Compromise Hailed as New Era for Oil and Gas Development

07.30.2010 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) Cooperation rather than litigation could become the hallmark of a “new era” in oil and gas development in Utah. That’s the word from Utah Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman Megan Crandall, who hails a compromise struck over the development of a massive natural gas field on the West Tavaputs Plateau in Eastern Utah as a seminal moment for the agency.

“You know, that collaboration allowed us to bring all these disparate elements together into a very workable solution,” Crandall says. “And that’s really what’s most important. That’s the great thing about bringing this to a close. And now we have a model, now we have something we can use going forward.”

The compromise announced yesterday ends a dispute that’s lasted more than five years, pitting conservation groups against Bill Barrett Corporation, which planned to use more than 500 well pads in the area.

Duane Zavadil, a senior vice president for Bill Barrett, says the agreement decreased the number of well pads by two-thirds, but will actually increase the amount of gas extracted. He says new technology will make that possible.

“It’s a factor of evolution of technology over time, better production technology as well as drilling technology that allows us to drill directionally beneath these more sensitive areas,” Zavadil says.

The company agreed to back out of two wilderness study areas, Jacks Canyon and Desolation Canyon, as well as other wilderness quality areas conservation groups had fought for years to protect. The Record of Decision just issued also cements a previous agreement regarding drilling-related trucks in the archaeologically rich Nine Mile Canyon.