Snake River Oil and Gas officials explain details of gas exploration in southwest Idaho last fall, during a legislative tour. Many farmers and ranchers stand to benefit from the drilling and exploration taking place in the region (Capital Press/industry photo).

Now that seismic testing has proven what folks in this area have known for decades – there is a substantial amount of natural gas below them – farmers, ranchers, and other landowners in this region are beginning to reap the benefits.

“You talk to any farmer or rancher whose family has been over there for a couple of generations, and everybody has stories of methane in their well water or bubbling up from a creek,” John Foster, a spokesman for the Idaho Petroleum Council, said.

While it’s been clear for many years that there is natural gas in that area of southwest Idaho, the infrastructure never existed to retrieve and transport it to market economically.  But a major seismic exploration project by Snake River Oil and Gas last year is changing that.

The company says there are substantial natural gas deposits in an area known as a “play” that stretches from part of Canyon County through New Plymouth, Fruitland, and Payette in Payette County, and up into Weiser in Washington County.

It’s is beginning to drill wells, and the gas will be transferred via a major, multi-state, gas pipeline that passes near New Plymouth.

Read more: Gas Exploration Benefits Southwest Idaho Farmers

(By Sean Ellis, Capital Press)