UW Students Visit Proposed Drilling Locations in Powder River Basin
Published February 16, 2026
Eight students in the Energy Resource Management and Development (ERMD) 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 to witness the complex processes behind permitting, environmental approvals, and multi-party 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 that was formed through the combination of Wold Energy Partners LLC and Rebellion Energy II LLC, and Camino Natural Resources LLC – and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding two proposed pad locations.
Students observed the intricate balance of road amendments, regulatory compliance, and 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, EVP 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 ERMD major, the Energy Resource Management minor, as well as the Certificate programs—place a heavy emphasis on experiential learning opportunities to enhance the education of UW students.
Students in attendance represented both the Professional Land Management (PLM) and Energy and Environmental Systems (EES) concentrations in the ERMD program, including David Meraz-Ordonez of Cheyenne, Wyo.; Will Baker of Wheatland, Wyo.; Connor Seely of Sheridan, Wyo.; Dylan Salgado of Litchfield, Ariz.; Wyatt Loham of Livermore, Cali.; Cadence Vollman of Douglas, Wyo.; Trevor Spomer of Cody, Wyo.; and Alex Villareal of Hamlin, Tex.
“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 ERMD junior Cadence Vollman. “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.”
