The Murphy field
651 wells — 0.1% of the Kansas register.
What stands out in the Murphy field
The operator named on most of these records is L. C. Smitherman, on 45 of them (6.9%), ahead of Shallow Gas Expl (20) and Parker O H (17). The oldest well here was completed in 1914 and the most recent in 2015, and the deepest reaches 4019 feet — Swaim 1, drilled in 1955.
| Measurement | Median | 90th percentile | Kansas median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total depth | 3460 ft | 3578 ft | 2831 ft — deeper here |
What happened to these wells — in the Murphy field
318 of the 651 wells in the Murphy field are classed as plugged and abandoned. 14 were plugged at the State’s expense because no responsible party could be found, and 33 sit on the register as inactive — neither producing nor plugged.
⚠️ Two fields in this register disagree, and we show both rather than pick one: across Kansas, 245,220 wells are classed as plugged but 92,867 of them carry no plugging date, while 26,002 wells carry a date under another class. Here, 196 of these wells have a date on file. What each class means.
Producing formations
| Formation | Wells | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Neva | 12 | 1.8% |
| Cleveland | 11 | 1.7% |
| Severy | 6 | 0.9% |
| Hoover | 6 | 0.9% |
| Simpson | 6 | 0.9% |
| Arbuckle | 3 | 0.5% |
| Mississippi | 2 | 0.3% |
| Neva Limestone Member | 1 | 0.2% |
| Mississippian | 1 | 0.2% |
| Neva Limestone | 1 | 0.2% |
The formation is recorded on only 21 % of Kansas wells, so this table describes the minority that carry one.
Where the field lies
Who operates there
| Operator | Wells | Share |
|---|---|---|
| L. C. Smitherman | 45 | 6.9% |
| Shallow Gas Expl | 20 | 3.1% |
| Parker O H | 17 | 2.6% |
| Watson Petroleum, INC | 14 | 2.2% |
| Jenkins & Broyles Prod | 13 | 2.0% |
| A. C. Lawson | 13 | 2.0% |
| Frank Phelps | 11 | 1.7% |
| Martin & Cash | 11 | 1.7% |
| Eufaula Enterprises | 10 | 1.5% |
| Carl Hines | 10 | 1.5% |
| Arkansas River Gas | 10 | 1.5% |
| Smitherman L C | 10 | 1.5% |
| Hill & Hill | 9 | 1.4% |
| Mcneish and Gralapp | 8 | 1.2% |
An old well on land in Kansas?
14 wells in Kansas were plugged at the State’s expense, out of 651 on the register — the sign that an operator was gone. If you find a well on your land, report it and do not tidy it up: knocking over casing can make you the responsible party. This site reads the register; it does not plug wells. Tell us where and we pass the request to Kansas operators and consultants.
We recommend nobody and we are nobody's agent. We have no arrangement with any firm today — we are collecting these requests in order to go and find them. What we do with this.
The wells
| Lease and well | Operator | Field | Depth (ft) | Year | Plugged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark 5 API 15-191-21296 | Mark Ganer Oil and Gas | Murphy | 908 | 1981 | State |
| Mccorgary 'a' 3 API 15-191-11622 | L. C. Smitherman | Murphy | 3165 | 1954 | State |
| Airport 9-a API 15-191-22321 | Great Basins Pet | Murphy | 900 | 1998 | State |
