On February 9, 2016, the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (WOGCC) approved new regulations pertaining to flaring and venting associated with natural gas production. These regulations amend the WOGCC Rules and Regulations Chapter 3, Section 39.
As part of the new regulations, natural gas producers are required to limit the rate of flaring and venting at oil wells. Flaring is authorized up to 60 thousand cubic feet per day and venting of casinghead gas is limited to 20 thousand cubic feet per day. Natural gas producers also are required to report the frequency, duration, and circumstances of well flaring and venting on a monthly basis as well as to submit a compositional analysis of the gas.
According to a media report, “the practice [of flaring and venting] was much more common in eastern Wyoming before last year’s oil bust, which has only deepened amid low oil prices.” Another media report declares that flaring and venting volume in 2015 amounted to 5.8 billion cubic feet compared to 5 billion cubic feet in 2014.
Written by Chloe Marie - Research Fellow