A little History about the oil in North Dakota

Early History 1951-1955

The Williston Basin gets it name from the City of Williston.

However it was named by Dr. W.T. Thom, Jr. it seems Dr. Thom was a Sophomore studying Geology when discovering Coral in Connonball River which led him to believe that the area was once inundated by an ancient sea, this occurred in 1912.

Continuing study of the Basin in 1922 led him to conclude that the Basin was of sedimentary nature. Further studies showed that the major depth was near Williston, North Dakota, thus the name took hold in 1924.

Between 1924 and 1951 there were 23 serious attempts at the discovery for oil. Plans for drilling what was to become the "discovery" began in 1946. It was through 1949 that the leases were acquired by two men Leach & Fruh.

The well was begun on Clarence Iversons Farm south of Tioga, ND. Drilling became routine and locals skeptics scoffed, particularly since the closest supply was 500 miles away in Casper, WY.

The Discovery

The year 1951 came in with a snow storm. Jan 4th a pint of oil was recovered, drilling continued. The bits had now dug to a depth of 10,500 feet, but snowed shut down the operations and clogged the roads. Operations resumed in April 1951,  a new industry had been born in North Dakota, and the Clarence Iverson well became the discovery well of the Williston Basin.

The bust

Nearly 60 years after the discovery of the oil in western ND, Williston and communities in the region have struggled to find ways to weather the ineviteable boom and bust cycles. The city of Williston has experienced two oil busts, one in the late 1950's as well as one in the early 1980's.

Despite the current growth in the region, the 1980 bust remains fresh in the minds of those who were in Williston at the time. When the oil boom went bust, the city found itself stuck with over $26 million in debt stemming from special assessments from lots given back to the city.

New Technology

Two new methods were created in the 1990's

1. Hydrolic fracturing methods use water and sand under high force to break the rock and release the oil.

2. Horizontal drilling techniques.

This has born a new Oil Boom, the one I live in.

I'll share with you the Bitter Sweet life of living in the oilfield, as an oilfield wife. :)