Oil Derrick - Fort St. John, British Columbia
Posted by: 
T0SHEA
N 56° 14.414 W 120° 50.789
10V E 633463 N 6234902
Oil Derrick roadside attraction is at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum located at 9323 100th Street.
Waymark Code: WM10X4V
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 07/04/2019
Views: 1
Derrick
This 136 foot, triple tubular steel derrick, donated by Hi Tower Drilling, last worked at Mile 143 of the Alaska Highway. Derricks are drilling rigs used to harvest oil and natural gas. The derrick positions the drill bit attached to the drill pipe above the well site. As the drilling bit bores into the ground, more pipes are added to keep the connection between the drill bit and rotating machinery at the surface. Mud is pumped down the hollow piping to cool the drill bit and carry rock "cuttings" back to the surface.
The hole created by the drill bit is lined with casing so that the hole can't cave in. If the drill reaches oil, equipment is set up to extract it. Gas flows under its own pressure while oil needs to be pumped to the surface.
The Fort St. John Chamber of Commerce and the North Peace Historical Society erected this derrick to commemorate the prominence of the Petroleum Industry in this region. This was done with assistance from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, local businesses, and individuals.
This derrick was erected here on April 1, 1982 and officially dedicated on April 24, 1982.
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