COUNTY: BUTTE

LEGAL LOCATION: SENE 32-8N-1E

API NO: 40 019 05002

PERMIT NO: H33-3

WELL NAME: WY-TEX #1 HAMILTON

OPERATOR: WY-TEX OIL

CORPORATION

PERMIT ISSUED:

PERMIT CLOSED:

FILE LOCATION: 8N-1E-32 SENE

TARGET CODES:

WELL HISTORY / CHECKLIST

PERMIT TO DRILL / INTENT TO DRILL

WELL INSPECTION / SCOUT REPORTS

OPERATOR’S TECHNICAL REPORTS / MAPS

ADMINISTRATIVE / SUNDRY REPORTS

CORRESPONDENCE

MISCELLANEOUS

WELL HISTORY / CHECKLIST

NO WELL HISTORY OR CHECKLIST FOR THIS WELL

AS OF 5/10/2011

PERMIT TO DRILL / INTENT TO DRILL

NO PERMIT TO DRILL OR INTENT TO DRILL INFORMATION FOR THIS

WELL AS OF 5/10/2011

WELL INSPECTION / SCOUT REPORTS

NO WELL INSPECTION OR SCOUT REPORTS FOR THIS WELL

AS OF 5/10/2011

OPERATOR'S TECHNICAL

REPORTS / MAPS

t7,

u. a a a

• LOG

“L—I.L,J1_v1.1J.vyl vy..L., .Jni.L.L.12,1.1

DESCRIPTION BLANCHE HAI“LTON 7ELL #1 State S. Dak cmnPa 7y-Tex Oil e____--

44anche county . _ z • Hamilton Fyyvjw. 3.

T.ify R. i 63 Contractor Top Bottom Formation and Remarks

Z--- x

.

Commenced / ci 3 -4,

Conipleted i q 3 2--- Well starts in Sundance Formation.

Remarks Information given 10 __40

70

130 145

Water sand at 30 ft. by R. li, Harmon. 40

85aoft Limestone

Limestone , . ,

Soft_ limestone --'\' 1

Soft limestone) Red rock

Altitude 22all_Located 9 miles 70

85 west of Belle Fourche Production

'4, NM ) S 0-C) 3 2-,778'N-,It).1 &. 13o CASING RECORD

n ” 1120 feet 1115

175

175 210

Red rock :

Soft red rock,showing g

Hard red rock-

rock _ _3_o_a_Resi_

8W 1390 feet 210 235_

26a

325 355 3_9_o_

400 410 46o

° "

Ws"

151A" 5 3/16" 235 12w 402 feet 2_60

300 Red rock, caving Red rock

Red rock, caving

Shot Quarts Between

Log—Continued 325 355 390 Red rock

Red rock Red rock Red rock : Red Tnck, hole caving,

dump water

Top

1190 1200 1205 1215 1230 1250 1255

Bottom

1200

1205 1215

1230 1250 1255 1260

Formation and Remarks

Hard brown sand

Pink lime -

Water sand,very hard

Hard white lime Sand

Hard sandy shell Soft coarse sand showing

gas

400 410

460 810 8(>0 810

860 890 975

Red rock, cavine: Red_ rock

Limestone

890

975 9An 990 1000

9_s_o_

99. Hard limestone Very hard limestone

1260

1265 1270 1275 1280 1285

1265 1270 1275 1280 1285 1295

Soft sand

Lime Hard sand

_Hard liMP ahEll ,

Soft pink lime Pink lime Red sandstone

Dark gray lime, havd ,

_1000

40

li o

o o

_Hard limestone Rrnken sand ConElomerate hard

shells

1014

_1020

1030 10 0 Shale with bard shells 1295 1300

_1(1_

1080 1100

11:41__Rad clay, cav-Ing 1300 1310

Red sandstone Red sandstone, red .cl_

1310

1315

1315

1325

Har_d___SLMS1 White sand__ 1100 111.7

1325 1328

'335 1 4

1355_1

1365

1328 1335 1345 1355

.5

1385

Hard lime shell

Light grey__/i_me_st_one Dark vrev limestone

• • . . a a lc,s

of chert Hard nink lime,chert

ID____AC_S__4_ Pink lime with break-41

brown shale

,

,

breaks.

1117 1120 HaTd liMestone

_1120

1135 _1135 Hard grey_ limestone

Hard _sand_ ia_lto___ 1155

1170

1140 White water sand Hard sand 1155

1170 _118_4_ 1185 1190

Water „sand 1180 Lime

Hard lime 1185

LOG—Continued

LOG—Continued

Top p• *tom Formation and Remarks Top Bottom Formation arid Remarks

1385 1400 Pink lime 1400 1407

1415 1435

Red clay Conlomerate Conglomeration, blue, shale, red clay, chalk and chert. Running sand

reen

. 1407 1415

_ 1445 1450 Conglomerate

Sand, showing more wat_r Sand

1450 2

14 2 1510 1520

Pink sand Sand Hard sandy limestone

Soft grey sand, show o oil and gas.

1510 1520_1527 1527 1529

.

ADMINISTRATIVE / SUNDRY REPORTS

\10 •

SOUTH DAKOTA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

VERMILLION, SOUTH DAKOTA

Aff Test Hole log Location SE Sec. 32 T. 8N.,R. 1E.

Well log __X_ Designation

State Se. flak. County But te Elev. 3490.0 (alt., inst., topo. map)

Land Owner Address

Drilled by Blanche #1 Hamilton Address

Date 1932 - 1933

Source of Data

E-Iog available Samples available

Graphic Log

Geologic Unit tritaglati

Formation Tops

From-to- Feet

Alluvium & Sundance surf.

Spearfish 210

Minnekahte 975

Opeche 1014

Minnelusa 1117

TD 1703

Note: Oil show at 1529 feet

CORRESPONDENCE

6-Ueda, istmatemi writ AketA4(truitat)

COPY

le Lee Street Deadwood, South Dakota September 5, 1932

•

Chief Inspector U. S. Geological Survey Midwest, Wyoming

Dear Sir:

The test well being drilled by thely-tex Corporation of 364 Pittock Block, Portland, Oregon on the Oak Creek Structure nine miles and oae half west of Belle Fourche, South Dakota near the Wyoming lime, has been shut down at a depth of 1535 feet. .

The bottom of:this well is now in the Amadeu oil producing sands and considerable oil-is coming up with the flow of artesian water en-countered in'ibe Embar member of the Minneluaa Strata. Any exper-ienced oil'operator will infornryou that this well is now a commercial oil producer if and when this flow of water is cased or cemented off.

There are four test wells being drilled in this immediate area with the Ninnelusa formation as their first main objective. The test on the Redwater of Aladdin Structure is only ten miles from this Oak Creek well. Zytelf and associates are drilling a test well 15 miles east of the Oak Creek well, therefore we pray that you will immediately take drastic action to force the Wy-tex Corporation, of the,above named address, to cement or case off the water that is exposing all possible oil producing horizons above the Madison Lime to water.

Ira Mahon is president of this company with headquarters at 364 Pittock Block, Portland, Oregon. D. W. Tripplehorn is Field Super-intendent for the-Wy-tex Corporation With headquarters in the Osage Oil Field but he resides at the AntlerisHotel of Mewcastti, Wyoming.

I have been informed by Mr. James IcCollough, Antlarls Hotel'', Newcastle that be has taken over all of the drilling equipment at the Wy-tex test well on Oak Creek Structure located nine miles and onehalf west of Belle Fourche, South Dakota 6nd six miles east of Aladdin, Crook County, Wyoming.

He told the writer yesterday at Newcastle that he was interested in shutting off this water in the Oak Creek well Which is endangering the future oil production of the Tri-Otate Basin surrounding the Black Hillseof Western South Dakota, northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montaia.

The writer would be very grateful for any prompt action you would take in this matter and for a prompt reply to this letter.

In the meantime I beg to be and remain,

Respectfully yours,

J. H. Voorhees Consulting Geologist and Petroleum Engineer.

MISCELLANEOUS

21,,e-u-.) 0 / 9 3 1/-* , Wy-Tex Oil Drillers I Lose Tools in Hol ■

CAVE-IN IN TEST ON. HAMIL TON RANCH CAUSES

TROUBLE

Drillers in the test on the Hamil ton ranch 10 miles west of Belk Fourche, are reported to have en countered serious difficulty by rea. son of a cave-in in the formation above which blocked their string of tools in the hole, and in an attempt to pull them out the drilling line parted, which leaves them with a fiahing job on their hands, and the tools on the bottom of the hole which is said to have reached a depth of 1703 feet.

The operators are having special fishing tools made in Casper, Wyo., and will make an attempt to recover the string and clean out and con-tinue the test.

