Wyoming cancels some gas well permits

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Aug 17, 2008 at 6:43 PM MST

Story Updated: Aug 17, 2008 at 6:43 PM MST

CHEYENNE, WYOMING - The state has canceled or suspended permits on 243 natural gas wells in Wyoming. The wells have not produced gas for years but have continued to discharge millions of gallons of water as a byproduct.

And the state is targeting nearly 1,000 additional such wells. The wells were drilled in the Powder River Basin in search of coal-bed methane. Because the gas is often trapped by water in surrounding aquifers, companies must pump out the water to relieve pressure on the seams and release the gas.

Coal-bed methane wells in Wyoming pumped more than 582 million barrels of water out of the ground in 2007. Some complain the water is being wasted and is flooding land.

In an effort to reduce any water waste, the Wyoming State Engineer's Office has undertaken a program to clamp down on wells that are at least five years old and have produced water but no gas.

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