This photo is of the educational display set up at the rest/tourist info stop at the South entrance to Edmonton. When we were there, it was still tucked away in the back.
Originally they had a large sign right on the rig itself that said Leduc No 1 and that was what I had been hoping to photograph. When you saw that sign after a long days driving, you knew you were getting close to home. Of course now, it tells you nothing, you have to be looking for it and it is within the city limits already.
This plaque tells a bit of the history behind the rig. (sorry about the pigeon marks)
This rig has been here at the entrance to the city for as long as I can remember, but I honestly think this is the first time I have been this close to it. There is now a park and the info stop set up around it.
They still have the machinery you would see on a rig set up.
And underneath, they have the drill heads.
I took this just because I could.
Way back in November of 1946, no one thought that there was oil under Alberta's wheat fields. By February 13th of 1947, they found out differently when the Leduc # 1 blew in and changed the course of our Province. It was not the first well in Alberta, there had been a field South of Calgary, but it was being depleted rapidly.
" Leduc No. 1 stopped producing in 1974 after the production of some 317,000 barrels of oil and 9 million cubic metres of natural gas."
This link has an old photo and sound track of the well blowing in, if you click on the second clip, it shows the well blowing in. This link gives some facts and this link is a teaching site with all the info you could want. This is a short article about the well coming in.
Since the Leduc # 1 well came in Alberta has gone from being one of the poorest provinces to one of the richest in Canada. We also manage to keep our province rat free - yes, the four legged kind (last paragraph under Fauna).
Have a good day all.
18 comments:
Interesting bit of Alberta oil lore, Reb. Liked your pics and I'd do exactly the same thing as you did in your last photo.
and the name of your hockey team is, oh let's see, The Rats? No...trying to remember here, not The Farmers either....
That was fascinating, Reb...I'm glad you shared! Love that last photo--it turned the rig into a beauty.
Really interesting about the rats--I wish other cities would take up the same measures.
Oh, here I go again...
Jo - it's the whole province that is rat-free! We actually have border patrols to keep the vermin out!
Great post, Reb! Very informative. (and sorry about stepping in again...)
Leah, thanks, you probably would have done much better though.
Gary, no, I think it has something to do with ice, or snow maybe? ;)
Jo, thanks. It would be a bit hard with port cities, but once they are under control, it is easier to keep it that way. If our whole province can do it, I don't see why more can't do it too. Of course, then PETA or something would step in!
Sis, thanks, glad you liked it. Step in when ever you want. I sometimes forget to mention things.
Very interesting post, as always, Reb. I love that last shot too.
I'm petitioning to have a raccoon free attic. Well, it's a step..
Thanks Hilary. I wish you every success in that. ;)
I passed through both Calgary and Edmonton many years ago so found your history fascinating. I'd love to return to Canada one day.
Thank you Dawn. You just let us know and we will squire you around.
Very interesting stuff about Alberta! One of the things I love about blogging is not only meeting people from different places, but learning about those places. And you guys are rat free? Amazing! I wish we were snake free here. And wasp free for that matter. LOL
Jay, we have little garter snakes and some rattlers, but that's it for snakes here. I am with you on the wasps though.
Very informative post, and loved the pictures!
The only problem is that with all the oil talk, I started thinking about The Beverly Hillbillies, and now I can't get the song out of my head.
Don't know if you guys were spared that show, but the theme song is one of those evil ones that sticks in your brain. "Well the first thing you know, ol' Jed's a millionaire..."
Crabby, I loved that show! You are right about the song though - thanks for sticking it in MY brain!
Hi Reb,
Very interesting post. I love history of any sort, and this is so current, given the topic is oil.
I thought you were kidding about the rats! i guess the Pied Piper wandered through Alberta after he finished in Hamlin. Seriously, kudos to the residents who made this a priority and stuck to it.
Terrie
Oilers! Huh, wonder why they named it that?
Thanks Terrie, I am very grateful to those people too - rats, just the thought creeps me out.
Gary, oh, yeah, that's it! Probably chose that because Eskimos was taken. (By our football team)
I vacationed (camped) in the Banff area several times as a youngster. The sight of Lake Louise always makes me sigh with delight! And you know, you just gotta love a province that is rat-free!!
Kcinnova, you got that right. I love Lake Louise - well, all of the Rockies for that matter.
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