| Airport 3-a API 15-191-22307 | Great Basin Petroleum, INC | Murphy | 900 | 1997 | State |
| Airport 4-a API 15-191-22308 | Great Basin Petroleum, INC | Murphy | 900 | 1997 | State |
| Airport 5-a API 15-191-22309 | Great Basins Pet | Murphy | 900 | 1997 | State |
| Airport 7-a API 15-191-22312 | Great Basins Pet | Murphy | 900 | 1997 | State |
| Airport 8-a API 15-191-22313 | Great Basins Pet | Murphy | 900 | 1997 | State |
| Airport 'beecher' 1 API 15-191-22259 | Shallow Gas Exploration | Murphy | 865 | 1995 | State |
| Airport 'harold' 1-a API 15-191-22152 | Harold Production | Murphy | 890 | 1990 | State |
| Clark 'a' 1 API 15-191-21762 | Buccaneer Pet | Murphy | 3612 | 1984 | State |
| Airport 1-jb API 15-191-21254 | Jenkins & Broyles Prod | Murphy | 900 | 1981 | State |
| Airport 1 API 15-191-21176 | Jenkins and Broyles Production | Murphy | 900 | 1980 | State |
| Norris 1-18 API 15-191-20968 | Chase Exploration Corp | Murphy | 925 | 1979 | State |
| Warner 'a' 1 API 15-035-24628 | Aas Oil Co., INC | Murphy | 3499 | 2015 | — |
| Mclaughlin D-1 API 15-191-22756 | Drake Exploration, LLC | Murphy | 3211 | 2014 | — |
| Warren Sons 1a API 15-035-24356 | Cec Operations LLC | Murphy | 3568 | 2011 | — |
| Warren Sons 1 Tomtom API 15-035-24323 | Cec Operations LLC | Murphy | 3530 | 2009 | — |
| Warner 3 API 15-035-24331 | Cec Operations LLC | Murphy | 3510 | 2009 | — |
| Weir 1-a API 15-035-24333 | Dawson-markwell Exploration CO | Murphy | 3515 | 2009 | — |
| Weir 2-a API 15-035-20078-0001 | Dawson-markwell Exploration CO | Murphy | 3150 | 2009 | — |
| Musson 1-a API 15-035-24296 | Cec Operations LLC | Murphy | 3851 | 2008 | — |
| West Mclaughlin 1 API 15-035-24304 | Cec Operations LLC | Murphy | 3508 | 2008 | — |
| Stalnaker-sundance 11 API 15-191-22414 | Cyclone Petroleum, Incorporated | Murphy | 2890 | 2004 | — |
| Setterstrom 1 API 15-191-20616-0001 | Drake Exploration | Murphy | 2302 | 2004 | — |
| Swaim-sundance 7 API 15-035-24169 | Cyclone Petroleum, Incorporated | Murphy | 3825 | 2002 | — |
| Sundance - Collinson 9 API 15-035-24170 | Cyclone Petroleum, INC | Murphy | 2300 | 2002 | — |
| Horton 2 API 15-191-22366 | Jaed Production Co., INC | Murphy | 3655 | 2001 | — |
| Strother-sundance 3 API 15-191-22357 | — | Murphy | 3250 | 2001 | — |
| Strother-sundance 4 API 15-191-22359 | — | Murphy | 3250 | 2001 | — |
| Barton-sundance 2 API 15-191-22353 | Cyclone Petroleum | Murphy | 3200 | 2000 | — |
| Stalnaker 4 API 15-191-22334 | — | Murphy | 1627 | 1999 | — |
| Dean 'b' 8 API 15-191-19001-0001 | Endeavor Energy Resources, LP | Murphy | 2240 | 1999 | — |
| Mills 1 API 15-191-20453-0002 | Don Jenkins | Murphy | 2250 | 1999 | — |
| Schmidt 'a' 3 API 15-191-22298 | Shallow Gas Expl | Murphy | 900 | 1998 | — |
| Anderson-wood 9 API 15-191-22314 | Cyclone Pet | Murphy | 1610 | 1998 | — |
| Forbeck 1 API 15-191-21073-0001 | Jaed Production Co. INC | Murphy | 3776 | 1998 | — |
| Forbeck 1 API 15-191-21073-0002 | Jaed Production Co. INC | Murphy | 3240 | 1998 | — |
| Wentworth 'a' 4 API 15-191-22267 | Shallow Gas Exploration | Murphy | 900 | 1997 | — |
