State board considers raising bonding requirements

A state board is weighing whether to raise bonding requirements for natural gas and oil drillers. The Rapid City Journal reports the Board of Minerals and Environment is considering the increase as the state pursues a $15.5 million lawsuit against a Texas-based company for abandoning gas wells in western South Dakota.

Spyglass Cedar Creek drilled 40 natural gas wells near Buffalo then abandoned them after natural gas prices plummeted.

Board members called the Spyglass saga a "perfect storm."

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Minerals and Mining program administrator Mike Lees says the state has not had similar issues with other oil and gas developers in the state.

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Information from: Rapid City Journal, http://www.rapidcityjournal.com

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8/17/2019 10:56:07 AM (GMT -5:00)