Wyoming regulators are prepared to begin plugging some of the 1,200
abandoned coal-bed methane wells on state and private land in the Powder
River Basin.
The effort to close the abandoned wells comes
several years after the collapse of the CBM industry and amid increasing
pressure from landowners, who want the wells reclaimed or converted to
water production. Gov. Matt Mead announced a plan in December to spend $3 million to close about 300 wells in each of the next four years.
"I
think if the state keeps their foot on the accelerator we can do 300 in
a year," said Robert King, an independent contractor hired by the
Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to spearhead the effort.
The
state has finalized plans to plug 67 wells south of Gillette and will
begin work as soon as weather permits. The Oil and Gas Commission is
also accepting bids to close another 141 wells in Campbell and Sheridan
counties, King said. Read More...http://trib.com/business/energy/wyoming-to-begin-work-on-orphaned-wells/article_54dbe6cd-8f2e-52c5-86d3-1e2d56402b83.html
