CANADIAN OIL SEARCH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19128, 24 September 1936, Page 12

CANADIAN OIL SEARCH

NEARINC- KING'S EANCH

QUEST FOR RESERVOIR

CALGARY, Alberta, July 17. In quest of a great reservoir of oil, drillers have bored within a quarter of a mile of King Edward's "E.P t ranch," 60 miles from hero.

The diamond drills, biting deeply into the limestone, soaked with naphtha gas, are expected to strike at any moment. As reported last month, it, is believed that the main field of rich oil lies under tile northern area of the King's 3000acre estate. His Majesty lias' solo oil and mineral rights on the ranch, which lie holds on a special 99-yeavs lease. Tile lea.se was obtained by the King, then Prince of Wales, from the Alberta Government by an Order-in-Council live years ago. No contracts for drilling or exploration can be sub-let. Any operations would have to be carried out by His. Majesty or his managers. The prospect of such enterprises being undertaken has never been discussed by the King, it is authoritatively staled here. No person other than the King or his agents may drill within. 600 ft. of the boundaries of the estate.

Unless, therefore, the main oilfield is struck before this limit is reached, the operators of the present, boring will have failed in their chief object. The search for flic great oilfield believed by experts to exist in the neighbourhood follows the "blowing in" of a 900 barrels a day crude oil well in the Turner Valley last month. This is about live miles from the northern boundary of the Royal ranch.

This strike, one of the richest in recent years, has been followed by others. Scores l of other big producers have dotted the Turner Valley field with naphtha, gas flows. Pekisko Well No. 1 is now in gasproducing formation, and a real strike is expected shortly. Only a quarter of a mile away from the King's ranch other big wells are Hearing production stage.

A strike at any one will lead to the rapid development of the area adjoining the. ranch.