4, //3 The Wy-Tex Oil corporatio of

, Portland, Oregon, testing the Ham-' ilton ranch 10 miles west of Belle Fourche., S. D., after several months shutdown, resumed (frilling and af-ter making about 100 feet of new' hole, lost a string of tools and su-spznded operations.

Wy-Tex Oil Drillers Start Active Drilling

WATER IS SHUT OFF AT 1,529 FEET, TO DRILL

DEEPER

Belle Fourche, S. D., Aug. 25.— (Special)—The Wy-Tex Corpora-tion, drilling the test on the Blanche Hamilton ranch ten miles west of here, succeeded in shutting off wa-ter at 1,529 feet and resumed active drilling operations again Tuesday morning.

Instead of c,ementing the casing in to secure a water shut-off as is the usual custom the water was mudded-off, using bentonite that is a product of this region in consid-erable quantities. By this method the drillers will be enabled to carry the casing deeper to shut off addi-tional water flows if it seems advis-able.

A Star special is being used to complete the test. Location of the well is on the Hamilton ranch, sec-tion 32-8N-1E, in Butte county, and slightly more than one mile east of the Wyoming-South Dakota line.

From reports of relia.ble geologists who have examined the area the prospects of encountering commer-cial oil in the test in lower forma-tions seem very good. Headquarters of the Wy-Tex corporation are in Portland, Oregon. D. W. Tripple-horn, of Belle Fourche, is superin-tenduit for the company.

/r4OL,

CROW PEAK ANTICLINE I D. W. Tripplehorn et al have taken1 over the Wy-Tex Co. operation on ' the Crow Peak Anticline 10 miles I west of Belle Fourche in South Da- . kota and are now rat-holing ahead and will cement to shut off water at 1529 ft. Test is on the Hamilton ranch in sw ne 3/4 sec. 32-8n-le. Hole is believed to be bottomed in the top of the Minnelusa sand and is reported to have had a considerable showing of oil when shut down about a year ago.

/9-53

42- rd. /i 3 OAK CREEK STRUCTURE

Wy-Tex Corporation of Portland, Ore., has set and cemented a string of 8Y1-in. casing on top of the Minne-lusa formation to shut off water at 1529 ft. in No. 1 Blanche Hamilton, sec. 32-8n-le, on the Oak Creek struc-ture 10 miles west of Belle Fourche. 1). W. Tripplehorn is in charge of op-erations, The well was drilled to pres-ent depth last year and shut down on sccount of title difficulties. There was a considerable showing of oil along with the water when drilling was suspended. Production is expect-ad in the base of the Minnelusa or the top of the Madison. The Oak Creek structure lies partly in Wyoming and partly in South Dakota, the Hamil-ton location being 21/2 miles east of the state line.

OAK CREEK STRUCTURE Good progress is reported by the

Wy-Tex Corporation of Portland, Ore., in its test, No. 1 Blanche Hamilton, sec. 32-6n-1e, on the Oak Creek struc-ture 10 miles west of Belle Fourche. String of 8%-in. casing has been set on bottom at 1529 ft. to shut off water. Hole is believed to be bot-tomed on top of the Minnelusa and , has a considerable showing of oil. Test bad been standing for a number i lof months waiting on adjustment of lease titles. D. W. Tripplehorn, ex-perienced driller, is in charge oB operations for the Wy-Tex. , -

J-e-.1==4. ? q 3 _ Wy-Tex Oil Company

1600 feet in Tesi PROSPECTS ARE GOOD AT 2000

FEET IN OAK CREEK OIL TEST

Drillers at the Wy-Tex Oil corpor-ation test on the Blanche Hamilton ranch ten miles west of Belle Fourche are drilling below 1,600 feet after many delays, caused by crev-ices and very hard formations.

No further oil showing has been encountered in the test since casing off a strong water flow and good oil showing at 1529 feet. The Minnelusa sand, the formation in whi.b. the is now bottomed is reported by Dar-ton of the U. S. G. Survey to be ap-proximately 500 feet in thickness in that aresa, if the heavy water flow encountered at 1529 feet was on the top of this formation the well will probably be carried to slightly more than 2,000 feet before its base is reached, the horizon at which the good eil flow was encountered in the east Mule creek well in the joint test of the Ohio-Argo oil companies.

The drillers used bentonite in mudding off the water flow after nmning 8 1-4 inch casing in the hole to enable them to carry this casing string to a kwer level as the well progresses.

A Star special is being used to complete the test, which was started with a Fort Worth Spudder, Model -D. D. W. Tripplehorn is superin-tendent in charge of operations for the Wy-Tex company.

Location of the well is in 'Section 32-8N-1E, on the Hamilton ranch, about one and a half miles east of the Wyoming-South Dakota line.

/f2-3 OAK CREEK STRUCTURE

The Wy-Tex Corporation is drill-ing below 1700 ft. in No. 1 Blanche Hamilton, sec. 32-6n-1e, Oak CreeE structure, 10 miles west of Belle Fourche. Hole is believed to be bot-tomed in frhe base of the Minnelusa. String of 83i-in. casing /was set at 1529 ft. for a complete water shut off. Considerable showing of oil was reported in the top of the Minnelusa.

SC46* 19-55 Wy-Tex Oil Drillers

Now Down 1700 ft. DRILLING IN MINNELUSA SAND

IN VERY HARD FOR- MATION

Drillers at the Wy-Tex oil test on the Blanche Hamilton ranch 10 miles west of Belle Fourche, were down slightly below 1,700 feet and drilling in a very hard formation in the Minnelusa sand.

The well is being financed by the Wy-Tex Oil corporation of Portland, Oregon, and is in charge of D. W. Tripplehorn. A strong flow of water and some oil was reported at 1529 feet.

Wy-Tex Oil Co. Be-low 1700 Ft. in Test

This week the Wy-Tex Oil Cor-poration of Portland, Oregon, was-reported as drilling below 1700 feet in the test for oil on the Hamilton ranch ten miles west of Belle Fourche, S. D., in Butte county.

The bit is said to be still in the Minnelusa sandstone and drilling in hard material, with another strata that was a heavy water producer encountered which will make it necessary to run another string of casing, or underream and carry the 8 1-4 inch casing that was used in shutting off the first strong water flow at 1529 feet.

/2i-p-7/ /f -5.6 Oak Creek

Wy-Tex Oil Corporation is fishing for tools in No. 1 Blanche Hamilton, sec. 32-8n-1e, Oak Creek structure, 10 miles west of Belle Fourche, with the hole bottomed at 1703 ft. Flow of wa-ter was struck at present depth sat-urating red cave above, causing it to slide and covering the tools about 50 ft. Line knife was run and cable cut. Crew is drilling Gut cave preparatory to running casing bowl on 6%-in. cas-ing.

io, /9'33 OAK CREEK

The Wy-Tex Oil Corporation is still tied up with a fishing job at 1703 ft. in No. 1 Blanche Hamilton, sec. 38 -

8n-le, on the Oak Creek structure, 10 miles southwest of Belle Fourche, in Butte county, S. D.

SAND WELL SATURATED WITH OIL TAKEN FROM BELLE

FOURCHE TEST

Drillers at the Wy-Tex operation completing the Hamilton test ten miles west of Belle Fourche, S. D., are this week under-reaming prepar-atory to running a string of 8 1-4 inch casing to the base of the Min-neulsa sand in order to shut off the water flow and finish the test. R. P. Harmon of Belle Fourche was in Rapid City this we,ek exhibiting stole of the sand taken from the bottom of the hole that was well sat- urated with oil.

A Star Special was recently mov-ed from the Carter test on the north-ern end of the anticline in Crook county, Wyoming, to replace a Mod-el D Fort Worth spudder, that was used in making the test to 1529 feet. The well was started about a year ago by the Wy-Tex Oil Corpor-ation, of Portland, Oregon, with D. W. Tripplehorn as superintendent, after the loss of some tools the rig was skidded and a new hole start-ed. Indications are good for a com-mercial well as considerable oil is constantly coining up with water, and officials of the company are of the opinion that by casing off the water and drilling ,deeper produc-tion may be had in the Madison lime or base of the Minnelusa.

Location of the well is in Sec- 32-8N-1E. The leases were

iolocked up by R. P. Harmon and ' J. H. Voor,hees. The structure was

-3 by J. H. Voorhees of Ornha, and J. C. Corey, of Baker, Montana. Mr. Voorhees' report on the structure follows:

Geological report on the Oak Creek structure in townships 54-55 north, range 61 east, Crook county, Wyoming, and townships 8 and 9 north, range 1 east, Butte county, South Dakota.

Geography The area described in this geolog-

ical report is embraced in the ex-treme northeastern portion of the state of Wyoming and the north-western part of the state of South Dakota, same being approximately thirty miles north of the Black Hills and approximately the same distance east of the Bear Lodge mountains.

