The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1922-11-02
HUGE SUM FOR DEVELOPMENT
OF NORTHERN OIL FIELD

More than 81, 100000 will have been spent in the Kevin-Sunbur
oil field of Montana by the end of this season, in purchase of leases
drilling and in organization of companies, according to Carl C. Adams
e who has returned from a survey OF the district as field assistant to tn
. state board of equalization.
e Nine wells are producing oil in commercial quantity in the fiel
9 and eight are producing gas in marketable volume, according to MI
Adams. sixty-one operations in the field, in one stage u another
are sufficiently advanced that they may be counted on to complete thei
wells. Of these six have finished their drilling and removed their rigs
while IS have completed their wells but have not yet taken away their
NINE PRODUCERS IN FIELD
"Nne wells are producing oil in commercial quantities, their total
daily production being $40 barrels, or an average of IS barrels daily
for each well. Eight are producing gas in commercial quantities, with
a total daily flow of approximately 100000 cubic feet.
Fifteen wells are now drilling in the field, nine outfits ar shut
down, II additional rigs are up and the material is o. the ground at
locations for nine more rigs.
"There are 1920 acres under lease in the field, according to the
report, of which 66,7So are held by local companies and the remainder
by interests outside of the state. In addition, it is estimated that be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 acres of potential oil producing land is held by
individuals, either the fee owners of the premises or by outright lease
spectators.
GOVERNMENT RETAINS MUCH
"There is a considerable acreage to which the United States govern
ment still retains the oil and gas rights and which has not yet been APP
piled for" says the report, land there are also about 5000 acres of state
land under lease, which is in territory which will be developed within
the next year"
"Whie a considerable amount of oil and gas now produced is used
in the field for drilling and camp purposes, there is a considerable
amount of gas blowing off from several of the wells. This constitutes
a waste which will soon amount to a considerable money value, as the
various gas pockets will soon be depleted and thereafter the develop
of the field will suffer from the loss of this gas for drilling pur-
poses. Gas is much more convenient for power and camp purposes
than crude oil, and even if the gas development is never sufficient to
warrant construction of pipe lines for its transportation to a point
where 1t could be sold, its use IN the held d1spaces the use OF a cons1d-
cradle barrelage of crude oil, the marketing facilities for which have
already been provided.
FUEL DRILLING SURVEY
"a quarter of a million feet of gas a day will easily operate the
boiler for one drilling rig and the camp for one crew. This same
service requires about IS barrels of crude oil a day, and as the drilling
one well and it's are until placed on the pump requires never less
han 80 to As working days, the use of gas saves not less than $1,000
of oil for each well drilled The waste of this natural resource
" carelessness in not shutting in the gas wells of this field is a direct
os to the state, which should be prevented"
Concerning the investment already made in the field or to be made
the end of this season, Adams said: "The "a companies now
in the Kevin-Sunburst field will have expended by the end
f this season not less than $4,000 for organization, engineering, geo.
oeical, legal and administrative expenses. There have been spent ap-
$65O,0OO for leases and there will have been spent approx
lately $4,000 in the development" II