Oil well shooting is a method of increasing production of an oil well by removing obstructions to drilling, straightening crooked holes, preventing water penetration, and/or increaseing the flow of oil. [1] Prior to 1910, a shell, made of dynamite and a sheet metal casing were lowered into a well and detonated by a blasting cap with a fuse.[2] By 1918, the practice had evolved to use blasting gelatin, a mixture of nitroglycerin, guncotton and wood pulp.[2]
Notable professionals
edit- Merle Haggard worked as an oil well shooter[3]
- Francis "Tug" Nadeau Irving
Footnotes
edit- ^ Oil Bulletin. 1922. pp. 404–407.
- ^ a b Kerwin, M. J. (1918). "Methods and Reasons for Oil Well Shooting". Summary of Operations; Annual Report of the State Oil and Gas Supervisor. California Division of Oil and Gas, California Division of Mines: 82.
- ^ Aronowitz, Alfred G. 1968, p. 12.