Watching Government: Wyoming proposes flaring changes

The Wyoming Oil & Gas Conservation Commission proposed changes in its requirements covering flaring of associated gas at wells within the state. The two draft proposals, which it released on Nov. 16, are outlined at its web site, wogcc.state.wy.us/.

"They're at their very earliest stage," said Mark Watson, WOGCC oil and gas supervisor. "They're in a 45-day comment period, and have a long way to go. We will then address the comments, and propose a rule to the commission. If enough comments show we're off-base, the process starts again."

The commission's staff tried to use language that would make clear to producers what they need to do to get approval to flare, he told OGJ.

"The important part is a gas capture plan, and requirements for more detailed information about getting the gas to market," Watson said.

"Currently, companies don't have to provide it," he said. "We found that when they went to a hearing to request additional flaring 6 months out, they did not even have the information. We wanted to make sure they had it from the get-go."

Petroleum Association of Wyoming Vice-Pres. John Robatille said it was apparent that the drafts were a beginning, but still mattered since they give producers a better idea of what the commission has in mind. "We've been advocating for some time to have a flaring policy we've been living with actually be put into a rule," he told OGJ.

Watson said the proposals allow up to 60 Mcfd of venting or flaring without prior approval. "They state that if the volume is 30-60 Mcfd, it has to be flared. Venting is allowed only for volumes of 0-30 Mcfd," he said. "We want operators to tell us whether they are venting or flaring it, and provide detailed gas measurements information."

Gas capture

A gas capture plan would be required for wells in excess of 60 Mcfd, he said. "We considered it would be uneconomic where less than that was flared," Watson said.

Robatille said the state association and its members were not surprised to see this requirement. "Commissioners have been asking individual producers for one when they come in to extend their authorizations to flare," he said. "The fact they have seemingly separated venting from flaring differs from before. Venting not exceeding 30 Mcfd is half of what we've seen previously."

Watson said he expects the US Bureau of Land Management to come out with its own venting and flaring rules in 2016, and that the US Environmental Protection Agency also is working on requirements. "Many people have their eyes on this," he observed.