The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1916-12-07
Wyoming Oil
Fields Have
Large Output
Production Being Developed
North; SO Producing Wells in
Elk Basin, Part of Which Are
in Montana; Much Development
in This State.

In This state.
-~-s-..-,s-s-ss-~l
How many people are there in the
state who know that on the Mon
tana side of the Elk Basin country,
just south of Billings, SO producing
oil wells have been brought in" dur
ing the past year.
The production from these wells is
so prolific that pipe line construct
ed from the heart of the basin to
Frannie, a Burlington station just
across the Wyoming line, is made
quate to convey the raw product
away, and second pipe line is be-
ing constructed.
The product is about SO per cent
gasoline, and the best we'll of the
neighborhood, one of the Midwest
properties, has produced in excess OF
| 1000 barrels in "a hours.
The escarpment which outlines
this Elk Basin oil dome is small and
comprises about 2,4OO acres.
Stretching south from the Elk ba-
sin for a distance of 225 miles are
numerous domes that have proven
productive. The output of the whole
Wyoming fields last year was about
100000 barrels. Development has
been rapid during the past Q months
and it is estimated that this years
output will be in excess of 5000, 600
barrels.
\ Oil in Montana.
1 The same system of anticlines
stretch north and west through Mon
tana, and a large amount of money
is being expended in development
work. Biologists Of repute say there
is absolutely no reason why the Mon
tana-Wyoming boundary line should
, mark the northernmost limits of the
oil deposits.
Several wells are being drilled
! north of Great Falls. Two outfits
, are drilling in the Crazy Woman's
t Pocket country, of which Lavina is
the center. Another we'll is being
drilled near Broadview. South of
Billings numerous wells are being
drilled.
. The Boston News Bureau, a news
paper that is recognized as an au-.
= thority on finance, has this to say
about the new oil fields:
Wyoming's Output Doubles
development of the Wyoming oil
fields is becoming very rapid. In
1912 these fields turned out 1,246,-
q 600 barrels; in 1913, 2,409,O00;
= = and this year the production will be
~ over 100000 barrels. Re-
! markable strides are being made in
g drilling and outputting, and the larg-
\ er factors in the oil industry are COM
= ing suddenly to realize that they
q q must take note of Wyoming, for
y, there is no other territory in the
United States making so remarkable
a showing except Oklahoma and Cali
fornia.
e Nothing except the top sands
e have so far been tapped in an import
s. ant way in Wyoming, and geological
\. and oil experts agree that not more
Re than three per cent of available Oil
g, has been extracted.
If aside from a less rigid policy as
20 regards land withdrawals by the fed
ID eral government, a pipe line is very
Of desirable. This would provide bet
v, ter market for Wyoming oil.
"It is probable that such a line will
r. De built, 600 miles from Salt Greek
to Omaha, within couple of years
IN following an adjustment of federal
at regulations. With railroad facilities
at alone, not less than $1,000 cars or
gs say, 28O,O00,O00 gallons, of raw ant
lie refined Wyoming oil are this veal
~ being shipped in tank cars; and pro
~ duction is increasing by leaps ane
es bounds Within month the Mid
lis west Refining Co. alone has contract
Up ed for sale to one of the European
or belligerents of 20,000,000 gallons o
gasoline.
. How Wyoming Is Handicapped.
"Wyoming undoubtedly present
the greatest single weapon in thi
country for solving the gasoline ques
ton, because of the gasoline conten
- of Wyoming oil. By reason of tn
relative lack of competition for wy
oming oil, and the absence of pip
line facilities for it's cheap transpor
tation, it at present brings not muc]
over 90 cents per barrel, while Penn
sylvania crude carries only 20 pc
cent gasoline content, while grea
deal of Wyoming oil has been foun
to have 40 to so per cent gasolin
content.
cat present the refining corlpan
with the largest single output in WY
oming is the Midwest, which is es
timated to have over 450,000,0O
barrels of indicated oil untapped i
Salt Creek alone. Midwest Refi1
ing's earnings this year will excee
100000 net. A large part {
them have been put into purchase {
s2,425 900 par of the $2,500,000 gu
standing preferred stock of the Gre.
bull Refining Co., which latter con
pany will be merged with Midwe'
Refining.
Chief Clerk Of House,