Encana Releases Industrial Waste in Waters of the State - Multiple Residents Appear Impacted and Angry about Water Testing

In a nutshell:  A pipeline possibly containing 'toxic' flowback and produced water discharged thousands of gallons of industrial liquid waste into Dry Hollow Creek, in Garfield County, CO and may have affected adjacent landowners  private water wells, a local aquifer and the Colorado River. The industrial waste spill entered Davis Ditch along Dry Hollow Road, near entrance to Arbaney property on 6/16/2012. Water was found by local landowners to have an iridescent and odorous scum that collected in the ditch. Landowners not happy and don’t trust Encana to take water samples of water wells and aquifer. Landowners request third party testing.

CDPHE states: A ruptured 12 inch pipe released approximately 100 barrels (4,200 US Gallons) of treated produced water was discharges into Dry Hollow Creek, which was initially dry. The water did reach the point at which the creek contained water.

ENCANA states: A pipeline containing produced water and flowback water developed a sudden leak at the above location, resulting in ~50 bbls (2,100 US Gallons) of E&P waste water (produced and recycled water) being released into the Davis irrigation ditch, which is a water of the state.

Ditch users downstream of the release reported seeing iridescent and/or odorous scum collect intermittently along the ditch. Ditch users reported that the ditch recharges the aquifer containing their domestic water wells. One downstream ditch user reported that their well is dry in two weeks if there is no water flow in the ditch.

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MY TAKE

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Q: Did toxic liquid industrial waste reach the Colorado River? Encana claims it did not. I request Encana prove their mishap did not affect the Colorado River.

I think Encana made up the word ‘Sudden Leak’ as an alibi or indemnifying statement.  I don’t buy it, but Encana does, from their attorneys.

I want the COGCC and Encana to prove without a doubt that this liquid release was ‘treated produced water’ and show the landowners that it is benign and will not cause any adverse impacts to their land, water and health. There are no publicly available records that I could find to support Encana’s statement.

Q: Why did the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission remove Uranium from the analyte list to test for?

Q: Why does Encana get to select the third party water testing agency? The landowners appear to not trust Encana and want a professional unbiased test done of their water.

Q: What will Encana do to remediate the land and water?

Q: Will Encana and the landowners engage in a private settlement agreement? A non-disclosure agreement with dollar bills attached to it will most likely happen if the contamination is irreversible.

Q: Did Encana have volumetric gauges to precisely know how much liquid was released? If so, where are the official documents that support your claim?  Encana states exactly ½ the volume of what was initially reported. Why?

Q: If there is a non-disclosure agreement/settlement and the landowners move, the new buyers will never know of the previous industrial waste discharge.  I believe this is irreprehensible!


To the affected landowners: Please do not sign a non-disclosure agreement. The industry has been keeping their chemical contaminations secret for far too long. We need to know everything in order to protect all landowners now and into the future.

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ENCANA OIL AND GAS (USA)

DENVER, COLORADO

Date of Alleged Violation:  6/16/2012

A pipeline containing produced water and flowback water developed a sudden leak at the above location, resulting in ~50 bbls of E&P waste water (produced and recycled water) being released into the Davis irrigation ditch, which is a water of the state. Encana personnel noticed a sudden pressure drop in the line and identified the leak. Encana reported the incident to the CDPHE- incident #2012-0427. Encana filed a verbal report to the COGCC and have submitted a Form 19 Spill Report. Encana pumped water out of the ditch to recover the fluids, repaired the line, and collected soil samples. A complaint (#200353851) was filed with the COGCC by one downstream ditch user regarding possible impacts to their pond and spring. Ditch users downstream of the release reported seeing iridescent and/or odorous scum collect intermittently along the ditch. Ditch users reported that the ditch recharges the aquifer containing their domestic water wells. One downstream ditch user reported that their well is dry in two weeks if there is no water flow in the ditch.

CLICK DOCUMENTS TO ENLARGE

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EMAIL FROM ENCANA

From: Jensen Jr., Charles H.

To: Spry ORourk, Linda

Subject: Pipeline spill GPS coordinates

Date: Monday, June 18, 2012 3:14:13 PM

Hi Linda,

Here are the coordinates fro my GPS at the area of release. I will send you the estimated amount lost

when I get it.

39.46876

-107.65221

Charlie

Charles H. Jensen, Jr., P.G., C.P.G.

EHS Environmental Group/Hydrogeologist/Special Projects

Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.

2717 County 215, Suite 100

Parachute, CO 81635

(970) 285-2735 office

(970) 309-1022 mobile

(970) 285 2705 fax

charles.jensen@encana.com

OFFICIAL EMAIL FROM COGCC TO ENCANA- LINK

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EMAIL TO ENCANA FROM COGCC

From: Spry ORourk, Linda [mailto:Linda.SpryORourk@state.co.us]

Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2012 9:26 AM

To: Friesen, Kathy; Jensen Jr., Charles H.

