Ashley Valley No. 1

After 25 years and 9 expensive dry wells Equity Oil drilled the first significant Utah oil well. Spudded on August 13 it was competed on September 18, 1948, in the Uintah Basin. The Ashley Valley No. 1 well about 10 miles southeast of Vernal produced 300 barrels a day from a depth of 4,152 feet.

What I think I know.

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I have found 2 references to the well being named N. J. Meagher No. 1. Vernal Express 9/1/1948 and the Salt Lake Tribune.

Equity Oil Company. Salt Lake City, Utah

J.L. "Mike" Dougan - President

Dr. D.K. Allen - Vice President

L Joseph Wise -Treasurer

Helen Hannah Tourasen - Director

Harley W Gustin - Director

Joseph V. Collins - Petroleum Engineer

Victor E. Peterson - Geologist I'm not positive he worked for Equity.

Roy Rooks - While he was not employed at the time of the Ashley Valley No 1, he worked for Equity for 47 years.

Leo Rooks - Like his father, Leo also worked for Equity for most or all of his career.

Equity Oil Co was owned in the major part by Utahans. Paul Stock of Cody Wyoming was one fourth owner in the Ashley well and Joe T. Juhan of Glenwood Springs Colorado was also one-fourth owner of the well.

Kerr-Mcgee. Drilling Contractor

Norman Bauendale - Superintendent

J.W. Rogers - Driller

Mervin Horrocks - Hand Vernal local. Help me find his children.

Bill Scrrana - Hand Typo?

Don Walker - Hand

Lawrence Rich - Hand

Carter Oil. The competition.

Phil Williams - Geologist. He was present on location when the well came in.

There were 3 rig crews that worked 8 hour towers 7 days a week. Only the crew that was there when the well came in got credit in the Salt Lake Tribune.

Sidenote: Few the company officials were on location when the oil finally came to the surface. After 2 hours of waiting after the valve had been opened at 11:13 am they became hungry and went to Vernal for lunch and went to Vernal for lunch. They had just been seated at the lunch counter of Hotel Vernal when word came In.

Source: Salt Lake Tribune listed the names of the crew 9-19-1948, front page.

Please email Arnie here with any additions or edits.

Independent Equity Oil strikes first.

In a remarkable turn of events, Equity Oil achieved a significant milestone by striking oil before major players like Standard Oil and Gulf Oil. This early success not only showcased Equity Oil's pioneering spirit but also highlighted their to make bold moves in a competitive industry. Their achievement paved the for further exploration and development in the region, setting a precedent for independent oil companies.

The nation watched

The production of this well attracted considerable attention. The man the white suit is Frank Hollandsworth, who traveled from Longview, Texas, to witness it firsthand. To his right is J.L. "Mike" Dougan, the President of Equity Oil, followed by Bry Stringham, the Mayor Vernal. Within months Hollandsworth would be spudding wells in the same Ashley Valley field.

Black Gold Flows in Utah

Utah's first producer hit pay dirt in the Weber sands at a depth of 4152 feet to climax a wildcatting venture cf 23 years duration It vindicated the belief of Equity Oil and its aggressive President J. L. Dougan that oil did exist in paying quantity in Utah and upset the contention of a late noted educator and geologist who at least once a year would emphasize to his university class that oil would never be found within the boundaries
of the Beehive state.

Photo: This historic picture shows smoke and flames from oil set afire only a few seconds after it started flowing from the Ashley Valley No 1well of Equity Oil Co. east of Vernal Saturday. It was the first flow of oil in "commercial quantity" in Utah. The oil is pushed up by subterranean gas pressure. The fire was started deliberately so petroleum and gas would not form dangerous pockets near the well.

Salt Lake Tribune 9-19-1948

Waiting on orders.

Pictured here is JW Roberts 4 days after bringing in the well making minor repairs to the rig. They're waiting to find out if they will drill deeper or be released. The decision was made to stay at the current total depth and let the rig go. Kerr-McGee quickly moved 6 rigs to the Uintah Basin from Oklahoma.

On a side note.

On December 11 1948 the Thomas Hall No 1 operated by Crain-Griffith Oil Co. became the second producing oil well in the Uintah Basin as it began flowing at 15-20 barrels per hour. This was the 4th in the state of Utah. This well was located about a half mile southeast of the Ashley Valley No 1.

William Griffith of Vernal and BW Crain Longview Tex

We need to know more about Kerr McGee.

This rig is most likely the same rig that drilled the AV1. Here it's rigged up in Red Wash in 1955.

Photo: Courtesy of Ryan Jones of R.W. Jones Trucking.