Special to The Observer, from www.theobserver.ca
A new book, “Groundbreaker,” reveals the life of an inventive engineer who devised methods to overcome oil and water shortages.
Recent headlines report the U.S. expects to be self-sufficient in oil by 2035. We’re told this will be possible because new methods, such as horizontal drilling, to help squeeze more oil out of shale rock. The man behind these methods is engineer Leo Ranney, and his life story is chronicled in Gary May’s new book, Groundbreaker: How the brilliant inventions of Leo Ranney transformed water and energy technology.
Ranney devised horizontal drilling more than 80 years ago. But perhaps the most surprising fact is that this American lived for many years in southwestern Ontario. From 1927 until his death in 1950, Ranney lived much of the time in Petrolia. He had married the widow Claire Fairbank, whose father-in-law from her first marriage, John Henry Fairbank, was Canada’s largest single oil producer in 1900. Ranney and Claire divided their time between Petrolia, New York City and Morro Bay, California.
Ranney obtained more than 300 patents for his technology and processes. Methods for finding and drilling water wells were among them.
In 1934, London, England suffered a historic drought. Ranney constructed his water collector there and was soon producing millions of gallons daily. Lisbon had similar success with his water collector.
Other Ranney methods, such as horizontal drilling and extracting gas from coal, were recognized only decades after his death. He was considered to be far ahead of his time. While much of Ranney’s work was aimed at reducing oil shortages, it was a time when oil was plentiful and cheap. His work did not make him a rich man.
Often, however, his work created headlines and he was also in contact with many powerful people. Ranney’s life story even drew attention in Hollywood and a film script was written.
As a biography, “Groundbreaker” goes beyond his engineering work to depict the man in full. He’s put in the context of his family, his times and his many locales.
When writing the book, author Gary May sifted through a mountain of records, diaries, letters, reports and photographs. Many are included in the book.
The book will be launched at the Oil Museum of Canada in Oil Springs on Saturday, April 6 at 2 p.m. May will address the audience along with Charlie Fairbank, the step-grandson of Ranney. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the museum.
May is a former editor at the Ottawa Citizen and the London Free Press, and he has also written extensively about the oil history of Ontario’s Lambton County.
The Book:
“Groundbreaker,” by Gary May, is a 274-page, soft-cover book published by Your Story Publishing. It is selling for $25 and available, after the official launch at the Oil Museum of Canada, starting April 8, at:
• The Oil Museum of Canada, 2423 Kelly Rd., Oil Springs;
• VanTuyl and Fairbank Hardware, 394 Station St., Petrolia;
• Specialty Rubber Stamps, 4178 Petrolia Line, Petrolia; and
• The Bookkeeper, Northgate Plaza, Sarnia.
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