Anadarko Wants To Nearly Double Wyo. Oil Field

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Anadarko Petroleum wants to nearly double the size of an existing oil field in southern Wyoming by drilling 125 wells.

The Patrick Draw field, east of Rock Springs, was established more than 50 years ago and acquired by Anadarko in 2000. The Woodlands, Texas-based company wants to drill 105 oil wells, 18 carbon dioxide wells and two water injection wells over nine years.

The Patrick Draw field is one of two fields in Wyoming where Anadarko uses carbon dioxide to free oil and gas deposits.

The Bureau of Land Management announced Tuesday that it would be taking comments on the proposal through Nov. 30. After that it will begin an environmental assessment.

Anadarko spokeswoman Robin Olsen told the Associated Press that the expansion wouldn't start until at least 2016.