BLM Approves 16 Oil and Gas Wells and Pipeline Bore Holes in Utah
WOJ Natural Gas Wells:
The BLM Vernal Field Office has issued a Decision Record for the WOJ Natural Gas Wells: DOI-BLM-UT-G010-2026-0165-EA. The Responsible Official signed a decision record approving Applications for Permit to Drill which authorize Koda Uinta, LLC (the applicant) to drill up to sixteen gas wells from the approved WOJ Well Pad to produce from their existing federal mineral leases. The BLM relied on the Environmental Assessment U&O-FY25-076-EA and FONSI prepared by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) which approved the right-of-way for the well pad and associated surface infrastructure. The project location is on BIA-administered lands in Uintah County, Utah. The decision record can be found at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=9595FC90-DD94-F111-AB0F-001DD8029ED0. For more information, please contact the Vernal Field Office at 435-781-4400.
Horse 1 Pad Oil Wells:
The BLM Vernal Field Office has issued an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Horse 1 Pad Oil Wells: DOI-BLM-UT-G010-2026-0145-EA. The Responsible Official signed a decision record approving two Applications for Permit to Drill authorizing WEM Operating LLC (the applicant) to horizontally drill oil wells from the Horse 1 Well Pad. The EA analyzed non-surface effects of constructing the well pad with associated access roads and pipelines on private surface and drilling of two additional wells in the future for a total of four. The project location is approximately four linear miles east of Duchesne, Utah, in Section 5, Township 4 South, Range 4 West, USM. The decision record can be found at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=07FBF09F-C28A-F111-AB10-001DD800B811. For more information, please contact the Vernal Field Office at 435-781-4400.
Clay Basin Pipeline Planning:
The BLM Vernal Field Office has issued Categorical Exclusion (CE) documentation for the Clay Basin Pipeline Planning: DOI-BLM-UT-G010-2026-0173-CE. The Responsible Official signed a decision record approving a right-of-way which authorizes Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline LLC (the applicant) to drill subsurface bore holes and conduct scour analyses at specified locations in the Clay Basin area. The locations are on BLM-administered lands in Sections 20 and 23 of Township 3 North, Range 24 East in Uintah County, Utah. The decision record can be found at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=81A54262-D795-F111-AB0F-001DD8029ED0. For more information, please contact the Vernal Field Office at 435-781-4400.
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.