Sparky Petroleums Ltd. Backed By Chicago Group, Initiating 20 Well Program Lloydminister

With initial program, starting this winter, calling for twenty wells, a Chicago group incorporating under the name SPARKY PETROLEUM LTD is to develop the 7,760 acre lease and reservation block on the Alberta side of the LLOYDMINSTER Oilfield owned by the BURROW & SPARKS group of Winnipeg.

Theo. A. Sparks, associate of the late Theo. A. Burrows, advises the "Oil Bulletin'' that the Chicago group is 'amply financed'. Its principals are B. F. Bills and W. R. Jeffrey, with whom is associated R. O. McKee, the latter likely in the capacity of Field Superintendent 'Dorsey Hager, wellknown geologist of Centralia, Illinois, will spend this coming winter initiating the Sparky development program. Mr. Hager, in conjunction with the late Major G. G. Howard, made his first visit to Lloydminister in 1934, and in May of 1936 was retained to report on the area for Burrows & Sparks. The Chicago group became interested as a result of that report. Sparks & Burrows drilled their first Lloydminister well in 1943, the Sparky No. 1, the productive sand at this venture giving the name to the current principal source of oil in the field the 'Sparky sand'. In 194344, the Winnipeg group drilled three more oilwells on its holdings.

Acreage involved in the agreement with the Chicago group includes: S 1/2, NW ¼ & lsds 15 & 16 of Section 24 of Twp. 49 Rge. 1w4th; Section 27, N 1/2 of 28, all 29, E 1/2 & NW ¼ of 30, all 31, 32, 33 & 34 in Twp. 49 Rge. 1w4th; and Sections 3, 4, 5, 6 of Twp. 50 Rge 1w4th.

Confirming the "Oil Bulletin" report (No. 468, Oct. 18th 1946), Mr. Sparks states that the Chicago interests intend, next year, to erect a refinery at Lloydminister. In the meantime, they have made a working arrangement with the Excelsior Refineries Ltd (operating a Petroco cleaning unit at Lloydminister) to handle the sales outlet for its plant. It is intended to expand the refining and marketing phase of the program as field development and production warrant.