natural gas

Energy group says fracking water report is sensational

Irina Zhorov — Thu, 09 May 2013 00:16:01 +0000

An energy group says a recently released report overstated issues of water use by the oil and gas industry. The Western Organization of Resource Councils released the report last month and said regulators need to consider the quantity of water the energy industry uses, in addition to the quality.

Construction on a natural gas powered electric facility begins

Associated Press — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:27:40 +0000

Construction has begun on a new $237 million power plant near Cheyenne.

Group says fracking could harm parks

Willow Belden — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:10:53 +0000

An advocacy group is warning that fracking could cause air pollution and other problems in national parks.

Sharon Mader with the National Parks Conservation Association says they’re concerned that ozone from gas development in Sublette County could spread to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. She says that hasn’t happened yet, but they’re worried about the future.

Natural gas might become even more attractive to utilities than coal

Luke Hammons — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 23:52:52 +0000

A new study conducted by the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University reports that as more EPA regulations go into effect, natural gas is likely to become even more attractive to utilities than coal.

Co-author of the study, Professor Lincoln Pratson, says that one reason coal will become less desired is the expensive emission controls the coal plants will have to install.

The only pollutant that natural gas plants produce that the EPA regulates are NOx emissions. NOx stands for pollutants which contain NO and NO2, gases formed during combustion.

Flared natural gas is a loss to the state in taxes and royalties

Irina Zhorov — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:14:39 +0000

We recently reported that the federal government – and consequently Wyoming – might be getting shortchanged when it comes to royalty payments on coal going overseas. Turns out, the government is missing out on royalties in other ways, too. Wyoming Public Radio’s Irina Zhorov reports that right here in Wyoming, companies are quite literally burning up both federal and state royalty money when they flare natural gas.

Groups urge BLM to place environmental regs on gas development

Willow Belden — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:17:20 +0000

Several environmental groups are urging the BLM to place environmental restrictions on a massive natural gas development that’s been proposed for south-central Wyoming.

The Continental Divide-Creston project would include about 9,000 new wells on public and private land near Wamsutter. That’s nearly three times as many wells as in the Jonah Field.

Bruce Pendery with the Wyoming Outdoor Council says air quality could suffer as a result.

Analysis: Coal is weakening without help from the EPA

Irina Zhorov — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 01:38:51 +0000

Coal is weakening its dominion over the energy market, and according to a presentation at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, new EPA regulations are not to blame.

Wyoming lawmakers including Sen. John Barrasso and Rep. Cynthia Lummis have pointed to what they call President Obama’s war on coal as the reason for declining coal production.

But David Schlissel of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis -- who led the presentation -- says other factors are responsible.

Lower Valley Energy receives notice of violation from DEQ

Chelsea Biondolillo — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:55:41 +0000

Lower Valley Energy, a utility company, and the Department of Environmental Quality have entered the settlement process over a non-compliant part at their natural gas compressor station in Sublette County. The DEQ discovered the infraction during a routine inspection last October, and issued a notice of violation this January. According to their permit, the station is supposed to be using an emissions control device but they’re using a boiler to route natural gas emissions.

Sen. Barrasso proposes bill to simplify natural gas exports

Irina Zhorov — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 23:58:06 +0000

US Senator John Barrasso is sponsoring a bill meant to expedite the process of shipping liquefied natural gas, or LNG, abroad. Currently, the Secretary of Energy has to sign off on LNG exports to countries included in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as well as Japan, and open a comment period for exports to nations not part of NATO. The bill would allow the secretary to skip the comment period if the secretaries of state and defense agree that exports to a specific, non-NATO country are in the national security interest of the US.

Natural gas plant explosion injures four

The Associated Press — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 22:06:57 +0000

Four people have been hurt in a flash fire at a ConocoPhillips natural gas processing plant in Fremont County.

ConocoPhillips spokesman Jim Lowry says the flash fire occurred at the Lost Cabin plant about 8:30 a.m. today/Wednesday while contract workers were doing maintenance on part of the plant.

Lowry says the brief fire went out on its own.

Fremont County Sheriff's Capt. Dave Good says two of the people who were hurt received what he described as "pretty severe" injuries. They were transported to hospitals in the region, including a burn center in Greeley, Colo.

U.S. Geological Survey: Coalbed Natural Gas Production Has Minimal Impacts On Waterways

Willow Belden — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 23:12:20 +0000

The U-S Geological Survey released a study examining how coalbed natural gas production affects water quality in nearby streams and rivers. Wyoming Public Radio’s Willow Belden spoke with Melanie Clark, the author of the report.

State looks for a new Oil and Gas Supervisor

Bob Beck — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:26:48 +0000

Governor Matt Mead hopes to move forward in finding a new Oil and Gas Supervisor. The governor accepted the resignation of former Supervisor Tom Doll after Doll said unflattering things about those affected by water contamination in Pavillion.

Mead Spokesman Renny MacKay says the governor will soon visit with the Oil and Gas Commission to determine how to go about a search.

