Monell-Arch oil and gas proposal open to public comment

— June 12, 2013

(BLM Press release) The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rock Springs Field Office is launching a 30-day public comment period on an environmental assessment for the Monell-Arch Oil and Gas Development which is a proposal by Anadarko Petroleum Corp. to expand the Patrick Draw Field with development of up to 125 new oil, carbon dioxide, and water injection wells.

The Patrick Draw Field is located in the checkerboard pattern of mixed land ownership, and includes the Monell and Arch Units which encompass approximately 22,657 acres of primarily federal and private land, with a small amount of state-owned land. Interstate 80 dissects the project area which is located roughly 30 miles east of Rock Springs, Wyo. in Sweetwater County. The new proposal includes a combination of vertical and directional drilling of 105 oil wells, 18 carbon dioxide injector wells, and two water injection wells to be developed during the next nine years.  The maximum surface disturbance is anticipated to be 238 acres, with the life of the wells projected to be roughly 30 years. The Monell and Arch Units were developed in the late 1950s to early 1960s, and presently support 128 producing wells.

Public comments are most useful when they are specific, cite additional relevant issues and/or determine the extent of those issues.  Written substantive comments should be received by July 11, and may be submitted via email, mail, or hand-delivery during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) to:

Ted Inman, Natural Resources Specialist

BLM Rock Springs Field Office

280 Highway 191 North

Rock Springs, WY  82901

Email: BLM_WY_MonellArch@blm.gov

Please include “Monell Arch Comment” in the subject line

Before including your address, phone number, email, or other personal identifying information in your comment, please be aware your entire comment–including your personal identifying information–may be made publicly available at any time.  While you may request we withhold your personal information from public view, we cannot guarantee we will be able to do so.

For more information, please contact Ted Inman at 307-352-0388.