Salt Lake Tribune | 1918-08-18 | Page 36 | Holds Virgin River Field Now Proved

HOLDS VIII IEI FIELD fflW PROVED The completioln of five producing wells by the Dixie Oil company has removed the Virsin river field from the wildcat class beyond question, in the opinion of A. G. Burritt, a Salt Lake geologist, who returned yesterday from southern Utah. During his stay in the south Mr. Burritt spent several days on the property of the Dixie company and in other sections of the Virgin river field. "While the production Is not large from any one well," Mr. Burritt said, "there is room in the valley for a vast number of wells, and the geological indications are that the structure occupies a large share of the valley and dips under the escarpments on either side. If I had the Dixie acreage I wouldn't ask for anything any-thing more in the oil line. "The rather small production per "well is more than offset by the inexpensive drilling. In no instance has it been necessary to go deeper than 600 feet, and, in my opinion, most of the wells so far driven have been put down where the oil sands lie probably the deepest of any section of the valley. I am confident that a well put down near the junction of North creek and the Virgin river, about half a mile from the Dixie wells, would-tap would-tap the producing sands at a depth of between 400 and 500 feet. The structure struc-ture at this point is well defined. "The two new wells of the Dixie should furnish ample production to keep the Dixie refinerj working to capacity. The refining operations are limited at present, pres-ent, because of inadequate tankage facilities. facili-ties. It probably will be advisable, also, to install a deodorizing plant, to make the gasoline more desirable on the market, Not that the gasoline now produced is not a high-grade product, but to rid it of the odor, which is, objectionable to some. "On the way home wj were given an opportunity to test the quality of the gasoline as a motor fuel. The quality was excellent. So much power was generated gen-erated that the machine went up the steep and rough hill out of Toquerville on high speed and never faltered. We had a different experience with the gasoline obtained ob-tained further up the line and the difference dif-ference was all in favor of the southern Utah product.' ClillGT IS LET FOR PM PLANT According to the Piute (Harysvale) Chieftain, representatives for Swift. & Co., who are here looking after the opening open-ing up and development of the Bradburn potash property in Cotionwood canyon, announce that contracts have been awarded award-ed for the erection of several buildings and ore bins at the property. Hyrum Hansen, the Marysvale contractor, has received the contract for the work, and it is intended to start construction the latter part of the week. The ore bins will be finished first, and when completed they will have a capacity of storing about 125 tons. Native lumber will be used in the construction, and will be cut and prepared on the ground. In addition to erecting the bins, Mr. Hansen will build a two-compartment bunkhouse. an office building and a cookhouse, cook-house, and other cons-eniences will be provided, preparatory to starting a big campaign in developing and opening up the property. Work is being rushed on the mountain road leading from the canyon to the mine, and with the completion of this project it is expected that everything will be in readiness to start shipping ore. The crosscut tunnel, being driven to tap the big bodies of ore. is now in for a distance dis-tance of some forty feet. It will require re-quire a week or more to reach the objective objec-tive point, at which time it is intended to start drifting both ways and carry out a systematic course of development work.