Built in 1954 the Silver Eagle Woods Cross Refinery initially operated as a wax refinery. It was a unique facility. Its purpose was to refine wax from the crude oil recently discovered in the Uinta Basin. This oil was unusual containing 40 to 50 percent wax. M E Wells developed a process to extract this wax. He formed the Sure-Seal Corporation around 1945. The refinery used a special process to extract commercial-grade waxes. This process also produced by-products like jet fuel and various oils. The final step involved a Methyl-Ethyl-Keotene de-oiling process to get the waxes. This MEK de-oiling was essential to the whole operation.
The Silver Eagle Woods Cross Refinery’s location was strategically chosen. It was near the Salt Lake Pipeline Company’s terminal. This allowed for economical delivery of crude oil via heated trucks. The refinery’s construction started in late September 1953. It was completed by mid-1954. Utah Governor J Bracken Lee even attended the groundbreaking ceremony on September 18 1953. The Sure-Seal Corporation however faced financial difficulties. It entered receivership in December 1954. W M Barnes Company took over operations. Barnes planned to produce 60 tank cars of various waxes each month. He even secured a deal with Carter Oil Company. This ensured a steady supply of high wax content petroleum.
Over the years the Silver Eagle Woods Cross Refinery changed hands multiple times. It went from W M Barnes Company to Petroflex Corporation. Later it was sold to Frontier Oil Refining’s Beeline division in 1961. It was then acquired by Crysen Refining around May 1982. Inland Refining bought it in December 1997. Finally Silver Eagle Refining purchased it on January 31 2000. The refinery’s crude capacity fluctuated over the years. In 1998 it was 12 500 barrels per day but its effective capacity was lower due to the crude oil mix being processed. By 2005 the capacity had climbed to 10 250 barrels per day and by 2014 it reached 15 000 barrels per day. The refinery’s products included gasoline diesel military jet fuel waxes tar asphalt. It shipped via the Chevron pipeline and also used trucks and rail. The Silver Eagle Refinery had a significant impact on the local economy. It employed numerous people and contributed to the states overall production. But it also suffered accidents. A massive explosion and fire on November 4 2009 damaged nearby homes. This devastating incident resulted in lawsuits and ultimately led to the refinery’s closure.