Wyo drilling rig count triples during Biden leasing pause

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

www.wyofile.com

The number of rotary rigs drilling for oil and gas in Wyoming tripled since President Joe Biden announced a pause on leasing federal minerals for development more than five months ago.

Oil and Gas companies were operating five rigs in Wyoming the week of Jan. 29 when Biden announced a pause to review oil and gas leasing policies and royalty rates. This week, drillers, roughnecks and tool pushers were staffing 15 rotary rigs, according to Baker Hughes, a leading energy technology company.

During the ongoing pause, the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has granted 1,984 drilling permits to energy companies, according to commission records. That’s almost double the 1,059 issued during the same five months — February to June — in 2020.

The activity somewhat erodes fearful statements exclaimed by the energy industry, its supporters and communities reliant on extraction that followed Biden’s executive order in January.

[global1]

1. What Does A Pause Mean?....

I would have thought that a pause means nothing can happen until the pause is ended.

How come there was placement of more rigs during the pause? What am I missing?

[leftstreet]

2. I think it means a pause on leases, not drilling

not really sure though