Thousands of new gas wells coming to eastern Utah

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has announced its intention to approve a major Uinta Basin drilling expansion that seemingly has something for everyone — 3,675 wells to continue the boom, air-quality controls to limit ozone and river canyon protections that environmentalists like.

The agency announced release of its final environmental study of Anadarko’s Greater Natural Buttes plan south of Vernal, subject to a 30-day comment period. The eastern Utah project would expand an existing natural-gas field largely from within, drilling directionally from 1,484 pads to limit the new footprint.

In a prepared statement, Anadarko regulatory affairs manager Brad Miller said the plan delivers "the significant, long-term economic benefits of these resources in a manner that protects air and water quality, wildlife and the scenic quality of the White River." Salt Lake Tribune