Wyoming pursuing time limit on oil, gas drilling permits

Wyoming regulators are moving ahead with proposed rule changes for oil and gas drilling permits.

Under the proposal, the first company to file for a permit would remain first in line to drill under that permit for only two years. After that, somebody else could file to drill in the same area within a limited time.

The change seeks to address a surge in applications for drilling that never happens. The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has received over 57,000 drilling permit applications since 2016 but only fraction of 11,800 permits granted have resulted in drilling.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports the commission voted Tuesday to advance the proposed change through its rulemaking process.

Commission officials expect to complete the process in a year.