Belle fourche, South Dakota, is twenty-five miles east of this struc-ture, and Beulah, Wyoming, is 15 miles south of the high of the struc-ture.

Belle Fourche is the nearest rail-road point.

/t,

Wy-Tex Oil Corporation Underreaming On Important Butte County Oil Test

Forma,tions—Stratigraphy The oldest formation exposed up.

on this structure is the Fuson Shale, but the Dakota Sandstone is the top formation along the axis, very little of which is Absent.

Topop aphy The Dakota sandstone is gray to 1 The area described in this report reddish brown in color, mostly mas- I

is very rough and rugged with high sive above and slabby below, mod-1 precipitious cut banks along Oak erately coarse grained above, em-! creek on the west of the structurebraces very little water along the. and along Hay Creek on the southaxis of the structure being discussed of same. and is 50 feet in thickness along

There is a gentle slope of the for-said axis. This stratum is classed by illations and surfac,e east

and north- the U. S. G. S. as being of Upper

east from the axis of ihe anticline Cretaceous age.

down into the valley of the Belle Fuson Shale Fourche river on the eastern flank The Fuson shale is a marine for- of the fold. mation, Lower Cretac,eous in age,

High cut banks also flgnk the composed of gray sandy shale and valley of the North Fork of Hay thin layers of gray sandstone, and creek that trends along the south _ is from 60 to 80 feet in thickness on

western syncline of the structure be.. the Oak Creek structure. ing discussed in this report. Lakota Sandstone

Drainage The Lakota stratum is composed The drainage from this structure of gray to buff sandstone, massive.

is west into Oak creek, north into to flaggy, quite hard, 60 to 80 feet the North Fork of Hay creek. in thickness, and is of Lower Cre-

Sturcture taceous age. While this is classed as The Oak creek structure is a very an artesian water producer in north-

well defined anticline. The dips of western South Dakota and in north-which are very sharp on the west eastern Wyoming, it carries no wa-and southwest, same being as sharp ter on the Oak creek anticline be-as eight degrees down into the Oak ing discussed in this report. creek syncline. The dipping forma- Morrison Shale

ranging from 5 to 6 degrees down There is 80 feet of this formation tions on the southwest have dips

into the valley of the North Fork of present in the area being discussed,

and same is present elsewhere in !northwestern South Dakota and in

Hay creek. The west side of the northeastern Wyoming, is a greenish . structure has a closure of 350 feet in a very short distance. The east side of same has a closure of 850 feet in 6 miles. natural gas recovered In the Cat

The south and southwest portion creek field of central Montana is of the structure has a fault closure found in this formation, said oil be-which has a down throw of approx- ' ing of a high grade parafine base. imately 180 feet. The down throw is on the north side of the fault. Hay creek and the North Fork of Hay creek flow in this faulted con-dition. Hay creek trends almost due east and west along the south end of the fold or structure.

There is very little variance in the elevation along the axis of the Oak creek structure, but there appears to be a local "high" in section 7 (SE1-4NW1.4). This local high is

on the south side of the structure. N. H. Darton covers this structure

with a reconnaissence report in his Professional Paper No. 65 on the Northern Portion of the Black Hills in Wyoming and South Dakota. He is a noted U. S. government geolo-gist.

Mr. Darton's survey in the area being discusse, was very thorough and painstaking, and he stresses his description of the Oak creek anti-cline on page 64 of his Professional Report No. 65 on the Aladdin Quad-rangle, which can be secured from the U. S. G. S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. Mr. Harmon of Belle Fourche also has a copy of this report.

gray to maroon in color, of Jurassic in age and is approximately 80 feet in thickness. Most of the oil and

Sundance Formation The Sundance stratum is compos-

ed of grayish green shale, lenticular sandstone and limestone, buff sand-stone near base, reddish sandstone members near middle of stratum and fine massive gray and huff sandstone near the top. The U. S. G. S. folios sometimes class the top of this strata as Unkpapa Strata. This formation is classe,d as being a member of the Jurassic family in

located on the axis, approximately age and is between 250 and 390 feet

two miles from the Hay creek fault in thickness on the Oak creek anti-cline.

Durst and Smith of Belle Fourche South Dakota, who are deep artesian well drillers, drilled several deep wells for artesian water upon this Oak creek structure, hut found very little, if any water, in the Sundance formation, but some good showings of oil.

Durst and Smith also drilled a well through .this stratum on the south side of this Hay creek fault but found no water. This well bot-tomed at 1500 in the Minnelusa sandstone.

This Sundance formation pro-duces oil and gas in Montana and Wyoming, is quite porous, and may

produce a commercial quantity of oil and gas if drilled into on the. structure south of the Hay creek fault. The -writer advises drilling through this formation with the hole dry so as to be able to detect any oil and gas showings, and if same is found, the well should be shot with at least 20 quarts of nitro. This stra-tum is an ideal housing organ or receptacle for oil and gas.

Spearfish Formation This formation is composed of red

sandy shale, soft porous red sand-stonti and inter-bedded layers °I porous gypsum, is 650 feet in thick-

,ness and is classed by the U. S. G. !S. as being of Triassic age.

The members of this stratum are quite porous, and therefore could house a commercial amount of oil and natural gas, and the writer ad-i vises drilling this stratum with a dry hole so as to readily perceive any oil showings at which depth the well should be shot with nitro, if the production is not commercial.

Minnekahta Formation This formation is composed chief-

ly of thinly laminated limestone, is gray in color, quite porous and cave-ous, at least 50 feet in thickness and is classed as being of Permian age.

The Minekahta lime constitutes an ideal housing receptacle for pe-troleum and natural gas, and the hole through same should be drilled , dry and a close watch maintained for oil showings. When same are detected the well should be shot with at least 50 quarts of nitro, if not commercial.

Opeche Formation This stratum has a thicknegs of

80 to 90 feet of inter-bedded layers of red sandy shale and red laminat-ed sandstone, is of Permian age, and quite porous and cavernous. This stratum produces some oil in Wyoming and considerable in Mon-tana, and may be productive of both oil and gas in commercial quanti-ties upon the Oak creek anticline which is under discussion in this report.

Minnelusa Sandstone The Minnelusa formation is com-

posed of massive granular sandstone and limestone of reddish, buff and white colors, is approximately 400 feet in thickness. There is a red-dish sandy lime concretionary bed near the base with a thickness of at least 30 'feet, which is very por-ous and the sand is very coarse grained, therefore the entire thick-ness of the Minnelusa sandstone would make a very suitable recepta-cie for the housing of oil and nat-ural gas in commercial quantities.

This formation is productive of both petroleum and gas in Wyo-ming and Montana, and should, and probably will be, productive of both on the Oak creek structure.

Messrs. Durst and Smith, contract drillers of Belle Fourche, South Da-kota, just completed a test well for artesian water on this structure just' south of the Hay creek fault. This well was drilled a considerable depth

into the Minnelusa formation with three very good showings of oil. There is no doubt in the writer's mind that these horizons would have produced a commercial amount of oil if same had been shot. The writ-er examined the bailings from these three oil showing horizons after they had been exposed to the elements for several weeks and same were still saturated with oil.

Pahasapa Formation This stratum is composed of white

to gray limestone with an approxi-mate thickness of 550 feet, is of Mississippian age, quite caveous and porous, and turns to dove color where exposed in the Black Hills.

This Mississippi Lime, as it is quite generally called, produces both oil and gas in Montana, and Wyoming. -The Minnelusa sandstone is of Pennsylvania age, and this formation with those of the Missis. sipian age produce 90 per cent of the world's oil supply. No test well drilled north of the Black Hills should be called a duster and aban-doned without a test of this Paha-sapa limestone,

Wy-Tex Oil Corporation

(Tri-State News--Pau1 G. FrigEins)

Belle Fourche, S. Dak., June, 1933. ----The firste"oil news of the season in this area founa its way out this week through a maze of rumors, and officials of the Wy-Tex corporation, Portland, Ore., were prepared to say "fairly certain" that the test on the Oak Creek will be resumed in two reeks.

Here for a few days following a suit for repossession of xig and Osage properties at New Castle, Wyo., Ira Mahon, general manager of the Wy-Tex corporation, his counsel Pat Gallagher, and production manager, D. W. Tripplehorn, tool- under consideration several plans for resuming operations and have.announced results of their efforts.

In a statement issued after the trial at New Castle, which involved properties totaling $115,0001 Tripplehorn said a deal was under way with D. J. Carter of Baker, Montana, to take over the Carter rig on the Oak creek structure and resume work on the Wy-Tex test.

Carter has abandoned work on the test, according to Tripple-hornus announcement, and negotiations have been entered into which will move the Carter 30 Special Star rig on the Wy-Tex hole which is bottomed at 1530 feet on the Hamilton ranch rest of here, nine miles.