Cc: Fischer, Alex; Spray, Karen

Subject: Dry Hollow Pipeline release water well sampling

Kathy and Charlie,

I received two calls yesterday from landowners who apparently spoke with Charlie about the resampling of their wells. Both Mr. Guthrie and Mr. Schultz expressed grave concerns to me about Encana sampling their water wells. Their concerns are not about having the wells tested, but they expressed a desire for a third party contractor to be the entity actually conducting the sampling. Both told me they didn’t mind if Encana got a sample also, but that they would have no faith in the results of a sample if Encana personnel actually collected the sample. Mr. Guthrie especially seemed pretty upset and angry at the concept that I would ‘allow’ Encana personnel to continue the sampling that the COGCC initiated relative to this spill.

I tried to explain that our NOAV requires the operator to burden the cost of sampling after a release and that the COGCC would be monitoring the situation relative to this release and sampling data closely. This information did not really appease either landowner. Mr. Guthrie is vowing to stir everyone on the Davis Ditch up so they call in complaints to everyone they can if Encana personnel conduct the sampling.

So, consider this a formal request for Encana to very strongly consider having their consultant continue the contacts with these landowners and actually conduct the sampling. It appeared to me from conversations with these folks that they would be comfortable with a third party sampling their wells. I also found out from the Schultz that their schedule is not conducive to sample collection from their well before the NOAV abatement date of July 10, 2012. Apparently they have scheduled with Encana for July 13, 2012 to have their well sampled. Because the Schultz well sampling schedule is landowner-driven, an exception to the schedule for collecting the repeat samples is approved for this landowner.

Please let me know if Encana is willing to have a third party conduct this sampling, because I expect to be speaking with Mr. Guthrie again and owe the Schultz’s a call back as well.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Linda Spry O'Rourke

Environmental Protection Specialist, Northwest Region

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

707 Wapiti Court

Suite 204

Rifle, CO 81650

(970) 625-2497 Office

(970) 625-5682 Fax

(970) 309-3356 Cellular

linda.spryorourk@state.co.us

Notice of Alleged Violation – Documents

Document Identifier	Class	Document Number	Document Name	Date	File Size (KB)
200355205	Customers	2229457	EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE RE: ABATEMENT #1 EXTENSION	7-09-2012	53
200355205	Customers	2229471	CERTIFIED MAIL RECEIPT	7-05-2012
200355205	Customers	2229491	NOAV 200355205 WORK PLAN	7-10-2012	1061
200355205	Customers	2229490	SITE INVESTIGATION AND REMEDIATION WORKPLAN	7-10-2012	638
200355205	Customers	2229544	ABATEMENT ITEM #1 - SECOND EXTENSION GRANTED	7-12-2012
200355205	Customers	2229584	ABATEMENT ITEM #1	7-17-2012
200355205	Customers	2229585	EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE RE: ABATEMENT ITEM #1	7-18-2012

Document Identifier	Document Number	Document Name	Date	File Size (KB)
429326	2229194	ENCANA VERBAL NOTIFICATION 6/16/2012	6-18-2012	8
429326	2229193	KKCO ARTICLE	6-18-2012	342
429326	2229192	ENCANA TELEPHONE NOTES	6-18-2012	8
429326	2229191	JANICE HUNT TELEPHONE NOTES	6-18-2012	8
429326	2229190	EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE RE: PIPELINE SPILL GPS COORDINATES	6-18-2012	14
429326	2229189	CDPHE ENVIRONMENTAL RELEASE AND INCIDENT SYSTEM REPORT	6-18-2012	17
429326	2229457	EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE RE: ABATEMENT #1 EXTENSION	7-09-2012
429326	2229471	CERTIFIED MAIL RECEIPT	7-05-2012	99
429326	2229491	NOAV 200355205 WORK PLAN	7-10-2012	1061
429326	2229490	SITE INVESTIGATION AND REMEDIATION WORKPLAN	7-10-2012	638

TELEPHONE NOTES – JANICE HUNT

6/18/2012 10:45am

Linda Spry O’Rourke called Janice Hunt. Janice had contacted Margaret Ash Sunday 6/17/2012.

Janice reported that she lives about 2.7 miles up Dry Hollow and that Tim Guthrie had called Sunday to report the leak of produced water into the Davis Ditch. Janice told me that Tim lives about 6 miles up Dry Hollow and had been doing day and noticed no water in the ditch so followed it up toward the headgate. She reported that he found pump trucks at the pie leak recovering what was called ‘Recycled water”. The ditch water was shut off while pumping occurred. Janice reported that tim was worried about his well and if it was contaminated. Janice doesn’t have a well, but had a spring fed by the creek/ditch. She reports she is on a mesa and it’s 125 feet down to the creek. She has a cistern and a pond that has more water than expected. She is not letting horses drink or dogs swim in the pond.

