Exploration activity continued at a moderate pace in Utah during 1962. The Paradox basin, which has been very active since the discovery of Aneth in 1956, had considerably less activity during the year. The Uinta basin, on the other hand, experienced a considerably accelerated rate of exploration, due largely to the completion of the Mountain Fuel Supply Company pipeline connecting many of the gas fields of the basin to the Wasatch Front markets.

Two rather insignificant new-field discoveries were made during the year in the southern end of the Paradox basin. Drilling of a few infield development wells and field extension wells continued in the greater Aneth area. The Ismay field received considerable drilling, extending the field south and southeast. The northern Paradox basin experienced some deep wildcat drilling in search of the Mississippian and deeper oil. All were unsuccessful. Three new discoveries were completed in the Paradox salt section in the general Big Flat area, indicating possible greater production from this stratigraphic interval. The Lisbon, Salt Wash, and Grassy Trail fields received some development drilling.

The Uinta Basin Uncompahgre area had at least ten discoveries or extensions of significance, five predominantly gas producers, and five oil. Two of these, the Phillips Flat Rock well No. 2 in sec. 30, T. 14 S., R. 20 E., and Pacific Natural Gas Exploration Moon Ridge No. 1, sec. 15, T. 16 S., R. 21 E., indicated possible important field discoveries. Formations from Tertiary Green River to Cretaceous Dakota shared in the discoveries. Development in the Red Wash, Chapita Wells, Ute Trail, and Rock House fields continued at a fair rate.

The emphasis of surface field work and geophysical work generally shifted west to the Wasatch Plateau, and Basin-and-Range areas, from the Paradox Basin, which has received most of the attention for the past few years. Considerable leasing took place in the Wasatch Plateau from the Clear Creek field south to the general Fish Lake area. Areas in the Basin-and-Range province, notably Box Elder and Iron Counties, experienced considerable leasing.

Oil production in 1962 was 31,104,169 barrels, a decline of approximately 813,000 barrels from 1961. Gas production totaled 72,516,409 MCF, an increase of nearly 14,000,000 MCF over 1961.

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