| Rogers 8-a API 15-191-22290 | Shallow Gas Expl | Murphy | 900 | 1997 | — |
| Schmidt 'a' 4 API 15-191-22299 | Shallow Gas Expl | Murphy | 900 | 1997 | — |
| Airport 6-a API 15-191-22310 | Great Basins Pet | Murphy | 900 | 1997 | — |
| Mclaughlin 'a' 2 API 15-191-22272 | Shallow Gas Expl | Murphy | 900 | 1996 | — |
| Mclaughlin 'a' 1 API 15-191-22273 | Shallow Gas Expl | Murphy | 900 | 1996 | — |
| Horton 3-a API 15-191-01030 | Shallow Gas Expl | Murphy | 3520 | 1996 | — |
| Wentworth 3 API 15-191-22262 | Shallow Gas Expl | Murphy | 900 | 1996 | — |
| Rogers 3-a API 15-191-22269 | Shallow Gas Expl | Murphy | 900 | 1996 | — |
| Rogers 1-a API 15-191-22270 | Shallow Gas Expl | Murphy | 900 | 1996 | — |
| Rogers 7-a API 15-191-22285 | Shallow Gas Expl | Murphy | 900 | 1996 | — |
| Horton Eh-1 API 15-191-22291 | Jaed Production Co. INC | Murphy | 3724 | 1996 | — |
| Horton 3-a API 15-191-01030-0001 | Shallow Gas Exploration | Murphy | 3520 | 1996 | — |
| Wentworth 1 API 15-191-22260 | Shallow Gas Expl | Murphy | 898 | 1995 | — |
| Horton 'a' 1 API 15-191-22263 | Shallow Gas Expl | Murphy | 900 | 1995 | — |
| Wall 1 API 15-035-24050 | Three Bros Energy | Murphy | 3800 | 1994 | — |
| Vickery 2 API 15-035-23974 | New Century Pet | Murphy | 900 | 1992 | — |
| Fair 2 API 15-191-22078 | Fairco Oil & Gas INC | Murphy | 0 | 1989 | — |
| Ella Horton 2 API 15-191-22079 | Lawson A C | Murphy | 0 | 1989 | — |
| Ballagh 'a' 1 API 15-191-22097 | Harold Prod | Murphy | 856 | 1989 | — |
| Ballagh 'a' 2 API 15-191-22099 | Harold Prod | Murphy | 895 | 1989 | — |
| Ballagh 'a' 3 API 15-191-22100 | Harold Prod | Murphy | 874 | 1989 | — |
| Ballagh 'a' 4 API 15-191-22101 | Harold Prod | Murphy | 899 | 1989 | — |
| Ballagh 'a' 5 API 15-191-22102 | Harold Prod | Murphy | 899 | 1989 | — |
| Ballagh 'a' 6 API 15-191-22103 | Harold Prod | Murphy | 867 | 1989 | — |
| Ballagh 'a' 7 API 15-191-22104 | Harold Prod | Murphy | 888 | 1989 | — |
| Vickery 1-ncp API 15-035-20767-0001 | Oil Ventures | Murphy | 3545 | 1988 | — |
| Bowman 5 API 15-191-22033 | Oil Ventures LTD | Murphy | 966 | 1987 | — |
| Smith 1-a API 15-191-21840-0001 | Oil Ventures LTD | Murphy | 3600 | 1987 | — |
| Smith 2-1 API 15-191-21841-0001 | Oil Ventures LTD | Murphy | 3612 | 1987 | — |
| Schmidt 2 API 15-191-21931 | Kan-cal Ent | Murphy | 0 | 1986 | — |
| Swaim 1 API 15-035-23624 | Pendulum Pet | Murphy | 3833 | 1986 | — |
| Swaim 'b' 1 API 15-035-23712 | Pendulum Petroleum, INC | Murphy | 790 | 1986 | — |
| Smith 1-12 API 15-191-21882 | Oil Ventures LTD | Murphy | 1600 | 1986 | — |
| Collinson-flag 1 API 15-191-21706 | Flag Energy | Murphy | 0 | 1985 | — |
| Collinson-flag 2 API 15-191-21719 | Flag Energy | Murphy | 0 | 1985 | — |
| Boylan-harrison 5 API 15-035-23654 | Charles M Day | Murphy | 3568 | 1985 | — |
| Smith 'a' 1 API 15-191-21840 | Buccaneer Pet | Murphy | 3600 | 1985 | — |
| Smith 'a' 2 API 15-191-21841 | Buccaneer Petroleum INC | Murphy | 3612 | 1985 | — |
| Keefe 4 API 15-191-21704 | Kiska Oil Corp | Murphy | 0 | 1984 | — |
| Forbeck 2 API 15-191-21705 | Kiska Oil CO | Murphy | 2880 | 1984 | — |