Tripplehorn said "it is fairly certain" we will be at work in two weeks. We are, however, awaiting permission from the United States Geological Survey to plug the Carter well befOre moving the riE and jerking the casing completely. Mr. Mahon of the Wy-Tex company returned to Portland immediately to complete financitg.

The suit at New Castle involved repossession of the Wy-Tex riE and Osage oil properties and was tried in the WyOming circuit court before Judge Harry P. Illsley. Because of the long drawn out character of the suit, Illsley has ordered briefs prepared and' will render a decision in the case in 6o days. However, officials of the Wy-Tex have indicated they will go ahead with the Carter rigs despite the outcome of the wuit in Wyoming courts.

Tripplehoxn said the hole on the Oak creek test where oil was found in the MinneIusa a year ago, is in good shape and water can be shut off easily. The former test hole must be plugged first according to federal regulations. The abandonment of the Carter test, doZs not mean necessarily, he said, that Carter is through on Oak creek.

Tripplehorn believes the oil found in the Wy-Tex a year aEo at 1550 when financing was wrecked, came from a lower sand and was pushed up by water. He is confident of oil at a deeper level.

The Wy-Tex acreage totals 3,500, most of which is in South Dakota.

- Pdf -

Wy-Tex Oil Company I Will Resume Test

STAR SPECIAL MOVED FROM CARTER TEST TO FINISH

OAK CREEK WELL

Belle Fourche, S. D., Aug. 9.— (Special)—The Star Special moved by the Wy-Tex Oil company from the Carter well in Section 6, Town-

' ship 55 North, Range 60, on the I The,odore Wolff ranch in Crook county, Wyoming, has been placed over the old hole on the Hamilton ranch, on the Oak oreek structure in the NE corner of SW1-4 of NE-1-4 of Section 32-8N-1E, 9 1-2 miles west of Belle Fourche, S. D. The strong water flow with oil showing at 1,529 feet has been cemented off, and drilling resumed to test the low-er formation. The hole is bottomed in the base of the Minnelusa.

The leases blocked up on the Oak creek or Crow Peak anticline as it is sometimes called were secured by R. P. Harmon, of Belle Fourche, and J. H. Voorhees of Omaha. A deal was entered into with the Wy-Tex Oil Corporation for a tegt of the structure, Harmon and Voorhees re-taining some of the acreage. The Wy-Tex operations have been in charge of D. W. Tripplehorn, pro-duction manager for the company,! in various other fields where the I Wy-Tex company holds interests.

/

Wy-Tex Oil Company To Complete Test

HAMILTON NO. 1 WEST OF BELLE FOURCHE TO BE

DRILLED DEEPER

Belle Fourche, S. D., July 14.— (Special)—The Wy-Tex Oil Cor-poiation is moving the rig used by the Carter interests a few miles to the north to the Hamilton ranch where the test started last year is to be completed. The old hole encoun-tered some difficulty by the loss of tools, and after skidding the rig to new location and drilling to Minne-lusa sand a good show of oil was discovered in the Minnelusa water when the operation was shut down.

The location of the well is 9 1-2 miles west of Belle Fourche on the Blanche Hamilton ranch CEL Sec-tion 32-8N-lEast, one and a half miles east of the South Dakota-Wyo-ming line

Casing was set on the top of the Minnelusa sand at about 1,229 feet, and after drilling into the sand a large flow of water with a good show of oil and gas was encountered. Drilling on the structure is in charge of D. W. Tripplehorn, with head-quarters at Belle Fourche.

The hole was drilled with a Fort Worth spudder Model D, which was later moved to the Osage field in Wyoming. The Wy-Tex holds sev-eral thousand acres under lease on the structure.

The acreage was blocked up by the J. H. Voorhees oil interests and turned to the Wy-Tex company on an operating agreement. Voorhees and associates had many thousands of acres under lease in the Tri-State basin area.

*4/,,,v Jo, /9,3,5

WY-vTEX TO FINISH SO.

DAK. TEST Officials From Portland, Oregon

On Ground Recently

Air. Mahon,. secretary and treasurer

of the My-Tex Company, from Portland, Oregon, and Mr. Gallagher, atterney, interested in the company, also resid-

ing at the above mentioned place, re-cenetly made a trip to Belle Fourche,

Dak., where they are interested in some oil leases on the Oak Creek struc-

t ure. The Wy-Tex people have a: test hole

down to a depth of 1540 feet on this stlructure On the Hamilton Ranch, SE SE NE 28-8n, Butte Countyi

about 10 miles west. of Belle Fourche. A very good showing of oil is reported at this depth, which is logged as the top °Mlle Ten Sleep or Amslen forma-

tion. That they are confident of the oil'

possibilities on this structure, is evi-. denced by the fact thall this is their second test hole drilled on this ranch, being forced to abandon their first test

at approximatly 1200 feet. On account of scltne litigation con-

cerning some holdings they purchased

in the Osage field they became finan-

. cially involved and they were forced to shut down before completing the

well last fall.

mr: Trippelhortt, field manager, has1 been on the gounrd looking after their

iinteresla and states that' it is the in-

of the company to go ahead

with their South Dakota operations a.s

soon as possible.

-70 ) 9-5 3

Tripplehorn said "it is fairly Per-tain" we will be at work in two weeks. We are, however, awaiting permission from the United States Geological survey to plug the Car-ter well before moving the rig and jerking the casing completely. Mr. Mahon of the Wy-Tex company re-resume turned to Portland immediately to complete financing.

Good News for Belle Fourche Oil Interests "FAIRLY CERTAIN" THAT WY-

TEX TEST WILL START IN TWO WEEKS

The first "oil news" of the season in this area found its way out this veek through a maze of rumors, and

officials of the Wy-Tex corporation, Portland, Ore., were prepared to say "fairly certain" that the test on the Oak creek structure will be re-sumed intwo weeks.

Here for a few days following a

suit for repossession of rig and Os-age properties at Newcastle, Wyo., Ira Mahon, general manager of the Wy-Tex corporation, his counsel Pat Gillagher, and production manager, D. W. Tripplehorn, took under con-sideration several plans for resum-ing operations and have announced results of their efforts.

In a statement issued after the trial at Newcastle, which involved properties totaling $115,000, Trip-plehorn said a deal was underway with D. J. Carter of Baker, Mon- tana, to take over the Carter rig on the Oak creek structure and work on the Wy-Tex test.

3 a,

The suit at Newcastle involved re-possession of the Wy-Tex rig and Osage oil properties and was tried in the Wyoming circuit court before Judge Harry P. Ilsley. Because of the long drawn out character of the suit, Ilsley has ordered briefs pre-pared and will render a decision in the case in 60 days. However, offi-cials of the Wy-Tex have indicated they will go ahead with the Carter rig despite the outcome of the snit in Wyoming courts.

Tripplehorn said the hole in the. Oak creek test where oil was found in the Minnelusa a year ago, is in good shape and water can be shut off easily. The former test hole must be plugged first according to feder-al regulations. The abandonment of the Carter test does not mean neces-sarily, he said, that Carter is through on Oak creek.

Tripplehorn believes the oil found in the Wy-Tex test a year ago at 1530 feet when financing was wrecked, came from a lower sand and was pushed' up by water. He is I confident of oil at a deeper level. I

The Wy-Tex acreage totals 3,500 acres, most of which is in South Da-kota.—Northwest Post.

Carter has abandoned work on the test, according to Tripplehorn's an-nouncement, and negotiations have been entered into which will move the Carter 30 Special Star rig onto the Wy-Tex hole which is bottomed at 1530 feet on the Hamilton ranch west of here, nine miles.

/9 2 - Th1L spvir. -.111 again :7:ee .;.Ltention focused

an the Osk creek structure tp-st of 11:7141FTarelle vhcre

corperation re. orted an oil strike .ast tucust at 1500 feet. Rec.

ently ric, and equipmentilitia,tion vith Tycning

OpaCetOrS, the coupc.r7 is now -1.;.,.7.ning a new rig rnd D.' • Tripplehorno

production :.nn:c.;fr vbo hes been .1) the i7o1.,nd an rt%porte

"sincere intentions" of early rork spring. Lersir,, dlfficulties

cre still troublini; ths company. the marac time the D.J. 4'erter

interests t;f: Btiter, uczotiators here errly In =:-.rluriry., expect

to :Ipen vork on tbe north end .).1 the Oak crtek structure. backed by

Pitts1;urja finencinci Officials maintain "vork 7Aart In April '

or 4"sy. " roup plc= work on the Lum.lin and Clulk Uuttes-

strueturee in Gorter coLuty, :;,'mtens, as a field tie° 1.110Aded

tzle Lri -state basin.

