AXPC Takes the Unleashing American Energy Tour to Wyoming 

August 14, 2025

For more than two decades, the American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC) has hosted Policymaker Field Tours to provide energy policy professionals with a firsthand look at oil and natural gas operations across key U.S. basins. These tours connect Washington, D.C. policymakers with on-the-ground perspectives from industry experts, local stakeholders, and communities who live and work alongside America’s energy development. 

The summer field tour was held in Pinedale, Wyoming, where we partnered with PureWest Energy, the largest natural gas producer in the state, for an exclusive look at their operations in the Green River Basin. We were also joined by Brian Reger, CEO of Jonah Energy, who explained how his company is expanding its positive impact in the region, earning recognition for innovation in emissions reduction, reclamation excellence, and sustainable energy development. 

This bipartisan delegation of sixteen energy and environment policy staff gained a comprehensive look — from drilling and completions to production, emissions management, and reclamation practices. The group also saw how policies from the recent One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act are being implemented on the ground and where the need for bipartisan, comprehensive permitting reform still exists. 

It was wonderful to hear from the state’s largest natural gas producer and local stakeholders on their work to safeguard natural resources, support regional economies, and deliver energy security. I am so thankful to have gained these critical insights to the oil and natural gas industry! 

– Field Tour Attendee

PureWest Energy: Leading in Sustainable Natural Gas Development 

Headquartered in Denver with operations across 108,000 net acres in the Pinedale Anticline and Jonah Field, PureWest is the top natural gas producer in Wyoming, with approximately 630 MMcfe/d gross production from more than 3,400 operated wells.¹ 

In 2023 alone, PureWest: 

• Invested over $20 million in a phased pipeline system pressure reduction initiative, reducing volumes of potential leaks and enhancing operational efficiency  

• Continuously tracked regional ozone levels and maintained an extensive fugitive emissions program, utilizing stationary monitoring devices, optical gas images cameras, and more. 

• Maintained a decade-long record of 100% recycled water for completions. ² 

• Donated more than $270,000 to community initiatives spanning energy accessibility, health education, and hunger relief. 

Operating mainly on federal lands, with additional state and private holdings, PureWest collaborates closely with the Bureau of Land Management and Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to protect wildlife, water resources, heritage sites like the Green River, and agriculture assets from operations.  

Their work with private landowners, including multi-generational ranchers, demonstrates how energy development and agriculture can co-exist sustainably.  

At the end of the day, I can say oil and gas has made this place better than it was before.                                                                                                 
We work together to make everything better. 

– Jim Jensen, Owner of Lucky 7 Angus Ranch

Economic Contributions and Investments to the Region 

Pete Obermueller, President of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, joined the tour to explain how Wyoming’s oil and gas sector – from producers and midstream operators to pipelines and downstream refiners – plays a critical role in the state’s economy³:  

• In 2022, Wyoming generated nearly $880 million in oil and gas property taxes, which was over 40% of all property tax revenue, and nearly 80% of mineral-related taxes  

• That same year, severance taxes from oil and gas contributed roughly $835.4 million, representing about 59% of Wyoming’s mineral extraction revenues. 

• Over the past six years, the sector has contributed more than $11 billion to Wyoming, supporting education, infrastructure, and government operations – amounting to $4,143 per resident in 2023.  

• The industry supports around 58,780 jobs and delivers $5.7 billion in labor income.  

Advancing America’s Energy Future 

AXPC’s Unleashing American Energy Tour builds first-hand understanding that can’t be gained from Hill meetings alone. In Pinedale, participants saw how PureWest’s leadership in technology, environmental stewardship, and community investment is helping meet the nation’s energy needs while protecting Wyoming’s lands, water, and heritage. These firsthand connections between policy and practice are essential to crafting informed, balanced energy policies that secure America’s energy future and strengthen the communities that make progress possible.  

¹ PureWest Energy : Home 

² PureWest Energy : PureWest Energy Releases 2023 Corporate Responsibility Report, Underscoring Continued Leadership in Natural Gas Production 

³ Oil and Gas Facts & Figures 2024 – Petroleum Association of Wyoming