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Show The Uinta Basin is presently experiencing above average economic growth from the expansion of oil exploration work. According to the University of Utah's Bureau of Economic and Business Research, during the first 10 months of 1972 Uintah County had a 191.5 percent increase in all building construction over the comparable period in 1971. Similar figures for the towns of Duchesne and Roosevelt in Duchesne County are 2U6.2 percent and 607.5 percent, respectively. These figures compare with a total State increase of approximately 13 percent. Compared to the 1971 base, these growth percentages are significant. The growth may be short- term and may not be expected to continue unless oil processing plants and related industries are established in the basin. Several oil wells have been completed near Starvation Reservoir and some are producing at present. Other wells have been drilled elsewhere in the Duchesne River area- most of which have been exploratory in nature. Oil exploration is being contemplated for the Strawberry Valley. There are indications that oil reserves are extensive throughout the Uinta Basin. According to Utah Facts1" about one- third of the oil reserves of Utah are contained in two giant fields. One of these is the Greater Red Wash field which is located in the Uinta Basin. Much of the potentially petroliferous area is untested by drilling, and undiscovered oil and gas reserves could be large. About 3,000 square miles in Uinta Basin are underlain by oil shale 15 feet thick and contain at least 15 gallons of oil per ton. Gross oil inplace in this overall area is estimated at 320 billion barrels, or about 10 times the estimated U. S. reserve of crude oil as of the year 1970. Without the Unit Growth along the Wasatch Front is inevitable because this area contains a combination of resources which foster growth. Manufacturing would continue to be the major source of income and may widen the lead as farm income becomes less important. Mineral production could also increase because the retrieval of minerals from the Great Salt Lake, with its tremendous potential, is just getting underway. This area is the geographical and trading center for the Intermountain West which promises considerable future growth. It is anticipated that the Uinta Basin will also continue to grow without the proposed Unit. ( Portions of the Unit affecting the Uinta Basin have already been completed.) This area has future potential as a source of oil, gas, oil shale, and phosphate. The development of these resources plus irrigation and recreational possibilities would continue to attract increased population to both Uintah and Duchesne Counties. 171 |