Wyoming Oil, Gas Revenues From Leased Land Rose in 2017

Wyoming's revenue from leasing land to oil and gas companies grew by more than 800 percent this year.

The state netted about $146 million this year from leasing more than a half million acres of federal and state land.

State lands alone brought in $60 million this year — much higher than the typical revenue that stayed between $5 million and $7 million in past years.

The revenue from lease sales from the Bureau of Land Management and the auctions from the Office of State Lands added up to about $16 million last year when oil and gas activity was still in a downturn.

State officials say Wyoming's decision to switch to an online auctioning system may have played a role in increasing revenue.