Editor:

I read with much interest about the state of Wyoming urging ExxonMobil to find customers for the CO2 that they produce from the La Barge anticline gas field in the northwestern part of Wyoming. It appeared that the state's main concern was the lost revenue from severance tax. However, no mention was made of the huge amount of CO2 being vented to the atmosphere.

This field taps an immense reservoir which has a pressure of about 5,000 psi. The gas contains about 65 percent CO2, 22 percent methane (natural gas), 7.5 percent nitrogen, 5 percent hydrogen sulfide (H2S), 0.6 percent helium.

Exxon produces 720 million cubic feet of this gas daily. This means that they are producing about 468 million cubic feet (mcf) of CO2 per day. Of that amount they are re-injecting 22 mcf of CO2 along with all the H2S. They are selling and delivering about 200 mcf of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery. This leaves about 246 mcf that they are just venting to the atmosphere.

This amounts to about 30 million pounds of CO2 that they are venting to the atmosphere daily. This plant has been in operation for the last 22 years. A conservative estimate of what they have dumped amounts to 180 million tons of CO2.

Ironically, all this CO2 can be sold and sequestered when ExxonMobil buys the compressors necessary to pump it off site. I have heard one estimate that the payback would be about 5 years, but I guess that is just too low a return for them to bother with.

With the high probability that CO2 is causing global climate change, this dumping posses an unacceptable risk. ExxonMobil should correct this practice as soon as possible.

At the exxonmobil.com Web site their environmental statement reads as follows:

"We strive to conduct business in a manner that is protective of the environment, and that is compatible with the environmental and economic needs of the communities in which we operate."

And in a paragraph labeled "Climate and Emissions" you can read:

"Managing the risks from increases in global greenhouse gas emissions is an important concern for ExxonMobil, industry and governments around the world."

Please go to the ExxonMobil Web site, find the "contact us" page and inform them that the CO2 release from the La Barge field does not in any way follow their announced policy. Urge them to end this dumping.

DAVID G. EARNSHAW, Laramie

Laramie Sacred Ground Group