Oil

Leading oil men assembled last week in Washington for public hearings on their industry by the Federal Oil Conservation Board. The Bureau of Mines gave out record-breaking "preliminary estimates" on the 1925 oil production: by the world, a billion, 60 million bbls., a 5.5% increase over 1924; by the U. S., 764 million bbls., a 1% increase over 1924 and 4.3% increase over record-breaking 1924.

Mark Requa of San Francisco predicted an oil famine in 1934 if new discoveries and improved methods do not come in. Walter C. Teagle of Standard Oil of New Jersey deprecated any great danger, pointed to new saving methods. Henry L. Doherty, gas expert, maintained oil was being burned wastefully, produced wastefully. His researches show that oil pools should be operated as units to maintain below ground the pressure of gasses dissolved in petroleum, making it more fluid. Much oil is now lost on subterranean sands whence it cannot be extracted because of its viscosity when released from gas pressure.