Opening the arctic: The drilling of Umiat #1

One of the greatest excitements for a petroleum geologist is to venture into the frontier, to explore and drill "where no man has gone before." Over 50 years ago Bill Rex, a Kansas oilman, was tapped to lead the first oil drilling expedition into the Alaskan Arctic. He successfully assembled and outfitted a Naval Seabee expedition whose mission was to drill the first well north of the Arctic Circle, Umiat #1. The story of Umiat #1 is one of anecdotes and personal accounts. This paper relates the successes and tribulations of that Seabee exploration venture, as told to the writer by some of the participants.