davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-13

to the government and is covered by lease is
sued permit secured by Joe Shearon of Cut
Bank in the early days of Cut Bank field.
Shearon reserved 2l5% royalty on this lease
which classifies as a "B' lease, the government
that figure with continued large production
Seven-inch casing was set at 1885 feet. Sun
burst sand from 1856 to 1865 was dry. There
was variegated shale from 1865 to 2S79, with
Cut Bank sand from 2s79 to 1880 with no dis
tnct lower sand measure. There was saturaton
from 2905 to 1920 and the bit had just reached
1920 believed to be the top of the Ellis, the
oil came over the top. AS it was drilled with
control head on the casing, it Immediately
coupled onto flow lines and it flowed through
the casing at the rate of $50 barrels per day.
This well marks still another success for H. b
(Tip) ONeil, whose drilling record in both Kew
in and Cut Bank has included unusually large
wells. His Lander No. l has produced upward of
81 ,250O00 worth of oil.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-13
GASOLINE USERS
give VAST sum
TO u. S. DEFENSE

The increase of one-half cent in
the federal gasoline tax for defense
purposes, which became effective
mated S112, 100000, the increase
in annual revenue expected by the
federal government. The increase
in the tax to w from 1c per
gallon represented a SO per cent ex-
tension in the rate.
Federal excise taxes on lubricat-
ing oil, transportation of petroleum
by pipe line and on automobiles
and accessories also have been in
creased, effective July 1. Such in
creases range from IL to rs per
cent. 1t is estimated that the in
creased rates in the miscellaneous
autOmotive excise levies will yield
S14,O0O,000 which, with the $112,-
100000 of gasoline taxes, will
make an additional total of $780,
100000 to be paid by the highway
users.
Besides the increased federal
taxes, motorists also are paying
heavy taxes to the state, Fayette B.
Dow pointed out to the Senate FL
nance Committee at the hearing
on the revenue bill. "In 1919 the
public paid $1,022,514
in state gasoline taxes and $64,-
697,256 in registration fees" he
said. by 1889 state gasoline
taxes alone yielded 1915, 900, 900,
while state registration fees pro-
vided an additional $412, 4s4. 900.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-13
Drilling Is
Resuming On
WillShaW Flats

Drilling resumed on Thursday
at the test we'll on w. NJ. Hanlon
on Willshaw Flats structure north
of Sunburst field and east OF the
Border oil filed. in c SWA SEA
6-37N-1W. The well has been shut
down just above the Sunburst sand.
at POLO feet, during the reported
adjustment OF lease matters. Pro-
ductlon is expected in the Cut Bank
sand, which produces in the Border
field on the west and in Whitlash
field on the east. II is said to be
checking closely with the structur-
Continued on Page Fiye)
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-13
BIG we'll IS
fine TONIC TO
OIL DRILLERS

Completion OF a large flowing
we'll, in an area which was
thought to be destined to yield
"strippers" in the future, gave new
heart to Cut Bank operators this
week as Santa Rita's Government
No. 8 producer in South Cut Bank
struck gusher pay" in the Cut
Bank sand. A dozen strings of
tools are working but up to this
time the drilling has failed to
more than offset the natural decline
of producing wells and Cut Bank
has shown little increase in daily
yield.
Glacier Production company was
this week putting it's Bennett No. 5.
c NV SEA 4-32-5W, onto pro-
duction This is also in the South
Cut Bank pool and is. one of the
best competitions of the year. 1t
had Sunburst sand from 2910 to
1857, dry; upper Cut Bank from
1862 to 1916, dry; lower Cut Bank
throughout. Oil rose 1000 feet
and it swabbed 262 barrels during
the first "a hours.
In North Cut Bank, % miles
north of the Bonnet No. 5, Cobb
Tetrud No. 4, NE NEA NEA "a
37-5W. is drilling at 1850 feet.
1t is quarter of a mile east OF
a 44,0OO,0OO-foot gasser, and should
get the pay at around $500 feet
Glacier Observation-Disclosures Unit
No. 1, NWA 12-34-5W, is drill
ling at 2190.
Glacier PrOduction-HaH No. 3, c
NV 4 SEA 35-36-6W, near the
states largest gasser, is rigging up.
Glacier ProductiOn-Co Unit
No. I, CSL NWA NEA 9-33-5W, is
drilling at $500 after running cas-
ing at 2749. 1t is in the edge of
the gas area.
Katley Agent-Kramer No. 1, CNL
Sc 4 NEA 15-34-6W, is still swab-
bling and the extra work Of com
pleting is paying dividends. It had |
an initial of 25 barrels per day but |
by continued cleaning and swabbing |
it has been increased so that it |
averaged 80 barrels per day dur
ing the first 80 days.
Montana HeadIight-Britton No. o
NV swAS SEA 11-s4-6W, is drill
ling at 1850.
Pardu-Tribal III No. 4, NE
NE Il NEA 7-32-5W, is drilling at
1915. This is in the vicinity of the
big well just completed by Santa
Rita.
Santa Rita-TribaI No. II, NE
NE 4 NEA 16-35-6W, on the north
east trend of the Lander pool, is
drilling at 2215 feet.
Tarranf- Barnes-ButIer No. 1,
center NWH SEH 15-s4-6W, has
200 feet Of oil in the hole at 1887
After getting 81 feet Of sand the
crew were about to pull out when
shales caved in on the tools. 1t was
to cut the line and fishing
Is in progress. It has 1851 feet
IF 7-inch and 425 feet of liner in
The hole.
Steel Creek Production CO.-Car-
man No. 3, Sc Sc 4 SWH 1894
wv, is drilling at ITS feet.
Texaco-state No. @, G NWA SWA
l6-s2-5W, is drilling at 1880.
tconHnued on Page Five J
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-13
CUT BANK LEADS
POPULATION GAIN

