The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-06-06
San Juan Oil Fields
Report Issued by United States &C.
illogical Survey on Petroleum Re-
source Of Southeastern Utah.

The search for Oil fields in the Uni
ted States las been very active in the
last few years and has extended to
nearly every part Of the United States.
This search is not limited to the in.
habited regions, but is carried on no
less eagerly in the deserts. AS far
back as 1882 E. l.. Goodridge, a pros
pector, thought there might be oil IN
the great desert which lies chiefly in
Northern Arizona but also extends in.
to southern Utah. He concluded to go
there and investigate. To reach the
place he desired to examine il was
necessary for him to go about 100
miles from the nearest point on the
railroad through an uninhabited and
almost unwatered country to the little
Mormon settlement at Bluff, Utah
From that place he followed San Juan
River westward. He had gone scarce
ly 20 miles from the little settlement
when he found springs of petroleum
along the river and folds in the strata
! which he considered favorable for the
| accumulation Of oil. He therefore
made claim location. At that time
it was impossible to take drilling ap-
paratus into the field but he persist
emily chung to the belief that condi.
tons were favorable for an oil field.
1t was just % years later, in the fall
of 1907, before he could return to the
field with drilling outfit and start
well. He continued drilling until
March T. 1908, when he struck oil
The well was a gusher and threw oil
above the derrick TO a height of 40
feet. OF course this find caused great
excitement and induced others to en-.
ter the field. New wells followed In
rapid succession in the next three
years, but most of them were only
prospect holes put down to validate
the titles of claims and not with the
serious intention of determining the
oil resources of the field. 1t was diff
ficult to drill deep holes because it
was almost impossible to transport
the necessary heavy machinery into
the field Moreover, drilling is very
expensive, because the region is dry
and the field is far from any base of
supplies. 1t is 100 miles to narrow
gauge railroad and 15S miles to a
standard gage, The region lies in a
wonderful picturesque country famed
as the home of the Navajo blanket
weaving Indians. One canyon Is a
quarter of mile deep, but not quite
so wide as that at the bottom, and
has almost vertical walls. Water is
scarce. A supply for drilling is haul
ed in barrels from San Juan River,
which flows through the field. Fuel
is also scarce, few pinons on one
OF the high plateaus and a scant
growth OF the same type OF tree at
the base of the escapement around
the plateau furnishing all that is
available, In spite of these Difficult
ties, however, drilling has been under
taken at several places in the field
and oil found in some Of the wells
2 The oil is of high grade and contains
!, some paraffin and considerable gaso
d line suitable for use in automobiles.
3 The Government heard Of the worl
e these men were attempting, Learned
! something OF their difficulties, ant
e sent one OF its biologists, Mr.. f. G
e Woodruff to examine the field an,
l. prepare geologic report upon II. HI
e made Topographic map of the fiel
j showing the CANYONS, mountains, an,
, the trails and similar features. H
e also studied the rocks and mapped tn
geologic formations. This map show
S where drilling is most likely TO sue
e coed. Samples of oil were collecte,
" and sent TO Washington for analysis
Z. Trha onp ditions found hv Nv Wood