Decision results in shake-up on New Mexico oil and gas panel

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN, Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A shake-up has resulted from a recent decision by New Mexico oil and gas regulators to ease restrictions on well locations for a Texas-based company operating in one of the nation's oldest producing basins.
New Mexico Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn has removed his agency's appointee to the Oil Conservation Commission after that staffer voted in favor of the request by Hilcorp Energy during a Nov. 19 hearing.
Dunn tells The Associated Press he's concerned about plans by Hilcorp to target thousands of its wells in the San Juan Basin toward a formation known as the Blanco-Mesaverde gas pool. Density limits had prevented the company from doing that without being granted exceptions for individual wells.
Dunn contends his office wasn't properly notified of the hearing and that 101 square miles (263 square kilometers) of state trust land could be affected.