CARES-Act Funding Allocation Doubled to $30 million Due To Demand

Governor Mark Gordon announced that 292 oil and gas projects will be funded through the Energy Rebound Program, providing thousands of energy industry jobs in Wyoming over the next year.

According to a press release from the Wyoming Business Council, with the number of qualified applications for the program exceeding the original $15 million allocation, Gordon transferred an additional $15 million in funding to the program for a total of $30 million. The additional CARES Act dollars came from programs with leftover funds that could be repurposed. 

Company estimates provided on application paperwork indicated that these projects will provide over 5,500 jobs in Wyoming and will produce over $150 million in oil and/or natural gas over the next year.  Sixty-six companies applied for projects determined eligible to receive funds. Companies were limited to a cap of $500,000 per project. In addition to drilled but uncompleted wells, each company could receive funding for up to five recompletions or workovers, and five plugging and abandonment (P&A) of wells that are no longer producing.

The Wyoming Business Council administered the program in collaboration with the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and other agencies.

“The results of this program show the willingness of the oil and gas industry to put people to work in Wyoming, once they get some capital to get them going,” Business Council CEO Josh Dorrell said.

The funded projects represent projects that were planned, but unable to be completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The projects include 18 drilled but uncompleted wells, 131 recompletions or workovers and 143 P&As.