CUT BANK-Doug Gold Of
Browning is compiling the census
figures of the 40 leading cities Of
the state, showing the 1880 fig
ures, the unofficial returns of the
new census and the percentage of
gain. According to this list only 10
of the 40 showed no gain. OF those
gaining Cut Bank was far in the
lead with 1876 percent increase in
population over the 1O-year period.
Harlem is second, Hardin, third
and Browning with a Sc percent
gain, fourth.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-13

Headquarters have been establish.
ed by the contractors in Wolf
Point. The pipe has been fabricat-
ed, it is understood, and will be
delivered by the time the ditching
machines can be put into action,
The line will be an extension of the
S-inch main, which now ends at
Fort Peck, swinging eastward
about two miles north of Wheeler,
serving Nashua, Frazer, Oswego
and Wolf Point. It will trend south
east from Wolf Point to a point
northeast of Glendive, passing
near Richey. The town of Poplar
will be supplied by branch line.
Drilling OF a large number OF
gas wells in Bowdoin dome is ex-
pected, as further development,
to secure an additional supply of
gas, The Bowdoin gas is expected
to supply the Montana cities on
the Montana Dakota Utilities lines
in the eastern part of the state,
making all of the Baker-Glendvie
gas available for use in the lines
to North and South Dakota. With
the development of an adequate
supply of gas, an extension of the
North Dakota line to the Minneso-
ia border is expected.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-13

A recent exposition of new pet
roleum equipment revealed that in
two years tremendous advances have
been made in designing oil-well
drilling and producing equipment
to fit specific areas and conditions:
drilling with fluid pressure; chemi-
cal plugging; oil, gas, and water
ratio control; bacteriology consul
tation to help fight the oil indus
try's worst enemy, corrosion; more
accurate logs of underground for
nations through radioactive we'll
logging instruments; more econ
omical and greater ultimate produc-
ton from old oil fields through re-
cycling, representing, and water
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-13

flooding; deep-test exploration drill
ling for research in geology: more
profitable commercial drilling In
some fields through portable equip
ment on trucks and skids; and
equipment so fabricated as to lessen
costly Junking when FRACTIONAL parts
wear out.
These are only a few of hundreds
OF methods and materials demon
strated, which daily are being In
troduced in American oil fields to
increase productive efficiency, de-
crease the time and cost OF drilling.
and to make more sure the contin-
uing job OF finding new oil fields.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-13
BE SURE TO VOTE

Our idea OF the Nth de-
gree of stupidity is to try 10
tell Montana people how to
vote and the Journal has no
part in politics, but we want
to remind our readers that
Burton X. Wheeler, United
states senator from Montana,
has had no time to return to
Montana to do any campaign
ing for his denomination,
and we commend his candi-
dacy to the attention of his
friends who must get out the
votes Tuesday TO assure that
he is again made available
as democratic nominee to the
United states senate.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-13
PASSPORTS REQUIRED

SWEET GRASS Truck move
ment OF petroleum products from
refineries in Toole and Glacier
counties to the Canadian market
has been greatly curtailed due to
immigration restrictions. Canadian
truck drivers are now beginning to
get their passports so they can again
enter the United States.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-13
Million Dollar Gas
Line Contract Awarded
To California Firm


