In an updated version of a project that first surfaced three years ago, three major producers in Wyoming are planning to file with the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to drill up to 4,200 natural gas wells over 265,000 acres in the state.

A spokesperson for Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., told NGI Wednesday that planning is ongoing, but the status of the Moneta Divide project is still very preliminary. He did confirm that the intention is to make the BLM filing in the future.

Along with Encana, Noble Energy and ConocoPhillips compose the three-party sponsors of the proposed development plan for pursuing production on federal lands managed by BLM. It would cover 400 square miles that are described as mostly BLM-managed lands.

“It all will be going through the [federal Environmental Impact Statement] EIS process, so this is still the early days,” said the Encana spokesperson, adding that his company already has its share of the proposed 15-year drilling program carved out. Encana is Wyoming’s largest producer, employing more than 1,100 workers in the state.

While reiterating that the project has a long way to go before it is a reality, the spokesperson said Moneta has the potential to deliver “natural gas at economical rates, but we still have a lot to do before we will know what we have.” More than a shale play, the dry gas project is characterized as “deep tight sands,” he said.

In an area once known as Frenchy Draw, the latest proposal is an expansion of an earlier project outlined in 2008 in a field where there has been development over the years. Some 500 producing gas wells currently operate in the general area.

“We expanded from the original planned size of the development to accommodate [the federal National Environmental Protection Act] NEPA requirements, so now it is 265,000 acres of which we hold 95,000 acres,” the spokesperson said. Of the 4,200 wells envisioned, Encana would own 3,600 wells, he said.

“It is a project that has some potential, but we’re in the early phases right now,” the spokesperson said.

The plans emerged publicly the end of July as an outgrowth of annual Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo when Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead’s communications director told local news media about the proposal at a Canada-Wyoming social event that drew heavy energy company attendance.

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