WOGCC Supervisor Mark Watson to retire

After 38 years at the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (WOGCC) with seven of those as the Supervisor, Mark Watson announced that he will retire July 5.

Watson started at the WOGCC as a staff engineer in January of 1983. His duties included approval of applications for permits to drill, sundries, and working with the UIC program. Watson worked under a total of six supervisors and was the third supervisor in a three year period when he was appointed. 

“It was certainly a low point for the agency,” he said. 

The WOGCC staff experienced a great deal of turnover during this time, and with many quitting or retiring, Mark found himself being the sole engineer.

In April of 2014, Mark was asked by the commission to serve as the interim supervisor while they began the hunt for a qualified supervisor. 

“I still have the article hanging in my office that Ben Storrow, the Casper Star-Tribune energy reporter, wrote during that time regarding the WOGCC filling the supervisor position. The title was ‘Wanted: Applicants for state’s worst job,’” Watson said.

One month later, Governor Matt Mead asked Watson during the May Commission Hearings if he was willing to take the lead position permanently. Watson agreed and then excused himself to go conduct his 250 or so examiner hearings. In his new role, Watson soon began the work of bringing stability to the agency. He hired several engineers and also created a new position – Deputy Supervisor.

“When I took over as the supervisor, I quickly realized I was going to have to learn this position on my own,” he said.

There were no notes or guidance left by predecessors and no one there to train him. 

Tom Kropatsch, the Natural Resources Supervisor, was offered the deputy position.

“The agency needed a succession plan to ensure continuity if anything happened to me. When I leave, Tom will step in during the interim until the supervisor position is filled. This guarantees a smooth transition for the health and stability of the agency and staff,” Watson said.

During Watson’s seven years as supervisor, he recruited and developed a very proficient and capable staff.

“We have a technical staff an agency could only dream of having; our field inspectors are dedicated, professional, and knowledgeable, and our office staff works hard and efficiently carries out the tasks at hand. It really is a strong agency that I’m very proud of,” Watson said. 

On top of securing quality personnel, Watson led the agency through five major rule changes that established new practices or initiated changes for the betterment of the state of Wyoming and its natural resources. They include Setbacks, Groundwater Sampling, Flaring, Idle Wells, and the APD rules. He also oversaw the agency’s program to plug and abandon orphan wells on state and private lands that were becoming a critical issue in the state. Under Watson’s leadership, the program has reclaimed thousands of orphan wells. It is funded through bonding and the conservation tax paid by the oil and gas industry and is not a financial burden to the citizens of Wyoming.

Appointed as supervisor by Mead, Watson has served the last three years under Governor Mark Gordon. During those three years, the oil and gas industry in Wyoming has experienced unparalleled ups and downs from the race to operatorship to the Saudi-Arabia price wars and the COVID-19 outbreak. Steadily leading through significant periods such as rule changes and price changes has been one of Watson’s strongest assets according to Gordon. 

“Mark has ably and thoughtfully steered a course for the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission which has made Wyoming the envy of the nation,” Gordon said. “I have admired and appreciated his understanding of the nuances of Applications for Permit to Drill, flaring, protests and the conservation tax. He always had a complete vision of the integral relationship between Wyoming and the oil and gas industry, and I thank him for his leadership through some difficult times. I wish him and Heather happy trails and great travels. He will be missed.”

Born and raised in Calgary, Canada, Watson moved to the United States in 1980 to obtain his degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Wyoming. He moved to Casper to work for the WOGCC.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve Wyoming as the Oil and Gas Supervisor these past seven years,” Watson said. “I am proud of the work we have done and believe the staff of the WOGCC will carry forward the important work of this agency.”

For his next chapter, Watson and his wife Heather, along with their two dogs, plan to stay in Casper. They look forward to sailing, skiing and traveling both in the states and internationally. They recently invested in a conversion van to traverse the country. Their travels will include visiting Watson’s daughter and grandson in Michigan and heading further north into Canada to see relatives where Watson hopes to ski and hike those areas where he grew up.