Lily R. Barkau, Nicole Twing, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality
On October 9, 2020, Wyoming received primacy of Class VI wells. To date, only two states in the United States have primacy of the Class VI program; Wyoming and North Dakota. The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality administers the Underground Injection Control Program Class I, III, V, and VI wells while the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is the regulatory authority for Class II wells. In this presentation, we will discuss the Class VI permitting process specific to Wyoming on obtaining a permit to construct through authorization to operate as well as an estimated timeframe to receive a permit and regulations regarding pore space ownership and unitization. We will explore the challenges for projects located on state and federal lands and address mineral leases. By providing guidance and working collaboratively with the operator, state and federal entities, a streamlined approach will ultimately result in a quicker permitting process.