The Bureau of Land Management released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement this month on a significant oil and gas proposal on land in Uintah County. The Greater Chapita Wells Natural Gas Infill Project is located about 25 miles south of Vernal where EOG Resources, Inc. proposes to develop oil and gas resources within 43,071 acres. The area is already partially developed within the Natural Buttes Gas Field that includes 1,247 existing oil and gas wells and associated infrastructure over 3,975 acres. The proposed project would include the development of 2,808 additional wells on 40-acre surface spacing from 233 new well pads and up to 960 existing pads that would be expanded. The estimated new surface disturbance would be approximately 1,875 acres. EOG Resources estimates that construction and drilling would take approximately 15 years with the productive life of the project estimated at up to 60 years. The cumulative values on future production is estimated at $1.9 billion dollars from existing wells, $2.2 billion dollars from alternative wells, and $20.2 billion dollars for other alternative actions. The public comment period on the Environmental Impact Statement is open until 4:30pm on April 23rd.
