Mick Thomas

Division Administrator – Minerals, Navigable Waters, and Oil & Gas

Secretary to the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

This update was sent to the Commission on Friday, March 4, 2022.

March 2022 Secretary Update

2021 Fourth Quarter Commission Report (this was sent to the Commission on Saturday, March 5th)

Current Items:

Proposed Legislation Idaho Code 47-3
Injection Well Update
Field Status
News Article(s) of Interest
Current Prices

Proposed Legislation Idaho Code 47-3
The Department considered comments received via written comment and from the Commission and public at the February 15, 2022 regular meeting on the third draft text and is working on the fourth draft text.

The Department will be holding a public comment session on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm (MT) at the Fruitland City Hall, 200 S Whitley Dr, Fruitland, ID 83619. This is an opportunity for the public to provide oral comment before the Department on the fourth draft text which will be available next week. There will be no written comment period for this fourth draft and no teleconference or Zoom option to attend the session. This is an in-person public comment session only. In order to provide comments, advanced sign-up is required no later than Monday, March 14, 2022 at 5:00pm (MT). Notify comments@idl.idaho.gov to sign up. There are a few individuals who have signed up and we are looking forward to hearing from mineral interest owners and residents in the field.

More information can be found on the Idaho Code title 47, chapter 3 – Proposed Statutory Changes webpage.

Injection Well Update
The Department listened to the EPA hearing held on Friday, February 18, 2022 regarding the Class II well application. Eight public comments were given over a 50-minute timespan. The written comment period was extended to March 30, 2022.

Field Status
Snake River Oil + Gas continues its operational activity for several wells in the Western Snake River Basin:

• Fallon 1-10 (Harmon Field): well cementing completed in January, well turned to production 2/8/2022.
• Barlow 2-14 (Harmon Field: drilling operations completed; well is designated confidential per Idaho Code § 47-327. Information will be ready for release in April 2022, log information October 2022.
• Fallon 1-11 (Harmon Field): drilling operations completed; well is designated confidential per Idaho Code § 47-327. Information will be ready for release in May 2022, log information November 2022.
• Dutch Lane 1-13 (Harmon Field): drilling operations completed; well is designated confidential per Idaho Code § 47-327. Information will be ready for release in July 2022, log information January 2023.
• Tracy Trust 3-2 (Hamilton Field): This well was drilled and completed by Bridge Energy in 2010 but never produced. Final plugging operations will commence in the next 3- to 4 weeks.

News Article(s) of Interest
Oil driller invests in carbon-capture pipeline for Midwest

(note: carbon sequestration via injection wells is currently illegal in Idaho)

His climate push stalled, Biden looks to infrastructure law
https://www.eenews.net/articles/his-climate-push-stalled-biden-looks-to-infrastructure-law/

Chemical Hazard Reporting & Planning Enforcement Actions by EPA Region 10 in 2021 | US EPA
(note: insertion of this article was requested by an Idaho resident)

Current Prices

Natural Gas	$4.65 mmbtu.	03/02/22	(27.8% / $1.79 decrease since last month)
NGL	$12.39 mmbtu.	03/02/22	(5.9% / $0.69 increase since last month)
Utah Sweet Crude	$100.80 bbl.	03/02/22	(28.5% / $22.34 increase since last month)
WTI	$114.95 bbl.	03/04/22	(45.8% / $36.10 increase since last month)

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