TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY

April 4, 2025

CLARENCE IVERSON NO. 1

The Clarence Iverson No. 1 well, located near Tioga, North Dakota, made history on April 4, 1951, as the state's first commercially successful oil well. Drilled by Amerada Petroleum Corporation, it reached a depth of 10,500 feet before striking oil in the Madison Group, a limestone formation within the Williston Basin. On its first day of production, the well yielded 240 barrels of oil, proving that North Dakota had viable petroleum reserves. This discovery sparked an oil boom, leading to thousands of additional wells and transforming the state's economy.

Prior to this, North Dakota was not considered a major oil-producing region, but the success of Clarence Iverson No. 1 attracted industry investment and infrastructure development. Although the well was eventually capped, its impact was lasting, paving the way for modern drilling techniques such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the Bakken Formation.

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