"The law of 1915 ... was drawn in response to a widespread demand among oil operators for some means of regulating the drilling of wells so that the operations of one concern would not damage the property of a neighbor by the infiltration of water. There was also a general realization of the fact that operations should if possible be so systematized as to win from the ground the greatest amount of oil at the least expense; underground water if uncontrolled would of course defeat such a purpose"--Introduction