Of
to
Co of SAM
machinery
tana during the n
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-13
OIL DRILLING REDUCED TO FINE
SCIENCE BY LATEST EQUIPMENT

Rough tactics
Dloraon in
The jobs exactly
other materials and supplies though they
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-12-14
REFlNERS BEGIN
WINTER STORAGE
OF OIL. PRODUCTS

The steady decline in gasoline
stocks which extended into early
November has resulted in a grow
ing optimism in some quarters
with regard to the statistical posi-
ton of the industry. The Novem-
Der l. p. A. A. Index, however,
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-12-14
Sensational Gusher Makes
Barrel Per Minute Until Il
Suddenly Turns To Water

gusher which flowed at the rate of barrel minute SO
barrels an hourthed Kelvin field for few minutes this week
but ended its sensational by turning to water
The well is Twin ldsThOmpson No in the high gravity
oil pool west Of Kelvin had small showing of oil at the top
Of the Madison lime but drilled the break
which the principal producers of the pool their oil Twenty
feet below the top of the lime the bit apparently dropped into
2 crevice.
burst blew the tools up in the hole quickly followed
rush of or which flowed high above the of the pudder
and drenched the rig and vicinity.
When the control head closed and flow lines completed
opened mp but failed respond The swab and
began making barrel hour In less than half hour
it making and finally began making all water without
OF oil
swahbed for day and half in the hope that the
might be swabbed off but the column stood 1900 feet 1t
decided best plug off bottom water and the
well plugged depth
fluid level of 200 feet This showing treated with
500 gallons of acid and it is today testing
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-12-14
BROADvIEW IS
READY TO TEST
BY f.. A. BEELER

BILLINGS Thelen. who has
been acting as Tool Pusher for
American oil Inc, in an effort to
bring into production the Broad
view dome test we'll. NE NEA SW 4
OF Section 1S-T3N-R23E. Yellow
stone county. says American is
now ready TO start operations as
soon as he can get the tools creased
up.
1t is the intent. according to Mr..
Thelen, to switch from rotary tools.
with which the well has been drill
ed, and finish with cable tools.
After he drills out the approximate
81 feet OF cement now in the bot
tom Of the hole. should commercial
production not be encountered, he
intends to drill another 200 feet
into the Deyonian formation, Mr.
Thelen says.
The hole has been standing for
some time, with casing set at ap-
proximately 5000 feet, with bottom
at 5129. where there was a show
ing Of light oil and gas.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-12-14
TRUE is REELECTED
LOCAL APT CHAIRMAN

H. A. True of Cut Bank was re-
elected chairman OF the Montana
Petroleum Industries committee at
the annual meeting of the group
2l Great Falls Wednesday. G. c..
Stevenson of Great Falls was re-
elected secretary. The group nam
ed J. T. Strong OF Butte. vice
chairman for the marketing division
and named James w. johnson of
Shelby to similar post. represent
ing producers. The organization
represents both petroleum and ma
tural gas industries of the state.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-12-14

This well, slightly over mile
from production. is intended to
test local high that is indicated
by surface exposures and by sub
surface geology OF well logs in the
high gravity pool Of West Kelvin.
II is being drilled by the High
Gravity Producers company, headed
by &. n. Wrighter one OF the
founders and president OF the highly
successful Rimrock OH company.
The Well is fully financed by Kelvin
operators and Shelby business men,
testing a 1900 acre block entirely
controlled by High Gravity Produc-
ers and Rimrock oil companies.
The Madison lime Is expected az
elevation OF $500 feet. which is
337 feet above the surrounding
plain. At night the lights on the
mast can be. seen from practically
every part OF the vast Kevin-Sun-
burst field and from The rig loca-
ton 1t is likewise possible To get
a complete panorama OF Kelvin
Sunburst. The result is that the
test Is the most talked-Of event OF
its kind in many years.
Neighboring operators have
urged the contractors TO light
the mast with coIOred lights
during the Christmas season.
emblematic of a prairie Christ
mas tree.
Plainly discernabIe on the Rim
rock in the base OF the Eagle sand
stone is a magnetic band which
shows a complete turnover, in the
shape OF a rainbow. The we'll was
located where II is to get as high
up on the fold as possible. The
presence OF this exposure was first
in 1928 by F. X. Hous-
ton, geolOgist. who accurately
the west Kelvin area long
before there was any extensive
drilling. The Rimrock pool was
drilled on Houston geology. The
same map shows the local high"
above the rfmrock, and since 1t is
supported by subsurface contours,
as drawn By F. c. Plat, r. NJ. OF
Shelby, the sponsors of the High
Gravity Producers company chose
this location at the lowest obtain
able surface elevation Should they
get production OF high gravity crude,
as expected, their next location will
doubtless be on top of the Rimrock,
more than 400 feet OF adj
diticnal drilling to reach the top of
the lime.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-12-14
TEST FOR OIL
STARTING
IN FLATHEAD

