Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-07
ACCOMPANIES
ARE CONFIDENT
OF NORTH FIELD
Oil Writer Says Pipe Line
Plans Are Significant
Indications.

The Illinois Pipe Line company Il
unloading a 81, 5OO-barrel tank at Sun
burst ard sufficient pipe TO begin the
construction of a pipe line at once. ac-
cording to a report brought to Great
Falls from the field by Frank r. Tay-
lor of Casper. Mr.. Taylor is g%eologist
and representative of the Tulsa
tOkla.) Oil and Gas Journal and the
Oil City pa Derrick, two of the
large petroleum publications of the
United States.
Mr.. Taylor cited the fact that the
Illinois Pipe Line company, associated
with the Ohio Oil company, is starting
building of a pipe line at once as in
dicative of the confidence of large
companies in the field. He said that
in addition to the tankage, the COM
pany is unloading two cars of 4-inch
pipe. while additional pipe is in transit.
As a result Of his visit to the field,
he predicted that it will prove a large
one and of long life.
Unusual Degree of Confidence
at is a significant fact that the
Illinois Pipe Line company. virtually
a part of the Ohio company, is prepar-
ing at onc to build its pipe line" he
said. 1T has been the policy Of this
company never to build pipe lines until
the production is already there and as
sured for marketing. The fact that it
is even now, with two wells in, build
ing this line is ample assurance that
the big companies are entering this
field with an unusual degree of conf
dence.
II might cite. too. that the Ohio
company is now running a base line
through the field with e levels. which
will permit a more careful and detailed
survey than is possible even by plane
table.
I'VE went over TO the east side and
got the dips and followed them to the
international boundary. They tell me
they go farther. That gives an i'm
mense. an inconceivable territory run
ming perhaps to the city.
Exact Outlines Difficult TO Define
"Of course. all of this will not pro-
duce. and only drilling it out can define
the limits of production. but | do be
lieve that I am safe in saying that the
field will probably prove a very large
one. Its exact outlines are difficult
70 judge and. in fact, the entire field
is a difficult M for the geologist.
Many of the biologists who have been
active in the Wyoming fields. where
sharp dips are the rule. were simply
lost up here. One of the large com
panies that brought their Wyoming
men up here to work were forced 10
replace them with men such as had
worked in the Oklahoma fields and
in other places where they were famil-
lar with the low dips. II is hard for
the geologist accustomed to the forma-
tions of Wyoming and other parts of
Montana TO work in such a field.
Il believe. myself. that the field
will prove much the same in forma-
ton as those found Ia Oklahoma and
very similar to those of Ohio. The
sands are similar. That should mean
that these fields will have an extremely
long life and will be producing many.
many years.
Not a Gusher Field
Leases in the Ohio fields which are
similar TO this are actually producing
better today than 20 years ago. | be-
lieve that it is very probable that these
fields may prove to be of the same long
life.
From my brief visit in the field. I
would not say that il will prove a gush-
er field. The wells will be moderate in
size but that does not mean much when
n considers their probable length of
life.
The oil itself is Of good quality.
about the same as Pennsylvania crude.
| should say. In fact, | should say
that it will be a little better because
it will be easier to handle. due to its
low ~viscosity. am of the opinion
that this oil will be piped and pumped
throughout tho yea without difficulty.
for that reason. 1t appears TO be such
that it would not CONCEAL in anything
above zero weather. In this respect
it is much better than some Of the
southern Montana and Wyoming fields.
where the fields are sometimes limited
10 as low as six months pumping, from
the fact that it is impossible to handle
the oil without heating it and keeping
it heated.
lmpresses One as Tremendous
"The immensely of the field was
what first impressed me on my visit.
1t is difficult for us in other fields Ia
get used to this. although the reports
brought back by the boys to Casper had
prepared me for il. Later drilling will
outline the producing areas but right
now ii impresses one as tremendous
AS the representative of two of the
largest and most conservative of the
oil publications. Mr.. Taylor's views on
the field were of interest to oil men
generally. as well as due to his ex-
tensive experience in the oil fields of
the United States ms Il geologist and
petroleum engineer. still entering some
what into independent practice, al
though his correspondence has the first
claim upon his time.
Born in the midst Of the Pennsyl-
vania fields, Mr.. Taylor first came in
touch with tho oil industry, as well as
that of journalism. az a member of the
editorial staff of the Oil City Derrick.
Later he followed newspaper work on
several large eastern papers. including
rcportorial work in New York city.
His college training majored geology
and he has followed that profession
since his graduation. His practice in
oil fields throughout the United States.
as well as his connection with the oil
publications. has made him a familiar
figure to oil men.