Monday, June 24, 2013

210,000 Gallons of Produced Water (aka, toxic liquid industrial waste) Drains into Creek on State Land - Arapahoe, County Colorado

RENEGADE OIL & GAS COMPANY LLC 

This post is a very comprehensive look into the history of one company's well site and its inadequate track record.  It appears that a large discharge of produced water occurred in late 2005. Was this spill a concern? It was on State land.

 It is 'estimated' that +/- 5,000 barrels of produced water discharged on the ground surface and into Cottonwood Creek. According to COGCC documents, one barrel equals 42 US gallons.  Five thousand barrels equates to 210,000 gallons of produced water that was reportedly spilled into Cottonwood Creek.  Was this company fined?

Why has this company had so many unsatisfactory inspections/violations and is still being allowed to manage an active well?  Of the 9 inspections listed below, the  oil & gas operator  failed 7, or 78% failure rate. Should they be fined? Should they be shut down for having so many violations?
Do all companies get 'breaks' for their violations? Are O&G violation rules different if a well is located on State land? Where did the produced water go? Does the Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986 apply?



official docx:
-------------------------
***
Date Rec'd:12/21/2005Report taken by:BOB CHESSON
DocNum:1433324API number:05-005 -06522Facility ID:204437

Operator Information

Operator:RENEGADE OIL & GAS COMPANY LLCOper. No.74165
Address:P O BOX 460413 ATTN: EDWARD INGVE AURORA , CO 80046-0413
Phone:(303 )680-4725Fax:(303 )680-4907
Operator Contact:JB CONDILL

Description of Spill:

Date of Incident:12/1/2005
Type of Facility:WELL
Well Name/No.STATE 2Fac. Name/No.
County Name:ARAPAHOE
qtrqtr: NESWsection: 36township: 4Srange: 58Wmeridian: 6

Volumes spilled and recovered (bbls)
Oil spilled: 0Recvrd: 0
Water spilled: Recvrd: 0
Other spilled: Recved:
GW Impact? N    Surface water impact? Y    Contained within berm? N


Area and vertical extent of spill: 20-FT X 800 -FT
Current land use: RANGELAND
Weather conditions: 
Soil/Geology description 
Distance in feet to nearest surface water: 
Depth to shallowest GW: 
Wetlands: Buildings: 
Livestock: Water Wells: 

Cause of spill:
EQUIPMENT FAILURE

Immediate Response:
BACKHOE PLUGGED HOLE IN BERM AND REINFORCED BERM
Emergency Pits:
NONE
How extent determined:
VISUAL
Further Remediation
REMEDIATION UNDERWAY.
Prevent Problem:
REVIEW OF ALL COMPANY POLICIES WITH EMPLOYEES.
Detailed Description:
INSPECTION BY COGCC STAFF IN RESPONSE TO SURFACE OWNERS CONCERN IDENTIFIED A BREACH IN THE PRODUCED WATER PIT ALLOWING PIT TO DISCHARGE TO DRAINAGE OF COTTONWOOD CREEK AT A RATE OF APPROX. 3 GPM. RELEASE ONGOING FOR SOME TIME SO ESTIMATES OF RELEASE ARE VERY APPROXIMATE (5,000 BBLS (?).)

 
Field Visit/Follow Up
NamePhoneDate
No Field Visit data found.

 
............................................................................................................................................................

Historical field inspections at this specific well 


API Number: 05-005-06522
Name: STATE #2
Location: NESW 36 4S 58W
Lat: 39.65898 Long: -103.82827
Operator #: 39100
 
Field Inspections:
 
Inspection Date: 5/24/1995
 
Inspection was: No Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Indicator
 
Violation: Y
 
Field Inspection Comments and Observations
 
Insp. Comment
Inspection/Violation Comments
HISTORICAL
WELLSIGN POSTED BUT ILLEGIBLE, PRODUCING AT TIME OF INSPECTION PUMPING UNIT FENCED, LOCATION IN REASONABLE CONDITION OIL SATURATED SOIL AROUND WELLHEAD
 

 
Inspection Date: 5/25/1995
 
Inspection was: No Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Indicator
 
Violation:

Field Inspection Comments and Observations
 
Insp. Comment
Inspection/Violation Comments
HISTORICAL
PRODUCED WATER PIT BERM HAD BEEN REPAIRED, BUT EVIDENCE OF DISCHARGE OF WATER & OIL STILL EVIDENT FROM TANK BATTERY EAST IN DITCH ALONG ROAD TO CONFLUENCE W/ COTTONWOOD CREEK, THEN NORTH IN COTTONWOODCREEK, OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE BERMS AROUND TANKS TOO SMALL, ABANDONED PIT, DRUMS. WILL WRITE LETTER TO AL POWELL RE REQUIRED REMEDIATION
 


Inspection Date: 12/1/2000
 
Inspection was: Unsatisfactory
 
Violation: Y
Field Inspection Comments and Observations
 
Insp. Comment
Inspection/Violation Comments
ACTION
REMOVE OIL FROM PIT AND REPAIR SCREEN TO PREVENT WILDLIFE ACCESS. CLEAN UP OIL SATURATED WEEDS.
FIREWALL
TANK BERM APPEARS ADEQUATE
GENHOUSE
OIL SATURATED WEEDS AROUND PIT
TANKBAT
(3) 300 BBL PROD TANKS
WELLSIGN
SIGN POSTED AT WELL AND BATTERY
 

