The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-01-18
DIES Laos OIL WELL
IS MOST PROMISING

in 5 gallon cans and sent to Mr.. Bah
cock by express under seal.
The third test was made on the 10th
and 18th of January. This was the
most severe test the we'll has under
gone. A pump was placed in the we'll,
which was run continuously for "a
hours by a gasoline engine, approx
mately 1900 gallons of water and
liquid being pumped from the well, or
an amount equal to filling and empty
ing the we'll 81 times. Samples taken
from time to time during this test
showed certain per cent of oil. I'm
mediately after the pump was taken
out a slush bucket was lowered to the
bottom of the well and sample was
taken from the bucket which contained
oil sand. This sand is characteristic
in all petroleum fields. Mr.. E. G. Au-
burn and Mr.. M. H. Anderson exam
ined the sand and pronounced it the
genuine oil sand. One thing distinct
ly noticeable was that the sand gave
a stronger odor of gasoline than the
oil secured from the well.
A number of citizens from Minot
were present when the last test was
made, and procured samples of the
liquid. The sentiment of those pres
ent is expressed in the following
statement:
This is to certify that we were pres
ent at the Des Laos Western Oil Co.
well on January II, when the pump
was removed from their oil we'll after
a continuous "a hour pumping test;
that Immediately after removing said
pump a slush bucket was lowered to
the bottom of the well; that we pro-
cured from said well some of the
slush and that the slush from the bot
tom of the said we'll contained inf1am-
mable material, and that the said sam
pie obtained by US contained infam-
mable oil.
(Signed): E. S. Waterman, Frank
Eicher, c; e; Torgr1mson, liver Q.
Flom, L. l.. Logan, w. N. Savers, J.
R. Dearmin, J. W. Webster.
Two disinterested men, G.. S. Web
ster and Eph. Nedrow, were appointed
according to instructions given by
Prof. Babcock, to oversee the pump
ing test and were on the job continual
ly during the entire twenty-four hours,
One more test will be made to COM
lply with the instructions given by
Prof. Babcock.
The company have the lumber on
the ground for putting up a building
for housing the working men, the pit
for the derrick has been finished,
which is twelve feet square and of the
same depth. 1t will require derrick
80 feet high to handle the drill.
The writer was informed by one of
the company that their plans were to
install a drill that would enable them
to 60 to depth of $500 or 1000 feet
if necessary. The well will be 16 inches
in diameter at the beginning and will
be reduced in size according to depth.
MIR. Anderson will have charge of the
drilling, and has had considerable ex-
perience in drilling deep wells in the
Alberta oil fields. He states that it is
his opinion that another flow will be
found at 1000 or 1900 feet and posi-
bly, several small flows may be en-
countered. He expects to strike the
strongest flow at depth of 1900 feet,
judging from his experience in other
oil fields.
This well is two miles from Lone
Tree and three miles from Des Laos.
1t is the company's plan to get their
power from the Northern States Pow
er Co., who have recently extended
their lines to Des Laos and Berthold.
The company has leased office rooms
on the first floor of the Zlevor block,
and have samples of the liquid on dis
play that were taken from the we'll.