The oil possibilities of the Flat
head valley, west of the main range
of the Rocky Mountains, are to be
explored by a we'll now starting
by the Hoerr-Jensen Corporation
on the William Shirriff farm near
Columbia Falls The weu was
spotted by William Hoerr of the
Lawler-Hoerr company. Cut Bank
producers. Hoerr was one of the
early opponents of oil possibilities
north of Cut Bank where he arriv-
ed at his geological conclusions
while herding sheep. He succeeded
| in interesting Ed Lawler, Hardin
theater man, in the possibilities and
LawIer financed wells on the Clark
son and Downen farms and got pro-
duction. Hoerr has been operating
the properties.
The well was spotted some two
years ago and Hoerr has been
working on financing since that
time. He recently interested G. NJ.
Massey and Elmer Peacock of Bill
lings. Massey, Billings geologist,
gave approval to the Hoerr location
and declares that possible oil sands
should be reached by 3,5O6-foot
test A 20-inch hole has been
spudded and Is X inch surface cas-
ing will be run.
The weather will probably deter
mine whether the well will be kept
drilling during the winter months.
The well was originally to have
been spudded on November II but
was postponed on account of the
November storm.
Oil and gas seeps in the Flat
head valley led Hoerr to believe
there are oil possibilities in the dis
trict. Large oil seeps are found on
the North Fork of Flathead river,
near the Canadian border, north Of
Columbia Falls, but Canadian drill
ing has failed to find oil in com
mercial quantities According to
Massey, the formations are less
broken in Columbia Falls district
and structure capable OF trapping
oil and gas is present.
Massey has had wide experience |
in Montana and Wyoming oil fields I
and was employed with the U. S. 1
Geological Survey In mapping the |
Big Hole basin, Wyoming and he !
was for nine years associated with |
the late c. T. Lupton, discoverer |
of Cat Creek.
Residents OF Flathead Valley are I
about the proposed oil |
test. About $50 we're present at l
the ceremony of spudding. when
A. #. Wfnkler, representing the |
Chamber OF Commerce,
gave a dedicatory address and q |
bottle OF wine was broken against /
the side Of the derrick, in ship
launching fashion.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-12-14
LOWEST COSTS
WILL COMMAND
CANADIAN MART

Word was received here this
week that the Canadian gov
crnmcnt has offered the licens-
ing OF imports OF crude and re-
fined products, including lube
oils and greases, from all eX-
cept Sterling countries. Eng
land, Wales. Scotland and South
Africa. the purpose Of which
Is 10 conserve dollar exchange.
To Montana this means that ex-
poFters 10 Canada may continue to
export only In the event that
Canadian buyers obtain a license to
take Montana crude. II does not
mean that American crude will be
barred but merely a more careful
regulation Of Canadian-AEnerican ex-
change. The ruling gives first pre-
ference TO Canadian producers so
long as they can supply the de-
mand Trucking companies that
have been hauling refined products
from Montana will be licensed 10
continue only in the event that
Canadian refiners cannot supply
their requirements.
NayIOr In Charge
through the efforts of p. r. Naylor,
formerly manager of Imperial pur-
chases in Montana, arranged for
part of its crude supplies for its
Sarnia, Ont, refinery from South
American via tanker TO Marcus
Hook. Pa. (Philadelphia) and pipe
line to Port Huron, Mich. Deliver
les OF South American oil are ex-
pected to begin on Jan. i. 1871.
The use OF South American crude
will be confined 10 the eastern
provinces. Low-price crude for the
prairie provinces Is no longer OBJ
tainable from Illinois. Montana
crude costs less for transportation
than Midcontinent crude. Should
Turner Valley be unable to supply
refinery requirements during the
coming year, there will be no ques-
ton about continued shipment OF
Montana crude to Saskatchewan re-
fineries, which IS only a small part
of the Canadian demand.
Canada imported 29, 100000 Dbl.
of U. S. crude oil from Sept. /.
1899 to Sept. /. 1910, as against
rs. 100000 Dbl in the same II
months Of 193S-39.
Is War Measure
Licenses will be handled by the
Minister of National Revenue. under
a provision OF the War Exchange
Act, which passed the
Canadian House OF Commons at
Ottawa on Dec. 2. Smaller Canad-
lon oil marketers who have been |
(conunued on Pagr Five,
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-12-14
Wildcat Precariously
Perches On High Wall OF
West Sweetgrass Arch

