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, May 8.

May 2021 Secretary Update

Current Items:
May OGCC Meeting Rescheduled
IOGCC Spring Meeting
2021 Legislative Session
Field Status
Injection Well Update
News Article(s) of Interest
Current Prices

May OGCC Meeting Rescheduled
The May 5th regular meeting for the OGCC was rescheduled to Tuesday, May 25 at 1:00 pm (MT). More information can be found on the Commission Meetings Page of the OGCC website.

IOGCC Spring Meeting
The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission spring business meeting is virtual this year and begins next week on May 12th. There are assorted sessions on May 12, 13, 17, & 18. As Commissioners you are welcome to register and attend virtually. Mr. James Thum will be representing Idaho at the counsel of regulatory officials on May 12. To register for the conference, please visit:

2021 Legislative Session
As of this update the 2021 Idaho Legislature is in recess, with plans to return on May 12. There are no Oil and Gas items before the legislature this session.

Field Status
The Payette field has been in production since December 2020. Monthly production reports are current, and can be found on the OGCC website at: https://ogcc.idaho.gov/monthly-and-annual-reports/
To date no severance tax revenue has been received by the Department but are pending since the Tax Commission is reporting payments received. Additional information can be found at:

Injection Well Update
Injection well approval has been delayed due to federal Covid-19 guidelines. The IDL is participating in an interagency meeting on May 21, 2021 with the EPA, IDEQ, and IDWR. More information will follow.

News Article(s) of Interest
Biden renames 30×30 plan to America the Beautiful with a goal of setting aside 30% of nations lands and waters by 2030. Multiple attachments:
See E&E Conservation Plan, WGA 30×30, WOTUS in the Crosshairs, EE 30×30

Biden administration supports Trump position on Dakota pipeline.
See E&E Dakota Access Defense

Petroleum Association of Wyoming says federal oil and gas lease ban affects future of production.
https://www.wyomingnewsnow.tv/2021/04/27/petroleum-association-of-wyoming-says-federal-oil-and-gas-lease-ban-affects-future-of-production/

Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush pushing hard against Biden orders.

California fracking ban dies in California legislature.
See E&E California Fracking Ban

Current Prices

Utah Sweet Crude	$55.41 bbl.	05/06/21
WTI	$64.83 bbl.	05/07/21
Natural Gas	$2.97 mmbtu.	05/04/21
NGL	$68.09 bbl.	05/04/21

(green indicates prices increase since last update, red indicates decline)