December 28, 1932 Tri-State News Bureau

"The Wy-Tex test on the Oak Creek structure west of Belle Fourche remains shut down with no prospect of open-ing before spring. Unofficial reports from the Wy-Tex company, Portlandl.Ore., have atxx in-dicated they will resume work in the early spring on the test now down 1529 feet on the Blanche Hamilton ranch."

/5.1 /./.3 3 • The Wy-tex Cornpany, Portland, Or-

egon, Oak Creek 'structure, SE) SENE,

28-8n-le, which lies partly in South

Dakota and partly in Wyomng, on the

Hamilton ranch, have a well extended

to a depth of 1540 feet and report

good showings oif oil in the Ten Sleep

and Amsden formation. Encountering

a heavy flow of water and financial

difficulties they were forced to shut

down. They are working on new

plans and expect to resume drilling

and Mush thiF test this spring.

/9g,? The Wy-Tex Corporation test ot the

Hay Creek structure, ten miles west of Belle Fourche on the Blanche Ham- ilton ranch, is shut down at 1529 ft., an artesian water flow with some oil 'was encountered at this depth, the wat- er is flowing over the top. It is plan-

t. pn.p thiq riff and drill deener

it is said.

Z4'-11 /7i / Concerning the Oak Creek struc-

ture, D. W. Tripplehorn of Newcastle, Wyo., manager for the Wy-Tex Cor-poration, is reported to have stated that there is little probability of the company resuming operations before spring. This test is reported to have had a showing of oil in the top of the Minnelusa formation.

December 5, 1932 Tri-State News Bureau, Belle Fourche, S. D.

"The Wy-Tex test on the Oak Creek nine Miles west of Belle Fourche apparently is abandoned for the winter with no word from the Wy-Tex Corp. officials. It is down 1529 feet in the Minnelusa."

In addition-, it is reported the Wy-Tex corporation is to finish the test on the Blanche Hamilton test, shut down last fall after encountering a good oil show at 1529 feet.

St-t-z-u-a4 -14 7 57.9,5 - /1.):(7

ci

/ , 3 3 In fact a very favorable showing has

been reported by the Wy-Tex Company of Portland, Oregon, who acquired

some leases on one of these locations from the Voorhees interests called the Oak Creek structure, described as a part off the Hamilton ranch, SE SE Ng 28-8n-le and about ten miles west of Belle Fourche. This structure lies partly in Wyoming and partly in South

Dakota.

?new. 3 3- Tne wy-Tex company wan extensive

tensiveho ldings in other fields com-pleted their second well on this loca-tion late this fall, being forced to aban-don their first hole at a depth of ap-proximately 1„200 feet, are now top-ping the Ten Sleep and Amsden forma-tion atl ,540 feet, report good oil show-ings and are planning to shut off the water and re,sume drilling. Some fi-nancial difficulties have delayed the work. Mr. Trippelhorn, field manager, and the head office advise that every effort is being put forth to continue as soon as possible.

Newcastle, Wyo., (Special)—The first legal battle betweien McCullough, of Osage, Wyoming, versus the Wy-Tex

Corporation of Portland, Oregon, was *piled in favor of the plaintiff in a court session at Belle Fourche recent-

The plaintiff brought suit to recover a spudder machine and other equip-ment that had been removed by the

defendant from the Osage oil fleld to ai 'location about ten, miles east of Belle

Fourche, S. D., which was included in a purchase contract entered into bewteen these ,parties wherein McCul-lough sold a 160 acre lease to the Wy-Tex Corporation some time ago and he alleges that they have defaulted in their agreement.

In turn the Wy-Tex Corporation have an action pending against Mr. McCullogh. alleging that they were dis-

possessed from their lea.% without due process of law. They further' state that a, payment off $25,000 and $12,000 in cash has laeen made, besides devel-apment work to the amount of $56,000

has been done since they took aver the lease. The developmett work .lon.sists of six wells, four at 1,680 feet and two at 1,860 feet, which are completely equipfed With a central pumping unit

and all wells connected. In this ac-tion their claim represents an amount ot $115,000.

Attorney McCutcheon of Belle Four-che, is representing Mr. McCullogh and attorney E. E. Wa,kernan, Newcastle, Wyoming, represents the Wy-Tex in-terests.

Mr. Trippelhorn, local representa-tive for the Wy-Tex Corporation ad-vises that their operations will contin-ue on the Oak Creek structure, describ-ed as a part of the Hamilton ranch, SE SE NE, 28-8n-le, which lies partly in South Dakota and partly in Wyom-ing and a n,e* machine will be moved early in the spring on the well partly completed there now.

They have a well extended to a depth

of 1,540 feet on this structure and re-port good showings of oil, topping the Ten Sleep and Amsden formation. En-countering a heavy flow of water and involved in fin,ancial difficulties they were forced to shut dewy, last fall.

This is their second attempt on this location as they lest a hole at approxi-

mately 1200 feet. Trippelhorn has had consider-

able experience in many oil flelds and

states that this Belle Fourche area has the most outstanding wildcat possibili-ties and that real production will ,be tapped sooner or later with a proper

drilling program._

_bout °c60 -

bottled 27J5 fect in the-Laltota

-,c. 2n-10-A th.,ee miles

rd still flowing hot aat,: -rom oC

6 L.,)uvk_,.v, Cl>s_c<s1„9"-Q-_, 1c1i

Meanwhile the shut-down on the Oak crook test continues with no word from tho Wy-Tex officials regarding a date for resuming oper-ations, They have announced definitely the well will bo drilled in. Efforts to clear titles on several hundred acres of land adjoining the well site have been said to stand in the 7ay tem-orarily of re-suming operations.

7--

Here from the home office in Portland, Ore., Ira "la

hon, general manager of the Wy-Tex corporation said "dining will

resumed on the Oak creek test at 1530 feet when checker-boardirg -

eraise has been arranged with the Voorhees's interests."

ock. 11 'AI 2-- The Wy-Tex Corporation is clean-

ing out No. 1 Hamilton, seli sel4 nel4 sec. 32-8n-1e, on the Oak Creek

structure, 10 mi west of Bell Fourche and near the Wyoming-South Dakota state line. A good oil showing is re-ported at 1530 ft. in the Tensleep. The oil has been drowned out by wa-ter from the Embar. The Oak Creek structure lies partly in South Dakota and partly in Wyoming.

oct. 4, 1952—Scouted by E. P. Rothrock.

nahon says well not abandoned. Out of money and trying to get town to furnish $2500.00. No drilling since last visit. Water coming outside of casing (Don't know whichX. 8" cas-ing pulled for about 180 feet. ""ad been on bottom". Oil show disappered, but water flow-ing as usual. Still fresh. Not warm.

/,

(9 Efforts to resume oneration9 at the Wy-Tex ter*,t

Oak creek nine miles west of here, sec.32-8n-le have apnarently been

unsuccessful and the NO.1. Hamilton shows no activity. If the Wy-Tex

officials abandon the well, they must cement it first haNever. The

test where oil was struck late in August, is down 1530 feet MinnehLiao

erg./Y — Xa..27, z. The Wy-Tex test nine miles west of here, sei se i

neisec. 32-8n-1 e remains held up pending clearing defective lease tit-

les and refinancing. ;20, .3 2—

corporati.on test Lio.1 Blanche Hamilt.:n [in

tile Oak creek structure nine miles west of here, reiy:ains unch:go

1,530 feet awaiting financing for cnmpletion. It is locataa

OAK CREEK ANTICLINE The Wy-Tex Co. has spudded it-

No. 2 Hamilton. sec. 38-8n-le, on the Oak Creek structure-Ti mi. west of Belle Fourche and 2% mi. east of the Wyoming-South Dakota state line. The first hole was lost at 1080 ft thru mechanical difficulties. The sec- ond test is about 50 ft. east of the first one. The Minnelusa is the ob-jective. A

mos ./..1

SECOND TEST HOLE IN NORTII SINKING

Eelle Fourche, July 28—The pulse e oil interests and the general pub-

lic today noticeably quickel.ed hale as thilleis on the Oak creek struc-tute nine and one-half miles wes.t sank deeper on the second test of the Wy-Tex col ',oration in the tt 1- state field.

Sinking with the heaviest tools in Vie o2I fraternity, drillers la.te Tuesday had leached a depth of al-moot 700 feet, within 300 feet of the Minnelusa or Ten Sleep, first pz oducing- horizon in the formation.. lt was near the Minnelusa that drilleas 'lost tools in the first test, and wele forced to abandon the hole.

13y the end the week, drillers believe the well will have reached The te.:t has 'been fortified as far as The te.,,t has ben fortified as far as poSsible againat any permanent dif-ficulty in the held Minnekahta or Minnelusa sandc. Jars are being u.sed on evety tower and heavy tools have me tetislly speeded the drilling operations. The well has already been eased to a depth of 402 feet and will be cased again at about 1,200.

