Water availability for development of major tar sands areas in Utah

The Sutron Corporation, under contract with Colorado State University, has conducted a study for the Laramie Energy Technology Center (LETC) to determine the availability of water for future extraction of viscous petroleum (bitumen) from the six major tar sands deposits in Utah. Specifically the areas are: • Asphalt Ridge and Whiterocks. which lie immediately west of Vernal, Utah; • P.R. Spring, a large area extending from the Colorado River to the White River along Utah's eastern border: • Hill Creek, adjacent to P.R. Spring to the west; • Sunnyside, immediately across the Green River from Hill Creek between the Price and Green Rivers; and • Tar Sand Triangle, near the confluence of the Colorado and Dirty Devil Rivers. The study, conducted between September and December of 1978, was a fact-finding effort involving the compilation of information from publications of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Utah State Engineer, Utah Department of Natural Resources, and other federal and state agencies. The information covers the general physiography and geologic features of the total area, the estimated water requirements for tar sands development, the availability of water in each of the six areas, and the legal and sociological restraints and impacts. The conclusions regarding water availability for tar sands development in each of the six areas and specific recommendations related to the development of each area are presented also.