Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-07-25

Whereas the Montana contract calls only
for deliveries up TO the end Of the year, IL
is considered certain that Montana must
continue to provide crude at least for the
duration Of the war. There will be no choice
among Montana suppliers. 1t is a military
necessity.
But meantime we may begin to worry
about an adequate supply for Montana re-
finers. The small plants are already feeling
the pinch-were feeling the pinch even be-
fore the Kelvin production began slipping
The Yale plant at KaIispeI, one Of the new
est In the state, has already shut down for
lack Of crude. The Treasure State plant, one
of the most responsible of the smaller re-
fineries Of north Montana, has shut down,
likewise for lack of crude. There are one
or two others which are operating on limited
amounts of crude and may have to shut
down when those supplies are exhausted.
Whether that is good or bad, we cannot say.
Some people contend that topping plants
are a bad influence on the markets and
the industry. Others say that topping
plants create a market for excess oil and
serve to stabilize the price of oil. Be that
as it may, the fact that the topping plants
can't get crude to keep running is a further
indication that the next ones to feel the
pinch will be the larger Independents and
then the major refiners
Among the refiners who are "doing some
thing about it, is The Texas Co, In drilling
its test wells near Dupuyer. If TexacO brings
in big field, this might solve that conn
pany's crude problems, Of course, and per-
haps release Kelvin crude for other markets.
However the word IF covers much territory,
and this win take much time, In any event.
Big West OH Co. has been diligently seek
ing new sources of the high gravity crude
found on the West Slope Of Kelvin field.
Big West has apparently tapped a new pool,
after drilling six wells in the search, but IL
will take more wells to definitely locate the
pool which is somewhat outlined by two
wells, drilled previously, which had show
ings Of oil.
The west slope Of Kelvin now seems to
present the most promising field for pros
pecting. There has been no more profitable
pool In the field than the RimrOck pool, with
its 38 gravity crude, equal In quality to
Cut Bank crude and produced from for
nation 1000 feet shalIOwer. The man who
developed this pool did so in the belief that
the showings Of oil In the old abandoned
wells on the Strange farm were indicative
OF more oil In the area. Also ne Deneveo
that acid might do better in this outlying
territory than in the center Of the field
where the pressure had been reduced by
producing wells. He proved both theories
and led in the development of some highly
profitable high-gravity oil wells.
Believing that not all the high gravity oil
was confined in the RimrOck pool, Wrighter
moved into new district In what appeared
to be a most unlikely spOt-On top Of the
plateau beyond the Kelvin rimrock- 1t meant
500 feet deeper drilling but he risked a well
on the wall Of the rimrOck. He drilled to
the lime and had showing Of oil measur-
able in gallons. He acidized and did con-
siderable work ON the well but it would
make no more than two or three barrels
per day. However, had it been a flowing
wen, it would have been no better proof