City commissioners in Aztec approved a permit for the first new gas well planned this year within the city.
The Farmington Daily Times reports (http://bit.ly/XvS07h) that drilling will begin in June on the nearly 7,000-foot deep gas well located amid an expanse of hills one half-mile southeast of downtown Aztec.
The city has seen the number of new wells dwindle in recent years.
The latest well is the only one slated for development within city limits in 2013.
The well is owned by ConocoPhillips and will be operated by Burlington Resources Oil and Gas Company.