UW Students Visit Proposed Drilling Locations in Powder River Basin

Eight students in the energy resource management and development bachelor’s degree program, in the University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources (SER), recently visited proposed drilling locations in the Powder River Basin. During the trip, they witnessed the complex processes behind permitting, environmental approvals and multiparty negotiations.

The field trip offered a behind-the-scenes look at a standard meeting between WRC Energy Group -- an independent oil and natural gas company formed through the combination of Wold Energy Partners LLC, Rebellion Energy II LLC and Camino Natural Resources LLC -- and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding two proposed pad locations.

Students in attendance represented professional land management and energy and environmental systems concentrations in the energy resource management and development degree program and included: David Meraz-Ordonez, of Cheyenne; Will Baker, of Wheatland; Cadence Vollman, of Douglas; Trevor Spomer, of Cody; Connor Seely, of Sheridan; Dylan Salgado, of Litchfield, Ariz.; Wyatt Loham, of Livermore, Cal.; and Alex Villareal, of Hamlin, Texas.

These students observed the intricate balance of road amendments and regulatory compliance, as well as the critical dialogue required between federal agencies, energy companies and private landowners.

“As WRC Energy continues to expand in the Powder River Basin, our commitment goes beyond operations -- it’s about meaningful engagement with the communities where we live and work,” says Joe Garcia, executive vice president of operations at WRC. “As a proud University of Wyoming alum, partnering with the UW School of Energy Resources is one way to bring that mission full circle. Together, we’re giving students a firsthand look at how responsible upstream oil and gas development is thoughtfully executed in culturally and environmentally sensitive areas. We’re proud of this partnership and look forward to hosting many more UW students on field trips in the years ahead.”

In addition to reviewing potential sites and learning about the administrative front end of a drilling operation, WRC also provided students with a comprehensive overview of oil and gas production. As a special addition to the tour, the group visited an active site, allowing students to see how the initial permitting and negotiation phases they had studied can successfully transition into the next phase of activity.

Open to all SER students, the excursion also served as a key professional development opportunity for the spring 2026 SER Mentorship Program.

“We are grateful to WRC for coordinating these field opportunities that go beyond technical operations to highlight the legal and negotiation side of energy development,” says Ashli Tomisich, director of student success and experiential learning in SER. “By combining practical application with real-world networking, these tours ensure our students receive a well-rounded education across diverse aspects of the profession.”

All SER academic programs -- including the energy resource management and development major, the energy resource management minor and certificate programs -- place a heavy emphasis on experiential learning opportunities to enhance the education of UW students.

“It was a valuable experience to see professionals in the field performing their day-to-day operations rather than just discussing them in a conference setting,” says Vollman, a junior in the energy resource management and development program. “Engaging directly with experts like surveyors on federal public lands and observing the collaboration between the BLM and private industry provided a unique perspective that is unmatched in the classroom.”