EnCana seeks to build natural gas wells in western Colorado

The Associated Press

EnCana Oil and Gas said it plans to drill 114 natural gas wells over the next two years on 4,000 acres south of Rifle, Colo.

The company recently submitted a proposal to the Bureau of Land Management that calls for 80 wells on federal land and 34 on private land in the area.

The wells would be drilled from two existing locations and 18 new locations. Some well pads would support multiple drilling rigs.

“It’s a natural extension of the work we’ve already been doing in and around Grass Mesa,” EnCana spokesman Walt Lowry said July 6.

The BLM is conducting an environmental assessment of the plan through July 26.

The area is in Garfield County, one of the hot spots in energy development across the West. Industry officials say the county could see 5,000 to 10,000 new oil and gas wells over the next decade.

Last year, 566 permits were issued for new wells in Garfield County. So far this year, more than 200 have been issued, putting the county on pace for 700.