Shannon Chollett

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

Secretary to the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

This update was sent to the Commission on Friday, November 8, 2024.

Current Items:
November OGCC regular meeting cancelled
IOGCC Annual Conference
IDAPA 20.07.02 Rulemaking Update
Docket No. CC-2024-OGR-01-002, Application for Integration
Field Status
News Article(s) of Interest
Current Prices

November OGCC regular meeting cancelled
At the October 2, 2024 OGCC regular meeting, the Commission voted to cancel the November 19, 2024 regular meeting. The 2025 regular meeting schedule will be posted on the OGCC website soon.

IOGCC Annual Conference
The 2024 Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) Annual Conference was last week in Colorado Springs. Division Administrator Shannon Chollett and Program Manager James Thum attended. The Honorable Mark Gordon, governor of Idaho’s neighboring producing state of Wyoming and the Honorable Mike Dunleavy, Governor of Alaska were in attendance and provided their perspectives on the state of the industry at the General Session. States provided updates on their efforts to plug orphaned wells and apply for Class VI primacy for carbon capture and underground storage (CCUS). Presentations were given on the Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP) and the pending pore space model legislation being crafted by the Legal and Regulatory Affairs Committee. The IOGCC Annual Business meeting will be held in May 2025 in Oklahoma City.

IDAPA 20.07.02 Rulemaking Update
The Department submitted the Notice of Pending Rulemaking to the Division of Financial Management this past week. It will be published in the December Administrative Bulletin and be presented to the 2025 Legislature. More information on the details of the meetings, rulemaking, and documents are posted on the rulemaking webpage at: https://ogcc.idaho.gov/rulemaking/docket-20-0702-2401-oil-gas/

Docket No. CC-2024-OGR-01-002, Application for Integration
On August 23, 2024, Snake River Oil and Gas, LLC filed an Application for Integration with the Department in the Harmon Field area. The Order for Integration was sent out this past week and can be found on the hearing page. Information regarding this application can be found on the hearing page at https://ogcc.idaho.gov/administrative-hearings/docket-no-cc-2024-ogr-01-002-application-for-integration/

Field Status
Fall inspections of wells and facilities were completed the first week of October. Inspection reports are now posted on the well information page of the OGCC website. Production reports filed by Snake River Oil & Gas for the month of September shows a slight increase in gas production from the previous month. Six wells reported production averaging approximately 2.48 MMCFGD and 52 BCPD.

News Article(s) of Interest
Energy and the election: Washington state ballot initiative I-2066 repealing restrictions on natural gas usage is passing by a narrow margin.

Energy and the election, part 2: Potential passage of ballot initiative I-2066 in Washington may fuel other groups looking to protect natural gas.
Refinery closures in California will likely affect gasoline prices across the west.

Orphaned well plugging: Louisiana auditor flags gaps in oversight for orphaned oil and gas wells.

Employment: Texas oil and gas industry continues to add jobs.

Current Prices

NW Natural Gas (EIA)	$0.77 / million Btu	11/7//2024	(75% / $2.27 decrease since previous month)
NGL (EIA)	$6.63 / million Btu	8/31/2024	(4.2% / $0.29 decrease since previous month)
WTI	$72.69 / bbl	11/7//2024	(2.2% / $1.64 decrease since previous month)