Name: Salt Creek Oil Field

 

County: Natrona

 

Authority Name: 

 

GNIS Entry

 

Longitude:  1061828W

Latitude: 432429N

 

Legal Description:

 

Elevation: 4961/1512

(ft/m)

 

Feature Type: Oilfield

 

Origin of Name:

Salt Creek Dome is the northernmost of the domes developed on the Salt Creek anticline. ... The name is derived from Salt Creek which, entering the dome on its eastern side, turns northerly and leaves it at its northern extremity. 

Source: Jamison

 

Other Names: 

 

Alternative Spellings:

 

History:

In 1883, the first claim notices in the Salt Creek area were filed by Stephen W. Downey of Laramie and in 1886, Dr. Samuel Aughey, territorial geologist, described the Salt Creek Oil Basin "in favorable terms." Phillip Martin Shannon, successful Pennsylvanian oilman filed claims in 1889 on a large area just north of Salt Creek and that field that drilled in became known as the Shannon Field. In 1896, State Geological Wilbur Knight in collaboration with E. E. Slosson published a geological report on the Salt Creek Field but its development was slow due to transportation and marketing problems. Finally, in October, 1908 a Dutch company brought in Salt Creek's first gusher at the depth of 1,050 feet. 

Source: Larson 

 

On October 23, 1908, oil under great pressure was struck in the Salt Creek Oil Field. This well was drilled by J. E. Stock. After the completion of the "gusher" well, the Stock Oil Company was formed.

Source: Wegemann 

 

The Salt Creek Oil Field is still active, producting almost 3 million barrels of oil in 2007.

Source: Wyoming Oil and Gas Commission 

 

Stories:

 

Maps:

1:24000 Quadrangle: Midwest

 

Newspapers:

 

More Information: 

Knight, Wilbur C. and E.E. Slosson. The Petroleum of Salt Creek, Wyoming. Petroleum Series Bulletin No. 1. Laramie, Wyo.: The University, 1896. 

Jamison, C. E. The Salt Creek Oil Field  Natrona County, Wyo. Cheyenne, Wyo.: S. A. Bristol Co. Printers, 1912.

Trumbull, L. W. The Salt Creek Oil Field, Natrona County. Cheyenne, Wyo.:State of Wyoming, Geologist's Office, 1914.

Wegemann, Carroll H. The Salt Creek Oil Field, Wyoming. U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin No. 670. Washington, DC: GPO, 1918.

Roberts, Harold Dewitt. Salt Creek, Wyoming The story of a great oil field. Denver: Midwest Oil Corporation, 1956.

Tour guide Salt Creek oil field, Natrona County, Wyoming. Rosenberg Historical Consultants. Casper, Wyo.: Mountain States Lithographing, 2003.

 

Pictures:

 

 

Image courtesy of Wyoming Tales and Trails

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/index.html