Researchers say gas development has harmed sage grouse in Wyo. but collection pipelines help

Study: Collection pipelines help Wyo. sage grouse

CASPER, Wyo. — A new study preliminarily concludes that gas development has harmed sage grouse in western Wyoming but efforts to reduce truck traffic in gas fields seem to have helped the birds somewhat.

Companies have reduced traffic by expanding a network of pipelines to move condensate and produced water out of the gas fields. Companies previously would truck those fluids out.

Wyoming Wildlife Consultants recently released a report on the progress of a five-year sage grouse study in the Pinedale Anticline. Shell Rocky Mountain Production LLC, Questar Exploration and Production Co., and Ultra Resources funded the study conducted by Wyoming Wildlife Consultants LLC.

“The thing I find somewhat exciting about this study is it’s the first thing we’ve found that may reduce impacts. It seems like all stipulations government puts on developers doesn’t seem to be helping,” said Matt Holloran, senior ecologist for Wyoming Wildlife Consultants.

He cautioned that the findings are preliminary and more analysis is needed before the study is completed later this year.

The three energy companies committed a total of $4.9 million to examine how energy development affects sage grouse, mule deer and antelope habitat.

Questar was the first company to install a pipeline network in the field to export byproduct groundwater and condensate, a light oil that’s also a byproduct of gas production.

The pipelines have eliminated an estimated 75,000 truck trips from November 2005 through Dec. 1, 2009, according to the partnership.

Shell and Ultra are currently adding to the pipeline network.

The operators estimate they can reduce overall truck traffic in the Pinedale Anticline by 165,000 trips per year.

There appears to be a direct link between truck traffic and sage grouse avoiding areas, Holloran said, and other impacts to the bird continue.

“The birds are avoiding the drilling as heavily or more than anything else out there. If it’s a developing field, they’re definitely avoiding it,” he said. “The big picture is that the grouse is not doing well in the Pinedale field.”

Shell spokeswoman Darci Sinclair said Shell is encouraged by the preliminary results.

“We wanted to look at this because we want to operate responsibly,” she said.

The Interior Department last month announced the greater sage grouse would not be listed as a threatened or endangered species, deciding instead to put the sage grouse on a list of candidates for such protection.

Information from: Casper Star-Tribune - Casper, www.trib.com