The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-07-09
CALGARY OIL FIELD
A LITTLE HISTORY
EVIDENCE OF OIL KNOWN FOR
MANY YEARS-THE
DlscovERER.
mining and Engineering world)

(Mining ana Engineering WOfld)
The presence Of oil in the underly-
ing strata Of the country south OF
Calgary has been known for many
years. Wells sunk quarter Of a CEN
fury ago, for the purpose Of obtaining
water tapped seepages of oil and the
water was so contaminated with Pc
troleum that the. horses and cattle re-
fused to drink it. In the early days 1t
was known as oil gum or oil rock, con-
tanning marked indications Of oil, and
this substance burned freely and
brightly when placed in fire.
For many years much interest has
attached to that part Of the country
south Of Calgary, because 81 an anti
cline formed by fault or break in the
upheaved strata which brings the oil
(bearing strata close to the surface. II
lis on this anticline that the Discovery
well Is located.
| EARLY Prospecting.
The first serious prospecting for oil
was undertaken by w. S. Heron in
quiet way in 1904. Calgary is deeply
indebted to Mr.. Heron. as well as
tother pioneers, who spent not only
their time but considerable money in
proving that their confidence in this
discovery Of oil was well placed. Mr..
Heron enjoys the distinction of hav-
ing located the Discovery well. In
1904 he came west, locating on ranch
near Okotoks, the nearest shipping
point to the Calgary-Alberta oil fields,
II miles distant on the Canadian Pa
cifc railroad.
Having an excellent knowledge of
geology and being interested in miner
alogy, the fact that the underlying
strata were oil bearing became i'm
pressed upon him both because he
found gas escaping through fractures
in the ground and because the out
cropping and anticlinal structure was
almost identical with that of the
PENNSYLVANIA district. Becoming sat
, isfied that the ground was worth pros
, pecting for oil, he purchased 1900 acres
of surface rights and 1000 acres o.
petroleum and natural gas rights, in
Guiding the ground where the Dingman
or Discovery well of the Calgary Pc
troleum Products company is located
: for the sum of 100000. He placed the
proposition Of developing this ground
for oil before A. w. Dingman and Eu-
Co1r oap 1ictc
but at first he met with little encour-
agement He appealed to the city
! council of Calgary to take the matter
u. but with like success
T Dinaman Examines Claims.
In the spring of 1912 Mr.. Heron in
duced Mr. Dingman to make trip to
v the claims with the result that the
J. Calgary Petroleum Products company
e was formed for the purpose of boring
e for oil.
= Drilling operations were commenced
on January 80, 1913, under the direc-
ton of William Elder, who has had a
wide experience in drilling for gas in
the province Mr.. Heron is much the
is closely identified with a number of
other we'll financed companies engaged
in the development Of the oil fields in
this district He has proved his abil-
ity as an oil expert and through his
efforts and those Of his associates
who pinned their faith to his judgment
Calgary has been given a valuable as
set, and the dominion has been plac-
ed in a position where. within the
next few years it is predicted by geolo-
reputation, in all probability 1t will
lead in the production of petroleum
products.
First Drilling Was Successful.
Drilling proceeded in the Discovery
we'll at the rate Of from 10 to 20 feet
a day. AT depth of about $50 feet
gas was first encountered and increas-
ed as depth was attained. The Dakota
sandstone was reached at depth OF
about 1900 feet, and at depth of 1862
feet the first indications Of oil were
found on May s, 1914. At first the
flow was light, but 1t was substantial
evidence that oil was in the ground.
High grade gasoline, .645 degrees
Baume. developed in increasing guam
tiyt as the drills bored deeper, and on
May Is at a depth Of 271S feet. the
Kootenai formation having been pierc-
ed. the flow increased to the extent
that there was 1000 feet of oil in the
well. On that date the pressure of oil
and gas was so great that stream
from the mouth of the well was forced
to height of IS feet in the air.
Looks Like a Gusher.
1t became necessary at that time to
cap the well until provision could be
made for the handling Of the oil
Equipment is being installed to con-
vey the oil to tanks holding 10000 GAL
Ions, located short distance away
When this equipment is completed,
sinking will be resumed to a point
where it is confidently believed by
Cunningham Craig, consulting geolo-
gist for the company, that perman-
ent flow Of oil will be developed. 1t
Is considered probable that the well
will finally become gusher. The gas
II.