The matter of opening up new fields in regions where there have been no previous wells to serve as a guide presents a very different phase of speculative enterprise. The pioneer producer must make a very substantial financial investment for roads and equipment. He must have the courage and grit to continue his efforts, even though he at the outset obtains negative and unsatisfactory results; sometimes for a period of years. Nor do his troubles end when he has made an important discovery, for then land hitherto almost valueless becomes much sought after by competitors, and legal complications involving titles and taxes are not slow to develop. If he has been fortunate enough to open up a real oil-field his exploration work must be of sufficiently broad scope to determine the location of the principal belt of favourable territory, the approximate depth and character of the oil bearing formations, and the possibilities of permanence in the wells themselves. The quality of the crude petroleum “mined” may be less important than the quantity. Though it is obvious that the obstacles that confront the pioneer operator are not insurmountable, the conditions described show why the history of oil discovery is bestrewn with failures. This has been particularly true of the Latin American fields of Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina and Costa Rica, and of many Asiatic attempts. Even in the great gusher field of Mexico the first tests were drilled in 1869, yet it was not until 1902 that any important production indicative of the great future of that region resulted. More than 50 wells drilled in a space of 33 years were failures. It is, therefore, apparent that detailed, scientific information on which to proceed is almost as important in the initial steps as strong financial backing, and efficient organization. The methods used in the early days of the Appalachian fields of Pennsylvania depended absolutely on “fool’s luck” and steadfast optimism. As this field extended down into West Virginia and Kentucky, and over into Ohio, the ever-increasing number of failures caused the operators to cast about for some sort of a working formula in choosing locations. From the crude efforts of these early investigators the fundamentals of modern oil-geology were developed. The old-fashioned operators’ creed contained this axiom: “If you wild-cat enough in an oil field, you will make money in the long run.” But this no longer is a safe working motto. The steadily increased cost of drilling has made it of paramount importance to make careful selection beforehand. The modern oil operator realizes that Mother Earth provides many clues and hints which he cannot afford to disregard. The oil geologist interprets the surface indications and such other information relating to a given area as is available; and is ever on guard against the over-optimism of the promoter. CHAPTER VII DRILLING THE OIL WELL