a round trip, and the whole operation is conducted by one man, who starts and stops the hoisting engine, controls the brake on the drum, and empties the bailer.