Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-04-15
SPUD IN KEv|N
TEST WELL At
ROCKY RIDGE
$50 From Great Falls
and North Country At
tend Epochal Event.
Cheers Greet Geologist
and Driller as Terra
Firma Is Punctured.

When, at l p. m. Thursday, Driller
Cy Hurd showed back the lever which
controlled the massive drilling bit
hanging from the derrick of the Cor
don Campbell rig on the Rocky Ridge
oil structure near Kevin, that heavy
piece Of steel dropped with thud in
to the clay at the spot which within
the next two months will, it is hoped,
bring about the realization of the
dreams Of Gordon Campbell, geologist,
who has staked all he has upon this
venture.
1t was the presence of probably $50
persons gathered from the little town
of kevin, together with quite a few
from Great Falls, Shelby. Gut Bank
and other points, that drilling was
commenced in this well which is expect
ed to prove the Rocky Ridge structure
and determine if oil in commercial
quantities exists there.
Threatening weather, accompanied
by light fall Of rain, discouraged
many from being present at the spud-
ding IN but there were enough there
to raise an enthusiastic cheer when the
machinery was started and the bit made
its first impression upon the ground.
Campbell Tells Of His Aims.
Gordon Campbell, who discovered
the structure, surveyed it, leased it, To-
Gated the drilling site and put all Of
his resources back of it. was prob
ably the most interested spectator
and he was called upon to address the
crowd just few minutes before the
machinery was placed in operation and
after the crowd had listened to short
talks by John B. Ritch, of Lewistown.
and Mayor Louis Newman of Great
Falls.
Mr.. Campbell told of the vast amount
OF work and study he had put into the
matter during the past year and Of the
hopes which are now being expressed
in material form. He besought the
cooperation of those present, espec-
tally the landowners whose leases were
necessary to the realization Of his
aims.
The Bit Bites the Earth.
Then. upon word of instruction
from Mr.. Campbell and shouts of Let
'er b1ck'' from men in the crowd. Cy
Hurd started the machinery and the
big bit began churning it's way to-
wards the Oil sands hundreds of feet
below
For few minutes the drill pounded
its way slowly down into the clay for
nation and was then withdrawn to
permit Of the removal of the muck by
means of the big bailer. The crowd
had seen the complete operation of the
rig. and after spending short time
in inspecting the various parts Of the
outfit, re-entered automobiles and
started back through the rain for Ee-
vim.
Best Rin in Montana
The rig which has been erected upon
the Campbell location is said to be the
best and most complete in the state.
1t is standard rig with three brace
derrick, 81 feet in height and com
pletely equipped with new machinery.
A l2x12 steam engine with a 45-horse
power boiler furnishes the motive pow
er. The bit which is being used is one
Of l62 inches, which drills hole OF
about Is inches. Tt is intended to
carry this size down about 500 feet. and
this portion will be cased with pine
having an inside diameter of ljh
inches
At this point it is intended to reduce /;
the hole to 1917 inches and carry this |
size down to about 1850 feet, from
where 1Oinch hole will be sunk to
the OIL sand. which is expected to be
tapped at between 400 and 1900 feet.
Has Invested $4,000.
Mr.. Campbell states that the well
snouid be completed within 40 days,
providing no trouble Of consequence is
encountered In his address to the
gathering Thursday. Mr.. Campbell
stated that the rig as it now stands
represents an investment of S2S,OOO,
not including his own time spent upon
me g undertaking durig the past year.
Neither does this figure include the
cost OF the casing, which is now en-
route to kevin. nor the further ex-
penses Of drilling, all of which will
to much more than the money
already invested.
Lighted by Electricity.
1t is the intention to keep the rig in
Utmost constant operation, two crews
icing employed for that purpose and TO
'ermit Of night work the plant has been
'quipped with electric lights, the cur
ant for which b generated by q steam
lrivea motor Installed in the engine
Dom.
(COutjnueA - pas So, j,