Mick Thomas

Division Administrator – Minerals, Public Trust, and Oil & Gas

Secretary to the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

This update was sent to the Commission on Saturday, January 9.

Current Items:
Minerals, Public Trust, Oil & Gas Staff
OGCC Regular Meeting
2021 Legislative Session
Payette Field Update
Injection Well Application
Fall 2020 Inspection Reports
News Article(s) of Interest
Current Prices

Minerals, Public Trust, Oil & Gas Staff
2020 was a year of change for all of us. I would like to share my gratitude for the staff of our Minerals, Public Trust, Oil & Gas Division. Each of them continued to serve the IDL, Land Board, and citizens of Idaho with dedication and a tireless work ethic. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, these folks are the best group I’ve ever worked with. We are very fortunate to have them.

OGCC Regular Meeting
The first OGCC regular meeting of 2021 will be held on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 @ 1:30 pm (MT). The location is not yet confirmed since the legislature will be in session and we may still be under CDH orders due to the Covid-19 response. We will provide more information as soon as it is available.

2021 Legislative Session
The 2021 legislative session is set to begin on Monday, January 11, 2021. The Minerals, Public Trust, and Oil & Gas Division does not have any pending items due before the Idaho Legislature this session.

Payette Field Update
In mid-December Snake River Oil & Gas began testing and flowing from existing wells in the Payette Field. As a result, some of the wells have been brought back into production. Below are the highpoints:

• During October and November Snake River Oil & Gas performed maintenance on the producing wells and facilities and re-calibrated all the meters in the field. Production began in mid-December 2020.
• Currently 6 wells are producing approximately 4 MMCF gas per day, 42 BBL condensate per day, and 6 BBL water per day.
• The Barlow #1-14 commenced production for the first time since being drilled and completed in 2018. The well is producing approximately 1 MMCF gas per day with no water.
• The ML Investments #1-3 was producing for approximately 2 weeks before seeing an increase in water production and was shut-in again for evaluation.

As of December 2020, the following wells are producing:

• DJS #1-15
• Kauffman #1-9
• ML #2-10
• ML #1-11
• ML #1-3 (currently shut in for evaluation as of January 2021)
• ML#2-3
• ML #3-10

When the Department receives production reports we will post on the Commission website.

Injection Well Application
In October 2020 the EPA is requested additional information from the operator. Snake River Oil & Gas is providing this information. Once the EPA has evaluated the information from this new request they will release their draft permit decision and aquifer exemption, followed by a public comment process and final issuance of the permit (if applicable). No definitive timeframes have been announced as of this date.

Fall 2020 Inspection Reports
Fall inspection reports have been completed and finalized. They can be viewed on the Data Explorer page as well as the OGCC page at the below links:
ID Data Explorer (idaho.gov)
https://ogcc.idaho.gov/well-files/

News Article(s) of Interest
Quiet cycle – nothing to report.

Current Prices

Utah Sweet Crude	$41.53 bbl.	01/07/21
WTI	$52.61 bbl.	01/08/21
Natural Gas	$2.60 mmbtu.	01/06/21
NGL	$6.50 mmbtu.	01/06/21

 

Green indicates price increase since last secretary update
Red indicates price decrease since last secretary update