The Lytton Springs oil field, Caldwell County, Texas

The Lytton Springs oil field is located in the northern part of Caldwell County, Texas. It covers an area approximately 112 miles in diameter. The discovery well was brought in on March 13, 1925, at a depth of 1,350 feet and the following March there were approximately 325 producing wells in the field. Midway and Wilcox formations are exposed at the surface. The producing formation is an altered igneous rock, referred to as serpentine. This rock probably represents an old, buried, volcanic cone with a relief on its upper surface of over 600 feet. Production is obtained throughout this vertical range, the oil generally being found within 200 feet of the top of the serpentine. The exceptional feature of the field is the general lack of water in the producing formation, even in the edge wells 600 feet below the crest of the dome. The peak of production for this field, about 15,000 barrels per day, occurred four and one-half months after the completion of the discovery well. By the end of March, 1926, the production had settled to about 8,000 barrels per day. The oil is of high grade, having a gravity of about 38 degrees Baume and a value of about two dollars per barrel at the well (March, 1926).