Oil and Gas Developments in Utah and Nevada in 1957

Abstract

Utah development and exploratory drilling has more than doubled that of 1956; 151 wells were drilled in 1956 as compared with 330 in 1957. In Nevada drilling was nearly equal to that of 1956. San Juan County, Utah, continued its phenomenal record with 9 new fields discovered; 70% of the total wells drilled were in that county. Forty-eight Federal units were approved or applied for at the end of the year. Federal and State lands were leased at a record rate in Utah; more than 4,000,000 acres were filed on in 1957; there are now more than 16,000,000 acres of Federal lands under lease for oil and gas. Nevada lease activity declined with more acreage surrendered than leased. Geophysical exploration in Utah was about twice that of 1956. Most of the crew time was in the Paradox basin. In Nevada geophysical exploration dropped to 20 weeks as compared with 185 crew-weeks in 1956 and 254 in 1955. Construction was begun on two major pipe lines from the Paradox basin. The lines will carry crude to refineries in the Gulf Coast and West Coast areas. Rapid development of San Juan County fields has resulted because of these new outlet facilities. Anticipated 1958 trends include a decrease in Nevada exploration and drilling; continued rapid development of San Juan County, Utah, fields; increased exploratory drilling for Pennsylvanian and Mississippian oil in northwestern Paradox basin; and increased exploration and development drilling in southern Uinta basin.