Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-04-11
kelvin OPERATORS
OFFER TO USE
OLD CASINOS
fContinued from PAGE one)

ACOubuueQ from rage OIc(
fore ne definite pattern has been es-
tablished. IN reply to a question BY
H. A. Duncan. district supervisor OF
U.S.GS., Of Casper, Zorichak advised
that the USGS. approve no locations
in Kelvin field until a pattern corner
else the 10-acre pattern arrangement,
is determined by the OPC.
The Shelby meeting was marked by
spirited exchanges. LsaRue Smith, at
torney for the Coolidge organizations,
submitted a pool Of operators favoring
a plan of one wen to 40 acres but
leaving the location on the 40 acres to
the choice of the operator. Zorichak
stated that Washington had refused to
consider that plan. A definite pattern
must be adopted, Washington told him.
Stewart, in an opening statement.
said that the WPB has asked that
drilling be restricted from the 10000
wells Of last year to 10000 wells this
year and that drilling be done where
the results are most effectual to aiding
the conduct Of the war; that the COM
ing year may see a steel shortage COM
pelling further cut of available casing
to perhaps 10000 wells.
1naSmuch as the purpose Of the M-68
order Is to conserve steel, he said, the
proposal that Kelvin be allowed to go
ahead with development while utiliz-
ing used casing, may get a favorable
response from the OPC. Zorichak In
turn explained the new spacing rules,
whereby the WPB hopes to increase
proven reserves by a program of one
well to 40 acres. This was not designed
for an old field like Kelvin, ne said,
nor did it contemplate a lime condi-
ton such as In Kelvin where a well in
the center Of 40 acres by no means
proves up any more than the acres
on which 1t is drilled. Under the un-
usual circumstances, 1t appears neces-
Sary to provide an exception to the
rules, he said, but could not anticipate
the probable decision of the OPC and
in turn the WPB.
These characteristics must be set
forth in the application, he said. and
provision must be made that new ma
terials are not to be used In this pro-
gram. In any case, no 220-foot spacing
would be allowed, he thought, but the
center Of 10 acres would give a 800 |
foot arrangement that might prove
to the OPC.
New areas, two miles from present !
may be considered as new
pools. he said, and each new pool win /
nave its own spacing plan, dependent |
IN geological and other conditions. The
West Sunburst pool, he opined, CLASH
lies as a new pool, separate from Kelvin
.ield. That was in response to a ques-
ion by r. @. Parent, who developed
his pool. The new pool on top Of the
'imrock west Of Kelvin, developed by
Charles Wrighter, does not qualify as
! new pool, he ruled.
Crlmley stated that for several years
last Kelvin field has used virtually no
lew casing. r. P. Jackson, secretary
# the Oil Conservation Board, said
hat in 1871 there we're so new pro-
ulcers completed and II old wells were
the old equipment being
Ised for the most part in the new
wells.
A committee composed of Stuart
chairman, Charles Wrighter,
Bob Engleking, Jack Agen, E. L. Postel-
7ait, Earl Montgomery and Rudy Pre-
oil was named to draft the petition
or exception, to secure the 1O-acre !
pacing arrangement. This failing, the
levin operators will ask for the desig-
alton Of the southeast corner of the
0 as the spacing pattern.