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About Herald and news. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1942-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1961)
ffiMs&tter' (mid Alter I ake tmntf n) Big Gamble Taken For Black Gold By FLOYD L. WYNNE Four miles south of Lakeview, several hundred feet from the highway, . a 156-foot oil derrick splits the sky and 25 men labor in a venture that could change the entire future of this sheep and cattle country. Masterminding the operation are two men whose combined ex-i perience in the oil business span a 60-year period. The roar of the pumps com pletely muffle whatever noise may be emanating from a slowly turn ing bit that bites deeper and deeper into the volcanic earth, al readysome 7,850 feet below the SUrlace ami gnawing bii average of 100 feet per day into the bowels of the earth. It's a "raw wildcatter" in the parlance of George Dabney, field superintendent for the Humble Oil Company. Frankly admitting that it's a big gamble, Dabney is just as quick to admit that he doesn't have the slightest idea in the world whether it will or will not pay off. "Dry Hole" Dabney, as he terms himself, is a throwback to the days of the early oil wild callers, a man with the bulldog nui pose that will keep him drill jug until he's told to stop, but with that love of excitement that comes only in a world of sur prises., , His "partner" in this Lake Coun ty venture is much the opposite in many respects. Kay Anderson, I anoiher veteran of 30 years in the J oil fields, is smaller, quieter, but just as tenacious in his fight for u r i wiied asked about their working i arrancement, Anderson said, "It's i a case of a Wyoman and a Texan getting together in Ore- Son" . , j. Actually, Anderson Is "tool push- I cr" for the Sun Drilling Com- '. jjany which is drilling the well i 1 on a daily contract basis for the Humble Oil Company. Anderson pointed out that his ' firm is responsible or the drill- ing of the well, and that Dabney I is responsible for trie "hole." The two' work (together like aj i well coordinated pair and consult closely on all operations of the . well. Neither man knows how deep they'll be permitted to. go In search of the liquid gold, and ' neither knows what the prospects are of its being successful. . Regarding the odds of the gum He, Dabney pointed out that the, i national average of wildcat well: ' being successful is 25 to 1 against ' , them. Ho added that the national . average of all typos of wells drilled is down to about 0 to 1, ox- plaining that you'll drill nine dry holes while hitting one good one. ' As we toured the operation, that I NMi-ineh bit continued to bore i away al the bottom end of that , 7,850 foot length of pipe. ; Chemically impregnated wuter continues to flow down and around that bit, carrying drilling parti- , cles back up to the surface, where they are constantly being tested in a trailer, dubbed the labora tory" by Dabney. "Tlicy won't, everi let mo in there," he said, casting a big thumb toward the lighted trailer ' located just a few feet from Uie drilling operation. Located about 500 miles from i the nearest oil producing well, and : about 350 miles from the nearest : gas producing well, this opera tion represents about a $12,000 monthly payroll that is iiowing into the city of Lakeview. Neither man could pin down a definite cost of the operation, but Dabney indicated that a 10,000 foot well in this area would cost: about $250,000. The complete costl the machinery involved In the drilling is estimated at $800,000. Power for the operation is )ro vided hy five V-12 Caterpillar en- Jines which also throw on neat to keep the men more comfort- ble at the operation site. : As vou stand and watch that constantly turning bit, knowing j mat It Is biting nocper ano aceiiei into areas never before penetrat ed at this particular site, and lis- 1 tal to the gurgling sound of Hie murky grey water swirling i iround the base of the opera lion, you begin to sense some of lb "excitement" of the unexpect , d that-obviously fills the life of ' both Dalmev and Anderson. Dabney put it neatly when he tsiiiied out that "I've drilled "; wny a producing well, but when ! foil know that you can arm : H to 10.000 or 14,000 feet and - ill produce oil, It gets monoto- 0118." J There's talk of going at least 10.000 feet, perhaps deeper. "Jr. I foil decision of how deep to go m with Humble Oil company I nd it eimincers. Dabney and An- I to-wa will push the well as deep they want. i' ti it Hrf- f t IL 4 M ' it U A, 4 ' MljS,i. 616 i MllI tilt J n 1 BfeS&tte'tafts V -1 1 -'iyZ. THIS OIL DERRICK rises 156 feet into the sky about four miles south of Lakeview. Drilling operations continue and have reached a depth of 7,850 feet. The Sun Drilling Company is conducting the drilling on a contract basis for the Humble Oil Company. 