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Show Compliments of Rarker-Mawo- d Bulk Rate U. S. Postage & Ca Suite 420 Continental Bank Bldg. Salt Lake aty, Utah 84101 ra PAID MOM C:P.CU LATiNG- - CSV ((IXGtfuRQ Geological data vital to Apollo oonshot Nearly a decade of geologic studies by scientists of the Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, on behalf of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, has preceded the Apollo 11 mission and plans for geologic explorations of the Moon. Dr. Alfred H. Chidester, chief of the Survey's Center of at Flagstaff, that to out points Astrogeology Arizona, meet the unprecedented requirements for planning an effective geologic exploration program, NASA initiated and supports comprehensive USGS programs aimed at supporting lunar exploration. The operation at Flagstaff, Chidester said, has resulted in systematic geologic mapping of the Moon from telescopic; Ranger, Surveyor, and Lunar Orbiter photography, and has provided the basis for final nautical miles in selection of the landing site for the Apollo 11 mission. southeastern Cooperative USGS-NASresearch has been directed Tranquillitatis A toward development and testing of new procedures and equipment required for effective geologic exploration during ground sorties in the hostile environment of the Moon. Mission planning has combined both the best geologic and operational data available in proposing ground traverses, and is providing geologic maps especially designed for scientific and operational use on the lunar surface, Chidester said. Geologic maps prepared by the Geological Survey are aboard the Apollo 11 for use by the astronauts in checking and interpreting key surface features of the Moon. The prime landing site, designated as Site 2, covers an elliptical area 2.6 by 10.2 time-limite- d the comer of Mare of (Sea Tranquility). There are four other potential landing sites strung along the Moon's equator, to be used only if Site 2 is overshot. During the first mission the astronauts will explore an area only a few tens of feet in radius from the lunar module, and therefore will observe and sample a restricted number of Mare features. The astronauts will probably find the surface materials around the module to have the consistence of loamy soil, the USGS said. The surface layer, which may have been churned by repeated meteorite bombardment over the millenia can probably be shoveled and sampled easily, and probably will contain rock (Continued Page 2) Oil, gas drilling increases in Rocky Mountains Drilling for oil and gas in Utah and the Rocky Mountain Region is up significantly from a year ago. Operators completed wells in the through June-t- he in any first six-mon- 11-sta- te th 1,972 area highest total period since 1961. In Utah, 76 wells were completed, 11 more than last year, according to Richard L. Zirbel of Petroleum Information Corp., Denver. lie noted there were 29 wildcats drilled in Utah-b- ut none was successful. (A wildcat is a well drilled a mile or more beyond the known boundary of a production field. A geologic wildcat is a well in a production field but drilled to a depth which is deeper or shallower than known production levels.) In the past few weeks I think there has been a slight upturn in wildcat locations in Utah. There wildcat might be above-averag- e activity between now and the end of the year, observed Howard Ritzma, petroleum geologist for the Utah Geologic of Green River. Shell is drilling Survey. Most effort to find new oil the well on land which has been reserves in Utah are leased to Mountain Fuel Supply concentrating in the Uintah Co. Basin and the Salt Anticline Belt Proposed depth of this well is of the northern Paradox Basin in confidential. Shell has been right southeastern Utah, he added. holing (not releasing Noting the 29 unsuccessful information) on the progress of wildcats, Petroleum Information its Grand County Wells. But it is has said Shell Oil Co. has known that Federal denied' there was been plugged and abandoned 'categorically well blowout at its Federal after drilling penetrated to well about four miles east of 11,890 feet below the surface. Green River in Grand County. is still being drilled. Federal A few months ago rumors For the region as a whole, were rampant in Utah that there exploratory wells accounted for had been a gusher of oil at that 44.2 percent of all drilling, Mr. location. Zirbel stated. This isn't a record According to information but is above the historical received by Mr. Ritzma, the average of 35 to 40 per cent. rumors might be traced to In the first six months of this another Shell Wildcat, Federal year, there were 853 wildcats about 13 miles away. That completed, compared with 593 well did have some 'shows, or in the same period of '68. This is evidence of oil. the highest report of wildcat Shell has subsequently filed drilling during a first half-yeintentions to drill a third well in since 1957. the area. This one, known as Although all Utah wildcats Mountain Fuel Federal is were dry holes, 64 in the region located in Section 21 of found production-5- 0 as oil 18 discoveries and 14 as gas Township 23 South, Range miles southwest 22 about East, (Continued Page 3) 1-- 1-- 1-2- 26 26 1-- 21 1, ar 1-2- 1, , Salt Lake City, Utah Permit No. 2091 |
