Abstract

During the past hundred years, the development of oil and gas in Box Elder County has met with little success. However, the extensive exploration and drilling by the Amoco Production Company in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and current interest in the heavy oils in the vicinity of Rozel Point, may bring to fruition the development of one of the State’s unique petroleum resources. Over 200 exploration and development wells were drilled in the Utah portion of the Great Basin during the past 100 years, with over 110 within Box Elder County alone. Natural gas has been encountered in a number of wells, mainly in the area between Brigham City and the Bear River National Wildlife Refuge, but none sustained production for many years. Of the 70 known oil wells drilled in Box Elder County since 1896, few can be considered significant tests for petroleum. The heavy oil seeps at Rozel Point are the most interesting oil occurrences in the county. Numerous wells were drilled in the area of the seeps beginning in about 1904, but none are currently producing. Amoco Production Company conducted an extensive exploration program throughout Great Salt Lake, drilled 15 wells, and established the West Rozel field west of Rozel Point. Amoco’s drilling operations started in June 1978, but were discontinued in December 1980 because of the high water cut in the produced oil, and the high cost of operating an “offshore” field. There is current interest in the West Rozel field, and leasing of large acreages from the State is in progress. Lease holders intend to drill from platforms in the lake, and transport the oil to shore. The initial marketing target is the asphalt industry, but research is ongoing to find other uses for the heavy, high-sulfur oil, with many unique chemical properties.