Tunnel Area wells - East of Highway 14

Technology

No conventional workover rigs like the ones used at the Center at Needham Ranch west of Sierra Highway were used on the two wells here. Instead, the technology used was coiled tubing. Close up of the coiled tube rig used on Squaw Flat 1 (Photo date 12/17/2011). A similar one, or maybe the same one, was used on Commercial 1.

From the RigZone website: "Coiled tubing is a continuous length of steel or composite tubing that is flexible enough to be wound on a large reel for transportation. The coiled tubing unit is composed of a reel with the coiled tubing, an injector, control console, power supply and well-control stack. The coiled tubing is injected into the existing production string, unwound from the reel and inserted into the well."

Among other tasks, coiled tubing can be used for cleanout and cementing operations, just what was needed here. See here for a short article on coiled tubing.

COMMERCIAL 1 (037-13232)

There are two wells east of Highway 14. This is the Commercial 1 drilled in 1901 by the Commercial Oil Company and purchased by E.A. Clampitt in 1907. It is located east of Highway 14. In late 2011/early 2012, it was capped and abandoned by the DOGGR with the well head cut off below ground level. (Photo date 11/28/2008)

Commercial 1. It looks like it was last used for waste water disposal. (11/28/2008)

Start of abandonment work. Pipe removed from well and outer casing pried off. (12/20/2011)

Just after cementing of the well. (12/30/2011)

After more cementing. (1/3/2012)

Casing cut off below ground level. (1/6/2012)

Cap with API (American Petroleum Institute) well number welded to top of casing. (1/11/2012)

After the site cleaned up, a metal sign with the well name (Commercial 1) was put up. (1/14/2012)

Commercial 1 marker in 2013. It is still there today (2018) because the site is hard to find. However, the sign is rusting away. (5/14/2013)

SQUAW FLAT 1 (037-13236)

Squaw Flat 1 (current name Sewell and Jones 1) was drilled by the Squaw Flat Oil Company in 1911. The well and land were purchased by E.A. Clampitt in 1912. When the York Oil Company owned the well in 1945 (they bought it from and later resold it to Leah C. Sewell & Barbara C. Jones, the Clampitt daughters, who inherited it from their father E.A.), they reported to the DOG that they "had to build a road up to the well." Today, only the road to the site still exists. The well was cut off below ground level when it was capped and abandoned in late 2011/early 2012. The tank behind it was also removed. (3/24/2007)

This photo was taken after a major fire in the area. (11/28/2008)

Closer view of Squaw Flat 1 wellhead (3/24/2007)

The site being prepared for abandonment. The road to the well was re-graded. (11/26/2011)

The top part of the well head was cut off. (12/17/2011)

What's left after top cut off. (12/17/2011)

View from high up. The tank has been crushed for future removal. (12/17/2011)

Another piece removed. (12/24/2011)

The well has been plugged and abandoned. The site has been cleaned up. (12/30/2011)

A metal sign with the well name put at the well site. Sewell and Jones 1 is the current well name, but I think it would have been better to use the first name - Squaw Flat 1. This marker no longer exists. It was either stolen or thrown somewhere in the brush. (1/14/2012)