18 Hope Rd P.O. Box 757
Cut Bank, MT 59427
Plugging the historic 125 year old Butte #1 Well
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
History of Butte Oil #1
The Butte Oil Co. drilled the Butte #1 well on the shores of Kintla Lake in 1901. This was the first oil well drilled in Montana but not the first to produce. In the winter of 1902, before the well could be completed, the wooden derrick caught fire. In the years following, efforts were made to salvage what was left. In 1910 the National Park Service designated the area as Glacier National Park and the well was considered abandoned in 1912. In 2023, assessments were completed and determined the well was leaking dangerous methane gas so the National Park Service began taking steps to plug the well.
The right team for the job
In May of 2025, Liquid Gold Well Service Inc owner, Shane Schwindt, and business manager, Larry Schwindt, kayaked to the remote well site for the project site visit. From this visit, companies could decide if they would submit a bid for the completion of the plugging project. After leaving the site, Shane knew he wanted the chance to plug the well and his team at Liquid Gold could complete it. Liquid Gold was awarded the contract in July 2025. Equipment was designed and built specifically for the project to create as little environmental impact at the site as possible. The plugging was scheduled for the summer of 2026.
Navigating the remote location
The Butte Oil #1 well is located at the head of Kintla Lake near the shore line. Access to the site is limited to a five mile journey across the lake, or a seven mile hike within the forest along it's banks. To mobilize equipment and crews to the site, the use of helicopters and motorized water vessels were permitted by NPS. Timberline helicopters based in Sandpoint Id used a Blackhawk to mobilize and demobilize the heavy well service equipment, while Hard Drive Marine from Bellingham Wa custom built a large landing craft to transport tools, small equipment, and personnel.
Fabricating the equipment
The remote location provided an important challenge for Shane and his crew. Typical workover rigs and cement equipment are mounted on motorized carriers or truck chassis. This allows for easy mobilization using road access to and from locations. The Butte #1 well sits in the wilderness approximately five miles from the nearest roadway and the location is a moderate slope covered in thick vegetation. Shane designed and built a service rig and cement equipment that could be air lifted to the well site. To accommodate for the uneven terrain, and to reduce the impact to the vegetation, the equipment used adjustable jacks or "legs" to elevate it above the forest floor. Raised platforms were constructed to hold larger equipment and tanks. The crew used the platforms and walkways to move around the location keeping ground disturbance minimal. Every piece of equipment used was designed specifically for the project.
.jpg)
Plugging the well
The entire plugging program took 16 days to complete with the final cap/data plate being welded to the casing on August 7th 2026. The well now sits approximately five feet below the surface. The earth around the well was returned to its natural contour. According to the NPS, the disturbed vegetation is expected to rebound within the next two years.
The plugging of the Butte #1 well is a great example of proper planning, dedication, collaboration, and hard work. Plugging legacy wells can pose unexpected challenges and risks, but there is no substitute for experience. Liquid Gold Well service has successfully plugged thousands of wells across the State of Montana now adding the State's first oil well to that list.
Shane Schwindt and Larry Schwindt standing above the capped well.