Land

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said it is seeking public comment on an environmental assessment analyzing the potential impacts of the ExxonMobil Piceance Development Project, which is about 15 miles west of Meeker, CO. ExxonMobil proposes expanding its natural gas drilling activities and related infrastructure in the 28,800-acre project area, including the addition of a 150 MMcf/d gas treating facility to handle production from 120 new multi-well pads. The existing gas fields in the area have been in continuous operation since the 1950s. The EA analyzes the potential impacts of drilling up to 1,080 new wells from 120 new multi-well pads, as well as a new gas plant, new pipelines and other associated infrastructure. The White River Field Office will host a public open house meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 18 in Meeker to share information on the proposed project and alternatives. BLM will accept public comment on the environmental assessment through Nov. 3. For more information visit the BLM’s White River Field Office website at www.co.blm.gov/wrra or contact Carol Hollowed at (970) 878-3800.

A federal judge in Anchorage has enjoined the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from carrying out a lease sale in the northeastern corner of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA) that was scheduled to take place Wednesday, despite the agency’s offer to forego lease sales in the environmentally sensitive Teshekpuk Lake area of the reserve.

Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Alaska on Friday said it was willing to forego lease sales in the environmentally sensitive Teshekpuk Lake area of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA) if a federal judge would allow the remainder of the scheduled lease sale in the northeast corner of the reserve to proceed.

Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Alaska on Friday said it was willing to forego lease sales in the environmentally sensitive Teshekpuk Lake area of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA) if a federal judge would allow the remainder of the scheduled lease sale in the northeast corner of the reserve to proceed.

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed Roan Plateau resource management plan (RMP) released Thursday appears to be overly restrictive in requiring only one oil and gas development company to be the operator for all the leases on top of the plateau itself, which represents about 50% of the planning area in the Piceance Basin of western Colorado, said Greg Schnacke, executive vice present of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association. Schnacke said the idea of having one company do all the development is unprecedented and will probably backfire on the agency.

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed Roan Plateau resource management plan (RMP) released Thursday appears to be overly restrictive in requiring only one oil and gas development company to be the operator for all the leases on top of the plateau itself, which represents about 50% of the total western Colorado planning area in the Piceance Basin, said Greg Schnacke, executive vice present of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association. Schnacke said the idea of having one company do all the development is unprecedented and will probably backfire on the agency.

Wyoming’s Bureau of Land Management garnered more than $6.17 million for leasing rights and rental fees offered at its bimonthly federal oil and gas lease auction held in Cheyenne Aug. 1. That marks a more than 40% increase over proceeds from the state’s previous sale in June. By comparison, the June sale garnered $4.4 million. The state gets half of the sale proceeds.

The Bureau of Land Management in Colorado (BLM) has said it will issue oil and gas leases in the natural gas-prone watersheds of the town of Palisade and the city of Grand Junction in the southern Piceance Basin, but it will suspend those leases for up to one year, directing that oil and gas development be delayed to allow the lessee to work with the two jurisdictions to prepare a “community-based development plan” to address additional community concerns.

The Bureau of Land Management in Colorado (BLM) has said it will issue oil and gas leases in the natural gas-prone watersheds of the town of Palisade and the city of Grand Junction in the southern Piceance Basin, but it will suspend those leases for up to one year, directing that oil and gas development be delayed to allow the lessee to work with the two jurisdictions to prepare a “community-based development plan” to address additional community concerns.