Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-08-29
GREAT FALLS PAPER

Feasibility of $J0,O0O,0OO pipeline
project, linking Montana and Wyoming
gas fields with the Twin cities and the
with federal funds, is now being investf-
gated by the federal natural resource
committee which is making a survey Of
the project.
This has been announced here by e. b.
Coolidge, Montana oil and gas operator,
who is president Of the Northwest indie
pendent Natural Gas Producers assOcia-
Schmidt OF Anoka, Mimi, executive vice
president of the organization.
Detailing Of the survey crews follows
extended negotiations with government Of
ficials, including a Commute Interview
with President Roosevelt, who Is de-
clared to have expressed himself as
favOring construction Of the line with
federal funds providing the survey re-
veals the project to be economically
feasible.
According to Coolidge and Schmidt, the
United States geological survey, as wen
as numerous independent engineering
firms have declared that gas field of Mon
tana and Wyoming TO be tapped by pipe
line have sufficient gas reserves to sup
ply the line with its maximum require
ments for at least quarter Of a century.
On the, other end OF the picture are
owners of huge low grade ore deposits
in Minnesota iron range, who are de-
clared to be prepared TO enter into D sa.,
the line to insure LIQUIDATION OF the entire
project In 25 years.
EaRerness Of the iron firms to obtain |
a supply Of natural gas for smelling
purposes follows a survey which indicates
that the deposits Of high-grade iron ore
in the range, economically recoverable !
by present methods using either oil or
coal for smelling purposes, VIII be ex-
hansted in Is years,
A much greater deposit, consisting OF
1Ow-grade ore, enough 70 last for approx
mately 1000 years az the present rate o.
report by the University Of Minnesota
During the past four years, the uni
verstty has maintained an e2perlmsntai
grade ores can be worked probably az
prevailing prices, providing fuei OF
sufficiently low cost can be obtained;
recently issued declared neither Oil nor
coal could be used economically on the
low grade ores, but declared that gas,
at the price planned to be charged by
the Montana Minnesota line, can be pro
dtably used to smet and concentrate the
low grade iron.
In addition to the market in the iron
range the project has been given thel
OF cities along the entire |
route of the line, all of which, including
the Twin cities have signified willing
term basis, one that will Justify the gov I
in constructing the line. Z
Construction OF the gas line, according J
to Coolidge, will serve two-fOld purpose
providing a profitable market for Mon
ANA and Wyoming gas and at the
same time meeting vital need in the a
ron range, where high grade ore deposits =
deposits Of lOw-grade ore await the use, 7
II gas as a smelling medium to make
heir exploitation commercially feasible r.
Realizing that the project will provide =
the Dakotas and Minnesota, a
congressman and senator's in all OF the O
Effected states have worked to aid the a
,roject, Coolidge revealed. r
The plan calls for the construction Of :
400 mile 20-inch line from the Cut I
sank field TO the Baker gas field, in the Z
astern part Of the state. and of 90
a northern Wyoming, extending north
nto Montana fer a connection with the n
Their line q
From the junction Of the two main u
altering lines at the Baker field, plans r.
all for the construction of a 460- mile \,
finch main line east to Brainard, MINI. y,
At Brainard, the line is TO be split =.
northeast to Duluth and the p
METERS OF the iron range and with a -
5 mile 24-ineh line to be extended to -,
le Twin cities, serving adjacent cities -
lrOute. -
Laterals are planned from the two -
ain gathering lines in this state the
Drthern line 20 tap the Sweet Grass
y. us ares neios N s s1s 6owoo1 po ana
I'D the southern line to take In the Dry
reek field In its route. Flow of the
aker field viii also be tapped by the
ne.
Indications are that there would be an
railabIe market for about 1O5,O00000
lbic feet OF gas daily Immediately upon 4
lmpletion of the line with the pr0ba-
mpletion OF the line, with the proba-
lity that this would be shortly increas-
to about 15.000,000 Gu. feet daily, engin- {
rs say. Present open-f1ow output OF
Ills in the Baker gas field alone Is