A Look Back: The First Well Drilled in McKenzie County

I was sent the photograph below by Harvey Thompson, who took the picture. It is a photograph of the Benhomer Risser 1 well as reflected in a pool of water. The well is said to be the first well drilled in McKenzie County; note its file number, 33. It was probably drilled in 1952 and finally permanently abandoned in 1990. If accurate, that well was active for almost 40 years. The well is located near Johnson Corners, 16 miles east of Watford City on state highway 23.

Readers may recall that Mr Thompson sent me some vintage photographs of even earlier drilling, back in 1937.

"Three guesses who drilled that well and your first two guesses don't count," as my dad often says. Answer at the bottom of the photo.

File number 33, Benhomer Risser 1, SWSE 12-149-96, Croff Oil Field, drilled by Amerada Hess.