THERMOPOLIS (AP) - A handful of people including the president of an oil company are concerned about a proposed water well in eastern Hot Springs County, saying it could harm oil production.

The well is expected to produce 2,000 gallons per minute to supplement the Big Horn Regional Water System, according to Bob McDougall, president of Phoenix Petroleum.

"In the oil business, we talk in terms of barrels per day," he said. "That equates to 68,000 barrels per day, and that's a lot of production."

He fears drawing down the water table could reduce pressure from the area's oil wells. He has pointed out to both the County Commission and Thermopolis City Council that less production would result in less revenue for the state and county.

Local residents Matt and Teresa Brown and Joe Dennis also expressed concerns about the well proposed by the Big Horn Regional Water System and Wyoming Water Development Commission.

The Browns say they were pressured by an engineering firm representing the commission to grant temporary permission to cross their land when accessing the proposed well site.

The site includes U.S. Bureau of Land Management land, an allotment operated by Dennis. Dennis said the well, and the continual monitoring it would require, would harm elk habitat.

Neither the County Commission nor the City Council has taken action on the issue. Both government entities said they would monitor this week's regional water system meeting in Worland before taking action.