The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) on EOG Resources natural gas development project in the Chapita Wells-Stagecoach Area (CWSA) of the Uinta Basin in Utah. The project involves plans to drill up to 627 new natural gas wells across about 31,870 acres of land located 30 miles south of Vernal, UT in Uintah County.

The DEIS analyzes the proposal by EOG to drill the majority of the wells on 40-acre well spacing with up to 66 wells on 20-acre spacing. The wells would be drilled to the Green River, Wasatch, Mesaverde Group (including the Blackhawk), Mancos Shale, and possibly, other formations. The project also would include about 99 miles of new roads and 104.5 miles of pipelines. The proposed life of the project is 40 years, with the majority of the drilling and development activities to occur within the first seven years following approval of the BLM’s decision.

As of March 2004, the area contained 325 gas-producing wells, about 121 miles of roads and 115 miles of pipeline. An additional 100 wells, 12 miles of access road, and 18.5 miles of pipelines have been approved. Currently no oil wells or produced water disposal wells in the area.

BLM is encouraging the public to comment on the proposal and a no-action alternative. The DEIS will be available for review for 45 days following publication in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency. The BLM said it can best use comments and resource information submitted within this 45-day review period. Comments may be submitted by facsimile to BLM’s Vernal field office at (435) 781-4410. For details contact BLM’s Stephanie Howard at (435) 781-4400.

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