 
  
Inspection Date: 7/11/2001
 
Inspection was: Unsatisfactory
 
Violation:
 
Field Inspection Comments and Observations
 
Insp. Comment
Inspection/Violation Comments
ACTION
2ND NOTICE- REMOVE OIL FROM PIT AND REPAIR SCREEN TO PREVENT WILDLIFE ACCESS. CLEAN UP OIL SATURATED WEEDS.
GENHOUSE
OILY WEEDS AND SOIL AROUND PIT
MISC
PUMPJACK OPERATING DURING INSPECTION
WELLSIGN
SIGN POSTED AT WELL
 

 
Inspection Date: 7/25/2001
 
Inspection was: Satisfactory
 
Violation: N
 
Field Inspection Comments and Observations
 
Insp. Comment
Inspection/Violation Comments
FIREWALL
TANK BERM APPEARS ADEQUATE.
TANKBAT
OPERATOR SET STEEL TANK TO REPLACE SKIM PIT.
 

Inspection Date: 12/1/2005 ***(see reports and images below pertaining to the recorded discharge)
 
Inspection was: Unsatisfactory
 
Violation: Y

Field Inspection Comments and Observations
 
Insp. Comment
Inspection/Violation Comments
ACTION
CORRECT PIT BREACH ASAP. DISCHARGE IMPACTED AREA WILL REQUIRE REMEDIATION.
GENHOUSE
DISCHARGE FROM PIT MUST BE TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY. OTHERWISE TB LOCATION GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING OK.
SPILCOM
BREACHED SOUTH PIT WALL (SIGNIFICANT EROSION) ALLOWING DISCHARGE OF PRODUCED WATER TO DRAINGE TO SOUTH. SIGNIFICANT VEGETATION GROWTH IN SPILL AREA INDICATES LONG-TERM RELEASE NOT RECENT DISCHARGE.
 


Inspection Date: 9/18/2007
 
Inspection was: Unsatisfactory
 
Violation: Y
 
Field Inspection Comments and Observations
 
Insp. Comment
Inspection/Violation Comments
ACTION
NOAV ISSUED. REMOVE OIL FROM PITS. REPAIR ALL LEAKS. REMOVE OIL-SATURATED SOIL FROM WELLSITE, BATTERY AND PITS. REMOVE CONTAMINATED BERMS. RE-BUILD PIT BERMS. COVER SKIM PIT. REMOVE MISC. JUNK.
FIREWALL
BERMS OK AROUND BATTERY TANKS. BERMS AROUND PITS MIXED WITH OIL PULLED FROM PITS - CONTAMINATED.
GENHOUSE
MISC. JUNK ON WELLSITE. LEASE ROAD TO BATTERY IN DISREPAIR.
MISC
PUMP JACK / SIGN / AJAX / MUFFLER / SHED.
SPILCOM
OIL-SATURATED SOIL INSIDE AJAX SHED. OIL-SATURATED SOIL AROUND BASE OF OIL SKIM TANK. OIL-SATURATED SOIL ON PIT WALLS AND BERMS.
TANKBAT
3-300 BBL UPRIGHTS / BERMED / SIGN / VERTICAL GAS PROCESSORS WITH BIRD PROTECTION / SHED / FLAT SKID-MOUNTED LPG TANK / 300 BBL OIL SKIM TANK / SKIM PIT / PRODUCTION PIT / SHARED BATTERY WITH 005-06818 / DRAINAGE AREA ADJACENT TO PITS.
WELLSIGN
BOTH
 


 
Inspection Date: 11/7/2007
 
Inspection was: Unsatisfactory
 
Violation: Y
 
Field Inspection Comments and Observations
 
Insp. Comment
Inspection/Violation Comments
ACTION
COVER SKIM PIT. CLEAN UP REMAINING STAINED SOILS AND JUNK.
FIREWALL
BERMS OK
GENHOUSE
JUNK - RODS AND TUBING - ON WELLSITE.
MISC
WELLSITE: PUMP JACK / AJAX WITH MUFFLER AND SHED / SIGN. FOLLOW-UP FOR NOAV # 200119084
SPILCOM
SOIL STAINING NEAR TREATER SHED.
TANKBAT
3-300 BBL UPRIGHTS / BERMED / SIGN / VERTICAL GAS PROCESSORS WITH BIRD PROTECTION / SHED / FLAT SKID-MOUNTED LPG TANK / 300 BBL OIL SKIM TANK
WELLSIGN
BOTH
 

  
Inspection Date: 11/20/2007
 
Inspection was: Satisfactory
 
Field Inspection Comments and Observations
 
Insp. Comment
Inspection/Violation Comments
FIREWALL
OK
GENHOUSE
OK
MISC
FOLLOW UP TO NOAV INSPECTION--ALL OIL STAINED SOIL HAS BEEN SATISFACTORILY REMOVED FROM BATTERY AND WELLSITE / BERM SEPARATIONS IN PIT HAVE BEEN REMOVED CREATING A SINGLE PRODUCED WATER PIT----PRODUCER MAINTAINS THAT NO SKIM PIT EVER EXISTED---COGCC HAS NO RECORD PERMITTING TWO PITS / ALL OIL CONTAMINATION AS REPRESENTED IN THE NOAV HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM PRODUCED WATER PIT / JUNK AT WELLSITE HAS BEEN REMOVED
SPILCOM
OK















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