Wyoming Pipelines, Production Said Key To US Energy Needs
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
September 22, 2005 12:01 p.m.
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JACKSON, Wyo. (AP)--Wyoming needs to increase its production of natural gas, and needs more pipelines to transport that gas to the rest of the country, industry leaders said at the Wyoming Natural Gas Fair Wednesday.
With energy prices still high after Hurricane Katrina disrupted production along the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts, and another hurricane barreling toward Texas, producers said Wyoming needed to work immediately to make sure resources were available in case of fuel shortages.
"This country needs that supply," said Bryan Hassler, executive director of the Wyoming Natural Gas Pipeline Authority.
"We can make a substantial difference here, now," said John Kennedy of Gillette-based Kennedy Oil.
However, many said federal regulations - in particular, environmental regulations - often stood in the way of rapid production increases. Don Likwartz, supervisor of the Wyoming Oil and Gas Commission, said the state was still waiting for federal approval of four resources management plans on Bureau of Land Management property.
Jim Gazewood, Wyoming coal-bed methane and natural gas coordinator for the BLM, said the Rawlins and Buffalo field offices - two of the busiest in the country - should soon be able to hire additional staff to help with the backlog.
Gazewood also said provisions in the energy bill passed this year might give producers some flexibility with environmental regulations.
"I think that could provide some measure of relief," Gazewood said.
In addition to any production increases, measures need to be taken to help transport that gas to the rest of the country, said Marc Strahn, vice chairman of the Wyoming Natural Gas Pipeline Authority.
Strahn said companies should work together to create pipelines that can carry more gas than any one company produces.
"We need to take alliance-type projects, where multiple companies build super-huge pipelines out of here," Strahn said.
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