Donate

Rosebud County - Design Your Own Oil Refinery

Background Info/ Historical Story:

“During the time of rising crude oil prices just after the 2nd World War wildcat oil rigs abounded on the north side. The Sumatra field was discovered at that time which is to date the biggest source of taxable income for the county. Most of the small homesteaders have left, but those who have retained their mineral rights are still watching and hoping for a strike that may bring some returns from the life they lived and left on the north side. In 1948 a wildcat rig set up a few miles south of the Devils Dance Ground. Many local ranchers bought shares in the venture which resulted in the bringing in of a 232 degree F. hot water well of geyser proportions. So hot was the water that the drillers clad in asbestos suits could only remain at the pipes for two minutes at a time. Though semi-capped, that well today flows water down the once dry creeks of Stellar and the Little Porcupine to the Yellowstone. Since then other hot water wells have been brought in by oil rigs. Some were capped, and a few have provided a local rancher or two with hot water heat for their homes.”- They Came and They Stayed, Rosebud County Book


“Oil production, coal mining, and coal power plants all exist in Rosebud County and wind developments

are currently being explored. Oil exploration and production is concentrated northwest of Sumatra.

The oilfield was first developed in the 1950s and is being investigated again for production using fracking

technology. Strip mining for coal began in 1924 west of Colstrip in the upper Armells Creek watershed.

Coal is locally used to fire 5 power generators around Colstrip. A wind farm development is currently

being explored in the county. A major reason this is economically feasible is because energy

transportation infrastructure is already installed to service the coal plants in Colstrip.”- A Long-Range Plan for Conservation Delivery in Rosebud County, MT

Collections Spotlight:

Photos, Maps, etc:

Links to other helpful sources: