The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently announced the approval of seismic exploration in Natrona County, Wyoming. The exploration, which began on August 1, will be conducted on approximately 38,000 acres of public lands west of Casper and is expected to conclude by October 31.

Project Details

Zavannah Resources will conduct the survey operations daily, as weather conditions allow, on a mix of about 86,000 total acres of private, state, and BLM-administered lands. The seismic exploration is a minimally invasive way to discover areas that may contain hydrocarbon resources, which will help guide potential oil and gas development.

According to BLM acting Casper Field Office Manager Amelia Savage, modern seismic techniques have evolved to minimize impacts. The proposal for this project includes commitments to no surface-disturbing activities on public lands, fire safety and mitigation, invasive weed mitigation, a spill plan, and avoiding operations near sensitive areas. The BLM will have an inspector assigned to the project to monitor and ensure operator compliance with these measures.

For those planning to recreate within the project boundaries, the operator will post signage to alert public land users to operations within the area. More information can be found at the BLM National NEPA Register, and the Casper Field Office can be reached via email or phone for further inquiries.

Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.