1q3.z. WY-TEX SHAFT AT

1,100 FOOT LEVEL Belle Fourche, August 6—

Slowing down because of hard sands, driller:, on the Wy-Tex test well west of Belle Fourche late this week had leached a depth of al-most 1,100 feet and expected within a few hours to he in the. Tensleep or Ifinneslusr foimation, the first ptoducing horizon, it is believed.

The Tensleep, a deep sand, must take several days. before drillers have finally tested it. Below it, however, are four other producing horizons which drillers will pene-trate before completing the wildcat al 2,500 feet, or grainite.

OIL DRILLERS NOW IN TENSLEEP SAND

l3elle Fourche, Aug. 11--Drillers for the Wy-Tex corporation, nine milea west of here, this week were going through the cap rock of the Minneslusa or Tensleep formation, the first producing horizon in the field. Casing has been completed down almost 1,200 feet, delaying the penetration of the Minneslusa. Drillers reported an unusually hard cap rock, believed to be an indica-tion of a good reservoir for oil.

9 3

9 3

0\'D

S.41 1.5; / 7,3 g,

OAK CREEK ANTICLINE After fishing for about 2 weeks the

Wy-Tex Corporation has skidded rig 50 ft. east in No. 1 Hamilton, sec. 38-2n-1e, on the Oak Creek structure 12 mi. west of Belle Fourche and 2% mi. east of the Wyoming-South Dakota state line. Hole had reached 1080 ft. when tools were lost. The Minnelusa is the objective.

1'1'1 16 3

9, /9 3 2-- OAK CREEK STRUCTURE

The Wy-Tex Corporation has re-sumed drilling in No. 1 Blanche Ham-ilton, se Y4ne Y4 sec. 32-8n-1e, on the Oak Creek structure, 2% miles east of the Wyoming-South Dakota state line and 9% miles west of Belle Fourche. String of 10-in. casing was set on what is believed to be the Min-nelusa formation. Hole is now bot-tomed below 1300 ft. The formations penetrated in the test so far are: Sun-dance, 159 ft.; Red beds, 820 ft.; Minnekathta lime, 38 ft.; Opeche, 108 ft. The Minnelusa was topped at 1125 ft.

-5-) 3 a_. OAK CREEK STRUCTURE

The Wy-Tex Co. has spudded its No. 2 Blanche Hamilton, sec..a.-8n-le

c‘i on the Oak Creek structure, 9% mi west of Belle Fourche and 2% mi east of the Wyoming-South Dakota line. Test is drilling around 600 ft The first hole was lost thru mechan-ical difficulties at 1080 ft. The sec-ond test is about 50 ft. east of No. 1. The Minnelusa formation is the objective.

NuETH HILLS OIL DRILLS SINKING

Belle Fourche, June 8—The goa of commercail oil and gas produc tion on the Oak creek structur( nine and one-half miles west of here. was drawing closer today as drillers announced a depth of 400 feet since spudding in several days ago.

Monday drillers had penetrated 250 or approximately half of the zed beds' depth. So far 15 1-2 inch bits had been used but later drill-ers changed ot a smaller hole. So far one joint of casing has been used, necessitated when ten feet feet of quicksand caused repeated cave-ins.

Belle Fourche Post: —Ira Mahon, general manager of the Wy -Tex cor-poration, Portland, Ore., drillers on the Oak Creek structure, nine and one-half miles west, has said that "operation at the well may be resum-ed at any time."

Mr. Mahon would not say that the well will Jae cemented in order to effect a shutoff on the immense flow of water from a source 75 feet alaove the bottom of the hole.

Oil was struck in the well Wednes-day night at 11:30, showing on the bit when pulled out and in the bailer. Strong evidences of gas accompanied the presence of oil. Drillers imme-diately shut down the rig at a depth of 1529 feet planning to effect a shut-off of water in order to make a true

c&Or.3, ‘60), Oil Forces Up

Through Water

, Al) I 9 3 /

HARD ROCK STRUCK BY WY-TEX DRILLS

BELLE FOURCHE—Interest in the wildcat test of the Wy-Tex corpora-tion, nine and one-half miles west of town, continues unabated despite de-lays and the hard drilling enoounter-ed near the caprock of the Tensleep or Minnelusa.

Last week drillers were going thru hard lime which it was believed was the caprock of the first producing horizon. Drillers have been unable to make better than a foot an hour, so hard is the formation.

The well is down now more than 1,200 feet.

Meanwhile preparations are under. way in the north country for the sec-ond test well of the Kennedy-Miller interests on the A. H. Holman ranch. The well will be sunk about 75 feet from a first test which was abandon-ed when a flood of salt water pre-vented the taking of an adequate. test of the gas content.

(s--, 113 2_ Wy-Tex Corporation

Tops Minnelusa Sand CASING BEING SET AT 1125 FEET

BEFORE DRILLING IN

The Wy-Tex Oil Corporation on their test on the Blanch Hamilton ranch, SE1-4 of NE1-4 Sec. 32-8-1, reached the top of the Minnelusa sand Friday evening, August 5, and are shut down preparing to set 10 inch casing on top of the sand before drilling in. Hole was started with 15 inch bit. Surface water at about 30 feet, the only water

encountered in entire depth was ca off, and 12 1-2 inch casing set on of Red Beds, drilling continuing

, open hole to the top of Minnelusa The Wy-Tex has 3500 acres in

lease on this structure taken over f J. H. Voorhees, who blocked it ur well drilled on flank of structure and one half miles northeasr of pref location drilled by Frank Durst and B. Smith encountered 100 feet of saturated sand, it is reported at 1500 feet, in this well drilled for water the Opeche had a thickness of 70 feet. In the Wy-Tex it was found to be 108 feet.

The test is on what is known as the Crow Peak anticline, closed on the north with a fault on Hay Creek, on the south with a fault on Red Water. The thickness of formations penetrated in the downward course of the bit were: Sundance, 159 feet; Red Beds, 820 feet; Minnekahta Lime, 38 feet; Op-eche, 108 feet. The bit topped the Min-nesula sand at 1125 feet. A Fort Worth spudder, Model D, is being used on the test.

county, Montana, has been standing over the winter at a depth of 340 feet. Strong evidences of gas have been found. The Northwestern Oil and Gas company which is represented by Car-ter, it has been reported, will resume work on the Nu-Zim structure where

the test stood at 480 feet during the vinter. This structure has been proved for gas.

Of course with the first drilling open-ing on the Oak creek structure, where it has been said the Wy-Tex corpora--ion, drillers in the Osage field, will pend $25,000, the interest has just ,ow focused more or less securely %ere. Drillers expect this week to trike deep into the first of the produc- 1g horizons. Practically all sections of the Tri-

'tate basin border on the Black Hills nd the Bear Lodge mountains uplifts. ;eologists report this basin was creat-d in early geological periods and be-;eve that within this area are vast ,ossibilities for oil and gas strikes in ommercial quantities. In discussing the faulted conditions

nid sub-surface geology of the Tri-;tate area Mr. J. H. Voorhees, who has )een the prime mover in present activ-ty, has this to say:

"It has been said by some egologists that there are a few major faults in this region. In the writer's opinion that 3onclusion was arrived at simply be-cause the surface geology only was considered. Igneous intrusions and plugs like Bear Butte, Crow Peak, Sun-dance Mountain, Kara Mountain, Nig-ger Head Butte and other minor erup-tive disturbances, could not be thrust upward through the earth's crust with-out causing major and minor faults.

"These faulted conditions will have a bearing in the future oil and gas pro-duction within the Tri-State Area of Western South Dakota, Northeastern Wyoming and Southeastern Montana.

"In studying tke sub-surface geology and faulted conditions in this area I have given considerable attention and study to the depth and flow of artesian wells northeast and southwest of the Black Hills and Bear Lodge Moun. tains, and the abnormal and varied depths and flows of these wells proves conclusively to my satisfaction that the older formation, from the Minnelusa sandstone stratum down to the granite have been badly faulted and fractured. It must be remembered in connection therewith that "Fault Closures" make a better and more impervious trap for oil and gas than do dip closures.

louload lutiz Auudtuoo aup pu..; up.nuk •Alpuduo 2u!:

-Jado mou silulads loH ay poloplutoo Amman.' puu `A.tougoi alp palsainuf °sir imiuum %iv -doicl tratiouppi .0 uo s‘ume pus luujcl luatuaa awls alp uoamlaq manias uopsoot otu, .oian pamor G 1S

ltz4 33,de

Wy-Tex Officials Resolved on Proving Tri-State Oil Field

Spud in Well No. Two OPERATIONS DELAYED BY LOST

TOOLS IN HOLE OF FIRST WELL

Belle Fourche, S. D., July 25—Move-ments in the "Tri-State" oil and gas field this week, of which Belle Fourche is virtually the center, were marked in the main by the spudding in of Wy Tex test well No. 2 on the Blanche Hamil-ton ranch, nine and one-thalf miles west of here.

