, 1925-01-15

fully recognized. at least by the oil
fraternity.
Naturally in the past gas develop
ment did not keep pace with oil de-
velopment. A commodity that can
not be utilized is without value. Wy
oming was sparsely settled and there
was no market of consequence for
the individual producer. Practical
ly all early development was on gov
eminent owned lands. Distance to
thickly settled communities, the ques-
ton of title to the properties. and
the enormous investments required
for gathering and transporting The
gas to market prohibited it's utiliza-
ton. 1t was not until the oil in
dustry had developed to the point Of
establishing ~refineries in Wyoming
thus building up the communities and
establishing a market for the gas that
any impetus was given to gas de-
velopment. The oil industry has been
and Is the chief mainstay of the gas
industry in Wyoming.
Wyoming Gas Production
In 1912, according to the records
of the Geological Survey. approx
mately 81, DOT 900 GU. It. OF gas were
produced and utilized in Wyoming.
Some comparison of the development
of the gas industry may be made
from the fact that the yearly produc-
ton IL years & now represents the
daily fuel consumption OF the in
dustries and residents OF Casper
alone.
In 1912 the s gas producers Of
Wyoming had a market comprising
4 Industrial and some $50 domestic
consumers. At the present time the
producers are numbered by scores
the Industrial in the hun
dreds. and the domestic consumers
in the tens of thousands.
Gas In commercial quantities has
been found in some IS to 20 pro-
ducing structures In Wyoming. Other
proven sources Of gas supply are
without a present market or so sit
uated that they are not available
for utilization at this time. As the
development Of this industry Is de-
pendent upon utilization of the COM
modify. the production as here men,
toned has been confined to the fields
from which gas IL marketed.
Early History OF Industry
BY far the greater part of the
growth of the industry. both OF mar
ket and of production. has occurred
during the past Ave years. altho all
OF tho development since 1911 and
1912 is worthy of note. Prior to- hat
time natural gas In Wyoming had no
market other than for field purposes
and well drilling where gas produc-
ton happened to be available.
While large quantities Of gas In
6 or s prospective oil fields were re-
ported by the territorial biologists.
In 1886 and 1888. the real n de-
velopmcnt and first attempt ut PERM
ancnt utilization may ne said TO have
commenced with the discovery OF
commercial gas In n well drilled by
Philip Miner near Basin n Grey
held by John d. Loscamp In 1903.
The well near Basin was partially
plugged and abandoned but in some
way was set on fire and burned for
some three years. The Alvord
Brothers and Homer Lamb OF Sister
vile. West virginia. attracted by re-
ports Of the burning q we'll. secured
acreage in the vicinity and drilled
several wells. Their company. the
Big Horn OIL and Gas company. pip
"a gas to 0rcybull and Basin. con-
structed . distributing system and
furnished gas to the residents.
Natural gas has been used con.
tinuously for domestic consumption
n Orsybuii and Basin since 1911. II
70 now distributed by the Wyoming
Gas Co. thru 10 miles OF Kas maina.
In 1919 the 0reybuil refinery was
constructed At Oreybuii. Gas for
fusl was first supplied 10 the re-
elnery In 1914 thru . ~ milo pipe
line Of the Illinois Pipeline Co. from
he Byron field. but In 1920 the Mid
west Wyoming Co. contributed . IS
nile pipeline 10 the refinery and tina
towns from the Ohio Oh Co.'S we'll
~ Hidden Dome. The Hidden Dome
production utilisss some $500 .0oo.-
eco Gu. II. per n OF which the
domestic consumer. numbering o
thaa . thousand. use about 10 per
eeat.
IL 1913. according 70 the records
q the survey. gas was pipsd from
Tie Byron aeld 70 the town Of ny.
son fer domestic consumption. the
lown owning the distSibutioa system.
TIA project resulted eron the gAs
vii drilled ~ LeseanS - 1895. II
1915 eas 0ervjee was attended from
~ Byron fed - .Lovelt ~ Ne L..
VII 0as Z 81eets1e O. A. the Dros.
seot tine tAie company h lieastbuting
- ~ 1o0eoeSe ~ tolu0s1Al eeo.