CASPER,Wyo.(AP) – Wells drilled in theWyomingportion of the Niobrara Shale formation aren’t producing nearly as much oil as those inColorado.      The Casper Star-Tribune (http://tinyurl.com/3m4dbvb ) reported that the head of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, Bruce Hinchey, told lawmakers on Friday that the results so far are discouraging companies from drilling more wells in southeastern Wyoming.      A well drilled in the Niobrara inColorado’sWeldCounty produced 1,500 barrels of oil when it was first drilled in 2009. Now it produces between 250 and 300 barrels.      InWyoming, theNiobrarawells start at 400 to 700 barrels a day and that drops to about half within three months. State oil and gas supervisor Tom Doll said production is cut in half again within six months. … Read entire article »

JACKSON,Wyo.(AP) – A $2.6 million project to extend overrun area of the runway atJackson HoleAirportis finished.      The 700-foot safety overrun on the south end of the runway was suggested in a safety study earlier this year after the airport experienced an usually high number of planes going past the end of the runway.      Work crews paved 700 feet of gravel beyond an existing 300-foot safety overrun for a total of 1,000 feet that pilots can use if they land long or have trouble with their brakes.      The Jackson Hole News & Guide reports that the airport also is installing a $3.1 million lighting system designed to give pilots more visual cues when landing at night. … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – TheU.S.Bureau of Land Management is beginning to spread fertilizer in and around a gas field in western Wyomingto try to get sagebrush to grow faster.      The BLM said Friday it will spread fertilizer by airplane over about 1,000 acres of sagebrush over the next few weeks.      The goal is to improve forage for mule deer. A study out last year showed dwindling numbers of mule deer in an area just south of Pinedale.      Mule deer numbers were down up to 60 percent compared to several years earlier.      The Pinedale Anticline gas field south of Pinedale is among the top-producing gas fields in theUnited States. … Read entire article »

LARAMIE,Wyo.(AP) – PreLaw magazine ranks the University of Wyominghigh in providing a quality legal education at an affordable price.      The magazine ranked the UW College of Law 15th for providing the best value among the nation’s more than 200 law schools approved by the American Bar Association.      UW College of Law Dean Steve Easton says the study did not include some quality criteria that would rank UW even higher on the list.     Eastonnoted that most UW law students get to participate in clinics and practice law with real clients and real cases before graduating.      In addition, he says UW has a low student-to-faculty ratio of 10-to-one compared to other law schools. … Read entire article »

HELENA,Mont.(AP) -YellowstoneNational Park has gotten the green light to widen the main roadway and rebuild two bridges in the northern section of the park.      The National Park Service says the project includes reconstruction of about 16 miles of the park’sGrand Loop Road.      Park officials plan to widen the roadway to 30 feet and expand parking areas and turnouts to handle the high vehicle volumes and reduce traffic jams caused by wildlife viewing.      The project also includes the rehabilitation of two bridges between the Norris campground entrance and a point just north of SwanLakeFlats.      The park service said Thursday that the construction would have no significant impact on the park.      Park officials say the project could begin in 2014 but is dependent on funding. … Read entire article »

HOUSTON (AP) – The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in theU.S.rose by eight this week to 2,021.      Houston-based drilling product provider Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,078 rigs were exploring for oil and 934 for natural gas. Nine were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week the rig count stood at 1,672.      Of the major oil- and gas-producing states,Texasgained seven rigs,Oklahomapicked up three andArkansasandPennsylvaniaeach gained one.     Louisianalost two rigs andAlaska,ColoradoandWyomingwere each down one. The count inCalifornia,New Mexico,North Dakota andWest Virginiawas unchanged.      The rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981. A low of 488 was recorded in 1999. … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE,Wyo.(AP) -Wyominglawmakers are moving toward spending $10 million to try to entice companies to the state to build mineral-to-liquid fuel plants.      The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports (http://goo.gl/EtYP3) that state Legislature’s Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee voted Friday to sponsor a bill to use the money as matching funds to help pay for feasibility studies for potential projects.      The money would be used to help pay for engineering and design studies companies must conduct to determine if a plant can be successful.      The plants can cost upward of $2 billion each.      The legislators on the committee voted unanimously to sponsor the bill. Several of the legislators said taking the proactive step is an important move to protect and strengthen the state’s energy economy. … Read entire article »