Busy Oil and Gas Program Despite Slowed Drilling Activity

With lower, fluctuating oil prices, drilling activity in Utah has slowed considerably. However, staff in the oil and gas program remains busy ensuring wells and disposal facility sites are maintained and safe. There are 16,302 inspectable oil and gas units statewide and eight field inspectors located in Salt Lake, Vernal and Price.

In addition to well and disposal facility inspections, staff is responsible for the following:

Approve engineering plans for work on existing wells
Monitor mechanical integrity tests of well bores
Respond to environmental spills and releases
Establish and witness plugging procedures
Ensure compliance of oil and gas rules and statutes
Maintain database for all well information
Maintain environmental integrity of industry
Ensure adequate bonding
Audit for accuracy of reporting

Over the last several months, program staff worked on the plugging and reclamation of seven orphan wells in the Vernal, Price and Crescent Junction areas. Due to the delinquency of the well operators, the Division claimed the bonds and assumed responsibility to oversee and pay for plugging operations.

Staff also witnessed pluggings in the Anschutz Ranch area near Evanston, Wyoming. Four wells were plugged from January through the beginning of April. Snow and freezing temperatures slowed progress and posed challenges to plugging crews and division staff.

Other well pluggings are scheduled in the Coalville area this summer.