The Carbon County chronicle. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1924, 1924-10-29

erations were shut down at this time
on account of weather conditions and
were not resumed until early in the
spring of 1922.
In March OF 1922, he had reached
what is known as the Ellis formation
with the drill and the oil rose In the
casing some 1900 feet This oc-
casioned considerable excitement and
attracted the attention Of operators
| in the Rocky mountain section. Most
OF the larger companies sent geolo-
gists into the area and within a short
| time over fifty wells we're started at
different locations within the Arch.
l.. G.. Stevenson, former partner
of Campbell, had obtained through
a dissolution of the partnership Il
considerable area OF land In Town
ships "a, 35 and SO North, Range 2
West, and Immediately financed the
Sunburst Oil g. Gas company, COM
mencing operations in Section 81,
Township 36 North, Range 2 West.
Early in June of 1922 this we'll
reached what is known as the Sun
burst sand, being some two hundred
| feet stratagraphically above the sand
producing the oil In the Campbell
we'll This well began flowing and
again stimulated interest that had
slightly died out between the time of
the Campbell discovery and this more
recent operation.
The character of the oil produced
| in the Stevenson Sunburst we'll was
of considerably better grade than
that found In the Ellis formation in
the Campbell we'll. Many of the
larger companies became interested
| In leases after the Stevenson discov-
cry, and commenced operations. The
Ohio company, Carter Oil company,
California and Midnorthern all se-
cured acreage and started drilling OPP
erations. On account Of the large
area covered by the Arch and the
impossibility for accurate geological
knowledge due to the glacial cover
| ing, the operations were spread wide
| ly over the area and many dry holes
were drilled.
In August, 1922, the Mid-North-
ern secured leases on the west half
vi Tilt AOi kiitdHL Uu0A btl III OGttiOn y
and the north half Of the northwest
quarter Of the same section in Town
ship 3b North, Range West, and To-
Gated a well designated as the Howl
/ ing NO. / in the northeast corner of
the tract. Drilling was commenced
and in September Of that year a
lsplendid we'll was brought in, which
was producing at the rate of $50 bar
rels for some little time. Prepare
tions were Immediately made by
this company to Immediately develop
the tract and other wells we're com
menced.
From the fact that there were
many independent operations In the
area of production as determined lat
er was very wide, great many In
i dependent interests were identified
with the development Many sur
prising things were determined, in
that good well producing from the
Ellis field could be offset In three
directions with practically dry holes,
Iso that there was zest and interest
in connection with development that
was spectacular, every well being a
WHICH,. interest ~ tHfs particular
locality would die out when suddenly
some operator would have the good
fortune to drill in spectacular well
producing few hundred to several
Thousand barrels day, and again In
terest would be stimulated. This
has been the history up to the pres
ent time
The Illinois pipe Line company
constructed line from the pro.
ducing area to the Great Northern
railway at Sunburst late In the fall
OF 1922. This furnished the mark
ct for the production for few
months until their storage capacity
at Sunburst was filled. Owing to the
character of the crude, containing 3
rather high percentage of sulphur
no desirable market could be OBJ
tanned until after the construction o.
refineries in the northern part OF the
state and the completion OF plan
built by the Imperial OH company al
Calgary. Canada. This stimulated
the market and the pipe line begar
to function again about the first d
April, 1924, and at the present tim,
the runs from the field are greater
la. IL t..