| Mcclaskey 4 API 15-191-21732 | Watson Petroleum, INC | Murphy | 3375 | 1984 | — |
| Mcclaskey 2 API 15-191-21559 | Watson Petroleum, INC | Murphy | 3345 | 1983 | — |
| Schmidt 'a' 1 API 15-191-21565 | Kan-cal Enterprises | Murphy | 2510 | 1983 | — |
| White 16-1 API 15-191-21609 | Rainbow Exploration, INC | Murphy | 3364 | 1983 | — |
| Merle Peters 1 API 15-035-23105 | Cavco Oil | Murphy | 3400 | 1982 | — |
| Lawson Gas Unit 1 API 15-191-21094 | A. C. Lawson | Murphy | 875 | 1982 | — |
| Heuszel 8 API 15-191-21273 | Watson Petroleum, INC | Murphy | 2679 | 1982 | — |
| Heuszel 9 API 15-191-21277 | Watson Petroleum, INC | Murphy | 2678 | 1982 | — |
| Richards 1 API 15-035-22578 | Hellar Drlg | Murphy | 812 | 1981 | — |
| K. Collinson 1 API 15-191-21083 | Fowler Hugh | Murphy | 900 | 1981 | — |
| K. Collinson 1 API 15-191-21190 | Explorer Energy | Murphy | 1200 | 1981 | — |
| K. Collinson 2 API 15-191-21191 | Explorer Energy | Murphy | 1200 | 1981 | — |
| Clark 1 API 15-191-21203 | Ganer Mark O&g | Murphy | 850 | 1981 | — |
| Clark 3 API 15-191-21263 | Mark Ganer Oil and Gas | Murphy | 894 | 1981 | — |
| Clark 4 API 15-191-21264 | Mark Ganer Oil and Gas | Murphy | 890 | 1981 | — |
| Mcclaskey 1 API 15-191-21330 | Watson Petroleum, INC | Murphy | 2703 | 1981 | — |
| Heuszel 10-twin API 15-191-21338 | Watson Petroleum, INC | Murphy | 2695 | 1981 | — |
| Collinson 'b' 1 API 15-191-20912 | Jenkins & Broyles | Murphy | 0 | 1980 | — |
| Ballagh 1 API 15-191-20983 | Harman Drlg CO | Murphy | 1600 | 1980 | — |
| Collinson 'a' 2 API 15-035-22446 | Jenkins and Broyles Production CO | Murphy | 825 | 1980 | — |
| Wall 1 API 15-035-22447 | Jenkins & Broyles Prod | Murphy | 800 | 1980 | — |
| Wall 2 API 15-035-22448 | Jenkins & Broyles Prod | Murphy | 800 | 1980 | — |
| Kahle 1 API 15-035-22460 | Petgo INC | Murphy | 800 | 1980 | — |
| Vickery 1 API 15-035-22656 | Jenkins & Sons Prod | Murphy | 830 | 1980 | — |
| Vickery 1 API 15-035-22657 | Jenkins & Sons Prod | Murphy | 835 | 1980 | — |
| Smith 1 API 15-191-20908 | Jenkins & Broyles Prod | Murphy | 850 | 1980 | — |
| Smith 2 API 15-191-20909 | Jenkins & Broyles Prod | Murphy | 1600 | 1980 | — |
| Forbeck 'a' 1 API 15-191-20911 | Jenkins & Broyles Prod | Murphy | 850 | 1980 | — |
| Delta Ballagh 1 API 15-191-20951 | Harman Drlg | Murphy | 1035 | 1980 | — |
| Delta Mcirvin 2 API 15-191-20952 | Harman Drlg | Murphy | 1600 | 1980 | — |
| Delta Mcirvin 3 API 15-191-20953 | Harman Drlg | Murphy | 1228 | 1980 | — |
| Mcclaskey 1-17 API 15-191-21012 | Chase Exploration Corp | Murphy | 980 | 1980 | — |
| Heuszel 4 API 15-191-21056 | Watson Petroleum, INC | Murphy | 3500 | 1980 | — |
| Collinson 'a' 2 API 15-191-21137 | Fowler Hugh | Murphy | 1200 | 1980 | — |
| Higbee 1 API 15-191-21175 | Jenkins & Broyles Prod | Murphy | 900 | 1980 | — |
| Smith 'b' 1 API 15-191-21177 | Jenkins & Broyles Prod | Murphy | 900 | 1980 | — |
| Barton 1 API 15-191-21178 | Jenkins & Broyles Prod | Murphy | 900 | 1980 | — |
| Peters 2 API 15-035-19137-0001 | Marrs & Somers | Murphy | 3511 | 1980 | — |
