niobrara

Oil companies apply to drill in south east Wyoming

CHEYENNE, WYOMING - Three companies have applied in recent weeks to drill more than two dozen oil wells in southeastern Wyoming, an area that has had little oil development.


Industry officials say new techniques that have opened up North Dakota's Bakken (BACH'-en) shale to oil drilling over the past couple years might soon be used to exploit the Niobrara shale underlying eastern Wyoming.


Wyoming Oil and Gas Supervisor Tom Doll says companies that receive state permits have up to a year to begin drilling. He says some companies might drill and see what happens while others prefer to conduct seismic studies first.


Samson Oil and Gas, EOG Resources and Jonah Gas Company have applied for a total of 25 permits to drill deep, horizontal oil wells in Laramie and Goshen counties.