Well no. 160RA of Moreni belonging to the "Romano-Americana" company has met at 1463 meters an intermediary stratum of gas of Meotic formation which caused a sudden and very violent eruption while the boring equipment was about to be taken out on May, 28,1929. The explosion was immediately followed by a fire. Surface and underground attempts were made to estinguish it.
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Three tunnels have been bored to reach the shaft of the well at some depth below the surface : the first one was 120 meters long and reached the shaft at 30 metrers from the surface. A second tunnel was made but 50 meters distance when it had to be abandoned on account of gases. The third one was bored over a distance of 265 meters and reached the shaft at 58 meters below surface. Technical precautions taken reduced the percentage of gases penetrating in the tunnel to 5% makeing it entirely harmless. A concrete chamber built round the shaft made possible the installation of perforating, collecting and suppressing equipment.
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A very powerful eruption of gas occurred on May, 27-th, 1930, at well no.160RA, Moreni causing a violent explosion in the tunnel constructed for deviating and collecting the gases by drilling a hole in the well’s casing. Although the apparatus was erected under good conditions and the casings of 18”, 14” and 10” were perforated while water and barita were being pumped, the tunnel suddenly became flooded with gas and took fire. Owing to this tunnel fire, the hight of the flame at the top of the well decreased considerably.
Later on, the tunnel fire was estinguished and remainded only the fire at the top of the well. In spite of the fact that a year has elapsed since the well took fire, it has been impossible to estinguish it in spite of the strenuous attempts which were made for this purpose.