Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute seeks extension of $1.9M reappropriation, warns of staffing and CO2 supply needs
December 15, 2025 | Appropriations, Joint & Standing, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming
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Lon Whitman, director of the Wyoming Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute (ERI), told the Joint Appropriations Committee that ERI is managing 23 projects and needs staffing and flexible funds to support field pilots, core analysis and polymer testing.
Whitman said ERI’s mission is to “minimize stranded oil” and that the institute returns significant revenue relative to its state allocation, citing about $56 million in appropriation-to-date and roughly $560 million in project revenue to the state. He noted Wyoming’s advantage of anthropogenic CO2 supply and said the 45Q parity change is already increasing developer interest.
The commission asked for a two-year extension on a $1.9 million reappropriation (originally scheduled to revert 06/30/2026) so ERI can use roughly $900,000 on remaining cost-shared pilot work should unconventional projects proceed. Whitman said the funds are largely for targeted field tests and cost-sharing with operators and stressed that the money has been used selectively and returned value through partnerships.
Committee members questioned whether ERI has turned away industry work; Whitman said the office has not turned away projects but is at maximum capacity and has meetings in place with several large platforms ready to proceed. He also described operational friction from being administratively housed at the University of Wyoming — procurement and contract timelines can be slow — and said the commission plans to revise the MOU to allow exception handling for faster procurement and HR hiring.
Lawmakers also asked about CO2 pipeline studies in the Bighorn Basin and capture supply timing; Whitman described an ongoing feed study and potential pipeline reversals using Lost Cabin and other infrastructure with participation by Contango and Merit Energy and support from the Wyoming Energy Authority.
The committee noted the governor’s recommendation extends the sunset to 06/30/2028 and asked ERI to provide more precise staff-cost and operations numbers if the committee adopts the recommendation in the budget bill.
Whitman said ERI’s mission is to “minimize stranded oil” and that the institute returns significant revenue relative to its state allocation, citing about $56 million in appropriation-to-date and roughly $560 million in project revenue to the state. He noted Wyoming’s advantage of anthropogenic CO2 supply and said the 45Q parity change is already increasing developer interest.
The commission asked for a two-year extension on a $1.9 million reappropriation (originally scheduled to revert 06/30/2026) so ERI can use roughly $900,000 on remaining cost-shared pilot work should unconventional projects proceed. Whitman said the funds are largely for targeted field tests and cost-sharing with operators and stressed that the money has been used selectively and returned value through partnerships.
Committee members questioned whether ERI has turned away industry work; Whitman said the office has not turned away projects but is at maximum capacity and has meetings in place with several large platforms ready to proceed. He also described operational friction from being administratively housed at the University of Wyoming — procurement and contract timelines can be slow — and said the commission plans to revise the MOU to allow exception handling for faster procurement and HR hiring.
Lawmakers also asked about CO2 pipeline studies in the Bighorn Basin and capture supply timing; Whitman described an ongoing feed study and potential pipeline reversals using Lost Cabin and other infrastructure with participation by Contango and Merit Energy and support from the Wyoming Energy Authority.
The committee noted the governor’s recommendation extends the sunset to 06/30/2028 and asked ERI to provide more precise staff-cost and operations numbers if the committee adopts the recommendation in the budget bill.
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