She has an RO system on the drinking water system. Janice reported that the news paper carried a story on the release.

I told Janice that the COGCC would sample her pond and spring to check for impacts from the pipeline release.

Data Compiled by: Shane Davis
Source: COGCC

Produced Water and Condensate had Been Leaking for Months or Years - Groundwater Contaminated According to COGCC Reports

In a nutshell: Produced water and condensate had been leaking from and oil and gas dump-line underground for possibly months and or years. Nobody knows just how long the 'toxic' leak had been ongoing. According to COGCC reports, groundwater was confirmed contaminated.

Question for COGCC: Why was this report received 7 months after the incident occurred?

According to the COGCC Rules:For all reportable spills, operators shall submit a Spill/Release Report, Form 19, within ten (10) days after discovery. An 8 1/2 x 11 inch topographic map showing the governmental section and location of the spill shall be included. Such report shall also include information relating to initial mitigation, site investigation, and remediation. The Director may require additional information.

It appears that the operator may have failed to comply by Rule 906 b (5)

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Date of Incident:

12/6/2011

Date Rec'd:

7/17/2012

COGIS - Spill Reports

Form 19/19A                                                                     Doc
Date Rec'd:	7/17/2012	Report taken by:	JOHN AXELSON
DocNum:	2229647	API number:	05-123 -22756	Facility ID:	276280

Operator Information

Operator:	PDC ENERGY INC	Oper. No.	69175
Address:	1775 SHERMAN STREET - STE 3000 ATTN: SCOTT REASON DENVER , CO 80203
Phone:	(303 )860-5800	Fax:	(303 )860-5838
Operator Contact:	BRANDON  BRUNS

Description of Spill:

Date of Incident:	12/6/2011
Type of Facility:	TANK BATTERY
Well Name/No.	CLARK  11-27	Fac. Name/No.
County Name:	WELD
qtrqtr: NWNW section: 27 township: 7N range: 65W meridian: 6

Volumes spilled and recovered (bbls)
Oil spilled:	Recvrd:
Water spilled:	Recvrd:
Other spilled:   0	Recved:  0
GW Impact? Y Surface water impact? N Contained within berm? N
Area and vertical extent of spill:  18-FT X  25 -FT
Current land use:  O&G PRODUCTION FACILITY/AGRICULTURE
Weather conditions:  0-10 DEG F
Soil/Geology description  HAVERSON LOAM, 1-3% SLOPES
Distance in feet to nearest surface water:  90
Depth to shallowest GW:  4
Wetlands:	Buildings:  215
Livestock:	Water Wells:  545
Cause of spill:
EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Immediate Response:
SEE COMMENTS.
Emergency Pits:
NA
How extent determined:
SEE COMMENTS.
Further Remediation
~67 CU YDS OF IMPACTED SOIL EXCEEDING COGCC TABLE 910-1 CONCENTRATION LEVELS HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTED TO THE WASTE MANAGEMENT LANDFILL IN AULT, COLORADO, FOR DISPOSAL. ACTIVATED CARBON WAS APPLIED AS AN AMENDMENT TO TREAT RESIDUAL IMPACTS FROZEN IN GROUNDWATER ADN WAS MIXED IN WITH THE EXPOSED SMEAR ZONE SOILS IN THE EXCAVATION BEFORE IT WAS BACKFILLED. PDC SCHEDULED INSTALLATION OF MONITORING WELLS TO DELINEATE GROUNDWATER IMPACT AT THE SITE. RESULTS WILL BE SUBMITTED IN A FUTURE FORM 27.
Prevent Problem:
PDC REPLACED THE LEAKING DUMP LINES.
Detailed Description:
RELEASE OCCURRED AT THE TANK BATTERY RELATED TO THE CLARK 11-27 (API 123-22756) AND CLARK 12-27 (API 123-23100). THE TANK BATTERY IS LOCATED IN THE NWNW OF SEC. 27 AS DEPICTED ON FIGURE 1. DURING EQUIPMENT UPGRADES AT THE FACILITY, PDC DISCOVERED A LEAK IN THE DUMP LINES THAT RELEASED AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY OF CONDENSATE ADN PRODUCED WATER TO THE SUBSURFACE. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Data Compiled by: Shane Davis Source: COGCC .

Oil Company blames problems at Windsor drill site on neighbors

Written by

Bobby Magill

Coloradoan.com 

The timing is awfully coincidental, and that’s partly why an oil company is blaming its neighbors in the River West subdivision for getting its Windsor drilling operation in trouble with state regulators.

Ranchers Exploration Partners’ landman Lloyd Richards said Friday he believes the medical waste a state inspector found on its “Retta J 1” oil drilling site in eastern Larimer County was a setup.