'We can go down 25,000 feet if they want us to," Anderson stated. At the rate of progress now, it would lake about another 20 to 25 days to reach the 10,000-foot level. What happens if they hit it? Asked this question, Dabney said, "It wouldn't convert this area into a boom town," he admit ted, "because today, the expan sion of this type of thing is or derly and carefully done." However, behind life answer, one could sense, that should the well prove successful, the future des tiny of this! wide -open hi id of Jakes and livestock would undergo a big transformation. SS Tax Rates Are Still 3, Employers Told Social Security tax rales for old age benefits aro still three per cent, A. G. Erick'jon, district dir ector of the Internal Rovenue Serv ice, today reminded Oregon em ployers. Frlckson said he was Issuing this reminder in " response to a large number of calls he has re ceived about an insert mulled with the Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return, Form 041. "The insert culled attention to an increase in the federal unem ployment tux from three per cent to 3.1 per cent applicable to wuges paid on and after Jan. 1 lWil," Erickson said. He explained that this particu lur tax (FUTA) Is paid entirely by the employer and reported to the Internal Revenue Service on Form 040. Employer's Annual Fed eral Unemployment Tax Return. Employers of four or more In dividuals on at least one day of each of 20 weeks are those liable for the tax. Erickson said the Social Secur ity tux remains (lie same, three i ff L.:!' y VI 1?-, 1 - J V' U . K f t'.:ti3 nit; T0A ? f -iwfSiis-'Jf;' tv, fJ tw faa-v "w. 'ISll ACTUAL DRILLING OPERATIONS are shown here at the base of the towering oil drilling derrick. In fore ground is the drilling core that drops to a depth of 7,850 feet into the earth. The ten and five-eighths inch drill bit can work for about 18 hours before it must be re placed. In background, center, is George Dabney, field superintendent for Humble Oil, consulting with one of the drillers. Senate Confirms Lemon For State Commission SALEM (AD The Oregon Sen ate confirmed 24-.1 Fridi'y the ap pointment of E. R. Lemon to the slate Scholarship Commission. Votes against confirmation were cast by three Democrats R. F. Chapman, Coos Bay; William A. Grenfcll Jr., Portland; and Boyd Ovcrhulsc, Madras. The matter has been conlrover- per cent withheld from the em- ;s,iaI 'r ,.mun' "T!l's ,bt'"se o( pioyo s wages, nnu inrce per cent paid by the employer, or a total of six per cent. These rales apply lo the fust $4,800 of wages. lie said these taxes are report cd quarterly on Form 941. He also said the social security rate for tho self-employed re mains at four and one-half per cent. i Fire Kills Five Tots GrenfeU's opposition to , Lemon. The Senate Interim Committee on Executive Appointments first voted against confirmation, and ADC Chiefs Take Review PHOENIX, AiU. (AP - About 70 high ranking officers of the Air Defense Command are conduct ing a detailed review of the na tion's $a billion defense setup dur ing a three-day meeting here. The system Is expected lo he in r..ll : .1.:.. I i ucci ineu u i suns Mum uvc . .. . . . , . r. i . . . i a u oi the ADC headquarters at Co - tots 3 months to 4 years old . , , , j . TEXAHKANA. Tex. (AP) - Thursday night. The victims all were grandchil dren of Mr. and Mrs, Willie San ders, a Negro couple with whom three daughters made their home. One of Die survivors, Benny Earl Sanders, 9, said one of the orado Springs, Colo., told a news conference. It includes the latest in elec tronic eyes and ears to warn of children i-SiouU-d as the blaze asj,he Bo"-' missile, he said. enemy attack. 00 squadrons of late model lets from Hie Airlfirm Force and National Guard, andispile Grenlells objections then reversed itself. Grenfell made a half - hour speech Friday in which he said lcmon, a retired dean at Oregon Slale College, was "a very arro gant man, autocratic, and has a hard-nosed attitude A half-dozen senators, led by Sen. Monroe Swcctland, D-Mil wnukie, cluiirnan of the Senate r.uucation committee, vigorously defended Lemon. Sweetlnnd said l.cmon had been the determining factor in making the commission, created by the 1959 legislature, a success. The commission has considered schol arship applications for the state university and colleges from 3,400 applicants, hut had funds for onlv 770 of them, Sweetlnnd said. Dean Lemon. is positive, firm and a tough official of our stale." Sweetlnnd said. "He brings a life. time of experience to the com mission. Sen. Anthony Yturri, Ontario, Senate Republican leader, said 'Grenfell has submitted to evi dence that Dean Lemon is arro gant. Dean Lemon is a patient, reasonable and understanding per son with great depth." Yturri said Grenfell was basing his position on rumor and hear say. The Senate Education Commit tee had voted 41 Thursday to con- lemon's appointment, de- ''"'yiiMj,.