Holbrook argus., 1912-05-14
THE SAN JUAN
 OIL FIELDS
Report Issued by United States Geolosi- cal Survey on Petroleum Resour-
 ces of Southeastern Utah

The search for oil fields in the United States has been very active tn the last few years and has extended to nearly every part of the United States. This search is not limited to the inha bited regions, but is carried on no less eager ly ill the deserts. As far back as 1882 E. L. Goodridge, prospector, thougl there might be oil in the great desert which lies chiefly in northern Arizona but also extends into southern Utah. He concluded to go there and investi- gate. To reach the place he desired to examine it was necessary for him to go 100 miles, from the nearest point on the railroad, through an uninhabited and almost unwatered- country to the little Norman settlement at Bluff, Utah. From that place he followed San Ju.u River westward. He had gone scarcely he found springs of petroleum along the river and folds in the strata which he considered favorable for the accumulx- | ton of oil. He therefore m,de d claim location. At that time it was impossible to take drilling apparatus into the fiei but he consistently clung to the belief that condi lons were favorable for an oil field. It was just 9 years later, in the | fall of 1907, before he could return to
 he field with drilling outfit and start we'll He continued drilling until March 4, 1908, when he struck oil. The | well was gusber and threw oil above the derrick to 8 height of 70 feet. Of course this find caused great excitement tnd induced others to enter the field New wells followed in rapid succession in the next three years. but most of them where only prospect holes put ! down to validate the titles Of claims and not with the serious intention f determining the oil resources of the field. Itwas difficult to drill deep holes, because it was almost Impossible to ! transport the necessary heavy machin- cry into the field Moreover. drilling is very expensive, because the region is | try and the field is far from any base of supplies It is 106 miles to narrow gage railroad and l5S miles to stand ard gage. The region lies in a wonder fully picturesque country, famed as the home of the Navajo blanket-weaving Indians. One canyon is s quarter of a mile deep, but not quite so wide as that at the bottom, and has almost vertic l walls. Water is scarse. 4 supply for drilling is hauled in barrels from San Juan River, which flows through the field. Fuel also is scare, few pinous on one of the high platesus and scant- growth Of the same type of tree st the base of the escarpmsnt around the pla- eau furnishing all that is available. In spite of these difficulties, however, drili.
 ing has been undertaken at several places in the field and oil found in some of the wells. The oil is of high grade and contains some paraffin and con- siderable gasoline. When refined the gasoline is suitable for use in automos piles.
 The Government heard of the work these men were attempting. learned something of their difficulties, and sent one of its geologists, Mr. E. G. Wood ruff, to examine thu field and prepare d geologic report upon it. He made a topographic map of the field showing the canyons. mountains, and mesas and the trails and similar features. He also studied the rocks and mapped the geo. lOgil formations. This map shows where drilling is most likely to succeed
 Samples of oil were collected and sent to Washington for analysis. The con- ditions found by MT. Woodruff have been set forth in a government report on the subject Bulletin 471-A-4 of the Geological Survey), which IS distribut- ed free. 4 copy can be obtained upon request adressed to The Director, U. $. Geological Survey, Washington, D C.