duster

n. a dry, non-producing oil-prospecting hole. Subjects: English, Petroleum, Jargon

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Citations: 1881 The Democrat (Olean, N.Y.) (Aug. 4) “Allegany Field” p. 1: Wells, rigs, drilling and dusters all appear in greater force than they did in the proceeding [sic] month. The latter class however are not in quite as strong force as the public outside of this field evidently anticipated. Four so called dusters are paying producers, two of the same being wells of a superior grade, while the two remaining ones will pay a handsome interest on the investment and possibly enable the investort [sic] to lay by something against the proverbial rainy day besides. That this field has been presistantly [sic] discriminated against and the character of its wells purposely misrepresented by the cowardice or jealously of outside capital, either or both, cannot be denied. 1906 Times-Democrat (Lima, Ohio) (Sept. 10) “Running River of Oil Fills Ohio Ditches” p. 3: The Ohio Oil company has drilled in a duster in a test on the M. Colter farm, section 35. 1954 Great bend Daily Tribune (Kan.) (June 20) “Operators End Week With 88 Completions from as Many Starts” p. 2: Stafford county had one pool start, one wildcat duster, a pool completion and a duster in a pool start. 1982 Midge Richards Sunday Oklahoman (June 13) “Legendary Wildcatters Turned Oil Fever Into Fortunes”: These are some of the legendary wildcatters who drilled many a duster and brought in countless great gushers during Oklahoma’s first historic oil boom. 2005 Matt Jenkins The Vail Trail (Colo.) (Jan. 13) “The BLM wields fork and spatula over the West’s wildlands”: El Paso Corp. drilled another dry hole—which the industry calls a “duster”—just 200 feet from the six-year old Amoco hole.

Posted 14 Jan 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend