Jonah

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has approved one of the largest drilling projects on public lands in Wyoming, giving the green light to Jonah Energy LLC’s 3,500-well project in Sublette County that could create billions of dollars in revenue for state and local governments.Culminating a seven-year process, BLM approved Jonah’s Normally Pressured Lance (NPL) natural gas project, following its release in June of a final environmental impact statement for the long-standing plans in Wyoming.Based on BLM’s projections, the NPL project could mean up to $17 billion in revenue during its estimated 40-year lifespan. Federal royalties alone are valued at $2.2 billion, with half of that total destined for the state.”Development could spur the creation of nearly 1,000 added jobs while up to 7 Tcf of gas could be tapped over the next four decades by the directional drilling project,” BLM officials said.Citing the end of a multi-year, collaborative process, Jonah CEO Tom Hart said the company was enthusiastic about “investing in the development of the energy resources beneath these lands.” The NPL project has the potential to set “the standard for balancing oil and gas development with key community, environmental and wildlife considerations.”Hart stressed that the plans for the Jonah field were developed to maintain close consultation with various outside groups, such as the Wyoming governor’s greater sage grouse implementation team and various environmental groups.Petroleum Association of Wyoming’s Esther Wagner, vice president for public lands, said the group was “exceptionally positive” about the BLM action, noting that the Jonah NPL project is expected to produce an estimated 5.25 Tcf of gas over its lifetime.In giving its approval, BLM adopted a version of the company’s original plans, including detailed analyses of the potential environmental effects. The analysis is to serve as a framework of guidelines for Jonah in developing the 141,000 acre area. Development is expected to be limited to 6,000 acres and be reduced downward toward 1,700 acres over time.In 2014, Encana Corp. sold its stakes in Wyoming’s Jonah field to TPG Capital for $1.8 billion, prompting the creation of Jonah Energy as a Green River Basin play, considered one of the largest natural gas discoveries in the 1990s.Jonah worked with the state to identify and mitigate various wildlife and environmental issues that are involved in much of the acreage in the Jonah field. The heaviest activity is slated for the center of the NPL, which encompasses about 40% of the overall project area, according to BLM. Most existing infrastructure is in this central area. Other sections will be developed with more limitations, such as one-well pads. Well pads in the NPL are expected to span an average of five to 19 acres.BLM said multiple wells would be drilled on each pad, reducing the overall amount of landscape disturbed by the development over time.Jonah’s investor group led by TPG Capital LLC includes EIG Global Energy Partners. Jonah has been snapping up more acreage in the company’s namesake field and in the Pinedale Anticline through a $581.5 million transaction in May 2017 with Linn Energy Inc.

Marking a possible end to a seven-year process, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a final environmental impact statement for Jonah Energy LLC’s long-standing plans to carry out a normally pressured lance (NPL) natural gas project in Wyoming.

Ultra Petroleum Corp. produced 803 MMcfe/d in the first quarter, exceeding the midpoint of its 790-810 MMcfe/d guidance and increasing volumes by 13% from the year-ago period.

Jonah Energy LLC, named after the company’s first acquisition in the gassy Jonah field in Sublette County, WY, is snapping up more acreage in its namesake field and in the Pinedale Anticline through a $581.5 million transaction with Linn Energy Inc.

Encana Corp., strapped for cash and ready to deal, is said to be in advanced talks to sell for close to $2 billion its holdings in the Jonah field in Wyoming, a natural gas behemoth whose attraction has dwindled steadily over the past few years.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Wyoming may begin measuring annual methane emissions not just from Wyoming’s natural gas and oil producers in the Jonah and Pinedale Anticline fields, but from cattle on public lands as well, after the Upper Green River Valley is designated as an air quality nonattainment area.

TEPPCO has scheduled maintenance at its Falcon Station in the Jonah Gathering Field for Wednesday and again Sept. 21, according to a Kern River posting. Each day’s work will curtail an estimated 325 MMcf/d. “Because most of the gas comes to Kern River either through the Opal or the Pioneer receipt points, there will be an impact to Kern shippers,” the pipeline said.

Kern River reported late Monday afternoon being informed by Duke Energy Field Services that Jonah Field, behind the Opal Plant, is experiencing production problems due to pigging.

Kern River reported being informed by affiliate Williams Field Services that Jonah Field operators will perform maintenance at Byrd Canyon #2 today. Nominations at the WFS-operated Opal Plant will be reduced in the timely cycle. The total tailgate impact is estimated at 103,000 dekatherms.