Rancher Energy project approved

The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has approved Rancher Energy Corp.'s Big Muddy River 2nd Frontier Unit, according to a press release.

Approval is subject to receiving the statutory 80 percent ratification of the unit from royalty and working interest owners within the unit boundaries.

In addition to the Big Muddy, Rancher Energy owns the nearby Cole Creek South and South Glenrock B oil fields in the Powder River Basin.

T3 Energy passes API audit

T3 Energy Services, Inc., headquartered in Houston, has passed an American Petroleum Institute (API) 6A and 16A audit at its Rock Springs facility.

The facility will be certified to API 6A for wellhead and Christmas tree equipment, and API 16A for pressure control and drill through equipment. T3 is the only current holder of the 16A license or 6A license in the 12-state Rocky Mountain Region, according to a press release.

Power company hires manager

Matt Grant has been hired by Rocky Mountain Power as manager of political and community affairs.

Grant will assist Richard Walje, president of Rocky Mountain Power.

Grant grew up working on his family's ranch near Wheatland, and graduated from Wheatland High School. He attended Laramie County Community College and received a bachelor of science degree in economics from the University of Wyoming.

KCWY picks general manager

Peggy Porter has been named general manager of KCWY News 13 in Casper.

She will replace Bill Sullivan, who retires August 29. Porter is currently local sales manager at the station.

Trust board hires Pope Construction

The Platte River Parkway Trust Board has hired Pope Construction as construction manager to expand and renovate the Tate Pumphouse, on the banks of the North Platte River in Casper.

{M3The Tate Pumphouse is an historic brick structure once used as a pumping station to send water to the town of Midwest. The Pumphouse was given to the Parkway Trust by BP in 2007.

The architectural firm on the project is Design Studio of Casper, according to a press release. It will design and oversee work to turn the historic structure into a community gathering place with indoor public restrooms, Parkway trail system office, public plaza, bike/kayak vendor and a riverside restaurant with outside dining.

{M3Uranerz gets positive results

Uranerz Energy Corp. has received a positive preliminary assessment on its Nichols Ranch in-situ uranium project in the Powder River Basin.

The mine plan includes a central processing facility at the company's Nichols Ranch property and a satellite ion exchange facility at its Hank property. The central processing facility is planned for a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds per year of uranium (as U308), according to a press release.

Power plant holds anniversary

A variety of events marking the 50th anniversary of the Dave Johnston Power Plant will be held Aug. 23 in Glenrock.

Include will be a breakfast, a 5K run/walk, entertainment for 1950s era performers and activities for children.

For more information, contact Sandy Thomas at 307-436-2007 for more information.

Worker earns WYDOT award

Len Fulmer of Riverton has earned a 10-year service award with the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Fulmer, 55, is a WYDOT commercial driver's license/auditor examiner in Riverton.

Insurance agent honored

Jack Jameson, a Casper agent for Farmers Insurance Group, has been named to the company's President's Council.

It is the company's highest award to district managers and agents for "outstanding overall performance," according to a press release.

The honor is based on outstanding customer service, sales production in all insurance lines, professional competence and maintenance of high quality standards.

State adds four rigs

HOUSTON - The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States rose by 23 last week to 1,990.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Colorado gained eight rigs, Alaska five, Wyoming four, Louisiana three and North Dakota two. New Mexico lost seven rigs, Arkansas lost two and Texas lost one. California and Oklahoma were unchanged.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,586 were exploring for natural gas and 395 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. Nine were listed as miscellaneous.

A year ago, the rig count stood at 1,795.

Barley looks good in Bighorn Basin

POWELL - The Bighorn Basin barley crop is shaping up to be a good one.

The barley season is a couple weeks behind schedule. But farmers say the barley looks excellent. Pat Vandersloot, an agronomist with MillerCoors in Worland, says yields appear to be on par with previous years.

Meanwhile, prices are up. MillerCoors is paying growers $11.50 per 100 pounds of barley this year. That's up $4 from last year, setting a new record.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Wyoming farmers planted 90,000 acres of malt and feed barley this year, up by about 50 percent since last year.

Coal-gasification plant gets OK

AMERICAN FALLS, Idaho - Eastern Idaho officials have approved a special use permit for a $1 billion coal-gasification plant to be built west of American Falls.

The Power County Planning and Zoning Commission last week unanimously approved the first phase of the plant proposed by Southeast Idaho Energy that will convert coal to fertilizer.

John Burk, a spokesman for the company, says construction could begin next summer if permission is obtained from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and other agencies.

The company eventually wants to build a second phase that will convert the coal into diesel fuel and gasoline.