The decision of t4s, Wy-Tex officials to skid the rig, bring in a new string of tools and strike for a second test, brought new interest in developments, somewhat lax the past two weeks as repeated efforts to recover tools lost in the hole, failed. Especially significant was the move in that Wy.Tex officials announced definitely the field will be proved beyond a doubt before finally abandoned. E. T. Hunter, Wy-Tex of. ficial, departed Tuesday for the Port-land, Ore., offices. He will return here in August.

A general survey of operations in the "Tri-State Basin" as reviewed here this week showed major movements in the Osage field where there are three near completion and a prospective in-crease in new work.

The Continental Oil company expects to shoot its deep test in the Big Mud-dy field for larger production having apparently encountered a fault. The well penertated the Lakota sand ten feet at a depth of 4,305 feet and is now being cleaned with cable equipment preparatory to completion.

The Osage field has two new comple-tions pending. Carl Cundy No. 3 is in section 31-46-63. Drillers now clear-ing out the hole bridged by shot in thirty feet of broken sand between 1,- 398 and 1.4,28. It will be placed on

Wen. Cbadron-Osage No. 1'7, is in 14-46-64 and drilling with good prospects for production in sight.

Northeastern Wyoming is expected to have two new explorations within a few days. Work has been started on the Redwater structure in Crook coun-ty, Wyo., by the St. Onge Oil and Gas company, and a syndicate of Osage and Newcastle operators has blocked more than 20,000 acres south of the Osage field in Weston county. Harry Welch of the St. Onge oil and Gas company, is in charge of the operations on the Aladdin or Redwater structure, prop-erly called Aladdin.

Work on the Crow creek structure east of Belle Fourche near the Belle Fourche reservoir has been halted with nothing done since the Voorhees inter-ests moved in a rig several weeks ago.

North of here on the Camp Cro-ok structure, reports Thursday said Delos Miller of the Kennedy-Miller inter-ests was still intent on proving the Holman well. A premature shot at 1,100 feet caused a flood of salt water in the well and drillers since have been un-able to determine the actual gas pres-sure below. It is believed the possibil-ities of gas are good. The Holman well is located on the southern exposure of the great Baker-Glendive field in Mon-tana. •

Word from the Northwestern Natur-al Oil and Gas company, reported ear-lier in the season, planning renewing work in Carter county, Mont., has not been fortheoming and apparently pos. sibilities of further work on the Nu-Zim and Chalk Butte structures this year, is out of the question.

isc )6137---

Hit in Wy-Tex Well MUD AND WATER SHOOTS OVER

TOP OF CASING IN HAMILTON TEST

The Wy-Tex Corporation of Port-

land, Oregon, drilling on the Blanche

Hamilton ranch, CEL Sec. 32-8N-1E, I

one and a half miles east of South Da-kota-Wyoming line, and 9 1-2 miles west of Belle Fourche, S. D., after set-

ting casing on top of Minnelusa last week, drilled into a strong flow of gas

Friday evening which shot mud and

water over the top of the casing, final-

ly settling clown with bubbles constant-ly coming up through the water to the

top of the well. There are also traces

of oil on the water. Total depth today is 1250 feet, 125

feet being drilled after running the string of casing, which was 10 inches.

Mr. R. P. Harmon, of Belle Fourche, who was responsible for blocking up this acreage, later negotiating with J. H. Voorhees, geologist, in developing it, was in Rapid City today, enroute to Sioux City, Ia., in connection with further testing of the structure on its northern end. The Northwestern Oil & Gas company of Baker, Mont., started a test on Hay creek some months ago on the same structure, but the fold ir crossed by a major f auk between tl' two wells. It is Mr. Harmon's inter tion to resume operations on the ori' inal test started on north side of th fault. The field was geologized and re ommended by J. H. Voorhees, who lu aone considerable geological work i ' the Tri-State basin, and J. C. Core. geologist for the Northwestern Oil & Gas company, of Baker, Montana. Mr. Voorhees r, returned yesterday from a several weeks trip to New York City, in the interests of the Tri-State oil de-velopment.

The gas and oil showing encountered in this well last night has made this test a very promising one, and oil men throughout the country are watching de-velopments closely.

Wy-Tex First Test Oak Creek Down 1,100 By Paul G. Friggens

Belle Fourche, S. D., July 2—(Spe-cial to Journal of Natural Wealth)— - Moving forward with encouraging prospects, developments in the oil and gas fraternity as related to the "Tri-State basin" of which Belle Fourche is virtually the center, this week contin-ued with the major emphasis on the Oak creek structure nine and one-half miles west of this city.

Here drillers for the Wy-Tex corpor-ation, west coast producers of Port-land, Ore., holders of extensive acre-age in this territory, have penetrated almost 1,200 feet through red beds and are now in the first producing horizon in the Minnelusa formation. Drilling is being carried on with a Fort Worth spudder "Super D" with the leasing contract calling for a wild cat test of 2,500 or to granite.

Drilling was temporarily halted when tools became lodged in the hole.

Oil drilling operations here are es-pecially significant in that the wild catting calls for the penetration of the Deadwood formation (a test as far as known never made in the history of the industry) so geologists have indi-cated. The Deadwood formation has never been tested due to its great depth in other fields. On the Oak creek structure, however, heavy erosion has exposed the structure so that drilling can be carried on at a comparatively shallow depth. It is a pre-Cambrian formation, sandstone interbedded with layers of lime. It has a given porosity of 38 per cent.

Geological reports on this structure indicate four producing horizons in the Tensleep formation and three in the Madison lime. 1T/driers started in the lower Sundance, then later penetrated the Spearfish red beds and are now in the Minnelusa or Tensleep. The Madi-son lime, about 590 feet, is expected to follow next in the log. The Deadwood formation of Pre-Cambrian origin, is the last and about 580 feet in depth.

The Oak creek structure west of Belle Fourche, on which this first well is being drilled on the Blanche Hamil-ton ranch, lies partly in South Dakota and partly in Wyoming.

Structure in Two States The test well No. 1 on the Hamilton

ranch is located near the center of the east line of section 32-8n-le, about 1% miles east of the Wyoming-Dakota line The Oak creek structure is of the sharp dip fold type. It has been carefully de scribed by United States geological sur vey men including N. H. Darton and Dr. C. C. O'Harra, the latter now pre,s

ct ident of the State School of Mines in Rapid City. In the U. S. geological sur-vey professional paper No. 65, the ;tructure is known as the "Crow Peak Anticline." Several wells drilled in past years on the structure for artesian wa-ter have encountered large flows of gas, some of which is now being used com-mercially on individual farms. Oil sands taken from a few ranches on or near the structures have shown a poros-ity of 38 per cent.

But while drilling continues in this structure under the direction of D. W. Tripplehorn, production manager for the Wy-Tex corporation, oil and gas de-velopments are following in rapid suc-cession on a number of other struc-tures, either adjoining or somewhere in the great basin which properly includes northeastern Wyoming, southeastern Montana and northwestern South Da-kota.

Farther west in the same territory Charles E. Stewart and associates of Overton, Texas, have completed con-tracts with geologist J. H. Voorhees, for a test well on the Elmore structure 30 miles northwest of the Osage field and four miles west of the Wakman field in Crook county, Wyoming. The drilling might go to 3,500 feet if neces-sary, starting in the Mowry shale. Voorhees is the geologist responsible for most of the developments in the tri-state basin thi.s year.

Still west in Crook county, Wyoming, a deal has been consummated between the Voorhees interests and a Rapid City, S. D., syndicate calling for a test well on the Aladdin structure which ad-joins the Oak creek. This well will be about 25 miles west of Belle Fourche. It has been indicated, although not of-ficially verified, that the Wy-Tex cor-poration may partially finance opera-tions here. Drilling on the Aladdin structure will start in the red beds _ _ within 400 feet of the top of the Ten-sleep or Minnelusa formation. The Rocky Ford oil field, one of the first discovered in Wyoming, lies on the ex-treme west flank of the Aladdin sturc-

ture. Drilling fast of Belle Fourche

East of Belle Fourche interest is now centered on a possible wild cat opera- tion near U. S. highway No. 212, no far from the west lake of the Belle Fourche reservoir, largest earthen dam in the world. Drilling equipment in eluding a national rig, has been mov ed on to this field. The J. H. Voorheo interests have been in charge here an( it is believed the Wy-Tex corporation will partially finance the operations., Regardless of the financing, the Wy-Tex corporation holds acreage on the

field. Possibilities for development on the

Crow Creek structure, the same as the

east Belle Fourche sites, are seen near St. Onge, the extreme southern expos- ure where- drilling was carried on sev- eral years ago but with no public ver- ification of results. Interests identified with South Dakota's senator, Peter Norbeck, were carried on near St. Onge then at a shallow depth. A large flow of gas was found in the Muddy forma- tion. The Norbeck test was on the axis of the structure south of the Belle Fourche river fault. 'There has been heavy erosion along the axis of the structure, the eroded area creating the lake beds of the Belle Fourche reser- voir, supply for 100,000 acres on the Belle Fourche irrigation project.