Groups sue to stop Fortification Creek development

Bob Beck — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:14:28 +0000

Two Wyoming conversation groups have joined others in suing to protect the Fortification Creek area of the Powder River Basin from natural gas development.

The Wyoming Outdoor Council and Powder River Basic Resource Council complain that the Bureau of Land Management approved a plan to allow coalbed methane development in an area that was previously protected from energy development.

Retired B-L-M Wildlife Biologist Larry Gerard says the move surprised him because the area is filled with wildlife.

Lincoln County Commission supports gas project in the Bridger-Teton National Forest

Bob Beck — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 00:28:40 +0000

The Lincoln County Commissioners are backing True Oil L-L-C proposal to drill two gas wells in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. One well would be located on a well pad where oil development has already occurred, the second would be a new well.

Lincoln County Commission Chairman Kent Connelly says the company plans to use new technology to recover the gas, and that’s why they support the plan.

No fines for gas well blowout

Associated Press — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:09:21 +0000

Wyoming's top oil and gas regulator says the
companies involved in a natural gas well blowout in eastern Wyoming
last month won't face any fines.
Tom Doll, the state's oil and gas supervisor, tells the Casper
Star-Tribune that well owner Chesapeake Energy Corp. and drill rig owner Trinidad Drilling Ltd. won't be
cited for the blowout. The mishap vented up to 2 million cubic feet
of explosive gas and 31,500 gallons of drilling fluid into the air
and around the drill site near Douglas.

Natural Gas Well Leak Prompts Evacuations

Tristan Ahtone — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:26:15 +0000

A natural gas leak 10 miles northeast of Douglas has caused dozens of residents to evacuate their homes.

The natural gas site, operated by Cheasapeake Energy, began leaking gas around 4pm yesterday, and by last night, Chesapeake official John Dill says area residents were notified that they should evacuate.

"We contacted approximately 67 residents in homes in about a 2.5 mile radius of this location, and asked them to consider a voluntary evacuation to area hotels, which is going to be paid for by the company," says Dill.

Earthjustice wants federal regs like Wyoming's

Bob Beck — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:18:29 +0000

The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to release some new air pollution regulations surrounding natural gas development. Earthjustice Attorney Robin Cooley saysit’s been 25 years since the E-P-A last evaluated standards and the new ones are overdue. She says the industry is much different than it used to be.

"We know that the current rules are inadequate. They don't protect public health. The pollution problems are mounting by the day and expanding into new areas."

Natural gas prices are still falling

Associated Press — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:59:36 +0000

The price of natural gas has fallen below $2 per 1,000 cubic feet for the first time in more than a decade.
The U.S. supply of natural gas is growing so fast that analysts worry the country's underground storage facilities could be full by fall and lead to further price declines.
On Wednesday, the futures price of natural gas fell to $1.984
per 1,000 cubic feet, its lowest level since January 28, 2002, when
it hit $1.91.
There is so much natural gas being produced - and still in the

Legislature approves budget

The Associated Press — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:16:58 +0000

The Wyoming Legislature has approved a $3.2-billion budget bill which now goes to Gov. Matt Mead for his consideration.

The budget bill approved by both Houses on Monday keeps state spending essentially flat over the coming two-year budget cycle.

State lawmakers are keeping a close eye on falling natural gas prices and had directed state agencies to prepare for possible 4-percent budget cuts next year if necessary.

Low natural gas prices could lead to more use of the product

The Associated Press — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:23:09 +0000

As natural gas prices continue to drop, the
recent nationwide boom in drilling is slowing.
     Several companies have said in recent weeks they plan to cut
back production, but experts say the low prices are also opening up
new markets.
     Kathryn Klaber, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, says
there will be fewer natural gas wells drilled in 2012.
     Yet Klaber says that even as drillers are pressured by low
prices, the cost creates opportunities for more people and

Governor Mead Says Budget May Need Reevaluation

Tristan Ahtone — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:14:13 +0000

Governor Matt Mead says falling natural gas prices make this a good time to reevaluate his proposed budget. In December, the governor submitted his budget, which asked agencies to present a two-percent cut to their budgets. That budget was based on natural gas prices which were nearly $3.50 per MCF at the time.

Falling prices could slow Wyoming gas development

Rebecca Martinez — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:10:22 +0000

Natural gas prices have declined steadily in recent months. The price of gas produced at the Opal Hub in south central Wyoming has dropped by about 60 cents since June.

Jim Robinson is the senior economist for the state Economic Analysis Division. He says gas development has grown in Wyoming, but it’s increasing drastically in other states as well, including Pennsylvania and New York.

BLM oil and gas land lease sale nets $49 million in revenue

Rebecca Martinez — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:40:42 +0000

This week’s Bureau of Land Management oil and gas lease auction in Cheyenne made a record amount of revenue.

The Wyoming BLM generated more than 49 million dollars from lease sales on 74 parcels of land, and an unheard-of 8 million dollars came from a single parcel.

An agency spokeswoman says the number of parcels auction off is determined by the number of nominations submitted from energy companies. In February, BLM auctioned off 31 parcels and in May, only 14.