The Daily Alaska empire., 1945-11-28
HUNTING FOR OIL, BARROW SECTION,
 IS 10 CONTINUE

WA0ElNG1 1ON - 1Ile Navy De- partment believes that evidence so far found in connection with their exploration for oil in the Barrow, Alaska, reserve warrants continual ton of this project on civilian contract basis, according to infor- nation given Delegate Bartlett by John L. Sullivan, Acting Secretary of the Navy.
 Since the spring of 1944 Naval officers and enlisted men have been on the reserve to determine whether enough oil existed in commercial quantities. Now that the war is over and most of the experienced Naval men will be re- leased from service, qualified per sonnel from the petroleum industry will have to be called upon for continuation Of the work.
 All geographical work will be undertaken by the Geographical Survey, and a contract will be ne- gotiated with-a contractor from the oil industry to undertake the geo. physical work as well as the drill ing of the wells and maintenance of all facilities and equipment. The Navy will contribute all supplies and equipment now on the reserve and provide air and water trans portation with associated facilities as in the past.
 Reconnaissance Done
 Exploration on the reserve at the present time, according to the in- formation given Delegate Bartlett, has been limited to the eastern third of the reserve. The recon naissance field work is almost com pleted on this third, and data and maps are now being prepared for the use Of surface geological parties next summer. Acting Secretary Sullivan has stated that the geo. logical work in the southern section of the area and the geophysical investigation in the northern sec tion have progressed satisfac- torily" One structure favorable to the accumulation of ail has been located at Umiat Mountain on the southeastern border and a test well is now being drilled.
 In addition, a preliminary pipe line survey has been completed for construction and use if oil is found in sufficient quantities to warrant the installation of a pipe line.
 We'll Down 1900 Feet
 "The well at Umiat Mountain is now approximately 1900 feet deep" Acting Secretary Sullivan stated. Already five separate oil-bearing sands have been encountered and although none proved to be of commercial value, their discovery indicates beyond question that drilling is being carried out in an il-bearing country"
 A principal camp was established at Point Barrow with secondary camps at Umiat Mountain and Cape Simpson. Supplies and equip ment, totalling approximately 26,000 tens have been landed at Point Barrow by ship during the last two summers. Land fields were con- structed at Point Barrow, Umiat Mountain and Cape Simpson with emergency strips midway between Fairbanks and Point Barrow, and Point Barrow and Umiat. Plans for this winter call for the movement of additional supplies and equip ment from Point Barrow to the Umiat Mountain and Cape Simpson camps in order to complete the airfield at Umiat and to continue drilling operations at Umiat Noun tain in the spring, and to have on hand at Cape Simpson sufficient equipment to continue the geo. physical work next spring.
 Future plans call for the ex- ploration of the remaining two sections of the reserve in much the same manner as has been followed in the eastern section.
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