Natural Gas Wells #2

Natural Gas Pads #2

I was assigned Natural Gas Unit #2. It is located in a valley between two mountain ranges in Eastern Wyoming.

This image is in 1994: The pins indicate where wells are placed in the future. There is nothing there now except possibly something being built next to #9 pin.

Here is the next available image, from 2005:

And this is the latest from 2009: What is noticeable here is the expansion of disturbance at the existing sites, as well as the additional sites.

Instructions said to write up a short blurb about this system, so I am leaving out all the verbosity left in the actual report.

The number of drilling rigs in service has increased significantly since 2004. Since the Google Earth image clearly shows more numbers of pads in 2009 compared to 2004, it is likely that trend has continued up to this day. Some research showed me that this field is in a sandstone deposit, with low porosity and permeability, and would not be considered profitable would it not be for its very large size. Air quality, water quality, and wildlife have all suffered. The gas in the two reservoirs in this basin would be able to supply all of the U.S. demand for about 28 months. There are 1.86 wells/ km², taking up about 5% of the area. The habitat disturbance has reduced Mule Deer herd populations, as well as Sage Grouse. The water ends up in the Flaming Gorge Reservoir, which I think is an interesting turn of events in a play on words that I hope does not become a reality.