Investigators are trying to determine what caused a fire at an oil well east of Cheyenne.

Lew Simpson, a spokesman for Laramie County Fire District 2, tells the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that Friday’s blaze started in an oil treater, which removes sediment and water from crude oil before it is transported to refineries.

The blaze sent flames 100 to 200 feet in the air, but no injuries were reported.

Simpson says the treater overflowed and ignited, threatening about 42,000 gallons of other fuel oil stored nearby, but firefighters were able to shut off fuel to the fire. The spilled oil was contained in storage dykes around the tanks.

James Edward with SM Energy, which owns the well, says it’s unclear what caused the fire.

SOURCE: Associated Press

Wyoming’s top oil and gas regulator says the companies involved in a natural gas well blowout in eastern Wyoming last month won’t face any fines.

Tom Doll, the state’s oil and gas supervisor, says Chesapeake Energy Corp. and drill rig owner Trinidad Drilling Ltd. won’t be cited for the blowout. The mishap vented up to 2 million cubic feet of explosive gas and 31,500 gallons of drilling fluid into the air and around the drill site near Douglas.

Doll says it appears a pin that is meant to hold a key gasket tight within the well head was loose. But such mistakes aren’t really addressed in state rules, even though they’re costly to the companies involved and potentially dangerous to the environment and nearby residents.

SOURCE: Associated Press

Three workers injured in a flash fire at the Sinclair oil refinery near Rawlins remain in critical condition.

The fire occurred Tuesday at the Sinclair Oil’s refinery, about five miles east of Rawlins.

Tim Bjork, Eric Hansen and Quinn McCartney are being treated at North Colorado Medical Center’s Western States Burn Center in Greeley, Colorado.

Center spokesman Gene Haffner said their condition had not changed Thursday.

A fourth worker was treated and released from Memorial Hospital of Carbon County in Rawlins on Tuesday.

The state Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the fire.

Salt Lake City-based Sinclair has released little information but says it also is investigating the fire.

“William” zoomed to the top of the list for Wyoming’s most popular boy baby names in 2011, joined by “Emma” as the number one choice for girls.  This according to the Wyoming Department of Health’s Vital Statistics Services Program.

William held the top spot on the boys’ list for 2011, followed by Jacob, Jackson, Parker, Mason and Liam.

William was not on the most popular names list for the previous year in Wyoming.  A spokesman for the Wyoming Department of Health says perhaps Prince William’s (pictured) royal wedding in England last year helped make it a more popular name.

For girls, Emma was followed by Olivia, Sophia, Addison and Isabella/Madison.

Also, there were 7,336 births to Wyoming resident mothers during 2011, which is down slightly from 7,541 in 2010.

Tom Ninnemann of Jackson Hole radio tells the summer season at Yellowstone National Park is set to begin at 8 oclock this morning..

They have given their lives to protect others, and this Saturday Wyoming peace officers who have died in the line of duty will remembered.

In recognition of National Police Week, the Cheyenne Police Department along with the Laramie County Sheriff’s Department, the Wyoming Highway Patrol and the security forces from F. E. Warren Air Force Base will host the first ever law enforcement memorial and parade this Saturday.  Sgt. Rob Dafoe is with CPD.

Over the years, six Cheyenne police officers have died in the line of duty, as have two county sheriffs and three deputies.  The all-day event starts Saturday on the steps of the State Capital at 1pm, followed by a full honors law enforcement procession down Capital Avenue to the depot plaza, where officers will display their cars and equipment for the public. 

At 6:30 Saturday evening, there will be a vigil along with a ceremony and name reading of the officers who have died.