Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-06-01
BIOLOGISTS
ALL AGREE 0N
SIGNAL BUTTE

Operators OF northern Montana
looking TO new fields OF Opportun-
ity for development of oil and gas
reserves are paying heed 10 the
start OF a wildcat we'll on Signal
Butte structure in northern Hill
county. north of Havre, close TO the
Alberta border.
w. NJ. Hanlon has spudded a
well in center SW "A Sc a Section
6-37N-15W. on government land. A
delay in the arrival OF the govern
ment lease has delayed drilling
temporarily
Discovered by L. S. G. S. and de-
scribed by Eugene Stebinger IN
Bulletin Ole. Signal Butte was
first mapped by reconnaissance sur
yey by irvine +. Stewart. well
known pioneer geolOgist OF northern
Montana, in 1921, before the dis
covery OF production in keyin-Sun-
burst field.
TWO years later. in 1928. the
structure was mapped and recon-
mended by Charles 4. Lupton, dis
coverer OF Cat Greek
still another geologist, +. b.
Esllkl I'm VI A0AA 0Hf $40 - ~
structure. first in reconnaissance
survey in 1922. after discovery OF
OIL al keyin, and again III 1921.
Three shallow wells have been
drilled on the structure out none
to sufficient depth to approach
"A possible oil-bearing horizon, and
the leases have been tied up ia
such manner that IL was impossible
Tor any competent operator to block
il up until 1899 when VIM. HanlOn,
Independent operator OF Cut Bank.
managed TO get the rival groups
together and acquired the princi-
pal leases. He employed h.. w.
hrampert, independent geolOgist
OF Casper, TO make a new geo.
logical report and recommendation
and kramperts report resulted not
only in decision TO drill but to
lease up a large block OF acreage
including parts OF four townships
I heretofore the structure had been
regarded as a small collecting area.
II Is now believed that Signal
Butte Will be a large oil field, IL
oil is present, along a well de-
lined anticline running from north
west TO southeast
In addition to "a well defined
structural condition with vast col
Letting area. there are two distinct
faults which are favorably regard
ed as factors in the accumulation
of oil in upper formations, should
here be vertical migration from
Devonian and lower formations I'D
through the massive limestones.
The Krampert report recommend
ID the drilling OF well on the
high and 10 further reassure
himself regarding the location.
Hanlon employed Gene Gerlough
md George Downs. petroleum ga-
'logists OF Shelby. to confirm the
Nrampert map. This examination
made on May Is resulted in the
hiding that I'VE found that we
we're In very close agreement with
Tim (krampert) on all important
ietails insofar as the top con-
ours of Signal Butte anticline are
oncerned. Time did not permit us
o examine the flanks OF the struc-
ure but the careful mapping OF
he top OF the anticline by Mr..
Arampert would lead me to be-
ieve that his findings would be es-
correct on the outlying
arts OF the structure.
Our findings also were in
greement with those of Mr..
'harles Lupton, Mr.. Irvine Stew
IT and other reputable biologists
Tho have examined Signal Butte
Insofar as they disclosed a definite
nticlinal structure with good clos
re and oil and gas-bearing forma-
ons present at moderate drilling
epths. 1t is my belief that Mr..
-ramperts estimate of the thick
ess OF formation at 300 feet from
ne surface to the Madison lime
III be found to be approximately
1rrect"