Oklahoma energy companies who are active in drilling in Wyoming might soon encounter more difficulties in obtaining permits to drill in the state.
A new rule has taken effect as Wyoming wants to trim drilling activity and do it by reducing the record number of applications for permits to drill the oil and gas wells.
The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission rule makes it easier for other developers and mineral owners to challenge permit applications and contest permits when drilling doesn’t begin right away according to the Associated Press.
Wyoming Oil and Gas Supervisor Mark Watson says the rule encourages competition.
Recently companies with no immediate plans to drill in have been applying for multiple permits to secure control over potential drilling areas in Wyoming.
The commission received almost 70,000 drilling permit applications in just three years. The Casper Star-Tribune reports the commission faced a backlog of thousands of permit applications and protests from competing operators.
Source: Associated Press