September 9, 2002

By Adam Rankin

News-Record Writer

The News-Record

P.O. Box 3006

1201 W. Second St.

Gillette, Wyoming 82717

307-682-9306

Fax: 307-686-9306

publisher@gillettenewsrecord.com

Devon Energy has done right by Wright rancher Dale Wright, his cattle and the wildlife that roam his ranch about 40 miles south of Gillette.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department recognized the coal bed methane and oil company Saturday for careful reclamation and environmental stewardship on the Wright's House Creek oil and gas development at the Wildlife Heritage Exposition in Casper.

"Game and Fish gives awards to individual companies for things that they do that are particularly above and beyond what they are required to do environmentally and Devon was one of the recipients of that award this year," said Vern Stelter, a wildlife biologist in the game and fish department's habitat protection division.

He said Devon was recognized for its work on water discharges, controlling noxious weeds and reclamation work after removing several old conventional oil tanks.

The discharged water created extensive habitat areas downstream, where wildlife and livestock have thrived, he said.

"They paid particular attention to how they piped and designed the water release treatments so that habitat is possible and we wanted to recognize their efforts for all of those things they have done," he said.

Devon was the only coal bed methane company recognized by Game and Fish this year. The other winners were Ultra Petroleum for its work in Pinedale and Williston Basin Pipeline for its work in Worland, Stelter said.

Devon officials said the award gives them the incentive to do more.

"This is a real honor for us to get this award, to be recognized, because I think this is a prestigious award and not every company is getting this," said Rich McClanahan, Devon's district operations supervisor for the Rocky Mountains.

He said one of Devon's core values is environmental stewardship.

"We're doing this for the benefit of the landowners and the wildlife, so we're spending a lot of money to do it right," he said.

Devon has drilled about 85 coal bed methane wells in the past two and a half years and operates another 200 conventional oil and water injection wells on the House Creek development.

Despite all the drilling activity and challenges to managing produced water from the coal bed methane wells, the Wrights and Devon say they have struck a balance through close communication that benefits the company, the Wrights and Wyoming's wildlife.

Nolene Wright, Dale Wright's daughter, said Devon has created a water management system that meets their needs and provides much needed water in the right quantities, at the right times.

"This has been wonderful water, it has been heaven sent for us," she said. "It's probably better than the house water."

Mike Hazlett, the production foreman for the House Creek development, said Devon has taken the time to experiment to find the right combinations for its discharges and reservoirs.

All the wells and each discharge point, as well as the volume of water, is controlled by a computer-based operations center that limits the trips technicians have to make out to each well, cutting down on road dust.

The water discharged from the coal bed methane wells around House Creek, which Devon says is better quality than most other locations in the Powder River Basin, does have high iron concentrations that must be removed.

Thom Holmes, the operations engineering advisor for the development, said Devon has determined that about 40 feet of spillway per well aerates the water enough to oxidate the majority of it.

Devon has designed settling basins where the oxidated iron can fall out of the water before it enters an adjoining reservoir, he said.

Stelter said Game and Fish understands there are a number of companies that are doing a good job and he encourages people to let them know about companies that are exceptional environmental stewards.

"We certainly want to recognize people for those efforts when they do them and people should understand that these companies are benefiting habitat in a lot of ways," he said.

About Us: The News-Record continues to be the news source for Gillette and Campbell County. The daily newspaper -- the only daily newspaper covering Gillette and Campbell County -- is vitally interested in all news affecting the people and about the people of Gillette and Campbell County. Campbell County has made a name as the energy capital of the world because of the deposits of coal and oil found beneath its soil. Another mineral boom occurred in the last few years when developers have found a way to tap into the coal bed methane natural gas found here. The News-Record began as the Gillette News in 1904. Its 97-year history makes it the oldest business in Campbell County, a responsibility it takes seriously by providing its readers the most comprehensive news report in northeastern Wyoming.