“We believe it was deliberately planted there,” Richards said.

On July 11, Ranchers sent a letter to River West residents updating them on progress in drilling the Retta J 1 well, where the state declared a public health emergency after waste from the nearby closed landfill, owned by Thomas and Retta Johnston, was exposed as the company began drilling earlier this year.

The letter, sent to the Coloradoan by River West residents, said Ranchers had been cleared of wrongdoing by the state and that the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission made a mistake in halting its drilling operation there.

The next day, on July 12, a COGCC inspector arrived at Ranchers’ drilling site on a hill overlooking River West homes and found at least three medical syringes on the drilling pad and numerous problems with stormwater drainage and erosion.

The company met with COGCC officials on Thursday, prompting Richards to claim that all the problems at the drilling site have been resolved or are being corrected.

Continue reading...

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MY TAKE

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Over a year ago I was at the town hall meeting where Bob Ward of Ranchers Exploration got smashed with questions from the audience.  Mr. Ward  promised $$$$$ for the landowners to sell their rights etc...  Needless to say, Ranchers Exploration could not answer the questions. The public was so frustrated at times, that they even shouted their disgust and anger.

I find it very appalling that Ranchers Exploration has pointed the finger at the public for what appears to be, failures of yet another oil and gas operator.

Cure: Get the frackers out of our neighborhoods once and for all! Heavy industry does not belong next to our livelihoods. The oil and gas industry has taken away our wayS of life, contaminated our water, poisoned our air and yet they continue to spew epic lies to the public.  There are no reasons at all  that the oil and gas industry should be exempt from so many Federal exemptions.  

Once again, 'GET THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS!'

Shane

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Fracking Company Paid Texas Professor Behind Water Contamination Study

JULY 23, 2012 | 1:08 PM

BY TERRENCE HENRY

State IMPACT

Earlier this year, a study led by Dr. Charles “Chip” Groat for theEnergy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin made headlines for saying there was no link between fracking and groundwater contamination. (When we reported on the study in February, we noted that the study also found some serious issues around the safety and regulation of fracking that weren’t getting much press coverage.)

But according to a new report out today by the Public Accountablitiy Initiative (PAI), a nonprofit watchdog group, the conclusions in Groat’s report aren’t as clear cut as initially reported. And Groat himself did not disclose significant financial ties to the fracking industry.

Groat, a former Director of the U.S. Geological Survey and professor at the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin, also sits on the board of Plains Exploration and Production Company, a Houston-based company that conducts drilling and fracking in Texas and other parts of the country. According to the new report (and a review of thecompany’s financial reports by Bloomberg) Groat received more than $400,000 from the drilling company last year alone, more than double his salary at the University. And one of the shales examined in Groat’s fracking study is currently being drilled by the company, the report says.

Since 2007, Groat has received over $1.5 million in cash and stock awards from the company, and he currently holds over $1.6 million in company stock, according to the PAI report. (Update: we clarified with PAI, and that $1.6 million in stock comes from the stock awards over the years. PAI says Groat’s total compensation from the company is close to $2 million.)

Continue reading...

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MY TAKE

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Despicable!

A Nation of Sheep

Ruled by Wolves

Owned by PIGS!

Sierra Club Hails Court Action to Strike Down Oil and Gas Law

Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter                                         For Immediate Release

P. O. Box 606                                                                         July 26, 2012

Harrisburg, PA 17108   

                                                         

Sierra Club Hails Court Action to Strike Down Oil and Gas Law

For more information, Contact:  

Jeff Schmidt,  717-232-0101    

Thomas Au, 717-234-7445    

Harrisburg, PA  - The Pennsylvania Sierra Club hailed Commonwealth Court’s decision striking down the Corbett Administration’s attempt to override municipal zoning powers.  The General Assembly adopted the Oil and Gas Law (Act 13) in February.  The law included unprecedented provisions to allow oil and gas operations in all districts in a municipality, regardless of current zoning.  A separate provision in the law that allowed state Department of Environmental Protection officials to waive setback requirements for gas wells also was overturned.  Today the court declared these provisions in the law null and void.

The majority opinion states that requiring municipalities to change their zoning rules in a way that would conflict with their development plans violates substantive due process.  The court found the law does not protect the interests of neighboring property owners from harm, alters the character of neighborhoods and makes irrational classifications.  Further, the court held that the law is irrational because it requires municipalities to allow drilling operations and impoundments, gas compressor stations, storage and use of explosives in all zoning districts.

Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter Director Jeff Schmidt commented on the court’s action.  “We applaud the court’s willingness to protect local land use decisions.  The Corbett Administration tried to give the gas industry special privileges for land use that others do not have.  The law would have wiped out local zoning review.  We were dismayed that legislators, in enacting this law, were unwilling to take a stand to protect municipal rights and were unwilling to protect their constituents.”                                                       

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