- , tCn n i if if inrnir' niimir- itii'fil tliWM.WM THESE TWO MEN join forces in the surging drive into the depths of the earth near Lakeview in the quest for oil. Left is Ray Anderson, "tool pusher" for Sun Drilling Company which does the drilling on a contract basis, and at" right is George Dabney, field superintendent for Humble Oil Company, the firm financing the exploration. Lights Won't Go Right For Even City Policeman An officer working the police: desk" becomes accustomed to a variety of complaints, but Officer Fred Olin was taken abacK Fri day morning when a woman! called to say she couldn t mane all the lights on Main Street. "Think nothing of it, Olin aa- On The Record BIRTHS BOYS REED Born to Mr. and Mrs. Oilfnrri John Reed Jr. Jan. 26 in Klamath Val ley Hospital, a boy weighing 7 lbs-. 7 ozs ANDERSON ftorn to Mr. and Mrs. Jo seph W. Anderson Jan. 25 In Klamath Valley Hospital, a boy weighing 6 lbs., CAMPBELL Born to Mr. and Mrs.i Glen Campbell Jan. 25 In Kldmalh Val-i ley Hospital, a boy weighing 8 lbs., 47j ozs. GIRLS MADDOX Bom to Mr. and Mrs' George Maddox Jan. 26 In Klamath Val ley Hospital, a girl weighing 6 lbs., it ozs.1 KEELER Born to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Keeler Jan. 25 In Klamath Valley Hos pital, a girl weighing 7 Ihs., 5Vi ozs. VOGEL Born to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Vogel Jan. 25 In Klamath Valley Hospi tal, a girl weighing 6 lbs., 9Vs ozs. Boys 36 Girls 39 Would Take U.S. Post SALT LAKE CITY (API-Dr. Sterling M. McMurrin, academic vice president of the University of Utah, said Thursday ne win accept the post of U.S. commis sioner of education if it is offered to him. Dr. McMurrin said he has been recommended for the commis sioner's post by Welfare Secre tary Abraham Ribicoff. McMur rin returned to Salt Lake City Thursday night after a confer ence with Ribicoff in Washington, D.C. He said he hopes to get a leave of absence from the university if President Kennedy names him to the post. McMurrin, 47, was a philosophy professor before moving into ad ministrative work at Utah. vised. 'Tve never made them all yet." In more serious business Fri day morning, officers investigat- , ed a traffic accident at Mitchell ' and Radcliffe streets and cited Mis. Billy Joe Hand, 26, 2614 Radcliffe Street, for failure to yield right of way to a vehicle. She was cited after her car col lided with a pickup truck driven by William Fremont Nendel, 26, 2507 Wantland Street. Mrs. Hand . received a cut lip. Another collision occurred Thurs day afternoon at the coiner of Eleventh and Walnut streets, when cars driven by James E. Lawrie, 16, 1111 Washburn Way, and James N. Hendricks, 29, Marys- ville, Calif., came together at the intersection. There were no inju ries or citations. Other police reports: Mrs. Norman Doty, 1905 Arthur Street, said the left rear window of her car and the radio antenna were broken Wednesday night In the parking lot behind the Holi day Bowl. MOVING? CR TU 2-522 NORTH AMERICAN VAN LINES discovered: "I'm on (ire the quilt is burning! Firemen said the bedding some how come In contact with an open healer in a room where six chil dren had been put lo bed. Atkinson, the ranking olfiier among the 24 generals attending, said it will cost t billion a year lo operate. The sessions, which end Satur day, are closed (o newsmen. People Read SPOT ADS you are ;MO PAGE G-A . HEKALB ANH NEWS, Klamath Falls, Ore. Sunday, January 29, 1061 i mQmJuTlu ctFi 1 i f teff-e v m. mm m i 1 m mam mt vn. -. ' ...: . ,---i.rT.-nm.l-i .rr .-1 imrnriirn mi ini nt nun ' n t II , Xl3u m PRESCRIPTION DRUG TOgES3JI 1 I Vej5U S 11 till & nJgl "SSvx-SV. ' n a v III SWcfescass VHY PAY 1 1 -C5C -0-r jyNrT 'SKS? ' MORE7 II i JE dam POINT Mm.QZ- -v .V-v 11 i PENS IW III T w imCiM , MnJ -ffl III IBS! 1 Sr w xsf 9 ram..- MM ma mmi c mv-wum uv m m 'M SZS ffV V BACKING WELDED RIGHT ON! nWtCS'SI M 1 w. NO RUG PAD NEEDED! i.AAniMiiR! Wmi mA four ; i in mm N0WJUST xzs i ''H!iu, m
