The Powder River Basin | November 2021
Field Overview
The Powder River Basin, known for its coal deposits, is located in Southeast Montana and Northeast Wyoming. The basin is named so because it is drained by the Powder River. Major cities in the area include Gillete and Sheridan, Wyoming and Miles City, Montana. There is a recent resurgence in oil and gas production as a result of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. This resurgence is occurring mainly in the Wyoming part of the basin, which is historically known as the source of the basin’s oil.
State Drilling Statistics
Total Rigs in Wyoming- 15 (-)
Total Rigs in United States – 569 (
+19)
Total U.S. Rigs 76% YTD
State Permitting Data
Permits Approved – 11
Powder River Top Producer
Top Producer by Oil – EOG
Top Producer by Gas – Carbon Creek Energy
Basin Highlights
Federal oil and gas reforms hold high stakes for Wyoming
Earlier this month on November 26th the United States of America’s Department of the Interior issued a report in response to President Biden’s Executive Order 14008 – which is aimed to tackle the climate crisis domestically and internationally. This executive order and corresponding report give light to the governments view on the oil and gas industry and can indicate some major changes to federal land leasing for the industry. The Wyoming oil and gas industry would be disproportionately impacted by such reforms as about half the state’s surface and nearly 70% of the underlying mineral estate is federal.
Jonah Energy receives highest emissions designation from UN methane partnership
The United Nations has commended Jonah Energy for its continued efforts to combat a difficult pollution. For its extensive methane measuring tactics, the oil and gas producer, which works in Sublette County’s wealthy Jonah Field, won the highest certification from the United Nations Oil and Gas Methane Partnership this month. “We’ve been reading the tea leaves on the market and policy direction for a number of years now, and firmly believe that we have a responsibility to provide a cleaner energy source,” said Paul Ulrich, vice president of government and regulatory affairs for Jonah Energy.
Operators With Most Permits in WY
| Rank | Company | Permits Approved |
| 1 | ANSCHUTZ CORPORATION | 3 |
| 2 | BALLARD PETROLEUM | 3 |
| 3 | ROCKIES RESOURCES HOLDINGS LLC | 2 |
| 4 | DEVON ENERGY | 2 |
| 5 | MAXIMUS OPERATING, LTD. | 1 |
Top Producers Oil
| Change | Rank | Company | mmbbls Production (09/21) |
| – | 1 | EOG | 8.47 |
| – | 2 | Devon | 6.22 |
| – | 3 | Chesapeake | 3.80 |
| – | 4 | Anschutz | 3.37 |
| +1 | 5 | Occidental Petroleum | 1.77 |
Top Producers Gas
| Change | Rank | Company | Bcf Production (9/21) |
| +1 | 1 | Carbon Creek | 46.04 |
 -1 | 2 | EOG | 44.96 |
| – | 3 | DENBURY RESOURCES INC. | 33.58 |
| – | 4 | CHESAPEAKE ENERGY | 25.88 |
| -1 | 5 | DEVON ENERGY | 9.57 |
Rig Count
Wyoming Oil Production
Wyoming Gas Production
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www.eia.gov
www.drillinginfo.com
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