The Big Moses gas well, have you heard of it?

In sept. 6th 1894 "a monster came to life in southeastern Tyler county in wv". While drilling a vertical well looking for oil they hit the "most productive gas well in the world producing more then 100 million cubic feet a day". They estimated it between 80 and 120 mil a day. At that time they did not have the technology to measure and or control those kind of pressures. At one point it was struck by lightning and caught fire. But due to the pressure shortly after it extinguished itself.

They said the gas came from the big injun sand at a depth of 1722 feet and a elevation mouth well depth at 750 feet above tide. Not sure what that means.

Can anyone explain this sand and is it something that can be drilled or because it was sand they were able to remove most of the gas?

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Permalink Reply by Jacob Fewx on July 15, 2014 at 6:21am
I have a copy of the drillers diary from this well. Very interesting. It took two years to cap it if I remember correctly. It caught fire more than once and the folks around there would come down and party around the fire.
Permalink Reply by jason irvine on July 15, 2014 at 6:45am
Do you know anything about this sand formation. Why did it hold so much gas
Permalink Reply by Mark Baker on July 15, 2014 at 2:55pm
The Big Injun Formation is a shallow, tightly packed sandstone formation that has been shown over the past 70 years to be rich with oil and gas. The geologic properties of this type of sandstone make it an excellent reservoir rock. The Big Injun Formation prevalent throughout the Mid Ohio Valley area and Central West Virginia, and highly productive even as far as south of Charleston, WV. Due to its shallow depth, many operators have tapped the reserves of these shallow gold mines, however the formations is still very productive in certain areas. Here's some interesting stuff on the Big Moses, the first article is great...

http://www.tylerstarnews.com/page/content.detail/id/519681/-Big-Mos...

http://genealogytrails.com/wva/tyler/bigmoses_gaswell.html
Permalink Reply by Mark Baker on July 15, 2014 at 2:57pm
By the way I know you'll read this while in the hospital before your surgery because your a die hard oil and gas vet so get well soon John Howard, CPL!!
Permalink Reply by jason irvine on July 16, 2014 at 11:54pm
Thank you for the info
Permalink Reply by Cathy J Zimmerman on July 18, 2014 at 4:07am

Great story!  Nice to read the history.  Thanks for sharing that.

Permalink Reply by DONNA M SELLERS on July 18, 2014 at 4:35am

I live not to far from the Big Mosses. Sistersville still has a O&G festival every fall in this little forgotten Million dollar once town...

Permalink Reply by Cathy J Zimmerman on July 18, 2014 at 5:14am

Hi Donna, when you get the festival dates can you post them or send to me?  I'd like to venture out somewhere different this fall.

Permalink Reply by jason irvine on July 18, 2014 at 5:43am
Donna. Please do. FYI. My camp is on 8 mile about a mile as the crow fly's. Indian creek is one way to my place. Usually come from reader. We must beclose
Permalink Reply by DONNA M SELLERS on July 18, 2014 at 9:06am

yes I have a summer home on Friendly landings and our home is on Friendly hill. The O&G festival is held usually the second week in Sept. When I get the official date I will post.....

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