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Show Is 1 i 3cn " v- - COLLEC TIONS ,L. V Business news and commentary E Gas Co. president takes lead of new business council Group formed to give business point of view Mountain Fuel President B.Z. Kastler has been named chairman of a new organization designed to gather facts on issues affecting western business and present findings to government agencies and the public. Mud: Its a Green business by Milt Policzer Enterprise Staff Writer If your name is mud in northeast Utah, you wont necessarily be disreputable. In fact, during the first six months of this year you could have seen revenues equaling your total sales last year. And, if you are in a r similar business, associated with the booming activity taking place in the state, you could share the fate of mud. Truckers, hauling mud and mud houses to and from oil rigs, are pleading for expanded authority to meet the growing demands of their oil-drilli- ng customers. And manufacturers of oil drilling tools and equipment The versatile goop the kind used Mud comes when drilling oil in many varieties and ranges from $1 to $50 a barrel. The mud one of well over a hundred kinds of chemical mixtures or comis binations thereof pumped through the stem of an oil drill and out through the cutting head. It then picks up the drill cuttings and moves them back to the surface where it is passed through a series of shakers and degassers. The drill solids are removed in that process. Then the mud is recirculated. The mud also has many other functions depending on the drilling situation'. These include: cooling and lubricating the drill bits, building wall cake VOLUME 7 NUMBER 8 into prevent sluffmg-in- , hibiting fluid loss, plugging up holes in the earth in the path of the hole being drilled, preventing blowouts if the oil or gas is under pressure, preventing cave-inremoving impurities, and adjusting alkalinis, ty- The mud circulation must be monitored constantly by a mud engineer to make certain it is of the proper consistency or to change the mix if conditions warrant it. The types of mud range from "commodity products" such as bentonite, barite, calcium chlor- ide, potash, and caustic soda to specially-mad- e, chemical mixEven sawdust is tures. sometimes used. trade-nam- e report remarkable revenues this year. Large mud companies in the Intermountain area are flourishing this year, and small, independent com- panies are springing up and multiplying, nourished by the (See MUD, page 12) According to Kastler. the Western Regional Council formed last week, will address issues related to both government and industry, and advocate a point of view that hasn't received enough attention. Kastler The government and I he public are "listening way too much to pure critics," Kastler told the Enterprise last week. He explained, "pure critics," like consumer advocate Ralph Nader, are those who never produce commodities or services for people. The point of view of the producers, he said, was not Wycoff battles with competitors for service by Sheri Poe Enterprise Staff Writer A pending battle between Wycoff Co., Inc. and major freight carriers is threatening the survival of small towrn businesses. The issue, centered on Wycoff s request for permission to carry more freight more often to distant towns has raised the ire of trucking companies who claim such authority for Wycoff would cause them unnecessary com- petition." But owners of businesses in small towns are supporting Wycoff, hoping for more frequent delivery of vital items. Lee to According Bracken of Brackens Service and Supply, Inc. in Enterprise, Utah, existing freight service restrictions force him to predict sales volume, overload his inventory with dormant items and provide inadequate service to his WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1977 Operating the only retail auto and farm machinery parts service in his town, Bracken says his customers must often drive to Cedar City for parts they urgently need, leaving him with more trivial problems to solve, and less for profit. opportunity Bracken estimates daily delivery of heavy items could save him more than 20 percent of his monthly $300 shipping bill. Under present restrictions, written by the Public Service Commission, Wycoff can deliver only 100 pounds of freight at a time on a daily basis. Deliveries of a heavier item must come via a trucking firm, which delivers items weekly. On Julv 6, the PSC con- r sidered Wycoffs application to expand its authority. Opposing the application were ten major Western trucking firms. to Wayne Green of Garrett Freightlincs, (See WYCOFF, page 15) According UTAH EDITION expressed enough. Kastler complained. "It has gotten to the point where anyone but the critics are ascribed with evil motives of self interest, but business and industry are doing whatever is being done for people. The Council will present that producer point of view, Kastler said. The basic function of the Council will be to research issues through Bonneville Associates, a political consulting firm, and other outside consultants. The Council is not a lobbying organization, Kastler said, but may do some lobbying. Initial members of the Council include Phelps Dodge Corp., Montana Power Co., Earth Sciences, Inc., Ideal Basic Industries, Mountain Fufl Supply Co., Idaho Power Co., Utah Power and Light Co., Snowbird Corp., Husky Oil Co., Kennecott Copper Corp., Gulf Mineral Re- sources Co. and Calvin Ramp-to- n (as an individual associate member). The Council is now in the process of inviting other companies and individuals in the West to join the organization. The Board of Trustees includes A.H. Kinncbcrg (of Phelps); Joseph A. McElwain (Montana), Dr. Douglas N. Stevens (Earth Sciences), E. Allan Hunter (U.P. &L.), (Sec COUNCIL, page 16) 50 CENTS |