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SIMON: FROM RIG FLOOR TO WASHINGTON

June 27, 1994

A U.S. lawmaker got an unusually sharp change of scenery in mid June. First, Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill.) had a closeup look at field operations June 13 when he toured Conoco Inc.'s projected deep wildcat in southern Illinois. Then he was among a congressional delegation that met 3 days later in Washington with President Clinton to request solutions to U.S. petroleum industry problems. He told visitors to the Conoco drillsite, "We are more energy dependent on other countries today than we were

A U.S. lawmaker got an unusually sharp change of scenery in mid June.

First, Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill.) had a closeup look at field operations June 13 when he toured Conoco Inc.'s projected deep wildcat in southern Illinois. Then he was among a congressional delegation that met 3 days later in Washington with President Clinton to request solutions to U.S. petroleum industry problems.

He told visitors to the Conoco drillsite, "We are more energy dependent on other countries today than we were in 1973 ... We have to turn that around."

Simon also said, "The well is a big risk. If it pays off for Conoco, it will pay off for southern Illinois in a big way.

Helmerich & Payne's Rig 79 spudded the well, 4-1 Einar Dyhrkopp, June 6 in 4-10s-9e, Gallatin County. Site is 3 miles south-southeast of junction oil field, 2/2 miles southwest of Shawneetown, Ill., and 45 miles southwest of Evansville, Ind.

Drilling to projected depth 16,500 ft would make the $5 million well Illinois' deepest hole.