Bell Creek oil field, Montanaa

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1972 · Mem. - Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5917377

McGregor, A A; Biggs, C A

The exploration program which resulted in the Bell Creek oil field was initiated by Sam Gary in 1961, with the discovery of the Jewel oil field in Crook County, Wyoming. Although SE. Montana apparently had a structural and stratigraphic history comparable with that of the producing area in Wyoming, early exploration efforts were unsuccessful. However, initial wells drilled on surface and seismic structures found highly porous and permeable sandstones within the Lower Cretaceous that yielded minor shows of oil and gas. Industry efforts were hampered by lack of communication between district offices in Wyoming and Montana. Prior to the Bell Creek discovery, the Muddy Sandstone, an important producer in the Wyoming part of the Powder River Basin, was not considered to have potential as a commercial oil formation in Montana. In order to predict the location of the Bell Creek field, it was essential to relate the surface and subsurface geology in Wyoming to the subsurface control available in Montana. The Muddy reservoir of Bell Creek field is a group of coalescing barrier-bar sandstones on a homocline.

• OSTI ID: 5917377
• Journal Information: Mem. - Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.; (United States), Journal Name: Mem. - Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.; (United States) Vol. 16; ISSN MAPGA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200 -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC TRAPS
GEOLOGY
MINERAL RESOURCES
MONTANA
NORTH AMERICA
OIL FIELDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STRATIGRAPHY
USA
WYOMING