Meanwhile the interest of the Twin Cities and other eastern companizs con- tinues almost unabated as drilling is resumed at the Camp Crook well on the Camp Crook tuaticline 76 miles north of Belle Fourche. Here the Ken-nedy-Miller interests started drilling shortly after the first of June at a depth of' 1,285 feet where drillers halted last winter. It is ,believed commercial gas production will be struck at 1,600 to 1,800 feet. Gas in large quantities has already been struck here with conflict-ing reports regarding a high helium content. Two crews are working with a rotary soon to approach the Eagle sands. The stroigest evidences of gas have been found in the Judith river where the pressure bridged a bailer and shot mud and sand many feet into the air late in the fall. This well is lo-cated on the A. H. Holman ranch nine miles north of Camp Crook. The struc-ture is geologically known as the south-ern exposure of the great Baker Glen-dlive gas field where gas is now supplied for the Black Hills and many cities in Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota.

Another prominent Baker, Mont, group, the Baker Exploration company, has completed arrangements for a test well on new and old leases in the Kara shallow field in Crook county, Wyo-ming, southwest of Belle Fourche. The company expects to test all formations. The old field in which they will work is located in township 49n and range 66w. Harry Welch and associates of Casper are reported planning to re-sume operations on the Rocky Ford structure across the state line in Wyo-ming. A well was started in December is a shallow fleld. Welch also holds ex-tensive acreage on the Crow creek an-ticline east of Belle Fourche.

Gas Interest North In the field of gas interests in addi-

tion to the Camp Crook well where the Kennedy-Miller interests are operating, it has been iidicated that D. J. Car-ter, Baker, Mont., will resume opera-tions on the Chalk Butte and 1NnZim structures in Montana and Dakota, ap-proximately 70 miles north of here. The Chalk Butte structures in Carter

-1,24J- )

OIL OPERATIONS IN NORTH OPEN SUNDAY

Belle Fourche, May 14--Oil drill-ing operations that cull for the penetration of the Deadwood for-mation are scheduled to open nine and one-half miles west of here to:, inorrow. The Wy-Tex Corporation, west-icoast producers with head-quarters at Portland, Ore., tomor-row will open the first operations of the season in the "Tri-State" a.,rea of which Belle Fourche is vir-tually the center.

A Fort Worth Spudder, "Super D," has already been moved onto the south ,half of the Oak creek etructure, erected and set for the first drill Ibite tomorrow. on the first well site located on the Blanche Hamilton ranch. J. H. Voorhees, ,geologist, said the con-tract calls for drilling 2,500 feet. Geologist Voorhees in his. report,

the first issued on operations start-ing this week, said the Deadwood formaton has never been tested be-fore in the history of the oil frater-nity, due to its great d,epth in oth-er fields. On the Oak creek struc-, ture however, heavy erosion has eroded the formation so that it is LhaBow drilling, comparatively.

D. W. Tripplehorn, production manager of the Wy-Tex Corpora-tion•will be in charge of operations here on 'both test wells located.

c3,-(2)z, . i TO DRILL NEW WELL IN NORTHERN HILLS Belle Fourche, March 23—R. P.

Harmon has announced the closing of a deal with Wy-Tex company with headquarters on the West Coast, for the drilling of a test well on the south end of the Oak, creek structure near Belle Four-bhe. The well will probably be drilled somewhere south of the Joost ranch on Hay creek.

Drilling operations on another test well started last summer on the Oak creek structure, were halt-ed for the winter when workmen failed to recover tools buried at the bottom of a 10 inch hole, 1,600 feet deep.

/ 9 3_2--

"2"frzai, ao, OAK CREEK

The Wy-Tex Co. has rig on loca-

tion On Oak Creek structure, east line of sec. 32-8n-1e, -1/2 mi. east of the Wyoming line. Contract has been let to carry the test to 2500 ft., or to the granite, expected around 2250 ft. The structure lies across the state line between Wyoming and South Dakota and has been approved by various ge-ologists. Drilling should be under way soon.

211-41-"i "11"i" The same organization, headee

by Voorhee,s and financed by the Wy-Tex corporation of Portland, Ore., drillers on ',Oak creek struc-ture, have announced they will drill by June 15 on the Aladdin structure in Crook county, Wyo. The stnicture starts six miles west of the Oak creek structure. John-son will supervise drilling opera-tions on that structure as well as the Crow creek. Equipment will be moved in about June 1 and work started on the well by the middle of the month, the officials said positively Wednesday.

C - /9 3 z— RIG MOVES ONTO

CROW CREEK AREA Belle Fourche, May 28 — Com-

plete equipment for sinking an oil test well, including a National rig, moved into Belle Fourche this week, destined for use five miles east of here on the Crow creek structure.

The test well is to be drilled near United States Highway No. 212, not fat from the east lake of the Belle ,Fourche reservoir. Drilling is being financed by J. H. Voorhees and associated, in c000peration with the 'VVy-Tex corporation of Portland, Ore.

c9..(p . _ 7/3 2-

OAK CREEK The Wy-Tex Co. expects to spud in

in its test on the Oak Creek struc-ture, sec. 32-8n-1e, 1% mi. east of the Wyoming state line. Contract' is let to carry this well to 2500 ft., er the granite, which is expected around 2250 ft.

OAK CREEK The Wy-Tex Co. is drilling below

900 ft., still in the Spearfish red beds, in its No. 1 on sec. 32-8n-le, Oak Creek structure, western South Da-kota. The well is 12 mi. west of Rile Fourche.

1q3 OAK CREEK ANTICLINE

Wy-Tex Corporation has been hung. up fishing for string of tools in No. 1 Hamilton, sec. 38-8n-1e, on the Oak Creek structure 12 mi. west of Belle Fourche and 2% mi. east of the Wyo-ming-South Dakota state line. The Minnelusa is the objective. Drilling is in charge of D. W. Triplehorn. Hole is' bottomed at 1080 ft.

1-t.i-Ake., lb V:\ 1 1 OAK CREEK

The Wy-Tex Co.. is rigged and ready to spud in its test on sec. 32- 8n-le, a mile and a half east of the Wyoming state line, on the Oak Creek structure, western South Dakota.

MAY SINK NEW HOLE IN OAK CREEK AREA

.,Belle Fourche, July 2— Develon-silents in the Tri-State basin this wee,k took on a new angle when it was announced by drillers on the Oak creek structure that a nerw thole might be sunk, all efforts fail-ing to recover toole lost in the first test started: on the Blanche Ham-ilton ranch.

Drillers for the Wy-Tex corpora-tion, nine, and one2half. miles west, 'have reached a depth of almost 1,100 feet, 'but tools jamed in the Minnekalita sands have halted op-erations indefinitely. Crews have labored for several days in an ef-fort to remove the drild, but repeat-ed csVeins coupled with other trou-bles have almost resulted in a de-cision to drill a new hole close.

Farther north at Camp Crook the Kennedy-MY/ler interests on the Heiman ranclh rhave re a ched al depth of 2,000 ,feet where they ex-pect to bail out for the first real investigation of ,gas possibilities. Casing operations are under way. A plugged casing 50 feet from the bottom of the well temporarily halted bailin,g work.

' Meanwhile "fishing" for tools in the'first test of the Wy-Tex corpor-ation west of Belle Fourche con-tinues as drillers seek to make one last effort before skidding the rig for a new hole.

OZ--, I-I --

SKID DRILL FOR NEW TEST HOLE

Belle Fourche, July 21—Deter-'mined to "prove out" .or "pull out" of. the Oak creek structure, nine and one-half miles west of this city, officials of the Wy-Tex corpora-tion, Portland, Ore.; today announc-ed the spudding in of a new well a short distance from the first test on the 131anche Hamilton ranch.

The first test started in June was abandoned rece.ntly after repeated attempts t6 recover tools failed. The Fort Worth "Super D" was then skidded to a new location and drillers have penetrated 160 feet through the Sundance formation*

Here for a special study of oil and gas possibilities in the "tri-state basin," Ira Mahen, general manager of the Wy-Tex corpora-tion, and E. T. Hunter, superin-tendent, said today they would re-main on the Oak creek structure, until the new test has been provedl or disproved.

11/' Wy-Texilljimmilton Gov't Drlg. na\LO29 - liczamtr1932 T. D. 1030;0:B=17n>

,

32-8N-1;k 932 - December 1933

From USGS files, Newcastle