Engineering prospects of a field test thermal recovery of oil from tar sands Asphalt Ridge, Uintah County, Utah

In late 1956 Sohio acquired certain interests in tar sand deposits at Asphalt Ridge a few miles west of Vernal, Utah. During 1957 and 1953 we conducted an extensive coring program to evaluate those shallower areas most susceptible to mining and air injection tests to evaluate those deeper areas most susceptible to thermal recovery methods. Our various experiments lead us to believe that the physical properties of tar and the tar sand in the Mesa Verde Rim Rock sand are so nearly similar to those of many areas of the Athabaska tar sand that a test of thermal recovery methods at Asphalt Ridge would be of considerable aid in evaluating the method for those operators having or wishing to obtain properties in Athabaska or other tar sand deposits. In our opinion there are two significant advantages to conducting the first industry cooperative tar sand recovery test at Asphalt Ridge rather than at Athabaska. These are: 1) Convenience and economy a) The proposed test site is just four miles from Vernal, Utah where no unusual expenses would be involved in transferring in and housing operating employees. b) No unusual problems of logistics exist in setting up for field research due to location or climate. The proposed test site is just one half mile from a paved highway and just two miles from U. S. Highway 40. In addition, Vernal can be reached by commercial airlines in one day from any important oil center in the U. S. making it convenient to technical representatives of participants. c) Complete contract oil field services are available in the Vernal area thus involving no unusual expense in making these services available as required. LG, Diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity are available within just a few miles. 2) Political problems associated with the test are a minimum. Well informed operators having large holdings in Athabaska are concerned that a moderately successful thermal recovery test at Athabaska, uneconomic in terms of desired return on investment, would lead Alberta authorities to transfer permits and leases from the exploration phase to the exploitation phase resulting in expense and commitments undesirable to lease and permit holders. Informal contacts with many operators having holdings In Athabaska have indicated considerable interest in a thermal recovery test at Asphalt Ridge such that we have every reason to expect sufficient participation to warrant such a test. The following report summarizes the various engineering data we have obtained from wells at Asphalt Ridge and outlines our proposed cooperative thermal recovery test there including the preliminary plan of operation and the estimated cost of the test.