“Ever wonder what it takes to keep the wheels of modern life turning?” That question lingers in the air as we approach the Woods Cross Refinery. It stands as a testament to Utah’s industrious spirit. Let me tell you its story.
Woods Cross Refinery began its journey in 1932. The William Yeates Company built a small refinery here in Woods Cross. Its initial capacity was projected at 1000 barrels of crude oil per day.
There was a problem with the cracking plant. It did not function properly when it was put into operation in late 1932. The company negotiated a crude oil contract with Skelly Oil Company. Skelly sent refinery experts to Woods Cross to solve the technical difficulties.
The company soon changed its name to Wasatch Oil Refining Company. Wasatch expanded and organized the Idaho Refinery Company in 1937. It constructed a refinery at Pocatello. In 1938, Inland Empire Refineries Incorporated was organized. It had a refinery at Spokane.
Phillips Petroleum Company purchased Wasatch Oil in 1947-48. At the time of the purchase, the Woods Cross Refinery had a capacity of 4200 barrels a day. The refinery expanded to 15,500 barrels. It included catalytic cracking, catalytic reforming units and H. F. Alkylation units.
Most of the refinery’s crude is transported over the Salt Lake Pipe Line Company’s line. This common carrier is owned by the California Oil Company. The crude comes from the Rangely Colorado field.
In 2003, Holly purchased the Woods Cross refinery from ConocoPhillips. The refinery is operated by Holly Refining and Marketing Company. In 2010, the refinery produced as much as 31000 barrels per day.
The Woods Cross Refinery processes regional sweet and black wax crudes. It has pipeline access to Canadian crude oils. The refinery produces LPG, gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, and asphalt. It is connected to the Northwest Product Pipeline and UNEV Oil Products Pipeline.
HollyFrontier planned to expand the capacity to 45000 barrels per day by 2014. In April 2020, HollyFrontier announced a project to expand production of cleaner fuels. This would comply with US Environmental Protection Agency Tier 3 emissions control requirements.
Standing here, you are witnessing a vital hub in the region’s energy network. The Woods Cross Refinery has come a long way. It helps to provide the fuels that power our lives. From its humble beginnings to its current status, the Woods Cross Refinery continues to evolve. It adapts to meet the changing demands of the energy industry. The Woods Cross Refinery stands as a crucial component of Utah’s economy.