San Juan Basin

The San Juan Basin, considered one of the nation’s top natural gas deposits, is home to approximately 70 percent of Energen Resources’ (ERC) natural gas reserves and 45 percent of the company’s total proved reserves.

The basin is contained in the Four Corners area, which is made up of northwestern New Mexico, Southwestern Colorado, northeastern Arizona and southeastern Utah.

ERC first established a presence in the San Juan Basin in 1997 with the acquisition of 319 Bcfe of proved reserves from Burlington Resources. The company has substantially expanded its operations through subsequent acquisitions and successful development and is now the 4th largest gas producer in the basin, with 85 employees in the Farmington District.

ERC’s San Juan wells, located primarily in northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado, are surrounded by ponderosa pine, juniper and pinon forests, sandstone cliffs and canyons, and plenty of wildlife.

ERC’s efforts to be good stewards of the environment have gained recognition. Last year at the Four Corners Oil and Gas Conference in Farmington, New Mexico, ERC’s San Juan District was recognized by the U.S. Forest Service for using existing well pads and horizontal drilling techniques to minimize the impact of its development activities on Carson National Forest.

In addition, ERC was recognized last year with the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission’s annual Environmental Awards-Outstanding Operator Award for E&P Waste Management. About 94 percent of ERC's activity during the past two years required minimal location expansion to complete activities.