Given its historic importance to the oil industry in Canada, it was inevitable that someone would write a book about Oil City and its oil well, the first producing well in western Canada. Published in 2007 by the Lethbridge Historical Society, the book was written by J.F. Dormaar & R.A. Watt. All that remains at the site is a reproduction of the original derrick and Canadian National Historic Plaques and markers.
The well site is about 7.7 kilometers northeast on the Akamina Parkway. From the junction of Highway 6, Highway 5 and the Akamina Parkway, it is another 8.8 kilometres down Highway 5 to Waterton townsite. There is ample parking available at the site, as well as informational signage. The original well bore is marked by a piece of drill stem protruding from the bore and a triangular mock up of a well derrick over it.
Though it produced for only a short period before going dry and produced at much less than the initial rate of 300 barrels per day, this well provided the impetus for further exploration in Alberta. This ultimately led to the eventual discovery of the
Turner Valley Field in 1914, the first commercial oil and gas field in Western Canada. Further discoveries through the twentieth century, including the
Athabasca Oil Sands, which were actually known as early as 1717, have made Alberta one of the major oil and gas producing areas in the world.
A previous plaque at the well site reads as follows:
The Rocky Mountain Development Co., formed in the late 1890's by John Lineham, Allan Patrick and G.K. Leeson, commenced drilling operations on this site in 1901 and struck oil at a depth of 1024 feet in 1902. The well failed to maintain its initial flow of 300 barrels per day and, by 1904, production had dwindled to almost nothing. Further explorations in the Waterton area proved fruitless but the success, brief as it was, of this well encouraged a widespread search which led to the discovery of the Turner Valley Field in 1914.
Read more on the story of this well
HERE.
A three part historical marker overlooks the actual well site, placed by Parks Canada at this National Historic Site.
Below is the text from the marker.
Western Canada's First Producing Oil Well
BEARS DISCOVER OIL?!
Oil seeps in this area were well known to Aboriginal peoples, who may have found them while observing bears. Bears are attracted by the smell of oil and may roll in it to rid themselves of insects. Aboriginal peoples used oil as a medicine.
Beginning in the 1870s the search was on for oil in western Canada. Drawing on Native lore, locals looked for oil seepages and eventually found oil covered pools near here. This led to oil exploration in this area in the 1880s, followed by some commercial use of the oil.
MESSY BUSINESS
In 1898, William Aldridge was the first to commercially use oil from the seepages, making a living for nearly 7 years. He acquired the oil mainly by soaking it up with gunny sacks and skimming it from sluice boxes. He produced about 10-15 gallons per day, transporting it out on pack horses. He sold it locally as a lubricant and medicine.
ALBERTA'S OIL BOOM STARTED HERE
The 'Lineham Discovery Well' was not the first attempt to drill for oil in western Canada, but it was the first well to produce saleable amounts of oil.
In 1897, John Lineham established a mineral claim beside Oil Creek, then formed the Rocky Mountain Development Company with A.P. Patrick, and G.K. Leeson. Its head office was in Pincher Creek.
In late 1901, they hauled heavy equipment on a narrow horse trail over the prairie and through the mountains to their claim by Oil Creek. They erected a "Canadian Pole" rig made entirely of wood and powered by a 35 horse-power steam boiler. Drilling progressed slowly, averaging only 30 feet per day, due to equipment problems, inexperience and accidents.
Finally, on September 21st, 1902 they struck a strong flow of oil. The early output was said to be 300 barrels a day. Oil Creek lived up to its name as much of the initial oil flowed downstream.
A short time later, the well casing failed and gravel fell into the hole, causing the drilling tools to get stuck. Attempts to dislodge the tools by increasing steam pressure resulted in a burst boiler. This shut down the operation for the season. In 1904, with the well cleaned out, the crew installed a pump to feed a small refinery. About 8,000 barrels of oil may have been extracted before the well was abandoned when drill tools jammed in the well bore again. Efforts to reopen the well were unsuccessful.
The well was drilled by tools hanging from a tripod rig. Rock was broken by raising then dropping the drill bit, with frequent stops to pull out and sharpen it. Cuttings were removed by pouring water into the hole, then hauling up the slurry. It was slow, dangerous work.
BRIEF SUCCESS & FUTURE FORTUNE
Due to mistaken and incomplete records, it's impossible to compile a list of all the wells drilled during the boom in this region, but estimates suggest there were about 25. Despite further attempts by the Rocky Mountain Development Company and other companies until 1939, none were commercially viable.
We now know the oil here is the result of slow seepages from much deeper rock layers. Trapped along a fault line, it pooled close to the surface, forming a very small reservoir.
Operations elsewhere in Alberta revealed vast petroleum and natural gas reserves which formed the core of Canada's oil industry. Oil and gas activity still plays a vital role in the region around the national park.
"Alberta's first oil boom was short-lived...The obstacles were too great. The roads and trails were far too rugged to permit transportation of heavy equipment, and once the oil was extracted, it had to be transported out of the "field' on the backs of mules at prohibitive costs. The closest refining facilities were at Vancouver and Sarnia... Initial investments were expended and people refused to risk their money any further... Oil City was left with nothing but empty buildings and shattered dreams." From "Oil City", J.F. Dormaar & R.A. Watt