The spectacular wildcat well history
today Spuddng the bleak blzzardwept wall of the
rmrock of the Sweegss Arch and north of the
Kelvin the northwest of the NWlNE1 Section 49, Twp
35N, Rg. 3W
Previously perched a 60foot shelf dug
of the S00foo cliff National machine belonging
Shay The is reached by road likewise
gouged out Of tie side of the wall with This road
OF mile long climbs steep grade reach the
in the embankmen whs provides the 60foot
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-12-14
WINTER zEST
SPEEDS WORK
AT CUT BANK

Zero weather and Christmas
snow had no chilling effect on
the drilling program Of Cut
Bank field during the past
week as 10 new we'll locations
were spotted, following the
completion of two producers.
Cut Bank drillers must keep
drilling to maintain production
levels for during the month of
october the field showed only
a slight gain over September
production. despite the fact
that the three largest produc-
ers increased their runs 16. 900
barrels over the previous
month. Decline of production
on leases where there was no
drilling more than offset the
gain.
One well with an initial of loo
barrels and a second with So bar
rels initial was the result Of the
competitions.
Hanlon, Agent-AllOtted Tract
1871 No. 3, Sc SWA NWA 1872
5W. had an initial of 100 barrels.
It had Sunburst sand from 2795 to
1912 with a showing frcm 2799 to
2803; upper Cut Bank from 1925
to 2847; and lower Cut Bank sand
from 2S47 to 1858, the main pay.
Oil rose 700 feet in the hole. The
7-inch was set at 2S28 but not ce-
mented as it was pulled up to per-
NIT a 140-quart nitro glycerin shot.
1t is being cleaned out, preparatory
to cementing easing.
Glacier observation-disclosures No.
4, C NE Il SW Il 20-35-5W. had an
initial of So barrels in 16 hours.
1t had Sunburst sand from 1855 to
1876, dry; upper Cut Bank from
1856 to 1891; lower Cut Bank
from 1891 to 1896; Ellis from
1896 to 1898; oil rose 500 feet
Seven-inch casing was cemented at
1858.
Several wells are due for com
pletion during the coming week,
giving promise of a little Christ
mas cheer for the owners.
Cobb-TribaI 1877 No. 2, sW SWA
NWA 19-32-5W, is ready to drill
in. 1t was drilled to 1926 with
rotary tools. Casing was set at
1922 and the rotary is being moved
off. The sand viii be drilled with
cable tools, after clearing the hole
of rotary mud. This well is in the
new extension south of the Big
Bend pool and while the first we'll
was drilled in with rotary tools,
Cobb expects to determine whether
the weight Of the column Of rotary
mud has any effect on the produc-
ing sand. The Kaulberg- Tribal No.
well nearby was drilled with
cable tools and it had 240 barrels
initial as compared with 1876 bar
rels in the Cobb No. 1
Three wells are scheduled to
start Immediately in the new south
extension.
Consolidated Gas-Frary-TribaI No.
tontinued on Page Fivel
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-12-14
PASSING OF
DR.. SIEGFRIEDT
is GREAT Loss

The State OF Montana this week
lost one of its best citizens with
the passing OF DR.. ]. c. Siegfriedt,
mayor Of Red Lodge. who has for
many years been an important asset
to the mineral development OF
southern Montana.
A typical country doctor. he had
tremendous practice. yet found
time to become nationally recog-
nized authority on Montana palae-
ontogOlY He was active In secur-
ing oil development and likewise
mining development, finding funds
to carry on leasing and other OPP
erations.
DR.. Siegfredt was the father of
the famous Cooke City highway and
made the first reconnais-
ance survey, going to Washington,
d. c., to urge the project upon
federal officials. The highway
served also to open up transparta-
tion into the hills where the vast
deposits Of chromium are located.
His interest in palaeontology and
his fine collection OF fossils was
largely responsible for the esfab-
lishment of the Princeton summer
camp where each summer the lead
ing geologists and palaeontologisas
OF the world gather to study the
formations Outcropping In the Bear
tooth range.
DR.. Siegfriedt never seemed TO
profit by any Of his projects. Like
wise he was the type of doctor who
did not send bills TO his patients.
While many paid him. great deal
tcOntinued On Page Five,