| Peters 1 API 15-035-21735-0001 | Marrs & Somers | Murphy | 3920 | 1980 | — |
| Heuszel 3 API 15-191-20904 | Watson Petr | Murphy | 3546 | 1979 | — |
| Ballagh 2 API 15-191-20920 | Lawson A C | Murphy | 910 | 1979 | — |
| Mcirvin 1 API 15-191-20984 | Harman Drlg CO | Murphy | 1600 | 1979 | — |
| Messenger 1-8 API 15-191-20872 | Chase Exploration Corp | Murphy | 975 | 1979 | — |
| Mclaughlin-beta 1 API 15-191-20891 | Harman Drilling Co., INC | Murphy | 1145 | 1979 | — |
| Mclaughlin-beta 2 API 15-191-20892 | Harman Drilling Co., INC | Murphy | 1000 | 1979 | — |
| Heuszel 2 API 15-191-20903 | Watson Petroleum, INC | Murphy | 3574 | 1979 | — |
| Mclaughlin 3 API 15-191-20944 | Reserve Exploration | Murphy | 850 | 1979 | — |
| Mclaughlin 4 API 15-191-20945 | Reserve Exploration | Murphy | 809 | 1979 | — |
| Stalnaker 2 API 15-191-20957 | Herndon Drilling CO | Murphy | 2235 | 1979 | — |
| Mcirvin 2 API 15-191-20985 | Harman Drilling CO | Murphy | 1600 | 1979 | — |
| Malone 1 API 15-035-21249 | Kiska Oil Company | Murphy | 2764 | 1978 | — |
| Boylan-harrison 3 API 15-035-21988 | Herndon Oil and Gas CO | Murphy | 2719 | 1978 | — |
| Mills 1 API 15-191-20453-0001 | Jenkins and Broyles Production | Murphy | 2250 | 1978 | — |
| Boylan-harrison 3 API 15-035-01761 | Hill & Hill Truck Line | Murphy | 3812 | 1977 | — |
| Weir 1 API 15-035-21683 | Stelbar Oil Corp., INC | Murphy | 3110 | 1977 | — |
| Collinson Twin 1 API 15-191-20627 | Jenkins & Sons Prod | Murphy | 2800 | 1977 | — |
| Sherwood 1 API 15-191-20660 | Jenkins & Broyles Prod | Murphy | 3511 | 1977 | — |
| Boylan-harrison 3 API 15-035-01761-0001 | Day Charles M | Murphy | 3812 | 1977 | — |
| Warner 2 API 15-035-21021 | Crest Petroleum, INC | Murphy | 3465 | 1976 | — |
| Tom Mcclaskey 2 API 15-191-20483 | Bravo Operating | Murphy | 3525 | 1976 | — |
| Altman 1 API 15-191-20583 | Carr Explorations | Murphy | 2166 | 1976 | — |
| Wentworth 3 API 15-191-10007-0001 | White & Ellis Drlg | Murphy | 3684 | 1976 | — |
| Collinson 5 API 15-035-20220-0001 | — | Murphy | 2700 | 1976 | — |
| Vickery 1 API 15-035-20767 | Bravo Operations, INC | Murphy | 3545 | 1975 | — |
| Boller 2 API 15-035-01939-0001 | Hill & Hill | Murphy | 1800 | 1975 | — |
| Warren 1 Twin API 15-035-20655 | Eufaula Enterprises, INC | Murphy | 2198 | 1974 | — |
| Mccorgary 1 API 15-191-20398 | Eufaula Enterprises | Murphy | 2769 | 1974 | — |
| Clark 1 API 15-191-20404 | Eufaula Enterprises | Murphy | 2225 | 1974 | — |
| Mccorgary 3 API 15-191-20420 | Eufaula Enterprises | Murphy | 850 | 1974 | — |
| Thomas 1 API 15-191-20421 | Eufaula Enterprises | Murphy | 854 | 1974 | — |
| Anderson-wood 5 API 15-191-20422 | A. C. Lawson | Murphy | 2820 | 1974 | — |
Fields of a comparable size
- Louisburg 753
- Cooper 737
- Bronson-xenia 733
- Wherry 701
- Gardner 697
- Wil 694
- Quincy 687
- Morel 658
- Seeley-wick 647
- Aetna Gas Area 642
- Davis-bronson 642
- Blue Mound 636
- Bloomer 622
- Winterschied 588
- Victory 579
Neighbours by the number of wells, not a ranking: the list slides with the field, so every one of the 109 field pages is reachable from the others. All of them.